This day was a disaster. In Duluth, I planned to take Minnesota road 35, which goes down to the Missisippi River and then follows it. Instead I ended up on Interstate 35. Both go south, so everything looked OK on my GPS and compass. Took me four hours to recognize my mistake, and then another two to catch up with the Misssippi. So almost the entire day was lost. And it was a beautiful day too; the first day with the temperature just right.

But the final hour or so along the Missisippi was very nice. The river is wide and slow here and the landscape is hilly: this is the part that the glaciers of the past forgot to level.

I passed a long string of motels with "no vacancy" signs before I found a room at the Big River Inn at Genoa. Actually, the "room" has two bedrooms with three double beds, a bathroom, and a full kitchen. All for less than $50. Finally a full-size table to do this stuff on. The restaurant made me a fresh pot of coffee when I asked for a coffee to take out.

Pictures (click for larger size):