June 2, 2016. Goose Island to Davenport, IA - 200 Miles of Not Much River, but Lots of Barns.

June 2, 2016.  Goose Island to Davenport, IA - 200 Miles of Not Much River, but Lots of Barns.  We settled in at the Interstate RV Park in Davenport when Annie asked, "What did we do today?" 


"Well, we are 200 miles closer to home," I answered. 


"Yes, but what did we do?"


I thought and I thought.  We followed the River Road all day, seeing rolling pasture and cropland.  We saw a hundred or more barns.  We saw many attractive and well-kept towns and villages.  We saw churches and the home of President US Grant in Galena, IL.  But, I couldn't really tell her what we did.  That is, until I uploaded pictures to the computer and then it all came rushing back.  We saw the quintessential America today along the back roads. 


The drive from La Crosse to Prairie du Chien, WI was all it was billed to be.  There were hills and bluffs on our left and the river was on the right.  There were plenty of trees for eagle's nests, but we saw none.  There were large birds soaring high above the bluffs, but we were too far away to say whether the birds were eagles or turkey vultures - the sublime or the repulsive. 


We stopped by Galena, IL to see if we could find President Grant's home.  The two-story brick home was given to the General by the people of Galena following his successful direction of the Union armies during the Civil War.  The Grant family spent time there between 1865 and his move to the White House in 1868.  Following his two terms as President, the Grants settled into the home in Galena.  The home is now maintained by the State of Illinois.


The first two pictures show a veteran's memorial in Prairie du Chien.  The Grotto is behind a Catholic church in Stoddard, WI.  Lastly, the crowded street is in Galena, IL.  I have no idea why there were so many people there.  The town's total population is 3500.  Yet, the shops on the street were bustling and prospering.  It is was the most traffic I've seen in a small town since we passed through Pigeon Forge, TN at the dinner hour.


Tomorrow we will visit the Antique Archeology Store in Le Claire, about ten miles from here.  You have seen the store if you have seen the History Channel TV show, American Pickers.  Annie is hoping to meet Frankie.  I hope to meet Danielle.  Ouch!


Annie just hit me!


Goodnight.