Aug 3, 2017

Today promises a long drive. We have made a pact that the driver drives for 2 hours or when the gas gauge hits one half. We have found this to ease arguments and more that 2 hours driving can cause quite the argument! In practice this works. Today, however, it will not.

Today, we will visit Deb's family roots in South Dakota. I decided that she will navigate and look for lost memories. I didn't want her to drive and look for lost anything! No nice guy here just a preservationist.

The route we took led us onto gravel roads and endless fields of corn. Not to mention, we, also, traveled the entire state of Minnesota and half of South Dakota with endless fields of corn. When not corn, of course, we saw low green stuff. Couldn't tell what green stuff we saw but it did not have the appearance of corn.

We drove through Pickering, Webster, Watertown, Pierpont, and Grenville. Some towns had populations in the 10's. Some had no populations listed on their town sign. All these towns supported the farms that surround them. In Bristol, We stopped at a cemetery that had many of Deb's relatives headstones. She took many, many pictures.

On to the campsite and beer!

I had driven the entire trip, way over my two hour allotment and way over the ½ tank limit. At least a two beer compensation evening coming my way!

Aug 2,2017

We began our day as we always have, we woke up! Hahaha. Well, we did!

Breakfast, pack the vehicle and off to Granite Falls to see Brad Lershen if he is in town. He works for the Prairie Edge Casino which just happens to hold our reservations for this evening. Go figure!

On the way we passed by a road sign announcing "Chaska, Mn). I visited family there sixty years ago. (oh my gosh, did i write that?). We stopped, had lunch and had memories. Then on to Granite Falls. 

The Falls

We had no surprises in our journey and arrived in good time to the casino. We unpacked in a “normal” RV camping area with electric and wireless internet. The casino must have just put this park in because the trees did not reach high enough to block the sun, We counter with a beer. Touche'.

After said beer we took the people mover golf cart to the casino in search of Brad. Finally, a phone call from security found him and back to the campground to drive for a visit. I got directions from Brad, however, I can't read my writing so we got lost right away! Another call to Brad, a request for an address and Google led us to his doorstep. We use Google a lot on this trip. We had a nice visit and back to the campground we went. Our weather, up until now consisted of sun and more sun. The forecast for the evening called for rain. I packed everything into the road box for protection and had another beer.

Night ensued and so did the rain. Not van shaking rain but a good soaking rain. We slept to the tune of(sing along)  “raindrops keep falling on our van”.

August 1, 2017

We may never have slept last night but, right on time, we left the house at 6am this morning. Two hours to Ludington and we boarded the "Badger" with Brittany in tow. We bought a vest for Brittany so she could be a Service Dog and accompany us on the boat. Otherwise, we had to leave her in the van for the crossing. Not an option.

We had great weather for our crossing, clear, two foot waves. The crossing took 4 hours. When we made our reservations we found out that they didn't have much room left for vehicles. We watched car after car load on the ferry and several tanker trucks load as well. Thankfully, we had arrived early, had our van loaded early and had it offloaded as, maybe, the 10th vehicle! Super!!! When we climbed aboard our van for the remainder of the trip, we found the heat inside overwhelming. We suppose the dog would not have made it if we hadn't gotten her service dog designation.

Our short drive to Onieda casino campground took a detour when we saw the National Railroad Museum. We stopped! I walked, Deb did too. We saw many trains, steamers and electric, hand carts and parts of trains. The high point may have been "Big Boy", a steam engine built to haul coal over a 55 mile mountain pass. The biggest steam engine ever built or should i say 23 of the biggest!

Another notable engine came from England. General Eisenhower used it when he campaigned(war II) in Europe. I may have a picture of the commode he "pooped" in! 

Our trip to the casino campground included a stop to photograph the "Nutmobile". Planters version of the "Oscar Mayer Wiener Wagon.

Onieda campground has 10 sites. Call them large parking spaces for a better description. The sites, though spartan, had power so we had enough for the night. Cost of the site came in at $5. We paid $15 and received a $10 players card. I spent an extra $10 to find out i don't like slot machines.

Sleep.