#prairieduchien – Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

13 June 2018

I discovered the Great River Road (GRR) which runs alongside the Mississippi from Minnesota to Louisiana through 10 states. It is known as Old Man River, Father of Waters, “body of a nation,” Big Muddy—by any name the mighty Mississippi cuts a mythic figure across the American landscape.

I have driven through all those states but not along the GRR. However I am glad that I will have driven through Iowa, Wisconsin and Minesotta along the GRR.

The Effigy Mounds are in Iowa and I stopped to do my 10,000 steps through this national monument park. I did not expect to see my favourite river with a Turkey Vulture flying in front of me.

The mounds were created by Native Indians and built in the shape of animals and some are burial mounds. Interestingly the shapes of the mounds can only be seen from above and to this day the meaning and origin remains a mystery.

Walking through this beautiful National Park, I did not like the snake I almost stepped on. It was only about 30cm (1′) long and 20mm ( 3/4″) thick but it was a snake, and scared the S..T out of me. I later found out it was a Garter Snake which is not harmful to humans. Regardless, it’s a snake.

Earlier I had a different fright caused by a bambi who ran out in front of my car and I nearly hit it. Thank goodness mum wasn’t with it.

Magestic homes in the Mississippi town of McGregor.

was expecting John Wayne to come out of one of these.

I stopped at st Feriole Island Prairie du Chien Wisconsin for this photo of Villa Louis where you can experience the Victorian lifestyle of the 19th century.