When in Hibbing...

do like Bob Dylan?

Here we are in Hibbing, MN, the birthplace of Robert "Bob Dylan" Zimmerman and Grey Hound Busses. The beautiful town of 17,000 people sits nestled in the reclaimed slag piles from one of the largest open pit iron mines in the world.

Last time we left ya'll we were at the border into Minnesota at Grand Forks, ND. We had a wonderful stay with Mark's grandmother and definitely left slightly overwight from the whole ordeal. As we pulled out of town we crossed the Red River and made sure to take a photo of the flood monument -- a marker for the different times of high water. We quickly understood as to how devastating the flood in 1997 was after seeing how high the water had actually gone. At the Minnesota border we all decided that our bikes (their names are Thelma, Chester, Shelby, and Archimedes) hadn't got enough attention and so took a snap shot with them and the border sign. Four states down, only like sixteen-ish to go.

From Gramma's house we had the option of either camping in Climax, MN or Fertile, MN. We decided to go with the more advantageous (depending on how you look at it) and headed east into Fertile. It was a great town of 632 and after a day of riding into the wind with 90% humidity we were ready to call 'er quits after 65 miles. From there we made haste to Lake Itaska State Park.

Lake Itaska, as it turns out, is the most used campground in the state of Minnesota. A seemingly endless web of bike paths wound around the lake and people everywhere were on bicycles. The only thing that makes this lake slightly more special than any other lake in Minnesota is that it is the headwaters to the mighty Mississippi River. At the headwaters is a nice little rock path that crosses the tiny stream to start the river. The funny thing is that it is a complete farse -- in the 30's people decided that rather than the boggy outlet of lake Itaska, the Mississippi river, in all is grandeur needed a specific, scenic starting point. After only 1,800 truck loads of sand, the bog was filled in, the stream designed, and a concrete damn decorated with "as natural looking as possible" polished river boulders, we now have a pin-pointed beginning of our nations beloved river.

Pretty sweet, huh?

From the park we started working our way over west to Grand Rapids. We had 135 miles to cover, pretty much all of it on sweet, sweet highway with nice shoulders. Both North Dakota and Minnesota have treated us with very nice shoulders.

En route to Grand Rapids we stopped in Bemidji, MN -- the birthplace of Paul Bunyan as well as his gigantic blue ox, Babe. We asked the guy if he would mind to pose for a snap shot with us. He obliged in a taciturne sort of way...

The following day, in Grand Rapids, we decided it would be a good day to muster up a few free donuts and so headed to church. Any church would do. As it turned out, our choices boiled down to the 10:00 service at the Presbeterian Church or the 10:15 service at the Bible Babtist Church. It was 9:58 and thus the decision was made to be loyal Presbeterians, all four of us, for the day. We met a wonderful congregation who welcomed us warmly afterwards into the basement for cookies and coffee. It was really cool talking with so many people who wished us well, wished they could come along, or told us of their own experiences as well. Turns out the Paster, Dan, rode his bike from Seattle to San Diego. Also turns out a few Ole grads were members of the post worship donut team. Afterwards we headed to the grocery store where we bumped in to the Lyon family, who we had earlier met at church. We talked for quite a while and in the end they left us speachless when a small donation to the trip was folded tightly into Elizabeth's hand. What wonderful people we have met thus far.

Upon leaving Grand Rapids we entered the Iron Range. Since the late 1800's mining has ruled the entire region of the state. The really cool thing about it all is that all the now closed mines, pits, and slag piles have been reclaimed, quite beautifully, with an 91 mile long bike trail (soon to be 131 miles)(!) For the past day and a half we have woven around huge man made lakes (what was once the open pit mines) on amazingly smooth 8' wide paths of black top. When there are marshes to cross, we encounter floating bridges. It is great. Happier than pigs in mud, for sure.

The next few days will be spent heading over to the north shore of Lake Superior. From there we will head up to Grand Marias and then down the shore to the Twin Cities.

Happy father's day to all the dads and grandpas that made this trip possible. Love to all of you.

Pedaling along,
Kelly, Elizabeth, Mark, and Caleb