Minneopa Falls

The kids and I went to the Mankato area again yesterday, our first stop was at Minneopa Falls.  We go there 4-5 times a year I bet, but with the waterfall always changing and the new bison herd, there's plenty to do...

Speaking of the bison herd...we've seen them right up against the fence before, we've seen them from a distance across the prairie before, but we've never seen them like we did yesterday...

Bison & Seppman Mill in the background

This time they were right on the road...up close...

Real close...we parked the car and had all the windows down.  You could hear them breathing and chewing....I told the kids to not talk (don't want to spook them) --- you know how hard that is for Lex & Kieran?

I bet we watched them feed for 10-15 minutes before they passed us by....I mean this was like being in Yellowstone....even the calves born this spring are getting big....

After the bison, we stopped by the Nature Center.  Luke liked the animal bones, Lex liked the butterflies and Kieran liked reading all the signs....

From there it was off to the falls....apparently we've been there enough when all three kids noticed how different the upper falls looked compared to last time (I have no idea if they were right or wrong)...

And they really hate me taking this picture, again and again....

We don't always walk to the base of the lower falls, but the kids really enjoy it (Kieran really doesn't feel comfortable underneath the rock overhangs...which is good, because they obviously fall occasionally)....but Kieran always looks after Lex when were walking....

Luke will race as far ahead as I will let him and look for anything....this time he found a little 'cave' or place underneath the rock and wanted a picture...

The obligatory group picture...

And one without me...

And one without the kids...

I like and I think the kids like, that there are places nearby that look so unlike the Minnesota where we live....most of the close places can be attributed to Glacial River Warren creating nickpoints that formed gorges exposing the bedrock (Minneopa, the MN river valley, Minnehaha Falls, the Mississippi River gorge downstream from St. Anthony Falls, etc.)....

This was the last picture taken, Lex and I were taking our time on the way back when I saw Kieran and Luke watching us from between rails on the bridge (they were also watching the fish).  I had Lex hustle up to them and took one last picture...

When we left the park, we were off to MN Viking Training camp, a request from Kieran and Luke...that post will be later...