Back from the Iowa weekend

After errands and appts. on Friday, we attended niece, Ali's graduation party Sat. evening.  On Sunday morning we drove to Laurens where we picked up Susie's son, Taylor.  Taylor rode to Pepin with us, dropped us off and drove our pickup truck back to Laurens, IA.  The pickup will stay with Taylor while we spend the next year on Heron.  Seems very odd not having "wheels", but we were without "wheels" only an hour when one of the friendly local residents offered his car, should the need arise.  Thanks Wally.  I'm telling you... this is a MUST visit destination.

The men checking out our home, Heron. Taylor is in the baseball cap & Bob kneeling.  Thank you Taylor for making that long ride up & back.  We hope you will meet up with us somewhere along the river for a ride on the boat. 

Pickle Factory Homemade Chips

The warm crispy homemade potato chips at The Pickle Factory are one of the most unique things served here.  They just come with every burger, sandwich, etc.  Oh so good!

Heron's first sail

Smooth sailing.  Things went very well until we were 1.5 miles from Lake City, MN and then the wind died.  Bob lowered the sails and we motored back to Lake Pepin.  All in all, no problems but found that a few minor adjustments in the lines will be made.

360 degrees around the marina jetty

Set sail today

Capt'n Bob?

Instilling confidence?  Mom, you are trusting your daughters' life with this guy?

Oh, that was him playing Ralphie from "A Christmas Story".

Here's Capt'n Bob.

He loves me.

Capt'n Bob at the helm.  Well, at least his feet are.  Isn't he talented.

Above you can see the tanbark sails after Bob removed the sail covers/bags, getting them ready to set sail.  This was a first and a very successful adventure.  Found that a few things need adjusting, but it was beautiful out there. That reminds me...there has not been one cloud in the sky for the last 2 days.

Above the dodger, looking into the main sail.

Way up yonder is Lake City, MN.

Bob gets his feet wet

This jetty was pretty much all under water when we came 14 days ago.

Bob stepped on the stones through this mostly flooded spot, but did get his feet wet along the way.

Hard to see him, but he is waaaayyyy out there.

 

And here is a huge and very heavy chain I found buried by the shore.  Bob says it is likely used to tie up barges.  The other end is anchored into the ground.

Note:  There is no humidity today.  My hair is as straight as it was when I combed it this a.m.  For those of you who do not know me, my hair is extremely curly and therefore, wild, as you will see when the humidity gets high.

Self-guided tour of homes in Pepin, WI

The original downtown was on both sides of First Street (closest street to the lake), but when the railroad bought the land on the lake side of First Street many businesses closed, while many moved to Second Street.

The house above was built in 1858 by George Densmore, this house was occupied in 1870, (and for many years after,) by a widow, "Aunt" Maggie Porter and her children.

This was the home of Benjamin Allen, an attorney and Civil War Colonel from Vermont, who was one of Pepin's early developers.  The house was built in 1857 and was purchased in 1876 by Philip Pfaff family.

The house above was built in 1876 as a family home by C.D. Nehlson, a German farmer, cabinetmaker-housebuilder and partner with Fred Stahl in the grain elevator business.  Of course, the white front porch is not original.

John Fuller, a marine engineer from Ohio, built this house for his family in 1874.

Hiram Fuller, machinist, marine engineer and farmer from New York built this family home in 1857 -58.  Anna Berry, who taught the class at the Barry Corner School in which Mary and Laura Ingalls were registered in 1871, later lived in this house until her death in 1941 at the age of 95.

The Lyman Fuller, blacksmith, and Mary Newcomb Fuller home was built in 1875. It once sat at this site but was demolished and this home was built

Now the Harbor Hill Inn, this house was built in 1891, when Edith Pfaff married Charles Francies.  They had this fine house built next door to her parents.

This information is provided in a brochure written by Martha Kuhlman & Catherine H. Latane.

Further details of these & other buildings in Pepin can be found in a book, also, by Martha & Catherine.

As you can see the homes are very well taken care of as are most of the home in Pepin.