Microblog

Hiked one of our favorite sections of the Superior Hiking Trail, which includes Lake Agnes (shown here), its size partly due to a beaver dam. Later, we paused for a GORP lunch (a more complex mix than the original “Good Old Raisins and Peanuts”) at a familiar viewpoint overlooking a wide valley, the Poplar River, and Lake Superior beyond.

We’re staying at Lutsen Mountains, a ski resort waiting for snow. Today we climbed up to one of the lift stations, passing idle snow-making machines. We then followed a Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) spur then the main SHT trail, completing a 5-hour loop. Along the way, Dwight caught me off guard on a rocky, root-filled section of trail. The looming rocks above didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Walked part of the Superior Hiking Trail that follows the Split Rock River as an in-and-out hike. We passed the split rock, several waterfalls, and rapids. The trail is described as moderately challenging, but a gentle pace made it quite relaxing.

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.

Booked a round-trip to Japan using miles earned from a United Airlines credit card I opened earlier this year. The sign-up bonus and other perks covered the cost. I’ll be flying with ANA on the transpacific portions, which generally offers better service than United. My outbound flights will take me to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, a gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park. Traveling on the cheap adds to the adventure!

Tomorrow, as I do every four weeks, I meet with my oncologist. Rather than speculating about lab results, I like to cycle over to the University the previous day for a blood draw. Results then trickle in to an app on my phone over the next two hours.

On a walk with a friend, stopped to take in the view from the Boom Is­land-Nicollet Island Bridge, a former railroad bridge, now a pedestrian bridge.

Took our usual Sunday morning walk and enjoyed the lingering fall colors.

At Orchestra Hall, admired a LEGO model of the venue, part of a display celebrating the building’s 50th anniversary. The model captures the auditorium’s angle relative to the rest of the building and the street grid, a tricky feat with LEGO. Inside the auditorium, we enjoyed a concert featuring Shostakovich, Bernstein, and a recent commission by Chinese American, Zhou Tian.

A visit to the Walker always transports me. Today, the draw was a new exhibition, “This Must be the Place,” exploring the multifaceted concept of “home.” Anything I would write on this worksheet seemed pretentious, so I held onto my thoughts about home being more of an idea woven from experiences, relationships, and memories for this aging, gay, technocratic, married, …, immigrant.

Woke up to a supermoon setting over Downtown, ushering in a beautiful fall day.

Finally got around to scratching my birthday gift from my sister-in-law. The first card revealed I’d won $2. In the end, my total winnings were $7. 

Picked up a bunch of local Swiss chard to stir-fry with dinner. Normally this veggie is not on my radar, but Dwight suggested I should look out for some.

It felt brisk this morning as I set off for my walk. Passing the university’s steam plant, I could hear its gentle roar as it warmed much of the Minneapolis campus and generated 20% of its electricity. Changing leaves were another sure sign that fall had arrived.

Nursing a cold, I didn’t stray far from a box of Kleenex.

Downsides of long-haul travel are jet-lag, possibly layered on a cold or worse. Today I failed a COVID test, which is some consolation.