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Michigan 2022
  • Katboz

Michigan 2022

A 146-day adventure by Katboz Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 26, 2022
    KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    The summer begins!

    May 26, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Even when you think you are almost all ready and packed, the act of leaving always takes way more time then you plan for!? We actually left about noon, about 2 hours later than I had hoped for. But we're did have to essentially close up the house while loading up for the summer.

    We had a nice drive to Loomis RV Park where we will be staying for the event if the summer- Matt and Sara's wedding! Park is okay, but really need a lot of maintenance and TLC for it to be a good park. Restroom was horrible! Roads and sites were gravel and weeds, dog "park" small fenced in dirt lot. No chair, no water for pups. However, because this is an older park, the trees provided lots of shade and were a nice feature. Called to get picture of site, but had photos of restroom to use with online review of park. It wouldn't be so bad, but we paid $65 a night for full hook ups, but park had no WI-fi or cable.

    We pretty much checked in, walked the pup, had some leftovers and went to bed!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    The newest Waldrons11The twins meet the twins1What happened at Flower Farm, stays at Flower Farm.

    Waldron Wedding

    May 27, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Wow, it was such a happy, fun event! Lots of family and friends! The Shepard/Adams/Hibbs contingent are now fully integrated with the Waldron family.

    The ceremony was outside on a beautiful summer day. Location was the Flower Farm Inn in Loomis, Ca. Officiating was Steve, Christie and Simon's brother in law. He was a great speaker and had lots of fun and personal thoughts to share. It set a light and joyful mood for the whole event. People were ready and quite willing to celebrate!Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    Sacto to Sparks

    May 28, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    It was a wonderful wedding event! 💑 lots of friends and family all celebrating the marriage of Matt and Sara.... but the festivities were not over yet!

    After packing up RV and jeep and gassing up the RV to the tune of $310 to fill the tank ($6.10 per gallon) we headed across town to the Waldrons for a final goodbye to the newly married Mr and Mrs Matt Waldron! Christie and Simon, (parents) laid out a beautiful brunch which we enjoyed outside with most of the wedding party.

    With hugs to all the old and new family, we got on the road about 12:30 pm for our journey back to Michigan.

    Since it had been a fairly late evening (clean up done by midnight) we just decided to give ourselves a short drive day. Only got to Sparks and while Tom drove most of the way, I pretty much snoozed....which is actually too bad because really 80 over Donner is a beautiful drive. The highway itself is in terrible shape, but the views are great.

    Tried Cabellas in Verdi for overnight stay, but this location does not allow overnighters. We continued up the road to a truck stop in Sparks, Petro. Very busy, lots of trucks! Chatted with a couple of drivers (and their dogs) and had dinner in the onsite restaurant.

    Walked Charlie, and they had lots of healthy, thick green grass for her to roll in. While I am completing my journal for the day, she is demolishing a bully stick! Early bedtime tonight, falling asleep to the "hum" (?) of our fellow big riggers!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    Across Nevada on I-80

    May 30, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We both slept great at the truck stop, even Charlie didn't wake up until almost 6! Enjoyed our coffee and breakfast burritos, and were on the road by 8. (Which is actually very good for us!)

    Lots of driving today, excellent highway, road surfaces were nice and smooth. In an RV every bump, crack, or pot hold magnifies the noise inside and makes texting or surfing much more challenging!

    Pretty cold and overcast today, had some rain and at one time as we stepped out of the RV to give Charlie a "break", we got hail! As with all moving tools, (brooms, vacuums, wisk broom, rags used for wiping), the wind shield wipers are "intruders" that need to be warned off!

    Not many cities to pass through, mostly all high sort of desert. This area, along with most of Nevada, is part of the Great Basin and is very arid and dry. We followed the Humboldt River a lot of the time, and had some nice views. Saw some deer and a coyote.

    Since last night at the truck stop in Sparks was so successful, we are overnighting at another truck stop in Wendover, right at the Utah stateline. Almost 400 miles today which is a pretty dang long day for us. And we lost an hour; we are in Mountain time.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    1Tree of Utah. (Random roadside sculpture)
    We are getting higher and the snow is getting lower!It's now all snow!And then we had down the summit and finally get s little blue sky!1Sweetwater complex, it had 1200 sites!What the end of the day looks like

    Into Wyoming

    May 30, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Up and on the road by 8 am. Between our coffee time, devo, and making sure Charlie has a good walk, that is still a good start time for us.

    Pretty much a drive day again sticking to I-80. Interstate takes us south of the Great Salt Lake and then heads due east out of Salt Lake city. Spent most of the morning in a light rain until it actually became snow at Parleys Summit, about 7,000 ft.

    Got into Wyoming about noon and filled up with cheaper gas, &4.55 per gallon and got some wraps (easier to eat while driving then a sandwich) from subway and got back on the road.

    We only went as far as Rock Springs, about a 350 mile day, because we wanted a little extra evening time for showers. We stayed at the Sweetwater Event Complex (an extra large fairground sort of place) that had pretty good reviews. Only $33 a night for full hook up, no trees or grass on sites, but they had recently remodel restrooms. Each restroom had its own shower, with good pressure and hot water. Not only that, each restroom was heated, much to Toms delight!

    The facility also had a nice large (!) dog park. Charlie was so happy, she got to run like mad and the park had all this nice, deep green grass. She almost went a little crazy rolling and running. After about 30 minutes we took her back to the RV and she refused to get back in. I didn't have her on a leash, (so few people are here) and she simply would not come... and then she found a (slightly) running faucet and finished her play time in the mud! I was cold and mad, and now have muddy shoes and clothes! Since she did NOT like me trying to wipe the mud off of her she got snarky with me. Still not convinced we will be coming home with this dog....

    A nice hot spaghetti dinner and bed for us all. Oh we also did have a little ice cream!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Outside of laramie, snow from the day beforeCabelas, Sidney,NE1Interior of storePony Express monument

    Thru Cheyenne to Sidney, NE

    May 31, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We left Rock Springs expecting to get to Cheyenne, WY for the day. Still raining slightly and it was cold. Made a couple of stops and were on the road by mid morning.
    Drove most of the morning in light rain. I had hoped we could take a little detour and drive the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, but Tom was worried about getting into snow at the higher elevations so we stayed on I-80. Just kept driving and ended up stoppng for gas at laramie about 1:30 still thinking we would continue on to Cheyenne. Since it was so late we decided to have lunch there. As we walked back to RV it started hailing on us again. Since it was late in the day, cold and wet, we ended up staying in RV park with power to better enjoy the evening. "Wallydocking" isn't bad.... just quieter and cleaner in a park instead of a parking lot.

    Got up the next morning (wednesday, june 1) and drove the grade out of laramie. Glad we hadn't decided to continue yesterday because we would have been driving in snow.

    Blew past Cheyenne and stopped in Sidney to see the Cabellas store. Their main headquarters are here so I thought this would be a pretty good store to see. It was good, but not as built out as some others we have seen. It front they also have a monument to the Pony Express riders as this was part of the route they road.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Zoom in, train repair shop on the leftEldon, with his "beloved" yard behindBefore computers- location boardEd Bailey, brief bio

    Overnight in North Platte

    June 1, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    After leaving Sidney we kept driving east on I-80. We have finally outlasted the bad weather and have pretty blue skies for driving Nebraska. Pretty flat land, green, lots of farming, feedlots, snow fences, some wind turbines, and not many trees. Most have been planted to manage the snow in lieu of fences.

    As we headed into North Platte we finally got on a parallel county highway that took us straight thru a couple of typical little farm towns. Older brick buildings that were there since the town started and quite a few "steakhouses" (typical of the area) that we need to try one night.

    We wanted to stop in North Platte because it is home to the Bailey train yard. This yard is one of the biggest train yards in the world. 8 square miles of yard with over 400 miles of track in the yard to accommodate the building and rebuilding of various train cars depending on final location. The bowl tracks, and two "humps" help to accomplish this resorting of cars ( all with computer chips to identify each one) in this huge train hub. There is also a huge engine repair shop for Union Pacific. We visited the Golden Spike Tower and museum that serves the yard. Your visit includes going up the tower to the 8th floor to get a "birds eye" look of the yard. They always have a volunteer that has retired from the train industry to answer any questions and share info if you don't know what to ask. Eldon was the volunteer of the day. He retired from Catapillar which provided and serviced all the generators used in the yard. He was excellent, we could have enjoyed his stories for hours. He actually grew up in a train depot not to far from North Platte. Reluctantly we pulled ourselves away, we needed to go find a spot at the local Walmart for dry camping.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    "Hanging" clamp
    Love mobile mechanics!The Archway Museum ( it spans I-80)Pedestrian Bridge across the Platte River at museum locationSite#38, Lake Cunningham"Are there any more goose droppings?"

    It all ended good....

    June 2, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    It was as we were leaving the Golden Spike Tower that Tom noticed something hanging under the RV that does not normally "hang".
    He crawled under and saw one of the clips that holds the sway bar just hanging by one bolt.
    At 6:00 pm (all shops closed) it created a little bit of anxiety for him!
    We carefully drove to our overnight choice, Walmart in North Platte, and spent quite a bit more time on our bellies, under the RV, assessing and discussing the situation. Nothing we could do but wait until morning.
    Next morning Tom was able to locate a mobile mechanic who promptly came out, evaluated situation, bought new bolt, and reinstalled bushing and clamp. He was great! It was difficult to get the new bolt in place and he had to work some time at it, but completed the job. And his final bill?? $155.76!? It would have been that much to have an approved dealer just diagnose the issue, much less complete the work! We were so fortunate, This could have been a challenge... the one dealer I spoke to said he could do the work, but couldn't work us in to his schedule for a week and a half. Just feel like God had His hand in this! ❤️
    We lost the morning due to repairs and our next stop we had actually booked a reservation since we're staying in Omaha. So pretty much had to drive straight there after repair. We did stop at a museum, the Archway, that I thought would be good, but just walked around outside to stretch our legs. Really nice weather today!
    Got to our reserved site at Lake Cunningham about 6 only to discover that the Jeep battery was dead. So at the end of a long day we had to drop the jeep in a location that would allow us to bring the RV along side to jump the battery. All great "fun"?!
    However this little park is really nice. Only about 40 sites, power only, and we are right on the end of the lake. It has a cute little dock with boats, shade trees, mowed lawns and geese! And you all know where there are geese you will find LOTS of their droppings. YUM! Charlie "loves" to smell and taste all the droppings... so walks are a little challenging! Regardless, we have enjoyed this nice, clean and quiet overnight as compared to the parking lots we have been staying at! It is nice to put shorts on again!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Just a pretty typical old barn with pasture view. Love this look

    Glenn Cunningham Lake campground

    June 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Since we were at a such a nice campground we spent a little more time in the morning to enjoy the scenery. We walked the lake side path over the bridge to the little marina. This is also a location for several summer concerts, would be a nice setting.
    Finally on the road by about 10 am    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Bob Kerry pedestrian bridge
    Tom straddling the state line over the Missouri RiverCouncil Bluff side plaza, loved this very tall sculpture!Back to Nebraska!Omar. The bridge trollSculpture in park

    Walked to Iowa and back for lunch

    June 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Arrived in Omaha about lunch time. The only thing we are"seeing" here is the Bob Kerry pedestrian Bridge. Just a nice, no charge, outdoor experience. This location is also home to a Lewis and Clark trail museum, but we have been forgoing most of these so we can keep driving. The pedestrian Bridge is sort of the anchor for the development of the river front, so there is still ongoing work. But the plaza and water feature was fun and the bridge allows you to walk across the "Big Muddy" (Missouri River) to Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is a 0.9 K walk to the other side.

    So we walked to Iowa for lunch!

    Council Bluff side is nice as well. Sat in their plaza and enjoyed our lunch. Warm day for a walk so thankfully had a little shade structure to use. Pretty quiet, but I guess since it's still a week day with school in session not as many out and about.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    3

    Charlie LOVES water

    June 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Posting this "footprint " separately so I could include video of the pup. With this app you either get one video (per footprint) or 6 pics.
    Charlie had so much fun in the water feature! Since it was on the Omaha side she got to play in it as we headed across and again when we came back. Perfect way to cool her off!Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    And into Omaha

    June 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    After the Bob Kerry Bridge we got on the road and arrived in Omaha about 5:30 or so. Tonight we hoped our game a little and decided to over night at a Cracker Barrel. Very nice! No trucks worth their engines running all night, which actually is sort of like a loud white noise affect.
    And we enjoyed a nice dinner that did not require cooking.
    Bonus: Cracker Barrel now serves a very limited selection of wine or beer! Better then nothing!?    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Crossing the Mississippi at Davenport, Iowa
    1Typical rest area. Clean rest rooms, vending machines, outdoor shade structures, and planted flowerOur latest CB spot1One of the least attractive visitor centers I have seen, but very conveniently located next door

    Almost There

    June 4, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    We drove from the Cracker Barrel outside of Des Moines, Iowa to the Cracker Barrel in Hammond, Indiana. (I think they call RVers like us "cracker-dockers", as opposed to boondockers or Wallydockers.) They are a pretty nice alternative to truck stops, definitely smaller, and (in our experience) just a few RVs and a relatively flat parking lot. We use our slides and generator if we need power for AC or coffee!
    Again spent the day driving across Iowa, thru the northern part of Illinois and into Indiana. Hammond is one of the many suburbs or cities that are part of the larger metropolitan Chicago area. So traffic was thick and the road surfaces awful. Most of Illinois was the same. Just patched up roads with endless bumps and potholes. I hate to think what it has been doing to the RV.
    Even if their roads are a mess, their reststops are quite nice. Some actually provide dump stations and wi-fi. You can overnight at the reststops as well, but we chose to get a little farther off the interstate with the truck stops! Way less noise? I must say this trip has helped me to become less demanding with my "sleep conditions"! Noisy, lit up, sleeping on a slope, no power, and no dog parks. It is tough to walk the pup without her finding some "choice" bit of trash to eat!

    There are lots of sight seeing stops, but for some reason we just want to keep moving. Entrance fees, access and parking concerns (RV towing a jeep) and the time it takes to visit a museum/art gallery knowing we want to get to Michigan just colors our decision-making. Gas is less than California but seems to hover around $4.50
    For us, we always enjoy the window scenery. Even on the interstate we see a lot of farming, grass plains and wooded forests, sometimes flat landscape and other times rolling hills that make us go off of cruise control. Today we think (?) we experienced our first toll experience. We never saw a booth, but we did go through this area with several cameras, and I think I saw signs that said something about paying online. We have no way of knowing at this point, and I can only hope that we will get something in the mail. Our forwarded mail? Fingers crossed....
    So we have crossed the Mississippi, and are about 300 miles from Traverse. We have decided to just head on to the RV park. We are "early" in terms of our work start date, but that will give us a nice time to settle in and establish a new lifestyle schedule for Charlie and Frank.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Wall mural in downtown
    View from upper city park to harborGrand Rapids downtown Market, upper levelLower level of market placeDowntown market place

    Grand Rapids for lunch

    June 5, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Decided we would head to traverse today, but with a couple of stops. Left Hammond, Indiana and we were through the northern state of Indiana in about an hour. Indiana has just a little chunk of the shore of Lake Michigan.
    We left the interstate to drive the business loop into St. Joseph's. Always fun to see the large lakeside homes. Like so many Michigan homes, the front yards are big green parks, well maintained with riding mowers.

    St. Joseph's was a cute lakeside and harbor town. We stopped for about 30 minutes just to get out and walk a little. There was a very light drizzle, but not enough to cancel their sidewalk antique sale. Charlie dragged us around with her nose to the ground...

    Back on the road and drive the 80 miles or so into Grand Rapids. We decided to take Shannon's recommendation and check out their downtown market place. It is a large renovated building with multiple eateries and food shops. Lots of really good food options and fun to walk through. The have a beautiful enclosed event space upstairs that is essentially a huge greenhouse. All glass, green plants and lights. There was a wedding that was just ending.

    After lunch and wandering around the marketplace we didn't get on the road until 3 or so, which put our arrival in Traverse City after 6. Long day, but we got parked and had time to give Charlie some run time! Because we got here a week earlier than anticipated we will be in one site for a week and then move to our final site for the summer. We were fortunate that the rain held off until 8 or 9 that night!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    Arrived Traverse!

    June 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Just a quick post of our arrival earlier this summer. Need to fill in with lots of summer photos!

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Leaving Holiday Park.
    A pleasant ice cream in Mt PleasantMike and CatherineWildflowers

    Coming home!

    September 14, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Can't believe the summer is gone! Hope to fill in several of our summer days later with some of our excursions. For now we are journaling trip home!
    Last work day was Sunday, dinner with Cobb family Monday, and dinner with HPTC friends on Tuesday. We were pretty well packed up for Wednesday departure and still didn't get on the road until 10.
    We headed southeast towards the little town of Howell which is about 30 miles from Ann Arbor. We had reservation to tour the"big house" on Thursday. Nice drive through rolling green hills and forests, typical Michigan!
    Lunched in Mount Pleasant at a little deli in the downtown district. Surprise, surprise, there was a local artist gallery just didn't the street. I can't resist galleries, especially local artists...so while Tom enjoyed his ice cream I got to browse. No purchases but enjoyed chatting with the clerk whose son graduated from Mich. Tech, which is where Spencer plans to go to college.
    Back on the road to Howell and the Cycling Goats Farm. We joined Harvest Hosts (travel program) for our trip home to see if it was a good alternative to Walmart and cracker barrel for "free" overnight stays. Had a GREAT first experience. We were parked in a lower pasture of a couple who have started a sustainable farm. Goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and pigs to come. Also they had planned a big strip of wild flowers for "u-cut" sales. Program requires that we be self contained, so no utilities. But gorgeous setting. Watched deer in the field next to us. No lights, no traffic. We visited and toured farm and then spent a nice, dark, quiet night in the coach.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler

    Morning with the goats

    September 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    As Charlie and I got up we discovered the deer were back and checking out the RV more closely. She has been really good, and only stares intently out the window at them. No barking. Made some coffee and we all headed up to the goat pen for the morning feeding.
    It was fun watching the "feeding". As soon as the animals see Mike and Catherine they all run to the nearest fence. Ducks quacking, chickens running around, goats bleating and hopping around. My gosh, if you had this greeting every morning you could not have a bad day. So cute. Chickens get thrown some scratch, then goats get their breakfast in their shed, you hear lots of scuffling and jumping around, then the chickens and ducks get their good food in a separate coop, the "chicken cafe", because it could be harmful to the goats. The chickens eventually wander out scratching for more food, and the ducks go get in their little ponds, while the goats are still scuffling over food in the shed. A very busy group.... Finally, we went out and watched the turkeys being fed. They hope to have pigs by next year.
    Mike and Catherine are working towards being sustainable at some point in the future. Grow and keep enough animals for all their food sources. Even if that means bartering for items, they don't produce. Extremely nice couple, with two teens. One who is interested and one who is sort of isn't.
    Said our good byes, told them we hope to come by next year when we go back and actually see little baby goats!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    1Winnie coming out of the stadium!
    John, tour guide, and alumni1Warming the benchVisiting team locker room?!

    the "Big House" tour

    September 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Said good bye to all the goats, and headed into Ann Arbor. Our tour was scheduled for noon and we had about a 45 min drive. Wanted to get there early since we had the RV and Jeep. Hindsight should have dropped the jeep sooner. Instead we drive all the way into a downtown university town towing the jeep looking for parking! Not healthy for any marriage. Ultimately we found our guide who then let us park the RV inside the stadium gates for the tour!
    We loved the tour! A little history, a look at the press area, the suites, the locker room and then we were allowed onto the field... It was a group of about a dozen, mostly couples. Every man had his Michigan shirt on!

    Ended day with drive to Kalamazoo, west of Ann Arbor. We overnighted in the parking lot of the Air Zoo museum as part of the Harvest hHost program. Down side, I forgot to look at light pole placement when we parked. So very quiet, but not especially dark. Was too tired to think about reparking!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    1

    Air Zoo in Kalamazoo

    September 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Enjoyed a quiet morning in there parking lot of the museum. Lots of green spaces for Charlie to sniff out.
    We weren't sure we wanted too go thru the museum but decided to since we're didn't have anywhere to be.
    Really enjoyed this stop, they have a very good selection of historically and currently aircraft displayed beautifully in this huge building, I don't have any knowledge about airplanes, butv appreciated display and size of some these aircraft. Lots of docents around too share info. My guess was they were mostly ex-flyers...
    Got on the road about noon. We stopped at Meijer for a few groceries, and walked across the lot to a deli to share a sandwich. Gassed up ($3.60 a gal, not to bad)) and headed west.
    We spent the rest of the day driving. We decided we didn't want to drive the interstates through southern Chicago, so we took a bunch of county highways. Not bad, but only two lane roads, and some with little or no shoulder. Average speed, maybe 45 mph. Hindsight, we would have probably been fine on the interstate. Although roads are not always in very good shape, especially the slow lanes...
    Enjoyed the countryside, lots of corn and some other crop, soy? Wide open with ranch houses, barns and silos. Not as wooded as Michigan, but rolling hills. Humid.
    We stayed at Nature's Way RV park, small but did have electric and water. Always a plus in warm days!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Lots of soybean fields. They are rotated with the corn fields

    Overnight at Pleasant Creek campground

    September 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Just wanted to make sure this footprint was included in the mail. Forgot to take pictures of our spot...but had this photo with correct date and location. Also an excellent reminder!

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Starved Rock
    Eagles BluffDam and LockStairs to LodgeVeranda at lodge. We ate inside because it was cooler!Soybean fields as numerous as ALL the cornfields, they'll after rotated!1

    Starved Rock State Park

    September 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Only was able to get one night at Nature's Way RV Park so packed y this morning and headed straight to the park. Not too far. We wanted to be there early because this is apparently a very popular park and parking can sometimes be a problem.
    We were there about 9:30 and it was beginning to fill up. We parked way in the back and left it locked with the generator on so we could leave the AC on for Frank and Charlie while we spent sometime in the visitor center. This park sits right on the bluffs of the Illinois river and is known for its limestone bluffs, and water carved canyons and waterfalls. And in the winter they become icefalls. Unfortunately drought conditions are not unique to the west coast.
    Spent the morning"hiking" with Tom and Charlie to Starved Rock and out to Lovers leap, and Eagle Bluff. (No eagles this time of year). All have great views of dam, the lock and river. But all the trails included LOTS of stairs. Charlie is pretty strong, but I think with her shirt little legs they were tougher than just a hike! The heat didn't help...
    Took her back to the RV (with AC) and went back to have a late lunch at the renovated historic lodge. Pretty disappointed in the food, but sometimes the concessionaire could do a better job...the lodge just wasn't as nice as some of the national historic lodges.
    Back to RV and drove out to a RV park nearby that included electric hook up knowing we NEEDED some conditioning for the evening.    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Lobby of the museum. Boyhood "entrance" to the left and president journey "entrance" to the rightBoyhood jouneyArguing the Emancipation ProclamationPolitical cartoons of the eraEmancipation Proclamation

    Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

    September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Drove most of the morning to arrive in Springfield, Illinois at about noon. Had a bit of a hiccup as we tried locking up the RV and couldn't find the door and storage keys. After about 30 minutes they were located but both Tom and we drenched in sweat... Finally got the generator going, animals settled, ands we went into the museum.
    We both loved this museum. As you moved through the chronological exhibits you just felt like you got a closer look at house life. It was like reading a book in an afternoon. And we both forgot just how significant he was as a president. Just a great experience AND reminder there we are "all created equal".
    Fortunately our overnight stay was right in Springfield so not too far to drive. This overnight was through Harvest Host again. This host was Springfield Beer Company.
    Cute little brewery with ready parking lot to navigate and right next to a hamburger place. We were able to get burgers and then head into the brewery to eat then with some local beer and watch football. Unfortunately Las Vegas lost, again.
    So warm that we left the generator on so that's we could run the AC. Only downside is collectively both of these units make some noise, so after tossing and turning we turned them off. But it's had us in time to experience a real thunder and lightning show!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Lincoln tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetry
    The actual tomb, Mary and 3 of the children are buried here as wellState capitolThe Lincoln homeLate lunch, you can't go wrong with a hot fudge Sunday!

    Lincoln locations in Springfield

    September 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Was a slightly difficult night for sleep; warm, muggy, then rain and lightning. It was nice to have a relatively cool morning, although it did not last long.
    IHOP just happened to be down the street so enjoyed a quick breakfast at really one of Toms favorite breakfast stops. Then drive back until Springfield just to get in a couple of more Lincoln stops.
    First was Oak Ridge Cemetry for his tomb. Very well located on a hill in the cemetery. Really well done. You walk through a circular path, much like a masoleum, and there are several niches with sculptures off Lincoln fromm various ages of his life. Tombs for Mary and 3 of the 4 boys they had are here as well. The only son that did survive was buried at Arlington.
    Sincere we were already downtown we did a quick drive by you see the state capital building, and finally to take a look at the Lincoln home. Once he left for Washington as president he never actually lives here again. We really enjoyed and appreciated the time we had to reaquaint ourselves with Lincoln and his impact.
    Headed back to IHOP, we had dropped the jeep to drive in town. Hooked back up and headed to st.louis, just about 100 miles. We are overnighting at a KOA IN Granite City, which is still in Illinois, north and east of St. Louis. Hot, muggy and so thankful that we have an awesome AC. It was 96°, the all-time record for this day in history was 97°. You can't imagine the discussions we have about who should be walking the pup...or maybe you can! The weather person was very optimistic that tomorrow we would see a record setting temperature!    Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Basilica on the national park grounds
    Interestingly, that little umbrella and the small bell in the golden staff are basilica symbols

    St. Louis, the Basilica

    September 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Right on the national park grounds off the Arch, are also the Basilica and the old courthouse. The courthouse was under renovation, but we could go in and see the cathedral.
    It is one of the few buildings that has stood in place since the 1700s?? It has been renovated a couple of times, (originally wood timber) but has remained a Catholic church since inception. Can't quite remember the history (linley probably will) but not all cathedrals have the distinction of being named a basilica, the pope does that. Beautiful inside...Read more

  • KatbozMichigan 2022Traveler
    Staging as we get in our pods
    Help! They are a little claustrophobic!Tom is a little apprehensiveView out window of pod as we go up the ArchStaging to get back in our pods at the topSaarinens most memorable designs1Wide angle distorts scale of legs, but shot anywayThat's Tom sitting at the baseSculptural depiction of pods

    St. Louis, the Arch

    September 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F

    Woke up to warm muggy morning. Actually at 6:30 and it might have cool for a bit....and it just feels "buggier" out here.
    Got on the road fairly soon because I had prepurchased tickets for the documentary movie about the Arch and the tram ride to the top. We stopped the jeep so at least we weren't navigating downturn with the RV. There RV park is only about 30 minutes away on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. Drive in was fairly easy, not much traffic, just kept missing various turns so spent a little bit of time going in circles. Eventually got to where we needed to be.
    Wow, the Arch really is quite breathtaking. In your mind you know it is big, but in person the scale is just seems so enormous. Beautifully built, just standing a clear grass field on the edge of the river.
    We headed into the visitor center fort the documentary about the build. The documentary was really interesting, and I just don't remember this being completed in the 60's. But what a project!
    We then queued up for the tram ride to the top. Who would've dreamed of birth only building this Arch, but providing access to the top. And the access is so "sixties"! These little egg shaped pods that only hold 5 people at a time, there are a total of 8 of them moving, as a group, up or down the Arch with passengers. Unlike any experience I have had before. The seats even reflect Saarinen, they have the shaped feel of his tulip table and my chairs.
    The ride is about 15 min or so, and you get out to this small corridor like space at the very top of the Arch. Small window slots on both sides so you have these huge views east and west of St. Louis. We had about 10 minutes at the top and then back in our pods to the bottom. ("Please open the door Hal")
    Then we spent another hour or so going through the on site museum dedicated to American history. The Arch is a memorial to the western expansion. Great museum, but hard to appreciate after the documentary and ride. One segment does give a good understanding of the history of the Arch. The documentary is more focused on the actual building of the Arch. We loved this visit!    Read more

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