I went exploring a place that turned out to be so big, it took me two consecutive Saturdays to finish. I took a couple trips to Harriet Island Park in St. Paul, I found the perfect mix of urban area and wide-open spaces, just across the Mississippi River from each other.
Looking at the St. Paul skyline across the river was an amazing view. The old-fashioned architecture is amazing to photograph. When you combine it with some of the newer skyscrapers erected in recent decades, that makes it more interesting for an architecture buff like me. I’m not so into it that I can name you all the different styles of buildings. I just know what I like to look at.
Harriet Island is a great place to talk a walk. The boardwalk along the Mississippi River is really quite spacious, with plenty of room to stop and take pics or videos. In fact, I had some company walking down the boardwalk at one point. I looked to my right and saw a hen mallard swimming alongside, trailed by three of the most adorable little ducklings you would ever see. In fact, this is what they looked like.
They were adorable!
As I walked further down the boardwalk, I saw it split into several different walking/biking trails, so I headed in a southeasterly direction. I was hoping to find the trail that would take me up higher in the surrounding bluffs for some cool pictures, but never found it. What I DID find is a pretty good sunburn. Not much in the way of protection from the sun’s rays on a rip-snorting hot day. That’ll learn me.
The boardwalk at Harriet Island Park keeps you tight to the Mississippi River in St. Paul. The view is amazing. (Photo by Chad Smith)
I know what you’re thinking; “Chad, you posted a picture with the first brand-new baseball cap you’ve had in 30 years. Why didn’t you put it on?” Simply put, I wasn’t in the habit yet and I paid for it.
I did come upon an abandoned Union Pacific railroad track. I saw a big old “PRIVATE PROPERTY” sign that didn’t stop me from climbing up to the elevated track in order to snap a few pictures. At one time, the railroad ran all the way across the Mississippi on a bridge. The giveaway that it was abandoned is the fact that a chunk of the railroad bridge is missing. It was strange. The tracks extends from the other side of the river out into the middle of it. Why not take the whole thing out?
The trails will take you through some wooded areas that reminded me of walking through certain parts of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Beautiful. I was really enjoying the walk until I noticed a discarded couch/roll away bed that someone had tossed into the trees. Why do people do that?
An abandoned Union Pacific railroad track. Not sure why, but they took a chunk of the track out of the bridge that runs over the river and turned it sideways. Seems a little strange. (Photo by Chad Smith)
It took more effort to carry that couch that far down the path than it would have to hoist it up into a vehicle and drive it to the dump. I know we all get lazy from time to time but we need to be better than that.
The looks like a big chunk of the railroad bridge that no longer stretches over the water. (Photo by Chad Smith)
I initially thought someone was drilling for oil. Instead, I find out this is the “Target Stage.” Seriously? Does EVERYTHING in the Cities have to have “Target” in the name? š I saw some really nice boats out on the water. Lots of room on the Mississippi.
Not sure I wanna know what happened to the guy missing this shoe? After all, it IS St. Paul, so who knows?
Wonder if he or she noticed they’d blown a tire? (Photo by Chad Smith)
There’s an old lift bridge down there on the Mississippi that I’m pretty sure is no longer in use. However, please don’t quote me on that. The blue lift-control house on top of the bridge looks like a pretty lonely place to be?
I’m not a boating expert by any means, but I think these are some type of retaining walls to keep ships from hitting the bridge? The doves sure liked hanging out down there in the shade on a scorching hot day. (Photo by Chad Smith)
You really don’t ever know what you’ll find when exploring the metro area. Found a blushing bride and her groom out getting pictures taken in the Union Depot area of St. Paul.
The blushing bride hurrying to get back and get hitched after taking pictures. (Photo by Chad Smith)
Como Zoo in St. Paul is a Smith family favorite. It’s one of the family’s favorite places to be together. We’ve been going there for years because we spent a lot of time in the Twin Cities before finally settling here a couple years ago.
The ostriches at Como Zoo in St. Paul were really giving Gaelan Smith the stinkeye. It was hilarious! (Photo by Chad Smith
If you’ve never been there, I recommend taking the family. There’s no cost to get in, other than a suggested donation. As far as I know, Como Zoo exists entirely on donations from the public. There may or may not be patrons that make regular donations, but I have no idea for sure.
Here’s proof: Gaelan Smith getting the stinkeye from one dorky bird.
The zoo is set up really well. A family getting lost there means they worked hard to do so. There’s likely a little something for everyone. There’s a polar bear exhibit, which is one of our favorites. Unfortunately, we picked a scorching hot day to visit Como Zoo, so there wasn’t much outside activity. There’s big cats, including a beautiful tiger!
There are silverback gorillas in there and they are amazing to watch move around. They’re so big, powerful, and graceful. Como Zoo currently has an entire gorilla family, including three youngsters. Of course, what do Monique and Talisa Smith notice? “The father is laying on his back, doing nothing, while mom watches the brood,” they said while laughing.
We saw a mother orangutan playing with her baby. The little one smiled from ear to ear. I’ve got a little video here of the two of them playing. The quality is less than I hoped for the fingerprints covered the windows.
The only thing I hope the zoo can get cleared up is some of the aquatic displays. The weather was hot and steamy, so the tanks all had condensation on them. However, the tanks need cleaning desperately, so much so that we couldn’t see some of the fish in there. I’m really hoping they can get enough help to take care of that particular problem.
Those aquatic displays really did need a little bit of work to get cleaned up.
Giraffes really are goofy-looking creatures, aren’t they?
Giraffes are really weird looking animals, aren’t they? (Photo by Chad Smith)
To coin a phrase from Art Linkletter (how’s that for long-term memory?), “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” I forget which kid said it, but I heard a voice say, “Wouldn’t it stink to be a giraffe and choke? How long would it take before the rest of its body figured out it was choking?” Of course, my only intelligent response was “depends on how far down the throat it got?” And I have a Master’s Degree. So proud.
Have you seen that little cabin exhibit between the Como Zoo entrance and the primate display? Looks just like a settler’s cabin you may have seen all those many years ago in Minnesota.
I love this little cabin that sits near the entrance of Como Zoo in St. Paul. Never noticed the water wheel behind it before. (Photo by Chad Smith)
Do you think we interrupted something here? Get a room, for goodness sakes.
Good grief, get a private room or something.
Last but not least, can I show you my favorite exhibit? It’s this guy:
He was adorable! BTW, it’s a tree sloth, in case you’ve never seen one before.
That tree sloth in the jungle exhibit cracked us all up. When we came through the door, the slot was sitting up on that same branch while scratching his left side. By the time we’d gotten around the exhibit, he passed out. Must have been some serious hard work?
St. Paul is one of my favorite cities to explore. Another Saturday means it was time to head off to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. I’d spent so much time exploring Minneapolis that I thought it was time to take a closer look at the sister city. What I didn’t realize was just how CLOSE I would be to St. Paul in spite of exploring a nature area.
One of my favorite parts of the Bruce Vento Nature Conservancy in St. Paul is the fact that there is so much interaction with trains down in that neighborhood.
The first thing I saw was a signpost that pointed in different directions I could go and different things I could check out. To my surprise, I saw a sign that said I was one mile from downtown St. Paul. Well, I can’t let the chance go by to check out one of my favorite places to take pictures. I’m an architecture buff and love the way St. Paul was put together.
Walking a short way down the sidewalk, I saw a familiar sign in the distance; “CHS Field.” For those who don’t know, it’s the home of the St. Paul Saints, who play in the Northwoods Baseball League. I couldn’t believe I’d walked approximately a mile and went from a nature sanctuary to the edge of a major city like St. Paul in that short of a time frame. I’d driven by CHS Field many times while traveling between the Twin Cities and Rochester.
One of my biggest surprises of exploring a nature area was how close I still was to the city. A half mile directly behind me on the same sidewalk was the nature area. A half mile ahead stood St. Paul. I love the surprises you find when exploring the Twin Cities. (Photo by Chad Smith
I did see something I hadn’t come across before. It looked like a big lot that contained railroad tracks running in a half-circle before splitting into at least a half-dozen separate tracks that each ran into a large gray building. It reminded me of an auto shop that has several different doors along one side that each run into a separate repair station. I’m pretty sure I’d found a repair shop for trains, but I honestly don’t know that for sure.
Walking around the block past the train depot, I found myself in St. Paul proper. I really love the architecture down there. I saw one building from behind that looked like an abandoned warehouse. However, walking around the front, it was an immaculate series of shops up and down the length of the building.
You wind up exploring a nature area in St. Paul and find yourself on the doorsteps of a St. Paul Saints baseball game. (Photo by Chad Smith)
The only thing I was unhappy with while walking around St. Paul was the number of people holding cardboard signs. You know what I’m talking about, right? The homeless veteran signs always break my heart. I’ve spoken to more than a few homeless veterans (and handed out a few bucks too), with those some of the most heart-breaking stories you’ll hear. However, at the other end of the spectrum, there was at least one gentlemen holding a homeless sign who was literally dressed better than I was. Who knows what to believe anymore?
At least I knew for sure where I was in St. Paul today? (Photo by Chad Smith)
If you saw my last post about exploring, it should be obvious I find urban artwork (tagging) interesting. I saw my favorite tag earlier today that said “Freddy sucks eggs.” Thanks for the tip. It makes me glad my name isn’t Freddy.
I loved the red brick architecture I found here on the edge of St. Paul. (Photo by Chad Smith)
One thing I find interesting about both Minneapolis and St. Paul is the fact that they seem to have repurposed a lot of buildings for new uses. (Photo by Chad Smith)
St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Chad Smith)
Loved the colors at the Bruce Vento Nature Conservancy in St. Paul.
This is the part of city living I DON’T like… at all. I think the bridge at the Bruce Vento Conservancy could hold me up? (Photo by Chad Smith) Did I mention that was a LONG train? This was kind of weird.
If you read this far, thank you! Here the link to my Facebook photo album:
Bill Butters is a walking contradiction in terms. He was once one of the toughest guys to ever play professional hockey, a sport populated by some of the roughest people on the planet. Butters is also one of the most passionate people for Jesus Christ that youāll ever meet. Heās just one example of the life-changing power of Godās only Son.
Bill Butters, pictured here during his playing days at the University of Minnesota, is a living, breathing example of the power of Jesus Christ to change lives. A self-professed “despicable” guy, he’s now sharing the Gospel of Christ with Hockey Ministries International. (Photo from thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com)
Butters is a Minnesota-based staff member of Hockey Ministries International. As the name implies, the 40-year old group ministers to hockey players of all ages, both in the United States and throughout the world. They teach hockey players about Jesus Christ and living for him in the modern age through a series of HMI Hockey Camps.
Before Bill became a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, he
spent a lot of years playing hockey at many different levels. The St. Paul,
Minnesota native played for the University of Minnesota from 1971-1973. He
played more than 200 games in the World Hockey Association with teams like the
Minnesota Fighting Saints, Houston Aeros, Edmonton Oilers, and the New England
Whalers. Butters played 72 games for the Minnesota North Stars in the National
Hockey League before retiring as a player in 1980.
Butters wasnāt the most popular player on the ice, no matter where he played. He was once described as āhard-hitting and mayhemā while on the ice. He was once described as ārancidā by fans of the Wisconsin Badgers during his college days. Unfortunately, he was equally hard-hitting off the ice and it affected those closest to him. Speaking during a recent Hockey Ministries International fundraising breakfast in St. Paul, Butters told a crowd of 300 people that his life began to change when one close friend hit him with words he needed to hear.
The St. Paul Hotel, where Bill Butters spoke during a Hockey Ministries International fundraiser. (Photo by Chad Smith)
āWho would have thought back in the day that a guy like me
would ever be able to talk about Jesus, especially in a holy way,ā Butters told
the crowd. āI hated Christians, just like Saul before he became the Apostle
Paul. I had a friend who knew me as a pro hockey player, knew my wife, knew my
children and had enough courage to lose his friendship with me. His name is
Steve.
āOne day, we were driving to go play golf with a bunch of
buddies,ā Butters recalled. āSteve said āButts, I donāt want to be your friend
anymore. The man youāve turned into, your language, the way you treat your wife
and family, is despicable. I just donāt want to be your friend anymore.āā
Butters said his first thought was āthis guy is a friend?ā
That moment took place in the summer of 1979. Butters said that was the start
of God making a call on his life. His friend Steve had enough courage to
confront the sin in his life. āI hated him for that,ā Butters said.
Another of Buttersā friends, Tom Reid, invited Bill to be a
volunteer coach at a hockey camp. At that time, Bill said he was āa young stud,
at least in my own mind, playing for the North Stars.ā That camp invitation
came shortly after a rough moment in Billās life that took place in the office
of then-Minnesota North Stars GM Lou Nanne.
āMy friend, Lou Nanne, was the General Manager and had just
told me how awful of a player I was,ā Butters remembered. āGlen Sonmoor was the
coach and he loved me. However, Glen also had a glass eye. I remember being in
the room with those two when the North Stars werenāt too good. Lou said to me
āButts, youāre just not too good.ā
āGlenn said āLouie, how can you say that? Butts is a great
guy. Heās good in the locker room and tells jokes,āā Butters said with a smile.
āLou responded with ābut Glenn, heās awful! What you have to do is look at Bill
with your real eye.āā
It was at that low point, Tom Reid extended the invite to
the camp and Butters simply said: āit changed my life.ā Bill remembers thinking
he was there to teach kids. A group of 12-year-old boys led him in prayer and
told him about Jesus.
āThey told me how tough Jesus is,ā Butters recalled. āThe kids said He was the toughest man who ever lived. Those boys told me He loved me and that He would forgive my sins if I would just accept Him into my heart. Those 12-year-old boys led me to Christ.ā
Bill and Debbie Butters, pictured here after Bill received an award from the Herb Brooks Hockey Banquet, are examples of just how Jesus Christ can restore a broken marriage to wholeness through His love and forgiveness. (submitted photo from presspubs.com)
Butters said the next thing he remembered was sitting with
his wife and telling her the good news that heād just become a follower of
Jesus Christ. However, what followed Billās pronouncement of his new faith was
a tough pill to swallow.
āThen came the very bad news,ā Butters said. āI explained
the sin in my life, the infidelity, the lying, the cheating. It broke her
heart. After a couple of hours, she looked at me and said the very same words
that Jesus said to me two nights earlier; āI forgive you. Letās rebuild our
marriage on our faith in Christ.ā
āSo, I was confronted by a friend, invited by another
friend, led by a group of boys, and then forgiven by my best friend,ā he
recalled. āThen, I had another friend named Gary Roloffs, a pilot from
Northwest Airlines who didnāt know me from Adam, that was a Christ follower. He
asked if he could meet with me for a cup of coffee.ā
They first met in 1980 and have continued to meet once every
week since then, all the way up to the present day. Bill said Roloffs has
taught him to read Scripture, how to pray, how to memorize Scripture, and how
to āthink a little bit better.ā So, Butter said he had a friend mentor him in
the faith, while another friend taught him how to ālove my wife and be a dad.ā
After that, Butters, who referred to himself as one of the āmost
despicable men in hockeyā was invited to join a ministry and tell others about the
love of Jesus Christ. Don Liesemer, President of Hockey Ministries International,
is the one who brought Butters aboard.
āThen, thereās Herb Brooks,ā Butters said. āWhat can I say
about Herbie other than he was everything to me, including a coach, a friend, a
mentor. He was someone who believed in me long before many other people did.
One of the most memorable things he said to me was āBilly, youāre a character.
Someday, I hope you have character.ā There is a difference.
āLater, when I was struggling in ministry and couldnāt raise
any money, I went to Herb, who was scouting for Pittsburgh back then. I asked
Herb to see if he could use his influence to get me a job in hockey. Herbie
said to me āBilly, I think God has you right where He wants you. You stay in
that ministry.ā As rough as some people thought Herb Brooks was, he was a
tenderhearted man. I truly believe he loved me and wanted only the best for me.ā
As he gets older, Butters said the two words he fears most
are āI forgot. I forgot about my friendships, I forgot the boys who led me to
Christ, I forgot about some of you. Thatās never gonna happen. Iām going to try
hard not to forget the important things.
āJesus knew the same things way back then,ā he added. āI
forget my glasses, or even my (false) tooth half the time when I walk out the
door. I forget a lot of things, but Jesus doesnāt forget me. He said, āremember
me.ā But before you can remember someone, you have to know them first.
āWhen Jesus began His ministry, He didnāt say join a Bible Study, join a church, memorize Scripture, or do this and do that,ā Butters said. āHe simply said āCome, follow Me.ā His disciples left what they were doing to follow Him, then got to know Him. Then, before He died on the cross, He said āremember me.ā So, my question for you is do you know Jesus? Are you following Him?
Butters closed out his remarks to the crowd at the St. Paul Hotel by saying that society is telling people to not follow Jesus. āHockey Ministries International is telling people around the world that āIf you know Jesus, you will know peace.ā Do you know Him?ā
Iām from a town of less than a thousand and currently living in a city of almost 3.3 million people, so Iām naturally out of my comfort zone. However, it is getting easier. Thereās sure a lot more to do here but why does it always have to be so expensive here in the big city? I work from home and have lots of time to read and think about things. I donāt share my inner thoughts easily with people I donāt know, but Iām already way out of my comfort zone here, so letās give blogging a try.
I really donāt care that Nike has hired Colin Kaepernick. I just donāt. Iām physically and emotionally exhausted by the great American Flag/National Anthem debate. Heās got a God-given right to do what he believes is right, and more power to him. However, before the Kap supporters get too big for their britches, other people have a similar God-given right to not support it. Thatās what true freedom of speech is. Just because someone doesnāt agree with you doesnāt mean either side is wrong. Weāre all allowed to have different opinions.
That leads me to another point. Are you as exhausted as I am by the division being sown daily in this country? The United States arenāt quite as āUnitedā as they used to be. Our political āleadersā are doing a great job of stirring up dissension in the country and then doing an equally great job of promising to āfixā it. We keep believing the promises and keep electing the same morons, over and over, expecting different results. How does that make sense? And, itās not one side of the political aisle or the other. Itās both.
Weāve left two political parties in power for far too long. Itās time for new leadership and new blood in D.C. We have to start paying attention to the candidates running for office and the promises they make.
Please Minnesota, do some research on our state candidates. For example, donāt vote for Keith Ellison to be the stateās attorney general. The manās law license is inactive. Maybe you should ask him why? Plus, heās got domestic assault allegations to answer for. I cannot believe that his party is so quick to attack the president for the way he views women (which itself isnāt acceptable) but actually come out in support of someone with domestic issues of his own?
Oh, and before you get huffy and go on the attack, I didnāt vote for Trump. Didnāt vote for Clinton either. Voted for Gary Johnson, who I honestly thought was the best choice for the office. Thatās all Iām hoping we do in Minnesota. Vote for the best possible candidate for each office. Is that too much to ask? Donāt vote for someone just because the media tells you too, either. Do your own research and make an informed choice, no matter who you choose.
Maple Grove is quite a place. Iāll never forget one of the first days here when I took the dog for a walk. No less than three neighbors actually waved to me as I walked by. That hasnāt happened since I lived in South Dakota, where everybody knows everyone else. Iām in the middle of a big city and a major metro area and people were waving at me? Was really caught by surprise.
My dog, Jazz, is a greyhound. A black one. Sheās absolutely beautiful to look at. And absolutely lazy.
