PELLA IOWA EXPEDITION!

 The first photo opportunity I had, after leaving the Interstate, to drive through the town of Pella, Iowa (known for its Dutch heritage), was this windmill in Brinkhoff Park.  I had visited Pella in the past, but it was not until I started researching its history, that I learned the origin of its name.  Pella was a Biblical "city of refuge" in Jordan, and Pella, Iowa,  was named Pella, by 800 Dutch refugees from the Netherlands, who had left their homeland, in search of religious freedom, to practice Christianity.  The year was 1847, and their leader was the Reverend H.P. Scholte.  Upon the seal of their new town, the early settlers inscribed the words "In Deo Spes Nostra et Refugium", which means, "In God Our Hope and Refuge".  

I felt especially delighted to see so many tulips blooming around the windmill.  They were a lovely two-tone, pink and red variety.  I read on their website (www.cityofpella.com) that each fall, the city of Pella plants 120,000 tulip bulbs, in 75 varieties.  They have a system that will ensure the greatest possible number of tulips are blooming, throughout the months of April and May.  When tulip season is over, other blooming plants can be seen in their place.  

  I kept driving past well-kept lawns in front of tidy houses, until I reached the city center.  There is no mistake that this is the place, because of the 65 foot tall Tulip Tower (Tulp Toren), with the colorful coat of arms of the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

The tower (which also has bells at the top)  is located in Central Park, and is the centerpiece of  an amphitheater, sometimes called the "Tulip Bowl", that serves as the hub for activities during the annual Tulip Time, when the Tulip Queen is crowned.  Construction of the tower was helped greatly by the Peter Kuyper family, who was the founder of the modern-day Pella Corporation (www.Pella.com).

The photo below was taken in Central Park, and shows more tulips in the foreground, with yet another windmill structure, in the background.  This Central Park windmill serves as an Information Center for the town.  

The storefronts surrounding the Central Park all have Dutch-themed architecture, such as The Sanctuary coffee shop, shown below:

What a pleasant location to count your blessings, while enjoying a cup of caffein!

 

Some methods of meat curing are closely associated with Dutch culture, and you can get a sample of them at the Ulrich Meat Shop (www.ulrichmeatmarket.com), across the street from the Tulip Tower.  This is where you can purchase the famous Pella Bologna.  

Within the park surrounding the Tulip Tower,  is a very unusual sun dial, and even though I read the directions several times, I could not figure out what time it was, using their system.  It made me glad I had a wrist watch!

 

This little Dutch character photo op in front of the information office windmill, reminds social media followers to tag their photos with a hashtag, that helps publicize the beauty of this place!  #PieterPella

Central Park also had a very appropriate map of the town, with key points of interest numbered with their location.  Find out more at www.VisitPella.com

The corner building across from the square had a very eye-catching architectural feature:

The Pella Museum is very close to Central Park, and also has the typical architecture of The Netherlands canal houses, which means tall, narrow buildings with large windows.  The houses that line the numerous canals of the Netherlands are usually given facades that might be bell shaped, or have stepped gables, designed to hide the diagonal lines of the roof.   

The statue below is entitled "de Schaatsers", which translated, means skaters.  Notice the shoes they are wearing have blades, making them ice skates.  The many canals in the Netherlands make perfect ice skating rinks, when freezing weather sets in.  

The museum has a wonderful gift shop, with this attractive display of wooden tulips.  My sister gave me two of these wooden tulips as a souvenir, after she visited a Dutch-themed location.  And, they do not wilt!

You can also purchase the famous wooden shoes of the Dutch, at the gift shop.  I have an image in my mind of some Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders, my husband and I met at the motorcycle races in Daytona.  The very tough-looking bikers in their black leather jackets, with logos indicating they were from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, were actually wearing wooden shoes!  My husband and I were wearing black leather motorcycle boots, and could not imagine having to adjust to slip-on wooden shoes for riding!  I guess it is all in what one becomes accustomed to!

Since there is a state park in Arkansas with the same name as these mints, my curiosity was aroused as to the connection.  As it turns out, the investors who built the original lodge in the late 1800s,  at the mountain-top location in Arkansas, had Dutch investors.  The name was chosen to honor the young Queen of the Netherlands, named Wilhelmina.  

Blue and white pottery is sometimes called "Delft pottery", and got its name from the 750 year old town in Holland, where the blue porcelain pieces were originally made.  

Next door to the museum, is the 124 feet high, 12 stories tall, Vermeer Windmill. Some people may recognize the name "Venmeer" (www.venmeer.com) as a designer and manufacturer of agricultural and industrial equipment.  The company is headquartered in Pella, and has been a  generous supporter of Pella, Iowa, development and historic preservation.   The Venmeer windmill is a replica of an 1850's mill in Pella.  The upper part of the Venmeer structure was manufactured in the Netherlands, and the cap can turn 360 degrees, to put the blades into the wind.  Each of the two blades is 82 feet in length.  

The shiny green doors that lead to the interior were closed on the day I visited, and I read that the mill is operated by volunteers, so be sure to call ahead, if you want to schedule a tour for the inside.  

The Vermeer Mill is the tallest working mill in the United States, and is still used for grinding flour.  The photo below shows the sacks of flour and corn meal, with the Vermeer logo, that are available in the gift shop.  

There are numerous lodging facilities available in Pella.  For those who want a water view, check out The Amsterdam Hotel (www.RoyalAmsterdam.com) in the downtown area.  

I also noticed stairs leading up to a second story AIRBNB, across the street from Central Park.

And for those who want to purchase a home in the area, the Century 21 Realty office, is also across the street from Central Park.  

It was the son of Pella Corporation founder, Peter Kuyper, who first envisioned the construction of a canal in downtown Pella, as a nod to the canals of Amsterdam, Holland.  The dream came to fruition and the lovely curving body of water is called MOLENGRACHT Canal.  Molengracht is a Dutch phrase meaning "Mill Canal".  News releases about its construction stated at the time, it was the most ambitious project ever undertaken in the state of Iowa.  

The area includes a working "draw bridge", a hotel, bank, cinema, restaurant, and high-end residential properties.  

Dutch architecture styles, such as these "step roof" designs, and brick exteriors add to the authenticity of the area.  

Not surprisingly, there is a retail Pella Window/Door store along the canal.  The non-profit foundation (KuyperFoundation.org) started by the founder of the Pella Corporation continues the legacy of the founders, through the "desire for service to humanity and God."

This area is filled with retail kiosks during the European-style Christmas market, held annually in Pella, during the holiday season.  

I liked this photo, because it shows not only the canal, but also the Vermeer Windmill, in the background.  

The symmetry of this fountain, encircled by repeating patterns of red brick, and topped by the metal dome, are a a beautiful example of landscape architecture.  

The plaza that connects the canal to the downtown area, is framed by ceramic tiled archways, painted with scenes from the Netherlands countryside.  The tall structure on the left, is the clock tower, called the Klokkenspel.  It provides Old World charm in a musical way with performances held daily at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 9:00 pm daily.

The curving bench in the shape of an "S" if a nod to a traditional bakery item from the Netherlands, called "Dutch letters".  

The clock tower has two sides--one facing Central Park, and one facing the plaza/canal area.  There are several videos of the Klokkenspel performances on You Tube (www.youtube.com) .

It is not surprising to see a bicycle shop in downtown Pella, in light of the famous bicycle ride across Iowa, called the Register's Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (www.RAGBRAI.COM)

The flags represent the state of Iowa, The United States of America, Pella, and The Netherlands.  

One can read the full story of the history of Pella, Iowa, on the Pella Historical Museums website, called www.pellahistorical.org .  The historical data verifies the over-riding influence of Christianity, on the founding of Pella, and its progress afterwards.  The Bible verse most commonly associated with Pella, Iowa, is Matthew 5:14:  "You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

I am lifting up my hands in gratitude, to God, and the founders of Pella, Iowa, for this beautiful city on a hill, that definitely was the light of my life, on the day I visited during Tulip Time---it gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia

CONVERGING RIVERS EXPEDITION!

 I had the great joy of participating in an outing with several ladies, that involved kayaking from Buffalo City on the White River, to the town of Norfork, Arkansas, which is also on the White River.  It is a distance of 12 river miles.  My assignment for the event was to be the shuttle driver, which meant I needed to go straight to the take-out location, and wait for the drivers of the pickup trucks to arrive with their emptied out trucks, because these pickup drivers had already dropped off their passengers and kayaks, at the starting point of Buffalo City.  (This included the kayak I was using).

I arrived in Norfork well in advance of what was necessary, so I could take photos and get in some walking.  The Norfork River empties into the White River, in the little town of Norfork, Arkansas.  A vehicle bridge and a train bridge cross over the Norfork River, to lead into Norfork's main street (AKA, Arkansas Hiway 5)

I wanted to drive down River Road, adjacent to the Norfork River, because its narrow pavement is competely encased by trees and bluffs, forming a scenic green tunnel.  When the river is high, sometimes the deck is covered by water, so I wanted to check it out.  Thankfully, it is now fully functional, and provides the handicapped-accessible fishing dock, allowing access for those in wheel chairs, to fish from this location:

There is also a bench for quite contemplation of the beauty here:

There is an overlook on the top of this bluff, accessible from Highway 5.

My next stop was a commercial outfitter dock on the Norfork River.  I have fond memories from this outfitter,  of a family outing  with my husband, his brother, and his brother's wife.  We had a most enjoyable excursion, trying to catch fish, with the help of a knowledgeable guide.  

A short distance away is the Norfork  public access on the White River.  There used to be a car ferry at this location, but it is no longer in operation.  

It is easy to see why the historic 1829 Jacob Wolf  House (www.arkansasheritage.com), located on a hill above the confluence of the Norfork and White River, had such a pivotal role in the early development of this area.   It is the last remaining two-story dog-trot public structure in the United States.  A while back I was attending a special open house event at the site, and was surprised to see one of my college sorority sisters, who lives in Little Rock, had made the long drive to the event, because Jacob Wolf was one of her ancestors!

When the pickup drivers and I made it back to Buffalo City, the other kayakers were thankful to see our return, so the kayaking could commence! I took this photo shortly before putting away my iphone into a waterproof box.  It shows Cindy, with camera in hand, preparing to take a group photo.  We are very blessed that Cindy is an OUTSTANDING photographer with a good eye for detail, and uses her waterproof camera to capture things along the river, that others frequently don't notice!  

This is the group photo.  I am the one in black pants.  Notice we all have life jackets, and wearing our lifejackets while kayaking, is a requirement for participation.  

One of the ladies took this photo, shortly after we launched.  

Here is another photo I did not take, because my iphone was in my drybox!

We stopped at Shipps Ferry for a break to stretch our legs and do the necessary things ladies need to do!

One of these ladies remembered to bring her collapsible chair to sit on, during the lunch break!

 

These access points along the White River, are maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (www.agfc.com) and we all appreciate the good stewards they are being with the tax revenue, that supplies the funds to maintain these rest stops.   

We were very thankful for the clean portable toilets, with hand sanitizer,  at Schipps Ferry!

The entire landscape at Schipps Ferry is covered by kudzu, and I got these three to pose in front of it, because I have been at special events where a wall of ARTIFICIAL green plants is used for a photo backdrop, but this is the real thing!  The photo below shows me posing in front of a wall of kudzu, preparing to launch back into the river.  

 

Patti took this group photo at our lunch spot.  Notice the background is kudzu!

Some of the group used their kayaks as their seat, to enjoy their lunch break.  

After lunch, it was time to put the lifejackets back on, and get back on the river.

We all made it safely back to the take out location in Norfork, and started the process of loading the kayaks back into the pickup trucks that had been parked there, while we were on the water.   

Darrah put a red flag on her blue kayak, because it is longer than the others.  

Darrah also had a very helpful tool that I had never seen before.  It fits over the back tire of the truck, so a person can reach inside the truck bed, to hook up the straps of the tie-down that secure a kayak into the truck.  Darrah is also the one who took me back to Buffalo City, where my car was located, so I am VERY THANKFUL for her kindness to me!

At my advanced age, (which you can't tell because I am covered up in a red hat and red life vest), I treasure these days that I am able to be out kayaking with friends!  I try to get the maximum enjoyment of each outing with a mindset that this may be the last time I get to do this.  And, of course, one day it will be!  When that happens, I will just paddle my way through the pearly gates of heaven!  (Referring to Revelation 21:21 imagery)

This expedition gave me "12 MILES OF PADDLING SMILES"!  Tricia