Wednesday, 7/31

The sun has sunk below the line of clouds to the west, and the sandhill cranes are making their evening sounds from the Mississippi. We're slowly destroying a plate of cheese from the Nelson Creamery, in Nelson, WI. We had a day of exploring by car, as the weather forecast was unsure about today. After a hearty breakfast- bacon and eggs in a bag, cooked over a campfire- we headed through Winona, MN and headed north.

Attempted to find a geocache near John A. Latsch State Park in MN, but it was elusive. Nifty spot though!

Continued north up MN61. Kept thinking about Dylan's album, "Route 61 Revisited", but couldn't remember what his hometown was. Holman? Anyways, after an amazing lunch at a place in Wabesha, MN.

The  owner is an active cyclist and bike art is everywhere inside and out.

Turns out that was the town Grumpy Old Men was filmed. We were looking for the National Eagle Center, but there was a LOT of urban renewal going on in town and it was hard to get around without a lot of detours. Nope, didn't find it. Saw a lot of bald eagles, though. 

We stopped for the pups at a weird little park in Lake City, called Hok-Si-La Park, which means "Tent Camping", in the local Indian tongue, according to the gal in the gift shop. She also told me that it was Minnesota's Best-Kept Secret" though "word was gettin' out" about it. I told her that it was truly unique.

She said that it was a Boy Scout camp, until the City bought it, conditionally that it be a renting campground for Ever. 

The grounds are still regimented, with the  barracks converted into picnic spaces, a "Moonrise Kingdom" style woodland chap is also on site.

A real slice of Americana.

Crossed the Mississippi at Red Wing and headed back south past spectacular bluffs. 

Time to chill. Trying to decide it the state bird of Wisconsin is the deer fly or mosquito.