Montpelier, Iowa

We have now been on the road for one month and have traveled a little over 4,000 miles. 

We are camping tonight in an Army Corp of Engineers campground, right next to the Mississippi River. In fact, some of the sites are under the river.  

They told us we could stay tonight but they would be closed tomorrow because the river is supposed to rise another foot.  I told the host I'd be up all night watching for rising water. 

She said I had nothing to worry about, our campsite won't be flooded until it rises 2 1/2 feet. I think if I believe that, they have a bridge they would like to sell me.

Our waterfront home for tonight.

A water hazard at the horse shoe pit.

The great thing about this place is it's between the railroad tracks and the river. It is just like at Grandma and Grandpa Nugent's house in Brickeys, Missouri.

I just need to line the bowl of the head with aluminum foil to recreate the whole scene. My grandparents didn't have indoor plumbing, so a bucket was used at night in order that we didn't have to go to the outhouse.

Grandpa was paid a $1 per day to read a gauge on the shore and post the depth of the river on a reader board. 

The ferry would stop at Brickeys Landing and the captain would let us kids come aboard. I got to steer the boat and pull the horn. Quite exciting as I recall.

The day started with a mechanic coming out to the campsite to install the switch for my secondary cooling fan. Then we went into Hannibal for lunch. 

It was a beautiful day. We didn't do the tours or go into the cave, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable stop.

These two were playing on the street in front of the coffee shop. They really made a perfect sound track to the street scene.

Hannibal Ragtime

Dogwood tree in bloom at Mark Twain's house.

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn