Dedicated to Marcus the Boat Boy

Your humble narrator, circa 1987 aka "The Mullet Years," fishing in Ely, MN

So, I was supposed to update this blog last week while traveling through the lovely state of Minnesota. Well, you know what they say about best laid plans and all that jazz.

Instead of covering the interesting things I did, which were few and far between, I thought I'd share some tidbits from my trip instead.




- Minnesota is ranked as the most healthy state in the union.

- In the land of 10,000 Lakes, Rochester, MN lays claim to having the only man made lake in the state. Rochester Utilities uses the lake for cooling. Because the lake operates as a heat sink, it never freezes. Subsequently, Silver Lake attracts a huge population of Canadian geese that stay there year round.

- Beer Cheese soup is manna from heaven but, beer cheese soup with cheese curds added in at the last second is life changing. I experienced this delicious treat at the Canadian Honker in Rochester, MN. I was nervous at first, seeing as how one of the menu options was "Honker Droppings." I soon got over myself after experiencing the soup.

- If you've ever been lucky enough to enjoy a road trip with me, you would know that I have an affinity for beef snacks, namely beef jerky (I'm talking to you Allie, Brianne, and Ingrid). Consider this a PSA for my fellow beef lovers. There is a product that can only be found in gas stations lining the highways of Wisconsin and Minnesota. This product is call the Wentzel Beef Stick. My family has become so addicted to this delicious treat that my father buys the beef sticks in bulk and has incorporated them as a regular feature in his everyday diet.

- Finally, I want to address the dedication of this post to Marcus the Boat Boy. While I was traveling though Minneapolis area, I had the opportunity to work in a suburb called Wayzata. This beautiful lakeside town is located on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. It is also the hometown of Marcus the Boat Boy, one of my first major and utterly mortifying crushes of my pre-teen years. Alright, who am I kidding, he was basically my major crush from the ages of 12-18, but I digress. For those of you that don't know, I spent my summer vacations in the Northwoods of Minnesota. For two weeks, we would swim, fish, and reconnect with our family and friends from around the country. I would also shamelessly moon after Marcus, who was at least 12 years my senior. So here I am, milling about in Wayzata, MN, concerned about running into the infamous Jackpine Lodge boat boy, flustered as if I was suddenly 12 again! More importantly, remembering him also brought back all of those amazing memories of Minnesota...the jack pines, the lakes so pure and clear, the call of the loons, the nights spent around the campfire laughing and looking at stars...I could go on all day.



Overall, I wish I could have explored Minnesota a bit more. On the bright side, I know that I will be back soon and hope to uncover some other interesting areas. My brother has already given me a list of places to eat...leave it to a Holub to have that kind of information at the ready.

Up Next: South Bend, Indiana