"A STEAMBOAT RIDE OR AN OLD CANOE..."

These are words from the song "Streets of Old Nauvoo"...and we finally had our steamboat ride (not planning on the old canoe), but we had to travel down to Hannibal Mo (Missouri) to catch the ride.  You probably know that Hannibal is where Mark Twain grew up...they have wonderful museums there, and tours of his home, etc.  You can even tour the caves (referred to in Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer) where he explored and played as a boy.   My favorite shop of course was the big fabric store (The Hickory Stick)...sometimes I just need to browse and soak up the beauty of it all...I needed my "fix" and Steve is always sweet to let me do that!

The Riverboat is no longer moved by steam, and the big paddle in the back is there but doesn't turn...but it was still wonderful to travel up, then down the river on a very beautiful autumn day.  We passed the islands that Mark (Tom and Huck) played on with his friends...and yes, we ate some chocolate (isn't that what you do when you have a fun outing like this?).

Looking for James McBride

Earlier that day, we had visited the town of Barry, Illinois, where we think that James McBride and his family settled after they escaped the persecution in Missouri.  Barry is about 20 miles southeast of Quincy, where most of the saints stayed before going north to Nauvoo.  There were alot of Mormon settlements in that area, and many of them named their little communities 'Mormon Town'.  James died there at a young age, just before his wife gave birth to another child.  We had hoped to find someone who knew some of the history of Barry, and we did...but he was out of town on vacation...so we've got a number so we can call him. I don't know if it's known what James died of...the results of the persecution, or exposure which could have led to pneumonia...we just don't know.  But we know that his wife Betsy and her little family eventually made it north, and probably spent most of their time across the river from Nauvoo, in Montrose.  We know that the McBrides did help and take care of one another.

Here in Nauvoo, things have stayed pretty busy...October seems to bring a lot of tour groups, etc.  Some that just want to see the fall foliage.  It's been so wonderful to have many non members come...and some even admit that they feel something...that they have had a spiritual experience...

Our hours will soon change from 11 to 5, to 10 to 4 (that's most of the sites, but the most popular sites still open 9 to 5).  The Crazy Halloween band is just about ready to perform...our new casts seem to be working well together, and it's fun to get better acquainted with people we didn't know as well.  The one thing we do well (and often) here is CHANGE.

Steve and I cleaned the Exodus Pavilion this week, down near the river at the end of the Trail of Hope.  That day was very gray and windy and felt like November...just like a typical Thanksgiving Day. Now that its chilly, we're happy to come home and STAY home at the end of the day (of course there's the show every other night).

Sisters Barlow, McKnight, Garrard and McBride

Elders McBride, McKnight, Barlow and Garrard

Last P-day we enjoyed the company of the McKnights.  We went to Burlington to do some shopping, and eating.  We love these wonderful people we've served with, and are so happy each day to see so many of them as we go about our assignments.

This last Sunday we were on call, which meant we could really relax and soak up the day.  The Sunday before we served at the Blacksmith with another couple, so it was fun to finally see Steve give his "performance", in one of his favorite sites.  If you come visit us, he would love to make you a horseshoe and a prairie diamond (ring).

The master at work

Just pretending!