Dale Stenseth's Annual Lake Street Pilgrimage

October 7th, 2009

This is the first year I have done the hike in the autumn. Picking what might be the last nice walking day, I set off late, at 10:12 AM. The temperature got up to 64°F. I unwisely wore a new pair of walking shoes, and got a blister, even with wool socks. I definitely wasn't Jellin'.

Walking Lake Street is always an eye opener. Need a saddle? Need a French maid's outfit? No problem.

I like to follow the effects of the changing demographics. Of course, goat meat is available several places. Now, it is also possible to get camel meat. Wait. I assumed it was camel meat. Maybe it was a live camel.

Tattoos, spelled many different ways, are available in the inner city. By contrast, the suburbs have Tat Removal shops.

I wasn't sure I could make the whole trip this year, because of my new bionic hip. My first goal was the Mississippi bridge. After that, I tried for Hosteling International at Selby-Dale, and after that, I went all the way to the State Capitol. Including nearly 2 hours on the bus home, the trip took 8 hours this year. I was moving mighty slowly on the 2nd half. I took my usual coated aspirin in the morning, and 2 Aleves during the walk, followed by 2 glasses of red wine when I got home. This means the Grand Canyon is within the realm of possibility for the spring.

Best tee shirt in St. Paul: Paddle faster! I can hear banjo music. The best tee shirt in Minneapolis was unprintable.

I've added a few new pictures below.

Note: in 2008, I skipped the walk because of worsening arthritis in my left hip. I resumed in the fall of 2009.

May 3rd, 2007

This year was even a little slower, although, I made an extra stop along the way and ate 'second breakfast'. My stamina is great, but even with 2 Aleve, things still hurt. That makes the hike less fun, but there are always interesting events. An unintentional entertainer on the bus ride home chastised his seat-mate for not being old enough to know about having to ride in the back of the bus. She moved, and after he had a few more bumps from his paper bag, he got off the bus. The ride home was pretty boring after that.

It was a beautiful spring day, with a high of 72°F. Crab apple and regular apple trees were in full bloom along the way. Too early in the day for the gang-bangers to be out, and too early in the season for the suburban run-aways to be cruising, and I missed the Cinco de Mayo madness that will happen on Saturday.

A few more businesses are gone. Napa Jacks bit the dust. Mid-town Market is no big whoop. Stuff was going on in front of the Capitol.

June 1st, 2006

This year was 1 hour and 15 minutes slower because of my ski crash in March. Also, I made an extra stop, and changed some of the stops I have made in the past. Took more pictures of murals and other interesting things. Nice late spring day. Buses on the return trip were crowded because of gas prices.

April 9th, 2005

I did my annual spring pilgrimage and eating trip down Lake Street, from my home to the Minnesota state capitol on Saturday. It is always interesting to see the changes in demography and economics of the neighborhoods. In prior years, I have hiked one-way, which takes 5 hours, and rode the bus home, which takes 2 hours. This year, because I am conditioning for some possible future hikes, I had planned to do a partial round trip. The distance is 13+ miles one way from my home. I wanted to do a 20 mile hike. At 19.55 miles, I sat down for a chalupa and called for a ride. I wasn't that tired, but I had a lot of parts that hurt.

The route is a virtual straight line to the east, but the street names change. Minnetonka Boulevard becomes Lake Street near the Minneapolis border. At the Mississippi River, the lowest point in the hike, Lake Street becomes Marshall Avenue. Marshall Avenue intersects with John Ireland Boulevard, which runs northeast to the capitol building. I recorded the route on my GPS.

While the hike this year was not as adventurous as some of my mountain hikes, this hike has sometimes proven very interesting and adventurous.

I have done this hike most years since 1994, usually in March or April. Most of the following pictures were taken in 2005. Other dates:
04/09/2005
04/25/2004
03/15/2003
04/13/2002
04/08/2001
03/04/2000
03/22/1998
03/23/1997
04/28/1996
04/14/1995
06/05/1994

2005, the first year I took pictures. Started at 9:00 am from home on a beautiful spring Saturday.
2005 Impressive tree house on Minnetonka Blvd at Ottawa.
2005 Lawn chairs and a mobile. The smallest lawn chair is 'normal' size.
2005 Wind surfing art objects on the northwest corner of Lake Calhoun.
2005 Bus-stop bench, made from bus parts? Your tax dollars at work? Gone in 2007.
Early spring 2005 It's too cold to swim at Lake Calhoun.
2005 I like the Latin American influence on Lake Street. Consequences are good food and some very nice wall murals.
2006 Minneapolis residential junk art on a side street. This was gone in 2009.
2006 Lake Street Mural.
2006 Lake Street Mural.
2007 Crab apple blossoms.
2009 Lake Street Mural.
2009 Lake Street reconstruction is finally done. Bike parking stations sometimes hint at a local business.
2009 Bike parking station near a dental office.
2009 Mississippi River fall colors.
2009 River graffiti.
2005 Wicker Harley on Marshall Avenue in St. Paul.
2005 Izzy's home-made ice cream on Marshall Avenue. Very good, but too expensive. I say that every year.
2006 St. Paul residential bench art.
2006 St. Paul residential yard art.
2007 St. Paul canine relief station.
2009 St. Paul residential painted sidewalk.
2007 St. Paul crab apple blossoms.
2006 St. Paul Vocational Art Competition.
2005 St. Paul Cathedral.
2005 Minnesota Historical Society.
2005 Minnesota State Capitol Building.