Category: Uncategorized

Missouri to Utah via Wyoming 5/20-5/22

Who knew you’d need snow chains in May?? After seeing part of the St. Charles 200 year celebration parade and learning how NOT to park our camper, we took off and changed plans mid-route to avoid some serious snow on the I-70 mountain route and ended up sleeping at a rest stop in Nebraska and camping in Rawlins, Wy. In Rawlins we saw some colorful homes, a cool church, and an 1800’s state penitentiary. We got to drive through rain, hail and snow, but got to our campsite in Utah without too much of a problem. We’ve been here for two days and it has continued to rain and hail 🙂

  • Hmmmm

Important Sign and Horse Racing 5/11-5/12

This weekend, Jim convinced Nickel to eat her food by pretending to eat it himself, I learned what the flusher handle on the potty is for, we went to horse races at the lovely Prairie Meadows (a gorgeous race track and casino), Jim put the kayak racks on the truck and saw the Avengers End Game. We bought 4D tickets, but only Britt got to try it out because the seats were very straight and uncomfortable on Jim’s back. Britt LOVED the 4D (seats move and tilt, you feel wind gusts, mists of water, and smells), except for the extreme laser/strobe lighting. During the fight scenes it was just too much and she ended up watching it with us in the heated loungers – it was quite a hardship.

Farmer’s Market/ Saylorville Lake 5/4-5/5

Saturday May 4th – Started with the “best voted” donuts in the state, Ambrosia Donuts in Ankeney. Then on to opening Day at the Des Moines Farmer’s Market was amazing. It was more like a festival, with a huge part of downtown being blocked off to cars. The place was packed with a lot of friendly people and dogs. Tons of vendors with everything you can imagine – it was quite an experience. The train runs through the center of the city, we watched a train go by right in front of us, then walked down the tracks to where we parked. Then off to Saylorville Lake for some hiking… another beautiful lake with a great trail. Sunday 5/5 – ~14 mile bike ride on another amazing trail, that hooks to the trail behind Griff’s RV park – followed by some Corn hole throwing (with trash talking) and throwing the ball for Nickel.

  • Carmel bacon

Biggest Gnome In the World 5/3

That’s right. Our point for visiting Iowa (besides seeing the kid) was realized Friday, May 3rd, when we were able to see the largest cement gnome IN THE WORLD, who lives in the beautiful Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State campus in Ames, Ia. Due to our impeccable timing, their approximately 50k tulips also happened to be blooming. Luckily, it wasn’t far from where we are staying, as not everyone in my party shared my enthusiasm for seeing this amazing landmark.

OOPS

If you are ever in the greater Des Moines area and require a mobile RV Service, may I please submit Larry Youngsey for your consideration. Jim was installing a wifi extender on the roof and, while drilling a hole through the roof, ended up catching the thermostat controller wire, rendering our a/c and heater inert. Luckily, due to the ever-fluctuating temps in the mid-west, our beautiful 80 degree weather (that would have melted us inside the camper) had turned to storms and 40 degrees. We were able to keep things warm via electric heater means until Larry could ride in on his white steed. To be fair, Jim had come up with the solution, but needed someone taller than 5’1 to assist. Through teamwork, we were up and running in a day. AND we decided that must be long lost siblings…the guy misplaced (and found) several tools while he was here and left a blood trail after catching his finger on a nail.

Chichaqua Valley Trail

  • No Leash – THIS is the LIFE!
  • Jim and Nickel playing
  • Little dude crossing the trail
  • The Flat Tire – food and beverages along the trail
  • Bondurant – Rail station

Another awesome, paved, 26 mile path. This crosses right behind Griff’s RV park. Gorgeous scenery, this trail wanders across roads, through little towns and though it’s “well used”, we can often let Nickel off the leash due to noone being in sight.