Scenic Beauty - Just Around The Bend Travel

November 12, 2023December 30, 2023

It’s a Hot-Air Balloon! No, It’s Nine Hot-Air Balloons!

Another Caledonia Hot-Air Balloon Rally is in the bag! The 2023 rally took place the third weekend in October. Ten balloons from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota were scheduled to fly over the weekend. Nine balloons flew from the field behind Caledonia High School on Friday afternoon and again on Sunday morning. The fights on Saturday were canceled due to high winds. This is the most balloons, I have seen fly in Caledonia over the past 10 years.

Safety First

Each year, the town hosts a hot-air balloon rally in October, the only balloon rally south of Rochester, Minn. There are years when the weather does not cooperate and the balloons do not get to fly or even stand-up. Organizers stress that balloon flights are weather-dependent, and that safety always comes first. Whether balloons fly or not is at the pilot’s discretion.

Keep a watchful eye on the Caledonia Balloon Rally Facebook page for up-to-date information prior to the event and during the rally. The organizers do an outstanding job posting notifications.

2023 Pilots

2023 participating pilots include Russ Lucas, Dodge Center, Minn.; Lynn Huppert, Ellsworth, Wisc.; Chris Keefe, Cross Plains, Wisc.; Rodney Newkirk, Rochester, Minn.; Tim Cloyd, Runnells, Iowa; John Parezo, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Jeff Trzebiatowski, Appleton, Wisc.; Terry Dorshorst, West Salem, Wisc.; Sean Eakin, Tomah, Wisc.; and Kevin Kamp, Marion, Iowa.

Balloonmeister

Tom Cloyd from Runnells, Iowa, was the 2023 balloonmeister. The balloonmeister is in charge of and coordinates all the balloon activities at a balloon event. He/she ensures the pilots meet all the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

Smile!

Balloon rallies are the perfect opportunity to take photos. Bring your camera to capture the balloons as they inflate, lift off, and fill the blue sky with a rainbow of colors. It is also fun to take pictures of the kids jumping up and down and yelling, “There’s a balloon. There’s a balloon. This is also the perfect time to record short videos of all the oohs and aahs and beaming smiles as attendees watch the balloons inflate and take-off. Don’t forget to wave. #caledoniamnballoonrally

Say Yes!

If you are asked to chase or go for a ride, don’t hesitate, say yes!

September 17, 2021March 31, 2023

A palette to fall for

My fall color palette consists of brown, mauve, rust, wine, clay, army green, mustard, and butterscotch. Hum! This may be why autumn is my favorite season, or it could be because I don’t like the sun glaring down on me, or the hot weather summer brings.

Autumn colors also make for great pictures. The following is a collection of my favorite fall pictures taken last fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. All the pictures were taken within five miles of my home in the Hesper, IA area of the driftless region.

Northeast Iowa Farm

A century Iowa farm with a traditional three-story white house and red barn located east of Hesper on 380th Street made for the perfect picture. Notice the pheasants’ photobombing the photo.

Happy Cows

This herd of cows eagerly ran up to the gate to see what I was up to. Look at that beautiful Iowa valley behind them! The farm is located east of Hesper on 380th Street.

Rollercoaster Road

Take time to check out the views in your neighborhood. Even though I have driven this road over and over throughout the years, I never saw this view until last fall.

Looking west toward Hesper on 380th Street!

Traditional Iowa Farm

This farm is owned and managed by a Sunday school classmate of mine. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful farms in the area. It is artistically pleasing to the eye as it has depth, thanks to the rolling hills of the driftless region and the variety of elements – trees, cornfields, two-story white farmhouse, white barn, metal building, silo, windmill, and a variety of other outbuildings. This farm is located at the intersection of Locust Road and 380th Street in Winneshiek County.

Scenic View

This view overlooks Mabel, MN from beer point, as named by Mabel-Canton Hi gh School students. I love the fence and dried grasses that frame this picture.

Trees

The best time to check out the fall foliage in Northeast Iowa/Southeast Minnesota is the weekend closest to October 10. Visit www.iowadnr.gov or www.dnr.state.mn.us for fall color updates.

Canadian Geese

The cornfields are picked in time for the Canadian Geese to enjoy feasting on the best corn in the world.

May 23, 2021April 10, 2024

The Best Kept Secret in the Driftless Region of Minnesota

The Norwegian Ridge Birding and Nature Trails opened in June 2013 after months of fundraising and manpower building the trails. There are three trails, 1-mile, 2-mile, or 3.5-mile. Watch out for the trolls under the bridge!

Where

The trailhead is located at 101 5th Ave. SE, Spring Grove, MN between Red’s Hometown Market and Spring Grove Gundersen Clinic. There is no need to search for parking, as there is a huge parking lot at Red’s that can be used for day parking. There is no overnight parking.

Who

Springtime at the Norwegian Ridge Birding and Nature Trail, Spring Grove, MN.

All ages and skill levels. The trails are not accessible.

When

The trails are open year-round. Each season, spring, summer, fall, and winter offer uses a different scene.

Why

The benefits are of hiking the three trails are numerous – 2000 steps, 4000 steps, or 7000 steps, the recommended daily dose of vitamin D, a day of enjoyment and relaxation, a lifetime of memories, bird watching, and albums of photos.

How

The trails are designed for walking or snowshoeing.

For questions, email sgbirdwalk@gmail.com or call (507) 498-5070. Current information can be found on the trails’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/sgbirdwalk, or on the trails’ website, http://sgbirdwalk.org/.