We continue our trip on 07/23/2008 to Glenwood RV Resort in Marseilles, IL. While we were there, we visited the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, IL on 07/26/2008. On June 19th, 2004, with little fanfare from the public or press, but with great love and dedication from the participants and organizers, an amazing event took place. A granite memorial wall commemorating the soldiers who have died in Middle East conflicts was transported 65 miles from Summit to Marseilles, Illinois with an honor guard of over 12,000 motorcycles. This outpouring of respect and gratitude filled the highway, two motorcycles deep, from horizon to horizon for over 50 minutes. People waved, cried and waved flags from overpasses and bridges, and the noise of the engines became a thunderous reminder of the soldiers who have served, fought and died in the Middle East. The picture is of the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial.
We also visited on 07/26/2008 the Buffalo Rock State Park in Ottawa, IL. Buffalo Rock is said to have served the French as an early military, trading and missionary post. LaSalle and Tonty, after building Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock during the winter of 1882-1883, gathered almost 4,000 Indian warriors at the front of Buffalo Rock and formed a confederation against the Iroquois. Among the tribes in the confederation were the Miami who built their own fort on Buffalo Rock. The picture is of Buffalo Rock State Park Effigy Tumuli Trail Water Spider (Big treeless mound is in the shape of a water spider).
On 07/30/2008 we drove to ODW Pine Country Resort in Belvidere, IL for 3 days. Then we arrived on 08/02/2008 at Happy Acres Kampground in Bristol, WI for 8 days to attend the Seventh Day Baptist (SDB) General Conference. On 08/03/2008 we visited the Old Kenosha Lighthouse and Kenosha North Pierhead Lighthouse in Kenosha, WI. A larger second light, equipped with a Fifth Order Fresnel was built to replace this original structure in 1858. However, it’s construction was less than acceptable, as in a matter of a decade it was found to be deteriorating sufficiently to require replacement by the existing structure in 1866. Standing fifty-two feet tall, the tower was built of Cream City brick, and unlike other tall towers constructed of such material, appears to have weathered the years well, with only slight flaking evident in the structure today. Equipped with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens, the light originally exhibited a fixed white light with a single flash panel. This signature was later changed to an isophase flash. The tower stood alone for one year until the completion of the keepers dwelling in 1867. The picture is of the Old Kenosha Lighthouse.
Materials for the two new structures were delivered to Kenosha in early 1906, and work began with the erection of the new pierhead light. Consisting of riveted cast iron rings, with each layer slightly smaller in diameter than the one immediately below, the tower tapered to a circular iron gallery. On this gallery a cylindrical lantern with diagonal astragals was centered. Capped by tapered conical roof, the structure stood 50 feet from its base to the top of the ventilator ball. The lantern was equipped with a new flashing white light and a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. While the 1906 north pierhead light still serves as an active aid to navigation, the fog signal building and elevated walk are long since gone, and the light is now displayed from a 250 mm Tidelands Signal optic. The picture is of the Kenosha North Pierhead Lighthouse.
The picture is of the Carthage College Siebert Chapel where we gathered for SDB General Conference meetings.
As we continue our trip, on 08/10/2008 we arrived at Fox Hill RV Park in Baraboo, WI. On 08/14/2008, we took a boat trip to see the WI Upper Dells. The Dells of the Wisconsin River (used in the singular, and also called the Wisconsin Dells) is a 5 mile (8 km) gorge on the Wisconsin River in southern Wisconsin in the United States. It is noted for its scenic beauty, in particular for its unique sandstone rock formations and tributary canyons. The cliffs, some over 100 feet (30 m) high, and most side canyons are closed to the public to protect sensitive ecological features. The viewing of the rock formations by water is a popular tourist attraction in the area. The picture is of a formation called Black Hawk’s Profile.
We drove to Madison, WI to visit the Capitol on 08/17/2008. On October 25,1836, the first Wisconsin Legislature convened in a rented building located in old Belmont (now Leslie, Lafayette County). A long struggle ensued regarding a permanent location for state government. Eventually, Madison was chosen to be the site. Built in 1838, the first Madison Capitol stood for 25 years until it was replaced by a larger building in 1863. After a devastating fire left the second Madison Capitol badly damaged, George B. Post & Sons designed the current Capitol, which was built between 1906 and 1917 at a cost of $7.25 million. The Madison Capitol is distinguished as being the only State Capitol ever built on an isthmus. Reaching to a height of over 200 feet, the Capitol dome is topped by Daniel Chester French’s elegant gilded bronze statue, “Wisconsin.” Edwin Blashfield’s mural “Resources of Wisconsin” lavishly decorates the ceiling of the rotunda, which is the only granite dome in the United States. Inside, visitors are treated to the unique textures of 43 varieties of stone from around the world, hand-carved furniture, and exquisite glass mosaics. The picture is of the WI Capitol’s east side.
On 08/20/2008 we traveled to Pla-Mor Campground and Marina in Winona, MN to visit with Pam’s sister, Kathie, and her husband, Ken. On 08/21/2008 we had lunch on board a steamboat called Julia Belle Swain and cruised the Mississippi River for two hours. Boarding the Mississippi River steamer Julia Belle Swain is like stepping back in time. The Julia Belle Swain was built in 1971 in Dubuque, Iowa, and is one of only 5 authentic steam-powered passenger vessels still in operation on the Mississippi River system. Her steam propulsion system with authentic vintage reciprocating engines was built in 1915 and originally installed in the ferryboat City of Baton Rouge. Manufactured by Gillett & Eaton of Lake City, MN, these engines are rated at 200 hp. each. Every 5-foot stroke of the pistons delivers power to the huge 21 ft. paddlewheel by way of the original Pitman arms and paddlewheel crank assemblies. These engines have now logged well over one million miles. A licensed steam engineer is on-duty at all times and is in constant communication with the pilot. The picture is of the Julia Belle.
