Visiting Northeast Iowa

Recently I was able to visit Northeast Iowa, especially Clayton County to visit my Siblings and other relatives.  One Day My youngest Sibling took me on a Field Trip of the Back Roads of Clayton County and other local Counties.  Of course we got into trouble in Elkport, Iowa and were forced to visit the local Jail.

 My Sibling

 This Blog's Author

After our Jail Time we determined that we should visit the local church!

We then traveled through Amish Country Southwest of Elkport.  My Sibling took me on a gravel road because were in quest of rural scenes that would remind me of my Youth as an Iowa Farm Boy.  This Grain Binder was in on an Amish Farm.  The morning dew was damp enough that the Farmers had not commenced the cutting of the Oats Crop.  Therefore I was able to get several pictures.

These scenes are especially meaningful to me because when I was a mere twelve year old tender young Farm Boy I was shocking oats in a field much like this one.  This Binder is of the type that my Dad used to cut the Oats Crop.  The bundles were then arranged in Shocks to dry out prior to being threshed.

After the Amish Farm we then traveled to Edgewood and the Greely area.  My Sibling Brother wanted to show me the Turbine Farm where electric power is generated.  There were a total of 17 turbines on this farm.

Our next stop was a demonstration plot where various types of Soybeans and Corn are grown so that Farmers can observe the traits of the various types to determine which will perform best in their respective farm operations.

In recent years Farmers have painted "Quilts" on the ends of their Barns.  This has become quite a Tourist Draw.  In fact there are "Barn Quilt" Tours where people can acquire a map and visit many "Barn Quilts" in a day.

We concluded our Tour of Northeast Iowa by traveling to Elkader so that we could consume a late lunch.  Prior to arriving in downtown Elkader we traveled alongside Turkey River.  As I looked across the River I noted these two young Fisherboys enjoying the Summer.  I had my Brother stop so that I could take some pictures.  Once these Fisherboys observed me with a camera from across the river they posed with their catch. 

What a wonderful Trip down Memory Lane for me as my Sibling escorted me around some roads that I never knew about in my Youth.  A Delightful day and certainly a dynamic opportunity to connect with my Youth as an Iowa Farm Boy.