South Dakota (8/29/2017)

On my return home from Minnesota, I wanted to travel the back roads of South Dakota and visit the state capital, Pierre.  Despite several trips to the state, I had never been to Pierre, and I do like to photograph the various state capitol buildings whenever convenient.  The roads I traveled were in good condition with little traffic, allowing me to make good speed.  Alongside the highways, large fields of corn and pasture land were pretty much everywhere, with the exception of sunflower fields.  I stopped several times to attempt getting photographs of the sunflowers, but it was difficult to find fields where a large expanse could be seen.  The best opportunities came when the field was located on a hill rising from the road.  Even then, the sun's direction and objects in the scene made it a challenge to find the right perspective.

Pierre, a city of less than 15,000, was founded on the site of Fort Pierre, named for an early fur trader named Pierre Choteau.  He must have been a popular individual in those days, because I know of a small town  in Montana also named after him.  Upon arriving, I went straight to the capitol and took several photos, not only of the building, but also of the memorials to SD military veterans situated next to the lake below the capitol.

It would have been nice to stay longer and tour the capitol or explore the town a bit more.  However, I had a goal of reaching Badlands N P in time for sunset, and to stay there overnight for sunrise the next day.  Having visited Badlands twice before, I knew it can be very hot in the middle of a summer day, and that a good sunset or sunrise can add quite a bit to the photo opportunities.

As it turned out, I arrived at the park in plenty of time to get a few shots before sunset.  There was even time to have a steak dinner at Cedar Pass Lodge in the park before going out again.

The Badlands were formed about 75 million years ago when the area was located in the tropics near the equator.  Sand and silt were deposited by an inland sea and subsequently by rivers and streams after the entire area was uplifted.  In the past 500,000 years, erosion has sculpted the spires and pinnacles we see today.  The place is different every time you go due to continuing erosion by wind and rain.  The park has been one of the richest fossil excavation areas in the country, with such animals as alligators, camels, three-toed horses and many others having been found here.

Heavy cloud cover prevented the kind of spectacular sunset I was hoping for, but there was just enough color in the sky to warrant a few photos.

I got a room in one of the motels just outside the park and went to bed early, hoping the sunrise would be better.  However, the photos from the following day will have to wait for the next travelogue.

Sherburne Wildlife Refuge (8/27/2017) and Minneapolis (8/28/2017)

It seems to me that most people in the US are basically unaware of the National Wildlife Refuge System that was started by Teddy Roosevelt in 1903.  Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this system consists of 600 properties totaling more than 150 million acres.  This vast acreage is primarily for the protection of fish, wildlife and plants, but also allows for human visitation to a small degree.  Most of the land is accessible only on foot, although some roads are provided for vehicular traffic. 

Sherburne Wildlife Refuge is a 20,000 acre tract of both woods and wetlands established in 1965.  An auto trail, 7 miles long, enables limited access to a very small part of the refuge.  It appears the refuge is most heavily used during the fall migration season.  On the day of our visit, we spotted bald eagles, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans.  Any waterfowl present were able to stay out of view on the large lakes and ponds available to them.

A trip to downtown Minneapolis was intended to take a tour of the new Vikings Stadium, officially known as US Bank Stadium.  Unfortunately, because of a Vikings game the night before, tours were not offered on this day while cleanup was in progress.  We had to settle for a walk around the outside, watching as workmen used high-level lift equipment to replace some windows damaged since construction was completed.  The stadium's design is meant to mimic the prow of a Viking ship, and is certainly spectacular.

We consoled ourselves by making a run to Buster's On 28th, a pub once featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  As one might expect, the restaurant is located in an "eclectic" neighborhood featuring interesting shops and murals. 

Buster's is such a revered institution in the area, neighbors helped rebuild it following a fire that might have put it out of business.  The food is great and a wide selection of beers and wines is part of the appeal.  A few tables are available on the sidewalk, but we found it cozier inside.  Due to this favorable experience, I've added the "Triple D" website to my favorites so I can check out other colorful restaurants in my travels.

The afternoon included a quick visit to Fort Snelling, which is unfortunately also closed on Mondays.  However, it was interesting to learn that this fort was used in the US-Dakota (Sioux) War of 1862.  After the war, many Dakota leaders and warriors were imprisoned here.  More than 300 Sioux were convicted of killing civilians and sentenced to death.  President Lincoln pardoned all but 38, who were hanged in the largest mass execution in US history. 

St. Cloud, MN (8/25/2017)

St. Cloud is more than 160 years old and has a population of nearly 70,000.  Including the nearby communities in its metropolitan area brings the total population to nearly 200,000.  Straddling the Mississippi River, it is known for recreation areas that take advantage of its location.  However, it may be best known for the two beautiful gardens that lie along the river and attract thousands of visitors to walk the paths and admire the colorful plantings.

Munsinger Gardens occupies a 14 acre site that was once a sawmill, then a city park and garden, and finally improved in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration, a program designed to put people to work during the Great Depression while adding to the beauty of America.  With many large pine and oak trees, this garden specializes in shade-loving plants.  Its beauty includes ponds, fountains, a wishing well and a gazebo.  Many special events take place on these grounds, including untold numbers of wedding photographs.

Across the street and up the hill, the more open Clemens Gardens is home to sun-loving plants.  Started in 1986 by Bill Clemens as a gift to his wife, the 7 acre site now has six separate gardens, including a rose garden with more than 1100 bushes. There is a bronze statue of Bill and Virginia, who especially loved the gardens after she became confined to a wheelchair.  The couple donated the gardens to the city of St. Cloud.

Although it was very overcast, exploring the gardens made it a lovely day.