June 17, 2008
Returning home from our wonderful time with the Nugent family, we drove across the southern edge of Wisconsin past beautiful dairy farms and over rivers that almost touched the bridges that spanned them. We were headed toward Prairie du Chien but flooded roads meant that we had to cross the Mississippi at Dubuque, Iowa, where the waters were high but not overflowing. From there, we drove northward on the Iowa side of the river on a high ridge overlooking the valley. It was a perfectly beautiful afternoon, and we closed the day crossing back over to Wisconsin at Prairie du Chien where we spent the night. We ended up in a suite which was designed for honeymooners. This meant that a large mirror was affixed over the bed – a feature which I had never experienced before. I lay down fully-clothed and looking up, folded my hands upon my bosom and suggested to Charles that he do the same because this is how we might look in a coffin. He complied and we both gazed straight up for a bit. . . then Charles said, “Well, our plan for cremation is obviously the correct choice.” It probably was just as well that the mirror get a glimpse of life from a different perspective for a change. After supper, we drove up to the Wisconsin State Park from which the entire valley with its confluences of great rivers can be viewed. It was a grand sight though water was everywhere.
The next morning we walked up into the Effigy Mounds National Monument which is on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, high on the bluffs and bearing the spirits of many of the people who lived in that part of the world even before it was named “America”. There is a sense of mysticism that cannot be explained. . . the trees are very tall, and the wind blowing through them makes a constant commentary. The points of interest toward which the trails led were at places where one could look out over the rivers and see bald eagles flying about. We continued our drive through Decorah where we had lunch, ice cream and a good visit with friends who have chosen to retire in this picaresque town.
Our last stop before heading home was in Spillville, Iowa, where Antonin Dvorak spent a summer doing final corrections on his “New World Symphony” before it was given its first hearing in New York City the following winter. It is said that he did receive inspiration for “Humoresque” while fishing along the Turkey River which borders the town. The museum honoring his three month stay was on the second floor of a building that displayed a gathering of clocks hand carved by two brothers throughout their lifetime. The ladies of the town who were in charge of the venue greeted us briskly, took our money and told us that we were to wait “right here” until a tour of the clocks would be given. After that, we could ascend the stairs to visit the Dvorak part of the story. We were led past huge clocks with elaborate moving displays from the Twelve Apostles through a depiction of the Little Brown Church at Nashua to the clock termed their masterpiece, The American Pioneer History Clock. All were carved in great detail and also were described to us in great detail by the lady with the memorized spiel. When we finally got to the Dvorak museum, we found a somewhat paltry gathering of letters, musical scores and photographs of the composer. A sound track playing a continuous rendition of the “New World Symphony” finished off the setting.
Home again at Sanctuary after driving across a very sodden Iowa, we found our own acres well-watered and overgrown. When we fetched him from Mike’s kennels, Alphie was overjoyed to see us again, and as he reacquaints himself with his own domain, he almost disappears in the fields. Creatures are abundant too, from the dragonflies and frogs to a great old snapping turtle which appears to be checking out other places than the pond. It is so very good to be home again! I continue to fare well, and this is a delight beyond measure, with much to be thankful for and much to anticipate in the coming days.