A Living Magazine - Day 111 - Evening on the Stone Arch Bridge

Since I felt more comfortable now with the night bus schedule, I wanted to go back downtown and find the best place to take skyline photos of the City of Minneapolis. I took the regular bus routes to get there...

The Henepin County Central Library of Minneapolis.

I went back to the library to ask about how I could get a reliable desk with a working AC outlet. I walked all around first, not wanting to bother them if there was no reason. But every table was plugged to the floor, with a loose crappy outlet on the desktop.

I went to the "Welcome Desk" and no one was there. I paced around it for a good ten minutes, while watching four or five of the library cops telling each other jokes, just outside the lobby door. Finally two of them VERY slowly walked in and one sat behind the desk, adjusted his tie, and then asked, "What can I do for you?"

I asked him if he knew of any desks that had actual functioning outlets. He told me it was okay to plug directly into the floor. Well, this was a huge relief and something I would have tried to do anyway if I'd known I wouldn't be tased (kidding) for not following the library rules. Now, in that case, there were plenty of outlets, they were just in the dirty, smelly floor and not on the desks. Problem...um... solved(?).

Donald Rumsfeld, our once-divine US Secretary of Defense under George W. Bush, when asked by a group of soldiers...

"...why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up armor our vehicles, and why don't we have those resources readily available to us?"

...said, "...you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have..."

With cops at the Welcome Desk of the library (that's, LIBRARY--not violent demonstration or something!)--obviously keen scholars themselves running the place with not a librarian in sight, and patrolling the crime ridden book aisles, throwing out backpack wearers who just don't quite look right, what more should I expect from the "authorities" but a stripped-down military-style environment, where you scrounge around on the floor for working outlets?

Afterall, you go to study at the library you have, not the library you might want or wish to have. This is not necessarily a completely unfair characterization, since the hard-earned tax money of the citizens build both libraries and armies. It is pathetic that once the people hand in their taxes, authoritarian forces take over, chinz out on maintenance and then figuratively rough you up, if you ask why you didn't get what you paid for.  Still, all of this is only a second impression. I have been known to jump the gun with these impressions in the past. Maybe, I will be eating crow later...

I finished my day's post. Then I researched where the best place to get skyline pictures might be. Over and over again, photographers and videographers recommended views from just beside the Stone Arch Bridge. I located it on Google Maps. Should be no problem! Besides I would finally get to the the Riverfront Park area. I was becoming a "river/water front park" guy, having gotten to know Redding, Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Salem, Portland, Vancouver, Seattle and Spokane. I knew that I really didn't taste the flavor of a place until I'd explored its parks.

I was encouraged and set off in search of new lands. The Northwestern National Life Building provided a nice set of angles...

At the end of Hennepin, and just before the Mississippi River came a bridge...

Before crossing the Hennepin Avenue Bridge (also called the Grain Belt Bridge), I found the stairway down to the Riverfront Park Pathway...

A view of the path, looking southward.

I caught this as I passed over it. Well, at least I found one worm--the question mark.

I kept walking until I reached the Central Avenue Bridge, which flanked both sides of the Upper Pool Falls...

I was waiting to see someone poke their head out of this arched window;

maybe the ghost of a long dead bridge worker?

It is somewhat unusual in my experience to see an open room in a bridge support. I thought it would be fun to find a way over to it and see what was actually in there. But, at 47 years old, and choosing my stupid battles more judiciously these days, I took a pass on the idea...

Then I reached the Mill Ruins Park. There was a pathway down somewhere, but I did not immediately see how to get down there. I will next time I'm in town. Nevertheless, this was a very interesting area...

A spillway gate that I had to hold my camera tightly to photograph.

Finally, I reached the...

Walking over it, I caught sight of part of the old mill ruins...

This had to be one of the coolest things along the river. They left the mill building partially standing and integrated the Mill City Museum into it.

I used a public pair of binoculars to extend my zoom up to the sign on the outside.

The Guthrie Theater--quite an impressive design, even has a huge flaming torch at night.

This building will show up later too.

Looking across the straight part of the Stone Arch Bridge.

The sun touching the tops of the buildings.

These were different. They are tripod versions of big power poles.

Steam power plant on the other side of the river.

The park on the other side.

I heard voices down below me, along the paths I saw, but had to really search for a way down...

The old Pillsbury Flour Mill.

Here it was, the way down to the paths by the water.

At least these old ruins are "Ghetto Protected."

And, look! A river of Orange Tang, just waiting to be scooped up in a glass and enjoyed--NOT.

The Stone Arch Bridge side view.

And, some railing graffiti...

Who knows the significance of THIS word? Entheogen experts?

Up from the path and looking back at the park.

Wish this had come out clearer. It would have been a great

example of old industrial machine-turned-art.

Dead bird, as art.

I sat in the little park, waiting for the sun to go down, and eating grapes. Two squirrels practically jumped on me. The first had lost most of his tail, but was in otherwise good condition, and his friend was super-hyper, jumping on the back of the bench, then up through a hole onto the seat, then off again. I knew grapes were not good for squirrels (too much sugar and ascorbic acid), but I gave them a few tiny pieces to enjoy--which they did, immensely. I purposely chose not to take shots of them, because I didn't want to be known as "Squirrel and Goose" man--obsessed with the little park creatures of the cities I visit. Then later, I thought to myself, What would have been wrong with that, Mr. dumbass?

Eventually, the light was right and I began my work for a good skyline shot. There are a lot of similar pictures here, changed up slightly as the evening progressed. I'd love to hear opinions about which ones are your favorites. I'll number them...

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Now here is a series of shots as the sunlight crept up under the clouds...

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

I left this one in, because the camera accidentally focused on the

bridge rail graffiti scratched words, instead of the buildings in the distance.

(13)

I used the rails in place of a tripod, but of course that means the rail would be in each picture.

As the skies further darkened, the differential of building lights became more prominent...

(14)

(15)

I like this picture of the falls.

(16)

I turned to the left and saw  bright blue St. Anthony Falls Bridge...

(17)

(18)

The Guthrie Theater.

(19)

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

Three things frustrated me about this photo shoot: 1. The thick power lines all across the view. 2. The extra light of the lamps along the bridge. 3. Not having a proper tripod. The first two I could do nothing about. But, the third would be something to consider in the future, especially on this next leg to the South. Perhaps I could borrow or rent one when I get into new cities? We'll see...

Romantic horse drawn carriage rides across the Stone Arch Bridge.

I awaited the number 14 Bus and shot this panorama from the Whole Foods store at the corner of Hennepin and Washington...

When I got back to Allyson's I had a hankering for an omelette and made up this delicious, three egg, with baked ham, and Swiss cheese, some chips on one side and plum slices on the other. Thanks, Ally!

The two pups were quite interested...

Peppy.

Bella.

A bit re-energized, I stayed up until 2:30 am processing and uploading these pictures for the post today.