29 Sep - Visit to Stillwater MN

29 Sep
This morning we worked administrative stuff mostly.  I made several phone calls relating to finances, etc.  Kind of starting to switch gears and get back in the swing of being home.... :-( .   Noon rolled around and after lunch we headed to Patty and Greg's to see them and take off on a little road trip to Stillwater MN.

Stillwater is in Minnesota, barely. It is considered the 1848 birthplace of Minnesota and a "year round travel destination". It is just across the St Croix River from Wisconsin and considered part of the Minneapolis metro area with a population of just over 19k. The reason for our visit today is to see the new bridge that connects Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the downtown area of Stillwater.

There is quite a history about the bridge. Built in 1931, the lift bridge joining Minnesota and Wisconsin over the St Croix river was built and has been operating ever since.

The old lift bridge, now used for pedestrian and bike traffic.

The lift bridge was raised while we watched, to allow a boat to pass.  The Rv would not pass over this bridge either!

The RV would not head down this road!!

Water levels are up, so the sidewalk is flooded.

 Stillwater’s Lift Bridge is now closed to motorists, but the two-lane bridge will be resurfaced and integrated into a 5-mile pedestrian and bicycle path. The bridge will also be restored to look as it did when it opened in 1931.  Previously it became a political football and underwent a $5 million rehabilitation in 2005 and a $3.3 million upgrade in 2012.

A new four-lane St. Croix River bridge connects Minnesota and Wisconsin and was opened in August 2017 as a $646 million cooperative project between Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

So we headed downtown Stillwater and parked near the river.  We had a good view of the river boats.

Patty and Doreen  with a couple of the river boats in view.

Another legacy riverboat that offer dinner cruises.

We walked down the river walk and then headed to the downtown area ans walked around the shops and restaurants.  They have done a great job revitalizing this area.

A picture downtown.  Shops on both sides of the street.

Interesting looking area, unfortunately closed at the present.  It is a brewery located back in a cave, apparently.  Someday we will come back here and visit.

After our "walk about" downtown, we drove to a local ice cream shop called Brown's Ice Cream.  Ok, we have been to many ice cream shops.  What makes this place special?  Let me tell you - MEGA portions!  Holy cow!  I ordered a small cup.  I got four huge scoops of ice cream and it was delicious!

These are "small children's portions"!  Right!

It was great to get together again with Patty and Greg and enjoy the afternoon.  Tomorrow we will spend the morning packing up out stuff here at the RV in preparation for our departure Sunday morning.  In the afternoon we will head back to Patty and Greg's where Greg will  give us a ride to Target Field Target Field so we can watch the Minnesota Twins host the Detroit Tigers.  Patty will dog-sit Liberty too!

We are sad this journey is about over, but as this journey ends, another journey begins.  Remember it is not about the destination but the journey that takes you there.  We are not home yet, but we are very thankful we have had a safe journey so far.