We’ve been traveling long-haul with our nephews since they were babies. In this photo, the taller one, C, is almost 4 and the smaller one, sitting in a car seat, D, is 2½. I almost called this post “Backpacking in Japan with Kids…” but thought better of it. Next summer, when we travel with C… Continue reading Backpacking in Japan with Our Nephews: Flights
Category: Place
Cycling Walker, Minnesota
Posted Cycling Walker, Minnesota.
Cycling Walker, Minnesota
Earlier this month, we drove Up North for a few days of cycling. At Garrison, on Mille Lacs Lake, we turned left at the Giant Muskie without stopping. Another 80 miles to our destination, Walker, Minnesota. The absurdity of the muskie promoted an earworm. As we approached Walker, I downloaded a hit from 1964: “Gonna… Continue reading Cycling Walker, Minnesota
Closed Border
Air New Zealand cancelled our December HNL/AKL flights: it looks like the country won’t reopen to tourists until 2022. So, today, I cancelled a bunch of hotel reservations: we’re $0 out of pocket. We’ve saved over the years by buying only medical coverage
Projecting Calm
On my cycle ride: bollards projecting calm. Presumably originally installed to protect a ramp for launching small boats from barges, it’s now purely aesthetic. This section of the Mississippi is now closed to barge traffic.
Rock Island Bridge
Did a long cycle ride to beyond southeast St. Paul. Our turnaround point was the Rock Island Swing Bridge that now ends in the middle of the Mississippi, forming a pier. The swing portion has been removed to economically streamline barge traffic.
Breakfast at Lake Harriet
Breakfast at Lake Harriet.
View from a Hotel Room, Up North
Our view for the evening, after riding rolling hills. Our room in a comfortable old hotel, Up North.
Heartland Trail
After cycling 20 miles along the Heartland Trail, it was time to enjoy this view then cycle back via a small-town bar for lunch. One of the first rail-trails in the country, it’s an easy ride, no serious climbs, shaded by forest most of the way.
Turn Left at the Giant Walleye
We didn’t stop as we turned left at the giant walleye and continued our journey Up North. We’re staying in a comfortable old hotel by a lake where the Paul Bunyan and Heartland State bicycle trails converge