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This trip to the mid-west turned out to be more than we imagined. We were able to drive across Illinois to get Charles Mound, the Illinois state highpoint. Then we drove up to Wisconsin to get Timms Hill, the Wisconsin state highpoint. From there we drove to St. Ignace, Michigan to enjoy time with friends at Mackinac Island and to get a bucket list item checked off for Debi. Then we drove to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and then L'Anse, Michigan where we got Mt. Arvon, the Michigan state highpoint. From there we drove up to Lutsen, MN where I climbed Eagle Mountain, the Minnesota state highpoint. What a trip thus far!
After visiting some friends outside of Minneapolis, MN, it was time to head south to Iowa for the state highpoint there.
We drove south out of Minneapolis and then got on I-90 west. Corn fields and soybean fields....this drive didn't have the same appeal as the forested roads and never ending lake views that we had in Michigan and Minnesota.
However, we did get to see some new sights along the way that neither I, nor my wife, have ever seen! "Ho ho ho....green giant." (For those of you old enough to remember the Jolly Green Giant TV commericals.)
After a couple hours of driving I-90, we came to our exit to head south into Iowa. It's exit 45 and Minnesota state Hwy 60.
This is at Worthington, MN.
After driving south for 12.2 miles you get to the Iowa state line. It's worth noting that the highway number doesn't change. It's still called Hwy 60 in Iowa.
At about 3 miles you can see the silos next to the highpoint off to the south-east (if coming from Minnesota.)
And the route finding is fairly simple on this one, with these big signs.
Turn east on 130th Street.
You can see the turn right away down at the big white sign. Turn right into the property.
And there it is, The Iowa state highpoint, just beyond the red barn museum.
The local veterans will welcome you.
And Iowa has done a nice job of commemorating their highest point.
Somebody put a lot of work into making this tile marker.
Here they have listed on these poles, all of the other state highpoints.
Hey, there's Eagle Mountain! I just came from there.
And Timms Hill and Charles Mound....I just did those during this trip!
So, I found the summit register over under the small roof. So I did my duty to sign in....my 22nd state highpoint and the 5th one for this trip. It was about 12 noon and only one other person had signed in today (on the following page.)
This state highpoint also had a summit bench from highpointersfoundation.org.
And look at the commanding views off of this summit! You can feel the airy twenty feet of prominence up here.
My wife and I went up to the deck over by the silo. The elevation up here almost made us dizzy.
We could see a long ways down Hwy 60 from up here.
We found the photo op and couldn't resist.
Did you know that the famous 1930's painting of the American Gothic House was an actual house in Eldon, Iowa which today is a landmark and museum:
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanGothicHouse
The painter Grant Wood used as models, his sister for the woman and his dentist as the man.
Now...the rest of this story and the true photo ops. This state highpoint adventure took me and my wife over 3,000 miles and netted 5 state highpoints. However, we originally were not planning to come to Iowa. As it turned out, we ended up not doing one of our planned activities and so we ended up with an extra day. So my wife asked me...."want to go get the Iowa state highpoint?" I said, "sure."
Not only did we go get Hawkeye Point, we made the effort to go back to where Debi grew up and has lots of childhood memories. We went to Nevada, IA which is home to the original Starbucks (not the coffee store) where we got a couple of MaidRites. That's the old name for their seasoned, loose meat beef burgers where the meat has been steamed, not cooked on a grill.
Starbucks was the actual last name of the family that started this restaurant over six decades ago.
After getting our dinner, we went over to Colo, IA and out to the farm where Debi's Aunt Muriel (91) and Uncle Hugo (96) still live.
For Debi to see them turned out to be an un-expected surprise and a real treat. The thought hit us that this may just be the last time we get to see them. We also got to see Debi's cousins, Alan, Linda, and Tyler Armbrecht (I overlooked getting a picture with them) and took a tour around the farm which brought up loads of old memories of when Debi would spend her summers out here.
After seeing these relatives, we drove through Cedar Falls where Debi lived for many years and went by the houses she use to live in. Then we drove to see Debi's Uncle Dean, Aunt Iris, and their daughter and kids.
Seeing family turned out to be one of the highlights of this state highpointing excursion. Family is important as you never know when you may loose them. You see, Debi lost her own mother when she was a little girl of only 8 years old. So, during our time in Iowa, we went out to the country north of State Center to the extremely rural St. John's church.
This is the church Debi grew up going to. And just down the road is the St. John's cemetery.
It was a bitter sweet time to come visit the grave of Jean Ann Wengert....Debi's mom.
Seeing family, visiting old stomping grounds, reliving old memories...this grand scavenger hunt of chasing high points has given us more than we anticipated, but especially reminded us not to neglect friends and family. They are what's most important as you never know when you may not ever see them again.
Which begs the question, what will happen when you take your last breath?
Just as man is destined to die once, after that to face judgement. Hebrews 9:27
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have ever lasting life. John 3:16
Jesus said, I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes unto the father except through me. John 14:6
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Very nice, Britt. I have visited that HP a couple times on my way to visit my Mom in Mankato, MN. They have improved it some since I was there last (probably 4 years ago). And, like Gerry – I love the stonework on the church, too. Debi’s Aunt and Uncle look like good salt of the earth type folks. I always thought a good farmer could build or fix just about anything.
Fun to follow along with the adventures. Thanks for being vulnerable and open with your journey. It’s tough to do so in such a public setting, but you have done so very well. Congrats on another.
"Which begs the question, what will happen when you take your last breath?"
Another way to ask the question is "what should you do before you take your last breath?"
The Apostle Paul provides the answer in Romans 10:9,13.
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Thanks for your willingness to be a witness for your faith. Press on.
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