Minnesota Trip - Day Ten and Home

(High Bridge, NJ - July 5, 2008) The final two days of the Minnesota trip were spent on the highways. The long trip wasn't difficult with two drivers -- Jan and I drove two-hour shifts. The weather was fine throughout, with only a few sprinkles on Saturday.

The Fourth of July was celebrated by watching three different televised fireworks displays -- from Washington, DC to New York to Boston. It amazed me to see the variation in the different locales, as though each region had its own theory as to what was an appropriate display.

The trip as a whole resulted in some good images which can be seen by clicking here. The pictures are fairly large, so be patient as they download.

This will complete the chronicle of this journey, but likely there will be occasional posts in the future.

Minnesota Trip - Day Nine

(LaPorte, IN - July 3, 2008) The journey home began this morning in Eagan, MN and ended tonight in LaPorte, IN where fireworks are being set off outside our hotel as I write.

Until we got to Chicago, the travel was fun and easy. We traveled through rolling countryside with crops growing and livestock dotting the fields. The trip around Chicago was grueling, partly because it was rush hour and the start of a long weekend, and partly because the Illinois Division of Highways conspired to create several long stretches of detours around construction.

We're grateful for a good night's rest and an Independence Day to celebrate tomorrow.

More to come....

Minnesota Trip - Days Five - Eight

(Eagan, MN - July 2, 2008) The days spent at the family lake house on Hammal Lake near Aitken, MN were great -- great weather, great fishing, great relaxation. We calculate that Jan and I caught at least 3 dozen fish, mostly Northern pike ranging from small to medium size. And each of us caught one bass which I am proudly holding.

When not fishing, we spent time enjoying the house (really a 50' house trailer) to which niece Heather and her husband Kyle recently added new carpeting and flooring in the kitchen/dining area.

Today we returned from the woods and spent a little time with brother Leonard and his wife, Jolene, at Hayfield, and back to Eagan in time to take my daughter Alissa to dinner at Luci Ancora in the Highland Park section of St. Paul. It was a terrific meal!

Tomorrow the trip back to New Jersey begins. More will follow...

Minnesota Trip - Day Four

(Eagan, MN - June 28, 2008) Today was the celebration of the 40th wedding anniversary of my sister, Barbara, and her husband, Jim Kelm.

The day started with ominous clouds and the promise of thunderstorms and rain. Jan and I filled the morning with a side-trip to the Indian Mounds State Park in St. Paul, MN. In her reading of 1491, Jan was made aware of the importance of the mounds as not only burial places but also gathering sites for the pre-Columbus natives. The mounds in St. Paul were good examples, and the view of the Mississippi River at St. Paul was spectacular.

The celebration was great and the weather cooperated. It brought together the four Rollins children, Leonard, Barbara (Kelm), Louise (Smith), and John, pictured above. Jim and Barb's daughters, Heidi, Gretchen and Rebecca hosted the event and gave their parents a wonderful tribute. Jan and I were honored to share the celebration.

Tomorrow we leave for the fishing lake. As Internet connection is practically non-existent in that area, the next chapters of this Chronicle will not appear for several days. But, more will come...

Minnesota Trip - Day Three

(Egan, MN - June 27, 2008) The trip from DeForest, WI on Interstate 94 took us through the Wisconsin Dells area, most recently hit by the above-normal rains. And we were able to check out the "lake that is no more" -- Lake Delton. Because of the rains, a levee which formed the lake was washed out, and the lake was drained in a matter of hours. The photo tells it all.

After a few more hours of driving, we arrived in the Twin Cities area. We headed directly to the Mall of America for some sight-seeing and shopping. The crowds were typical for a Summer weekday, but the Mall never ceases to amaze with its variety of offerings.

Tomorrow is the celebration of my sister's 40th wedding anniversary to be celebrated at their home in Red Wing. Again, more to come...

Minnesota Trip - Day Two

(DeForest, WI - June 26) The second day of the trip involved a little more than eight hours of driving, through stretches of flat Ohio farmland followed by the huge mills of northern Indiana and the crush of Chicago. The little video, taken by the Canon G5, gives a sample of travel on the Ohio Turnpike.

Along the way, we saw evidence of the over-abundance of rain the area has received. Some corn crops had areas where the plants had been drowned, and some had been planted late so the plants were much smaller than they should be at this time.

Our hotel for the evening is between Madison, WI and the Wisconsin Dells, in a part of the area just beginning to see commercial growth take over farmland, evidenced by a great cornfield right next door to our hotel. We've got the best of both worlds!

More comes tomorrow...

Minnesota Trip - Day One

(Richfield, OH - June 25) The first day of the Minnesota trip went smoothly. Google directions are great and Jan and I made good time as we crossed Pennsylvania via Interstate 80. The faithful Gran Prix is averaging 31 mph on the highway.

It looks as though the high price of gasoline has had an effect; there seemed to be fewer passenger cars on the Interstate and less congestion at the rest stops. Whether that means more people are using mass transit or just staying home remains to be seen.

I remain amazed at the beauty of God's creation as the scenery rolls by, and I rejoice that Jan and I have the time to share it.

More to come...