My first trip to Lake Superior was courtesy of Clarkson University faculty and student (from Uganda, working on his pH.D), who were investigating the relationship between atmospheric pollutants (pharmaceuticals/personal hygiene products) and the Great Lakes. We set up high volume air filters and ran lakewater through 3 different pumps (surface, midlevel, mercury filtered) for these people at two 24 hr stations (Keweenaw Point and the Apostle Islands). Everything went as planned. No excitement at all.
We dropped the science team off in Superior, WI instead of the original plan of Duluth, MN due to a Maritime Festival with an abundance of tall ships in port. This meant that for most of the crew, travel was restricted to Superior, a poorer suburb of Duluth about 15 min by car outside the city.
However, I was very lucky. My awesome girlfriend decided to come visit in Duluth and booked a hotel and rental car!
This made for a much richer experience for me, not just sleeping in a bed I could actually sprawl out in. We both toured the city by foot, checked out the local eateries before taking a scenic drive about an hour north to see the sights. Unfortunately, due to the economic strain, Minnesota decided to shut down their government during her stay. We were unable to see Split Rock Lighthouse (settled for a very very foggy picnic) but we were able to enjoy the lovely Gooseberry Falls and the Two Harbors Light. Definitely a nice trip. The roads reminded me of the drive to Quebec from Skowhegan, ME, very rural, with the presence of urban sprawl.
It should be noted that the average heat index was in the mid-90's with a humidity of around 80% minimum during my time here. Very sticky. Next time I stop in Duluth, it has work to do.
We dropped the science team off in Superior, WI instead of the original plan of Duluth, MN due to a Maritime Festival with an abundance of tall ships in port. This meant that for most of the crew, travel was restricted to Superior, a poorer suburb of Duluth about 15 min by car outside the city.
However, I was very lucky. My awesome girlfriend decided to come visit in Duluth and booked a hotel and rental car!
This made for a much richer experience for me, not just sleeping in a bed I could actually sprawl out in. We both toured the city by foot, checked out the local eateries before taking a scenic drive about an hour north to see the sights. Unfortunately, due to the economic strain, Minnesota decided to shut down their government during her stay. We were unable to see Split Rock Lighthouse (settled for a very very foggy picnic) but we were able to enjoy the lovely Gooseberry Falls and the Two Harbors Light. Definitely a nice trip. The roads reminded me of the drive to Quebec from Skowhegan, ME, very rural, with the presence of urban sprawl.
It should be noted that the average heat index was in the mid-90's with a humidity of around 80% minimum during my time here. Very sticky. Next time I stop in Duluth, it has work to do.
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