Trip to Mall of America

The Mall of America is reached via the light railway from Minneapolis. It is about half an hours ride going past Fort Snelling where the development of the U.S. Northwest took place. While surrounded today by freeways and a large urban population, Fort Snelling was once a lonely symbol of American ambition in the wilderness. It is an 1820s military outpost once the focus of a small settlement but now at the center of Minnesota's Twin Cities metropolitan area. Further on is the airport, then all the war graves, also called Fort Snelling national Cemetery. The Fort Snelling cemetery was established in 1870 to serve as a burial ground for the soldiers who died while stationed at the post. Following World War I, as new legislation expanded the eligibility requirements for burial in a national cemetery, the citizens of St. Paul organized a petition to designate a national cemetery in their area. In 1937, Congress responded with legislation that authorized a portion of land at Fort Snelling Military Reservation for this purpose. Fort Snelling National Cemetery was established in 1939 with the first burial on July 5, of Capt. George H. Mallon, whose acts of heroism at Meuse-Argonne in France were recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Following the dedication of the new cemetery, arrangements were made for the exhumation of the remains of those buried at the older post cemetery and the reinterment of the 680 soldiers who served from 1820-1939 buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The 1930s were also a major boom era for national cemetery growth. Ft. Snelling is one of a dozen or so very large cemeteries conceived between World War I and World War II to serve large veteran populations in some cities. In May 1960, Fort Snelling Air Force Station transferred 146 acres of land to the national cemetery. One more land transfer of 177 acres followed in 1961, bringing the cemetery to its present size. Because of the frigid winters, about 1,000 graves are dug each fall to be used for winter interments. Interesting! This cemetery is awe inspiring, the pure size of it from the railway is sobering, it cannot fail to make you think. 460 acres, about a quarter of a million graves.
From there you draw into the Bloomington which houses the Mall. This is the biggest closed mall in America. It is on four floors and includes a full size fairground at the centre, an aquarium, a large cinema and a wedding chapel as well as a full range of international and national stores. What you can't find here, you can't find anywhere.

This is the end of our visit this year, can't wait to go again!

The Twins

Last time when we went to a baseball match The Minnesota Twins were situated at the west end of Nicolette Mall. The stadium was indoors with artificial grass. This is unusual for baseball, but great for the fans as it was warm and dry throughout the whole season. Since then a new stadium has been built at the other end of Nicolette Mall in downtown Minneapolis, which is outdoor and very state of the art. It is called Target Field. The Twins moved to Target Field in March 2010 after 28 seasons at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It is the first facility built specifically for the Twins. It cost in the region of $520 and hold about 40,000 people. We spent quite a lot of time in the area, looking in the shop, at the construction and the sculptures and the historical boards telling us about the original ball players.

Visiting Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a pretty uninspiring city, although I have a feeling that we haven't seen a lot of it. We have tended to stick to Nicolette Mall which is the main strip in Minneapolis, catch the light rail to the Mall of America and visit the baseball park. Having said this we always have a great time in the cities.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the most populous urban area in the state of Minnesota, and is composed of 186 cities and townships. Built around the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers, the area is also nicknamed The Twin Cities for its two largest cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the former the larger and the latter the state capital.
I have always loved cities and this is no exception, it is vibrant compared to other areas that we have visited in Minnesota. It has a real city culture with good restaurants and bars. Its main downfall is that there isn't a lot there, although the several times we have been we have always found plenty to do. This time it was so hot (reaching 94 degrees F - remember the Yanks work in Fahrenheit!)that we had to keep calling into the bars for drinks - what a shame!

Trip on the Pontoon

Gull Lake is the large piece of water that lies off the bank of Maddens Hotel resort where Zac and Emily work. We always try and get out on the water for a relaxing trip on the lake, taking drinks and snacks. A pontoon is a small luxury boat that will hold about 12 people. It is very pleasant just to putter around looking at the luxury homes on the lakeside which cost upward of 2 to 3 million dollars. At this time of the year the lake is more or less deserted, which is even better, just a few fisherman and a small number of Loons, the native wildfowl of Minnesota state, with the plaintive cry. It is also good to boat to the nearest bar, tie up and go for a meal or a drink.

Quilting

You may not know this but in UK you are scrabbling around to try and find a shop that sells decent material, wool and sewing equipment. In Mid America it is much easier, as most women work on something that involves material or wool and the main occupation for them is quilting. There are many, many shops that sell a huge variety of material, machines and equipment for them to produce the fantastic quilts that they do. They make quilts to use, for babies, children, adults, old people and for hanging on their walls. It is something that girls, teenagers and women of all ages are able to do and they may do this at home or in shops where they meet up to swap ideas, use equipment or generally have a social time whilst husband is on the lake catching dinner!

Portsmouth Pit

Just outside of Crosby is the Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake, sometimes called the Portsmouth Pit, is the deepest lake in Minnesota at over 450 feet (137 m). The 120 acre (50 ha) artificial lake is a former iron mining pit in the Cuyuna Range that has since filled with water. In the last five years, the Minnesota DNR has repeatedly stocked the lake with brook and rainbow trout and fishing is a prime activity on the lake with its crystal clear waters.

On August 19, 1957, the mine pit, then not yet filled with water, served as launch site for a big stratospheric balloon; the second flight of the Air Force's Project Manhigh. http://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/1957/CBY-19570819.htm
This will lead you to the information about this interesting assignment.

Crosby

Crosby is the antiques city of the mid west. Its small town friendliness and service are a tradition. Built around Serpent lake in the heart of Cuyuna Country, the Crosby area offers dozens of beautiful natural lakes. Minnesota's newest lakes arecfilled with natural crystal clear water. These unique lakes were created when the old Cuyuna Iron Range open mine pits stopped operation. The pumping stopped and the excavated mine sites turned from scarred earth to a new wonderland reclaimed by nature.
There are about ten antique shops in Crosby, possibly what we would call memorabilia rather than antiques. We found stuff in them from our childhood in the UK, which reflected that the nation comes from British origins. We searched around them until we were pretty much antiqued out. What we have found though is that people really want to talk to us as we have a 'funny accent' and more time was spent talking than looking. By then we wanted coffee and found a charming cafe that was comfortable and homely. Another one of those places that we would love in the UK, but that Health and Safety would prevent. It was run by Grandma, mother and daughters, a great place with home made fruit pies. After an all day breakfast, we went down the road to the park and beach and had a wander in the hot sunshine. It was wonderful by the water. What a great life!

Trip to Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is basically an ice cream shop that sells a few other things as well. It is a drive through and an outside kiosk. We walked from Emily and Zac's house passing all sorts of things on the way such as the drive through letter box, fallout shelter, the memorial, county court house, rain gardens and prison, by then Stan was run ning to Dairy Queen and a good time was had by all!

Nisswa

About 13 miles from Brainerd is a city called Nisswa. Nisswa is a city in Crow Wing County. The population is 1,953. The city is near Gull Lake. This city is well known as a tourist destination. The Paul Bunyan Bike trail also runs through Nisswa. This enables the businesses to thrive over the whole year. There are many unique shops and cafes in the area.
It is also the town of turtle racing!
The turtle races have been a tradition in Nisswa since 1963! This is enjoyed by all ages. The fee to enter the race is $3.00 and the racers will be given a button with a number on it. The official race track is behind the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce building.

The races begin with the heat races and numbers are called in groups of fifteen racers. The racers will enter the racing ring and will pick out a turtle. (You may bring your own turtle.) The turtles will be in buckets with water. Each winner of the each numbered race will receive a ribbon and will race once again in the championship race. This winner will then be the champion racer of the week and will also receive a neck ribbon with a medallion.

After the numbered races, the speciality races will be held. The following are the speciality races:

Resort Race: If you are staying at an area resort, motel or campground, you can race in this one.

Out of State Race: If you are not a Minnesota resident you can enter this race.

Grandparents Race: This is for a grandparent and a grandchild to race together.

Tiny Tots Race: This is a race for all of those under the age of 5

Locals Only Race: This is a race for local residents of the area who live in Nisswa or neighboring communities.

It is a fun event in this fun city.

Chain Saw Art

As we left Pequot Lakes we saw a man using a chain saw. He was forming an eagle from a tree trunk. We stopped and looked at his art work, which could be displayed either indoors or in a garden. What a talented man. He said he couldn't be taught but he had a gift from God. He used the chain saw to form the shape of the piece and then for the detail he used drills and smaller implements.

Pequot Lakes Memorial 2

Pequot Lakes Memorial

There was a fantastic memorial to all the US wars and conflicts in the centre of Pequot Lakes. Particularly poignant are the verses that are on the stones. They are worth reading and thinking about.

Pequot Lakes

Pequot Lakes (population 1,956)
Pequot Lakes, home of Paul Bunyan's fish bobber and chair, has a beautiful town square and is located adjacent to the Paul Bunyan Trail, with unique shops and dining nearby. The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway starts at Trailside Park, where the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center is located in the center of Pequot Lakes and is host to many of the area festivals and events, such as Bean Hole Day!
This place is very small, but like many of the small towns in the area, is unique. These towns rely on the very short summer to earn a living, although Pequot Lakes is on the end of the Paul Bunyan trail where visitors can snowmobile, dog sled etc. Often businesses are only taken on for a season, sold and then new owners take on the business the next season.
We spent some time at a tobacco shop that had just opened. This sold a range of tobacco products, cigarette making machines, tobacco, cigars, pipes, tea, coffee and all sorts of bits and pieces. We had a coffee and got talking to the owner, his son was going to uni in UK at Warwick, where Richard was! Small world! Talk got onto motor bikes as the owner's friend came over for a coffee on his Harley and then to talk about the differences between UK and US. It was an enjoyable hour or so. The shops are full of local craft, such as quilting, knitting, crocheting, jams and sauces and various wooden crafts. Cafe's are what we would like in UK but because of Health and Safety doesn't happen. These are family businesses with a small kitchen, cooking homely food and cakes, which tastes real good.
Crossing the road we came across the town war memorial and across the other side was Paul Bunyan's chair and Babe as well as the fish float that is the town water tower.