Crystal Lake, IA  Headwaters of the Iowa River
Home of the largest Bullhead (I think that is what it says)

Here is the Quilted Forest home of the Pieced Tree Quilt Patterns.  I went back in this morning to show them the top I pieced last night using their pattern and materials.  I got to meet the lady that does the patterns.  Of course, I had to come out of there with a couple more patterns and some material to go along with it,  I also got to see her show how to do the ten minute table runner.  Now the written words will make more sense. 

Jerry and I ate breakfast at Sally's.  Home cooked meals.  Good place.  She even had Tupperware for sale and I found ice cube trays with lids.  Good for camping. 

Jerry went to the golf course and played nine holes while I was doing the Quilted Forest and drove around to see if we had missed anything in town on our earlier drives.  I found the A & W where we ended up eating lunch.  Taste just like A & W at Lida's on Lucas Street.

After lunch Jerry went back to the camper and I went back to the Country Needle,  I returned the books her husband had given us and petted Maxine a kitty and picked up material for a new baby due in January.  I might have enough time to get the quilt done by then. 

Then on the way home I went by Crystal Lake after another quilts store in Britt was not open.  So the fish picture was from there.  Another sign said the lake was the headwaters of the Iowa River.  Then back into Forest City.

So we are hoping for service to at least start tomorrow.  We'll see.  I have more than enough to keep me busy while they are working.  I have several hand sewing projects that I need to work on.

Storms are moving through the area but apparently we are on the south edge of it and that is probably a good thing.
If it gets bad we'll pull the slide in and drop the coach off the levelers and see where we can go if we need to.  Many places that would be good.

The propellers on these wind turbines are longer than a semi-trailer.  I got to drive very close to these.  They were just a few feet into the cornfield when I took this this afternoon.

10:30 p.m.  this top is finished.  Still have to square it up as the process doesn't square it up as you add the rows.  Actually this is one where I like the real thing much better than the picture.  :)

Jerry started the day before 7 headed for the service center and waited in line to put our name in for the service on the coach.  He was back at the camper by about 8:30.  He was to go back about 11:40 to check to see when we might get in.  At 11:40 we went over and found out we are to check in with them at 9:10 on Tuesday morning to see how far away our next check- n time might be.  There are three others ahead of us that had 8 o'clock check back times for Tuesday. 

We went on the factory tour this morning from 9-11.  It was interesting.  The under roof facilities are huge.  We found out they form the plastic parts right here and keep the molds for older years in case they need to make one (holding tanks, showers, etc.).  The cabinets are all made here and it was cool to see them hanging in the factory on the way to the different lines that were producing several models of motor homes.  We saw the plant receiving some of the Mercedes frames/motors while we were on the tour.  We saw a roof being brought down to be placed on a class A.  We saw how the sides and roof are put together and rolled to make sure they "stick".  We also spent some time watching flooring going into a class C.  They say on average it takes 1 1/2 days for a unit to go through the production line. 

Jerry stayed at the coach and I went to town, oh about five blocks away. :)  I went to the Quilted Forest here in Forest City, IA.  The shop is the home of Pieced Tree Patterns, the little laminated quilt pattern cards that sell for about 3.50 rather than the other much higher more detailed designs. ( I had bought a pattern in Lethbridge, CA thinking I was getting something Canadian.....and then saw it was from Forest City, where Winnebago is).  Today I found a couple patterns, a little bit of material, and looked at a whole lot of very nice samples that were everywhere in the shop.  The picture above is my top based on Jelly Jive.  It should be 50 X 60 when I get it finished.  I will square it up and quilt it when I get home  I don't have the large cutting board that will make squaring it up much easier and also more likely to simulate square rather than wavy edges.    I had some of the fabric with me but much of it I bought here today.

Anyway, I came back to the coach and Jerry said it was still too hot for him to go golfing.  So I read a little and then I pulled out the last quilt square pattern that I got in our first stop in MO.  I cut out the pieces and tried to sew them together but found I had cut 2 of 4 pieces in reverse rather than right side.....so I cut that material up into 2 1/2 squares and picked up my bag from today and the rest is history.  So I started and finished this one in maybe six or seven hours.  I would have quit and finished it tomorrow but on the off chance they find a spot for us tomorrow I wanted to be able to put all the sewing stuff away early in the morning.

If they have the coach during the day tomorrow I am thinking about returning to Country Threads and sitting and petting the kitties,  I might do a little more looking at material while I am there too.  :)

I hope the weather is a little cooler tomorrow so Jerry can try out the course here.  The write-ups make it sound fairly good.

Anyway no real pictures today.  No cameras in the plant so I had put the camera away and forgot to get it out again,

Oh yes, Gene Brooks should be proud of me, I finally got the car washed.  You would find it hard to believe how bad it was.  It was so dusty it was hard to determine the color.  I wasn't looking for the car wash but it was on the block behind the quilt store!  So I had to stop as I went by.

Take care all. We are on hold here in Winnebago's Visitor Parking Lot in Forest City, IA.
Hope to see you later this week.

This is the applique block I worked on last night while I waited on Jerry to go to bed so I could work on the b-day present.   It is the last applique block I picked up on my first stop in Missouri.  It is a Bunny Hill free design and the store provided all the material.  I had the patterns at home but had not gotten enthused and started on them.  At least now I have one of 12 done.  I will find a good use for this one.  I am not likely to do the other 11 patterns....but then again you just never know.

Here is our parking spot for the night.  The one to our right is a dealer model that is operated by a Winnebago employee or something like that.  He told Jerry we might not get in for service until Thursday. 

We attended the church service in the park at the old church building.  The campers seemed to be about the only attendees.  Keyboarder and paper songbooks.  Songs we had not sung for awhile and we sang all verses of the three songs. 

We hung around the campground and Jerry warmed up lunch while I was reading a book.  Stuart Woods, Fresh Disasters.  I finished it this afternoon after arriving at the Winnebago Visitor Center parking lot/camping spot.  We have electric and that is all.  I didn't think we would have that much.  No nearly as quiet as the last two nights.  They were the most quiet of our entire camping history I believe.  No road noise, no dogs, wind died down, no water sounds.  Just quiet.  Nice.

Today we drove about 20-30 miles, filled the camper up with gas before we pulled in here thinking we might need the generator since it was HOT!  It is starting to cool off some now that the sun is going down.  We talked to the neighbor on the other side of us he is stopping to get a water leak fixed and maybe an awning repaired over the slide.  They have a Discovery.  Nice looking.  They also have a cat...at I missed seeing it.  I am loosing it since it was outside and I missed it. 

We talked to Keith and Becky today.  Becky has dealt well with her birthday this week too.  Jerry has to listen to me for the next month as I tell him he is a decade older than me.  At least until October arrives. 

This morning early I put all the pictures from the trip on a card and placed it in a digital picture frame with a hand written card.  (You would think I could have come up with something better than notebook paper but it was all in an outside bay.)  Whene he finally went to bed I started on the project and then put the frame already running on top the computer on the dashboard so he would see it if he got up in the night.  Well he didn't see it until after he had breakfast this morning.  Anyway he liked it.

Good evening all!
May God Bless.

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There are several wind farms in the area of our campground at Crystal Lake, IA  Forest City also shows windmills on the horizon. 

Inside the campground is a Church building that will have non-denominational service in the morning.  We also found a Christian Church not too far from the campground back on Rt 18 we may go there.  But this is the first time we have found a church on the campgrounds. 
I found it interesting that we also have phone booths around the park.  Jerry said it was for campers to change into SuperMan Campers. 
Jerry took me to a quilt store today that was really unique.
  http://www.countrythreads.com
It was on a farm.  The shop was in a barn, a chicken coup, and another out building.  Complete with chickens, cats, dogs, geese, and I am pretty sure there were other animals but I got to pet the cats and dogs.  Loved it.  These ladies are quilt designers that we find in shops and on line it was a neat afternoon.  Jerry sat out and read under the trees while I shopped.  The owner's husband came along with bags of books and left three mysteries for me to read.  So it was a great afternoon.

I am looking forward to Forest City after the plant tour on Monday.  There is a shop there that I think is home to some more quilt designers that I have several of their patterns.  Also the shop is supposed to have bright fabrics so I am looking forward to that. 

Jerry has made supper so I bet run.

Happy Saturday night and have a Blessed Sunday.

This is what we saw most of the day.  We could see for miles and miles as the road went through field after field.  It started looking more like home the farther east that we came today.  Even went through one town that had a square that we drove though one side like Scottsburg's.  But the towns seemed to be much cleaner than home.  Maybe it is this high wind they have and the harsher winters.  Oh yes, we drove though Scotland, SD on one of our detours.   I had joked that we should go that way so we could say we went to Scotland.  Well, watch what you ask for! :)

Another view of last night's campsite.  Not that much green here tonight.  We will be in IA for a few days.  We will take the coach to the plant on Monday morning and see if we can get them to work on a couple things.  They said they will work us in and that may take a few days.  We'll be in their campground when they agree to work on the coach.  Jerry will be golfing somewhere here hopefully more than once and hopefully it will cool down some before he gets out on the course.   I saw at least one sign for a quilt shop as we drove along 18 somewhere in the last 50 or so miles.
We have been told by several people that we should stop at the Grotto, also about 50 or so miles from here.  http://www.westbendgrotto.com/
Don't know if I will make it or not but might if we are here long enough.  Maybe I can go there while Jerry is golfing one of these days.

This was the sunrise on the lake in Pickstown, SD where you saw the sunset last night.  This was pretty much our view from the bedroom window and the entry door.  Hated to leave.  Little white caps on the water, quiet.  But our spot was reserved for the weekend.  So off we went across 18, then the road was closed and they send us down to 46 which we stayed on until we reached I-29 then went pack north until we reached 18 again.  We drove through several areas that still showed signed of flooding in SE South Dakota.  Then except for another detour we stayed on 18 until GPS turned us south again to reach the campground.  We are next to Clear Lake State Park in Iowa.  Just about 20 miles or so from Forest City, IA where the motor home plant is and very close to Interstate 35 and not very far from the MN border.

There is a WIT (Winnebago Itasca Travels) group here.  They have  a large sign like Sunny Memories do.    There are little maple trees but not much real shade.  Sure glad the air conditioner works very well.  I don't think it will cool down enough to sleep with windows open tonight.

We had bumpy roads again today and wind that moved the coach left and right except for the few miles we traveled north or south.  Most of our 310 miles were in the easterly direction so we were bounced around all day.


Jerry says we are going for a walk to see if we can access the state park lake so I had better get moving or the sun will be down and I'll miss the walk.  We have a pork roast in the crock pot on the picnic table to have ready for the rest of the weekend.  We got here and Jerry fixed chicken in the skillet while I did baked potatoes and mixed veggies in the microwave.  With meals like this you will not find leaner, thinner Judds returning from this wonderful trip.


Night to all.  We are now in the Central Time Zone so the phones tell us.  Just an hour away from home time.  :)

August 26 pictures

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beginning of bad land.  sitting at a high priced gas stop.  good pic opportunity though.

August 26 Keystone, SD to the Badlands, to North Point Rec Area

Today has been interesting. 

We left Keystone this morning.  We picked up 16  just outside the campground and headed North or East or both.  We picked up 16B and followed that until we found 44.  44 on through the badlands.  It was HOT.  We had been spoiled by good weather while in the Mt. Rushmore area.  Ugh.  We passed up the cmapground that we thought we would spend a couple nights in just outside BadLands National Park and kept right on trucking through SD on 44.  We finally gave up on 44 and picked up US 18.  We passed a very interesting hog operation along the way (grassy knoll productions), we saw really interesting rock formations in the Bad Lands.  We saw bicyclists off to the side of the road just past a bison farm they seemed to be providing first aid of some sort to one of the four cyclists.  The two that were standing there did not flag us down so we kept on going.  I drove around a car that was wrecked into a guard rail somewhere along 44 but didn't stop as it was all closed up and several other people had just driven around it as well and we had just met the sheriff's vehicle on a mission a little before we came upon the wreck.  This road was rated as a truck road but after the BadLands we could have counted the number of vechicles we saw on our fingers and toes and that went on for miles and miles.   The winds today were a factor in the driving.  It was hitting us from the side for a good number of miles this afternoon.  I felt like one of those bobbing head animals fighting the wind. 

We stopped in Winner, SD for a late afternoon meal.  We have lost another hour along the way today.  We are now in Central Time Zone...according to Jerry and our phones.  44 didn't have any signs letting us know we had crossed that line.

18 was a nice road.  But finding this beautiful campground was an interesting trip.  Jerry had to get out and guide me in a U-turn after the road to campground we wanted to be in was on a closed road.  It only said "no thru traffic" not that the campground was not accessible.  Ugh.  Almost had to unhook but he could tell we would make it.  So off we went to the other campground that Streets and Trips tells us is a Corp. of Engineers...but it really isn't.  We are in a beautiful campground.  Much like corp camgrounds but not one of them.  We are on North Point Recreation Area backed into the lake.  The lake is Lake Francise Case/Missouri River. 

We filled up with water just across from our campsite at the drinking fountain.  Even had threaded pipe!   The camper across from the water fountain came over to ask what we dumping when he saw the fresh water start coming out the overflow. 

We ended up spending a night around their campfire discussing Mt. Rushmore and the ills and great things about our country and anything else that needed fixing.  A young fellow that was sleeping in the site next to us...not even a tent..stopped and chatted for awhile too.  He is headed for Chicago from Colorado. 

You'll see the beautiful sunset that happen just behind us.  What a nice end to a beautiful day of sunflowers, maybe saffron plants, straw and hay fields, corn, after we passed the rocks of the Bad Lands.

Aug 25 pictures....finally loaded after I posted the link,

Ah home again at Holy Smoke.  The neighbors told us that we really needed water filters to hook up to water  here because of the iron content, so we are dry camping with electric.  No problem Jerry had put enough on board at the last site to get us through.   God is again directing our paths.  And oh the glory we see each day that he has made!

One of the many in the herd that crossed in front of us.  You can see a small number of the herd in the background.

our first bison sighting.  this is the one that was out by himself and waited until we passed by then abled on out into the roadway and just keep walking along behind us.

and another tunnel.  All of these are one way of course.

view of the valley just past the needle tunnel

there is a tunnel though here somewhere.  People were rock climing along the side of this one.  and then on the other side were views of the valley

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7' 2" with a mean sounding whip in the middle of Keystone street.

first tunnel  actually big enough for the camper we hope, since this may be the way we exit tomorrow.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BECKY, KEN, AND RON!

PS---JERRY'S BDAY IS ON THE 29TH.

GOOD MORNING ALL!
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

aug 25

Today Jerry washed the car and the camper before we left for our exploring trip.  I did a little more on the English paper piecing project I have been working on...black and white fabrics.

We headed off down the road and the first thing we ran into was a picture perfect tunnel just before entering the town of Keystone.

Then as we were reading the menu to determine our lunch spot, a giant of a man was wandering in the middle of the road trying to get us to visit a show that was about to begin.  He was 7' 2" tall.  Another tourist walking by us had just crossed the street in front of him and said he was looking about belly button height when he passed him.  He sure could crack the whip!

Then we walked through the touristy parts of town and then we were off exploring. 

The road took us right by Mt. Rushmore so we took more pictures in the daylight hours.  Next we found Rt 16 again and hung a left.  Shortly thereafter we hung another left onto SD87.  Beautiful rock formations and a tunnel.  This tunnel was not made for big rigs not even small rigs like ours.  However, we are in the HHR so all is good.  Then we get to a road that says "Needles Highway-Scenic Drive".  So off we go.  We stop at the gate to Custer State Park and leave a few dollars with them and get a pass good until the end of the month.   I guess that is okay.  Then we go down the road and those few dollars are more than worth it to see the sights and the tunnels (one we thought was nearly too tight for the little car and it's mirrors).  The vistas changed along the way from sheer rock, to long views across the Black Hills, and turns that were posted as 5 MPH - 10 MPH.  Wow, some of those roads didn't seem large enough to accommodate the motorcycles so we weren't sure how we were getting through it.  We stopped @ Mt Coolidge General Store and took a short shopping break....well potty break, I shopped, and Jerry sat out in a shady spot reading a book.  Then off again we went.  We came to a decision point in the road and Jerry took the Wildlife loop.  At this point we had seen nil for anything other than tourists and cars and motorcycles.  We were beginning to think we would find nothing on this loop and then we came upon the Pronghorns, then one bison bull walking along the road until we drove past and then he meandered over into the middle of the road and kept walking down the hill behind us.  Well okay we thought......then several more miles down the road we topped a knoll and there were a couple hundred buffalo!  They were on both sides of the roads.  Mommas and babies and big Daddy bulls!  Close enough to the window that I could have reached out and touched them.  Now that was close enough for me....but what about those motorcycle riders going through this same herd.  All was good, we shared the road....well they shared the road with us and on we went after several pictures were taken.

We ended up back on 16 retracing some of our steps from our arrival day but we did find the only grocery store we knew about in Hill City.  We stocked up.  The refrigerator was feeling quite neglected since it basically had a little bacon, salad, yogurt, and water in it. 

Back at the campsite before dark, put the purchases away and there is still room in the frig for more....Jerry fixed supper out on the picnic table.  The fellow next to us was also out cooking supper.  In our talks with him this evening we found out he was here being a ranger for the season at Mt. Rushmore.  A retired teacher, and tomorrow night he will give the presentation at the monument.

It is nearing midnight here and I am still up trying to finish the blog.  I have tried to insert pictures to no avail.  I will attempt again and if that doesn't work I'll add the link to the Wal-Mart site again.  Way more pictures than most of you will want to see but the slide show can move quickly.  :)


http://photos1.walmart.com/walmart/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3975524003/a=3778787_3778787/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walmart/

This was as we left WY.Black HillsCrazy HorseMt Rushmore.  From Mt. Rushmore's walk.

We Left Buffalo, WY this morning about 11 we arrived at the Holy Smoke Campground in Keystone, SD about 3:30 this afternoon.

We traveled on I-90 until we took US 16 and then 16A.  All roads were good and marked as okay for truck traffic.  We just had a few miles of 25 MPH turns and grades of six of more and no shoulders.  Jewell Cave Park.  Remember that if you ever travel here in a big rig. 

Somewhere just before the park motorcycles out joy riding waved us on by them.  We wondered what was up with that.....then we got into the narrow road.  Ha. They knew what they were doing.

We saw coal being mined in WY and oil wells in the fields.  Met trucks off to fight a fire or something big.  Lots of horses in huge fields, antelope grazing along side the road, BIG, BIG, Big ranches.

Seemed like we were seeing many miles of the road ahead of us.  I clocked one and we were at least six miles when we got to the top of the next "hill" that I think we were seeing six miles back.

Large vistas.  changing colors in the earth and rocks along the way.

We had more trouble with the step.  Somewhere along 16, before the park we looked out and saw the steps were extended.  Maybe they came out while we were going through some really nasty road construction but who knows.  We pulled off and just by opening and closing the door they retracted.  Yeah!  Problem solved.  Until we arrived at the campground.  Then out they went and that was that.  With the help of our new neighbors we now have steps that are working again.  Roger redid the electric wire connections that the repair man did in OR.  Now maybe it will stay connected. 

Tonight after warming up dinner and a little bit of relaxing we headed over to Mount Rushmore.  They had a great presentation.   Of course as you can see we took pictures of the president heads too.

Our campground is all pull-through and maybe only twelve sites.  At least we have some shade.  However, we needed sweatshirts at Mt. Rushmore to be comfortable.  Last night it was in the low 50's or high 40's.  Great sleeping weather.  Tonight is likely to be about the same here.

Keystone looks like it will be a good place to stroll through.  Fudge, taffy, ice cream.....etc. I hope we get to do some of that tomorrow.

The pictures above include the black hills here in SD and Crazy Horse another carving that is on the other side of the mountain.  That carving has a great story behind it too. 

Good night.  Take care.  Don't let the bedbugs bite.  

 

Aug 23 Yellowstone to Buffalo, WY

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cabin in West Yellowstone with figures on the roof

This is our evening stop in Buffalo, WY.

We left West Yellowstone, MT this morning and followed 191 North to I-90 and stayed on 90 until we arrived at Buffalo, WY. 
We did not take the route through Yellowstone Park after having driven it on Sunday.  We still ended up on some Park land but it was a state route.  More beautiful mountains and a river along the road for most of the morning. The Yellowstone River was with us much of the day.  We left the campground around 10:30 and arrived here about 6:30.  Jerry filled up the camper and the car at Billings, MT. 

We saw a helicopter taking water to a fire on the opposite side of the mountain we were traveling past.  Then saw some of the brave fire fighters along the road.  A little farther in the day we say the start of a fire as we drove along the road.  By the time we were just a few miles farther down the road the smoke from that fire was everywhere in the side mirrors.  It was in a farm field of what looked like straw or wheat.  (Sorry I am not a farmer). 

We saw what we think were antelope along the road this evening just before we reached the campground.  Jerry had seen fawns along the road earlier today.  I am very glad they were not on the road. 

If I get the pictures to load one is the campground where we are staying tonight.  The cabin with the figures on the roof was just outside the Grizzly RV Park that we left this morning.

We had gotten all set up and were cleaning the camper when two other campers pulled in beside us....they had left West Yellowstone this morning as well, however, they had driven through the park.  I asked Jerry if he checked their knuckles to see if they were still white. 

Anyway, about a 412 mile day.  Tomorrow going into Rapid City should be much shorter.  Hopefully we won't be doing so much up and down on small twisty roads.  This morning the first 90 miles were  beautiful but a little of a challenge.  Then I-90 was a challenge too with ruts that the car wanted to stay in  even when the wind was trying to move the coach!  Strong winds much of the day.  Beautiful country!  The cars and homes along the way looked like toys against the backdrop of the sky and the mountains and the fields that never seemed to stop. Rock formations, snow capped mountains, ranches, ....etc.

Thank you again for your prayers for safety.  We are having a great trip.

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old faithful ready to erupt.  This was our last stop for the day.  Thought I had taken a video of the full eruption but apparently I haven't figured that one out yet.  By then we were in our rain suits with the umbrella being used to keep the wind off us.  It had dropped to less than 60 degrees before the strong wind.  Nice thing to see though.  Rain suits, umbrella, and sandals.
We started out the day about 11:30 this morning from the campground and headed off to do a figure eight on the roads inside Yellowstone Park.  We finished about 8:30 back at the camper.   Old Faithful went off about 7:20 p.m.
Our first sighting of wildlife was the elk in the grassy field.  I got to shoot one as he decided to cross the creek to join the rest of the herd.  Wow!  The camera makes it look like I am very close...NOT.  I believe them when they say this is not the season to get close to them.
We then went from Madison to Norris on a road that is being widened, repaired, or something.  We had about a 15 minute wait before they let our side of traffic proceeded up the 6% grade and back down again.  From Norris we drove East for 12 miles and then at Canyon Village we turned North!  And OH MY!  The eco systems we drove through were amazing.  I believe the canyons we saw is what they call the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It was way down there.  We walked a little walk to the overlook and had great views....so long as you didn't think about hanging off the side of that canyon and all the rock that was so loose looking all around you. 
We felt like we were in a plane more than once looking down at the ground from the roads we were on.  Many of the roads turned so much you could see the road winding on down below you and you felt as if you could just drive off into space if you didn't make some of the turns.  Speed limits were no higher than 45 and many times @ 25.  And Jerry did a great job even with nervous me in the passenger seat.
We saw more elk grazing in the yard of the North entrance yards. 
We saw Geyser Basins all around with steam escaping and whitened rock around them. 
We saw the Bison here and there.  Some single and some in herds. 
We saw lots of trees! And did I saw we saw lots of trees?  :)
We had lunch at the general store on Yellowstone Lake.
The lake is 20 miles long and 14 miles wide.  Looks like an ocean view and the wind was giving it a light chop and little white caps as were drove through on the way to Old Faithful.
We crossed two Continental Divides Today.  We passed these two and another one yesterday on our way South to the Tetons.
We saw desert, marsh, canyons, lakes, sky and more sky!
WOW!  What a way to spend the day.
May God Bless All of You.  He is surely blessing us in allowing us to see His beauty in this land!