More road

Our drive miles in Colectiva are not much – looks like averaging 100 miles per move. But our miles on the Saturn are considerable because there is so much to see and do.

Before we left Wabasha we visited the National Eagle Center. A non-profit rehab and research facility, the Center provides a permanent home for a handful of eagles that have been so damaged that they cannot be reintroduced into life in the wild. Most had wing injuries that prevented them from being able to fly anymore, eliminating their ability to survive.

Right on the river in downtown Wabasha, we absolutely loved this place .We learned about eagles, their lives and their habits. We learned that Bald Eagles were on the verge of extinction in the 60’s due to the impacts of DDT. However the banning of DDT along with other conservation measures have resulted in the species rebounding tremendously, to the point where eagle conflicts occur now frequently due to population density and fights for terrain.

We learned that Bald Eagles in the wild maybe live to their mid-20’s, but those in captivity may live to their 40’s or even 50’s. We also learned that Bald Eagles don’t have a strong bond with their mate, but do have a strong bond with their nesting location. So Bald Eagle couples may stay together for life, but it would mostly be because they both like the house!

As we moseyed our way South, we stopped in Alma Wisconsin and grabbed a quick lunch at the Pier 4 café. This small café overlooks the lock and dam No. 4, so it is a fun place to visit. Plus, they have pretty spectacular barbecue – according to them, it’s “The Best Barbeque by a Dam Site”!

I had forgotten about the benefits of living on the Mississippi River. If you live on the River, other than your annual boat registration, there are no housing costs whatsoever. So just like the casinos do all along the river, private citizens will also do with their “houseboats”. Apparently houseboat along the river means you take anything that can float, and you build a house on it!

Apparently I had also forgotten about what cars look like in Minnesota. Having lived in the West now for over 20 years, I can’t remember the last time I have seen a car or truck with any rust on it. But in Minnesota, with its harsh winters and the need for salt on the roads to combat the ice, this is what all cars look like. The cancerous rust is particularly situated around all the tire wells.

When we got to Prairie Island Campground, they had advertised that they had sites with both electricity and water. I naturally assumed that “water” meant that the campground was plumbed. Apparently I was too quick to jump to an assumption. Here is the extent of their “plumbing” – hundreds of white (drinking water grade) hoses run to all the sites and plastic Y connectors. I guess where there is a will, there is a way!

Talk to you soon!