World United States Minnesota Lake Bemidji State Park

John and Janet go RVing John and Janet 2010 Midwest Trip

Day Trip To Lake Bemidji State Park, MN Jul 4, 2010

We wake up to rain on the Fourth of July. We had a lot of thunder and lightning last night. The rain has really cooled things off again. I might as well do the laundry.

By the time the laundry is done, the sun is out. We drive to Lake Bemidji State Park. Lake Bemidji is the first lake that the Mississippi River flows into from Lake Itasca. Bemidji has labeled itself the first city on the Mississippi River.

The park is nice. The campground is full. There are many people around. After all, it is the Fourth of July.

We walk along the lake. I am very tempted to go hiking. There is a path along the lake to Rocky Point which is the highest point on the lake. A different hike leads to a boardwalk over a bog. Common sense wins out. My ankle is feeling better each day. Why overdo it? John and I settle for the Visitor Center.

I have changed my mind again about my mystery woodpecker in North Dakota. I am convinced it is a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. I never knew what a yellow-bellied sapsucker looked like or that it was a member of the woodpecker family!

We leave Lake Bemidji State Park and find a place nearby that rents boats. Today is busy but starting tomorrow, things will be slowing down. If the weather is good tomorrow, we know where to rent a boat.

We continue to drive the rest of the way around Lake Bemidji. We have seen where the Mississippi River enters Lake Bemidji. We now cross the Mississippi River where it leaves Lake Bemidji on its way south.

We drive through the town of Bemidji. We check out Diamond Point Park. We think this is where the fireworks will be tonight. We will skip the fireworks this year. We are not night people!

Route: MN 197, 71, Lakewood Drive, 21, 20, 19, 197

Campground: Bemidji KOA