What the heck?

I have run into several things here in Minnesota that I don't understand:

1. Like, what is this? .We saw this in Two Harbors and it is huge!  and there were two more of these in that

harbor. We were lucky enough to find a sign to explain it to us.  It is an ore loader.  A train is driven on the top and lined up with the hoppers.  Then the ore is dumped into the hoppers and later emptied into a ship to go to Gary, Indiana, most likely.

2. Question: should we get a canoe or a kayak for the top of our car?  We asked a guy in our ward and he said that it's just an accessory any way.  Get either one you like how it looks.

 

3. Is this winter time equipment, as in skiing?  Or is it for summer,as in  mountain biking?

Then we saw this and this. at a city park.  When you don't have real mountains to ski on, at least make it handy.

4. One day while riding my bike, I over heard this conversation: "All the bears were at our plum tree last night."  How many bears is that exactly?

5. We use a street called Central Entrance to get to Pecan and then Upham where we live.  What is this an entrance to? Is there a West Entrance and an East Entrance somewhere?

6. The question here is: Where is Grey and when is he going to sing his song?