09/26/10: Day 3: Not so far to Fargo
Although tired from the late dance night, I woke before dawn to watch and take a few snapshots and a time-lapse of the morning fog.
Looking down before sunrise from our La Quinta room on the foggy valleys below, near the Minneapolis airport
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I set up a time lapse to see the flowing of the fog from the valleys into the lake.
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Another view of the fog
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And the sun rises to brightly paint the autumn trees, yet the fog persists.
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Then we met with friends at a nearby coffee shop for breakfast. By noon we were heading north and west on I-94.
As we were trying to get to the Great Northwest, we didn't stop in to see the state capitol right over in St. Paul (regretted in retrospect). We zoomed past Lake Wobegon Trail near St. Cloud. We barely noted the Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center and Museum. We only stopped at rest areas to change drivers and such.
I appreciate bits of history displayed at interstate rest areas.
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We see more color by the roadside as we head north. Yes, I find non-traditional positions more comfortable, periodically on long drives.
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We like sound walls with creative faces
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The sign says "Welcome", but...
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... The North Dakota Welcome Center is closed.
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Dan squints into the wind and sun as he hauls the baggage train into the HoJo
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Fargo is "The City of Parks"? Who knew?
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Downtown sidewalks should be artsy.
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But we gave out in Fargo and decided to stay.
We found a Howard Johnson's near the river, checked in, and then walked to downtown to find dinner. Read the picture captions for more.
We stopped into an Irish Pub, to find that it was actually run by an Italian family.
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The bouncer hands each guest a ticket. We didn't know what it was for, and didn't ask. But when they called one of our numbers, we found out that we'd won a free drink. Our plan was to share a single beer (Black and Tan, Guinness and Harp). But with this boon, Karen decided to try Smithwicks.
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But then we won again! Strangers walking in win twice in a row! Groans from the regulars. And I order another Black and Tan. Those who know me know what a lightweight I am; a cheap drunk. I was pretty light-headed by the end of the meal.
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Are you sure you want to drink another?
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We left a decent tip. One of my eccentricities is to leave unusual money for tips. My goal is to make everyone's world a little more surreal.
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So we staggered back toward our motel
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I like reflections
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They say Fargo is the Gateway to the West? What about the arch on my shirt?
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We walk past our motel and across the bridge from North Dakota to to Moorhead, MN
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In the summer, there is boat rental here.
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