Tue, 9/18/12:

STL to Red Bluff NF Campground; Davisville, MO:  Left the storage area this morning around 9:30 after loading the food and hooking up.  A pretty drive after leaving I270 on Rt. 44 through rural Missouri.  Stopped at a Flying J in Sullivan, MO, filled up the water tank and had a late breakfast.  Then Mike took over driving.  Left the Flying J at around noon and pulled into Red Bluff and were set up by 1:30.  This is a really pretty place.  We’re up on a high bluff overlooking Huzzah Creek.  This area is the beginning of the Missouri Ozarks and we’re in high rolling hills dotted with beautiful springs and pristine streams.  There are three sites up here, and we’re the only ones around.  The view is spectacular of the ridge across from us and we get glimpses of the Huzzah as it winds through the narrow valley below.  A beautiful early fall day with a clear blue sky and temps in the upper 60s.  The only blemish on this beautiful day is the fact that the solar panel has a short in it and is not working, so the batteries are very low.  We have no hook-ups here, so Mike fired up the generator and it’s been running steadily for a couple of hours now.  I hate using the generator as it ruins the ambience.  Instead of listening to the birds, insects and the wind, it’s the constant drone.  But it’s either that or we go home.  We’re having a fire tonight.  In fact, Mike is out there now setting it up.  I came in and put my Polartech tights on along with my Polartech shirt and jacket.  It’s supposed to go down into the 30s tonight.  Yikes!

Reading my book

Watched the Olympic opening ceremonies on Friday.  The parade of athletes was interesting since I'd never heard of a bunch of the countries represented.  Guess I have to brush up on my geography.  Oh, and I swear the flag bearer for Egypt looked suspiciously like Hosni Mubarak.  The Brits pulled off a flawless opening ceremony.  I especially loved the way they handled the cauldron. And the Queen's entrance. Cudos!

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