Date: 5/10/13 Time
Zone: CDT
Location: St. Cloud MN Saint Cloud Campground
Leg of journey: 4
Miles traveled today: 428
Miles traveled since departure: 1583
Percentage of travel completed: 14.4%
U.S. states visited today: IL, IA, MN
Critters observed today: Recently departed road kill,
assorted species
More rain today, but not as bad as the previous days. We
enjoyed a delicious roll through more of the cornbelt today in Iowa. The
off-interstate portion was particularly nice. Flat to rolling landscape, with
farms as far as you could see. Many were quite large, some were megafarms, but
surprisingly few were mom & pop type farms. All were immaculate. We saw the
occasional silent sentinel farmhouse or barn, no longer used, except for visual
appreciation. Paint-less and weather beaten, stark and dark, but still proudly
standing. Surrounded by rich, moist soil, and enveloped by gray clouds beyond, almost
eerie looking, you couldn’t help but think what stories they could share, of
lives and loves that they had once touched. Reminders of staring faces; some
with dark squares for eyes, where hayloft hatches had once been. Others with a
dark square mouth where the barn door once stood to admit tractors or mules inside
for shelter. Some have lost their exterior siding, standing naked now, but
hanging on still.
These farmers are chomping at the bit to get in their
fields. Planting season is marching on, but the soil is still far too wet to
allow plowing and planting.
In Cedar Falls, we enjoyed the aroma of warm cooked oats as
we passed the Quaker Oats plant next to the road. The pastoral scenes of Iowa
were soon replaced by mostly barren prairies in Minnesota. The poor road
conditions in MN certainly did not enhance the enjoyment of our ride here. And
we encountered our first major city, Minneapolis, with accompanying traffic
snarls, delays and backups. This will be duly noted for our return trip home.
End of post
Any of the roadkill fresh?
ReplyDeleteWho's writing this stuff? It's really good.
ReplyDeleteAre you going through Ely? Really cute little town.