Tuesday - Day 6

It was about 68 degrees when we got up. Today’s high was 75. We headed in to Bayfield after breakfast. We then took a 55 mile, 3.5 hour boat ride around the Apostle Islands.

While we waited to board the boat we sat and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Our boat. It has a maximum capacity of 149 passengers. I bet there were 130 on board. It is powered by two 600hp John Deere marine engines.

The best thing about the boat ride was that it was the first time in 3 months that I have been comfortable when I was outside. I doubt that the temperature, while out on the water, ever got to 70, and there was a nice breeze. 

One of the many lighthouses on the islands.

After the boat ride we stopped in at a local eatery and had whitefish baskets for lunch. They were good, but not great. Then it was on up the coast to a national park area on the beach. We spent several hours there just enjoying the cool and the beautiful view. There are a LOT of kayakers out on the Lake. Many were out miles from the mainland. Many go out to one of the islands and camp for the night. It looks like it would be fun, but not for old people like us. When we were at the park we watched some 2 person kayaks land on the beach. It was quite a spectacle when this rather large lady basically rolled out of the kayak onto the beach. She got up like it was something she did every day, and maybe she does.

Then it was back to the campground. We sat outside in the cool and read.

Monday - Day 5

Today was a driving day, the most miles of any day so far. We drove from Rochester, MN to Bayfield, WI, around 290 miles. The 290 miles included a detour that added at least 20 miles to the trip. We chose routes that did not include any miles on the Interstate because we wanted to actually see the countryside.

About 10 miles from Redwing, MN we stopped and had lunch at a nice little roadside park, right next to the Mississippi River. For those of us who see the Mississippi from Missouri it is startling to see how blue and beautiful it is up north. Actually we started seeing lakes all over the place during our drive. Not one looked like a mudpuddle, the water in every pond/lake was a beautiful blue.

We thought about stopping in Red Wing to see if we could find a good deal on some boots but several reviews of Red Wing said that there were no boot bargains to be had.

We saw this cheese factory as we were passing by and had to stop and check it out. We bought a cheese sampler.

 The tank closest to the viewing window must have just been filled with cream/mild. The people in the back were stirring similar tanks.

Then it was on to the Apostle Islands campground. It was still 88 degrees when we arrived, HOT. It wasn’t such a long day, but we were tired by the time we arrived, got things set up and had supper. The bad news was that so many people in the campground were trying to run their AC that there were voltage problems. We did manage to finally get the temperature inside the camper down to the mid 70’s, by morning. Also, the campground was full up so the only spot we could get when we called this morning was one with electric & water, no sewer. We are in this spot for tonight and tomorrow night so, with our limited gray water capacity, we couldn’t just stand in the shower and let the cold water.

Sunday - Day 4

First I need to add a comment about Iowa and Minnesota. Kathy and I have both been surprised at the lack of trash along the roadways and the “neatness” of the homes/farms along the highway (we have purposely stayed off Interstates and travelled on US highways, as much as possible).

Today we went sightseeing in Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic. We first went to Mayowood, home of several generations of the Mayo family.

This is one side of the home. Photo taken from visitors parking lot.

A Mayo foundation has spent $4 million bring the mansion back up to its original splendor. Dr. Charles H. Mayo, the first Dr. Mayo, arrived in Rochester in 1863. Mayowood was built in 1911, by Dr. Charles H. Mayo. Their son, Dr. Charles W. Mayo, and his family lived in the house until the late 1960’s, basically until the death of the Dr. and his wife.

They don’t allow photos inside the mansion. If interested, you can see some photos at http://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/mayowood.php

A question that kept rolling through my mind was, “Where did the Mayo’s get enough money to build this palace, and buy 3,000 acres of farmland?”

Then we drove downtown to see the Plummer Building. We knew we couldn’t get in on Sunday but I wanted to see it anyway. It was built in 1928 and named for Henry S. Plummer, M.D. who created many of the systems and procedures used at the Mayo Clinic. The building reminds me a little of the Staley Building in Decatur, IL, where I worked for 12 years.

 Note the arched entry in the photo above. Below is a photo looking directly at it. There are 16' tall bronze doors at the entrance. I doubt that the doors are ever closed.

You can see more about it at http://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/plummer-building.php

The Mayo complex huge. As I walked around the block I happed on the entrance to the Mayo Clinic. If you enlarge the photo you might be able to read the Mayo Clinic sign above the entrance.

During our morning travels we happened upon “the world’s largest ear of corn”, it’s a functioning water tower. It was built in the early 1930’s.

More information at https://theparkerrochester.com/our-150-foot-tall-ear-of-corn/

Then it was back to the Rochester/Marion KOA campground where we are staying. We went to the pool for awhile and then came back to the camper and just enjoyed the rest of the day. Temperatures were in the low 80's but with the gentle breeze it didn't seem uncomfortably that warm until around 5 PM.

 The campground is small but it is full of trees. I took the photo below Sunday afternoon. Not a lot of campers here tonight.

Topped the tank off with fuel while we were out and about, $3.20/gal. Tomorrow we head north, into Wisconsin.

Saturday - Day 3

Elaine came to the campground for breakfast to day and we spent another couple of hours reminiscing. After packing up we drove from Odgen, IA to Marion, MN, near Rochester. We are spending the next couple of nights at a KOA campground. We have now driven a total of about 650 miles since Thursday morning.
The roads and AT&T cell service in Iowa SUCK!!!! Another day of very spotty cell service and roads so bumpy that they nearly shake your guts out. It was such a blessing when we crossed into Minnesota, it felt like we were riding on glass. I considered stopping and getting out and kissing the road surface.
It was warm today, 84 when we pulled into the campground. The pool is very close to our campsite. Kathy was in the pool before I was even close to getting unhooked and the exterior set up. I wasn't to far behind her. The water felt cold when we got in but it sure felt good.
We have cell service and WiFi at the campground, and we are paying for it, $48/night with tax.
Bought fuel twice today, both times in Iowa. Paid $3.06 one place and $3.00 another. All the fuel we have seen in Minnesota has been $3.15/gal.
Tomorrow we plan on some sightseeing in the area.

Friday - Day 2

Today we drove from The Meadows Campground to Don Williams Park near Odgen, IA, about 160 miles. Roads and AT&T cell service suck in Iowa. Long stretches with no cell service. The roads are pothole free but they are so bumpy that we seriously considered taking a motion sickness table. The surface can be asphalt or concrete, it makes no difference. Every now and then it might be smooth for a mile or so then back to being bumpy. The road surface looks the same.

Bought fuel in Eddyville, IA, paid $3.02/gal. 

Don Williams park is a wonderful park. It has a lake with a beach and a LOT of campsites. Only $18/night for water and a 30 amp electrical connection. After getting set up we drove over to Beaver, IA, about 15 miles away, and spent the afternoon and evening with Elaine (Senter) Anderson. It was great to get to renew an old friendship. We only lived in Iowa for three years, we moved away 37 years ago, yet the friendship remains strong. We stayed for a great supper with Elaine and her daughters and their families.

Thursday - Day 1

We left home a little after 10AM drove about 215 miles today. Roads were good. At 10:30 the temperature was 88, by 2:30 it had climbed to 94.  Paid $2.76/gal for fuel at our first fillup, in MO.We had lunch at a Chinese restaurant along the way. It was to hot to eat in the travel trailer. The place had 17 lunch specials priced at $5.55 each. I had beef w/broccoli. It came with a double ice cream scoop of fried rice and an egg roll. Kathy has some type of seafood dish, white rice and an egg roll. Both were good. She couldn't eat all of hers but I managed to stuff myself and eat mine.
We stopped for the night at The Meadows Campground north of Bloomfield, IA. No cell service at the campground, nor WiFi. At $25/night for a full hookup (30 amp electrical, water & sewer) it is a good deal.

Parked at the campground.

The campground.

 The pond was stocked and campers could go fishing.

While we were eating supper we looked out the window and saw Amish chopping corn for silage. I didn't go over to watch but was told that the fellow in the photo below is riding on a trailer that holds a gasoline powered engine. The engine has a PTO connection to the sileage chopper. Three horses abreast pulled this device.

 This guy with the sileage chopper was waiting for this guy to come with the trailer. It was also pulled by three horses abreast. I was surprised at how fast they moved. Significantly faster than a normal person would walk. We watched them make several rounds, the last one at 7PM.

We got a good nights sleep.

Departure Delayed a Little

We aren't leaving until tomorrow, Thursday the 9th. The adult son (49 years old) of a friend of Kathy's died earlier this week, cancer. Kathy has been helping her some and she asked Kathy to sing a the funeral today (Wed).
Because I am a champion procrastinator I still have a lot of stuff that needs to be moved to the TT (travel trailer).
We got 0.55" of rain yesterday, PTL! Some drizzle in the AM and then a nice shower in the PM.
The morning drizzle was enough to wet the asphalt section of our driveway, the part that is a steep hill. I took the TT for a test drive and probably burned 5,000 mile off the back tires on my truck, spinning them to dry out the asphalt so that I could get up the driveway. Made it to within 40' of the top of the steep part of the driveway before the tires lost traction. Pulled the TT about 9 miles to California, MO, and back. All went well.
Bought a back up camera to help when hitching up a trailer. It is wireless and portable. I fabricated a mount on the ladder on the back of the TT in hopes that I could use it to check traffic as we drove down the road. With just my truck mirrors I can't see anything  behind the trailer. The camera worked fine sitting still but for some reason my phone, the screen for the camera, loses the WiFi signal when traveling down the highway. I have an idea of how I can raise the camera mount location to near the top of the TT. Hopefully, without the TT blocking the signal, I will be able to see behind the TT.
Better get carrying stuff.