Going Cross Lots in Minnesota

Hello Again ZigZaggers, I hope you enjoyed yesterday's novella. As we watched TV last night a storm warning kept appearing across the screen. A terrible thunderstorm with heavy rain and hail was to hit NE Minnesota and various towns were named but who knows where they were. We didn't get concerned. Well, apparently it was violent--deluge of water, non-stop lightening and thunder and kept Barb awake for over an hour. Me? slept right through it. Never woke up for a drink or for a bathroom run, even. The day dawned gray and foggy--wondered whether we would have fair or foul to deal with but since there was no precipitation we decided to move on. Leaving the motel at 923 the first order of business was to get to I 35 southbound--yes, south--without having to deal with the triple cloverleaf roads twisting and turning under and over that we'd encountered when we entered Duluth last night. Discovered that we could move through some residential streets and outlying country to it, but the initial route took us toward the heart of the city. From Skyline Drive we looked down upon the bridges that connect Superior to Duluth. I gave a sigh of relief that we had to cross none of them. As soon as there was some distance between us and the Lake the fog lifted and the clouds broke apart revealing a bright blue sky. Today was pretty uneventful--other than scenery,which looks very much like home, the biggest event was passing through yet another small town.We started in the Northeast corner of the State and are almost to the Southwest corner where it joins South Dakota. We stayed on the Interstate til just south of Hinkley, which was in that weather bulletin last night. Then we picked up Rt 23 which we have followed the entire way--no zigs or zags but the fact that this day is one huge ZigZag! As the day progressed it kept getting warmer and warmer and more and more humid. Our A/C vents were sweating with condensation and dripping on our feet. We came across an outdoor art exhibit--at least I called it that--the property was for sale. I liked a couple of those sculptures--whimsical. St Cloud was smaller and easier to navigate than I anticipated. We crossed the Mississippi there and I was so happy and how narrow it is in Minnesota, which I knew, I forgot to take a picture of this bridge which is shorter than the bridge going over the Connecticut at Hanover. It is short--like a bridge in the middle of town anywhere. We came across roadwork which has been a constant all the way from home. There are thousands of acres of corn as far as one can see. Very dessicated in many cases. Was there a drought? Maybe. Or Maybe the corn isn't being used for silage but rather for grain. In that case, a harvester picks the ears and leaves the rest to dry out and will be plowed under. At least, these are the options my Ag expert, (Bill ) has given me. Finally, a train, with grain cars. One of the things I love travelling this country is seeing the trains. How I wish we'd use passenger trains more and I miss the freights. I just love trains. By the time we reached Wilmar, the temperature had reached 92 degrees! I don't have clothes for such hot weather. Thank God for A/C. But, such heat kind of limits the amount of walking etc I want to do. In Maynard it was 97. As we pulled into Marshall the temperature had settled at 95.Our motel is right next door to Southern Minnesota College--the very next building next to this sign. We got the last room in the motel. A big wedding in this hotel, in the Raddison and in the other motel. We have a one room apartment in the Quality Inn. I'll take pix in the morning. A living room, dining room, full kitchen, large bath and huge bedroom with a king bed. All for $121. Cheaper than any other motel in the US since we returned from Canada.Same price as we paid for a tiny room in Canada. Amazing. Well, have to plot tomorrow's path and choose our head rest. So, til then, I'll say Good Night, BarbZig and KatZag