ONBOARD ODDYSEA: TUESDAY JUNE 12TH, 2012

We left Winona early. There is getting to be less and less tow traffic at the locks as we head upriver, but the guys checked on the tow traffic website and there was one we wanted to beat to the first lock. No one had even had coffee yet! What a way to start the day.

Once underway we could settle in with

our cup of Joe and take in the beauty of the river in the early morning. This picture is of Winona and Sugar Loaf bluff in the background.

The wind continues to blow making it a challenge to stay up close to the lock wall while they raise the water. These are some of the bluffs next to lock just above Winona.

The wind did settle down as the day passed.

This is the Eagle Center in Wabasha. Ross and I went there when it first opened. At that time there were 3 eagles tethered to perches on the floor in a viewing area about 4 feet away from the public. You really got the sense of how huge these birds are! It wasn’t a cage, just a large open area. We felt the tickets were a bit spendy, but we’re glad we went.

Slippery’s has been here forever! It’s really snazzy now compared to the old days with its rickety docks. I think it’s kinda lost its dumpy, river charm too. But if you’re ever looking for a fun thing to do on winter day, drive to Wabasha and have lunch here. The river stays open in front of here and there are always eagles sitting on the ice and in the trees looking for a meal. They are lots of fun to watch. And Slippery’s plays the Grumpy Old Men movies on all the TV sets, as Wabasha is where they filmed it. And you gotta order a Slippery burger! A burger topped with fried onions and slab of melted Velveeta cheese. Mmmmm…they’re the best.

This is Reed’s landing at the downstream end of Lake Pepin. It is very narrow here and it has silted in so there is a dredging operation going on. They suck sand and silt off the bottom and then it ends up piled on shore. Bulldozers move it around after that. The barges need a 9’ channel to be able to pass through so the Army Corp of Engineers is constantly fighting the river.