Posts
For those that have been following this page and the Journey, I am
sad to announce that my dog, Mischa, has died of Kidney Failure. I put
her down at the vets this afternoon around 4 pm.
Here is what I posted on Saturday:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/rik-converse/my-dog-mischa-has-kidney-failure/10151048257668165
Friday, October 3, 2014
iToons Tarot 06-19-12
Getting back (slowly) to writing. The Journey.
This is just writing to write. Not specifically part of "Cohalen's Journey" but a step towards continuation and completion.
iToons Tarot
06/19/12
Methodology - Random selection from my iTunes to determine the selection of the "Tarot".
What does each song reveal and how do they connect (if at all) to each other?
1) Big Brother and the Holding Company - Summertime
The slow sultry guitar; the intro builds - organically…and then – Janis -
Belting it out with a soul to raise up Big Mamma Thornton for the masses.
“One of these mornings, you’re gonna rise up singing”. Resurrection.
2) Leon Russell – Roll Away the Stone
Sacrilege? And on the third day, first side, fourth cut – Leon Rocks it out with his – shout out!
Raucous. Pounding. That slinky Guitar (Marc Benno?)
"Roll away the stone (Jesus, Really?) Don’t leave me here all alone.
Resurrect me, and protect me. Don’t leave me layin’ here
What will they do in 2000 years?"
NWJWD, I’m guessing.
3) Jude Cole – Compared to Nothing
Soulful. Haunting. Lonely. Piano like Sunday morning church.
A lost soul with questions. Universal questions with no answers. As they were meant to be.
“Problems that appeared so tall, turn out to be so small – compared to nothing….at all."
Oblivion. Nirvana.
4) Martin Mull - Jesus is Easy
“I tried a poodle, a collie, Kooklah, Fran and Ollie.
But Mary in a Manger got me satisfied”
Martin Mull’s irreverent comedy talks to the proliferation of every kind of religious – Self-Help – new age sects that are so omni-present in our land.
“Oh, I tell ya they got churches….everywhere!”
Mull sings at the end.
5) Skycycle – Alone
“Your sea of friends becomes a desert. All so you could be Alone”
A brooding song about a self-fulfilling prophecy of choosing to be alone.
‘Every tie you make, you sever. Somehow it makes you feel better.”
The theme is religion and the Big questions it’s supposed to help with but only seems to provide cookie cutter answers. As I drove across the country last year I remember seeing churches of every kind in the most remote back roads and on radio frequencies where nothing else could be found. You couldn’t find a 7-11 for miles, but there would be a little church with a white steeple or a sign on a trailer or some dime story preacher huckstering on the airwaves for funds to help spread his godless words of god and hate and bigotry and fear and damnation. Not comfort or joy. Though, in Dothan, Al., I heard a preacher using stand-up comedy to get his word across. (Pretty funny, too) It was open and joyful and welcoming and not too preachy for the most part. I could have listened to a lot more like that on the road.
A final “card” of the jukebox bid my attention.
6) Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam aka Steven Demetre Georgiou) – I think I see the light.
A childlike piano repetition. The song lyrics are about a girl changing the singer’s perspective, but with the substitution of the word “lord” for “girl” the song could easily be a religious/spiritual song.
Regardless, the result seems to be one of conversion from a dour lonely alone soul to one connected and enlightened.
“I think I see the light coming to me,
Coming through me, giving me a second sight.
So shine, shine, shine”
This is just writing to write. Not specifically part of "Cohalen's Journey" but a step towards continuation and completion.
iToons Tarot
06/19/12
Methodology - Random selection from my iTunes to determine the selection of the "Tarot".
What does each song reveal and how do they connect (if at all) to each other?
1) Big Brother and the Holding Company - Summertime
The slow sultry guitar; the intro builds - organically…and then – Janis -
Belting it out with a soul to raise up Big Mamma Thornton for the masses.
“One of these mornings, you’re gonna rise up singing”. Resurrection.
2) Leon Russell – Roll Away the Stone
Sacrilege? And on the third day, first side, fourth cut – Leon Rocks it out with his – shout out!
Raucous. Pounding. That slinky Guitar (Marc Benno?)
"Roll away the stone (Jesus, Really?) Don’t leave me here all alone.
Resurrect me, and protect me. Don’t leave me layin’ here
What will they do in 2000 years?"
NWJWD, I’m guessing.
3) Jude Cole – Compared to Nothing
Soulful. Haunting. Lonely. Piano like Sunday morning church.
A lost soul with questions. Universal questions with no answers. As they were meant to be.
“Problems that appeared so tall, turn out to be so small – compared to nothing….at all."
Oblivion. Nirvana.
4) Martin Mull - Jesus is Easy
“I tried a poodle, a collie, Kooklah, Fran and Ollie.
But Mary in a Manger got me satisfied”
Martin Mull’s irreverent comedy talks to the proliferation of every kind of religious – Self-Help – new age sects that are so omni-present in our land.
“Oh, I tell ya they got churches….everywhere!”
Mull sings at the end.
5) Skycycle – Alone
“Your sea of friends becomes a desert. All so you could be Alone”
A brooding song about a self-fulfilling prophecy of choosing to be alone.
‘Every tie you make, you sever. Somehow it makes you feel better.”
The theme is religion and the Big questions it’s supposed to help with but only seems to provide cookie cutter answers. As I drove across the country last year I remember seeing churches of every kind in the most remote back roads and on radio frequencies where nothing else could be found. You couldn’t find a 7-11 for miles, but there would be a little church with a white steeple or a sign on a trailer or some dime story preacher huckstering on the airwaves for funds to help spread his godless words of god and hate and bigotry and fear and damnation. Not comfort or joy. Though, in Dothan, Al., I heard a preacher using stand-up comedy to get his word across. (Pretty funny, too) It was open and joyful and welcoming and not too preachy for the most part. I could have listened to a lot more like that on the road.
A final “card” of the jukebox bid my attention.
6) Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam aka Steven Demetre Georgiou) – I think I see the light.
A childlike piano repetition. The song lyrics are about a girl changing the singer’s perspective, but with the substitution of the word “lord” for “girl” the song could easily be a religious/spiritual song.
Regardless, the result seems to be one of conversion from a dour lonely alone soul to one connected and enlightened.
“I think I see the light coming to me,
Coming through me, giving me a second sight.
So shine, shine, shine”
10-28-11 - The Morning Overature - The Day
- The Morning Overature -
For the last two mornings I've begun my day waking up in the parking lot of the Stater Brothers as Standard & McFadden in Santa Ana.
Activity starts slowly around 5:30 am nad begins to pop into a kinetic hive by 6:15.
A sweeper truck starts doing crazy patterens in the parking lot around the cars parked dashing in on the rapidly dwindling open spaces. seizing the open ground, trying for every last speck of stray rubbish.
Workers in white trucks with names on the side fill their large coolers of water for the day. Vehicles of every type zoom into open slots as their drivers stop for a morning snack at the 7-11.
Trucks with pool supplies; pickups with racks with PVC pipes on top; vans; economy cars; long beds. Their drivers are as vairied as their vehicles.
Some rush in and back with their purchases; others linger on the corner in conversations of the brotherhood of the working. Greetings to strangers are easily given. We all share "This" in common. This morning. This parking lot.
It is enough to find a bond in.
Life has begun again.
People in uniforms. People in shorts or painters pants. People in office clothers.
Men.
Women.
All ages, sizes ethnicities.
And the sun starts to lighten the sky with it's new promise.
- The Day -
I prep the car for the day's runs. I put Mischa in the back onthe passenger side on her bed. The front seat and seat behind me are open for delivery items.
I call in for my work assignment just before the assigned 7:30 am time.
No assignment.
Answer the phone if they call.
If I don't hear back from them by 9:15 am call them back.
I'm not thrilled by this. It's 7:35am and I'm ready to work NOW!
If I start at 9:15 am and they send me to...POMONA...my work day will be Short!
IF I get to work today at all.
I just have to hope they call sooner than 9:15am
- Disappointment -
No work today.
"Call back around 2pm and we'll set you up for tomorrow." "You can go about your day"
I have no other "day" to go about.
A wasted day
To preserve gas, I should stay put, but I drive to Tustin to use the library, look at some options and take Mischa to a park.
Then...sometime around 2 pm...life might release the "pause" button and...
For the last two mornings I've begun my day waking up in the parking lot of the Stater Brothers as Standard & McFadden in Santa Ana.
Activity starts slowly around 5:30 am nad begins to pop into a kinetic hive by 6:15.
A sweeper truck starts doing crazy patterens in the parking lot around the cars parked dashing in on the rapidly dwindling open spaces. seizing the open ground, trying for every last speck of stray rubbish.
Workers in white trucks with names on the side fill their large coolers of water for the day. Vehicles of every type zoom into open slots as their drivers stop for a morning snack at the 7-11.
Trucks with pool supplies; pickups with racks with PVC pipes on top; vans; economy cars; long beds. Their drivers are as vairied as their vehicles.
Some rush in and back with their purchases; others linger on the corner in conversations of the brotherhood of the working. Greetings to strangers are easily given. We all share "This" in common. This morning. This parking lot.
It is enough to find a bond in.
Life has begun again.
People in uniforms. People in shorts or painters pants. People in office clothers.
Men.
Women.
All ages, sizes ethnicities.
And the sun starts to lighten the sky with it's new promise.
- The Day -
I prep the car for the day's runs. I put Mischa in the back onthe passenger side on her bed. The front seat and seat behind me are open for delivery items.
I call in for my work assignment just before the assigned 7:30 am time.
No assignment.
Answer the phone if they call.
If I don't hear back from them by 9:15 am call them back.
I'm not thrilled by this. It's 7:35am and I'm ready to work NOW!
If I start at 9:15 am and they send me to...POMONA...my work day will be Short!
IF I get to work today at all.
I just have to hope they call sooner than 9:15am
- Disappointment -
No work today.
"Call back around 2pm and we'll set you up for tomorrow." "You can go about your day"
I have no other "day" to go about.
A wasted day
To preserve gas, I should stay put, but I drive to Tustin to use the library, look at some options and take Mischa to a park.
Then...sometime around 2 pm...life might release the "pause" button and...
06-26-11 Mosquitoes come to suck your blood
06-26-11
Mosquitoes come to suck your blood
Leave you there all alone
Just skin and bone
130.8 miles
Winona - Mauston - New Lisbon - Kennedy County Park
Packing up
Interview with Ron & Gail
Off to Wisconsin
Lots of hills and dales
Stop at Mauston for internet
Problems finding a signal
Low on gas and money
New Lisbon “Free camping”
Kwik Stop kindness
Campsite - no electric
Mosquitos in the midst
Cool Cops- Off
Mosquitoes come to suck your blood
Leave you there all alone
Just skin and bone
130.8 miles
Winona - Mauston - New Lisbon - Kennedy County Park
Packing up
Interview with Ron & Gail
Off to Wisconsin
Lots of hills and dales
Stop at Mauston for internet
Problems finding a signal
Low on gas and money
New Lisbon “Free camping”
Kwik Stop kindness
Campsite - no electric
Mosquitos in the midst
Cool Cops- Off
06-25-11 - I'm Only Sleeping
06-25-11
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am - I'm only sleeping
23.4 Miles
Winona
I get up late. The sun is out but it’s a little overcast.
I go to the post office to get the mail sent to me c/o General Delivery.
It’s there.
As I’m going thru it a local hails me.
“You from California?”
Yes.
What part?
I tell him.
“I had a girlfriend who moved there!”
She had green hair and was named “Tarantula”
OK!
I get loose and drive off to explore the town.
First Stop! Betty Jo Byolowski! (though everyone knows it as “Nancy!”.)
It’s a burger and beer joint a block from the Riverbank.
It’s toney.
I’d have liked to have had a burger & beer there.
Those sorts of things are not in my capacity.
I’m lucky to by a loasf of French bread for $1.49 and make it last for 4 days with the help of cheap spinach & artichoke hummus.
I can take pictures of the places I go to but can’t enter, explore them.
I can leave Mischa in the car for only so long. Less time in extremes of temperature. And then there’s the “Admission” issue as well. I prefer to go to places where Mischa can accompany. But there are some places I’d like to go if I could have a safe place to lave her where she would feel comfortable and relaxed without me being around. That’s only happened a few times…when I’ve been hosted. And that has happened all to infrequently during this Journey. (Though, to be fair, I’ve been much less productive during those visits!)
I explored about all I can figure out to see of interest in Winona in just an hour or so. I decide to take the big bridge over the Mississippi into Wisconsin. There is question as to how much further this road will go. I may be an optimist, but I’m also a realist. I drive across the border just to say I’ve made it that far.
24th state.
Half the distance.
I’ve crossed the Mississippi at least 7 times before this and this is the most beautiful crossing so far. The high hillsides, the deep soundings, the greenery all around, the wind over the water, the traffic passing below. It is poetic. It is tactile. It is supernatural in it’s imagery.
A short distance along the drive into Wisconsin, it comes to a “T” intersection. I go south (right) for about 9 miles and decide I’m wasting gas I’ll want tomorrow. I turn back and go back to camp.
In camp. I’m trying to write the past days notes and figure out finances. What I’ll need to get thru the Kickstarter Funding period and how to generate enough interest in 26 days to successfully fund the completion of the journey.
I start to fall asleep.
The woman camping behind me (Gail) who helped me identify an open space last night and has a small dog like mine brings be over a bowl of munchie mix saying “It’s a lot easier to work when you’re munching” and leaves it for me. I thank her as she walks off into the park.
I start slowly but soon realize…I’m hungry! I haven’t been eating and this is great!
I actually perked up for about an hour or so.
Then it started to drizzle.
Just a few drops.
But it was not ignorable.
And a few more.
Enough that it was annoying.
I moved into the tent.
And it became more constant.
Not ever heavy.
A light drizzle to a slight misty rain.
But all day.
From 2 pm untill I finally went to sleep.
I tried to write.
I kept fuzzing out.
Played my audio book
Kept falling asleep…finding the last place if was conscious of…
And falling asleep.
I was going in and out of sleep all day.
I never could rally.
I gave up around 9pm
I don’t know why I was so lethargic.
Road weariness?
Aversion to thinking about my situation?
Tick bite?
Whatever the cause
My remedy:
They call it sleep.
Please, don't wake me, no, don't shake me
Leave me where I am - I'm only sleeping
23.4 Miles
Winona
I get up late. The sun is out but it’s a little overcast.
I go to the post office to get the mail sent to me c/o General Delivery.
It’s there.
As I’m going thru it a local hails me.
“You from California?”
Yes.
What part?
I tell him.
“I had a girlfriend who moved there!”
She had green hair and was named “Tarantula”
OK!
I get loose and drive off to explore the town.
First Stop! Betty Jo Byolowski! (though everyone knows it as “Nancy!”.)
It’s a burger and beer joint a block from the Riverbank.
It’s toney.
I’d have liked to have had a burger & beer there.
Those sorts of things are not in my capacity.
I’m lucky to by a loasf of French bread for $1.49 and make it last for 4 days with the help of cheap spinach & artichoke hummus.
I can take pictures of the places I go to but can’t enter, explore them.
I can leave Mischa in the car for only so long. Less time in extremes of temperature. And then there’s the “Admission” issue as well. I prefer to go to places where Mischa can accompany. But there are some places I’d like to go if I could have a safe place to lave her where she would feel comfortable and relaxed without me being around. That’s only happened a few times…when I’ve been hosted. And that has happened all to infrequently during this Journey. (Though, to be fair, I’ve been much less productive during those visits!)
I explored about all I can figure out to see of interest in Winona in just an hour or so. I decide to take the big bridge over the Mississippi into Wisconsin. There is question as to how much further this road will go. I may be an optimist, but I’m also a realist. I drive across the border just to say I’ve made it that far.
24th state.
Half the distance.
I’ve crossed the Mississippi at least 7 times before this and this is the most beautiful crossing so far. The high hillsides, the deep soundings, the greenery all around, the wind over the water, the traffic passing below. It is poetic. It is tactile. It is supernatural in it’s imagery.
A short distance along the drive into Wisconsin, it comes to a “T” intersection. I go south (right) for about 9 miles and decide I’m wasting gas I’ll want tomorrow. I turn back and go back to camp.
In camp. I’m trying to write the past days notes and figure out finances. What I’ll need to get thru the Kickstarter Funding period and how to generate enough interest in 26 days to successfully fund the completion of the journey.
I start to fall asleep.
The woman camping behind me (Gail) who helped me identify an open space last night and has a small dog like mine brings be over a bowl of munchie mix saying “It’s a lot easier to work when you’re munching” and leaves it for me. I thank her as she walks off into the park.
I start slowly but soon realize…I’m hungry! I haven’t been eating and this is great!
I actually perked up for about an hour or so.
Then it started to drizzle.
Just a few drops.
But it was not ignorable.
And a few more.
Enough that it was annoying.
I moved into the tent.
And it became more constant.
Not ever heavy.
A light drizzle to a slight misty rain.
But all day.
From 2 pm untill I finally went to sleep.
I tried to write.
I kept fuzzing out.
Played my audio book
Kept falling asleep…finding the last place if was conscious of…
And falling asleep.
I was going in and out of sleep all day.
I never could rally.
I gave up around 9pm
I don’t know why I was so lethargic.
Road weariness?
Aversion to thinking about my situation?
Tick bite?
Whatever the cause
My remedy:
They call it sleep.
06-24-11 - The Great Northfield Parade
Richard J. Warren
06-24-11
There's Frank James and Jesse James
Billy the Kid and all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Way out in the West
189.7 Miles
Waking up to sunshine. “And we will praise it. And love the light that puts a smile your face.”
I leave camp and stop in Victoria for $5.00 of gas - I want to buy more at a cheaper station along the way. I as if anyone knows here I can do laundry. No one is from around there but they suggest Chanhassen . I look up Laundromats on the internet and Chanhassen is the closest. I find the place and wash and dry various itemes that need it, chief among them are my jeans. I‘m nearly done with the writing when two little girls run ing to get change from the bill changer for candy from the concession machine and the oldest of the two says “you can’t have your dog in here - it says so over there”. I’m always pissed off at this kind of exclusion but I’m not going to get upset at a little “know it all” girl.
Am I ?
“Where does it say that” I ask. (‘cuz I’ve looked and actually couldn’t find a sign)
“There” she points at the little sign applied in a position where it’s is only really seen from the outside and is obscured by metal door handles near it. And I have not yet heard back from the person I was hoping to be able to interview. I have to more on.
Time is getting on
On to Northfield
I know I have enough gas to get there after stopping south of the city to get some cheaper gas ($3.49)
As I come into town I’m surprised to see that “Malt-o-Meal” is big in Northfield
I get into the center of the town and search for the building where the James - Younger ill fated Northfield bank robbery took place.
First, I cross a bridge above a river and enter the town. It is a lovely and historic downtown, but there is also a since of thriving younger businesses making themselves a part of the fabric of the culture. Past and present merged. Very Touristy, and yet a community all it’s own. And a very European feel to the town’s look and feel. There are two colleges/universities in the town and that helps the mix. I get my pictures and then look for a shady area to park for Mischa. She has gotten antsy and it’s clear she needs to get out, relieve herself and prance around abit.
We go to the riverside and walk along it. I read a layout of the town and later see a place that says the town is largely here and triving because of the mill down the river from me. The first owner sold it to (ironically) a Jessie Ames (one letter off!) and he and his sons moved the mill to the side of the river where it currently sits. They won many awards for their millwork. Years later they sold it to the people who would create “Malt-O-Meal”. And the rest, as they say, is history.
I go for internet access in the shade. I’ve found out that the person I’d hoped to interview will not be available to do so. I guess it works out. I’d already left.
I was already near empty…I put my last five dollars into the tank and had planned to drive to Red Wing and then down the river to Winona.
But as I get to a freeway overpass I assess my assets. I need to get to Winona to pick up some mail that has been sent to me there. That is the essential destination. I’ve had to forego a lot of things I’d like to do and places I’d like to have gone on this trip. This will be just another on the list.
But will I have enough to make it to Winona?
I get to Rochester on fumes. My Garmin kept on trying to take me on routes that seemed dubious at best. The fact that it is at least 4 years out of date, I’ve learned not to trust it when a map doesn’t seem to verify it’s routing.
I get on the interview and check to see if anyone has responded to my “SOS” to the world. Before leaving Northfield, I posted an “Urgent Need” post asking for help to get me to Winona.
Tammy Wilson, a friend from Oklahoma and buddy of the provider of my new tent, Larry, has joined my subscribers list with a $25 deposit in my paypal account. I can get to Winona. This is great news! But I’m not out of the woods quite yet. Her $25 is now showing as $17.50 because a purchase that was run thru as a charge has finally come in.
This is a frequent problem. Gas stations especially have problems putting thru debit purchases…they seem to prefer them as charges. And checks to parks - sometimes don’t process for 2 months. Keeping track of what’s a current balance and what hasn’t processed thru can often mess you up.
So I have gas, and I get to Winona. It is surprising. I expected it to be low and flat beside the Mississippi River. I come into a deep gorge defile. To my left up a high flagstone mountain is a cylindrical sandy cone. I find out that it is called “Sugarloaf”.
It catches my attention from the back side of the approach to the south side of Winona. I go to Walmart thinking I may be sleeping there tonight. I call my nephew, Josh and an old college friend and housemate, Rick. I explain my situation. Josh has to check things out financially and will call me back. I tell him, if things are tight, just say no. I get Rick and he is willing to join up as a supporter. I needed $20 for a nights camping. I will have a place to sleep tonight and perhaps tomorrow as well. Maybe a little gas to enter Wisconsin on Sunday - the 24th state. Half way done. Moments later, I get a call back from Josh. He’s already put in $25. I’m and thankful, though a little guilty. I think this might have been financially uncomfortable for him . It would have been ok for him to say “No”. But this does guarantee that I’ll be able to enter, at least, Wisconsin.
There is huge question at this moment how much more this will go on. I hope to “Go the Distance”, but fundraising is like the battle of Sisyphus. And always out of my comfort zone.
I have concerns. Concerns about my health. Concerns about Mischa’s health especially. She’s lost at least 8 pounds since we began and I don’t know why. I don’t know if she hs been affected by tick bites. I’ve found a few on her and removed them…but have I missed some?
I have needs to keep from losing everything I own in storage. I have one week of medicine left. I need to keep my car insurance and auto club insurance current. All of this now coming on top of the basic need for gas, lodging and …occasionally food.
I’ve cut back on that the most. I think the last weeks food budget has been less than $28 for the entire week.
These are the things that keep me up at night.
The drive to the campsite was stunningly beautiful the sunset to the west highlighted Sugarloaf mountain. And the drive over the levee to the camp alongside the backwaters of the Mississippi with the last vestiges of the days light reflecting off the waters was a silvery mirror of moonlight and day kissing on the surface.
I get to the camp and go into the office to see if there is room. It looks like Memorial Day and the 4th of July combined. The camp is busy.
The person behind the counter is very young. He also looks incredibly like Daniel Radcliffe.
No?
How about Harry Potter.
Yeah.
Glasses and all.
He doesn’t seem to play to it or even acknowledge it.
He’s very helpful and competent.
I get the tent up, loaded and am ready to sleep. It was a good sunny day.
I’m a bit baked and the anxiety of the day makes me want to sleep. But my thoughts intervene. I write till I can’t focus. Play some more of the current Dresden files book until I lose track, become aware enough to shut down the computer. It’s becoming a frequent sequence of events.
And I’m getting tired of being tired..
06-24-11
There's Frank James and Jesse James
Billy the Kid and all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Way out in the West
189.7 Miles
Waking up to sunshine. “And we will praise it. And love the light that puts a smile your face.”
I leave camp and stop in Victoria for $5.00 of gas - I want to buy more at a cheaper station along the way. I as if anyone knows here I can do laundry. No one is from around there but they suggest Chanhassen . I look up Laundromats on the internet and Chanhassen is the closest. I find the place and wash and dry various itemes that need it, chief among them are my jeans. I‘m nearly done with the writing when two little girls run ing to get change from the bill changer for candy from the concession machine and the oldest of the two says “you can’t have your dog in here - it says so over there”. I’m always pissed off at this kind of exclusion but I’m not going to get upset at a little “know it all” girl.
Am I ?
“Where does it say that” I ask. (‘cuz I’ve looked and actually couldn’t find a sign)
“There” she points at the little sign applied in a position where it’s is only really seen from the outside and is obscured by metal door handles near it. And I have not yet heard back from the person I was hoping to be able to interview. I have to more on.
Time is getting on
On to Northfield
I know I have enough gas to get there after stopping south of the city to get some cheaper gas ($3.49)
As I come into town I’m surprised to see that “Malt-o-Meal” is big in Northfield
I get into the center of the town and search for the building where the James - Younger ill fated Northfield bank robbery took place.
First, I cross a bridge above a river and enter the town. It is a lovely and historic downtown, but there is also a since of thriving younger businesses making themselves a part of the fabric of the culture. Past and present merged. Very Touristy, and yet a community all it’s own. And a very European feel to the town’s look and feel. There are two colleges/universities in the town and that helps the mix. I get my pictures and then look for a shady area to park for Mischa. She has gotten antsy and it’s clear she needs to get out, relieve herself and prance around abit.
We go to the riverside and walk along it. I read a layout of the town and later see a place that says the town is largely here and triving because of the mill down the river from me. The first owner sold it to (ironically) a Jessie Ames (one letter off!) and he and his sons moved the mill to the side of the river where it currently sits. They won many awards for their millwork. Years later they sold it to the people who would create “Malt-O-Meal”. And the rest, as they say, is history.
I go for internet access in the shade. I’ve found out that the person I’d hoped to interview will not be available to do so. I guess it works out. I’d already left.
I was already near empty…I put my last five dollars into the tank and had planned to drive to Red Wing and then down the river to Winona.
But as I get to a freeway overpass I assess my assets. I need to get to Winona to pick up some mail that has been sent to me there. That is the essential destination. I’ve had to forego a lot of things I’d like to do and places I’d like to have gone on this trip. This will be just another on the list.
But will I have enough to make it to Winona?
I get to Rochester on fumes. My Garmin kept on trying to take me on routes that seemed dubious at best. The fact that it is at least 4 years out of date, I’ve learned not to trust it when a map doesn’t seem to verify it’s routing.
I get on the interview and check to see if anyone has responded to my “SOS” to the world. Before leaving Northfield, I posted an “Urgent Need” post asking for help to get me to Winona.
Tammy Wilson, a friend from Oklahoma and buddy of the provider of my new tent, Larry, has joined my subscribers list with a $25 deposit in my paypal account. I can get to Winona. This is great news! But I’m not out of the woods quite yet. Her $25 is now showing as $17.50 because a purchase that was run thru as a charge has finally come in.
This is a frequent problem. Gas stations especially have problems putting thru debit purchases…they seem to prefer them as charges. And checks to parks - sometimes don’t process for 2 months. Keeping track of what’s a current balance and what hasn’t processed thru can often mess you up.
So I have gas, and I get to Winona. It is surprising. I expected it to be low and flat beside the Mississippi River. I come into a deep gorge defile. To my left up a high flagstone mountain is a cylindrical sandy cone. I find out that it is called “Sugarloaf”.
It catches my attention from the back side of the approach to the south side of Winona. I go to Walmart thinking I may be sleeping there tonight. I call my nephew, Josh and an old college friend and housemate, Rick. I explain my situation. Josh has to check things out financially and will call me back. I tell him, if things are tight, just say no. I get Rick and he is willing to join up as a supporter. I needed $20 for a nights camping. I will have a place to sleep tonight and perhaps tomorrow as well. Maybe a little gas to enter Wisconsin on Sunday - the 24th state. Half way done. Moments later, I get a call back from Josh. He’s already put in $25. I’m and thankful, though a little guilty. I think this might have been financially uncomfortable for him . It would have been ok for him to say “No”. But this does guarantee that I’ll be able to enter, at least, Wisconsin.
There is huge question at this moment how much more this will go on. I hope to “Go the Distance”, but fundraising is like the battle of Sisyphus. And always out of my comfort zone.
I have concerns. Concerns about my health. Concerns about Mischa’s health especially. She’s lost at least 8 pounds since we began and I don’t know why. I don’t know if she hs been affected by tick bites. I’ve found a few on her and removed them…but have I missed some?
I have needs to keep from losing everything I own in storage. I have one week of medicine left. I need to keep my car insurance and auto club insurance current. All of this now coming on top of the basic need for gas, lodging and …occasionally food.
I’ve cut back on that the most. I think the last weeks food budget has been less than $28 for the entire week.
These are the things that keep me up at night.
The drive to the campsite was stunningly beautiful the sunset to the west highlighted Sugarloaf mountain. And the drive over the levee to the camp alongside the backwaters of the Mississippi with the last vestiges of the days light reflecting off the waters was a silvery mirror of moonlight and day kissing on the surface.
I get to the camp and go into the office to see if there is room. It looks like Memorial Day and the 4th of July combined. The camp is busy.
The person behind the counter is very young. He also looks incredibly like Daniel Radcliffe.
No?
How about Harry Potter.
Yeah.
Glasses and all.
He doesn’t seem to play to it or even acknowledge it.
He’s very helpful and competent.
I get the tent up, loaded and am ready to sleep. It was a good sunny day.
I’m a bit baked and the anxiety of the day makes me want to sleep. But my thoughts intervene. I write till I can’t focus. Play some more of the current Dresden files book until I lose track, become aware enough to shut down the computer. It’s becoming a frequent sequence of events.
And I’m getting tired of being tired..
06-23-11 - In the city
06-23-11
It's survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don't have much pity
When you're down, that's where you'll stay
101.7 Miles
The Twin Cities - Minneapolis and St. Paul
Waking up in the Walmart parking lot I was a bit better for wear than I though I would be. Shaking off the cold (warmer that a tent would have been) and stretching I put my sandals back on and prepared to get the day going. I went into Walmart to use the facilities and to get a little warm breakfast for Mischa and myself.
The facilities were waiting, but the deli wouldn’t open for two hours. I asked the woman at the entrance about local places to get some sort of warm breakfast and she mentioned a few. One of the clerks doing the morning stocking had mentioned White Castle. As much as I enjoyed the exploits of Harold and Kumar I decided to pass. I used the Garmin and it mentioned a Pannera* Bread and the Caribou Coffee place I’d discovered yesterday - both had internet and I hope some sort of breakfast sandwich. This was in the late 6am hour. I worked on finishing and posting 3 days of posts; launched my Kickstarter Project (sans video - they need a video of 200mb or less, the one I have is over 750mb. I need to have some work done on it.) and realized it was almost 11:30am!
I got an egg white, turkey and bacon (and spinach) muffin and a white peach raspberry smoothie, then prepared to explore the Twin Cities..
My first destination was the offices of Senator Al Franken. I thought maybe I could get some attention for my project and the ongoing plight of the 99er’s an long term unemployed. He seemed like a good person. Amy Clobaschar too…but I wasn’t sure how to spell her name. I put the address in the Garman and followed it to an unassuming building called the Drake.
There was a Bank on the bottom floor and the rest of the floors of th 5-6 story building looked to hold offices of various types.. The Capitol building (This is in St. Paul) was many blocks north of the freeway and this was just a few blocks south in an almost industrial area. I had thought perhaps the Garmin was taking me to an outdated address again until I realized I’d entered the address in myself this morning.
I thought of going in to talk to his staff to see what interest might be generated but chickened out.
One, I‘d have to leave Mischa in the parking lot for who knows how long (I presumed a security check point)
Two, I was very rough looking .to say the least at the moment. I had at last 5 days of stubble growth and hadn’t showered in as many days. My jeans were grubby and I’d slept in my clothes in my car all night. Good first impression, ya know?!
So, yeah…I chickened out.
Next stop- the capitol building. The radio was talking about the impasse between the Governor and the Republican State congress over the budget. If an agreement isn’t reached by the end of the month the government will shut down and thousands of state workers will be put out of their jobs, even critical services. I tried to get there via the Garmin’s routing, but it wasn’t aware that most of the city streets were under construction as thy were putting in a light rail system
I finally managed to maneuver my way to the Capitol building. It is way on top of a hill with an imposing majestic presence. And the view from the park overlook beside it is also imposing and majestic…an impressive. In the park ther overlook is suspended out from the hillside. The panoramic view of the capitol, the city downtown and th Mississippi river plain out to the Wisconsin border is dynamic.
Of course, the construction down the main drag of the city is a bit of an eyesore…but eventually I’m sure it will look grand again.
There was a man clearing high weeds from the area next to the overlook. I asked him “What city am I in?” This is St. Paul.
“Where’s Minneapolis from here?”
To the west. You visiting here? Friends? Family?
I told him about the Journey I asked him about the overlook. He said that it was originally built to look at the airport.
Airport?
It’s straight down below and was sort of a focal point. Then St. John’s built a hospital there, and another couple of hospitals and buildings were build, now you can’t even see the airport anymore.
I said the view of the Capitol building was pretty spectacular. Told him what a hard time I had navigating my way here.
“Yeah, that’s the light rail they’re building.” he pointed down to the main isle of construction downtown “You can’t get there from here” he jested.
I mentioned I’d been listening to the radio about the ongoing drama with the state budget.
What will happen to you if the budget doesn’t get passed?
“I’ll be out of work…along with over 35 thousand other state workers.”
How long will that be? A month or more?
“No, I think it’ll be no more than a couple of weeks. And the timing…just before the big 4th of July weekend.”
Do you think they’ll reach an agreement?
“No. I hope they do, but I don’t think so. Not this time around“.
I asked him his name and gave him mine. Jay was a good spirited man. Liked his work and his state. Took much pride in the area. And from that vantage point, it was easy to understand.
I went to discover the next place on the list of places to see. To Minneapolis!
I was trying to find a place called “The Original Minneapolis Baseball Hall of Fame”! I’d never heard of it but it was on the Garmin, so I had to find it. There was a good deal of construction going one there too. Right where I was trying to get to. It took me around the “Hubert Humphrey -Mall of America - Metrodome”.
[C’mon folks! Isn’t it time we put a ban on letting corporations buy the name of a stadium? It should be named ofter something from the state or city or a famous native son. “The Metrodome.” “Hubert Humphrey Memorial Stadium” “Shay Stadium” “Wrigley Field”. I tell you, I turned off to Baseball in a big way the day they allowed “3-Com” to take away the name of “Candlestick Park”. It was the point of demarcation when Pro Sports league and owners decided that profit came before the sport and the fans. That these were no longer centers of civic pride, but advertising venues available to the highest bidder. The ongoing loyalties of the “Bleacher Bums” rabble was to be cast away for the corporate clowns that could afford the luxury “Sky Boxes”. “Here endeth the lecture”.]
As I drove around the stadium I noticed the Marque players featured near the ticket boxes were Adrian Petersen (understandable) and Brett Farve (?!).
I also saw two cops on horseback sauntering down the street. You don’t see horse patrol that often. I asked one of the Equine Cops if they knew where this “Baseball Hall of Fame” building was. She looked at me with what could only be call disinterest. I’d obviously interrupted a pleasant conversation with her partner. They’d never heard of it and so I went on my way. Impeding my hunt were one way streets and more road construction.. I got to a place where it said I’d past it, but via triangulation I knew I must be only a block or so way. Then I saw a sign..old chipped paint on the narrow surface of a triangulated wall that mentioned “Baseball Hall of Fame”. “Dis must be de place!”
Cutting thru a restaurant parking lot I got as close to the sign wall as I could. Construction was going on on the other side of the wall - another street: so this was probably as close as I could have gotten, by shear luck. I walked around the corner and found a sporting memorabilia store. I had low hopes for this outcome.
A clerk was dealing with a customer who was buying a Mauer jersey and complaining about how much the stadium store wanted to charge for it. He left (eventually) and the clerk turned his attention to me. I asked about the “Hall of Fame” and he said “It’s right back there - I’ll flip the light on for you” “This was where the original Baseball hall of Fame was before” I ask.
“No. This was Minnesota’s first Baseball Hall of Fame” he corrects. He leaves me to it as another customer walked in.
This is basically a back storage room. And as for “Baseball” there are more pictures of Country Western artists and actors than Baseball players at first look. The constant is a older gentleman and/or his wife in all these pictures. Mr. Crump.
When I get to the back of the storage room I start to see Baseball pictures. Framed collections of baseball cards of the Twins players thru the years. Some of these hanging on the walls are blocked by display racks and other things in storage stacked in front of them. Only when you get to the back wall does it start to look like an intentional “Wall of Fame”. Again the framed baseball cards along with signed photos. But there is also an assortment of bats and uniforms (Tony Oliva is featured in two of these) I see a card for Johnny Roseboro (One of my all time favorite Dodgers) as a Twins catcher in 1969. There is a news paper and photo salute to the 1965 world series against the Dodgers. Pictures of Sandy Kofax pitching and one with him and Harmon Killabrew together.. A headline announces “Dodgers Sweep Twins in Two”.
And at the end of the isle, a true find. “The Beatles”. Photos of the Beatles from obviously their first or second US tour with Mr. Crump sitting on a cot next to each of the Beatles separately. (What were they doing on cots and what was he doing on the cot with them?)
I go out and ask the clerk about the man in the photos.
He tells me about him. He started as a bat boy for the Washington Senators and followed them when they relocated to The Twin Cities. He worked for them in various capacities through the years and started this store. He developed a hobby of meeting celebrities when they came to town. His connection to the tema gave him easy access and over the years it lead to other fields of interest, actors and county music artists.
I asked about the Beatles. The clerk said that when the they came to town to play there was concern about ptting them up in local hotels because of all the “Beatle-mania that had followed them throughout the states and since they were playing at the Ice Hockey arena next door to the stadium they put the boys up in the visiting teams locker room. Hence the cots.
I mentioned that Mr. Crump seemed to have had and interesting and fulfilling life. The clerk agreed. “He’s my dad.” he said with a little bit of pride in the words. This is a family business. And it was obvious that doing what you love, whatever that might be, is as good a road to happiness as anything else.
http://www.domeplus.com/Museum/index.htm
I had wanted to go to a gallery called “Louvre it or Leave it”. I liked the pun but not the parking. So I took a picture of the outside of the building where it was supposed to be and moved on.
Next was to find the Stone Arch and locks
These are very old stone works along the Mississippi River in the old warehouse district. A dam on the river provided power for the factories and the locks allowed navigation of the waterways. Old Mills and breweries and factories looked down from their purchases above the river course like old vultures or guarding sentinels. A family of ducks parades by unimpressed by their austere loomings. The water is wet…ant they’re ducks. They have what they need.
And with some photo snap page, so do I.
The ducks may not have been impressed…but I was. I am only human after all.
There is a big bridge across the river…so I have to stake it. I’l also getting low on gas so I think I’ll search for that on the other side.
I’m finding a lot of BP gas stations and for what they did in the Gulf they are on permanent boycott by me…like…forever! (Hence the permanent thing.)
I drive for miles further that I wanted to. I go into a University of Minnesota neighborhood and find a wifi spot and look for cheap (Non BP) gas. It’s just a few blocks away at a Kwik Stop. I go there and there’s a Panera Bread shop nearby so I get more of my internet communications done as evening starts to set in. I’m searching all around for cheap tent camping near the twin cities. I’m trying to arrange an interview and will leave tomorrow for Northfield so I would like to stay close and have a direct line south it possible.
At the end of the day, as the saying goes, going back to Victoria was the cheapest option. So I did that.
I set up camp in the daylight and took Mischa…check that, Mischa too ME on a walk. We explored much of the local flora and fauna. At one point Mischa seemed determined to head further down further down a dark muddy pathway. I nixed that and tried to head us both towards the sunny beach area…until I saw the sign “Pets not allowed on the beach”. Well, Then, I wouldn’t go on the beach either!
I went to pay for the nights camping and stopped to fill my water jugs. After bother were filled (from a drinking fountain) I notice a funny smell and a light discoloration to the water. I sipped it. Gasoline! Are they doing “fracking” nearby? I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was ignitable. After a sip, I spit it out and emptied the contents of both jugs. I may have to go back into town 3 miles way for water!
As I got to the pay station I saw a water pump! Huzzah! I can fill up here and stay in camp.
I filled one jug. Same story. In to town I went.
I stopped at a gas station for just a little more internet work - I posted a few things and then the lights went out. At the gas station. It was suddenly 10 pm and I had never gotten in to the station to get more water.
I drove over to the local store and a man was standing next to the door in the process of closing.
“Does the whole town close at 10pm?” I asked?
“We do, but what do you need?” he asked
“Water”
“C’mon in,” he offered, “I still have a customer inside”
I never saw the other customer, but got the jug of water…and a bag of tortilla chips…I wanted to make it worth the man’s time and kindness.
I was the only one in the store and he’d delayed his getting closed and home just to help me get some water. And he seemed gracious and unrushed about it. Like he was glad to do it. Remarkable.
But only in the since that I’ve seen an absence of that in recent years, but I’ve enjoyed an abundance of it along the Journey. Remarkable in that I think that kind of kindness and consideration to a stranger is second nature to most of us at our best selves. And that we’ve been strangers to our “Better natures” for far too long.
Back at camp I’m writing in the tent, then listening to another Dresden Files book winding down to sleep.
Across the way a couple (or is it a couple of couples - hard to tell) are sitting around the fireplace drinking and talking. A male is cussing and being generally loud. (This is going to be a fun night!)
Later in the evening I hear different sounds. I think of scenes in tents from Little Big Man and Dances with Wolves.
I think of a Paul Simon song “the couple in the next room, bound to win a prize”.
I hear the man loudly ejaculate “DAMN! I meant to save that!”
Speculation could last years as to what, precisely, he was referring to.
I only cared that things were quieter after that.
I woke to a sunny day in the morning and packed up the tent to head off. I was gone around 8am.
The couple has not left the tent this morning. Sleeping in late I suppose after last nights exertions.
Just as well to avoid awkward meetings of eyes.
It's survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don't have much pity
When you're down, that's where you'll stay
101.7 Miles
The Twin Cities - Minneapolis and St. Paul
Waking up in the Walmart parking lot I was a bit better for wear than I though I would be. Shaking off the cold (warmer that a tent would have been) and stretching I put my sandals back on and prepared to get the day going. I went into Walmart to use the facilities and to get a little warm breakfast for Mischa and myself.
The facilities were waiting, but the deli wouldn’t open for two hours. I asked the woman at the entrance about local places to get some sort of warm breakfast and she mentioned a few. One of the clerks doing the morning stocking had mentioned White Castle. As much as I enjoyed the exploits of Harold and Kumar I decided to pass. I used the Garmin and it mentioned a Pannera* Bread and the Caribou Coffee place I’d discovered yesterday - both had internet and I hope some sort of breakfast sandwich. This was in the late 6am hour. I worked on finishing and posting 3 days of posts; launched my Kickstarter Project (sans video - they need a video of 200mb or less, the one I have is over 750mb. I need to have some work done on it.) and realized it was almost 11:30am!
I got an egg white, turkey and bacon (and spinach) muffin and a white peach raspberry smoothie, then prepared to explore the Twin Cities..
My first destination was the offices of Senator Al Franken. I thought maybe I could get some attention for my project and the ongoing plight of the 99er’s an long term unemployed. He seemed like a good person. Amy Clobaschar too…but I wasn’t sure how to spell her name. I put the address in the Garman and followed it to an unassuming building called the Drake.
There was a Bank on the bottom floor and the rest of the floors of th 5-6 story building looked to hold offices of various types.. The Capitol building (This is in St. Paul) was many blocks north of the freeway and this was just a few blocks south in an almost industrial area. I had thought perhaps the Garmin was taking me to an outdated address again until I realized I’d entered the address in myself this morning.
I thought of going in to talk to his staff to see what interest might be generated but chickened out.
One, I‘d have to leave Mischa in the parking lot for who knows how long (I presumed a security check point)
Two, I was very rough looking .to say the least at the moment. I had at last 5 days of stubble growth and hadn’t showered in as many days. My jeans were grubby and I’d slept in my clothes in my car all night. Good first impression, ya know?!
So, yeah…I chickened out.
Next stop- the capitol building. The radio was talking about the impasse between the Governor and the Republican State congress over the budget. If an agreement isn’t reached by the end of the month the government will shut down and thousands of state workers will be put out of their jobs, even critical services. I tried to get there via the Garmin’s routing, but it wasn’t aware that most of the city streets were under construction as thy were putting in a light rail system
I finally managed to maneuver my way to the Capitol building. It is way on top of a hill with an imposing majestic presence. And the view from the park overlook beside it is also imposing and majestic…an impressive. In the park ther overlook is suspended out from the hillside. The panoramic view of the capitol, the city downtown and th Mississippi river plain out to the Wisconsin border is dynamic.
Of course, the construction down the main drag of the city is a bit of an eyesore…but eventually I’m sure it will look grand again.
There was a man clearing high weeds from the area next to the overlook. I asked him “What city am I in?” This is St. Paul.
“Where’s Minneapolis from here?”
To the west. You visiting here? Friends? Family?
I told him about the Journey I asked him about the overlook. He said that it was originally built to look at the airport.
Airport?
It’s straight down below and was sort of a focal point. Then St. John’s built a hospital there, and another couple of hospitals and buildings were build, now you can’t even see the airport anymore.
I said the view of the Capitol building was pretty spectacular. Told him what a hard time I had navigating my way here.
“Yeah, that’s the light rail they’re building.” he pointed down to the main isle of construction downtown “You can’t get there from here” he jested.
I mentioned I’d been listening to the radio about the ongoing drama with the state budget.
What will happen to you if the budget doesn’t get passed?
“I’ll be out of work…along with over 35 thousand other state workers.”
How long will that be? A month or more?
“No, I think it’ll be no more than a couple of weeks. And the timing…just before the big 4th of July weekend.”
Do you think they’ll reach an agreement?
“No. I hope they do, but I don’t think so. Not this time around“.
I asked him his name and gave him mine. Jay was a good spirited man. Liked his work and his state. Took much pride in the area. And from that vantage point, it was easy to understand.
I went to discover the next place on the list of places to see. To Minneapolis!
I was trying to find a place called “The Original Minneapolis Baseball Hall of Fame”! I’d never heard of it but it was on the Garmin, so I had to find it. There was a good deal of construction going one there too. Right where I was trying to get to. It took me around the “Hubert Humphrey -Mall of America - Metrodome”.
[C’mon folks! Isn’t it time we put a ban on letting corporations buy the name of a stadium? It should be named ofter something from the state or city or a famous native son. “The Metrodome.” “Hubert Humphrey Memorial Stadium” “Shay Stadium” “Wrigley Field”. I tell you, I turned off to Baseball in a big way the day they allowed “3-Com” to take away the name of “Candlestick Park”. It was the point of demarcation when Pro Sports league and owners decided that profit came before the sport and the fans. That these were no longer centers of civic pride, but advertising venues available to the highest bidder. The ongoing loyalties of the “Bleacher Bums” rabble was to be cast away for the corporate clowns that could afford the luxury “Sky Boxes”. “Here endeth the lecture”.]
As I drove around the stadium I noticed the Marque players featured near the ticket boxes were Adrian Petersen (understandable) and Brett Farve (?!).
I also saw two cops on horseback sauntering down the street. You don’t see horse patrol that often. I asked one of the Equine Cops if they knew where this “Baseball Hall of Fame” building was. She looked at me with what could only be call disinterest. I’d obviously interrupted a pleasant conversation with her partner. They’d never heard of it and so I went on my way. Impeding my hunt were one way streets and more road construction.. I got to a place where it said I’d past it, but via triangulation I knew I must be only a block or so way. Then I saw a sign..old chipped paint on the narrow surface of a triangulated wall that mentioned “Baseball Hall of Fame”. “Dis must be de place!”
Cutting thru a restaurant parking lot I got as close to the sign wall as I could. Construction was going on on the other side of the wall - another street: so this was probably as close as I could have gotten, by shear luck. I walked around the corner and found a sporting memorabilia store. I had low hopes for this outcome.
A clerk was dealing with a customer who was buying a Mauer jersey and complaining about how much the stadium store wanted to charge for it. He left (eventually) and the clerk turned his attention to me. I asked about the “Hall of Fame” and he said “It’s right back there - I’ll flip the light on for you” “This was where the original Baseball hall of Fame was before” I ask.
“No. This was Minnesota’s first Baseball Hall of Fame” he corrects. He leaves me to it as another customer walked in.
This is basically a back storage room. And as for “Baseball” there are more pictures of Country Western artists and actors than Baseball players at first look. The constant is a older gentleman and/or his wife in all these pictures. Mr. Crump.
When I get to the back of the storage room I start to see Baseball pictures. Framed collections of baseball cards of the Twins players thru the years. Some of these hanging on the walls are blocked by display racks and other things in storage stacked in front of them. Only when you get to the back wall does it start to look like an intentional “Wall of Fame”. Again the framed baseball cards along with signed photos. But there is also an assortment of bats and uniforms (Tony Oliva is featured in two of these) I see a card for Johnny Roseboro (One of my all time favorite Dodgers) as a Twins catcher in 1969. There is a news paper and photo salute to the 1965 world series against the Dodgers. Pictures of Sandy Kofax pitching and one with him and Harmon Killabrew together.. A headline announces “Dodgers Sweep Twins in Two”.
And at the end of the isle, a true find. “The Beatles”. Photos of the Beatles from obviously their first or second US tour with Mr. Crump sitting on a cot next to each of the Beatles separately. (What were they doing on cots and what was he doing on the cot with them?)
I go out and ask the clerk about the man in the photos.
He tells me about him. He started as a bat boy for the Washington Senators and followed them when they relocated to The Twin Cities. He worked for them in various capacities through the years and started this store. He developed a hobby of meeting celebrities when they came to town. His connection to the tema gave him easy access and over the years it lead to other fields of interest, actors and county music artists.
I asked about the Beatles. The clerk said that when the they came to town to play there was concern about ptting them up in local hotels because of all the “Beatle-mania that had followed them throughout the states and since they were playing at the Ice Hockey arena next door to the stadium they put the boys up in the visiting teams locker room. Hence the cots.
I mentioned that Mr. Crump seemed to have had and interesting and fulfilling life. The clerk agreed. “He’s my dad.” he said with a little bit of pride in the words. This is a family business. And it was obvious that doing what you love, whatever that might be, is as good a road to happiness as anything else.
http://www.domeplus.com/Museum/index.htm
I had wanted to go to a gallery called “Louvre it or Leave it”. I liked the pun but not the parking. So I took a picture of the outside of the building where it was supposed to be and moved on.
Next was to find the Stone Arch and locks
These are very old stone works along the Mississippi River in the old warehouse district. A dam on the river provided power for the factories and the locks allowed navigation of the waterways. Old Mills and breweries and factories looked down from their purchases above the river course like old vultures or guarding sentinels. A family of ducks parades by unimpressed by their austere loomings. The water is wet…ant they’re ducks. They have what they need.
And with some photo snap page, so do I.
The ducks may not have been impressed…but I was. I am only human after all.
There is a big bridge across the river…so I have to stake it. I’l also getting low on gas so I think I’ll search for that on the other side.
I’m finding a lot of BP gas stations and for what they did in the Gulf they are on permanent boycott by me…like…forever! (Hence the permanent thing.)
I drive for miles further that I wanted to. I go into a University of Minnesota neighborhood and find a wifi spot and look for cheap (Non BP) gas. It’s just a few blocks away at a Kwik Stop. I go there and there’s a Panera Bread shop nearby so I get more of my internet communications done as evening starts to set in. I’m searching all around for cheap tent camping near the twin cities. I’m trying to arrange an interview and will leave tomorrow for Northfield so I would like to stay close and have a direct line south it possible.
At the end of the day, as the saying goes, going back to Victoria was the cheapest option. So I did that.
I set up camp in the daylight and took Mischa…check that, Mischa too ME on a walk. We explored much of the local flora and fauna. At one point Mischa seemed determined to head further down further down a dark muddy pathway. I nixed that and tried to head us both towards the sunny beach area…until I saw the sign “Pets not allowed on the beach”. Well, Then, I wouldn’t go on the beach either!
I went to pay for the nights camping and stopped to fill my water jugs. After bother were filled (from a drinking fountain) I notice a funny smell and a light discoloration to the water. I sipped it. Gasoline! Are they doing “fracking” nearby? I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was ignitable. After a sip, I spit it out and emptied the contents of both jugs. I may have to go back into town 3 miles way for water!
As I got to the pay station I saw a water pump! Huzzah! I can fill up here and stay in camp.
I filled one jug. Same story. In to town I went.
I stopped at a gas station for just a little more internet work - I posted a few things and then the lights went out. At the gas station. It was suddenly 10 pm and I had never gotten in to the station to get more water.
I drove over to the local store and a man was standing next to the door in the process of closing.
“Does the whole town close at 10pm?” I asked?
“We do, but what do you need?” he asked
“Water”
“C’mon in,” he offered, “I still have a customer inside”
I never saw the other customer, but got the jug of water…and a bag of tortilla chips…I wanted to make it worth the man’s time and kindness.
I was the only one in the store and he’d delayed his getting closed and home just to help me get some water. And he seemed gracious and unrushed about it. Like he was glad to do it. Remarkable.
But only in the since that I’ve seen an absence of that in recent years, but I’ve enjoyed an abundance of it along the Journey. Remarkable in that I think that kind of kindness and consideration to a stranger is second nature to most of us at our best selves. And that we’ve been strangers to our “Better natures” for far too long.
Back at camp I’m writing in the tent, then listening to another Dresden Files book winding down to sleep.
Across the way a couple (or is it a couple of couples - hard to tell) are sitting around the fireplace drinking and talking. A male is cussing and being generally loud. (This is going to be a fun night!)
Later in the evening I hear different sounds. I think of scenes in tents from Little Big Man and Dances with Wolves.
I think of a Paul Simon song “the couple in the next room, bound to win a prize”.
I hear the man loudly ejaculate “DAMN! I meant to save that!”
Speculation could last years as to what, precisely, he was referring to.
I only cared that things were quieter after that.
I woke to a sunny day in the morning and packed up the tent to head off. I was gone around 8am.
The couple has not left the tent this morning. Sleeping in late I suppose after last nights exertions.
Just as well to avoid awkward meetings of eyes.
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