Day 1 of our Iowa & Minnesota trip for football & cousins. Patti Hargrove,
Jim's sister went on this trip with Jim and Ann. We arrived in Des Moines
late in the afternoon on Tuesday and did what site seeing we could before
dark. That night we enjoyed dinner at Centro, an excellent Italian restaurant
and stayed at the Des Lux, an attractive "boutique" hotel in downtown Des
Moines.
011_IMG_5040.JPG: Patti standing in front of Roosevelt High School which
both of our parents attended during their teen years.
012_IMG_5042x.JPG: We drove past the Downing home at 1246 46th street
but I didn't stop to take any pictures. We have done that so many times
in the past that the people on the block must wonder why strangers stop
at that house. From there we went over to the cemetery where our grandparents
are buried. Here Patti is clearing away grass and leaves from their marker.
013_IMG_5046.JPG:
014_IMG_5048x.JPG: Jim and Patti -- such a sad face.
015_IMG_5050.JPG: We drove past Aunt Mary's house on Crescent Drive.
This is where our mother spent her teen years before marrying Dad and where
she lived with Aunt Mary while Dad was in the hospital in Chicago.
016_IMG_5051.JPG: Old Main at Drake University where Mother went to college
for a couple years.
017_IMG_5053.JPG: Patti in front of the Blank Memorial Children's Hospital
where she was born. The fun facade has recently been added to what was
otherwise a pretty plane hospital building.
018_IMG_5055.JPG: We thought we would tour the Iowa Capital building but
it was closed. We managed to get a few photos outside.
019_IMG_5057.JPG: We just don't get this right. Almost but no cigar!
020_IMG_5061x.JPG: The grounds below the capital are landscaped to resemble
a natural grass prairie. A nice man offered to take a picture of the three
of us. The late evening sun gave us a bit of added color.
021_IMG_5062x.JPG: Pioneers of the Territory bronze statue by Karl Gerhardt
in front of the capital.
022_IMG_5064.JPG: Below the Pioneers statue is this buffalo head fountain.
023_IMG_5065.JPG: This fountain is up another level from the Pioneer statue.
024_IMG_5070.JPG: Everything was locked up tight. This is as close as
I could get without running afoul of the security systems.
025_IMG_5071.JPG: Looking west down Locust Street from the steps of the
Capital.
026_IMG_5072.JPG: On the way back we stopped at the Iowa Holocaust Memorial.
It consists of 4 long aluminum walls engraved with stories and photos
about the Holocaust and how it affected people in Iowa.
027_IMG_0022.JPG: Lobby of the Des Lux hotel in downtown Des Moines.
September 27, Day 2 of our Iowa-Minnesota trip. We took a whirlwind tour
of the Iowa Capital then spent some time at the Iowa Historical Museum
to see all the artifacts that Grandpa removed from patients' windpipes.
Then we drove half way across Iowa to Nodaway to see where our grandfather
was born and grew up. Unfortunately, the Sturgeon homes have been pulled
down. We wrapped up site seeing in Madison Co. looking at covered bridges.
Finally, we hightailed it to Ames and arrived well after dark.
028_IMG_5073.JPG: Des Moines was an insurance city in its heyday with
many of the large insurance companies we know today having their start
in the city. This is the HQ of Bankers Life, now called Principal Financial.
It was recently reopened after a long period of restoration. When Bankers
officers opened the building in 1939 they lauded it for its open office
concept that was to promote collaboration. This is exactly what architects
are planning today so they didn't have much restructuring when it was renovated.
029_IMG_5074.JPG: Some of the beautiful art deco art work above the entry
to the Principal Financial building.
030_IMG_5076.JPG: I got up early and did some walking while Ann and Patti
were getting ready. There weren't many people on the street. It was kind
of fun to see some of the old buildings I remember as a kid when we walked
in downtown Des Moines.
031_IMG_5077.JPG: This is the Equitable Live building.
When I started walking around Des Moines this morning I was trying to locate
the building where our grandfather, Dr. James A. Downing had his Ears-Eyes-Nose&Throat
practice. My memory, albeit vague, recalled Bankers...something but I
could not recall the "something part". Clearly, on seeing the Bankers
Life building above I knew that was not the right building so I went looking
elsewhere. The name Equitable also came to mind; not with the same
"intensity" but it was the only other building that fit any memory, so
I concluded that was where Grandpa had his practice. Cousin Rich set this
straight after looking at these pictures. He explained that Grandpa had
his office in the Bankers Trust Building and it has since been torn down.
Obviously why I could not find it. After Grandpa died, Rich's dad, my
Uncle Art moved the practice to the Equitable Building. That probably
explains why that building was somewhere in my memory also.
When I was about 6 years old, Mom would put me on the bus at a stop near
our Polk City farm on Friday afternoon. I sat up behind the driver. When
we arrived in Des Moines I walked a couple blocks from the bus station
to Grandpa's office and would wait for him to finish up before going home
for a visit. Mom and Dad would come in on Sunday to get me. Sometimes
Bill (called Willy) my little brother would go with me to Des Moines on
the bus.
BTB_demolished.jpg: This is what the Bankers Trust Building looked like before it was demolished.
032_IMG_5079x.JPG: The lobby of the Equitable Life building.
033_IMG_5080.JPG: This used to be part of the Younkers Department Store.
The main building burned in 2014. What remains has been converted into
loft apartments.
034_IMG_5081.JPG: Reflection of the Iowa Capital on the side of the Wallace
building. The building is on the north side of the west plaza leading
up to the capital. It was named for Iowan Henry A. Wallace, 33rd VP of
the US in FDR's administration. He was an avid advocate of the New Deal.
Having been both a Republican and Democrat, he was a very controversial
politician with advocates and distractors coming from all sides.
035_IMG_5082.JPG: Inside the Iowa Capital building looking up at the Renaissance
styled interior dome. Constructed between 1871 and 1886, it is the only
five-domed capital in the States. The main dome's exterior (currently
being refinished) is covered by a thin layer of 23-karot gold. Much of
the interior of the dome is gold leafed.
036_IMG_5083.JPG:
037_IMG_5085.JPG: Looking down the west wing of the building toward the
front doors (which are now blocked for security reasons). A model of the
battleship Iowa is in the case behind its original bell.
038_IMG_5087.JPG: Ann and Patti standing in front of the staircase to
the second level where the House and Senate chambers are located.
039_IMG_5089.JPG: This doll case is located in the south wing of the building.
There is a porcelain doll representing each of the state's 41 first ladies
dressed in their miniaturized inaugural ball gowns.
040_IMG_5090.JPG: This is a 1/4" to 1'model of the USS Iowa battleship
that served during WWII in the Atlantic Ocean. The model is 18' 7" long
and weighs 1,350 pounds. The real Iowa, now open to the public, was retired
in 2012 and it is docked in the San Pedro, CA.
041_IMG_5091.JPG: Another view of the rotunda
042_IMG_5092.JPG: The House Chamber.
043_IMG_5095.JPG: The Senate Chamber
044_IMG_5098.JPG: At the top of the stairs on the House and Senate level
is this big mural entitled Westward about the people who came to Iowa.
045_IMG_5099x.JPG: This statue of Lincoln and son Tad sits just below
the capital building. It was dedicated on the anniversary of the Gettysbert
Address, November 19, 1961. It is the only statue that celebrated Lincoln,
the father rather than Lincoln, the President.
046_IMG_5100.JPG: Just down the hill from the capital is the Iowa Historical
Museum with our grandfather's strange collection of stuff that he pulled
from people's windpipes. Ann organized this part of our day by communicating
with the museum staff before we finalized plans for our trip. Clearly,
there are some old planes in this building also.
047_IMG_5102.JPG: Leo Landis, Museum Curator for the State Historical
Museum took us down into the bowels of the museum where its collections
are stored. He had already pulled Grandpa's display cases and put them
on a table in one of their workrooms.
048_IMG_5105.JPG: This strange collection once made it into Ripley's Believe
It Or Not.
049_IMG_5106.JPG: Leo demonstrated one of the type setting machines used
by the Des Moines Register and Tribune. Our great grandfather Domper (Ernest
O. Ashley) used to operate one of these machines for the newspaper.
050_IMG_5107.JPG: The museum has quite an interesting collection of ancient
flag which Leo was glad to show us.
051_IMG_5109.JPG: When I told Leo a little about our grandfather, Dr.
James Downing and his work during the polio epidemic, he took us to see
their iron lung machine.
052_IMG_5110.JPG: On our way west we stopped at the cemetery where Uncle
Art and Aunt Liz are buried.
053_IMG_5112.JPG:
From Des Moines we drove southwest across Iowa to Adams County where Corning
and Nodaway are located. Our grandparents (on Mother's side) had a farm
outside Nodaway and did business in Corning. Corning, like most of the
small towns in the Midwest is a shadow of itself back in the 30's and 40's.
The town had two newspapers, the Adams County Free Press and the Union
and the main street was bustling with shops and businesses. The Free Press
is still published but it is just about local events rather than being
the source of all news for the towns people. All that remains of Nodaway
are a dozen or so homes and a grain elevator near the railroad. The schoolhouse,
a large brick building on the hill overlooking the town is falling apart,
windows all broken out. We stopped and talked with a couple people trying
to find out where the Sturgeon homes were and finally concluded both have
been torn down. I didn't take any pictures. Maybe it was just too sad.
054_IMG_5118.JPG: It does appear we spent a lot of time at cemeteries.
Not really, but we did check out where our ancestors rest. This photo
was taken at the Nodaway cemetery where the Sturgeon family (my mother's
family) are buried.
055_IMG_5114x.JPG: To my left lies James McCurdy Sturgeon, our great grandfather
and to my right is Emily Augusta Lewis Sturgeon, our great grandmother.
Further to my right is where Aunt Mary (Mary Ann Sturgeon, eldest daughter
of James and Emily) is buried.
056_IMG_5120.JPG: Always have to have a picture with Iowa corn.
On our way back to Des Moines we stopped in Winterset, a small town about
30 miles southwest of Des Moines and home of the Madison County's covered
bridges and John Wayne.
057_IMG_5122.JPG: Madison County courthouse sits in Winterset's town square
058_IMG_5123.JPG:
059_IMG_5125.JPG: Antique and other kinds of boutique stores have replaced
most of the businesses around the city square. Many are already decorated
in fall colors but the flowers are still blooming to give the streets a
festive feel.
060_IMG_5126.JPG: We stopped for coffee down the street at the Rexall
drugstore. It still has its original lunch counter with padded stools
and little tables. Hamburgers were being made right in front of us.
061_IMG_5128.JPG: Marion Robert Morrison, born on May 26, 1907, was the
son of Clyde and Mary Brown Morrison. They lived in this little white
house until they moved to Palmdale in southern California. Friends called
him Duke. At USC he studied prelaw and played football until he was injured
in a surfing accident. After winning bit parts on various Fox movies the
studio chief decided he needed a screen name and chose John Wayne for him.
He had no choice in the matter but it stuck. Now, who was this Marion
Morrison?
062_IMG_5129.JPG:
063_IMG_5130.JPG:
064_IMG_5132.JPG: Morrison County is the home of a number of famous covered
bridges and the setting for Robert Waller's book, "The Bridges of Morrison
County". The Cedar Bridge, coming up, was on the cover of his book. Ann
said when she first heard of the book she thought "the Bridges" were a
family, not somethings to be driven across. Out of about 100 covered bridges
built in Iowa, the 6 in Morrison County are all that survive. We only
had time for 3 which is usually enough to get a feel for covered bridges.
The Cutler-Donahoe bridge in this photo is 79 feet long. It was moved
from its original site into the Winterset City park in 1970.
065_IMG_5139.JPG: Next we saw what remains of the Cedar Bridge. When
we pulled into the parking area I thought that someone had decided to paint
it black rather than its traditional barnyard red. Not. It was burned
out on the night of April 15, 2017. Apparently, a teen age boy had been
jilted by his girlfriend and decided to "burn his bridges". Two teenaged
men and a woman were arrested.
066_IMG_5135.JPG: The original bridge was built in 1883. It too was burned
in 2002 but the arsonists were never captured. It was rebuilt at a cost
of $1 million. No decision has been made on it future.
067_IMG_5140.JPG: The Hogback Bridge was built in 1884. It got its name
from a limestone ridge that forms the west end of the river valley.
068_IMG_5143.JPG:
September 28, 2017, Day 3. We drove down to Madrid from Ames to see an
old family friend, Vera Grow Hicks. Her mother Blanch was one of Mother's
best friend when our family lived on the Polk City farm in Iowa.
069_IMG_0037.JPG: Here we are with Vera at her home in Madrid, Iowa.
070_IMG_5146x.JPG: Wild berries and rosehips along the trail to the High
Trestle biking bridge.
071_IMG_5151.JPG: A nice lady took our picture. The hike and bike bridge
on which we a standing was opened in 2011. It is part of a 25 mile long
trail built along the route of the former Union Pacific Railroad freight
line from Woodward to Ankeny, Iowa. The bridge which is half mile long
and 13-stories high crosses the Des Moines River Valley. It sits on huge
concrete piers that originally supported a double rail crossing the river.
The angular frames that progress into the background are supposed to represent
a view into a coal mining shaft. Coal mining was an important industry
in this part of Iowa. At night, the frames are lit up with blue lights.
Unfortunately, we did not get to see that.
072_IMG_5152.JPG: The Des Moines River Valley below the bridge. This
river was dammed to form the Sailorville Lake. It has backed up and floods
much of the land that was our Polk City farm.
073_IMG_5153.JPG: Up stream from where we are standing is the Ledges State
Park, a beautiful small park with creeks flowing across the drives and
large trees. However, since the river has been dammed, it backs up into
the park and has seriously damaged some of the pretty parts. Because of
that, we were unable to drive down and see the park.
074_IMG_5157.JPG: Patti and Mr. DeMoss in the barn at his Pumpkin Farm.
075_IMG_0039.JPG: He proudly went into details about all the varieties
of pumpkins that he grows, the tonnage, etc. Very interesting.
076_IMG_5158.JPG: Wandering around the pumpkin barn checking out the produce.
077_IMG_5159.JPG: Mrs. DeMoss cans all sorts of jams which they sell and
ship all over the country. We stocked up with about 6 jars.
078_IMG_5160.JPG: This is inside Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss' home where she has
the most recent products from her kitchen spread out on the floor and furniture.
We stocked up here also with goodies to take up to Minnesota. The people
on the right were customers also.
079_IMG_5163.JPG: Mr. DeMoss reaching across each stack to tell us about
the different kinds of breads and pies.
080_IMG_5164.JPG: Here are Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss. She said she often is
still baking goods at 11PM. Hard to imagine how she does all this in such
a small home kitchen.
081_IMG_5165.JPG: Back outside with the pumpkins and corn. He said that
by the end of October they will have sold all these pumpkins and probably
could sell more.
082_IMG_5166.JPG: Beautiful ears of field corn but no popcorn at this
time.
083_IMG_5167.JPG: Ann and Patti carrying bags of DeMoss loot beside the
apple tree in his side yard.
084_IMG_5168.JPG:
085_IMG_5169.JPG: The "apple of my eye".
086_IMG_0046.JPG: We talked a good ISU fan into stopping to take our picture
before heading in to find our seats.
087_20170928_170002.jpg: Pre game activities at Jack Trice Stadium at
ISU. The sky was still filled with smoke from a fireworks display.
September 29, 2017, Day 4. Today we drove up to St. Paul by taking a scenic
route along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of Iowa and Illinois.
We stopped for lunch in a historic little town on the river called Guttenberg
and spent too much time waiting for lunch. That squeezed the amount of
time we were able to spend in the Effigy National Monument. But, all worked
out ok. After a rather frantic drive into St. Paul we were able to meet
our cousins George and Libby Colburn for dinner.
088_IMG_5170.JPG: Just south of Guttenberg, Iowa along US 52 (Great River
Road) there is a scenic lookout over the Mississippi River. Last time
Ann and I drove this road from north to south we stopped here, took some
pictures, and bought a bottle of local wildflower honey. We were talking
about that just as we crested the hill and came upon the very same honey
seller. Bought some honey and took pictures. There also was a lady selling
homemade apple butter. Bought a bottle of that too.
089_IMG_5175.JPG: A lady was traveling around by herself and stopped her
also. She offered to take our picture in exchange for me taking hers.
090_IMG_5176.JPG: On the main street of historic Guttenberg.
091_IMG_5177.JPG: There is a big dam and locks across the Mississippi
to control downriver flow and up river traffic.
092_IMG_5178.JPG: Lots of interesting old buildings along main street.
About 20 miles north of Guttenberg along scenic highway 76 we arrived at
Effigy Mounds National Monument. This is a huge forest on bluffs overlooking
the Mississippi River. In the late Woodland Period (1400-750 years before
present)there was a culture known as Effigy Moundbuilders. On the bluffs
overlooking the river they built mounds in the shape of bears, birds, and
other animals they encountered. Some of the mounds are rectangular while
others are round. Some archeologist believe these marked celestial or
other seasonal events. Whatever their purpose, Patti and I climbed a steep
switchback trail up to the top of the bluff where we could look out over
the river and walk past a number of the mounds. Since we didn't have time
to waste we were walking at a good huffing and puffing pace. Ann decided
since she has already hiked this trail that she would wait at the base
for us.
093_IMG_5180x.JPG: "Jim, slow down." "Wow, look at that." "What's under
that mound?"
094_IMG_5184.JPG: The Great Mississippi flowing between Iowa on the right
and Wisconsin on the left.
095_IMG_5186.JPG: Patti kept insisting that I wasn't getting photographed
enough so she took my camera and did this job.
096_IMG_5189.JPG: Another view of the river at a point a little further
along the trail.
097_IMG_5190.JPG: .
098_IMG_5191.JPG: The park service trims the grass around the mounds to
help delineate the figures, in this case a little bear. You really need
to look down on these figures to make them out since they are quite large.
099_IMG_5193.JPG: Some wildflowers along the trail.
September 30, 2016, Day 5. Last night we had dinner with cousins George
and Libby Colburn but I guess we were so busy catching up that nobody took
any pictures. After dinner George complained because I grabbed the ticket
and wouldn't let him pay their share. So, after returning to the St. Paul
Hotel, I told Ann to text Libby and ask to meet for breakfast and pictures.
I also told her to tell George "that he could pay". We didn't spend much
time in St. Paul since we needed to get on the road up to Duluth where
John and Marcia now live.
100_IMG_5194.JPG: The lobby of the St. Paul Hotel in St. Paul Minnesota.
George and Libby joined us for breakfast in their restaurant.
101_IMG_5196.JPG: The entrance and exterior of the hotel. I did a little
walk while Ann and Patti got ready for the day.
102_IMG_5197.JPG: This is a small water fountain in Rice park across the
street from the hotel.
103_IMG_0052.JPG: Back in the hotel lobby.
104_IMG_5205.JPG: First picture ever with cousins Patti and Libby together.
105_IMG_5206x.JPG: Here we are all together. This was Libby's first official
day of retirement so we celebrated with a big breakfast.
106_IMG_5210.JPG: The cartoonist Charles Schulz who drew Peanuts came
from St. Paul. This Lucy and Snoopy tribute to Schultz sits in Rice Park
across from the hotel. It seemed appropriate for Patti to sit there also.
107_IMG_5211.JPG: I'm not too sure how appropriate this is!
108_IMG_5212.JPG: Circle of mums in the front of the St. Paul Hotel.
109_IMG_5213.JPG: The gardens in front of the hotel are still quite pretty
and will be for about a month before the first freeze of fall.
110_IMG_5214x.JPG: Duluth is a straight shot north on I35 from St. Paul.
Here we got our first sighting of the city after passing over a big hill.
Out there extends Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake (surface
area) in the world.
111_IMG_5220x.JPG: John and Marcia's new home in Duluth, Minnesota.
112_IMG_5219.JPG: The Grand Tour: Patti and Marcia meet for the first
time. Sorry this is not a very good picture of Marcia but the only one
I had.
113_IMG_5308.JPG: An impressive oak framed passage leads to the living
room.
114_IMG_5310.JPG: The living room with windows looking out to the front
porch and street.
115_IMG_5311.JPG: The dining room. The window opens onto the family room
and deck.
116_IMG_0054.JPG: The family room is entered from the kitchen
117_IMG_0056.JPG: Standing on the deck that is just outside the family
room.
118_IMG_5223x.JPG: John already had plans for us to drive up the coastline
road so here we go. Marcia packed a basket of goodies so we could stop
along the way for a picnic in the beautiful cool weather. The drive from
their home took us along the hill overlooking the city and lake. The high
lift bridge at the left is over the passage between open water on Superior
and the Duluth harbor.
119_IMG_0059.JPG: Cousins standing on a gravel beach north of the harbor.
120_IMG_5228.JPG: Cousins standing in front of Gooseberry falls in Gooseberry
Falls State Park.
121_IMG_5230.JPG: I walked downstream a short distance to see the river
that dumps into Lake Superior.
122_IMG_5231.JPG: Looking back toward the falls.
123_IMG_5233.JPG: Patti and I hiked to the top of the falls.
124_IMG_5234.JPG:
125_IMG_5235.JPG: We continued on northeast along the shoreline to Split
Rock Lighthouse. This lighthouse was completed in 1910 after a series
of devastating shipwrecks. Its guiding light shone until 1969. Today
the lighthouse is a national landmark.
126_IMG_5236.JPG: The lighthouse keeper's house has been restored to its
oriinal state and now open for tours. When the lighthouse was built there
were no roads to this part of the shoreline. The only access was by open
water and a lift to get from the water up to the top of the high cliff.
Here Patti is looking over the lighthouse keeper's daily records.
127_IMG_5237x.JPG: John and Patti must have seen something amusing.
128_IMG_5242.JPG: The lighthouse is open for tours. You have to climb
a circular staircase to reach the rotating lamp.
129_IMG_5239.JPG: Next to the lighthouse is an exhibit telling about the
wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975. The ship was loaded
with 26,116 long tons of taconite pellets when it ran into a massive storm
on the lake, broke up, and sank with all 29 members of its crew.
130_IMG_5241.JPG: Looking up through the access hole to the kerosene fired
lamp. It is rotated by a cable motor that works much like a large clock
with weights.
131_IMG_5245.JPG: Our group is ready for a picnic lunch!
132_IMG_5246.JPG: Jim and Patti swapped places
133_IMG_5247.JPG: We walked out to the platform where the lift used to
stand before a highway from Duluth was built. The lift was used to raise
construction and support material from the lake down below up to the top
of the cliff.
134_IMG_5250x.JPG: Patti enjoying the cool breeze off the lake.
135_IMG_5252.JPG: Good picture of John. Didn't yo'mamma teach you not
to climb on safety fences?
136_IMG_5254x.JPG: The lighthouse sits at the top of this cliff to the
left of where I was standing when I took this picture.
October 1, 2017, Day 6. John and Marcia had the day planned out first with
a trip up to Enger Park high above the harbor followed by a cruise on the
Vista Star on Lake Superior. The day cleared a little and the rain held
off.
137_IMG_5256.JPG: We stopped at a harbor overlook on the way up the Enger
Park.
138_IMG_5257.JPG: The Duluth harbor and railyard.
139_IMG_5258.JPG: Looking south toward the high bridge over to Wisconsin.
140_IMG_5260.JPG: Looking northeast toward the lift bridge that serves
as the entry to the harbor from open water.
141_IMG_0073.JPG: The front of the Japanese tower in Enger Park.
142_IMG_5268.JPG: John, Patti,and I climbed to the top of the tower for
an excellent view of the harbor and surroundings. I stretched over the
edge to get this picture of Ann and Marcia who were waiting at the base
for us.
143_IMG_5269.JPG: Some of the trees, mainly maples, have put on their
fall colors.
144_IMG_5272.JPG: Pretty good looking group here.
145_IMG_5273.JPG: I told Patti to keep backing up but she refused.
146_IMG_5274.JPG: We were seeing how close we could get to the cliff before
falling off.
147_IMG_5276.JPG:
148_IMG_5277x.JPG: We tried to find picnic tables along the way but they
were either occupied on "nonexistent". So, we finally got to eat our picnic
lunch with everything spread in the kitchen.
149_IMG_5279.JPG: We made it outdoors for our "picnic". Not where Marcia
planned but very good nonetheless.
150_IMG_5280.JPG: At the harbor area getting to board for our cruise on
Lake Superior.
151_IMG_5282.JPG: John clanging one of the bells on a buoy.
152_IMG_5283.JPG: Waiting to board the Vista Star
153_IMG_5287.JPG: Approaching the drawbridge to exit the harbor into open
water.
Video clip, IMG_0068: The bridge is going up as we approached. Click to play.
155_IMG_0069.JPG: Leaving the harbor. The day was overcast and occasionally
misting so the lake is not as pretty as it would normally be.
156_IMG_0070.JPG:
157_IMG_5290.JPG: People waved as we passed the small lighthouse at the
end of the pier.
158_IMG_5296.JPG: John and Marcia
159_IMG_5297x.JPG: This tugboat, the John R. Asher, had some special significance
to John and Marcia.
160_IMG_5299.JPG: One of the huge grain elevator complexes around the
harbor. Most, like this one, are now inactive.
161_IMG_5300x.JPG: This ship is being loaded with taconite pellets that
are hauled into the harbor by rail from the mines that are about 40 miles
west of Duluth.
162_IMG_5302.JPG: After the cruise, we drove out on the long sandbar that
forms the northern boundary of the harbor. On the lake side of the sandbar
is a public beach where we sampled the water.
163_IMG_0075.JPG: Ann said there was no way she was going wading in that
cold water but she volunteered to hold our stuff while we did.
Video clip, Wading_in_superior: Wading in Superior. Click to play
165_IMG_0080.JPG:
166_IMG_0081x.JPG: Back at John and Marcia's. Since our van was kind
of cramped for everyone Jim decided to ride in the back. That required
some contortions.
October 3, 2017, Day 7. Today we left Duluth and drove to the Downing enclave,
Sandy Arc, on Lake Wabana (about 18 miles north of Grand Rapids). We took
a scenic route up through Virginia and Hibbing because I wanted to show
Patti the big open pit iron mines. Marcia left later but took the more
direct route and beat us to Wabana.
167_IMG_5305.JPG: Patti gathering up the last of her stuff before we left.
168_IMG_5313.JPG: Some last minute photos before we departed.
169_IMG_0084.JPG: We missed mines in Virginia but I thought we could see
some in Hibbing. We drove toward the Hull-Rust Mahoning mine overlook
but it was all fenced off so we couldn't get close. We later learned they
had closed the access just days before we arrived. So, we stopped for
a coffee break. Ann saw this big lab across the street. He was the biggest
(unusual) think in Hibbing.
170_IMG_0086.JPG: We arrived at Lake Wabana sometime around 2PM and pulled
into the grass behind Uncle Bill's cabin, now called the "Big House".
171_IMG_0087.JPG: It's been a long day already.
172_IMG_5317.JPG: I couldn't keep from taking a couple photos of the bright
leaves. It was interesting how much brighter they became in just the few
days we were at Lake Wabana. Actually, it was probably due to the sun
shine which gives the autumn leaves added brilliance and makes the water
blue.
173_IMG_5322x.JPG: I convinced Patti to take a hike with me out to the
end of the point. She dressed for snow and ice but was shedding some the
further we walked.
174_IMG_5323.JPG: Some mighty tall maple trees
175_IMG_0089x.JPG: John and Jim bring John's boat over from their Mergler
October 3, 2017, Day 8. The rainy front moved east and the skies began
to clear this morning. John had a meeting in Grand Rapids so I spent the
time giving his Boston Whaler a good cleaning so we could take it out on
the lake later in the afternoon.
176_IMG_0091.JPG: Jim and Elliot kept the bow of the boat down.
177_IMG_5328.JPG: Just south of the cabin is a tall pine with an eagle
nest near the top. The chicks have grown and are probably out hunting
for themselves by this time.
178_IMG_5331.JPG: It was pretty chilly when we headed down the lake toward
the old Downing family enclave.
179_IMG_0093.JPG: Marcia and Patti
180_IMG_0094.JPG: Capt. John A. Downing
181_IMG_5332.JPG: John and Marcia's dog Elliot keeping an eye out for
whales and sharks.
182_IMG_5334.JPG: This is a small cabin on Stony Point where the Downing's
used to have a picnic cabin. It appears that the logs in this cabin were
taken from the old big cabin as do the windows.
183_IMG_5335.JPG: The chimney is all that remains of the original picnic
cabin on Stony Point.
184_IMG_5336x.JPG: The shoreline approaching the old Downing enclave.
185_IMG_5337x.JPG: The main cabin used to sit directly above the dock
where the grass is still green.
186_IMG_5338.JPG: Drawing away from the Downing enclave and heading to
Blue Water Lake.
187_IMG_5341.JPG: Marcia and Patti. These two women became like two peas
in a pod.
188_IMG_5344.JPG: The front was moving, albeit slowly, and the sky was
clearing.
189_IMG_5346x.JPG: The approach to the channel between Wabana and Blue
Water
190_IMG_5347.JPG: The old log bridge across the channel hasn't changed
much over the 70 plus years that I can remember it.
191_IMG_5351.JPG: Some of the shoreline colors in Blue Water
192_IMG_5352.JPG: Elliot keeping a keen eye for whales and sharks as we
return to the channel.
193_IMG_5359x.JPG: Some of the fall colors along the shoreline in Wabana.
194_IMG_5361x.JPG: A pair of loons floating on the blue Wabana water.
195_IMG_5369.JPG: Approaching the channel into Interlochen Lake
196_IMG_0099.JPG:
197_IMG_5370.JPG: Slowly slipping through the channel that is like glass.
198_IMG_0101.JPG:
199_IMG_0105.JPG: Sun, clouds, and mirror like water, little is prettier!
200_IMG_5383.JPG: A blue heron sweeping past our boat.
201_IMG_5388.JPG: Fall colors along the Interlochen shore.
202_IMG_0119.JPG: .
203_IMG_5390.JPG: Fall colors along shoreline in Trout Lake.
204_IMG_5393.JPG: We cruised past the old Joyce enclave but did not stop.
This is the main cabin in the complex.
205_IMG_5394.JPG: Back in Interlochen. This is a small lake and well
protected from the wind so the water is very smooth, mirror like.
206_IMG_5395.JPG: The low sun gave a pink tint to the surroundings.
207_IMG_5401x.JPG: Another sole loon in the setting sun.
208_IMG_5402.JPG: Pulling up to the dock at the big house.
209_IMG_5404.JPG: Watching the sunset between the pines in front of the
cabin.
210_IMG_5405.JPG: John firing up the grill on the front porch.
211_IMG_5408.JPG: Got it burning and ready.
212_IMG_5411.JPG: .
213_IMG_5412.JPG: Some of the golden birch and poplars in the hill behind
the cabin.
214_IMG_0123.JPG: Dinner featuring pork roast by John and fresh Minnesota
sweet corn!!!
215_IMG_0126.JPG:
216_IMG_5416x.JPG: Winter coated raccoons eating the bird food outside
the front door.
October 4, 2017, Day 9. This was our last morning at Wabana before having
to pack up and head south to St. Paul.
217_IMG_5419.JPG: One of Wabana's traditions.
218_IMG_5423.JPG: Patti decided she had to do a little wading in Lake
Wabana just for old times sake.
Video clip, MVI_5425: Patti wading in Lake Wabana. Click to watch
220_IMG_5428.JPG: Front of the cabin
221_IMG_5435.JPG: Patti and Marci taking the golf cart back to the barn
at Megler's.
Video clip, Golfcart: Golf carting. Click to watch
223_IMG_5442.JPG: One last look at Wabana Lake before we head south.
224_IMG_5444.JPG: There's an eagle
225_IMG_5457x.JPG: .
226_IMG_5446.JPG:
227_IMG_5448.JPG: Saying goodbyes
228_IMG_5451.JPG: .
229_IMG_0129.JPG: One last photo together, Ladies of the Lake.
230_IMG_5460.JPG: .
231_IMG_5461.JPG: .
232_IMG_5462.JPG: The fall colors are the best today with real sunlight
and blue skies.
233_IMG_5467.JPG: .
234_IMG_5470x.JPG: Last chance for these beautiful fall colors
235_IMG_5472.JPG: .
236_IMG_5475.JPG: .
237_IMG_0131.JPG: After we arrived in Minneapolis we walked over to the
Mall of American and found a nice restaurant for dinner. Ann decided to
order this cocktail and drank the whole thing. It wasn't certain that
she was going to be able to walk back to the hotel but she managed.
October 5, 2017, Day 10. We made it to the airport after working our way
through all the constructions. Patti and I flew back to Austin while Ann
flew to DC to join some Ballet Austin Guild friends who were up to see
the DC Ballet company perform. Patti and I arrive around 5PM. I stayed
with her while she got confirmed for her flight to Harlingen then headed
home to find a very happy Frost.