Day 67



Day 67

Memorial Day

June 1st, 2010



As celebrated by a car dealership

Day 67

An Erstwhile Ashlander

June 1st, 2010



Aaron stopped to give me a Kwik Trip gift card, and in talking we discovered he used to live in my hometown: Ashland, VA!

FYI, Kwik Trip is a regional gas/convenience chain, and has become a personal favorite of mine. Its stores carry a reasonable selection of good, cheap produce (apples, oranges, pears, bananas), quite unusual among American gas stations.

Day 67

Jameson

June 1st, 2010



Thanks to Jameson and Nate for all their generosity, of both the monetary and edible varieties!

Day 67

Priscilla and John

June 1st, 2010



I had a very educational stay, learning from John about glacial topography, contour farming, and making popcorn on a stove. Priscilla is a master quilter, and gave me a beautiful quilt she made. (In case you're wondering, I don't have much room in the cart, but Mom's coming to visit tomorrow and I can send it home with her.) And at breakfast this morning we discovered that they're good friends with the family of one of my high school buddies!

Day 67



Day 67

An undefined slope

June 1st, 2010


Day 67

Awesome mailbox #25

June 1st, 2010



Kaptain Krazy!!

Day 67

Another palimpsest!

June 1st, 2010



Wikipedia entry for "palimpsest"

Day 67

Walk Gently

June 1st, 2010


Day 68

Uncle Tony

June 2nd, 2010



Do you think he's funny kooky or creepy kooky?

Day 68

A very attractorve lawn

June 2nd, 2010



There were many more than I could fit in the picture.




Last night I was welcomed with open arms from the second I arrived. Connor and I played fetch with Bailey the dog, and Mark whipped up some dinner for me. When Cathy and Molly got home later, we all hung out on the deck talking for a while. I even got to jump in their hot tub! (I'm really roughing it out here.) This morning Connor and Molly got up early to make me an enormous feast for breakfast, and they sent me off with a bunch of goodies, too.

From left to right: Connor, Molly, Mark, Cathy

Day 68

I’m on a horse!

June 2nd, 2010



Molly and Connor set up this photo op just before I left this morning.

Day 68

Penny and Bailey

June 2nd, 2010



Bailey (right) is a relentless fetcher; Penny got in with the horses this morning and tried to round them up.

Day 68

An old railroad bridge

June 2nd, 2010



I think. Anyone know for sure? It's just west of Rt. 55 as it crosses I-494.

Day 68




The John Harrington Stevens House

Day 68



Day 69

Priscilla’s gift to me

June 3rd, 2010



I couldn't get a photo that did justice to the quilt, in all its intricate details, but this one is decent.

Day 69




A section of Hiawatha Ave in Minneapolis is lined with grain elevators. I think I saw only one other mural though.

Day 69

Another cool mural

June 3rd, 2010


Day 69



Day 69

Bike locker

June 3rd, 2010



I've never seen one of these before.

Day 69

Cable-stayed bridge!

June 3rd, 2010



The Martin Olav Sabo Bridge

Day 69

A close-up of the bridge

June 3rd, 2010


Day 69



Day 69

Mom arrives!

June 3rd, 2010



She finally got in yesterday afternoon after some flight delays. I'm taking today off and will be back on the road tomorrow.

Day 69

Downtown Minneapolis

June 3rd, 2010


Day 70

Beautiful manhole cover

June 4th, 2010





Located at the corner of 8th Street North and 9th Street North. Really!

Day 70

Sidewalk resolutions

June 4th, 2010


Day 70

No guns?!

June 4th, 2010



How else are you supposed to kill time in church?

Day 70

Mom takes the wheel

June 4th, 2010


Day 70

Mom’s bus pulls away

June 4th, 2010



Heading back to Minneapolis to fly home

Day 70

Bye Mom!

June 4th, 2010



It was wonderful to see you for a couple days. I love you!

Day 70




Or twisted toyland murder scene?

The poem reads:

I love you...
When you're smiling
When you're bad
When you're kidding
When you're sad
When you're playing
When you're blue
The reason I love you is because you're you!

Day 70

Wildflower shadows

June 5th, 2010


Day 70

Contrail through the sun

June 5th, 2010


Day 71

The Stone Arch Bridge

June 5th, 2010



Thanks to Kurt and Rhonda, my hosts last night, for this lovely card and the delicious bagged lunch in which it was packed!

Day 71





Day 71

Awesome mailbox #26

June 5th, 2010


Day 71

Congratulations!

June 5th, 2010



again

Day 72




The Information Hub of Wright County

Day 72

Otter Creek Park

June 6th, 2010



Monticello, MN



Day 72

Prime Meridian Av

June 6th, 2010



is more like it

Day 72



Day 72

What is this, boot camp?

June 6th, 2010



Friends of my friend Anna, they had me on a rigid and strenuous schedule from the moment I arrived: beer, dinner, dessert, hot tub, beer, sleep, breakfast. Good thing I'm tough enough to withstand all that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must get back to eating the enormous feast they packed me for the road.

From left to right: Roxanne, Russ, Sandy, Annie

Day 72

Awesome mailbox #27

June 6th, 2010



In the background you can see Would-have-been-an-awesome-mailbox-if-I-hadn't-seen-this-even-awesomer-mailbox-first #1.