Beautiful Minneapolis

You do not have to visit exotic places, or stray too far from your own doorstep, to find beauty. Here are pictures I took from the passenger seat of Judy's car on our way to and from Church this morning. I think they show the beauty of Minneapolis as it displays the varied fall colours.

Day at Stumphouse Tunnel

On Sunday Adam and Sara Beth took us on a picnic to Stumphouse Mountain. Stumphouse Mountain is rich in American history and folklore. It is close to Issaqueena Falls – a beautiful 200 foot cascade on Cane Creek in the Stumphouse Tunnel Park northwest of Walhalla in South Carolina.

Beautiful South Carolina countryside on the way to Stumphouse mountain

Another beautiful sunrise

Legend has it that an Indian maiden, Issaqueena, rode to the nearby fort to warn of a pending Indian attack and then escaped from pursuing Indians by pretending to leap to her death over the falls, but actually hiding beneath them. Near the Falls is Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel. The tunnel was started in the early 1850s as an attempt (unsuccessful) by the railroads to burrow though 1.5 miles of solid granite mountain, hoping to link Charleston to the Midwest. After 6 years of chipping and drilling with hand tools and black powder, lack of money and the Civil War brought work to a halt. Most of the workers were Irish immigrants that were following their dreams to America. They worked twelve hour days, six days a week with only sledge hammers, hand drills and powder.

Joseph enjoying the day at Stumphouse Mountain

Well, that was a long time ago, Stumphouse Mountain was much kinder to us and we spend many hours in the glorious sunshine exploring the paths and walkways that wind their way through the picturesque mountaintop.

Judy on one of the the many bridges that crossed the Issaqueena brook

It was a terrific way to spend our second day in South Carolina. The children and adults alike had a great time; the picnic of roast beef and other meats Sara Beth prepared was delicious.

Joseph in a nice setting near Issaqueena Falls

Later we explored the uncompleted Stumphouse tunnel- and awe inspiring site as the following pictures illustrate.

Tom and Judy entering Stumphouse Tunnel

Inside Stumphouse Tunnel

Sara Beth, Kallsen and Parker

Judy and Kallsen enjoying the cool waters of the brook

Issaqueena Falls

First day in Clemson, South Carolina

Little village somewhere along our train ride

Judy enjoying breakfast on the train

The indomitable but kind hearted Gwendaline, our hostess aboard the Amtrak. She gave me a bear hug and her pen - as a souvenier - on our last encountger with her before arriving in Washington DC.

Tom aboard the Amtrak

Historical Harpers Ferry located at the confluence of Potomac and Shenandoah rivers on our way to Washington DC

Near Harpers Ferry

Shenandoah River

George Washington Monument, taken during our layover in Washington DC

Street scene Washington DC

Capital Hill, Washington DC

The best breakfast in town is at Betty's Hungry House Cafe. off Ram Cat Alley

Adam after he had met us from the train at Clemson

Sunrise over Keowee Lake

Keowee Lake

Judy in the early morning sunlight at Keowee Lake

Cumberland, Maryland

Right now I’m sitting in my sleeper car on board the Amtrak train Capitol Ltd. It is 10.10pm local time on Thursday 10 October 2007 and we are about 2 hours out of Chicago on our way to Washington DC.

Luggage lined up waiting for the taxi to take us to Minneapolis train station.

Judy ready for the trip

Washington DC is the next stop on our route to South Carolina and we will arrive there at approximately 1.30pm tomorrow. We left Minneapolis at 7.50am this morning and arrived in Chicago at 4pm where we had a 3 hour stopover before boarding this present train for Washington DC.

Tom enjoying the sights

Tom and Judy are occupying the sleeper next to me and we have just had a beautiful dinner. And we are now engaged in a late-night chat about the beautiful day we have had and the journey that lay ahead.

Judy on board our first Amtrak train - The Empire Builder

We are now in Cumberland Maryland and have been lucky enough to get an internet connection, so I am posting this for now while the connection lasts.

I will try and get on later and post some pictures taken on the trip so far, if I am unable to post them now.

Judy, Tom and I have now arrived at Washington DC. We have a 4 hour stopover before we board our next leg of the trip to Clemson South Carolina. The good news is though that we have managed to get on our computers in the VIP lounge and are presently enjoying internet access.

Hope to be able to contact you soon again. In the meantime, I am posting some pictures which we acquired on the trip so far.

It is now 6.40pm local time and we will be leaving Washington DC in approx. one hour on the final leg of our trip.

Capital Hill half hour ago

A Stroll In The Parks

The weather here for the past few days has been exceptionally warm and sunny and we have had many opportunities to take advantage of this.

Thursday morning last, Judy took me to a beautiful park, called Centennial Lakes Park which is a 24 acre park and pond located in Edina, Minnesota.

Centennial Lakes Park scene

Judy enjoying the sunshine during our visit to Centennial Park

Centennial Park is one of those places where you can spend many relaxing hours walking around the beautifully laid-out pathways and walks that encircle the man-made lake.

Centennial Lakes Park

Later we had lunch at a restaurant called QCumbers. Here you can have all you can eat for the princely sum of $7.75.

QCumber's menu

This was our day for visiting nature parks. Next stop was Wood Lake Nature Centre, in Richfield, where we had arranged to meet Sarah and Davey and Derek and some other children and their moms from Sarah’s Mom’s Club. We all had a beautiful evening together and the long walk around the lake was really exhilarating.

Sarah in Wood Lake Nature Centre

Davey and Gramma

Some more of the people I enjoyed my walk with

View of the lake at Wood Lake Nature Centre.

It was a beautiful place to spend a day and beautiful people to spend it with.