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Trans Minnesota Adventure Trail (TMAT)

Wow!

Jim - You really take some awesome pics. The colors really pop, an the lighting is incredible. Have they been enhanced at all?

Thanks for sharing!

Hi Bob,

Most (almost all) of the photos are enhanced in Adobe Lightroom. I just started with Lightroom about a year ago. Some of the photos are run through Lightroom then tonemapped in Photmatix Pro HDR program. I like the look of the shadows being highlighted in the dark area of the motorcycle. I also get sick of seeing photos being enhanced, but I seem to do it anyways.


Here is an example:
The photo looks like a nice painting.
Does it look real? No
Does it make you want to be there? Yes
If a photo is nice to begin with . . . I always ask myself if I should play with it.

Check out https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim Klas Photography Facebook
and check out my Hot Rod Photos for examples of enhanced photos.


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:wave Hi Jim...

finally getting the hang of taking pictures aren't you :D
Always a treat to view your reports.

Helen says :wave

All the riding you and Helen do in Texas, I sure would like to see some of your Ride Reports.​


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The Pioneer Mine headframe

Ely ( EE-lee)
Ely, Minnesota

Ely is the largest "jumping off" town for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The BWCAW is renowned as a destination for both canoeing and fishing on its many lakes,
and is one of the most visited wilderness in the United States.

With extensive outfitting and other services,
Ely can credibly be claimed to do the most wilderness canoe outfitting of any small town

The wilderness area has 1,000 miles of canoe trails but be prepared to portage a bit


 
Did you ride your F650 on the Trans Minnesota Adventure Trail (TMAT)? What areas did you like best? Is this your favorite dual sport route from the cities to Duluth?

I did the eastern ride by GPS and feel I would like to ride some more in that area. Any suggestions.
No. I rode my DR350 on the Eastern route and took that south, then we crossed over into Iowa, then crossed over into Wisconsin (in Lansing) and picked up the Trans Wisconsin Trail. I haven't tried the northern route yet, but when I do I want to tie in some playtime either at Chengwatana or Nemadji or both. I've also been on some of the route not realizing on was on the route--I was just our for a ride.

Lansing bridge

HPIM4104-L.jpg

-K
 

Seven Bridges Road
Duluth
Seven Bridges Road runs from Hawk Ridge to London Road along Amity Creek.

Samuel Snively built the original drive and wooden bridges at his own expense around 1900.
The stone bridges were built after he gave the land as a park.
Later as mayor of Duluth, Snively encouraged the construction of many more miles of Skyline Parkway


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Skyline Parkway Scenic Byway


Skyline Parkway is one of Duluth's treasures,
showcasing the city from north to south
while providing great views
of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Bay

http://www.skylineparkway.org/


The Skyline Drive is Duluth's Scenic Byway,
stretching 25 miles
from Spirit Mountain (SW) to Seven Bridges Road (NE).







:brow
 



Wild Ricing Moon


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Wild Ricing Moon
89-foot high outdoor sculpture
adjacent to the Swenson Science Building
makes reference to elements of Duluth's surrounding native American Ojibwe culture.

The sculpture was designed by John David Mooney
and is called "Wild Ricing Moon"
and represents the traditional wild rice harvest.


The sculpture is at the University of Minnesota, Duluth


:)
 
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Duluth Minnesota -

& over the 2.78 mile Interstate 535 bridge
is Superior, Wisconsin

Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin
are located at the western end of Lake Superior
is considered the largest freshwater port in the world
&
ranks as the 19th-busiest port in the country overall

The combined urban population of Duluth and its adjacent area communities
over 125,000

Minnesota Point
pictured in the left section of the photo
the long, narrow sand spit that extends out from the Canal Park
The Point separates Lake Superior from Superior Bay and the Duluth Harbor Basin

Minnesota Point

approximately 7 miles in length,
and when included with adjacent Wisconsin Point,
which extends 3 miles out from the city of Superior, Wisconsin,
largest freshwater sand spit in the world at a total of 10 miles

https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=Minnesota+Point&ie=UTF-8&ei=LqDJUvGeCOLmyQHrtYHACw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg


sightseeing on the Duluth Superior Harbor harbor cruise :thumb
http://www.vistafleet.com/sightseeing-cruises


Basically it was a bunch of MN ADV riders that put together a route
from southern MN border to northern MN border,

they have to two routes,
one in eastern MN
and one in central MN.
each route is about 600 miles so over 1200 miles if you take one and follow the other back.


 
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Duluth
World class inland seaport


A "must see" when in Duluth.
Deck dining and watching ships pass
under the famed Aerial Lift Bridge
and the Duluth harbor entry

Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth began life as an aerial transfer bridge,
an extremely rare type
inspired by the only other such structure in the world
a suspended car bridge at Rouen, France



http://www.duluthharborcam.com/


Boat Arrivals and Departures - Duluth/Superior
http://www.duluthboats.com/


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The bridge operation is primarily through electric power

There are two 450 ton concrete block weights on each end,
lifted by electronic pulleys to raise and lower the bridge.


How the Aerial Lift Bridge Works
http://zenithcity.com/zenith-city-history-archives/duluth-parks-landmarks/how-the-aerial-lift-bridge-works/


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Top 20 Duluth Attractions
http://www.goduluthmn.com/duluth-attractions.html


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Watch ships pass under the famed Aerial Lift Bridge

I watched the Wagenborg (600 foot class ship)
as I had a cheeseburger, fries & coffee at Grandma's


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From the Twin Cities
about 2.5 hours for the 150 miles
up I-35 to Duluth


Diners Drive in's and Dives.
Guy Fieri

If you are a foodie,
Duluth is the place for you

My favorite the Duluth Grill was one of five local restaurants
visited by crews from the Food Network program

Episodes featuring
Duluth Grill,
Sara's Table/Chester Creek Cafe,
Superior's Anchor Bar
Gordy's Hi-Hat
& Northern Waters Smokehaus,
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204563382989713528481.0004a1e8a5fcb7e37b220&msa=0&ll=46.855965,-92.092209&spn=0.192046,0.488892

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9KqmfVl7aUU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bVUaUYQAj6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8TNdxbDYbPo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


A mile north of Duluth Grill
is Aerostich Rider Warehouse

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A few blocks from the Duluth Grill is
Lake Superior Brewing Co
Dale Klienschmidt, Head Brewer
http://www.lakesuperiorbrewing.com/


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:brow
 
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Minnesota State Highway 210 runs through Jay Cooke State Park
MN 210 is 228 miles in length and runs from North Dakota Highway 210 (ND 210) at the North Dakota state line continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with MN 23 in Duluth
.



9 miles of the route between Carlton and Highway 23
which include the park
are designated the Rushing Rapids Parkway,
a state scenic byway

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Jay Cooke State Park

protecting the lower reaches of the St. Louis River
The park is located about 10 miles southwest of Duluth

My opinion
Duluth, Minnesota & Superior, Wisconsin area
rank near the Top of Places to Visit in the Midwest




The western half of the park contains part of a rocky, 13-mile gorge.
This was a major barrier to Native Americans and early Europeans traveling by canoe,
which they bypassed with the challenging Grand Portage of the St. Louis River

In the major floods of June 2012,
Wiped out parts of HWY 210,
Jay Cooke State Park Swinging Bridge
and parts of Duluth's Skyline Drive

Highway 210 and Swinging Bridge are open!


:)

 
Minnesota's waters flow outward in three directions:

north to Hudson Bay in Canada,
east to the Atlantic Ocean,
& south to the Gulf of Mexico

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Jay Cooke State Park

Thomson Dam

Structure Width: 1,600 Foot Main Structure, 473 Foot Wide Spillway
River Elevation (Pool): 1,069 Feet
River Elevation (Outflow): 1,051 Feet
Water Fall: 18 Feet
Hydro Power: 70-Megawatts
Date Built: 1907

Thomson Dam created Thomson Lake,
a reservoir supplying water via a three-mile canal and pipeline system
to the Thomson Hydroelectric Station, the state's largest hydro facility


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:brow

 

:thumb

There is no end of great trail riding
between Duluth
and 50 miles north the Twin Cities suburbs

:thumb
http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/minnesota

http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/minnesota_list

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/ohv/nemadji.pdf


CLICKY: The DNR lists a total of 40 riding areas currently available in Minnesota



"Yellow Birch"
in the
MN Nemadji State Forest
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:thumb

The Trans Minnesota Adventure Trail
Could be divided into these sections:


deep woods of the north,
Duluth,
the trails & the bogs including the Gandy Dancer,
Twins Cities area,
the bluffs in the south

:thumb





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"Yellow Birch"
in the
MN Nemadji State Forest



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:thumb
 
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