time for the annual bach-trip. this year kurt and i decided a low-key, relaxing drive was in the cards, so we headed south along the mighty st. croix. we weren't sure where we'd end up, which can make for the best -or worst- trips.
first night we built a fire and enjoyed the evening at great river bluffs state park.
which had a nice view of the mighty m-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i
and must be phenomenal at fall foliage peak. after a couple hikes, we headed further south. kurt was compelled to see iowa and i was in a discovery mood, so we followed the river to...
iowa? i-o-WOW. we crossed the border into new albin, iowa and got gas at a station with pumps older than me, i'd reckon. at the station we talked with a couple on a motorcycle. they were on the home stretch from riding the entire river road and encouraged us to keep going south, because iowa is "beautiful!" we had lunch at the river side and kept driving.
it was beautiful. iowa surprised us both. i'll have to get photos from kurt, but seriously, a return trip is in order. mcgregor, iowa struck me as the perfect getaway for the folks and we didn't take the time to hike the effigy mounds.
crossing back over the river, we pushed sound of prairie du chien to stay at wisconsin's wyalusing state park. the sites overlooking where the wisconsin and mississippi rivers meet were already booked (and you'd know why if you've been there, amazing views) so we camped in the homestead section.
since we had time before the bonfire campfire we hiked through the woods to discover a teensy little waterfall
we saw no one else on the trails. for a full campground, it was a quiet one. after dinner we sat around the fire in a surprisingly bug-free night, and just... relaxed.
next day we kicked into gear for a straight shot home. stopped for a picnic lunch at a rest stop south of lacrosse overlooking the river. despite a bit of motorcycle traffic, we pretty much had the place
and the view
to ourselves. Heading homeward we had to take one more pause to prove we had been on a WILD & CRAZY bach-trip (even tho' we hadn't) we figured, this would work:
the world's largest six-pack. i remember the good old days when it was old style, as in old style beer.
this isn't the most complete of trip reports, but there's no reporting what this trip was for: those old-friend conversations, the simply pure places in the midwest, and low mileage passing by too quickly.
