We left Lincoln, Nebraska, this morning in a pea-soup fog that shrouded our drive all the way to the Iowa border. Though we crossed the Platte and Missouri Rivers, we could not see those streams due to the dense mist.
Entering Iowa, we were greeted with clearing skies and a barred owl that drifted across the highway in the early morning light. Undulating across the hills of western Iowa, we were pleased to see that regional farmers have terraced their hillside fields, reducing soil erosion, minimizing water use and providing natural cover for wildlife. We also encountered a large wind farm, just the first of many that we passed across the State; indeed, Iowa is one of the leading States in the per-capita use of wind-generated electricity.
Once we reached Des Moines, we headed north on Interstate 35, crossing the flat terrain of the Glaciated Plain; only the Iowa River carves a significant dent in the landscape. Farther north, we detoured eastward to Frontenac State Park (in southeast Minnesota) which sprawls across a ridge on the west wall of the Mississippi River Valley. There we enjoyed spectacular views of Lake Pepin (formed by damming the River; see photo) and of river bluffs across the valley; a special treat was provided by 100 or more American white pelicans, lounging on a sand spit that juts into the lake. After a night in Minneapolis, we'll head for Houghton, Michigan, tomorrow.
