Day 1
Friday August 6, 2021
5A and my last show wraps. There have been plenty of times on day schedules where I got out of work and headed to the airport. This felt a little weird, working all night and catching an early flight out. But, it ends up giving me one more day to poke around. So, no complaints.
Upon exiting the MARTA station at the airport, I walked into the terminal, only to greeted with flashing lights and a message on the PA, “May I have your attention, please. An emergency has been reported inside the building. Stand by for further instructions.” No one seemed to notice. The message was still playing when I dropped off my bag. By the time I worked my way to security, it had stopped, and no update had been provided.
Across from my gate area, the sun was coming up. A gaggle of cellphone photographers quickly assembled.
The flight left on time and was smooth enough I could doze off for an hour or so. At least until the person in the window seat needed to use the bathroom. The curse of aisle seating.
The real drama began at the rental car counter.
Dollar Rental had one person on the desk. It took forty-five minutes just to get to the clerk. That’s when she told me the cars were still being prepped and I would have to wait. As I sat there trying very hard to be patient, three separate groups walked over to the Avis counter and booked a vehicle. Then then came back to Dollar and canceled. Can’t say I blame them. I sent a Tweet to Dollar corporate and did get a response. I doubt anything will change.
They gave me a Nissan Rogue Sport. Nice, quiet ride. However, there was one quirk I never got used to. Imagine yourself at the wheel of your car. You slip the key in and turn it. Odds are, you feel a very slight resistance and that notch at the half way point. We’ve done it so many times, we no longer think about it. Not so much with the Rogue Sport. It also took a few beats longer for the engine to start. Otherwise, nice ride.
Well behind schedule for the day, I decided to blow off one of the two hikes I had planned and get some lunch. I found the perfect spot. It's right across the street from the old Schmidt Brewery. This brewery had been making beer since 1855. After prohibition, they became the seventh largest brewery in the nation. After changing hands numerous times, the brewery shut down in 1990. The Minnesota Brewing Company bought it, but that didn't last long. In 2012, the building was converted into loft space and renamed Schmits Artist Lofts.
Directly across the street is a place called Keg and Case. Downstairs are a few small restaurants and some artist's booths. I grabbed a bowl of something called Creole Mac and Cheese from O'Cheeze. I took it upstairs to Clutch Brewery for a pint before hitting the road.
On the map, Minneapolis/St. Paul doesn't look that far from Duluth. Depending on traffic, it's about two and a half hours. Seen in a construction zone...
My home for the night was Motel 6. As you might expect, it was nothing special. So, I ditched my stuff and worked my way into downtown. The goal was on the far side of town, a place known as Point Park. It's on a long, thin peninsula. To get there, you cross a very cool lift bridge. More on the bridge tomorrow.
The road eventually ends at the Sky Harbor Airport. It's mostly small private planes, sightseeing tours and seaplanes. Park there and start walking. The trail to the point runs two miles. It alternates between compacted forest floor and deep, loose sand. But still, and easy walk, and welcome after the drive.
Along the way, you'll pass the remnants of the Zero Point Lighthouse. Construction began in 1856 of a fifty foot tower. This would be the first lighthouse on Lake Superior and light the entrance to the harbor. Twenty-nine years later, the light was extinguished for good.
Keep going and you'll eventually come to the end. By 1871, the importance of Duluth's harbor was growing. A deeper channel was cut and break walls were added to protect the channel. A new lighthouse was added on the Wisconsin side to mark the entrance. Thus the name, the Wisconsin Point Light. Two years ago, the federal government put it up for auction. It was bought by veteran and tech industry executive Steven Broudy for $159,000. You can read more about it here:
On the walk back to the car, I saw this sticker... It's a curious website...
A few blocks from the motel is where you'll find the Ursa Minor Brewing Company. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, but something compelled me to go there for one last pint of the day... And yes, that is a Douglas Adams reference.
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