August 10, 2020

Penmarallter Campground Two Harbors, Minnesota

This morning we said goodbye to Ely. We really had a fun time there!

Even though it was a longer ride, we chose to take Scenic Route 1 through the Superior National Forest. It was a lovely road to travel on…lots of trees and LOTS of lakes! At the end of Route 1 we were treated to a glimpse of Lake Superior.

We took Route 61 toward Two Harbors through a couple of tunnels and along the shoreline of the lake.

We settled into the Penmarallter Campground and then in the later afternoon we went to the waterfront in Two Harbors. We started at the Ore Docks. Iron Ore is brought here to the lake in train cars. The taconite or iron ore is processed into pellets. These pellets are loaded onto ships…10,000,000 tons a year. These pellets are shipped to the lower great lakes where they are offloaded and made into steel. The pictures do not really show the enormity of this operation…it was really quite something to see!

This is one of the first pieces of iron ore mined in Minnesota. It weighs 700 pounds and is 70% iron ore.

This tugboat, the Edna G., was put into service beginning in 1896. She was retired in 1961 and is still fully operational.

We looked at the outdoor exhibits for the Duluth and Iron Range Depot.

We walked along the shore of Agate Bay.

And then out onto the jetty which serves as a navigational aid.

And around the point.

We ruffled a few feathers as we walked by mama duck and her ducklings.

The Two Harbors Light Station was built in 1892 after several ore boats ran aground or wrecked on the rocky coast. This is Minnesota’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse on Lake Superior.

McQuades Pub and Grill was just around the corner and so we stopped and ordered some dinner…mussels and salmon Caesar salads…a really delicious meal!