A stop for rest Traveling across southern Minnesota is fairly tedious. About thirty miles west of the Mississippi, the land flattens out, and loses all ability to hold ones interest. There is wealth here, however. These flat, unforested, and intensely farmed lands produce food which is packed, and shipped all over the world. Not much to look at, perhaps, but these fields keep thousands of people well fed and alive. There is charm here too, though it can not be found at 65 MPH on the freeway. It exists in the people of the small towns, and farms which fill the land here. Away from the Twin Cities, and a few of the larger towns, southern Minnesota is very much a rural place with rural values.
    The last fifty miles or so, just before the South Dakota border, things get a bit more interesting. Still, until we hit these hills, and this rest stop, there was little worth photographing. Had we only known it, we passed right by the Hormel Spam Museum. This seems destined to become one of the great pop culture icons, and I really do regret missing it. There is always next year.

	This single photograph, pretty well sums up several hours of traveling west through southern Minnesota. Once outside of the area around the river, it is like traveling through a single vast farmer's field.
	The rest stop at the Lakefield exit in western Minnesota. This structure sits atop one of the few summits in the area, and is somewhat isolated from the freeway
	A look over the rail, gives a commanding view of the fields and roads below. The Interstate runs directly below, partially hidden by the foliage.
	As with all rest stops, there are landscaped areas to roam, run pets, stretch, and settle down for a while.
	A view down the hill, towards the East. Rolling hills and a busy freeway.
	Set into the floor of the observation deck, this marker gives the elevation, and tells us which way is which.
	The rest stop itself is cantilevered out over the the bluffs, for a great view of the surrounding lands, and the activity of the Interstate.
	A nice place to get out, stretch and relax a while, after a long drive.
	A small windbreak, constructed of natural stone, contains a picnic bench, and makes a great vantage point from which to view the traffic, and the blue hills off in the distance.
	A look up the freeway
	The land turns slightly hilly, for the last thirty miles or so, before encountering the South Dakota border. It then turns flat again almost until the Missouri River.
	Looking South across some eroded hills. The far off hills are probably in Iowa, which is only about five or ten miles off at this point.
	The ribbon of road leads west, and the call is clearly heard. Just out of sight, perhaps thirty or forty miles down this road, lies South Dakota.

Go back to lacrosse

Let's visit Adrian, MN.