A Beautiful Place to Relax

These pictures were all taken on the Mississippi River near Clayton, Iowa, during the week of September 7-13, 2003. This section of the Mississippi is part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The backwater in this area contains a treasuer store of natural beauty which can be seen by exploring in a small boat. I especially enjoy going into this area shortly before sunrise when it is just light enough to see where one is going. It is extra beautiful when there is some fog hiding parts of the hills and there is mist coming off the water. No picture will ever be able to capture true sense of peace and beauty one can enjoy by being there to feel the cool breeze on your face and listen to the sounds of nature in the early morning. Still, I am including some of my early morning pictures in hopes they might tempt people to go and experience this beauty for themselves. For those who do not care to get up quite so early, the river still offers a great deal of beauty no matter what time of day one chooses to explore it. Several of the pictures included on this page were taken later in the day as well.

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