But Iowa is even Cornier... (and is Mia's birthplace)

Not to get in a statistical showdown with my esteemed co-editor, but Iowa delivers more than three times the corn production of Wisconsin, and 50% more than even the Corn Huskers of Nebraska. Truth is, there’s a lot of corn EVERYWHERE in the Midwest and it’s hard to tell who grows the most just by looking. And pigs; word is that there are eight pigs for every person in Iowa, but we haven’t seen even a one yet. Although I can’t say I relish the idea, perhaps a visit to a pig farm is in order before we leave “The Hawkeye State”.

With some improvement in the cold temperatures we’d been experiencing, we decided to take our chances and head up to Green Bay for a few days into Packers country (the Packers were so named because that was the main industry in the region, packing of meat and other regional products for shipping). Door County, a peninsula that extends northeast of Green Bay into Lake Michigan, is a charming area that feels a lot like parts of New England, especially reminding me of southeastern Massachusetts. Small, folksy little villages, quaint customs and crafts, regional cuisine with area specialties (like the Fish Boil, an open-fire, outdoor dining experience not unlike a clam bake in Maine, but with more drama) and beautiful, waterfront scenery abound.

After stocking up on cheese, we then crossed back over southern Wisconsin through Madison, a liberal bastion and university town sporting several significant Frank Lloyd Wright edifices (you-know-who's favorite architect, remember?). Then on to the Dubuque Iowa area for a couple of days of exploration. Dubuque is perched on the Mississippi River and boasts a newly-expanded museum chronicling the history of “America’s River”, the mighty Mississippi. Included were some fascinating maritime relics, interesting history about the role of the Mississippi during both the Civil and World Wars and views of one of the locks and dams that try to regulate the powerful currents. We also found a historic wooden elevator lift that provided us with access to a scenic vantage point high above the city.

A sudden dental emergency was resolved when a tooth crown came loose and I had to find a local dentist who could properly reattach it. A hazard of an extended trip like this is that you have none of your doctors/dentists/mechanics available to you if you need them and you have to roll the dice with a stranger. I think I lucked out and found someone good though.

Before moving west, we dipped down into Galena Illinois, a meticulously preserved river town founded during prosperous lead-mining days of the mid-1800s and chock full of quaint shops and elegant brick architecture amidst spectacular countryside (more corn!).

Leaving Dubuque, we made our way northwest through even more scenic cornfields (although with river views), passing by the “Field of Dreams” baseball movie sight (rained out!) and onward to Mia’s birthplace, Forest City – The Home of Winnebago Industries. We took the highly recommended factory tour and left Mia in the hands of their technicians for some minor attention, while hooking up as their guests at the Visitor’s Center for a couple of nights. It was fun to see the complex engineering, the processes and the great care that goes into making a Winnebago product. I think Mia enjoyed meeting some of her forebears in the Visitor’s Center museum, as she seemed perkier on the road afterwards. Cheers! Bob

More of Iowa to come… (can you stand the excitement?)