Originally posted by Martyman
Hey Pomp;
As a good leftist I should be pouting about your jokes but they are f-ing funny!!! Keep up the entertainment.
A White Butt Pansy
Martyman
Martyman...please know that I have as many leftist friends as rightist and all my jibes are in good fun only. Next time it's the
conservative's turn to be roasted!
Thanks for reading and glad you are enjoying our trip.
Quote:
Originally posted by Vince
Roger- Thanks for the travelogue and photos, I enjoyed them. We took the ND trip last summer and loved seeing your state, especially Teddy's park. It
brought back memories for Pat having been a cheerleader for USD when we played UND. We are headed for Dakota Day Oct. 1 for the same ticket, USDvsUND.
Maybe see you in Coyote Bay soon. Patrick will be there first then daughter Julie and family.
Hi Vince...I knew you were a Dakota fan! The Park is indeed one of my favorite places and reminds me a bit of Baja. We lived in it during my
childhood and had many a great campout..rattlesnake and porcupine adventures galore!
UND is my old alma mater..and is SURE to win..BIG! GO FIGHTING SOUIX!!
I'll be waiting for you in Coyote, amigo...travel safe.
Originally posted by Iflyfish
Uff Da!!! What a trip ya have goin there guy!
The Icelandic side of my family settled in North Dakota and each year celebrate Icelandic Independance Day on August 2nd, "The Deuce".
Great trip report, what a life!!
IflyfishhatofftoPompano'sadventure
My hometown of Dovray MN still has a july celebration called Ufda Days.
Well ya, dont ya know.
iflyfish...your ND ancestors must have settled near Valhalla, ND? The area is full of Icelandic influences. A nice place.
p.s. nobody outside the cast of 'Fargo' says uff da anymore.
[Edited on 9-16-2010 by Pompano]
"Ya sure, ya betcha..darn tootin."
doradodan...Here's something from back home for you.. the latest Ole and Lena joke I heard.
Ole and Lena
Vell, Ole and Lena went to the same Lutheran Church. Lena went every Sunday and taught Sunday School. Ole went on Christmas and Easter and once in
awhile he went on one of the other Sundays.
On one of those Sundays, he was in the pew right behind Lena and he noticed vhat a fine looking woman she was. Vhile dey were taking up the
collection, Ole leaned forward and said,
"Hey, Lena, how about you and me go to dinner in New Ulm next Friday?"
"Yah, Ole, dot vould be nice," said Lena.
Well, Ole couldn't believe his luck. All week long he polished up his old Ford, and on Friday he picked Lena up and took her to the finest restaurant
in New Ulm. When they sat down, Ole looked over at Lena and said,
"Hey, Lena, vould you like a c-cktail before dinner?"
"Oh, no, Ole," said Lena. "Vat vould I tell my Sunday School class?"
Vell, Ole was set back a bit, so he didn't say much until after dinner. Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
"Hey, Lena," said Ole, "vould you like a smoke?"
"Oh, no, Ole," said Lena. "Vat vould I tell my Sunday School class?"
Vell, Ole vas feeling pretty low after that, so he yust got in his Ford and vas driving Lena home ven dey passed the Hot Springs Motel. He'd struck
out twice already, so he figured he had nothing to lose.
"Hey, Lena," said Ole, "how vould you like to stop at that motel with me?"
"Yah, Ole, dot vould be nice," said Lena.
Vell, Ole couldn't believe his luck. He did a U-turn right then and there across the median and everything, and drove back to the motel and checked in
vith Lena.
The next morning Ole got up first. He looked at Lena lying there in the bed, her blond curls on the pillow. "Vat have I done? Vat have I done?"
thought Ole. He shook Lena and she woke up. "Lena, I've got to ask you von ting," said Ole. "Vat are you going to tell your Sunday School class?"
"Lena said, "The same ting I alvays tell dem. You don't have to smoke or drink to have a good time!"
As you come into North Dakota from the west (Montana) you find the Badlands.
"It was here that the romance of my life began."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Explore the rugged badlands terrain, watch wildlife, or relax in the shade of a cottonwood tree at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and enjoy the
lifestyle and scenes that charmed Theodore Roosevelt in the 1880s. TR's experiences in the Dakota badlands shaped his adult life, directed him to the
Presidency and on to become one of the world's leading land conservationists.
Here are some typical scenes we saw during our last tour of the Badlands.
..and some fun stuff, too!
One thing about the weather in ND..just wait an hour and it will change..
Want an old-time haircut?..this is the place. Take time to smell the flowers. Need a good fish dinner or just cool off the feet?
ND Damselfly
NORTH DAKOTA ECONOMY
Factoid: ND is the only state that has a state-owned bank in the nation.
Factoid: ND is/was the world's third largest nuclear power.
One of the 'discontinued' missile command centers. Any one of 30 could launch all 600 ICBMs..MinuteMan Mark V's which were at one time scattered all
over ND and eastern Montana. Known as Wing 6, these sites are obsolete today. As a college summer job I worked for an environmental air-control
company and was down inside every missile silo in Wing 6. Had to climb down a 90ft ladder many times each day...good excercise, but very
solemn.
AGRICULTURE
Supported by its extremely fertile soil, North Dakota's agricultural economy is much larger than most other states.
In terms of revenue generated, North Dakota's top five agricultural products are: wheat, cattle and calves, soybeans, corn for grain, and
sugar beets.
Crops
Wheat is the leading farm product in North Dakota, ranking second in production behind Kansas. North Dakota grows more durum wheat ..used for pasta..
than any other state.
North Dakota also leads all other states in the production of barley and sunflower seeds and is a leader in the production of flaxseed (linseed oil).
North Dakota is among the leading states in the production of canola seed, honey, navy beans, oats, pinto beans, rye, soybeans and sugar beets.
Hay is important, grown for livestock feed.
Organic Farming
As of 2008, North Dakota ranks third in the number of certified organic cropland acres.
North Dakota is by far the leader in production of oilseeds (flax & sunflowers). The state also leads the nation in production of organic oats,
buckwheat and rye.
As of 2009, more than 40 companies in North Dakota are organically certified to handle and/or process organic products. These companies are diverse in
size, ranging from commercial scale food processors to value-added on-farm processing plants, and in products, ranging from meat slaughter..Hi
to Nomad Don Jorge.. to flour milling.
MINING
North Dakota's most valuable mined product is petroleum...oil. We have more oil than OPEC! Let's just hope we can go after it.... a
little more efficiently, of course.
Coal and natural gas are also important.
POPULATION
The original native American tribes in what is now North Dakota were the Mandan, Sioux, Arikara, Chippewa, Cheyenne, Assiniboine, and Hidatsa. Today
only the Sioux and Chippewa remain; they comprise about 4% of the population.
(Lakota Souix smoke signal saying: "Got Buffalo..Barbeque Today!")
Most settlers arrived from the 1880s to 1910, usually straight from Europe. Since then the population has held steady at about 650,000.
Young people are moving out of rural areas to other states or to the few cities. The four urban counties (containing Fargo, Grand Forks Bismark and
Minot) grew from 134,000 people in 1930 to 338,000 in 2007, while the other 49 counties--heavily rural--declined from 546,000 in 1930 to only 301,000
in 2007, and the decline continues.
Thanks to high prices for oil and wheat, the state is prosperous and the state budget has a surplus. Higher education is a priority; North
Dakota ranks first in spending per capita on state colleges and universities.
"Old Main" building on my old alma mater.
Factoid: North Dakota State University.....What do you have to do there to graduate? Milk a cow with your left hand.
.
How about someHISTORY?
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Ethnicity of North Dakota European pioneers
Three out of four residents today are descended from German and Norwegian pioneers who arrived as farmers in growth years, 1880 to 1914. Many of the
German speakers came from Russia, and are known as "Russian Germans." Yankees arrived too; they became townspeople, not farmers. Religion has always
been strong, especially in Lutheran and Catholic churches.
A couple of sod houses built by pioneers to the Great Plains..where lumber was nowhere to be found.
Lower left corner is my Dad's homemade hunting trailer...set up near the Badlands. And some of my early pioneer relatives on the right.
Norwegians!
Norwegian folk came to North Dakota with a reputation for honesty, hospitality, and thrift; they were modernizers and prohibitionists and soon
acquired new traits involving good manners, a greater respect for women, more democratic ideas, and disregard for European class distinctions. "In
Norway," pioneer Omund writes in his diary, "we were in many respects a helpless tool in the hands of the state. There we had the state church. The
child must be baptized or a fine must be paid." Omund said that when Norwegians came to America they became "a more wideawake people and more
independent thinking. . . . The Norwegian, who has lived a while in America, is more civilized than if he had not been here. He has seen more,
experienced more, thought more, and all this has opened his eyes and broadened his view."
The old cabin here is one of my ancestor's. Omund Opheim was the first white man to settle this far west at the time. He quickly made friends with
the local tribes by gifting them strawberries from his garden..hey, it worked and they got along famously ever after. These were very hard times.
One time after a very harsh blizzard which snowbound them for days, he found a frozen corpse just 50 yards from his front door. A testament to how
extreme the weather gets in North Dakota.
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Religion and churches played a major part in settlement of the Great Plains. And still does today...a very refreshing and good-natured kind of
religion...the kind that makes you good things for others...
...and so Co-Pilot gets her Xmas present early and the older women critique the new device.
While on this clean-up roll, we decide to make a stop at an old hunting shack of mine in northern Dakota. Take some time to mow the yard,
say Hi to some neighbors...get a ride on a 4wheeler..
..clean out an old storage shed...
..and check in with the post office for any old mail..
This very small town (pop. 45) is like the old TV show, Petticoat Junction. Very quiet and laidback. Where each resident has a
mailbox and combination. Walk to the post office to get your mail..and you get coffee with French vanilla creamer and fresh orange juice poured
by the postmistress. She's glad for the company.
Small town scenes typical of North Dakota.
Here's some news about North Dakota that may interest people looking for good real estate deals...
Like Victorian? Or a pre-fab quickie? Every one of the above places are under $35,000. A hint on buying these is the old North Dakota
slogan..."Fifty below zero keeps the riffraff out."
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Now we come to one of the main reasons for me to be in North Dakota in the fall.
HUNTING NORTH DAKOTA
Hunter's Moon
And THAT'S ALL for North Dakota, folks...
We're off for a quick trip through Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinios....then home to BAJA!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure with us. Best travelogue on North Dakota that I have ever seen. My Dakota relatives have really enjoyed
it!
We leave the great state of North Dakota!....and venture east into the good-neighbor state of Minnesota.
We're going home and then visit some old Baja amigos.
The northwestern corner of Minnesota. A place on the Rainy River next to Lake of the Woods...truly 'God's Country.'
Perhaps some of you know about this wonderous place?
Lake of the Woods...a VERY scenic lake with thousands of rock/pine islands, 65,000 miles of shoreline, and
some of the best walleye fishing in the world. Wild, pristine wilderness full of wildlife ..stretching from Minnesota, USA to Ontario, Canada. It's
my Baja of the North.
Anybody recall the beautiful water scenes in the beer commercials for Hamm's beer many years ago? I'll try to sing the jingle....cough,
cough...."FROM the land of sky-blue waaaa-ters..WAaaa-ters. HAMM'S..The beer refreshing.
HAMM'S..the beer refreshing. HAMM'S BEER!" ...or something like that.
Yup..the background for that commercial was..you guessed it... Lake of the Woods.
I spent a lot of my younger years near here..and now lots of my older....canoeing, camping, and fishing in the wilderness areas. I wouldn't trade
those experiences and memories for anything. These days, the lure of my home Up North takes me back every year...about the time Baja gets
REALLY HOT!
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That...and the anticipation of taking some young pals out fishing..and seeing those huge smiles when posing with thier prizes.
Priceless!
The lake is prime walleye country. Full of trophy fish, calm most of the time, but can become a dangerous place to be during a windstorm..best to sit
in camp or home and be safe.
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Minnesota is truly the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii
combined.
I have ALWAYS loved photographing clouds. And Up North, they are full of life and vigor..
{Note: Speaking of the sky and 'vigor'. Up North, this has been a familiar sight since the early 60's...a SAC
B-52H bomber flys high overhead on a regular patrol and/or training mission. From it's present heading, it's probably heading back to SAC
command in Minot, ND. These guys can carry nukes...to protect our nation by way of the sure knowledge of a sudden and 100%
fatal response to nuclear attack. Additionally, the 150 nuclear-tipped Minuteman Mark III ICBM's in ND silos are another
'deterent' to attack. }
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. FURTRAPPERS & VOYAGEURS....I missed my calling..
Early visitors to Lake of The Woods...
Tons of history, too..the factual kind...about the early native americans and later the French trappers and voyageurs, who
opened this area to the western world. Sometimes it was the 'coureur des bois'..unauthorized fur traders.. who did the most to bring
European influence to this wilderness.
We arrive to unpack, greet some friends coming to welcome us..and their dog, Jake..who comes running to see me...
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...at full blast!
Hoo-boy, there's nothing like a Lab for boisterous greetings with lots of face-licking.
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Just got here and already it's time to get things ready for tomorrow's dinner guests. Oh well, that's what it's all about ..friends for
dinner.
First, though...Clean, clean, clean...also Check for mice..Check the hot water...Check the mattress?...Check the office toilet..uh,
that's another story.
Looks damn spotless to me, tesoro. But be my guest and knock yourself out.
Factoid: Women see things invisible to men....
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Co-Pilot! Wonderful quiche! Great wine! Good company! Can I sit down now?
The woodland birds are having thier meal, too.
This unfortunate fellow was a little stunned after he T-boned on the window pane...but recovered to fly again! Reminded me of some flying
misadventures I've been on in the past..courtesy of an old chopper & 180 pilot, Dusty. We had some times.
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Welcome to The GarageWorkshop...a place where great ideas are born...and is a refuge of sorts.
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These are two of my favotite photos.
Upper Right photo: Hunter is saying: "I got these son-of-a-b-tches about 9 o'clock this morning."
Lower Left photo: Game warden is saying: I got this son-of-a-b-tch about 10 o'clock this morning."
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Basically, these are the tools with which to construct a log home...plus lots and lots of elbow grease.
And...that most important tool. A shot of Don Julio..ahhh.
Who doesn't have a still-running antique dozer in their shed?
The grandkid's treehouse. I had one like it when I was a pup, too. Not quite as level, but back then it was my first real construction job.
The syrup shed. Have you ever made maple syrup straight from the trees?
If you want it quick, buy it at the market! This is work..work..work..and I put the cost at about $100 a pint...more or less. Like putting a cost per ounce on a flyfishing trip to Alaska!
Later..on our last day Up North, we take the 4wheeler down the woodtrail to the creek.
Nice fall weather for a ride and a last look around ...before we have to hit the trail for O'Hare field in Chicago.
You see, Co-Pilot must fly back to Italy for a short while. Visas only last so long for the..ahem.. legal visitors to
America.
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But first we want to visit some old Baja amigos who live in a nice haven called Lake Elmo. It's on the route to Chicago from Rainy River. So off we
go... to...The Cities. Minneapolis/St. Paul. I thought this photo came out fairly well for taking it from the freeway at 65mph...whaddya think?
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Factoid: The city of St. Paul. The original name of the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig's
Eye. Named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, who had led squatters to the settlement.
We arrive to meet my cookie-addicted compadre at his Lake Elmo home. (He looks a little like I imagine "Pig's Eye" to look.)
Meet my old childhood chum, lifelong friend, and Baja/Mulege amigo...Randy. He's a research chemist..and a mad
scientist-type..
..and his wife, Ginny, is the charming and patient type.
We find a nearby RV park for the motorhome. A huge forested park with very nice campsites...even a sheriff for protection. From what we can't
imagine. Over-friendly Goldens, maybe?
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Did I mention Randy and Ginny have four golden retrievers? They did have 5, but old Max went to doggy heaven last year. It
was all I could do to keep Co-Pilot from becoming a dognapper. She loves all animals. She settled for smothering them with affection.
The next day I sense something....suddenly....like a revalation! "Hey... I smell fresh carmel rolls and pies!!"
And...Sure enough!!..there was a great bakery/eatery just down the road a few miles...
Now you have to excuse me....3 caramel rolls always make me drowsy....zzzzzz..zzzzzzzzzzzz
We hope you enjoyed our stay at Lake of the Woods and Lake Elmo.
Hey... Good Morning to all. I'm a little late today, so I hope you're still ready to get on with our Road Trip?
(I know.. I know, this is boring as hell for most of you.. but hey, it's my rice bowl. Besides that, I'm hoping that you enjoy visiting with us and maybe learning a little more about our great
America..and .. have some fun while we're at it. )
Sooo....We are now in Lake Elmo, Minnesota... near Minneapolis/St. Paul with our long-time amigos and hosts, Randy and Ginny. One night during our
dinner conversation we all decided it would be fun to attend a local annual event that had just got underway.
It turned out to be a "Ya sure, ya betcha! Uff da, vee had such a good time. She vus a real doozy,don't-cha-know?" - kind
of event.
The Minnesota State Fair
Its slogan is "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." It's probably the largest state fair in the United States in terms
of daily attendance. It's held at the state fairgrounds, adjoining the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. Just in case you are ever
asked, the site is midway between the state's capital city of St. Paul and the largest city, Minneapolis.
Residents of the state and region come to the fair to be entertained, exhibit their best livestock, show off their abilities in a variety of fields
including art and cooking, learn about new products and services... and one of my favorites.. enjoy many different types of food—often on
a stick. It typically runs for twelve days, running from late August into early September with the last day being Labor Day. In 2009,
attendance was about 1,800,000, up almost 100,000 from the previous year...this years projections are busting 2,000,000 ...so you can see this is
no small potatoes we're talking here!
Heck...even the crowd waiting to use the one bathroom is HUGE.
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Got to have some .. History!
Minnesota Territory first held a Territorial Fair in 1854, although the first Minnesota State Fair didn't occur until 1859, the year after statehood.
Since then, the fair has run annually except for five different years. In 1861 and 1862, the fair was not held because of the Civil War and the Dakota
War of 1862. Scheduling issues between the fair and the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois caused the 1893 show to be canceled. The
fair again closed because of war in 1945, as fuel was in short supply. It was again closed in 1946 because of an outbreak of polio.
In its early years during the 19th century, the fair was held in many different locations. Some were not far from the current site, but others were
relatively far-flung. For a time in the 1870s, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul held competing fairs. Minneapolis, the younger city of the
pair, eventually outdid its neighbor by staging the larger fair.
One of the most significant dates in the fair's history was September 2, 1901 when then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was visiting and first
uttered the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." (Good ol' Teddy..my favorite president.) Roosevelt became
president just days later after William McKinley was assassinated.
In 1925, the Minnesota State Fair was the site of the Norse-American Centennial celebration. During his appearance at the Norse-American Centennial,
President Calvin Coolidge gave recognition to the contributions of Scandinavian-Americans ..and noted Lief Erikson ... as the
real discoverer of America!...not that what's-his-name Italian who got lost and thought he was in India. Right,
Co-Pilot?
So...What do you see at the State Fair?
Answer: LOTS! Here's just a few things..opps ...tings!
Livestock departments - and 4H
A large portion of the Fairgrounds are occupied by livestock barns, where various farm animals are displayed. The animals and their owners take part
in livestock shows to compete for awards. Most of the shows take place in the coliseum, a large indoor arena on the fairgrounds. Open class livestock
competitions are held in horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, dairy goats, llamas, poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons)
rabbits, and stock dogs.
Here we have..alpacas, elk and buffalo ranching associations, and a cute pooch (one of those Lapsidoodles, I think...)
Below.... are these little suckers cute or what?
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Meet ..REGGIE!
Co-Pilot!!...don't touch that sheep!...
Co-Pilot!!...don't touch that duck!...
Co-Pilot!!...don't touch that pig!...
Groan...just great! She loves animals..has to touch them ALL. Now.. Go wash your hands..
4-H has a significant presence at the fair, both in their own building and in the livestock areas. Contests include herdsmanship,
showmanship, judging teams, public presentations, non-livestock exhibits, and county club exhibits. Livestock displays include beef and dairy cattle,
dairy and market goats, poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and pigeons), rabbits, sheep, and swine.
Co-Pilot wants to let every one of them out....
Factoid: During the 2009 State Fair four students fell ill with the H1N1 influenza virus (all recovered), and as a precaution,
hundreds of other 4-Hers were evacuated from the 4-H dormitories on the grounds.
Hmmm..right out of Gulliver's Travels..??
"Oh, go ahead, Co-Pilot, scratch away, get your face licked..again.
Factoid: On August 31, 2007, a bull escaped from its handler, charging several fairgoers before charging a fire hydrant and
meeting it's Waterloo. No people were seriously injured in the mishap.
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Many Unusual Exhibits
...Opps...
Well...maybe this one is not so unusual. More of a natural exhibit.. for a horse. About these country fairs....You are blessed with some occasional
...ah...Road Apples.
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..and don't forget all the THINGS to buy.
Co-Pilot quote: "This is better than the mall, yes?"
Harley gear is always IN..right, Co-pilot?
1. A classic Airstream..made into a diner. 2. Fish Houses are second homes to most Minnesotans....primary to bachelors. 3. Damn...looks like
Batman's jetski. 4. I dunno about you, but I'd have to cut in half to fit into THAT ambulance...
FURS Anyone? (PETA members might want to avert your eyes for the next few photos...)
"Hey, Co-Pilot...nice rack."
Pioneer Days
Co-Pilot looks over an old snowsleigh caboose...complete with a heater. Nothing like that in the Alps, I don't think.
Another favorite place...the Blacksmith
A great-uncle of mine, Norman Opheim, had a blacksmith shop almost like one on his ND ranch for many, many years. He forged all the parts and tools
needed for his spread by hand. What a wonder that place was to me as a child. I miss the smells and sounds of that great place..and time.
Super-hot charcoal coals, red-hot pokers hissing in the waterbarrel, pulleys and belts running overhead, the clang of the hammer, and the showers of
sparks. And presto..a new plowshare..or a horseshoe to fit the Clydesdale. It's now a museum back in the Dakotas.
Here's a typical pioneer home. Complete with some pioneer-types.
This photo brings back such good memories. Sitting in her sunroom at the ranchhouse, spinning wool on her wheel was where I often saw my grandmother,
Caroline. That old spinning wheel was a favorite hobby of hers until she died in 1965. I can imagine what memories she had of those golden..but
sometimes harsh... times.
Hey, C0-Pilot chances upon this discovery: Labor Unionswere there..even one for her... airline
attendants!
Food..I say....FOOD!
One of the primary attractions at the State Fair is the wide variety of foods to be had. Many foods at the fair are served "on a stick." Classic fair
foods such as cotton candy are readily available. Many foods reflect Minnesota's agriculture; cheese curds, milk shakes, corn dogs, and FootLong Hot
Dogs are popular favorites. Many foods at the fair are deep fried or come on a stick; from the classic corn dog to alligator-on-a-stick or
..deep-fried candy bars. ahh...'Kid Health Food.'
New to the fair in 2006 was hotdish on a stick, a variant of a classic staple of Minnesotan cuisine. (little factoid: I existed
on hotdish as a kid...ummm.)
In 2007 the new food was spaghetti on a stick. Hmm...? But how does it?...oh, never mind.
2008's new foods were two types of bacon, one called "Pig Lickers", which is chocolate covered, and the other a quarter pound of maple glazed
bacon...yummy, eh?
Corn Dog Pizza from the State Fair. Fried corn dogs are sliced lengthwise and arranged like the spokes of a wheel on a basic cheese pizza.
‘Nuff said.
How about some Deep-Fried Cheddar-Bacon Mashed Potatoes on a stick. A Midwestern delight that combines pork, cheese and potatoes. Lipitor, not
included.
Voted 'Best New Fair Food of 2010' Grilled marshmallow, banana, and chocolate sandwich!
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I wonder...? I'm told it tastes just like chicken..??
Naw..no iguana, thanks just the same.
Shows
The State Fair is host to numerous shows, including concerts, comedy shows, product demonstrations, and the State Fair Talent Contest. The Grandstand
is a large outdoor concert hall that also features 3 floors of interior exhibition space. It hosts the largest of the fairs concerts and until 2002
was also the site of stock car races run on a small oval track. In 2003 the facility completed the first phase of a $35 million remodeling project
that removed large sections of bleachers and increased seating capacity to 17,000. Local television and radio stations will normally set up temporary
studios at the State Fair, and one of the most popular events is the live broadcast of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.
Co-Pilot gets on the tube. It's SHOWTIME!Ah..the glitter and glitz of show biz..
Science
In recent years the science building has been housing the Eco Experience exhibit, which features activities and exhibits including the design and
construction of an eco-friendly house, a rain garden, exhibits addressing climate change, energy conservation, renewable energy, biodiesel fuel and
vehicles, and organic farming.
Entertainment
Music
Every year there are many musical venues. The most notable venue being the Grandstand which have featured performers such as REO Speedwagon, Boston,
Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner, Bob Dylan, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Rush, KISS &
"Weird Al" Yankovic, among others.
Tim McGraw is a yearly favorite.
Kid Rock ... rocks.
There are also many free entertainment venues from local bands and a selection of national acts. This year, 2010, Boyz II Men performed 2 nights at
one of the free venues. We enjoyed it immensely.
Rides
There are several rides that are permanent fixtures at the fair. The most popular of these is the Giant Slide, on which fairgoers ride down a large
metal slide on burlap sacks. The Skyride is an aerial lift ride that carried fairgoers across the grounds in a gondola. The Space Tower is a gyro
tower that rotates as it lifts people over 300 feet in the air, giving spectacular views of the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The Haunted House is
another favorite of fairgoers. Further down the block is a water raft ride. The log chute is another popular thrill ride. The fair's oldest ride, Ye
Old Mill, is a tunnel of love style ride that caters to all ages. We went 3 times.
The Midway is a carnival-like setting that contains most of the rides at the State Fair. The attractions include several funhouses, roller coasters
and other thrill rides as well as numerous games of skill.
Adventure Park is where the extreme thrill rides are located. This includes the Ejection Seat and other rides like it.
Kidway is the carnival area on the fairgrounds geared toward children.
Gondola Tramways
There is also the Skyline tram which will take you overhead to see all the exhibits and midways below you. ..with a little warning....
DNR...Department of Natural Resources... had some great exhibits and themes.
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Well...it's getting close to departure time for us, Co-Pilot. Co-Pilot?
Hey..I lost track of Co-Pilot somewhere..?
Ahh...there she is. What?
Good grief..NO!.. we are NOT buying a horse for Baja!
Come on, tesoro..get in the rig. We're burning daylight..
I must respectfully decline the invitation to participate.
Sincerely yours, Gypsy Jan
[Edited on 9-26-2010 by Gypsy Jan]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
Well, we certainly enjoyed the Minnesota State Fair and hope you had fun with us, too. Many thanks to our hosts, Randy
& Ginny. Muchas gracias, muchachos, see you in Baja this winter.
In fact, we enjoyed the State Fair so much, that we are now a bit overdue for our Illinois leg of this Road Trip. We have to be at Chicago's O'Hare
airport soon. To explain our haste, Co-Pilot is an Italian citizen...who respects and obeys the visitation laws of a foreigner
in the US...namely; her vistor's visa is only good for the 2-month maximum and it expires in just a few more days.
We gotta move fast to catch the Alitalia flight from Chicago to Rome. Let's roll...
Leaving the Twin Cities and Minnesota, we drive east, southeast.....to cross... ..The Badger State:
As luck would have it..it started raining cats and dogs. Did you hear about all the flooding in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin? Well, this is the
beginning of it right here...
What can I tell you about Wisconsin that you don't already know? Beer capitol of America?..sure. Land of Cheese?..Oh,
yeah.
Quiz: which photo below does not fit?
Let's see..there's gotta be something I can tell you concerning the place....??
WISCONSIN
Origin of the name - Named after the Wisconsin River and means "grassy place" in the Chippewa language.
BWM..Before White Man...There were many Native Indians of Wisconsin including the Chippewa, Dakota, Fox, Iowa, Kickapoo, Mohican, Miami,
Munsee, Iroquois, Oto, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Tionontati, Winnebago and Wyandot tribes.
1634 - Jean Nicolet was the first known European to reach Wisconsin in search of the Northwest Passage.
1774 - Quebec Act makes Wisconsin a part of Province of Quebec..??
1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America.
July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence
July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces.
September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain. The United States takes
ownership of Wisconsin.
If you think those factoids are great..read THIS!
The nation's first kindergarten was established in Wisconsin in 1856. Its first students were local German-speaking youngsters.
The state flower of Wisconsin is the "Road Construction Ahead" sign.
Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells is America's largest waterpark, and is also Wisconsin's only non-alcoholic fluid-related
attraction.
Wisconsin gets its name from the Oneida Indian phrase "Oui-con-sun", meaning "nothing but polka music on the radio".
Wisconsin is America's top milk producing state. Although vegetarians consider milking cows to be a form of animal abuse, they should just shut
the hell up before I break their brittle, calcium-deficient little arms!
The state motto of Wisconsin is "Home of Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst, and other beers that sound like vomiting noises".
The Republican Party was born in 1854 in Ripon, Wisconsin. It was started as an attempt to replace the Whig party, which
self-destructed after candidate Millard Fillmore completely discredited himself by making a bizarre screaming sound at the end of a campaign
speech in 1852.
Cannibalistic serial killers Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer both hail from Wisconsin. Which was probably just a coincidence, even though it's
true that nothing compliments the taste of human flesh like good ol' Wisconsin cheese.
Wisconsin contains almost 8000 streams and rivers, 99% of which are clean enough to drink from directly if you don't mind the taste of
deer urine.
(Which is also true for cans filled with Wisconsin beer.)
Boscobel, Wisconsin is the birthplace Gideon Bible Society, who - since 1889 - have made it their mission to place a Bible in every hotel room in the
world so that patrons would no longer have to lay awake at night wondering which commandment they just broke.
We did find a very nice RV park for the night..and were treated to a wagon ride around the park, courtesy of the management..a nice touch from very
friendly folks. (Which is kinda normal.... for these parts, anyway.)
ILLINOIS
The word Illinois is translated from the Indian word "iliniwok," meaning "warriors"
Short History of Illinois - The area was explored by the French in the late 1600s, ceded by France to the British in 1763, and ceded by them to the
newly formed United States in 1783.
Chicago
Animals were also blamed for the start of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. The Chicago Tribune ran a story claiming the fire started in the barn of
Catherine O'Leary by a cow that kicked over a lantern. The paper later admitted it made the story up in 1893. Other theories behind the fire are just
as outrageous. One accuses Daniel “Peg-leg” Sullivan of knocking over a lantern while trying to steal milk. Another slightly more believable theory is
that Biela's Comet broke up and rained over the Midwest, starting four other large fires that day. The world may never know what really happened, and
“Peg-Leg” ain't talking.
You can thank Chicago for a lot of life's simple pleasures:
Roller skates rolled onto the scene in 1884;
- the delicious Hostess Twinkie, with its amazing shelf life, came around in 1930;
- daytime soap operas were dramatically brought to television in 1949 with a series called “These are my Children”- it lasted less than a month.
We got to take part in a horseshoe game..fun times. I had'nt throw a shoe since the mid-80's when the M&M's invited us over to Punta Arena for
their annual "Ho-shoe" contest ....er, let's see...these were not quite the same kind of shoes, though.. At the M&M's, you threw high
heels or any other kind of Ho-shoe.
Both Wisconsin and Illinois have some real pretty scenery...and activities abound for the outdoorsman. Ever been to the waterworld of Wisconsin
Dells? Try it sometime!
Now we are nearing our destination and this part of the 2010 Road Trip is winding dooooowwwwwwnnnnnn.....
We have just made it under the wire...but ON SCHEDULE! We celebrate with a very pleasant night on the town, a romantic dinner for two.
..And then it's off to the airport the next morning. Co-Pilot has a very long flight ahead, even though it is non-stop - Chicago to Rome.
Too bad about the 2-month only visa thing, but that's the way it is... when you obey the rules.
Ciao, tesoro..arrivederchi!
Well folks, that's our 2010 Road Trip from Baja to Chicago..with some twists in the trail. Sure glad you came along and we hope you had some fun.
Is this The End?.....could be, but one thing I know for a fact..anything is possible.
ROAD TRIP MAP - PLUS 3rd FLIGHT TO/FROM ITALY - I don't know about you folks, but I'm getting dizzy.
Co-Pilot flys back from Italy .. sooner than expected for the trip to Baja. But I'm not complaining! Just means a little
more improvising to get her to where I am..
She flys comfy Alatalia from Rome to Chicago..then I put her aboard a series of progressively smaller planes.. which bring her closer to where I
am..Up North at my Duk Shak. 'Comfy' is not exactly a word I would use to describe these planes.
(normally the only things that fly here... are my buddies Dusty & Randy, in whatever winged contraptions they have at the moment...or waterfowl
winging south from the Artic Circle.)
(I'll tell you what plane Co-Pilotwould have liked to fly the last leg...this B-52 bomber shown practicing
low-level in my area. She loves all things aviation-wise. BTW..comforting to know B-52's and B-1's are up there..standing gaurd over America.)
The last plane she is on puts down on the staight road just outside my place...a taildragger Cessna 180. I talk with the pilot as and I help him get
her luggage out of the fuselage compartment. Noticed a brand new set of tundra tires on his 180. I crack a Pacifico for me..and a diet coke for
Co-Pilot..as we watch him thunder off to the south. Godspeed, amigo..and hope that those tundra tires keep doing the job.
NOW OUR ROAD TRIP CAN GET UNDERWAY AGAIN....
Our weather is perfect..for FALL. AUTUMN UP NORTH...MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR
INDIAN SUMMER! What could be better?
It's still warm enough for some last minute shed cleanup. Plunger-fencing, anyone? En Gaurd!
Motorhome and boat wait patiently at Duk Shak ...for the next trip...ANYWHERE!
I take Co-Pilot on a tour of our local GAME & FISH department and the nearby Federal Game Refuge Headquarters.
A haven for birders, hunters, and naturalists from all over the world.
Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane size comparisons.
Hint: the smaller sandhill crane (right) in this photo stands 3 feet tall. Whoopers are a very endangered species, but progress is being made,
albeit slowly.
In early childhood we were taught to recognize the difference in flight...and came to realize their importance to Nature. We see a few every year as
they pass by..high overhead.
Sandhills are very numerous and have liberal hunting limits. They sound very much like doves trilling..but certainly don't look like them! We call
them 'doves on steroids.' The sandies migrate very high and are indeed a serious threat to planes in this area. After hearing them
from my shak, I look up and finally can make out the tiny specks..WAY UP THERE!
Things are looking up for whoopers. The bird made news two years ago when a record number of crane deaths were reported during drought
conditions on the Texas coast. But according to state and federal biologists, flock numbers have rebounded, and a new record high number of cranes
traveled south to Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana this fall.
With 46 chicks fledging from a record 74 nests in August 2010 the flock size should reach record levels this fall — expected to be somewhere
around 290.
Once numbering only 21 birds on earth, the previous population high was 270 in the fall of 2009. As in all such cases, responsible
hunters and nature lovers of every kind contributed to the comeback of the whooping cranes.
Hunting Up North..or anywhere.. makes a huge difference in how you live your life. It creates a life-long appreciation for nature and an overbiding
urge to protect and promote it for future generations. Hunting is more than a tradition..it's an honor and a priviledge.
We are at the DUK SHAK - SEPT-2010
Fun times here during the fall migration of millions of waterfowl.
Some Ducks Unlimited prints...Federal Waterfowl Stamps at the Shak. Please support this organization..DU..it has done more for the preservation of
waterfowl & wildlife habitat than any program in history.
A SLIGHT PROBLEM ARISES...Co-Pilot cheers on the CREW. Co-Pilot discovers a water cistern problem one fine afternoon..while I was hunting ...ahem...wild turkey at the
village saloon.
Good Neighbors pitch in ..and make the job short..and FUN!
HUNTS AT DUK SHAK are varied to say the least...everything from elk to ruffed grouse. Lots of photo-ops.
uh...er...say, Co-Pilot? I wouldn't be kissing Daisy too much. She was just sticking her nose up Cheyenne's butt a few minutes ago.
Friendships made at hunting camps last a lifetime.
WILDLIFE ABOUNDS NEAR DUK SHAK - Antelope, too.
Nice PRONGHORN BUCK with DOE
WHOA!--This Texan got a little lost!
Co-Pilot looks over some DUCK HABITAT near the Duk Shak - Courtesy of some 'DUCKS UNLIMITED
CONTRIBUtORS'...meaning us... hunters.
Co-Pilot likes to come hunting with us and wear the hat I gave her.
C0-Pilot inspects our breasting technique on these puddle ducks. Got a favorite recipe for duck breast? We grill some every day when
hunting...simple, but very, very tasty!
And she says..."ALWAYS SOME MUSHROOMS TO GO WITH A GOOD DUCK DINNER."
I had some lumber left over from a shack project, so we help a neighbor buddy, Vince, build a deck onto his hunting cottage. Vince suffers from the
same affliction as my compadre, Randy. Parkinson's. My reward: Evening deck c-cktails and good fellowship.
.
. ROAD TRIP 2010 HITS THE TRAIL AGAIN!
Well, suffice to say, we had some good times Up North at the Duk Shak...But Now it's TIME TO ROLL ON DOWN THE ROAD...Heading south to
Baja..with a few turns here and there...want to come along?
"ON THE ROAD AGAIN....WAGONS HO!"
Luckily, the HIGHWAYS ARE NOT QUITE JAMMED YET........so I let Co-Pilot get
some hours in pulling a boat trailer. She's a real pistol and a damn quick study. No problems there.
Up North traffic makes life...INTERESTING.
RANCHING AND FARMING COUNTRY ---Here's 'ELSIE' THE DAIRY COW... Near New Salem, ND..Cute Gal, Eh?
Seeing this sight always reminds me of how a Montana sheepherder counts his flock...."One, two, three....WELL HELLOOOO,
SUSIE!....four, five ,six.."
A large metal sculpture of migrating cranes created by an artistic rancher in western ND..NICE JOB, PARD.
.
.
SWITCHING DAKOTAS....
Our southern neighbors. Please be polite and talk sl-oooowly while visiting them.
CHEYENNE CROSSING in the gorgeous BLACK HILLS OF SD..we stop for dinner ...and find this very drinkable treat...not
Red Truck, but damn good. (Course, I'm no wine expert, but I am an expert on what I like.)
Next morning at false dawn, we push on...GREETED WITH FOLLOWING WINDS..A DAMN GOOD SIGN FOR MOTORHOMES...RIGHT, RVERS?
[IMG]http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk45/bajaroger/Hurricane%20Jimena/NEWEST%20PHOTOS/Road%20Trip%20Photos%20USA-Canada/17CHIEFCRAZYHORSEBLACKHILL
SSD2.jpg[IMG] HEY, WHAT'S THAT UP AHEAD? AH..CRAZY HORSE..One of my favorite western characters.
This is the beginning sequence of Crazy's likeness being carved into the stone mountain in the Black Hills...quite near Mt. Rushmore. ...GUESS
THIS MAKES CHIEF CRAZY HORSE THE 'PRESIDENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS.'
Of course, we have to take in some information movies, tour the museum, and soak some local color. " Immerse yourself, Roger" an old
professor often told me. (It took me a few years to realize he didn't mean beer..sigh)
Getting into the spirit of things...Co-Pilot goes native on me. "WA-TE-HEY, MY BEAUTIFUL SQUAW! Where's my fry bread and
pemmican?"
Winding lazily thru the Black Hills in an ideal spring-summer-fall adventure...ESPECIALLY IN AUTUMN. Here we chance upon a pristine
little lake. A log and stone cabin here would be ...(as the Valley girls say)...AWESOME!
A Good Lesson Learned. Gracias, Teddy Roosevelt. MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT.
.
.
Aha! And NOW....One of America's real treasures! MOUNT RUSHMORE!
THE SCULPTOR HIMSELF...SCULPTED BY HIS SON, NO LESS.
What a great place in America. And I got all the president's names right when asked by Co-Pilot, too! How about that..? My history teacher
would be sooo proud...
.
.
One of many great Black Hills campsites. South Dakota even has electricity now....
One day...while peacefully walking down the street in Deadwood, SD..I got the distinct feeling of being followed....and it was gaining on
me...
I duck into an oldtime barber shop for a shave and trim...
Glancing over the reading material, I am reminded of where I am..this ain't New York or San Francisco, folks. Out here, you carry...or get
carried.
Co-Pilot is off to pet some animal again..sigh. Damn, sure hope it's not a puma this time...
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED:
Well...time to shut the old laptop off and meet the day. That's all for now, folks..but there's still some turnoffs to make before hitting the
border.
All I can disclose is that everything hit the fan when we got to......
The 2010 Road Trip: We left off here..... Co-Pilot is off to pet some animal again..sigh. Damn, sure hope it's not a puma this time...
We continue:......(just grit your teeth and bear with me for a couple more states and we'll be back in Baja)
Hah..not a puma, cougar, or mountain lion at all.....merely a prairiedog town. Still fun critters to watch as they scurry around thier
community, as Co-Pilot is doing here.
Many other creatures depend on these town for thier own survival. Rattlensnakes, black-footed ferret, hawks, eagles, .222-scoped pompanos, etc..
Our campsite at the Tower.
Very unique camper trailer - a pup
This was one of the longest sets of horns I have ever seen on a Texas Longhorn.
Co-Pilot is thrilled that these whitetail fawns come so close to our campsite. Now I know where all my apples go..sigh.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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Mexico InsuranceServices for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.
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