Along the banks of the Mississippi

After spending almost two weeks in Chicago receiving medical treatment for our various skin cancers, we drove northwest towards the Mississippi.  The Mississippi Palisades State Park, where we camped, is a large scenic one with very pleasant shaded and open camp sites and lofty steep cliffs overlooking the river.  Palisades is the word used to describe a line of lofty, steep cliffs usually seen along a river.  Here we are fancy free and travelling again.

These photos of the mighty Mississippi River bring to mind the favourite stories of Mark Twain who so aptly captured the spirit of this large river stretching over numerous states.  I have seen the Colorado and now the Mississippi, two of America’s great rivers.

Galena, northwest of Chicago near the Mississippi, is a town with perfectly preserved Civil War-era streets and the victorious general at the Civil War’s end, Ulysses S. Grant’s hometown, before he became president.  Lincoln delivered a speech here too at Desoto House.

Red brick mansions in Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Queen Anne styles fill the streets.  The town once supplied most of the lead in the US and was back then larger than Chicago. 

It is a touristy place with hordes of Chicagoans, and also visitors from nearby Iowa, Winsconsin and Minnesota coming here in the weekend.  The shops are nice with good wares.  

We visited a very nice shop on the main street, Maggie Black which had all sorts of crafty things, many of which I wanted to buy but Andrew resisted.  We already have far too much to take back home.

Different from our mode of travel but interesting.  I call it a motor cycle RV.  Comfortable and plenty of storage.