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.
Category: Place
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
View From Lake Street Bridge
Beautiful day for a bike ride! Paused on the Lake Street Bridge to enjoy this Minneapolis vista with Fall colors starting to sneak in. On the left, the IDS Tower, designed by Philip Johnson, stands tall as the city’s tallest building. To the right, the University of Minnesota Medical Center, where I receive excellent care.… Continue reading View From Lake Street Bridge
St. Paul Day Out
Took the light rail to the Thomas Dale neighborhood of St. Paul to meet friends at this unassuming Vietnamese bakery. Chatted over coffee and the best almond croissants. Afterward, I explored random streets in the neighborhood by bike, passing the Capitol before heading to downtown St. Paul and catching the train back to Minneapolis.
Old Meets New
On my cycle ride through the Minneapolis North Loop, took in new construction that integrates with two historic structures, thus retaining some sense of place. I’ve always liked the 1884 Commutator building on the corner, but it was falling into disrepair. The white structure (propped up) was wheeled round the corner while a huge hole… Continue reading Old Meets New
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.
Pedal and Stay
Cycled excellent trails from home to the St. Croix River (28 miles), where we checked into our new favorite Stillwater hotel, Lora. This 1886 brewery-turned-boutique hotel features stone walls, caves, and contemporary style. We dined at Dock Cafe, a nostalgic spot filled with decades of memories, before enjoying a stroll across the now-pedestrianized lift bridge.
How Not to Pump Up a Tire
Our building’s fancy new bike repair station got a workout from me today. I tried to pump up my tires, but managed to bend the delicate screw in a Presta valve. When I tried to straighten it, it broke. Across the river at Erik’s in Dinkytown, a technician swiftly replaced the valve without needing to… Continue reading How Not to Pump Up a Tire
In This Together
As I cycled through the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, I couldn’t help noticing the lawn signs. In two cases, I ended up chatting with the homeowners. Near the neighborhood’s edge, in an industrial building, I found Twin City Maker, a 24/7 non-profit offering wood and metal shops, a laser cutter, 3D printers, an electronics workshop,… Continue reading In This Together