Took off around 9 am. to begin leg # 3 of the great adventure. We start with 3690 miles (what we have traveled thus far). We are headed to SD first and will work our way back.
Did you know Sparta, WI was named after the Greek city/state, and that it was known for its healing springs? Anyone know where they were/are located?
As we depart, the temp is 31⁰, there is snow on the ground, the sun is shining, and the skies are blue.
There is no snow in LaCrosse. The Mississippi River ice is almost gone. What is left is not safe to walk on.”Zebulon Pike mounted an expedition up the Mississippi River for the United States. Pike recorded the name “Prairie La Crosse.” The name originated from the game with sticks that resembled a bishop’s crozier or la crosse in French, which was played by Native Americans there.
Minnesota welcomes us. There is no snow there either, and no ice on the river.
Nodine,MN, formerly Rose Hill, had its name changed by an early survey crew to Nodine because there were no places to eat. Light skiff of snow with a temp of 29⁰.
Rushford, MN, was first known as Rushford Twnshp beginning in 1858 when it was named after Rush Creek, which was named after the rush plants that lined its banks.
Lewiston, MN, was named after pioneer settler Jonathan Smith Lewis in 1873.
Chatfield, MN, was named after Judge Andrew G Chatfield and sits on land claimed by Thomas Twiford in 1853.
St. Charles, MN, was named after St Charles of Italy. Settlers came for the fertile valley, the Whitewater River, and the beauty of the limestone bluffs.
Dover, MN, was named after Dover, NH, because that is where the settlers came from.
Elgin, MN, was laid out in 1878 after the railroad got there and was named after Elgin, Scotland.
Stewartville, MN was founded in 1857 as a small praire village by Charles Stewart and was named after him. It only had 3 streets. People of note from this town… Richard Warren Sears, founder of Sears & Roebucks Company; Jason Hammel half of the Indie- Pop duo of Mates of State; John Paul Goode geographer and cartographer.
Interstate 90, County 1, mile marker 197 thru 189 has windmills and powerlines stretched out as far as the eye can see.
Dexter, MN platted in 1874 named after Dexter Parrit.
Grand Meadow, MN, as the story goes on a bright sunny day, a gentleman’s gaze saw a beautiful landscape and declared, “What a grand praire!”
Elkton, MN, was platted in 1857 by W.E.Richardson and Frank A. Day. Notable people, Alvin Baldus.
Rose Creek, MN, was named for nearby Rose Creek in 1868 when the railroad was extended to that point.
Brownsdale, MN, was named for Andrew D Brown, a businessman in the lumber industry in 1856.
Austin, MN, was settled in 1853 and laid out in 1856, being named for its 1st settler Austin R Nichols originally from NY state.
Albert Lea, MN, a small settlement on a lake named Albert Lea after a topographer, Lt Albert Miller Lea, who was part of the United States Dragoons and had sketched the lake naming it Fox Lake. Joseph Nicollet later renamed it Albert Lea lake.
Manchester, MN, was named after Manchster Township, IL, which used to be the home of an early settler.
Snow-cover growing deeper. Beautiful bald eagle soaring the sky.
Wells,MN, named for JW Wells father-in-law of Clark W Thompson WW I & II Veteran, who served 11 terms in the House of Representatives.
Kiester, MN, was named for Jacob Armel Kiester, a lawyer known as a historian for Blue Earth County, but before that, a legislator, county attorney, and county surveyor, among other roles.
Frost, MN, 1899, was named for Charles Sumner Frost, an architect.
Irrigation equipment dots the landscape for Blue Valley Sod company.
Blue Earth, MN, is named for the Dakota word Mahkato, meaning greenish blue earth.
Communication towers rise in the sky over Blue Earth. More windmills dot the landscape.
I-90 Golden Spike marker https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=178485
Guckeen, MN, originally called Derby in 1899 but changed to Guckeen after an early settler in 1901.
East Chain, MN was named after the East Cain of Lakes.
Fairmont, MN, “the county seat was given the name Fair Mount, which referred to the way it was situated above and beside the Central Chain of lakes, giving it a fine outlook across the lakes and adjoining countryside. The name was later shortened to Fairmont.
Just saw the news regarding the fatal shootings of 2 law enforcement officers and an EMS worker in Burnsville, MN. May they rest in peace. Domestic violence calls are one of the most dangerous to respond to.
Sherburne, MN “It was named Sherburne, to recognize Moses Sherburne (1808-1868), a prominent area attorney, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory (1853-1857), who retired to the county and spent his final year of life there (in Orono).”
St. James, MN, named by the railroad for James Purington, an early settler,the new city was incorporated in 1871. It was the hometown of Minnesota Governor Winfield Scott Hammond
Alpha, MN, was first known as Wisconsin in 1878, later becoming Earl, then Irwin until finally it was named Alpha by the post office.
Lakefield, MN https://www.lakefieldmn.com/
More windmills dot the country side. Flat land here with farms scattered about amidst large powerlines and communication towers. Scattered clumps of trees and rock piles. Looks like corn and bean land. Lots of grain elevators. Fuel averaging 2.94.
Round Lake, MN named after the beautiful lake nearby.
Adrian, MN, Had my breath taken away here. We saw a church steeple from the interstate and decided to check it out.
South Dakota welcomes us. Fuel 2.75, very few snow piles.
DeSmet, SD, home of Laura Ingels Wilder where her last 5 books took place.
Rosebud Reservation is close to our turnoff. Resting place of my stepmother Susie and half sister Charity. I should have thought ahead and looked up the information before we left home.
Southbound on Hwy 45 to 271st St. We’re in pheasant country. Now in deer country westbound on 44.
Last stop for the day. Parkside Motel Gregory, SD. Clean mom & pop at a good price.
In the "Wilds of Wisconsin & Cornfields of Iowa" 
beautiful church
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