It’s been a enjoyable time here in Bemidji. We’re reached the northernmost point in our trip, and while not as high an elevation as we saw in Wyoming we are at 1350 feet now…it’s roughly all downhill from here to New Orleans.
Our stay started with an orientation meeting and a dinner. Greg had walleye (very good) and Leila had prime rib (about the size of her plate…a lot went home for last night’s dinner). We also did a little walk around downtown, looking at sculptures done from salvaged metal. Some of them were very nice.
Just a quick note about Bemidji: we’re told it’s the birthplace of Jane Russell, the actress, it’s the First City of the Mississippi. It’s also the home of the Lumberjacks (Bemidji HS) and the home of the Beavers (Bemidji State University). Greg felt right at home.
Yesterday was the first bus excursion of the trip. The bus driver, Greg, did his best to sound like a Minnesotan; he had a great sense of humor too. The group got their picture taken with a statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, then a tour of a woolen mill, then on to the headwaters of the Mississippi.
It is remarkable to see how humble a beginning the river makes. Lake Itasca has a shallow end, and the river just sorta tumbles out of it. We did indeed wade across. The water wasn’t too cold, I’m sure the lake warms it up a bit. After a box lunch we were taken on a two hour boat ride across the lake, and heard a bit of history along the way.
Day 31 is a travel day, but we don’t go very far…just two hours or so. We’ll have our first driver’s meeting, then hit the road.
