Arrival National Senior Games, Minneapolis, Mn. Jul 13 & 14, 2015

Today July 12, 2015 I start a new experience for me and that is going to and seeing a National Senior Games which is really the National Senior Olympics. Yesterday at noon I put Annabel in boarding for this trip. She is staying at the County Animal Hospital. I am a little anxious about leaving her considering over her short life she has been in a couple of foster homes and kennel facilities. The house was the quietest it has been for a couple of months with Annabel not here. I picked Jim up at his apartment at 5:00 A.M. and it was just starting to rain. We drove through some pretty bad weather getting out of West Chester and through mid Indiana.  We had a good breakfast and by the afternoon the weather cleared up.This after noon we drove through beautiful farm country with the temperature showing as 88 degrees by 4:00 PM.  I did not want to drive into Minneapolis during the rush hour traffic so we  stayed in a Holiday Inn in Eau Clare, Wisconsin. In Eau Clare we found an Asian Buffett where we had a wonderful meal.

On July 13, 2015 Jim and I hit the road toward Minneapolis with the intent to find someplace along the way to eat breakfast.Well we drove and drove some more and did not find anyplace to eat except a couple of fast food joint  and we did not want that. The more we drove the more farm land we saw and no places to eat at all. Finally Jim spotted a sign out in the middle of a field telling about Keys Cafe, White Bear, MN that said they had the best food anywhere. Shortly we got to an exit that would take us to White Bear. We drove and drove it seemed like forever and we were about to give up when we arrived in the town White Bear Lake MN. Now to find the place at 2208 4th Street, White Bear Lake, MN. When we spotted it we started having our doubts about the place because it looked so small. There was a parking place in front so we stopped. To make a long story short. The cafe was quaint  but the food was as good as their sign had claimed. In addition to the excellent food they also had a wonderful assortment of bakery items that just screamed to be eaten but we were so stuffed that we had to pass and hit the road again.

 Keys Cafe Story With Many Of Their Employees.

Inside Keys Cafe Taken From Some Of Their Literature

 Lady Blue Parked In Front Of Keys Cafe

 Front Of Keys Cafe

Lady Blue Parked In Front Of Keys Cafe

Following breakfast we moved on to Minneapolis, Mn to find the Convention Center so Jim could go through the registration process to pick up his number and a gift bag each competitor receives. While there Jim spotted a friend of his, Wayne Hinaman, from Cincinnati who was also competing in the games. and was staying at the same motel as we. Inside the Convention Center there were all sort of events taking place as part of the National Senior Games. 

 Welcome Sign Inside Convention Center. Note The Games Are Taking Place In Three Locations. Bloomington, Minneapolis and St Paul, MN.

 Entrance To The Village For Registration, Vendors And Sponsoring Agency       ( Humana ) Booths As Well As Several Competitions. Jim Is Headed To Pick Up His Gift Bag.

 Jim Checks His Packet Containing His Number In Front Of The " Flame ".

 Wayne Hinaman And Jim Stand On Awards Stand.

Micro Tel Where We Stayed.

Following the registration process we went to the Micro Tel Inn, 5000 Denmark Ave. Eagan, MN to check in. After check in Jim and Wayne wanted to find the two venues where they would be competing to get a look at the area. Wayne had rented a car so he drove and Lady Blue was left parked at the motel. Locating the stadium where the 1500 meter Race Walk would be conducted and the area where the 5000 Race Walk would be conducted was an experience in themselves. The address printed on some of the official literature each competitor was given was incorrect. Needless to say we drove around and saw a lot of area we had not intended to do but we finally found each location. After returning to the motel and resting for a while we went to a nearby Perkins Restaurant for dinner. Back to the motel for some rest and relaxation to get ready for the big event tomorrow that Wayne and Jim have spent months preparing for.

Remember as I always say God loves you and so do I.

Grandpa Bill