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2025 Upper Midwest
  • The Wandering Walkers
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2025 Upper Midwest

Summer of 2025 will be spent exploring the areas of the Upper Mid-West... Lue lisää
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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Quiet Market, Bold Flavors

    18. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Today’s first stop: City Market! 🏙️🛍️
    It may have been a quieter day at the Market—weekends are when it really comes alive with vendors—but we still had a blast exploring the shops. From international foods to handcrafted treasures, there was plenty to see.

    One of our favorite stops? A Middle Eastern grocery filled with spices that filled the air with delicious, exotic aromas. 🌶️✨ After soaking it all in, we hopped on the streetcar to see what other adventures the city had in store! 🚋🌆    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Curmudgeon’s Need to Eat!

    16. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    After a glorious day of sunshine, pontoon perfection, and maybe one too many dips in the lake, we headed back to our humble RV… but not before making a crucial pit stop with the Richards.

    Las Palmas in Rogers, because when your skin is crispy and your patience is fried, nothing soothes the soul like feeding the inner curmudgeon.

    And wouldn’t you know it—we found a couple of them right here! (Honestly, it’s hard to tell which one complains more when hungry… though only one of them asked if we were there yet while still in the parking lot.) 🤣😂🤣    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Lunch, Sun & Synchronized Dipping

    16. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Our last day in the area came quicker than we hoped, due to our schedule getting trimmed, but you better believe we squeezed every last drop of fun out of it.

    Sadly, Don’s dreams of one final mud-splattered mountain bike ride were brake-checked—literally. His bike went back to the shop (again), still refusing to stop when told. No biking for him, but probably a win for his limbs.

    Beth, on the other hand, was not about to let the day go quietly. She hit the courts at MetField for one last pickleball hurrah with Suzanne—who always brings the good vibes and the competitive edge. ❤️ The morning was packed with fantastic games, challenging shots, and some serious fun with both new friends and familiar faces. Huge thanks to Suzanne, Ray, Keith, Jamie, Jen, and Charolette (another RP legend!)—you all made it a morning to remember!

    The GRAND FINALE!?
    The Tuckers opened their gorgeous lakefront estate (Tuckers Landing) for lunch (which was delicious) and an afternoon of laughter and lounging with the Richards and Lissbergers. There was a dreamy pontoon boat ride (yes, we could definitely get used to this), dockside relaxing, and epic float sessions that may or may not have turned into synchronized dipping (er… peeing) after a few beverages.

    The setting? Stunning.
    The food? Delicious.
    The company? Top-tier.

    Tuckers, your hospitality and generosity are off the charts—thank you for giving our last day the perfect send-off. We left with full hearts, full bellies, and probably a little sunburn. Totally worth it. ☀️🚤💦    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Dinks and Drinks

    15. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌧 75 °F

    To wrap up this epic Father’s Day, the mud-caked bike shoes and freshly polished toes were traded for court shoes and paddles—because what says “family bonding” better than a few strategic dinks and some highly competitive trash talk?

    Off we went to Branchwood Recreation Center for a little event called “Dinks and Drinks!” (A perfect blend of cardio, camaraderie, and cocktails—shaken, not stirred, with a side of side-eye.)

    Joining the fun were our fellow RP pickleball party people—decide for yourself who were the “No Mercies,” the “Spin Doctors,” and the “Lobsters”:
    • Suzanne & Frank Richards
    • Laura & Russ Tucker
    • LaRay & Steven Lissberger

    The rallies were fierce, the dinks were cheeky, and at least one paddle was repurposed as a personal fan between points. (Hydration and airflow—key components of any athletic endeavor.)

    Drinks were poured. Laughs were nonstop. And some folks may have taken their victory laps just a tad too seriously… (looking at you, Laura… or was it Russ? Or maybe Suzanne?)

    All in all—a Father’s Day full of pedis, pedals, paddles, and perfectly placed smashes.    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Beer, Mud, and Armadillos

    15. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌧 73 °F

    It’s Father’s Day… and everyone’s living their best life.

    Beth headed out for a relaxing pedi date with Suzanne, where the biggest danger was choosing the wrong shade of pink. Meanwhile, Don celebrated Father’s Day his way—by wrestling nature on two wheels.

    First wildlife sighting of the ride? An urban Yeti. Covered in stickers from around the globe, this creature clearly had more frequent flyer miles than we do.

    Next up: a mysterious old building hidden by overgrown shrubs—either historical remnants or a very ambitious squirrel Airbnb.

    Things escalated quickly on The Ledges, one of the more technical trails, when Don was ambushed by a gaggle of armadillos. (Yes, that’s the official term now.) He yelled, expecting them to scatter. Instead, they charged. We’re not saying they were organized, but one of them may have had a whistle.

    Then came the grand finale—a bridge he’d crossed before was now completely washed out thanks to recent flooding in the Bella Vista area. Nothing says “adventure” like surprise river crossings!

    He wrapped up the ride with a well-earned beer and lunch at one of the local mountain biking hotspots—because even muddy warriors deserve a cold one.

    Last pic: proof the trails were less “dirt” and more “spa-quality mud wrap.”

    Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there who find peace dodging armadillos and crossing questionable bridges. 🚴‍♂️🍻💅    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    M&M malpractice!

    14. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    We weren’t ready to call it a night just yet, so we rolled over to Suzanne and Frank’s for games, gossip, and Frank’s famous jalapeño popcorn.

    Let’s just say… Beth took one bite and instantly regretted her life choices. Cue the coughing fit of the century. 🌶️😵‍💫

    Then came Fast Track—a chaotic game involving dice, marbles, and questionable math. Shockingly, Frank could count tonight (miracles do happen!), but Don? Oh, Don. He decided regular marbles weren’t exciting enough and swapped in peanut M&M’s like it was no big deal. To make things extra spicy, he snuck in an extra one mid-game.

    No one noticed… until the end… when the guys declared themselves champions. 🏆

    But the girls weren’t having it. They called snack hack and demanded a rematch—this time with actual marbles and fewer shenanigans.

    Turns out… the guys still won. 🙄

    So now we ask you—was the first win a brilliant move or a candy-coated cheat?
    You be the judge. 🍿🎲🍫    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja
    Sam Walton's Office

    Fix Bike, Feed Belly, Find Fun!

    14. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌧 75 °F

    All cleaned up and ready to roll, we headed downtown to drop off Don’s bike and grab some lunch.

    Yep, you heard that right—drop off Don’s bike! Turns out the brakes weren’t working quite right. After checking out three different bike shops, we finally found a winner on the third try. Fingers crossed they can work their magic!

    With the bike business taken care of, it was time for lunch. We met up with Frank and Suzanne at Table Mesa Bistro, where the margaritas were flowing, the soup was just okay, but the quesabirria? Absolutely amazing. 💥 The bill, however? Let’s just say it gave us a little sticker shock! 😳

    Bellies full, we wandered over to the Walmart Museum (yes, that’s a thing!) and then were treated (thanks, Richards!) to some Yarnell’s ice cream—just $1.50 a scoop! A sweet deal and seriously delicious… especially after that lunch tab!    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Pickleball, Pedals & Muddy Trails

    14. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    🌪️ We’ve landed in Blowing Springs, AR — where the trails never end, the mud is plentiful, and the adventures are slippery!

    🎾 Beth wasted no time and zipped off to the pickleball courts with Suzanne, paddle in hand and sass in spirit. Meanwhile, Don—undeterred by the soggy state of the world—geared up, declared “Muddy trails are just… trails with texture!” and pedaled off like a man on a mission.

    Don swung by the pickleball courts to say a quick hello to Frank and Suzanne—because apparently, it’s some kind of unspoken biker–pickleballer code: if you’re passing by, you acknowledge the tribe. A nod, a wave, maybe a fist bump with a little tire mud on it—then he vanished back into the wild, like Bigfoot on a mountain bike… slightly soggy, mildly majestic, and definitely on a mission.

    🚴‍♂️ Somewhere along the route, he stumbled upon a bike in a tree. Yes, in a tree. Not leaning, just hanging. He paused just long enough to ponder whether this was Arkansas trail art or a cautionary tale.

    🛑 Further down, he found a trail pitstop that was actually cool and then—surprise!—a lake appeared! Because why not? It’s Bentonville —expect the unexpected.

    💦 Don came back grinning from ear to ear, covered head to toe in mud, looking like a swamp creature who’d just won a mountain biking lottery. The rule was simple: no RV entry without a full rinse-off. So out came the hose, and in true Blowing Springs style, the cleanup turned into its own mini adventure.

    Moral of the story?
    🚵 Mud washes off. Memories don’t.
    🎾 And if you’re not careful, your bike might end up in a tree.    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    The Skies Opened Up

    13. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Almost there and then the skies opened up… because of course they did. We were this close to dodging the rain entirely—trying to sneak between two clouds like we knew what we were doing. 😂🌥️🚐🌥️

    But nope. Just a few miles from our destination, the skies opened up for a dramatic five-minute cameo. Just enough to make us gasp, then laugh, then pray it didn’t stick around. 😅🌧️

    Thankfully, the rain moved on before we pulled into our site—no soggy setup, no mud wrestling with leveling blocks. Just tired, grateful, and ready to stop moving. 🙌

    Wiped… and thankful. 💦☁️🛻🛏️

    Jack’s review: 0 stars. Would not recommend wet paws. 😄🐾    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Almost There! 😵‍💫😅🙌🚐 ✨

    13. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We are so close, we can taste it… and it tastes like road snacks, stale coffee, and sweet, sweet victory. 😅🚐

    That tunnel? It’s not just a tunnel. It’s the light at the end of a long day, cramped legs, and questionable rest stop bathrooms. We’re rolling strong and aiming for that final stretch like it owes us something. 😎🛣️

    Hang on, Blowing Springs… we’re almost there!    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    We’re Rolling! (Well… Almost 😅)

    13. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    We weren’t even 10 minutes down the road when—BAM!—cue the flashing lights and sudden slow-down. 🚓🚓

    Not again, we groan. It’s already been a long day, and we’re barely out of the parking lot. Is this some kind of RV road trip initiation ritual? 😩

    Thankfully, it was just a short-lived drama (is “short-lived” the right word? Feels like it aged us). A car up ahead was missing its entire left rear tire—just cruising along on three wheels like that’s totally normal—with two police cars behind it acting like flashing hazard signs while waiting for a tow. 👮‍♂️🛞🚓

    So… not our circus, not our monkeys. Crisis averted. We’re back on the road—again—with fingers crossed and tires intact. 🤞😂    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja
    In she goes!The boys napping!

    Still Smiling… Stuck & Stuffed in a Jeep

    13. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Our extra night in Little Rock was spent in the Cummins parking lot—thankfully, they had full hookups so we could be road-ready the moment our part from Tiffin arrived (overnighted, thank goodness 🙌).

    With no idea how long we’d be waiting, Don immediately started tracking the shipment—because what else do you do in 2025 but track every move of a delivery? 📲 Isn’t technology great? 😂

    Around 10:50 a.m., we got the text! We scooped up Jack 🐾, hopped into the Jeep, and settled in… for an unknown stretch of time… which was a while.

    It was a gray, rainy day—the kind where the inside of the Jeep starts to feel like a mobile phone booth. We were cramped, slightly claustrophobic, and one “Are we there yet?” away from snapping. 😵‍💫 But hey, at least we had snacks and Wi-Fi!

    To pass the time, we caught up on social media, grabbed a quick bite, ran out for a few groceries—and sprinted back with hopeful hearts that maybe, just maybe, our rig would be ready to roll.

    Nope… not yet! The issue was fixed, 🎉 but the RV was still in pieces and the techs were at lunch. So, we resumed our positions: Beth scrolling with Don and Jack napping like it was a hostage situation. 😂⏳

    Finally, at 3 p.m.—sweet relief! They rolled our RV out of the bay like a big ol’ prize on “The Price is Right.” We pulled out at 3:35 p.m., bound for Blowing Springs, AR… slightly rumpled, thoroughly cramped, but back on the road again! 🚐💨    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja
    Daily Presidential LogsExact replica of The Oval OfficeWho is that strange lady in the background!?! Get out of my picture!Crystal Tree of Light- Created by: Dale Chihuly

    Rain Delay? We Went Presidential. ☔️🎷📚

    12. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌧 75 °F

    When the skies opened up in Little Rock, we decided to trade our soggy shoes for something a little more presidential…

    Enter: The William J. Clinton Presidential Library.

    Think saxophones, state dinners, and a full-on walk through the ‘90s — complete with a replica of the Oval Office, some seriously bold tie choices, and a reminder that yes, people once survived without smartphones. (Wild, right?)

    We learned a lot, laughed a little, and stayed dry — which, let’s be honest, was the real win of the day. Also, fun fact: we now know more about NAFTA and White House china patterns than we ever thought possible.

    10/10 recommend for rainy days, detours, and history nerds alike.    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja

    Bella Vista bound or are we!?!

    12. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    We were all packed up, fired up the coach, ready to roll toward Bella Vista, Arkansas to visit our dear friends Suzanne and Frank — but wait! The dashboard decided to throw us a little love note in the form of a check engine light. 😬

    Don, ever the road warrior and mechanical wizard, immediately knew what it was: the dreaded DEF Head failure — a common hiccup in the big rig RV world and one he knew was coming. Thankfully, he came prepared with a DEF simulator in case it happened out in the boonies.

    But today, luck (and location!) is on our side — we’re just 7 miles from a Cummins shop. So instead of risking it later, we’ve decided to embrace the soggy weather and spend an extra night here in Little Rock while they make the fix official.

    Not the detour we planned, but hey… better here than in the middle of nowhere! 🚍💨💡    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja
    Little Rock Farmers Market

    Wheels Down, Kickstands Up!

    11. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    OMG!! We finally made it to Little Rock, AR… staying at the Downtown Riverside RV Park — easy in and easy out! 🚍

    After the day we’ve had, we desperately needed to stretch our legs — and our sanity. So once the rain stopped (bless it), we grabbed the bikes and hit the trail for a quick ride.

    We crossed the pedestrian bridge by the Clinton Presidential Library, rolled over the Arkansas River, and cruised through Riverfront Park — which, by the way, is a total gem! The views were beautiful, the air was fresh, and our legs were very happy to do something besides sitting. 🚴‍♀️🌿🌤️

    It wasn’t a long ride, but it was just right — peaceful, scenic, and the perfect way to shake off a long travel day.

    Little Rock, thanks for the breather. We’re feeling human again!    Lue lisää

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  • The Wandering Walkers2025 Upper MidwestMatkaaja
    "What's going on out there?"OMG ... it's heading straight at us!Pulling up just in time!"This is ridiculous! I'm starving!!! 😾

    Smooth Cruisin’… Until It Wasn’t

    11. kesäkuuta, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Things Were Going Well-Until They Weren’t

    We were cruising along just fine—about 40 miles from Little Rock—when Don’s GPS lit up like a Christmas tree. Red for miles. Beth sprang into action, Google Maps open, scanning traffic updates like she was decoding a secret message. As we approached Exit 193, the slow crawl became a full-on traffic evacuation, with drivers peeling off to take Highway 70.

    Don, ever the optimist (and without time for his usual pre-decision analysis), stuck to his guns and stayed on I-40. We figured if it was an accident, they were probably close to clearing it.

    Beth kept digging and uncovered the real story: a deadly officer-involved shooting had taken place on I-40 near the 180-mile marker around 1:30 p.m. Troopers and U.S. Marshals had stopped a 33-year-old man wanted for an armed carjacking and kidnapping in Michigan. When he exited his vehicle with a weapon, law enforcement opened fire, fatally shooting him. The area became an active crime scene and investigation zone.

    What should’ve been a quick stretch turned into a 2 1/2 hour crawl for 8.5 miles.

    Jack, of course, was not pleased. He’s used to arriving at our destination by now—and more importantly, being fed. We were near the Carlisle Airport and got a surprise air show from the little crop duster planes flying overhead. That was pretty cool. We almost got dusted ourselves. 😂    Lue lisää

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