Today I went to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. It is part of a chain of beautiful lakes, and one I passed by often this year. I enjoyed time with my family walking the pathways to the Tin Fish, a restaurant on the water, where we ate our lunch. We shared the path with people on green city bikes, joggers, walkers, and strollers. As we were eating, I noticed a woman with a small dog. She was dressed in a pink shirt, pink shoes, had pink frames on her glasses, and the dog had a pink leash and harness. I had to sketch all that pink! As she waited for her lunch, she talked to another person who stopped to admire her dog, and I was able to catch a few quick gestures. After lunch we walked past the canoe and kayak rental, watching as the line of people grew longer and longer. Hordes of small children, parents in swim suits, orange life jackets in tow…..It seemed everyone wanted to be on the water today!
Speaking of water, this lake is home to the Lake Calhoun Sailing school and I later saw the boats on ramps in the water, waiting for eager students. Other sizes and colors of sailboats bobbed up and down in the waves along the shoreline, anchored by large round buoys, their masts swaying and wires clanging on the metal. Souls braving the windy conditions sailed on the lake, colorful sails like large butterflies. Joggers, bicyclists, walkers, everyone it seemed, was enjoying the beachfront and trails around the lake. A fire truck and ambulance roared by, sirens screaming and lights flashing, and sometime later after we ate ice cream cones, I noticed they were near the trail by the restaurant. I think a hapless biker had an accident, but there didn’t seem to be any urgency once the responders had investigated the situation.
It was a fabulous time to be at the lake! I am glad we got this outing in today when the weather was still summery and warm. It was a perfect time for it. I can’t wait to go back another time!