apple juice

Back for the second year in a row, I was able to join up with some work friends for a one-night camp-out in a not-too-close, and not-too-far-away campsite.

We went to Krueger Campground near Wabasha. It’s a fun area of the state that doesn’t look like what you might think of when you think of Minnesota. The campsite was tucked into a river bluff overlooking a large valley. Feeling very thankful for the extra day off this week, we had the whole place to ourselves.

The weekends during school get so packed with events and activities, I need to remember to reserve some nights for quick get-aways.

We continued the program set down last year of whipping up some true camping gourmet meals. Starting with some chips and cowboy caviar, we moved on to a fruit course (pineapple) before some impossible-sliders with secret burger sauce. Then a seafood course of salmon and potatoes, before a noodle and pork-belly dish.

I was stuffed to the brim, but the dessert was an elevated s’mores with stroopwaffles standing in for graham crackers. Delish.

After a hearty breakfast of chilaquiles, I didn’t want to head back to civilization. However, the beauty of the one-night get-away is that it’s a quick pack and drive back home. Before long, I set my direction north, hit play on a podcast and followed the river back home.

This article is so timely because I walked to and from work today (about 3.5 miles each way, and made a stop at the bookstore on the way home)

Everyone at work was like… “You WALKED?!? Are you insane? How far is that!?”

Too Many of Us Are Missing the Benefits of a Good, Long Walk

In general, Americans are far behind most of the world when it comes to everyday walking habits, and Minnesota is in the middle of the pack nationally when it comes to walking rates. Even in parts of the city with nice sidewalks, close destinations and good weather, most people don’t walk much unless they’ve got a dog with them. For Twin Cities folks, any unnecessary walking, like being forced to park a block from a restaurant, is seen as a travesty.

Happy to say I’m well over 15,000 steps today 🙂

We were in Park Rapids this weekend for a family event and took a side trip Sunday for a scenic bike ride from the Itasca State Park Visitors Center to the headwaters of the Mississippi river.

The route winds through the mature forest in the park. The colors of fall were everywhere. The leaves were just about at the peak of color, as far as I could tell. The weather cooperated nicely, providing some cool weather, a light breeze, the sun popping out here and there, and a quick shower to top it all off.

There were actually surprisingly few people at the actual headwaters, so we were able to snap some photos of the kids crossing the mouth of the river.

Honestly, to stand there and think of the mighty Mississippi starting from this six-inch deep river was quite a moving experience. The drive back to Minneapolis crosses and parallels the river multiple times, and it’s no more than 60 miles away and the river has widened many times its original size.

We biked back to the Douglas lodge and enjoyed lunch on the last day of the season. The walleye sandwich was a ridiculously large filet – highly recommended!

All in all, quite fun to visit another one of Minnesota’s state parks. I recommend the trip to anyone if you haven’t been there yet!