May 11, 2017 Thursday Ed's birthdayWe leave Bayfield to travel the scenic Rt 13 in up state Wisconsin with Lake Superior in view for several miles. The partly sunny skies give way to bright sun and warm temps, 60's I am guessing. There is little traffic this time of year this far north with the population so spread out. We see quite a few log trucks but not areas that are being logged. We saw tons, literally, of hay but few animals that eat it. The cattle we did see were beef cattle, some what surprising for a state that is famous cheese. We stopped at Herbster where we could get to a beach. The sand is brown very coarse. We did see moose, only it was a wooden cutout, meant to entertain the occasional tourist. We return to Rt 2 west. The forests here are mainly birch trees for miles of the way. We crossed into Duluth, Minnesota where the city is in view up the hills as we drive west. There are huge in size and numbers of what looks like silos. I was so puzzled as to what they were until I saw a street sign that said General Mills, probably cheerios in the silos. There was lots of industry and energy terminals in the city. We stopped in Floodwood for lunch in a rest area with a sign that says 'Catfish Capital of the World', who knew? Ed's birthday lunch was bologna sandwich with Amish baby Swiss cheese and Mackinac fudge! We turned 1000 miles today, still working out some kinks. We see a HUGE factory for Blandon Paper Co. There are also mills for processing wood along the way. It must be walleye fishing season from the signs that welcome the fishermen and bait for sale. Just saw on the news that fishing season opens midnight Friday. We saw the beginning of a forest fire across from Cass Lake! Our final destination for today is Bemidji, Minnesota. If it sounds familiar it is because it is the mythical birthplace of Paul Bunyan. We went to the memorial for Paul and Babe. The whole area uses this as a theme for business. Before we Settle in Royal Oaks RV park we find the illusive propane to fill out tank. We also gassed up again $2.32, getting a little over 8 mpg. We have finally arrived at a REAL RV park. I have heard a train and I can hear jake breaks as I try to settle in to sleep. Makes me appreciate the silence of the last few nights.
  Tomorrow we plan to visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River, head up to I 29 to cross into Canada . Today is the first day we have had Internet access so I have been using my Verizon cellular. I do not have the plan that would allow me to use it in Canada. Many times in Canada the service is not strong enough to send out my news, especially with photos.
  Stay tuned.....the news will follow as I can. Sightings: 1 deer, 2 cranes (probably sandhill)
 Sightings: No Tim Hortons for days
to be continued.....
 We drove 265 miles