The Trip Home From Illinois

Two years after the "Flood of the Century", numerous houses stand abandoned, and empty foundations mark the place where others once stood.  Flood debris still dots the wooded areas along US 34 on the approach to the river near Burlington, Iowa.  Many houses, renovated on the inside, still show the high water line on the mud-discolored siding.  The same discoloration shows up on farm buildings and grain bins in the flood plain. 

A house abandoned after the flood of 2008 on the Illinois side of the Mississippi near Burlington, Iowa.

Note the high water level on this house on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.  This house appears to have been rehabilitated. 

Two years after the flood, this business building may still be undergoing restoration, but has no windows.

 Another house abandoned after the flood of 2008.

A string of barges tied up to an island in the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa.  Note how high the water level is by the trees standing in the water.

The top of the old Moehn Brewing Co. building in Burlington, Iowa.  The castle like appearance with the crenelations and ornate corners always catches my attention.

And now, some artsy pictures......

The last bit of sun as it slipped down behind the clouds on the horizon.

A farmstead silhouetted against the sunset.


And finally, one of Princess Miaya in her chariot.

Miaya with a smile somewhere between Chariton and Osceola, Iowa.  The Princess was a bit less cheery a few more miles down the road.  Note that the little monkey has managed to slip the latch on her chest buckle.