The following are various still and video images of the Stillwater St Croix River Valley World Tai Chi Day 2019 event held April 27, 2019 on the terrace of Stillwater Public Library. Images and UAS / UAV / Drone operations were conducted with permissions of Stillwater Public Library and event organizers.
Click on above Image to View More from 2019 Stillwater Tai Chi Day
Click here to view samples of some of the post cards available via our online self service store along with other items including prints, wall art and more.
In addition to our SmugMug online store, we also have a FineArtAmerica site where you can shop, buy prints, puzzles, wall art and other items.
When in downtown Stillwater, visit our partner Smith + Trade Mercantile where you can buy Pictures Over Stillwater aerial photography postcards among other items.
Proud Member Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Visits Lake Elmo Washington County St Croix Valley. The UP Big Boy is one of if not the largest still operating steam locomotives in the world weighing in at over one million pounds.
Union Pacific Big Boy Visits St Croix Valley
The following video and still images show the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 visiting Lake Elmo Minnesota in Washington County before crossing the St. Croix River at Hudson continuing on to other destinations in Wisconsin.
Click on above image to view more images of UP Big Boy 4014
Learn more about Steam power and UP Big Boy via the following links
It is 2019 Spring Flood season in the upper Midwest including Minneapolis St. Paul twin cities metro area along with western Wisconsin, eastern Dakotas and elsewhere. In the Minneapolis St. Paul twin cities metro area, there are three major rivers all of which flow into the mighty Mississippi river, not to mention numerous smaller rivers, streams, creeks as well as other runoff.
For the 2019 Spring Flood season, in the Twin Cities metro, western Wisconsin, western as well as southern Minnesota as well as eastern Dakotas, February record-setting snow fall are now melting. Besides record February snow fall, there was a lack of snow cover in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding area in early January to protect against the extreme cold, thus driving frost deeper into the ground.
With frost being four plus feet deep, snowmelt that would normally start to seep into the ground is having to run off elsewhere which results into the area lakes, ponds, creeks, streams, small rivers and ultimately the Mississippi and other large rivers.
Above via Twincities.com image via www.picturesoverstillwater.com
2019 Spring Flood Content
Note that we are FAA Part 107 certified (e.g. commercial drone operator) and MNDoT Aeronautics & Aviation Drone as well as Aerial Photography licensed, and insured, meaning our images as well footage can be used safely for various commercial purposes including by news or other organizations.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit The Outing Lodge At Pine Point Stillwater Minnesota located at 11661 Myeron Rd N, Stillwater MN 55082. Living nearby, having heard about, as well as driving around the area, I had not actually seen in person the outing lodge at pine point located northwest of Stillwater Minnesota. Given the opportunity to visit the outing lodge at pine point along with some nice winter weather, the following are some views of the area, buildings and grounds.
Adjacent to the gateway trail (PDF Map) (bicycle and pedestrian) in Stillwater Township, the outing lodge at pine point is also bordered by pine point park.
What surprised me about the outing lodge at pine point was the vastness of the property, number, and size of structures along with their history.
For those not familiar with the area, there is a lot of wide open spaces, active farms, and ranches with horses, lakes which add to the outing destination factor. There are also many trails on the grounds for walking in summer or snowshoe in the winter months, not to mention, adjacent gateway trail.
Click on above to view more images of The Outing Lodge
The outing lodge at pine point is a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) with nice rooms, a large lobby great room, dining areas as well as plenty of room for events from weddings to seminars, meetings among others. In addition to being a B&B and hosting weddings as well as other events, the outing lodge at pine point also hosts summer and winter events including snowshoe among others.
Thanks to the folks at the outing lodge at pine point Stillwater Minnesota for the tour inside the facility in addition to being able to capture some images from above.
Learn more at The Outing Lodge at Pine Point website here, visit them at 11661 Myeron Rd N, Stillwater MN 55082, or call (651) 439-9747, tell them Greg from Pictures Over Stillwater sent you.
The historic Stillwater Lift bridge went under heavy maintenance since it closed to vehicle traffic with the opening of the new St. Croix Crossing Bridge in 2017. Following are various images during the heavy maintenance including when a section of the bridge was removed to allow boats to pass while lift section was down for work.
Recently Tom Becchetti (@tbecchetti) told me about Winter Motorcycle Ice Racing on Lake Martha in Chisago City Minnesota. I had heard of, seen photos and videos of Motorcycles racing on frozen lakes or rivers in the past, however, had not seen in person. Despite being a cold northwesterly wind with light snow, Tom and me decided to meet up at Lake Martha to do some sUAS / sUAV e.g. Drone flying and capture some images of Winter Motorcycle Ice Racing.
Winter Motorcycle Ice Racing Lake Martha Chisago City.
For those not familiar, Chisago City is in Chisago County which is about half hour to 45 minutes north of Stillwater, or, about an hour (or less) to the northeast of downtown Minneapolis St. Paul areas, and just a few miles west of Lindstrom Minnesota. There are many lakes in the area which is also close to the St. Croix River valley to the east. Lake Martha is on the western edge of Chisago City north of Highway 8 and adjacent to The Northern Tavern, or, across the highway to the northwest of Chisago lake among others.
Winter Motorcycle Ice Racing Sights, Sounds, Images and Video
The following are various sights, sounds, images and video from watching Winter Motorcycle Ice Racing on Lake Martha Chisago City.
In addition to our SmugMug online store, we also have a FineArtAmerica site where you can shop, buy prints, puzzles, wall art and other items.
When in downtown Stillwater, visit our partner Smith + Trade Mercantile where you can buy Pictures Over Stillwater aerial photography postcards among other items.
Proud Member Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Dynamic Fall Weather St. Croix River Inversion Fog Dragon Breath. One of the things I enjoy about living in the Minneapolis St. Paul metropolitan area is the changing weather and seasons, if you don’t like it, wait and will change. That has been the scenario past week or so here the Stillwater St. Croix River valley eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin areas. So far in the past week, we have seen highs near 70 lows of freezing frost, clear and windy to wall clouds and tornadoes. We have also seen partly cloudy with calm windows high humidity between rains including inversion fog layers on the St. Croix River.
Some drone-based aerial views above and around Stillwater as well as St. Croix River valley over the past week. These include visits to Stillwater Fire Department open house, Art Fair, fall colors, St. Croix Sailing School High School Regatta in Hudson, new St. Croix Crossing bridge and much more.
From a sUAS or drone flying perspective, strong winds are a challenge and even more so are rain. However, in between those conditions, there have been some great opportunities to go upstairs and gets some different and unique perspective views that past week.
For example, check out the following video that I captured the other evening of inversion fog layer over St. Croix River valley shortly before evening severe storms arrived.
Dynamic fall weather resulted in Layer of Inversion Fog (Dragon Breath) Over St. Croix River flows south under Arcola Soo Line High Bridge towards Stillwater MN.
Some Tips, Recommendations and Reminders
Keep the weather in mind, head in the clouds and feet on the ground meaning watch the sky along with weather, while you are safe on the ground. Weather can change quickly, so be ready, plan ahead, watch forecasts and be prepared. When you contact any airports or air traffic control for the areas you will be flying (e.g. for those in Stillwater area, the downtown riverfront is controlled airspace), ask for conditions at their location to compare with your own local. If you are flying an sUAS or drone, keep your eyes on the aircraft, if using first-person view (FPV) goggles have one or more visual observers (VO).
Pay attention to surface winds along with those aloft, look around where you are going to be flying. Look at flag poles which way they are pointing, the direction of clouds, smoke from chimneys and other indicators. Also, note that winds can vary at the surface as well as a few feet to hundreds of feet up in the air. Another consideration is how the windows can be more turbulent around buildings, bluffs, hills and other structures, something to keep in mind. Note that while your drone may have automation and is fine once up in the air (watch out for fly-away during high winds), the landing may be a challenge. Likewise, not if, rather what happens when your software based automation AI enabled drone stops working and you need to land manually? How will you avoid a crash? The answer is being prepared.
Something I have noticed is that changing weather, the birds can be an indicator of when to land or get out-of-the-way if you are flying FPV mode with no VO, how will you see the birds behind or on your sides? Likewise, keep the aircraft in visual line of sight (e.g. don’t fly beyond where you can see it) so that you can recall quickly before developing weather has an impact. Also if you are using filters, adjust accordingly for example if cloudy try an ND4. Have fun, however, be prepared, be safe.
