After enjoying the morning in downtown Dubuque, we drove south to find a good hiking spot.
1443 56,272 81°F Dubuque, Iowa
A small bird and butterfly garden on the grounds serves as an example for folks that might want to have a garden of native plants at home.
Inside, we were told about the 24 miles of hiking trails available in the park.
Signage showed this was the site of lead mines, originally owned by the Meskwaki people and operated by Julien Dubuque from 1788 through his death in 1810.
After a stroll at Mines of Spain, we crossed back into Wisconsin and headed north along the Mississippi river.
We enjoy traveling off the beaten path, but had never seen a “Rustic Road”sign before. Wisconsin actually defines Rustic Roads and Scenic Byways on their
DOT website. It was a pretty drive, so keep your eyes open for these signs if you want a less traveled path.
1530 56,287 Dickeyville, WI
Driving through this small town I decided to pull over after we saw an interesting set of structures beside the Holy Ghost Church.
The
Grotto is a set of shrines begun a hundred years ago. Columbus was a major focus with anchors made from seashells bordering his statue.
Hostas were blooming in front of the alcove dedicated to piety.
Shrines were constructed from stones, cement, seashells, and lots of geodes from around the world.
Patriotism labels a pedestal highlighted by an American flag.
Dickeyville Grotto was an interesting stop and a great example of why we like to travel through small towns.
1610 56,297 Potosi, Wisconsin
We’re big fans of COE campgrounds, but Beth ruled this one out when we saw a double track railroad mainline running along the eastern border.
Map courtesy of US Army COE
1624 56,299 82°F Potosi, Wisconsin
We are a big fan of Harvest Hosts as they allow us a more flexible alternative to campgrounds.
I enjoyed a flyte from the extensive selection on tap. Click on the photo to zoom in and count the taps.
During dinner, the friendly waitstaff provided some excitement when they captured a feral kitten.
The National Brewery Museum $10/$8 for seniors is on-site, but even if you don’t take the tour, the bar and restaurant have interesting items on display like these unique beer steins.
Brewery tours had been paused due to Covid, but have since resumed.
Plenty of room for parking let us hug the woods beside the brewery. Cell service was non-existent from Verizon, but free wi-fi was available inside the restaurant.
Good night from Potosi, Wisconsin.
Postscipt – Overnight was very quiet, but road noise started at 0500. Drivers weren’t paying any attention to the 30 mph town speed limit.
Dubuque, IA to Potosi, WI
