Fond Memories far from “61″ June 11, 2010

What has surprised me the most in this wonderful journey I’m on is the reaction and reception people have given me regarding “Tales of the Road-Highway 61.” It doesn’t matter WHERE you are in the state of Minnesota, people have fond memories of Highway 61. Most Minnesotans have either driven on or have heard about the road. Of course it helps that native son Bobby Zimmerman sang about the highway in one of his ground breaking albums by the same name!

So, I found myself in Detroit Lakes Minnesota this spring, speaking to an audience of more than one hundred people in a historic high school theater hundreds of miles from Highway 61, and I was amazed at their warm, interested reactions to our work and great ideas for the sequel to “Tales.”

What is it about Highway 61 that sparks all these great memories? The road meanders along the Minnesota/Wisconsin border for the most part and from the northern most tip in Grand Portage to the south end near La Crescent, it cuts through some of the most beautiful terrain in the state. But beyond that, I wonder what else grabs people when they read about Highway 61. Fond memories of days gone by? The allure of a road trip and promise of new adventures along the highway? The excitement of discovering the back-story behind some of the familiar places along the road? Tell me what you think. In the meantime, I’m starting to do some research on one of the most iconic of all sites along Highway 61–Split Rock Lighthouse. Ideas? Let me here ‘em!!