50th Anniversary Trip - Day 22: Home

We were able to get on the road by 8:30 a.m.  This covered wagon sits at the entrance of the Madison KOA.  It was a nice place to spend our last night.  The lady at the counter and her husband are from Louisiana.  We loved talking to them and hearing their Cajun accent.  They knew about Cajun Palms where we have stayed when we go to Louisiana in the winter.   They work at this KOA seven months out of the year and then return to Louisiana.

The McDonalds had truck parking so we had breakfast there.  This was the first McDonalds of the trip.  The rest of the day was uneventful.  

We crossed into Illinois around 11:00 a.m.  It actually cost of $4.30 to enter Illinois!!!  (Because I-90 becomes a toll road in Illinois).  We didn't have rain today and as we traveled south the clouds disappeared from the sky and we could feel the temperatures rise.  I checked the WAND app and saw that today in Decatur it would get up to 88 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be the same.  I miss the cooler temps we have been experiencing on the trip.

We arrived on Lakeland Road around 3:00 p.m.  First thing we did was unhook the car; however, the car wouldn't start.  The battery was dead.  It had been towed for the last four days and evidently there was enough power usage on the car that it ran down the battery.   Fortunately for us, our friend and neighbor, Donna, came home just in time and gave  us a jump.  Quick as a flash, the car started and Carol was able to drive it of the tow dolly.   Before I lost my enthusiasm, I unpacked.  All done and then supper at Monicals Pizza.

As a wrap up, we did enjoy having a motorhome to camp in.  The motorhome was one reason we didn't eat in a McDonalds.  Instead, we ate lunch in a rest area.  We drove the motorhome 2650 miles in 22 days,  We drove the car 1500 miles for a total of 4140 miles.  It was a great trip.  Since we didn't have a honeymoon 50 years ago, I guess you could call this trip taken for our 50th wedding anniversary our honeymoon.  We are already talking about where we may take the motorhome next.  Of course, we will be going to Turkey Run in Indiana October 12 for two weeks.

50th Anniversary Trip - Day 21: Rain, Rain, Go Away

We woke up to an overcast day but no rain.  This part of the country had been getting quite a bit of rain.  The roads were wet and there were some mud puddles.   We hoped it wouldn't rain while we were at this KOA because much more rain and the roads could become impassable; but, no rain, yet!  We were on the road by 9:30 headed for our last camping spot Madison KOA, about 200 miles away.

We were glad for the change of scenery.  I can see beauty in the flat, rolling hills of South Dakota and southern Minnesota; but, after nearly two days of that scenery, it was good to see trees along the road.  There were trees on both sides of our side of the interstate so at times, we could not see the other two lanes.  It felt like we were on a two-lane road driving through a forest.

We crossed the Mississippi River for the last time this trip.

From the looks of the water levels, it confirms to me that this part of the country has had enough rain.

We stopped at a rest area for lunch.  As soon as I leave the RV, she climbs in the front window to watch and wait for my return.

When I get back in the RV, she acts like I have been gone for days, even though it has been only a few minutes.

This 18-wheeler was sitting by us in the rest area.  I don't like orange trucks but I did like what the driver called his.

This is where Sandy spends her day when we are driving.  Only one more day and we will be home and I know Sandy will be happy.  

This was taken in Wisconsin right before the skies opened up.
We could see the clouds darkening and lightening as we drove east.  Eventually we rain right into the rain.  It was raining hard and we thought of pulling into an upcoming rest area but it let up a little so we kept on driving.  We drove in the rain for a couple of hours.  It finally let up when we reached our camp site.  The lady told us that they have had too much rain.  The owner had not been able to mow because of the rain.  We got into a spot and set up.  The drives, sites, and grassy areas by the sites were saturated.  

From the looks of the clouds to the north, it looked like we were in for more rain.  We got in at 2:00 p.m. and knowing it was going to be a rainy afternoon, I decided to do laundry.  It may seem silly since we will be home tomorrow but, it was a good way to stay out of the rain and get something accomplished.  I won't have laundry to face at home for a few days.

I was right; another storm moved in while I was at the laundry....heavy rain, thunder, lightening.  We have been lucky this trip because this is the first rainy day that keeps you inside day, we have had this entire trip.  We did have a misty day in Colorado but we were able to be out and about.

Tomorrow we will be home.  

50th Anniversary Trip - Day 20: A Morning to Night Corn Day

Slow at getting around this morning.  We spent some time trying to decide where to stay tonight.  Finally choose a KOA at Albert Lea, Minnesota which is only 200 miles from here.  There was a nice sunrise to start the day.

This wind generator belongs to the KOA and must supply all or part of the electric power.

Since we had the time, we decided to see the Corn Palace.  We are glad we did.  It was very interesting to see the corn murals.  The first corn palace was in 1882 and over the years there have been 34 other corn palaces in 24 cities.  Mitchell's Corn Palace is the only one left.  Some 275,000 ears of corn are used each year to create the murals.  Local farmers plant 12 different colors of corn.  The corn is carefully sliced and nailed into place.  Bundles of ryegrass and sour dock are used to frame the murals.  Each year there is a different theme and this year the theme is "Rock of Ages."

Carol and I and the kids had been here years ago but were unable to see the murals because there had been a fire.  I mentioned to the man at the KOA about the fire and he said he didn't remember a fire.  I also mentioned it to the hostess at the Corn Palace and she said she had been here 50 years and did not remember a fire.  I was feeling like a crazy person but on the wall of the history of the Palace was a paragraph about a fire by an arsonist in 1979 that burned the murals.  So I am not crazy...there was a fire.  We were here in 1979.  Sometimes, I can't remember why I went into a room but I sure do remember that we were unable to see the Corn Palace murals because of a fire!

Willie Nelson

Elvis Presley

Sporting events and concerts are held inside the palace.  The walls inside held photos of previous years' themes. Some of the people who have performed here are Bob Hope, Lawrence Welk, The Osmonds, Jim Nabors, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Trisha Yearwood, The Oakridge Boys, and many more.  LeeAnn Rimes will be at the Palace in December.

Carol shared a bench with an old timer.

After we left the Corn Palace, we headed east on I-90.  Suddenly these bull horns appeared on the horizon over a small hill.  Because of the size, the horns caught our attention.  As we crested the hill, we could see the rest of the bull head along with a huge hammer, a bee hive with a bee circling it, and other metal art.  I don't know if the farmer who owned the field created the metal art or if he just buys it and displays it on the hill.  Either way, it caught our attention and brought some interest to most other views along an interstate.

About 12:30 we stopped for lunch at a Minnesota Welcome Center.
The surface of I-90 in Minnesota was very rough so we bounced along for almost 100 miles.  Things that don't normally rattle were rattling.  In addition to the bouncing, the wind was blowing from the south against the side of the RV.   Carol did a wonderful job of keeping the RV moving forward while keeping it between the two lines on the road.  There was also road construction to deal with.   He drove slow and steady and kept us safe.  In this part of Minnesota, there are large wind farms stretching nearly 100 miles.  At Blue Earth, Minnesota, we passed over "The Golden Spike."  I-90 is the longest interstate in the US.  Much like the building of the Continental Railroad, one road crew began in the east and the other in the west.  They met at Blue Earth, Minnesota and painted a gold stripe across the lanes of the interstate to commemorate the completion.

This is the entrance to Albert Lea KOA.  After a long day on the road, it was very inviting to drive through this row of trees into the campground.

We are parked in the last row which overlooks a corn field.  The site has a large tree on one side and a huge cedar tree on the other.  We feel like we are camped in the country.  The only thing that spoils it (and this is the same complaint about most KOAs), is that it is right next to the interstate so we can actually see the traffic on the highway.  We wanted to sit out and enjoy the view and cool breeze blowing, but the mosquitoes were too plentiful to be outside.
I think tomorrow we will be camped near Madison, Wisconsin for our last night of this trip.

 A nice sunset over the corn made the circle complete from corn  in the morning to corn in the evening.

50th Anniversary Trip - Day 19: Badlands National Park

We were on the road by 8:30 MDT.  Our next campground would be  nearly 300 miles away and we would lose an hour as we traveled east.

The trees are turning a golden yellow and they really stand out against the dark pine trees.

We took time to drive the Badlands Scenic Route.  It is a nice route that goes from the west end to the east end of the park.  There are plenty of pull-outs and overlooks.  Some even have special parking for RVs.  

Sandy was always happy to get out of the RV and onto land.  

I decided that I needed a picture of our home away from home and the "toad."

This was posted at one of the stops we made.  We always stayed on the walkway to avoid any encounter of rattlesnakes.

Carol and Sandy are staying on the walkway.  Our RV and toad can be seen in the parking lot.

We spent about an hour and a half driving through the Badlands.  Then it was back on I-90.  We stopped for lunch at a rest area and saw this sign in the area of the dog walk.  Sandy and I tread lightly with alert eyes and ears for any sign of a snake.  I truly dislike snakes and can't imagine what I would do I were to encounter one, but I hope I could get out of its way.

Above and below are pictures of the Missouri River.  It cuts south to north almost in the center of South Dakota.  The terrain of South Dakota is also very different on the east and west side of the river.  The land on the west side is rolling hills with fields of sunflowers causing a patchwork quilt of small fields with other crops.  The land on the east side is very flat with fields of corn and soy beans.  

As we travel, we always note the state capitols we see.  This year we saw the capitols of Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.  Unfortunately, we probably never will see the capitol of South Dakota because Pierre does not have an interstate running through it.  It sits north of I-90 about 40 miles.  We would have to purposely take a trip to Pierre; otherwise we would never see it.

We are camped at Mitchell KOA.  Mitchell is famous for the world's only Corn Palace.  We won't be seeing it because we don't want to unhook the car.  This year's theme is "The Rock of Ages" and has huge murals made entirely of corn of people like Willie Nelson and Elvis.  Maybe we will see it another year.  We have already decided that we need to return to the Badlands and spend more than just driving time through it.  Near the Badlands are Wall Drug and the Minuteman Missile National Monument.  There is so much to see in this country.  We have been trying to see as much of it as possible.  Each state has its own beauty.  The temperatures were in the mid 80s.  Our cool days and nights are over.