See the barge in the center/right of the stamp? That's where I came in yesterday. My hosts were waiting for me on the other side of the bridge.
My hosts, Chris and Kathy, were marvelous people. Generous, excited to hear my stories, asking great questions, very engaged with me but also understanding of me needing space to rest and do some internet work. First thing Chris said to me as I pulled in last night was, “have you missed a good Kentucky accent?” (his being thick indeed). It WAS nice to hear. When I arrived, Kathy had made some delicious tabouli salad with mint in addition to cilantro (mmmm), and some ratatoulli to die for. In the morning, she asked if there was anything I’d been craving living on the water. And, well, since she asked…I ventured, “Pad se ew? It’s a thai dish, I’ve been craving it for weeks.” While Winona doesn’t have great options for restaurants, Kathy is an avid cook, and was more than willing to try a new recipe.
We mostly relaxed around the house and I took a four hour nap on the poofy heaven bed (these 30+ mile days really wear me out). So, I didn’t get as much blogging done as I had hoped, but I had a great day of rest. Later, we went for a drive to pick up some stamps and post cards, talk to the folks at the MN Fish and Wildlife, and Big River magazine. The Fish and Wildlife office ladies took great interest in my journey and gave me a ‘hoo rag,’ a tube of fabric that I could use to protect my face from the sun. I was so excited about it (given my terrible sun burn the other day) that they gave me two for good measure. That evening, we ate the pad se ew, and it was SO GOOD. I’m not sure it quenched my craving, though. I just want it more now J. The three of us took a drive up to the top of the bluff for a beautiful sunset view, where we met some of their friends and snapped some photos before heading home to some ice cream and homemade strawberry drizzle.
The following morning, I had to take care of some pressing matters back home involving a printer, scanner—and I was very glad to be in a place that had both! I was interviewed by some folks from the Winona Daily News, and by the time I had finished all my work, it was after noon, and I didn’t think I could reasonably get to the next waypoint in what was left of the day. Kathy welcomed me to stay another night (THANK YOU), so we had time to drive to see the Latsch Island community.
Latsch Island and the adjacent Wolf Spider Island has 100 house boats moored to the edge of the island. You can access them by foot from Latsch Island. Some have electricity, many don’t. Some are lived in year-round, some aren’t. Those that do live there full time have to tote their water, fuel, groceries, etc by foot or by boat to their home. In the winter, you can drive on the ice to replenish what you need, but the rest of the year, you still have to contend with flooding and other issues that make access difficult. As someone who is obsessed with tiny houses they were really cool for me to see. I wish I could have gone inside more of them! I took another (shorter) nap, before we enjoyed a meal at the local golf club restaurant.
We mostly relaxed around the house and I took a four hour nap on the poofy heaven bed (these 30+ mile days really wear me out). So, I didn’t get as much blogging done as I had hoped, but I had a great day of rest. Later, we went for a drive to pick up some stamps and post cards, talk to the folks at the MN Fish and Wildlife, and Big River magazine. The Fish and Wildlife office ladies took great interest in my journey and gave me a ‘hoo rag,’ a tube of fabric that I could use to protect my face from the sun. I was so excited about it (given my terrible sun burn the other day) that they gave me two for good measure. That evening, we ate the pad se ew, and it was SO GOOD. I’m not sure it quenched my craving, though. I just want it more now J. The three of us took a drive up to the top of the bluff for a beautiful sunset view, where we met some of their friends and snapped some photos before heading home to some ice cream and homemade strawberry drizzle.
The following morning, I had to take care of some pressing matters back home involving a printer, scanner—and I was very glad to be in a place that had both! I was interviewed by some folks from the Winona Daily News, and by the time I had finished all my work, it was after noon, and I didn’t think I could reasonably get to the next waypoint in what was left of the day. Kathy welcomed me to stay another night (THANK YOU), so we had time to drive to see the Latsch Island community.
Latsch Island and the adjacent Wolf Spider Island has 100 house boats moored to the edge of the island. You can access them by foot from Latsch Island. Some have electricity, many don’t. Some are lived in year-round, some aren’t. Those that do live there full time have to tote their water, fuel, groceries, etc by foot or by boat to their home. In the winter, you can drive on the ice to replenish what you need, but the rest of the year, you still have to contend with flooding and other issues that make access difficult. As someone who is obsessed with tiny houses they were really cool for me to see. I wish I could have gone inside more of them! I took another (shorter) nap, before we enjoyed a meal at the local golf club restaurant.
 My mom sent me a care package including this funny napkin |  It's true, this poofy down comforter bed looked like HEAVEN to me.  Chris Carroll's tar-papered floating house boat off of Wolf Spider Island near Winona |
Interview with Winona Daily News
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With Chris and Kathy. Yay!
View of Winona Lake with the Mississippi River in the background.
1911's most advanced office building in the upper right (with the flag on the top). And me in my new face protection.
Grain washed up on the shore, across from where the grain elevator loads up barges.
Found this PFD floating just above Winona.
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