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This is a new page, and it's currently under construction. Because we build our systems on-site, we thought we'd share some of our favorite things from the areas where we work--sort of a travelogue--this could be anything from local brews, restaurants, mountain biking trails, etc. So be sure to check back later!
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Lake Vadnais, MN
August, 2011
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We truly enjoyed the beautiful August weather in Minnesota (and the accents)!
Cool temperatures and low humidity made dinning out perfect when there was an outdoor patio to sit on. We couldn't be in Minnesota and so close to Wisconsin without trying some fried cheese curds:) Oakie Doakie, here are some of the places we frequented, in no particular order......
Manitou Station at White Bear Lake (www.manitoustation.com). This place had a fabulous patio, which was equaled in the variety and quality of their food and beverages -- the best surprise was the home-made truffles at the end of every meal! Thank you Mike, for this suggestion!
That's Amore' Deli in Vadnais Heights was a treat.....home-made sandwiches, followed up with dessert bars (on-the-house)......just don't stop to eat here if you're in a big rush.
Mad Jacks Sports Cafe (www.madjackssportscafe.com) also had a nice outdoor patio, we ate there several times since it was very convenient to our hotel.
Jimmy's Food and Drink (www.visitjimmy's.com). If you would like to thicken your arteries a little, Jimmy's is known for it's Hamdog. The Hamdog is a burger, wrapped around a hotdog, topped with chilli, onions, and cheddar cheese, and served on a Hoagie!
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OK, the guys rated this as
their favorite local beer:
Surly Furious Beer
So if you're serious about Surly Furious, check them out -- their website is: www.surlybrewing.com
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A fun and inexpensive evening was had by all when we ventured to White Bear Bowl, in White Bear, MN! Did we mention that this was an inexpensive way to spend the evening? The bowling alley was easy to get to, clean, and had good, friendly service!
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On one of our two days off in Minnesota, some of us drove up to Silver Bay, MN to go rapelling and rock climbing. We spent a chilly night sleeping in a pick-up truck out in the middle of nowhere -- the stars were abundant and glorious!
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Before our climb, we fueled up at an old local dinner, the Northwoods Cafe. Nothing like a big hot breakfast to start off a day of adventure. If you end up here, be sure to get some of the hot chocolate!
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On our way to and from Silver Bay, we stopped in Duluth, MN. Located right on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior, we wished we would have had more time to explore this wonderful city. We enjoyed roaming through an enormous old warehouse, Fitger's (www.fitgers.com) which contained a hotel, brewery, and numerous shops -- and especially liked the Trail Fitters store there (www.trailfitters.com). We wanted to have dinner at the Fitger's Brewery, but the wait was over an hour long, so we had to move on.
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Our visit to the St. Paul area wouldn't have been complete without a trip to the Minnesota State Fair! What a fun evening of people-watching and eating.....anything you could imagine was deep-fried and served on a stick (including Twinkies, butter, and Oreos). Parking was easy, with frequent free buses to get you there and back. If you're in the Twin Cities area in August, you should definitely spend an evening at the fair: www.mnstatefair.org
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On our other day off, we ventured north again, this time the destination was Taylor Falls, MN. On the way, we happened upon a large outdoor sculpture park -- Franconia Sculpture Park -- which encompassed about 20 acres. With a fasinating array of mediums and styles of sculptures, this park is free and open to the public. For more information (including their live concert series), check out: www.franconia.org
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Oh....(said with that great Minnesota accent),
there was some really good climbing at Taylor Falls too!
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We really enjoyed Minnesota!
Hoping to return again some day to make more bubbles and do more exploring....
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Lake Tillery, NC
June - July, 2011
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June and July were very hot months in North Carolina! We usually brought our lunches to work, but a couple of times, we ate at Milano's Italian Restaurant in Norwood, NC. They don't have a website, but they are located on Main Street, and have a small outdoor seating area for those willing to brave the heat. The food was very good, and the portions were very large -- allow a little extra time or call your order in if you're in a rush.
The Eagle's Nest at the Tillery Tradition Country Club was very enjoyable with good food and good service in a surprisingly casual atmosphere.
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| Z Pi Pizza Company in old downtown Albermarle, NC was a favorite with every body!
They had an impressive and extensive beer menu, which also featured many North Carolina Craft Beers. One of the co-owners, Edward Hill, made all of us feel welcome on numerous visits to this establishment.
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Featuring hand-tossed pizzas with unusual toppings, paninis, and salads, it would be hard not to find something you like on their menu. For those cooler summer evenings, there is patio seating where one can watch passers-by. Z Pi doesn't have a website, but you can follow them at: Z n (on FaceBook).
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Most evenings found us dining at home, with meals that would make a lot of people envious. There was always something going on the grill!
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Of course, we were lucky to be working with Max Gardner (of Progress Energy) who is an award-winning BBQ-er! We had an incredible feast one evening, with Max at the helm!
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| We rented two houses that were right next door to each other on Tillery Lake, and found one of them on www.homeaway.com. You can also contact Dave Jackson at djackson.charlotte@gmail.com. We were just a few minutes away from our work site via boat or truck.
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Pretty much every evening found us cooling off in the lake before starting dinner. It's not enough to weld pipe for 10 hours per day, but we like to use it as a water toy too!
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Of course, there's always jet skiing
to help pass the time in the evenings....
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| One Saturday after work, we drove to the Linville Gorge in the Pisgah National Forest (about 4 hours away from Mt. Gillead), to go rock climbing. The Linville Gorge is considered the "Grand Canyon" of the east, and is over 14 miles long and 2000 feet deep.
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We climbed The Daddy, which had 5 pitches at a 5.8 variant for a total climb of 5oo feet.
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Precisely 12 hours later, after the long hike out, we returned to the truck.....We had conquered "The Daddy"! Now for the 4 hour drive home.
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We ate dinner both coming and going to the Linville Gorge in Morganton, NC. A very quaint and walkable downtown which had a variety of options for diners.
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