We had a few more days around the house with Lowe before he took off to the boy’s camp across the lake from Ouest. Here he is hanging out with his best buddy here at Grandma’s house, Joey.
Ali, Katy, Toni, and yet another dog whose name I’ll never remember.
Then another one goes off to camp.
Like with Ouest, I took Lowe up through Little Falls so he could see Grandma and Grandpas old business. They’d had some big storms the past week and the dam was absolutely ripping, so we stopped to admire the power of water for a bit.
After a long day’s drive which included multiple candy and milkshake stops along the way—because I’m a giant sentimental sucker—I said goodbye to Lowe and watched him march off for his two-week stint. Like Ouest, he didn’t betray a hint of nervousness about the prospect of ditching us. The little bugger.
Without kids around, we hit the tarmac on grandpa’s “backup” bike, and swung into North St. Paul to see some friends at Neumann’s—Minnesota’s oldest continuously operating bar. I only mention that because later in the week we hit a bar that’s a year older.
And I continued my pursuit of the big fish, alone.
Ali and I decided to try and find something to do with ourselves, so we drove down to Red Wing. Minnesota has an endless supply of nice little towns, most of which we’ve never done anything but drive right past on our way somewhere else.
We got a room at the beautiful Historic St. James hotel overlooking, “The ol’ Miss… the old man… deeeeeep riverrrrrr…” Sorry, it’s sort of required of me that I quote Clark Griswold whenever I see the Mississippi. The St. James hotel room ensured that we could give the Barrel House—Minnesota’s First Established Bar (1886)—a proper once over.
It’s no Neumann’s, but the owners were super friendly, the live music was good, and the beer was indeed cold, like the sign said.
We saw this drive past us and I don’t think we’ve ever been so jealous of someone else’s ride before. I honestly don’t know how people get excited about pimping out a Sprinter van for camping, when vans like this exist in the world.
Our friend Rich’s family gathers every 4th of July weekend at his grandma’s house. Rich was best man at our wedding, and we’ve known his family since we were kids, so it was nice to be invited to come by and see everyone. Turns out that Grandma loves Bumfuzzle. It was nice to see her, get the tour of the cabin, and hear all about how she and her husband bought the property back in 1960. Grandma really is the matriarch of a great family.
I have to keep digging through old pictures to remind myself that this beauty is waiting patiently for us in Mexico. We’ll get there right around the time the weather reaches the most dangerously oppressive of the year.
15 Comments on “An Empty Nest”
Wow Red Wing is really beautiful. It’s all so pretty up there in the summer, I guess it deserves to be after being so covered in snow at other times of the year. Y’all have fun!
If you haven’t read Rising Tide by John Barry, I think you’d enjoy it (Lower Mississippi River History)
Thanks for the recommendation. That reminded me of another book I read about the Mississippi years ago that I really enjoyed, called Old Glory, by Jonathan Raban. https://amzn.to/3ygnffj
Hey Pat, I enjoyed Old Glory and a few other books by Jonathan Rabat, you might find to be a good read as well.
Coasting
Passage to Juneau
Foreign Land
Driving home &
Hunting Mr. Heartbreak
After all there are those long days at sea just around the corner.
Cheers
After reading the last post, I ended up going back and reading some (well, a lot) of the start. The funny things were Pat saying he “hoped” there would be another thousand post. Then Ali saying a bad word and proclaiming never to do a transpac again. I guess crossing a ocean is just like giving birth (Deb would kick my butt for this comment). Time softens the pain. Can’t wait to read the future. I would bet things will be easier with more crew. They are growing so fast.
haha, I’m afraid to go back and read all the things we wrote about long passages. 🙂
The Rising Tide is a great book that tells a lot about the river, the great flood of 1927, and why so many Blacks moved to the North.
Did you get to see Ouest when you dropped Lowe off?
No, but he tried to catch a glimpse of her. It would have been a nice treat if they allowed a quick visit.
Following since 2010. Found your journeys researching Cats. Grew up summers on my grandparents 54ft dinosaur Cat (NAIA) in Dana Point. Been a Customs Officer since 2005. Spent many 18 hour days Nogales, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, El Paso, overseas SE Asia (South Korea and Taiwan) Yes, we CBP officers can sometimes be grumpy.. who doesn’t have a bad day here and there? We’re human, Long story short. I retire July 2028 and want your Cat when you and family done with circumnavigation. Cash.
haha, duly noted. You’ve officially got your name first on the non-existent list.
I knew ‘Bumfuzzle’ was a word, but I’ve never seen it anywhere except your blog until yesterday In the book WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. Thought you’d like that tidbit of info.
It was the first book Ouest picked up when she returned from camp, and she found it too! It’s next on my book list.
I absolutely cannot wait to read of your adventures on this beautiful boat. I also can’t wait to see photos after Ali turns it into a home. I guess with four cabins, the kids will have their own rooms for the first time in their lives. Not a bad thing, but the end of a lovely era. I’ve been along on your adventure since the beginning and I still get excited to see when there’s a new post.
Me, too, Betsy!
Awww thanks, Betsy (and Kathleen). I’m moving more slow on this boat with my organizing, making it our home. Not sure if it is the weather (crazy heat/humidity), or that I don’t have a Target down the street. This is our first boat not starting out in the States and easy shopping trips. It will get there.
And yes the kids first own rooms! They have the whole port (left) side – cabins on both ends with a bathroom in the middle.