I have traveled to almost if not every state in the USA, and I have to say the little towns of Iowa have a new place in my heart. They are sprinkled along the Mississippi River, have spotless streets and the homes are old, well taken care of places with mowed grass, clean sidewalks and constructed when quality and pride meant something in America.
The river is clearly the lifeblood of the towns bringing tourism, goods and fishing daily. The river keeps these sleepy little towns alive.
The people are what the USA is all about. They are welcoming, hard working and rooted in these towns for life. I stopped in Bellevue just below lock 12 for the evening finding a quiet spot to camp for the night. I grabbed my flip flops and off I went to the local restaurant for a quick dinner. Should I cook the food in my boat? YES, but it was a 60 mile day and I wasn’t feeling it.
The guy sitting a few seats down at the diner was a clean cut guy with a farmers look. He was tall, thin and had the cleaned up for a trip to the city look with hands that screamed hard working guy who was more comfortable in his farm clothes.
I on the other hand, flip flops, shorts, a kayaking Texas sun shirt now permanently stained a light brown from the elbows down from being in the 700 miles of river water, a hat with a American flag on it and I’m sure smelling “river ripe” after a long day.
We struck up conversation ranging from kids & farming to politics and life in general and an hour later he was kind enough to buy my meal, wish me well and send me on my way.
Something tells me this is part of the Iowa way along the river.
Today the paddling was uneventful with a handful of barges, a couple trains and a wave or two from random fisherman along the way.
The next several days will have headwinds and weather changes but today….. was a great day to be on the mighty Mississippi paddling in Iowa.
