Category: Cross Country

I’ve been having a bit of trouble with a couple of things in Addie – water pump and kitchen light fixture. Planning on being in the area for a few days, I reached out to my Chevy Roadtrek Owners Facebook Group for a RV shop recommendation. Someone from the group recommended Alexander’s in Bloomington; they’ve serviced her RoadTrek for 15 years. I called, made an appointment for today, and brought Addie in for service. I’ll spare the details…water pump is fine, water systems all look good, water heater may have a small leak (not urgent, will handle back in SLO). Light fixtures are on back order everywhere, so the mechanic switched two light fixtures so I have a working one in my kitchen. Very friendly and comforting to know that Addie continues to be in safe and relatively good shape.
After Alexander’s, I wandered to the village of Nashville, IN. Think Cambria, CA, with cute shops and galleries. Very darling!
Finding produce in this area presented a conundrum. There is a bit of a “food desert” here…

 

 

 

 

Although I didn’t go to sleep until after 1am central time (had to finish my book!), I slept well – refreshed and ready for the next stage of my adventure!
First, I walked around Babler State Park, location of last night’s campsite. The park, named after Dr. Edmund Babler, a Missouri physician and surgeon, encompasses many acres of natural wonders.
From Missouri, I traveled through Illinois, mainly on country roads. I saw many corn fields, farmhouses, and grain silos. Getting hungry and still in Illinois, I stopped in Casey for lunch – and viewed the world’s largest…wind chimes, rocking chair, barber pole, mailbox, and pencil! Around 2011, this small town reinvigorated its downtown with the wind chimes – and the kitsch statues snowballed from there.
For the next few days, I’m staying at Shakamak State Park, between Terre Haute and Bloomington and only two miles from a National Conference in Sales Management friend and his family. After hearing about his wonderful wife and kids for over a decade, I enjoyed meeting and dining with them. 🙂
Dr. Edmund Babler

 

Happy to be refreshed and driving with blue skies!

 

Wind chimes, the first of many “World’s Biggest”

 

Rocking chair

 

Barber pole

 

You’ve got mail!

Crazy storm last night! So much heavy thunder, lightening, wind, and rain – nearly 5 inches just over night. Needless to say, I barely slept, although Addie help up well.
I spent today on the road, buying groceries, napping, reading, and relaxing. Exactly what I needed after last night’s chaos.
Relatively clear sky!

 

A trail by my campground. Thought about hiking it – and turned around to go back to Addie and read my book.

Woke up in time for sunrise! Then traveled to the first city in Kansas, Leavenworth where I viewed the Carroll Mansion Museum, the oldest continuously operating museum in Leavenworth County and listed on the National Historic Registrar. Susan B. Anthony’s brother, Daniel Read Anthony, owned the home in the 1800s, so Susan spent much time in the home as she fought for suffrage.
Given today’s heat, I chose not to hike but rather to ramble onto my Harvest Host for the night, Z&M Twisted Vines Wines and Winery. Z&M, founded by retired US Army Major and Apache pilot, Bryan Zesiger, and his wife, retired elementary school teacher and principal, Gina Montalbano. Gina and I spent over two hours during my tasting talking about education, the minimum wage, culture, Italy, etc. It was a very pleasant evening!
As I write this, a thunderstorm with hail is passing over head!
Sunrise

 

Carroll Mansion Museum

 

Carroll Mansion Museum

 

Carroll Mansion Museum

 

Yep🙁

 

Sunset…just before the rain!

 

The sky now through the same window!

A day full of twists and turns! First, I went into Des Moines itself to supposedly see Terrace Hill Historical Site, which is the governor’s mansion. However while driving around I saw this amazing building – the State Capitol building. Had to see it! Phenomenal! Went to Terrace Hill afterward – oops, I needed a reservation… Moved onto Raccoon River Park and walked around the lake – very nice! Even though it was HOT and HUMID, the walk was beautiful.
On my way to my Harvest Host, I saw signs for the Bridges of Madison County. Squirrel! I was off in search of covered bridges! I found three of the remaining six (out of initially 19) covered bridges.
The day ended at my Harvest Host, Revelton Distillery. Founded by Rob, a former state legislator, and Christi, an internist and Chief Medical Officer of a large practice north of Des Moines, Revelton makes fantastic gin, vodka, whiskey, and bourbon. From the outside, the building looks unassuming. Inside, however, it’s relaxing, upscale, and comfortable. After a chat with Rob about the distillery, politics, and teaching (in addition to the distillery and politics, he’s adjunct taught economics and ethics), I tasted products, toured the distillery, and enjoyed not one but two cocktails. (Curious why I didn’t post last night??!!)
State Capitol

 

Inside the Capitol dome

 

Four story law library

 

State assembly room

 

Des Moines sports bike rack art piece!

 

Bike rack!

 

Bike rack!

 

My trail

 

Hot and humid – heat advisory!

 

Imes Bridge, 1870

 

Holliwell Bridge, 1880

 

Cutler-Donahoe Bridge, 1870

 

Inside Revelton Diatillery

 

Does this need a caption?!

My day started with a better night’s sleep! 
After my usual breakfast, Addie and I set out to explore Minneapolis and its surrounding neighborhoods. First up, Fort Snelling State Park. Oops! We should have checked – closed for renovations. Next, Minnehaha Park, home of Minnehaha Falls. Although he never visited the park, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow helped to spread the waterfall’s fame when he wrote his celebrated poem, The Song of Hiawatha. 
While at Minnehaha, I learned about the Falls of St. Anthony, around seven miles away and near downtown Minnesota. So, off into town for Addie and me! With concrete locks, dam, and apron, the Falls of St. Anthony provide power and navigation rather than natural charm. 
Leaving Addie so she could relax a bit, I walked around downtown to the Basilica of Saint Mary…also closed. 
I returned to the now ready-to-roll Addie and found our way out of Minneapolis and into St. Paul. Not only did we see exquisite large homes, we saw the open-for-visitors Cathedral of Saint Paul. Addie expressed disappointment that she could not enter the cathedral but exhibited pleasure at my photos. 
Our final stops before returning home: homemade ice cream and Trader Joe’s! 
Fort Snelling – under renovation

 

Hydrangeas at Fort Snelling

 

Minnehaha Falls

 

Minnehaha Creek

 

Bridge in Minnehaha Park

 

Falls of St. Anthony

 

The First Bridge – Falls of St. Anthony

 

Basilica of Saint Mary

 

Cathedral of Saint Paul

 

Minnesota state capitol.

 

Tough sleeping last night…muggy and since I thought we’d have thunderstorms (per multiple weather reports), I kept my windows closed and, since not plugged in, I didn’t have a/c. My fan blowing on me wasn’t comforting enough. Oh, well, tonight and tomorrow night I’m at a KOA, just outside of Minneapolis, with electricity – which means a/c.
Regardless, I drove around the bison preserve at Minneopa SP. Scientists have created a natural prairie which sustains a herd of genuine bison. In the early 1900s when bison were almost extinct – only 1,000 remained – they were crossbred with cattle. The herd at Minneopa is pure bison. Public, private, and tribal bison herd managers are working to breed out the cattle DNA from bison. On the drive around the preserve, I could tune to an AM radio station for an explanation of bison preservation.
Following the preserve, I headed over to…wait for it…a waterfall! Yep, I LOVE waterfalls! 
A trip to the post office and then arrival at my campground rounded out my day. And a BIG NAP! 🙂
Prairie with compelling sky

 

More prairie flowers

 

🙂

 

Minneopa Falls

 

The stone was not rolling so it gathered…

 

Some sign writers have great senses of humor!

 

Addie in the town of Jordan

 

Addie at sunset

Last night, another very loud and powerful thunderstorm. I’m guessing there’ll be one tonight, too, given the mugginess and cloud cover… 
Hiked about 8 miles this morning above and below sheer quartzite cliffs and through prairie. Saw a bison herd in the distance. 
Tonight, I’m at another very cool (as in interesting – not as in temperature!) Minnesota state park – I’ll see this park’s bison tomorrow.
A bridge over untroubled water

 

The creek through the bridge slats

 

Muggy weather

 

Wildflowers

 

Can you see the bison herd?

 

Quartzite cliff behind me

 

Quartzite

 

Quartzite wall

Overnight – major thunderstorm! Lots of lightening, loud thunder, and heavy rain!
Today was a “chores” day. In Sioux Falls, SD: 1) maps from AAA (I use an atlas, maps, Google, apps, …); 2) oil, lube, and inspection from the GM dealership (quick, friendly, and complimentary of my home mechanic – he said something about the bushings were even greased – whatever that means!); 3) light bulbs from Ace Hardware (although the light is still not coming on – maybe something bounced loose on my rough gravel road yesterday?); and 4) finally, a pedi!
Thunderstorm!

 

Addie’s other side. Haha!

Nebraska and Nebraskans rock! Today, I slowly wove my way across northern Nebraska to just across the border into South Dakota. The scenery and the people surprised me. Explored Valentine, Niobrara River, Smith Falls, and Ashfall Fossils! Something I noticed: at many other places if I ask where the fellow traveler is from, they’ll say Iowa, Washington, … some state. In Nebraska, they’ll say the town they’re from since they’re all from Nebraska. Northern Nebraska seems to be where Nebraskans vacation.

First stop, the little town of Valentine.

 

They must be having an election…

 

Hearts painted on Valentine’s downtown sidewalks.

 

A closeup of one of the many hay bales I saw while traveling.

 

Bridge over the Niobrara River.

 

Smith Falls: I realize how many photos I take of waterfalls!

 

Poster at Smith Falls State Park.

 

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park: Nearly 12 million years ago, a volcanic eruption in Idaho spewed ash, which the jet stream carried 1,000 miles to north central Nebraska. Killed by eating ash-filled food, which primarily destroyed their lungs, over about a six week period were horses, rhinos, and other animals. Based on lung capacity, smaller animals died first with the largest dying last. Their bodies were covered by the blowing and drifting ash. The skeletons of these animals are preserved in their death positions complete with evidence of their last meals in their mouths and their last steps preserved in sandstone in what used to be a water hole. Excavation started in 1991.

Note: The Mammoth Site near Mt. Rushmore is “only” 140,000 years old.

 

Ashfall Fossils

 

My Harvest Host tonight: Choteau Creek Brewing Company. Homemade beer and pizza!

Nebraska sports rolling hills, cornfields, and VINEYARDS! Today’s drive in northern Nebraska included surprising sights. The day concluded with wine tasting, wine drinking, and lots of conversation at Niobrara Valley Winery, a Harvest Host. Along with two retired couples, I sampled (and drank) wines and swapped travel adventures, locations, and stories. Nice way to end the day!

Hay bales and hills line the roads.

 

Enjoying Nebraska and Addie.

 

Cornfield.

 

Vineyard.

 

Addie at sunset.