Time for Long Walks on Short Piers in Siouxland, Arnolds Park, Adams Homestead

A well used pier or dock at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Reading recently a person’s account of how much they like being around bodies of water. Big or little bodies. In Siouxland there are various places one can go and enjoy a day or part of a day being near water. I enjoy the chance to “walk on water” usually with the help of a pier or dock of some description. And some of these appear safer than others.

A boat dock near the amusement park in Arnolds Park, Iowa Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some docks or piers are for daily use, while some rarely see use at all. But each has their charm as does the small or large body of water it sits upon. And each and everyone is good for summer day dreams or dreams any time of the year. Leading one to see adventure somewhere “out there”, away from the shoreline into another realm.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Gull Point State Park near Milford, Iowa Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

 

Outdoor Research in Siouxland, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory

Sometimes as I travel about Siouxland I come across places that make me wonder what life may have been like had I chosen another path. Especially when I visit the Iowa Lakeside Laboratories in the Iowa Lakes Region which was created to study nature in nature as it is noted. I stopped by there this fall as the stone buildings built during the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp sit atop a hill and gives a nice view of the surrounding area.

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The labs are dedicated to various types of studies under the auspices of the University of Iowa and was founded or received its impetus from a former professor.

A bench dedicated to a former Iowa State University professor, Dr. Lois Tiffany, sits on the grounds at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The grounds are well maintained and trails leads one in and around Little Miller’s Bay which the facility sits along and is open for research from those interested from a variety of places, high school and college students as well as instructors themselves looking to further their own knowledge or research. Aside from hot and muggy days, or colder  ones, the chance to explore and learn outdoors seems tempting. Communing with nature to me seems a great way to pass the time.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A bench dedicated to a former Iowa State University professor, Dr. Lois Tiffany, sits on the grounds at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Playing with Light in Siouxland, Iowa Lakes Region

This fall I made another trip to the Iowa Lakes Region and explored some more around the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory area. The stone buildings were constructed during the 1930’s with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corp and was the idea of University of Iowa professors to study nature while in nature. I however just like to explore shapes and light sometimes when I am there.

A play of light, lines and shadows at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes one is not always able to “shoot cleanly”, that is without other forms interfering with what you as the photographer wants to tell with an image. But I don’t let that deter me.

A stone built laboratory at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Light and shadow play at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I like the interplay of the light and shapes that I see through my viewfinder and try to isolate those areas that I show the viewer. Some may like it and others, not so much. But for me the joy is the mostly the light and its effect on illuminating objects and places. It constantly changes, sometimes by milliseconds. And within any given space of time can create many more “images” than I could probably capture in my lifetime.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Light and shadow play on the library at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Books lining shelves seen through a window at the library are a collection of journals, information and other research collected by participants at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory overlooking Little Miller’s Bay near Milford, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

In Remembrance in Siouxland, West Lake Okoboji

I find that history appears in all sorts of ways when I travel about Siouxland. I may not always grasp what it is behind the meaning, but sometimes one doesn’t really need to. Driving a number of backroads one will always find memorials to people who most probably died in a traffic accident along that stretch of highway. Off to the side of the road, in a ditch, or up a hillside is a small cross. It is a sad reminder of an event, but also dangerous in a way in that it could very well distract other drivers looking at it. And generally, there is no place to pull over to really look and spend some time.

I came across another memorial recently at West Lake Okobji in the community of Wahpeton.

A bench in honor of Beverly Zahrt Jeppeson gives visitors a view of West Lake Okoboji from Wahpeton, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

This person may not have died under as tragic a circumstance as a road side remembrance. I don’t really know. But I found that the remembrance itself was carefully thought out and sharing something of this person who probably enjoyed this spot an entire lifetime.

A bench in honor of Beverly Zahrt Jeppeson gives visitors a view of West Lake Okoboji from Wahpeton, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A simple bench with a rather spectacular view probably encapsulates this woman’s lifetime and her love of the outdoors. It reminds of a scene in a movie called Notting Hill with the actors Julia Roberts and  Hugh Grant. A rather unlikely love story with a scene of a park bench honoring the love of two people in a lovely spot hoping that other passersby might find the same peace and contentment as those whose memory is honored.

So I took advantage of the day, spent some time enjoying the view, listening to nature and watching time pass and contemplating if my life is as content as the woman honored with this memorial. It was a nice way to spend a day.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A view of West Lake Okoboji from Wahpeton, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A boater makes his out into West Lake Okoboji seen from a bench in honor of Beverly Zahrt Jeppeson that gives visitors a view of what she must have witnessed over the years in Wahpeton, Iowa Wednesday Oct.11, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Cruising Siouxland on the Queen II, Okoboji

On a recent visit to the lake region of Iowa in Siouxland which includes the communities of Arnolds Park, Okoboji and Spirit Lake, I finally was able to take a cruise on West Lake Okoboji on the Queen II. When the lakes region around Arnolds Park and Okoboji became a resort area, a boat named the Queen brought visitors out onto the lake and showed off the region. The Queen II continues that history.

The Queen II prior to leaving for a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A passenger gets a better view of West Lake Okoboji from the Queen II during a cruise at Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The cruise gives a nice background history to the immediate lakes region and for those wanting to know more they can visit the Maritine Museum in Arnolds Park.

Capable of holding about 200 passengers, the skipper this day, Lance Freed, gave some general introductions then played some canned information that was informative and effective.

Lance Freed skippers the Queen II during a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017, something he has been doing for 17 years. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Originally owned by farmers, the non-tillable area was sold off to various individuals who began selling plots of land to those who wanted a place on a lake. The then cottages, although still called that, were modest and small. Now some of them are multi-million dollar vacation homes, one is estimated to be worth $12 million. And the land itself around the lake, depending on which side, east or west, can run from $10,000 a square foot to $17,000 a square foot. Not your granddaddy’s little summer getaway.

Passengers taking a cruise on the Queen II around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017 can see mutli-million dollar homes, euphemistically referred to as cottages, which line the lake shore. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But for the average Joe and his family, people can bring their boats, fish, waterski and pursue other summertime activities on or around the water and still enjoy a nice day out. I personally like being near the water but am not exactly a water person and not one to get in it and splash about. But on a warmish day with a breeze, it is hard to beat and just fun to learn a little more history about the area.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City,

Two sisters grimace a bit with a stiff breeze as they enjoy a Queen II cruise around West Lake Okoboji on a warm day in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A couple of parasailors show off for people on a Queen II cruise around West Lake Okobji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Arnolds Park Amusement park seen from the Queen II as it heads in to dock after a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Inn along the shore West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa during a Queen II cruise was originally built in the 1800’s seen Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A seagull make its presence known to passengers on the Queen II during a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fishermen on the lake trying their luck as Queen II passes by during a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A power boat flies by as the Queen II takes a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Passengers taking in the views from the Queen II during a cruise around West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa, Monday July 24, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Living History in Siouxland, Iowa Lakeside Lab

Recently I checked out a “living laboratory” in the Iowa great Lakes Region on Lake West Okoboji. The Lakeside Lab is a state research facility I believe operated by Iowa State University. Built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp during America’s great depression these stone buildings house research facilities for ecology and conservation. A sign states the stone buildings are named for five Iowans, early scientists in their respective fields, Thomas McBride, Bohumil Shimek, Louis Pammel, Samuel Calvin and Joseph Bodine. The buildings are used each summer for university courses and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1909 the Lakeside Lab is one of the oldest field stations in the U.S. Researchers and students visit the facilities each summer to study various habitats located within the Lakes’ region and it serves as an outdoor laboratory.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A map showing the Lakeside Laboratory, one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

West Lake Okoboji sits just beyond the Lakeside Laboratory, one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A trail that borders West Like Okoboji leads away from the Lakeside Laboratory, one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Lakeside Laboratory is one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Lakeside Laboratory is one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Lakeside Laboratory is one of the oldest field stations in the United States, founded in 1909 and situated in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, Saturday, August 14, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)