I found the end of the world, and it was in Minnesota

For no other reason than the fact that I haven't been active online anywhere lately ...

It's been an especially tough summer in terms of being busy with work and school. Finally in about mid-June I had had enough. 100% enough - of all of it. I decided that all I wanted to do was drive to the end of the world and just sit for awhile. Northern Minnesota was about as close as I could get, and I hit one out of the park by picking that area to get away to.

I will tell you guys, the North Shore area of Minnesota is a hidden gem. It is the north shore of Lake Superior, before you get to Canada, and it is as remote as it gets. And yet, every 20 miles or so along this remote, beautiful and rugged shoreline is a high-end condo resort that will blow you away. It is a 150-mile stretch of highway that has incredible rugged beauty and surprisingly progressive little pockets of stores, coffee stops, restaurants and artist colonies.

I went to Bluefin Bay but drove through several other resorts that also looked nice. They have great restaurants, onsite spas, and a perfect balance of either endless outdoor activities or complete rest and isolation. There is wireless internet but I (probably a good thing) didn't realize that until my last day, and blessedly little to no cell signal.

I got a small condo right on the shore, with Lake Superior pounding the ledgerock about 30 feet from where I slept, with a wood burning fireplace and a firewood bin that was stocked for me daily, full kitchen, jacuzzi and who knows what all else. There is nothing in this world to make you forget business more than spending a few nights staring into a fire while listening to the waves outside your windows. I had a 42" flat screen HD TV right next to the fireplace, but didn't watch it much.

I spent at least 2-3 hours per day sitting on a rock or bench just watching the waves. They are like fire, I realized. Mesmerizing because they are rythmic and steady, and at the same time infinitely changing and varied. There is something about Lake Superior that is powerful, foreboding, great and empty, and every spot on it feels like the end of the world. The shore in that area is all ledgerock - no sand beaches - so you don't get a lot of people and radios and coolers and frisbees and the like. Just the rare walker in a windbreaker or sweatshirt, sometimes with a dog. I did absolutely nothing but watch the waves - from my balcony, from wherever I was walking, from the shore, from the booth at the restaurant - the whole world can center around the shoreline.

I would give a lot to have this small slice of sanity and escape be a little closer to where I live - oh the lucky folks from Minneapolis that are within 3-4 hours! I'd be using it for long weekends several times a year.

So thanks for the indulgence for my description of my trip, and for the Bullpen as a forum to post it. I thought several times of the colllectors with Minnesota ties - the Behrens brothers, tbob, Todd S who may not have connections here but I know he is a Twins fans, Bruce Babcock (and Bruce, I had two people say "uffda!" to me and now I actually understand it!) Not sure if you guys are familiar with the area I'm talking about, but if you are ... then you know what I mean.

Now that I'm back and settled down some, maybe I will resume posting more regularly.

J

jmk59 wrote:They are like fire, I realized. Mesmerizing because they are rythmic and steady, and at the same time infinitely changing and varied.

How very pre-Socratic sounding. I take it you've read Heraclitus, Joann?


I've never been to Minny and frankly never considered it but it sounds nice. I'm just a few great lakes away. Have you seen much of Canada before in your travels?

welcome back joann, i enjoy your long-winded posts . some people have a way with words. i'm usually blunt and brutish so i admire people that can articulate and communicate their ideas.

Sounds like Grand Superior Lodge?

In the fall the area is absolutely amazing! Next time eat at New Scenic Cafe, about 20 miles north of Duluth.

I'm from Minneapolis (soon to be St. Paul) and my wife and I travel up there 2 or 3 times a year.

Sean

Thank you very much for that post Joann.

It was nice to read that and get a visual image of what it was like. It actually let me escape from my work for a few minutes.

I know what you mean Joann....

Having 2 kids and being a stay at home dad, it gets a little crazy. We went to Maine for a week and it was great for the kids but it wore me out chasing after my daughter everyday. The wife a i are planning a trip to Vegas, just the 2 of us.


Glad you had a great time!!


Mark

When I read the title I though she meant she found hell, which would be understandable if she had visited in winter. In the summer, MN isn't bad, but the winters generally suck. I do like the snow though. When I lived in CA the first thing I began to miss was the snow. I just don't like shoveling it

Jay

Square_Frame_Ramly wrote:
The wife a i are planning a trip to Vegas, just the 2 of us.

Mark...when are you planning it? I'll be in Vegas with my wife Sept. 6-9.

Wish i could join you...we are waiting for my daughter to get a bit older. She turns 2 today and would like her to be at least 4 to leave here with my in-laws.

I went to Vegas in 2005 with my wife and had a great time, stayed at Monte Carlo!!! The thing is, you really need to go with guy friends to Vegas.....too many fine woman there, my eyes were all over the place!!!


Mark

Square_Frame_Ramly wrote:The thing is, you really need to go with guy friends to Vegas.....too many fine woman there, my eyes were all over the place!!!


Mark

Yeah, that won't work for me. I went the week before I got married in 2004. The wifey found out about my shenanigans and needless to say, I will never be able to go there without her again. That's alright though....for my current trip it will be me and 5 ladies. I got invited to an all girl trip.

P.S. Yes I know it's supposed to be "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", but she still found out.

You lucky Dog...

Actually, according to this postcard the end of the earth is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I live in Minnesota, but I went to school in Houghton, so I'm allowed to make fun of both places.

I bet Michigan doesn't have a town full of Nimrods like in Nimrod, MN

Jay

Well not doubt Michigan has it's remote locations as well, especially in the UP. I've spent time on Lake Superior from the south shoreline (Mich), and was surprised at how different the entire character of the shore is in Minnesota - more rugged, less sand, redder rock (from the iron).

I drove almost the entire length of Wisconsin - from Chicago to Duluth - to get there. Wisconsin is pretty much like Mich, and my overall comparison to Mich was summed up as: fewer towns, more deer, slower drivers. As in ... OMG people, it's the pedal on the right! Didn't drive as much in Minnesota, but they appear to have picked up the conservative driving habits of their brethren next door in Wisconsin. (Although in fairness I should admit that when I was driving back OUT of Minnesota after my few days at the end of the world, I was also going speed limit and no faster. Must be that if you live there you are naturally more relaxed.)

Thanks again for allowing me to be self-indulgent and providing a forum to post that, and also for the nice comments in response to my post. (And cool pix too - love the End of Earth sign). I'm def starting to feel more like myself again, sooo ... look out - back to posting.

Off to take a final exam, two more next week. Yeah.

J

(David - I've never been as far west in Mich as Houghton. Is the earth/shoreline there more reddish like in Minn, or more sandy bluffs like in the eastern part of the UP?)

Jay, is there a Dunderhead, MN?

E, that is where Lee and I live

Jay

sabrjay wrote:I bet Michigan doesn't have a town full of Nimrods like in Nimrod, MN

Jay

Hey Jay, I'll take that bet.

Ever heard of Watersmeet, MI? They were the subject of a documentary series on Sundance Channel last year. Very good show.

http://tinyurl.com/38x9pg