Day 107, To Superior WI- Close call with reservations.

 The drive from Bemidji to Superior was all on US 2, except for a missed turn close to Duluth.  We had missed the turn the US 2 makes at Saginaw, and went an additional 5 miles that we didn’t need. We retraced our step as soon as we saw the  numbers for miles 3.4,5, as that isn’t US 2.  We had been following 249, 250, 251, etc.

Going into Duluth is always a great view as you are 4-500 feet above St Louis Bay and the bridges that cross them.  Add the ships, ports, docks, loading chutes for ore and minerals and it is a fantastic view. All the while coming down the 2 1/2 mile hill  with the bridges on sight.

The view from the hill at Duluth looking across to Superior

St Louis Bay and the two main bridges span the water.

As we had a detour around some of Superior (road work) we thought we had missed the RV Park. To gather ourselves we stopped at the Visitors Center to inquire if we had passed it back in the detour. We had not , as Annette, the volunteer hostess stated. We  stopped to get a bite to eat and then return to the RV Park, which was just a few blocks away. When we arrived we couldn’t believe the condition it was in. Almost all are full timers and only 11 sites designated as part time. It was very hilly and unkempt and there was a  very short site for our trailer, We talked to the lady on the phone, and finally decided not to take the one she offered. Of course that meant we did not have a campground reserved and the weekend was coming up. We called three campgrounds and all were “Full” .Especially if we were staying the 4 days which we wanted.

We agreed that we return to the Visitors Center and perhaps Annette might have some suggestions. (That’s what ‘friends’ are for,  yes?) She immediately recognized me and said,” Am I in trouble”?  No, Annette it is us that is in trouble and I explained the situation to her. She said, “Let me call my friend at a park just down the road”. (This one we had already called and they said they were full.) But, being friends she discussed the situation with “Cindy” and lo and behold there were two sites available BUT, they are sites that flood easily when it rains hard. If we would take them with those conditions, we could have it. SOLD!  We thanked Annette and headed there about 10 minutes away, just up the road on US 2.

It was a great sharing of friendship between two people that opened the door to our getting a site. We try to get sites that are centered in the middl of the birding areas we travel through. This one was not much further from the center. When we arrived she showed me the site first as we walked to to. It had been newly graveled and packed so it was higher than before. It was fine and if it rains hard we will deal with it. I think she was very proud that t was being used after all the work to improve it. Her husband ‘Mike’ does the maintenance for the park.

The campground we "lucked out"to get into

It is shaded and a "good breeze? runs through it.

 On the way down  US2 there were a few small towns including Grand Rapids MN. Deer River, MN was getting  ready to celebrate their "wood cutting" days in a few weeks. That would include  chopping, sawing, climbing and log rolling. Won't be here for that.

It was another day of sun and light wind, and 75 F temps. We are safe and we are thankful for that as always. Tomorrow we will start to visit some of the birding sites in the Superior area.
OH! Annette gave a us a new birding map of the area and about 25 sites. That was a plus as well.