Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 6

With our project completed yesterday, I decided to take advantage of some more great weather.  t was supposed to be my travel day for the Minneapolis Work Trip so I decided to really make it count.  It's time to visit a new state!  In anticipation of a full day of driving, I woke up early again (0410) - even though I felt pretty rested, I decided to go back to sleep and didn't officially get out of bed until 0605.  After that, I got packed and did some travel planning for my day (and some lodging planning for the coming week.  In the end, I checked out of the Candlewood Suites (Egan) at 0900 headed into Minneapolis for one more local hike.  The day was wet (misty) and cooler (59 F).  Knowing that my drive to the next work site (in Salt Lake City) was going to be quite far, I noted my odometer mileage (104465) and vowed to minimize any extra driving.  Breakfast, which I ate while traveling north on I-35E, was leftover flatbread pizza.  When I reached the Lone Oak exit (the same one where I went to meet up with Anthony A last night), I got on MN-55 and drove (through Mendota Heights) to Minnehaha Park.  My goal was to reach the scenic falls there but I was unprepared for the ubiquitous parking meters that were all over that section of the park.  Ignoring the signs (0925), I walked a short distance from my piratical parking spot and took in the sights and sounds of beautiful Minnehaha Falls.  Wow!  After that, I returned to my car (no tickets) and drove north (on MN-55) on city streets.  Along the way, I passed by something called the "Longfellow House".  A bit later, I started to see the skyline of Minneapolis - right after that, I got on I-94 and drove west through the downtown area (heading northwest).  Just then, I had a Deja Vu moment of my drive (with Eileen and her sister) on this same route - it's been 36 years since that trip to Alaska on this very highway...  The speeds picked up and I was making good time.  However, I was mindful of the higher gas prices all over the State of Minnesota and made a stop in the town of Dayton, where I'd seen a Google Maps price that seemed to good to be true, at 1005.  In the end, I hit an unbelievable jackpot on the price (saved more than $0.40) at the Kisch Oil Company (Maple Grove) station there!  Feeling quite satisfied, I got back on I-94 and made my way north again.  I started up a new audiobook at that point and tried to avoid the class between the Libby App and the Google Maps App.  When I reached the town of Monticello (Wright County) at 1020, I exited the Interstate and got on MN-25.  Just after that, I crossed the Mississippi River and switched to CR-11.  At 1035, I reached the town of Salida (Sherburne County) and got stuck for a while at a train crossing (VERY long train).  Once the road was clear again, I got on US-10 and was pleased to find a long, straight four lane road after that.  Meanwhile, it started getting drier (rain seemed still to be threatening, though).  I then passed through the town of St. Cloud and reached Sauk Rapids (Benton County) at 1100.  Right after that (1120), I entered Morrison County and passed a trailhead for something called the Soo Line Trail (looked interesting but I didn't stop).  As I was driving through the town of Little Falls, I noticed a sign for Lindbergh State Park.  Though I wasn't sure that it connected to the famous Aviator, I decided to stop anyway.  Using MN-27 (west), I crossed the Mississippi River and turned south on Lindbergh Road.  A few miles later (1145), I reached the Charles A. Lindbergh (Sr.) Home - it was located immediately across the street from the State park.  Since it wasn't raining, I did some walking, visited the home site (closed), learned (from information signs) about the father of Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr.  "Lucky Lindy" apparently grew up (at least during the summers of his youth) on the farm along the edge of the Mississippi while his father served as a local elected official.  This was one of those lucky Nomad Life discoveries that I never would have planned or even wondered about when I missed it - very glad I stopped!  I left the site at 1215 and made my way north (through Little Falls again) to US-10.  At about that time, it started sprinkling again.  I soon (1240)passed through an area that I believe was called Lincoln Lakes, which straddled the Todd County & Morrison County line.  At around this time, I started seeing pairs of swans in nearly every lake that I passed.  And, since I was in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", I saw a LOT...  I passed through Motley (Motley) about five minutes later but eventually entered Todd County for good.  In the town of Staples, I stopped for lunch at Burger King - I ordered at 1300 and was done eating (inside) at 1320.  Back on US-10 again, I passed through Aldrich (Waudena County) at 1320 and then got stuck behind a slow truck in a long construction zone.  That delay was over by the time I crossed US-71 in Waudena.  My destination by this point was a section of the North Country Trail that was located north of the town of Frazee (Otter Tail County).  At 1410, I got off the highway and drove north on CR-10, CR-29 and MN-34.  Ont the latter road, I somehow missed the NCT Trailhead and found one for hiking trails in the Hubbel Pond State Wildlife Management Area instead.  By this point, the temperature had risen to 62 F (still not warm).  At 1430, I walked a short distance on a trail there until I heard nearby gunshots - with hunting season seemingly in full force, I backtracked on foot to my car and then found the NCT Trailhead itself (nearby on the south side of MN-34).  I walked around a bit there (0.1 miles of NCT) and took photos of the maps.  By this point, I was pretty sure about where to go to start logging driving miles but it was always nice to find some kind of confirmation...  In my car again, I looked for a road called 175th Street (dirt) and, when I found it, started driving south.   Moments later, I started my odometer at the NCT Trailhead at 175th Street & 360th Avenue.  From there, I used CR-120 and CR-29 to drive back into Frazee.  Along the entire section, I saw no blazes.  Somehow, I missed the turn on 120th Street and ended up at the Frazee High School before I realized my mistake.  After backtracking to the correct intersection, I drove east (0.8 miles) to the “trailhead”.  Checking maps, odometer readings (corrected) and NCT website information, I concluded that I'd driven 8.2 total miles in the section.  During all this exploring, I'd seen a cryptic sign about a troll in town.  In this way, I stumbled across a new (to me, at least) Thomas Dambo Troll project (#412)!  Located in Wannigan Regional Park, this troll was called "Jacob Everear" (#134?) and was located right on the NCT!  Starting at 1510, I logged 0.3 new miles of  NCT walking between the Troll and the parking lot.  In this area, I saw lots of signs (one said that I was 10.6 miles fromt he trailhead on MN-34) but no blazes.  Once I'd gotten my fill (probably one mile) of walking in the park (1535), I decided to look for the next NCT driving section.  It was nearby - I ended up driving (on a dirt road) from the Park City Campground at the south end of Wannigan Regional Park (where River Drive goes south to MN-87.  I ended up getting 0.3 more miles of NCT driving there.  Next, I followed (but didn't log) the NCT on the sidewalk through Frazee until I located another local landmark: the "World’s Largest Turkey" (I got more photos there).  Beyond the town, I started another NCT driving section (8.2 more miles) that took me (via MN-87 to the southwest, across US-10, via CR-134 and MN-29, Whymer Lake Road, 370th Avenue and MN-228) to a trailhead near Wonder Road (northwest corner of Long Lake).  There was still more NCT beyond that, though - I drove into Vergas on Frazee Avenue (short turn on Scharf Avenue) and ended up completing another 0.2 miles of NCT in the process.  At around that time, I passed the "World’s Largest Loon".  As I left Vargas (at corner of West Mill Street & Pelican Avenue), I found myself on another NCT driving section.  Using CR-4 and CR-41, I made my way to the west side of Dora Catholic Cemetery and finished 4.9 miles of NCT driving there.  Along the way, I saw signs for something called the "Silent Lake Trail" (it may be the NCT in the gaps nearby).  Hoping to reposition for another NCT section, I continued South on 280th Avenue and got on MN-108 (Maplewood Church Road).  This gravel road had warning signs about “minimum maintenance” and they turned out to be true.  Along the way, I passed a biker with minimal room of the both of us before I entered Maplewood State Park.  During this time (1655), I encountered lots of deer in the road and passed LOTS more lakes (each with pairs of swans).  In a few places, I also saw NCT signs.  However, it wasn't until I reached the Maplewood Lutheran Cemetery (still in the State Park) that I had another chance to log NCT driving miles.  The total distance for that section was 14.6 miles and included: following Maplewood Church Road (south), CR-24, CR-3, CR-10, CR-1, 245th Street and CR-111.  I found that trailhead there (the NCT went into the woods to the west).  If all of this sounds every neat, it wasn't.  In actuality, I messed up and went west on CR-10, missing the turn on CR-1.  A few miles later, I backtracked to the correct place and restarted the odometer.  There were signs for something called the "Otter Trail Scenic By Way" in most places where I was correctly on the NCT and I began to wonder how much it was following the trail...  Once again, I had to reposition to find another NCT driving section - I found it on the north side of the town of Fergus Falls at a place called Ferber Park MTB Trailhead.  Once I found that, I just had to enter a neighborhood and find where the NCT exited the woods/fields on Oakwood View Drive.  I then followed that to the south until I could get on Stony Brook Road and took CR-111 to the junction with Fir Avenue.  To the east, the road section ended at Lenore Way.  This section gave me another 0.8 miles but the NCT then disappeared in a maze of city streets and local trails on the east side of Fergus Falls (north to south).  To reposition, I drove (from Red Sox Park!) past the Otter Tail Valley Railroad and through Fergus Falls until I was on MN-210.  My target by that point was a walking section of the NCT located within the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center grounds.  The center itself was closed when I arrived (1755) but I was able to walk through the trail network and find lots of interesting birds (including my first sighting of a Clay-colored Sparrow).  For the first time in days, I was harassed by bugs.  The conditions, however, were drier and breezier than they had been for most of the day.  I gratefully walked and walked - but I had to work very hard to find the NCT.  When I did, it was located southwest of the PWLC (near Cascades Dr).  Over the course of my visit, then, I really mostly walked on the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail and got close to the Fairgrounds) - I maybe only walked 0.1 miles of NCT.  Still, the stop was very successful in many ways.  I departed at 1850 and picked up the NCT again (in my car) as I was crossing MN-210 and getting on South Cascade Street.  That section ended (0.1 miles later) at Prairie Court).  As I'd seen earlier, the NCT followed trails and streets (from south to north) on the west side of Fergus Falls so I didn't bother chasing it.  I did, however, enjoy the ambiance of the town - wish I could have stayed longer...  While it may like an obsession, I now had the best opportunity of the day to complete a long NCT section.  This drive, then, required the most focus I'd used all day.  To log the 39.2 miles from Fergus Falls to the North Dakota border, I started at the corner of CR-88 & Maryland Lane, turned on CR-88 to the north, crossed I-94 (having trouble with the bright sun), followed CR-24 to the west until it became CR-26 in Rothsay, entered Wilkin County, followed (gravel) 210th Avenue (CR-11), 230th Street (CR-172) , CR-24 (encountered deer and skunk while passing near Meadows WPA), enjoyed the sunset, encountered a Great Horned Owl swooping off of a fencepost (1940) and finally reached the pavement again when I got on US-75.  After that, I followed 235th Street and CR-22 into the town of Kent.  Heading north on Main Street, I next turned west on 2nd Street (CR-22) and drove through the town of McCauleyville.  Soon after that, I reached the Red River, which was the border and end of my nearly 40 miles of flawless map/note (I'd made a lot in the morning) following.  Almost immediately at this point (1950), the NCT left the pavement and started north into Fort Abercrombie State Park (I probably logged 0.1 miles of NCT in North Dakota before that).  I did like how they had a really big NCT sign).  My NCT tracking wasn't done at that point, though, because I was able to pick it up again on Abercrombie Street (within the town itself) and follow it to 3rd Avenue.  I then turned north and west on Broadway to west before the trail went into a town park.  There were actually blazes at times!  This short section involved about 0.6 miles of driving.  I soon found the north end of that park and located the NCT again - from there, I used Main Street (west) and Sheyenne Drive (north) to the end of the trail in town (0.4 miles NCT driving).  Still not finished, I drove north out of town and found the next NCT road section: CR-81 & 176th Avenue corner.  There were actually really good signs there and I tempted fate with a drive to the west on (dirt, mud) 66th Street.  I encountered even more deer and it became clear that I was risking an accident by continuing.  When I arrived at a T intersection, I followed 172nd Avenue to the north and CR-4 (paved) to the west.  This decision took me across I-29 and into the town of Colfax.  On Main Ave at the railroad crossing, I stopped counting NCT mileage at 7.7 miles (another flawless tracking session).  Actually, the NCT started a long woods/trail section there anyway.  What a day!  It was extremely dark so I made the decision to head towards my hotel in Fargo.  I basically backtracked to the Interstate (starting at 2025) and was soon motoring (speed limit 80 mph) north.  It was only at that point that I realized I'd skipped dinner...  After making my way through a frustrating construction zone, I arrived at the Park Inn by Radisson (my hotel) at 2055.  When I got out of the car, I my nose was hit with the strong smell of oil (not sure what that was).  After checking into my room, I spent time organizing my notes on the NCT (very difficult today), making eBird entries, doing Duolingo exercises and take care of some other administrative tasks.  It was so easy to fall happily into bed at 2315...  Whew!  North Country Trail Today = 85.8 miles / Grand Total NCT = 357.1 miles

Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 5

Unfortunately, the rain found me again...  Honestly, though, I can't complain because I've had so many wonderful weather days since starting my Nomad Life.  This morning, I was initially awake at 0415 but decided to go back to sleep - I was finally awake at 0615.  Since my work colleagues from the on-site project this week were departing and all the work was finished, I didn't need to go into "the office" for quite as long as I during the last few days.  As a result, I started teleworking in my room at the Candlewood Suites (Eagan) right after getting out of bed.  Otherwise, I only took a break to make/ate breakfast (snacks) in my room.  Feeling like I had a good lull in the worst of the rain outside, I departed the at 0900 and drove south to Farmington.  The steady rain didn't seem to affect the temperatures very much (they were 60 F) and my windshield wipers did very well.  Leaving later meant that the traffic was much lighter than I'd been seeing earlier in the week.  I used the same route (I-35E, MN-77, MN-23 and MN-50) to get to the work site and (after walking through the rain with my umbrella) I was sitting at "my desk" by 0925.  Since everyone had been using our system for more than 24 hours by that point, there were few complaints - I actually got a few comments about how good everything looked.  At one point, one of my work colleagues (Ethan, who I'd first met on an installation trip in the Northeast earlier in 2026) came by to ask me questions about the hardware spares and I was able to show him where the local team had stored them.  We also discussed hardware disposition and shipping of the tools we'd used this week.  Otherwise, though, it was pretty quiet for most of the time I was on-site.  By 1215, I was ready to depart.  Instead of heading back to the hotel, though, I drove to Apple Valley (via Pilot Knob Road) and found Freddy's Frozen Custard.  Starting at about 1225, I enjoyed a lunch of a "burger salad" and concrete.  Freddy's is always a treat!  By 1255, I was done with my meal and went next door to get some cash (the first I've needed in a while) from the local credit union.  Since the rain was still steadily falling, I decided to fall back to my old strategy (during heat waves in Virginia or frigid weather in New England) of walking the aisles of a large store.  Fortunately, I was in luck - there was a Hy-Vee grocery store across the parking lot.  By patiently (and nonchalantly) walking around inside, I managed to reach 5K steps (and two miles) of walking for the day (this distance includes some steps I got on the work site).  Along the way, I noticed that prices were pretty good for several items that I typically buy.  The whole place seemed like a good neighborhood grocery store.  I finished walking at 1345 and, only then, drove back to my hotel.  After arriving there (at 1355), I resumed telework but then decided it was a good time to try to do my daily workout in the Fitness Center.  Starting at 1410, I rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes (4.1 miles).  Afterwards, I started a load of laundry while continuing my teleworking until 1625.  The timing was perfect, actually, since I'd made plans to meet up with another High School Friend at a nearby restaurant and needed to depart the hotel.  By 1630, I was on my way north (on US-35E) and arrived at the Lone Oak Grill (Eagan) about 10 minutes later.  Actually, I was much earlier than we'd agreed to meet but this gave me an opportunity to try one of the local Oktoberfest beers.  Anthony A (same graduating class as me and a classmate in almost all of our Honors Courses) arrived at 1700 and we began a nice conversation about all the many days, months and years since the last time we'd seen in each in 1987.  We ordered some wings and then I got a flat bread pizza for my main meal.  It was so much fun catching up that we eventually lost track of time - we stayed until 2000!  After saying goodbye (and promising to meet up more often than we had during the last few years), I drove back to the hotel.  On the way, I tried to call my daughters but none of them answered.  Oh well...  Like often happens during my life on the road, I spent the rest of the evening watching movies and lost track of the time again; I finally went to bed at 2315.  What a great way to cap off a wonderful visit to Minnesota - friendship reunions, good food, interesting work and a good work/life balance throughout.  North Dakota tomorrow!

Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 4

This morning, I woke up at 0525 and got online to check on the overnight activities of my on-site colleagues (they'd all night).  All was well so I spent some time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  By 0645, I started getting ready for work and prepared/ate breakfast in my kitchen.  About 45 minutes later, I departed the Candlewood Suites (Eagan) and headed to the work site myself (used I-35E, MN-77, MN-23 and MN-50).  The day started out misty (58 F) but the forecast said the weather would be nicer by the afternoon.  I reached the desk where I'd worked the previous day by 0755 and spent most of the morning helping local colleagues; most of them had questions about what had been done by our installation team and I was able to answer almost everything.  In addition, I ended up in communications with HQ (they wanted some additional data about the configuration of the new system hardware.  Otherwise, I was in meetings on my laptop well past noon - I was able ate to lunch (that I brought with me) at 1245.  The rest of the afternoon, however, was much less busy and I had to force myself to wait until the time I'd promised to work (1500).  When the time finally arrived, I felt like Fred Flintstone (or Homer Simpson) - ready to go!  To reach my hotel, I drove via the morning route (reversed).  Back in my room by 1525, I resumed (tele)working briefly to ensure that my day was officially over.  Beyond that, I got changed and soon (1535) departed Eagan so I could experience some of the local cuisine, culture and spirits.  My route into Minneapolis mostly followed MN-77, which later turned into a residential road called Cedar Avenue.  Before long, I started to see lots of names from "The Song of Hiawatha" (Hiawatha, Nokomis, Minnehaha).  Those signs intrigued me but I stayed on task and soon (1600) arrived at Matt’s Bar and Grill in Minneapolis.  One of my Nomad Life friends had recommended that I try a "Juicy Lucy" and Matt's was apparently the originator of the local "delicacy".  When I sat down in the kitschy bar, I asked the server what I should get if I had never been before and she recommended the Juicy Lucy “Fried” (onions and pickles), a half order of fries and a Matt's Juicy Light (beer).  When my food arrived, I immediately understood why this sandwich is the famous Minneapolis burger: there was melted cheese in between the meat patties!  I finished eating this memorable meal at 1640 and, feeling quite stuffed, drove north and east through Minneapolis.  Along the route I took (from near Powderhorn Park), I had this sense that I was near the site of some of the recent civil unrest that had been in the news (e.g., George Floyd, ICE shootings).  Sure enough, later research indicated that I'd been within only a few blocks of all of the events.  Before long, my route took me across the Mississippi River (into Hennepin County), which looked very serene in the middle of the city.  My next target destination was another location suggested by a Nomad Life friend (Erik I): the O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company, which is famous for creating the whiskey called "Keeper's Heart",.  The Bar there had just opened when I arrived (1700) so I had the full attention of the bartenders.  They turned out to be very nice and suggested several nice combinations for me to try.  Initially, I had a Keeper’s + American Old Fashioned (on special for a "Halfway to St Paddy’s" celebration day) special.  Next, I got a sample of Keeper’s American Pot Still, which is completely made on site and the new flagship of domestic creations.  The bartenders told me about the family that owned the distillery and the Irish born Master that creates the spirits.  What an experience!  After moving on to a Keeper’s + Bourbon Smoked Maple Cocktail (very good), I was distracted when  "local" stopped to ask the bartender for a Non Alcoholic beer.  It wasn't his request that startled me, though - it was the fact that the bartender poured a shot of Keeper's Heart into the beer!  Later, I learned that distilleries in Minnesota can't sell (alcoholic) beer.  So, this is their workaround...  The bartender then showed me several of the bar's N. A. selections - I was surprised to see a Guinness option.  Even better, though, the open can of Athletic Ale was available for me to taste.  It ended up being very good and I recalled (with distaste) the O'Doul's selections back on the USS Enterprise...  By this point, I'd reached the end of my tour of the whiskeys.  However, the bartenders then gave me a sample (straight) of the bourbon that I'd just had in the cocktail.  As you might have figured out by now, the bartenders were VERY nice.  One, a lady, ended up being from the Red Cliff Reservation (!!!) and we had an interesting conversation about my recent visit there.  The other (a young man) was a native of western Minnesota and he seemed very passionate about life in the Twin Cities.  Before long, I got to hear his full opinions about the civil unrest I mentioned above.  Along the way, I guess I appeared to be a very sympathetic and likeable customer because, in addition to the free samples and good pours in my cocktails, I got a reduced bill!  The Nomad Life always seems to provide...  After saying goodbye to my friends, I left the distillery (1830) and drove in the direction of Minnehaha Falls.  I'd seen this place on the map and hoped to do some walking there and/or do some birding.  However, during this same timeframe (1900), I called my dad and we ended up talking for about an hour.  While talking to him, I crossed the Mississippi River again (on the Marshall Street Bridge) and got on the River Parkway (headed south). Still talking to him, I parked in an area near the Mississippi Gorge Park and checked out some overlooks nearby.  Sadly, it was simply too hard to see much in the valley below.  Undeterred, I walked around on the trails nearby and reached 5.5K steps for the day (just over two miles).  Darkness arrived and, at about 1950, I got back in my car and started driving towards my hotel.  The call with my dad wrapped up at 2005 (while I was driving south on the River Parkway).  Soon after that, I got on MN-55, which turned into MN-62 - I passed the Airport along the way.  Switching to MN-5, I later merged with I-494 and took this highway to MN-77.  After nearly 10 miles more of driving, I reached Cliff Road and got to my hotel by 2025.  Back in my room, I checked on my work computer (nothing had happened) and closed it for the evening.  I next did my eBird updates and took care of some finance stuff.  At 2105, I went to work out in the Fitness Center and logged 20 minutes on the stationary (recumbent bike), logging four miles.  After that (2125), I started watching YouTube videos, new streaming service episodes and full length movie.  Consequently, my bed time was at 2315.  It's been a great week in Minneapolis, especially after the afternoon/evening fun today!

Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 3

Today is the Main Event!  Fortunately, I slept better and only woke up at 0605 when I heard some loud noises outside my room.  Because my day was going to involve travel and on-site work, I actually avoided telework initially.  Instead, I read, did puzzles and worked on Duolingo exercises.  Beyond that, I got ready and made/ate breakfast in my room.  Outside, it was sunny and cool (56 F).  I departed the Candlewood Suites (Eagan) at 0715 and drove (via Cliff Road, I-35E, MN-77, MN-23 and MN-50) to Farmington, my work site for the whole day.  When I arrived (0745), I learned that I needed to get a parking pass - even with this small hiccup, I was inside the building by 0755.  During the rest of the day, I met up with local colleagues and worked at a desk in the training lab for the whole morning.  Along the way, I skipped lunch but had snacks at around noon.  In the end, I kept working (meetings, newly shipped equipment confirmation) all the way until 1500.  With my day on-site completed, I departed the work site and, this time, drove east into the downtown area of Farmington.  Unfortunately, I got caught by a passing trail (long delay).  Next, I got on MN-3 and drove north, deeper into Dakota County.  Along the way, I crossed into Eagan and made my way (via a diagonal cutoff road) to Cliff Road.  Soon after that, I found the entrance for the Lebanon Hills Regional Park and, at 1530, stopped at Visitor Center so I could get a map.  This park had an extensive trail network that was recommended by my friend, Garen, the day before.  Feeling prepared for some outdoor exploring on the property, I drove back to my hotel (via Cliff Road) and, at 1545, resumed teleworking until I'd reached my full hours for the day.  Soon after that, I cooked (on the stove!) and ate dinner in the kitchen of my room.  There was also time for travel blogging (still falling behind...).  At 1725, I returned to Southern Social for their Happy Hour again.  Since I wanted to squeeze in a walk, I only stayed for about 45 minutes (enough time for two drinks) and then walked back to my hotel.  Next, I got changed for some hiking in Lebanon Hills Regional Park and left hotel at 1820.  I easily located the nearby Holland Lake Trailhead (arrived at 1830) and started walking near the lake.  Along the way, I met up with a wetlands restoration crew (talked with them), did some birding and logged about two miles before I was finished at 1920.  It was a nice trail system and I wished I'd arrived earlier (darkness was approaching).  Later, though, I felt very fortunate I'd stopped when I did - while I was driving back to my hotel, it started raining!  In my room again (1920), I worked on some finance stuff and did some Duolingo exercises.  Later, I watched the new (final) episode of a new streaming service series (1945 to 2030).  To cap off the day, I returned to the Fitness Center and worked out for 20 minutes on the stationary (recumbent bike) , logging four miles.  Back in my room (2100), I cleaned dishes (!!!), made some tea and worked on my eBird entries. There was also time to do some planning for my upcoming 10 day transit from Minneapolis to Salt Lake City (again for work).  Before bed, I did some reading and actually turned out the lights at 2230 (early for once).  What a good day on-site for my job!

Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 2

Overnight, I woke up during the night again (is this a new habit?) but managed to fall back to sleep.  My "official wake up" was at 0630 and I started teleworking immediately at the Candlewood Suites (Eagan).  Actually, it seemed strange to know that I was going to be staying in the same hotel for several days - I took advantage of this fact by spreading out and making myself feel at home.  At 0745, I left the hotel to drive to a nearby diner called J's.  The day was sunny (temps in the 60s) and I waited outside my car until the restaurant opened at 0800.  My school friend, Garen S, met me and we ordered breakfast soon afterwards.  We talked about old times (especially the Boy Scouts) and calculated that it had been over 38 years since we were together last.  Overall, we spent about 90 minutes visiting and catching up - it was a great reunion!  Since we both had to work, we reluctantly said goodbye at about 0940 - I was back at the hotel by 0945 and resumed teleworking.  Just after noon, I ate a late/light lunch (that I prepared in my room).  Otherwise, I powered through to 1500, when I took a break (due to having to travel to the work site in the late evening).  With the free time I had, I caught up on my travel blog and did some printing in the hotel's Business Center.  At 1600, I went to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike again (20 minutes, 4.2 miles).  Back in my room, I cleaned up and decided to go out for a walk near the hotel.  By then (1650), it was sunny and 71 F.  I found a place called Kettle Park and walked several circuits of it - this allowed me to reach two miles of walking for the day.  Afterwards (1725), I stopped for happy hour (glass of wine) at Southern Social.  I had the same bartender and, this time, enjoyed a really good meal (signature burger).  My meal was done at 1820 and I walked back to my hotel.  For the next few hours, I watching movies in my hotel room and, along the way, prepped for my evening at the work site.  At 2100, I departed from Eagan and drove (via MN-32, I-35E, MN-77 and MN-50) to the town of Farmington (southeast) to meet up with my work colleagues.  When I arrived at the work site (2100), I located everyone else and checked on my FAA counterpart's (Luis') expectations for me during the coming days.  For the first time (in over 13 years on the project!), got to meet the "legendary" John H and he helped me learn a bit more about my role during the coming week.  Ultimately, I stayed for an hour so I understood everything.  Leaving Farmington (2230), I returned to my hotel (used reverse route except that no I-35E was required.  When I reached my room (2250), I used the rest of the evening to catch up on some more finances, my travel blog and eBird entries.  I had some more tea and again got carried away watching movies - didn't go to bed until 0015.  Dang - I need to try to be more disciplined...  Great mix today with Work/Life balance!

Minneapolis Work Trip - Day 1

It's time for some another trip in support of my work project - this time, the destination is Minneapolis!  Perhaps it was the excitement but I woke up in the middle of the night and almost thought about beginning my day.  Instead, though, I went back to sleep and didn't wake up "for real" until my alarm rang at 0600.  After that, I began teleworking immediately, with only a short break when I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Moose Lake Lodge & Suites (Moose Lake) at 0730.  By 1100, I was ready to make my way towards the work site and I packed up my car after checking out of the hotel.  Outside, it was 58 F with a high overcast.  Even though my gas tank was almost empty (scarily so, in fact), I skipped filling up in Moose Lake and, instead, made my way south (via I-35) until I found a much better price for fuel at the BP/Amoco in Willow River.  I filled up there at 1110 and felt much better - whew...  Even though it was only 100 miles to Minneapolis, I didn't want to head there directly - there was more of Wisconsin and Minnesota to explore!  Getting back on the Interstate, I turned on an audiobook and headed south again.  When I reached the exit for Pine City, I got of I-35 and headed (city streets) into town.  At about that moment, I was startled to see a flight of three (in fingertip formation) Sandhill Cranes flying low overhead!  When I reached MN-70 (south of Pine City), I turned east and drove back into Wisconsin.  Soon after this (1205), I arrived at my first official sign (of the day) for the Saint Croix National Scenic River (National Park Unit), which straddled the border of both MN and WI for many miles to the south).  Sadly, it started sprinkling at this point and really didn't stay dry for most of the rest of the day.  When I entered Burnett County (on WI-70), I made some birding observations and continued east to Grantsburg.  At that point, I turned south on WI-87.  For the next several miles, I passed through lots of cornfields and saw many, many sunflowers drooping.  At 1225, I passed through the town of Cushing (Polk County).  Beyond that, I reached the (larger) town of St. Croix Falls and, at 1240, parked at the Lions Park (near the Wert Family Preserve).  I got some good views of the St. Croix River there and located my first section of the Ice Age Trail (IAT).  During this stop, I got a nice break from the rain and walked the trail (following some yellow blazes and doing more birding).  By 1255, I decided to reposition to the nearby National Park Service Visitor Center and only had to drive about five minutes to reach their parking lot.  I got some brochures, learned that the Upper and Lower Units of the park had been merged (many years ago, even though an old book I had showed them as two separate parks).  I explored some of the displays, walked on trails near the VC and got glimpses of the Dam to the southwest.  An unexpected highlight for this stop was to spy (and hear) a Merlin (bird) in a tall tree.  Rain reappeared and I was glad I had brought my umbrella...  Next, I drove for about 10 minutes to the entrance to Interstate State Park, where I hoped to find the IAT again.  By 1330, I was parked at the Pothole Trail, which leads to the Western Terminus of the IAT.  Despite some sprinkles, I walked the entire loop, found some amazing viewpoints for the rocky gorge that passes through the park and did some more birding.  There were plenty of the eponymous potholes there and I enjoyed seeing the Terminus sign - only about 1199 miles left to hike!  Backtracking towards the park entrance on the pavement, I stopped at Ice Age (Trail) Interpretive Center.  It took a bit of doing (I guess no one had ever asked before) but I confirmed that there were, indeed three special reserve sites nearby that were part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.  They counted for another NPS Unit and I found the place where the Passport Stamps were kept so I could tell Mollie about it later.  Meanwhile, it started pouring down rain outside.  As a result, I was mostly confined to my car for the rest of my visit to Interstate State Park; I explored and actually found two of the Reserve locations (I had to use a crappy, muddy road to reach them).  Even though I didn't want to take the risk of getting wet and walking deeper into them, I got a good look at the geology and biology nearby.  By the end, I got a lull in the rain and found a quiet boat launch in the “bottoms” area by the river (deep in the gorge).  My visit to Wisconsin was mostly wrapped up by 1425 and I decided to cross back into Minnesota.  It's been a fun time in the Badger State and I got to see most of the things I had in my "Nomad Life List" before I arrived.  Satisfied, I got on US-8 and drove west to Taylors Falls, where I found the MN part of Interstate State Park at 1435.  From this point, my goal was to explore the old Lower St. Croix NSR unit of the National Park system.  To do this (by car), I used MN-95 to get to MN-243 and then drove east (road became WI-243) into Osceola (WI).  At 1500, I stopped for lunch at Subway - I got a foot long sandwich (first in years) and got back in my car for the rest of the drive to Minneapolis.  It had started to rain very hard by this point so I took WI-35 and headed south to WI-64 (ate my sandwich on the way).  I crossed the St. Croix River for the last time and then used MN-36, I-694 and I-494 to cross the Mississippi River.  When I got on MN-31 (recommended by Google Maps to avoid an I-35E traffic jam), I got stuck for a while because of a pesky traffic light (and plenty of other people with the same idea as me).  When I finally reached the Interstate, I got to see the cause of all the traffic - an overturned 18-wheeler truck - yikes.  Fortunately, I was almost at my hotel in Eagan by then so only had one more turn (off the highway Cliff Road) before I arrived at the Candlewood Suites (1645).  I was able to quickly check into my room and logged back into my work computer.  Fortunately, there was not much that I missed during the intervening hours.  Suddenly (1700), I realized (just in time) that the monthly Knights of Columbus Council Meeting (back in Lebanon, NH) was starting and I was able to join that.  It was good to hear about the goings on in the town where I used to live...  When that ended (1740), I spent time catching up on my travel blog, making eBird entries and prepping for work.  Realizing that I could cook anything I wanted (my room had a full kitchen), I also spent some more time unpacking the car.  At 1925 (at the recommendation of the hotel desk clerk), I walked across the street to the Southern Social (bar & restaurant) and had few beers.  By then, it was no longer raining but the temperatures had dropped to near 50 degrees.  The vibe of the place was very nice and I enjoyed talking (briefly) to the bartender lady.  I wrapped up my visit at 2015 and returned to my room, where I did some Duolingo exercises.  At 2100, I went to the Fitness Center in the hotel and got a workout on the stationary (recumbent) bike (4.1 miles in 20 minutes).  Back in my room for the last time of the day, I caught up on finances and fitness records - I brewed some tea (rare for me) but it was nice.  I also did lots of texting with my kids and some friends.  Along the way, I made plans to meet a high school classmate the following morning.  My night wrapped up with watching (too much, really) movies and I didn't get to bed until 0030.  Looking forward to my adventures this week in the Twin Cities!

Nomad Life - Day 329

After all of the wonderful adventures I've been having during the last few weeks, I was tempted to just stay put in my hotel today.  I woke up at 0615 and did my normal weekend reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  Even more important, though, I started catching up on my blog.  At 0715, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Moose Lake Lodge & Suites (Moose Lake) - it was a good spread!  Back in my room, I worked on my blog some more.  Just after 1100, someone knocked on my door - I thought it was Housekeeping so said "no thank you."  Shortly after that, though, I got a call from the front desk and they informed me that I was only booked for one night.  This was actually the second time that my Booking.com reservation hadn't worked out for me (a rare occurrence).  Fortunately, the clerk was the same young man who had checked me in the evening before and he was able to resolve the issue seamlessly.  Still, it is a good thing I stayed in my room while this was unfolding...  When I felt good about the place where my blog was, I finally left Moose Lake (1210) and went off in search of some more North Country Trail miles.  The day was wonderful again (61 F and sunny).  Hoping to hike a bit, I put the address for Pattison State Park in my Google Maps app and started heading east.  The route took me on I-35, CR-4 and Military Road (still CR-4).  By 1235, I found myself at the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota and noticed a sign for the NCT State Line Trailhead.  Actually, like a lot of the trail in this area, I was really on the Minnesota side already - this was strange because the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), which purports to start at the "true" border, was few miles to the north.  IN any case, I took some photos of the maps and signage and then followed the blacktop from the parking lot (in my car) across the border.  I was only on the NCT in Minnesota for a short time (0.1 miles) but these were my first miles in the state.  Since the trail departed into the trees to the north, I gave up on following it in the area.  Instead, I continued deeper into Wisconsin and followed the pavement to CR-C & CR-W - later, I turned south on CR-W.  Before long, I found the NCT Trailhead on a gravel road a little way to the south.  I got out when I found the signage but had a lot of trouble determining where the trail actually went.  The NCT website said that it backtracked north on CR-W but an arrow on a post said it might actually go south.  Regardless, I decided to trust the map research I'd already done and started tracking NCT miles on my car's odometer as I headed north on CR-W.  I turned right on CR-C and made my way further east until I could turn south on Dedham Road.  This gravel track took me all the way back to CR-B, where I'd been inadvertently following the NCT the evening before.  Still, there was absolutely no signage.  The end result of this drive, however, was that I logged 8.7 miles of NCT.  Continuing east, I reached the Big Manitou Falls parking lot at Pattison State Park (1320).  Once again, my recently purchased Wisconsin State Park pass/sticker paid off (there were lots of signs about the requirement to display it).  During the next 25 minutes, I walked around on trails near the Big Falls and then located the blue blazes for the NCT, which I followed under the highway towards the Pattison State Park Nature Center.  When I reached a sign that said I was 1.5 miles from the Little Manitou Falls, I decided to turn around.  An older man (with an oxygen tube and friendly little dog) offered to tell me all the best hikes nearby and I talked with him for a little while.  After that, I backtracked towards my car. While examining a paper map on a sign outside of the Nature Center, I noticed some wildly different routing indications for the NCT - however, it could explain the arrow I'd seen on CR-W.  Again, though, I was convinced that trying to second guess the official internet maps (especially without signage or blazes) was not going to help me.  When I got to my car, I figured out that I'd walked about 0.5 miles of NCT (for a 1 mile round trip).  Next, I repositioned (via WI-35) towards Little Manitou Falls.  Before bed last night, I figured out that the road from the highway to the parking lot itself was part of the NCT - I logged 0.1 miles of driving when I passed through.  Once I was out of my car, I did some walking from the parking lot to the Little Falls (another 0.1 miles of walking on the NCT).  Altogether, I was very impressed with the State Park and the two Falls I visited.  It would have been nice to stay longer but I had some other things I wanted to accomplish before the end of the day.  I got back on WI-35 at 1400 and headed north.  At the intersection with CR-C, I turned west and reentered Minnesota at 1425.  Still following CR-C, I soon reached MN-23 and turned north.  At Wild Valley Road (gravel) I turned east towards the Southern Terminus of the Superior Hiking Trail.  At this point, I didn't yet realize that I was driving on the NCT (0.5 miles as a "road walk").  When I reached a gate (1430), it became clear that Google Maps was not aware of the inability of a car to reach the trailhead...  Instead, I had to settle for a hike to reach the place I wanted; the SHT is coincident with the NCT from this area to the northeastern most point of Minnesota and I wanted to kick off my hike of it at the "beginning".  I started hiking (without gear) towards the south and found the SHT to be very much like the Appalachian Trail.  There were plenty of blazes and signs, along with good bridges and trail maintenance.  I passed lots of other people (spaced out well, fortunately) and then started noticing there were a lot of woodpeckers in the area.  The Fall foliage was very pronounced in this area - lots of colored leaves drifted towards the ground as I passed...  At one point, I saw a very distinctive one and (with research after the fact) confirmed it was my first sighting of a Black-backed Woodpecker (they apparently like the types of trees in the area).  When I reached the southern terminus, I found a nifty gate and lots of signage.  Still, it seemed strange to have such a fantastic "welcome" for hikers that was so far from any road or parking lot.  Maybe they wanted people to "earn" the celebration?  From there, I started my backtrack - on the way, I ended up helping some foreign hikers to understand the blazes... My hike was finished at 1600 (my pedometer and the signs said that I'd walked 1.9 miles of the NCT) after a total of about four miles walking in the woods.  Once I reached MN-23 again, I drove another 0.1 to the NCT on pavement before reaching a "Trailhead" on the west side.  This short distance, added to the other 0.5 I'd earlier driven before my hike, made for a 0.6 miles section of NCT on the road.  Continuing north, I briefly returned to Wisconsin (1610) before crossing the St. Louis River into Minnesota again.  Soon after that, I stopped at a Roadside Rest area to change clothing.  Back on the road again soon after that, I entered Duluth.  For about 20 minutes, I explored the streets of the southern end of the city until hunger got the best of me; I I ended up stopping for dinner at Taco John’s (1635).  The restaurant was mostly empty and I finished my meal there (done at 1700).  During this time, I confirmed what I'd hoped was true: there was, indeed, an evening Mass planned for the Cathedral of Our Lady (seat of the Diocese of Duluth).  To reach the church, though, I had to drive through the extensive network of roads and, at times, climb a very steep hill upon which the city was built.  It was impressive, actually - after so much flat land for so many weeks, I felt like I was in San Francisco!  After driving a pretty long way (a lot of it on 4th Avenue), I reached my destination (1720).  With all the extra time before Mass, I did some exploring nearby and enjoyed the beautiful views of Lake Superior that were possible from the highest part of the city.  It seemed like I could see the entire stretch of coastline from the Apostle Islands to Superior (WI).  In the same vicinity, I got to see many fancy homes - wow!  The weather was still great, although it had gotten much more breezy.  At 1740, I finally went inside the Cathedral.  When Mass began (1800), I realized that I'd joined the Duluth Newman Catholic Campus Ministries service - there were lots of young people and everyone was enthusiastic.  Suddenly, I realized that the priest looked very familiar.  I couldn't place his face at first but soon (due to his mannerisms and speech patterns) it became clear that I'd seen him on TV.  Later, I confirmed that this was, indeed, Father Mike Schmitz - he apparently has one of the most widely watched podcasts in the world.  The Mass was excellent - music, student (University of Minnesota Duluth) participation, Homily (it was part of the "Blind Spot" series and focused on "Anger").  By the time the service was over (1900), I had definitely had some of my spiritual needs met...  Back in my car, I drove back towards the Downtown section of Duluth and found a place to park near Leif Erickson Park.  By this point, the sunlight was really waning and I felt lucky to have been able to arrive in time to see the sights. After following a series of steps and ramps, I reached the edge of Lake Superior and then found a way to get on the Duluth Lakewalk (a paved pathway).  While continuing south, I saw lots of interesting sights and plenty of pretty views of the lake, the lighthouses, birds and some of the gentrified shopping buildings.  I learned later that I'd walked a full mile of the Superior Hiking Trial (and NCT) by taking this route.  When I reached the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial landmark, I backtracked to the north in search of a bar or restaurant.  The place I ended up choosing (after climbing up nearly two stories on a flight of stairs) was the site of the Fitger's Brewpub (closed), which was itself located inside Fitger's Inn.  Also in the same building, I found a small, intimate restaurant called the Boat Club.  In the eating area, there were mostly couples (they had a view of the Lake); at the bar, though, I was mostly alone.  I tried some local beers but there were simply too many good ones - if only I had more time...  Along the way, I had an interesting and fun talk (sports, winter life, Father Mike, etc.) with the young bartender.  If I was staying in town (too difficult with the cost of lodging over the previous few days), it would have been great to close down the bar.  Instead, though, I reluctantly departed so I could get back to my hotel in Moose Lake at a reasonable hour.  I explored Fitger's Inn on the way to the street level and then walked to my car (north of the hotel) via the sidewalks.  The air was crisp and the night was clear - it felt great to be in Duluth on what was going to be my last day near the Great Lakes...  Using city streets, I made my way to I-35 and drove south.  I listened to another audiobook on the way (nearly finished with my second in three days) and arrived in Moose Lake (and my hotel) at 2130.  My room key didn't work (probably unresolved problems from the morning) but the issue was quickly resolved.  I spent the rest of the evening reading and doing Duolingo exercises; I went to bed at 2215.  Tomorrow: my work trip to Minneapolis begins!  North Country Trail Today = 13.0 miles / Grand Total NCT = 271.3 miles

Nomad Life - Day 328

Somehow, I slept very well in my car last night - what a relief...  I was awake at 0530 in my campsite at Copper Falls State Park (near Mellen).  There had been a light rain overnight but the temperatures never really dropped.  With just a little light, I reconfigured my car to it's normal set up and (as quietly as I could) departed my campsite.  At 0600, I stopped at the bath house and got a good shower.  There was no one else stirring...  Afterwards, I drove over to the Beach parking lot, where I knew I'd have good cell service (I was correct).  While there, I read, did Duolingo exercises and worked on puzzles.  I also took a look at the roads that I would need to use while exploring the Apostle Islands area - it was very exciting to finally be getting a chance to visit them!  The day started out gray and misty, with temps in the mid 60s.  At 0700, I departed Copper Falls State Park and got on WI-169, which I used to reach WI-13 (just north of Mellen).  Continuing north, the weather began improving; by the time I reached US-2, it was spectacularly sunny.  When I got to Ashland (0725), I very much needed some gas and I found one of the best prices for fuel I've seen in days at the Krist Food Mart (0730).  While pumping, I found someone else's debit card and returned it to the gas station attendant.  Before departing, I cleaned a lot of bugs off my car.  Following the advice of some signs I'd seen on the way into town, referring to the Chequamegon Family Restaurant, I followed Google Maps across the street to the The Boathouse Restaurant.  Hmmmm... I went inside at 0745 and learned that they'd just been bought by new owners in July and the name was still very fresh.  After being assured that "we have the same chefs", I ordered a nice meal and enjoyed the food.  When I was paying (0815), I noticed a strange penny rounding situation - the computer did it very subtle like, even for credit card transactions.  When I asked about this, the young hostess shrugged and said that she had been seeing this everywhere (like the now ubiquitous credit card transaction fees)...  On my out of Ashland, I stopped to visit the Marina and a high view point above Lake Superior.  On the opposite side of Chequamegon Bay, I was pretty sure I was viewing the same high land I’d seen it the day before from the tower in Copper Falls State Park...  Next, I made my way west until I could get on WI-13 - this took me to the town of Bayfield at 0900.  My first stop was at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Visitor Center (closed) but I also checked out the Bayfield Visitor Center (closed).  I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do in the way of visiting the islands themselves so I didn't immediately try to visit the Marina.  Instead, I continued north to the town of Red Cliff, which was where the Red Cliff Reservation truly began.  Passing the Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, I drove north until I saw signs for something called the Frog Bay Tribal National Park.  Arriving there (via dirt road) at 0920, I found that they had a nice trail system.  Leaving my car, I went on walk in the woods (I ended up hiking on every trail in the system) and ended up with a beautiful view of the southern Apostle Islands when I reached the water's edge at Frog Bay.  By this point, the weather had gotten really nice and I would have loved to have a kayak with me.  Hoping to find a way to get out on the water under my own paddle power, I finished my visit (1005) and drove west on more dirt roads.  My target destination was Little Sand Bay, which was actually part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore property.  Once again, though, I found the Visitor Center was closed and I wasn't even able to get a brochure.  There were plenty of people camping in that area but no full time NPS staff, I guess.  Along the waterfront, it was VERY windy - this was the complete opposite effect from what I'd been seeing on the east side of the peninsula.  By this point (1030), I figured I'd better go see whether any boats were available to take me to any of the islands.  On my way back to Bayfield, I started looking for kayak rentals as I approached Red Cliff.  After several "misses", I turned in at the Legendary Waters Resort & Casino and located a rather informal looking business called the Apostle Island Rustic Wakwa Den.  The only person there was a young man who told me his name was Ethan (the son of the owner).  Over the course of a nice conversation about the approaching end to the tourist season nearby, I became convinced that I would get a good rental at this location.  The best part was that I didn’t need to go with a guide.  For the first time ever, though, I had to use a tandem boat because that is all they offered (I sat in the back).  I didn't object and the boat ended up handling very well.  Ethan gave me some really good advice and directions about all the places I should stop as I paddled north along the coast.  He was very clear that I was not to try to make the crossing to an island ("it is too far and I'd need to see you right yourself if a motorboat capsized you").  With his assurance that there were Mainland Sea Caves nearby, I didn't make any plans to countermand his orders...  After departing from the kayak shack (1130), I paddled my way out to the submerged wreck of the "Fedora".  The water was quite clear and I got a good view of the shipwreck.  Heading back to the shoreline, I followed the high, red cliffs and visited a series of tunnels and caves that marked the entire 2.5 length of my northbound paddle.  The highlight of the whole trip was when I found a beautiful arch (located right in someone's "private" cove).  Sadly, a recent rockfall made it impossible to paddle through.  Still, I very much enjoyed the scenery.  After about an hour, I made it to the Schooner Bay Marina (located at the head of Red Cliff Bay).  If I'd continued to the north, I might have been able to make it to Frog Bay in another hour...  I started my backtrack and watched the many sailboats floating by in the channel.  On the way back to the south, I stopped a few more times (at the arch, tunnels and caves).  Meanwhile, the wind began increasing and I was noticeably blown a lot.  I forgot to mention that I was treated to a series of Bald Eagles coming and going from nests on the high cliffs.  Conversely, there were lots and lots of seagulls sitting on the surface of water.  Along the way, I noticed a Palm Warbler (migratory, my first observation).  As I neared the kayak shack, I passed Ethan and his formal tour group (they'd departed at 1230).  Shortly afterwards, I began having even more trouble controlling the tandem kayak and had to do a lot of creative navigating to avoid getting beached or striking the rocks.  All ended well, fortunately, and I was finished paddling (five miles in two hours) at 1330.  While I was cleaning up, there was no staff on site - this lines up with the very trusting nature of the residents of the U.P.  After I left the Marina at 1340, drove back to Bayfield and parked at Ferry Landing.  Figuring my only chance to see an island was to travel out to Madeline Island, I quickly bought a ticket and boarded the MV “Bayfield” at 1355.  We departed at 1400 and started making our way east across the channel.  There was some big time surf so we weren't in any kind of hurry.  We reached the island at 1420 and I was able to get off quickly with several other passengers (the cars waited for us).  However, the pedestrian walkway followed the edge of the dock and we all got wet from the raging surf.  From the Ferry Landing, I walked through town and did some informal birding.  Almost immediately, I got another first sighting: there was a Mourning Warbler (also migratory).  If only I had more time to follow the birds...  Beyond the exploring of gardens and little stands of trees, I walked through the rest of the small town of La Pointe.  Perhaps the most interesting thing I found was a place called Tom’s Burned Down Cafe, which made the Ally Club in the Lower Peninsula look like a church in Italy.  The place was literally falling apart - it was also covered by a huge tent and so much signage it might have taken months to read all of them.  I walked through but was not impressed by the rest of the people there - it was definitely an acquired taste (maybe better with friends?).  Moving on, I kept looking for a place for a drink that matched my mood - I finally sat down at the Beach Club at 1440.  They had a kitchen so I ordered a Beach Club (yes, the same name).  While waiting on my food and watching the water outside the window get rougher and rougher, I decided not to rent bike from a little shop I'd seen across the street.  Instead, I drank some local beers and researched weather later travel directions.  Along the way, I learned that some tours to Devil's Island (at the northern end of the chain) were delayed but that the Apostle Island Charter Company was apparently still planning on running out there.  By this point, though, I had to admit that I was running out of time - my hotel reservation was in Minnesota and I was still a few hours away.  Resigned to leaving Madeline Island just under two hours after I left the mainland, I finished up my drink and "dinner".  Just then, I met one of the Ferry Captains (lady), who told me all kinds of interesting things about the ferry fleet, wind effects on the area and life in the islands.  After leaving the Beach Club (1510), I walked around some more nearby but then got on the MV “Bayfield” at 1520.  We departed at 1530 and were on the mainland by 1550.  With time running short, I started driving west - I used WI-13 initially but then used CR-J and a "cutoff" to rejoin WI-13.  Before long (1620), I arrived at Meyers Beach, which was also part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  I did spend a little time exploring there (I saw LOTS of Monarch butterflies) before continuing west on WI-13.  Along the way, I passed signs for the Port Wing Testicle Festival (ouch!) and saw some Amish buggies.  To the north, I started to see a lot of surf and brown water in Lake Superior.  By 1650, I'd entered Douglas County and I started searching for a North Country Trail section towards the south.  To get there, I followed CR-D, CR-B, US-53 (four lane, with some signs for the NCT), CR-M and South Mail Road.  At 1750, I arrived at NCT Moose River Trailhead and, leaving my car briefly, walked over a bridge on the Moose River.  After that, I drove a short distance south so I could cross the St. Croix River (I was already in the National Scenic Riverway near Scott Rapids Campsite).  Next, I backtracked to trailhead and started up my odometer to track my NCT miles.  I first followed South Mail Road to the North and turned on to Crotte Brook Road (grave) so I could stay on the trail to the west.  Sadly, I later learned I missed the turn at Holmes Camp Road so was only able to count 1.1 miles of driving on the NCT.  Beyond that, I continued following Crotte Brook Road to the west until it was paved again.  At no time did I see any signage and soon realized I must have lost NCT because I ended up on CR-T.  Thinking I knew where I went wrong, I backtracked to Forestry Road and reset my odometer.  Once again, though, I later learned that this was the wrong road.  When I reached CR-M (paved) and turned west, I thought I was on the NCT.  However, for the third time, I was wrong - Jackson Box Trail was behind me.  At this point, I was desperately trying to recover even a smidge of success and eventually took Empire Wilderness Road to the north.  Along the way, I passed several four wheelers (ATVs) and saw several deer.  When I finally reached CR-A (paved) and took it to the west, I figured out that I was finally on the NCT again.  The road turned north and then I took Milchesky Road (gravel) towards the west until I reached WI-35.  By this point, I was headed north towards Pattison State Park, where I thought the NCT left the road at the entrance to the Little Manitou Falls parking lot.  When I later calculated the distance I had actually driven, it was about 40 miles since the Moose River Trailhead.  Unfortunately, the only real driving mileage I could count was 16.8 miles.  I gave up on seeking NCT miles at 1920 and got on CR-B (towards the west (later, I learned this too was part of the NCT and I got credit for 3.7 more miles of driving the NCT to the Dedham Road intersection).  By this time, though, I was not paying attention.  In hindsight, I did a lot of driving for only about half of what I set out to get...  Oh well!  Meanwhile, at 1940, I entered the State of Minnesota, the 40th State I've visited during my Nomad Life, and finished an audiobook.  My routing from this point took me on CR-8 (in Carlton County), MN-23, Main Street (AKA CR-10, gravel).  Along the way in the dimming light, I spotted a Barred Owl diving to catch prey (right near the Pine County line, which I crossed briefly).  I finally arrived at my hotel, the Moose Lodge (Moose Lake) at 2015.  It was fully dark and 58 F by then.  When I tried to check in, the clerk had a problem with my Booking.com reservation - fortunately, I got into my room (they weren't too busy) but that could have been a huge problem...  Soon afterwards (2030), I reached my room and started working on social media and other items.  I had so many emails after 24+ hours offline... There was time for Duolingo before bed time at 2315.  While I was trying to get to sleep, I realized that my allergies seemed to be returning (ugh).  Still, I had great memories of a wonderful day of adventures in the Apostle Islands region of Wisconsin!  North Country Trail Today = 21.6 miles / Grand Total NCT = 258.3 miles

Summer Vacation Trip - Day 2

We were both awake by 0700 and we ate breakfast (oatmeal, toast, yogurt, fruit) at the hotel.  On the road by 0800 and drove from Lafayette through Chicago and Milwaukee (used I-65, I-94, US-41, I-94).  We ate lunch (leftovers, snacks) on the way.  Encountered lots of traffic and construction issues, so it was a nice feeling to get off the interstate at Windsor, WI (1145) .  We ate some ice cream there and then took back roads (WI-19, US-12 and WI-60) to get to Prairie du Chien.  We crossed the Mississippi River and drove north on IA-76.  We spent a few hours at Effigy Mounds National Monument and even took a hike there.  Mollie was glad to get the (first of many!) passport stamp for her book.  We then drove to Decorah, IA, where we got gas (1635).  Using US-52, we drove towards Minnesota; on the way, we passed the Laura Ingalls Burr Oak town site. We noticed that they were having a "Laura Day" celebration and joined in the fun for a little bit!  The event was just about to end and there was a huge thunder storm coming but we managed to get a special tour of the museum before we got back on the road.  We switched to MN-16 and joined up with I-90.  Stopped for dinner (Pizza Hut) in Blue Earth, MN (done at 1930) and then drove west towards South Dakota.  Just before crossing the border, we saw a sign for the Pipestone National Monument and I tried to find a hotel nearby.  However, everything was full and we continued to encounter the same problem when we tried places near and west of Sioux Falls, SD (because of a music festival).  Mollie found out that her grandmother (Gayle) had gone to the hospital but later learned she was resting at home.  Since we had nowhere to stay and the traffic/weather was great, we kept driving.  I must admit that I was getting tired, though.  I finally gave up at the rest area near Salem, SD.  Mollie agreed to stay there for a few hours of rest and we slept from about 2300 until 0230 (three hour limit per state law and a suspicious car pulled up near us.  I drove us to Mitchell (0315), where we got gas, and then west until we reached a rest area at Chamberlain (0430.  I went to sleep in the car again and didn't stir until the sun was up (Mollie had never woke up through the night).

Thanksgiving - Day 6

It was sad, but we had to leave this morning. We didn't hurry, though, and the kids were able to visit with lots of people while I packed the car. It was a little harder to get all the loot back in the car than I had expected... We were ready to go by around 1130L. As we were saying goodbye, I noticed that we had a very low tire. After changing several tires this year (see JUN 2010), I was worried. Managed to make it to a gas station in nearby Eagan, where they were nice enough to let me top off the tire (turned out to just be under-inflated - maybe the cold?). With a full tank of gas, we drove almost to the IA/MN border before we had lunch (Burger King in Albert Lea). Drove south on I-35, once again getting through Des Moines with no problems. We had seen some signs on the way up that mentioned the Bridges of Madison County and birthplace of John Wayne, so I got off the interstate at the first available opportunity. The road was rather rural (very curvy), but the scenery was very pretty. Found a few of the bridges that were in the movies (Eastwood and Streep) - Nicky is always happy to see those (e.g., JUN 1997). Ended up in the town of Winterset - where John Wayne was born. It was a nice little town with a few more covered bridges and a statue (memorial) to the Duke. We took a few photos and bought some souvenirs before getting back on the road (IA-92). We saw a stunning sunset as we got back on I-35... Made good time, stopping only to eat dinner and get gas in Osceola, IA (1730L). The rest of the driving to our hotel went pretty well (no delays in Kansas City). The only tough part of the trip was when we got close to our hotel - we arrived from a different direction and ended up on a poorly lit road near the Kansas Motor Speedway. Eventually located the Village West area (whew). We stayed in the same place as we did last time we were here, the Holiday Inn Express (see JUN 2010). Went straight to bed...

Thanksgiving - Day 5

Woke up ready for some fun! I had been mulling over the idea of going downtown (for the Holidazzle Parade) all week but no one else seemed to be interested. Nicky left early for the Mall of America with Erin and Brenna but Mollie was visiting with Kathy and didn't go. When I asked her if she wanted to go with me, she seemed genuinely excited. I got her all bundled up, since I knew it would be close to -15 degrees C today. To make sure she would be warm enough, I walked with her across the street from our hotel to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Preserve. It was pretty - and it also was pretty empty. They had a version of the Junior Ranger called "Junior Naturalist" and Mollie started working on it right away (she loves those!). The lady who worked at the visitor's center had her boy with her - same age as Mollie. They worked together on the project and we even took a short nature walk to an overlook of the Minnesota River. After Mollie got her badge and certificate, we walked down the street to the train station. It was pretty easy to get around with - credit card ticket purchase and regular trains. Mollie was excited to try it and we enjoyed the 20-30 minute ride downtown. Got off at the Nicollet Mall stop and looked around. At first, it was hard to see the "mall" - but we later learned that it was actually the name of a street. Had lunch at a place called D'Amico & Sons (good, healthy food). Later, we discovered that all the stores in the area were connected by a series of second-floor walkways called "the skyway." We walked around, following the posted maps, and eventually found the Macy's Chrismas Village ("A Day in the Life of an Elf"). Mollie and I walked through it twice. We also explored Macy's and looked at the pretty displays. I bought her a Christmas Smurf... We continued to walk and actually got hot (temps were high in the Skyway!). I'll admit we got a little lost - but we found the World Headquarters of Target. We decided to go outside for a bit and then found a pretty place to sit and rest - the Crystal Court. There was a pretty Christmas Tree and some benches for resting. Did some souvenir shopping nearby and then walked over to the Barnes & Noble. While there, we discovered some of the Little Miss books (by Roger Hargreaves) that go with the Arby's toys (see Day 2). After looking through a bunch of them, we bought one for Nicky... Mollie was getting hungry - and we still had a few hours before the parade - so we looked for a place to sit and eat. The only place we could find near the parade route was the M&S Grill (which we didn't know was a bar until we got inside). Stayed anyway - and I got a kick out of Mollie's pride in being able to have appetizers at "happy hour" with Daddy! Watched some football and rested until around 1800, when we walked back over to D'Amico & Sons to get some hot chocolate. The parade started at 1930L - about the time that it really started to feel cold (-15 C, after all!). Mollie was a real trooper - her excitement over-rode the temperatures, I guess. We sat on frigid granite (brrr...) with a nice mom and son - they were locals who knew what was going to happen. It made the event all the more fun - lighted parade floats, nursery-rhyme characters, marching bands and fireworks. Most people watched from the Skyways over the street, but I think we had the "real experience"... Got some more hot chocolate afterwards, made a bathroom break, and then tried to get on the train. The lines were so long we actually got on a train going in the opposite direction and then switched at the next station - making sure we had a seat while going home (this was all because we watched what our parade friends did). Got off near our hotel and walked through the snow back to the lobby - slippery, cold but in good spirits. What a day! Mollie did great and we gave some special memories. Visited with all the family again (this time we were all trying to finish up the alcohol) until very late...

Thanksgiving - Day 4

The kids were exhausted from yesterday, so no one was up early. We did go upstairs for some breakfast and visiting. It was clear and warmer today - views from the hotel were spectacular. I went back to the room later and watched the Macy's parade and Godfather marathon. Got ready with Nicky and the girls and then went to watch football with Tim, Chuck, Andy and Kenny. Later, met everyone else for a family photo in the lobby. Thanksgiving dinner began around 1300L - what a great spread! Food was excellent and we had a fun time visiting (as we always do!). We had some left-overs but we got to take them to Bonnie's room. Watched some more football while Nicky and girls made plans to see the movie "Tangled" at the Mall of America. They took the shuttle over while I went outside to check on our car. Just as I was getting to it, I saw Leo chasing the shuttle across the parking lot. He had missed it, I guess, and needed a ride. After I got the car uncovered and started (heater too a LONG time), I took Leo over to the Mall (the closest I plan to get to it during the trip). Roads were slippery and barely plowed... Explored near the hotel and then met the guys for a little more sports. Enjoyed the evening with everyone - had some good Thanksgiving leftovers, too! Everyone else returned around 2000L. Spirits were high and it was pretty busy everywhere I turned in the room. Called Katie and Carolyn (everyone got to chat this time - that was nice). Actually went to bed a little earlier tonight.

Thanksgiving - Day 3

Slept in this morning - and then headed up to the breakfast buffet on the top floor. It was a nice spread - and we got to see more of the family while we ate. The big windows of Bonnie's room had a great view of the Minnesota River and National Wildlife Preserve - covered with a fresh blanket of snow. It was really coming down, too! Of course, this didn't stop Nicky and the rest of the "shoppers" in the family from getting on the shuttle bus from the hotel to the Mall of America... I stayed at the hotel and took care of some work emails for a few hours. Just after noon, went back to Bonnie's room and spent a few hours watching movies and sports with some of the guys. Chuck arrived soon afterwards and we had a great few hours chatting and relaxing in the room. I got a few calls from Nicky during this time - each one checking on me to see what I was doing (I guess she wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the shopping...). To be honest, though, I didn't actually have any desire to go over to the Mall of America since I got my fill of it during my last visit (see MAR 2009). I had some drinks and snack food at the hotel happy hour - enjoying the warmth of the room and family. Everyone returned around 1900 after a day of fun on the rides and exploring the stores. Stayed up late again...

Thanksgiving - Day 2

I woke up early - wanted to see how the weather was developing. It didn't look good: there was a major snowstorm forecasted for early AM on the 24th. After verifying we had a hotel reservation for the night (in Alkeny, IA) and grabbing some breakfast to go, we got on I-35 (0745L). There was very little traffic, which was good. Played a "road-rally" game with Mollie, assigning points for lots of signs and landmarks. Made good time to Kansas - stopped for some fuel near the border (South Haven). Got on the toll-road and didn't have to stop at all this time (fuel prices pretty high). Enjoyed the scenerey in the Flint Hills. Off the toll road near Emporia, made great time to Kansas City - drove through the city this time. Weather was great and we had some nice views of downtown and the Missouri River. Unfortunately, there was some major construction as we crossed that slowed us down (new bridge). Luckily, I got a work phone call while we waited... After clearing the traffic and city limits, we stopped for lunch at Arby's in Kearney, MO (1300L). They had these funny toys in the kids meals called "Little Miss Daredevil", "Mr. Happy" and "Mr. Strong." Drove for a couple more hours until we needed gas - stopped in Eagleville, MO. Temperatures had definitely begun to drop... Nicky pointed out a horse tied up near the gas station - with an Amish buggy across the street. Upon closer inspection, we saw that the ground was covered with baskets and jars of preserves. Braving the cold, Nicky jumped out of the car and began haggling with the bearded gentleman. I filled up the tank about 100 meters away and watched her hopping around - she forgot her coat! Even I'll admit it was chilly (around 0 degrees C), so I'm sure you can tell that Nicky loves to shop... New basket (and jam) in hand, Nicky rejoined us. Soon after we got back on the road, we got a call from Trish (responding to our earlier inquiry about the possibility of arriving in Minneapolis tonight) - she said it would be fine. We immediately canceled our hotel reservation and pressed North! Weather was crisp and clear - lots of farms. Got through Des Moines around 1530L (not too difficult). It started to get dark around 1700 - right around the time we stopped for dinner in Clear Lake, IA. The kids mentioned they didn't want the "same old, same old" food, so I stopped at a place we've never tried: Culver's. It turned out to be delicious - both for their butter-burgers and the frozen custard (pumpkin flavored!). Everyone really enjoyed the break from the road. I could feel the excitement building - the kids were really looking forward to "getting to Thanksgiving." We made really good time to Minneapolis - there was very little traffic (surprising with the incoming storm...). Snow was everywhere - we even saw a ski slope with lots of people enjoying night skiing. We got to the hotel (Hilton near the airport) around 2000. It was freezing by this point (-10 C), making it really fun to unload the car. We got our stuff to the room and then proceeded to Bonnie's room (Presidential Suite). To our surprise, nearly everyone was there! Had we know about that, we would have planned all along to get there on Tuesday - I'm glad the weather made it happen. Stayed up really late chatting and visiting...

Chicago, IL (USA)

Woke up early (barely an hour and a half of sleep!), I checked out of my room at the Residence Inn in Eagan and made it to the airport around 0415. I am glad I got there that early!!! After returning my rental car (Enterprise) before the counter was even open (they checked it in much later, at 0600), the walk through the terminal was long again.  Even worse, the lines for the airlines and TSA were the longest I've ever seen. And remember, we are talking about 0415!!! With all the delays, I made it through to the gate about 20 minutes before boarding. A nice lady moved my seat from the way back to the front (to help with the connection). My American Airlines flight departed Minneapolis in the dark (0600) and we arrived in Chicago (O'Hare) with clear skies and great views of the city (0715). It took another 20 minutes to taxi to the gate - across the interstate again (that has always been funny to me). I guess I actually haven't been at O'Hare in 20 years either... The big news today there was that the Sears Tower was renamed the Willis Tower. While digesting this news, I was working with only a short time between connections.  There was just enough time to grab breakfast (at McDonalds) and chat with some passengers. When I boarded another American Airlines aircraft, I was feeling very glad this is the last leg of the trip! After departing Chicago at 0850, I talked to some of my fellow passengers about life in Texas and about sights to see in Fort Worth, Oklahoma and along the Rio Grande.  It was a fun discussion! We landed at DFW at around 1130 - there was lots of rain and everything was grinding very slow... With the help of some nice people I asked, I found out how to get back to my car (Terminal Link). One of them even gave me a coupon for the parking, which made my daily rate go down five dollars! Ultimately, I'm very glad that I parked in a covered lot (Hyatt Regency) and I was pleased to get out of the complex easily (1215).  I even got another parking coupon from the nice toll-booth employee! Sadly, I encountered traffic jams all the way home.  Still, it was a relief to reach Fort Worth - I took a four hour nap when I got there!!! Woke up later to do laundry and get ready for the next trip - a family adventure in New Mexico!

Eagan, MN (USA)

Last day of training!  [After getting breakfast at our hotel (Residence Inn in Eagan) buffet this morning,] I studied very hard (maybe the hardest I've done all week in my room. Unfortunately, I still had more work to complete for folks back home who called and emailed. On the plus side, I had time to really hit the books in the late afternoon. I must admit that all previous trips to the simulator (see MAR 2002, AUG 2003, MAY 2005, MAR 2007) seemed very easy and I didn't really get the good training that I am getting (and that I needed!) here. Again skipping lunch, I met up with Tami and John at 1800 and finished our Sim session at the earliest time we have all week - 2200! Stopped on the way home to fill up the rental car (2220) and get a bite to eat at McDonalds. Back in my hotel room, I spent time packing (until around midnight) and ended up watching some really good movies: "Grace is Gone" (John Cusack) and "Taking Chance" (Kevin Bacon). I was surprised about how well done they both were - not too preachy or political. Before I knew it, though, it was 0200.  Even worse: I had to wake up at 0330!  Oh well - I'll be able to sleep as much as I want tomorrow, right?

Eagan, MN (USA)

After a pretty good sleep at the Residence Inn in Eagan, I got breakfast just before they closed the buffet.  Like yesterday, I had lots more phone calls from work. Again, I went to the hotel gym and rode the on their stationary bike. Despite how short this break seemed, I still found that I had lots of emails and phone calls waiting for me back in the room. It's frustrating that I've spent nearly every day of this trip answering questions that I never get when I am home... Still, I had plenty of time for all that and some more studying. As a result, I felt much more prepared when I went over to training this afternoon.  However, the simulator session took much longer. We had some trouble and had to repeat a few items. It's great to have time to refresh my procedures and try things I can't normally do at work but it is really eye-opening, too. I am glad I am learning from my mistakes now and not when it really counts! Got out of the sim at around 2300.  Once again, I had weather to contend with on the way home. I found some more good food waiting in the room - the hotel folks are so nice! Stayed up later again to study and watch TV. One more day with the Sim and I'm on my way home!

Eagan, MN (USA)

After staying up too late last night, I woke up just in time to take some of the breakfast buffet back to the room! Since our training wasn't going to be until much later, I spent all morning working on projects I had brought with me (also had lots of work related phone calls). The Weather folks have been forecasting a blizzard (for today) all week but it never materialized until late in the afternoon. Skipped lunch (after my filling breakfast).  I studied in my room at the Residence Inn in Eagan until 1400 and then went over to the training site. We got the rest of our classroom work done and then got in the simulator. Very intense, good, training for the rest of the evening - humbling, too. I can tell that I need this - too bad it only happens every two years... Finished up around 2230 and then went out to the car - brrrrr!!! Spent around 15 minutes in the below zero weather (colder with wind chill, too!) trying to clear off the car. Ice everywhere. I'm very happy that I only have a five minute drive to the hotel - Tami and John have about a 20 minute commute. Back at the room, I found that the nice folks at the hotel had left me some dinner (leftovers from the social hour that I missed tonight) in the room - I am very impressed with their service! Stayed up late reviewing mistakes I made today and getting ready for tomorrow. Snow is supposed to continue - we'll see if I can get to work tomorrow afternoon!

Bloomington, MN (USA)

First day of recurrent training!  Woke up around 0615 and ate breakfast at the Residence Inn in Eagan. Very filling... I had plenty of time to get over to training - once I arrived, I met up with John and Tami. Spent most of the day in the classroom - it's the first time we've used a Minneapolis simulator.  Actually, I got lots of new information and perspectives from the instructors. Our lunch break was at a sub joint called Jimmy John's - it seems pretty unique! Found out afterwards that we'll be using the 1800-2200 training block every day (his practically guaranteed that I can't go home early at the end of the week). Got off work at around 1600 and went back to my hotel to change.  Next, I drove over to the Mall of America to meet up with Tami. It was a cool place - there is a Nickelodeon Universe (amusement park) in the middle of the building. The kids would love it! Tami went on rides, but I scoped out the train system, aquarium and some of the other things to do around here. Had crepes for dinner - good! Definitely need to bring the family back here... Back at the hotel, I went to gym to keep working on my bike training - it felt good. Stayed up late tonight, watching some good movies and studying.  Bring on the Sim!

Mendota Heights, MN (USA)

Shifting gears from Inspection Trip to Recurrent Simulator Trip... Had to be at the airport extremely early and left the Courtyard (St. Charles Avenue) by about 0430 (new time for the clock shift).  I made it to the car rental return (Hertz) right as they opened (0510). Didn't take long to get to my gate and had some time to rest before getting on the airplane. This was probably my first flight on Northwest Airlines in 20 years - it could also be my last because they are about to change to Delta. Everything was kind of nostalgic in the gates, on the flights and at the hubs. It really will be something when they are gone... Once again, I got to ride on a DC-9 series aircraft - it is interesting to see the commercial version. Our flight left New Orleans in the dark (0615) and landed in Memphis (0735) just after the sun had risen.  I actually got a couple minutes of sleep on the way (flight wasn't full). Spoke with the pilots afterwards and learned about their limited avionics - their account surprised me. I guess I've been pretty lucky all these years... During my layover, I ate a nice breakfast at the airport and had some time to work on paperwork while I waited for my connection. Eventually, I boarded another Northwest aircraft and, after taking off (1020), we made it to Minneapolis just fine (1240). I was surprised at how big the terminal was at the main airport for the Twin Cities - there was lots of walking! My bag was waiting for me at the claim area (good!) but I had a lot more walking to get my rental car. Fortunately, they were nice at Enterprise desk (1300) and I was on my way towards the hotel in short order. This time, I didn't have GPS in the car but the Google map worked just fine. My office had reserved a room for me at the Residence Inn in Eagan - luckily, it is located very near the training site. After getting checked in (1330), I considered taking a nap (still tired...).  In the end, though, I took care of more work I'd brought. After a few hours of catching up on emails, I decided to drive around the area to see what was close to the hotel. I had never been in this part of Minnesota for longer than about an hour, so driving around near St. Paul (could see the Capitol building) and along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers (they meet here) was really interesting. Found lots of little towns/villages along the Minnesota - Mendota, Mendota Heights (etc.) - and the views were nice. Also found the training site where we'll be working all week. At the end of my excursion, just when I thought I wouldn't find one, I stumbled across a Walmart and restaurant district. While there, I shopped a little for supplies [and ate dinner] before heading back to the hotel. The weather was nice all afternoon - not as cold as I'd feared after leaving NOLA.  I spent the rest of the evening in the room and went to bed relatively early.  Training in the morning!