September 27, 2017 Itasca Lake, Minnesota

We came to Itasca lake because I wanted to see and walk in the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

The mighty Mississippi begins it 2552 miles to the gulf of Mexico. John standing at the exact spot where the Mississippi starts and me standing in the first few feet. 

The river runs north around some glacial moraines before it starts south. A photo of the near the head of the river with lots of wild flowers. 

Itasca State Park,  on the Great River Road in Minnesota and an award for stepping across the Mississippi river. After the headwaters I rode on the bike trail along the edge of the lake for aways. It is very lovely among fall colors.

The swim beach with the historic bathhouse and an exact replica of the Wegmann store built in 1893. It was the original store and post office of the area in it's time. 

Leaves of fall colors and fall colors on the drive there. The log sled used to haul logs for the Wegmann store and the highlighted areas are indian burial mounds.

We are now camped at Camp Itasca RV park, Doorway to the Mississippi headwaters and God's Country.  Tomorrow is John's birthday. He is toasting with a Summer IPA from the Bemidji brewery over his walleye sandwich at his pre birthday dinner. 

The Birthday dinner was at the historic Douglas Lodge in Itasca Lake State park. The lodge has been serving guests for 110 years.

It was rainy in the am. We went on the Wilderness Drive in Itasca State Park. Soon after we got out the sun came out. The trees are lovely. John is in the center of this shot. We hiked all the short scenic hikes along the drive. We ended up with about 4 miles in the end.

John in an old growth red and white pine forest. 200-300 year old trees. The old growth trees have a pleasant aura. Most of the old growth pines in Minnesota were cut down for lumber in the early 1900's. But these were saved by making them a park. The former record red pine was topped by the wind and now the record one is in another park. This one was still 300 years old, just shorter now. The poison ivy here is huge. A single leaf is as big as my hand. Spring evenings find the ponds in the park resounding with the loud calls of the male frogs trying to attract females. Imaging frogs that quack like ducks and snore!

A stand of birch trees. John was happy on his birthday to pose with the record biggest, oldest  white pine that is 300 years old, it makes him feel young.

John walking to the fire look out tower in fall colors. The tower is 100 feet high. Spooky high if you want my opinion.

The view from the top was wonderful. There are two of the 300 lakes that are in this park in the photo. John walking back from the fire tower in a golden tree tunnel.

The chairs at the lodges and visitors centers have a loon, a moon and pine trees on them. A bunch of roots and John in another grove of old growth pines.

John with his birthday piece of peanut butter fudge and an award for stepping over the Mississippi attached.