A refreshing vacation, as always, though this year's "relief" was less intense than years' past when my days were dictated by late nights, schedules and punch lists lodge work demanded. Not that I’m slacking in the sense that I'd like to be, but that the day job pretty much occupies my waking hours. With that in mind, the Minnesota trip was bliss. With bags packed we started with our traditional route up old 218 to Owatanna, then to 35 to make up some time for our late start. The state highways were smooth and open for business and the weather, perfect. All we needed now were detailed maps of the state, something not readily available in paper form. But what was this? The iPad to the rescue.
To say it was useful would be an understatement. Not only were we tracking our movement in real time on the google-based map application but streets right down to residential were right there at a "pinch and zoom" while our location dot tracked nearby. Knowing there once was a DI in St. Ansgar, I pulled up safari, found an article released in 2008 about a vinyard on the old DI property, pulled up an address, loaded the maps and directed a change of course as we entered town. This was not just any drive-in, but a fly-in drive-in. The grounds had all been turned to vinyard but the concession stand remained as an outbuilding and the owners have taken to showing DVD movies on a 16x16 screen of their construction, even going so far as to create a retro-themed sign at the road with marquee of what's playing. A chat with a family member there filled us in on the details. From there, back on the road, but again, a problem. Entering Austin the 90 west ramp was closed. There was road in front of us but not on the paper maps. A quick check of the map app and it turns out it was a shortcut over 90 that we've always taken. Nice.
We soon found the backroads were a better choice than 35, which reached a standstill as we neared Burnsville. We could see the next exit from our position in gridlock and bailed when we got the chance. As Cara drove, I plotted through side streets and rural drives with an eye on a new route. We worked our way through Shakopee, Hutchison and various townships west of the cities, then up 22 through Litchfield, and eventually 71 north. All the while, never back-tracking or losing ground thanks to our new navigating device. It came in equally handy on our return trip thanks to its real time traffic mapping (green, yel and red on major interstates) and once again paid for its self when we hit a standstill heading south just north of the cities near Brooklyn Park. A quick exit and reroute to Ikea, Macy's and Harbor Freight was pie.
But what of the north?
Gorgeous weather, not a worry in the world. Stuffing ourselves silly with all the home cooking. Boating on the lake. Piloting the Suburban. One of the longest and most well-done fireworks shows I've seen in person. Shopping...in town, at the transfer station, and of course MN liquor stores. While the Stroh's and Grain Belt Light in bottles was tempting, it was the Hamm's and Special Export that made the cut. "Special Export, just like Old Style, but in a green can!" In retrospect, I should've picked up a case of Hamm's Special Light, but the couple cans I brought home will have to do. A couple drive-ins were photographed and will make it to the archive list. Some plumbing work completed, too.
As always, too short. Each night testing Cara and my will to make it past midnight with aggressive games of dominoes with the fam. We spent the final afternoon at the parents' place on Leech Lake where Brittni and the brother in law had been staying. An excellent boating venture out, followed by bocce ball and lasagna.
This could quite possibly be the last visit to the grandparents given their house is on the market and things are being sold off. Kodachrome was shot and Cara gave her new birthday camera a good break-in. And so another 4th passes, and I suppose it's downhill from here. On the way home I caught the tail end (okay, 10 seconds) of a Buffet song, Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude, and was reminded, as I had been a couple times earlier in the week, of two things. 1) It was as if it had been literal years since I had worked my day job. 2) Being so far removed from my routine allowed me to see outside my created reality. Of course, now the window begins to close.
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