More Duluth Memories

Canal Park looks much different today then the past. No longer a industrial zone.

Pictured is the Lakewalk in 1988 under construction. I believe this photo was taken in September of that year. No Motels yet along the lake. Only metal industrial buildings.

Also pictured is a old Postcard of the Arrowhead Bridge. I drove across it in the early 1980's when they were constructing the Bong Bridge. It was quite the old wooden structure. Built in 1929. I recall thinking it was moving or shaking when driving on it. No doubt did? Duluth was always a fascination with the High Bridge or Blatnik Bridge, Aerial Lift Bridge,all the sights and of course Skyline Drive. If you love history this area is overflowing with it.

The Flame Supper Club

While reading a book recently about the Duluth lift bridge history I noticed picture in the book of a tour boat called the “Flame”. That triggered a memory of the Flame Supper club. Once located where the present day Aquarium now stands. This was fancy dining for that time. Not quite certain when it opened but I’m guessing late 40’s or early 50’s. I ate there only once in the very early 1980’s perhaps 1981? Hard to recall that long ago but I know we really were splurging at the time doing so. We quite often camped when in the area or stayed in a inexpensive motel if it was a rainy weekend. So to have that fancy meal was a real treat. I have found no pictures online of the Flame tour boat but it was the predecessor to the Vista Fleet that now provides that service. When I first visited the Canal Park area during that time it was a scrap yard and industrial buildings on the waterfront which now hosts nice motels and the lake walk. Quite the improvement from the past for all of us to enjoy. The Zenith City only gets better in time.
And yes I do post more about Duluth and the North Shore then other areas of the region. But soon there will be more postings about the Lake Superior region as trips are planned for Canada and Upper Michigan.

Climate Change?

No debate about CO2 levels or warming, melting glaciers or jet stream patterns.The pro and cons and political arguments can go on all day on talk radio. All I know is it's been warmer then normal recently in the Northland. Check out this live tower cam from the local TV station in Duluth. I saved this shot because it was a nice picture. I ran across it the other day and thought this is when the ice left the lake? Yes we have had a very early spring this year!

Just a little hike around the lake

A couple is spending their summer hiking around Lake Superior! I'm jealous even if I doubt I could ever complete such a task myself. I certainly would want to try. But we all can follow their progress on one of the nicest looking web sites I've seen:

http://www.fullcirclesuperior.org/

Summer planning

Time really flies and summer planning has begun. The winter has just gone and spring has arrived. Thoughts instantly turn to what are we doing this summer? It's been awhile since a road trip to Ontario Canada so that is in the planning. The North Shore is part of the route and is a favorite drive. You have to stay somewhere and it has to have a historic story. I like history and you don't find that at a Best Western. So one planned stop will be the Cascade Lodge.

http://www.cascadelodgemn.com/

One of the lodges that opened just before the Great Depression and expanded when HWY 61 was paved and tourism after WWII really took off. Imagine driving to Canada in those early days staying at Lodges and eating pie in one of the many Cafes that dotted the drive. Some that are still there today. So hikes are being planned, sights to see and see again. These lodges fill up on weekends and holidays so planning is key. I can't imagine anybody being bored driving around Lake Superior. That just can't be possible! I have a niece that wants to have a wilderness experience she announced this spring. How about seeing a moose? Isle Royale?? Gunflint trail?

Kakabeka Falls in Thunder Bay? Nipigon Canada? I love the planning as much as the trip.

Marquette in April

A few posts ago I made a comment about how Marquette residents are known to snow blow their driveways in April. Well it happened again yesterday with 10 inches of snow. This picture is the Marquette lighthouse in a beautiful white April snow scene.

http://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/

Statement as of 1:45 am EDT on April 09, 2010

... Record daily maximum snowfall set at the Marquette National
Weather Service office on April 8th...

A record daily snowfall of 9.8 inches was set at the Marquette
National Weather Service office yesterday. This breaks the old
record of 6.2 inches set in 1979.

Split Rock Lighthouse turns 100 years old this summer.

The most photographed light house on the North shore and perhaps the Midwest turns 100 years old this summer. So it's a good year to stop once again and check out the event and see one of the finest lighthouses on Lake Superior.

http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/srl/srl100.htm