Day 9: Duluth - Ely - International Falls

Today was a great run, starting with a drive on the northern shores of Lake Superior. At Illgen City, MN we turned north into the woods heading to Ely, MN, and from Ely, west and north to International Falls where we stayed in a cool basic motel just a couple blocks from the Rainy River that borders Canada.

I can’t say enough about the Fitger’s Inn in Duluth. Great service, great beer made there and a great variety of restaurants.

Our view of sunrise on Lake Superior. This was taken at 5:17am CDT, just after the sun woke me. We have to be prepared to wake up early by the sun shining in the cracks of the too small motel curtains! I am a morning person, except when I’m a night person the night before (which is most of the time, especially on this trip), so the early light will push us. All that said, what a great view this was!

We always stop at these tourist info centers when we can, and we always get a good tip or two on something that we’d otherwise miss.

Tanner has a paddle board rental business and today was set up on a beach on Lake Superior just out of Duluth.

Campers and paddlecraft were everywhere.

Once we left the Lake Superior shoreline we drove 60 miles mostly through thick forests and many lakes up to Ely. With an occasional quiet small town like this one.

Ely, MN. Ely is all about paddling and fishing in the boundary waters. One outfitter after another here.

Ely, MN. Hockey country up here.

Ely, MN. Beautiful golden hour light at 7:25pm. We arrived at International Fall about 9:45p, driving in the late light the whole way.