2022 Fall Trip: Wabasha, MN

 

Friday, 9/16: 187 miles and camped at Big River Resort, Wabasha, MN

US 10 to Ohio 25, with about 20 mile detour.

Big River Resort, site 3

After breakfast with Dave and Ann at the campsite, we were on the road again.  The trip turned out to be about a 4 hour drive, and an extra 20 miles, because of a detour due to road construction, but it was a pleasant drive anyway.  Got to see a lot of rural Wisconsin on 2 lane roads lined with corn and soybeans.  We arrived at Big River about 3:30.  This is a small and very nice campground with only 28 sites.  About 18 of the sites are for long term seasonal campers.  The others are saved for travelers like us.  It's right on the edge of town with a huge soybean field bordering it.  

This certainly is farm country.  When you talk of the "Midwest" and the "Breadbasket" of America, the states we have traveled so far, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are certainly examples.  Corn and soybeans everywhere, with an occasional alfalfa field.

From britanica.com, "The Midwest, as defined by the federal government, comprises the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin."

Saturday, 9/17:

Today is a non-travel day.  We have tried to schedule most of the rest of the trip, with a couple exceptions, to not have to travel every day.  Sort of "slow down and smell the roses" day.

Located on Lake Pepin, Wabasha is the start of our trip down the Mississippi River.  Just south of Wabasha is located Lock and Dam #4 at Kellogg on the Minnesota side and Alma on the Wisconsin side, creating Lake Pepin upstream. 

Wabasha  is a really wonderful small town with a population of only about 2,600 and located right on the Mississippi River.  The National Eagle Center is located along the riverfront here.  From the Wabasha website I learned that the town was named after Chief Wapahasha and, among other things, that the movie "Grumpy Old Men" was based on this town. The town also celebrates September and October with a SeptOberfest.  Sidewalks and storefronts are decorated, and events are scheduled throughout the months.  We spent several hours walking around and really enjoyed viewing the riverfront at Fountain Plaza.  Then we had a great Irish lunch at The Olde Triangle Pub.  

Fountain Plaza

Wapahasha

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Shopping the Native American Arts section of the Chocolate Escape.

One of the many pleasures of traveling is meeting new people.  This couple pulled in with a tiny trailer and set up this cool tent camper.  I struck up a conversation and discovered that the setup is small enough to pull with their motorcycle.  It is called a "Roll-A-Home".  Cool rig and fun visiting with the couple.

I wish we had scheduled more time in Wabasha, as there is so much more to see and do in the surrounding area on both sides of the river.  We'll have to come back!!  Next stop:  the Quad Cities area, specifically, Fisherman's Corner COE Campground, Hampton, Illinois.