Theme day: Entry

Welcome to the banks of the Mississippi where the Minnehaha tumbles in. Come on in to shelter yourself from the storm.

For more February theme day entries, go to City Daily Photo.

Cold day on the river

Thawing river

J is for jetsam

On a spookily warm later winter day (St. Patrick's Day morning to be exact) this rower was out on the long unfrozen Mississippi getting ready for what will be an extended rowing season, I suspect. The jetsam piled on the levy behind him is left from previous floods. There won't be any this year. The river is already low.

For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Walk along the river

Still in the neighborhood of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge (this time the upstream side) where a walking path gets you right down by the Mississippi.

U is for under the bridge

The Father Hennepin Bridge is the fourth bridge to span the Mississippi at this location (connecting downtown Minneapolis with Nicollet Island), but it is the first point anywhere on the river to be traversed by a permanent structure. The first bridge was opened in 1855. For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

Postcard picture

A recent walk around the St. Anthony Main neighborhood ended with this postcard view of downtown Minneapolis (covered in snow as of this past weekend).

Coal barges

Waiting to be shipped downstream, I suspect, from their collection point at Upper Landing in St. Paul.

Rail corridor

I spent a recent weekend away on a stretch of the Mississippi south of the Twin Cities and on the east bank (or Wisconsin side) of the river. We must've counted dozens of trains shuttling north and south on a narrow bit of land wedged between the river bluffs and the water.

The theme this week is places within about 100 miles of the Twin Cities. Kind of a difficult one to discern from photos even if you know the area well, so enjoy knowing this one ahead of time.

Autumn splendor

This is the weekend to be along the Mississippi. Look at that color on this sweep of the river looking up toward downtown Minneapolis. The river has dominated much of this blog. To see more shots from all seasons, go here.

Last week's theme - words. Did you guess it correctly?

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.

Maneuvers

Riverboats cruise the Mississippi from docking points across from downtown St. Paul. One even has a theater (that one stays close to shore). Post #2 for this week's theme.

Other side of the river

Yesterday the biking was on the St. Paul side of the river, but if you go south of the river to Mendota you can get this bird's eye view of downtown St. Paul as you descend into the river valley. Last post for this week's theme. What's your guess?

Biking by the river

Down in Crosby Park along the Mississippi the trails for biking and hiking (and cross-country skiing) were under water for a long time - so much snow melt and rain this year! Now's the time to enjoy a late summer ride. And, check back on previous posts for this week to see if you've got this week's theme.

River serenity

The Mississippi further upstream by St. Cloud is calm, narrow, and, in summer, can be pretty low (except this summer so far). For other views of the river at other times of year, click here.

River crossings

Are you walking, driving, or handling that coal train? Multiple ways to cross the river from downtown St. Paul (toward the left) to St. Paul's West side (toward the right) which is really south of downtown but on the west side of the Mississippi. Got that?

Learn to row

At the St. Paul Yacht Club (though what is it with the guy in the motor boat, then?).

Working river

A bike trail in South St. Paul took me along a part of the Mississippi I'd never been to with a new view of downtown. I think if I'd been born 100 years ago I would've wanted to work on a barge or a tug. Life on the river has always seemed so romantic (despite the dangers, the dirt, the hard work).

Dakota land

The confluence of the rivers - the Mississippi and the Minnesota - at Fort Snelling. And a good day to be out taking pictures.

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.