DriftlessMode

DriftlessMode Scenic area of NE Iowa, SW Wisconsin and SE Minnesota that relates to the Upper Mississippi River Va
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BRIDGE TO OPEN THIS NOVEMBER! - Not a rumor, news from LANSING, Iowa – Sept. 3, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transporta...
09/04/2026

BRIDGE TO OPEN THIS NOVEMBER! - Not a rumor, news from LANSING, Iowa – Sept. 3, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are announcing that the Iowa 9 / WIS 82 Mississippi River Crossing at Lansing is proceeding well ahead of the original timeline. The agencies expect to open the bridge to traffic in early November 2026, instead of the initial planned opening in spring 2027. GREAT NEWS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS!

POURING IT ON - Concrete is poured! The final concrete pouring day, last Monday, finished the new bridge's center span a...
08/26/2026

POURING IT ON - Concrete is poured! The final concrete pouring day, last Monday, finished the new bridge's center span as reported by the Iowa DOT. — 922 cubic yards of concrete were delivered on 95 trucks. New bridge workers on the Lansing side of the Mississippi River are shown doing their thing. --Aerial photos by Iowa DOT

IN MR. CAVANAUGH'S WAKE - This morning the sky looked like it was deciding whether to be sunny or cloudy. The name on th...
08/21/2026

IN MR. CAVANAUGH'S WAKE - This morning the sky looked like it was deciding whether to be sunny or cloudy. The name on the tail of the river taxi appears to read, "Mr. Cavanaugh ll." The good ship "Driftlessmode" moved out of its way to catch this shot.

RUMORS OF LANSING BRIDGE OPENING THIS FALL ARE JUST RUMORS - It’s been wishful thinking by many locals over weeks since ...
08/20/2026

RUMORS OF LANSING BRIDGE OPENING THIS FALL ARE JUST RUMORS - It’s been wishful thinking by many locals over weeks since the new Lansing bridge was “topped off” with the last span - that with a drier than normal spring, favorable weather for bridge construction, it might open early. Rumors and speculation have been flying around from Lansing to Ferryville to Rossville to DeSoto -- and farther. The official word is the RUMORS ARE NOT TRUE. Here is a statement emailed this morning from Clayton Burke, the IA 9 / WIS 82 Mississippi River Bridge Project Manager — “The current schedule we have from Kraemer still shows the bridge opening in 2027. While they have made incredible progress over the last several months, things like a rainy fall or construction complications can still cause delays. If we get an updated schedule that shows a 2026 opening, we will happily share the good news." Regarding any partial opening of the bridge, Burke added, "We would consider opening the bridge to one lane of traffic if it can be done safely and results in a significantly earlier opening." --Iowa DOT photo (color jazzed up a bit)

ROADRUNNER COFFEE - FOR A CUP OF JOE WHETHER ON THE GO OR ON THE SLOW - It’s a small locally owned independent coffee ki...
08/20/2026

ROADRUNNER COFFEE - FOR A CUP OF JOE WHETHER ON THE GO OR ON THE SLOW - It’s a small locally owned independent coffee kiosk in tiny New Albin in the NE corner of Iowa — a stone’s throw from Minnesota and across the Mississippi River from Wisconsin. The second-year business was started by teacher Jess Welsh during her maternity leave, wondering what to do if her college teaching job didn’t work out. A joking “plan B” wound up a reality after developing a business plan that moved forward with “support, pressure, guidance, plumbing skills, and creativity,” from husband Brennan Welsh and supporting Mauss Electric, Lenny Mellick and others. It all led to transforming an old concession stand at Rogers Ave. and the main north-south highway through town into a quick-stop spot for customers’ morning caffein jolt. Or, for travelers sightseeing the area who need a late morning picker-upper. Even human road-runners need a break. --Photos by Driftlessmode except for frosty mustache photo from Roadrunner Coffee page on Facebook

SAFE HOUSE SALOON, WORTH THE FERRY RIDE, OR WALK FROM LANSING, IOWA - We’ve been coming here since home base was Ferryv...
08/13/2026

SAFE HOUSE SALOON, WORTH THE FERRY RIDE, OR WALK FROM LANSING, IOWA - We’ve been coming here since home base was Ferryville. That’s nearly 20 years ago. That’s before a ferry was needed to get across the Mississippi River until the new Lansing bridge is completed. The Safe House Saloon is tops. You’ll find a simple menu, not so overloaded with choices that it confuses you. The craft beer menu, tho, may need some interpretation and Nick and the staff are happy to steer you. You like a dark stout? They got it. IPAs, sure. The food menu offers some easy surefire PIZZA choices — Safe House Supreme (with Italian sausage always) and a load of veggies etc., Meat Lovers, a typical choice in these parts. Sure. Want chicken? Try the Calypso. Or the Cowboy... BBQ or no, your choice. Want veggies? Order a Speak Easy. Gluten free? Yes. Or way down near the bottom of the menu, the Cat’s Meow. I tried it this time. I’ve tried a few others, too, but this is sea food, kinda, the shrimp is real, the crab add-on is artificial. Still, a nice diversion from the meatier choices. Sadly, I dropped a bit of my eats to the floor beneath my feet. Is it a shrimp, maybe two, on the “sea floor?” It’s not peanuts since 2020. Wings with sauce of any hotness and lots of sides are available. Last but not least — if a Tanqueray gin and tonic doesn’t quench your thirst, or any of those top-notch craft beers, you will find top-shelf choices of bourbons. Make it easy on yourselves, bourbon snobs, order a double Eagle Rare on a couple rocks. You won’t beat the price, either. I see a bottle of Elija Craig, too. Give one of them a shot.

FOGGY FERRY UNDER A VANISHING BRIDGE - The new Lansing bridge under construction vanishes into fog as it stretches eastw...
08/12/2026

FOGGY FERRY UNDER A VANISHING BRIDGE - The new Lansing bridge under construction vanishes into fog as it stretches eastward toward Wisconsin this morning. Underneath, a car ferry makes its way upriver to the Iowa arrival/departure point.

“DING” - GET THE STORY BEHIND THE MAN AT FERRYVILLE THIS WEEK - J.N. “Ding” Darling. You possibly have seen his name on ...
08/10/2026

“DING” - GET THE STORY BEHIND THE MAN AT FERRYVILLE THIS WEEK - J.N. “Ding” Darling. You possibly have seen his name on early 1900s widely published environmental cartoons, or the name of a national wildlife refuge near Fort Meyers, Florida. Ferryville Tourism Commission is presenting the history of the Federal Duck Stamp created by "Ding” Darling this Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Ferryville Village Hall. Tim Eisele will be presenting the 3rd Chautauqua program this year. Eisele is a freelance outdoor writer and photographer from Madison who will share how Darling — through his humor and editorial cartoons — became one of the nation’s leading conservationists and creator of the Federal Duck Stamp, which has benefited wildlife over decades. Darling is known as the “father” of the Federal Duck Stamp, which is purchased by waterfowl hunters and preserves wetland habitat for many species of wildlife. He also helped to set up Cooperative Wildlife Units to train students in wildlife management, and inspired the founding of the National Wildlife Federations.

Address

1906 Blue Heron Lane
Lansing, IA
52151

Telephone

+5154915326

Website

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