William M. Klein Park: Cave Spring Park

In looking through the Kansas City Visitor Guide that we had acquired at the Missouri Welcome Center a few days back, I noticed that there was a listing for a place called Cave Springs Park that was a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, and had a cave and some old stone ruins. I was intrigued, and so today we made the short drive over to the site, which is officially called William M. Klein Park.

We arrived at the park to find the visitor center closed and no maps of the trail system. Despite the lack of a map, there are some signs to park destinations like the cave scattered throughout the trail system. The signs weren't always clear, but they tend to point one in the right direction. We started out following a wide mowed trail, that seems to get occasional use as a road.

The trail led us past blooming redbuds

to a small lake.

We explored the lake a little bit and discovered a few frogs with their heads sticking out of the water.

Then we continued on to a small picnic area where we found the first of ruins, this time in the form of a tall, stone chimney.

There was also a small "nature play" area with a small shelter

and plywood "cave" that Sierra checked out.

Just below the picnic area was the small cave with a small stream of water flowing out of it,

the Cave Spring. There was a stone foundation nearby, perhaps a trough for watering cattle that once roamed the property. We continued on past blooming violets

through a forest that was much like the one we had seen at the Owens Nature Park yesterday, lots of bush honeysuckle.

Another cool feature was a very large Osage Orange tree.

A feature signed as "the Cascade" was nothing more then an old stone dam.

We traveled further into the park passing by several more stone chimneys

and then found ourselves at some more substantial stone ruins.

We explored the ruins for a short time

and then headed back towards the car. A sign pointed the way to a Santa Fe Trail marker and I made the short walk to it, lying in the overgrown weeds off to the side of a busy road.

At that point it was time for lunch, and so we headed off on our search for Kansas City Barbecue!

George Owens Nature Park

After spending our morning at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, Noelle, Sierra and I opted to spend our afternoon in more natural surroundings. I did a little bit of research and found that there is a natural area in Independence called the George Owens Nature Park and so that's where we headed. We stopped at a grocery store on the way to buy the fixings for a picnic lunch in the shelter. Nearby the picnic shelter was this stone marker with the park's namesake's name carved into it. Is this George Owens' grave?

We ate our lunch and then hit the trails.

The park reminded me of McConnell Springs, where Noelle and I had worked in Lexington, Kentucky. The two parks are similar in that they are both in urban areas, and both are infested with invasive bush honeysuckle. Along our walk through the honeysuckle we did manage to see some wildlife: a few skinks,

and a frog

in wetland.

There were also a few wildflowers

poking through the thick mats of invasive vegetation, including some phlox

and violets.

The turnaround point for our hike was a spur trail that led to an overlook of a reservoir. There was evidence of beaver activity along the trail there.

We headed back to the parking lot and then went back to our hotel where we went for a swim in the indoor pool.

Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Yesterday was a long day of driving south through southern Minnesota, Iowa and into Missouri. Really our only stop was the rest area near Eagleville, MO. It is a very nice place to stop though with a short prairie walk

(complete with bison)

and a very cool mosaic inside that offered us a preview of our Missouri vacation.

Today we awoke in Independence, Missouri ready to explore and enjoy some nice weather.

Our first stop was the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, right in downtown Independence. We stopped at the visitor center, got some tickets for the house tour, and then made the short walk to the Truman Home on Delaware Street.

We went on a tour of the home

and then checked out the Noland Home across the street

where Harry's cousins lived.

After checking out the exhibits in the Noland Home, we decided to make a short tour of downtown. We found a nice statue of Harry and I photographed Noelle and Sierra in front of it.

Then we headed across the street to have ice cream at Clinton's Soda Fountain,

the drug store where Harry Truman worked as a boy. I got Harry's Favorite, chocolate ice cream topped with butterscotch. it was delicious!

Wood Lake Nature Center

Today starts the Great Grunwalds' Road Trip of 2017! Last night we stayed with our friends outside Duluth and today we headed south to the Twin Cities. We stopped at the Wood Lake Nature Center to visit our friend Amy who works there. Not only did we get to see Amy, but we also got to explore a little bit. We were lucky enough to see the animals getting fed, including this snake!

Then we braved the cool temperatures for a short hike outside.

We saw some swans, geese,

and ducks in the lake, and Sierra found a tree that she liked.

After our visit to Wood Lake we went out to eat at the Lakeville Brewing Company where I had my first Juicy Lucy.  We then returned to Amy's house where we are spending the night.

Voyageurs National Park: Kab-Ash Trail Middle Section

I've been itching to get out for a hike lately. Today, with blue sky and mild temperatures, I decided to brave trails I knew would be icy in spots and head out to hike a section of the Kab-Ash Trail that I haven't hiked yet (the middle section). I reached the trailhead early and was surprised by the complete lack of snow.

However, I guessed that there would still be some ice and snow on the shadier sections of trail. I brought along my microspikes, just in case.

After inspecting a large anthill near the start of the trail,

I started my walk. As I made my way into the woods, I found icy and slushy sections of trail, just like I had expected. I never felt the need to put on my microspikes though. Perhaps the iciest section of trail was the crossing of the snowmobile trail spur that leads to Ash River.

Soon enough I made my way to the most interesting portion of the hike: a long bridge spanning a fork of Daley Brook.

The view of the water from the bridge was beautiful,

and I even caught a glimpse of a bald eagle off in the distance.

I made my way further east, travelling through some ice covered wetlands on long sections of bog bridges.

I found the first of two loops that I planned on traversing. There were some ridges to travel and the ridges were marked with cairns.

I found the loop a bit confusing though, and after a short time found myself back at the junction where I had turned onto the loop. Besides the crossing of Daley Brook, perhaps the most interesting part of the hike was an old, trailside beaver pond.

The second of the two loops was also a bit confusing. I couldn't follow the northern part of the loop heading east. However, I was able to follow the southern portion of the loop to the trail sign that marked the last section of trail I had hiked.

I took a gamble and thought the northern loop might be easier to follow headed west. My gamble paid off, as I was able to successfully complete the second loop.

The return hike back to the car was uneventful. Upon taking a closer look in the water that lined the bog bridges that I traveled across, I noticed some green vegetation sticking up out of the water. It was marsh marigold.

It won't be too long before we see some flowers blooming in the Borderlands!

An Early Spring Rainy River Roadtrip

It was a beautiful early spring day in the Borderland and I took advantage with a quick roadtrip along the Rainy River from International Falls to Baudette. I headed out of town around 9 am and drove Minnesota Highway 11 through the mostly snow-free agricultural lands to the west. My first stop was the Manitou Rapids Wayside on the Rainy River. I walked down to the riverside

and made my way to some wonderful views of the Rainy River.

I had read that there are some petroglyphs on the rocks at the rapids, but after a pretty thorough search I concluded that they are either non-existent, or covered by snow right now. I was, however, treated to a flyover by some Canada geese.

Soon enough I moved further west, stopping at Basshenge.

I took a few photos at the sculpture,

watched a gray jay for a few minutes, and then made the short drive to Franz Jevne State Park.
Here I saw the first of many fishermen out in their boats on the water.

It was thrilling to hike for a short distance on a trail that was snow-free.

Most of the trail was, however, snow and ice covered.

When I had finished my hike, I got back in the car and headed west towards Baudette. I made a detour in Clementson to check out the very interesting section of the aptly named Rapid River there.

Then I headed into Baudette, past Willie Walleye,

for lunch. I ate at a wayside near the international bridge.

After lunch I pointed the car east for the return trip back to International Falls. I noticed the interesting old, abandoned Border School

and stopped for a quick look. I saw 7 bald eagles as I drove back to the Big Fork River.

I stopped again, this time at the closed Grand Mound historic site. There weren't any "No Trespassing" signs and so I made the short walk back to the large burial mound,

which sat right next to a bald eagle nest.

I returned to the car and drove the rest of the way home. Today's short trip has me itching for a summer full of road trip adventures!