Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having a great time and an enjoyable Christmas.  We're doing well.  Kinda lonely at Mikee's for lunch last Friday as so many people are out of town.  Finally got out to eat at Wintzell's Oyster House for shrimp & grits.  Go back there, again, too!  Not as much bike riding/walking due to the wet weather.  We attended the traditional Christmas Eve service at Gulf Shores UMC.  Then volunteered for the first shift & ate at the second shift for Christmas dinner at the Gulf State Park today.  Always fun to meet new people!

Everyone be safe out there.  Later, David

Zoo & Lighted-Boat Parade

This week's adventure was a visit to the Gulf Coast Zoo - same zoo that was Animal Planet's "The Little Zoo That Could" & a trip to the marina next to Lu Lu's to watch the boats line up for the lighted-boat parade.

Last time we visited the zoo I ran out of battery power for the camera when we reached the big cat area, so this time we concentrated on the big cats.  We had a

good time.  Weather was great.  Zoo was crowded as they were having a free-entry-with-a- food-donation event.

Lighted-boat Christmas Parades are always fun, and this one was, too.  We stayed near the marina by Lu Lu's and watched the boats prep & line up.  Took pictures until it got too dark for me to take pictures, then drove along the international waterway as they boated

toward Orange Beach just to watch a few go by.  Maybe I should have tried a video?

Anyway, we had a good time.  We've had great weather this week. Lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s.  Looks like rain for the next few days and on into Christmas as various lows pass by.  So far no snow, no ice.  That's the way we like it!

Later, David

Settling In

University of Mobile's Ram Corps

We've survived  our first week.  Been out eating with some of the gang (Mikee's, LA BBQ, DeSoto's), met new friends, got to watch the University of Mobile's Ram Corps Christmas show at the State Park, and got a new  (temporary) tooth cap.  Oh, and spent lots of money at Camping World in Robertsdale, AL.

Donna's getting her bike rides in, and I'm getting in some walks.  Most of my scratches are healed though one knee and shoulder are still covered with tegaderm.   I can use my hands, again, and I can shake hands.  So that's good.  Probably start some of the trailer maintenance tomorrow that I had intended to do, but delayed, to let my palms heal.

So all-in-all, we're fine.  Everyone have a good weekend.  David

  

Everyone settles down at sunset.

Back at Gulf State Park, AL

We've arrived for winter and was greeted with spring-like weather.  Don't know who turned up the heat, but it's nice.  Had a nice trip down from B'ham.  We took the bikes in for servicing on Tuesday, got a couple of dental appointments out of the way on Wednesday (new temp cap for me), got the bikes back, and then I promptly fell of my bike before the numbness had gone from my new tooth-cap procedure.  Knees, hands (palms), elbows & shoulders beat up as is the left side of my face.  One shoulder, one knee & one palm covered in tegaderm (thin-film covering).  Broke my bike helmet & destroyed a cheap pair of sunglasses in the process.  Gonna be sore & sensitive for a few days.  Definitely put a delay in some of the trailer maintenance I wanted to do while it was warm.  As my Dad told me, I'm too old to fall off bikes!

Started visiting folks, too.  Greeted some of the people we've met in our previous trips to the state park (all staying in the state park, too.)   Got in one visit before we even had the trailer ready to bring the slides out.  Donna got in a long bike ride with the Folks-on-Spokes group today.  We finally got out to visit with Greg & Judy, had a nice dinner with them at Desoto's, and got a glimpse of Gulf Breeze's Christmas float.  Looking forward to lunch at Mikee's with everyone tomorrow, too.  Yep, we came here to eat!

Beginning to plan next year's roaming.  I think we're going to stay on the east side of the Mississippi River & try to make the Hitchhiker's forum's M&M rally in Michigan (August).  Also made reservations for a couple of weeks at Ludington, MI in late July.  We're thinking of spending a month or so in Two Harbors, MN.  We enjoyed our short trip there this past summer.  So we want to go back and spend more time visiting up & down the north shore of Lake Superior.  Need to make a short trip to Mitchell, SD, and I'd like to take a tour of Winnebago's manufacturing in Forest City, IA while we're out that way.  Need to make a decision on whether or not to have a residential fridge installed in the trailer, too.  Looking at having a Cheap-Heat electric-resistance add-on heater installed on our furnace as well.  Still no clue what we're going to do come March 1st when it's time for us to leave the state park, though.

Anyway, good start to winter even with the bumps from yesterday.  Yep, these, too, shall pass - as soon as the scabs grow on!  Later, David

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We've had a great week visit Dad & Anna & sneaked in a showing of "Big Hero 6".   Got to spend Thanksgiving Day with Dad, Anna, Anna's daughter & her husband, and the grand kids plus Eric.  Nine for dinner made for a good crowd at the dinner table for an excellent meal.

Gettin' cold tonight, so we're back at the trailer all set-up for below freezing temps.  Hopefully, it's our last night below freezing night for awhile.  Everyone have safe travels home.  We're off to Gulf Shores on Monday. At least that's the plan!

Later, David

Back in Birmingham

We had a great stay at Stone Mountain getting in all the visits we could with Doug & Louise plus dog time with Pumpkin & Jack.  We also got a special visit from Mike & Terry and even more dog time with Ike.  Unusual to see them on this side of the Mississippi River.  It was a great week, though!  Oh, and stocked up on supplies from PECO campers, too.

Cold, cold (below freezing cold) Wednesday morning move to Birmingham to visit Dad & Anna.  I-20 still had ice on it in a few places.  Dad & Anna seem to be doing well.  We've gotten in a couple of visits so far plus a walk around their subdivision.  The campground here in Pelham isn't very large, and there's no close-by subdivisions to walk around.  So we take advantage of that when we're at Dad & Anna's place.  We can get into Oak Mtn State Park, and may try to do that once or twice.

Anyway, here until the end of the month.  Then move south to Gulf Shores, AL.  Unfortunately, we got to watch one of the local channels give it's winter weather prediction.  Wet & cold.  Oh the joy that's gonna bring!

later, David

Stone Mountain, GA

Back at Stone Mountain visiting Doug & Louise.  Here for the week.  We had a nice stop in High Point, NC visiting everyone there.  Too quick of a stop, but it was great to see everyone.

Getting cold here.  We anticipate 4 nights of below freezing temps over the next week, so we've filled the freshwater tank, put the hoses back in, and turning up the heaters.  Fall colors are still in this area, so walks and drives are really scenic.

Got the front end of the truck aligned and put two new tires on the front end.  Got about 74,000 miles out of the old tires (we got 45,000 miles of the first pair of front tires).  Real happy about that mileage given the low pressures we run in the front tires to try to improve the truck's ride.  Unfortunately, I think the automotive industry has lost the ability to balance tires.  This modern "electronic" wheel balancing isn't cutting it for 19.5 inch wheels.  Give me the guys who made it an art using on-vehicle balancing.  Those people knew how to balance tires!   And, yes, I'm aware that on-vehicle balancing actually balances more than just the wheel and tire - it takes into account all the imperfections of the wheel suspension system.  And that's just what our 6-yr old, 9,750 lb truck needs!

Anyway, everyone stay warm.  I'm told that all of us may have already seen our high temps for the month of November.  Well, maybe they're wrong.  We can wish!  David

Last Night in Fredericksburg

Prospect Hill, Lee's Drive, Fredericksburg Battlefield, VA

Last night here in the Fredericksburg KOA - assuming everything works OK in the morning.  All doc visits are done.  Apparently we're OK, but we've eaten too much.  We've seen just about everyone.  Rental car is turned in.  Was able to take advantage of $3.359/gal for diesel and topped off both fuel tanks.  Big change for us as diesel was $3.869 in International Falls.

If all goes well, we'll head down to High Point, NC for the weekend.  Then move on down toward Stone Mountain, GA on Monday with an overnight at Gaffney, SC KOA - a new stop for us.  Plan to arrive at Stone Mountain State Park on Veterans Day.

At least that's the plan!  Later, David

Weekly Update

Our own rainbow

Well, another week has passed, and we're doing fine.  Donna still completing all her doc visits & visiting with friends.  She's found a new bistro in Spotsylvania and visits as often as she can for Chai tea.  She & Beth made a run to Quantico MCS for supplies today.  We got the truck and trailer a new coat of wax for winter, too.

I manage to stay occupied at the campground.  I try to get an hour's worth of walking around the KOA each day.  Let's me meet new people and get some good "dog" time in.  But the ol' bureaucrat in me still keeps coming out.

One of Donna's doc's office doesn't file insurance claims, so we have to do it.  The claim form asks for a "Subscriber ID Number" and a "Patient ID".  Interestingly, neither of those "numbers" is listed among the five "numbers" listed on our insurance ID cards.  Checking our insurance account online provides no information to help.  Calling the insurance company (using the phone number provided on the insurance company's claim form) rewards you with an automated list of options none of which are to help the insured file a claim (which the claim form specifically asks the insured to do if there are questions while completing the claim form).  Pressing "0" puts the software in a do-loop.  Apparently, putting the insurance company's appropriate insurance ID numbers on the insured's ID Card so the insured can complete the insurance company's specific claim form is beyond the capability of our health insurance company.  I now have a much better appreciation for why doc offices don't like to file claims.  We'll end up doing what Donna said to do in the first place:  make a copy of our insurance ID card and send it in along with the claim.

There.  That's off my chest.  Later, David

New coats of wax on the truck & trailer

Fredericksburg Update

Doc appointments continue.  So far, so good.  Donna's been reconnecting with everyone. We've eaten out way too much, and we've abused Beth & Frank as a hotel and shipping & receiving warehouse.  We'll probably continue to do that! Tomorrow the truck gets detailed.  Saturday we get the trailer hand washed & waxed.   That should take care of all mechanical servicing requirements until we get down to Atlanta.

One thing that has changed is we're walking more of the Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefield (Bloody Angle) trails than the Fredericksburg Battlefield trails we've walked in previous visits.  It's a nice change of pace and a nice place to ride bikes.   Not as much traffic in that area, too.

One last item of note:  We've got a real nice American Eagle 45 foot motorhome setting next to us.  Haven't been able to talk to the gentleman staying in it, yet, but he's getting lots of visits from people and he & his dog are getting out for walks (unfortunately I see him just as they're getting back from walks or whatever travels they've made).  Don't know what model year the motorhome is, but it looks new.  My interest is that he's in probably one of the worst sites this KOA has to offer.  His best view is to the back, but he has a solid rear cap so he can't take advantage of that.  His main windows are on the opposite side of us, so he's looking directly at the block wall of the activity room.  The site isn't long enough to fit his motorhome and his "toad" (a chevy Tahoe).  He's doing us a favor by blocking the street night light from one of our bedroom windows, though.  I just don't know why anyone with that type of an expensive unit would pick that spot.

Now you may wonder or at least are confused as to why I write so much about that motorhome.  Well, when Donna and I first started thinking that being a full time RVer might make a good retirement lifestyle, the "dream" RV was an American Dream (a lower cost version of an American Eagle).  And as I look at the one sitting next to us, it's clear that having a big box trailer with a corvette riding inside following an American Dream would have made a really nice full time RV rig!  Just like our Mobile Suites, it wouldn't have fit in Yosemite Valley, either, but...

Later, David

Prospect Hill, Lee's Drive, Fredericksburg Battlefield

Doc appointments

Not a lot of news this week.  Back at Fredericksburg for our annual doc visits.  Sorry - no pics of that!  So far, so good.  Prepping for my colonoscopy (tomorrow).  More info than you probably want there.  However, the Ensure Clear (non-dark) tastes pretty good.  Not worth going through a colonoscopy for, though.  Not nearly as good as a hot Ben's Pretzel, either.  But it is a small, bright spot in what I consider a dreadful experience.

Rainy week for most of us on the east coast.  We did get into the 80s before the weather system came in.

Donna's out visiting all her friends and working with one at a local hospital.  I've been scanning all the business channels watching the commodity & stock markets fall.  Much more interesting when you understand that you know just about as much as any talking head on these programs.  However, when you can catch a program where they let these professional investors come on and talk for a half-hour or more & they come with data, I find it really enjoyable.  Yep, I'm one of those weirdos.  

Wish me luck as I try not to eat the food in the frig.  Later, David

A Quick Stop at Big Meadows, Shenandoah Nat'l Park

Fall colors along Lumberlost trail.

After the rain kinda, sorta, maybe, mostly quit, we continued on down to Shenandoah Nat'l Park with overnight stops at Streetsboro, OH & Bedford, PA.   Shenandoah was our weekend get-aways when we lived in Virginia, and it was great to go back.  Even nicer to go back with a 5.5 KW generator on board!  And that auto-level feature comes in real handy when you're in a campground where "level" is just a concept!

Beth came over to spend a couple of nights with us, and we got a really nice surprise visit from Howard (the 2nd), Howard (the 4th), Robin & Jessica.  We even got in an extremely close bear encounter on Lumberlost trail (in the old hemlock tree area).  Young bear which seemed to see us as no issue, but it was close.  It kinda went down like this:

Beth: There's a bear.
Me:  Really?
Beth:  Yep - right there?
Me:  WOW! (as I turn around) That is a bear.  It looks just like the stuffed ones you can buy.

So I try to get a picture.  As I get the camera up to my face, it decides it's prudent to walk off the trail.  So sorry, no picture.  I never thought we'd see a bear there with all the activity in the area at Lumberlost & White Oak Canyon trails.  Unlike our quick wolf encounter, at least Donna got to see this bear.

Always good to see what's changed.  The trees are really filling in at the old hemlock area of the Lumberlost trail.  The park is putting up new information boards throughout the park.  The menus at the Big Meadows Wayside & Lodge have slimmed down.  The blackberry cobbler is still great, but it doesn't looked homemade any more.  (I call it the "institutional look" pastry.)   Skyland, to us, had a better menu selection.  And they've updated their lobby at Skyland, too.  Now there's a table area ( in the lobby) dedicated to computer use with built in power outlets.  Good cell phone service (Luray, VA tower) at both the Big Meadows & Skyland lodges.  Fudge is still great, too!

But our time was short as we bumped up against the Columbus Day weekend.  We've moved on down to the Fredericksburg KOA today.  Doc appointments start tomorrow.  So we're gettin' busy fast.

Later, David

Colors along Loop A in Big Meadows Campground

Headed East

We made it into Shipshewana last Friday, got our mandatory cookie from Boundary Waters Cafe in Sturgis, Ben's Pretzels in Shipshewana, and got the trailer ready for service at Paul & Kay Cross's Indiana Interstate Enterprises.  Paul & Kay got us in & and out on Tuesday where most of the work was literally rebuilding the brackets on the kitchen slide that had bend or broken.  Turns out the problem with the frig was a bad ground.  Paul rewired the switch Steve Schrock had installed so the frig exhaust fans would run automatically or we could turn them on manually if we felt the need to do so.  Oh, and we have a working washer/dryer combo unit, again!  Stayed overnight at the shop & got an early move on Wednesday to Angola, IN to wait out the worst of the rain and plan our trip down to Fredericksburg.  

We plan to move tomorrow (Saturday) with stops in Streetsboro, OH; Bedford, PA; and we lucked out and got a campsite mid-week at Big Meadows in Shenandoah Natl Park before we head in to Fredericksburg KOA.  Looks like we'll be moving in the rain despite my best attempts to not do so.  (Rule-of-thumb:  he who moves in the rain isn't the person who washes his RV.)  So that prompted a call to Jeff at Central Virginia Detailing to arranged for wash & wax for both truck and trailer.  Since we don't plan on having Purvis service our truck (never ever again if at all possible), we should have enough time to get the truck detailed during this stop at Fredericksburg.

So that's our plan.  If it all goes well, we'll be out of contact Monday-Wednesday next week.  Later, David

Travelin'...

We're in traveling mode and on our way to Paul & Kay Cross's Indiana Interstate Enterprises/Cross RV (Lagrange, IN) for needed service and repairs.  We checked out of & left Voyageur's Natl Park on Monday.  Made stops at Duluth, MN and Oakdale, WI before arriving here at Hickory Hollow Campground in Utica, IL today.  If all goes well, we'll make it to Shipshewana, IN tomorrow for the weekend.  At least that's the plan!

Later, David

Le Done @ Voyageurs Natl Park

Fall has arrived.

We worked our last day of the 2014 season, today.  Ghosts of Voyageurs was great, but got us a little off track with the unusual hours.  Hence we're just a little late with this week's blog.  Would have forgotten it completely if Dad hadn't reminded me!

Colors are beginning to kick in.  Weather's cooler.  I've added one of Melissa Carlson's pics of Justin Olsen showing the quartz vein in Bushy Head Mine.  The quartz is what the miners were looking for.  Once they found that vein, the Bushy Head mine was drilled downward (vertical) along the quartz vein looking for gold.  The vertical shaft is now filled in, so you're now limited to just to walking (wading?) along the horizontal portion of the mine.

Plans are to move Monday after checking out.  Stops planned in Duluth, MN; Oakdale, WI; Utica, IL; and Lagrange, IN.  Of course that assumes things work so we can move.  We'll have the trailer & truck serviced at Lagrange.  At least that's the plan.

Later, David

We had a great group of rangers & volunteers to work with this season.  Gonna miss 'em!

And the weird hours begin...

Like any gov't agency, it can get pretty deep around here - you have to be prepared for anything!

Actually, we got a chance to visit the Bushy Head Mine Shaft.  It's a horizontal mine shaft and after the dams were built at International Falls, it's usually at or near the Rainy Lake shoreline (and below water during the summer flood.)   Since no one had visited the mine since the flood, we had to be prepared for anything.

The huge, condo-type beaver lodge is just across Black Bay from the visitor center.  The beavers started it during  high water.  As the flood waters receded, the beavers had to build it lower to the shoreline. This was a stop (weather permitting) during the Rainy Lake North Canoe programs this summer.

The Ghosts of Voyageurs programs begin today.  These are outdoor, evening performances, and our working hours have shifted to 1:30 - 10:00 PM to accommodate the new programs.   Tonight's show will be interesting as tonight's low is 29*F & two people are suppose to jump into the water.  I guess it's OK - do ghosts feel cold?

Anyway, that's our week.  Later, David

September arives

View from the decks at Sha Sha Resort

Daylight is getting shorter, temps cooler, and the trees (maples) are just beginning to turn - though probably not for the best of reasons.  It's the last three weeks of our season here at Voyageurs NP.  Only programs left are the tour boat runs and the upcoming Ghosts of Voyageurs evening program.  Consequently, our schedule is getting a little weird.

Some color in the maples

Starting next week we work 1:30-10:00 PM on Thursdays and Fridays, then back to 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday & Sunday until the visitor center begins to close on Sundays.  We plan to be moving on by the 22nd.

Some of the motley crew of law enforcement & interpretative ranges (and a volunteer or two thrown in)

Randy and Shirley left last Sunday and experienced some issues on the way home.  They're fine and we think they made it home OK, but our frig decided it needed to go on the fritz (again) in sympathy.  (It did this earlier this summer when Randy & Shirley had an AC unit go bad.)

It's the stinking thermocouplers that turn on/off the frig's cooling fans, again.  We heard a couple of pops yesterday afternoon while Donna was cooking.  By late afternoon we could see the fridge temp begin to climb.  Our quick, easy fix to the fans didn't work (replace the existing thermocoupler), so we had something a little more serious.  The local RV tech came out and help us troubleshoot the thing.  The thermocouplers work, but not when installed in the frig.  So we have the fans now wired to run full-time & will install a manual switch in a week or two to turn them on/off as needed.

In the mean time, Donna's farmed out our frozen stuff to one of the rangers, and both ice chests were full for the night.  All is OK now, though.  Maybe the ranger will give us our food back.  We did leave our ice cream with him (mouse tracks flavor), so we can only hope.

Anyway, that's our week.  Hope you had a good one.  Later, David

Another Update

View from Thunderbird Lodge looking east up Rainy Lake

Still here at Voyageurs.  Still working as volunteers.  Nothing new to report.  No new teeth cleaned, pulled, or fixed this week.  Tour boat is busy.  I think they're filling the fuel storage tank in the maintenance yard about every third day to keep up with the fuel burn.  Some of the summer staff has left, so the rest of the staff's a little busier.  We say goodbye to Randy & Shirley this coming Sunday.  I like how they planned it so they could watch Saturday's Florida State game before they give up their satellite antenna and leave. And we sent our "gripe" list to Paul & Kay Cross for our fall trailer servicing.  I've learned to just have them add 2 hours of work for whatever we break on the way down to Lagrange, IN, too.

Been struggling today to figure out why our credit score dropped 28 points from last month.  Finally found it.  Discover Financial Services (Discover Card) changed it's corporate name to Discover Bank since last month.  So our credit reports now show our old Discover Card as canceled and added a Discover Card with the same credit limits as a new card.  The fact that it's the same stinkin' card we've had all these years and nothing else changed is, apparently, meaningless to the FICO gods (aka credit reporting agencies).  I'll add this to my growing list of reasons why the FICO gods don't have a clue as to what makes a good money management process.  Factually, paying off mortgages, auto loans, credit card balances, etc, makes you a poor credit risk.  Paying a ton of interest and paying nothing off makes you a great credit risk.  At least that's the way they're scoring us.

Later, David

Weekly Update

We're back in the swing of things.  Water levels are back to normal for this time of year.  The new tour boat schedule doesn't roll off our tongues, but it's gettin' there.  Family canoe trip is done for the season.  (Actually, it never went out due to either flooding or weather.)  The visitor center is definitely busier with the addition of the two weekly trips to Kettle Falls.  And while the biting flies still "bug" you, it's significantly less buggy than when we left.

Donna got some culture in this week.  Friday evening she joined Randy & Shirley for a night at the Rainy Lake Orchestra's Rainy Lake Sinfonia (string concert).  I'm told it's the only time they get culture up here.  Donna hit pay dirt again Tuesday when she joined Randy & Shirley for a 14+ mile kayak trip down the Rat Root River through Black Bay back to the maintenance area here at Rainy Lake VC.  Long day - some blisters, but she was all smiles.  However, she pays for it today with having one tooth pulled and two filled.  She's not having any pain, so it's all good for now - until she recalls it's hamburger night at Sha Sha's resort!  Apple sauce and mashed potatoes for her...and maybe sneak in a french fry.

So that's our week.  Not a lot different than when we were working.  Oh...wait...we're working...in a national park.  Yep, it's a tough life, but someone's gotta do it.

Later, David

Back at Voyageurs NP

We're back for the last half of the season.  Had a good trip back up with only one day of rain.  As for Rainy Lake, water's down but still high.  Maintenance was able to get out do some serious mowing.  New maintenance pier installed.  Most of the docks are above water.  All campsites are open.  The Kabetogama tour boat is out of service for the rest of the season, so the Rainy Lake boat has picked up a few more tours to compensate.  Bugs less intense, but still a pain.

Laundry done.  Truck & trailer washed.  Groceries bought.  Name tags back on our uniforms.  Time to go to work.

Later, David

Weekly Update

Ludington Marina

Friends have arrived and we're just hangin' out & eatin' good (read healthy).  Moved to the lake house for a few days.  Donna & friends make a couple of laps around the lake each morning in a paddle boat and for some odd reason, Donna's drawn to yard work.  We've walked around the lake, too.  Bugs not near as bad here as at International Falls.

Anyway,  our sabbatical is about over.  The current plan is to leave Ludington Sunday and head back to Voyageurs Natl Park for the rest of the season.  Don't know what's really going on up there at the park, but the boat tour times have changed radically.  I guess we'll find out when we get there.  We know that they canceled all boat tours at Kabetogama Visitor Center.  So now we get to go back and learn all that boat tour stuff all over again, try to remember passwords, etc.   But it is fun!

We've also started to "firm up" our plans for the rest of the year.  We should be near "Pretzel heaven" (Shipshewana, IN) about September 29th;  Fredericksburg, VA about October 9th;  High Point, NC about November 7th;  Atlanta, GA about November 11th;  Birmingham, AL about November 8th; and Gulf State Park, AL about December 1st.  At least that's the plan!

Later, David

Ludington, MI

Almost sunset on at the Ludington Lighthouse

Badger heads to Wisconsin

Made it to Ludington, MI & waitin' for friends to make it up here.  Had a nice, scenic trip via Michigan's UP and extremely good luck missing all the rain showers.  I was predicting that we'd spend a couple of nights in mud holes, but we didn't.  

While we wait, we've visited Ludington State Park, House of Flavors, Walmart, lots of time on the phone & online chat with DishTV, and long walks around the waterfront here in Ludington.  Also washed the trailer's roof and since all that stuff runs down the side of the trailer, washed the trailer.  Oh and washed & waxed the truck, as well.

Vacation Station is a friendly RV park, so all that washing took way longer than normal.  But we're now ready for next week's rain!

Back to Ludington, the pictures here are from around the waterfront area.  The ship is the ferry "Badger".  Lots of neat sculptures around the marina area.  It's summer and prime vacation time here, so I couldn't get really good pictures of all the sculptures here with all the kids playing in & around the sculptures, but they're all impressive works of art.  Hopefully, it gives you a good feel for the place.

So we're enjoying our stay.  Weather here's a little cooler than normal and way less bugs than at International Falls.  Yep, we're enjoying our short sabbatical from Voyageurs.  Almost forgot what a vacation was like!

Later, David

Condos at the marina

On the road to Ludington, MI

Back on the road, again.  We're on our three-week sabbatical from Voyageurs NP.  Today, we've stopped back at Ogston's Ponds RV Park for the night.  All goes well, we'll be in Michigamme, MI tomorrow; St Ignace, MI Saturday; and in Ludington, MI on Sunday for a couple of weeks.  At least that's the plan.  We're back on the schedule for the visitor center on August 15th.

All the ice is gone from Ogston's ponds.  Haven't noticed any loons.  Park's a lot fuller with RVs.  Made the run to Walmart (not well stocked), Donna got her latte (now a tradition when passing through the area), put more diesel in the truck, etc.  And every once in a while we get an air show from the local F-16 squadron.  Also nice to be back in a park with real 50 amp power & not worry about the electrical power to run anything.  Run the microwave anytime we want!  Ah, the convenience.  Unfortunately, that nice 15.4 mpg we've been getting while running around at International Falls dropped to 8.4 with the trailer in tow.  Oh, well...

Anyway, that's it from here.  Later, David

A visit to Two Harbors, MN

Two Harbors Lighthouse and B&B

We stayed in the Skiff (#4) 

After two years of wanting to come and stay in the Two Harbors Lighthouse B&B, we finally made it.  The idea was to take one of our three-day off "weekends" and go to Grand Marais, MN, but doing that drive in one day was too long.  So Donna chose to go to Two Harbors and make the trip to Grand Marais a day trip while we stayed in Two Harbors.

Tellegouche State Park

At the B&B we stayed in the Skiff (#4) - a boat storage building.  We had our own bath with soaking tub - first tub in three years!  We enjoyed it immensely as we did the whole B&B.

The day trip up to Grand Marais reminded us of the Oregon coast.  Lake Superior's north shoreline is

The "caves"

mostly rugged and state parks are all along MN 61.   MN 61 was experiencing some road work putting us in a few narrow, single-lane, unpaved portions, but apparently it's all doable with a big rig.  We met a DRV Elite Suites headed northbound while we were returning to Two Harbors, so it's doable.  We saw big rig sites in Two Harbors & Grand Marais. However, Grand Marais's municipal campground was full.  We'll go back and since we seem to really enjoy Two Harbors, we'll probably base there when we go with the trailer.

This time we bypassed Gooseberry Falls and spend some time at Tellegouche State Park.  The park's visitor center was brand new - opened 3 weeks ago.  One thing that Minnesota does real well with their state parks is that they make them combination visitor centers/rest areas.  So Tellegouche (Indian for "Place of Retreat") was an excellent stop.  Pictures here of Tellegouche are just a sample.  This park looks to be a destination state park with numerous hiking trails and at least one water fall.  We'll be back.

Grand Marais is a neat little place and reminded me of Pismo Beach, CA.  One of Grand Marais's calling cards is the "World's Best Donuts".  Well, I haven't met a donut I didn't like.  So you'll have to go there and check it out for yourself.  We ate too many and still got lunch.  Weight Watchers needs to add more points for days like these!  I mean, it's only points, but you can't just ignore this stuff when you get here.

Anyway, we've only scratched the surface of Lake Superior's north shoreline.  So we plan to be back...sometime...

In other news, Rainy Lake's water level is dropping.  Looks like it's down about half-a-foot since last week.  Boat ramp parking lot is now free of water. The back country sites will open soon (per Facebook).  Lots of work on the front country sites will probably be needed.  Maintenance crews have got their work cut out for them.   I have no idea how far behind this flooding has put them, but it's a bunch.

Anyway, that's our week.  Later, David