My steps today first takes me across the Red River into East Grand Forks. Once in Minnesota, I take SH 220 to the left and drive northbound for fifty mile until I arrive at SH 11, which is the highway that I will drive eastward as I continue on the Northern Tier Route (NTR). The plan is that I continue on the NTR all the way to Voyageurs National Park or to the point that it gets too cold for me at night that I must needs turn right and hightail it southward. That turning point comes sooner that I expected when the night time temperatures were repeatedly dropping into the low 30s. The decision to turn south occured just after attending a meeting with the friends in Beadette, Minnesota when I left the NTR and began my southbound drive on the next state highway. Yes, SH 72, allowed me to drive south for about 75 miles to Blackduck, Minnesota and connect with US 71. Once on the US highway, I did not stop until I arrived at Itasca State Park, where I overnighted in an electric campsite so that I could plug in my electrical, turn on my heater, recharge my batteries and get into a hot shower.

Upon leaving the state Park, while driving out, I see an access for the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) and stop to read the information kiosks and to take a couple of photos of the trail access. Too, I notice that the waymark were white blazes and after looking on my map, find out that this is not actually part of the NCNST, but is only an access trail that leads to the NCT.

After that brief stop, I then continues south through Minnesota, using mostly US 71. Methinks, one day, I will walk that trail, all 4.800 miles of it.