n a Motel in Prairie Du Chien Dave and I had a large breakfast buffet that included, sausage and biscuits, waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and omelet made to order with some fresh fruit and sweets rolls and that is just what I. As it was part of the room fee I did not feel guilty or that I took advantage of them as I thought the room was over priced.
Dave and I then biked up to the Effigy mounds on the MN side of the river. This is a national heritage site to preserve the burial mounds for ancient Indians of the area. Some are simple build as a line or a cone but some are more complex and resemble bears, herons and other animals. It was interesting to walk in the woods and see the land and river far below. Those people must have worked like dogs to get the bodies way up here for burial. They had a good visitors center and liked seeing the tools and other objects they recovered in the area. It still amazes me that the primitives had some copper.
Next we crossed back over the river and saw Villa De Louis. This was huge home build in 1878 by the son of fur trader. The family had made so much money the son decided to hire a manager to handle the business and just “enjoyed life” with a 6 hole private golf course, an archery range, private park, private race course and a billiard hall. Unfortunately the family lost all their money in the depression and the kids had to work for a living, life must be tough for some. Growing up with personal servants and companions then having to find a job and work must have been an experience for the youngsters. Easy come and easy go.
View from camp site that night
We finally left town at a 4:00 and moved down the road to a Wysualying (spelling is wrong) state park and had this fine view of the river valley below from our campsite. Ate our a pasta dinner and joked around with the neighbors who could not believe we had all the stuff we did on the bikes. By the time we hit the sleeping bags the wind was howling and it did so all night.
Please note how high we are over the river this although interesting, is a terrific aggravation to me as I had to get the bike up here with all my gear. If I do not sound happy about this it is the impression I want to leave people with. David described my mood as, “Allan you were in a silently suffering snite”. This is true as I had to get off the bike and walk up two hill to reach the end of the day. For the day we covered a total of 25 miles over the day although we moved only 10 miles down the river.
Allan cooking breakfast the morning of the 30th
This morning it was cold when we left the tent and walked to the showers. On the way back from the showers one of the rangers stopped me and pointed out that we had short chained them on the camping fee. As David and I had spent several minute arguing about what the fee was, I pleased that at least we both were wrong.
The ride out of the park was triple WAHOO (30+ MPH) there were too many wahoo to counts today, but with all good things comes some bad, in this case too many to count, “$%#& hills”. Once or maybe twice I had to get off the bike and push it up hill.
We reached a site of Stonefield Farm which is a reconstructed 1900 village and farm museum. It in concluded a tour of Dewey Nelson home in the park. Dewey was the first Governor of WI. It was great example of the 1900 homes of the rich, when compared to the local 1900 farm home that we also toured the difference was stark.
When then finished the day with a short ride to Cassville WI where we found a good cheap hotel, for night and we are getting ready to go to the bowling alley for dinner. Not sure how this will turn out as I have never had a dinner at a bowling alley.
Gratefully for Today.
The mounds and the Agricultural museum both are example or remembering our past. They are even more than that they are honoring our past. Even though we do not how to properly honor the dead at the mounds we currently doing our best to respect those hidden there. At the agricultural museum the tools and life the people lived are remembered such that our kids can see and understand our past. So for helping us to remember history and life thanks to all people that support that work.
Love and kisses to all and to all a goodnight.
Allan and Dave.
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