The Mighty (Tiny) Mississippi
Jun. 26th, 2018 05:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydamorehouse Today is our last full day of vacation. Tomorrow, we hit the road and make our way back to the Twin Cities and home, sweet home. We decided not to try to do "too much" on our last day, so we went to Itasca State Park to see the Mississippi headwaters (or one of them, if you're feeling persnickety) and do a little light hiking.
We may have hiked a little more than we planned, but that's another story.
We could not have arrived at the headwaters at a better time. It was just as the gift shop/ interpretive center opened at 10 am. We got a prime spot in the parking lot, and, more importantly, we were way ahead of the crowds.
Classically, Mason and I walked across the rocks:
Admittedly, I made it less than three more steps in before it got too slick for me. I was wearing my all-terrain shoes, which should have given me good traction, but I am old and unsteady. Shawn helped me into the shallow, non-rocky bits. You can't really see in this picture, but I forgot to change into shorts. My jeans got very soaked... though they ended up drying out after our several mile hike(s).
The headwaters site started to get busy, so we discovered a looping trail that I thought would take us past a pioneer cemetery. Alas, we were on the right trail, but on the wrong side of the lake for the cemetery. Still, we got to see some fairly spectacular wilderness.
We have seen a lot of very good trees on this trip. Many wonderful trees. Mason was pretty tired at the end of this hike, but when I made sad noises he said that he would PROBABLY be up for one more hike of this size (about a mile) before we left the park for good.
After this, we all piled in the car and did the "Wilderness Drive" which is an 8 mile stretch of paved road for cars (and bicycles) that winds through some amazing views. It was a nice meander that took us to the famous Douglas Lodge, where we had lunch.
I had tater tot hot dish for lunch. It was a little peppery (as in green pepper) for me, but I quite enjoyed it. Shawn had the walleye sandwich and Mason had Canadian bluefish. We were all very happy with our meals and we shared a piece of chocolate brownie cheese cake for desert. Perfect!
Afterwards, we looked at the park map and decided that the best last trail for Mason and I might be right here at the lodge, a circle loop called "Dr. Robert's trail." We set off thinking that it would be an easy mile. It was a fairly rough TWO miles. But, I finally got a bit of a bog walk and I don't think Mason will actually hate me FOREVER... only until his feet stop aching.
And thus ends the vacation part of our trip. We will probably be stopping at a few road side attractions on the way home, but this was our last woodsy adventure. I got a little sad about it all, so Shawn bought me a guide to all of Minnesota's State Parks. Hooray! I can go home and plan the next angry hike!
We may have hiked a little more than we planned, but that's another story.
We could not have arrived at the headwaters at a better time. It was just as the gift shop/ interpretive center opened at 10 am. We got a prime spot in the parking lot, and, more importantly, we were way ahead of the crowds.
Classically, Mason and I walked across the rocks:
Admittedly, I made it less than three more steps in before it got too slick for me. I was wearing my all-terrain shoes, which should have given me good traction, but I am old and unsteady. Shawn helped me into the shallow, non-rocky bits. You can't really see in this picture, but I forgot to change into shorts. My jeans got very soaked... though they ended up drying out after our several mile hike(s).
The headwaters site started to get busy, so we discovered a looping trail that I thought would take us past a pioneer cemetery. Alas, we were on the right trail, but on the wrong side of the lake for the cemetery. Still, we got to see some fairly spectacular wilderness.
We have seen a lot of very good trees on this trip. Many wonderful trees. Mason was pretty tired at the end of this hike, but when I made sad noises he said that he would PROBABLY be up for one more hike of this size (about a mile) before we left the park for good.
After this, we all piled in the car and did the "Wilderness Drive" which is an 8 mile stretch of paved road for cars (and bicycles) that winds through some amazing views. It was a nice meander that took us to the famous Douglas Lodge, where we had lunch.
I had tater tot hot dish for lunch. It was a little peppery (as in green pepper) for me, but I quite enjoyed it. Shawn had the walleye sandwich and Mason had Canadian bluefish. We were all very happy with our meals and we shared a piece of chocolate brownie cheese cake for desert. Perfect!
Afterwards, we looked at the park map and decided that the best last trail for Mason and I might be right here at the lodge, a circle loop called "Dr. Robert's trail." We set off thinking that it would be an easy mile. It was a fairly rough TWO miles. But, I finally got a bit of a bog walk and I don't think Mason will actually hate me FOREVER... only until his feet stop aching.
And thus ends the vacation part of our trip. We will probably be stopping at a few road side attractions on the way home, but this was our last woodsy adventure. I got a little sad about it all, so Shawn bought me a guide to all of Minnesota's State Parks. Hooray! I can go home and plan the next angry hike!