Day 46 - July 30 Luverne MN to Leon WI

Day 46 - Jul 30 Luverne MN to Leon WI

Another travel day. 

The Great American Bead Basket extends before us in all its glory. Even though the days are cloudy, it's still a magnificent sight to behold. Fertile ground, crops galore, farms dotting the landscape, trees lining streams and rivers: spacious skies and amber waves of grain, it's all there. Along with the newest technology, giant windmills. 

About a mile from the campground was a tiny, Wayside Chapel which we stopped at to visit on our way out of town. Situated on the roadside among cornfields, it was about 10' X 12', with tiny pews on either side, and peaked roof with a steeple - and no lock on the door. It was beautifully made and had been installed by the American Reformed Church in Luverne. 

Then we went to the St Catherine Cemetery to look at old gravestones - which we found there were many.  When we left Luverne and were about a mile down the highway we discovered that our "game tally"  book was missing. We retraced our steps all the way back to the chapel when I discovered I'd stuffed it in my short's pocket instead of replacing it on the dash where it belonged. (Thank you St Anthony.)

We crossed over into WI late this afternoon, passing over the muddy Mississippi River. Finding a campsite proved a minor challenge. The previous states we've traversed posted campsite locations on the freeway signs. WI, however, only posts "camping" with no indication of which town or park is hosting the site.

 

The mighty Mississippi

So we took our chances and drove to another lovely campsite surrounded with cornfields and cow pastures. Although we didn't see the cows, a slight wind change would always remind us that they were in the vicinity. 

There was no one at the campsite office, even though the store was open. We filled out a reservation card and was leaving our money on the counter when the proprietor showed up. She said we did exactly as they expected - everything is on the honor system. Their campground was about 1/3 full, mostly with seasonal (long-term) campers, and we were free to choose the site of our preference. 

As we were setting up our tent this evening two female turkeys and a brood of five chicks traipsed across the edge of the cornfield and moved on out of sight. Too bad, the camera was out of reach for the occasion. 

There are no mosquitoes, but lots of little files. Not no-see-ums, because they were obviously visible right in our faces. Bug spray was an attractant, apparently. So after dinner we have dashed for the showers and are snuggling into our sleeping bags for an anticipated good nights sleep. It's so quite out here: not even a cricket chirps.