Homeward Bound

This trip was short but sweet.  We were only gone four days and we had some disappointments because of the impact of the corona virus but all in all we had a good time.  Until four days before the trip, we weren't even sure we would be able to take a summer trip with the boys.  2020 has been an unsettling year with lots of uncertainty.  We had planned a trip to Disney World in September with and Kara and her family and John would join us there.  We had to cancel that.  We needed some minor repairs on the motorhome and finding a shop to do repairs on an RV is difficult.  Finally, the first of August we found a place to get the repairs done and got the motorhome back home on Wednesday before we left on Sunday.  It was very last minute but was worth the short time we could get away.

The biggest disappointment of the trip was the fact the water park was closed during the week.   It would be open on weekends only to complete its season.  We could see the park from our campsite so we were constantly reminded of the disappointment.  After a few conversations with Kara and Jason we decided to drive back to Waterloo this Friday, go to the park on Saturday, and drive back on Decatur on Sunday  It will be a quick trip, but will sooth the disappointment and be a great way to end the summer. The boys begin on-line school the following Monday. 

I took these two pictures of the land a across from the waterpark where a theme park is being built.  Completion date is 2022.  Maybe we will come back up when it is completed.   The pictures show that the ground work is being done in preparation for the park.

About two weeks before our trip, a terrible wind storm hit Cedar Rapids.  On the Tuesday we were in 
Waterloo, President Trump visited the city to view the damage.  I tried to take pictures from the motorhome as we drover  by.  These pictures do not show the true wind damage that was done.

When we cross the Mississippi River, we know that our trip is nearly over.

We brought these cupcakes at the Scratch Cupcakery in Waterloo and decided to have hem today for Carol's birthday.  They were delicious.  Carol's was strawberry/rhubarb.  The rest of us got something with chocolate as the main ingredient.

We pulled into our driveway at 3:30.  Then the fun begins...unloading.  The boys were a great help with the carrying of stuff from the motorhome into the house.  We had some disappointments of things not being open because of the virus but overall, it was a fun trip.  Carol and I are going to visit John and Family for a week the end of September.  That will be the only fall trip we take this year.  It makes me very sad because we have so many places we want to visit and we aren't getting any younger.  Hopefully, this virus will subside before next year.

Downtown Waterloo

I think everyone had a good night sleep.  It was so cool that we turned off the air conditioner and had the windows open...so nice.   Up at seven and leisurely ate breakfast, took showers and then around 10 headed for the downtown area to visit the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Military Museum.

This was the last picture of the evening.  After having Smores, we enjoyed sitting around the fire ring.  

During WWII, the five Sullivan Brothers from Waterloo, Iowa joined the Navy and all served together on the USS Juneau.  Early in the battle of the Pacific, their ship went down and all five brothers were lost.  After this incident, policy was made to not allow brothers to serve together on the same ship.  This museum contains a room dedicated to the brothers and has displays and information about soldiers from Iowa who served in all ward from the Civil War to the Gulf War.

Following COVID guidelines, we all had to wear our masks.

Keegan and Hunter were able to climb inside this WWII tank for a birds eye view.

In the WWII area, there were several posters that were used to sell war bonds, including this one with the  Sullivan Brothers.

Here is our group in front of a statue of the Sullivan Brothers.

A reproduction of what a pharmacy would look like in the early 1900's.

This is a poster about the Salvation Army and WWI.

The guys standing on a point of the Air Force Star at the entrance to the Museum.

There were stars for all branches of the armed service.

We ate lunch at Newton's Cafe in the old downtown section of Waterloo.  I don't know the history of the cafe and this building but I would say that it dates back to at least the 40's or 50's.  Like most other cities, the downtown area is a shell of itself.  It is sad but I guess that is the way of progress.

The food was delicious and the portions way too big.   Carol got a pork tenderloin sandwich which was the size of a dinner plate.  We all got Parmesan french fries and they were delicious.

Keegan ordered the kid's plate of chicken tenders  It looked at an adult version  Needless to say, both Carol and Keegan had a take-home box to bring back to the motorhome.  After eating, we found a Walmart to restock a few items.  We found Caffeine-free Diet Cokes which we have not been able to buy for a month or so.  We brought a couple of 12-packs to take back to Decatur.  COVID strikes again!!  

We found a cupcake specialty shop on the way back to camp so we  brought some cupcakes to celebrate Carol's 75th birthday tomorrow.  Got back to camp around 3 and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.  Hunter fixed supper for us...his specialty is grilled cheese sandwiches.  It was delicious.  I told him that we will make his cooking a meal for us a tradition.  Tonight we are loading the car before we build a fire to make Smores.  I don't think it will be as cool tonight as last night but it will still be enjoyable.

Clark Griswold (Mulvany/Ozee) Family Vacation

The day began very normally...just wished it had stayed way.  Up at 7, ate breakfast and relaxed before getting bathing suits on for the much anticipated water park.  I don't know why but I decided to check the park website one final time and when I did, I discovered that that park was closed this week because all the workers were back in school.  From now on the park is only open on weekends.  All previous times, the site had shown that this was the last week Monday-Friday that the park was open.  Evidently, that schedule changed.  I guess the schools decided to open in spite of COVID19 so a lot of the workers are high school and college students.  Needless to say, all of us (except maybe papaw) were very disappointed!!  We felt like the Clark Griswold Family when they traveled so far to go to Wally World and found it closed.  

On to Plan B...go to the spot where "the music stopped."  On February 3, 1959 Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Richie Valens, and a pilot crashed on a field just outside of Clearlake, Iowa, killing everyone.  The song American Pie says that on that day "music stopped."  Anyway, it was about a two-hour drive from camp through rural Iowa.  It was very relaxing driving through small towns and fields of corn.

Unfortunately, these pictures are like the day....mixed up.

On the Road to Iowa

 What a year this has been!!  Normally, we take the boys on a camping trip during the summer vacation from school, but this year summer began in the middle of March and school won't start again until August 24  Along with a nearly 5 1/2 month summer vacation came the COVID-19 pandemic that wrecked havoc with any and all plans for trips and just life in general.  We finally decided to try to fit a short trip in so we headed to Waterloo, Iowa.  There is a great water park near the KOA and some interesting museums to see, as well.  

  We cannot drive west on I-80 without stopping at the world's largest truck stop in Walcott, Iowa  Enjoyed a lunch at Wendy's and quick look at the displays.

A traditional picture before we leave.  This was taken at 7:45 a.m. and everyone has a smile on their faces.  Hope those smiles last until the end of the day.

Full view of motorhome with toad attached.

The weather was nice.  We drove all morning without the air conditioner on.  The traffic on I-80 was bumper to bumper.  We turned north on I-380 to Waterloo.  Traffic slackened off, finally.  We stopped at a Pilot at Cedar City for gas... love the price $1.99 a gallon.  It was a tight turn to get away from the pump but we made it.  That is one place we won't stop at again.

Sandy is with us and she has had a rough day.  She also jumped up onto my seat and then fell head over heals out of it.  That is three falls so far on this trip.  For the last two or three years, we have wondered how many more years she would be able to go with us.  Last year she fell out of the motorhome on her back.  She is a tough old girl because she still manages to keep going.

We are camped at the Waterloo Lost Island Water Park Resort.  We can see the water park from our site.  There is a beautiful blue little lake between the campground and water park.  The view from the front window is very nice.  We have had supper, the kids swam in the lake, Keegan and I played some cards and when I get this blog finished, we are going to the store for our traditional ice cream after supper.

It got up to 90 but it is supposed to be cooler tomorrow when we go to the water park.  It will be fun although I don't know how many of the 19 slides I will take!