07/11 to 07/13 - Bemidji KOA, Minnesota

  07/08 to 07/11

Bemidji KOA

Bemidji, Minnesota

Welcome to Bemidji, Minnesota, the first city on the Mississippi (pop. 14,574) in the Land of 10,000 lakes. The ride today was another pleasant but lonely trip along route 2. Lonely because the towns were few and far between and none could be seen from the roadway. Dirt roads on either side led into the forest area. Now and then speed limits were reduced to pass through small towns with minimal services. Interestingly, these town had the Ojibwe name above it. I had to stop once for fuel and was pleasantly surprised at the $3.449 price of diesel, the cheapest I've seen thus far. On either side nothing but the beautiful tall pines trees that make up Chippawa National Forest.

The area that is now Bemidji was originally inhabited by the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people. The name "Bemidji" comes from the Ojibwe word "Bemijigamaag," which means "lake with crossing waters" or "river by a lake." This refers to the nearby Lake Bemidji and the Mississippi River that flows through it. I was fascinated seeing the Mississippi River sign as I drove over a short bridge with little more than a stream running beneath. Street signs in Bemidji include Ojibwe language translations alongside English. This initiative is part of efforts to preserve and promote the Ojibwe language and culture.

Dan, Melanie on site 15 and me on site 16 once again allows us that neighborly association from coffee in the morning with Dan and evening chats together. In a few days our traveling together for 1,330 miles together will come to an end. They in Grand Forks, ND and me headed for Washington State. It's been memorable. Traveling to attractions, dining together and seeing things I would not have seen had I been on my own. They have made this leg of my journey a terrific experience. Now what do they think? Ha! You'll have to ask them yourself.

Site is level with full hookups and shaded most of the day.

My neighbors setting up their fifth wheel

The perfect tour planner, Melanie set up our next day's excursion: a trip into the Itasca National Forest. Here we would hike to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and be able to walk across it. A feat not too many can brag about. For me, having visited New Orlans, it will mean I've been at both ends of the 2,552 mile river...and I walked across it.

Some history I learned at the visitor's center. In 1832, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft was led by Anishinabe guide Ozawindib to the source of the Mississippi River. It was on this journey that Schoolcraft, with the help of an educated missionary companion, created the name Itasca from the Latin words for "truth" and "head" by linking adjoining syllables: verITAS CAput, meaning "true head." In the late 1800s, Jacob V. Brower, historian, anthropologist and land surveyor, came to the park region to settle the dispute of the actual location of the Mississippi Headwaters. Brower saw this region being quickly transformed by logging, and was determined to protect some of the pine forests for future generations. It was Brower's tireless efforts to save the remaining pine forest surrounding Lake Itasca that led the state legislature to establish Itasca as a Minnesota state park on April 20, 1891, by a margin of only one vote. Through his conservation work and the continuing efforts of others throughout the decades, the splendor of Itasca has been maintained.

Dan noticed the Clampetts had arrived.

The large, rotating spherical model of the Earth at the entrance to the Visitors Center highlights the headwaters of the Mississippi River, emphasizing the global significance of this geographic location.

At the age of 24, in 1903, she became the first female park commissioner in the United States when she was appointed as the commissioner of Itasca State Park.

She's honored for protecting the park’s environment from logging interests. At the time, the Mississippi River logging company was illegally attempting to raise the water level of Lake Itasca to facilitate their logging operations, which would have caused significant damage to the surrounding ecosystem. Gibbs stood up to the loggers, even physically confronting them to prevent the construction of a dam. Her brave actions helped to preserve the integrity of the park, ensuring that Lake Itasca and its headwaters remained protected.

A huge gift shop

After that visit, it was off to the Headwaters.

And there it was. The Mighty Mississippi. This spot was prepared for the "walk across;" the path over the bridge lead to the actual beginning of this stream.

Along the path to the Headwaters; enlarged below should you care to read it.

A pleasant surprise at the end of the walk through the woods; to come upon the beautiful Lake Itasca. 

In the 1930's, the CCC installed boulders at the headwaters. These boulders were strategically placed to clearly mark the beginning of the Mississippi River and separated Lake Itasca and the river's initial flow. Melanie, far left and Dan walked across this also.

Looking downstream to where visitors can walk across the River.

Dan and Melanie make the crossing as I captured the moment. 

Then it was "should I? Or "shouldn't I?" I briefly weighed the pros and cons and decided to live my motto: 

Yup. I'll never pass by this place again. Just do it!

Overcoming my biggest fear, that of landing on my butt, I found the water to be refreshing, the current slow and the depth knee high. As mentioned earlier, having completed this and having visited New Orleans, I can claim to have been at the beginning and at the end of one of the longest rivers in the world... the 2,552 mile Mississippi.

The longest, of course, is the Nile at 4,130 miles. The longest river in the United States is the Missouri River. It stretches approximately 2,341 miles. The Missouri River begins in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana and flows generally east and south before joining the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. Combined with the Mississippi River, they form the longest river system in North America.

Later that afternoon, we drove into Bemidji to view "the number one attraction," the Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox statue. Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, these towering icons proudly welcome visitors to the Tourist Information Center. Inside the Center is the nationally known historic Fireplace of States constructed using 900 rocks from every state in the union, and every province in Canada.

Melanie and Dan

Pau's height is 18 feet and weighs 2½ tons. Babe weighs 5 tons.

The Fireplace of States created by Harry E. Roese–resort owner and manager of the Bemidji District State Employment office–decided to build a one-of-a-kind fireplace for his hometown in the 1920's. It started with him collecting rocks in the area of Lake Bemidji, but his idea soon expanded: what if he could get donations from every county in the state? And every state in the union? And every province in Canada. It was completed in 1935.

Outside the Visitors Center, there is the sculpture, created by artist John K. Daniels, depicting a Native American man and symbolizes the rich history of the Indigenous peoples in Minnesota.

Toward downtown Bemidji.

Our last dining experience in Bemidji was a visit to a Perkins Restaurant and Bakery. No, I've never eaten at a Perkins. For me, it's a trip to Newburgh, Middletown, Wappingers Falls or Matamoras, PA

I tried the shrimp and rice pilaf with grilled asparagus.

With that last supper tucked away and a short chat back at camp before turning in, another page ends and another begins tomorrow, our last stop together in North Dakota. Till then, stay cool, safe and happy. Hope you'll join me.

"In the calm and pristine waters of the Mississippi Headwaters, nature whispers the secrets of serenity and strength."

– Anonymous