Day 24

I left the Lac Vieux Desert Casino early since the sun was shining thru a crack in the curtain right in my face. It was a beautiful day for riding with the sun behind me. The tree lined US-2 at times was just a straight ribbon ahead. I finally got to see Duluth / Superior in sunshine! It only took the fifth time. Duluth really is a nice city sitting on the edge of Lake Superior. I rode downtown through the brick streets.... kind of rough on a motorcycle but kind of neat to see too. I got onto I-35 which ended immediately and turns into MN-61 heading north along the shore of Lake Superior. I continued until just after Silver Bay where I turned left onto MN-1 which is the road to Ely. I had heard so much about this road and it's beauty to the motorcycle rider and it did not disappoint. Lots of winding road laid ahead and you had to keep alert as well for deer as a number came out of the trees to dart across the highway. Just before Ely it began to sprinkle but not enough that I had to change into rain gear. I was surprised at the size of Ely... I expected a 2 minute town but it really was like a 10 minute ride... with traffic lights. I continued on MN-1 after  Ely where it becomes a much wider more traveled highway. Where it meets US-53 I turned toward International Falls, the place all Americans know as the coldest place in America... and then MN-11 along the Rainy River through to Warroad. I have travelled the #11 on the other side so it was neat to see this route from the American perspective... It seemed farther from International Falls to Baudette, MN  than Fort Frances to Rainy River, ON... wierd. I crossed the border at Warroad and followed highway 12 through Steinbach to Hwy 1 and then west to home.

Pictures are at the link,
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150389665557306.433885.574812305&l=567be44cd3&type=1

Km today = 1045, Trip total = 14155.... I think I need an oil change...