Crossing Most of Minnesota

Today's start was a bit later than planned. I'd taken so much stuff inside over two days, it took awhile to get it all back in the car.

The day ended up being mostly driving. I'd had in mind to make a side trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. I loved those books as a kind, and even enjoyed rereading them as an adult. But there was one delay after another thanks to roadwork. For miles, the top speed was 40 mph, and there were plenty of stretches that only allowed parade speed. So going 45 miles out of the way just wasn't feasible.

Not long after crossing the border, I noticed changes to the landscape. At first, it looked a lot like Wisconsin, but the terrain was flatter and broader. It changed imperceptibly by degrees, and after awhile looked quite different. I was officially in the prairie.

Before very long, I started seeing wind turbines everywhere. There was even one section where the stretched as far as I could see in every direction, and this went on for miles. I've heard some people consider them eyesores, but I think they're quite cool-looking.

I managed to find a couple diversions along the way, though. The Spam Museum in Austin was close to the Interstate, and was free. Turns out, those humble little cans of meat played a role in WWII. Not only was it eaten by US soldiers, but large quantities were shipped to our allies in the Lend-Lease years. Another tidbit: the employee news magazine was called "The Squeal". Of course, my favorite part of the museum was the Monty Python exhibit.

Lovely spam! Wonderful spam!

 Later, I made a gas stop in Blue Earth. This stop also gave me the chance to eat my sandwich in an interesting spot. This statue is 55 feet tall, weighs 8,000 pounds, and cost $43,000 to manufacture. The money was contributed by local businessmen, who wanted to commemorate the city's connection to the brand. Peas and corn are grown and canned for them in the area.

HO HO HO!

Alas, the Green Giant Museum was closed for the day by the time I arrived. But there's a nice little picnic area at the statue's feet. 

As I drove on, the skies became dark and threatening. Turns out, the forecast of thunderstorms was accurate. Before long, a steady rain was falling. My plan to camp at Blue Mounds State Park didn't sound good anymore. Luckily, there was a Super 8 in Luverne. This time, there was no pool or hot tub, but I was out of the rain. Funny how quickly your priorities can change!