Jun 15, 2013 - Ottumwa, IA

365 Miles to Ottumwa, IA. After 240 miles, decided to stop in Moberly, MO for lunch - a delicious buffet at a place called Azalea's with plenty of parking space. A+ Rating all around. After lunch we discovered a city park that was absolutely beautiful. Even had pull through sites, (so we didn't need to unhook the car), cement pads, and full hookup. Definitely will add to our list of "stop there again" parks. In the early evening we had a bad wind/rain storm come up, which rocked the Coach a bit. Made us very glad we had stopped early. Sure...

Jun 13, 2013 - O M G !

I've shown pictures of that big snapping turtle, but he's always been in the water. I told my granddaughter I'd get a good picture before I left this place and OMG did I ever!! Hunter and I were taking our usual morning walk and lo and behold...what is that up ahead? Yep, he was a she and she had climbed out of the pond and was laying eggs! I just could not believe my good luck. Hunter and I often walk there...but we just as often do different routes. I was beside myself. If it was my off day, I would've brought a chair and put it back a...

Jun 7, 2013 - Adventureland is now open full time!

Well, about time I sent an update notice, huh? It's been interesting. I've got to experience snow, a tornado warning siren, thunder storms and rain, rain, rain. Fortunately it doesn't rain for extended periods...but does so just about every day. We're experiencing the third coldest June on record, but it is supposed to start warming up to the mid 70's...80's. Still, rain and thunderstorms in the forecast. Fortunately, the tornados haven't hit close to us yet. Oklahoma's bad one was the widest (over 2 miles) tornado ever recorded. I can't...

Jun 3, 2013 - June 3rd Day 1 stopped at a Wal-Mart in Cedar Rapids Iowa.

Wow, we had trouble finding a Wal-Mart this evening. 1st we tried an address in Iowa City, but couldn't find it. We were on a small 2 lane highway, and couldn't find a place to turn around, so, we continued on to Cedar Rapids and found a Wal-Mart there. We went in and asked and they gladly let us stay as long as we were out of the way. Sally drove the entire 10.5 hrs. today. We traveled about 500 miles today. The kids did well, only getting a little board. We left home about 8:30 this morning.

May 30, 2013 - North Sioux City, SD

"Siouxland" is where three state borders intersect and the border towns of Sioux City Iowa, South Sioux City Nebraska, and North Sioux City South Dakota together to create the metropolitan area of Siouxland! Floyd's Bluff is located near here. Sergeant Charles Floyd died of appendicitis on August 20, 1804, in the future city of Sioux City and was buried at the top of a bluff named in his honor. An obelisk was placed to mark the site on the 100th anniversary of his death in 1904. Sioux City, IA has a nice Lewis & Clark Center. There are...

May 30, 2013 - Des Moines

After Emporia we studied the weather situation and decided to get right away from the tornado alley and generally nasty weather. The best areas seemed to be up towards Omaha as we wanted to head east towards Ohio and Pennsylvania. Before we left Emporia we had the coach washed. The fridge stopped working which became a problem. I checked everything I could but it still didn't work. We went to Topeka which was a storm safe area hoping I could get someone fix the problem. I eventually found someone about 60 miles away so off we went. The...

May 24, 2013 - Grand Canyon 2013

Our ancestors trekked across this vast continent in covered wagons searching for better lives for their families and future generations. My family stopped in Iowa. Knowing my family, they likely got on each other’s nerves and said “Fuck it…here’s good.” It is in this spirit of adventure we are trekking west too. Only we are not seeking better lives and opportunity. We just want a week off work with friends, cocktails and an amazing destination. The Grand Canyon. The cast this year is large and varied as we will be picking people up along...

May 23, 2013 - ADVENTURELAND, we are here

We are in Altoona Iowa {a suburb of Des Moines} and have settled into our new jobs working at Adventureland. It is a theme park like Disney Land with a huge water park attached. The water park opens on the 25th. We have been here a month and have seen some crazy weather. From temps in the high 80's to snow to rain with high winds and tornado warnings. We were only here a few days when we got 4-6" of snow. It all melted within a few days and then we had a mud bog. The campground was built in 1973 and who ever did the grading should have been...

May 22, 2013 - Iowa City, Iowa

May 21, 2013, We left Fulton Mo. About 10:00 and got to Iowa City, Iowa about 2:30. One of our good friends that winters in Texas, Mike, met us and showed us the way to the campground. We are staying at Coralville Lake Reservoir, just outside Iowa City. This is a Corp of Engineers park and only has 30 amp and no sewer or water but a beautiful park. Also, no cable TV. This is what we call roughing it. After getting set up we went over to Mike and Sheryl’s, our friends that winter in Texas. Had a very nice visit and soaked up a couple suds....

May 21, 2013 - 499 Miles

Had a good drive yesterday, other than the storms we went thru. Bad winds all day. Woke this AM to 48* temp and stormy skies. Today we plan to stop somewhere in the Bad Lands, South Dakota and hopefully we will be in Canada late Wednesday and then slow our pace. Have for gotten how to post pictures so will have to study tonight.

May 20, 2013 - Was it Chicken Little who said that?

Iowa is simply beautiful this morning. It's about 65 degrees out, a hint of a breeze and the sun is making everything sparkle. A perfect morning for a walk with Hunter. So clean and fresh. Well, yeah...everything IS clean! Last evening, about 7:15, Hunter and I huddled with others by our laundry/shower building shelter while the sirens sounded HIDE! HIDE! THE SKY IS FALLING! I can see the little building though my big back window in the fifth wheel. I was trying to watch 60 Minutes but that and all the other stations had cut into their...

May 18, 2013 - Forest City, IA

Sat, 18 May: We had a good nite's sleep in the Ankeny, IA Wal*Mart parking lot. The lot was pretty crowded with quite a few 18-wheelers and Carpe. Despite that it got quiet for a Friday nite, especially given our location in a busy shopping and restaurant district. When we awoke we noted that the employees were filling in the parking stalls immediately in front of our coach. Rather than get boxed in we hustled thru our check lists and rolled wheels before seven. We maneuvered out of the parking lot and onto I 35 north. We drove about ½...