A little detour yesterday to check out the Mesabi Iron Ore range around Hibbing, Moutain Iron and Virginia MN - the place is full of red quarries - all filled with water now and mounds of tailings from the mines. Stopped at a memorial around Mountain Iron, I did not know that the big steel magnates imported labor from Eastern Europe to work the mines just like they did the mills in Chicago and Pittsburh. A lot of Polish names.
I wanted to stay in MN last night and use my $41.00 park permit but too many detours. So I crossed into CA and found the same problem with going due west. So we headed north on the eastern side of Lake of the Woods in Ontario. I stayed at a campground at Caliper Lake - a little finger off of the main lake. There are hundereds of fingers. It is getting wild up here - all fish camps, hunting camps and float planes. It is mainly birch and pine forest shallowly rooted in very rocky granite soil. And then lots of bogs. Very remote and gas is $4.00 / gal (Actually about $1.01 CA per Liter)
So, the camp was beautuful and the skies looked like they were clearing. So , I did not put the tarp up at the back of the car. Big mistake! Rained about 2:00 am and I had to scramble to keep from getting too wet. Closed the windows of the car but left the rear tailgate open. All of a sudden the nice breeze was gone and I was attacked by every mosquito in Western Ontario. I think they feed on deet - nothing repels them. Great hot showers though to wash away the oil. So, got an early start and this morning I passed a fox, two beaver dams and three deer - and on the same road - and only one car.
So, I'm in a McDonalds in Kenora ON today, hoping to make it northwest of Winnipeg tonight. And guess what - it's raining. Hope for dry weather.
Good Morning Sandy~ Getting ready for work and wanted to check in. Beautiful pix. With the weather you're dealing with, you may get snowed in when you reach Alaska...ha Take care and enjoy your trip. Take care, Cathy
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are in or getting close to the fishing promise land. Please include photos with any claims concerning fish size. You might be able to use some of the larger mosquitos as bait (old indian trick).
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy, How about sending that rain our way. We really need it to cool off these 100 plus degree temps. Have a great trip and be safe out there!
ReplyDeleteRuth
PS - I'll ask my friend, Stacy, who lives in Anchorage, what they use to keep their monster mosquitos at bay and let you know as soon as I hear from her.
From Ruth's friend, Stacy George (In Alaska)
ReplyDeleteJune 28, 2010 at 9:46pm
Re: Mosquitos
tell him to buy one of those Therma Cell mosquito repelent devices. We bought one and it works great. Gives you about a 15 foot radius of mosquito free area