The 1999 Dodge Caravan finally rolled out of the Leonard Hall parking lot at around 12:20pm. Silence hangs in the cabin as we rocket across the shale plains of Lake Agassiz and head east to a place few get a chance to see. Mentally taking inventory and whatever else the discussion was limited to brief comments about all the problems North Carolina has with dead pigs.

 Entering into western and north-central Minnesota we pass the tar paper shack of Ball Club to where, "God is Good", "All the Time", at Trinity Trailer Sales 42 miles from Duluth. Silently carving across the beautiful state sharing the road with people like the Knight Riders, a snowmobile club in Proctor, Minnesota who among many other clandestine activities clean up the highways surrounding their city. Eventually Duluth rolled onto our hood and we all got our first mindful of Lake Superior.

 Lake Superior stretches as far as you can see and beyond. Duluth itself is a grim view of an automated future. The factories all gather around Superior. Massive steel fingers point outward in a radial pattern toward the surrounding hills, resembling a nest of steel spiders waiting for a drink.

 Outside of Duluth rests the North Shore highway, one of America’s more scenic drives. Due to lack of time we opted for the expressway. Everyone felt hunger creeping up and eventually someone spoke out…we would eat in Two Harbors.

 "I didn’t hit the hamburger highway in Duluth, that’s for sure.", commented Gerla, obviously contemplating the loss in fast food potential.

 In Two Harbors we opted for McDonald’s where we ate a backpacker’s dinner. The signs outside of Two Harbors mentioned Castle Danger…hopefully we will sneak by before sundown.

 It was close to eight when we arrive at the Grand Marias Municipal Campground.  Wheeling through intense road construction claimed many of our precious minutes. Construction is something to consider tomorrow when we need to get to the ferry service.

 The campground was silent when we arrived. One of the "campsites" was equipped with a full deck and lawn ornaments. One could only imagine what other atrocities lurk beyond the darkness. Everyone went to work setting up tents. It’s a good drill for the upcoming days, when the van is no longer accessible.
 
 

 It was then that I realized the differences between tents from Wal-Mart and those from places like REI. Gerla opted to sleep under the stars and Brian took the van. After a short hike to the edge of Superior and back we lit a small fire. After another odd mix of small talk and silence we all went to sleep.

Go to Day 2