Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, July 23, 1949

July 23 – Sat – On the road at 7:30 –

[From a travel log during a trip to Duluth, Minnesota from July 21 – August 28]

Breakfast (7:45-8:30) at roadside table on bay at Escanaba [Michigan] a beautiful spot under white birches –
Bulrushes all along the shore – Small gull-like birds. When I went across to explore they became very excited and angry – they scolded me and flew boldly at my head almost touching me.
Arrowhead in bloom – nettle-like flower larger, more shiny, a wild Iris in bloom – wrens singing.

On the way at 9:00 – A beautiful morning

696 [numeric notations represent miles into the trip] – stopped to see rich violet colored flowers – flowers were blue-violet the calyx red-violet – look as though they belong to mint family (later identified by Dr. Lakula as Leadplant [Amorpha canescens]).
Low growing sunflowers – old stone kilns

732 – Entering Wisconsin at 5 to 11:00.

746 – Bog –

746 – Enter Mich again 11:15

805 – 1:00 ate lunch [words unintelligible] – Clintonia berries – (dark cerulean blue) dwarf corner table under black spruce-tamarack – On way at 2:00.
Stopped for gas in Wakefield at 3:00

855 – Entered Wisconsin again 3:30 – Our first sight of Lake Superior.
Stopped in Iron River for popsicles.

I [words unintelligible] docks at (?) – logs floating in bay.
Just before entering city of Superior  - a blast of cold air met us, all day it had been hot + muggy. Finally enter Minnesota + Duluth 6:45 – 963 miles. Went out 53 into country by mistake.

Finding a hotel, no place to park at first. Finally get a place, start for Spaulding Hotel across the street then notice we are in front of Holland Hotel so we went there. Secured a room then found we hadn’t the right clothes. So in a great hurry we parked our bags + drove out 53 to country. Parked by road + dug out the clothes we wanted. Had intended cooking a meal but too many mosquitoes. (The steep hills of Duluth) Back to hotel + to dining room. Our waitress pleasant – told us her husband was umpire for Northern League.

Charles Burchfield, Journals, July 23, 1949