A National WHAT Museum!

                    
Yes, Virginia, there really is a National Mustard Museum.

It’s in Middleton, WI near Madison and started in 1992.  Today it is a popular attraction in the state located on the main street next to the train station in an older building that was probably once a hardware store.

The gift shop is on the main floor where you can buy all different kinds of mustards from the USA and the world.  They have a tasting bar too where you can sample the mustards.  Along with the mustards there are other things you can buy – cookbooks, pretzels, other dippers, mugs, key chains, hats, and of course, T-shirts.

                                      



You can get a degree too!

  The museum is in the basement down a doublewide staircase.   Along one wall is the Great Wall of Mustards – about 5,300 mustards from each state and around the world.   There is a display of mustard pots, antique tins and jars, and vintage advertisements.  You will also learn the background of the phrase “can you cut the mustard”.*



Photo ops too!



  Of course we ended up buying a few jars so we won't be out of mustard for awhile.

*BTW, "cutting the mustard"  or "Can You Cut the Mustard?" was a term mustard seed farmers would ask their workers at mustard seed harvast time.  Why, you ask?  During the early days of harvasting it was done by hand and it was a difficult plant to cut in the fields so either you can cut the mustard or you can't.  :-) 

River Remarks

The best part of travel in the Midwest is to keep off Interstates and really explore and experience the more local areas of our great country.  Our trip continues to keep us free of the Interstate and closer to the Mississippi River country.

As we progressed northward up the river area we had a coffee stop in Bellevue, IA.  Bellevue is small town located on the Mississippi River between Davenport and Dubuque.   This is a classic Mississippi river town with a park pathway along the river and dotted with lots of sitting benches for people to stop, rest and view the great Mississippi.   

 

On the river pathway in Bellevue



We stopped at the Saturday Farmer’s Market.  It was a small group of people selling their home grown vegetables and baked goods.   The market was closing but Bill still had some time to chat.

There seems to be a strange attraction that rules the banks of the Mississippi River.  Regardless of how bad the flooding or whatever else that impacts this region, the people of the river area love their Mississippi.  You can talk with any of them and you‘ll feel their love of where they live.     

Across the main street from the market I saw a sign for the Book Worm.   In the store’s window was a large stuffed Boston Terrier. When I opened the door I was greeted by the two owners- one a retired teacher- and their Boston Terrier.   The shop was filled with new and used books (I bought two), lots of Country Living type accessories, and of course, some Boston Terrier trinkets.

Living along the Mississippi is not easy. The locals are well aware of what this river can do to them in flooding.  This for some reason seems to be an acceptable risk even though they are well aware there is no insurance that protects them if they continue to live in the flood zones of the river.   Our travels continue . . .



Along the Mississippi



Movin' Up the Mississippi

One of the reasons we came to the Davenport area of Iowa was to visit Buffalo Bill Cody’s birth place and see where “The Pickers” TV program originated.  

The Buffalo Bill Cody Museum is on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Le Claire.  It includes memorabilia of Buffalo Bill and the town of Le Claire. You can also see an informative video on his life.   

Also . . . close by, in an alley off the main drag, is Antique Archaeology.  Mike and Frank – “The Pickers” search the countryside for antiques and junk for their shop.   You can follow their adventures on the History Channel.  While they are on the road, the shop is managed by Danielle who has the most interesting tattoos. 

 As most of you can remember the three major networks - ABC, NBC, and CBS were the only TV sources our nation had for several decades.  Now with so many networks anyone can be a star. 

We visited this antique store and wanted to see Mike, Frank and Danielle, but unfortunately they were not available today.  Bummer!   

In the afternoon we went to the Figge Museum of Art – in a dramatic building overlooking the Mississippi River in Davenport.  Great eclectic collection!

We are impressed with the Quad Cities – they’re looking good in today’s economy.

Bumpy Roads

We spent a couple of days in the St. Louis, Missouri area.   As you know St. Louis is known for its Gateway to the West Arch, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the home of Budweiser Beer.  We got to spend a couple of days with my nephew Peter, his wife Darryl, and Hattie – their new dog.  They have a beautiful home in the Chesterfield area of St. Louis County.



Hattie



We visited Grant’s Farm and got a good lesson on how the Budweiser Clydesdale horses are bred, raised and trained. 



Bill with a Clydesdale Colt

 

 We also visited White Haven once owned by U.S. Grant, our nation’s 18^th president.



White Haven - Painted Green



The best lesson we learned was with the roar of tornado sirens that were going off as we pulled into their driveway.  This was not a test and not a drill. Tornadoes were in the area. The TV was full of warnings for tornadoes all over this eastern section of Missouri. 

Preparing for hurricanes with up to a week’s notice is one thing, but having tornado sirens giving you from five to fifteen minutes to seek safety is completely another.

Yesterday we walked the streets of Hannibal, MO - boyhood home of Mark Twain - a man filled with common sense wisdom - much of it learned from his childhood in Hannibal.

Mark Twain's house

In Burlington, IA we drove down the Crookedest Street in the World - Snake Alley - a zigzag brick street built in 1894 to let horse drawn carriages negotiate a steep hill.

Oh, by-the-way, gasoline so far has been the cheapest in St. Louis. . . $3.33 a gallon.

Superman Saves the Town

Across the river from Paducah is the town of Metropolis – the home of SUPERMAN.  He stands in front of the courthouse protecting the town and its citizens.  Superman stuff in Metropolis is everywhere.

Superman has saved the town of Metropolis and helped transformed the downtown into cafes, shops, and museums.  One museum features him and the actors that have played his role in the movies and on TV.  It also shows all the things made – like lunch boxes, watches, t-shirts, mugs, comic books, cereal boxes, etc. - featuring Superman.

Downtowns do well with tourist magnets like the Superman statue and annual festivals. 

Whether it is the world’s largest ball of string, biggest fry pan, deepest water well, 1940s statue of a sailor kissing a nurse on Times Square or whatever, many of America’s downtowns need an extra spike of interest to draw in visitors.

One of Nancy’s favorite buys was a piece of kryptonite which shall have a special place in her rock collection which she has stolen, excuse me,  I mean “collected” over the many years we have been married.

And with “truth, justice, and the American way” our trip continues.

Paducah- Distinctively Creative

Paducah, Kentucky has been on my “Places to Visit” list.  A few years ago I started to read about the town in arts and craft magazines.  It’s one of those transformation towns where the downtown is lined with 19^th century brick buildings filled with boutiques, cafes, and art shops.  One of its older neighborhoods is home to the Artist Relocation Program where a mix of artists from around the globe live and work.

It is also the location of The National Quilt Museum of the United States.  It is amazing!  I’ve never seen such craftsmanship and creativity.  I especially enjoyed the vibrant contemporary quilts.  Even Peter would consider hanging one in his place.

Bill and I walked around the town especially enjoying the Wall to Wall painted murals along the waterfront depicting the town’s history.  We took time to sit and just enjoy the river view .

The surprise in Paducah was its founder – William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame. 

 We didn't think we would meet up with him so soon.

As I am writing this I’m listening to more news of the tornado in Joplin.  As we were traveling through Alabama we saw some of the destruction caused by the tornado that hit that state.  We planned on a picnic lunch at a state park on Guntersville Lake.  When we arrived at the entrance we saw the sign that most of the park was closed including the picnic areas due to tornado damage.  The lodge did survive…so we enjoyed lunch with a beautiful view of the lake.

Gas Update – So far the lowest price was in Opelika, AL – 3.499.  TN and KY prices in the 3.60 -3.70 range.

Bullets and Bugs

One of the best things about the South is the rich history it provides of the Civil War period in the 1860s.  We added a visit to the Stones River National Battlefield Park in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  This was one of the war’s most deadly battles. 

The park features the largest earth structured fort created during the war.  The park is well cared for and it provides an excellent museum describing the battle and the importance for both sides in winning. 

General Rosecrans won the final battle and created a holding for the Union that helped to push the war further into the South and eventually end it. 

Arriving at the Battlefield we heard a huge buzzing sound.  It was sort of like what you would hear in a cheap science fiction movie indicating outer space critters were hanging around. 

These “critters” were different.  We experienced something that only happens every 13 years in this area - the emergence of the Great Southern Brood of Cicada doing their 21 day thing above ground.  The sound was quite weird and loud.  Millions of the cicadas were everywhere in the park area.  Cicadas don’t bite or cause any damaging harm.  In fact they create a feast for local bird life.  In many countries of the world they are enjoyed as a food source when they appear.  I offered Nancy some at lunch but she declined. 

P.S.  Of course, Nancy needed to have a rock for her collection from Stones River.

You Don't Know Jacques- May 21

There is a group that is predicting that the world will end today.  NO WAY!  NOT ON MY BIRTHDAY!



Meeso



Since I retired a few years ago, I’ve celebrated my birthday in different places – Machu Picchu, Turkey, Egypt, and this year in Opelika, Alabama visiting with Molly, Lewis, and Meeso.

It was a day with some new experiences starting with my first pedicure – a gift from Molly.   I think I could easily get hooked.  Molly helped me choose a nail polish color  – You Don’t Know Jacques –she said it goes with everything.

Then it was my first ride through Goo-Goo.  I liked it so much I did it again with Bill.  Goo-Goo is a car wash.   You stay in your car, put it in neutral, sit back, and go through a shower, wipe down, and blow dryer - like a ride in Disney.  No franchise in Florida yet but hopefully coming soon.

The one thing I like about Opelika is hearing the train whistles.  Downtown is Railroad St. along the train tracks where the old brick buildings are now restaurants and shops.  One is a bar called Irish Bred Pub. If you’re lucky enough to be there when a train passes through you can get a shot for one dollar.  We ended the day there - great atmosphere, beer, and music.



At the Irish Bred Pub


For my next birthday I wish for new experiences and new places.





A coin  in the fountain - not the Trevi  - but at the Jule Collins Smith Museum in Auburn.





Route 98 West

The Panhandle of Florida is named for a good reason.  Coming along the southern handle, west of Apalachicola, we drove along one of the Gulf’s most pristine drives, Route 98 West.  This is an area owned mostly by the St. Joe land enterprise.  The beaches are white and beautiful.  It seems like every home along the highway enjoys a huge Gulf of Mexico view. 

We visited downtown Port St. Joe.   Parked near some art galleries and went to get a coffee at the No Name Café. 

Interestingly, the owner opened the business several years ago and didn’t have a name at the time.  Some customers said, “Why don’t you have a contest and let us name the café”.  

By a massive vote the No Name Café was born.

This section of Florida offers some of the best beach areas with lots of resort cottages and motels.  Mexico Beach, with other than a sign indicating a new community, didn’t vary much from the Port St. Joe area. 

From Panama City we headed north into Alabama country.  And no, I didn’t have a banjo on my knee.

Apalachicola - AW SHUCKS!

Papa John's is the place to get pizza but Papa Joe's in Apalachicola is the place for oysters.  On the menu it says- If you ain't been to Papa Joe's you ain't been to Apalachicola.   It's not a fancy place - no tablecloths, paper napkins, folding chairs and tables, and most of the men wear baseball caps.  It has a great water view where you can see alligators, turtles, lots of birds, and boats.  Bill loves oysters!  So he postponed his birthday(74) dinner a few days to celebrate here.  The oysters were fantastic!  After dinner we went to a park on the docks...just sat until the sun set.

Apalachicola is one of our favorite Florida towns - we even like the drive here - along Rt. 98 - stopping at some small towns along the way.  It is a postcard town.  Charming front porch clapboard houses, tree lined streets, restaurants along the water, docks, art galleries, boutique shops, and lots of antique stores. BUT the front porches are empty and all those cute shops once sold hardware, groceries, hats, and shoes.  Like many small towns it has changed with the times.



Apalachicola - A dog friendly town

                                                   
Gas Price Update - We filled up in Brooksville - 3.729 per gallon...so far the cheapest price in FL.

"You're going where?"

One of the best things about America is its constant change in geography as you travel between its borders.  We will be commenting on our travels for the next couple of months.

Our trip will concentrate on the northern parts of our mid-west.  We will cross back and forth from a trail made by the Lewis and Clark Expedition as we take our trip northward up into the North Dakota area.  We will travel back and forth over the mighty Mississippi River from St. Louis up until it becomes so narrow in Minnesota that Nancy will be able to step over it.

Photos will be added of interesting stops we make and perhaps some un-interesting ones as well.   To make this happen in a positive way we will be trying to stay off of as many Interstate Highways as possible.  We both believe it might be refreshing to come to an intersection in the back end of American where MacDonalds, Wendys, Burger King, Checkers, Pizza Hut or Arbys ARE NOT side-by-side.

Our plans are to cover around 5,000 miles in our Honda Odyssey.  So if you might like to read along with our road ramblings please feel free to do so.  And of course, your comments are welcome as well.

Bill

Willie Nelson's In My Head - Nancy's Thoughts

For the past week I've been hearing Willie sing  "On the road again -just can't wait to get on the road again..."  The song brings back memories - back to our first road trip in 1969 - mostly in California- my first time!  I was in awe...Laguna Beach, tacos, Hollywood, a drive up the coast, and San Francisco!  THEN a visit to my first casino in Reno.  When I put the second coin in the slot machine - it lit up and made lots of noise.  I won the jackpot! 

Luck has continued giving us the time to travel throughout the US.  Our longest trip was in 1988- the year both Molly and Peter went off to college and we went off on a four month trip in our RV - Parnassus on Wheels (pictured above) - named after one of my favorite books.  Parnassus stayed with us for a few years as we explored more of the US.  So many memories - sunrise in Monument Valley, Texas bluebonnets, picking blackberries in the San Juan Islands, climbing the lighthouses in the Outer Banks, the view from Cadillac Mt., the bats flying out of Carlsbad Caverns, walking in the Redwoods, Pike's Peak,, and the list could go on and on.

So we are going on the road again -going places that we've never been and seeing things we may never see again. - the best of friends - on the road again.