DriftlessMode

01/16/2025

FLAG AND BALD EAGLE: TWO SYMBOLS OF THE UNITED STATES - But there are more national symbols of the U.S. — like, “The Star Spangled Banner” (anthem), “Stars and Stripes Forever” (march), American bison (mammal), Rose (flower), Oak (tree), “In God We Trust” (motto), Pledge of Allegiance (oath) and the Great Seal of the United States.

01/15/2025

RAY BRINGS ROY TO SEE RAEF - Just a short walk down Iowa high school basketball memory lane — The late Ray Vangen (passed away in 2023) was athletic director of MFL MarMac High School of Monona in northeast Iowa when 6’11” Raef Lafrentz showed up on then Kansas Univerity coach Roy Williams’ radar down in Lawrence. It’s the 1993-1994 season and it would be a long drive to Monona to see the boy play in person. Williams would need to fly to northeast Iowa, but would there be an airport nearby? Decorah’s airport is 27.5 miles away from the MFL MarMac gym. That would have to do. From a seat in The "Old" Rossville Store bar 10 years ago, Vangen told the story of Williams coming to see LaFrentz play. I wondered how many times the KU coach made flights to Iowa? “Five,” Vangen answered quickly, and he should know, he drove him from and to the airport. It turned out to be no surprise Williams wanted the blue-chip player. He became a two-time 1st-team all-American for the Jayhawks and went on to play in the NBA for a handful of teams. One remarkable feat that LaFrentz accomplished: He was the first NBA player to score 7-of-7 shots from 3-point range in half a game. Not bad for a 6-11 guy who hangs around the rim much of the time. (Ray Vangen in top left photo at Rossville)

01/12/2025

"This wild swan of a world is no hunter's game."
—Robinson Jeffers

01/10/2025

ICY WALK ON WATER - A fisherman drags his sled loaded with fishing gear to a spot on or near Shore Slough north of Lansing. Another fisherman about to head out onto the ice said the guys were catching a few crappies lately but that today the action was slow.

01/09/2025

OCTOBER, 2015 -- If you study this scene you will eventually determine that this was the future location of the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center south of Lansing, Iowa. And you would be correct. How the sh***er got plowed over, I have no idea.

01/08/2025

OPEN WATER, WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT - Swans, possibly/probably trumpeters, find open water on the east side of the Mississippi River main channel south of Lansing, Iowa. Temps well below freezing 32 degrees has caused the river (once again) to freeze over in many places, especially where current is very slow.

12/31/2024

POSTCARD — MOONLIGHT, WISCONSIN BLUFFS, MISSISSIPPI RIVER, DECEMBER, 2016

12/28/2024

OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? - Old Rossville Store bartender Mitch pulls up a photo on his cellphone of him with a beard that might have helped him get a part as one of the Soggy Bottom Boys in the George Clooney movie — or maybe a place with the band, ZZ TOP. It looks like today's beard is getting there again, too.

12/19/2024

LOOKING FOR A LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT WITH 'DRIFTLESS' REGION FLAVOR? Go here and see a wide selection of images to order a photo in various sizes and materials and presentation. Or a puzzle!

https://www.pictorem.com/profile/Bob.Modersohn?keyword=bridge
.. or go here to see a large selection of assorted images: https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/Bob.Modersohn

12/17/2024

MOTORCYCLE MARY IS REMEMBERED IN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY - Famous motorcycle racer Mary McGee may have more cousins here in the northeast corner of Iowa than anywhere she lived — and they’re paying her tribute now by telling her story. She was born in Alaska, raced in Mexico (and elsewhere), and died in Gardnerville, Nevada. McGee passed away November 27th at 87. Though she only lived here a short time, relatives know her story. “So, Mary's mother is a native and cousin of mine,” says Allamakee Realty owner Daryl Hansmeier via email. “Her mother's name was Bernice Roe before she married a man named Emmett Connor. (There are many Roes living in these parts.) Bernice and Emmett had two children, Motorcycle Mary and a son named Jimmie who was killed in an accident around 1964.” Mary was born in Juneau, Alaska, in 1936, but when World War II broke out, she and her older brother, Jim, were sent to Iowa. Both rode a train from Alaska to Harpers Ferry, Iowa, to stay with grandparents Oscar and Bertha (Jeglum) Roe. “Alert Roe (Oscar's brother) was my great grandfather,” said Hansmeier. Mary and Jim were sent to Iowa when the threat of a Japanese invasion loomed and women and children were ordered to evacuate the state of Alaska. Their mother could not come with them because she was a nurse and all medical personnel (regardless of gender) had to stay in Alaska. When the war was over (in 1944), Bernice came back for the kids and the three of them moved to Phoenix. Eventually Mary met her future husband, Don McGee, who was a mechanic. Shortly after their 1956 wedding Don introduced her to racing cars which eventually led to racing motorcycles. Mary was tall at 5-ft 11-inches and always described herself as "fast on my feet, fast with my brain, self-conscious and lacking confidence” — but had no trouble with confidence once she got on the race track. Steve McQueen, the movie star and himself a motorsports racer, had encouraged her to take on the Baja 500. Motorcycle Mary became the first person – man or woman – to complete solo the grueling Baja 500 off-road race in Mexico. McGee was the first woman to race motocross in the United States, the first to compete in an international motocross competition and the first to receive sponsorships from major brands. --Photos provided by relatives of Mary McGee and from Internet reports over years.

12/13/2024

12/13/2024

A WISCONSIN RIVER ROAD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR - A home along Wisconsin State Highway 35 a couple miles north of Stoddard displays its Christmas spirit with lights and seasonal figures galore ... and a near full moon gets into the act, too.

12/10/2024

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE / HOLIDAYS CORNER - In a yard at the corner of Main and Locust in New Albin, Santa seems to be waving from his sleigh at assorted Christmas figures in front of Frawlings Saw Shop and Variety Store. It's a jolly good scene!

12/03/2024

ICY TIMES ON THE BIG RIVER - An eagle eats an early lunch near Prairie du Chien while a pair of work boats break ice moving up and down the Mississippi River south of the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing, Iowa.