Back in the 'hot'

I am not thrilled to be back where I need a/c all the time even during the night to be able to sleep but once I got south of Virginia, it all returned to our lives.
   Once I realized that I was really heading home, I got antsy and decided to just 'get there' although I am making one more stop along the way, it should be this weekend when I get to my 'big' house again.
    Before getting to Florida, I stayed in North Carolina and Ohio after Pipestem State Park in West Virginia.  



campsite in North Carolina

By the time I reached Pipestem, I knew I was just not going to spend time taking too many photos of campgrounds. I did, however, find some beautiful flowers.

 huge Hibiscus at a campground.

So, I will spend my next few days 'resting', walking, reading, swimming and flea/farmer's market shopping before going home to get re-adjusted.

Rally and beyond

The RT rally in Elkhorn turned out to be a genuine winner! It was well organized with more food and activities than originally anticipated and it was enjoyed by all attending. We had 23 solos there (3 guys with all the women) and most of us 'hung' out together much of the time.

15 solos

Region 6 photographers

Happy Hour with solos

parked under the trees

The campground at the fairgrounds was lovely and most of us were in the shade under lovely trees.
Our 'voyage' on Lake Geneva and then the next day the 'dinner' (luncheon) theater were terrific and we got some time to browse the stores too.

Some of the mansions on the lake front are unbelievable.

 Browsing and buying in Lake Geneva.

From Elkhorn, Petey and I headed to Joliet, Illinois where we stayed in a casino campground for a couple of nights. It was exciting when the power went out (bad storm) and it was not just the campground power but the power company that had the problem. For a few hours, my generator got exercised since it was hot enough to need the a/c but the rain was enough to keep me in and I never did get to the casino.

On the Bark's River, WI

   Since tomorrow starts the Roadtrek Chapter rally, I thought I'd better get a note done today and put a few photos of my stay here in Bark's River Campground.
   We arrived on Thursday and I am tucked into a nice site with some shade. With lower temps, I have only needed the a/c a little in the afternoons to keep Petey from over heating.
We have been sleeping with windows open and no a/c and me needing the comforter!

There are some beautiful 'weeping' trees here on this 120 acre property. This is actually on the Bark River at this point.

Having nice neighbors all weekend resulted in no boredom time and, again, I think I will be returning to the state of Wisconsin in the future.

  

grass but no goats on the roof

When I left Bailey's Harbor, I drove up the peninsula after having Swedish pancakes in Al Johnson's where they have sod on the roofs and put goats up there (Sisters Bay, WI). I enjoyed the little towns on the west side of the peninsula (Sisters Bay, Fish Creek, Egg Harbor) and decided to just keep going south to a city park I had been told about. I had my hook ups and shower for a night and then headed to Two Rivers which is on Lake Michigan and this campground is part of a marina so there are boats very busy all the time.
    One of my neighbors gave me Rainbow trout and salmon (fresh fish is always good) both fresh and smoked. I have had to re-arrange my refrigerator and freezer in order to get it all inside and I am eating it too. My neighbors on the other side of me have driven me to town (it is walkable but they were going) and then to Walmart too. I will miss them when they leave tomorrow.
    I am planning on staying here until Thursday.

harbor entrance to two rivers

beach on Lake Michigan (at campground)

town center

geese

Relaxin' in Wisconsin

I am on the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan (last year did the Michigan side) and am enjoying the time in Bailey's Harbor. Before getting here, we spent a few days near Minocqua and in that campground I ran into a Roadtrek couple who I had already met before! I will see them again at the rally in Elkhorn in a couple of weeks.

Patricia Lake (Minocqua, WI)

Lake Michigan (Bailey's Harbor)

site in Bailey's Harbor (Beantown Campground)

view of the Lake
                                      And the flowers are gorgeous!

  

Minnesota stuff

Although I had some rain in Pipestone, I still got to the National Monument across the street and had some 'hot' sunshine, in the pool days too.
     From there I did a night in Thief River Falls (a small, very northern town).

bottom of a quarry--red is pipestone

many were flooded from so much rain

Monument entrance sign

Pipestone fort (replica)

sculpture in town

From Thief River Falls, I went to "Pete's Retreat" near Aitkin, MN and spent four days there with much of it in the pool to keep cool.
So today I am in the Buffalo Valley Campground, but it is raining and only 55 degrees outside. I am not complaining after all the over 90 temps we have had but it is strange to need my heat rather than a/c to keep comfortable. Will head to Wisconsin tomorrow (Sunday) and Lake Superior.

In the rain in Pipestone, MN

  Today in Pipestone, it is raining and really poured (thunder and lightening during the night) but having a 'rest' today won't hurt.
  

I left Cheyenne and headed to South Dakota (slept overnight in Nebraska) and to my ‘fun’ campground in Custer. I drove through the Custer State park and the scenery and wildlife are wonderful. When I got to the campground I was remembered (stayed there last year) and I wound up staying three nights instead of the two I had planned. They tried to get me to stay longer (were going to lower the rent) but I needed to move on and headed towards Sturgis. I stayed in a lovely, quiet campground for a couple of nights (I did drive through Sturgis and some of the mountain canyons), and then headed to Badlands National park where I drove through (and back) but didn’t stay there as originally intended. I drove on to a small town for the night and then came all the way to Pipestone, Minnesota. I had lunch in Sioux Falls before leaving South Dakota and will stay here for a few days. Hope to walk across to the Pipestone National Monument and into town (if the rains slows or stops!).

buffalo..real...Custer SP

herd in Custer SP

mule in Custer SP (thru window)

cathedral spires..Custer SP

on the Needles Loop..Custer SP

Badlands

Badlands 'old' dunes

horse at Rush No More

Rush No More Camp

buffalo sculpture in Custer

clouds over Custer

Wyoming

montana mts

in campground

Scoria rock

Occidental Hotel (Buffalo) lobby

even the creek is 'raging'

Boot sculpture

me and a Boot

old in Cheyenne

   I have done campgrounds in Livingston (Montana), Buffalo and Cheyenne, Wyoming and now it will be time to head north again.
    Some of the driving is quite 'blah' but some is really very pretty. It is obvious that all the rivers, creeks, lakes and streams are overflowing with water from the snow melt run-off that is happening (and causing floods in many areas).

Idaho



   Driving in Idaho was really a lovely surprise for me. I didn't realize how pretty much of it really is and the rolling hills and pretty canyons and valleys made driving enjoyable even with the very curvy roads.

Ponderosa State Park

We stayed in this lovely State Park in McCall after leaving Bear Lake (stopped just outside of Boise first) and getting there on ID 55 was a beautiful drive.

  I put my 'girl' pinwheel out by my site and it always get me conversation from other campers.



My 'girl' pinwheel



site in Ponderosa


We drove on from there to Lewiston to visit with Gwen which was fun. The temperature had gone down enough to not need a/c, so I was parked in her driveway needing electric only for a few things and since I didn't have to cook, I did not need my propane either.
She took me to see the town which lies in a lovely valley in the rolling hills as well as driving around to see the areas in the town itself which is a 'kin' to Clarkston, WA (right across a bridge) and taught me that these towns were named after Lewis and Clark since they are really on the Lewis and Clark 'trail'.

view of the valley

It is a nice 'perk' to be able to visit other Roadtrek 'solos' along this trip and adds to the enjoyment more than can be imagined.