Mississippi River (Lake Pepin area)

No eagles out along the Mississippi River today, but there was a lot to see. I took off with my camera and my journal, a credit card and a tank full of gas ($8 for a day of entertainment). Listened to Tolkien's "The Hobbit" which gave the day a surreal edge and ate lunch with my toes in the water of the Mississippi River. Was a perfect day!


I left Cannon Falls by motorcycle this morning, drove to Rochester and then made my way across Hwy 14 - where I found Considine (previous post) and the pictures of the old bridge and railroad tracks. Then I drove through Winona, raced up Hwy 61 at 85 mph trying to keep pace with a train (that was exhilerating!) and took a break by the river in Wabasha.

There are numerous poetry barns around southern Minnesota. I've never found them all, however, I'm told this artist/poet from the city went from farm house to farm house asking if he could paint poetry on side of their barn. I was told that each barn has a part of the same poem. Can you imagine the farmers reaction when this poet guy shows up asking for a place to sleep, a ladder and some white paint?

I made a detour off of Hwy 14 and found these old railroad tracks and stone tunnels. I got a glimpse of it from the road and had to stop to check it out. There is a noisy little river that runs through that stone tunnel - very interesting hollow sounds in there. So pretty with all the wild flowers too.



















All of these places are stunning in the Fall when the leaves change and then again in Winter when everything is white.

I'll keep you posted as the seasons change - I'll just have to change my mode of transportation.

Cross the bridge and you leave Wabasha MN and enter Nelson, Wisconsin

Mississippi River or Lake Pepin near Lake City on Hwy 61
one of the prettiest drives in the country.