Bemidji in north central Minnesota (home of Bemidji State University) is the first city reached by the young Mississippi River. We strolled along a waterfront park past a statue of Paul Bunyan, another of the Chippewa chief for whom the city was named, and a family of mergansers swimming by (the chicks riding on Mom’s back). The Chippewa tribe (also known as Ojibwe) had moved westward into the area that is now northern Minnesota (previously occupied by the Dakota tribe). The honorable Shaynowishkung, known as Chief Bemidji to the white settlers, promoted peace, but sadly he and his people had to endure many broken promises by the U.S. government.
After a light breakfast at a coffee shop with free internet, we went biking on the Paul Bunyan State Trail and the Bemidji State Park bike path. After a very pleasant ride, Amy found a woolen outlet to get some more scraps for her rug hooking project.
