We spent some time this past weekend driving south along the Mississippi River. On a beautiful fall day we drove to Wabasha and helped some friends with their grape harvest. With the warm sun, the smell of grapes on our hands, beautiful scenery, and good friends and conversation we picked Marquette grapes for about seven hours. After a delicious dinner-feast (coupled with the best wine!), we drove further south to Winona and spent the night. I got out of bed early, anxious to explore a town I hadn’t been to before. As the sun rose on a beautiful morning, the old bridge crossing the Mississippi River was silhouetted against the clouds that were streaming across the sky. After a couple of hours the clouds increased, the sun disappeared, the wind came up, and it started to rain. Luckily we had indoor activities planned – a visit to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (a hidden gem, worth a good 2+ hour visit) and the National Eagle Center in Wabasha. It was a busy weekend, but one filled with new sights, good conversation, great company, and new adventures.
Wisconsin
Up north to the lake
“Up north to the lake” is the common weekend occurrence here, whether it’s a small lake or a big lake. And the biggest lake is Lake Superior. We spent the weekend in Ashland, Wisconsin, along the southern shore of Lake Superior. It was a perfect summer weekend — warm daytime temperatures, cooler nighttime temps, the lake close by, along with a special 4th of July celebration. We were treated to beautiful sunsets with calm waters that reflected the boats in the marina as well as the fireworks that were set off after dark. A perfect dose of summer relaxation!
36th annual American Birkebeiner ski race
The largest cross-country ski race in North America was held this past Saturday – the American Birkebeiner (affectionately known as The Birkie, the Boston Marathon of Skiing). A total of 7,461 skiers registered for the various races including the 50K Birkie Skate, 54K Birkie Classic, 23K Kortelopet, and the Prince Haakon 8K. With skiers from over 20 foreign countries and close to all 50 United States it is truly a festive event. This photo is from the race start in Cable, Wisconsin at the Telemark Resort. The course runs through the hills and forests of the area, and ends on Main Street in Hayward. Saturday was a great day for skiing (and for spectating — which is what I did). Temps were in the teens, with a light snow falling. We went to the start line to witness all the excitement and fun that precedes an event like this, then we made our way to Hayward and the finish line. Main Street is closed to traffic, snow is brought in to cover the street, and spectators line the course ringing bells and cheering on the skiers. My congrats to all the participants — I admire their training, their commitment, and their love of the sport; and to the volunteers and spectators who know how to celebrate and enjoy a beautiful winter day in central Wisconsin! For more information, check out www.birkie.com
Book Across the Bay on frozen Lake Superior
Valentine’s Day on frozen Lake Superior — what a great way to celebrate a winter’s evening! Chequamegon Bay is at the southwest corner of Lake Superior, surrounded by the towns of Ashland and Washburn, Wisconsin. For the past 13 years the residents of the area come together to celebrate the cold of winter with a ski and snowshoe race across the frozen bay — the Book across the Bay. This event is unique in that it begins at 6:30pm, and the course is lit by hundreds of frozen luminaries marking the route along the ice. The event draws over 2,000 participants skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking. This year’s route was changed at the last minute because of four days of warm temperatures and a big thaw. The snow that had covered the frozen lake became liquid, then froze again into a huge sheet of ice. The race organizers changed the course to a loop and spent hours “churning” the ice to lay a path that provided some traction for skiers and walkers. Their hard work paid off and it was a beautiful event, accompanied by light snowflakes. After crossing the finish line there was a huge bonfire to warm up at and a post-race party in a giant heated tent. Hay was scattered on the frozen ground and hay bales were stacked around the perimeter. Everyone was treated to a hot chili feed, delicious local beer, and dancing to a great live band. It’s a party of the best kind, and a delightful way to enjoy and appreciate our winter weather and scenery.
Last weekend’s photo exhibit – “Dress Rehearsal”
This past weekend I participated in an exhibit at the Minneapolis Photo Center titled “Dress Rehearsal.” I was one of six photographers displaying new work. The exhibit room was beautiful, the work being shown was diverse and interesting, and the people that attended had a grand time seeing a collection of unique photographs — a great success all around. This is one of my new images that drew a lot of attention. “Late night cafe” was photographed in Ashland, Wisconsin. The image was made at night, after the cafe had been closed and certainly cleaned. The floor, tabletops, and counter were all spotless, glowing with the reflection of the neon sign that hung behind the counter. Everything was poised and waiting quietly for the early morning staff to arrive, the breakfasts to be started, the coffee to begin brewing, and the hungry crowd to gather around the tables and counter to start their day once again.
lindastaatsphoto.com 