We have worked our way West from Chicago across Illinois to the Mississippi River that forms the border with Iowa. Illinois was largely flat, but as we neared the river it gave way to some hills. It is very pretty with lots of deciduous trees among the corn fields. Lots of massive corn fields! It was refreshing to find that gas prices have gone down a bit - while we were there, Chicigo had the highest price in the country.
We stopped at Rochele where the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads cross. They are 2 major lines and it is one of the few places where two double tracks cross. There is a viewing stand with speakers and information and over 120 trains pass there each day. We spent about an hour there and saw 7 trains!
We have visited 3 locks on the Mississippi so far. Its fun to watch the barge traffic and also saw a riverboat casino going through the 6-10 foot change in water level.
It is harvest season and we have seen a lot of farm equipment. They are harvesting the soy beans and the corn. They work into the dark with lights. It appears to be corn for ethenol and corn products rather than table corn.
We are on the Iowa side of the river now. Today we went to the "Amana villages" area which is 7 small German villages from the 1800s. They were celebrating Ocktoberfest and we walked around the area. The buildings are mostly hand cut stone.
Iowa is surprisingly pretty. Again, it is hilly with lots of trees and the ever present corn fields. There are lots of small towns. You pass housing areas, corn fields, small businesses, open space, corn fields, some cattle and pigs, and then a town. The people are somewhat reserved. It brings to mind the words in the song from "The Music Man" - "Its the Iowa way to treat you if we treat you which we may not do at all!" People are surprised if you stop to let them cross the street, but don't wave or nod thanks! They don't aknowledge you for holding a door or stepping aside to let them pass or when you enter a store. If you initiate a conversation, then they are friendly and a nice lady asked if we needed help when we stopped near her house to look at a map.
Midwest impressions:
1. pretty flat - the hills are small by our standards
2. corn fields everywhere - some soybean but mostly corn
3. industry or power plants are often in the distance
4. huge silos
5. wind
6. farm vehicles on the road
7. lots of freight trucks on the freeways
8. every small town has a water tower - it always has the town name on it
9. restaurants still have smoking sections
10. no helmet laws - motorcycles or bicycles
11. lots of road kill - mostly coons
We stopped at Rochele where the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads cross. They are 2 major lines and it is one of the few places where two double tracks cross. There is a viewing stand with speakers and information and over 120 trains pass there each day. We spent about an hour there and saw 7 trains!
We have visited 3 locks on the Mississippi so far. Its fun to watch the barge traffic and also saw a riverboat casino going through the 6-10 foot change in water level.
It is harvest season and we have seen a lot of farm equipment. They are harvesting the soy beans and the corn. They work into the dark with lights. It appears to be corn for ethenol and corn products rather than table corn.
We are on the Iowa side of the river now. Today we went to the "Amana villages" area which is 7 small German villages from the 1800s. They were celebrating Ocktoberfest and we walked around the area. The buildings are mostly hand cut stone.
Iowa is surprisingly pretty. Again, it is hilly with lots of trees and the ever present corn fields. There are lots of small towns. You pass housing areas, corn fields, small businesses, open space, corn fields, some cattle and pigs, and then a town. The people are somewhat reserved. It brings to mind the words in the song from "The Music Man" - "Its the Iowa way to treat you if we treat you which we may not do at all!" People are surprised if you stop to let them cross the street, but don't wave or nod thanks! They don't aknowledge you for holding a door or stepping aside to let them pass or when you enter a store. If you initiate a conversation, then they are friendly and a nice lady asked if we needed help when we stopped near her house to look at a map.
Midwest impressions:
1. pretty flat - the hills are small by our standards
2. corn fields everywhere - some soybean but mostly corn
3. industry or power plants are often in the distance
4. huge silos
5. wind
6. farm vehicles on the road
7. lots of freight trucks on the freeways
8. every small town has a water tower - it always has the town name on it
9. restaurants still have smoking sections
10. no helmet laws - motorcycles or bicycles
11. lots of road kill - mostly coons
posted by Bob and Linda at
7:32 PM
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