It’s hard to believe that this time last year, John and I had just arrived in the States in time to celebrate the Fourth of July before I headed home to spend the next two months with my family and friends in Canada. I’ve always wanted to experience a Fourth of July parade in small town America, so I was pleasantly surprised when my mother-in-law announced that there was a parade and festivities in Richfield, Minnesota and that we were going to go and spend the day there with her and Caleb, John’s son.

By the time I had all of my photos processed and ready to go, the Fourth was way behind us, so I thought I’d wait until this year to post some of my photos from that day in its honor.

Being a suburb of the Minneapolis-St.Paul region, Richfield is small city with a population of just over 35,000. Once known as a small farming community, Richfield is now home to a flourishing community of commuters that head into the Twin Cities for work. The US’s biggest electronics retailer, Best Buy, has its headquarters in Richfield.

Anyways, on with some of my favorite images of the day.

Today’s guest blog is written by Ava Apollo - a lover of travel and a social media blogger at Super Blogettes

The Northern California Coastline is often given the pet name “the Lost Coast” given its sparse population and relatively low tourism rate in comparison to its southern neighbors, ranging from San Francisco on down to San Diego.

I have to admit, I never really thought of what existed north of San Francisco until I visited the area myself for the first time a few years ago.  When I speak to most of my Californian friends, they are in the same boat, despite the fact that about a third of the state stretches beyond SF.

Imagine my delight when I had a chance to visit Humboldt county where the Redwood trees meet the sea.  For those who are seeking to be “one with nature,” look no further than the Lost Coast:

Giant Redwoods of Humboldt County

In Humboldt County alone, there are 160,000 acres of redwood forests.  One well known access route to view these majestic trees is along the 101 freeway, known as the “Avenue of the Giants”.

This is one of the only areas in the world where Redwood trees flourish.  The moist coastal environment provides an ideal climate for these trees, which are the tallest known species in the world, ranging anywhere from 150 to 350 feet in height and up to 20 feet in diameter.  If given the opportunity, they can grow for thousands of years given their thick and fire-resistant bark.

The majestic trees alone should be enough of a draw.  So we ought to consider ourselves lucky, because this area has also been blessed with some of the most beautiful and relatively secluded beaches in California, if not the world.

Trinidad State Beach

Just a 20-minute drive north of Arcata along the 101 freeway sits Trinidad, California.  This small town is home to a population of just over 300, and was originally settled by the Yurok Indians, who still maintain a casino in the area.

The main draw, as you may have noticed, is Trinidad State Beach, which can be accessed by a steep, and somewhat grueling, climb down several sets of stairs (as you can imagine, the climb back up is a doosy, but it’s well worth it).  The beach is sprinkled with boulders which hold a similar gentle giant presence to the Redwood trees that mirror them from the cliff top. On a particularly misty day, it looks positively mesmerizing.

On a clear day…

It can be equally breath-taking.

Another notable beach in this area is Mad River Beach – which is accessed via narrow dairy roads.  The beach itself is covered by miles of grassy dunes, covered with native plants that local organizations have gone to great lengths to re-introduce to the area.

I was lucky enough to see one of the more spectacular sunsets of my life there:

The fact that this area of California is a much less popular tourist destination than, say the beaches of Orange County or the wharfs of San Francisco, has likely been its saving grace.

So, if you choose to visit this lovely area of the world, join the effort to preserve it, and do as Smokey the Bear would do; “Take only pictures, and leave only footprints”.

Then Tweet me about it.

If you like what you see and want to read more, visit my home blog or facebook page.

Today marks my first week back on North American soil. The entire week leading up to our departure was go, go, go, but I’m here now, freshly arrived in Canada after spending four days in the States.

I celebrated my first 4th of July celebration with my husband, stepson, and mother-in-law in Richfield, Minnesota. We caught a 100-float parade shortly past 1 pm, John and I got a nice sunburn, and we really enjoyed the patriotism on display in its many shapes and sizes.

The Mall of America and I are now on extremely friendly terms. Some people might even go so far as to say that the Mall and I are more than just acquaintances. Lucky for me, I had plenty of spare room in my suitcase.

John and I are more aware than ever of the Supersize Me syndrome in the good ole US of A. Is it possible to find healthy food in restaurants in Minneapolis? I have yet to find out. What I do know is that if I see anything smothered in butter or deep-fried ever again, I might very well toss my cookies at the sight of it.

Dear readers, if you have any suggestions, please let me know as I will be returning to Minneapolis for a few days at the end of August.

I arrived in Canada a few days ago and I’ve stayed pretty close to home. I’ve been on long, rambling walks through fields of long green grass, corn, and Queen Anne’s Lace. I’ve power-walked down the empty back roads of Ramsay Township with my mother and I’ve spent hours admiring the vast expanse of sky and its exact shade of blue.

After consuming bowls of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (Have I ever mentioned how expensive berries are in Taiwan?) and having enjoyed several pints of cold Canadian brews, I’m looking forward to the first batch of sweet corn which will be harvested next week.

My best friend Claire flies in from England on Wednesday and then the madness begins…

West Bend, Iowa doesn’t just lend its name to cornfields and soya beans. It also lays claim to the world’s largest grotto. This grotto is literally a miracle in stone. Worshippers and devotees come from near and far to evoke a spiritual experience at The Grotto of the Redemption. It represents the life work of Father Paul Dobberstein (1872 – 1954), a Catholic priest.

As the largest grotto in the world, the sacred Grotto of the Redemption is comprised of nine separate grottos. Each depicts a scene in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. What makes this grotto particularly unique is how it was constructed.

For over a decade, Father Dobberstein collected rocks and precious stones from around the world. He began building the grotto in 1912. Father Dobberstein used these rocks to form the Grotto’s walls and ceilings. He intricately set rocks and semi-precious stones into the walls to create a truly one-of-a-kind miracle which attracts visitors daily.

Large chunks of rose quartz.

I lost count of the different varieties of rock and stone. One literally gets lost in the swirling colors of the grotto, from amethyst and rose quartz, to jade, agate, lapis lazuli, malachite, sodalite, calcite and a variety of other semi-precious rocks.

Father Dobberstein built his miracle in stone over a period of forty-two years. During those years, Father Dobberstein worked closely with Matt Szerensce, a parishioner, and Father Louis Greving, the next Catholic priest in West Bend. They continued his work after Father Dobberstein’s death in 1954.

The Grotto of Redemtion also houses a Grotto Museum and Rock Studio, which were constructed by Father Greving in the late sixties and throughout the seventies. The walls of the Museum are covered in polished agates from all over the world. There are three different kinds of rock collections. As word spread of this miracle in stone, rock donations were sent from around the world. Visitors can view rocks and semi-precious stones from as far away as South Africa, Australia and Russia. I was even able to locate rock specimens from Ottawa, Canada and North Bay, Canada.

For more information or to send your own donations:

Grotto of the Redemption
PO Box 376
300 N Broadway
West Bend, IA 50597
www.westbendgrotto.com
info@westbendgrotto.com

At the cottage in North Bay.  I shared a snack with my little friend, Chippy.

Leaving home is always hard. It gets harder every time I go home. I said good-bye to friends and family four days ago, but I’ve been able to draw it out a bit with my father when he surprised John and I with a road trip from my home in Carleton Place, Ontario to John’s home in Algona, Iowa.

The view from my cottage.  Lake Nippissing, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Actually, both my parents were supposed to accompany John and I to Iowa, where we were going to introduce our parents at least once before the wedding next year.  Sadly, my mother wasn’t able to accompany us because my grandfather has been ill.  She opted to stay at home and look after him.

On the other hand, my Dad was more than happy to make the trip with us.  We didn’t find out about his plans for a road trip until a few days before we left, although I had to wonder why he had the road atlas out so much.  I guess I’m more like my father than I thought.  I thrive on international travel and he thrives on road trips.  We share a passion that is different in many ways, yet it’s that same.  I’m really glad I got the chance to spend this time with him.  I’ve been able to see the world through his eyes and for that I’m grateful.

Our first day of driving ended at our cottage in North Bay.  We spent two nights there and enjoyed the fresh air and warm weather.  From North Bay, we traveled to Sault St. Marie, where I bid a final farewell to my beloved homeland for another year.  We traveled all day and spent the night in Marinette, Wisconsin.

I’ve always dreamed of traveling the US by car or RV. John and I have talked about it a few times. We’ve done numerous road trips by car and on motorcycles in countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, so it seems only natural to continue with this mode of travel when/if we move back to North America.

Our third day of driving took us through several storms and by the end of the day, blue skies were shining once more and we were able to stop and take a look at the magnificent Mississippi River.  Minnesota is a gorgeous state to travel through and I’d love to come back and travel through there during the fall.  I guess I’ll be able to do this when I move here with John in a few years.  I’m looking forward to it.

We arrived at John’s home in Algona, Iowa late last night after three days of driving.  The scenery was gorgeous and it was a great way to say good-bye and take a last long look at everything that I’ll be missing over the next year.

My Dad and I on the Mississippi River in Minnesota, USA.

Storm clouds gathering in Minnesota.

A storybook setting for the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

‘Nuff said.  Just had to share it because it makes me smile.