Where Eagles Dare

I just came across these photos from one of our visits to La Crosse back in November.  The bluffs that line both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides of the Mississippi River are home to a growing population of bald eagles.  It's always a thrill to see them soar over the wetlands and parks that surround La Crosse. This pair was taking a break high up in a tree in Pettibone Park.

Below is a close-up of the fellow on the left.  I sure wouldn't want to be the prey in his line of sight!

Landmark Cannon

This cannon, located in La Crosse's Riverside Park, was dedicated in July 1918 as a memorial to the USS Maine, which was destroyed in Havana Harbor in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.

As teenagers, we used to get a dozen kids to sit on the front edge of the cannon and it would rock downward, allowing all the rainwater and candy wrappers to slop out... we called it "burping the cannon!"  I wonder if that still works? ;-)

Time Capsule

Last weekend we were in La Crosse for our 40th high school reunion (time flies!) and took our usual morning walk around Riverside Park.  In a small hidden corner of the park there was a square of inlaid brick which we had never seen before containing a time capsule. I wonder what's in it, because I don't believe we'll be around to find out when it's opened in 2056!

Colorful Heron

I posted a picture of this heron a few years back, but here is another view of the "Pump House Heron" statue at the International Friendship Gardens in La Crosse.  I really like the painted promise of colorful summertime flowers contrasted against the bare and chilly spring background.

"Hiawatha"

Known locally as "The Big Indian" - this statue of the Native American, Hiawatha, towers over Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  As the sign below says, it was created by a middle school art teacher, Anthony Zimmerhakl (everyone called him Zim) back in 1962, and has been a landmark ever since for those boating up and down the Mississippi River.

Be sure to click on the statue image to see a larger version.

Granddad's Sunset

Another dramatic sunset view from atop of Granddad's Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin. You can see across the Mississippi River to eastern Minnesota in the distance.

See all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

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If you arrived here via the "SkyWatch" link - thank you!  Feel free to peruse all my other photo posts by visiting the Pewaukee Daily Photo's home page. 

Another Mississippi River Sunset

Taken looking northwest over the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from Riverside Park.  The clouds look like they are boiling up a storm.

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You can see for miles and miles

The above photo was taken on the way up to Granddad's Bluff point, off the right side of the road.  It's looking north towards Onalaska, Wisconsin, and westward to Minnesota.  You can see parts of both the Black River and the Mississippi River in the distance. It had rained earlier in the day and was still very warm so there was a misty haze illuminated by the sunset.

The image below was taken from the top of Granddad's (where the telescopic view finders are) and it also looks northwest, but with a closer focus.  The marsh at the bottom of the picture is part of the La Crosse River flowage, which goes through Myrick Park, and eventually meets up with the Mississippi River in downtown La Crosse.

Click each one to see the enlarged images. These seem quite appropriate for Skywatch Friday!

Gimme Shelter

Above is the remodeled shelter house on top of Granddad's Bluff in La Crosse at sunset. Below is the view of the fenced path that goes to the lower look out.  From this vantage point you can see up and down the Mississippi River valley, including areas of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The last image is looking back up at the shelter from the lower level.

I'll post a few more panoramic sunset views tomorrow.

Winter River Sunrise

During a quiet walk on a recent frosty morning, I took this photo looking south towards the Mississippi River bridge in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Sandbar Party

Part of life on the river is boating. And part of boating (along with fishing) is cruising on a warm, sunny afternoon and enjoying the stops along the way. Sandbars are areas of sandy beaches skirting the wooded shores of the river and are popular spots for overnight camping, swimming, exploring, and general fun. The biggest challenge is keeping the mosquitoes at bay. Many a "S'more" has been enjoyed over an open evening campfire over the years!

Pontoon boats (below) are a favorite way of sailing up and down the main channel of the Mississippi near La Crosse.

[Note: Be sure to click the photos, and then click again, to see the full size view.]

Barge

A red barge docked on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, WI.

Bridges

During our La Crosse Queen excursion (see 7/16 post) we travelled up the Mississippi River to the railroad extension bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota (above). We then turned around and continued downstream, past Riverside Park and under the twin span highway bridge also connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota (below).

Big Wheel Keep on Turning...

While visiting La Crosse, Wisconsin a few weeks ago, we took a "La Crosse Queen" paddleboat ride on the Mississippi River. The "Queen" is docked at Riverside Park and has a pretty regular schedule during the summer and fall months. Our sunset cruise last 1-1/2 hours and toured up north towards the railroad bridge crossing, and then headed back down south, past the park and under the Mississippi span bridges. (More photos will be posted over the next few days.)

Flood

In early April, during a visit to La Crosse, we stopped by Riverside Park on the Mississippi River. The spring snows had melted upstream and the flooding had begun. This view is looking south toward the bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The flooded brick walkway below the statues of the children is normally an open path to the steamboat docking. The cement curb beyond the docking posts is part of the levee usually above water. Across the river you can see the Pettibone Island beach house has been flooded as well.

The photo below shows the same landing looking northward, where the Black River (on the right) joins the main channel of the Mississippi (on the left.)

SkyWatch: Late Afternoon Haze

Another view from the top of Grandad's Bluff. This was taken while at the end of a trail, facing southwest, looking towards the Minnesota and Iowa border on the Mississippi River. The reflection of the sky on the river almost looks like snow in the distance.

See all SkyWatch entries here.

Granddad's Bluff

I visited some family members in La Crosse, WI, this past weekend. Granddad's Bluff, which towers 590 feet above the city, is one of the area's main natural attractions. The photo above shows the point from the city below. Bliss Road, which winds all the way to the top of Granddad's, was shut down several years ago due to structural flaws and crumbling of the rocks under the road. After lots of political debate, it was eventually repaired and reopened this year. I was excited to finally go back up to the top during my visit.

The view below shows a retaining fence, which supposedly keeps people from getting too close to the edge. The bluffs are made of sandstone and chert, which are soft and unstable rocks. But, naturally, there are always those daring souls who walk around it and try to get to the look-out area below. Sadly, a young high school girl recently slipped to her death from here, hence all the flowers and memorials tied to the fence.

Still, it is a beautiful view. The houses in the lower left are part of the city of La Crosse. The forested area and the marsh beyond is Myrick Park (where I took these eagle shots last spring.) The expanse moves into north La Crosse and neighboring Onalaska. The bluffs in the distance are on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi. I hope to post a few more photos of the area in the days ahead.

The Eagle Has Landed

This statue of a majestic eagle graces Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin. We never saw eagles in that area while growing up in the 60's and 70's, but they started to make a come back in the late 80's. Now they can be seen soaring along the Mississippi River between the bluffs of both Wisconsin and Minnesota all times of the year. [Visit one of my earlier posts of an eagle doing some "ice" fishing...]

Up the Lazy River

The La Crosse River meanders behind the International Friendship Gardens in La Crosse's Riverside Park and empties into the mighty Mississippi just around the bend (below.) That's an abandoned railroad trestle in the distance

You can almost imagine Huck Finn floating on raft under the canopy of these giant cottonwood trees, escaping the heat of the noon-day sun...

International Friendship Gardens: Waterlily

I took quite a few pictures while we were in La Crosse last weekend and so will try to post some here and there during the coming week. There is an international friendship garden right next to Riverside Park which includes several paths that meander around a variety of plants and garden styles, along with a pretty gazebo. This small pond was host to some waterlilies, cattails, and some very large koi (goldfish).