Trip to Bemidji and Black Duck

The folks here in Minnesota seem to like their larger than life statues especially ones of Paul Bunyon.

Pat is sitting on the boot of the Paul Bunyon statue in Akeley Minnesota which has a cute little rest area adjacent. Across Highway 34 is Paul's Purple Cow Ice Cream Parlor, and it didn't seem to matter that Babe wasn't a purple cow but was a blue ox. Next to the Purple Cow is Babe's Cut and Curl. You have to appreciate the humor of the Minnesota people. UhYep!

 This statue of Paul and his blue ox Babe is in Bemidji Minnesota which may be the small city with the most statues.

 This is a very large statue in Bemidji of a dancing brave. The area around Bemidji has a large Ojibwa  population and not far from Tamarac is the White Earth Ojibwa reservation. The Ojibwa won this territory by defeating the Sioux and then, like many other Indian Tribes were screwed out of their land by European settlers. When Ralph Nader ran for president in 1996 and 2000, his VP candidate was  Winona LaDuke. She founded the White Earth Reservation, still lives here and leads the fight to reclaim the Ojibwa lands unfairly seized by the US in violation of their treaties.

This statue is also in Bemidji

Hockey statue in Bemidji

While Pat was doing some shopping, I noticed this woman talking on her cell phone

next to one of Bemidji's more interesting pieces of art work. Wish the lighting had been better

but it is still a pretty interesting photo.

In a little town named Black Duck we attended a woodcarver and craft show. Many of the carvings were just outstanding and had a great deal of detail.

Notice the very life like carving of the woman in the background.

This was carved from one tree trunk.

While in Sault Ste Marie (Soo) we went to a maritime museum which was a pretty neat place. A history of water travel on the Great Lakes began with a dug-out boat which reminded me of the old Louisiana pirogues.

 The progression to the Indian birch bark canoe was a bit intriguing and we wondered just how authentic this replica was. Note the fish traps and gig attached to the boat.

I have been toying with the idea of building a stitch and glue kayak and after seeing this one might just attempt it.

In the maritime center, they had a replica of a sailing ship going through a storm replete with flashing lightning, rocking boat and the sound of crashing waves. Probably a big hit with the kids.
Patty took a watch at the helm.

My kayak

Here's Pat in our own skin on frame kayak. Being able to put our boats in the water at camp- grounds sure beat the boredom of travel. Plus we got a bit of exercise which we sorely need.

Minnesota Trip

We left home in June and headed for Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge near Detroit Lakes Minnesota. Pat and I stopped in Ohio to visit Pat's sister, and then went to Decatur Indiana to visit with some of Pat's family and friends that we think of as family.  From there we traveled up through the UP of Michigan and came across two neat old lighthouses.

Continuing North we arrived at Sault Ste Marie Michigan which is at the border of Canada and the US. Sault Ste Marie is the home of the famous Sault Ste Marie Locks where large ships transit from Lake Superior to Lake Huron and vice versa.

There was also a really interesting hydro-electric power plant between the campground and the locks.

 This old house with the widows walk on top probably belonged to a ships captain.

Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival

In early August, we headed up to Bemidji to watch the dragon boat races which were a real hoot. This very colorful event had large canoe type boats with 22 paddlers, oarsman/steerer and a coxswain. Not sure that the person beating on a drum and calling the strokes is correctly called a coxswain in a dragon boat but it sounds good.

They had  eight boats and raced four at a time. While the four were racing, they loaded the other four. As you can see, the crews were made up young to old male and female.

 The coxswains beat on the drums, some shouted and others waved their arms in a rhythmical fashion.

 Note the middle coxswain with the orange gloves and the one in the foreground with one hand for herself and one for the boat. It just dawned on me that all of the coxswains were female. Wonder why?

 As you can see the competition was fierce.

 They did seem to be having fun, however!

 No pain. No glory. So these folks apparently are in line for much glory.

 Check out the determination on these faces. The coxswain is urging every bit of intestinal fortitude she can get from her rowers.

 She's happy because they won their race.

 The old folks give their all.

 The merchants of Bemidji turned the downtown area into a giant rummage sale and this clerk went all out with blue hair.

 Some ladies put on a demonstration of gypsy dancing at the historical museum and seemed to have a grand time. It was interesting to watch.

 It isn't only the athletes that have courage.

Arches National Park

Those who know me well have probably been wondering why there hasn't been a rant yet. Here goes! Having volunteered at a number of public lands locations and having seen what unthinking people can do to the land and wildlife makes us a little sensitive to wanton stupidity. Though trails were clearly marked (several languages) asking people to stay on the trails and not trample the vegetation, we saw a number of people not just get off the trails but stomp through vegetation they could have walked around. French speaking Canadians were the worst and Germans were the most obnoxious. I'll never talk about rude American tourists again. We don't even finish close to the top. Please folks!!! When on public lands, follow the rules. The rules are there to protect the habitat and the animals, and not to make it hard for you. Nuff said!

Okay, I'm using the word "awesome" way to much. Arches is just absolutely mind blowing.
I'll keep the verbage to a minimum and just post a few comments here and there so ya'll will understand what is happening.

Looks like some kid piled up a bunch of rocks.

Then there was the giant balancing act.

We couldn't help making up names for features that reminded us of things from the past. Mr. Magoo.

Then there were plants growing in improbable places.

Rock canyons leading to magical places. No hyperbole here!

Pat on the path to a very special arch.

The deeper we went, the cooler it got and the more magical it felt.

Deeper and deeper into the canyon surrounded by rock walls and embraced by the colors.

Murals painted by wind and water.

Turning to the right, we found it. WOW!

Adding to the magic, we looked up and there was the moon. Totally neat!

I decided to peer into a rock opening since there had to be some little people hidden there.

Coming out we saw this knarled old tree.

Another arch which was a short distance from Sand Arch.

Worth the walk.

Chipmunks which were a bit different from the ones at home.

Actually two arches side by side. You can only see through from another angle.

View of the left arch.

The intrepid travelers.

After leaving Arches, we went along the Colorado River Riverway. Neat but repetitious of Canyonlands.