We are enjoying the company of old traveling friends and taking a few days off from travels. Will do some bussman trips tho.

The weather has been pretty muggy and we have been having a couple of pretty big storms since we arrived. The heat lightening, as they call the lighting that just flattens out in the sky, (and does not make the ragged lightening that we are use to in the west)is sure different. Somehow the ragged lightening of the west is pretty to watch. This is just threating and can cause tornadoes. Last night we had a storm that produced, that (being the lightening)and much rain. Out temp was around 92 and the humidity was at 75%. We really are not use to that kind of humidity, it just flat knocks you in the face. This was all day and into the night. The surprize was this morning we woke to 70 degrees and a little breeze. Really very NICE. Since it was comfortable we thought laundry was the chore for today.

It seems that the last 3 weeks are not the normal here for this time of year. I think that a few records have been broken.

Sunday was a good day so we went to Red Wing, Minnesota and toured the city. They have a narrated trolly that takes you on a tour around town. This was our choise, but there are several other things to do. There is a riverboat cruise and also a nice bicycling trail for those of the more energitic type. Thes tours usually give you other ideas to go back and explore.

Red Wing was named for a Dakota Indian Chief who had adpoted the custom of wearing a swan"s wing dyed scarlet. Thes little Red Wings can be seen many places around the city. This is a city of the late 1800"s.

The very old historic St James Hotel built in 1875 has 65 Victorian guest rooms and four dining options. The building itself is 4 stories tall and built of brick. The moldings are trimmed in white. The hotel opened with a grand ball on Thanksgiving Day 1875. It was long considered one of the most elaborate of the large river town hotels along the Mississippi before 1900. Red Wing was a major commercial center and stopping point for steamboat traffic. In 1977, the hotel was purchased by the Red Wing Shoe Company and was completely restored.

The Red Wing Shoe Company has purchased several of the old downtown structers and restored them to there former glory. Red Wing has 22 individually listed buildings and sites and 3 historic district's on the National Register of Historic places. Two of these individual building were The Candlelight Inn and The Moondance Inn. These are both Bed and Breakfast retreats.

One of Red Wing's most important industries, The Minnesota Storeware Company-Red Wing Potteries is located just west of the downtown area. The buildings were originally built in 1883 and burned to the ground in 1900. The buildings were rebuilt and began manufacturing dinner ware that was replacing stoneware in the
1920's. This continued until 1967 when an employment dispute let to company liquidation.

Interestingly in 1890, the state of Minnesota build one of the first correctional schools for boys and girls (at times) where they would recieve help and training rather than punishment. This was called the Minnesota State Training school and is located on highway 61. It is a castle like building and is quite imposing in looks.

The first area shoe factory opened in 1861, making the beginning of the Red Wing"s important leather and shoe industry. Red Wing was put on the map so to speak because of there wonderful work boot. On main street, in there new store sits the record setting Worlds Largest Leather Boot. It stands 16 feet high, 20 feet long and
7 feet wide. Workers created the hugh boot in 2005 as a way to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. It traveled around our country to fairs and other events till in July of 2009 it was paraded through downtown Red Wing to the new store at 315 Main Street. They also have the Red Wing Museum on the 3rd floor.

In 1874 2,418,622 bushells of wheat were shipped from Red Wing, leading to its designation as the greatest local wheat market in the world. Unfortunately, the impact of wheat on Red Wing's economy was shortlive

The bend in the Mississippi River, at this point on it's route south, is the sharpest bend between here and the Gulf of Mexico. We watched a tugboat bring, I think 12 barges past the train station, while we were waiting for our trolly ride. We did not see the turn. That is to bad as it would have been something to see. These barges are tied 3 abreast. Something else!!!! We were amazed that the river really is not very wide at this point. After seeing grain barges on the Columbia River, (where the river is approximately 4 times wides). The pilots have to be very skilled. The river starts to widen the further south is goes.

There are several bluffs along the Mississippi that give good overlooks of the winding river course. The view on a clear day is quite a few miles.

Red Wing has held several names over the years. I will only give the english names as the others are hard to pronounce. The Dakota's called is "mountain in the water" another indian name was "wood, water and hill" and "The desirable City from a century ago. Now the citys is known as "Home of the World's Largest Boot" as of 2009.

The last name is because this is the home of the "The Red Wing Shoe Company". Red Wing was also know for it's pottery, and the young wine industry (The Falconer Vineyards was awarded the Governor's Cup at the first international Cold Climate Wine Competition), and of course the St. James Hotel. The National Geographic Traveler in 2008 names here as one of three citys to make there magazine.

The autum foliage along the river draws many people for it's beauty. The fall foliage display is listed as in the top 10 places to go for the color. They call this the Mississippi River Bluffs Area.