The Mississippi River at Bellevue, IA.
The Mississippi River at Bellevue, IA.
The cafe at Mooney Hollow, IA
Ray repacking truck at motel in Clinton, IA.
Last Modified on 9/24/97 at 5:02:22
Day's Narrative: There wasn't a restaurant in the area this morning, so I ate the complimentary breakfast at the motel -- sweet rolls, juice and coffee. This stuff lasts me maybe about two hours, so I expected to eat real food later down the road at Bellevue about 20 miles (33 km) away. I have been waiting for an uneventful day. Today was as close as I've come to one. The plan today was to boom to Clinton, IA before noon to get there before the predicted afternoon thunderstorms. As expected, about 8:30 I found a convenience store in Bellevue which served hot breakfast sandwiches. These were scrambled eggs, cheese and bacon on a six inch submarine roll. It was great! This is also where I first came close to the Mississippi River (see photo). I also had a nice conversation with a first grade teacher who works there. (no photo). This road is the old "river road" running along the Mississippi and is considered to be scenic. It was nice, but the only place where it was close to the river was at Bellevue. Later down the road I came to Mooney Hollow where a barn and accompanying silo (see photo) had been made over into a cafe. Connie caught up with me at 12:30 as I was entering Clinton, IA. At 1:30 we stopped at the Best Western, rested a bit, checked the bicycle, and then repacked the truck (see photo) so Connie's bicycle was inside. We'll take it out again in Munfordville, Ky so she can ride it there. It never did rain today. We expect to be in Munfordville several days. During that time I plan to continue the web pages each day, and put photos of the town on them. We will be there during the festive Civil War days, September 6-7, during which the town celebrates the Battle of Munfordville which happened sometime during 1861-65. I can't remember the date. Aug. 24, Sunday --Sheffield, Ill We will layover in Munfordville a week until September 8. Steve should arrive in Cincinnati from Johannesburg on Sept. 5 afternoon. [Connie] After my diatribe about Iowa roads yesterday, we got to a place just south of Dubuque -- St Catherine -- and the road became smooth and wonderful, for a while. When the road is so bumpy and dippy, I worry about my bike bouncing on the carrier even though it's held down by velcro straps, bungee cords, and a locking cap over the bars. Finally, I decided to put it in the back of the truck and quit worrying about it. It also makes one less thing to unload and reload every day. There was time, light, and good enough weather to do that today, so we did. Today was my "Americana" day. As I drove toward Clinton, I saw a tractor coming along on the other side of the road. Something strange at about shoulder height on the driver caught my attention. It was the white, blond head of a child, probably his 8-10 year old son. It was most likely the height of the youngster's day to be allowed to ride along with Dad on the tractor. This was a "Norman Rockwell" painting. For those not familiar with Rockwell, he is the painter who has defined the mid-western United States and the United States in general through his gentle, people-oriented, slightly romantic paintings. Americana, in other words. As I came to Bellevue, I had my first view of the Mississippi as seen from a small riverside town. Both were beautiful. The highway along the river wound in and out of dense road-side forests and close proximity to the "Ole Man River." I have officially declared myself a member in good standing of the Daniel Boone Bewildered Club --there is no such thing --but I qualify. Boone was an early American frontiersman known for his eternal need to wander and explore. When asked if he had ever been lost, he is said to have replied,"No, but I was bewildered for three days once." I've been bewildered in the finest towns in the country -- any one I've passed through recently where I had to find a specific place. Just wandering around finding your way is a nice adventure, but having to find to specific motel to meet Ray is a misadventure in circling around after missing a crucial sign and looking for heavily traveled streets --where there are likely to be motels. Today Ray and I met on the street, he asked a mailman for directions, pointed ahead and took off. I followed and passed him, saw a sign for a Rodeway Inn which said "turn right on 6th Ave South." Figuring that the other chain motels would be nearby, I found the street -- which was along the way I was going-- turned right and found myself in an obviously residential neighborhood. This has happened before and one has to keep going to find the promised motel, so I did. It got worse. I did find College Drive, a hilly street with some very nice upscale houses. I kept angling back trying to find 6th Ave S. I found 7th and 5th but no 6th. Finally, I was down into a sort of cul-de-sac neighborhood and asked a couple out walking how to get to the Best Western. they gave me simple, clear directions--"Go up the hill to the Stop sign, go right, go to the traffic signal, right again, it's near the Target store. It worked and there was the motel with Ray's bike out front. He had just kept riding straight ahead on the original street where we met. He's been patient with my lostedness (a good word, I just made up.) New approximate schedule: Aug. 24, Sunday --Sheffield, Ill We will layover in Munfordville a week until September 8. Steve should arrive in Cincinnati from Johannesburg on Sept. 5 afternoon. © Ray & Connie Poore, 1997
New approximate schedule:
Aug. 25, Monday --El Paso or Pontiac, Ill
Aug. 26, Tuesday --layover
Aug. 27, Wednesday --Rantoul, Ill
Aug. 28, Thursday --Charleston, Ill
Aug. 29, Friday --Vincennes, IN
Aug. 30, Saturday -- Owensboro, KY
Aug. 31, Sunday -- maybe layover.
Sep. 1, Labor Day Monday -- arrive Munfordville, KY.
Aug. 25, Monday --El Paso or Pontiac, Ill
Aug. 26, Tuesday --layover
Aug. 27, Wednesday --Rantoul, Ill
Aug. 28, Thursday --Charleston, Ill
Aug. 29, Friday --Vincennes, IN
Aug. 30, Saturday -- Owensboro, KY
Aug. 31, Sunday -- maybe layover.
Sep. 1, Labor Day Monday -- arrive Munfordville, KY.Return