Day 289, 19 April 2013, St Paul-Minneapolis. Pictured is the Mississippi with a restored paddle steamer in view. We will get to see 140 miles or so of the great river - It is in fact the second longest river in the USA with a length of 2,340 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. We woke up to thick snow on the ground as we pulled in to the stop serving the twin cities - Midway Station. This station is not only midway between the two cities, but also midway between the Equator and the North Pole. According to our sleeping car attendant Isaac - Old Man Winter sure is hanging on tight this year. Of the two cities, St Paul and Minneapolis, Minneapolis is the younger - the name comes from an Indian word - "Minnie" (meaning water) and the Greek word "polis" (meaning city) - thus WaterCity due to the 22 natural lakes within the city limits. We feel like we've been on the train forever, but can't believe it's coming to an end later today. The train is running almost an hour late due to ice and snow on the switches - many more towns to go! Interesting spots we are passing through today? Lake Pepin - the birthplace of water skiing, invented by Ralph Samuelson in 1922 at the age of 18. Wasbasha, this town was the setting for the Grumpy Old Men movies. We're both fascinated by the views of America unwinding outside our windows. The barns, the barn shaped houses, the multiple pick up trucks in the postage stamp sized yards. From Wisconsin onwards the houses become more affluent - yards are tidy, lawns are green and the outlook is positive. The afternoon passes with minor interruptions from the sleeping car attendant - making up the upper bed, fresh linens, trash out, new pillowslips... We feel like we are being checked out of a hotel whilst metaphorically still in our PJs. It seems the Empire Builder will be leaving immediately after it arrives late into Chicago - all set for the 46 hour return journey to Seattle. What a life on the rails for the Amtrak staff. I wonder if they fly when they take vacations? Chicago - here we come.