A Post That Needs To Be Here Too

NOTE
Originally posted over at the other place 5/24/12. Some decent pictures along with a bit of info.

I've seen huge areas being mowed around houses but I do believe the largest are in west central Kansas and this isn't one of them. I'm sure it makes them happy.

Winter wheat was almost three foot high and on the way back further north in the state it was half turned  but not as lush.

There are many oil wells many being developed and old ones refurbished as well in Kansas. Not like in Utah but there is plenty going on. 

Remember about clicking on the picture to make them bigger.

No matter where I was grain storage was being expanded at all levels. Here it's a elevator in Warsaw, IL.

This is corporate facility for sure because even if a family owns it.

Not that long ago most of a the grain produced was hauled to the local elevator to be handled. Most operators have their own now.

This is the lock and dam on the Mississippi in Keokuk,Ia.

The river still floods and this is one way to avoid trouble. What places like this and many others are known for is being "fish camps" used extensively on weekends. Use your imagination.

 

The curiosity with Nauvoo is over. The meal had at the Nauvoo Hotel was one of the best I've had in years. I understand the new leader of the mormons does not have as much interest in this place like the guy before him so there's not as much money coming this way. For not being tourist season it seemed there were quite a few people around.

The ferry south of Warsaw still operates for transporting what ever fits. There are not that many places to cross this huge river.

In northern Iowa things have been big for some time but I think it's even bigger now. Like land prices of 10K an acre and one parcel of 77 acres sold for 12.9.

Something like 350K for the planter alone and you can get them twice as large. With GPS if you want and with the price of seed you can literally save thousands.

This drag strip still functions in Humboldt,IA. Went down this in like '71 or so and came home with a trophy.

The house in what was my cornfield when I was just a pup still stands. The grove is still there and plum trees still grow along side the railroad tracks.

The Grotto always gets a visit looking for new angles of the same things. The 100th anniversary is this year,

I've seen a number of places similar to this one. I guess recreating old gas stations is a new hobby. It must be expensive.

A state record musky at the fish hatchery at what is known as the "Iowa Great Lakes".

This area has been a vacation destination for many years and just a very cool place. There are lakes in Colorado but it's not the same. There is a museum and there were a lot things in there I remember from the kid days.

It was a lot of fun in here.

The "Queen" one of several over the years that gives rides that even locals continue to take. Notice the wind turbines on the horizon. They're all over the place as Iowa is second in the nation in wind power.

Guess the water gets pretty high at times.

I did catch a few and this was one of them. It was too big and was released. Got fed plenty of walleye and it was a huge treat and so good.

Was gone quite awhile and could of stayed much longer but it was just time it seemed to get back here so that's what happened. Blasted on back on Monday. Came in at 890. Drove 2600 with and average of 26.5mpg.

I had a blast it's just that simple!

The Wayback Machine

This weekend at my aunt's in Casper some new pictures showed up. Below are some of them with a lot of unknowns except pretty much everyone here is a relative.  There are some short explanations.

This picture is not a new one but is my grandfather and his twin brother who immigrated from Switzerland when they were 14 after their mother died. Several others came afterwards and not all at the same time and that included their father as well. My great grandfather never learned to speak English and was loved by the kids at school because he always had candy. He was also known to have the best garden in town and my grandpa's were huge producers as I remember. My grandfather is on the left and his name was John.

We were also looking at old documents including ship manifestos and the like. This stuff is getting old and a lot of it is in German. 

On his wedding day.

I never got to know my grandmother as she died of cancer when I was two. These kids do not look like my dad and his brother and sister but it's almost has to be. The aunt I visited was not yet born.

Take a look at this crew. That's grandpa top left as he's a dead giveaway with his pipe. We were hardly sure of any of these kids but this is quite a picture.

I already forgot who this was but included it because I like it.

We're not sure who this was and they may or may not be related. Interesting though.

This is my Aunt Bernie and she still smiles as well and as often as she did back then.

We think this may be Grandpa's oldest brother. He died in Winnemucca, Nevada but was not buried there. I'm trying to find out more about him.