Mobile Shadow Projection Theater

Day Six: DULUUUUUUUTH!!

After sleeping through a cooling rain storm, we dried off all of our equipment, packed up our car, and headed to our final destination. Nicola, Sean and our gear on four wheels; Andrea, Eben, and Angela on two. The road to re-enter the Munger Trail was a little treacherous with hills and dirt roads, but we made it aboard the paved trail in no time. We pedaled through some of the most beautiful scenery yet! Andrea says it best:

We rode up some brutal hills to arrive at our campsite a little after noon. We're staying pretty far out of downtown Duluth, so we're planning on driving into town most days this week.

The campground we're staying at is bizzare-o-land! Run by Tom, a laissez-faire fellow, who compared managing a campground to "herdin' kittens," the campground is actually a cross-country ski trail! Wild. That means that there is a smelly chalet where we can cower from the rain. Right now, as we internet at the Caribou on Canal Street it's raining cats and dogs. Lightning!

Day Five: MUNGER!!!!

Another early morning– but this one with a continental breakfast! That means donuts and blueberry muffins for these youthful travelers before they set out for the scenic Willard Munger Trail. Below see Andrea explain to Angela how to use the Willard Munger Trail:

The going was easy, we made excellent time, riding all the way to Jay Cooke State Park. And so scenic!

Scenic!

Punny!

Day Four: Work of art

This morning we woke up early and rode on County Road 61 from North Branch to Hinckley. The morning was cool and foggy and we made excellent time, arriving in Hinckley around noon. We unpacked, we snacked, then we napped! An excellent afternoon after an fantastic day of riding.

After our refreshing naps, we set out into what had turned into a sweltering day to go where else but Tobie's for pizza and root beer. Dinner's conversation: who will be declared the champion of the contemporary art world by China Chow on tonight's finale of Work of Art? Will it be the Minnesota native Miles? The quirky Peregrine? Or, the impressionable Abdi?

Back at the hotel, we realized the cable didn't include Bravo. CRISIS!!!!!!!! Thinking fast, we got on the phone trying to find someone to point a camera at the television and Skype us a live feed. Thanks to Chris Baker and Nicola's parents, we are very thankful for your technical wizardry.

Unfortunately, Miles, you were not the big winner. Bummer man.

Day Three: Youth Connection's Performance

On day three, Eben and Angela had a busy morning of Pop Tarts, Baywatch, and snoozin. Meanwhile, Andrea had a busy morning working on the Spark Festival and enlisting the help of Jerden Dressel and Josh Olson to run bike related errands in exchange for a cube of pop. Unfortunately, this morning we found out Nicola's asthma will keep her from completing the tour on bicycle; she and Sean will continue on by car while Andrea, Eben, and Angela will pedal on. However, our loads will be lighter as we put all our gear into the trunk of the car. Thanks Nicola and Sean!

Back at Youth Connections, we started the afternoon with some games before breaking into our groups from yesterday. Putting the final touches on some puppets, finalizing some choreography, and editing some video. After a quick break for crackers and juice, we were back to work– rehearsing for our big show.

Jeanne Leland said said some really sweet things about us, thanks Jeanne. The North Branch performance of Balloon Balloon Balloon, Balloon Balloon was a smashing success. Everyone performed beautifully and celebrated with cookies and lemonade.

Day Two: North Branch arrival and first workshop

After an 8am departure, and more chain-skipping trouble for Andrea, we eventually arrive at the lovely, cozy home of our North Branch host, Michelle Olson.

She has all sorts of delicious veggie foods prepared for us, as well as a big, open garage in which we re-organize our gear!

This afternoon we conduct our first workshop in the cafeteria of the Sunrise River School. We work with a group of about 20 kids, grades k-6. We explain that we are traveling puppeteers and we have a show about a balloon that needs their help.

After some warm-up exercises, they are split into four groups: large puppet makers, small puppet makers, sound makers, and video makers. We got all of our content made today; tomorrow we will put it all together in the gymnasium and do the show!

Day One: Minneapolis to North Branch (well, kind of..)

Yesterday night we all met to finish packing. After packing we set a meeting time for 9:30 in the morning. We all (kind of) got there at that time wearing our "paddy butt shorts", but still had some things to do. There was some final grocery shopping- Including surprise raisin bread!, some pumping of tires, and some finding of keys. We eventually made it out at 11:30. Our original departure time was going to be noon, so we were still feeling optimistic.

We were off! Yippee! We were on our way to the Stone Arch Bridge for our family photo.

OK! We began feeling the heat, made sure to drink lots of water, and were off on our adventure!

We made it exactly two blocks, when Andrea found her bike chain skipping. Oh, no...

Well, we phoned a friend, and decided it was a job for those peeps over at Erik's. We made a little detour down University to get the fix.

While waiting we sat in the heat and made some Jersey Shore inspired video interviews. Maybe Eben will post them. The fix was made, and THEN we were off!

Nicola started as Navigator to go through NE mpls and Roseville. We were doing fine until Shoreview, when there were some heat related issues for Nicola. We took a break, drank some water, and decided to continue.

The rest of the ride was miserably hot with all the hills and the trailers with all our stuff, but we pushed onward! We made it to White Bear Lake and were quite tired. It was getting late so we decided that instead of going the 20 miles we still had to go we would crash at Sean's parent's house in Mahtomedi.

We arrived right before a storm hit and were all extremely happy to take showers inside rather than out... We ate some dinner and checked our internets (we found that it hit record heat of 96... No wonder it felt so hot!)

Now that we are rested, Our attitudes are in a better place for tomorrow. We're going to wake up early to bike to North Branch where we will have our first workshop at one. Hopefully everything goes well... We'll keep you posted.