Sat July 31

I woke up at my usual 5:30 and walked up to the Burr Oak cemetery. Then I walked to Bruce's new house. Craig, Marilyn and Denny came over to tour it, too. It is really nice. Ranch house, 2 car garage, material for a deck. Plans to plant 1000 trees. Heated basement and garage floors. Amish made cupboards and a beautiful Amish roll top desk with his computer in it. We ate breakfast at Country Express. Dean and Ardie joined us. Then back to Craig's to shower, look around What's New, and see Craig's travel van. Looks like a great way to travel. D&A came with their bike and we took off. Decorah (Winneshiek) CH first stop. It may be one of my favorites. Dean had never seen the front of it. Then to Waukon (Allmakee). We took a pretty scenic road to Harper's Ferry along the river and stopped at a biker's place. The next goal was south to Marquette on E52. Off we went. Imagine our surprise when the Mississippi River was on our right side about 30 minutes into the ride. Lansing was the town north of Harpers Ferry. Oops, Check the map. Cross into Wisconsin and travel south on that side about an hour to Marquette. We ate brats along the river a Mc Gregor. Off to Elkader (Clayton) CH. I think this was the town where sirens were going off. 2 different ones about a mile from each other. For o LONG time. The court house was one on the ugliest. But people on the streets were nice to visit with. There was smoke coming from a flower shop downtown. Down to Manchester (Delaware). Denny talked to Val K. I got off and walked - getting sore. This is where we should have taken off for Dubuque (30 miles away). [We would have had time if we hadn't side toured to Lansing] Instead To West Union (Fayette). Then home to Burr Oak to grab a supper sandwich. We went to Craig's again. They weren't home so we called to ask if we could use their pickup to go see Ben and Becca's place. Great acreage for raising kids. Interesting shed that was built by previous owner for raising falcons, and now Ben uses it for raising pheasants. A science teacher friend has an incubator for hatching them in the spring then Ben takes over in the bird shed. Nice visit with C&M when we got back to the farm.