Travel With The Thayers: #18 Thunder Bay to Cloquet, MN

# 18 Thunder Bay to Cloquet, MN

We left Thunder Bay passing a sawmill and some waterways.

The border sits about 50 minutes south of Thunder Bay. We passed the usual farmland and tree lined highway.

Typical border station between USA and Canada. We had traveled far enough SW to enter the Central Time Zone again.

The US Customs seem more imposing than their Canadian counter parts. We love having to maneuver through the immovable yellow posts and structures with our motor home.

Welcome to Minnesota!

The landscape doesn’t change because we are in the states.

From here to Duluth, the road follows the western edge of Lake Superior. The lake feels like an ocean. The lake meets the sky at the horizon. Waves lap against the shore. Superior holds more water than all the other great lakes combined. Our month trip around this lake in 2006 continues to be a fond memory.

One thing that popped up along the highway was the presence of mailboxes spaced at intervals apart. These families definitely received regular mail service. It wasn’t until I saw these that I don’t remember seeing any along the rural roads in Canada. We have learned that the Canadian postal service not as dependable as the USPS. Makes one appreciate what we have in the US.

We stopped for fuel in Grand Portage. It was COLD! The wind blew off the lake and froze our fingers. When I went in to pay, I turned around and was bowled over by the selection of snack food. You do not see this in Canada! Their candy displays hold very limited choices....maybe 5-6 kinds of candy bars. Their displays would very likely be just the top shelf of the first picture, if that. Maybe that is why they are healthier as a country.

For miles along the highway clumps of lupine add purple, white and lavender color to the landscape. They reminded me of one of the books from my children’s library that told of a lady who planted lupine across the country. It is shades of purple….what’s not to like?

Hello Curves! Still a novelty after so many days on the Canadian prairies.

As we neared Duluth a walking path ran next to the highway. Even though it was bitter cold this day, people were out using the path.

Check out this beautiful tunnel! There are a few of them along this road.

Tunnels as we enter Duluth.

The northern entrance to Duluth passes by some interesting homes. No cookie cutter types here! I do apologize for the tipped photography.

At one point the interesting homes become multi-million dollar estates that usually hide behind vegetation and gates. From the street, you only get an occasional peak at what lies beyond. One of these larger estates is open to the public and we toured it the last time we were here.

We spent hours by this bridge when we were here before. The aerial lift bridge built in 1905 remains a landmark for Duluth. The ship canal opened in 1871 to allow huge cargo ships to pass between the lake and the Duluth Harbor. Watching the big ships maneuver through the canal and under the aerial bridge can occupy visitors for hours. People look and feel ant-size when they stand on the dock next to the big ships coming through the canal.