Update of the flooding Mississippi (at least here)

During our morning bike ride we took a picture of the end of Parley Street that shows how the river has receded since last week.

Parley Street - July 14

It's interest to compare this picture to those we took a week ago.

Morning Bike Ride(s)

Since coming to Nauvoo in April we have (most days) gone on a bike ride around the "flats".  We purchased a couple of inexpensive coaster bikes to get us around.

We usually ride in the mornings on Monday - Wednesday and in the evening on Thursday - Saturday (when it's not raining).

This morning was sunny and very pleasant ... temperature was about 70 degrees.  

Ox

Today we rode from our apartment past the Nauvoo Groves, up to the visitors center, down to the Nauvoo Quarry, down Main street past the Oxen Cart ride, the Cultural Hall, the Gun Shop, then turned to go down Kimball street past Brigham Young's home, then to the Blacksmith Shop and turned down Parley Street (where many of the saints left Nauvoo in February 1946), passed the Seventies Hall.  At the end of Parley street we came to the Mississippi and then turned back up Water Street to Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store and the Joseph Smith Homestead.  From there we found our way home passing the Mansion House, Sidney Rigdon's home and the Brick Yard.

Oxen's pasture

Currently the Nauvoo and British Pageants are being performed and there are a lot of visitors to Nauvoo.  The Pageant Stage is located about a block and 1/2 from our apartment. 

Cultural Hall

Riding toward the Blacksmith Shop

Brigham Young Home back yard

The Mississippi

Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store

Joseph Smith Homestead in spring

The rides are great.  We enjoy the beautiful scenery, the sounds of the birds and the activity of the squirrels and rabbits (that are everywhere).  

We are truly blessed to be in this peaceful, historic and sacred place!!

The Mississippi River - Barges

The Mississippi River is the chief river of the largest drainage system in North America.  It starts in Minnesota and reaches over 2,300 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.  The tributaries that feed the river are remarkable.  The map at this link The Mississippi River Tributaries shows the drainages reaching as far west as Montana and Colorado and as far east as Pennsylvanie.

At Nauvoo the river currently is approximately 1 1/4 miles wide.  In the 1839-46 period the river was slightly narrower and shallower.  

In the early 1900's a dam was built at Keokuk (12 miles down river from Nauvoo) to improve navigation past the Des Moines Rapids and to provide a power plant.  Lake Cooper was formed as a result of the dam ... raising the level of the water behind the dam approximately 20 feet.  Some of the lots and homes in Old Nauvoo were covered when the dam was built.

This barge came from up river.

The dam includes a lock that permits barges to navigate past the dam.  The barges are quite large (easily the length of a football field) and heavily loaded with a variety of cargo.








The barges are pushed by a "towboat".






A typical barge carries 1500 tons of cargo, which is 15 times greater than a rail car and 60 times greater than one trailer truck. An average river tow on the Upper Mississippi River is 15 barges consisting of 5 barges tied together and moving 3 abreast. The same load would require a train 3 miles long or line of trucks stretching more than 35 miles.

Mississippi River Flood - July 2014

River at Parley Street about 3 weeks ago

The River is currently at flood stage due to the heavy rains during the past few weeks.  

River at Parley Street yesterday

At present the river is about 8 - 10 feet above flood stage at most of the communities above and below Nauvoo.

We have been surprised at how fast the current is flowing ... particularly with the dam being only 12 miles down river.  The log seen floating in the river is about 30-40 feet long.

Questions

What is the purpose of life?

What is the true nature of God?

Can families be together forever?

Where do we go after this life?

Answers to these and other eternally significant questions can be found by visiting Mormon.org.