Return to Minnesota

On April 5th we left Casa Grande to start our journey toward Minnesota.  First stop was Prescott, Arizona where we spent a few days with Kathy's cousin and her husband.  They became our tour guides... taking us to view the Grand Canyon, then to see historic sites around Prescott area.
    After leaving Prescott we headed east along I-40, spending nights in Gallup and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. As we left Santa Rosa the winds picked up, and severe thunderstorms were predicted along our driving route.  We stopped in Tucumcari, NM for two days to wait out the storms.  Downtown Tucumcari is part of Route 66 National Scenic Byway, so we went by car to check out the colorful murals that cover shops and buildings along "Main Street", and spent some time at the local Historical Museum.
    With the threat of severe weather temporarily subsided we headed east again on I-40 through Amarillo, TX, then on to Clinton, Oklahoma. By then more severe weather, including hail, tornadoes, heavy rains and strong, gusty winds, was in the forecast again.  Woodward, OK (just north of Clinton) was hard hit by these storms.
We camped in Clinton for 3 days.
   From Clinton, OK we drove to Garden Plain, Kansas where we spent an afternoon and evening visiting some of Gene's relatives.  We parked overnight at the family farm place still occupied by an 89 year old cousin who had been born on that farm.
   After leaving Garden Plain we headed toward I-35, spending nights in Topeka, KS and Osceola, Iowa along the route home.  We arrived in Shoreview on April 19th.
    The motor home is parked, the Christmas decorations have been taken down, and yard and garden activities await...