It was a brisk 12°F when I set out for my walk today. Eventually, I sought refuge in the Skyway system. Here, I’m making my way through the Northstar Center. Once an office tower, the building has been repurposed to include apartments. Given lower office occupancy rates post-pandemic, there’ll be more such conversions. Downtown Minneapolis has emerged as one of the fastest-growing residential neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.
Category: Move
Minneapolis Day Out
Took the LRT to Minnehaha Park with a friend visiting from the UK, then walked back along the Mississippi, stopping for lunch. As always, I took a picture of Minnehaha Falls. Each time there’s something different: today the waterfall was throwing off a mist and the flow was enhanced by yesterday’s heavy rain and melting snow.
Following the Blazes
Hiked part of the Superior Hiking Trail above Duluth before checking in to a hotel for the night. The trail was sometimes obscured by fallen leaves, but blaze marks on the trees—blue for the main trail, white for spurs—kept us on track.
View from Ford Bridge
After oncology appointments scheduled around our upcoming trip to England, I continued my bike ride. At Ford Bridge, I’m looking at the remnants of a Ford Motor Company plant: Ford Hydroelectric Plant and Ford Steam Plant. Up on the bluffs, a new brownfield development is underway, featuring most of the elements of a 15-minute community,…… Continue reading View from Ford Bridge
View from Washington Avenue Bridge
Near the end of my cycle ride, I paused on this double-decker bridge which connects two campuses of the University of Minnesota. The upper deck features dedicated bike lanes, an enclosed walkway, and a pedestrian path. The lower deck accommodates light rail and regular traffic. The unmistakeably Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum, sometimes my haven…… Continue reading View from Washington Avenue Bridge
View from Plymouth Avenue Bridge
At roughly the midpoint of our Sunday walk, we cross the Mississippi River on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, enjoying the downstream view towards Downtown. The distinctive Boom Island ‘Lighthouse’ is an addition to the park, built in 1987 by the Minneapolis Park Board.
View From Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9
At the start of my walk, I paused to observe the Saturday scene from a bridge. University students were practicing sculling, guided by a coach shouting encouragement from a chase boat. On land, two teams were warming up for a friendly volleyball match. Colorful kayaks were lined up, ready for use, and a couple runners…… Continue reading View From Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9
A Sure Sign of Fall
Our cycling adventure took us to Lake Harriet, where we had planned to enjoy a breakfast sandwich from Bread & Pickle. Unfortunately, they had shortened their hours, a telltale sign that Fall was upon us. Undeterred, we continued our ride until lunchtime, when Longfellow’s came into view. They served up one of the best grilled…… Continue reading A Sure Sign of Fall
No, Really, It’s Not a Pub Crawl
Researched places for lunch for each day of our upcoming multi-day hike from Oxford to the source of the River Thames and plotted them on our trail map. Remarkably there’s a place for each day, and they’re all pubs. Of course there’s a Red Lion, a White Hart, and a Ye Olde Swan. (Numbered pins…… Continue reading No, Really, It’s Not a Pub Crawl
The Journey Home
Climbed up from Stillwater this morning on the Brown’s Creek Trail to join the Gateway Trail towards St. Paul. Both these leafy trails, repurposed from former railroads, offered a smooth ride with plenty of shade.