Get It On!

That’s what the sign said, so we did.

We drove all the way sw across Illinois and on into Missouri, leaving behind the huge farm fields of the Midwest and entering the foothills of the Ozarks. We drove around St. Louis, crossed the canal  which

got water traffic around these shallows in the Mississippi,

and exited the highway at O’Fallon.  We came here to have an air hitch put on our house in Wentzville.  We intended to stay at an rv park in O’Fallon but were informed that it was full.  Plan B was to stay at the Elk’s Club, but they had only 20 amp electric and no other hookups.  RV Parky revealed The Sunrise RV Park outside Moscow Mills, just north of Wentzville.  Instead of backtracking to the highway, the gps took us 17 miles along the back roads.  The drive was very scenic with lots of curves and hills that would have been much more fun on the bike. 

The rv park is built on the side of a hill.    The whole park is rather unkempt and rundown.  The park has two buildings.  One is a residence with office.

The other houses the laundry and activity center.

The laundry was fairly clean with 4w/5d and only 1.25—cheap!  There was no place to fold clothes unless you went around the corner to

the activity center.  The pool table was in bad shape.  The ceiling is falling in.

These booths seemed out of place here.

All along the back wall were these wonderful carvings.

All of the roads were in bad shape.

Most of the people have been here a while, (note the freezer and the steps) but there were a few spaces for travelers.

The sites are nice, though:  long, wide, fairly level concrete with concrete patios, 50 amp full hookups and only $20 per night!

The views were excellent—fields and woods on three sides, and nice houses across the street,

and a picturesque little fishing pond.

Now that we have some interesting roads, we plan to do a little riding tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Parting Shots

One last day in the Land O’ Lincoln.  This afternoon we taught brother Ed how to play Golf with Skipbo cards, then drove down the street to visit his daughter Michelle and her husband Pete, their daughters Kaylee and Kenzie,

their Corgi Hadley.

After a “tailgate” supper of brats and dogs, potato salad and brocolli salad, we had a serious game of Chickenfoot dominos.

The family settled in for the Bears/Packers game, (Pete is a Cheesehead) so we collected our hugs and kisses and flew the Eagle home.

  The weather has turned chilly, leaves are falling, the fields are being harvested, and Michelle served us cider and donuts for dessert.  Time for these thin-skinned old people to head south for the winter.

Moving day tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Lounging Around

Kamp Komfort RV Park & Campground  sits in a triangle of land bordered by I74 (running behind the office) on the south side and N600E. Rd. on the east side.  The campground has 50 and 30 amp full hookup sites, with some tenting areas.

Coming down the drive you face the office.

To the right is the play area, with 50amp sites beyond.

To the left is the swimming pool and 30 amp sites.

Across from the office is this nice covered picnic area.

All of the sites are pretty long, fairly level, and gravel, with grassy areas between, each with a fire ring and a picnic table.  Many are shady, some are open.

For exercise today we did our personal exercises then took a walk.  When we got to brother Ed’s house we helped him load this analog tv onto our truck for a trip to the electronic recycling place.

That was enough exercise for the day, we decided. (Let me add here that these two guys are old:  Duane is 70 and Ed is 77!)  After lunch Duane took a nap while Ed and I worked a particularly tricky Sudoku.  When Duane woke up we played a game of Mexican Train before supper.

Once again Ed proved himself a very good cook.  After we stuffed face we chatted for a while before time for us to head home.

One more day with the family.

Louise and Duane

Alpha And Omega

Today (Tuesday) we reached the end of our Ohio tour by exiting that state, driving across Indiana and arriving in Carlock, Illinois, just north of Bloomington/Normal.  We are here to visit my oldest sibling, Ed.  (I am the youngest.)  After we got set up at Kamp Komfort RV Park, we rode the bike to Ed’s house for a nice long chat.  He made supper for us including sweet corn and tomatoes fresh from his garden.  I’m really going to miss those!

We will be here until Friday, when we end our midwest visit and head south to start our winter stay somewhere.

More fun with Ed tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Contrasts

Not too long ago when we visited here at the Darke County Fairgrounds, the place was full of things to do and people to see.  When we moved from the bustle of the Miami County fairgrounds yesterday to the empty grounds here the difference was striking, made more so because these grounds are twice as big as Miami County’s.

The Coliseum empty of the hundreds of vendors who call this home at fair time.

Busy squirrels and dead leaves are a reminder that it’s time to head south.

Three campers shared the quiet campground.

We aren’t here to listen to the quiet.  We are here for one last visit with friends Gene and Barbara.  As an added bonus, several other old friends/Delphi plumbers/ Euchre card players were available for one last dinner together.

After stuffing face we found a better arrangement for yakking.

(After I put this pic here I noticed I Didn’t get one of the girls in the picture.  Sorry, Dottie!)

Today we shared fresh corn on the cob and tomatoes from Gene’s garden for dinner, and a few games of cards.

This time we had to say “see you down the road” since we are leaving Ohio tomorrow. 

We spent 10 weeks in Ohio collecting a lot of hugs and quiet a few kisses from a boatload of family members and old friends.  This will have to last us until we come back to Ohio again or until we happen upon each other in our travels.

Tomorrow, another state, another time zone.

Louise and Duane

Amazing!

Blacksmith = artsmith

Hands and anvil combine blacksmithing and carving.

The little figures inside are gremlins.

This is the inside workings of a large lock.

The lilies can be moved when there is a fire.

Tribute to a long time SOFA member who died this summer.

Steve, another long-time blacksmith/black powder camp friend with his whimsical reading lamp.

Yes, this dragon is breathing real fire!

Next, moving day.

Louise and Duane