Tag: #wisconsin

Minnesota

14 June 2018

Leaving La Crosse, Wisconsin I crossed the bridge to Minnesota. Again, the changes of scenery astonish me. The speed limit on the road was 80kph (50mph) and I wanted to go slowly to take everything in. To my left there were stunning valleys that met the sky and to my right the majestic Mississippi River.

As this will be the last time on this trip that I will see the Mississippi, I decided to stop at as many towns as possible on the Great River Road.

Winona Minnesota

Wabasha Minnesota

Stockholm Wisconsin

On the road at Maiden Rock Wisconsin I stopped to help this turtle. The speed limit here was 80kph (50mph). I put on my hazard lights as I was on a no overtaking part of the road. I was so worried a vehicle would run it over. Did you think turtles were slow and docile. I got the shock of my life with this aggressive one. I had my jacket I was going to use to pick up the turtle from behind and take it to safety in the scrub. This thing started snapping at me, rearing up like a snake and coming at me, it followed my every move with quick sudden moves as I was trying to get behind it but I didn’t get closer than a metre (3′). It scared me more than the snake yesterday. I was avoiding getting hit by trucks and cars to save this damn animal but I got into my car and drove off feeling a failure and shaky. I found on Google that this species of turtle is appropriately known as a “snapping turtle” and their bite is very painful. I won’t be stopping for one of these again.

After that distressing event, I went on to my final Mississippi town, Red Wing Minnesota.

I went across to the marina (in the photo above) across the bridge back to Trenton, Wisconsin to find someone who might lend me a line so I could go fishing in my favourite river. How many of you can say you have fished in the Mississippi River.

Thank you to Brad from the Harbor Bar Restaurant Marinawho lent me his rod, although I think there was something wrong with it because I didn’t catch anything.

Quirky local man, Kevin, invited me onto the houseboat he has built. The boat has a dragon (because he couldnt find a gargoyle big enough) on his houseboat complete with glowing red eyes. (I did say quirky).

I was very impressed with the amount of travel Kevin has done and also the interesting decor of his floating home.

He has an incinerator toilet!! It burns the waste and once a month he removes the tray below the pan and empties the remains which are ashes.

Kevin doesn’t drink alcohol but he collects wine from every vineyard he has been to around the world.

The bathroom

Kitchen cupboards with collectables.

And collection of pubs.

This is the view from the houseboat on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River looking at Red Wing Minnesota and watching the Canadian Pacific go through to Canada. Click here for video

Kevin has party lights all over the boat, inside and out, with huge speakers facing Minnesota across the river on which he plays music including ACDC cranked up like it’s meant to be. I took this photo of his houseboat from across at Red Wing.

He apparently puts his music on at a set time every night and my visit distracted him and people were shouting across the river reminding him he was late with his music show for the locals. This is what it sounds like across the river.

What an enjoyable day on the Mississippi River. I will miss you Old Man River and hope we meet again soon.

Wisconsin

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.

I

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.

I finished off my evening with a free concert in Riverside Park La Crosse Wisconsin. A stunning spot on the Mississippi.