Catch up in Minnesota

Lots of driving the last few days but also lots of fun things. I am a pretty tired monkey. While in Fargo we had to stop at the visitor's center to see the famous woodchipper from the movie Fargo. Pretty gruesome and I would not get in until I found out they took all the insides out to be safe. There is a walk of fame outside but I did not look at too many names because there were snow flurries. Very very cold.  On to Minnesota.We went to Moorhead and the Heritage center with The Hjemkomst Viking Ship. An incredible story of one man's dream. He built a replica of a Viking Ship  with the hope of sailing it to Norway. He died in 1980 after a maiden voyage on Lake Superior. Two years later 4 of his children and family and friends sailed the ship 6,100 miles from Duluth Minn. to Bergen Norway. Nother great movie about it. Then outside to see another replica of a Church built in 1140 in Norway. It is called Hopperstad Stave. Guy Paulson used 24,000 cedar shingles and did the ornamental carving himself. None of us can believe how dedicated some people can be. The Church was beautiful inside. A little door was in the wall in the area the priest stayed in. It was used by lepers and others that were not allowed inside with the other people. There was a seni-sheltered curved area outside the Church. There were no court houses so this area was used to seal any deals needed and because it was at the Church it was legal with just a hand shake. We could save a lot of money with that system. Stopped at the Continental Divide Marker. The Transom was so big, Russell could not even fit it in His Lincoln for his surveying. On to Main Street after following The Lake Woebegon trail of Garrison Keller, and the home of Sinclair Lewis. Had to see the world's largest happy face and  a can of Pepsi. Then my man made a great discovery. A stop Lite. Today went to Target Field, home of the Twins. After a phone call asking for suggestions from Goldie, we went to Mall of America. Wow. There is a complete amusement park in the center. Too many rides. I am adding a giant peep to my collection of big things. We ended the day at the Sculpture Garden to see another piece by one of my favorite sculptors, Claes Oldenburg. This one is called Spoonbridge and Cherry. More people taking my picture. We all took a vote and Minneapolis is right at the top of our least favorite cities. There are so many freeways and highways and my little monkey brain is exhausted, so good night from Junior.