Pre-hike entry #3
July 11, 2003

Ahhh, it feels good to be out of the truck, where Allen and I have spent the last two and a half days and two nights. I'm sitting on a bench swing on the dock at Gunflint Lodge, watching ducks and cloud formations.

And now I'm inside Gunflint Lodge, looking out at the lake. The breeze off the water combined with overcast skies make for chilly air, so I decided to make use of the lounge. Quite a change from where I was a couple of days ago, in the hot and dry desert southwest.

Allen and I left Albuquerque at 6:30a.m. on Wednesday and arrived in the land of 10,000 lakes yesterday, Thursday afternoon. We stopped in downtown Duluth just as the rain let up, and touched base with by cellphone with Doug, our shuttle driver for Sunday. We arranged to meet him at the Superior Hiking Trail Association office in Two Harbors at 8:30. Doug will take us to the Kek trailhead east of Ely, a two and half-hour drive.

After talking to Doug, Allen and I went to the rest area where the Forest Service office in Duluth is located, and chatted with Frank Linval. Allen had spoken with Frank, who's an expert on BWCAW backcountry regulations, reservations and permits, about a month ago, and Frank had asked if we'd stop by after the hike to tell him about the trip. We decided to say hello beforehand as well. The Forest Service personnel in the area, including Frank Linval and Donna Hart at the Grand Marais office, have been so helpful to us in planning this hike, as have Sarah at the Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte and Sheryl Hindermann from Gunflint Outfitters. We've had a chance to meet them all and will likely see them again during the trip when we re-supply.

The drive to Minnesota was draining but enjoyable. Allen and I talked of epic adventures and dream trips.

"Okay," I said, studying the map of the U.S. in the road atlas, "you could hike from Key West to the A.T., then hike the A.T. and the International A.T. Then you could bike over and paddle down the Mississippi, then bike up to Montana and hike the CDT, bike over and hike the PCT, then bike across the country."

We talked about the American Discovery Trail and the Trans-Canada Trail. So much to see and do!

"So, what about those semi trucks when you're bike touring?" I asked, as one zipped past, shaking Allen's little pickup and sending a blast of hot air through the driver's side window, which sucked my hair out mine.

Allen said, "No, it's the RVs you have to watch out for. The truckers are professional drivers; they'll move over if they can. RV-ers are the ones who'll getcha."

No sooner had he finished that sentence when, lo and behold, his statement was emphasized with an example. A pickup towing a large RV suddenly turned from the lefthand lane, across our lane, into a gas station on the right. Allen hit the brakes and leaned on the horn, but the other driver didn't stop and just barely missed us. We sat there staring at the man and his wife, who stared back at us and shrugged.

After we got over being perturbed, Allen and I laughed at the timing. In fact, we had a lot of laughs during the ride and an all-out giggle-fit while spending the second night sleeping in the front of the truck at a rest stop. Good to know my hiking partner has a sense of humor, something that often comes in handy on a long trek.

Well, the sun is now shining, and I see people out in paddle boats on Gunflint Lake. So I think I'll stretch my legs and see what Allen is up to. I'm anxious to get on the trail.


--Ramkitten