We just returned from a week in Minnesota. It was very chilly, damp, windy, and rainy. The sun did come out a few times, though.

I was more or less prepared. I think I wore every warm thing I packed, including long underwear, fleece, nanopuffs, and goretex. I took my waterproof Salomon hiking shoes and waterproof Naturalizer booties. (I returned the Aquatalias I bought in NAS when I bought these. I felt better about the money I spent.) Everything I brought was grey or blue. It was nice how everything worked together. I used packing cubes for small things. I liked that those things didn’t get lost in my bag.

Our trip was very casual. We visited our son and his girlfriend in St Paul, and also made a short visit to Duluth, birding along the way. In Duluth they said Lake Superior is the the biggest *and* the best. From our hotel room it looked like the ocean. We also saw what looked like tide pools, up the north shore.

We were staying right next to the channel connecting Lake Superior to the harbor. We watched the bridge go up to allow a nearly 1000 foot ship go through the channel. Duluth also has a bird observatory. It is a spot where raptors concentrate during their migration. We were a little late for the migration, but did see a few interesting birds, including a northern shrike which they banded and released. I also started my new career as an engagement/wedding photographer: a young man asked me if I would video him and his girlfriend at waterfalls near Duluth. He then proceeded to kneel and propose marriage! On our last day, we were at a museum near the Vikings’ stadium. Lots of people were wearing purple for the game, but this couple took it to another level, with their purple camo.

Bonus: Nordstrom’s at Moose Lake State Park.

Re “up north”: about 50 miles north of St Paul we saw a sign that said “up north starts here”. At the bird observatory, however, they said “up north” started way, way north of Duluth!

All comments welcome.