On Sunday, we were OFF on an adventure!
Cindy and I made snacks and lunch for all of us and we packed up Clarabelle. We left a little after 9 am.
We found a great rest stop in Duluth. I don't like the loud blow hand dryers, so I use my shirt if paper towels aren't available.
We checked out our route on the map.
We did not feed the seagulls.
There was a pretty view over the city of Duluth and one part of Lake Superior. It doesn't show in the picture, but it was extremely windy there.
There was also a strange sculpture, obviously left by aliens.
Although we didn't feed the seagulls, we were tempted by this small friend!
Here you can see the result of some of the wind: I got a moustache!
That's our exit!
And there's one part of the Lake!
Nope! It's still 2022.
We found our goal: Split Rock Lighthouse!
First, we ate our picnic lunch. It was lovely, breezy, and slightly chilly.
Our view was GLORIOUS!
The Lake is so big that it looked and felt like the ocean. It doesn't smell salty, though, it smells fresh like pine trees, leaves, and peaty soil.
There's our lunch spot!
We found the lighthouse!
Magnificent!
The views were wonderful . . . but there was chain link fencing all around the site, so I felt a bit trapped, like a Christie tiger in a zoo. I want to sit on the edge and feel the splash of the water! I want to clamber down the cliffs and stick my feet in the very cold water!
That is quite shoreline!
Extremely windy up there! My hat blew off shortly after this photo was taken and I had to make a run for it.
Look at the pretty color of the water!
From what my brother had told me, I expected access from this site to the water, but I think the water level might be too high. I'm not sure. We decided to access the water in a different way after we were done at the lighthouse. I tried to be patient!
It was interesting to learn about the history of the lighthouse and the ships on the Lake.
We even got to go up in the lighthouse!
There were circular stairs with windows every once in awhile.
We could see the lenses - made in France!
Those are the houses where the lighthouse keepers and their families lived!
The view around every bend was slightly different.
Happily, the trash bins were bear-proof!
We explored along the cliffs.
The fence frustrated me . . . though I realize they don't want people to fall to their deaths.
We got to watch a short video about a few of the ships that sank in Lake Superior (the Mataafa, for example) before the lighthouse was built. ZERO more ships sank after the lighthouse was built, so it did its job for sure!
On our way out, we noticed that the gate had a lighthouse on it with light beams shooting out into space.
There were lots of people, but there was also plenty of room to wander and even get a bit wet.
The rushing water soothes my soul.
The trees were fantastic!
And the river flows to the Lake!
On our wander down to the falls, it rained a bit, but it was still sunny!
There were a couple of little caves along the path. This one had a MONSTER in it!
Finally! I was able to do some rock walking by the water!
We had a lovely day!
There are two of my very favorite people.
BONUS:
