20250926 Bemidji MN
- semelton
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
Day 1 - I traveled 700 miles from Cincinnati to Bemidji, MN, unloaded my bike, and rode into town for some BBQ. Afterward, I explored the town, visited Bemidji State Park, took a shower, and set up my tent. It's incredible how you can fly to unfamiliar places and accomplish so much in a single day with an RV aircraft. While enjoying BBQ, the weatherman mentioned it was the last day the sun would see the 7s on the clock this year. On June 21st, 2025, Bemidji experienced a widespread microburst with winds reaching 120 mph, which knocked down many trees and damaged some aircraft.
Day 2 - I cycled from Bemidji State Park to Akeley City campground along the Paul Bunyan trail, stopping in Walker for lunch. A fit woman introduced herself and gave me some money, which was a pleasant surprise. Although I tried fishing at Akeley, I didn't catch anything. I met a fellow biker woman at the Akeley campground and encountered her again the following day.
Day 3 – I rode from Akeley to Itasca State Park, mistakenly overshooting the forest road by 5 miles, requiring me to backtrack. Google Maps updates slowly without a cell connection. I didn't see anyone on the forest road for 8 miles and tried fishing again without success. It was Sunday, and the nearby restaurant was closed, so I headed to the Itasca State Lodge restaurant, which was excellent. I had backup ready meals, so it wasn't an issue.
Day 4 – I cycled from Itasca State Park back to Bemidji State Park on two-lane roads, following the Mississippi River north for about 5 miles and crossing it six times that day. The drivers were courteous and gave me ample space. There were absolutely no issues with drivers; they seem to appreciate cyclists in that area.
Day 5 – I rode from Bemidji State Park to the airport and flew home. The trip was fantastic and went smoothly without any problems. The only change I would make is to add a couple of extra days for fishing, where I could rent a small boat with an outboard motor.
Kudos to Bemidji and Minnesota for being such a wonderful place to visit. The Paul Bunyan bike trail is now my top choice. I plan to return to the Paul Bunyan trail. I encountered only eight mosquitoes during the trip, counted them, and managed to swat two as they were slow. The conditions were perfect for biking. I took many photos to remember the experience and to give readers a sense of the area.
Total campsite expense = $175 with the out-of-state surcharge and on-line reservation fees.
Three day fishing license = $36
No tie down fee at KBJI and fuel = $5.75
Some found music on the trip:
Don't You Leave Me (Extended)
Husky - Topic
Nora En Pure & Sons Of Maria - Uruguay (EDX's Dubai Skyline Radio Edit)
Sirup Music
Day 1 - Cincinnati to Bemidji State Park
Day 2 - Bemidji State Park to Akeley City campground
Day 3 - Akeley to Itasca State Park. I knew this was going to be a good day because my pinky finger started working again from when I crushed it 3 days prior.
Day 4 - Itasca State Park back to Bemidji State Park
Day 5 - Bemidji State Park to the airport and flew home to Cincinnati.
I really enjoyed reading about your trip. I have an rv9a too. It's a slider. How did you get that bike and all your stuff in the plane? I doubt I could do it. Mine has the almost 14 kit as well.