Letter 20: Minneapolis St Paul, North West Minnesota

Wednesday, August 18 we drove into St Paul and the Science Museum where we saw “Arabia” a movie in the Omnitheater. This was a very interesting about the history of Saudi Arabia and the photography was tremendous.

At noon we entered the special exhibit of thescrolls was the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century. Detail explanations of how they were discovered, where it was, and how they have been treated and ways they have explored them. Archaeologists have pieced together more than 100,000 scroll fragments into more than 900 documents, from Biblical manuscripts and commentary to religious legal writings that tell us about the world 2,000 years ago.

At the end of the exhibit were fragments of Genesis 48:1-11:
Six quotes from Leviticus;
Apocryphal Psalms-Songs to disperse demons;
Community Rule, known as the “Manual of Discipline,” and
Two quotes from the book of Enoch not included in the canon of the Hebrew Bible, including where Enoch is reported to “Walk with God.”
This exhibit was created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the National Treasures and we enjoyed it very much. We highly recommend both of these exhibits.

It was mid afternoon when we left the museum and we decided to stop at Brianno’s Italian Deli, recommended by our camp host, to pick up a pizza. Fred had been craving pizza for about two weeks so since we were in Italian country we gave in. This ended up being more than we expected. It is a one of a kind, like we like, and old world recipes. We waited while we watched the pizza being prepared with a very thin crust and lots of toppings. While it baked we shopped the deli wanting to take home many of their delicacies. Joe Gallo had sent us a list of things to see in his home town and Italian food was at the top of his list. We wished for him to show us the town and eat this pizza with us. They also had frozen ravioli and stuffed shells, but our freezer wouldn’t hold them.

While waiting they gave us a sample of their bread with oil & garlic/basil dressing. Yum. We bought some to share with other campers since they said it wouldn’t keep six weeks.

After eating the pizza we weren’t worth killing and took a good nap and went to bed early.

Thursday, August 19, we started our day at a CVS to fill Fred’s scripts. As usual we will have to wait until tomorrow to pick them up as they don’t carry the dosage he needs. Then we connected Miss Daisy to find the Mall of America. From there we caught their transit train to downtown and their Farmer’s Market. Now they know how to have afarmer’s market. All food and flowers and no other vendors. This went on for about 7 blocks on the sidewalk, one side of the street or the other. Lots and Lots of vegetables and even Some funny things. We think they said they were a melon and are used in soup. ????? Maybe someone in the reading audience can enlighten us.
Beautiful flowers were in nearly every booth and Olivia wished for a place to put some.

We bought little bitty Brussell sprouts and new potatoes, cucumbers, baby carrots, radishes, basil, blackberries, blueberries and tomatoes.

We were only one block from Joe’s favorite restaurant, Cafe Di Napoli, it even sounded good, but when we arrived we couldn’t find it. Asking at a bank they said it had gone out of business. So sorry Joe! We did try to eat there.

Riding the transit back to themall, we unloaded our bags and headed into the mall. As proclaimed it is the largest mall in America with 520 stores, 50 restaurants, and a four story theme park with 40 attractions. Fred visited one store then headed back to the car to listen to the radio. Olivia visited several stores and ran into an Indian Pow Wow in one of the rotundas. When she finished her little dab of shopping she cut across the amusement park and found an attraction to her liking. The Ghostly Gangplank ropes Adventure Course, following the tallest Sky Trail ropes course in the world. Challenging guests to climb 56 feet above the Nickelodeon Universe. Oh, to be young again! It looked like so much fun to climb all the way to the top of the fourth floor and the gangplank!

When Olivia arrived back at the car it was about 3:30 and time to head to the trailer, but oops! The car wouldn’t start. Fred had been listening to the radio and the battery was dead. We called the road service and finally persuaded the lady where we were and she dispatched help to arrive within an hour. We raised our hood and sat there. In about 30 minutes a young woman passed on the street in front of us offered to give us a jump. She made a U turn in the middle of this narrow road, which caused an irate driver behind to give her a few choice words, which she didn’t hesitate to give back! WOW! She pulled in beside us, connected the wires and success! Then she went on her way and we canceled the road service call! Quite an experience!

Back at the trailer we had a wonderful supper. Sliced tomatoes with mozzarella and basil, avocados, onions, cucumbers, radishes, the bread with Italian garlic topping and for desert a fruit salad of peaches, blueberries, and blackberries with cool whip.
Minneapolis/St Paul were both very impressive. There was an air of prosperity and accomplishment. We had great visit here.

Friday, August 20 we waited until 10:00 am for CVS to pick up Fred’s prescriptions then departed toward Brainerd. We managed to get through all the freeways in Minneapolis and headed north on I 94 toward St Croix. When the road and traffic became unbearable, we took 101/169 to Lake Mille Lacs.

The highway skirted the lake and at Garrison we stopped in their wayside park for a pit stop where Fred pulled out his rod and reel to land this big Walleye. We really wished for Bob Bailey to have helped Fred. Actually we discovered this was Paul Bunyan territory and as a legend has it this Walleye was caught by Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. After a three day struggle Paul finally wrapped his line around Babes horns and Babe pulled the fish out of Lake Mille Lacs and up onto Garrison Beach.

When we arrived at the Gull Lake Corps of Engineer park north of Brainerd there was no room at the inn since it was late Friday. But the host couple were so nice. He rode the loops discovering a no show in the reserved spots. We could have it until Tuesday. Thank you God! We were tired and needed a spot.

This lake is a natural lake then the Corps built a little dam and raised the level 5’. This lake water was used for navigation in the Mississippi River below the Twin Cities, now is utilized for flood control, recreation and wildlife.

Saturday, August 21 after sleeping late we decided to go explore Brainerd and Baxter, seeing more of the bigger than life folk heroesPaul and Babe, who embodies frontier vitality. He is a symbol of might, the willingness to work hard and the resolve to overcome all obstacles. He was popularized by newspapermen across the country in 1910 and has been a part of the American culture ever since, even at the bowling lane.

Sunday, August 22 we attended the Park UMC in Brainerd and enjoyed a good sermon on God doesn’t care who you are, if you believe you are his. He even wore Red High Heels to prove his point, as the first female ordained in the Methodist Church wore red heels to her graduation and started a tradition. They had a beautiful quilt Methodist logo on the wall and had added a
fabric flame to their cross.

After a quick change we drove a long way to the headwaters of the Mississippi. It was longer than we anticipated, but worth the drive. They had a nice open air information center which we enjoyed then we walked about 600’ to Lake Itasca and where it emptied into a little stream. Olivia just had to
walk across the rocks, but Fred took a safer route. When Olivia looked at that picture she exclaimed, “What’s Mother doing on those rocks!” especially with her windblown hair. Ack!

Did you know the Mississippi River watershed includes 31 states and two Canadian provinces. The river touches 10 states. Can you name them?
The source of the Mississippi was recorded in 1832 when Ojibwe chief Ozawindib guided an expedition hunting for the source to Lake Itasca.

Monday, August 23, was a maintenance day for the Suburban. Time for an oil change and see about the AC vents. Sometimes it blows hot on Fred and that isn’t nice.

We take off on Tuesday for North Dakota and the Lewis & Clark and Mandan territory.

We want to hear your news, comments or just to chat so email us at
Olivia@bobheck.com or fredharrington@yahoo.com
Thank you,