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Duluth, MN
Duluth is a major port city in Minnesota and the county seat of Saint Louis County. Duluth has a population of 86,293 and is the 4th largest city in Minnesota. It is the second-largest city on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It has the largest metropolitan area on the lake with a population of 279,771 in 2010, the second-largest in the state.
Situated on the north shore of Lake Superior at the westernmost point of the Great Lakes, Duluth is accessible to oceangoing vessels from the Atlantic Ocean 2,300 miles away via the Great Lakes Waterway and the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
A tourist destination for the Midwest, Duluth features the United States’ only all-freshwater aquarium, the Great Lakes Aquarium; the Aerial Lift Bridge, which spans the Duluth Ship Canal into the Duluth–Superior Harbor; and Minnesota Point (known locally as Park Point), the world’s longest freshwater baymouth bar, spanning 6 miles.
We found a most amazing RV Park, which wasn’t really a park but the winter boat storage area. During the summer it has power and water for RVs. And it is in sight of the famous Aerial Lift Bridge and walking distance from a whole array of tourist activities.
Bad driving day; tall ships
Normally, a 90 mile drive is a no brainer but today was the exception. First, the main highway — I-35 — was closed to large vehicles like ours, and we had a LONG detour. In fact, we got lost on this detour. When we were finally on track, we were in downtown Duluth, navigation busy city roads. To top it off, we had a long descent to the waterfront. Since the road was full of traffic, and windy, and with stop signs, I didn’t manage my brakes well and when we got to the bottom they were smoking and smelling like burnt metal. After a cool down, all was well again and we drove on to our camp site.
This was the Tall Ships Festival week in Duluth, with 6 full masted ships stopping over. We took walk and viewed the ships, of an era now long gone. Aaarghh,matey!
The HMS Bounty, coming in to dock
Don't know how you manage all that rigging....
The bowsprit of the "Europa", a Dutch ship
The rigging of the "Europa"
One of the ships returning to harbor
These ships are on a race,and they leave here (Duluth, MN) tomorrow. However, the exact departure time and place is not pblished. I had hoped to get a picture of these ships under sail, but the best I can do is a copy of the photo of the “Europa”…
Laninga's Travel Blog 