Minnesota

 After Louisiana (#13), we made it to five more states in quick succession.  Oklahoma (#14), Kansas (#15), Nebraska (#16), South Dakota (#17) and Minnesota (#18).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trains

 In our travels over the past two years we have camped near a lot of train tracks. This spot at the fairgrounds in Sioux Falls is definitely the closest we have been though.  Luckily it is just a spur track.

 

The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota

"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"

--Wierd Al Yankovic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darwin, Minnesota

   

Weird "Al"ley, hahaha

 

The ball of twine is cool, but the pliers carved out of a single piece of wood is really impressive.

 

Geographic Center of the US*

*not including Alaska, Hawaii and US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. 

We reached the middle.  Just north of the town of Lebanon, Kansas is a triangular patch of land that marks the geometric centroid of the 48 contiguous United States. 

  

 

 

One way to find a centroid is to cut the shape out of a uniform flat material like plywood, then hang it from two different position and draw a vertical line from each.  The intersection of the two lines is the centroid. (Wikipedia)

 

Worlds Largest Ball of Twine

In north central Kansas, just 23 miles from the geographic center of the 48 contiguous US states, in the town of Cawker City, is the worlds largest ball of sisal twine.  This ball continues to grow by visitors who are invited to add to it.