Following Lewis and Clark down the Missouri

SAY GOODBYE TO PIPESTONE

What I got from the Black Hills was a wicked cold. I finally had to break down and go to the Doctor, which with no insurance almost killed me $230 !! It took me awhile before I was feeling well enough to drive, so we stayed at Pipestone a little longer, which really was not bad, since we both have fallen for the little town. Finally Sept 17, we left the town, driving south on Route 75, King of the Highways, which goes from Minn. to Texas. It goes through miles of fields, until you get to the Loess Hills. We followed the hills and river all the way through Iowa.

LOESS HIILS- unique glacier event

Many Americans think of Iowa as having little topographic variation. However, in westernmost Iowa the Loess Hills rise 200 feet above the flat plains forming a narrow band running north-south 200 miles along the Missouri River. The steep angles and sharp bluffs on the western side of the Loess Hills are in sharp contrast to the flat rectangular cropfields of the Missouri River flood plain. From the east, gently rolling hills blend into steep ridges.

Loess (pronounced "luss"), is German for loose or crumbly. It is a gritty, lightweight, porous material composed of tightly packed grains of quartz, feldspar, mica, and other minerals. Loess is the source of most of our Nation's rich agricultural soils and is common in the U.S. and around the world. From the melting of ice from glacier events. google it.

CAMPING AT LEWIS AND CLARK STATE PARK

After driving through Sioux City, we headed south on Rt 29 to Onawa, Iowa. The Omaha Tribe has a reservation there. The state park is on Blue Lake, the sites were beautiful, big trees, falling leaves, view of the lake, and stars. We met some fine people there, a family with 5 kids, camped in a tent next door. It was fun to watch and listen to them. Mike teased them about not catching any fish, course Mike hasn't caught a fish in 15 years!!!. The kids were very bright and well behaved. They asked great questions. I talked with Breanna for a bit and hopes she keeps painting. It seems everyone knew Caleb, even the guy across the road with the white dog. We were very glad to meet them. Hi kids!!! we know you are checking this out.

The state park has a replica of one of the keel boats that Lewis and Clark used. I think 13guys sleep in this small boat, plus all the gear. Hard to imagine. It makes me want to read Lewis and Clark's journals of the trip.

We stayed there for the weekend and it was very pleasant. I highly recommend this state park.