Views from the Big Country: Goodbyes and Hellos

Thursday, August 8.

The day has come that we leave Spirit Lake Nation. After lots of hugs and tears we said goodbye to Mike and Libby, and of course, the girls. Diana and Zoey will leave tomorrow morning. We have enjoyed our time here on the Reservation. A part of our hearts will always remain here. Mike and Libby and the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation will remain in our prayers...

As we were driving through the Reservation on our way towards Jamestown, we passed by the Sun Dance Grounds where a Sun Dance was in progress. It was so very cool to see the teepees and hear the drumming and singing...

there were many more teepees to the left of those in this picture...

Today is a beautiful day for traveling. We stopped in Jamestown for lunch and some groceries. We then continued to today's destination of Garfield, Minnesota.

Where we're staying. We stayed here once before five years ago on our way to Yellowstone via Spirit Lake...

A small lake on the grounds of the campground. I love the reflection of the trees in the water...

Some geese getting ready to go for a swim...

Friday, August 9.

Another beautiful day for traveling. With the exception of my "oops" (I directed Ron to travel the southern route, rather than the northern route around Minneapolis. At least we drove past the exit to the Mall of America!!!) we had an uneventful trip to Oakdale/Tomah Wisconsin. Uneventful is always the best kind!!!

We're staying at the Oakdale KOA

We've also stayed here twice before five years ago. Both times on the way to and from Yellowstone. We were here for four days on our return from Yellowstone. We'd broken a leaf spring on our fifth wheel and stayed here while waiting for the part to come in.

We really enjoy this area and this KOA is a beautiful campground. We will be here until Monday.

While here, we visited Mill Bluff State Park. It's about four miles from the KOA. Mill Bluff is a small state park, with camping (water and electric only), some hiking trails, a nice beach, and of course, the bluffs.

some of the bluffs...

pretty wildflowers...

Black-eyed Susans are among my favorites...

I do believe it will be an early Autumn. This walnut tree is already beginning to change colors, and it's only August 9th!!

A visit to this area is not complete until you visit the Humbird Cheese Shop. It's one of our favorite cheese shops. Of course we purchased some cheese, summer sausage and crackers!!!

I caught Ron off-guard. He really did want to go into the shop!!!

Monday, August 12

Heavy fog this morning. We packed up and headed towards Chicago. The fog cleared, but it remained overcast. Drive was going well, so we decided to continue on past our original destination (which was just west of Chicago) to Michigan City, Indiana - just east of Gary, Indiana. This will make tomorrow's drive much shorter. Getting around Chicago was a breeze, much easier than Minneapolis!! We're staying at the Michigan City Campground (interestingly enough, we're still on central time).

It's rather spendy, a beautiful setting with lots that are very close together. Given a choice, I don't think we'd stay here again. Tomorrow we'll arrive at Haas Lake in New Hudson, Michigan.

We'd just finished setting up tonight and the rains came. And rain it did!! A nice, steady rain. The trees and the flowers are loving it!! It didn't last long, though. Just long enough to drive up the humidity.

Tuesday, August 13

Short day today. Only 214 miles. Which was nice, because we did lose an hour because of the time zone change. Fairly easy drive today. I-94 is not one of my favorite freeways because there is always construction on this road. Today was no exception. However, we pretty much sailed through it.

We're staying at Haas Lake in New Hudson which is where we always stay when in this part of Michigan. We're in town for a very short visit ~ long enough to see my dad and to have some minor repairs done on our rig.

This is a nice park with lots of man-made lakes. Lots are fairly large. Most of the spots in here are "seasonal", but well-kept.

Coop's happy to be here. Lots of walks in his very near future!!

View out our back window...

One of the many apple trees in the park...

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Ron made some minor repairs to our rig today. He replaced and added more cable to the brake line which broke when we backed into our spot yesterday afternoon. He also replaced the motor in our fan in the bedroom. And he replaced the sewer hose connection. A busy morning to be sure. So glad he's able to make the repairs. We have a 10:00 appointment at Camping World tomorrow to have our fantastic fan repaired. Ron has tried to repair it, but no luck.

Look who we ran into today...Gary and Nancy and their grandson Caden!!

We had visitors today...

Relaxing after a busy day...

Cooper, too

The calendar says "summer", but the cool evening temps are saying "autumn"...

This locust tree is beginning to change colors...

as is this sugar maple...

Thursday, August 15

We took our rig into Camping World in Belleville this morning. We needed to have the fantastic fan repaired as well as the valve on the black tank. We were very pleasantly surprised to learn that there was no charge!!! We had had both of these same issues last October. We'd taken our rig to the Camping World in Tampa, Florida to be repaired. Because both repairs failed within a year, the repairs were made at no cost.

We returned to Haas Lake, backed our rig into our lot and discovered that a chuck of the rubber from our rear tire was blown out. Sooo, we'll be purchasing four new tires prior to leaving for Ohio.

Friday, August 16

A beautiful morning to sit at the lake and knit while waiting for roadside assistance to arrive...

Help arrived very quickly. He had the tire changed in no time flat!!

A tire shopping we went. Tires are on order at Discount Tire. We'll have them put on Tuesday morning on our way to Findlay...

After all the work of lunch and tire shopping, we needed to pick up a few groceries...we stumbled across this while at Walmart...Brad Keslowski's car. Brad is from Rochester, Michigan.

We haven't a clue as to why it was there...

Time for an afternoon swim...

Saturday, August 17

We're able to spend a lot of time with my dad this weekend. We're grateful to have this time to spend together...We decide to go to Lipuma's for lunch today in Rochester. It's a great coney place. They have been in the same location for 44 years. Fun and good food...

Along the river walk on our way to Lipuma's...