Backroad Sights

Kankakee, IL   High 70  Low 55

After breakfast we left Geneseo and ended up at the KOA in Kankakee, IL. We are on our way to Middlebury, IN. Yes, we are going to go north for a few days before we continue east and south.

We went a few miles on I-80 and then headed off onto backroads. I much prefer these roads to the interstate. I loved seeing all the churches amongst the cornfields.

The clouds were so fluffy in the blue sky.

We also crossed the Illinois River on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge.

Our journey today from Kankakee to Middlebury on backroads was not a good idea. Jim was not impressed with my choice of roads.

These are two lane roads with very little shoulder. Lots of little towns to slow down for, lots of curves, and for some reason so many semis. Oversize loads – we must have followed at least four of them. This one was definitely the largest.

Needless to say we did not make very good time. We also ended up behind an “older” driver who wouldn’t go over 40 mph (speed limit was 55) and absolutely no place to pass him.

This was a beautiful section of the road.

Cute water tower

When we got to Logansport, there was a small sign that said the bridge was out on Highway 24. But their detour signs were non-existent. We had to stop and get directions in order to get over the river and find our route again.

We are finally in Middlebury, IN and ready to relax for a couple of days. Gotta give Jim a chance to recover.

I-80 and Peg

Geneseo, IL  High 70  Low 55

I would like to offer a word of advice to anyone thinking about driving I-80 through Iowa on a special Saturday in September. Don’t do it! I definitely didn’t do my research. We left Altoona and went across I-80 to Geneseo, IL. Little did we know that it was Iowa vs Iowa State Football in Iowa City. The traffic was never ending. I think this was the only time that we had any room in front of us.

We also had a strong headwind which reduced our fuel mileage to almost nothing per mile.

The campground website in Geneseo, IL warns you not to use your GPS to find them because it will try and take you under a 10’ underpass. However they have wonderful blue camping signs for you to follow. We were doing great following the signs until all the roads were blocked off for a car show. We had to call the the campground and get alternative directions in order to get there. But we finally arrived in time to do some laundry.

Luci and Loree – I hate to tell you this, but most of the pigs are gone. I didn’t find out what has happened to them. But this is the only one I saw. It’s a terrible picture cause I took it through the windshield at the last moment.

Peg picked us up Sunday morning for breakfast. Peg and John were our neighbors in Apache Junction. For those of you who have followed my blog for years, John was 90 and used to go fishing with Jim. One time when they were out they almost sunk the boat. It’s funny now but it wasn’t then. We had a wonderful visit. She hasn’t changed a bit and we laughed all the way through breakfast.

Being able to travel across the country and connect with friends and family is by far one of the best perks of RV travel.

Woody and Adventureland

Altoona, IA   High 68  Low 54

Adventureland RV Park is a difficult place to find and then once you find it, finding your site is a challenge.

There is no sign saying turn here or campground on the main road. Down a side road there’s a gate with a small sign on it but if the gate is open you can’t see the sign. Got checked in and then we had to find our site. It was a site in a circle off a one way road. We were in site F6. Big problem-the signs showing the letter are facing the wrong direction so you could only see them if you’re going the wrong way on the one way road. We finally saw a G which meant we had missed F. Jim backed us up and a couple of campers came to our rescue and we entered the exit.

(we were in one of these circles)

Got ready to back into our site and it was a lake because they have had so much rain. One of our rescuers works at Adventureland so she went up to the office for us and arranged for us to park in F4.

We picked up Woody and he suggested that we go to the grocery store for dinner. I thought that was a little strange but a new adventure is always good. The store is a Hy Vee and it has a Market Grille. From 4 to 6 every day, they offer half price appetizers.  Both Woody and I had chicken wings and Jim had a quesadilla.

The food was really good. We also did some grocery shopping. Can’t ask for more than that.

It’s because of Tina and Woody that Jim and I became full timers. Tina came into the IRS office for some help and I was lucky enough to wait on her. She mentioned they lived in their fifth wheel and two hours later I finally let her go. Woody was waiting in the truck the whole time. The last time we came through, Woody had to work (he works at Adventureland) so we went to dinner with Tina. This time Tina was in Florida for the life celebration of a good friend.

One of these times we’ll figure out how to get the four of us together at the same time and place.

Dignity

Missouri Valley, IA  High 77  Low 59

I caught a cold somehow and haven’t felt like doing any sightseeing. So we’ve just been driving. We spent a night in Wall, SD, the next night in Mitchell, SD and tonight we’re in Missouri Valley, IA. Haven’t even unhitched the truck.

Campgrounds in Wall and Mitchell were just fine but nothing to write home about. We’re in a city park here in Missouri Valley. $15 for w/e. The place is packed because they have an Airstream Rally taking place. We were lucky enough to find a spot for the night. But if you want to stay here I sure hope you like the sound of trains. As you can see we are only a few feet away from very very busy tracks.

These pictures were taken from our steps.

I did have Jim make one stop for me. I had read about Dignity and wanted to see her. She is located at a rest area near Chamberlain, SD. She is amazing.

She is stainless steel and 50 feet tall. Sculpted by Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. He used three Native American models ages 14, 29 and 55 to perfect the face of Dignity.

She wears a dress patterned after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s and holds a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind.

This is the view of the Missouri River from her hillside.

We also saw this cute little fellow.

Wayne Porter’s massive bull head sculpture. I guess there’s a whole bunch of sculptures there but we didn’t take the time to stop and see them.

Tomorrow night we’ll be in Altoona, IA having dinner with our good friend Woody. Then it’s on to Geneseo, IL to have breakfast with our dear friend Peg. Moving right along.

Bad God’s Tower

Alzada, MT  High 89  Low 52

We are about 40 miles from Devil’s Tower, so yesterday morning we grabbed the pups and took off for an adventure.

The road has plenty of curves but I did find one stretch of straight road.

You come around a curve and this is what you see.

Devil’s Tower is American’s first National Monument. It was supposedly named Devil’s Tower by a Colonel Dodge who misinterpreted the Native American name of the tower to be Bad God’s Tower which he shortened to Devil’s Tower.

Does this bring to mind Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

When we got to the park there was a line of vehicles waiting to go into the park. Way too many people for me. We have been here before so I told Jim I just didn’t want to deal with all the crowds.

We got some ice cream, took a picture of this magnificent monument  and then drove down to the little town of Hulett, WY.

Main Street

Saw some fall colors on our way home.

And had a beautiful sunset.

Cheap Drinks Lousy Food

Alzada, MT  High 75  Low 50  windy

After saying goodbye to Todd we left Billings and 226 miles later we arrived at Stoneville Saloon and RV in Alzada, MT. Alzada is in the far southeast corner of Montana. I wanted someplace to sit out the holiday weekend away from the crowds and we found it.

This is our kind of place. In the middle of nowhere. A five site RV park and we’re the only ones here. Full hookups for $15 a night. And some of the best French fries we have had in a long time. But you don’t want to order a PB&J.

Not the best picture with the sun so bright.

Alzada is not incorporated and only has about 88 residents. One of those residents is Diane Turko who owns the Stoneville Saloon. The Saloon looks pretty much like it did in 1877 when Lou Stone built it.

As the story goes the old saloon is steeped in history. In Alzada’s early days, cattle rustlers and the horse thieves operated at will, much to the exasperation of ranchers. The most notorious and boldest outlaws were the Exelby Gang. Starting in 1877, the gang rustled for several years. Their dastardly career ended with the 1884 Shootout at Stoneville.

The Saloon is an eclectic assortment of antique and funky. Diane definitely fits in with the atmosphere of the place. Notice the sawdust.

There is not much to the town. There is a school and a gas station. It’s about two miles from the Wyoming state line.

Saw some interesting looking cattle. Not sure if they are Brahma’s or not.

We were going to drive out to the ghost town of Albion but it ended up being 20 miles on an road that wasn’t really a road so we turned around and came home.

Billings Happenings

Billings, MT  High 60 to 84  Low 48 to 57 (that’s been the range of temperatures this week)

We left Canyon Ferry Saturday morning and made our smokey way to Billings. The sky was brown and the mountains were not to be seen.

However, we had a really nice rain Saturday night and Monday which cleared the skies beautifully. I did hear them say on the weather tonight that the smoke will start moving back in. Too sad.

We are staying at the Moose which has six electric only sites but lots of room for boondocking. There is a dump and water in back of the Moose. Not bad for $25/night especially when the KOA is $55 to $75 a night.

As I’ve said before there is a big BUT – this is the noisiest place ever. Between the trains (which are just across the street), the traffic (a major intersection), and emergency vehicles, there is never a quiet moment.

Every year over Labor Day Weekend they hold the Big Sky Polkafest at the Moose. It’s a really huge shindig but I will never understand why everyone has to crowd next to each other. There is a whole grassy area for boondocking but when we got home yesterday, this is what we found. Instead of boondocking over in the grassy area, they are all pulled into our area. Makes no sense to me.

Todd fixed chicken wings on the grill for dinner and then I fixed spaghetti another night. It’s fun to be able to spend some time with the kids.

Saturday night, Jim, Todd and Michaela went to the World of Outlaw races. I stayed home with the pups. It was a lot of fun but they came home covered in dirt from the track.

Don’t know who the woman is who photobombed them.

We were able to go to breakfast at Cracker Barrel with Carol one morning. Her husband Bill was Jim’s best friend. We sure do miss him. I forgot to take a picture so this is one I “borrowed”.

We have also crammed in my eye appointment (one more to go), the DMV, getting a bunch of work done on the truck (yearly maintenance), the oxygen place for Jim’s CPAP machine, laundry (twice), a COSTCO run, stocking up so we don’t have to pay sales tax. Jim also got to visit with a co-worker who had a heart valve replaced.

Skittlez gave us quite a scare again. She got bit by some  kind of bug – probably a spider. Her nose swelled up and she wouldn’t eat. When she won’t eat you know something is really wrong. But the swelling started to go down and now she is back to her normal starving self. Her back legs still collapse sometimes but she’s back to running to get back into the house. She is not an outdoor dog.

Friday night was Burn The Point – a parade of classic cars in tribute to those days when you used to cruise on a Friday or Saturday night. Jim went with Todd and Michaela.

Today (September 1) was time for us to start heading east. Todd stopped by to say good-bye (Michaela had to work). Sure do love these kids. Miss them already.