A plate of fog and a side of flashers

During our walk-a-bout in Huron we saw some interesting things, including a lazy cat.

We came across some type of revival and sat and listened to music for a bit.  They were a family affair and quite talented.

We’d spent a great night in Huron, and spent a good deal of time walking around. 

This old railroad building held some charm even with broken stone and windows.

Best of all we saw during the walk was this colorful engine. 

Somehow I captured a pretty good photo of this dandelion cotton.

On Friday, July 3, we were up and ready to go.  But there was lot of heavy fog.  We rode for more than 50 miles in pea soup.  I had my flashers going, hoping they’d alert traffic behind us that we were there.  It’s always a bit eerie not knowing what’s behind or ahead, and just hoping you stay safe.

While riding in the fog, there was a pond off to the side and I could see a flock of big birds, white ones.  They were pelicans, flapping their wings, swimming.  It was cool to see, but there was no way to stop along the road to take a photo.  That would have been taking our lives in our hands.  The memory will have to do.

We stopped for gas in this little town and I'd seen this on a side street.  How often do you see a pink elephant?

Dawson, Minnesota.  There are little gnomes at a park so we needed photos.

Turns out the gnomes are a Roadside America attraction and we'd found them quite by accident on Hwy. 212.

Dawson's claim to fame are the gnomes that are 3-feet tall and located around town.  The largest population of them appears to be at this park and at the local library.

The gnomes are hand-carved by a local artist and celebrate an outstanding person of the community

Eventually, we had to hit the big road and get ourselves into the Twin Cities.  Considering it was a Friday, and a holiday weekend, traffic moved quite well and with good manners.  We got downtown where Macalister College was as we were staying in a dorm apartment there. 

What a shock that was.  It was a two-bedroom apartment, with a living room and kitchen, and two bathrooms and over looked the street below.  The place was bigger than my old house on Blackberry.  We rattled around in there, laughing about how we could have put another four or five people in there easily.  It was very convenient for us with a wonderful restaurant across the street, and a tea garden that we had to try.  I had a lavender latte with bubbles.  They add these little gelatin-like things that get soft and chewy, kind of like gummy animals.  It was fun to be where some of the action was and to be able to watch it. 

A walk always finds something to photograph.

We wandered over to where the Garrison Keillor radio show would be and found some toe-tapping sound checking happening.  Was fun to watch.

There are some beautiful buildings on campus.

There were squirrels everywhere.

There are  so many different kinds of flowering plants I've never seen. 

This place had dead ivy vines in a fascinating pattern.

Bridges are always a draw.

We walked around down by the river, and went down the deer trails to get to Shadow Falls.  There’s a sign about the falls at the top, but the only way down is using deer trails.  That seemed a bit strange.  There are squirrels everywhere … brown ones, grey ones.  There are even some little bunnies, and we only saw small ones.  They’re sure cute, though.  We had a great walk, and enjoyed seeing neighborhoods with gorgeous old trees and beautiful old homes. 

Shadow Falls via deer trail.

Saturday, July 4, Independence Day … and our day was spent walking, and then going to the Great Lawn of Macalister College.  We took a blanket from the apartment and some water.  After stepping about on the lawn we found a great spot very close to the front … and down the blanket went onto the ground.  It was a little after 2:30 and the show, Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, would air live on radio at 5 p.m. 

People waited either by napping or visiting.

There were a lot of hats in the crowd to help ward off the sun.

I'd have thought I'd see this more in the north as it looked pretty warm.  Maybe not.

At about 4 p.m., the lawn was pretty full.  Some of the band had started to play and there was an electricity in the air, excitement because this was the 41^st Prairie Home Companion Anniversary, or the second annual 40^th anniversary show as some said.  The very first broadcast of this show was from this same place, 41 years ago.  How cool was this? 

More music, and Garrison Keillor was out and about signing autographs, having his picture taken with his fans.  Then he was up on stage, and telling some stories, singing some songs, watching the time carefully as a radio broadcast must happen at exactly the right moment. 

Just meeting with his fans, and waiting for the big event.

We were treated to the Macalester College Pipe Band that is made up of students, faculty, alumni and community members.  It was founded in 1949 and is Minnesota's premier bagpipe and drum organization.  It was awesome!!!

And then, we were on.  Our job was very important, to provide adulation, the clapping of hands, the loud sounds of joy, performing as a backdrop to Keillor and his crew’s skits, songs and musings.  What a great time, and it was a two-hour show. 

Joe Newberry played one mean banjo, and he and Garrison didn't sing too bad together either.

Fred Newman performed sound effects with things as simple as crinkling paper.

Finally, after all that time baking in the sun, and I’m glad it was not full-on all the time and there was some cloud cover, it was over.  Somehow or other I was able to get my knees unstiffened enough so that I didn’t have to roll over and struggle like a turtle on its back, and I worked my way back up onto my feet.  Sitting like that is a rough job, and one I’m not used to as I’m used to a cushier seat on the motorcycle.  We gathered up our drink containers and blanket and joined the others walking off to their vehicles and back to homes and hotels.  We only had to walk a block to be back to our humble abode for one more night.  It was great staying on the campus and being able to just walk to where we needed to be. 

We were now in position to head to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and the Women on Wheels Motorcycle Ride In.