River wisdom

So when you pull a vehicle behind a motor home, it is called towing the vehicle. Makes sense right – a tow truck pulls a vehicle. I don’t know if you can really “tow” an original Massey Fergusson behind a motor home – will have to ask these folks if it is possible. But on the river, it is different. A tow boat is a powered vehicle that pushes barges. And the tied together barges that the tow boat is pushing are called a tow. Go figure!

We have observed, as we did in St. Paul East RV Park, that classic car collecting and motor homing seem to go together. There was a classic car show at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds one weekend during our stay in the Twin Cities. Most of the vintage vehicles were either on flat trailers or were driven separately behind the coach. But, apparently if you think small enough, you can actually tow (not push) your RV behind a vintage vehicle – nice!

La Crosse Wisconsin boasts the biggest six pack in the world. Of course it is not an actual six pack of beer, but the grain elevators at the original 1858 G Heilman Brewing House that sport some festive wrapping. But if this icon was an actual six pack of beer, it would hold enough beer to give a person an actual six pack a day for 3,351 years!

So, Hiawatha is a figure in history that is steeped in tradition. However, it turns out that Hiawatha is not a historical character – just an imaginary character in Longfellow’s epic writings. However, mythical or not, Hiawatha is pretty prominent all along the Great River Road in parks.

You can find anything kitsch in rural America. Even enormous Sierra Mist cans that are actively spouting the “mist” that the brand attempts to tout in their advertising and imagery.

And how could America be any more perfect! On a barge on the mother of all rivers, the Mississippi, we uncover this competition. Hot women pole vaulting. It is either only in my imagination, or only in America!

And even trailer trash need to get a break now and then. While this might not be the most elegant form of travel known to man, I think the deck is spectacular. This could be the thousand dollar a seat location for tonight’s fireworks!

And then as we settled down for the July 4^th fireworks display at Riverside Park in La Crosse Wisconsin – right on the river – who could not be overwhelmed by the symbolism honoring our country, its founders, and those that have sacrificed to protect it!

 

Talk to you soon!