Being given the use of a friends car I got out and about on some day trips from Minneapolis. The first place i drove to was Red Wing, a town at the side of the Mississippi river. Now known best for the brand of shoes with the same name it was actually named after a 19th century Dakota Sioux chief. It was previously home to a prolific clay industry.

Red Wing

I was amazed at the amount of churches here, i stood on one street corner and could easily see 4 or 5.  It isn’t uncommon to see more than one church in a small town.

I left Red Wing and drove east over the Eisenhower Bridge which takes you into Wisconsin,  heading south on the I35.

Stopping at one of the many historical markers it stated that i was on one of the most scenic drives in the US – some claim !! I was next to Lake Pepin, the largest natural forming lake on the Mississippi river covering a total of 38 sq miles, most of which was frozen.

Most of Lake Pepin was frozen –

Driving as far as Nelson i turned around and drove back toward Hastings, another picturesque town next to the river.

A few days later i travelled to Duluth which sits at one end of Lake Superior. The edge of the lake was currently frozen encouraging some people to walk across it. 

This guy even got on his bike to cycle across it –

The frozen edge of Lake Superior –

I got brave the next day and walked out onto the ice, but stayed very near the edge !!

The most photographed site in Duluth, the aerial lift bridge which is still very much in use today –

Built over 100 years ago it spans the Duluth Ship Canal –

Entrance to the Duluth ship canal –

It’s a little known fact that Bob Dylan was originally from Duluth, they remember him so well they named a scenic drive after him –

Duluth seems to be a very popular place on the craft ale brewing scene. It is home to the Hoops brewery, the Canal Park brewery, Bent Paddle brewery and more. There was even a distillery somewhere.

I visited the Hoops brewery which has an impressive bar on site where you can try the beers.

Many, many beers on offer !!

Grabbed one of these in the Canal Park brewery bar –

Travelling north from Duluth i drove up scenic highway 61 which takes you all the way up to Grand Portage. There are many nice towns along the way and you simply can’t stop at them all !

I saw a sign for Split Rock Lighthouse State Park so pulled in for a look around. I wasn’t expecting to see a lighthouse on a lake but  soon found out that sometimes there are huge storms during the winter. Once such storm in 1905 claimed a total of 30 ships, it was then agreed that a lighthouse should be built.

Split Rock coastine –

Split Rock Lighthouse –

I drove as far as Grand Marais, couldn’t make it as far as Grand Portage as i was heading inland to Ely for a couple of nights.

The frozen shore of Grand Marais –

I stopped for 2 nights in Ely which was a couple of hours drive of twisty roads inland. It was the coldest i had felt so far, with temperatures dropping to over -10 degrees at night. A few restaurants and shops were closed until the spring but it had been a very scenic drive there. Although some dog sledding was continuing until the end of March they were fully booked so didn’t manage to get on a trip.

Nice pick-up in Ely – ripe for restoration !!

It was time to return to south Minneapolis, i had fortunately managed to avoid more snow fall and been for a good drive !