Day 10 – Thunder Bay, Ont. to Duluth, MN

Rest area south of the boarder

Minnesota waterfall

Home of Aerostitch

Back in the USSA.

After a day of rest, we were ready to get on the road again and away from Thunder Bay. By morning, the rain had stopped, but the skies were gray and the wind was blowing hard from the northwest. It was 46 degrees when we left. Certainly helps to have the right gear for the weather, which we do.

It was only about 40 miles to the boarder and after a stop for the obligatory customs interrogation; we were riding into northern Minnesota. The road from Thunder Bay to the boarder was mostly inland, but as soon as we crossed into MN, the route again followed the shore of Lake Superior. Almost immediately, the skies began to clear and the temperatures improved. Life is good.

One thing that we both noticed, was the difference between the Canadian shore and the US. Canada’s shoreline was sparsely populated and what few towns there were seemed to almost ignore their proximity to Lake Superior. There were no cute little hamlets, no resorts, no indication of any celebration of their location. Minnesota’s shoreline is quite different. It is lined with cozy waterfront towns, parks and resorts like a string of pearls.

We stopped for lunch near one of the parks and, conveniently, there was a picturesque waterfall to photograph. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have taken any pictures at all!

Once in Duluth, our mission was clear: Find Aerostitch, the Holy Mecca of long-distance motorcyclists around the world. Known for their high-quality line of motorcycle touring clothing and accessories, it is a must-see if you’re in the area.

The building is an old brick warehouse in an older industrial part of town. Very non-descript. Inside, it is strictly business, with no fancy retail area. The expensive touring gear is manufactured right upstairs and the main level is mostly devoted to shipping and storage, with a very small area devoted to retail for the few who actually find themselves here.

We both bought a couple of items, nothing too expensive, and left to find a hotel for the evening. That proved to be a little more difficult than we anticipated. It would appear that Duluth is a pretty popular destination for Labor Day weekend and we ended up much further east, in Superior, WI for the evening.

Duluth is a fairly large town with a well developed downtown area and waterfront. It is the largest active commercial freshwater port in the world. The economy is also supported by rail transport, banking, and is the county seat of Louis County. Higher education institutions include the University of Minnesota, Duluth as well as several others.

Tomorrow we’ll head toward Houghton, MI on the way to Copper Harbor, a favorite from our last visit to these parts.