LOCATION: Nauvoo, in western Illinois on the Mississippi
WEATHER: Another beautiful fall day. Highs around 70
We have no set schedule or route. We are slowly winding our way to North Carolina where we will store our trailer and car in mid-November when we go to India. Between then and now, we are taking our time heading southeast.
We crossed the Mississippii at Fort Madison, Iowa's first city. This is the old fort.
We stopped at the Lost Duck brewpub for $1.50 beers. It got its name from the birds who get lost here migrating north and south, as this part of the river flows east and west.
We got stopped on the drawbridge waiting as a big barge went through. In the background, you can see one of the many mansions that dot the river way. This one was owned by the Schaefer Pen Company family. The pen factory here is no longer in business.
Our "1000 Places...." guidebook suggested Nauvoo, Illinois. this town. It is called the Williamsburg of the Midwest. It was a large Mormon settlement here in the 1800s. They had planned to stay here, but the locals harassed them and forced them to move west. When they were here, this town was even bigger than Chicago. This is their huge Mormon temple.
When they were forced to leave, they had to abandon all their houses and shops. These old brick buildings have been restored, like Williamsburg. Tomorrow we plan to take the tour. Folks are dressed in period clothes and demonstrate their businesses, like a potter, iron smith, baker.
DINNER: We had decadently rich hamburgers. I bought 2 burgers called filet mignon burgers at the meat counter at the grocery. ($5). We toasted baguette slices on the grill, then melted a bit of local blue cheese on the burgers. Out of this world!
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