le blog de bloogue

I Flew This!

by Brad Johnston on Apr.08, 2010, under misc

Compass Airline co-worker Bill took my friend and co-worker Chris and I out for a spin in his 1965 Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Much to my surprise, he even let me fly it!

DSC01303, originally uploaded by trypnotic.

We took off from Fleming Field in South St. Paul, headed south to Rosemount, flew down County 42 to Savage, north to Shakopee along MN 101 to see the flooded Minnesota River, west to Chaska to check out our neighborhood, northeast to Chanhassen and Eden Prairie, to north of downtown Minneapolis, downtown St Paul, and then back to Fleming Field.

When we returned, the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing, based at Fleming Field, was trying out a new engine in their B-25J Mitchell “Miss Mitchell” bomber. The World War II bomber will be en route next weekend to Dayton, OH for the Doolittle Raid reunion. Read more about this medium bomber.

DSC01302, originally uploaded by trypnotic.

Minnesota River Flood near Highway 41

by Brad Johnston on Mar.20, 2010, under local

The Minnesota River waters are rising near Minnesota Highway 41. Below are a couple of photos I took with my iPhone just a couple hours before MnDOT closed the highway. I had meant to visit the levee today, separating Chaska from the Minnesota River, and join the rest of the lookie-loos. The Chaska Herald said the area was congested with people sneaking a peek at the rising waters.

Minnesota River Flood near Highway 41, originally uploaded by trypnotic.

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Noah… continued

by Brad Johnston on Mar.18, 2010, under misc

Congrats to the Ramkota RiverCentre for their EPIC FAIL.

Unfortunately nearly no one outside Pierre, South Dakota knows who “Noah” is without reading his obituary. From my previous post, courtesy of “Today’s KCCR News”, you’ll read that Noah is in fact a fish.

Courtesy of Facebook user Wyatt James O’Day

Wyatt James O’Day

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Remembering Noah

by Brad Johnston on Mar.17, 2010, under misc

Noah, the Pacu fish from the Amazon who entertained visitors to the Pierre Ramkota Hotel Best Western for about 23 years, has passed away.

Ramkota General Manager Rick Murray says Noah, who was born in 1969 in South America and was 41 years old, passed away at 4 a.m. Wednesday after starting to falter on Tuesday. Murray says it is a sad day for the Ramkota employees. “He was part of the whole experience at the Ramkota,” Murray says.

Noah had been at a hotel in Sioux City Iowa, by way of the Amazon, when he was brought to Pierre in 1987. He came to the Ramkota just a few months after the hotel had opened.

During his time, Noah outgrew four different fish tanks and was located in various places including near the restaurant and lobby areas.

Noah, swimming in his tank, was an attraction for hotel visitors and the public. Many people always made it a point to stop by and see Noah. Murray says Noah was part of the Ramkota and that many people who grew up in Pierre and saw the fish as young children would come back as adults to see Noah.

Murray says officials have talked about what to do with Noah and he says they may have the fish stuffed and mounted in tribute. Murray says it is doubtful that the Ramkota will have another attraction like Noah.

“There was only one Noah,” Murray says. “It is like your best hunting dog. You don’t replace your best hunting dog.”

Source: “Today’s KCCR News” / todayskccr.com

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