Microblog

Hiked another section of the Superior Hiking Trail, including Carlton Peak and Temperance River State Park. Along the way, Dwight took this photo of a peeling birch.

Our hike, today, kept us close to the fast-flowing Cascade River. The “root beer” water is due to tannins from up-stream swamps

Walked a gorgeous section of the Superior Hiking Trail, north of Grand Marais. Woods, deep gorges, rapids, waterfalls, climbing, ridge trail, leading to Pincushion Mountain. Stood on basalt, thrown up a billion years ago, trees growing in cracks, looking

Spent the entire day walking through lovely backcountry on the Superior Hiking Trail. At Lake Agnes we marveled at how the lake would be a fraction of its size without beaver dams.

Posted Snapshots: Tettegouche State Park.

Loaded trail maps on to my GPS. I still prefer a GPS to a smartphone when hiking. It’s waterproof, and it’s tough.

I temporarily abandoned my bike on this bridge to watch and listen as a busy rail yard went about its business.

Cycled to Lake Phalen where workers were completing this pavilion. It was built in Changsha, China, then shipped to sister city St. Paul. In return, Changsha got Peanuts statues, including Lucy in a Hmong dress. Changsha is the ancestral home of the many Hmong who’ve moved to St. Paul.

My lunch treat was a buffalo melt at the American Indian Center.

Cycled through long shadows and dappled light. A footbridge and intensifying colors reflected in Minnehaha Creek.

Walked past recently closed Rudolph’s Bar-B-Que. Dwight and I first met there 31 years ago at a birthday brunch.

Snow fell while we jogged.

Posted Snapshots: 1,000 Miles by Train to Tokyo.

Slowed down for breakfast at Open Book’s cafe. Hundreds of miniature open books hang from the ceiling.

Selected window sheers.

Satisfied my craving for an authentic ramen bowl at United Noodles, an Asian supermarket.