The drive between Ames and Duluth is easy. The hard part was dealing with 27F/-3C of the early morning in Ames. Springtime had been rather brutal through this region of Iowa with frequent cold spells, but it doesn't take long to warm up this time of the year. Today we will battle through the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul. 3 years of travelling to the Unites States has given us more confidence to mix it with the big cities, however, we negotiate via St Paul to move north of the cities for our last run to Duluth without a problem.

The stark difference between the southern states and the northern states is vivid as we venture north along I135 past the town of Hinkley. The landscape is still a mix of yellow and grey of the winter, which can be terrible in these parts. Minnesota can regularly experience temperatures below -30F!! and we were still able to find snow patches in the forest around Duluth 2 months after the end of winter.

As you arrive in Duluth the spectacular vista of Lake Superior opens up. This is the largest freshwater lake in the world (surface area). In reality, it is an inland sea! Today we were looking forward to meeting our friends Rich and Bette Koivisto and exploring the North Shore area of Duluth on Lake Superior. Lake Superior is really a residual of the past and recent Ice Age. It has a fascinating geological history. The shoreline is marked by smooth rocks and pebbles, interspersed with low cliffs and headlands. The water is cold all year round, with the annual average at 39F/4C! By August the water temperature in inshore inlets may achieve 50F / 10C, and a few diehards venture in for a swim.

Along some of the shore areas, fossickers look for agates, some of which can be valuable. The agates are split from basalt rocks and it is believed that the action of ice has done that. Another pastime is to view the large ships that come into Duluth and Superior Harbours, some of them more than 1000'/350m long. They primarily carry bulk ore, ranging from coal to taconite (taconite is low grade iron ore). We also spot European ships that are loading grain for transport across the Atlantic to Scandinavia and European countries. It's amazing to think that almost 1500 miles from the Atlantic, ocean going ships arrive in Duluth!

Magnificent Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota

No horizon! Lake Superior (near Two Harbours)

Timber hut, Lake Superior (North Shore)

Photo stop, Lake Superior

Lake Superior

Dead calm, Lake Superior

Tourists with Rich & Bette Koivisto

Worn rocks, Lake Superior near Two Harbours (Lake Superior is over 600km long and more than 300km wide in places, largest freshwater lake - surface area - in the world)

Last snow patch near Duluth

Headland, Lake Superior

Blending of sky & lake, east of Two Harbours

1000' Laker

European grain ship, Duluth

Tranquil kayaking, Lake Superior (don't fall in - water temperature 43F/6C)

Clyve & Rich photographing the unusually tranquil waters of the Lake

Lone rock

Hardy lichen, Lake Superior shore

Lake Superior - unlimited photo opportunities

North Shore at Lake Superior has a very interesting geological aspect

Driftwood

An odd patch of rather tranquil shore exhibits waves, we are told that this spot is used as a surf beach.

Rich Koivisto

Waterfall near Two Harbours

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Cedar trees

Bette & Rich Koivisto & Clyve

Middle Falls on the Gooseberry River, near Duluth

Cute red squirrel, Gooseberry Falls

White throated sparrow, Gooseberry Falls

Chipmunk, Gooseberry Falls

Stone skipping, Lake Superior

there are an abundance of flat stones and you can skip to your hearts delight for hours!

4th May: Duluth MN to Luverne, MN

Duluth has had a chequered career...reaching a population of more than 100,000 in the early 1900's with a mining boom with good access to shipping through Lake Superior. The region became heavily industrialised with the establishment of the steelworks and this continued until the late 60's/early 70's. Unable to compete with European steel production, and the declining aged manufacturing base, Duluth steelworks finally closed in 1971. The decline of Duluth continued until the latter part of the 20th century with the population dipping to around 85,000. The region however remained an important port for the export of iron ore, coal and grain. It appears that Duluth is undergoing a renaissance although a rather slow one. The harbour area is being improved and many of its old buildings are being restored. There is a respectable railway museum and freshwater aquarium. It has also become a centre for tourism, medical and banking services. There is talk of a high speed rail link to Minneapolis - St Paul. The old harbour and industrial areas offer some interesting scenes for the photographer with a myriad of channels, laid up ships and the old rail network still in place. For the rail enthusiast, a few old dinosaurs still plod along the sidings. A new ski slope overlooks Superior with patches of snow still remaining from the winter, this late in the year. I suspect strongly that the locals would never come to terms with the nasty winters of Duluth and neither would tourists, however the compact downtown area with good shopping is all interconnected with covered walkways. We highly recommend a visit to Duluth if you are into shopping, ships or trains....and that's not to mention the magnificent foreshore of Lake Superior and its attendant outdoor activities.

We wished goodbye to Bette and Rich, our hosts in Duluth, and head SW for our trip back to Tornado Alley.

Laid up Laker bulk carrier, Edward L Ryerson, Superior, Wisconsin

Rail traffic is quite busy around Superior, mainly switching trips (shunting)

Couple of old timers

Complex wind trails, Lake Superior

Richard I Bong Memorial Bridge connects Duluth and Superior

Recreation, Lake Superior

Part of Superior, WI docklands area

A couple of Canadian Pacific locos trundling across the viaduct into the Superior Harbour area

Anchor chain for Edmund L Ryerson - the ship's future is uncertain

Industrial decay, Superior Harbour

SW Minnesota landscape

Fancy brakelights, SW Minnesota

Small town SW Minnesota

Spring flooding, SW Minnesota

Another old timer, Windom, MN

Switcher locomotive near Windom, MN