May 7 - May 13, 2021 Off We Go!

May 7, Friday Off We Go!

We were up about 7:30 and had breakfast. We got around and made our bed. Both of us worked on finalizing the packing of the RV. We checked the oil and transmission fluid. On our way out of town we stopped at O’Reilly’s for extra transmission fluid and orange hand cleaner. Then we stopped and got some cash. We left Perry about 10:45 AM. When lunch time rolled around we stopped on the turnpike in Kansas and ate. We stopped again about 2:30 so Steve could rest & nap. We got to Independence, MO at about 5:30 PM. We walked the dogs a bit and then hooked up our utilities. For supper we had turkey burger, baked fries and berries. We stayed at Campus RV Park and it only cost $35. It was a nice spot. I had tried another park but they wanted $90 for the night - so we kept looking. 

Sorry about that line in the picture - it is a crack in the windshield of the RV

May 8, Saturday

We got up and around pretty good and left about 10 AM. We stopped for gas and got in a bad bind. So we had to unhook the pickup to get out. We would not have had trouble if the road construction crew had not had their equipment in the way. Then we went to the back of the truck area and got the pickup re-attached. We were then on our way to Des Moines, IA. We stopped at Walmart for groceries and then had to make another trip in there  to pick up transmission stop leak. When that was finished we were on the hunt for the Iowa State Fairgrounds Campground .We drove all over trying to figure out where to park. Plus it took awhile to get to the part of town where the Fairgrounds was located.  Anyway we finally made it and they only charged us $30 for our stay. I would not stay there again because it was basically a hilly field and the sites were not well defined. Also we were just parked on grass and it wasn’t too level. Then it rained all night and I was worried that we would get stuck and not be able to leave the next morning! Supper was chili, chips and berries. 

Two older RV's we saw before we took off this morning. They were in the Campus RV Park.

Crossed into Iowa pretty quick.

May 9, Sunday

When we got up on Sunday, it was 42 degrees but felt like 36 degrees! What happened to spring? when I woke up I sent out a lot of text messages wishing the women in my life a Happy Mother’s Day. After breakfast we putzed around a bit. Then we left for Forest City, IA. Luckily we had no trouble getting out (did not get stuck)! Yea! we ate our lunch at a rest stop about 1:00 PM. We arrived at Winnebago in Forest City IA about 1:00 PM. We filled the water tank and then parked the RV. I did my usual Sunday chores and we also rested. I read a book and checked out the motel situation in Forest City. For supper we had turkey burgers and chips. We have to have the refrigerator empty by Tuesday morning when the RV goes into the shop. 

A few sites from Des Moines IA

May 10, Monday

We stayed overnight at the Winnebago lot last night. We were up at 7:30 and had breakfast. I paid some bills and worked on my blog. It was nice so we walked the dogs around town. Then we checked in with the Winnebago service office and toured the visitor center. They are still not having factory tours - so we did not do that. We hung out in the RV and watched TV and took it easy. Our supper was Chicken, Rice and berries. 

Beautiful grass at Winnebago

Our RV at Winnebago lot

The Winnebago Visitor Center & our pickup

Some very pretty trees!

May 11, Tuesday

We were up at 5:45 AM. We packed our stuff that we would need in the motel. So again we packed up stuff and moved it to the pickup. Then we took the RV to the Winnebago shop. I drove us out in the country and we found Eagle Lake Conservation area. We walked all around. Then we went back to town and walked around Pammel Park and hung out there like homeless people. For lunch we picked up burgers at A & W and went back to the park to eat them. Later we drove east to Pilot Knob State Park and check it out. Finally 3:00 PM arrived and we checked into the hotel - Cobblestone Inn & Suites. It was very nice. It was just built last summer. The only bad thing about hotels is there is poor lighting and no chairs to just sit in.  You basically have to lay on the bed. Later we pickup up chicken strips for supper  from the nearby A & W.  

Art or Wind machine at Pammel Park

Golf Course across the river at Pammel park

Flowers from Eagle Lake Conservation Area

Every town should have a tank in the town square!

Dam at Pammel Park

May 12, Wednesday

We woke up at 8:00. While we were just putzing around Winnebago called about 8:45 and said the RV was ready to be picked up. So we got dressed, packed and loaded our stuff back into the pickup. We also walked our dogs. We hurried to Winnebago and waited for them to bring the RV around. Steve checked it out and the guy explained what they did and how they replaced the slide ram. Then we paid the bill and off we went. We got gas on one side of the road and then went across the street to HyVee for groceries. We were then on the road, but before we got to the interstate, there was road construction. So we waited! We stopped at a Walmart and had lunch in the RV. We walked the  dogs and then got back on the road. We drove some back road highways with very little traffic, to Walnut Grove Minnesota! It was lovely countryside and we stayed at Plum Creek County Park. It was really nice. Camping at its best. I even used their bathroom to take a shower. We only had electric hookups. We didn’t fill the water tank when we drove in.  Supper was smoked sausage and home fries. 

May 13, Thursday

Well, I’m glad it’s not Friday!  We got up at 7:45 and then got dressed and walked the dogs. This is a lovely little county park and only cost $23. We reserved our site online the day we came in. There are seasonal sites here and many people have their RVs all set up. We drove the RV to their dump site and took care of that chore. Then we went into Walnut Grove, MN and toured the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. We were there about an hour and a half. It was nice and there were several additional buildings we toured. Next we were on the road to Pipestone, MN. We got gas and then went to the National Monument. We walked the dogs and had our lunch in the parking lot. The visitor center was closed (open on weekends). I guess because of COVID or their season is not fully underway yet?  Not sure. Then Steve and I walked on the trail (dogs not allowed) back to the quarry. This is an important Native American cultural site. Natives use the collected stone to make ceremonial pipes. The rock formations were very interesting. The we were back on the road and drove to Mitchell, SD and stayed at R & R Campground. (we stayed there last year also). It was an easy end to the day.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum at Walnut Grove MN

Our sweet site at the county park outside Walnut Grove MN

 

Mary & Steve freezing at Pipestone National Monument

Beautiful building at Pipestone MN

Highway Art

September 21-23, 2020 The Winnebago Experience

Sept 21, Monday

We were up at 6:00 AM to get ourselves ready to take the RV to the Winnebago Service Center.  Everyone is supposed to be there by 7:00 AM. We have an appointment - so we will definitely be seen. But other people arrive without appointments and are on a first come, first serve basis. We got there and a lady gave a little speech about how they would handle the COVID -19. They have not had any problems because they are following careful procedures. We are to enter and they will take our temp we can sanitize our hands, then a tech will talk with us. And we get a wristband that indicates we have been checked. Next they take the RV to the shop and spray it (with sanitizer). When we pick up the RV it will have been sprayed again. OK, sounds good. We leave the RV in their capable hands and head out in the pickup with the dogs. We drove to Thorpe Conservation park, which had a few camping spots, a little pond and a cabin that could be rented. 

Sunrise from the Winnebago Courtesy Camping spot
You won't see many of these from me!

 

Pond at Thorpe Conservation Park

Cabin to Rent

 

Contact for cabin rental

Next we drove to Crystal Lake. This is a really nice little spot. There is a nice campground there with a lake and boat ramp. We walked around by the lake and explored the campground. The dogs loved it there because there was lots of lush grass and squirrels! They also have disc golf here - if you are interested in that. 

After that we decided to drive to Clear Lake, IA. This is the Buddy Holly crash site. We found the memorial. There is a path through the cornfield and you can walk to it. The dogs really enjoyed all our exploring. It was starting to warm up and getting close to lunch, so the next stop was Wendy’s to get a lunch salad and a frosty. Yum! 

 

We've seen a lot of this grass! I think it's really pretty.

Windmill we saw on our driv

If you look closely - you see a little shed/cabin by th pond

Pumpkins for sale!

By then, it was about time to return to Forest City and check back on the RV at Winnebago. The tech talked to us about the jacks and what he did to adjust them. He didn’t seem to think they were much of a problem. But the Slide Ram was another deal. First of all, since our RV is older, the part will have to be made and it will be about 4 weeks before that is done. So he explained all that and encouraged us to think it over and let them know in the morning  what we want to do. We returned the RV to the Winnebago parking area (with electric site) and had a snack and a nap. Later we picked up supper at A & W and then watched football. 

Sept 22, Tuesday

Today we got up a little later, about 8:00 AM. Then after breakfast and walking the dogs, we returned to the Winnebago service center. We talked to the tech again and he said to hang around town and they will find out about the cost of the part and other details. So we went and got some cash, washed the pickup and stopped at the grocery store. We also took the dogs on a walk in the town park - Pammel park.

Bridge at Pammel Park

Weird animal

We saw a weird animal in a tree and I have no idea what it was. It was not a squirrel! We were back for lunch at the RV. Steve did some computer research about the RV part we needed. Then about 3:00 PM we went back to Winnebago and paid a down payment for the part and returned to the RV for supper. The part is supposed to cost about $1000 and then approximately $1000 for installation. OK, well that is cheaper than a different RV. We finished the evening with a walk and some TV.

Sept 23, Wednesday

After our usual morning routine we hook up the pickup and headed south on I-35. Left Winnebago (Forest City, IA) about 10 AM. It was a pretty nice drive. We stopped for the night at Liberty, MO (outside Kansas City, MO) for the night at a very crowded RV Park. We did a little walk and pretty much stayed inside. We did watch some TV. There wasn’t a good place to walk the dogs and this place kind of creeped me out. There are lots of people living here full time and I am not sure that all of them are behaving themselves. LOL The name of the place is Millers Kampark Campground. The people in the office were nice, but the sites were very tight. We will pick another place next time.

Lush grass

Winnebago Service Center

Thunderbird parked near visitor Center

Winnebago Service Center

Roadside Flowers

Poopsie on the Dash

Another beautiful flower

Yellow grass

Roadside flowers

Made it to Missouri