Living in beautiful wild NW Wisconsin years back, I came to know the area quite well. My home was in Saint Croix Falls (south of Rice Lake) and I crossed the Saint Croix River to get to my Job in Saint Paul MN, not the mighty Mississippi.
Geography fail on my part. When you're in St. Paul you're already east of the Mississippi. Technically, Minneapolis is what is across the river from St. Paul! I recall there being quite a long bridge to get across the St. Croix.
I was up to Rice Lake looking at an old '72 Ford F-150 Camper Special I thought I had to have one time. Didn't like the truck but it was an area I could see myself liking.