locks and dam on the mississippi

Day 230 – Great River Road

Day 230 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Wyalusing State Park

We traveled quite a few miles up the Great River Road today.  Beginning the day, we took another hike in Wyalusing State Park.  It was a short walk along the Bluff Trail that took us to Point View overlooking both the Wisconsin River and Mississippi River. The Mississippi River flows 2,348 miles from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.  15.8 million gallons of water flow past this point on the Mississippi every minute.  The Upper Mississippi (above St. Louis) has 29 dams and is home to 100 species of fish. In addition, 175 million tons of material (40% grain) is shipped on its waters annually.  One barge carries 1,500 tons of material.  To put that into perspective, it would take sixty semi’s to do the same.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
cave point county park

Day 227 – Door County Byways

Day 227 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I survived another storm yesterday.  It came and left within an hour yesterday afternoon, but it was ominous.  Dark black clouds rolled in as the wind swirled. I was pulled off in a roadside rest area, but I’m told the wind lifted the water off the lake, creating a water spout.

Cave Point County Park

This morning we cruised up the “thumb” of Wisconsin.  Our first stop was Cave Point County Park where Lake Michigan’s waves splash against dolomite cliffs.  During rough weather, this can be a spectacle, though today it was calm enough for locals to take a dip.  I’ve heard from a handful of folks over the last week that the water is warm.  It’s all relative I guess…I’m certain it is at least 10 degrees cooler than I prefer. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
lac du flambeau

Day 218 – Wisconsin North Woods (Part 2)

Day 218 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Wow…I think I have had two “do-over” days in one week!  The second half of my Wisconsin North Woods drive, from the Apostle Islands to Lac de Flambeau, I believe was more suited for kayakers or canoers.  It certainly wasn’t a bad day, but there are ways I could have enjoyed it better.

Madeline Island

As usual I started my morning with a cup of coffee.  I have to say the local coffee shop sold awesome raspberry scones.  This prompted me to buy a container, twice the size of what is customary, of local raspberries at the small grocery store for three bucks or so…a bargain and good!  I wanted to have some food on hand for a morning at Madeline Island, the only inhabited island in the Apostle Islands and the only island which is not part of the National Park. 

The rest of the Apostle Islands, remnants of sedimentary rocks deposited in the Lake Superior Basin over 600 million years ago that have survived the crushing action of four glaciers over the past 100,000 years, are a National Park and a popular kayaker destination.  Getting to those islands was an all day excursion and less than accommodating to Petey which is why I ended up choosing Madeline Island.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Davidson windmill

Day 217 – Wisconsin North Woods

Day 217 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Amnicon Falls State Park

I forgot to mention one of the greatest parts to my Minnesota morning yesterday, despite the rain…the coffee shop I found, Java Moose Espresso, sold just the muffin tops…no stumps.  Any Seinfeld fan has to appreciate that!  Anyway, on to my next morning, I boiled some water for coffee and instant oatmeal at the Amnicon Falls State Park campgrounds in Wisconsin.  Amnicon means “Where Fish Spawn” and the Amnicon River is an important spawning river for fish from Lake Superior.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!