We left Denver on Sunday, Sept. 8th and drove straight through to Rapid City, South Dakota. Had OK weather while we were setting up "the 5th"; but once we got all settled, we started getting phone and TV warnings about a huge thunder storm headed towards us with golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. We looked at each other and wondered what does golf ball size hail do to a tin can like "the 5th"? Good news; storm veered and mostly missed us....we just got heavy-duty regular rain, wind, thunder, and lightening. We spent the next two days in the area and really loved it. We plan on returning and spending a lot more time exploring and hiking. If you ever go here, go to Custer State Park. The drive is awesome and a little scary. However, you get vistas of Rushmore from the next mountain over at "eye level"-truly awesome. There's all sorts of wildlife in the park including a buffalo herd. Of course, Pat & I (as usual) saw very little wildlife (but the drive itself is worth it).
Too bad I can't say the same for the drive from Rapid City to Sioux Falls, SD.......what can I say, but BORING. The next day from Sioux Falls, SD to Bemidji, Minn. was only slightly better. However, this is where the Mississippi River starts. There's this really pretty lake, and out of this lake comes this little, bitty stream. It's about three feet wide and one foot deep, and it's the Mississippi. It was really a beautiful place and pretty amazing to think that that little tiny trickle of water becomes this massive river.
This morning, we got up and headed to International Falls, Minn. and Canada. International Falls is a really pretty town, we should know since we drove around in circles looking for the border crossing. Finally stopped at a gas station and asked, only to find out we had already been there, but turned around because it looked like we were entering the gates to an Oregon sawmill. Little, dinky, weird border crossing with the nicest Canadian custom agent you could ask for. After many, many hours and miles (kilometers), we reached Lake Superior and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lake is gorgeous, area is nice and we are enjoying a wonderful evening. This is the first time since Oregon that we have worn shoes (not sandals), long pants, and jackets (this morning). The temperature never reached 70 and there's a nice briskness to the air. We also saw our first fall foliage colors-the vine maples here are already bright red.
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