Today’s trek to Biwabik (pronounced Buh WAHB ick) was largely uneventful. Not so last night!
I’ve been faithfully checking the weather forecast, and was delighted that no rain was predicted for a few days. Not one drop. So imagine my surprise to wake up in the middle of the night to a heavy rain. Rats! I’d left some things out that I would have put away, had there even been a slight chance of rain.
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I’d arranged for a shuttle from Biwabik back to the wayside from yesterday. I got up three hours early, but took every minute of that time drying out my tent, cleaning up mud splatters, trying to dry out one shoe that was filled with water, even though it was under my car, etc. That is the very nonglamorous side of hiking.
Heading for Biwabik
Jim, the cyclist/police officer I’d met two days ago, followed me to Biwabik. It’s a cute little town with a nice square, where I dropped my car. Jim pointed out the Laurentian Divide on the drive back, which is a north-south continental divide. The day 
was sunny and warm.
I headed out around 9:45 a.m. Rats – I’d forgotten my sunscreen in the car, and the first seven or so miles (11.3 km) were mostly out in the sun. At least I’d applied some before I left. Still, I tend to burn the tips of my ears. I can’t find a hat with a brim that doesn’t hit into my backpack.
Once back on the Mesabi Trail, I had a pleasant day’s hike. The trail wound past some pretty lakes and big boulders (glacial erratics?). A fair number of cyclists went past, plus a guy rollerblading.
Back at Camp
The skies clouded over in the afternoon, which was fine with me, since I was sans sunscreen. There’s a grocery store right 
by Biwibik’s town square (plus a statue of Honk, the moose [no context given]), so I grabbed some ice and a few other things, then drove to Vermilion Trail Campground.
Apparently I’d inadvertently booked a hike-in campsite. Yikes! The manager said I could take a drive-in one that was empty tonight. Yes! Unfortunately, it not only doesn’t have electricity, but it doesn’t even have a picnic table.
So I’m writing this outside of the shower house, where there are outlets outside. I do have batteries for my phone, but my watch and laptop need a regular outlet. The perils of technology!
Snowshoe
MN NCT miles today: 16.5 (26.6 km)
MN NCT miles to date: 501.1 (806.4 km)
Total NCT miles to date: 2,519.6 (4,054.9 km)
Total NCT miles to go: 2,080.4 (3,348.1 km)
My most useful gear today: chamois towels. When I’m car-camping, I pack a stack of these in the car. They’re great for mopping up morning dew or wet stuff after a night of rain.
