– It me, from the distant future, nearly 5 months behind in updating this blog! My nephew let me know comments were turned off for my posts. That was not intentional! I’ve updated the settings, so now if there’s anything you’d like to say, you can do so. I would love to hear from you!
World’s Largest Twine Ball (by one man) | Darwin, MN
For years, as in decades, anytime I would bring up wanting an RV, I would say “I want to visit all the flyover states. I wanna see what’s under the clouds every time I hop on a flight, and see all there is to see from the road that I miss up in the air. I wanna see all the amazing, cool, weird things out there…like, I don’t know…the biggest ball of twine or something!” And here we are! I made it!!!
This hefty ball is 17,000 lbs and 12′ in diameter. There are other “World’s largest balls of twine” but this one is not only the first, it also has the special distinction of being rolled by only one person, Francis Johnson. He wasn’t even trying to make the world’s largest anything. He just randomly started rolling up twine into a ball, and he just kept going…and going…and going for 29 years. He only stopped in 1979 after being diagnosed with emphysema. He didn’t smoke, so his family blamed it on all the dust from the twine ball dust. He was killed by his own creation! It be your own twine!
Also, it’s the only ball of twine with a song, by Weird Al no less! Its extra special for so many reasons…and I got to see it!
I got a funny kinda feeling we’ll be coming back again next year”
‘Cause I’ve been all around this great big world and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather go to
Than the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota
I said the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota!!!
Minnesota!!
Minnesota!!!
Minnesota!!!!!
Darwin, MN – Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota (roadsideamerica.com)
World’s Largest Crow | Belgrade, MN
On my travel route, I was going to cross paths with the World’s Largest Crow, so of course I had to stop and see it! Big bird here is 18′ tall, perched on a 31′ long branch, atop a 25′ pedestal. It was erected in 1988 in celebration of Minnesota’s State Centennial. Inside of the base is a museum that shares the history of the centennial. All around the grounds, which really is beautiful, there are flags representing all the states, as well as all the countries of origin of the first settlers in Belgrade.
I was so curious, why a crow? Is it the state bird? No, that’s the Common Loon. Are there a ton of crows around here? Not really… It took some digging, but I found out it has nothing to do with actual crows at all. Crow River runs through Belgrade, into Crow Lake, both named after the Dakota Chief and warrior, Thaóyate Dúta who assumed the name Little Crow III, after both his father and grandfather. I went down a whole rabbit hole learning about his pretty extraordinary life and accomplishments. I’m going to need a blog for my blog if I keep getting sidetracked like that…
World’s Largest Crow, Belgrade, Minnesota (roadsideamerica.com)
Today’s Driving Stats: 232 miles, 4hr 44min