We awoke at sunrise to a dry camp, but rain predicted for later in the day, so we quickly struck the tent and packed before heading for the showers and off on yet another day of adventure.  To our surprise, the levee road west led to a small community and a way out to the mainland, following the Mississippi River Trail bike route signs.

Fortunately, we had elected not to ride our bike this morning on this exploration, as it rained briefly on the way.  We circled back to the Blue Heron Coffeehouse in downtown Winona,. then photographed some of the magnificent buildings–churches with towering steeples and the county courthouse.

We had been advised that the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona was not to be missed, so we wandered the parking lot until opening time, 10:00.  What a gem!  The permanent collection contained a huge representation of American art from the Hudson River School and a more eclectic collection including a Georgia O’ Keefe painting and the original rendition of Washington Crossing the Delaware that hung in the White House for many years.  A few of the works depicted scenes of the Mississippi Valley in the 19th century.  Another gallery had many European Expressionist and Impressionist works, including  Seurat, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and many more.

With no firm plan, other than we need to be in Jackson sometime Friday afternoon, three days hence, we continued our meander upriver, toward a darkening sky.  Torrential rains pounded us as we neared Red Wing, our lunch destination.

We decided to head west, now.  Online, bargain rooms at motels seemed to be filling quickly: Mankato was full, so we chose Faribault, made a reservation, and continued on, the rain having subsided, true to the “scattered thunderstorm” prediction.  A quick loop through downtown Northfield, home to St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges and where Jesse James and gang robbed the bank in their northernmost foray, and then on to Faribault.  The deluge resumed on our return from dinner out.  No tenting or bicycling for the next few days, until the weather improves.

Monday, we bid adieu to family and headed back toward Iowa.  We decided we needed a tour  of the Mississippi River on the way, so we drove to Dubuque, then north on the scenic route, including a stop at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam #10 to watch barges pass through the locks on the way upstream to be reloaded.

Arriving at Decorah, we grabbed lunch and then scouted out the city campground, which was conveniently located on a spur trail near the famous Trout Run Trail that we came to ride.

We decided that early  morning would be better, when we were fresh, and turned in early, our first tent camping adventure since August 2013.