Wisconsin Fall Tour

October 21-23 we took off for a fall tour of neighboring state Wisconsin.  We headed east on I-94 in the general direction of Wausau/Stevens Point area.  Campgrounds were already starting to close for the season, so we planned our trip to arrive at places that were still open. The first night we were the only campers at Camp DuBay Shores in Mosinee, WI.  We chose a parking spot overlooking the lake, walked to a local restaurant for dinner, and enjoyed a cool fall day.
    The next morning we took off on state highways 80 and 82, through New Lisbon and south toward Richland Center.  Our objective was scenery, and we found some very nice rolling hills and valleys and fall foliage. We also found Pittsville, WI, claimed to be the exact center of Wisconsin, and Ocean Spray Cranberry Farms near Babcock, WI, where one could see cranberry bogs along the highway.
   Our destination that evening was Blackhawk Park, an Army Corp of Engineers park along the Mississippi River at Desoto, WI. To get there Gene passed another driving challenge...curving winding narrow roads going downhill at 8% grade toward the river!  The campground was nice, with more campers there for some late fall fishing.
   We arrived home Sunday.  Likely no more trips now until time to head South...

Brainerd Lakes Area Rally

September 22-25th we attended a rally sponsored by Tiffin RV Network, a group for travelers who all drive Tiffin manufactured motorhomes.  We met 10 other couples at RV Resort @ the Preserve near Pequot Lakes, MN.  The resort had plenty of parking, and a big clubhouse where we met for potlucks and "happy hour".  We had campfires a couple evenings, able to keep warm while enjoying the late fall weather.  During free time Gene & I drove to Nisswa and Pequot Lakes to wander around and do some shopping. A lot of time was spent talking with the other campers and comparing notes on our Tiffin motorhomes.

FMCA Madison Wisconsin

August 10-13, 2011 was FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) annual rally, held this year in Madison, Wisconsin. As we are members, we decided to attend, and were labeled  First Time Attendees...we were assigned to report for parking in the afternoon on Monday, August 8th.  We proceeded to the Holding Area, waiting to be parked...this was important as we learned there would be some 1900+ large motor homes requiring parking space. We were led to a grassy area in Lake Farm Park and shown where to park.  This would be home for the rest of the week.
   When we registered we requested to park in the "generator only from 6 AM to 11PM" area. That meant we would have no electricity except what our batteries and generator would supply. We also had no running water or sewer connections, so had 90 gallons of fresh water (brought from Shoreview) and our waste water tanks to live on through the week!  This would be a new experience for sure.
   We had a fun week...attending seminars given by experts in all things RV (from batteries & tires to convection oven cooking, and everything in-between), viewing new RV's, and visiting with many folks like us who have RV's for travel or as their permanent home.
   We learned to manage our on-board water and electric resources, and now know we can "boondock" for at least a week!  And, YES, we took showers every day...

Shoreview, MN

We did return safely to Shoreview on April 21st.  The motorhome is parked, we've cleaned out the refrig, and moved necessary items back into the house. Yardwork was waiting, leaves to clean up, a garden to till and plant...all to do once it stops raining and warms up! We do hope to take some shorter camping trips this summer, so the RV news will likely continue.

Almost in Minnesota Again

Our first winter away is coming to an end...we are almost in Minnesota again.  After leaving the Arbuckle Mountains on Sunday, April 17 we camped a night in Miami, OK (across the border from Joplin, MO); two nights in Turney, MO (north of Kansas City); and tonight we are in Story City, IA (just abit north of Ames).
   We missed another bout of severe weather the nights we stayed in Turney...thunderstorms, wind, rain, snow...all were in the forecast! So far we have NOT seen any white stuff on the ground, and hope it stays that way!

Chickasaw National Recreation Area, OK

We arrived in Oklahoma on Wed, April 13. Our destination: Chickasaw NRA and a campsite on Lake of the Arbuckles. Leaving I-35 at the Davis exit we followed the signs to the park, winding our way up the hills to "The Point", where campsites overlook the lake. Some sites are set up for motorhomes, having solid parking pads, electric & water hookups, but many more sites are for tent campers and are more primitive. The view is great!
   On Thursday we went into the little town of Sulphur, OK. Sulphur gets its name from mineral springs (spring water absorbing sulphur and bromine from the rocks below) located in the area. We drove around a park there, seeing outlets for the springs, and winding along a scenic river.
   Later that afternoon were greeted by severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Tornadoes were sited near Davis and Sulphur, just miles from our camp. We took shelter in the only solid structure in the woods: the shower/restroom building! The dark clouds passed with no damaging wind in our location, but then heavy rain & hail followed the storm. Hail (some pieces up to quarter size) pounded the motorhome and car. The car has a few new scars; we will have to inspect the motorhome more today...

Lyndon B Johnson Texas History

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park and LBJ State Park and Historic Site are joint ventures between federal and state agencies to preserve the history of LBJ's life and his family connections to Texas Hill Country.
    We started with the Johnson City site, where a visitor center  provides exhibits and films. Here we also toured his boyhood home, restored as it would have looked in the 1920's. LBJ was 5 years old when his family moved there in 1913.
    After that we drove to the LBJ Ranch site, 14 miles from Johnson City. There another tour took us to see the one room school he attended, the home where he was born in 1908, the cemetery where he is buried, and a drive through the pastures of the ranch to a show barn used to exhibit his Hereford cattle. Final stop was the ranch house (often referred to as the Texas White House). The house is preserved as it looked when the family lived there.  Near the house was parked Air Force One-Half (LBJ's name for the small jet used to fly into the ranch on his own private runway).
   Lots of history and a neat drive through the Hill Country.