The Great River Road

[Shadow Catcher]

Route 66 the Mother Road, is famous, less famous is The Great River Road which extends the length of the Mississippi on both sides of the river. This looks like a great road trip potentially, 3,000 miles long.

http://www.experiencemississippiriver.c ... r-road.cfm

[iplay10us2]

I have done most of the Arkansas portion, and it is truly an interesting trip. I look forward to doing more of it.

[JohnnyG]

My wife and I just did the Twin Cities to Galena Ill section two weeks ago. The river bluffs were in full fall colors and the small river towns along the way almost put us back in time. We decided to do the complete length of the river on one of the many travels we hope to do after retirement.

[Alfred]

Hey ShadowCatcher!

Sounds like it would be a great trip! So much history, literature, music, food, and culture tied to the Mississippi River!

Keep us posted!

AL

[Shadow Catcher]

What inspired the post was an article in the Toledo Blade (Ohio) yesterday. We have conflicting desires for next summer, there will be a family gathering in California and it may well be the last opportunity to see my last surviving uncle and aunt both of whom are in their nineties. and a road trip to Ca would allow us to visit friends between here and there as well as see some of the national parks.
It has been great to see feed back from those that have actually done sections of it and it may wait till Nancy retires.

[tearhead]

I've seen parts of the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois sections;all are beautiful!

About a year ago, I got the crazy idea that we could collectively camp the Great River Road by having a group start out at the top and camp, then drive a ways south and camp (many good options). Others could join and they would caravan together and camp again. So it would be a combined caravan/parade and serial gathering. People could drop out/join as they wished. It could go all the way to the Gulf. But nobody took me up on it!

[Redgloves]

Ideally everyone should walk across the Mississippi Headwaters once.

Lake Itasca state park is beautiful. Amazing to see beginning of Mississippi is a clear stream maybe about 10 feet wide, shallow. By the time it winds to Minneapolis/St. Paul, wide, deep and dirty, muddy water.

Jean

[Reddiver]

Thanks never heard of the Road what a great trip

[robfisher]

We've done some of the southern Louisiana portion. Found it very interesting but somewhat frustrating at the same time. The river levee was so high I couldn't see everything I wanted to see. Cars should come with periscopes. Anyway, it was a great trip, chock full of interesting side stops. My recommendation is DO NOT be in a hurry. There is a lot of history to experience and that takes getting out of the car.

[48Rob]

I did a stretch this spring on the Illinois and Iowa sides.
Levee's everywhere, and just my luck, the big spring floods were in full swing.
This was a common sight;

Climb the levee to see...

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe3005eb611e00000030O02AbNGjdu5bMge3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/">

That there is no access...


<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1ce39b3127ccefe313db8c02d00000030O02AbNGjdu5bMge3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/">

I'm going to try again, during drier weather!
There are a lot of neat camping places way out in the sticks.

Rob

[mkitchen]

So when would be a good time to do such a trip and would a fellow be better off going south to north or the reverse? Keep in mind that my TD does not have an air conditioner and I do not plan on installing one. We would be looking for cool nights for us dry weather desert rats.
Mikey

[48Rob]

So when would be a good time to do such a trip and would a fellow be better off going south to north or the reverse? Keep in mind that my TD does not have an air conditioner and I do not plan on installing one. We would be looking for cool nights for us dry weather desert rats.
Mikey

Early Fall would be a great time.
The temps would be cool, the water level would be normal to low, and most of the summer crowd would be gone.
Which direction you choose should be based on how cool you like it.
The further North you go the cooler it will be.

Rob

[mkitchen]

Mo and I both want to get out to the midwest and following the river would be a great tour. By early fall, are you suggesting September/October? This one is going on our bucket list for sure!
Mikey