Western road trip, day 2: Twin Cities part 1

Started out today with a little walk around Eau Claire, which is full of adorable Victorian homes, and then take-out breakfast from the Nucleus. Dave enjoyed the lemon ricotta pancakes and I got some eggs and a vegetable hash. We ate in a nearby park, which was buggy but scenic.

We headed out of town toward the Twin Cities, our next stop, but stopped for a hike at Lake Menomin. It, too, was buggy but scenic. 

Lake Menomin, before we were eaten by mosquitos

We arrived at the Twin Cities around noon and immediately went to some old favorites. The Yarnery is a glorious yarn shop, and I got to see their new space after a move during the pandemic. I could have drooled on (and infected?) everything. I came away with one project, which I think was very reasonable. 

The Yarnery in St. Paul

We also stopped at the Grand Ole Creamery, a tasty little ice cream shop we've visited on previous trips to see my friend Burt when he lived here. We split a sort of ice cream flight, and I texted Burt that we were visiting our old haunt.

Next up was a new brewery location for us - Surly! They have been around for  while but didn't have premises the last time we were here, which would have been for Burt's wedding in 2012 or '13. Surly has a nice set-up going, for pandemic or anytime, with plenty of outdoor seating in shaded spots. I crocheted, we drank, and we split some pierogis and a salad.

We went back to the hotel for a bit to read and relax out of the heat, then we headed back for a set of breweries:

• Dangerous Man Brewing: we had had them at fests before and loved it, their bottle shop is selling lots of crowlers at the moment;
• Sociable Cider Werks: tried a mead and a cider, nice on a summer day but probably too sweet for us;
• Fair State Brewing Cooperative: nice selection of hazy IPAs, sours, and other interesting beers;
• Bauhaus Brew Labs: collection of lagers in an interesting and beautiful warehouse setting.

Industrial area where Bauhaus is located

We stayed at a downtown hotel, which is kind of silly now that I think about it, but I was thinking about a nice run down by the river, which we're planning on doing tomorrow. The science museum is closed, but there is a big iguana sculpture I want to see.

More sightseeing tomorrow, probably slightly less beer.