Day 5
Tuesday 8/10
Every trip has the drive day. This was no exception. At least it started with some sunshine as I pulled out of Lutsen.
The first stop of the day was twenty-one miles south of Lutsen at a place called Caribou Wayside. Unlike a rest area, this is just a large parking lot, a latrine toilet and a trail leading up into the hills.
What isn’t clearly marked is the three way trail juncture.
I chose to follow the thinner trail alongside the stream. It turned out to be overgrown, steep and in some parts quite muddy. But, I did eventually make it to Caribou Falls.
I wooden walkway to my right took me to another overlook above the falls. The area by the platform was overgrown and I couldn’t see much from behind the railing. There are times when I’ll jump the barricade for a shot. This wasn’t one of them. All the rocks sloped down, towards the drop off. One slip and…
Out of curiosity, I followed the wider trail down the hill. It was well maintained and pretty easy. It was also the middle of the three forks in the trail.
Further south, there's a parking lot just before the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel..
This was the first time I had seen one of these "Selfie Stations." It wouldn't be the last. A sign of the times perhaps.
Further south, Hwy 61 cuts through downtown of Two Harbors. I decided to stop in simply because of the sign with the arrow to a lighthouse. There's a large parking area out by the harbor, where I found not one but two lighthouses.
The Two Harbors Light Station was first lit in 1892, and remains lit and active to this day. In 1999, the facility was turned over to the Lake County Historical Society. To pay for its upkeep, it was turned into a Bed and Breakfast. Reservations start at $175 and go up steadily depending on which building you're in.
During the early days of WWII, the demand for steel was surging. The harbor was dredged and the breakwater extended to allow for larger ships. Along the shore are these ore loading platforms. Trains would pull in on the top and dump their loads. Ships would pull alongside and fill up.
The road took me through the town of Red Wing, mostly known for being the home of Red Wing Shoes. But, that's not why I drove through here. Right along Hwy 61 sits what was once the home of Dr. Alexander Anderson(no relation) He built a combination home, farm and research lab. It was here that he invented the process for making puffed wheat and puffed rice. He named the property Tower View.
During the 1940's his lab was in the forefront of developing robotic arms to safely handle radioactive material. Since 1995, it's been a place for artists, offering space and low rent. Adjacent to the center, you'll find the sculpture garden. And by now you know, I find them hard to pass up.
My home for the next two nights was the Winona Days Inn. It’s obviously an older facility. And while the room was a bit small, it was clean, the bed comfortable and the wifi…okay. And for the first time on this trip, they had the breakfast buffet out in the morning.
I was looking for a light dinner and found myself at a place downtown called Bub's Brewing Company. The name goes back to 1862 when Peter Bub moved to Winona from Milwaukee where he had been working as a brewmaster. His new brewery remained in the family until they shut down in 1969, unable to compete with the larger operations. While the new Bub's isn't directly affiliated with the old, the name was used in tribute.
One of the most prominent features in Winona is a rock outcropping that towers over the city. It's named Suger Loaf. To get to the outcropping you need to find Edina Realty. There are plenty of parking spots out front. Walk up the driveway and there’s the trail upwards.
Except for the occasional downed tree, it’s an easy path to follow and not too steep.
The views are definitely worth it.
However, there are multiple trails that appear to go down from the summit. Some don’t go very far. Some become quite steep. A little trial and error and I was working my way back down.
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