Monday evening, July 21st:
A blog update from earlier this a.m. About one half hour ago, (6:30 p.m. c.s.t.) I crossed over the Illinois/Indiana state line on U.S. 52/24 at my odometer reading of 82,890-- 7,588 miles from when I left Clinton on June 4. I am in Kentland, Indiana (Newton County) at their public library, using their Gates Foundation Public Access Computer, as they do not have wifi. This is a small, Carnegie library about 5 miles inside the state line. This library is still on Central time (upper northwest Indiana stays with Chicago). I am only three or four miles north of the Eastern time zone in Benton County (Fowler, county seat). I will be using some of my time tomorrow just to "drop in" on two or three of the public libraries that were in my ALSA (library network area) when I lived in Crawfordsville, IN before moving to TN.
It has been good to see green cornfields through Iowa, Illinois, and now Indiana. John Deere is every where!! I saw a billboard that asked: Do you dream in yellow and green?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mendota, and in pursuit of covered bridges and Chicagoland Speedway
Sunday, July 20 (Moon Day—1969)
I arrived at the First Presbyterian Church of Mendota, Illinois about 15 minutes before worship. Walking in the door, I was greeted by the Pastor. His expression told me we had met before, and I too had this feeling we had met before. I introduced myself, and mentioned that I was taking a long way back to TN from General Assembly. Then he remembered: not only were we both Commissioners to General Assembly, we served on the same General Assembly Committee, #14 Review of Permanent General Assembly Committees. Now folks, things like this “just don’t happen.”
The First Presbyterian Church in Mendota had been organized in the 1860's. The present building was built in 1898. Its interior woodwork is oak. Of course, I am always “into” the stained glass windows. I was given a copy of a small booklet that had been produced about their stained glass windows. The church was celebrating its new addition complete with elevator and handicapped bathrooms. Two ladies were present in worship this morning that had not been able to attend for along time. The elevator has allowed them to come back. The pastor made the point that this was the real reason they were celebrating---that folks will be able to attend who have not been able to in the past. Amen.
Having seen a postcard picture the day before of the Red Bridge, I went off to Princeton—a 26 mile detour from U.S. 52. When coming into town, I had pulled over to take a picture of the town sign and thought that I had run over something that might have damaged my tire. Putting the van’s flashers on, a policeman driving by stopped to ask if everything was o.k. Looking at the van, I explained to him why I stopped, but the tire looked o.k. I asked him for directions to the bridge. He told me the town now has two bridges, including one built in 2006. He gave me very good directions to both. Arriving at the Red Bridge, I found it in good shape with a little park beside it. But, no sign to announce how old it was, and the date was not painted above its opening. Backtracking to the new one, I found the Captain Swift Bridge. Beside it was a nice paved parking area. Two ladies on bicycles told me that believed it had been named after an older gentleman who had lived on adjoining land for a long time. I mentioned that it is unusual to see new covered bridges. They shared that a bridge needed to be replaced; apparently the county decided it was as cheap to build a covered bridge as it would be build a concrete bridge. Ummm. The bridge has stone abutments and bricked approaches to the bridge on the roadway. The bridge had been constructed using the Burr Arch design. It was a find. The citizens of Princeton and the county should be very proud of their new bridge.
Coming back into Mendota, I found that the old Carnegie Library was open. The building now houses a historical collection. I found some old documents about the Presbyterian Church as well as some others. There was a large, well archived photograph collection of the area that one could spend a whole day perusing. This Carnegie building, built in 1904 had both a fireplace and a front lawn equaling one-half of a city block. Mendota is the home of the National Sweet Corn Festival. The ladies inside shared with me that the lawn is the site of the flee market under big tents. Umm, shades of Rockville, Indiana and their Covered Bridge Festival.
Leaving Mendota, traveling due south, and then east on U.S. 52, I came to Chubby’s Corner, a restaurant/bar that looked lonely because there wasn’t any NASCAR race for folks to watch on their big screen TV this afternoon. However, what made me stop was their sign out front announcing “The World’s Largest Ham Sandwich.” Well, it was large—like the ones at Shapiro’s Deli in Indy, but made with very thin sliced ham. Served with potato chips and pickles, it was certainly good and cheaper than those at Shapiro’s. The sandwich with good, brewed ice tea was $5.50.
Coming to Joliet, I missed a turn and found myself on U.S. 30 and U.S. 6. Having to retrace my route to U.S. 52 and then going the correct way, I found myself at a drawbridge at the Des Planes River, at the time it was raising for a boat to cross under it. What a mechanical movement to draw the road pavement straight up. Continuing on, it looked on my map that I would go past the Chicagoland Speedway. I was hoping to get there before dark, but I had to turn back to Illinois 53 to approach it and it was getting dark. I never did find a sign on the highway that said “Chicagoland.” What I found was “Route 66 Raceway.” Pulling in going toward the grandstands, it was obvious by the trash that an event had taken place that day. Some souvenir trailer staff was still packing away their souvenirs. They explained that the Raceway was the dragstrip and a ¼ clay track, but the Chicagoland Speedway was part of the complex also. I could see the large grandstands, but could not get to them, passing them the first time. Going back, I did find the approach road and then, finally, a sign that said “Chicagoland Speedway.” I also found a security guard. I was explaining to her why I was driving around. We talked racing for awhile. So, from covered bridges to racetracks, my trip from Mendota was a good one.
I am at a McDonalds this a.m. (Monday) waiting for storms to pass. There was a gully washer last night. I should be “Back Home Again in Indiana” sometime later this afternoon, getting to the state line, then joining up with U.S. 41 for a short distance, and also crossing U.S. 24.
I arrived at the First Presbyterian Church of Mendota, Illinois about 15 minutes before worship. Walking in the door, I was greeted by the Pastor. His expression told me we had met before, and I too had this feeling we had met before. I introduced myself, and mentioned that I was taking a long way back to TN from General Assembly. Then he remembered: not only were we both Commissioners to General Assembly, we served on the same General Assembly Committee, #14 Review of Permanent General Assembly Committees. Now folks, things like this “just don’t happen.”
The First Presbyterian Church in Mendota had been organized in the 1860's. The present building was built in 1898. Its interior woodwork is oak. Of course, I am always “into” the stained glass windows. I was given a copy of a small booklet that had been produced about their stained glass windows. The church was celebrating its new addition complete with elevator and handicapped bathrooms. Two ladies were present in worship this morning that had not been able to attend for along time. The elevator has allowed them to come back. The pastor made the point that this was the real reason they were celebrating---that folks will be able to attend who have not been able to in the past. Amen.
Having seen a postcard picture the day before of the Red Bridge, I went off to Princeton—a 26 mile detour from U.S. 52. When coming into town, I had pulled over to take a picture of the town sign and thought that I had run over something that might have damaged my tire. Putting the van’s flashers on, a policeman driving by stopped to ask if everything was o.k. Looking at the van, I explained to him why I stopped, but the tire looked o.k. I asked him for directions to the bridge. He told me the town now has two bridges, including one built in 2006. He gave me very good directions to both. Arriving at the Red Bridge, I found it in good shape with a little park beside it. But, no sign to announce how old it was, and the date was not painted above its opening. Backtracking to the new one, I found the Captain Swift Bridge. Beside it was a nice paved parking area. Two ladies on bicycles told me that believed it had been named after an older gentleman who had lived on adjoining land for a long time. I mentioned that it is unusual to see new covered bridges. They shared that a bridge needed to be replaced; apparently the county decided it was as cheap to build a covered bridge as it would be build a concrete bridge. Ummm. The bridge has stone abutments and bricked approaches to the bridge on the roadway. The bridge had been constructed using the Burr Arch design. It was a find. The citizens of Princeton and the county should be very proud of their new bridge.
Coming back into Mendota, I found that the old Carnegie Library was open. The building now houses a historical collection. I found some old documents about the Presbyterian Church as well as some others. There was a large, well archived photograph collection of the area that one could spend a whole day perusing. This Carnegie building, built in 1904 had both a fireplace and a front lawn equaling one-half of a city block. Mendota is the home of the National Sweet Corn Festival. The ladies inside shared with me that the lawn is the site of the flee market under big tents. Umm, shades of Rockville, Indiana and their Covered Bridge Festival.
Leaving Mendota, traveling due south, and then east on U.S. 52, I came to Chubby’s Corner, a restaurant/bar that looked lonely because there wasn’t any NASCAR race for folks to watch on their big screen TV this afternoon. However, what made me stop was their sign out front announcing “The World’s Largest Ham Sandwich.” Well, it was large—like the ones at Shapiro’s Deli in Indy, but made with very thin sliced ham. Served with potato chips and pickles, it was certainly good and cheaper than those at Shapiro’s. The sandwich with good, brewed ice tea was $5.50.
Coming to Joliet, I missed a turn and found myself on U.S. 30 and U.S. 6. Having to retrace my route to U.S. 52 and then going the correct way, I found myself at a drawbridge at the Des Planes River, at the time it was raising for a boat to cross under it. What a mechanical movement to draw the road pavement straight up. Continuing on, it looked on my map that I would go past the Chicagoland Speedway. I was hoping to get there before dark, but I had to turn back to Illinois 53 to approach it and it was getting dark. I never did find a sign on the highway that said “Chicagoland.” What I found was “Route 66 Raceway.” Pulling in going toward the grandstands, it was obvious by the trash that an event had taken place that day. Some souvenir trailer staff was still packing away their souvenirs. They explained that the Raceway was the dragstrip and a ¼ clay track, but the Chicagoland Speedway was part of the complex also. I could see the large grandstands, but could not get to them, passing them the first time. Going back, I did find the approach road and then, finally, a sign that said “Chicagoland Speedway.” I also found a security guard. I was explaining to her why I was driving around. We talked racing for awhile. So, from covered bridges to racetracks, my trip from Mendota was a good one.
I am at a McDonalds this a.m. (Monday) waiting for storms to pass. There was a gully washer last night. I should be “Back Home Again in Indiana” sometime later this afternoon, getting to the state line, then joining up with U.S. 41 for a short distance, and also crossing U.S. 24.
More Iowa Churches to Mendota, Illinois
Saturday, July 19:
Starting out the day from Dubuque, Iowa, I followed U.S. 52 south from downtown. Crossing a bridge, I came upon a Recreational Area, entitled the Mines of Spain. Being curious, I took a left. What I found first a mystery of the name. Coming upon a fisherman, he told me this land went from the French to Spanish control in 1792, but the French had mined lead before the American Revolution. So, the mines were lead mines. Then, the best part—he told me to go farther and I would come to a view of the Mississippi, the town of Dubuque, and the grave monument of Julien Dubuque, himself. His monument is in the shape of a castle piece in a chess set.
Tracing my way back to U.S. 52, GRAPE and I headed down the highway with the Mississippi River basically to our left. We came upon a couple of small towns named after the Roman Catholic Church that was the town’s focal point. The first, Saint Catherine’s, (not spelled the same way as my Aunt Kate’s name) was not open. An interesting side observation: the name of the town, road to the church, and church sign all spelled “Catherine.” The cornerstone of the church stated: Saint Catharina, 1887. The second town and church I came to was Saint Donatus. This church was open. Walking inside, I found myself among vaulted ceilings with stencils, elaborate alter pieces, and narrow stained glass windows with each focusing on one of the apostles. This church building, being finished in 1908 is one hundred years young. From its sturdiness in looks, it will be around for another 100 years. Contrast that with our “throw away” stadiums and arenas in today’s cities such as in Indianapolis.
At Bellevue, Iowa there is a Subway Sandwich Shop restaurant that must have the best views outside their building of any Subway’s franchises. The Subway is built on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the site of Lock and Dam #12. The building has a deck that one can go eat their sandwich and watch barges being put into the locks for the water to be raised. This process allows barges to continue to float down Ol’ Man River.
As I was ready to go drive east on U.S. 52 over the river to Illinois on one of those boring, modern-day bridges, I looked back to the west on Iowa S.R 64 to find what I thought was a small country church. Turns out it was a modern day Iowa Welcome Center made in the shape and looks of a little white one room school house. Going inside, it was complete with the appropriate school desks, blackboard, and pot bellied stove of the day. It was so cute.
Crossing over into Illinois, I headed toward Mendota, Illinois, passing through Dixon along the way. Dixon, Illinois is “advertised” as Ronald Regan’s Boyhood Home. However, the sign on “boyhood home” indicated he only lived there three years. The house was closed, and maybe there are other homes in the town where he lived. If not, I am not sure but, Dixon maybe doing some false advertising. However, the local public library building with a date of 1900 at its top, does give acknowledgement that Ronald Regan, in 1920, at nine years of age, was issued library card number 3695, “becoming a frequent library visitor and avid reader during his Dixon years.”
Traveling on to Mendota, I stopped for the night so that I could attend the Presbyterian Church the next morning. When I found the church, I discovered what time the service was by the sign in front that turns: one side for 9 am worship in the summer, one side for 10 am worship during the rest of the year.
Starting out the day from Dubuque, Iowa, I followed U.S. 52 south from downtown. Crossing a bridge, I came upon a Recreational Area, entitled the Mines of Spain. Being curious, I took a left. What I found first a mystery of the name. Coming upon a fisherman, he told me this land went from the French to Spanish control in 1792, but the French had mined lead before the American Revolution. So, the mines were lead mines. Then, the best part—he told me to go farther and I would come to a view of the Mississippi, the town of Dubuque, and the grave monument of Julien Dubuque, himself. His monument is in the shape of a castle piece in a chess set.
Tracing my way back to U.S. 52, GRAPE and I headed down the highway with the Mississippi River basically to our left. We came upon a couple of small towns named after the Roman Catholic Church that was the town’s focal point. The first, Saint Catherine’s, (not spelled the same way as my Aunt Kate’s name) was not open. An interesting side observation: the name of the town, road to the church, and church sign all spelled “Catherine.” The cornerstone of the church stated: Saint Catharina, 1887. The second town and church I came to was Saint Donatus. This church was open. Walking inside, I found myself among vaulted ceilings with stencils, elaborate alter pieces, and narrow stained glass windows with each focusing on one of the apostles. This church building, being finished in 1908 is one hundred years young. From its sturdiness in looks, it will be around for another 100 years. Contrast that with our “throw away” stadiums and arenas in today’s cities such as in Indianapolis.
At Bellevue, Iowa there is a Subway Sandwich Shop restaurant that must have the best views outside their building of any Subway’s franchises. The Subway is built on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the site of Lock and Dam #12. The building has a deck that one can go eat their sandwich and watch barges being put into the locks for the water to be raised. This process allows barges to continue to float down Ol’ Man River.
As I was ready to go drive east on U.S. 52 over the river to Illinois on one of those boring, modern-day bridges, I looked back to the west on Iowa S.R 64 to find what I thought was a small country church. Turns out it was a modern day Iowa Welcome Center made in the shape and looks of a little white one room school house. Going inside, it was complete with the appropriate school desks, blackboard, and pot bellied stove of the day. It was so cute.
Crossing over into Illinois, I headed toward Mendota, Illinois, passing through Dixon along the way. Dixon, Illinois is “advertised” as Ronald Regan’s Boyhood Home. However, the sign on “boyhood home” indicated he only lived there three years. The house was closed, and maybe there are other homes in the town where he lived. If not, I am not sure but, Dixon maybe doing some false advertising. However, the local public library building with a date of 1900 at its top, does give acknowledgement that Ronald Regan, in 1920, at nine years of age, was issued library card number 3695, “becoming a frequent library visitor and avid reader during his Dixon years.”
Traveling on to Mendota, I stopped for the night so that I could attend the Presbyterian Church the next morning. When I found the church, I discovered what time the service was by the sign in front that turns: one side for 9 am worship in the summer, one side for 10 am worship during the rest of the year.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Prairie du Chen to Dubuque, Iowa—Effigy Mounds and the Mississippi River
Friday, July 18: first, let me share with you that I have posted some pictures tonight that actually are a part of older posts. I have had the Mcdonald's wifi in Dubuque, Iowa to do this. It's not fast, but at least it is available. Hope you like the pictures from last Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. You have to scroll down past this post, and the next one about Thursday, July 17.
Today was mostly a driving day, leaving Prairie du Chen, WI and crossing back over the Mississippi River to Marquette and McGregor, IA. After driving around those two towns some, I headed north three miles to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Here I was able to drive the back roads to some ancient Indian mounds that a civilization a long time ago created in simple shapes of bears and birds, cones and links. There was a short walk out to an overlook of the Mississippi River, looking back toward Prairie du Chen. Going back to Marquette, I found a restaurant that made me some yummy fried potatoes (not exactly like my Grandma Cobb’s, but still yummy.). The homemade chicken salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread wasn’t bad either. Leaving Marquette, IA on U.S. 18 West, I headed back to U.S. 52. Traveling through small towns, I happened on to some more pre-1900 Roman Catholic churches, and an interesting garden with Roman Catholic religious icons of Saints and the Apostles.
I found a McDonalds here in Dubuque, where I am using their wifi. However, I am fighting my fingers from freezing with a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt with a hood to fight off the air conditioning blowing on me. I can’t move from this spot very far, because of the outlet being here—the only one in the seating area.
Today was mostly a driving day, leaving Prairie du Chen, WI and crossing back over the Mississippi River to Marquette and McGregor, IA. After driving around those two towns some, I headed north three miles to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Here I was able to drive the back roads to some ancient Indian mounds that a civilization a long time ago created in simple shapes of bears and birds, cones and links. There was a short walk out to an overlook of the Mississippi River, looking back toward Prairie du Chen. Going back to Marquette, I found a restaurant that made me some yummy fried potatoes (not exactly like my Grandma Cobb’s, but still yummy.). The homemade chicken salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread wasn’t bad either. Leaving Marquette, IA on U.S. 18 West, I headed back to U.S. 52. Traveling through small towns, I happened on to some more pre-1900 Roman Catholic churches, and an interesting garden with Roman Catholic religious icons of Saints and the Apostles.
I found a McDonalds here in Dubuque, where I am using their wifi. However, I am fighting my fingers from freezing with a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt with a hood to fight off the air conditioning blowing on me. I can’t move from this spot very far, because of the outlet being here—the only one in the seating area.
First Day of Rain, more Iowa that I Expected
Thursday, July 17:
Staying in the little town of Cresco last night, I woke up this a.m. to real rain. Not heavy, but enough to use the wipers more than on intermittent. Believe it or not, since I began this trip on June 14th, 7,195 miles ago, this is the first real rain I have encountered. After having oatmeal and a cinnamon roll for breakfast at Suzy-Q’s, I started driving back to U.S. 52 (Cresco is on State Road 9 in Iowa.) However, I quickly came upon the Cresco Public Library—still in its Carnegie building of 1914. Going inside, I checked out (pardon the library pun) the inside of the building with its distinctive wood and stained glass windows that had been preserved. The building had an addition added; tasteful designed to match the original Carnegie in wood and design lines.
The library staff and I had a chat, which included how I got the idea for following a United States Highway from the start/end point. I told them about reading William Least-Heat Moon’s book, Blue Highways, more that twenty years ago. His idea of traveling the highway colored blue on the road maps of the day, I morphed into following a United States Highway and staying off the Interstates as much as possible. I read them my favorite line from the book: “the 42,500 miles of the straight and wide could lead to hell for all I cared; I was going to stay on the three million miles of bent and narrow rural American two-lane roads….”
Leaving Cresco, I headed back up to Harmony, MN to pick up U.S.52. This was not the most direct way to U.S. 52, but it is essentially where I “detoured to go to Mason City, Iowa.” South of Harmony, at the Minnesota/Iowa state line, was the State Line United Methodist little country Church and its cemetery. It was on the Minnesota side.
Passing quickly through the town of Prosper, because there was not much to it, I came to Burr Oak, Iowa. This is a small town where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived a few years with her family, helping to run a boarding house. It was not a good time for Laura so she never wrote about her experiences there in her Little House series of books. One starts the tour at an old bank building across the street from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. In the museum, many period pieces, including some of Laura’s, are displayed. As a boarding house, twenty people could stay a night in a total of four bedrooms. The Ingalls family of five lived in one room. Ma Ingalls and the girls did the cooking for the guests in the boarding house. It is a side of Laura’s life that is not shared in the books, and, as I recall, was not part of the TV series.
Upon recommendation of the tour guide, I found an interesting restaurant in Decorah for a late lunch, including graham cracker pie. The only place I would find graham cracker pie before this week was Barbara Fritchie’s Restaurant in Fredrick, Maryland. Within two days, I have found it on this trip. The other place for graham cracker pie was in Austin, MN in the restaurant where I had the Spamburger.
Also, upon the recommendation of the Wilder Museum tour guide, I made a small detour off of U.S. 52 into Spillville, IA late in the afternoon. Spillville is a predominantly Czech town of about 400 people, which was founded in 1854 by Joseph Spielman. Although the first few settlers were German, like Spielman, the majority to follow were Bohemian and Czechoslovakian. They all immigrated to the site lovingly called "Little Switzerland" and made it their home. There I found the Bily Clocks Museum. Two brothers, Frank and Joseph Bily (pronounced bee lee) were Czech farmers. When they were idle in farm work, they set about carving and creating elaborate wooden clocks, beginning in 1913. There is no way to describe the details that were created in these works of art. No pictures were allowed, so postcards will have to do. Also, the second floor of the building was the home of the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, and his family during the summer of 1893. The building’s first floor housed his friend’s tin shop. The Bily Clocks were moved to the building in 1946. Within the St. Wenceslaus Church’s graveyard, where the two Bily brothers are buried, are elaborate metal crucifix tomb markers. They reminded me of the ones Bridgie and I saw in Victoria, Kansas on our trip passing through there in 1981.
While in Spillville, I visited the public library (not a Carnegie). The library was going to close in twenty minutes, so I only had time to read and respond to a few emails.
Driving through the town of Ossian, IA, “advertised” was a public restroom and phone. The sign led me to just that, built and available as part of the City Office Building and Library. The door was opened to the very well kept restroom and phone in the lobby. I made use of both. I drove away thinking, “Umm, I wish more towns off the Interstate would be so accommodating.
I drove across the Mississippi River across McGregor, IA into Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin. Being told there was a McDonalds, I was hoping for wifi access, but none was available. So, I wrote my day’s adventures into a Microsoft Word document, ready to copy into the blog when I found wifi again.
In spite of my trip’s first day of cloudy skies all day, it was a very good day.
Staying in the little town of Cresco last night, I woke up this a.m. to real rain. Not heavy, but enough to use the wipers more than on intermittent. Believe it or not, since I began this trip on June 14th, 7,195 miles ago, this is the first real rain I have encountered. After having oatmeal and a cinnamon roll for breakfast at Suzy-Q’s, I started driving back to U.S. 52 (Cresco is on State Road 9 in Iowa.) However, I quickly came upon the Cresco Public Library—still in its Carnegie building of 1914. Going inside, I checked out (pardon the library pun) the inside of the building with its distinctive wood and stained glass windows that had been preserved. The building had an addition added; tasteful designed to match the original Carnegie in wood and design lines.
The library staff and I had a chat, which included how I got the idea for following a United States Highway from the start/end point. I told them about reading William Least-Heat Moon’s book, Blue Highways, more that twenty years ago. His idea of traveling the highway colored blue on the road maps of the day, I morphed into following a United States Highway and staying off the Interstates as much as possible. I read them my favorite line from the book: “the 42,500 miles of the straight and wide could lead to hell for all I cared; I was going to stay on the three million miles of bent and narrow rural American two-lane roads….”
Leaving Cresco, I headed back up to Harmony, MN to pick up U.S.52. This was not the most direct way to U.S. 52, but it is essentially where I “detoured to go to Mason City, Iowa.” South of Harmony, at the Minnesota/Iowa state line, was the State Line United Methodist little country Church and its cemetery. It was on the Minnesota side.
Passing quickly through the town of Prosper, because there was not much to it, I came to Burr Oak, Iowa. This is a small town where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived a few years with her family, helping to run a boarding house. It was not a good time for Laura so she never wrote about her experiences there in her Little House series of books. One starts the tour at an old bank building across the street from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. In the museum, many period pieces, including some of Laura’s, are displayed. As a boarding house, twenty people could stay a night in a total of four bedrooms. The Ingalls family of five lived in one room. Ma Ingalls and the girls did the cooking for the guests in the boarding house. It is a side of Laura’s life that is not shared in the books, and, as I recall, was not part of the TV series.
Upon recommendation of the tour guide, I found an interesting restaurant in Decorah for a late lunch, including graham cracker pie. The only place I would find graham cracker pie before this week was Barbara Fritchie’s Restaurant in Fredrick, Maryland. Within two days, I have found it on this trip. The other place for graham cracker pie was in Austin, MN in the restaurant where I had the Spamburger.
Also, upon the recommendation of the Wilder Museum tour guide, I made a small detour off of U.S. 52 into Spillville, IA late in the afternoon. Spillville is a predominantly Czech town of about 400 people, which was founded in 1854 by Joseph Spielman. Although the first few settlers were German, like Spielman, the majority to follow were Bohemian and Czechoslovakian. They all immigrated to the site lovingly called "Little Switzerland" and made it their home. There I found the Bily Clocks Museum. Two brothers, Frank and Joseph Bily (pronounced bee lee) were Czech farmers. When they were idle in farm work, they set about carving and creating elaborate wooden clocks, beginning in 1913. There is no way to describe the details that were created in these works of art. No pictures were allowed, so postcards will have to do. Also, the second floor of the building was the home of the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, and his family during the summer of 1893. The building’s first floor housed his friend’s tin shop. The Bily Clocks were moved to the building in 1946. Within the St. Wenceslaus Church’s graveyard, where the two Bily brothers are buried, are elaborate metal crucifix tomb markers. They reminded me of the ones Bridgie and I saw in Victoria, Kansas on our trip passing through there in 1981.
While in Spillville, I visited the public library (not a Carnegie). The library was going to close in twenty minutes, so I only had time to read and respond to a few emails.
Driving through the town of Ossian, IA, “advertised” was a public restroom and phone. The sign led me to just that, built and available as part of the City Office Building and Library. The door was opened to the very well kept restroom and phone in the lobby. I made use of both. I drove away thinking, “Umm, I wish more towns off the Interstate would be so accommodating.
I drove across the Mississippi River across McGregor, IA into Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin. Being told there was a McDonalds, I was hoping for wifi access, but none was available. So, I wrote my day’s adventures into a Microsoft Word document, ready to copy into the blog when I found wifi again.
In spite of my trip’s first day of cloudy skies all day, it was a very good day.
Friday, July 18, 2008
the Music Man's home
These pictures illustrate the hometown of Meredith Willson, Mason City, has honored him--as he honored his hometown as the bases for River City, Iowa within his work, The Music Man.
The table top is one in the local McDonalds, as well as the room divider. The marching band is inside a local bank building. The River City streetscape is inside the building with the inscription from Seventy-Six Trombones around its top. The museum is inside this building also. The complex of this building, his boyhood home, and statue in a small park is all encompassed into The Music Man Square. It was a really a special place to visit for me, who absolutely loves The Music Man.
Fremont's Sacred Heart Church
I wanted to share these pictures of this beautiful and BIG Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Freeport, MN, a town of 565 people, according to the sign at the town's edge. This church was finished in 1906. This church would rival Sacred Heart Church, near my home in Indianapolis.
As you might guess, the town's moto is: the town with smiling faces.
Pictures of FPC in Osakis, MN and Sinclair Lewis' home
Here are pictures of the First Presbyterian Church in Osakis, MN where I attended worship last Sunday, June 13. In Saux Centre, I found the home of American Author Sinclair Lewis. His novel of Main Street had a bases of characters from his home town of Saux Centre. There was a well done Lewis Interpretive Center there. You might want to go back to my post of Sunday, July 13 to re-read about my getting there.
Catching up with some pictures--original route of U.S. 52 on Saturday, July 12
Above are pictures of some places I saw on the old route of U.S. 52 between Moorehead and Saux Center, MN last Saturday. The store was in Sabin, at the beginning of my route. This store's name and logo verified that I was starting out in the correct direction. The "cow family" was enjoying the day near the park in Rothsay, MN where I stopped to have lunch. Ray's Oil Company had been on Main Street in Dalton, MN since 1932, when U.S. 52 was the route right past his store. His grandson was there now, but an older gentleman who was with him verified the route for me. The Viking Speedway was a quarter-mile dirt track that was having races later in the evening, but, alas, I didn't think I had better stay that late and still find a proper place to spend that night.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Trouble, right here in River City. Trouble with a capital "T", that rhymes with "P," and that stands for POOL....
Wednesday, July 16:
Well, you might guess that I am in Mason City, Iowa--The "River City, Iowa" of the musical /movie, The Music Man. Some of you know me well enough to know that my very favorite movie is The Music Man with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones, which premiered in 1962. It is based on the Broadway play and music written by Meredith Willson. Mason City, Iowa, is the boyhood home of Meredith Willson.
Let me backup. This morning, on the motel TV, the local station covered Rochester, MN; Albert Lea, MN and Mason City, Iowa. I heard that, and "ding" thought "that is Meredith Willson's hometown" and "it can't be that far away." So, after consulting the map, I made a decision to head south and west from Spring Valley, MN.
It took awhile to get here because of a road detour. But, because of the detour, I went past the Congregational Church built in 1890-1894 that the song, "Church in the Wildwood" (the Little Brown Church in the Vale) was written for.
So, arriving in River , ugh Mason City, Iowa, I was able to tour Meridith Willson's boyhood home, and a museum. The museum is build as a part of a streetscape that includes the Pool Hall, the River City High School, Madison Public Park with its footbridge, Mrs. Paroo and Marion's house, but, sadly, not the Madison Public Library. ( This real public library of Mason City is right across the street from Meredith Willson's house, but I can't believe they didn't include it for that reason. This may remain a mystery.)
I saw a thirty minute film on the making of the film, The Music Man, narrated by Shirley Jones. I met some very cool ladies of Mason City, including one who has been to the Indy 500 a number of times.
So, now I will head back toward U.S. 52 and continue my journey to Dubuque and then crossing the Mississippi into Illinois.
Well, you might guess that I am in Mason City, Iowa--The "River City, Iowa" of the musical /movie, The Music Man. Some of you know me well enough to know that my very favorite movie is The Music Man with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones, which premiered in 1962. It is based on the Broadway play and music written by Meredith Willson. Mason City, Iowa, is the boyhood home of Meredith Willson.
Let me backup. This morning, on the motel TV, the local station covered Rochester, MN; Albert Lea, MN and Mason City, Iowa. I heard that, and "ding" thought "that is Meredith Willson's hometown" and "it can't be that far away." So, after consulting the map, I made a decision to head south and west from Spring Valley, MN.
It took awhile to get here because of a road detour. But, because of the detour, I went past the Congregational Church built in 1890-1894 that the song, "Church in the Wildwood" (the Little Brown Church in the Vale) was written for.
So, arriving in River , ugh Mason City, Iowa, I was able to tour Meridith Willson's boyhood home, and a museum. The museum is build as a part of a streetscape that includes the Pool Hall, the River City High School, Madison Public Park with its footbridge, Mrs. Paroo and Marion's house, but, sadly, not the Madison Public Library. ( This real public library of Mason City is right across the street from Meredith Willson's house, but I can't believe they didn't include it for that reason. This may remain a mystery.)
I saw a thirty minute film on the making of the film, The Music Man, narrated by Shirley Jones. I met some very cool ladies of Mason City, including one who has been to the Indy 500 a number of times.
So, now I will head back toward U.S. 52 and continue my journey to Dubuque and then crossing the Mississippi into Illinois.
SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM,
Tuesday, July 15:
Heading back toward U.S. 52, south of Rochester, I stopped today at the SPAM Museum. Now, don’t laugh! It was actually very cool. It was opened in 2002. As part of the Hormel Meats complex in Austin, Minnesota, the museum has historical displays, samples of print and media advertising—the old TV commercials were especially fun, a fun movie, and explanations of how the factory process works to put out all of those SPAM cans in the grocery stores. And, of course, it has the obligatory gift shop and samples of SPAM to be eaten
Although it has the Monte Python skit, using the word “SPAM” more than you ever want to hear, no reference is made to the use of the word “Spam” referring to unwanted emails. The museum guides shared their theory of why--because the connection of the word SPAM to unwanted email may be one of those urban legends, and can’t be verified. The other thought of “Spam” refers to the fact that no one who had to eat SPAM so much, like soldiers of WWII, doesn’t want any SPAM to eat now. Thus “spam” emails are those not wanted.
Moving on back to U.S. 52, I got stopped this evening, opting for a motel so I could watch the MLB All-Star Baseball Game. I especially wanted to see the pre-game ceremonies, as members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were going to be introduced. As I am writing this paragraph in Microsoft Word, the game is in the top of the 12th inning, tied. Writing the text in Microsoft Word, allows me to “dump it” into the post of my blog, whenever I get to where wifi is available tomorrow, hopefully a public library, a McDonalds, or a college library when I get to Dubuque Iowa tomorrow night.
Heading back toward U.S. 52, south of Rochester, I stopped today at the SPAM Museum. Now, don’t laugh! It was actually very cool. It was opened in 2002. As part of the Hormel Meats complex in Austin, Minnesota, the museum has historical displays, samples of print and media advertising—the old TV commercials were especially fun, a fun movie, and explanations of how the factory process works to put out all of those SPAM cans in the grocery stores. And, of course, it has the obligatory gift shop and samples of SPAM to be eaten
Although it has the Monte Python skit, using the word “SPAM” more than you ever want to hear, no reference is made to the use of the word “Spam” referring to unwanted emails. The museum guides shared their theory of why--because the connection of the word SPAM to unwanted email may be one of those urban legends, and can’t be verified. The other thought of “Spam” refers to the fact that no one who had to eat SPAM so much, like soldiers of WWII, doesn’t want any SPAM to eat now. Thus “spam” emails are those not wanted.
Moving on back to U.S. 52, I got stopped this evening, opting for a motel so I could watch the MLB All-Star Baseball Game. I especially wanted to see the pre-game ceremonies, as members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were going to be introduced. As I am writing this paragraph in Microsoft Word, the game is in the top of the 12th inning, tied. Writing the text in Microsoft Word, allows me to “dump it” into the post of my blog, whenever I get to where wifi is available tomorrow, hopefully a public library, a McDonalds, or a college library when I get to Dubuque Iowa tomorrow night.
Saint Cloud to Minneapolis, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church;
Monday, July 14:
After feeling so smug about being able to find the original route of U.S. 52 from Moorehead to St. Cloud, I was not able to repeat the feat to Minneapolis. I had my suspicions, but was relegated to go on I-94, to downtown Minneapolis. However, on a “tip” from a fellow wifier at a McDonalds, I went to see the Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis. This church, which will play a part in the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in 2010, was open for a tour. The church has a membership of about 2,900 and a building to match. I learned that one of the rose windows had been taken apart, piece by piece, and restored. Also, the chapel just received a brand new organ. Suffice it to say, I hope I get to come back and worship at this church, at least within a couple of years.
After my church visit, I decided to go research in the map collection of the Minneapolis Public Library within their new building as of 2006. I missed one detail. The new library WAS CLOSED ON A MONDAY!! Apparently, the money was given to build the new building, but not enough to staff it. Uuuggghhh. What was sooo weird was the coffee shop was open, people were going in and out of its lobby (a city-block long) as a cut-thru, and all of the lights were on.
Moving on out of Minneapolis, on U.S. 52, picked up on the southeast side of town; I headed toward Rochester, MN. Arriving there (after a stop at a Dairy Queen for a “Thin Mint” Blizzard—mint ice cream and Girl Scout Cookies). Going to the downtown library at Rochester, open until 9 p.m. yielded some info about how U.S. 52 was routed in Minneapolis at one point before all the Interstates were completed.
Leaving Rochester, I headed west on I-90 for a new Flying J Travel Center, listed as being opened in June, 2008. Trouble was, it wasn’t. No problem in terms of having somewhere to spend the night, as there was both a Love’s and a TA Travel Center at that same exit. But, I don’t have a wifi account with those folks.
After feeling so smug about being able to find the original route of U.S. 52 from Moorehead to St. Cloud, I was not able to repeat the feat to Minneapolis. I had my suspicions, but was relegated to go on I-94, to downtown Minneapolis. However, on a “tip” from a fellow wifier at a McDonalds, I went to see the Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis. This church, which will play a part in the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in 2010, was open for a tour. The church has a membership of about 2,900 and a building to match. I learned that one of the rose windows had been taken apart, piece by piece, and restored. Also, the chapel just received a brand new organ. Suffice it to say, I hope I get to come back and worship at this church, at least within a couple of years.
After my church visit, I decided to go research in the map collection of the Minneapolis Public Library within their new building as of 2006. I missed one detail. The new library WAS CLOSED ON A MONDAY!! Apparently, the money was given to build the new building, but not enough to staff it. Uuuggghhh. What was sooo weird was the coffee shop was open, people were going in and out of its lobby (a city-block long) as a cut-thru, and all of the lights were on.
Moving on out of Minneapolis, on U.S. 52, picked up on the southeast side of town; I headed toward Rochester, MN. Arriving there (after a stop at a Dairy Queen for a “Thin Mint” Blizzard—mint ice cream and Girl Scout Cookies). Going to the downtown library at Rochester, open until 9 p.m. yielded some info about how U.S. 52 was routed in Minneapolis at one point before all the Interstates were completed.
Leaving Rochester, I headed west on I-90 for a new Flying J Travel Center, listed as being opened in June, 2008. Trouble was, it wasn’t. No problem in terms of having somewhere to spend the night, as there was both a Love’s and a TA Travel Center at that same exit. But, I don’t have a wifi account with those folks.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Towns of the Original Route of U.S. 52, from Moorhead to St. Cloud, MN
Greetings from St. Cloud, Minnesota, this pretty Sunday evening:
The last two days, with the help of state and detailed county maps, local folks with wisdom and memories; as well as intuition, I have been traveling through the towns of the route of U.S. 52, before the coming of Interstate 94. The interstate now makes most of these towns a “travel stop” on the normal drive between the North Dakota/Minnesota state line and St. Cloud, MN.
Leaving Moorhead, I arrived at Sabin on, now, County Road 52. Coming into Sabin, I knew I was starting correctly when I found the “Old 52 General Store.” Talking with the owner gained me good info about my itinerary. She gave me info on county road numbers that would change, but yet remain the roadbeds of U.S. 52. A bonus to being in her store was the acquisition of packs of Beemans Gum (hard to find now). At Baker, a Presbyterian Church road sign led me to one of those “country churches” that looks like it should. After Barnesville and Lawndale, I found the city park in Rothsay to have a lunch break. It happened that the little kids of the town were being treated to fun on those inflated slides and bouncing rooms. Families were having a good time together on a Saturday afternoon. Nearby, in a pasture, a “cow family” was enjoying time together. Continuing on, traveling through Elizabeth, Fergus Falls, Dalton, Ashby, and Evansville. In Brandon, in the late afternoon sun, sitting off by the nearby Interstate 94 interchange, was a small motel. With the sun shining on its clean appearance and no cars in front of it, I was reminded of the “Cozy Cone Motel” of the movie CARS—a small lodging in a small town being bypassed by travelers on the Interstate, waiting until they get to the “big box motels” of the larger cities. Garfield was west of Alexandria and Osakis east. West Union was east of Osakis, and west of Saux Centre. I stopped for the night in Sauk Centre, the hometown of the author, Sinclair Lewis. This morning, I backtracked to Osakis (pronounced “O-say-kiss”) to attend worship at the First Presbyterian Church. The present building, built in 1964, replaced a building built in 1906 on the same spot. Yes, they were able to save and incorporate the original stained glass windows. After lunch, and with their knowledge and confirmation of the remainder of the route to St. Cloud, I traveled on east. But, first, I went back to Saux Centre, I stopped to visit the Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center and find his boyhood home. Traveling through Melrose, I had a “find” in Freeport, “the City of Smiling Faces”—according to their billboard at town’s edge, and the smiley face on their water tower. Sacred Heart Church, build in 1905-06, with an amazingly tall steeple was open. I went in to view a beautiful sanctuary, with wonderful stained glass windows. There also was a school building built in 1913. This Sacred Heart Catholic Church rivaled Sacred Heart Church in Indianapolis. The difference is that the stated population of Freeport is only 565 people! Then, traveling on to the next town of Albany, I discovered the Seven Dolors Catholic Church almost the same size and beautiful inside. Avon, with its large Catholic Church that I was not able to view inside, played Westminster Chimes from its tower for me. Ending my journey were the larger, and adjoining towns to Saint Cloud were St. Joseph and Waite Park. I arrived in St. Cloud to have dinner at a local restaurant and find this McDonalds to use for wifi services. Tomorrow, I will continue on toward Minneapolis-St. Paul. Then, the current U.S. 52 leaves Interstate 94 and heads south toward Rochester and then the Iowa stateline.
I will come back to this post and add some accompanying pictures if this time in McDonald’s allows, but I wanted to get the text added first. I have discovered that, for me, doing the text in Microsoft Word first, then doing a “copy and paste” into the blog makes writing time easier.
The last two days, with the help of state and detailed county maps, local folks with wisdom and memories; as well as intuition, I have been traveling through the towns of the route of U.S. 52, before the coming of Interstate 94. The interstate now makes most of these towns a “travel stop” on the normal drive between the North Dakota/Minnesota state line and St. Cloud, MN.
Leaving Moorhead, I arrived at Sabin on, now, County Road 52. Coming into Sabin, I knew I was starting correctly when I found the “Old 52 General Store.” Talking with the owner gained me good info about my itinerary. She gave me info on county road numbers that would change, but yet remain the roadbeds of U.S. 52. A bonus to being in her store was the acquisition of packs of Beemans Gum (hard to find now). At Baker, a Presbyterian Church road sign led me to one of those “country churches” that looks like it should. After Barnesville and Lawndale, I found the city park in Rothsay to have a lunch break. It happened that the little kids of the town were being treated to fun on those inflated slides and bouncing rooms. Families were having a good time together on a Saturday afternoon. Nearby, in a pasture, a “cow family” was enjoying time together. Continuing on, traveling through Elizabeth, Fergus Falls, Dalton, Ashby, and Evansville. In Brandon, in the late afternoon sun, sitting off by the nearby Interstate 94 interchange, was a small motel. With the sun shining on its clean appearance and no cars in front of it, I was reminded of the “Cozy Cone Motel” of the movie CARS—a small lodging in a small town being bypassed by travelers on the Interstate, waiting until they get to the “big box motels” of the larger cities. Garfield was west of Alexandria and Osakis east. West Union was east of Osakis, and west of Saux Centre. I stopped for the night in Sauk Centre, the hometown of the author, Sinclair Lewis. This morning, I backtracked to Osakis (pronounced “O-say-kiss”) to attend worship at the First Presbyterian Church. The present building, built in 1964, replaced a building built in 1906 on the same spot. Yes, they were able to save and incorporate the original stained glass windows. After lunch, and with their knowledge and confirmation of the remainder of the route to St. Cloud, I traveled on east. But, first, I went back to Saux Centre, I stopped to visit the Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center and find his boyhood home. Traveling through Melrose, I had a “find” in Freeport, “the City of Smiling Faces”—according to their billboard at town’s edge, and the smiley face on their water tower. Sacred Heart Church, build in 1905-06, with an amazingly tall steeple was open. I went in to view a beautiful sanctuary, with wonderful stained glass windows. There also was a school building built in 1913. This Sacred Heart Catholic Church rivaled Sacred Heart Church in Indianapolis. The difference is that the stated population of Freeport is only 565 people! Then, traveling on to the next town of Albany, I discovered the Seven Dolors Catholic Church almost the same size and beautiful inside. Avon, with its large Catholic Church that I was not able to view inside, played Westminster Chimes from its tower for me. Ending my journey were the larger, and adjoining towns to Saint Cloud were St. Joseph and Waite Park. I arrived in St. Cloud to have dinner at a local restaurant and find this McDonalds to use for wifi services. Tomorrow, I will continue on toward Minneapolis-St. Paul. Then, the current U.S. 52 leaves Interstate 94 and heads south toward Rochester and then the Iowa stateline.
I will come back to this post and add some accompanying pictures if this time in McDonald’s allows, but I wanted to get the text added first. I have discovered that, for me, doing the text in Microsoft Word first, then doing a “copy and paste” into the blog makes writing time easier.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
TRNP, Portals to U.S.85 & 52, and the center of the North America
Hi folks:
It is Friday night late. I have a strong Internet signal at this Flying J in Fargo, North Dakota. But, I am not sure how long I am going to last in here. The air conditioning is going strong. So, this might be shorter than I would wish.
First, July 9th: from Beach, North Dakota, I got off the Interstate and visited the southern portion of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This park incorporates land that Roosevelt owned. Among other things, this park has a scenic drive that is awesome. That is what I did mostly, stopping to have a picnic lunch along the way. The best part was all of the cute, little prairie dogs along the way. The colors of the scenery was second. Other animals of buffalo, deer, and horses were seen.
Afterwards, making it to Williston, for the first time on this trip, I did the "stay in the Walmart parking RV lot" that folks always mention. Don't worry. I wasn't the only one there. As a matter of fact, there was a little village of us. One poor little camper somehow had made it there minus one tire. It was being replaced early in the morning.
This was not in the original plan, but I was so close to the northern beginning of U.S. 85, I made my way to the Canadian/U.S. boarder. Thus, the picture you will see with two feet and a straight line. Backtracking toward U.S. 52, I came up on the town of Fortuna, ND. It is the first town in the U.S. on 85. According to the postmistress, the official population is 12. She was sad to report that the only reason the town and postoffice was still there was because of the grain elevator in the town doing business. There was one tavern as well.
Turning east at Fortuna and traveling ND 5, brought me to my goal of being on U.S. 52.
Portal, ND is a larger town, with a larger post office, and not-so-friendly boarder inspectors. More about them, if you ask me. At both portals, the same kind of markers exist, but there is no painted line across the road at Portal, ND. Unlike U.S. 1 in Key West, FL the U.S 85 and 52 signs do not say "begin" and "end" ---just the first sign for "South" (85) and "East" (52), and the opposite on the other side of the road.
Driving along, I would see these fields of bright yellow on top of a green crop. Today, stopping at an Agricultural office, I was told that the crop is canola (where we get canola oil--better for us when we cook stuff in it.) The yellow is the flower of the plant, and it is only in bloom for a couple of weeks--at this time of the year. The plants are harvested in the late fall using a combine, like corn.
After staying the night in Minot, ND at a travel center, today, I had to take a detour off of U.S. 52 to go to Rugby, North Dakota. It has been determined that Rugby, North Dakota is the geographical center of North America. There is an obelisk to mark the spot, along with the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican flags. There was really no explanation that I found on how this spot was to be determined the geographical center. Ummm, more research is needed.
Rugby was a neat little town, complete with a public library that has an official name of "The Heart of America Library." Inquiring how and when the library got its name, the assistant could not tell me. Ummm, more research.
It is Friday night late. I have a strong Internet signal at this Flying J in Fargo, North Dakota. But, I am not sure how long I am going to last in here. The air conditioning is going strong. So, this might be shorter than I would wish.
First, July 9th: from Beach, North Dakota, I got off the Interstate and visited the southern portion of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This park incorporates land that Roosevelt owned. Among other things, this park has a scenic drive that is awesome. That is what I did mostly, stopping to have a picnic lunch along the way. The best part was all of the cute, little prairie dogs along the way. The colors of the scenery was second. Other animals of buffalo, deer, and horses were seen.
Afterwards, making it to Williston, for the first time on this trip, I did the "stay in the Walmart parking RV lot" that folks always mention. Don't worry. I wasn't the only one there. As a matter of fact, there was a little village of us. One poor little camper somehow had made it there minus one tire. It was being replaced early in the morning.
This was not in the original plan, but I was so close to the northern beginning of U.S. 85, I made my way to the Canadian/U.S. boarder. Thus, the picture you will see with two feet and a straight line. Backtracking toward U.S. 52, I came up on the town of Fortuna, ND. It is the first town in the U.S. on 85. According to the postmistress, the official population is 12. She was sad to report that the only reason the town and postoffice was still there was because of the grain elevator in the town doing business. There was one tavern as well.
Turning east at Fortuna and traveling ND 5, brought me to my goal of being on U.S. 52.
Portal, ND is a larger town, with a larger post office, and not-so-friendly boarder inspectors. More about them, if you ask me. At both portals, the same kind of markers exist, but there is no painted line across the road at Portal, ND. Unlike U.S. 1 in Key West, FL the U.S 85 and 52 signs do not say "begin" and "end" ---just the first sign for "South" (85) and "East" (52), and the opposite on the other side of the road.
Driving along, I would see these fields of bright yellow on top of a green crop. Today, stopping at an Agricultural office, I was told that the crop is canola (where we get canola oil--better for us when we cook stuff in it.) The yellow is the flower of the plant, and it is only in bloom for a couple of weeks--at this time of the year. The plants are harvested in the late fall using a combine, like corn.
After staying the night in Minot, ND at a travel center, today, I had to take a detour off of U.S. 52 to go to Rugby, North Dakota. It has been determined that Rugby, North Dakota is the geographical center of North America. There is an obelisk to mark the spot, along with the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican flags. There was really no explanation that I found on how this spot was to be determined the geographical center. Ummm, more research is needed.
Rugby was a neat little town, complete with a public library that has an official name of "The Heart of America Library." Inquiring how and when the library got its name, the assistant could not tell me. Ummm, more research.
Leaving Rugby, going back to U.S. 52, I followed it east as much as possible, including the towns where U.S. 52 went through before Interstate 94 was built. I found some interesting court houses, and churches, and other buildings along the way. In Bowbells, ND late on Thursday, I found a Dutch Windmill. A sign in a restaurant stated that people establishing land claims in and near Bowbells were from Indiana.
Well, I need to attach the pictures, and leave this Flying J restaurant before my nose turns into an ice cube.
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