Wildlife Wednesday

Find the chipmunk...

Shadow Tuesdays

Sandcastle, Minneapolis, MN

From what I've heard from a close source, Sandcastle used to be nothing more than a hotdog stand next to Lake Nokomis. It's now been transformed into a stately eatery serving the hungry park patrons. And by "mid-June" the transformation and construction should be compete, even selling beers and wines. 

We had a very simple yet solid dinner. I'd recommend this as a nice change of pace to the normally busy lakefront eateries in the Twin Cities. At Sandcastle on the Monday night we went, there were no lines and little wait time for food. 

Very light and flavorful Sweet Corn  Fritters

"Great" Fish Tacos

Really fresh Sweet Pea Fallafel Wrap

Valley Fair Amusement Park, Shakopee, MN

For those that don't know, I have a long and rich history with one of the US' best amusement parks. That park is the Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL. We would visit once each summer as kids (and on an eigth grade school trip) for the water rides, food, souviners, glowing necklaces as darkness fell...and once we were tall enough, the roller coasters. 

Once you were big enough, the roller coasters were something you got to do with dad at the park. Mom didn't do coasters and not all the siblings liked them. So, the non-squeamish, tall kids would stand in line with dad for the thrill rides. It was a great way to cultivate the love of coasters. This love, though rarely enjoyed since I was a kid, still burns strong. 

Having lived and worked relatively close to MN's best amusement park (I believe they claim, "the biggest amusement park in the Upper Midwest) for many years now, it was high-time I went to check it out and re-kindle my coaster love affair. 

A coworker and I set off from a halfday at work to enjoy five hours of Valley Fair.

Boy did we! We hit the half-dozen or so major coasters at the park, with names like High Roller, Renegade, Venom, Wild Thing, etc. Plus, a few other classic or more tame coasters that are spread through out the park. It was a great way to spend the afternoon, only sharing the park with what seemed to be every 8th grade graduate in the state. 

The coasters here at VF are as much fun as I remember. The wooden ones are very herky-jerky, the large steel coasters are very swoopy (yes, these are technical coaster terms). Many of them bang you around and throw in surprises.

We happen to have a former VF insider at our office, so we knew the staff at VF is often made up of a large portion of foreign exchange students, doing something of a summer work program in the US from countries in Europe. That said, I was very impressed with all of the (teenage) employees at the park. They had great attitudes, worked fast, wore their uniforms well, and kept us all safe on the various rides. Especially considering what they do and who they serve all day long under the hot sun (i.e. help pimply-faced teenagers not lose a limb on an amusement park ride before they start highschool in the fall). 

Since I also purchased a "gold" season pass, that will pay for itself in only two visits, I can go back as often as I like this summer...and maybe in the Fall for their "Valley Scare" theme during Halloween. 

A few notes from the day:

- Food and drink are more overpriced than in a movie theater. Use any means necessary to avoid paying their prices. We noticed a number of families eating at their cars in the parking lot. 

- Many kids and families enjoy "Soak City" during the same day trip to VF. It's a separate but neighboring, major  waterpark and seems like a good way to cool off. Personally, I'd do the coasters first and the water park second. 

- Less is more. If you load your pockets with stuff each day, you may want to leave a lot of it in the car at VF. Coasters require empty pockets and some even have you remove eyeglasses and flip flops. Go with gym shoes and as empty pockets as feasible (the food and drink prices do benefit you here at least)

- Of course, there's and app for that too. No joke. 

World's Smallest Origami Crane...

... You be the judge. Let me know if you've seen or made smaller. No, I did not make this one. 

"Turtle, Turtle, Turtle!"

I'm sure all of you remember this scene from Dana Carvey's huge blockbuster of a movie, titled, dang-it, I forgot. Wait, it's right there on the clip, The Master of Disguise. He did so well on his disguises, no one knew this was a movie worth seeing. However and for whatever reason, a few scenes still stick with me, including the one below...



I also can't help thinking of this phrase on one of the common rides that I do. It passes a stretch of road that has "lakes" (or more apt in this case, swamps) on both sides. It seems to to be something of a turtle "highway" and sees many of these guys and girls going back and forth a lot during the summer months. Unfortunately, not all the turtles are so lucky (see below if you have a strong stomach)...

As you can see from the pics, a number of little guys get squashed by passing cars (shell jewelry?). I suspect they are too young to know any better and that's the end. What's odd, of the half-dozen or so that I saw in this condition, is that many are on the shoulder side of the white line. I surely hope cars aren't making an effort to squash them on the shoulder.

In any case, I have also seen very large (~20-30lb) snapping turtles on this road as well. I "saved" one two years ago, getting off my bike and carrying it across the road. He was a mean ole cuss, but once you got a good grip, they can't really hurt or get to you.

And wouldn't you know, yesterday I also saw this guy/girl about halfway into my ride home on this stretch of road... 

He was just starting to make his way across. Once he spotted me, and before heading into the roadway, he stood his whole body up on all fours. Do turtles know it helps them to be seen? Or is it a faster way to cross?

In any case, since I was already off my bike to get pics, I laid my bike down and picked him up to carry him across. He fussed a little, but couldn't really get at me (I know where to grab them now). Cars had stopped on both sides and I can't imagine what they thought watching a spandex clad man "duck walk" (in cycling shoes) a big snapping turtle across the street. Maybe it happens all the time on this road.

I like to think helping/saving/annoying this one big turtle makes up for the 6 others I saw flattened on the sides of this road.

Quote of the Week.

When asked what her Plan B would be if music didn't work out for her...

"I don't have a Plan B... you gotta believe in a Plan A. No plan B for me."

-Christina Perri