Trip to the Midwest and the Mississippi River

Our trip back to the Midwest was one of necessity but I also took this opportunity to show my family where I had grown up.  Our eldest son plays Disk Golf with a high level of skill and enjoys taking his father out with him to practice.  I remembered that there was a great course in a park where I used to spend hours walking looking at the Bald Eagles and wild life.  At that time I noticed people playing a game but had no knowledge of the sport my son has mastered until he introduced Disc Golf to me.  It was, of course, nothing remotely like what I thought it was at that time.  I was excited to show him about this wonderful course off the Mississippi River in one of my favorite parks. 

We arrive in La Crosse Wisconsin on the chilly April day with a simple goal; my son and husband were going to play Disc Golf, while my daughter and I find something to do that will keep us warm.  During the drive I had mentioned some of my childhood experiences with the river flooding but had never expected what we were about to find.

Fine Art Photo found in ETSY Shop Dank Dezigns at http://www.etsy.com/people/DankDezigns?ref=ls_profile

I pulled off La Crosse’s "Big Blue Bridge" and immediately noticed to the left that the campground that was there last summer was completely gone.  As soon as I seen the water I knew we were not headed to play Disc Golf but to view a natural disaster.  Again the mighty river has flooded its banks overtaking the parks along its shores.  It was disappointing but it also led us to an awesome demonstration of the power nature still has over mankind and his technology. 

In the early 1900's people decide that they are going to control the mighty Mississippi River.  They completely changed the river’s natural path and flow with locks and dams eventually narrowing and deepening it into a natural resource for commerce and recreation. 

Photograph found in ETSY Shop Paul's Pics at
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They developed the land up and down the river; building parks, housing, and businesses along its banks.  They gave them wonderful names to lure the people (Riverside, Riverfront, and Riverview) with no consideration to the amazing will that the river has.  With one season of heavy snow along with the spring rain the river will wash away what our human hands have created without hesitation. 

Although my son and his father were not able to play their sport at this park; I was able to show them first-hand what I had witnessed as a child; the amazing power and will of the mighty Mississippi.


So here is some treasuries saluting the power of water: