Friday, April 17

It was a beautiful day for a five-hour drive to Zumbro Falls, Minnesota – southeast of where Bob and Doris live.

Not long after we left their house on Friday morning, I noticed these two sandhill cranes almost camouflaged in the field.

There were many opportunities to look for reflections in lakes and rivers..

These three were moving on as cars whizzed by them.

I enjoy looking for ways towns and city’s advertise their names.

Lunch. My choice was delicious parmesan-and-bread-covered walleye.

Farmers were busy in the fields as we approached Zumbro Falls.

I wonder what stories this shed could tell.

It was just before 3:30 PM when we pulled into Camp Victory where Dave is Retreat Director.

Dave was in his office in this building, and Denise arrived a few minutes after us.

They gave us a tour of several buildings – the dining room was first – and took us to where we would be sleeping.

Denise is the youngest daughter of Cerwin’s sister Velda and her husband, Mel.

The recreation center is new this summer and is just being completed.

Denise and I decided to hike up the trail to the cabins.

On the way we passed the outdoor chapel.

A cross carved in a tree stump.

Several buildings at the top of the hill.

Dave and Cerwin walked up the road instead of the path.

The meeting room and…

…bunks in one of the cabins.

The “million dollar” view was next to our cabin.

Camp Victory is a non-denominational Christian camp and retreat center in SE Minnesota. Located on 200 acres of forested, rolling hills and the beautiful Zumbro River.

We were introduced to the cabin where we would be staying for the night. I expect this wouldn’t be available to us on Friday nights after summer camps start.

It is set up to sleep 14 people – with 7 sets of bunks.

Since there were only two of us, we had lots of space.

The bathroom has 14 cubbies for personal items, two showers, two wash bowls, two bathroom stalls, and 14 hooks for towels and wash cloths.

I would like this much room at home. 🙂

Upstairs there was a comfortable loft.

Looking down on the bunks.

The view of other cabins and meeting areas next to our cabin.

Denise wanted to show us their house, which is several miles from camp. This was the view of the dining hall as we left camp in Denise’s car.

The house Dave and Denise rent on a nearby farm.

They have a nice deck.

Denise is preparing to plant a garden.

Their daughter Sami, the neighbor’s dog Jesse, and Denise. Their other two children Brittany and Dan are away in college – Brittney in Virginia and Dan in Florida.

A barn next to their yard.

Heading back to camp.

Dave helped serve supper to a youth group that just arrived for the weekend.

After they were served, Cerwin, Dave, Denise, Sami, and I got our meal – which was delicious.

Sami having fun with my camera.

It was fun spending the evening with them before Denise and Sami went back to their house, Dave helped the youth group settle in to the camp, and we went to our comfortable cabin.

It was a delightful, warm evening, so we stayed outside as long as possible – at least until the sun set.

It was a beautiful, relaxing day – but we needed to sleep because there were things to do and people to see on Saturday.