{image1}The Grand Excursion up the Mississippi River headed into its final weekend, after stops in two Wisconsin river towns this week.
Steamboats made stops in Prairie du Chien and La Crosse on their way up river. A steam-engine train and a bike tour also passed through the area as parts of the Excursion.
Thousands of people gathered in small river towns in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota to see the Excursion pass, even if no stops were scheduled in those communities.
"It's a thrill just to see the boats go by here," said Edna Jacobson, as she waited near tiny DeSoto. "It's part of our history in this area."
In La Crosse, five riverboats docked at one time. The Excursion coincided with the annual Riverfest. Together they drew thousands to Riverside Park.
The highlight of the La Crosse stop was the Governor's Race between Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Officially, the steamboat race was ruled a tie, and both governors took home brooms, the traditional trophy of riverboat captains. But, Pawlenty, riding in the larger Harriet Bishop, nosed out Doyle, who rode in the La Crosse Queen. In fact, Doyle conceded the race.
The Excursion drew participants and observers from the Milwaukee area. UWM history professor Reginald Horsman lectured in Prairie du Chien to about 400 people about Marquette and Joliet, who often are listed as the first explorers of the area.
John Aschom of Waukesha came to watch the Julia Belle Swain and Anson Northrup sail into Prairie du Chien, and in the process met a cousin he had never seen before.
A young woman from Fredonia, who asked not to be identified, brought her mother, who lives in Iowa, to see the Delta Queen sail past Guttenberg, Iowa. The pair traveled up river and waited patiently at Pike State Park along the river to see the boat pass again. They then had to hustle, to make a hair appointment they had that night in Hartland.
High water on the river has played some havoc with schedules. The Mississippi Queen, the largest of the boats, had to wait a couple days before starting up river, until it could clear a railroad bridge near Hannibal, Missouri.
Some of the smaller boats, like the Julia Belle Swain and Anson Northrup, had to make their way slowly because of currents and debris floating in the river. They did not arrive in Prairie du Chien until evening, but a crowd of more than 5,000 -- some who were there from morning on -- waited patiently.
Prairie organizers provided tours of Villa Louis and Fort Crawford, Horsman's lecture, musical entertainment and other attractions to occupy the crowd.
Florence Bird, a Spring Green artist, displayed her works, which she hopes to make into a historical sculpture park on St. Feriole Island, which is rich in history.
At the popular Sawmill Saloon, banjo music entertained many of the tourists. Other restaurants and pubs had specials for the Excursion.
Once the steamboats chugged into Prairie, with calliopes playing and whistles blowing, the crowd cheered loudly and sang river songs along with those on the boats.
The flotilla will make its way into the Twin Cities area this weekend. The Grand Excursion officially ends Monday.
