Camping Trip - Day 4

The final full day of our trip was spent in Duluth. Images will be up, not until we get back.

The morning started with an ambitous plan for pancakes on the camp stove, those plans were foiled by the nefarious rain of doom. Instead we had some cheerios and rice krispie treats in the tent, then we packed up and headed north.

The rain was oppressive. We got to the Duluth area and stopped at the tourism center, and took some shots from above the city, then went in search of things to do, to find some umbrellas. It was about 12:30 before we had driven around, taking in the soggy sights and finding a few things that looked like fun, when I finally found a Walgreens. My hunch proved correct in that as soon as I'd purchased the umbrellas, the rain stopped, and against all weather forecasts, stayed stopped the rest of the day.

We found a cute little park along the shore of superior, and barring the soaking wet benches, had a lovely little picnic lunch, in the car.

Our stomachs filled, but our sense of adventure, we went off in search of something to do. I had been prepared to drop a few dollars in the tourist trap that is Duluth, but we had voted to go to the Great Lakes Aquarium, and I found that it was rather pricey for what it was. I was silly in thinking that it would logically be worth the price. That isn't to say that it wasn't fun, but my decision to go was based first on seeing it was there, and the on reading about the many exhibits inside on a flyer in the entry. Sadly, much of the interactive exhibits were broken, and by all appearances, had been for some time. I would have expected a few things, but we're talking about a vast majority. Given the cost of entry, you would expect the maintainance to be a bit better. Overall, though, it wasn't a terrible experience, and we had fun looking at all the critters.

After the aquarium, we walked a few blocks to the Willliam A. Irvin(g?), an old, decommisioned Great Lakes freighter, which used to carry iron ore. This was a much cheaper attraction, and turned out to be more interesting, in many ways it was a guided tour, given by an old guy who used to actually work on a similar vessel in younger days, which meant he was full of interesting side stories and colorful tidbits. The only dissapointment came in finding that admission to this also got us onto the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, the Sundew, which closed about 45 minutes before our first tour ended. While a smaller ship, and shorter tour, it would have been fun to check it out as well.

By the time we got back to the car, it was almost 6:30, but there was still a little driving to do before leaving, and we out to Superior Point Park, across the lift bridge, and finally got a good look at the lake.

By the time we were heading back to the site, it was obvious that dinner would be pretty late, and when I presented the final night's dinner option, it was met with extreme contempt. Decided that going back and setting up to cook a meal that wouldn't be ready until nearly 8, and wouldn't be eaten by my younger daughter, who has little interest in eating to begin with, I caved in and agreed to eat out. However, we had to stop at some place that we couldn't eat at when back home.

We wound up at a little place in Cloquet called Family Traditions Restaurant. The name sounded pleasant enough, although the cover of the menu featured a photo of a woman that had to have been taken in the late 1800's, which would have meant that the woman in the image would have to have been born in the mid-1700's. The food turned out to be pretty decent and the service pleasant. One thing I love about taking trips is finding the little joints in the middle of nowhere with the best food around. For example, the best Hot Roast Beef Sandwhiches in the world can be had at a little restaurant in Ivanhoe, MN.

Anyway. We're now mostly packed and ready to go. We will try the pancake thing in the morning and head home. We'll likely take a more scenic route back than we did coming up, at least swinging through Hinkley to show the kids where Daddy used to visit their late Great-Great-Great-Aunt Bernice.

Goodnight world.