Arizona Trip July 2026 - Day 1, Part 1: Heading Out

 Monday, July 6, 2026 

Our flight left around 7:30 this morning. In the above photo, if you squint, you can see the downtown Minneapolis skyline. 

Here's an enlargement. 

Here we are shortly after take off. You can see the shadow of the plane as we approach IKEA.

Looking north. IKEA's in the center. 

Mall of America

And away we go...

Time for a Bloody Mary. 

Over Arizona.

Cottonball clouds above Arizona. 

Announcement made that we'd be starting our descent. 

Almost there. 

About to suck the luggage out of the plane. We made it.

Arizona Trip April 2026 - Day 9

 Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Home by the 4 o'clock hour and had a cigar lit up to celebrate by 5. 

The Return

I had school the day after getting back from California. I took this picture on my morning walk.

Trip to Colorado 2011 - Monday August 1

Monday

8-1-11

Got on the road this morning at about 8:00 a.m. Stopped at a gas station in Casey, IA around 9:20 and picked up some Diet Coke. As we were about to enter the gas station a little old man who must have been in his 80's shuffled out and said good morning. He had on a plaid shirt, khaki pants and a baseball cap. I've seen this look on guys this age as we've traveled through Nebraska and Iowa. You won't find this look on men too much younger than this fellow. I find it to be rather endearing.

After a few other stops including lunch, our final break was at the Straight River rest area in Minnesota. We made it home around 3 p.m. It was a fabulous vacation but, as always, it was sure wonderful to be home.

The top photo was taken in Casey, Iowa. The bottom photo shows our final stop before reaching home.

Second Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Day One

Friday

6-9-11

Gary and Warren picked me up just before noon and we hopped on 35W going north. Next we got onto Highway 8 going east and stopped at Eichten's which is not too far outside of Lindstrom, Minnesota. Crossed the Apple River and then picked up Highway 63 going north in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. I remember having a blast inner tubbing on the Apple River as a kid. There's a casino in Turtle Lake and we noticed that Lynyrd Skynyrd was soon to play there. We got to Madeline around 6pm and briefly crossed paths with Dale as he was leaving to take the ferry to Washburn, WI for work. Gary, Warren and I had cocktails at the apartment and then went to to Beach Club for dinner.

Photos from top: 1) Eichten's Mouse

2) Eichten's Bistro and Market 3) The Beach Club as seen from the Madeline Island Ferry

First Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Part 4 More Photos

Sunday

6-20-11

Photos from train museum at the Duluth Depot.

Top to bottom:

1. Mail car.

2 & 3. Dining car.

4. Model of old rail

way building.

5. Caboose.

First Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Part 3 Photos

Sunday

6-20-11

Photos from the train museum at the Duluth Depot.

Photos from top to bottom:

1. Engine

2. The inside of the museum had building that recalled early Duluth.

3. The snow plow car was attached to the front of the engine to clear snow.

4. Misabe logo.

5. Little red caboose, chug, chug, chug...

First Trip to Madeline Island for 2011 Part 3

Sunday

6-20-11

Dale was given some time off and drove back home with me. We followed Alyn, Chris and Ellis to Superior and had lunch at Culver's. We then headed to Duluth and saw the train museum at the Depot. There was a lot to see. Ellis particularly enjoyed it because he loves trains. I really enjoyed it because my grandpa on my Mom's side worked for the Misabe Railroad. The Depot is no longer a functioning depot but houses and arts center and museums. The building was built in 1892. I remember Mom and Dad sending Sam and me up to Duluth in the late 1970s when Amtrak was still running trains up to Duluth. We'd go up to visit Baba and Grandpa in Two Harbors but they picked us up in Duluth as that was the end of the run. I loved that the two of us could be on our own. Mom and Dad gave us money to buy snacks. The dining car was more a snack shop as the run was only a few hours. We could buy things like pop, pizza, chips, etc. We'd eat the pizza at the tables in the dining car but bring things like chips and other snacks back to our seat. I remember Grandpa waiting for us on the platform when the train pulled into the Depot.