We couldn't resist a photo with Paul and Babe near Lake Bemidji. Hi, Chapter 32 is a short one that is all about a 3-day road trip to Northern Minnesota. On July 29, we started our trip with a bike ride from Nevis, a quaint town with a population of 400, to the even smaller Dorset, home to just 22 residents. The Heartland Trail connected these two small communities, each offering a surprising number of bars and restaurants despite their size. The following day, July 30, we explored Bemidji, famously known as the "First City on the Mississippi River." The city, situated by Lake Bemidji, boasts a historic downtown area and iconic landmarks like the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues, which add a playful nod to local folklore.  We couldn't resist a selfie with Paul and Babe. We were surprised to see there is a lakefront city park on the Bemidji State University campus.  There were a ton of students in the park and in the water during summer break.  We thought there...

  North face of Mount St. Helen's. Hi, On June 4, 2024, we embarked on a three-week road trip to the Pacific Northwest, a new destination for both of us.  We covered a lot of ground in three weeks, so we've decided to split the blog into two parts.  We already release Part 1 a few days ago.  Below is Part 2. On June 12, we left Olympia, WA and headed to Winstock, WA to see the Worlds Largest Egg....another Atlas Obscura suggestion.    Nothing remarkable about the World's Largest Egg.   Our next stop....Mount St. Helen's to see the blowout on the north side of the mountain.  Before we arrived at Mount St. Helen's we saw Mount Rainier.    In the distance, Mount Rainier is 14,411 ft above sea level and is the tallest mountain in Washington State.  Mount St. Helen's is 8,363 ft above sea level.   And we also stopped at the Yale Reservoir for lunch.    What a beautiful body of water surrounded by mountains.  M...