High point of the day: We visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota. Wading through the waters, we walk across the river where it starts its 2,552 mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The kids put on their swim suits and jump around in the cool, fresh water. We see loons and a snapping turtle.
Quote of the day: “If you want to write about something provocative you should cover the controversy over where the real headwaters of the Mississippi is," says Maris Kurmis of Minneapolis, who we meet at the headwaters. "Some people think it's Lake Itasca but others insist it's Elk Lake. People round here can get really worked up over this."
Low point of the day: A mother duck and her ducklings are waddling across the freeway between Lake Itasca and Minneapolis. My husband changes lanes to avoid them but the semi-truck behind us runs right over them. The urban-wilderness interface is often unkind to the little creatures.
Photo of the day: The headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.
Sound bite of the day: Nels Tryggestad was dropping a fishing line into the Mississippi River in Little Falls, Minn., between Lake Itasca and Minneapolis.
Miles: 254 miles
Total miles: 574
Hours in car: 7
Total hours in car: 11
Weather: Sunny, clear, 85 degrees
Expenses
Hotel: $76 (Best Western Bemidji Inn)
Breakfast: free at hotel
Lunch: $13.69 (Lueken’s Village Foods/picnic of two sandwiches, fruit salad, cranberries)
Itasca State Park entrance fee: $5
Pressed penny: 51 cents
Soda: $2
Gas: $31.76
Dinner: $16.30 (Morey’s Fish/picnic of peeled shrimp, smoked salmon, cheese and crackers)
Dessert: $4.26 (Culver’s Frozen Custard/one medium)
Coffee: $1.70
Total: $146.96
Total for trip: $335.21
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