Great River Road Drive to Nauvoo

These are waterlilies on the Mississippi River.

After our last day trip Detour we decided to go back that direction and take the Great River Road up to Nauvoo.  I had seen the waterlilies on the river last year but didn't get any decent photos. 

I was ready this time

There is no place to stop on this road so I'm just taking the pics I can get driving by

I was so focused on the River and the waterlilies I missed this coming...

But, when there is one, usually there are more to come...

This is when I saw the sign for the Poker Run.
A Poker Run is a fundraiser where Taverns along the chosen route participate and you collect cards from the Taverns. At the end of the route the "player" with the best hand of collected cards wins.
I was ready for the next old beauties coming down the road...

This view gave me Deja vu... 

It is so similar to a scene in Malibu on PCH that I used to love.

We drove up to Nauvoo to check out
Baxter's Vineyard & Winery~
"Illinois' Oldest Winery"

There was a Grape Festival going on and the Poker Run and some other Car Show so it was a little crazy. We went into the winery and had a tasting of their wines.

This is the "self-guided tour"

We asked where we should go for dinner and were told the Hotel Nauvoo...

Richard had heard it was really good and well known for the buffet.

We had some of the local wine...

We decided not to order the buffet because the Orange Roughy sounded so good...

We totally confused the poor waitress because she didn't know it was even on the menu.

OMG!...It was the MOST DELICIOUS Orange Roughy we have ever had! 

~

Headin' back home on the Great River Road 

Who does not love this beautiful house on the hill?

(it is FOR SALE ;o) ~ ) 

That little shack out among the waterlilies is a "duck blind"...

Duck hunters sit in there waiting for ducks to come by.

(Midwest Country Lesson #999)

A beautiful view from the other direction...

 This beautiful view is where I am ending the tour of our Great River Road drive...
~
We had seen this covered wagon earlier in the day on the way up to the river and since it was still there at the end of the day I couldn't resist taking a photo.

I hope you enjoyed our Day Trip along the Mississippi River up to Nauvoo.

~

Patty Hagedorn Photography