Last updated on March 21st, 2024
Late this morning friends emailed my husband asking if we would like to go out on “the river” with them that evening. He had silly questions like “What river do you suppose they plan to go out on?” My only question was “You did tell them yes, didn’t you?”“The river” turned out to be the Mississippi River.
We slide the boat into the warm, swift water near Hidden Falls in Saint Paul late in the afternoon, headed up stream to Lock and Dam Number 1 by the Ford Dam.
It is a perfect evening to be on the river and it’s fun to see my “city” from a different vantage point, one that remains very rural in feel until we reach the University of Minnesota (with particularly good views of the Weisman Museum), the new 35W Bridge, and the Upper and Lower locks at Saint Anthony Falls.
I’ve always had a soft spot for locks. Usually, of course, I am standing above, watching the boats go by. The few times I’ve gone through here myself, I’ve been on large river cruisers or paddle wheelers – not in a tiny speedboat. The perspective is rather different from a small boat!
The views of the city are gorgeous,
but I really like the below-deck view of the bridges!
Dusk comes much too soon.
