We Have Landed in Minneapolis!

 Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota don't you know.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

On Saturday we left Bismarck, ND, passed through Fargo, ND, and entered Minnesota for the first time this year.  Our "final" destination is Minneapolis!  We arrived at our new apartment in Minneapolis at around 1:15pm, got our keys, and began unloading our camping gear.  We have a giant list of things to do but most of this will have to wait until Monday, when we get internet (hopefully) and final instructions on how to actually move our stuff in.  Our POD storage unit is waiting just outside the city for us.  We have a rental truck reserved for Tuesday and our POD will be accessible to us at the PODs storage facility for the day.  The plan is to empty the POD, move the stuff into our apartment, and return the truck on Tuesday.  It will be fun seeing our stuff again after 2 years and wondering why we kept so much of it.  Hopefully we can lighten our load a bit for the next move whenever that is (probably next year).

Francis found the sunny spot right away.

Exploring the Area and Our Building

After getting settled a bit, we headed out to a brand new brewery that just opened just steps away from our apartment.  BruHaven Craft House opened last week and it's going to be nice having a dog friendly, solid brewery so close to us.  There are even 2 pinball machines!

It's a large space and there was even live music going on.

We tried 3 of their beers and they were all very good.

We have even had good Mexican food here already.

The Roxy is right around the corner and they have free Movie Nights on Sunday nights.  We will probably take advantage soon.

Our building has its summer holiday tree up already.  We are ready for The 4th of July!

There is an indoor heated pool that we used yesterday.  It's going to be great!

There is also a Sauna, because this is the Scandinavia of the US.

We also went to the roof of our 35 floor building to see the sights. Our apartment is on the 9th floor so the views aren't quite as good but the rent is cheaper.

There is also an indoor dog area that Francis currently HATES!

We have had 1 and a half days of living in a large apartment with just our camping gear.  It's working out pretty well.  We are looking forward to getting our stuff though.  

Camping chairs work great indoors too!

"Table" for two!

We even splurged on an electric kettle.  It's one of the things we figured out we like while on the road.

That's it for today.  Hopefully things going smoothly and we will be settled in a few days.  If you missed, Mermaids in Montana, check it out.

Mermaids in Montana?

 Great Falls, MT

Mermaid Selfie!

Sip N Dip Lounge

Today we chose to spend the night in Great Falls, MT for one reason, mermaids!  The Sip 'N Dip Lounge has been on my list of places to go for a while now.  The last time we were in Great Falls it was during the pandemic and The Sip N Dip Lounge was closed. It covers the checklist item of Tiki in Montana.  It's a cool place if you are passing through and want an alcoholic drink that has 7-Up in it.  

The lounge is attached to an old school motor lodge.

They call out that it isn't a mermaid show on the website.  

Yea, I can't see her either.

The bar was filled with locals which is good for business.  They have been around since 1962.

They blue lighting makes our drinks look really unappetizing.  Mine was called Swamp Water so you know it's good.  Donna got the Blue Hawaiian (hers is the gray drink).

We have been to a few tiki bars with gambling machines.  Golden Tiki, Frankies Tiki, and Alabi Room to name a few.

So much Blue Curacuo.  

Donna tipped the mermaid so she got to stand next to the giant window.

I bought a shirt on the way out.  It's the 2nd one from the left.

That's it for today.  On Saturday we roll into Minneapolis and get the keys to our new apartment!  If you missed, Glacier National Park, check it out!  

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, MT

 

Camping in a National Park

Yesterday we drove from Calgary to Glacier National Park for some camping and nature.  The border crossing from Alberta to Montana was easy.  The Border Agent was the nicest agent I have met.  He greeted us and even gave Francis a milk bone.

The drive was pretty easy except for the lack of rest stops.  We ended up stopping at a casino in Montana for a "rest".  

It rained lightly most of the night but we made due.  Dinner was quick to cook and then we were in the van for the rest of the night.  At 7pm we booked our Going to the Sun driving pass.  They only allow 300 cars during the day so we wanted to book early.  Booking opens at 7pm.

There is nothing like National Park Pour Over

Part of this nutritious breakfast!

They were still working on the road so there were a few construction stops.

We only made it about 1/3rd the way on the road until it closed.  We were not aware of the closure because when we entered the park we told them we were camping so they didn't let us know the road isn't fully open yet.  Now we know the road typically opens at the end of June or early July.  It's a lot of work.  It still a beautiful drive and we are glad we went.

Tomorrow we continue on with our final stop ultimately being in Minneapolis, MN, but there will be adventures along the way. 

That's it for today.  If you missed, The Call of Having a Home is Loud, check it out.  We lay out what we have planned for the next year.

The Call of Having a Home is Loud

 Calgary, CA

Hot Pinball Action!

Our Last Packing Day This Year

Today we are in Calgary and packing our stuff up like we do about every month, but that's all about to end, for now.  Tomorrow we head south back to the states (as they all call it here in Canada) with a stop in Glacier National Park for some camping, a stop in Great Falls MT for a tiki/Mermaid Bar, a stop in Downstream State Park Nashua, MT because it's on the way, and a stop in Bismarck ND because it's on the way and it's the capital of North Dakota.  This road trip will get us new counties, a new tiki bar, a new state capital, and some new sights on our way to our next big adventure.

What's Next?

Our ultimate destination for this trip is Minneapolis, MN!  We have an apartment there for a YEAR!  I know crazy right?  

We have been thinking about taking a year to settle in and enjoy community, our own bed and kitchen, and really experience someplace new and we found our apartment while we were in Victoria, signed the lease, and had our PODs container shipped to the PODs facility right outside of Minneapolis.  We arrive on Saturday and unload our container on Monday which is only a week from now.  We are both very excited about this new adventure.

Why Minneapolis?

So why Minneapolis you ask.  That's a good question and we have many reasons.  Here are some reasons in no particular order.

This is the Pinball Map for the greater Twin Cities area.  Each one of those circles is a venue with a pinball machine.

#1    Tons of Pinball and Tons of Tournaments.

The pinball community is strong in the Twin Cities area and beyond.  Minnesota just became a Super State which means that there are more tournaments here than the average state.  It's also close to other great pinball communities within a days drive so I will be able to play pinball as often as I want.  I will be able to walk to LITT Pinball Bar.  They open at 11am every day and currently have 47 machines.  I can also walk to Caffetto Coffee Bar.  They open at 6am every day and have 17 machines.  It will be a lot of fun to be a part of a community for more than a month.

#2     The November Election

We haven't voted the past 2 years and it is eating at us a bit.  Democracy is so important so we are making sure we are settled in time to vote in the November election. 

#3     A New Vibe and Culture

Minneapolis is a part of The Midwest and I have only lived on The West Coast.  There are things in Minnesota that I have never heard of like Pizza Farms.  Yea, that's a thing.  It's a farm you go to and they cook you pizza and you eat it on their farm.  It's also a great music city.  When the weather warms up free music pops up all over the area.  There are jazz clubs, concert venues, live theater, and The Minnesota Orchestra.  

#4     Camping

Minnesota is home to more than 70 State Parks.  That's quite a few but there is also  National Forests to explore.  It also borders Wisconsin which has 50 State parks you can camp at.  There will be a lot of opportunity to road trip and camp during the spring, summer, and fall and even the winter if we are feeling adventurous.

#5     Winter Activities

Minnesota is known for its harsh winters but it is also known for its winter activities.  We will be able to ice skate on lakes, visit snow parks, visit snow festivals, and enjoy all of the things that actual winters provide.  And, when it is super duper cold and the weather is miserable, we will be able to stay home.  When you are retired, you don't have to leave your apartment when it makes sense to stay home.

#6     Plenty of Lakes and Trails to Explore

Minnesota is The Land of 10,000 Lakes and that is rounding down.  Our apartment is close to a series of lakes with bike trails.  There will be plenty of opportunities for long walks and bike rides without taking the van out of the garage.  We plan on buying used bikes when we arrive so that we can take advantage of the extensive bike infrastructure in the area and the organized community rides.

#7     Our Own Space

We will have our own space for the first time in 2 years.  We plan on buying a few pinball machines, upgrade some of our cooking implements, and enjoy our own bed, shower, and kitchen for a year.

We have chosen a high rise apartment building near downtown with a heated parking garage and an indoor dog area for Francis.  We know we are new to the whole harsh winter thing so we are doing what we can to make it easy for us.  We won't have to dig our car out of the snow, shovel sidewalks, plug in our car so it will start in the morning, or even go outside when it is cold.  Our apartment connects directly to the Minneapolis Skyway system where we can walk, shop, and eat.  

The Adventure Continues

We are still going to stay very busy.  Our goal is to keep as active as we have been on the road.  I am sure we won't run out of things to do.  I will still be updating this blog to keep you posted on our life in Minnesota and The Mid West.  There will still be more foodie adventures, more pinball tournaments, pinball road trips, camping adventures, museums, and sporting events.  All of the things we like to do.  We will also find more opportunities to use "You Betcha". 

A selfie with one of the Dala horses in The US.  This one is in Mora, MN.

That's it for today.  Check back in a week or so when we show off our new apartment.  If you missed, This and That in Calgary, check it out and check back nest week-ish.