Road trip: Minnesota

[Oldmanastro]

Alright knuckleheads, I’m taking the family to a family reunion up in Minnesota and hitting the road on Thursday. My teenage daughters have never been on a road trip (their mother always flew them) so they get to see the Midwest country side straight up I-35 from Austin to Minneapolis. Probably stop overnight in KC. Was wondering if you guys had any other suggestions or ideas about what we should make an effort to see? I mean there’s always the world’s largest ball of yarn and a rooster that can beat you in tik-tack toe (sarcasm), just wondering about other spots.

 

[duqu]

where in MN are you headed?

low chance of this happening but make sure you have cash for toll roads in Kansas. in ‘98 I was an idiot and forgot to get cash before I left in the morning, didn’t even think about it until I got to the toll road. Middle of nowhere with zero cash. Had to scrounge for change in my car.

 

[Oldmanastro]

where in MN are you headed?

low chance of this happening but make sure you have cash for toll roads in Kansas. in ‘98 I was an idiot and forgot to get cash before I left in the morning, didn’t even think about it until I got to the toll road. Middle of nowhere with zero cash. Had to scrounge for change in my car.

Brainerd MN on a lake. It’s north of St. Cloud.
I’ve heard of possible tolls. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Weller 12]

Flip off Norman on your way through.

 

[duqu]

Brainerd MN on a lake. It’s north of St. Cloud.
I’ve heard of possible tolls. Thanks for the heads up.

on a lake Brained will be fun enough. it’s about an hour south of me (Park Rapids).

don’t get talked into trying the pickle pizzas people like up here

 

[Oldmanastro]

on a lake Brained will be fun enough. it’s about an hour south of me (Park Rapids).

don’t get talked into trying the pickle pizzas people like up here

Man, you’re up there in cold country.

 

[clob94]

Stop in KC.

Do NOT go to Arthur Bryan's BBQ.

Instead, go to Jack Stack.

Also- when in Minnesota-
I tell a story to people that I have walked across the water of the Mississippi River..... and it's true. I have. Of course, most folks assume I'm talking about the Mississippi River when it's in it's massive state- New Orleans or Memphis etc.

But in reality, if you head N by NW out of Minneapolis toward a lake called Winnibigoshish, there's a small bridge there- you can get out and literally walk across the Mississippi in the water. It's never more than about calf deep. Then for the rest of their lives, your kids can win bar bets for free drinks by saying "I bet you 2 beers I've walked across the Mississippi river"-- then produce a photo of them walking across the Mississippi River with a sign behind them that says "Mississippi River".

 

[outhereincali]

Well there is the Mall of the Americas. I'm not sure but I think it's the biggest mall in the world.

I don't know if you're family likes to fish but Lake Superior is the second largest lake in the world. I knew a man that showed me a picture of a man and his son going trout fishing there. I'm telling you that fish was huge.

The twins are playing outdoors again. Target is headquartered there. There's a lot of lakes in MN. Most Scandinavians who immigrated to America's settled in MN. So I guess there's a lot Scandinavian influence.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Flip off Norman on your way through.

Done. Even though couldn’t see the campus from I-35. Daughter wore her Longhorn jacket into restaurant when we stopped.

 

[Oldmanastro]

where in MN are you headed?

low chance of this happening but make sure you have cash for toll roads in Kansas. in ‘98 I was an idiot and forgot to get cash before I left in the morning, didn’t even think about it until I got to the toll road. Middle of nowhere with zero cash. Had to scrounge for change in my car.

So Kansas just pissed me off. The whole I-35 corridor is a toll and cashless. I’m in a rental Jeep Wagoner (awesome btw, huge for the family) so I’m sure I got a big toll charge coming to me from Enterprise rental. How can I-35 be a fvcking toll. Wasn’t it built by our federal taxes?

 

[outhereincali]

So Kansas just pissed me off. The whole I-35 corridor is a toll and cashless. I’m in a rental Jeep Wagoner (awesome btw, huge for the family) so I’m sure I got a big toll charge coming to me from Enterprise rental. How can I-35 be a fvcking toll. Wasn’t it built by our federal taxes?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the states have the right to do that if they want.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the states have the right to do that if they want.

I believe in Texas the toll companies have to build a new road. Can’t just flip a current road into a toll.

 

[duqu]

So Kansas just pissed me off. The whole I-35 corridor is a toll and cashless. I’m in a rental Jeep Wagoner (awesome btw, huge for the family) so I’m sure I got a big toll charge coming to me from Enterprise rental. How can I-35 be a fvcking toll. Wasn’t it built by our federal taxes?

oh shit. that happened to me a few years ago. that sucks.

 

[outhereincali]

I believe in Texas the toll companies have to build a new road. Can’t just flip a current road into a toll.

It's like that in CA. One time my wife and I tried to go without paying. Nope camera caught us 😂. And outhereincali if you're late the bill triples 🤕 Hey it's how we pay for our taxes

 

[clob94]

It's like that in CA. One time my wife and I tried to go without paying. Nope camera caught us 😂. And outhereincali if you're late the bill triples 🤕 Hey it's how we pay for our taxes

I give them the bird as I drive through.

Every time.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Arrived today. Stayed in Fairmont MN visiting family. Just don’t get why a lot them never left.
Drive up to Brainerd on 15N sucked. Mostly 2 lanes and I was used to going 80 on I-35. Nice temps. Time to break out the whiskey after doing that drive, and I did it all myself.

 

[clob94]

Arrived today. Stayed in Fairmont MN visiting family. Just don’t get why a lot them never left.
Drive up to Brainerd on 15N sucked. Mostly 2 lanes and I was used to going 80 on I-35. Nice temps. Time to break out the whiskey after doing that drive, and I did it all myself.

Ask the country folks about the Muslim population.

 

[texas sixty nine]

Mosquitos are the state bird … per folks I worked with from the twin cities.

 

[duqu]

Ask the country folks about the Muslim population.

nonexistent where I am; I’m about 40 miles from Brainerd. got some Hondurans and the northern Somalis are 90+ miles west of me in Fargo, ND.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Ask the country folks about the Muslim population.

Haven’t made it to that conversation yet, but I hear a Jamaica ascent in some of the resort workers, at least Caribbean.
I’ll also tell you outside of the twin cities, it’s all red. Kinda like Texas. Inner Austin blue, outside red. I’ve already heard “immigrant” issues among my relatives. And they love DJT.

 

[2300 Nueces]

Not to derail the conversation but I will be traveling to McCallen for a state TAAF swim meet with my youngest son. I plan on driving through Austin and hitting campus. It's been a couple of years since I have been there.... Everything I knew is gone except Dirty's. Any suggestions for a quick lunch close to campus? (not super expensive)

 

[clob94]

Not to derail the conversation but I will be traveling to McCallen for a state TAAF swim meet with my youngest son. I plan on driving through Austin and hitting campus. It's been a couple of years since I have been there.... Everything I knew is gone except Dirty's. Any suggestions for a quick lunch close to campus? (not super expensive)

Players is gone. Bert's BBQ is gone.

Mighty Mo's is ok
Roppollo's pizza is ok.

 

[2300 Nueces]

Players is gone. Bert's BBQ is gone.

Mighty Mo's is ok
Roppollo's pizza is ok.

Ya, the T-Man was great, fun times. Texadelphia is gone as well. I'll check those out.

 

[clob94]

Ya, the T-Man was great, fun times. Texadelphia is gone as well. I'll check those out.

Turbo with no beans for the win.

The best hamburger and shake combo ever was Players.
Best discount pizza was right there at MLK and Guadalupe-- Gumby's Pizza.

 

[2300 Nueces]

Turbo with no beans for the win.

The best hamburger and shake combo ever was Players.
Best discount pizza was right there at MLK and Guadalupe-- Gumby's Pizza.

You just described my college diet, lol.

 

[clob94]

You just described my college diet, lol.

18 inch pizza from Gumby's on Tuesday night was $7.99

 

[2300 Nueces]

18 inch pizza from Gumby's on Tuesday night was $7.99

Yep, we used to sit out on the corner in West Campus with a Gumby's pizza, a cold beer and girls going back and forth to class. I swear I would rather be back there than be in Key West.

 

[Oldmanastro]

A
There’s always Scholzs beer garden. Not busy this time of year.

 

[Oldmanastro]

Sitting on the cabin back porch drinking my coffee and banana in 69 degree weather staring at a calm lake. Can’t complain.

 

[2300 Nueces]

Sitting on the cabin back porch drinking my coffee and banana in 69 degree weather staring at a calm lake. Can’t complain.

No Pantera? lol

 

[TX1972]

A
There’s always Scholzs beer garden. Not busy this time of year.

We used to walk down from San Jacinto dorms to Scholz's. Nachos and cabrito.

 

[outhereincali]

We used to walk down from San Jacinto dorms to Scholz's. Nachos and cabrito.

I've been to Scholz's a few times is it still around.

 

[okiehorn]

Get off I-35 if you want them to see the country.

 

[TX1972]

I've been to Scholz's a few times is it still around.

It's gonna be around for a long time. The Austin Sangerbund owns the building and rents it out.

 

[Drtxhorn]

Yep, we used to sit out on the corner in West Campus with a Gumby's pizza, a cold beer and girls going back and forth to class. I swear I would rather be back there than be in Key West.

Are any of you old enough to remember GM Steakhouse? Right across from Dobie on Guadalupe. Best burgers and steak fries I ever ate in my life. It’s been gone for a while but that place had an incredible following for many years during the 70s, 80s, and 90s.