Friday, September 30, 2011

Day 8 - Travel Day to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin


By: Gary and Sally Johnson - Adventure 8

Gary and Sally with JJ
What a beautiful day!  Instead of the blustery winds and occasional rain we had yesterday, today was sunny and comfortably cool, and the slanted autumn sunlight accentuated the changing foliage along the way.  We quickly left St. Paul behind us and were soon in Wisconsin on the Great River Road on the east side of the river.  Where we crossed into Wisconsin, the St. Croix River had just entered the Mississippi and added to the volume of water.  And that was the theme for today – more and more water as we crossed back and forth between Wisconsin and Minnesota.  We had the river in sight for almost the entire trip.  It was dammed at several points along the way, making long, shallow lakes like Lake Pepin , and locks aided in navigation.  We saw more and more barges, bigger marinas, and higher and longer bridges as we progressed down the river.  The bluffs seemed to increase as well, both in size and coverage until both sides of the river were flanked by solid lines of tree covered hills.

Lake St. Croix, just before it enters the Mississippi.
Our first stop was at the Great River Road Visitor Center in Prescott, Wisconsin.  There we learned about early uses of the river by the Indians and then about logging (log rafts the size of an aircraft carrier sent down the river), clamming (used mostly for buttons), and other commerce.  Next we visited Red Wing, Minnesota, where we stopped at the visitor center and then the flagship store of Red Wing Shoes.  There we saw the world’s largest boot (size 638 1/2, 20 feet long and 16 feet wide) and the Red Wing museum.  Red Wing was a lovely small town.  Today we passed through many of these small towns on both sides of the river, all picturesque and very clean.

Red Wing, Minnesota train depot and visitor center
Gary demonstrates just how big the world's biggest shoe is.  A person fitting this boot would stand 120 feet tall.  It weighs 2300 pounds and is made out of real leather.



As we continued down the Mississippi, we saw increasing numbers of wetlands and bayou-like areas.  Numerous islands dotted the river, sometimes obscuring the real size of the water flow. We passed the confluence with the Chippewa and Trempealeau Rivers and countless other smaller streams.

The Mississippi flows on.
Caravan rigs stopped along the way to admire the view.


Late in the afternoon we got to our RV park, Sports Unlimited Campground in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.  We weren’t there long before we heard a thundering train running right next to the campground.  And that highlighted another use for the river – an easy path for railroads.  We are looking forward to seeing more!


Thursday, September 29, 2011

Day 7 - Free Day and Chanhassen Dinner Theater too

By:  Jim and Lela Grime - Adventure 7

Another beautiful fall day in Minnesota.  It was clear and windy this morning and the falling yellow leaves were swirling this way and that.  Madi, Carole, Ken and Spence hosted a huge and tasty breakfast, cooked and served outdoors.  There were pancakes, bacon, orange juice, fruit cups, coffee and hot chocolate.  A great way to start the day.


Everyone enjoying the breakfast prepared outdoors
by the staff
Dick and Marsha Marshall, Dave Crowder and
many others enjoying their breakfast
L to R:  Jeff Totten, Darrell Marshall, Bill and Marilyn Kern,
Trecia Attebury, Sally and Gary Johnson, and Linda Marshall


the staff cooking bacon and making sure the
pancakes are just right
There was plenty of time to explore the area and many went to the Mall of America for shopping or sightseeing.  There was a briefing by the Wagonmasters in the early afternoon to discuss the next day's travel to Wisconsin and at 4:45 everyone boarded the bus for the trip to the Chanhassen Broadway Show and Dinner Theatre.  

Waiting for the bus
Everyone boards the bus at the RV park, and are
looking forward to the evening dinner and show
The group arriving at the entrance to the
 Chanhassen Theatre
Bill and Marilyn Kern and Noreene and Jeff Totten
are ready for the show
Gary and Sally Johnson and Jo Ann and Carl Phillips
are enjoying the evening's activities
The weather quickly changed in the afternoon with rain showers, but this did to deter anyone from an evening of fun. 

The Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is the largest professional dinner theatre complex in the nation and the largest privately owned restaurant in Minnesota and the largest employer of professional actors in the Midwest.

This evening the performance was "Hairspray" and everyone agreed it was fantastic, as was the dinner.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Day 6 - St. Paul - Paddleford River Boat Lunch Cruise

By:  Carol Gosline - Adventure 6





Paddleford River Boat

Our group in a buffet line getting BBQ lunch of
chicken, pulled pork, cole slaw, beans, and cookies


Dogs really enjoyed the river

A Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing

Mississippi canoeists enjoying the beautiful day

Beautiful reflections of trees along the bank of
the Mississippi

The most gorgeous day of the week, traveling
down the Mississippi River

Returning to the city with great memories

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Day 5 - sightseeing in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis

By:  Dave and Hazel Crowder - Adventure 5


We had to "rise and shine" early today to board our tour bus at 8:45 a.m.  As our bus approached downtown St. Paul, we were "hijacked" Gangstertown style by our tour guide for the day.  Dressed in full "gangsta" attire, and assuming the role of a 20's man about town, he entertained and enlightened us on St. Paul's past history.  In the 1920's, St. Paul was called a "citadel of sin, and the cesspool of America."  Gangsters and police were in cahoots, and the city was a safe haven for gansters all during Prohibition

our "Gangsta" tour guide
A visit to Wabasha Street Caves provided a perspective of how life during the gangster era really was.  Originally, the caves were dug out of the sandstone, with the silica mined out being used to make glass.   The caves provided a perfect environment for growing mushrooms.  Later, the caves were used as nightclubs (Speakeasies), where they sold hooch.   It was neat to experience being inside one of the original, unimproved caves, which was about 50 - 55 degrees (perfect temperature for storing foods, and aging cheese.)   "I'm going to the library will always have a new meaning to those of us who visited the caves today.

Entrance to the historic Wabasha Street Caves
one of the tunnels filled with debris from a recent flood

Several of the ladies "belly up" to the bar in the caves

After leaving the caves, we had a little unexpected excitement......a lady drove her car right into the back of our bus!!!   Ouch!!  Adjusting our schedule, and being the troopers that we are, we were able to disembark the bus, and walk to the Minnesota History Museum while our bus driver took care of the accident details.   We enjoyed lunch at the museum cafeteria, and the beautiful museum displays depicting Minnesota's past.
thankfully, no one was injured during this incident

Back on the bus at 2:00 p.m., our tour guide took us through the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, which is the fourth largest cathedral in America, and has the largest self-supporting dome, which is held up by the pillars of the faith--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  The stained glass windows were astounding in their splendor.    This beautiful cathedral was visible from many spots in the downtown area, and added a wonderful dimension to the city.
St. Paul's Cathedral

some of the beautiful stained glass work in the Cathedral
Next we had a drive-by of the capitol building which was the first state capital designed with electricity and air conditioning, and with bathrooms for women!!!!   Yeah!!!   It was built with beautiful white granite from Georgia and gray granite from Minnesota.

Minnesotta State Capital Building
A tour of the twin cities included a stop at the Guthrie Theater, where we could also view five of the bridges that cross the mighty Mississippi.  It was a treat to see the splendid old mansions and quaint homes of the past, and to see many of the 22 lakes in Minneapolis.  A special treat was to see the Mary Tyler Moore house and statue.  At our last stop of the day, at a lakeside park with its very own creek that flowed into a waterfall, we surprised Marilyn Kern with a birthday cake.  We didn't get to see all of the 50 square miles of each city, but it wasn't for lack of trying!!!   We had a wonderful day, and will treasure the memories of our Day on the Town.

one of the bridges across the Mississippi River
Minnehaha Falls
Statue of Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha
Ken Adams presents Marilyn Kern with her birthday cake
S

Monday, September 26, 2011

Day 4 - Travel day to St. Paul, Minnesotta

By:  Sam and Sandy Childs – Adventure 4
















Our campground on Crow Wing Lake provided the best “windshield view” ever. 

The view out the motorhome front window
After a beautiful sunrise, we headed south along the Mississippi, crossing several times; traveling through absolutely gorgeous rural countryside and perfectly manicured and maintained estates and houses. 

Even the grain silos were gorgeous 

a golden cornfield ready for harvest

another crossing of the Mississippi River
After a hundred or so miles of serenity, as the Minneapolis skyline appeared, we headed east and south to St. Paul and the …………(guess)…………………St. Paul East Campground!
The afternoon social brought lots of stories, and Madi initiated a game of “I’ve got a secret”.........................................................to be continued.
in the background:  Noreene Totten, Hazel Crowder
around the table:  Gunter Oeser, Marilyn Kern, Sally
Johnson and Gary Johnson

L to R:  Sandy Oeser, Spence and Madi (reading RV jokes
in Gunter and Sandy's book they brought to share), and Carl Phillips



Sunday, September 25, 2011

Day 3 - travel day to Brainerd, Minnesotta

By:  The Atteburys Adventure 3

We drove from Bemidji to Brainerd MN today.  It’s a 103 mile trip by way of a beautiful tree lined highway, the SR 371.  We left this morning at about 11:30, and started south along the Great River Road.  Everyone left at different times this morning, but before we got started a bunch of us got together just to shoot the breeze.  Erv gave an impromptu lesson to Carol on how to use the FRS.  That’s walky-talky to you and me.  And it looked like a few people were trying to help Ira get his trailer and car together.  Belle wanted to play with Cody, but Cody wasn’t sure about that.  You know how older (6) women are with boisterous puppies.

L to R:  Beverly Miller, Sandy Childs, Marsha Marshall,
Sue Knippa, Jeff Totten, Noreene Totten,
Marilyn Kern, Jim Grime, Bill Kern, Erv Attenbury

Erv Attebury helps Carol Gosline figure out
the FRS radio

What's up Ira and Beverly?

Cody is not too sure about Bella
The trees are starting to turn colors.  A naturalist told us that the red is maple.  The oak will change later. We crossed the Mississippi just as we got to Brainerd.  It’s gotten a lot bigger since the headwaters.  The weather has gotten quite cold for a Southern Californian.  40 degrees is cold to us.  But it is a lot easier to sleep at night when it’s cold.

Beautiful maple trees in the RV park



tree lined highway
  
the mighty M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i
After we all arrived here we had a travel meeting.  We head to St. Paul in the morning.  Then we had our social hour.  It’s fun to meet new people while connecting with old friends.  As you can see we are camped right on Crow Lake, and a few people decided to walk out on a pier to enjoy the view.  It is gorgeous up here.  When it got too cold for me to enjoy the company, we went and got ready to go out to eat at Famous Dave’s.  Now we are home and we’re almost ready to hit the sack.  Gotta drive (well Erv’s got to drive) tomorrow.

Ken is giving us information for our travel day tomorrow

L to R:  Bill Kern, Jim and Lela Grime,
 Darrell and Linda Marshall, Beverly and Ira Miller,
Hank and Sue Knippa, Erv Attebury

strolling on the dock