Summer Flashback: The Mississippi River

On Tuesday, July 27, we left Wisconsin and drove down to Nauvoo, Illinois, crossing the Mississippi several times. (Nauvoo was the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1839-1846, until they were forced to move West). During our drive we crossed the Mississippi River several times. I was fascinated by the landscape, and by the river itself.
The rolling hills of Wisconsin:


First river crossing:



We crossed back and forth from Iowa to Illinois for a while.

Finally, we spotted this:

It was early evening by the time we arrived. We settled into our house rental, had some dinner, and put the little people to bed. Grandmacita and Amy generously offered to stay with with the kids, so we took a walk down to the Nauvoo Temple to enjoy the beautiful (but VERY humid) evening. And take some (okay, a LOT) pictures with my new camera.




The statue depicts Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, leaving Navuoo for Carthage, Illinois, where they were killed. I know they really left in the morning, but I like this image; the symbolism of the sunset seems appropriate.

Matt got a new camera last summer too:

Sunset over the Mississippi, facing west. Just gorgeous.