Hopkins, the Wisconsin of the Twin Cities Metro

[dreamshark]

I was supposed to be at Convergence helping with the Minicon Party, but it was such a gorgeous day that instead I played hooky and rode to Hopkins for a beer. I realized that with all the times I have ridden the southern branch of the SW LRT trail to Hopkins, I have never taken the northern path. Actually, I guess it's the Cedar Lake Trail until it gets to Hopkins, where it makes a little leap over a highway and becomes the north branch of the unmusically named Southwest Light Rail Transit Bike Trail. It's starts in the confusing tangle of perfectly maintained paved trails that sprout from the north side of the Greenway after it passes Lake Calhoun. Once you get past Cedar Lake, it's a pure prairie trail, which like all the prairie trails this year, runs through a dazzling carpet of wildflowers.

I had the vague idea that I'd get something to eat and a big cold drink in Hopkins, then ride home along the familiar south branch of the SWLRT. But I sort of forgot it was a holiday. When I got to Hopkins I found that every place in town was closed except for the Hopkins Tavern. Which turned out to be a delightful place, despite the slightly scary looking bikers (motorcycle bikers, not bicycle bikers) who were mounting up as I arrived. It's a big old friendly neighborhood tavern, much like the ones that line the little main streets in Wisconsin. They didn't serve burgers, but the bartender directed me out to the back patio where she said some guy was "giving them away." Sure enough, there was a family party with a grill set up in the beer garden, giving away leftover food to anybody that happened by. They were out of meat, but cheerfully gave me a baked potato. I took my potato back into the bar and ordered a beer and onion rings to go with it from the amazingly large selection on tap. I ordered Blue Moon, which came with a jaunty orange slice garnish. It was so good that I ordered another one and got quite the buzz on. Had a pleasant conversation with a cheerfully inebriated pool-playin' woman who admired my sparkly hat. I couldn't finish the second beer, but it got me pleasantly numb for the long trip home. It was 12 miles out, but only 9 miles back. Good thing, since the beer was wearing off and my posterior was starting to feel a bit worn. I stopped at the St. Louis Park Bench to take a picture of my favorite landmark along the trail.

	Flowers along the North Cedar Lake Trail
	North Cedar Lake Trail, July 4th Looking back at city shortly after passing Cedar Lake. Don't know who the bikers are.
	North Cedar Lake Trail, en route to Hopkins
	Hopkins Tavern I had 2 Blue Moon beers, onion rings and a baked potato.
	Historic Nordic Ware tower, about 5 miles from home on the SWLRT trail
	The Lake Harriet Trolley, stopping by Lakewood Cemetery just across from Lake Calhoun

Comments

[chasophonic.livejournal.com]

The flowers are butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

The flowers are Asclepias tuberosoa, aka milkweed. A showier sort of milkweed than the usual purple kind.

What a lovely story about the Hopkins Tavern!

[pameladean]

I really like reading about all your biking adventures.

It's a good year for butterfly weed, for whatever reason. I'm seeing a lot more of it than usual.

P.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Except in my prairie, darnit. I blame bunnies.

[pameladean]

Isn't it poisonous?

P.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

It might be. Which would make these bunnies particularly dangerous!

[pameladean]

Well, that's true. Why, they might be pulling a Mithridates on you. Oh dear.

P.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I was admiring the asclepias from the top of the Round Tower at Fort Snelling yesterday, where it is growing in plenty on the prairie just by the Hwy 5 bike pathstairs.

K.