On our way to Iowa

Travelling to Clayton, IA today to spend the night on the banks of the Mississippi as we start our drive up the river to La Crosse WI where we will do some riding.

First stop was Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, one of only 22 recognized Wetlands of Importance in the US. The marsh is a stopover point for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds every spring and fall and is also designated as a Globally Important Bird Area. Very impressive marsh we were visiting! We drove the 3 mile auto loop stopping at many overlooks and walking one of the boardwalk trails.

We also stopped at the Nature Center and walked enough of the woodland trail to get out to a tower. Love their little amphitheater. I’m guessing that they aren’t booking the big acts but what a location! As with every day this trip, the temperature was rising and the sun blazing so it was sweaty going. I keep wishing for at least a couple of clouds to occasionally block that sun!

Next stop was Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and school. We did a 2 hour highlights tour with an excellent guide. We learned quite a bit about his childhood with a father that couldn’t manage money and a mother that told him from birth that he would be a great architect, his many marriages and affairs, and various disasters at the house. It was a fascinating story! We toured the house, classroom building and some of the grounds, including a view of the Romeo and Juliet windmill and water tower, as our guide wove the story; very well done tour.

We arrived in Clayton IA around 7 and quickly found our airbnb in the 34 person town. Our host Anita greeted us and we chatted with her for quite a while. About our age, widowed and very well versed in local history. The apartment she rents has been carefully decorated and furnished with binders that include her write-ups on local history as well as much useful information on the area. She is just a delightful person!

We had dinner at a restaurant at the end of the street right on the river and had a great night’s sleep with the occasional awakening as the train came by and blew it’s horn loudly. Not the fanciest place we’ve stayed but one of the most charming. Note the Sam Adams. There was a bit of a struggle as we tried to hone in on a beer selection This is a “just the basics” kind of place so I was happy to see that Sam made it behind the bar!