Spark In Darkness

This past week included another Year of Adventure event: I took a day trip with my friends Eleanor Arnason and her partner Patrick Wood to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota.

It was a splendid day for a drive--crystal clear, and a comfortable temperature. We had hoped for fall colors, but the warm weather in September meant that the trees were rather muted in tone. Fortunately, we could still take pleasure in the sepia browns of the corn fields, the languidly blowing grasses, and the water sparkling brilliantly from the surface of Lake Pepin. Eleanor and Patrick told stories of road trips taken in the past as I drove.

We stopped at Lark Toys for lunch, where the carved carousel was duly admired and delicious fudge was purchased to savor later. From there, we went to the National Eagle Center and listened to the interpreter's explanations about the eagles, their habits and life cycle. The eagles they had on site had permanent injuries that prevented their rehabilitation into the wild, but as eagles spend almost 90% of their time in the wild simply perching, watching the world around themselves, they were apparently content.

The second floor had exhibits examining the importance of eagles as symbols in both Native American and United States culture.

We resisted buying any of the adorable toy eagles in the gift shop, but it was a near thing.

Then, to my astonishment, Eleanor and Patrick directed me to a side road not far away where they happened to know of a hidden buffalo reserve that had a herd of about 150 bison. It didn't take us long to find a herd, and I got some pictures from the road.

A successful day, we decided as I drove us home. We will take more road trips together in the future.

Image description: Background: A buffalo skin mounted on a wall, painted by a Native American artist with eagle symbology. Center: Eleanor Arnason and Patrick Wood. Lower center: several buffalo, seen from the side. Overlaid over the buffalo: an injured bald eagle sits on a perch.

Eagles



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