Coldwater Spring? No,we are lost once again folks! My mom can get lost walking in a circle. Unfortunately, I was the innocent victim with her this time. Why am I smirking at this sign? Because we wanted to see the sites at Coldwater Spring, but we ended up at Fort Snelling instead. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but we planned a short walk as we had already walked two hours in the morning. Guess what? We added another two hour walk to our day in the heat! Thanks, Mom!
It was not all really Mom’s fault. This park has zero trail maps, no signage, and she couldn’t get a trail map on her phone. As we seemed to be more and more off our plan to see ruins at Coldwater Spring, we asked a few people if they could help us, but no one knew what we were talking about. Alas, after about an hour, we arrived at Fort Snelling. I guess it was better than arriving nowhere!
This fort is seriously old! I read it was completed in 1825, which is a long time ago! It has some cool towers, and is very patriotic with the flag flying.
I didn’t to into the fort itself. Dogs are maybe allowed, but the guy in the uniform at the door had a weapon and I felt it best to keep walking. The Minnesota Historical Society does staff the fort with costumed personnel to recreate life in the fort as it was. It is mainly used for educational purposes these days.
Here I am on the back side of the fort which has a lot of windows, but the pretty red shutters were all closed. The walls are not in the best of shape, but they remained standing while I was there at least.
Ten years ago, in 2006, Fort Snelling was added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s Most Endangered Places…and I, Emma the GBGV have been there.
It was so hot, and I was really worn out from all the walking and the heat! On the way back to the car, which was another hour walk, Mom said we could climb down to the Missisippi River and I could take a quick swim to cool off. The water was nice and cool, and I was happy as a clam about the idea!
After my swim we climbed, yes climbed, back up the steep wooden stairs and continued on to our car. I was a wet and dirty mess, but felt much better after cooling off.
We made it to the parking lot, but I had to take one more break. With all the woods and tall grass, I was glad I had reliable flea and tick protection! It was a fun adventure with my mom, but I hope next time we don’t end up on such a long walk to the wrong destination. Maybe we will actually find the ruins at Coldwater Spring?
that does look like a fun place to explore
It would be better on a cooler day for me.
Barley got to visit a fort once, but there weren’t any people dressed up there! I’m glad you had a fun adventure even if it wasn’t the original plan.
It all worked out, but now we have to go back again and try to find the right place!
That’s a cool old fort and cooling off sure made you happy!
The soaking in the river was the high point of the adventure for me!
Katie would never stand for that. She bearlY walks a 12 mile before she puts on her breaks. You and your Mom are a great team!
Mom has us out walking and working out from day one. Puppies come along on the long walks but get carried most of the way until they can walk more. We learn right away long walks and runs are fun and will always be part of our day, but not every family is like that.
That looks like a great place, even though you had to walk for miles to see it.
Mom never thought of taking me to Fort Snelling, but now I have been. If only we could find that Coldspring thing now.
Tongue out Thursday! What an adventure, and I am glad you got to cool off in the Mississippi – you are so cool! XOXO Sparkle
It was hot and humid. Mom didn’t know we were going on a long walk, so she didn’t bring any water for either of us. The swim was just perfect.
At least there were some more good things to see
Lily & Edward
If you walk, and walk, and walk, you will eventually end up somewhere…that was mom’s reasoning as to why we kept on walking so long.
you always go on the BEST adventures!!!
We do have a lot of adventures which is fun.
Doesn’t look like a wrong turn to me. I liked hearing about this place and seeing the pictures.
In the heat, the plan was for a 40 min walk or so, not 2 hours, but it all worked out.
Ha!! We’ve done the same thing. Sometimes I sit down for a second and give mom a look when I realize she doesn’t know what she is doing. But then we move forward! How did you get the picture of Coldspring? Did you drive there? great post, your doodle friend Dash
That is the crazy thing! We parked at Coldspring and assumed the ruins were right there somewhere, but we didn’t find them at all and ended up an hour away at Fort Snelling. At least we know where to park next time we look for those ruins.
Ha!!! Thats even funnier!! You thought you were there!!!
We were there, but we were not able to find the place we were looking for at that park. Lots of trails, no maps. We will try again.
We can’t believe you could find the sign, but not the place! Sometimes it is frustrating that they don’t give out more information and make things easier to find. At least you had a good adventure, got lots of exercise, and got to cool off anyway!
We will try again another day. You would think with the huge sign at the entrance it would be obvious but that was not the case.
That looks like fun, despite getting lost! I haven’t gotten lost before but I use the “Map My Walk” app and start it right at my car so it tracks where I’ve walked and then I can figure out how to get back to my car. I like it a lot because it tells me how far I’ve gone and generally shows the trails.
Now that we have a decent phone, Mom should consider that app for these types of walks. Thanks for the idea.
That is a LOT of walking! Lucky you got to swim for a few minutes to cool off. I bet your mom was wishing she could hop in there with you!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Mom isn’t big on swimming, especially not in the river. She wasn’t as hot and tired as I was.
It is a good thing that you ended up somewhere after all. BOL! Mom wanted me to tell y’all that they are going on a vacation next week. All of our posts are scheduled but she may have to catch up next weekend on her visiting. ♥ ♥ We shall be at the prison….okay the pet resort. ♥
Oh man! I thought you would be staying home alone and partying it up big! Mom left me home alone for the weekend last month, but I was a good girl and didn’t have any parties. Enjoy the resort!
Looks like ya had fun anyways!
Oops, dat wuz me!
Sometimes you get your profiles mixed up, but that is okay. We know where the comment is coming from.
LOL. My assistant is directionally challenged as well, but sometimes we end up in places that are kind of interesting. I think you were smart to avoid that guy with weapon. I bet that water was nice and cool – even though I am not a big fan of water!
We have visited a lot of places we never planned on because of my mom’s lack of direction. It’s alright since we are together having fun.
Mama says we don’t get lost…we just enjoy the journey!! Looks like you found some great stuff to do on your journey…Hoe totally pawsome that you got to swim in the Mississippi River!!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
We have never truly been lost to the point of calling 911, but we have gotten far off track many times. It is usually fun wherever we end up.
Nice pics of the site. Getting ‘lost’ isn’t the worst thing to happen, remember it’s not the destination, it about the journey. 🙂
That is why we just kept on walking. Mom said eventually we would end up somewhere, and we did. I was just really hot and worn out.
Oh, I LOVE old forts, the history they hold is absolutely enthralling for me. Whenever we go down to Charleston (SC), I visit the forts down there, especially Fort Sumter.
This one has a lot of history. Mom used to go to visit with school ages ago.
MOL! “But at least you got your steps in” our mom thought sarcastically. She can’t tell you how many people at work say that!! Icky heat we’ve been having, but hoping it was cool for you this weekend like it was here!
We are all active all the time, so we don’t do that step counting thing, but it sure is popular!
Don’t feel too bad, Emma. Mom and Dad got us lost many times on our big road trip where we ended up hiking around to nowhere! But the fun is in the journey, right? And at least you got to take a dip!
I can only imagine how lost we would be on the trip you took. Mom got lost running in Japan once. Even though there were signs, they were in Japanese, not much help. Eventually she found her way back, but she was wiped out! The journey is the fun part and I don’t worry much, but Mom gets a bit frustrated when she is lost.
OMD you swam in the Mississippi! I would think it’s just a stream where you are at I hope. Is Coldwater Spring where the river begins? Mom thinks she heard that somewhere in Minn. is where the river begins as a creek. Oh and also funny is that my mom is from a town in Mich. called Colwater. Love Dolly
The Mississippi begins in MN, but up north. Mom has been there, but I have not. Where I was swimming was a little inlet along side the river where the current wasn’t strong.
Sometimes getting lost has its own rewards Emma. If not for getting lost, you might not have gotten that swim. 😀
This is true, but I was really worn out!