 Main street Warsaw, though, maybe indirectly a symptom of Walmart
 Morman girls weren't to be messed with |
 An account of the exodus west  Bridge to West Quincey, Missouri |
25/7/2011, Nauvoo to Quincy
114km, 6.25hrs, 15.64 av., Total 3238, still very hot, light winds
Arising, the local racoons had spread the rubbish bag everywhere, much to their disgust, there was minimal fodder within. They figured, if we can’t get a feed we will make a mess anyway. Top job on their behalf.
The ranger swung by and collected $10, good value considering the showers and other facilities.
Campers across the way were approached and asked about the significance of the temple. They were nice people who explained that the disciples who were first ridiculed in the eastern states moved here, draining swamps, fencing the land and generally improving it. In doing so they had a community up to 10,000 strong. They then got hounded out of Nauvoo, heading west across the MR they eventually ended up at Utah, where many live now. They had a temple on the site of the present modern building. Asking if it was akin to Mecca, he said not quite as they have many temples spread around the world of apparently equal significance. The pontoon and wagon, (title photograph) are what they crossed the MR on and then west to Utah.
Much of the land west of town down to the river is owned also. Everyone I spoke to was helpful. Having many questions answered, moving on was next task.
The was alongside the river during the early stages. Arriving at Hamilton, being a tad peckish, I crossed the river to Keokuk, in Iowa. Crossing the river an excellent view of a lock was afforded. All streets in the town were concrete paved in varying states of repair, with vacant shops and disused lots with concrete still remaining on the ground.
I found Chinese buffet on Main street, put the bike in the lobby area and firstly demolished a couple of sprites, then launching into the multitide of dishes. The buffet was $6.00 and the drinks $1.00. This is unbelievable value.
Sure enough there was a Walmart in town, a scenario is now becoming clear, these stores firstly kill the city centre. They only stock generic type of goods. This being the case when you want something specialized, i.e. an aluminium fuel bottle, you can’t acquire one. The stores previously stocking these quality items have closed down due to not being able to make money on these items alone. Their bread and butter lines are stocked by Wal-mart, they are dead in the water .
It’s sad as these towns must have had such vibrant centres, the architecture and stature of the old buildings is great .Like a lemming I headed to Walmart and bought some nectarines and stocked up on cold icey water.
Back over in Illinois I was fueled up and headed for Warsaw, pop’n a few hundred. Now, this town pretty much has a deserted main street, buildings for the most part are nearly 200 years old. The main street runs west to the MR. Three giant silos are on the river bank at the western end of the street, these facilitate the loading of trucks and barges.
So on arrival in town I head to Casey’s (in all the small towns, petrol, food, etc.). The girls in these stores are great, they get paid five eigths but enjoy their work, can’t help enough and have an opinion on everything.
Asking this particular girl what people did in town, she promptly moved one hand simulating a glass being held, towards her mouth. This was after about the fifth person at 1400hrs had just departed with a slab of Bud Light or similar. Another classic old guy was scratching scratchies, I said you got to be lucky ,he said, I’m retired I aint got much else to do. Classic encounter.
The road from Warsaw was 20 miles with no services, I stocked up on icey water and headed down to the river. Corn and more corn, cleaned up the bananas and nectarines and was two or three mouthfuls short of running out of water, with no houses about. I considered using my water filter to retrieve water from one of the drains, roadside. Filtering the natural impurities might have been on, but this water would have been full of ag chemical run off. It was a last resort.
The town of Ursa was a saviour, the local servo was relieved of at least five cups maidens water. The girl and I chatted for about half an hour between customers ,who were bringing in their own drink containers and filling up from the machine.
The two dollar note subject came up , she had just been given one, I exchanged a three ones for this and a dollar coin having not seen one.
Quincy was not far away, arriving there (50,000) I had a couple of beers at Kutters bar and headed back to the Dritwood Camp ground, north of town, set up camp.
By the time I was organized, having made a few phone calls, I had a swim, a shower and nested. The tent was purposely secured against the local mozzy population, which en mass had an ankle fetish.
The numbers in the tent were < half a dozen. It was another 25 degree plus night. Racoons were checking the camp not long after I nested, They even tried to get into a can of peas.
114km, 6.25hrs, 15.64 av., Total 3238, still very hot, light winds
Arising, the local racoons had spread the rubbish bag everywhere, much to their disgust, there was minimal fodder within. They figured, if we can’t get a feed we will make a mess anyway. Top job on their behalf.
The ranger swung by and collected $10, good value considering the showers and other facilities.
Campers across the way were approached and asked about the significance of the temple. They were nice people who explained that the disciples who were first ridiculed in the eastern states moved here, draining swamps, fencing the land and generally improving it. In doing so they had a community up to 10,000 strong. They then got hounded out of Nauvoo, heading west across the MR they eventually ended up at Utah, where many live now. They had a temple on the site of the present modern building. Asking if it was akin to Mecca, he said not quite as they have many temples spread around the world of apparently equal significance. The pontoon and wagon, (title photograph) are what they crossed the MR on and then west to Utah.
Much of the land west of town down to the river is owned also. Everyone I spoke to was helpful. Having many questions answered, moving on was next task.
The was alongside the river during the early stages. Arriving at Hamilton, being a tad peckish, I crossed the river to Keokuk, in Iowa. Crossing the river an excellent view of a lock was afforded. All streets in the town were concrete paved in varying states of repair, with vacant shops and disused lots with concrete still remaining on the ground.
I found Chinese buffet on Main street, put the bike in the lobby area and firstly demolished a couple of sprites, then launching into the multitide of dishes. The buffet was $6.00 and the drinks $1.00. This is unbelievable value.
Sure enough there was a Walmart in town, a scenario is now becoming clear, these stores firstly kill the city centre. They only stock generic type of goods. This being the case when you want something specialized, i.e. an aluminium fuel bottle, you can’t acquire one. The stores previously stocking these quality items have closed down due to not being able to make money on these items alone. Their bread and butter lines are stocked by Wal-mart, they are dead in the water .
It’s sad as these towns must have had such vibrant centres, the architecture and stature of the old buildings is great .Like a lemming I headed to Walmart and bought some nectarines and stocked up on cold icey water.
Back over in Illinois I was fueled up and headed for Warsaw, pop’n a few hundred. Now, this town pretty much has a deserted main street, buildings for the most part are nearly 200 years old. The main street runs west to the MR. Three giant silos are on the river bank at the western end of the street, these facilitate the loading of trucks and barges.
So on arrival in town I head to Casey’s (in all the small towns, petrol, food, etc.). The girls in these stores are great, they get paid five eigths but enjoy their work, can’t help enough and have an opinion on everything.
Asking this particular girl what people did in town, she promptly moved one hand simulating a glass being held, towards her mouth. This was after about the fifth person at 1400hrs had just departed with a slab of Bud Light or similar. Another classic old guy was scratching scratchies, I said you got to be lucky ,he said, I’m retired I aint got much else to do. Classic encounter.
The road from Warsaw was 20 miles with no services, I stocked up on icey water and headed down to the river. Corn and more corn, cleaned up the bananas and nectarines and was two or three mouthfuls short of running out of water, with no houses about. I considered using my water filter to retrieve water from one of the drains, roadside. Filtering the natural impurities might have been on, but this water would have been full of ag chemical run off. It was a last resort.
The town of Ursa was a saviour, the local servo was relieved of at least five cups maidens water. The girl and I chatted for about half an hour between customers ,who were bringing in their own drink containers and filling up from the machine.
The two dollar note subject came up , she had just been given one, I exchanged a three ones for this and a dollar coin having not seen one.
Quincy was not far away, arriving there (50,000) I had a couple of beers at Kutters bar and headed back to the Dritwood Camp ground, north of town, set up camp.
By the time I was organized, having made a few phone calls, I had a swim, a shower and nested. The tent was purposely secured against the local mozzy population, which en mass had an ankle fetish.
The numbers in the tent were < half a dozen. It was another 25 degree plus night. Racoons were checking the camp not long after I nested, They even tried to get into a can of peas.
