More pictures - Logging Camp Museum and Duluth

Inside Lincoln Funeral Car

Outside of Lincoln Funeral Car 

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Engineer Jack

Jack and Jean by diesel engine

Demo of putting ice shoes on a horse - Logging Camp

Kissing under the antlers

Tradition of kissing under antlers

Lumberman Jack

Jack and Jean by the horses

Friday, July 22 - Duluth

Friday we packed a lunch to take on our 12:30 train ride.   We had been told that there would be drinks and snacks available, but we didn't want to chance it.    We boarded the train at 12:00 and at 12:30 the train ride began.   The ride was relaxing and we enjoyed the scenery and the visiting with other members of the car.

Saturday we went into Cloquet expecting to have breakfast at McD's.    However the whole town of Cloquet ws without power !    We hitched up at 11 a.m. and headed for Chippewa Falls, WI.  We arrived in Chippewa Falls O'Neil Campground at 3:30 p.m.   The campground was full and they were celebrating Christmas in July, so the campground and many of the trailers were decorated for the season.   That evening we were treated to Christmas Carols as the Christmas train drove through the campground.  

After breakfast on Sunday we headed to Colfax, WI to see their train museum.    It was the most interesting tour of a train museum we've had.   The guide was extremely knowledgeable about all things Railroad.   The museum housed railroad keys, all 5 types of lanterns, and an extensive collection of railroad place settings.   We spent about 3 hours visiting with him and learned a lot of info regarding lanterns, etc.

Definitely a must see if you're ever in the area!

Cloquet/Duluth, MN July 19-22,2016

On July 19 we left Minneapolis and drove to Cloquet, MN where we camped at the KOA.   The next morning we drove into Duluth to the beautiful Duluth train depot to see the rolling stock housed on the lower level of the depot.   We were impressed with the variety of cars.   I especially enjoyed the mail car and the video showing the sorting of mail while traveling.   A special exhibition of the replica of the Lincoln Funeral Car was also available, and very well done.  

The depot also offers rides on the trains.   An all day trip to Two Harbors and back, and several shorter runs of about an hour duration.  We bought tickets for the 12:30 run on Friday.

Our sleep was disturbed about 3:15 Thursday morning with a steady rumble, constant lightning, very strong winds and at one point we thought we might have a tornado.    Heard later that Duluth had 90 mph winds.   The campground was plunged into darkness, and when we awoke in the morning, we could hear the hum of generators on the big coaches and some trailers that had hooked up their generators.   We drove into Cloquet to have breakfast, but I think most of the county was at McDonalds and at Perkins.   We bought muffins at Perkins and went back to camp to eat, and then drove into Duluth.  The city looked much like Raleigh after Hurricane Fran.   Huge trees littered lawns and the sound of chain saws filled the air.   Most of the city was quiet, and the stoplights on main streets and highways were not working.   It was a game of CHICKEN at it's best.   We drove to Tom's Logging Camp Museum about 15 miles from Duluth and they were also without power.   We were able to tour the camp, as it was an outdoor venue.   The gift shop was another story.    To shop the store you had to use a flashlight!

While we were in Minnesota........

Green Machines waiting for the tractor parade 7/4/16 Worthington, MN

Rod Burkard on his Case tractor

Burkards competing in Tractor Pull 7/4/16A

The tractor pull 

Jean and Sr. Dominic at Minneopa Falls, Mankato, MN

Looking over the falls

Lower Minneopa Falls

Upper Minneopa Falls

End-O-Line Railroad Museum - Currie, MN

During our stay in Worthington, MN we visited Currie, MN and the End-O-Line Railroad Museum.   We had been here many years earlier, but made a return trip, as we had heard that more items had been added.

We especially enjoyed the manual turntable, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, but felt sorry for the two young ladies that had to push it around.   Can't imagine what it would have been like with train engines on it.   The park has two engines:  the Georgia Northern #102 and a Baldwin Steam locomotive built in 1876.   Since our last visit the park has added a school, a replica of the Murray County's first courthouse established in 1872,  a Presbyterian church, and the Original Archibald Currie General Store.   The Visitor's center/gift shop is the original Currie depot.

Pushing the manual turntable

By the entrance to the park/museum

Riding on the turntable

Jack on Crane Car

The Agricultural Heritage Museum at SD State University

July 3 we left Iroquois, SD and on our way to MN we stopped at the Agricultural Heritage Museum in Brookings.   It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of objects that relate to South Dakota's agricultural history and rural heritage.  The special exhibit right now is about sheep raising in the 30's and 40's.   There is also a Farm Power gallery which features animal, human,steam, wind and internal combustion power.   A fully restored 1915 Case Steam Traction engine is the exhibit's centerpiece.  We left Brookings at 5 p.m.  And headed for nephew Rod's farm in Reading, MN where we camped for the night.   An added bonus was visiting with the family and attending a campfire until 11 p.m.    July 4 we drove into Worthington to the Pioneer Village to celebrate the holiday.   There was a tractor parade, the Village was open for touring, and in the afternoon Rod and his son Rodney were in a tractor pull.  

July 5 - 16 we visited with my sister, Sister Dominic at the Good Counsel motherhouse in Mankato, MN.   Enjoyed visiting with friends Art and Char Schuch, enjoyed the Amboy Cottge Cafe and my nieces and nephew in New Prague.   Especially enjoyed marathon games of GOLF with the Krebs Sisters and wonderful meals with the Sojourner Congregation.   A really good visit with my sister!

July 16 we left Mankato and traveled to Minneapolis.  Sunday we visited the Model Train Museum and Jack and I enjoyed the layouts and the advice we got from the men who were working on their layouts.   They also advised us to go to Duluth to see the train museum and depot there.   From the model train museum we moved to the MN  Transportation Museum at the Jackson Street Roundhouse.

Monday was my day --- a trip to the Mall of America for some serious shopping and lunch at the Johnny Rocket Cafe.   FUN!!!!  

June 18-July 16, 2016

From Colfax, IA we drove cross country to Waterloo, where we camped in a relatively new KOA.   The trees haven't grown enough to offer shade, so we were glad it wasn't too hot.  On Saturday 6/18 we had reservations for a tour at the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum.   Spent two hours with our guide learning about the various tractors and some background on earlier tractors built by other people.   We then ate lunch and at the suggestion of our guide, visited the Sullivan's Iowa Veterans Museum which is part of the Grout Museum.   The Sullivan's were five brothers who were all killed in WWII on the same ship.   It is the reason brothers may not serve together on the same ship.   It was an interesting museum, and I was interested in the newspaper clippings and the courage of the mother of the Sullivan boys.   She was truly strong.

Our schedule the rest of the time was as follows:
June 19/20 we visited our friend Helen in Fairmont, MN and enjoyed revisiting our favorite spots in Fairmont.

June 21-26 we were in Worthington, MN and camped at Olson Park, right on the shore of Lake Okebena.   Enjoyed visiting with Burkard relatives.  On Sunday, June 26, we attended the transition of the Saint Kilian Church from an active parish to an Oratory church, which means that it will only hold services on special occasions, such as weddings and funerals.   The Bishop of Winona Diocese was the celebrant of the Mass, and that was followed by free steak sandwiches and a band.   We especially enjoyed seeing the photos displayed in the school.   The celebration was still going on when we left at 6!  

June 27 we camped in Sioux Falls and visited with Jack's nephew Mike Burkard and his wife Connie.   Then on the 28th headed NE to Iroquois, SD to visit with his niece Barb and her husband Rollie.  While we were there we were excited to learn that on July 1 their son and his wife had a baby named Brie Anastasia.  

Pictures - Pella, IA

Jaarsma Dutch Bakery

Me, after eating a Dutch Letter

Dutch Miniature Village

More Dutch Village

In Front of a sod home

Wooden Shoes

Vermeer Mill Windmill

Enjoying our sandwich in the Park

By the canal in the Plaza

Long view of the canal 

Pella, Iowa

While we were at Trainland, we were asked if we had ever visited Pella, Iowa.   When we said no, it was suggested we should take a side trip - only 25 miles- to see Pella.   He also suggested that no trip would be complete without a "Dutch Letter".   Since we had seen Trainland and met our objective, we took him up on his suggestion and drove over.

Our first stop was the Visitor's Center where we obtained a map and suggestions on what we should be sure to see.   Again we were told to have a "Dutch Letter".    Found the Jaarsma Dutch Bakery and went inside.....we were blown away by the amount and variety of bakery goods available!   The store was two store fronts wide, and contained an amazing variety of Danish, other rolls, cakes, coffee cakes, and cookies.   We asked about a "Dutch Letter" and we were shown a large "S" made with a sweet dough and inside was almond paste.   YUM!!   We bought two, split one and saved the other for the next day.  

We toured the 1854 Vermeer Mill windmill next.   The town contracted with Dutch windmill builders to build it according to 1854 blueprints in the 70's.   It was built in the Netherlands and shipped to Pella in pieces and erected on a 40 ft. base so it would catch the breeze, as it was meant to be a working mill, grinding wheat into flour which was sold to the bakeries and bagged for sale in the Gift Shop.    From there we went to the 2nd floor of the Vermeer Mill Windmill Center where we enjoyed the miniature village.   It was created over the years and is a unique charming display depicting the era of Pella's ancestors who as a colony of 800 strong, left Holland for a new start in America in 1847.  The village was started in 1938 as a WPA project.   In 1978 it was restored and in 2001 additional buildings, landscaping and costumed dolls were added.  

Attached to the Mill Visitor's Center/Gift shop was a historic village which included tradesmen making wooden shoes, a replica of the original church, and the childhood home of Wyatt Earp and his family.  

For Flower lovers, Pella is known for it's Tulip Time in early May every year when the town plants thousands of tulips.  

Every Thursday evening the town has food and fun in the park square.   We stayed and enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and home-made coffee ice cream.   We then left for Altoona and our campsite.