Pics from the Park

I had the good fortune of spending some time with my sister in Minnesota this week. Our window of time was relatively short so we had to prioritize our favorite activities. Popping to the top of the list was a trip to Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls. It is a beautiful wooded area with many trails to follow. Here are a few pics from our morning hike.

We began our hike on a suspension bridge. I am not a huge fan of bouncy structures spanning yawning chasms but this bridge is relatively mild on the danger scale. We were able to step lively as we made our way across the Redwood River.

The Redwood River meanders through the park in a cooling stream of beauty. The view from above never disappointed and we found ourselves taking breaks to enjoy the water moments.

The jewel of the park is Ramsey Falls. The winter's heavy snows provided plenty of moisture so the water was roaring near the red rocks. There was a beautiful observation deck near the Falls so lingering was not difficult.

The trees and flowers were popping out everywhere after their long winter's rest. This little beauty was begging for a selfie so I obliged. I am not a flower expert so I do not know its name but I will lose no sleep over that detail.

There were many pictures I forgot to take as I got caught up in the moments of the morning. Here are a few non-pictures. You'll have to use your imagination.

(My sister and I staring at a park map, scratching our heads.) We both suffer from can't-find-our-way-in-a-barrel-syndrome. After much discussion and feeble attempts to orient ourselves, we usually just shrugged our shoulders and started hiking. Somehow we made it out of the park alive and on time for lunch. Mission accomplished.

(Birds flitting about in the trees.) We both had our binoculars with us and were fully prepared for some serious birding. I was particularly excited because it was a new birding site for me. No surprise that we were not very successful. Birds are not exactly attracted to noisy sister babbling. We attempted to remain quiet and still every so often but we simply could not accomplish that feat. Hats off to the birds who did ignore our noise.

(Section of the trail with a steep decline.) There were parts of the trail that had a vertical feel. Serious footwear was appreciated as we leaned slightly backwards and hoped our shoes kept gripping the surface. We made it without incident but, as we all know, what goes down on a trail must come back up again. Yikes, there was a little huffing and puffing during the ascent but we made the summit without ambulance intervention.

If you are ever in the area of Ramsey Park, I highly recommend a visit. There are picnic shelters, playgrounds, places to camp and, of course, lots of hikes and natural beauty to enjoy. I am sure the birds will welcome you with open wings.