July 26, 2016 Iowa to Missouri

July 26, Tuesday

Back on the road this morning, we are seeing acres and acres of corn and soybeans. Yet another detour as we head south on 63.

We have seen several barn quilts, including this bright one.  We have seen a few in other states as well - even in Vermont and Ohio.

The Airpower Museum and Antique Airplane Association is our next stop.  It is a non-profit, formed in 1965 - someone's good idea that never quite took off, it seems.

 No admission and we are told to go ahead and look around on our own.  Some planes, posters, engines and parts, mostly all covered with either dust or bird droppings.

 I found the posters and articles on Amelia Erheart interesting, and this reminder of the excitement when aviation was new... the Inman Flying Circus advertised took place here in Ottumwa.

We continue into Missouri, and pay a visit to the home town of General John J. Pershing.

 We are greeted by Katharine and Alison and act as guinea pigs for Alison, who is learning the ropes. They are sweet and informative, but pretty much stick to a narrative as we tour the house,
built in the 1850's, the smokehouse/summer kitchen and even the 4-seater outhouse.  There was a hair wreath on display,

which we had never seen or heard of - and later Greg read about a Hair Museum (which we skipped), so it must have been a big thing once.

Interesting to note, too, that the house only had one closet because closets were counted as rooms in tax assessments.

Pershing taught school before attending West Point and the schoolhouse is on the grounds.  It was the most interesting part, since it chronicled his military career.

 He began by commanding a group of black Buffalo Soldiers and received a (derogatory) nickname of Black Jack Pershing.  He fought against the Sioux and Apaches, then in the Spanish American War 1898-99 with Teddy Roosevelt.  He earned a law degree and then served in the Philippines before being promoted from Captain to Brigadier General. He served in WWI and was the only General other than George Washington to be  named General of the Armies.

We found another spot to camp, this time in the Fountain Grove Conservation Area.  It is a rather remote area with several primitive campsites near a lake.

 Nice day, so we walk and sit outside a bit.  It is pleasant in the shade.  Another couple arrives and fishes for a few hours, and then we have the place to ourselves again. Lots of birds and dragon flies.

Too hot to cook, so we have a big chef salad for dinner.

Warm night and the small battery-powered fan we invested in comes in handy.  We could run the generator and the ac, but it isn't THAT bad and is comfortable as the night temps drop to around 70.
Still, it is a reminder that we've been heading south for quite a while and we decide that we will pretty much head for home the next two days, after a stop at the Truman Presidential Library.

I awake during the night and admire a beautifully star-studded sky, with the big dipper right over our lake.  A few lightning bugs twinkle against the darkened trees as well.

July 25, 2016 Wisconsin to Minnesota to Iowa

Monday, July 25

Beth wakes early and takes a few sunrise photos before being chased back to the Trek by mosquitos.

We decide to head out and after an hour or so on 70, we decide to drop south and check out 13S.  Lots of woods, and lakes everywhere.  Some surrounded by cabins/homes, some not developed at all.

We stop for breakfast at McDonald's and gas (not necessarily related :)) in Ladysmith.  Cute little town.  Come across a beautiful field of sunflowers and  this unique mailbox stand.

 Beginning to see more agriculture - mostly soybeans and corn.

We try to head south on 93, but don't get far before we hit a detour - bridge out.  We are back on local roads which are identified by letters....so we travel on HH to W to B. Here we are at the intersection of WW and W.

We take 25S across the Mississippi at Wabasha and now we are in Minnesota.

Getting tired, so we decide to stop and re-visit the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, named for an Indian chief whose statue is just outside.

 One of the eagles we saw 2 years ago, Harriet, the matriarch, has passed, but we recognize three others

. Chat with one of the trainers for a bit and check out some new displays (and some old).

It is a beautiful day, so we have lunch outside and walk along the Mississippi a bit, watching a tug and some other traffic.

There just happens to be an ice cream shop near where we parked, so we go for a cone on the way out. YUM.  I have a vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate bits and coconut and almonds.  de-lish!

About six miles further on, we do another re-visit at Lark Toys in Kellogg.

 Fun place with a hand-carved carousel and tons of toys, old and new, some in displays and many for sale.

 And now we can shop for our granddaughter :)  so we find a sweet rabbit hand puppet.

We are heading south again and have another detour - guess they are doing lots of bridge repair/replacement!  We talked with Greg's Mom and wandered into Iowa.  We found Bremer County Alcock Park in Frederika in one of our books.  It turns out to be quite nice - and empty.  The far end of the campground is a bit flooded by the Wapsipinicon River,  but the near end is fine and even has clean restrooms with showers! ($10)

 

  The bugs aren't bad, so we walk and sit outside,  and then we have a nice salad and chicken on the grill.  A few cars come by, but it seems they are just checking out the river because they just drive through and wave. Warm night, but it finally cools down to about 65.

July 24, Sunday Michigan to Wisconsin

Sunday, July 24

64 degrees this morning as we sleep in.  Greg goes for a walk while Beth slumbers on.... took Benadryl last night and it does make me sleepy.  The whole campground seems sleepy, as we only see one other person stirring when Beth finally gets up at about 9:00.

We had some heavy rain last night, so things are wet.  So thankful we don't have to deal with a wet tent! We have seen more tent campers this trip, though still many trailers and pop-ups.  We've seen about a dozen Roadtreks, mostly in Vermont and Canada.

We continue driving along the Lake Michigan coast, through several small towns to Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba.

Have our usual breakfast and wonder the grounds which are on a small peninsula until the lighthouse and museum open. Surprisingly there are several other folks doing the same.

A sad note: the flag here is at half mast.  It seems this has often been the case, as various acts of senseless violence dot this Summer's calendar.

The fresnel lens

Climbing down from the light

 The lighthouse, built in 1867 to aid iron ore cargo vessels, operated till 1940.  We climb to the lens and check out the furnishings of the keepers quarters.  There is a boat house as well, where a surf rescue boat was kept.

Keeper's living area

This large carving is from a single piece of wood.

There is a county museum next door which has some interesting items, like these log hammers which were used to imprint an owners mark on logs before they were floated or otherwise transported.

Some interesting unfamiliar plants on the grounds, including these roses that had huge rose hips.

We go through the town of Norway next, and are noticing more Scandinavian names, mostly Norwegian and Swedish.  Several Swedish restaurants too. Greg's Dad's family history has some Swedish bakers in the Chicago area and we wonder.....

Just west of Norway,  Fumee Creek and Fumee Falls get our attention.

And then we stop at the Pasty Oven, (pronounced pass-tee).  We share a traditional pasty for lunch.  It is basically a meat pie with beef, onion, rutabaga, potato and spices.

 These were Cornish in origin and were standard fare for miners, who could carry them easily and re-heat them with a candle at lunchtime.  Nowadays they make them with sausage, pepperoni and other ingredients as well.  Ours was fresh from the oven and very tasty.

Passed this guy who was advertising a shop that built docks and decks.

The WWII Glider museum in Iron Mountain is our next stop.

 Turns out to be one large glider and an assortment of military and other "stuff".  The glider was built in nearby Kingsford where there was a Ford Plant that built  over 4,000 gliders for the war effort.  Gliders were used to transport troops and supplies, often behind enemy lines and there was some information on their use by the Germans, British and Americans.

A 1929 Model A Firetruck and 1930 Model AA Dumptruck were  on display as well as some weapons and uniforms.

 I had never seen the Nazi and Luftwaft uniforms before.  Wonder who wore these!?

From here we take 2W and then 70E into Wisconsin.  We have seen many covered bridges this trip - this one is near Smith Rapids.

 We found a campsite in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest but it was kind of buggy, so we didn't hang out outside much.  Wisconsin is definitely the land of lakes, and also land of mosquitos, as we recall from a previous trip.