Mississippi Adventure

On Holy Thursday afternoon last week, my friend Phil and I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and spent time by that stretch of the Mississippi River just below the University of St. Thomas. As you can see, it's a very peaceful and picturesque part of St. Paul.

Right: "'Ere, what's that down there, then?"


Left: Phil. It was at the bluffs shown in these first two photos that we observed two eagles soaring majestically above us. They were quite a sight!

You may recall how last summer I accompanied my friends Kathleen & Joey, and John & Kathy and their three sons Noah, Cole, and Aaron to this same spot on the Mississippi. While at the foot of the bluffs that day we befriended a young boy named Darius, who expertly lead us through the nearby ravine to the natural spring that is the source of the area's creek.

Well, who should Phil and I encounter last Thursday but Darius! I'm beginning to think he's actually the embodied spirit of this particular part of the river!

Anyway, this time Darius led us to what was probably the last remnant of ice in St. Paul, located at the base of a waterfall, downstream from the main bluffs and near the river's shoreline.




Above: Darius and Phil.

Someone had left all kinds of stuff at the foot of this sandstone bluff - including unopened cans of pop, which Darius and Phil helped themselves to!



Above: My friends Tom and Sue, whom we also encountered last Thursday while exploring the Mississippi shoreline.



Above and below: The beautiful Mississippi River - Thursday, April 1, 2010.



See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
A Delightful Summer's Afternoon (and a Moving Tale)
River Walk
Down By the River
Karl Rahner on the Need for Prayer
Spring in Minnesota

Images: Michael J. Bayly.