Starting in Winona MN we traveled south on US-61 with the sunlight sparkling on the waters of the Mississippi River to our left and clouds shrouding the tops of some of the bluffs on our right. We crossed the mighty river at LaCrosse. It actually required three bridges, over Blue Lake, over a side channel, then over the main channel.

Once we got through the town of LaCrosse, we were in the rolling agricultural land in Wisconsin. Then instead of merely crossing into Illinois, our route took us over the Mississippi into Dubuque IA then back across the Mississippi into Illinois (Hello, Iowa, goodbye, Iowa! )

and shortly then into Galena where we were guided through the home of Ulysses and Julia Grant by a delightful and well informed guide, Georgie.

It gave us a little more insight into the man who grew up in Georgetown OH, graduated from West Point, served in the Mexican War, failed at business, led the Union Army to victory, and led the nation as president. And we learned more about Julia Dent Grant and their children. Now we’re settled in at Vel Terra Ranch, a tiny, delightful, independent campground where the owner truly makes us feel like guests!

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