Went to See Arlo

Arlo Gutherie was performing at Bayfield, WI so Kathy and Jim Young plus myself decided to see the performance. We left my place early afternoon of July 7th. Had lunch at an A&W restaurant in La Crosse, WI; proceeded on to our destination of Eau Claire, WI where we had reservations at the Best Western Trail Lodge. That evening we had dinner at the Green Mill restaurant; food was good. Next day, we checked out of our lodging and continued our way to Bayfield. We made a liquor and lunch stop in Ashland, WI.; lunch was at the Deep Water Grill. The food at the grill was excellent with a great atmosphere. Continued on to Bayfield where we checked into our lodging, the Seagull Motel. My room had a view of Lake Superior. After settling in, Jim and I drove into town for some exploring of Bayfield and their shops. Returned to the motel and had a drink on the deck which offered a fantastic view of the lake. That evening we had dinner at Maggie’s, a restaurant with lots of flamingos displayed because it was located right across from the Flamingo Park. For the first time in my life, I had whitefish livers for my meal; before any of you gag, they were quite tasty. Returned to the motel and had another drink on the deck before turning in for the night.

Part of Flamingo Garden

Part of Flamingo Garden

Three of us inside Maggie's

Three of us inside Maggie’s

On Thursday, we had breakfast at The Egg Toss Bakery Cafe where they served platters FULL of delicious food. It was then time for our Apostle Islands Cruise; the cruise lasted 4.5 hours and covered 57 miles of our weaving between and around the various islands. We saw lighthouses, fishing camps, sea caves, picturesque standing rock which is a resting place for seagulls and swallows, sail boats, kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, and lots of blue sky. It was a beautiful day and the boat captain was very informative of the history and stories regarding the islands or its past occupants.

Standing rock with seagulls

Standing rock with seagulls

Sea caves, lighthouse, keeper's quarters

Sea caves, lighthouse, keeper’s quarters

Lighthouse and quarters on Raspberry Island

Lighthouse and quarters on Raspberry Island

Enjoying the ride

Enjoying the ride

Fishing boat with seagulls hovering

Fishing boat with seagulls hovering

After the cruise, we had lunch at Greunke’s First Street Inn. This inn is a bed and breakfast that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is the former LaBonte House built in 1863. After lunch, we “stumbled” across a small park which featured old boats, pond with metal sculptures of children, and beautiful beds of flowers.

One view of the park

One view of the park

Pond view

Pond view

Fire fly

Fire fly

Before leaving for the concert, we spent time on the deck talking and watching the view. We decided to have dinner at the venue so we drove to Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, a non-profit performing arts organization. This is the nation’s only all-canvas tent theater and it seats 900 people. As we were eating at one of the picnic tables, we talked to a couple from Minneapolis who recommended we have breakfast the next day at the Delta Diner which was featured on television series “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives”. After eating and shopping for souvenirs, we entered the tent and waited in anticipation for Arlo Guthrie. He is an American folk singer who, like his father Woody, is known for singing songs of protest against social injustice. Guthrie’s best-known work is “Alice’s Restaurant”, a satirical talking blues song about 18 minutes in length and celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The canvas tent

The canvas tent

Inside the tent

Inside the tent

Arlo and his band

Arlo and his band

Arlo did not disappoint us with stories of his musical career which started when he was 18 years of age. Tom would of thoroughly enjoyed the performance; there were times when Arlo was singing, I could hear Tom singing right along while bouncing to the music. It was a great night ending with a drink on the deck back at our lodging.

Friday morning I walked the trail along Lake Superior into Bayfield for a cup of coffee.

Scene from the walking trail

Scene from the walking trail

Backside view of our lodging

Backside view of our lodging

The three of us gathered around 9:30, packed the vehicle, checked out, and headed to Duluth with hopes of a stop at the Delta Diner for breakfast. We did find it…along with many other folks. We were added to the waiting list and was told it could be up to 45 minutes; however, it was much shorter than that and we were seated to an unique breakfast experience. A couple things of interest about the diner; it is a restoration of a 1940 Silk City Diner and it has a “no tip” policy with increasing the prices on the menu by 20% so personnel are making at least $15.60/hour. One other thing is they do not hand out menus; the listing is posted on a board and your waitress or waiter goes through each item with the customers without looking at written notes.

Outside view of the diner

Outside view of the diner

Kathy and Jim happy with the place

Kathy and Jim happy with the place

Inside the diner

Inside the diner

We arrived in the Duluth area and drove north up the shoreline to Two Harbors where we viewed the iron ore docks, an historic tugboat Edna G. built in 1896, and the light station museum. The iron ore docks process 10,000,000 tons annually with trains, full of taconite or ore, down load in hoppers and chutes drop down the product to the hull of boats. In 1885, because of the volume of ore being processed through Agate Bay, the Vessel Owners Association and the US Lighthouse Service recognized the need for a navigational aid at the bay. Thus authorization was granted by the US Congress to a build the light station. The station was fully automated in 1981 which eliminated the need for a keeper in residence. Congress passed an act in 1999 which gave the station to the Lake County Historical Society; the society opened a B&B as means to generate funds to maintain the facility.  It is the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota.  More information can be found at Two Harbors Lighthouse.

Two Harbors Lighthouse and B&B

Two Harbors Lighthouse and B&B

Edna G. and one of three ore docks in background

Edna G. and one of three ore docks in background

Fishing boat built in 1939

Fishing boat built in 1939

 Twin aerobeacons

Twin aerobeacons

Upon returning to Duluth, we checked into our lodging and then headed down to the water front for viewing the Aerial Lift Bridge. Originally built in 1905, the bridge was upgraded in 1929–30 to a vertical lift bridge, which is rather uncommon, and continues to operate today. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1973. The bridge can be raised to its full height of 135 feet in about a minute, and is raised approximately five thousand times per year allowing freighters, cruise ships, sail boats, etc. to pass through. We had dinner by the bridge at a place called “Grandma’s Grill; it had good food and service but, due to the number of people, it was a little loud. After dinner, we drove through downtown Duluth where we saw many old, beautiful buildings plus some great views of the waterfront. Got back to our lodging about 8:30.

Aerial Bridge lowered

Aerial Bridge lowered

Bridge rising for ship

Bridge rising for ship

Old school which is now a senior center

Old school which is now a senior center

Hazy Duluth view from the hilltop

Hazy Duluth view from the hilltop

Saturday morning we packed the vehicle, checked out, and headed for breakfast. Jim had asked at the front desk a good place to eat and they recommended “The Sunshine Cafe” which turned out to have awesome food and service. We then proceeded to head south and home. Had lunch at Culver’s in Clear Lake and arrived home about 5:00 PM; the outside temperature was hot so it felt great to enter an air conditioned house with happy cats greeting me.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

September 19 – 21:  My friends, Mary and Joe, and I decided to attend the 2014 Minnesota Renaissance Festival the week end of September 21/22.   If you have not heard about this festival, here is some history.  It began its journey in September of 1971 on a 22 acre field in Jonathan, MN. More than 25,000 people visited the two weekend grand opening of the festival than named “A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life!” That celebration has since relocated to Shakopee, MN and has grown to be the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 300,000. Organizers of the Minnesota Renaissance may consider moving a short distance south if the annual celebration of medieval life has to give up its current site. Its lease expires in 2016.  The owner of the annual festival is negotiating with the landowner to stay at the grounds where so many visitors to the staged village fair have watched jousting and eaten giant turkey legs.  The Minnesota Renaissance will remain where it is for at least three more years. There will be a festival in 2017 — whether it be at the current site or a new site.

We left on Friday, the 19th, and drove to Chaska, MN. via IKEA where we had reserved lodging at the Grand Stay Inn and Suites for Friday and Saturday night.  Our lodging was approximately 5 miles from the festival.  Friday evening we had a very enjoyable meal at Tommy’s Malt Shoppe which is next to the hotel.  After dinner, we went to our respective rooms where I answered email and watched the special on public television regarding the Roosevelts; the last sequence will be shown on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, we met for breakfast in the hotel dining area.  After eating, we decided to take off to the festival even though we would arrive before the gate opened at 9:00.  I have been many times to this festival but, this year, the entrance was at the Queen entry instead of the King’s; a deep gravel pit has replaced the open space where thousands of visitors used to park their vehicles by the side of the King’s entrance so it is not accessible.   Once we entered the kingdom, we decided to walk all the way around the festival while keeping to the outside wall.  Besides having stalls of people selling their wares, there was entertainment on the stages along with many of the visitors dressed in costume of medieval time.

At the Queen's Entry

At the Queen’s Entry

The bouncing flame

The bouncing flame

Selling shoulder animals that are furry and move

Selling shoulder animals that are furry and move

It's a family affair

It’s a family affair

The first entertainment we watched on stage was called Puke & Snot. Their act was opened by a musician called Monkey Boy who did a fantastic job with music and humor. After his act, it was time for Puke & Snot who put their own spin “trademark brand of mock-Shakespearean vaudeville to audiences composed mostly of morbidly obese, turkey-drumstick devouring, semi-conscious yahoos.” Their act is audience-participation, and provides many hilarious and memorable moments! They started out at the 1975 Minnesota Renaissance and have performed at the festival every year since. Their comedy is cleverly disguised in Shakespearean Wit and Verse. It is not an act that I would recommend for families with young children.  But it is an act I remember from previous visits with my late husband who really enjoyed them.

Monkey Boy

Monkey Boy

Puke & Snot

Puke & Snot

More of Puke & Snot

More of Puke & Snot

After Puke & Snot, we wandered and came upon the Black Isle Belly Dancers. This group performs tribal fusion dance which is the modern form of belly dancing. They incorporate elements from both folk and classical dance styles. We did not watch their whole show because we came upon them when their show was almost over. The hardest decision of the day was where to get lunch; with over a 100 food vendors, it was difficult to choose. While having lunch, the parade of people participating in the festival came by.

The parade

The parade

Black Isles Belly Dancers

Black Isles Belly Dancers

Elephant ride anyone?

Elephant ride anyone?

It was now time to make our way to the joust track where full combat armored jousting was taking place. For those of you who do not know what jousting is, it is a martial game of the Middle Ages between two horsemen who use lances. The primary aim is to strike the opponent with the lance while riding towards him at high speed, if possible breaking the lance on the opponent’s shield or armor, or unhorsing him.

Parading down the track

Parading down the track

Time to mount up

Time to mount up

Armor adjustment

Armor adjustment

I'm on the horse; he's on the ground

I’m on the horse; he’s on the ground

After the jousting, we made our way to the stage where Cale the Juggler was performing. For those of you who do not know juggling, it is the manipulation of one object or many objects at the same time, using one or many hands. From the time of William the Conqueror, a ‘King of the Jugglers’ appeared at the court and would continue to appear through the Middle Ages. Whoever held this title had many rights to go with it. There is also a medieval legend of a juggler who, having nothing else to give, made an ‘offering’ of his juggling skills before a statue of the Virgin and Child in church. According to some variations of this story, the Madonna or Jesus caught one of the balls. This performance was going to be our last act of the day.

Turtle pulling wagon with beer barrel.

Turtle pulling wagon with beer barrel; notice the driver.

Cale is getting warmed up

Cale is getting warmed up

Playing with fire

Playing with fire

We decided it was time to go back to our hotel; our parking spot was quite close and we made it back to the hotel within 10 – 15 minutes (it took people over 3 hours to get back later in the evening). Our evening meal was a walk up the street to the Patron Mexican Restaurant. While eating, the sky opened up and there was a downpour of rain; we were glad to be inside! On our way back to the hotel, we stopped into Tommy’s for a hot fudge sundae; not something I needed but something I wanted. We went our separate ways and I watched the final installment of the Roosevelts on public television. Got up the next morning and, after breakfast, we headed home. What a wonderful week end! Thinking back brings a smile to my face.  A wonderful time with two beautiful friends; who could ask for anything more?

Enjoying Mexican food

Enjoying Mexican food