The access at Webb Camping (Runnells Bridge) near Hartford is still accessible after the completion of the Hwy. 5 construction.  Look for the nice sign.

The Ottumwa Colliseum is almost demolished.  A new Bridgeview Center will be built in its place.  The boat ramp is still accessible via a gravel road adjacent to the levee.

The Hwy. 27 bridge is open at St. Francisville, but the old toll bridge is still open to traffic (but the toll booth is closed).  The boat ramp is also still accessible, just take the 1st turn-off on the Missouri side by the convenience store.

The accesses at Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, Farmington, and Turkey Run are cleaned up and the river is running nicely.  There needs to be a sign pointing to Turkey Run off the new Hwy. 27.  Also, the new Redwing Access is visible from the Hwy. 136 bridge, just hang a left at Hwy. 61 and follow the signs down to the river.

The Civil War memorial at Croton is fascinating as ever.   There needs to be a bridge over to the battle site at Athens, MO where most of the actual battle was fought.  Lee County does a good job with signs.  I'm always amazed at the expanse of evergreens in Shimek Forest.

I found an inexpensive motel in Donnellson and a great buffet in Farmington, so I did more exploring.  For those who are interested in the Dragoon Trail and the Mormon Trail, Montrose is the place to go, since it is the beginning of both.  There is an excellent interpretive sign about the Mormon crossing in 1846, and you can see the new temple across the river at Nauvoo, IL.  Montrose does not celebrate the Dragoon expedition of 1835 or the original Fort Des Moines.  There is a most interesting marker for an orchard that was planted in 1796.

I followed the river road to Keokuk and stopped at the site of the first Iowa school house (1832) at Galland, and I visited the memorial and gravesite of Chief Keokuk.  His peaceful wisdom saved many lives and led to the establishment of Iowa after the treaty of 1842.