Boating the Mississippi River

When we started this road trip, we never imagined we would find ourselves riding down the Mississippi River in a powerboat.  Yet, that's exactly where we found ourselves on Sunday afternoon after newlyweds Chad and Margaret Johnson invited us.

We started the day with a hiccup at the gym where I accidentally hit Joe in the chin with a medicine ball during our ab workout.  Next, we stopped at North America's largest mall, Mall of America.  It's just a really big mall with a small amusement park inside. 

Our day really got good when we arrived in Red Wing, Minnesota and visited the Red Wing Shoe Company.  Red Wing sells leather work boots and their store has the Guinness-certified world's largest work boot. 

After helping Chad launch the boat, we cruised about 20 miles down the Mississippi to the Pickle Factory in Pepen, Wisconsin.  We ordered fried pickle spears and had a picnic lunch on the boat.  After loading the boat back on the trailer we ended the day with barbecued pork chops at the Johnsons' new home.

Our afternoon boat cruise and dinner with family and friends reminded us that this trip is not just about the places and things we see; it's people that make our nation great.  We've never felt prouder of the country we've sworn to defend!

Minneapolis Part One.

We first arrived in Minneapolis at 5 pm on Saturday evening and were immediately taken on a tour of the city with Aunt Maureen, Uncle Wayne and my cousin Jessica.  We learned almost everything about the city, including how Minneapolis grew due to a small waterfall on the Mississippi river that could provide hydro power to sawmills.  Minneapolis is also home to the musical artist Prince, and we stopped for a quick photo outside the massive film and music studio he had built and used in the movie Purple Rain. Our evening ended at Mickey's diner, a  railcar restaurant that has survived and gained fame amidst the urban development in St. Paul.