Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Sometimes I just hate change

The St. Croix River is probably one of the most scenic rivers one could possibly imagine. And all along it there are stops here and there to enjoy the river--boat rides, train rides, canoe rental, kayaking, picnicing etc... I was going through our local rag paper today and found these articles: "Last call for Zephyr diners?" and: "Popular Stillwater dinner train may end its run"
The Zephyr offers a five-course dinner during its three-hour trip along the St. Croix River. The train runs year-round and attracts about 40,000 people annually.
I'm sure this doesn't sound like much to some but it saddens me a bit. Pat and I took my folks on the train on our 10-year anniversary. It's located in a rather popular tourist city named Stillwater. Ahh, Stillwater! Great place and a lot of memories there. There's even a Gondola man there, horse and buggy rides, just a great place to go. And very pleasing to the eye! Pat and I do try to visit there often.

Anyway, the train ride was a really nice and relaxing ride. There were a group of people who sang old time songs and the setting was something of the long-ago past. But the food? Oh man, we have never ever forgotten the food. Prime rib, at least 2-inches thick and pieces as big as a salad plate. That was so good that I really forgot what else was served until desert--New York style cheesecake that was about 5 inches thick with berry swirls throughout. It was really scrumptious.

The man who owns it now wants to retire. He wants to sell it to the State of MN who of course is very excited about the prospect of buying it. They want to create a:
new trail system linking St. Paul, Duluth and Wisconsin to St. Croix River Valley.
It's really a bittersweet thing. Losing something like the train ride that winds through the many trees and along the river but at the same time gaining a trail that does the same. Hmm, just bittersweet. Perhaps a Minnesotan will read this and explain what it is I'm talking about losing or gaining. Who knows.

As change goes, we always adjust, some things we just cannot control. I at least hope that Pat and I can get one last ride in before the train disappears. Maybe next summer.....

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