Minnesota Summer (part 3)

I drove part of the Otter Tail Trail, one of Minnesota’s Scenic Byways, expecting to see Inspiration Point and one steel sculpture in Vining, MN of The Foot.

I did, of course, see The Foot and didn’t expect to see so much more!
        
       

These are scattered around this small town.
    
                     

And these are all in the park.
     
                  
    
                  
                  
        

I missed some sculptures.


Back on the trail to an unexpected site and it must not be a state
site since it was open.
    

So I hiked up the hill and you could see for a loooong way, the
flag on the pole and nothing else. It was a beautiful day for a hike.
      

Then again the Minnesota State Government had their say:
     

Fortunately, at the bottom of Inspiration Peak is a very nice
restaurant and it was getting late in the day. After a good meal,
the drive back to the RV park was about 45 minutes.
 

I certainly did not see all of the Otter Tail Trail. I’ll save the rest for another year.
Minnesota Summer part 4 will be the last. I’m heading for Missouri August 1st. The annual conference for Missouri Community Betterment is October 16 and 17. Until then I’m scheduled to be in Branson assisting with conference preparations. For the fourth year, I most likely will be judging communities for the statewide competition, the week of September 11th. I’ll also make a few trips to see Mom before heading to “Snowbird Country”, in Aransas Pass, Texas!

Minnesota Summer (part 2)

Alexandria, Minnesota is about 20 miles south of this RV Park. It’s the closest town for most shopping and has a good farmers market.

I enjoyed the the museum, which has exhibits showing Norse history and the discovery of the Kensington Runestone. There is a video with evidence of Viking Exploration of North America during 1362.

   

Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph 28’ tall Big Ole

   

I looked out one morning this past week to this sight from my window

   

This rig was one of many that I saw in Minnesota. I think its enough of a challenge to pull one vehicle much less two.

Here’s another variation for camping, it’s a fish house, ice cabin, or fish trailer. Covered holes in the floor provide ice fishing in comfort. The body drops down or the wheels go up, depending on how you look at it, putting the trailer on the ground. Since I’m not from this far north these were new to me. (and I’m not hanging around to experience the ice fishing part, see you in Texas the first of November.)

The Great River Road from St Cloud to Little Falls was a great day trip.

     

  
The Mississippi sure got wider than it was at Itasca State Park.
Possibly even wider than normal with all the rain this year.
  
    
Unfortunately, I took this trip during the time the Minnesota
government was shut down, so some sites that were closed.
     
  
   
    
Part 3 of Minnesota Summer includes my trip on part of the
Otter Tail Trail (say that fast three times). One of the towns on this
trail has many interesting, large and whimsical steel structures. I
also experienced another Minnesota government closure.