Heading Out

Our summer trip this year is to Pennsylvania where we will see the tourista sites and do family history research.  Both Russ’ mom and my mom had ancestors who settled in Pennsylvania from pre-Revolutionary times through around the 1840s. I don’t have lots of info about most of the ancestors and I am hopeful that I can fill a lot of the holes that I have.

We delayed our scheduled start by two days because frankly, I got way behind on what needed to be done. We left one day before the beginning of a heat wave in Southern California, but it was plenty hot enough anyway.  The first night in Las Vegas was 106 degrees, the second night in Cedar City was 110 degrees and even when we went up into the mountains east of Salt Lake City and spent two nights in Heber City, it was 95 degrees at 5,000 feet elevation!  All the way through Montana and western Nebraska, we experienced 95+ degree days.  Finally, as we approached Omaha, it started to cool down into the 80s.

Since we have been this way several times, we didn’t do any sightseeing – just dead headed to Sioux Falls.  There we spent a couple of days visiting family and I did a little retail therapy at a quilt shop.

Weather took a real turn as we left Sioux Falls for Albert Lea, Minnesota.  We usually stay at a very nice state park in Albert Lea just overnight, but this time we ended up staying an extra day because of high winds and heavy rain.  It was very cozy staying in our dry trailer in the middle of a forest while rain poured down for the better part of two days. Very few people were staying in the park since we were there in the middle of the week and because of the rain, it felt like we were in the middle of a dense forest all by ourselves. Pretty cool.

We found two very cool campgrounds where we will stay a few days on our next trip through the area.  One had views of the Mississippi and hills of Wisconsin while the other had beautifully landscaped vistas in the middle of a farming community.  Several nights, we enjoyed fireflies in the surrounding bushes and cornfields.  I find fireflies magical in the summer evenings.

Our next major stop is in the Chicago area where we will visit Chris.  Hard to believe that he has been living in Chicago for 8 years now.  Not likely he will move back to Long Beach at this point.

Always look forward to entering the Virgin River portion of I-15.  Hard to find the entrance from afar.

It was very hot in the Virgin River area (over 100 degrees). We saw several trucks and vehicles over by the side of the road with their hoods up. It is a very steep climb and some folks didn't choose to slow down.

Thunderstorms are starting to build, but they were "dry" storms.  Lots of lighting, which sparked several local fires, but very little rain and no relief from the heat.

Still very hot east of Provo as we climbed through the mountains to Heber City.  A beautiful rivers winds next to the road.  Lots of people tubing - a perfect day for it.

Our veteran driver!

On I-80, through Montana, we encountered occasional  light rain but still no relief from the heat. The rig is working really well - the new tires and the hitch we invested in have eliminated almost all sway when truck whiz by.

This building in  Kearney, Nebraska, is a museum. Called the Archway for obvious reasons, it celebrates the history of transportation from the Oregon Trail to the present.

Crossing the Missouri River near Sioux City.

"Iowa, Iowa, state of all the land, joy on every hand.  Iowa, Iowa, that's where the tall corn grows!"

Stopped for lunch at a pizza place in a small town on a Sunday.  Not much going on.

We met one of Russ' newest cousins, Teddy.  He is a sweetie pie!

Teddy with his dad, Josh.

We also had a very nice visit with Russ' uncle Don. He is a retired farmer from Canton, South Dakota.  

Enjoyed presenting Doug Nelson, one of Russ' cousins, with a Quilt of Valor. Doug is a career Air Force pilot.

Doug's wife, Kathy, spent several years as an Air Force nurse, so I presented her with her Quilt of Valor.

Crossed the Mississippi at La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is a beautiful state.  Rolling hills, lots of trees and green crops.

The RV campground we found near La Crosse overlooked a beautiful lake.

We spent one evening with our friend, the Burning Man.

Decided to try making a cherry pie dessert in a pie iron. Instructions said to cook 3 minutes on each side and let cool for 5 minutes.

The instructions didn't say that you would end up with charcoal.

Almost to Chicago area, we stopped for a break at an Oasis over I-94.