Ready for planting

I took a detour on my way back to the Twin Cities from southern Minnesota on one of the first really nice days of this late, but very welcome, spring. Aside from a few isolated patches of snow stuck in dark crannies the countryside is free of winter.

Low lake level

I've been hearing about the changing shoreline on White Bear Lake due to lower water levels, but had not seen it for myself until recently. The walk out to the lake from the shore is getting longer as are the docks. Apparently this is causing some problems in the 'hood.

Empty vines

On last weekend's trip down the Mississippi, I wandered through this vineyard behind the river bluffs. Long past grape season and ready for the first snows to arrive (though we've had two lovely weekends in row now - holding off the inevitable...). Here's what I found here one spring.

Wind farm

Back to our theme for the week - places within about 100 miles of the Twin Cities. Today's location is somewhere on the southwestern plains of the state where the wind whips through summer or winter and the turbines stretch for as far as the eye can see - which is pretty far!

Waiting for grain

A common sight on the Mississippi this time of year as the barges line up waiting for their cargo. This is taken slightly upstream from downtown St. Paul not far from the confluence with the Minnesota River. Last post for this week's theme and last chance to guess what it is.

1 of 10,000

This may be one of our last weekends to get out on a lake before it gets too cold to waterski. Just do it!

The theme ending yesterday was ... wet.

Curiosity

This image begins a new week with a new theme. Though the photo was taken in northern Minnesota on a misty late summer morning, it could have been taken on any one of our (more than) 10,000 lakes even those that are in the Twin Cities. I hope your morning is as magical as this one was.

Summer storm damage

Straight line winds hit eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin in early July and the damage along the Namekagon River where I was canoeing a week ago was extensive and heartbreaking.

This past week's theme was ... yellow. Look back on the Monday-Friday posts (mushroom, VW bug, parking ramp sign, etc) and you'll see the connection. A new theme starts Monday.

Grandma's aerial bridge

Duluth-bound marathoners and spectators should make some time for the Skyline Drive. If you're lucky you'll see a ship passing under the aerial bridge that leads into the harbor.

Gooseberry Falls

One of the best times to visit Gooseberry Falls State Park up on Lake Superior's North Shore is now when the river is running fast and the falls are roaring. Further than a day trip from the Twin Cities but well worth the effort.

Buena vista

The aptly named Buena Vista Park in Alma, Wisconsin has a bird's eye view of the Mississippi. One of my favorite parts of the river is an easy day trip from the Twin Cities.

Morning mist

I highly recommend a morning walk on the bluffs along the Mississippi. This was on the Wisconsin side of the river which I think is particularly picturesque.

Road closed

I wanted to bike down in the Minnesota River valley this week but this road was closed due to high water. We didn't have record flooding, though, and now it's starting to recede.

A river runs

I have it on a reliable source that the Sunrise River - about an hour out of the Twin Cities - is now fully thawed and running wild. Even in January this spunky little stream managed to keep moving! More from the Sunrise here.

Longer days

We have slipped past the 5:00 sunset threshold and are heading toward 5:30! Life is good.

MIsty lake

One of the first really cold days produces this misty affect over Lake Minnetonka as the cold air touches the warmer water. Later this winter when the lake is frozen we won't have this wonderfully impressionistic view of the lake.

Late afternoon shadows

The low late afternoon sun is producing some long and deep shadows these days. This is at the Como Park golf course.

Reflections, part 4

The quietly rippling waters of Everett Lake make the sky and the clouds looks like an impressionist painting. I wish Monet had done some travels in northern Minnesota.

Northern Sunset

A Minnesotan sunset on Everett Lake outside of Ely, MN.

Thunderstorm

Shot this at a gas station outside of Virginia, MN. For some reason, the lights and colors from the gas station really set off the deep purples in the sky that afternoon. We drove on out before the storm broke, but I bet it was spectacular.