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.
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