Journal entries are just that – the digital copy of my hand-written entries in my journal. If you aren’t interested in the daily details of our adventure, feel free to skip on to the next “regular” post.
We all gather in the sitting room and chat over coffee. One by one we shower and pack up, preparing for our departures.
Finally, loaded up, we take a group photo and head on out. Pat and Hillary lead us over to the RV and then head back to the city for tomorrow’s work week. Jim and Norma help us move bags into the RV and watch us maneuver around to exit. We say our (tearful) goodbyes and head on out, following each other until reaching the main road where we turn opposite directions.
Ashley and I stop at Walmart for a grocery restocking and to find lunch. Nothing appeals so we head on down the road.
Our next destination is the Badlands in South Dakota so we soon find ourselves back in Iowa. This time we let the RV do the work as we traverse the state. Good thing, too, as the wind pushes against us. So glad that the RAGBRAI traveled from west to east as this headwind would have been exhausting!
We see a lot of motorcycles on the road and wonder about Sturgis. Oh no! It begins tomorrow. We had hoped that it was last week or during RAGBRAI. No such luck!
Ready for a bit of solitude, we debate where to wait out the bikers. A variety of options are available to us – and with the current heat we prefer those that offer electricity so we can use our air conditioning.
We don’t spot anything that sounds good for food so we finally settle for a McDonald’s. Neither of us remember the last time we ate at one. While inside we look at the maps. There is a Passport America campground on our way – we can spend the night there and further plan tomorrow. They also have a laundrymat so we can finish our laundry as well.
Pouring over the atlas as I drive, Ashley has come up with a splendid plan outline for the next few states. Parking in Montana and possibly picking up part-time jobs would allow us to motorcycle around and visit a number of National Parks before moving on further west.
Tight fit through construction
We arrive at R Campground in Charles City, Iowa and love it! We pay for two nights and settle in. Full hook-ups, wifi, a pond and the laundrymat is about 100′ away. Plus friendly neighbors! Bill chats with me for a bit – he and his wife are full-timers who winter about 50 miles west of Donna, TX, where Gmom and Gdad used to winter. He also gives some advice on setting up our awning to brace it against the wind. Now a breeze won’t have us rushing to stow it away. Different than how Gary showed us – I wonder if he knows.
There is a bicycle trail around/through the town – it runs right next to the park. We will head out to explore in the morning. We’ve been eager to ride for a few days now (basically the second day after RAGBRAI) and Ashley’s shin is feeling ok now. There is an art walk and a couple of coffee shops listed on the city map, as well.
Laundry is done (3 loads) and we are tired from the late nights over the weekend and the day’s journey. Movie watching and then bed time.