Minnesota Sampler, to the Headwaters of the Mississippi

The coffee shop called us back for breakfast of yummy muffins and coffee. Jitters is right on Main Street, the one made famous by native son, Sinclair Lewis. Then we drove north to Park Rapids, observing the change in terrain and vegetation. Fields became fewer and farther between and forests began to take over. A stop at the visitor center got us a list of campgrounds, but our Internet search told us they would be pricey so we headed straight to Itasca State Park. There we got a campsite in Bear Paw Campground. We were right next to the lake and the bike path. The only real downside was the poison ivy all around the perimeter of the site. It seemed to be VERY common here, so we just learned to avoid anything green beyond the grass.

After setting up the tent, we sat down to lunch. Shortly, a couple on heavily laden touring bikes came by on the bike trail and we jumped up to greet them. After nice conversation, they headed off to find a picnic area and visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi. We finished lunch and got on our bikes to ride to the Headwaters ourselves. Marilyn kept an eye out for those tourers and located them in a large picnic area. Alexandra and William were soon invited back to spend the night in our campsite. It had to be a better offer than stealth camping somewhere outside the park, especially with the newly remodeled showers available!

The ride to the Headwaters was only a couple of miles but was certainly up and down. Bikes aren't allowed at the actual Headwaters which is probably wise. Even on a Wednesdays, the area was fairly crowded. A number of people were scrambling across the rocks that divide the lake from the river (well, stream at that point!), but I chose to wade across the sandy stream. The sun was out, the water was cool, and the wading was delightful; John stayed on shore with the camera. A short ride further on took us to a new Visitor Center that was well done. The information was outside under a covered area. The ubiquitous gift shop and snack bar were inside; however, the snack bar doors were locked at 3:56 when we decided to get some ice cream. Oh well, we didn't really need those calories. On the way back we decided to ride to the other campground then over to the office to buy some ice. It was a definite uphill to the campground but the road to the office had some REAL hills! At least it was all downhill once that block of ice was loaded onto John's bike!





We rode back to our campsite, listened to NPR (Minnesota has excellent NPR coverage except in the far north), then made supper. Later, Alexandra and William, the cycle tourers arrived back at our site, set up their tent, and made supper. All the while we shared wonderful conversation, then they shared music. They carry a flute and guitar with them and sing at churches and anywhere else they are welcomed. Their blog is Pilgrim's Report.

Several hours after we all went to bed, we discovered that William had left a container of cookies outside their tent which were found by three raccoons at about midnight. Who knew that raccoons could be that noisy! All of us woke up and we even turned headlamps in their direction but it didn't stop their activity. The next morning all that was left was a scrap of paper. That bit of paper is probably still there as it was surrounded by poison ivy! Apparently, raccoons don't have to worry about that.