Shortly we will depart Galena.  A few hours of driving and we will be home again in Batavia.  We take leave of Galena but our few days here have given us memories enough for many days and hours of satisfied reflection upon the people that we met, and all that we learned.

The last two mornings we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in warm, welcoming surroundings at Big Bill’s Sandwich and Coffee Bar.  We noticed immediately the wall display of striking photography.  We were surprised that our server, Michelle Deiter was the photographer.  She spent some time with us discussing her love of photography.  After our meal we perused a book of her work from a trip to Cuba.  Have a look at Michelle’s work.

On our next day at our visit to Big Bill’s I had occasion to sit at the coffee bar for a while as I waited for Laura.  I had a memorable chat with the Barista about what it is like to live in Galena.

We are also unlikely to forget the extended discussion which we had later in the day with Joe Pinder of Pinder Pottery about lead mining, about how the miners discovered underground lead veins which always run east and west, and about how musket shot was made using a shot tower.  Joe also freely discussed the current method for mass producing pottery, looking up an online video to show us.  I also will add that Joe’s work was a visual delight.  In retrospect I wish that I had purchased a coffee cup.  I plan to remedy that by visiting his website.

Thus we depart satisfied that we’ve learned a great deal about our predecessor’s who settled here by the Mississippi, who made America, and made ourselves who we have become.

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