8/13/08 Grand Portage National Park – Awesome!

8/13/08 Grand Portage National Park – Awesome!

Just up the road from the campground is Grand Portage National Park where the English fur trader company from England would bring the trade goods that had to be trekked overland 8.5 miles around the Pigeon River entrance into Lake Superior because the river was dropping from the mountains over rocks and water falls. We didn’t hike the trail, but many people still do it. Instead we experienced the Heritage Center, listened to how to build a canoe in the traditional Ojibwa manner and talked to tribal members tending the gardens. The gardener told us how to tell the difference between Aspen and Birch trees, which had been a big question for us this week. At the fort a gentleman elegantly told us about the history of beaver hats and the fur trade for this area. So much history to absorb! We are loving it.

After the history lesson we drove to the Canadian border crossing to just say that we did. Here, 5 or so miles from the border at Grand Portage the gas was $3.64. Amazing!!! Our gas prices have been great in Minnesota. Yahoo since we get such poor gas mileage.

Off we were to the wilderness to follow the Gunflint Trail 54 miles north of Grand Marais (mo-ray). This road was rough as a cob with no paved roads going off it. Hunting and fishing rustic resorts along this roads were packed, but we waited until the end of the road to find the resort on Gunflint Lake where we stayed. As usual, Terry had to see the end of the road. I guess the road did go on, but into Canada where we couldn’t go because we don’t have passports. Oh well, there is plenty to see for us as it is. We’ll take pictures in the morning of this gorgeous spot.