Day 7 Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota

Drove out of Iowa up the Great River Road in Wisconsin into Minnesota on the seventh day of my trip. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River most of the way. Historic route with many historic signs explaining the settlement of the areas and the battles the native people had with the settlers moving in displacing them.  Many pull outs with breath taking views of the river and the dams along the Mississippi.

I stopped at the Trembelau National Refuge along the way, which is a five mile drive through the prairie, wetlands and natural landscape protected as a refuge for wildlife. The area was once used to farm, but since has been restored to its natural prairie setting. Again, a nice population of the red winged blackbirds. Also saw egrets, hawks and other migratory birds.

After driving through Alma, a small Wisconsin town, the bluffs begin to rise out of the landscape. Huge beautiful rocks towering over the highway. Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up in Pepin, WI. I stopped and read the sign posts about her life, then headed down the Laura Ingalls Highway toward Red Wing. I stopped at a roadside stand and bought some strawberries that were the best I had ever had.

Interesting rock formations drew me in. North of Maiden Rock a bow and arrow is outlined in rocks. Historians aren't quite sure what the significance of the bluff is, how it came to have the bow and arrow or who created it, since, according to the sign it wouldn't have been their custom to create such a design.

I drove into Minnesota around 3 PM. I began looking for a place to camp. The Frontenac State Park was the first camping ground I came to and was full of RV's and not many tent campers. I continued down the road to Hok-si-la Park.

Hok-si-la is a community park just north of Lake City, and one I had read about in a tent camping book I had picked up before I left. They don't want a lot of traffic in the park. They allow you time to unload your vehicle and park outside the park. Hok-si-la is a community park, beach, and playground. The best feature of the park is no vehicle traffic allowed, which makes for enjoyable hiking and exploring without the nuisance of vehicles. Very peaceful, secluded sites tucked into wooded areas that provide privacy and a sense of solitude.  Well the first night I was the only one in the park camping. It was very quiet and serene. My site was up on a cliff that over looked Pepin Lake and to the east I could see the bluffs I drove by earlier in the day.

I set up camp, fixed a bite to eat as an eagle flew over head. I was so amazed and in awe I forgot to grab my camera. Very unfortunate, he flew so close, right over head.  Beautiful massive bird soaring overhead was a beautiful experience, and I felt a good sign. I later learned that there is a refuge at the end of the park for the bald eagle that was instrumental in returning them to the area.

I watched the sun dip slowly behind the trees, the birds singing and the people enjoying the sunset on the beach below. The temperature seemed to plummet with the sun. I realized that I wasn't quite prepared for the chilly night temperatures.