Page 18 - USA ROAD TRIP SUMMER of 2000

ways of life we have never noted before. The people we have met

are very friendly and gregarious. They are anxious to tell us about
their lives. They are also incredulous that we from Florida are here

for vacation. “Why are you here?" is a universal response to our

answer concerning our home state. We must admit, we have not
seen any other licenses other than Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa.

There really is not much to do here other than to take in the
sights. But what sights there are!!

LOOP LACROSSE to BAY CITY – cross to MN and back to LACROSSE

Tuesday - Started the day in the rain. First inclimate weather we’ve

seen. Within an hour, it had cleared and by the late afternoon it
was actually hot. The temperature got into the mid 80’s.

Stopped in a tiny town at the local diner/market to get a coke.

There were 8 men and women sitting around a kitchen-type table
drinking coffee and discussing the news of the day - the arrival of

the Mississippi Queen into Lacrosse the day before. There was a
great deal of vocal disappointment with her failure to play the

calliope all the way into port. “Things just aren’t done like they

were in the old days!” Ever thus. Didn’t get to stay long enough to
hear their opinion of the current behavior of today’s children.

The high point of the day was a visit to the Tremplealeau National

Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1936, it is 5700 acres of
hardwoods, marsh and real wild prairie. We saw deer, rabbits,

skunk, wading birds, songbirds, red headed woodpeckers, and
hawks. We had the place to ourselves most of the time. The smell

of the wildflowers and the songs of the birds in the prairie grasses

were restful and relaxing. A very peaceful place.

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