Walking in Port Washington

The sun woke me up yesterday morning around 7:30 AM. Nice to see bright sun and clear blue skies. I went to breakfast and then hit the road to Port Washington. I found the Dockside Deli without too much difficulty, but managed to fall up the steps from the street to the deck around the cafe. Customers inside saw me and almost rushed to my help, but I got up and went inside and assured them I was OK. Later I tried to figure out why I fell, and I think the rise of the steps was higher than I expected and my foot just caught about one inch below the actual step. (Update -- Feel better about my solution -- I'm watching Holmes Inspection on HGTV and he found a home that had the front steps at the wrong rise and that leads to falls. That's exactly what happened to me. We have it built into our mind-body coordination how high a rise of a step should be!)

I was soon away on the walk, electing to do a 5K after doing a 10 K yesterday.

The first part of the walk was along the dock area for the charter fishing boats. I thought the view of the church on the hill was lovely, but had the sinking feeling that I might eventually end up there and it did look like a climb.

The walk continued around a small park. One feature is a monument to fishermen -- yes, no mention of women who fish -- on the other hand I didn't see a single woman out fishing either.

Here's another view of this area.

The walk continued around the perimeter of a park area. In the middle was a monument to commercial fishermen.

Then the route went to fisherman's dock which was lined with men fishing. It seemed to me that fishing here is a serious business and serious recreation.

I found fish cleaning stations along the harbor area.

The walk route cross Sauk Creek at the point at which it enters Lake Michigan.

I walked parallel to the creek for about one kilometer seeing many bike riders along this route. The route went to the Union Cemetery, this for those who are doing walks under Spirit of Walking Cemetery Stroll Special Programs.

Then it headed back towards the center of the town going past the Teed/Eghart House. This house was built between 1870-1872, and remained a private home until 1969. Now it is a museum, but open only on Sundays during the summer tourist season.

By now I had completed 3K, but the next 2K went up and down in a significant way.The information about this walk was quite clear that it included stairs, but I didn't quite understand what was in store.

The map for the walk explained that Port Washington is built on seven hills with many streets being connected by stairs.

Here's the first steps up -- all 79 of them!

At the top I turned right for about 50 feet and then it was 59 steps down on a set of stairs set at a right angle to those I had just walked up.




Then I went by the Ozaukee County Courthouse and really back into the business district.

Turning on Franklin Street and found the following on my route map:
"Ascend the 85 stairs to St. Mary's Church."  This church, built in 1884, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The stairs were actually fairly easy to climb, the rise was just right.

The church is French-Gothic, quite impressive with three beautiful doors. Here's one of them.

The route continued around a retired light house.

And since I was very much on top of a hill the lake view was very nice, too.

And of course, next were steps down -- 102 to be exact.

From the bottom of the stairs I found my way back to the Dockside Deli where I had a sandwich. If this place was in my home town I'd be there a lot. The food is very, very good!

Walking in Cedarburg

I came to Cedarburg, both to enjoy this lovely town and to do the 10K Volksmarch here.

I picked up the map on Thursday evening and discovered at about its half way point is ended up back basically back at the hotel. So I decided to break it into two pieces.

I was out the door about 7 AM and oh no! Rain drops! The route went west a bit taking me by public buildings such as the public library and the police station. Then it headed back to Washington Avenue, one of the main streets in Cedarburg. The route headed north up and around Centennial Park. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had it not been raining. Then back to Washington Avenue.

I walked by the former Woolen Mill building, now an area called Cedar Creek Settlement, full of shops. The sign on the building explained this had been the only mill west of Philadelphia which made worsted woolen, a product in much demand for military uniforms during the Civil War.

At the Interurban Bridge Area the route got more interesting, even in the rain.

There once was an interurban train that ran between Milwaukee and Sheboygan. The trail is now for hiking and biking. I liked this view "up creek."

These are very old buildings and would have been seen by all who rode the train.

The route curved along the creek by the fire station and then across another bridge, and I was back at the hotel.


Indeed after walking for an hour in light rain, breakfast sounded very good.

I lingered for awhile because it looked as if the rain was ending. Yes! I went back to the point where I had left the route and continued along Cedar Creek in a park area. I liked this view of creek, now below the dam.

I continued on through an area of new houses, but it's still wild country. If you look carefully you can see wild turkeys walking between the trees.

The route continued on through a cemetery, a landmark for those doing the special program (see Walking Port Washington above).

The map said the next part was Beech Park. I was expected green spaces such as those I had enjoyed before, but got a surprise. Beech Park is a forest.

About mid-way through I found signs that neighborhood kids perhaps are having fun.

Out of the forest and a couple of turns took me by a Starbuck's where I stopped for a cappuccino. Then up the street again and by the St. Francis Borgia Church.

The sky obviously continued to be a bit stormy. This church marks the southern end of the historic district. Soon I was back to the hotel for a rest.

In the early evening the sun came out and I did a short walk through the route by the hotel in order to get some better pictures than I could get in the rain.

Here's the grist mill in the evening sunshine.

The mill was built in the mid 1850s. The early European settlers were attracted to this area because the fall of the creek looked as if it would provide a lot of water power. At its peak operation this mill produced 120 barrels of flour daily. Now it is a commercial building.

Walking along the path by the creek I saw a scene new to me. Ducks were sitting on the lip of the dam. Never have seen something like that before.

 The ducks blend with the lip of the dam quite nicely, but if you look closely you can see they are there.

And here's a view of the creek from the Interurban Bridge in the early evening.

Cedarburg is certainly a lovely place for a walk -- and as noted in the first posting about this place, has a shop with great ice cream. A wonderful weekend in this area.

Finding Cedarburg -- Adventure in getting lost

I left Saint Paul yesterday about 8:30 AM with the destination of Cedarburg, WI. I have been wanting to come here for a very long time, to both see the town and to do the Volksmarch here.

I made a reservation at the Washington House Inn. On the web site for this bed and breakfast hotel one gets the warning that due to its address Mapquest and GPS systems do not work.

Here's how addresses are done here:

I made good time traveling across Wisconsin and made a new discovery too. When I drove out of the range for Minnesota Public Radio I turned my car radio to the satellite service and while tuning around on it I discovered World Radio Network. Well, actually what took my eye faster is that the radio digital display said Polish News, only later did I learn I was listening to World Radio Network. I listened to Polish News for nearly an hour having great fun learning about new Soap and Dirt Museum in Bydogosc -- (I know written very poorly with my American keyboard) as well as tour through the castle in Lublin, a place I visited in June. Then the next hour the news came from the Czech Republic, then Slovakia, the Ireland, and the last I was listening to was about the work of psychiatric nurse in New Zealand who is trying to understand cultural perceptions about mental illness.

I was within 5 miles of what should be my turn off to Cedarburg when suddenly Hwy 60 was substantially detoured because of road construction. To make a long story short, when I got back to Hwy 60 I never found the expected turn into Cedarburg. Finally when I thought I had driven way too far east, I backtracked and took a county road south that went parallel to I-43. I pulled into a gas station and asked directions. I was told to go to the next intersection and then go about 2 miles west. That was working out OK until I hit another piece of road construction and got forced off onto a side street. I found myself right by a public library, so I went inside and asked the reference librarian for assistance. She was so helpful and in about 15 minutes I finally found myself at the B & B.

My room is the one withe two windows on the top floor right as you look this photo. The business district of Cedarburg is a historic district. Most of the buildings are made of pale yellow limestone blocks.

My room is lovely.

I took a walk in the immediate area and found many interesting things. How about these apples?

I found some puzzles in a toy store that will be wonderful for teaching English.

And I went into the Penzey's Spice Store just because I've never done that before -- even though there is one in Saint Paul.

I thought about the fact that my cinnamon bottle was getting empty. Where is the cinnamon? Oh maybe here?

Now it was time for the Social Hour at the B & B so I walked back and enjoyed this.

The wine was a locally made one, blush with some cranberry. One glass was fine, but I wouldn't buy a whole bottle. Well, it will be fun to try something different this evening!

I went out to do some more exploring.

The movie theatre was opening up, but Spiderman didn't take my interest.

I liked this display in an antique lighting store. A chandelier in a wheelbarrow -- not something we see every day!

Later I went next door to the Chocolate Factory for a bit more to eat.

I got a nice sandwich.

And then I got a junior Chocolate Factory Special Sundae.

This is the best ice cream I've had since leaving Pecs. Miss Hungarian ice creams very much!

Walking Around Lake Nokomis

On Saturday afternoon I did a 6K volksmarch around Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis is one of three within the city of Minneapolis on which it is possible to sail a boat. There are also two free swimming beaches. The Lake Nokomis park has 405 acres with half of that being water. This lake was originally name Lake Amelia when European settlers arrived. In 1910 it was renamed Lake Nokomis after the grandmother in Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha.

The walk began at a Caribou Cafe. From there I walked along Minnehaha Creek until 22nd Avenue where I found the E. Lake Nokomis Trail. The trail went under large trees much of the time -- and thank heavens, because the day was a bit warm. (In fact because the unusually warm weather we are having right now, the Minneapolis Park Board is leaving all the pools open through the weekend of September 9, whereas they usually close this weekend.)

Here's a view of the lake.

The walk continued across Cedar Avenue to West Nokomis Parkway where I walked around the lagoon. Then I crossed back again to the south side of the lake and was delighted to find an Art Walk.

The first piece I found is called Recyled Deer.

 The artist is Albert Belleveau. He made this sculpture from motocycle gas tanks as well as car and bike parks.

Down the trail I found this.

It is obviously a painted log. Its name is Tardigrade and Whirling Euglena. I was stumped until I read the explanatory sign and learned these are names of colorful aquatic plants important in the habitat of Lake Nokomis. The artists, Christopher Sutton and Sreekeshen Nair, explain they do their sculptures with recycled materials including recycled paint.

I found a couple of empty pedestals for all of these pieces of art are for sale. The last I found is called Baying at the Moon; the artist is Deb Zeller.

A bit later I found an area that is called a Monarch Butterfly Waystation

And within about another 15 minutes of walking I was around the lake and back at the start point. A very pleasant walk that I will repeat again.

Minnesota State Fair Adventures

I've not been to the fair for years. Having grown up in farm country, I liked fairs for the agricultural reason they began. This state fair is regarded by most urban dwellers as a big eating opportunity. But my older daughter wanted to go, and with her disabilities she can't go alone, so I used my new somewhat  "retired" state to take her on Friday.

We took a free, courtesy bus from her neighborhood. This sure beats dealing with the traffic and having to pay big bucks to park when one gets there.

My daughter said what she wanted to do most was see horses, so we headed in that direction. We were too early to enter the coliseum where the horses were being judged, so we went across the street to see the sheep and goats.

This baby goat took my eye. Look at the size of the ears on this breed!

Somewhere in the morning we also visited the cow barn. I grew up on a dairy farm and remembered the process of milking. I was astonished to find out it is now possible to milk cows with robots.

There is a huge informatics program behind this -- keeping track of both milk production as well as what each individual cow eats. It amazes me we can do this with cows, but yet we still have health professionals unwilling to give up their paper records for the management of health concerns.

We watched some horse judging and then went over the crop building. One of the interesting exhibits was the bee-keeping area. Here are two things made from bees wax.

Looks like eggs, but made entirely of bees wax.

And how about Bee-ch Vollyball.

In this area were also exhibits of foods made using honey for the sweetener. I took a picture of a pie just to have a picture of what pie really is when I teach English. The Hidden Pictures books often have slice of pie as one thing for the kids to find, but when there isn't pie in the culture, this is somewhat a mystery.

So here's pie:

I've never seen it in Central Europe, although in Hungary there is a sweet with a name that translates to apple pie but it looks nothing like this.

On the other hand what we call cheesecake may not be recognized by anyone from Poland as sernik.

One of the Minnesota traditions is selecting a young woman to be Princess Kay from the Milky Way. This woman must come from a dairy farm and then serves as an ambassador for the milk industry. The tradition includes sculpting her in butter. This year all the candidates got their head sculpted.

 Minnesota farmers are trying hard to diversity their crops into new areas. I found purple corn from a grower in Lamberton.

And a company nearby is using this corn to make purple chips.

We wandered back to the coliseum for the High School Rodeo. I've never been to a rodeo and enjoyed all it except for the man who was selected to be MC. Apparently announcing at rodeos is his specialty, but he was from South Carolina and there definitely was a cultural mismatch. He thought it was all right to pepper his commentary with jokes about union workers and women.

Above is one of the competitions.

After the rodeo we walked back to the Creative Arts building. One thing that caught my eye was this religious head dress.

How many hours must this have taken? It is an incredible piece of work.

Found these fun shoes.

Next to this is the Education Building. Here I found work from high school students. I liked this dragon made from plastic picnic materials.

After this we wandered back to the parking lot and got lucky. We waited less than 5 minutes for a bus back to the neighborhood where I had left my car.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour through the Minnesota State Fair.