Durand, WI - Rushford, MN - Decorah, IA - Amana, IA

 August 3 - 14, 2025

On Monday, August 4 we drove to Tarrant City Park in Durand, WI for three nights.  It was 50 amp electric and water for $45.00 per night.  It was a really nice quiet city park and we were the only ones there for the first night.

One of the reasons we went there was because the Chippewa River State Trail  runs right behind the campground.  We had a beautiful view of this genetically modified feed corn field.

On Tuesday we went on the bike trail.  It was not very well maintained and was bumpy with a lot of grass growing between the cracks.

But it was a beautiful day!  We did about 10 miles and had fun.

Some scenery along the trail.

From the trail.

On Thursday we crossed the Mississippi River again.

It's getting wider fast!

On Thursday, August 7 we went to Northend Campground in Rushford, MN for three nights.  It's a city campground along the Rush Creek.  It was 50 amp full hookups for $38.63 per night.  We both forgot to take a picture of the campground, but it was nice for what we needed.

The Root River State trail was across the road so we rode it too.  It was a really nice trail.

It seems like I'm always doing laundry.  I have light, dark, and towels, and it's nice when they're all empty at the same time.

We left Rushford and were driving to our next stop.  The corn and soybean fields stretch as far as the eye can see.

We crossed into Iowa on Sunday, August 10.

We stayed at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah, IA for two nights.  It was 50 amp electric only for $35.50 per night.

There was a little creek running through the campground.

Also running through the campground, and over the bridge, was the Trout Run Trail.  I had hurt my back either bike riding or cleaning, so John did the trail by himself.  He said it was hilly and more difficult than the others we had been on, so I'm glad I didn't go.

Trout Run Trail

Some pictures he took along the trail.

Here he comes back to the 5th wheel.

On Tuesday, August 12 we left Decorah and headed to our next stop.  They grow a LOT of corn and soybeans here!

We went to the Amana RV Park & Event Center Campground in Amana, IA for three nights.  It's 50 amp full hookups for $42.19 per night.

On Wednesday we went to the Amana Colonies.  Amana Refrigeration was started here and they made the first microwave.  The first home use microwave was the Amana Radarange.  My mom had one of these and I remember it well.

Whirlpool eventually bought Amana but they still make washing machines in the factory in Amana.

The Amana Colonies were communal.  Everyone had a job to do, and they worked 10 hour days 6 days a week.  Jobs were assigned, and if you wanted to work in the woodworking shop and you were tending sheep you could ask for a change but that didn't mean you would get it.  Houses were large and could house extended family.  Each of the seven villages had everything anyone could need as everything was provided for them.  No one earned a wage, and no one owned anything.  Unlike the Amish, they accepted technology and new ways of doing things. In the 1930s many of the young people were moving away because they didn't like the restrictiveness and that brought about The Change.  If you're interested in learning more you can go to https://amanacolonies.com/visitors-guide/history-of-the-seven-villages/  

We started our 'tour' at the Amana Heritage Museum.

Wash House and Wood Shed.

The wash house would have been very hot and uncomfortable on hot summer days.  They had huge 'cauldrons' they put water in, which was heated by a wood fire.  Laundry was done every Monday, so the women working in the laundry would have to wash a week's worth of clothes for many people.

The Noe House that is now part of the museum.

The rear of the house.

Next we went to the Amana Community Church in Homestead.

All the churches were like this:  wooden benches and blue paint, no pictures and very plain. Before The Change services were two to three hours long and in German.  I don't think I could have sat on those hard benches that long without squirming big time.  They still use these churches today, but the services are about an hour long and in English.

Then we went to the High Amana General Store.

This store is the only one in the villages that looks like it did over 100 years ago.

Our next stop was the Communal Kitchen in Middle Amana.  There were no kitchens in houses because there were central kitchens in each village that served around 40 people per day.  After The Change people had to add kitchens on to their houses.

The Kitchen.  There was a kitchen boss and usually two to three 14 year old girls that would work with her in the kitchens.  Children only went to school until they were 14 years old before The Change.

The dining room.

A sample menu.  The workers would have breakfast at 6:00 am.  Then lunch (snack) at 8:30 am and dinner at 11:30 am, followed by lunch (snack) at 2:30 pm, and supper at 6:00 pm.  Meals were served family style, so they could have as much as they wanted to eat unless it was a meat like roast beef and then they only got one serving.  They would come in, get their food, eat, and leave, without any conversation.  Some of the soups I've never heard of before:  cotton soup and crumb soup.

View from the street: kitchen on the left and dining room on the right.

The Amana Woolen Mill still makes wool and cotton items for sale.  The store had some beautiful things but I really didn't need any of them.  Amazingly I didn't buy a single thing anywhere in Amana.

We were allowed to walk to the door of the mill and watch the machines, but we couldn't go any farther.

It was a full day but interesting.  I don't agree with their views but you can't change history.

Today was a catch-up day (laundry and blog) and tomorrow we'll be...

Roving on...

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3