New London, Minnesota on the Crow River
Our teacher, Mr. Richardson, grew up here on the banks of the Crow River which meanders through the beautiful little town of New London, Minnesota. He spent many hot summer days chasing 'mud' turtles in row boats and along the shores of 'Richardson Bay,' just outside their back door.
Here he is out for a ride in the bay with his mom and brother. (rowing) In the winter, this bay became the perfect skating pond!
Each summer, Mr. Richardson's cousin, Timmy, used to come from the city and visit for a week. That's him on the back of the boat with his mouth mostly shut. (You'll have to guess who the other one is!) Brother Jim is up front, probably on the lookout for turtles.
Most of the time the three cousins were on or in the water, either swimming, fishing, boating, or hunting turtles! They hold the Crow River championship for catching the most turtles in one day! 102!!
How would like to live in a place like this?
This is Mr. Richardson and his daughter, Julie Anna, on another part of the river many years later in 1996. In the background you can see the old swimming hole where he and his friends swam day after day. He still loves to go back to his home town and remember all the wonderful experiences he had growing up there. Mr. R. has lots of stories about his life 'on the river.' Someday he hopes to write a book about all of his adventures.