Pages

Minnesota. Part 2

Carnivorous pitcher plant
Driving northwest, we were headed to the Lake of the Woods area.  Stopping in Big Bog State Recreation Area for a couple of nights, we were greeted by a sorely needed downpour.  Though not nearly enough to dent the severe drought conditions, we did experience about an inch of rain. 

Big Bog is divided into two parts.  We were camped in the smaller Southern Unit near the slow-moving, muddy Tamarac River.  The river flows into the Upper Red Lake and is known for it’s known for boating and fishing, but we really didn’t think we’d want to eat any fish coming out of this water.  The critical drought conditions surely accounted for the river’s current poor condition.

     

The Northern Unit of the Park, located 7 miles north of the campground, includes Lake Ludlow

Along the boardwalk
and a one-mile boardwalk over a tiny portion of the 500-square-mile peat bog.  The plastic grating that forms the boardwalk allows sunlight to reach the plants under the walk.  Numerous orchid species flourish in the bog in the early summer, but by August they have disappeared.  We did, however, see hundreds of the insect-consuming pitcher plants.  Bacteria and plant enzymes digest the bugs that become trapped in the plants.  In the late 1800s, farmers tried to tame the bog by creating canals through the peatlands.  But, the bog is an acidic and nutrient-poor wetland and attempts at farming were a dismal failure. 


Continuing to head northwesterly, we settled for a couple of nights at the town of Roseau’s campground.  On our arrival, and on subsequent outings, we took advantage of multiple bike trails around town.  One trail led us through a freshly harvested hayfield.  


Sno-cat #2
This small town of 2700 is home to Polaris Industries.  The company produces snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and military vehicles.  They are said to employ 1500 residents, so this is a true company town.  Though tours of the factory are offered daily, we opted instead for a visit to the Polaris Experience Center.  The Center tells the story of the company that's been an integral part of this town since its inception in 1956.  From the second snowmobile ever made (the first was destroyed in a fire), to historic photos, and product displays, this tour through the company's history provides an intimate overview of the company’s founders and their challenges.  The woman showing us through the exhibit had first started working for the company in 1965 and still maintained her excitement for the company and its products. 

    

Driving east to Baudette, the “Walleye Capital of the World”, we secured a campsite in the

31' northern pike
 Timber Mill Community Park.  The USA/Canadian Border was located along the Rainy River that ran fifty yards behind our site.  We had this lovely little park to ourselves.  A dock along the river provided the opportunity to try for walleye.  I had given up on fishing for the day, but within a few minutes of my departure Alan reeled in a 31” northern pike.  Along this river, that meant the fish fell within the slot that required his return to the water.  But, not long after returning the pike, he caught a 16” small-mouthed bass.  So our dinner menu was planned.    

 

Biking into town, we visited the Bay Front Park. This is the home of Willie Walleye, the 40-foot, 2.5-ton “ambassador” for Lake of the Woods.  Willie has overlooked Baudette Bay since 1959.


Rainy River at Franz Javne SP
Traveling east the following day, we stopped for a night at Franz Javne State Park.  At 118 acres, it is Minnesota’s smallest state park.  Walleye continued to evade us but we caught a half dozen or so small-mouthed bass but released them all.  Once again, we had the whole park to ourselves.  This time though, our campsite provided a view of the Rainy River.  


Smoke from multiple fires, we had been monitoring, in northeastern Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario began converging on the area.  Though our original plan was to travel further east into the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), we segued to the south.  The USDA Forest Service had closed access to and camps within the BWCAW, and the only road between the BWACW gateway town of Ely and North Shore Drive, our next intended destination, was closed as fires crossed the highway.  Our next destination, Scenic State Park. 

Pitcher Plant flower


With Willie Walleye







No comments:

Post a Comment