Prairie du Chien, WI - Lanesboro, MN
August 8 - 10 I started on Rt 35 out of Prairie du Chien but it was closed after a few miles and I had to detour onto Rt 27 to the town of Sterling where I joined Rt. 35 again.
It was then a scenic route along the Mississippi River to Ferryville and DeSoto. I stopped at about three roadside historic signs about the Black Hawk War which was very interesting and also depressing, the US army just slaughtered these native people trying to get across the river.
Seneca, Wisconsin:
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| Love the shapes, contours and patterns of these fields |
Lynxville, Wisconsin:
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| The Mississippi River |
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| Just driving down the road |
Ferryville, Wisconsin:
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| Sign about Mississippi River changes over the years |
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| Sign about a favorite town character |
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| All these river towns have biker bars ? |
De Soto, Wisconsin:
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| They are always welcome to the Bright Spot |
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| This is the Great River Road |
Highway 35 history sign:
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| It was a horrible period in history |
La Crosse, Wisconsin
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| Another version of Hollywood |
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| Love the Old Style |
Houston:
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| I wanted to see this, Owl's are very cool |
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| Welcome to Houston |
I arrive in Lanesboro, Minnesota in mid afternoon and I have a great reunion with Gordon and Val, we have lots to catch up on. They have bought another house with a separate historic garage which has great potential but it's going to need considerable work, Gordon takes me there on Saturday to show it to me. It’s going to be a pretty tough demanding project, but they have done this before, on the house they currently live in and Gordon in particular has done major restorations of three old Diners in the past. He also has 1920 something Ford Roadster that’s currently in several pieces and has someone overhauling a flathead engine for it. I’m sure this will be a piece of art when done !
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| The new house |
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| Beautiful wood |
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| Gordon proudly displaying his model car creations |
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| The old shop building |
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| The next car project |
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| This was once a belt drive machine shop |
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| Good old signs from years past |
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| The pool table is ready for action, we played |
Gordon’s son Ian suffered a serious injury to both knees recently and is going to be bed ridden for some time, we visited him several times over the weekend also meeting several of his friends. He seems to be improving each day, but it’s going to be a long recovery period.
Gordon and Van took me on a scenic tour of the Decorah, Iowa area and we visited Val’s daughter at her quite remarkable house in a wooded area that is also a big restoration project. (I don't understand how I didn't take a photo of the house or her and Val )
Also we visited an old pioneer church site, saw lots of farm country, the fish hatchery, an odd sculpture garden and a lunch at a massive new brewery.
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| Old church built well in colonial days |
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| Lots of Corn farms and dirt roads out here |
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| Gordon and Val pose at scenic lookout |
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| We drive to this interesting sculpture display |
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| A stop for lunch posing with the company mascot |
August 11- It's Monday when I bid my good byes to Gordon and Val about 11 AM, take a few photos in Lanesboro, MN for remembrance and then get back on the road heading once again for an unknown destination.
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| Nice mural |
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| Place to rest and think |
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| Theater that Val and Gordon have performed in |
Next stop is Sioux City, Iowa
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