The closest airport was located in Bemidji, located about 20 miles away from Blackduck. Our hotel was located there and we drove into Blackduck each day. Bemidji is an Ojibwe word "Bay-may-ji-ga-maug" meaning "lake with cross waters" referring to the Mississippi River which crosses Lake Bemidji. Bemidji is only miles from where the mighty Mississippi River begins its 2,552 mile journey to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

A weird mannequin/metal sculpture in downtown Bemidji. There were several others located around town.

Our last meal was at this very nice restaurant that was on the shore of Lake Bemidji.

The view towards the university. Our waitress told us that the lake freezes over solid during the winter and the University marks out extra parking on the ice!

They had dockside service at the restaurant. The waitress said they considered offering snowmobile service onto the lake during the winter, but couldn't get it past their insurance folks. She said the lake is filled with ice huts, snowmobile racing, hockey rinks and skating!

Rockstar Daphney greets me home.