Thursday, April 23, 2009 Charles Lindbergh State Park

This was a short trip. Owing to the "Closed for the Season" sign on the outhouses with a request for those in need to "use pit toilets". Good plan, except the pit toilets also bore signs. "Closed for maintanence" and padlocked shut. I was forced to continue my trip home from the Cold Spring CBHH. It was warm, very warm. Around 75+ degrees. Overtime shifts that weekend made this the only State Park visit for the week.

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Lured by the 77 degree weather, we went to Crow Wing (again?) a couple days early. With the park to ourselves, we enjoyed a picnic lunch (cooked at home due to the fire bans and dry conditions). Our most ambitious walk of the year ensued, going almost 2 miles. Wildlife count continues! Spring Peepers, Blue Jays, a few other various unrecognized bird songs and one Red Squirrel! (Which translates to Swedish as "Oak Animal") It wasn't until we were driving out of the park that a true harbinger of spring was spotted, a huge 5th wheel being towed by a pick-up truck. There are still unexplored trails which we'll save for next time...and the next...but this might've been the last time we'll have the whole park to ourselves.

Sunday, April 12th Crow Wing State Park

Crow Wing State Park had it's third visit this spring. About 90% of the snow is gone with just some patches left on the wooded trails. The temps are low 60's today with hazy overcast. We (Hans and I. Rod is in Michigan) heard one Loon, some Canada geese and saw two Eagles. We also heard 3 unknown bird songs. (Of note, on the way home we spotted the Osprey on his/her nest on Wise road, having returned sometime between last night and this afternoon.)

Hans and I walked the trails north from the parking lot to where the old Crow Wing Village used to sit. You can see by the photo how high the river is. As usual, I never gave the park or it's history much thought over the years, even though I've lived so close by. That's one (One!) nice thing about getting older is a sense of appreciation for the natural beauty of things, the efforts of others, and a sense of respect for what has come before. There is a long and rich history to this park as well as huge restoration efforts. This area was almost *the* river city in these parts, except for the fickle placement of the NP Railroad bridge 10 miles north, in Brainerd. Prior to the village, the confluence of rivers (Crow Wing and Mississippi) made it a good crossing for the Red River Oxen Carts. Ojibwa and Sioux before them inhabited this natural meeting ground for eons before that until they were eventually relocated to the White Earth Reservation in 1868. It will be fun to reacquaint with this park and it's history as the summer passes!

Sunday, April 5th (My Birthday)

We cheated and went to IKEA State Park.