Autumnal Adventures - Part 1

This fall I have taken a little time for some fun. My siblings and I took a road trip to Prairie du Chien, and my friend Kathleen and I took a road trip to West Branch. While covering a Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt for the paper, I also got to learn how to use a shot gun for the first time--which was a different and interesting experience! Let's start this with a recap of our adventures near the banks of the Mississippi.

On our way to Prairie du Chien, we stopped at Pike's Peak to enjoy some fresh air and beautiful scenery. The trees seemed a little past their peak, as some were on the bare side; but that just meant we had plenty of leaves crackling under our feet as we hiked. I thought the view was gorgeous.

Last time I was at Pike's Peak was on a family outing with my siblings, parents, and paternal grandparents 11 years ago. It was an interesting feeling to only faintly remember parts of the trail.

Bridal Veil Falls was on the dry side, but it did have a little water going over.

The woods were a perfect backdrop for portraits.

(Photo credit: Charity)

The weather was very nice; I had to take off my jacket and carry it for most of the hike.

Another place we stopped was Spook Cave near McGregor. We paid $12 per ticket, and admired the lovely water mill as we waited for our tour.

The cave is intentionally flooded, and a guide takes each group into the cave on a small boat. There were nine in our group, including the guide, who gave us interesting facts about the cave throughout the whole tour, and even told us a scary story. The cave is long, cool and very dark. The tour was fascinating, and I learned many things I did not know about caves. The experience was worthwhile.

After visiting the cave and Pike's Peak, we headed to Pete's Hamburger stand in Prairie du Chien. It has been a long-standing belief in my family that Pete's has the best hamburgers, so we ordered ourselves some and brought some home for our dear parents.

Pete's is only open seasonally, and we went on their last day. There were long lines! We culminated the days' activities with a visit to the Hungry House, where we ate supper before heading home.

I very much enjoyed visiting Prairie du Chien with Charity, Daniel and Sarah Faith. It was a dream come true to enjoy the fall scenery in Northeast Iowa this year--and one could not have asked for better company!

"Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: 

thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 

Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.  

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 

They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side." -Psalm 65:9-13