We did check out one of those themed restaurants

We are in Baraboo WI.  It is probably best know for its close proximity to Wisconsin Dells, a huge vacation spot that is sort of an Ocean City boardwalk with a midwest flavor riddled with silly themed restaurants, Ducks, and lots of water parks (inside up here).  But we are here for the cranes.

The International Crane Foundation is a widely recognized center for research and protection of endangered crane species worldwide. They have specimens of all 15 species of cranes from around the globe; including our personal favorite, the Whooping Crane of North America.  We got to see them dancing.

They operate a captive breeding program that is critical in maintaining a genetic pool for the most endangered species. Their most news catching activity has been as a key participant in the start and continuing growth of the Wisconsin-Florida whooping crane flock (the ones that learned to migrate behind an ultra light aircraft).  They also provide chicks to supplement the Louisiana non-migrating flock.  We met a whooping crane pair as well as many other beautiful and some sort of bizarre looking long legged birds.

We are reminded that species in danger most often get in that shape because of man and man’s impact on those species’ habitats. We have a lot of work to do on that front.

The nearby town of Princeton holds a fun crane festival.  We checked it out Saturday when they filled their school with all things crane plus all sorts of seasonal arts and crafts that were sold to raise money for a number of conservation groups.  It was a fun stop.

I picked up a bottle of Cannon River Gunflint Red. It came highly recommended at the liquor store….I will let you know.

Capital Inside

The Minnesota Capital Building and St. Paul’s Cathedral; what magnificent architecture.  Each has its own specific message yet both seek the same overall goal; to create a powerful visual to their followers (citizens/parishioners) and the broader US/world audience.  Whether you delve into the intents or goals of designers, architects, builders or even organizations that contracted these works, it is impossible not to be impressed by the sheer scale and attention to minute detail in these buildings.  Take the guided tour of the Capital if you can.  It gives some great background and points out fun facts and details.

From initial construction of the capital building in 1905, over the main entrance at the base of the dome has stood a gilded, four horse chariot driven by a bare-chested fellow and guided by two robed women. There is a Minnesota-ized description and interpretation and it is officially called Progress of the State but I can’t help but think this was for the WOW factor.  Anybody else’s capital building got one of these.

St Pauls Cathedral

St Pauls Interior

Minnesota has made a conscious effort to grow and promote an interest in and support for the arts.  We check out the biggest public venue, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.  Abstract pieces carrying weighty social messages sit beside whimsical pieces to be taken at face value as purely joyful or to provoke a deeper symbolic message.  Check out this cobalt blue rooster and the spoon bridge with cherry fountain.  I take the light interpretation, these are just Fun.

This stretch of the mighty Mississippi is trapped between towering rock bluffs and is home to the only waterfalls on the entire length of the river, St Anthony Falls.  For centuries the magnificent falls were a sacred place for First Nations peoples and a landmark for fur traders then loggers who followed them.  It wasn’t long before enterprising industrialists recognized the value of this fall.  They grabbed up water rights and began harnessing that power first for sawmills and later huge flour mills. Minneapolis has lots of nick names but one most obvious as we walk through is “Mill City”.  The river banks are littered with mill and canal ruins and riverfront streets are lined with warehouses, many now converted to lofts or condos with a smattering of cafes and taverns with industrial-chic decor.   Huge billboards identifying Pillsbury and Gold Medal still dot the skyline.  Canal ways and turbine channels criss-cross beneath Mill Ruins Park where the historical society has worked to stabilize ruins and tell the story of the industry that built this city.  It is worth a visit.  Take a walk across the Stone Arch Bridge.  It is a nice stroll.

Ok, we are not really fans of shopping but who can come to Minneapolis and not stop at the Mall of America?  We spend most of the day wandering about and probably still don’t see everything.  The Lego store is pretty cool.  An $800 Millennium Falcon anyone?  One could try on clothes until their skin chaffed and shoes until they wore holes in their socks.  There is food of every type from popcorn to sushi.  Roller coasters and all manner of swinging and spinning rides fill the middle courtyard.  There is even a water flume ride.  It is a mall on steroids.  We sample the Cinnabon and lunch at Bubba Gumps.  Our feet give out.  MOA, oh yeah, we have been there!

The best!

I got to ride The Mighty 28, a steam tractor.  Standing on the hitch I can feel the rumble radiating up through my feet as steel wheels work against hard earth.  Heat rolls off the boiler just at arms reach.  The steam whistle calls out and the sound is accompanied by a fine mist against my face.  Ash drifts down and soot black coal dust lies in every nook and cranny.  What an amazing machine.

The Edin family owns this tractor and they brought it out into the campground for everyone to get a closer look. Thank you.  I hope that the Reunion organizers know just how wonderful ambassadors these folks are for all that is the Steam Thrashers Reunion.

We had watched the Mighty 28 at the Prony Brake testing its maximum horsepower. They recorded 132 hp on a machine rated for 110.  Not bad for a 100+ years old!

The sandbox.

From our high spot we look out across a rolling open field. Columns of steam and coal smoke rise from four steam shovels busy scooping, swiveling and dumping dirt from one pile to another.  They look like dragons building their nests and even seem to talk when the dump gates squeak as they swing on their hinges.  A bulldozer passes in front of us pulling an earth mover.  What they claim is the largest Dozer in the world, a Euclid TC-12 used on the Panama Canal, takes enormous bites of earth with every pass as he digs a huge pit  When he gets done digging he will fill it back in.  Aptly named the sandbox, this is the place where we get to see this great old equipment work like it did in years gone by.  The operators certainly seem to be enjoying the demonstrations; maybe even more than the spectators.

Spark show

Marion Steam Shovel

Superheated sawdust belched into the night sky from the belly of a steam engine under load, that’s what gives us a spark show. Steam shovels in the sandbox put on the first show.  They actually spin the entire shovel assembly to provide the work load.  That creates some weird shadows in addition to the spark shower.

Night 2 The Mighty 28 steam tractor on the Prony brake puts on a spectacular show.  With a toot, toot, signaling ready to load the engine; a belt begins to move and

The Mighty 28

the brake to apply load. Sparks spew 100 ft in the air.  There are miniature versions of these behemoth steam tractors here at the show.  One of them puts on a scaled version of the spark show too.