Summer in Minnesota, the good old summertime indeed. It's easy enough to get away for a few days with numerous small towns just a short drive from city life here in Minneapolis. Lanesboro is one such town in Southeastern Minnesota set amid an area known as Bluff Country, part of the Driftless Region of rolling hills and pastoral landscapes.
This imagery is quite personal in nature; photographs from a weekend get-away with my wife Michelle. We set out driving my "new" 1965 Ford F100 truck on a Lanesboro-bound weekend adventure. The morning these images were made could not have been more ideal. We woke with the sun, set out driving upon worn and winding roads, and took a hillside break overlooking a picturesque valley.
While the warm sun was soaking and filling our spirits, the drive back into Lanesboro wasn't nearly as calm and carefree. We didn't get lost, but we suddenly found ourselves struggling with an old engine that sometimes could and sometimes couldn't. The truck began stalling which grew more frequently with each passing mile. The fact that we were in hill country saved us as we literally coasted back into the heart of downtown Lanesboro.
The remaining hours of the morning involved conversations and inquiries with locals to source a mechanic who might help diagnose and fix our ailing mode of transportation. Luck wouldn't have it in our case, as it was a Sunday and the following day was July 4th. From what we could gather there wouldn't be anyone available for at least a few days.
In the end, it was a waitress who came to our rescue. She overheard us bouncing ideas and commented that she was heading back to Minneapolis later that afternoon. We gladly hitched a ride back to our doorstep, coincidentally less than a mile from where she was headed. We returned later that week to retrieve the truck after a minor repair. The mechanic seemed more excited to tinker on a vintage truck than to log hours for a costly repair. What we didn't mind was another venture back to Lanesboro. The town, the people, the time of year, and backdrop for this seemingly extended weekend could not have been richer.
As with most adventures, whether it truly involves getting lost or off track there is often an upside to a change of plans and what initially seems like adversity. I'd argue that car trouble on a desolate road is a small price to pay for a good story and some great memories.
