Fall Colors

I've put on a lot of miles on my old hiking boots this week, trying to enjoy the weather and get my mind thinking about other things besides politics and the news. I've walked up the new trail along the river in Nordeast Minneapolis, the Winchell Trail, Bohemian Flats, Cedar Lake and through Theodore Wirth. The fall leaves on the ground have been outstanding.

The Winchell Trail along the Mississippi River is so peaceful.

 

There are still plenty of green leaves in the shrubs and this Broad Winged Hawk stayed still long enough for me to get my camera out and get a picture.

These Prairie Coneflowers were still blooming near Bohemian Flats.  I noticed this flower on the Minnesota Wildflower website, but had never seen one before.  There are still a few die hard flowers blooming here and there along the roads where it's sunny.

I spotted one of the new kayak rentals along the river.  I think you reserve on line, get a code, open the locker and get the paddles and life jacket.  Next year.

Best new surprise of the week.  Someone installed swings under the pedestrian bridge that is near the 35W bridge.  That put a smile on my face and yes I stopped to have a swing just like a kid again.

Walk to Bohemian Flats

After walking about a mile down 2nd St South in downtown Minneapolis toward the 35W freeway you come to this nice little tunnel. (bikes and pedestrians only!)  It's the start of the Dinkytown Greenway and it takes you right under the freeway.  No graffiti here.  There are cameras everywhere.  On the other side of the tunnel is the 10th Avenue Bridge and an interesting display of art, junk, found objects.  What is it and why is it there?

It's all neatly arranged behind a fence.  It looks a little like a voodoo garage sale.  Several months back I remember seeing a newspaper article by Tim Spitzack in the Downtown St. Paul Voice.  He came across this on a walk and well, that's all I can remember.  Further research needed I guess.

 If you keep walking past Bluff Street Park and down to the river you will reach the Lower St. Anthony Lock and Dam.  The Upper Lock and Dam is closed to boat traffic but the Upper Lock still allows boat traffic through.  There's a nice view of downtown from here.

 

I found a good spot by the Lock and Dam for some trash collecting.  This area was in desperate need of some care.  It had all the usual stuff.  I didn't have enough bags with me for everything in this area.

Looking downstream toward the U of M, the new 35W bridge is sleek and clean compared to the old Tenth Avenue Bridge right next to it.  The 35W bridge was built in 2007 after the sudden collapse of the old bridge killing 13 and injuring over 100. The Tenth Ave Bridge was built in 1929 and seems like it is in desperate need of repair.  I've wondered why we need both of these bridges now and this MinnPost article tackles that question.    http://www.minnpost.com/minnesota-blog-cabin/2015/05/minneapolis-10th-ave-bridge-encapsulates-all-wrong-transportation-debat  One thing that is interesting about the new 35W bridge is that the design makes it very difficult to vandalize.  Those sloping columns don't make it easy to scale for someone with an itch to put their tag on it.  There is nowhere to anchor a rope and dangle from the underside of that bridge.

At the base of both of the bridges.

Keep walking downstream past the old Burlington Northern Bridge now turned into a Bike/Pedestrian Bridge.  Those faded words say North Coast Limited.  The NCL was one of Northern Pacific's passenger trains.  It was discontinued back in the early 1970's.

 Bohemian Flats was my destination for today.  Back in the late 1800's this space was home to 1,000 people living along the river.  There is no trace of their lives now except in the history books.  There is a good short description of life there at http://historyapolis.com/bohemian-flats/

Along the river I met Tim H. who was happy to show me his catfish catch.  I asked him if he eats the fish he pulls out and he said yes, some of it.

He showed me the gills of the one he had already caught.  They were pink and healthy.  If the gills are black then it has mercury poisoning.  Don't eat it, don't throw it back.  Kill it and put it in the garbage.