Camping on the Mississippi

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My stay near Starved Rock State Park was where I was to meet up with other campers from my club, but also to join the friend that I was going to travel with for the rest of this trip. We left Starved Rock and overnighted in Love's truck stop near Mill Bluff State Park, and then went on to River Terrace Park Campground in Monticello, Minnesota.

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The campground is right next to the Mississippi River, and had caused a little flooding of parts of the campground. But it was a nice place to stay.  While we stayed there, we took a drive through the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive.

Starved Rock State Park

Over the last two days I've hiked a couple of trails at Starved Rock State Park. You can view the trail photos here, and here. I met up with some friends at the campground and the first day we hiked about 2 miles around different areas of canyons and bluffs. Today we hiked About 3 1/2 miles on some different trails, and then walked around the Lodge and saw many of the chainsaw carved sculptures spread around the lawn near the lodge.

Tomorrow will be a rest day and all I will do is lay around and relax getting ready to head north towards Calgary on Sunday.

On The Road to Calgary

At 1:30 PM I was all packed and ready to go. I had that dreaded feeling like I was forgetting something. I don't know why it is so difficult to leave home because once I get on the road I'm really excited.

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It was really hot today. Hot enough that when I stopped at a rest area I ran the generator so I could have the air conditioner on because the RV would heat up as soon as I shut off the motor. 

I planned to stop in Effingham, IL, at Walmart overnight and I got there right at sunset when I hoped that things would start to cool off. Wrong.

Well, it would have been comfortable enough except that a semi truck parked up wind of my open window and block all the breeze. When the other semi parked on the other side and started his generator, I gave up and closed up the windows and hatches, turned on my generator and enjoyed my airconditioning all night.  

The funny part is that I was parked right next to a sign that gives a dire warning to semi truck drivers that absolutely NO OVERNIGHT PARKING is allowed. That night I shared the parking lot with one other motorhome and at least 15 semi trucks.

Kentucky Music Week

I'm back from a wonderful place called Bardstown, KY, where I attended the annual, week-long gathering of musicians known as Kentucky Music Week. Five one-hour classes a day for five days, with jams and other activities at lunch and in the evening, filled my head with music for my dulcimer, dulci-banjo, and bowed psaltery. And it left me with a strong desire to sleep for three days when it was over.

To those who aren't folk musicians, Bardstown may be better known for its association with bourbon. Lots of bourbon. There are quite a few bourbon distilleries and wineries in the area, and plenty of history about the town itself. There are museums, and tours, and beautiful historic buildings all around town. 

I stayed at the Old Kentucky Home State Park, which is quite nice even though there is not a singe level spot anywhere in the campground. 

I ate at the Old Talbott Tavern which is a historic building and serves the best bread pudding I ever ate. Period. Of course it probably had something to do with being smothered in the best bourbon sauce I ever tasted!

On The Road Again...

Ready to Go

Finally! I will be traveling again. Chinook is packed and ready to go. I'm sure I'll be running around in the morning trying to gather up last minute stuff I forgot like I always do, but I hope to get on the road early enough to get where I'm going before dark. I hate trying to set up a campsite in the dark.