by bart
30. December 2009 11:16
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by bart
27. December 2009 10:50
While in Texas visiting my sister Jane and her beautiful family, we visited the Topsey Exotic Animal Ranch. It is located in Topsey, TX, approximately 8 miles northwest of Copperas Cove, TX. We've been here before a few years back and had such a good time, we just had to return. If you visit the ranch, be prepared for a good time with lots of laughter. You'll be chased by the animals (like in Jurassic Park) begging to be fed. The emus and ostrichs might mistake your fingers for food. The zebras will climb right into your car. And the sloppy camels will eat everything in sight.
Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..
 A camel taking a bite out of the seat in our automobile. |
 A begging goat. |
 When this creature comes near your vehicle, watch the paint job. |
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by bart
26. December 2009 14:37
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by bart
31. October 2009 15:40
Following the Halloween Hoopla geocaching event in St. Paul's Crosby Farm Park, Nene, Ryan, my mother Norvina and I took the walk to visit the Lair of the Three Headed Woman. We actually climbed into and visited a giant crevice, or gorge, carved out of the sandstone bluff under Shepard Road. I don't think this location has an actual name but the term The Lair of the Three Headed Woman comes from a geocache that is hidden within the gorge.
Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..
 Nene enjoying the geology as Ryan climbs into the gorge. |
 Nene and Ryan at the end of the gorge. |
 Bart and Nene in a rare photo opportunity together inside the gorge. Teddy also made the climb! |
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Category: Adventure, Family
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by bart
24. October 2009 03:59
This photograph was taken on Saturday, October 24th, 2009. The entire Flentje family dressed up for a Halloween party excursion located in the Cannon Falls area. Boo.

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by bart
26. September 2009 13:07
This photograph was taken on Saturday, September 26nd, 2009. Anna, Laura and Bart enjoyed a nice bicycle ride down in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge near the Louisville Swamp Unit. During our ride we stopped and checked out the Jabs Farm ruins circa 1880's.

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by bart
22. August 2009 10:43
This photograph was taken on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. I hosted and attended the 2nd Annual Minnesota Canoe-in Geocaching Event located in Miesville Ravine Park. I had the pleasure of having in my company paddler and friend of the family Ryan Condon, and my lovely daughter Laura. We paddled the 6.7 river mile run on the Cannon River from Cannon Falls to the Miesville Ravine landing.

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by bart
16. August 2009 10:27
While enroute to Sibley State Park on highway 55, having just come from Lake Maria State Park to the east, I come upon an accident along side the road. It turns out that the Wicked Witch of the West was texting while driving and had an accident. The accident occured about a mile east of Lake Koronis at N45° 19.540 W94° 38.224.

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Category: Interesting
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by bart
27. July 2009 04:47
During my Great River Road tour, it is safe to say that the highlight of the trip was the adventure that took us to the South Pass Lighthouse. Located some 35 miles south of Venice, LA, the southern most point in Louisiana, it is only accessible by boat on the Mississippi River. It is a mere half mile from the Gulf of Mexico.
While researching the area prior to our trip, I noticed a 5 star difficulty and 5 star terrain rated geocache sitting out there in the river delta not yet having been found called The Guiding Light (GC1V92T). I thought about that geocache for days half heartedly thinking to myself, it would be a blast to find this cache and possibly be the first to find it as well. In order to get to the lighthouse, chartering a boat would be necessary. After researching charter services available in the area, I initially concluded that it would not be economically feasible to pull off this adventure. But after many hours of contemplative thought and discussion, we would chalked this up as being a "once in a lifetime event" and booked the charter with Captain Dan of MLC Charters.
During the 36 mile boat ride down river, Captain Dan provided a great history of the area. He pointed out several historical locations and was explaining the geology and hydrological behavior of the river. When we approached the lighthouse, it was clear the storms over the years had removed nearly all evidence of a previous civilization I had seen in pictures. Including the dock and piers for we couldn't land the boat on shore. I had to wade through the last 15' of gator infested waters. I managed to make it to the lighthouse without being eaten alive and after a short search, I had found my 3000th geocache, and was first to find to boot.
Enjoy the photographs (click the thumbnails for larger view)..
 The end of the Great River Road |
 Approaching the lighthouse |
 Pulling into the lighthouse |
 Wading up to the lighthouse |
 The stairs leading up to the lighthouse |
 Bart is FTF on his 3000th geocache find |
 Standing on the upper deck |
 Looking down from the upper deck |
 Looking up from the upper deck |
 Wading back to the boat |
 Grandma Norvina, Molly and Bart |
 Group photo with our boat captain |
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Category: Adventure, Vacation
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by bart
26. July 2009 16:23
As I progressed south on my Great River Road tour out of St. Louis, MO towards Arkansas, our plan took us briefly into Kentucky. It was well over 50 miles out of the way but it was required for the Great River Road Challenge I was working on.
Out of Cairo, IL on route to Kentucky, we visited Fort Defiance State Park, which is located literally at the southern most point of Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Apparently this area was known at Camp Defiance during the American Civil War but is more well known as the point where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent five days studying celestial navigation. Using navigational tools of their time (no GPS), they successfully obtained the first latitude and longitude data that they used during their expedition.
We crossed the rivers and entered Wickliffe, KY. Just out of Wickliffe, we stumbled upon Fort Jefferson quite literally by accident. Our goal was to find the closest geocache located just inside Kentucky, which brought us to this historical overlook. Fort Jefferson was built during the American Revolutionary War to protect the inner United States against the British. It was abandoned after one year after having been taken by force by the Chickasaw. Eighty years later, it later served as a Union Army post during the American Civil War. Very little evidence of the fort remains today but in 2000, the Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross was completed to memorialize "lost loved ones."
Enjoy the photographs (click the thumbnails for larger view)..
 The entrance to Fort Defiance |
 Molly walking on the river bank of the Mississippi and Ohio river confluence |
 Bart sinking into the riverbank |
 Bart and Grandma Norvina standing where Lewis & Clark obtained first latitude and longitude |
 The Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross near Wickliffe, KY |
 River traffic as seen from Fort Jefferson near Wickliffe, KY |
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Category: Adventure, Vacation
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