Birthday Hike

Recently, I treated myself to a birthday outing, so let’s take a break from the flower photos and wander down the wooded footpaths of Effigy Mounds National Monument, situated on a high bluff above the Mississippi River on the eastern edge of northeast Iowa.

Can you find the red-headed woodpecker in the photo above?  If not, here’s a closer look at him……

An effigy is a sculpted representation of an animal or person.  Look closely at the next photo to see the outline of the Great Bear Mound.  It has a simple shape which resembles a bear animal cracker.

The Effigy Mounds were made by ancient inhabitants of this area, ancestors of present day Native Americans.  Starting at the tail of the bear mound, there is a long row of conical mounds which were used for burials. 

The row of conical mounds leads to the top of the bluff and if you make it that far on the trail, you will be rewarded with a grand view of the mighty Mississippi.  The photo is looking south.

The day was a bit overcast, but I think the haziness adds an evocative atmosphere to the scenery.  It puts one in the mood to think deep thoughts, wax poetic, or simply snap some photos!