Scenic highways and byways

I have a National Geographic book called “Scenic Highways and Byways.” Whenever we travel we try to avoid the truck dominated Interstate highways and take less traveled roads. Following the routes in this book has helped us find some pleasant and interesting spots as we travel.

So, on Friday we decided to take the Woodlands Scenic Byway which is basically county roads (1 miserable gravel road section) from Ottumwa IA to Farmington IA in south eastern Iowa. It turns out it was the week end of the Scenic Drive Festival and many of the little towns along the drive were having craft and yard sales, book sales, craft demonstrations; there were all kinds of food events. plus musical events and a parade. Unfortunately, it was also raining, so we didn’t much feel like participating in any of the events.  It did clear up by Sunday, but we were long gone by then! We did spend some time in Keosauqua, the largest town, population 1006. It has a lovely waterfront along the Des Moines River. Many of the small towns were considered port towns at one time. We stayed in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, a beautiful wooded park  along the Des Moines River.

On Saturday afternoon (we were out of the rain by then) we drove the “Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road.” This is Missouri Highway 79 from south of Hannibal to Clarksville MO. It is called “Little Dixie” because it goes through an area of Missouri settled by people from the south! We had glimpses of the Salt River and lots of wooded hillsides. The trees are just starting to turn color here. We turned off at the town of Louisiana to visit the Henry Lay Sculpture Garden on county road UU.

Here I am in the Ozarks!

Sunday, October 15, found us looking for the scenic drive through the Ozarks. It was on Missouri 19 from Salem to Eminence. I must say I was a little underwhelmed! I was expecting mountains, but all we saw were low wooded hills and more windy roads without shoulders. We decided Missouri must be where old cars go to die – almost every yard was filled with junk cars! There were a lot of mobile homes and unkempt properties. It is really interesting to see the variety in our country.

Crowley’s Ridge Parkway is the final drive we have taken so far. It starts in Missouri and goes into Arkansas following a ridge formed when the Mississippi and Ohio River flowed parallel 15,000 years ago and formed an upraised ridge between them. It is only 200 to 250 feet higher than the surrounding land, but it is still an interesting geological formation.