Back Home in Jasper

Monday night finds us staying at Sherling Lake Campground in Greenville, AL, a halfway point at which we have camped before when going to visit my brother in South Mississippi.  Sherling Lake is connected with a county recreation project in this area and has nice, fairly level campsites.  It is more of a wooded campground and does have WIFI; therefore, I was able to send out my last blog from the RV.

For lunch today we stopped in a parking lot and ate sandwiches, which is always convenient in the camper.  Our last supper in the RV would be eaten tonight as we travel to our son's home tomorrow in Columbus, GA, to visit briefly with them.  Hence, Alvin grilled us some steaks, and I added some stewed squash, garden salad and buttered beer bread my brother had made for us.  All was good.

I had talked Alvin into making a slight detour to Columbus, GA, to see our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter before we headed home to Jasper.  As we traveled today, we came back into EST, whereas we had been on CST most of the time on this RV trip.  We were somewhat more familiar with this area although we had not been on this particular route before. 

We set up camp in Lake Pines Campground and RV Park, in Columbus in which we have stayed before when our granddaughter was born in 2009.  We reached our children's home a little later than I'd wanted at 5:15 p.m., but were able to visist with our granddaughter and her mother, Vickie, until our son, Joe, arrived.  We gave them some little gifts with a yellow plastic miner's hat for our granddaughter, Katie.  We then went out to dinner at Cheddar's, a nice restaurant at which we have eaten before.  Upon our return to the children's house, I watched Katie get her bath and go to bed.  We visited a little while longer then left at 8:30 p.m. with chocolate chip cookies, which Vickie had made.  Shortly after we reached the camper, visited with Griffin and Alvin walked him, we were ready for a good night's sleep.

On Wednesday morning after Joe had gone to work, Vickie came and brought Katie to the camper for breakfast and further visit with us.  Always it is good to see how Katie was growing and developing after two months of not seeing her.  Not many playthings for a one-year-old in our camper, but I was able to find some Nerf ping pong paddles and ball, and Katie seemed to like them.  She also got to pet Griffin, and both she and Griffin did well in their interaction with each other.  She seemed to like the camper.

Alas, we had to leave the campground about 10:30 a.m., but we surely had enjoyed our visit with Vickie and Katie.  Probably, we'll see them again late September for our grandson, Henry's birthday.  Travel today was over the interstate highways through Atlanta at midday with traffic not being too bad.  Upon our return, we began unloading the camper, going through mail and seeing our daughter, Leigh, and Henry.  Henry looks as though he has grown and is talking more with the English language rather than just baby talk. 

Our RV trip through about a dozen states with the main focus on Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and those others along the Mississippi River has been wonderful, but it is always good to get home.  Good to go and good to get back, especially to see family and friends.  Another trip may come up, but for right now Alvin and I are content to just enjoy our home and larger surroundings than in the RV.  Hope you have enjoyed reading about our 2011 summer ramblings for we really did have a good time.

Our Troupe Has Reached the Gulf of Mexico!

Lake Village, AR, is the location of our campsite on Monday.  As we left Memphis, Emily took us down the east side of the Mississippi River through the Delta of the State of Mississippi with cotton and corn fields all along the way.  Although we did not see the Mississippi as much as we would have liked, we knew the River was on our west side, especially with the many roads to the casinos, as these have to be located on water. 

As we approached our campground, we crossed over a long bridge over the River and flood plain.  Across from this particular campground is a large lake, Chicot, one of many along the Mississippi.  The campground, itself parallels the highway we were traveling being a very rectangular campground.  We have parked under one of many pecan trees in the area, and with this day not being on a weekend, not many people are here and the campsite is spacious. 

With the temperature turning hot as we travel farther south, I'm glad for the AC and water and shade.  Most of the nation is having unusual weather for this time of year with Texas seemingly suffering the most.  Hence, we are staying close to camper tonight with our making some telephone calls to family.

On Tuesday we camped in Vidalia, LA, at the River View RV Park & Resort, at which we stayed a couple years ago when we took a camping trip to one of our young friend's wedding in Texas.  It is really a nice campground with our windshield facing the mighty Mississippi and Natchez, MS, across the waterway. 

On this day we traveled through our eighth state of ten, Arkansas, along the Mississippi River.  Although the land is rich along this route, the towns did not strike me that way.  As it was very hot when we reached this spot in the afternoon, we hung around the camper until it became cooler then took a walk on the concrete walkway next to the River for a couple miles with Griffin.  We get to see tugboats pushing barges of cargo up and down the River at this spot.  Needless to say, they make better time going down than up. 

While the temperature was stifling today, we hung around the camper, and I went to the Clubhouse to use the WIFI as I could not get it at campsite.  For lunch today Alvin and I drove over the bridge to Natchez, MS, our ninth state along the Mississippi.  We ate at the Pig Out Inn, a barbecue joint, one might suspect and be right.  The barbecue was good, but did not compare favorably with the places in Jasper.  For more exercise later in the evening, we walked along the Mississippi on the River Walk.  Looked at some pictures in the Clubhouse and saw evidence of the flooding in late May.  Campground had to close down for six weeks because of all the water.

We are making better time coming south than when we drove north.  When Alvin turns the camper in the direction of home, we usually don't stop as much and pick up our pace.  We're still having a good time, though.  Thursday found us in New Orleans, LA, our last state on this waterway.  Jude Travel Park of New Orleans is a gated city campground with 46 sites but just half full.  Our camper is set up next to the pool, hot tub, and gazebo and backed up to a fence by a building that provides good shade in the late afternoon. 

The travel today went behind levees on the River, then on top, over bridges, locks, and spillways or flood gates.  Lots of traffic in New Orleans and seemingly a lot of new buildings.  The Superdome looks good but different than when we were here 27 years ago. 

On Friday we continued our stay in New Orleans by actually driving south to the town of Venice, LA, at which one of the three to five channels of the Mississippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico.  Again with the levees we only caught glimpses of the River, but did make it to what looks like a fishing camp down at the end point.  This point had a huge marina with many boats and many trailers or modular homes on stilts.  I believe the residents stay in these for a short while either to fish for sport or to have a leave from working with the oil rigs or the support group for the rigs.  Many oil refineries were in the area along the way down. 

As I said the three or five channels of the River empty into the Gulf, and I think the one at Venice might be the main channel as it is the one on the River Road map.  However, another one can be seen at Grand Isle, LA, but we did not have time to go to this one.  Upon our way home we stopped at historic Fort Jackson and looked around for a short while.  The fort did provide us with a good view of the River, which the fort was set up to protect.  The fort was begun in 1822; other fortifications at this site were as early as 1792,  Gen. Andrew Jackson suggested this fort be built to the Secretary of War J. C. Calhoun, noting the need for stronger fortifications to ward off additional attacks from the Spanish. 

Along the way back to New Orleans, we stopped at a bar/grill and had a delicious shrimp meal;  Alvin, fried shrimp platter and me, a really loaded baked potato with shrimp, crab meat, butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese sauces and cheddar cheese toppings.

On Saturday we left New Orleans and drove to the Davis Bayou Campground in Ocean Springs, MS, and right behind my brother and sister-in-law's house, which is quite convenient.  Traveling US Highway 90 East, Alvin and I were able to view the beautiful scene of the Gulf of Mexico and seashore for several miles. Heavy rain fell in New Orleans as we were breaking camp and leaving.  As I walked Griffin to get rid of our trash and for him to take care of business, he and I got soaked, so much so that I had to redress and Griffin had to have a good rubdown with a towel.

After a period of rest for Alvin and me, we drove over to my brother's house as we were not sure how dark it would be when we returned.  Upon arrival we saw our oldest nephew cutting their grass and were happy to get to visit with him and eat a steak supper with him and his parents. 

When Sunday arrived we leisurely ate breakfast and took care of camping activity.  We spent the day with my brother, his wife, and two other sons and families and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  My two nephews grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and with the trimmings one would know we had a good meal.  Do not get to see my brother often and with some health issues with which he and his wife are dealing, they cannot get up to Jasper to see us anymore so it's always good to visit.

As I said the National Park Campground is just behind my brother's neighborhood.  A closed roadway in their neighborhood is the way we used to come into the campground, but now we have to drive about 5 miles around to enter.  We could have walked to their house, but our excuse today was the hot weather.  We had to leave around 6 and get back to Griffin, who always guards our motorhome by sleeping and climbing up on the dashboard to watch what goes on outside.

Back in the South

I want to share some pictures that would not go through on last blog.  These are images from The House on the Rock.  The first image is one of the many metal urns made in the shape of a sugar bowl that dot the grounds.  The second image is me standing in the Infinity Room that juts out from the House over the landscape many feet below.

We used the GPS to guide us in our travels Wednesday.  Alvin has given the voice of the GPS the name Emily.   By looking at the maps the River Road had good roads on both the Iowa, Missouri and Illinois boundaries, but when Emily took us over the Mississippi River, I felt we might be going astray.  Emily chose the faster four-lane route to the roads I would have picked.

The many cornfields that we saw along the way were large interrupted occasionally by farmsteads with big silos.  However, I preferred the River Road so Alvin said I could navigate tomorrow.  Two days we have traveled, and we'll travel again tomorrow with one-night stopovers in the campground.  I do not like traveling every day this much because I get stiff from the riding.  Alvin, on the otherhand, is ready to return to Jasper.

Tonight we have stopped at a Injun Joe's Campground in Hannibal, MO, and at the roadway entrance  leading to the campground is a statue of Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain over 30 feet high.  Of course, one can see the nod to this author and his books, Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Life on the Mississippi. 

Fortunately, we have WIFI at this campground, which is really laid back in its upkeep.  With the WIFI connection, we were able to view our 22-month-old grandson playing in a wading pool and having a lot of fun.  We look forward to getting back and seeing family and friends. 

For Thursday we managed to make it to Hinton RV Park in Sikeston, MO, in southern Missouri.  We arrived at 4:30 p.m.  This campground is just off I-55, which we took out of St. Louis.  The campsites are close, but during the week not as many campers are around as on the weekends so we are not crowded.  Alvin had to drive through a couple hours of rain showers this afternoon, and he did quite well. 

On this day had my mother lived, she would have been 101.  Now, she would have enjoyed our camping trip, especially the part around the Mississippi River.  She did not travel as much as us in vehicles, but she traveled all over the world in her reading; she was a voracious reader.  My sister takes after her in this trait although I do enjoy reading and have read two books while traveling:  Travels with Charlie by Steinbeck and The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by Taraborelli, given to me by my son, his wife and daughter for a requested Christmas present.  I liked both books.

Friday found us at Graceland RV Park and Campground in Memphis, TN.  As one might suspect, the campground and the adjacent Heartbreak Hotel are right across from Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, which he bought for his mama.  On one of our previous trips traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail, we stopped and camped here and enjoyed the campground and took in all the Presley sites.  Hence, we are not planning to tour these again, but rather look at other places in Memphis.

Getting here we rode down the West River Road into Arkansas and crossed a bridge into Memphis, which is right on the waterway.  During the drive we saw some of the Mississippi, but mostly riverside cities, instead.  The River has such a large flood plain that several cities are set in a good bit from the route of the River. 

In Missouri we wondered how the city New Madrid got its name. We speculated and always our trip provides us with answers to these history and geography questions.  New Madrid was held by the Spanish before the USA acquired it; and hence, its name of Spanish origin. 

The main Memphis site we have seen is Mudd Island.  Our son visited here when he came to the National 4-H Congress while in high school and had enjoyed the outing to Mudd Island.  We spent the day on this island traveling there by monorail, rather than going by boat or walkway bridge.  Within the River Park is a five-block model of the Lower Mississippi River beginning with the confluence of the Ohio River and ending with the Gulf of Mexico pool with pedal boats.  However, really too hot to pedal today.  Water possibly would have been cool.  For the Upper Mississippi River the park had stone walls showing the confluence of the different rivers that flow into the MR.

Upon entering we took a walk with a lady tour guide, who told us facts and stories about the River as we walked.  Two other couples were with us, and we all made it to the end even in the terrific heat.  After we checked out more of the Gulf section, we returned to the middle of the park for a lunch and cool break at a deli that served only hotdogs and pizza and refreshing water. 

After lunch we toured the River Museum with 18 galleries and quite a bit of information about how the River affected the history, music and culture along the River.  After the museum visit I wanted to return to the stone waterfalls that showed the different rivers joining the Mississippi.  When I had accomplished that, I had to tell Alvin to go the rest alone while I sat close to the deli in a breezy tunnel as my ankle joints could not take more walking to see and read about the different aspects of the River.  Alvin took about an hour and a half then we caught the monorail at 5 p.m. back to our vehicle. 

Upon our return to the camper to check on Griffin and take a short rest, we then rode a short distance to Picadilly's Restaurant and ate some supper--meat and vegetables.

Today we could not locate a church that we could match our schedules to theirs; therefore, Alvin and I read and studied our Bible lessons together in the camper.  With our discussion with one another, we enjoy our study this way.  Afterwards, it was time for me to do our weekly laundry, which usually takes a couple of hours.  While I do laundry, Alvin helps with the cleaning and scrubbing of the camper.  This week in the laundry I met a couple from Upstate New York around the Lake Champlain area.  They had been camping a month and been to Portland, OR, down the California coast and traveled to Memphis.  They would be leaving Monday as we, headed back home after they reached Virginia to turn north.  We could never handle a trip such as that, that fast.  These people drive 8-10 hours a day most days.  I guess they are seeing the countryside, but I'm not sure they're absorbing it. 

For lunch today Alvin grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.  Not really sure how he stood the heat and humidity outside.  Tonight we ate at Picadilly's again with their good vegetables, service and price.  Before our dinner we rode to the river side of Memphis to the Lorraine Motel, at which Martin Luther King was assassinated.  A big white wreath hangs on the railing at which he was shot.  It was a quiet, peaceful place today with signs stating renovations going on.  The Civil Rights Museum is attached to the Motel, but we did not go in as it was closed at the time we were there.

Before I close this blog, I would like to tell you about Griffin and his camping.  Each day when we get ready to travel, Griffin and I take the garbage out and he does his business.  He is a good camper, riding between us on top of his travel taxi that is covered with a blanket when he travels.  Griffin sleeps while the vehicle is moving, but quickly becomes alert when the RV slowly stops.  If we get gas or eat along the way, Griffin gets to get outside to walk and do whatever he wishes while leashed.  He enjoys the breaks.  Now, when we get to a campground and stop, he goes wild until he can get out after I've pulled up the step floor guard and placed his leash on his collar.  While Alvin pays for our stay and gets the campground information, Griffin and I explore the entrance to the campground.  Then it's back into the camper and the short drive to set up.

Griffin tolerates me for his bidding, but he really is close to Alvin.  While in the camper, Griffin can always be found right where Alvin is.  Right now he is sitting on the leather couch next to Alvin, who is reading.  Griffin's food and water are kept in the bathroom and when we return from an outing that is the first place he heads.  While Alvin and I are out siteseeing, Griffin guards the camper by sitting or resting on the dashboard.  Camper neighbors says he doesn't bark but just sits and observes.  At night he sleeps on the floor by Alvin and doesn't get up until Alvin is up and calls for him while I continue to sleep or rest a little longer. Griffin is truly a good camper.

Traveling the River Road South with a Slight Detour

The Minneapolis area provided us with a KOA campground in Maple Grove, MN.  Getting here was a short trip down the road.  Now, Alvin is not fond of cities but the Mississippi River runs through the big city so we are planning at least to skirt the city.  Alvin found a Cabela's in the area (or maybe he knew it was here), and we spent a few hours in the store this afternoon after lunch in Maple Grove.  Alvin was successful in finding a good deal on some short-sleeve, two-pocket, buttoned shirts.

From this campground, we drove into Bloomington, a suburb of Minneapolis, for me to shop several hours at the Mall of America, supposedly one of, if not the biggest enclosed mall in America. Mostly, I window-shopped, but did purchase two pair of shoes.  While I shopped Alvin mostly read.  Because I could not shop more than 4 or 5 hours, I certainly did not see the whole mall.  Chose not to see the 1.2 million gallon aquarium with 5,000 sea creatures, nor the movie theatres and more.  However, I did see Bloomingdales and: the Lego store with the big sculptures: a large Chinese dragon, a mega Transformer, huge Bengal tiger and many lego characters in different vignettes; such as, explorers, made from legos.  Hard to believe they can get the sculptures to look so smooth with those rectangular blocks.  We walked through at separate times the Nickelodeon Universe Amusement Park with two roller coasters as part of the attractions. 

On Thursday we set up camp in Petttibone Resort in LaCrosse, MN.  Had eaten sandwich lunch on the Mississippi River at a picnic area.  Lots of Canadian geese and seagulls in area.  Pettibone campground has 623 campsites, the biggest campground we have encountered.  Our campsite is right on the River, grassy with cottonwood trees and a place to set up our chairs.  House boats just up from our site are tethered to slips on the river.  We're on the West Channel of the River and a slough is on the other side of campground.  We have to be conservative with our water usage here because of RV's storage capacity and the fact no sewage is provided this close to the River.

Up here so close to the start of the Mississippi River, we find the flow smooth and the appearance, clear on the River.  Our second day here Alvin went into town to get a haircut, but he did not.  I stayed at camper and took Griffin for a walk on our side of the campground.  Water is standing at the Rustic Beach with the dozen campsites unusable.  This is the first evidence we have seen of the flooding that some people had to contend with when the River flooded a while back. 

When Alvin returned we went into town and ate at a Perkins Restaurant, which is a chain up here with good food except for green beans), prices and service.  After we returned from lunch Alvin rested, and I walked to the campground store to use WIFI at a pub table by the pool table.  The past two campgrounds have also had within their stores a bar.  Also, with this store, a banquet hall is connected.  I nearly crashed a wedding trying to pick up WIFI, but luckily I didn't crash it.   Able to read emails and some FB, but couldn't work on Blog because of computer battery drainage.

On Saturday we traveled a slight detour from the River Road east to the Wisconsin River.  The Wisconsin Riverside Resort is located on the Wisconsin, but our campground is not.  Today the campground is large with many tents set up as well as camping rigs.  As it is the weekend we believe many Wisconsin families are here with their children.  This particular campground also provides tubing and canoeing. 

With the temperature rising, we could use both our ACs but one has gone out.  When we leave this campground we'll try to have it repaired.  I believe we will need the extra capacity of cooling.  We have looked for a church to attend tomorrow, but the only one we found was a Lutheran one that begins at 9 a.m. and with our camping schedule, I don't believe we can make it.

Early Sunday morning while Alvin was cooking breakfast, I decided to wash clothes, towels, etc. while the temperature was cooler.cFor such a large campground there are only two washers and two dryers.  I have three loads because of different ways the loads need to be washed.  I set two loads washing and headed back to camper to eat pancake breakfast Alvin prepared.  Then I went back to laundry room to complete washing and also to use WIFI, but could not get connected.  Therefore I watched the swimmers in the nearby swimming pool.  Too many people in the pool. 

Upon completion of laundry Alvin and I went into town to get lunch at Shed's Restaurant.  My fettuccine was delicious with salad and a cup of bean soup.  When we returned to the RV, we realized that our one AC was keeping the camper cooler than outside temperatures.  However, later in the early evening I went swimming in the pool, much less crowded and my first time swimming this summer.  It's hard to have time to swim when we are traveling from campground to campground and touring.

On Monday we got up and left for the attraction, The House on the Rock, which two or three people from Jasper had indicated we should see.  This place is a marvel, and we stayed five hours including our lunch on location.  An artist from Wisconsin, Alex Jordan, Jr., had dreamed of building a house on this pinnacle since his childhood when he was 5.  He wanted to make the house natural to the area by building around trees and creating waterfalls.  Instead of actually living at the house, he used it as a retreat.

Initially, he carried his building materials of wood and rocks the height up to the top and constructed his ideas into reality.  He never stopped building his whole life as he continued to expand the retreat for his many collections of carousels, dolls, guns, Asian art, antiques, toys, nautical memorabilia and miniature circuses.  Also, he became fascinated with Tiffany lamps and placed them in the retreat lighted when seven years after he began he acquired electricity.  In his bathrooms he used different themes and is said to have started the themed bathrooms of today.  When we returned to the camper and Griffin, we were tired and our feet hurt, but the House on the Rock was entertaining with its many collections, metal sculptures lining the driveway and walkways and the different rooms he built; such as, the Infinity Room that spans many feet over the lower countryside that inside looks as if it could go on forever.

 Today we have driven approximately 135 miles to reach Davenport, IA, back on the Mississippi and one of four cities people here call Quad Cities.  In the beginning of this day trip, we stopped at an RV repair business and fortunately they found our trouble with our AC and were able to get us on the road quickly.  Beautiful farm land is in this area.  I did not see many cows as I thought I might in Wisconsin, but maybe it was too hot for them, too.  We have driven into the Hot Zone of the nation, now.  Tonight is just a stopover, and we decided to just enjoy the AC and rest this afternoon, for tomorrow is another travel day to Hannibal, MO.

Sorry that I could not enter pictures, but the blog site or provider service is not allowing this activity at this time.