Country Camping RV Park: Isanti, Minnesota

 We traveled to Isanti via the Great River Road from De Soto, Wisconsin.  We were surprised to find that the Twin cities are very close to the Wisconsin border.   The Mississippi River winds back and forth across the state lines in this area.  We had the opportunity to see many bluffs along the river, such as the one below.

This is a long-ago memory from when I was a child.  There was a popular Gas Station named Sinclair. Its mascot was the dinosaur below.  I thought they were all gone but obviously there are a few still around.  Sinclair was bought out by Atlantic Richfield (ARCO).  Ironically, the dinosaur was also used by TVA as a symbol of its Fossil Fuel power division.

We finally arrived in Isanti, Minnesota.  It was another easy drive along the highways (not Interstates) of the area.  We are trying to avoid the interstate and follow the highways when we can. It is a much more scenic route. It is giving us a greater insight to the areas.

Our plans for the area are being forced to change.  The forecasted temperatures in the area are competing with South Texas. The heat index is 107, which is insanely hot this far north in mid-June. We planned to spend our first day in Minnehaha city park to look at the falls and ride bikes.  We still made the trip but went early in the morning and returned early afternoon.  

The above pictures are the falls of Minnehaha.  

That’s Karma, the Super dog, and Lisa standing on the shores of 1 of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota. We learned on this trip that any large puddle is considered a lake in Minnesota, which is how they claim 10,000 lakes.  Karma is responsible for carrying his water in his backpack when we are out hiking. As long as he gets to go, he is one happy dog. He loves all the attention he gets.  We get stopped constantly for people to ask about him and tell him how pretty he is. 

This is a very large City Park. Ironically, this is the first park we have ever seen that you have to pay to park.  Within the park boundaries, we found the home and a statue of the founder of Minneapolis.

 

As we were leaving the park and getting ready to head back to Isanti, we discovered the Veterans home of Minnesota.  There is a full complex with beautiful buildings and grounds for their vets. Memorials and resources for vets are abundant in the area. 

We found Lock and Dam # 1 on the Mississippi.  So, our travels on the Great River Road have come to a close.  This year we traveled the full length of the Mississippi from its head waters to where it enters the Gulf in the Delta.

Karma, the Super dog, is dead asleep as we travel back to Ethel. He is not a fan of the heat.  Poor guy is using firewood for a pillow. He has a rough life. 

With Juneteenth being so hot, Real feel temps of 107, we decided outside activities were not going to be feasible or pleasurable.  We ended up going to the Mall of America.  At one time it was the largest mall in America, with over 2 million square feet.  Now it is the second largest. We were able to get our 10,000 steps walking in comfort.  

That’s a roller coaster in the center of the mall.  Only in America LOL…