The other side of the river from Wisconsin

River Park
Menominee, MI


The weather was perfect for driving today.  Temperatures in the 70's and plenty of sunshine with no winds.  

The roads were in poor condition but we're getting used to it.  

Our drive took us past a lot of farmland.  We passed a lot of wind farms.  

We arrived at Menominee City River Park around 1 pm and were happy to see that our reservation was one of a very few pull thru sites that were not under all the big trees. I'll be able to watch the Diamondbacks play tonight.  We hung over a few inches in the front and back.  Sites were nice and level and we have full hook ups.

 You can see the size of the trees here.  They have a special area to park your boat.

That's Wisconsin on the other side of the water.

The views are terrific.

There are benches and picnic tables right on the banks of the river.

Bill said he really liked the barrier between him and the water.  

I thought the ships in Wisconsin would come out in this photo but they're hardly visible.  The water surrounds three sides of this park.  

Bill wanted to get a haircut and the first place we stopped was closed on Thursday's and Friday's.  The second place address was now a park.  The third place had a sign on the door by appointment only.  It was packed but they took Bill anyway.  

Bill and I drove down historic Main Street.  What a beautiful little town.  They really know how to make use of the waterfront.  

The marina had very few empty slips. Why would you have such beautiful boats on a day like today and not be using it?

The American Legion had a sign for a fish fry so we went in to check it out.  They told us they wouldn't start serving for an hour and half.  We decided we'd just go back and fix dinner.

Look, not one boat, ship, or sailboat in sight.

There were not a lot people swimming or sunbathing for such a beautiful day.

It's amazing how you take things for granted.  As we were driving down the streets I saw blankets spread out at the curb covering something.  It didn't take long to figure out what they were covering.  It was their garbage.  We saw a garbage truck pull up, worker get out, uncover the pile of garbage, throw the blanket on the ground and the garbage in the truck.  

Sharon e-mailed us directions for the easiest way to get to the Elks.  We've got a longer than normal drive tomorrow but we're anxious to see Don and Sharon.  

Turtle Safely........

The Brain Meltdown Continues

Baraboo, Wisconsin
Fox Hill RV Park and Campground

We woke up this morning to dark skies.  Our plans for the day included the Ringling Circus Museum.  I checked the weather forecast and it showed light sprinkles until 10:30.  That was fine with us as we were just lounging around watching the morning news and checking e-mails.  

I got a phone call from Sharon this morning.  She thought I might be confused.  Can you imagine that!   We were suppose to meet them at the Saulte St. Marie Elks tomorrow.  The reservations started on the 23rd through 27th.  I somehow wrote it down that the reservations started on the 27th.  We aren't up to putting that long a day into getting there, so we told them we'd be there on Saturday.  Being the great people that Don and Sharon are, they said they'd have dinner ready when we got there.  You can't beat friends like that!

About 11 we decided to fuel up the truck and go to the store.  I needed a new bath rug as ours is starting to fall apart so we drove over to the Tangier Outlet Mall we saw at the interstate exit.  What a disappointment.  I couldn't find any store that handled linens.  I had no desire to go through the clothing or shoes stores as there were wild kids everywhere and the noise was unbearable. 

As we were driving away we saw a hold up!  When we saw this big cowboy we checked the map to make sure we hadn't taken a wrong turn and ended up in Texas!  

As usual we ended up at Walmart for our bread and milk.  We weren't impressed with this area.  The roads are terrible and nothing really appears to be neat.  Weeds were coming up through all the sidewalk cracks.  

As we were leaving Walmart we went down a road that had a sign in disrepair that said it was the site of the Ringling Circus.  Well I thought that was part of the circus museum we were going to see.  I checked it out on the internet and all the things to see were at a specific time.  Admission for seniors was $15.95.  The more I read the less appealing it sounded.  Since we were getting a late start we decided to forget it.  

While we were touring Mill City Museum in Minnesota I bought a little square tray for the truck to use for our snacks that I put on the dash while we are tooling down the highway.  Yesterday was the first day I used it.

I found it fit perfectly in a hole (some place for an option we didn't get) below the air conditioning controls.

It will slide out like a drawer when you want to fill it with fruit or crackers.  I guess I should have cleaned out the cookie crumbs before taking the photo.  I love it when you buy something and find a better use for it.

Tomorrow we should be in a different time zone and sleeping in Michigan.

Turtle Safely........

EAST of the Mississippi

Baraboo, Wiconsin
Fox Hill RV Park & Campground

On Saturday they had Gold Rush days at the Rochester Fairgrounds so we had to go and see if there were any treasures we couldn't live without.

First stop was the farmer's market.  Prices were much higher than the local grocery but everything looked so fresh it was worth the price.

They really had a good turn-out of people and perfect weather.  

There were many booths with beautiful fresh cut flowers.

The vegetables were plentiful and had a great selection.

Here's where we parked across the street.

On both sides of the crosswalks they have a bucket of flags.

Here's Troy carrying the flag to the other side of the street.  When you get to the other side, you put the flag in the bucket for the person going the other way.

After the Farmers' Market we went to the fairgrounds for the Gold Rush Days.  Here's Bill looking at what he considers the best treasures.  We walked all of the buildings and outside tables without buying a thing.   Do you like the ear of corn tower in the background?

One thing that I can't understand is why a fairground that has RV sites doesn't use them except for special events.  It's seems like that is lost revenue to me.  

Sherry and Dave took their truck into the dealer on Monday and they said to bring it back on Tuesday but not to drive it much.  The parts would be available then.  When they took it back on Tuesday they said they ordered the wrong parts but to bring it back today.  We hated to leave them with the truck problems, but they have been babysitting every day while Dani works so they are able to use her car.   

We pulled out of Tilley's RV Resort this morning.  The fellow two sites down was complaining about the high sewers.  He couldn't understand why they were so high off the ground.  We were glad we had the macerator.  

We took the interstate today figuring it might not have a detour.  It seems like this area has detour signs every where. 

Bill did it!  He made me promise when we left in May that we weren't going East.  He considers anything east of the Mississippi East.  He had such a great time with the Montana Owners Club (MOC) rally in Nebraska he suggested we attend the National Rally in Goshen.  So we're headed to Goshen, only we're taking the northern route.  

Sharon and Don Del Rosario suggested we join them for an Escapee Chapter Rally in Michigan so we'll meet up with them along the way next week.  We're looking forward to seeing them especially since we had to cancel our plans to see them in Albuquerque at the balloon festival which is the same time as the MOC Rally.  Things have a way of working out.  

Do you ever do something and wonder why you did it?  Well today was one of those days.  We pulled into Fox Hill RV Park and they pointed out the site for us.  It was right next to the office and water was on one side and the electric on the other.  The girl said we could pull in from either end.  It had a lot of trees and was pretty narrow between them.  There was one tree branch there was no way to miss.  I went back to the office and the girl didn't know what to do. I walked around further and found some sites without trees.  They were full hook ups so I went back to the office and asked if we could change to one of those sites.  This place is practically empty except for seasonal sites.  It did cost us $3.69 more for the two nights.   The humidity is terrible and I guess I must have been hot and tired.  I had a brain meltdown.  Bill was in the truck and ready to pull the truck away from the trailer.  For some reason, I don't know why, I put the break release cord back on the handle of the hitch.  

I decided I'm not making any important decisions or handling anything dangerous.  Time to stay inside and hibernate and maybe I'll find my brain somewhere.  

Turtle Safely........

Gold Rush days in Oronoco

Last evening we went to Rochester with the Sweetman's and their daughter, Dani and grandson, Troy.  They wanted to do "Thursday's on First".  The town of Rochester closes off the streets for a craft and food street fair  every Thursday in the summer.  It was very crowded.  There were food vendors everywhere and with the diverse cultures and population in the the area, there were some strange smells coming from the vendor stands.  People were walking down the street eating and some were sitting everywhere they could find including sitting on the sidewalks.  

Troy wanted to play in the water fountain.

This morning Bill put on his glasses but they fell apart in his hands.

They broke across the bridge.  We were just leaving for the Oronoco Gold Rush Days so he put on his prescription sunglasses.  Dave was at the Dodge dealer to have his EGR repaired so we took Sherry with us and he spent time with Dani and Troy while waiting for the truck. 

 This small village had people and cars everywhere.  All the local residents sell parking spots in their lawns.  Most were full but we found one empty.  

I showed this to Sherry and asked if she liked this model.  She looked it over and said there was a hole in the screen.  Other than that, I think they would have traded for it.

Every nook and cranny had tables set up.  The problem was there wasn't an orderly way to go up and down the aisles.

Everyone who knows Bill knows he wants to get his hair cut where they have a barber pole outside.  I suggested we buy that one, and I could cut his hair.  They wanted $350 for it.  I think we'll pass.

Here's a Chevrolet that bit the dust.  They made it into a bench.  See Jim, they don't all work. They wanted $1,400 for it or we would have bought it for him.  Yeah, sure!

The terrain was hilly and there were a lot of obstacles to watch out for.  We walked around until we didn't feel like walking anymore without buying a thing.  There were plenty of tables we missed but I think it would be impossible to see all of them in one day but there's still Saturday and Sunday. 

We went back to Tilly's and Dani contacted Costco about Bill's glasses.  They can't weld titanium which his frames are but they said to bring them in and see if another frame will fit the lenses.  His frame has been discontinued. 

  Off to Costco again and in no time at all the girl removed his lenses with a safety pin and put them in a new frame.  She even adjusted my glasses and put different nose pads on Bill's.  Eighty one dollars later Bill had a pair of glasses.  

Dave picked his truck up and the dealer told him to bring it back on Tuesday for the repair but not to drive it too much.  

Turtle Safely........

On the road to Oronoco

Oronoco, Minnesota
Tilly's RV Resort

Not much to blog about our trip to Oronoco.  I have never ever seen as many detour signs in one state as Minnesota.  

Whoever has the concession on the detour signs must be a billionaire.

We followed Dave and Sherry and all I could think of was the Hansel and Gretel story were you follow the bread crumbs.  In this case we followed the water.  Every time they took a turn the water poured out the bottom of their trailer.  

We arrived at Tilly's RV park and picked out a site.  They are a long pull through and level.  

Walmart wasn't too far so we rode over and took care of restocking on our medication.  It took less than 20 minutes.  I think the Casa Grande Walmart should take lessons from them.  

There was a new Costco in town so we went to see if they had any Kokanee beer, but no such luck.  

Sherry's daughter, son-in-law and grandson came by for a visit.  

What a cute kid!  I mean Troy.

He's very smart and has such a good disposition.  Left around the table are Troy, Mike and Dani Stagemeyer and Dave and Sherry Sweetman.

We enjoyed our visit with them and it was nice to catch up with what's happening in their lives.

We had picked this hat up at the Fire Museum and when  Troy walked us over to the playground they had fire truck playground equipment.  

The evening was cut short due to mosquitoes.

Turtle Safely......

St. Paul State Capital

Welch, Minnesota
Treasure Island Casino RV Park

Dave, Sherry, Bill and I left this morning for a tour of the State Capital.  Even though Dave knew all the different ways to get there and find a parking place, he'd never been to the Capital before.  How many times do you know people who live in a place for 20 years, move away and when then come back to see the sights?  

We've seen a lot of capital buildings but this one ranks very high.  

From a distance it looks like a lot of other capital buildings.

As you get closer, you can see it's going to be a good one.

And then you see this one is very special.

We  didn't have long to wait for our tour.

I was surprised there wasn't any facts and figures given nor did they have a brochure which included any.  I saw this plaque off in a corner which had the only facts about the building.  One interesting fact I learned was that Minnesota has more shoreline due to all the lakes than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.  

 Our guide told us the architect who designed the Capital was Cass Gilbert. 

The building was tastefully done with lots of different marble.

This was the Governor's Office.

It was very ornate and beautiful.

The Governor's  room is used for meetings and press conferences.

The House of Representatives was the second room we toured. 

I think the House of Representatives was my favorite room. I noticed a portrait of Lincoln behind the Speaker's desk. 

Part of this is a statue and part of it is a painting that blends together.  

Our next stop was up a very long spiral staircase to the roof. The Cathedral in the background is taller than the Capital.

We walked around the rooftop to the front of the building to see the Quadriga.  

Daniel Chester French did this sculpture but he let one of his apprentices do the horses because he was better than French at sculpting horses.

Here's Dave, Sherry, Me and Bill in front of the Quadriga.

Our third and last room to visit was the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The ceiling was beautiful.

This Capital building was the third one built.  It opened in 1905 and took nine years to complete.

It was a beautiful day for the tour and we all agreed we enjoyed it.

Dave had a check engine light on in his truck so we stopped at an auto shop to check the error message.  The message suggested a problem with the transmission fluid and some emission valve so we made a quick stop in Walmart. 

We pulled into the RV Park and Dave was going to come over and download his pictures.  He came to the door and said it would be a while because they had water running everywhere.  

We ran over to help and water was coming out everywhere on the trailer.  Bill and I walked over to the water connection and the electric cord was laying in it.  

 The photo doesn't begin to show how much water there was.

I can't believe in a RV Park as big as this one, or with security and the shuttle going through someone didn't see all the water and at least shut it off.

Dave found the problem immediately.  The foot pedal on the toilet got stuck.  The furnace is under the toilet and it was running.  Dave opened it up and water was everywhere.  He shut off the power and 12 volt system.    Lucky for Sherry the water ran down the steps and not into the bedroom carpet.  Everything in her bottom kitchen cupboards was wet.  It ran through the kitchen and into the living room.  We helped them empty out the basement and try to dry things up.  Sherry has 3 portable fans so we ran an extension from our electric and put them in front of the furnace.  The day was the driest since we've been here and the towels dried like we were in Arizona.  Dave had to empty the black tank so the water that was left in the toilet would go down.  They handled the problem with finesse!

Turtle Safely.......