Mon, 7/23/12:  Really hot today.  We ventured out and went to see "Savages".  Pretty good movie, albeit pretty bloody.  But, it is about the Mexican drug cartels after all.  Stopped at the library to pick up a book and then back home and in for the night.  My poor car was glad to get back into the garage.

Really HOT!

KOA, Kankakee, IL, to Saint Louis, MO:  Got an early start this morning.  We were on the road before 9:00.  I started out driving through the corn and soy bean fields of rural Illinois.  The crops looked pretty good to us, but then we know nothing about crops, or plants in general for that matter.  Stopped in Effingham for a late breakfast and then Mike took over driving.  An hour and a half later we were pulling into our storage area.  Emptied the refrigerator and were home by 2:30.  95 today.  Supposed to be 106 tomorrow!  As hot as it’s been in St. Louis this summer, it’s a lot greener than I thought it would be.

Bluffs along the Mississippi River

KOA west of Grand Rapids, MI, to KOA, Kankakee, IL:  This morning dawned clear and sunny.  A beautiful day. Beautiful blue sky and just a few puffy, white clouds.  We got on the road by a little before 10:00 and stopped for a late breakfast around noon.  Mike continued driving, and I sure dodged a bullet since Rt. 80 around Chicago was 8 lanes of mayhem.  We finally got off on Rt. 57 through rural Illinois.  Gained an hour.  We’re finally back on Central Time.  Staying here one night.  Not unhooking.  We got the last pull-thru site.  82 when we pulled in here.

Statue given to the US by Italy after liberating them in WWII.
Washington, D.C.

Trump Tower--Central Park West
New York City

KOA west of Grand Rapids, MI:  Extended an extra day here and just relaxed.  Well, we did the laundry first and then relaxed.  Much needed kick-back day.  Perfect day for it since it poured down rain in the afternoon and then just drizzled the rest of the day.  Much needed rain though.  We’re heading back tomorrow, stopping once somewhere in Illinois. Looking forward to getting home.

United Nations

Little boathouse that Bette Midler was instrumental in getting built on a little slough in the Hudson River.

Rainbow after the storm.

KOA west of Grand Rapids, MI:  Drove to Saugatuck this afternoon around 3:00 and met with Chuck, one of the maintenance guys from our park in Key West.  He spends the summer in this really nice private complex of park models with some RV sites mixed in.  The lots are all privately owned.  His lot is beautiful—like a park really.  He’s very knowledgeable when it comes to plants and designing outdoor spaces.  He showed us around the park where he lives and then we drove into Saugatuck and walked around the marina and the little main street which is lined with little shops, art galleries, and antique shops.  Very upscale and artsy.  Had dinner at the country club.  Then we drove back home.  Took us an hour.  We are worn out.  Nice day though—95, sunny and breezy.

A couple of the properties down by the beach.

Chuck showing us the 12-acre lake on the property.

One of the galleries in Saugatuck

Saugatuck Village Hall

KOA west of Grand Rapids, MI:  This morning we headed back to Holland to check out Windmill Island & Gardens.  The windmill dates back to 1861 in The Netherlands, was dismantled, shipped over here and reassembled.  The windmill was used as a lookout tower during WWII and the blades have bullet holes in them.  I was feeling wasted due to lack of sleep last night, so we came back and I took a nap.  Meeting James again for dinner tonight.  It’s really hot again—100 today.

1861 Windmill brought over from The Netherlands

KOA west of Grand Rapids, MI:  Slept in a little this morning and then we got talking with the couple next to us and didn’t get going until after 1:00.  Nice couple from Jackson, MI.  We drove down to the cute little town of Holland, MI.  Very Dutch around here.  And we’re right in the middle of a bunch of blueberry farms.  There are fresh blueberry stands all over.  Plan on picking some up tomorrow.  Anyway, stopped at a hair salon in Holland and got my hair cut.  Called a friend of ours from Lazy Lakes who summers in the cute little town of Saugatuck and we’re meeting him there on Wednesday.  Drove back to our park and got ready to meet James for dinner in Grand Rapids.  95 today.

Holland, MI

Holland, MI

Holland, MI

Visited James in his office in downtown Grand Rapids.

Had dinner in East Grand Rapids--a cute little area.  Our dinner was great!