Minnesota to Elkhart, IN

With tornedo's to our back we made the trip to a little community just north of Chicago called Marengo with one night stay in Lodi, WI. Yes, Lodi like in California. Not only that we passed through Oakdale on the way. The heat and humidity started to rise as we were just past the Mississippi River. Wiscousin has a great rest area on the river there. We stayed at the Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi only because we could take their shopping cart to the town and do our shopping at the Piggly Wiggly Market. We probably could have taken it to Chicago? Oh, by the way they are still growing corn and soy beans, it has now been about 800 miles of it!

Our first visit to downtown Chicago was fun and interesting from a newcomers view of its vibrant structures, streets, canal, restaurants and people. We enjoyed the evening downtown before returning to Marengo. Leaving Chicago was another experience with the toll highways. Between Chicago and Elkhart it only cost us $40 in tolls. Two of which were within 5-miles and cost over $20. To add insult to travelers, they made sure the toll roads equaled California's rough surfaces and added a little narrowing and a zig and zag here and there. Of course we learned from the locals in Elkhart, there was another route we could have taken. Ugh!

If it wasn't for the RV Industry, I do not think there would be an Elkhart with the 17 manufacturers of RV's and related industries. They apparently are making a recovery but you can still see evidence of closed businesses. It rained hard upon our arrival at the Elkhart Campgroung, 390 spaces on grassy pads. Our most enjoyable part of this visit was to the RV Hall of Fame Museum located on the east end of the community. A worth while visit and I must say a very well done for such a new point of interest in the community. Mae West even owned a RV that was specially made for her and on display. I did not realize it but people had ideas about RV's back at the turn of the 19th Century only they called them "Housecars". If you have a chance to visit the museum, do it, its fun and interesting.

Where to next? Cincinnati, here we come and we have a jungle surprise to tell you about there.

Custer to Mystic Lake Minnesota

Our next stop after leaveing Custer, SD was Salem, SD at a small but very nice RV Park, Camp America. It was an overnighter in a small rurual location run by two women. Lots of grass, nice trees and level sites. Leaving this location passed through Sioux Falls into Southern Minnesota and crossed the state to Albert Lea where we spent the next two nights at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. We could not pass up a visit to the "Spam" museum in nearby Austin. A worth while visit for those who remember being raised on Spam Sandwiches. Hormel did a great job of documenting Span's history as well as their other products. A fun place.

From there we moved on north about 140 miles to Mystic Lakes Casino in Prior Lakes, MN to spend 4-days of site seeing and I do not mean looking at corn and soybean fields that we have seen for the past 4 or 500 miles of highway travel.

Leaving Minnesota $1200 richer thanks to Carole's casino luck proved to be a wise decision. The following day, tornedo warnings were in the news for this state. We especially enjoyed our stay at Mystic Lake Casino RV Resort aka "Dakota Meadows". This park is similiar to Jackson Rancheria but larger and in our opinion nicer as it has trees. Draw back, no cable TV for those that like cable programing. They have Tipi's to stay in if you want to rough it and a nice golf course. Lots to see around the area, it is green everywhere and of course lots of lakes. Mystic Lakes is located 20 miles S/E of Minneapolis-St Paul and a 10 - 15 minute drive to the Mall of America where you have your choice of 520 stores and an amusement park loaded with rides for adults and children.

Our next stop will be Marengo, Ill northeast of Chicago and Elkhart, IN to be posted later.

Rawlins to Custer

After spending two days in Reno to have our VGT valve replaced at Freightliner we made it to the KOA Rawlins. Not much to say about Rawlins other than good bye rocks. The people at the KOA were very nice however. The picture between Rawlins and Custer says it all about the 290 trip, except you cannot see the wind that broke my door hinge at a rest stop mid way.

Now, Custer was much better and our trip we thought was going to get better. When reaching the Custer Gulch Campground, discovered our left rear jack had become damaged at our stay in Rawlins. Our coach was now a "Rock N Roll" rig until we can get the new part delivered. But the fun did begin over the next four days. Lots to see and do here. Mt. Rushmoore 4th of July weekend was great to visit, their celebration was very patriotic with a full orchrestra, B-51 fly over and night show. Carole felt like she should join the Arm Services!

The town of Keystone, was an interesting visit at Rushmore, but pretty touristy with all its shops. Nice setting however. Crazy Horse is a work in progress (30-yrs or so) and will be for a while. It is larger than the Mr. Rushmore carving. Lots of Indain history to read about and of course plenty of mechandise on sale. The whole badlands area was much greener and mountainous than what we expected, is a worth while visit.