International Falls is a nice place, but if you aren't fishing I think one day there would be enough. It is geared for the outdoorsman and creature comforts aren't high on the list of priorities. I already mentioned that motels don't have laundry facilities (maybe the big, expensive one did... but I didn't even go there). Here's my room I had for the night. It was 7' wide. A bed with 18" on one side and 12' on the other. A desk with a 13" TV, a chair that touches the foot of the bed when used, and a bathroom with a packet door because there isn't room for a hinged door. Kinda bare bones.
Leaving town I struck out west on Minnesota Highway 11, the "Waters of the Dancing Sky" Scenic Byway. It was a very nice drive with lots of views of the Rainy River which serves as the border between Canada and the US. It is a substantial river and the fishing must be excellent. Away from the river the woods grow thick with both evergreen and deciduous trees.
At one point I had to stop, turn around, and go back to look at a clearing cut into the trees. There were no houses nearby that I could see but someone had created a work of art in this meadow. It was metal sculpture set on concrete pylons. It wasn't something I was expecting to see. No signs, no side roads. Just art for art's sake.
The farther west, the more the land on both sides of the road opened up and lots of open pastures, grass, and crop fields became more prevalent. There were still lots of meadows with clover, daisies and other wild flowers though and it was really pretty to look at. I saw hundreds of bee hives today too... taking advantage of all the clover flowers I suppose.
first it was just meadows cut in the forest
then it was grass fields of many acres cut into the forest
which supported the bee hives
and finally it was all farm land with just tree lots
I was surprised that there weren't more cattle out grazing on the meadows and grass fields. The browse is so good you could support quite a few head. But I did notice that the few herds of cows I saw were all bunched up in tight little groups... to keep the mosquitos at bay! When the bites got too bad a cow would force its way into the center of the herd for some relief.
Water was everywhere. They had some epic rains lately and lots of the ground was boggy. In at least one community through which I drove still had sand bags around the homes and businesses protecting them from flood waters. The rivers and creeks were all running high and the water picked up some color (not mud, more a stain really). The Rapid River was really high but there were boats anchored in the current and families fishing along the shore despite the high water volume.
Lake of the Woods was a hustling, bustling town that billed itself as the Walleye Capitol and had the fish to prove it. Willie the Walleye is a proud fixture at the entrance to the town proper. Of course, to go along with the trout and blue gill selfies, I had to get a shot with the pike.
Eventually the trees thinned to fewer and smaller copses and became more wind breaks than wooded lots. Crops began to predominate (one of which sported beautiful yellow flowers... mustard?). Yep, I had crossed over into North Dakota.
Today was Sunday and I have driven past innumerable churches of every denomination on this trip. Today though I seemed to notice the churches more. Not because there were more of them...I can't explain why I noticed them more. Maybe it is because this is the July 4th weekend and we are celebrating the birth of our country founded on the principles of religious freedom. Not freedom FROM religion as many in the ACLU might think... but freedom OF religion. I made a conscious decision early on to not talk about religion or politics on this blog, it is just to document my odyssey around the periphery on a motorcycle. But today I will say that in my opinion the world would be a better place with more people going to church than going to the malls. 'Nuff said'.
Once into North Dakota I set my sights on my target destination. I pulled into Minot AFB about 6:30 pm and found a room on base. Of course there was nothing open on the base after 6 on a Sunday and I had to ride 10 miles into town for dinner, but now as I type this with the rain pattering softly on the tarped motorcycle outside my window I can rest until tomorrow when I continue my westward trek.
When I think of Minot I think of missiles
but they also kept T-38s to keep the B-52 pilots trained up for less money than cranking a B-52
And there was also an F-106 interceptor. It could really move.
Love the pic of the red brick Catholic church... beautiful structure!
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