Houston, we have a problem

Houston (house-ton), MN is home to the international owl center and festival, which I had the opportunity to attend a few years ago. They rehabilitate injured and orphaned owls and they have several teaching owls who can’t be released back to the wild, including a great horned, a snowy and a barred owl. Unfortunately, the center was not open either day I was there.

However, I was also attracted to this area for biking a rail to trail and kayaking the Root River. I set out to kayak first.

I choose an access site, but it did not look promising due to most of it being naturally damned with trees just upriver. I conjectured that if I could get around the dam, I could continue upstream and then float back. It was an imprudent decision.

I was able to get most of the way up to the dam, but the current got so strong, I was paddling in place. I diverted to the right thinking there might be a slight passage. The only thing I succeeded in doing with that plan was to get enmeshed in the branches of the downed trees.

My paddle came untethered but I was able to grab it. I started using the tree branches to try to back out and my paddle detached again and disappeared. I started to panic. But there it was on the other side of my kayak. I grabbed it and shoved it as far into my kayak as I could.

A woman walking over the bridge asked me if I was ok. I said I don’t know. She said she would wait until I got untangled. I finally managed to break free and then had to steer strongly to avoid being sucked into the strongest part of the current. I told the woman I was ok now and I made it back to shore where the mud threatened to suck my water shoes right off my feet. I was a mess by the time I got to my car. Somehow I managed to get most of the mud off my feet so I could put my sneakers back on. Duh, I should have listened to my intuition which said to bike first.

I found the bike trail by the old depot museum in Preston and set off towards Peterson. I saw and heard quite a few birds, including a cardinal, which is always stunning. There were no tunnels today—only bridges! I stopped in Peterson and looked around on the way back. The town was founded by Pete Peterson. It doesn’t get any more Minnesota Scandinavian than that! They have a gnome mascot.

I also passed two houses where I suspect the neighbors don’t much care for one another. The one house has a Jesus Saves cross on the front and the other was flying the new Minnesota state flag which replaced the one that was very overtly colonial and disrespectful to Native Americans. Conservatives have been quite upset with the change. I can’t say the new flag is particularly attractive but it isn’t dissing on anyone.

Back in Preston, it was time for lunch. I asked a worker at the depot museum, and he suggested the Creamery. I stepped into a second hand store, because I can’t help myself, and she suggested the same. I got a cute vintage NYC plate there for $1 for my youngest as a congrats you got into NYU gift.

Then it was back to camp for a shower and a nap. I was going to get help with the sewer cap, but the office was closed. Really?! How do you run a campground like that? I guess I was one of the few in and out campers. The rest looked seasonal, but I would still expect them to at least have a number you could call in case of emergency.

I went into Houston to get a few things from the grocery and I hoped the bike store was open, but it was not. I’m looking for suggestions on how to secure my front wheel so it doesn’t swing around while I’m trying to put it on the rack on the camper and to keep it from swinging on my cheapo short distance rack. I also needed better Internet connection to post a blog!

I sat in the park and enjoyed the birds and caught a few turtles napping on a log who were too shy to be photographed. Back to camp to turn in, and prepare for my last day on the road tomorrow.