Mitchell to Belvidere South Dakota

We had a great start to the day ....it rained through the night but there sunny skies in the morning and a short travel day ...Straight shot due West and all went so well until the last 30 miles when the wind reared its ugly head and we were caught in a construction zone with only 2 lanes and the wind pushing to one side and transport trucks adding to the mix ...a white knuckle for me and Phil hanging on to that steering wheel ....but all was well when we came to our KOA and it was only 1130 a.m.  ...somewhere in there we had blown into Mountain Time ....before the wind I was able to shoot a couple of pretty pictures

 I promise - no more pictures of rolling farmland - but it was so pretty :)

Now just one more photo of a cornfield because the layers of color caught my eye and followed by a "seen better days" field of sunflowers

Once we were settled at a very nice KOA where we stayed 5 years ago and shook of the last 30 miles we headed to Wall South Dakota to visit the infamous Wall Drug.  We skipped it on our last tour through this area and wanted to see it this time. 

Waiting patiently for me to change batteries :)

It was well worth the visit and we had our Buffalo Burgers which were great.

Tomorrow we move on to Spearfish South Dakota where we will stay till Saturday or Sunday because we have a wishlist of things to see and do.  So for now ..

Happy Trails!!

Mitchell South Dakota

Today's drive was longer and more of the same.  The I-90 just goes straight West through rolling hills of beautiful farms and miles and miles of corn fields.  Today we were blessed with no wind at all ...even the windfarms stood still ...we drove into South Dakota and watched more of the same

I keep my camera either in my lap or right beside me because over these 3000 miles that we will travel you just never know what you will see!!!!!!!!

 

Also today, was the time to find a gas station ....Gas in Minnesota was $2.16 but we knew there wasn't a Flying J (a RV friendly gas station) until South Dakota so we just hoped that the gas would be the same price or less and it was $2.04 with our discount.  This 440 miles we got 7.4 mpg which was better than we expected due to the winds yesterday. 

Tomorrow we move on Belvidere South Dakota....a shorter drive and should be an early day so we will take the time to explore Wall Drugs.  (Pictures to follow - hard to explain in words)

Happy Trails!!!

 

 

Albert Lea Minnesota

The drive today was 165 miles so a nice short day and thank goodness because it became very windy on the I-90 ...we had hoped we would make it to the campground before it started but it was not to be...I think driving a high profile vehicle like a motorhome on a very open windy highway is worse than driving in snow ... I find it terrifying ....so we were both happy the drive ended at 12:30. 

There was a lot of construction also, and it diverted us from a 4 lane freeway to a 2 lane so I missed the Welcome to Minnesota sign ....

The I-90 traverses wooded, rolling hills and farm areas -

There is more of the same for tomorrow ....we will have a longer drive tomorrow to Mitchell, S.D.   Hoping for calmer winds. 

Gas is a bit cheaper here in Minnesota ...we paid $2.40 in Wisconsin and we got 7.6 mpg ...with todays wind the next mileage wont be as good ....but gas is only $2.19 here in Minnesota.

Happy Trails!!!

Iron Mountain Michigan to Oakdale Wisconsin

We woke to beautiful sunny skies but it was a chilly 47 (+8 C) and we got off to an earlier start today knowing that we had 4-5 hours of travel time ...We were only on the road about 20 mins when we entered into Wisconsin

This is an area new to us as we travelled south down Hwy 141 and 41 through Green Bay Wisconsin.  This highway traverses wooded, lake and bay shore terrain.  So we just enjoyed the drive through the mid-west, farms with corn fields, and potatoes and lumber and cheese processing.   We came through Green Bay and, while stopped in traffic getting past an accident, we spotted Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers are playing football tonight.

The other photos are just small town America ...so quaint and pretty....

We are at another KOA Campground and it is a very nice one...right next to Interstate 90 that we need to travel tomorrow ....we will have a shorter drive of about 170 miles and will end in Albert Lea, Minnesota

Happy Trails !!!!

Mackinaw City to Iron Mountain, Michigan

These next few days are travel days so not so much interesting stuff to post....that's assuming of course that you found my other "stuff" haha!!!!

It poured rain all night in Mackinaw City and as I listened to it hit the roof of the motorhome all through the night I knew it would not be fun to pack up in the rain.  But as luck would have it, it stopped by the time we were up and ready to move.  The scenic drive down Hwy 2 in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan or the U.P. as its called was so pretty as we rounded the top of Lake Michigan and drove down an area called the Mackinaw straits ....BUT FIRST.......we had to get over the Mackinaw Bridge on which, just a few weeks ago, a 5th Wheel was blown on its side due to bad winds on the bridge....

As we approach we see the sign that says "High Winds, RV's 20 mph - well that was comforting ...so we began our approach - it didn't look overly windy - and we saw up ahead another Motorhome slowly crossing so we kept a safe distance to be sure he made it over first :)   

See him there ....so far so good ....the views are spectacular if I can open my eyes open long enough to look around ...but I manage to get a few photos also....finally we are on the other side

So here we are ...finally in the U.P.  and we have to pay $14 toll because we have 3 axles??? 

It was 204 miles today and Phil was ready for the campground when we got there ...but the bonus was that we drove into the Central Time Zone ....and He gained an extra 1 hour of Miller Time :) hahahahaha

It is a nice campground ...not very level ...but pretty good wifi ...and our satellite TV is working like a charm ....

Onward tomorrow to Oakdale Wisconsin ...it will be another long(ish) day - 247 miles - but then we will shorten them up a bit...once we get to Deadwood S.D. we will rest up for 2-3 days :) 

Happy Trails !!!!

Manistee to Mackinaw City, Michigan

Today was a travel day, as will be the next several days, and we had about 170 miles to travel ...we had decided to take the scenic route along Lake Michigan rather than the interstates.   It was a great choice.  The day started overcast with brief showers but by the time we arrived at Mackinaw City it was 77 (+22) and sunny. 

We travelled Hwy 31 with Lake Michigan on one side and several lakes on the other.  The towns of Charlevoix and Petoskey were particularly pretty, tourist areas and Victorian houses.

We arrived at our KOA about 2 p.m. and had the rest of a beautiful afternoon to relax in this beautiful wooded setting

We move on again tomorrow with about 205 miles to cover ....again staying off interstates and taking the scenic route.  We are heading to Iron Mountain Michigan ....where we will also stay just 1 night

Happy Trails !!!!

Manistee Michigan - Day 2

We are so happy with our decision to stay an extra day here ...we started our day with the Casino Buffet Breakfast because we had discount vouchers for it and so a very tasty hot breakfast buffet ended up costing only $2.50 each ....then our sight-seeing adventure began - I love Victorian Houses and just photographing interesting buildings/structures ....so here are a few we have seen

Barns are another thing that intrigue me :)   Feel free to scroll down past these (hahahahaha)

We found this uninhabited beach and lighthouse (well at this time of year at least) and just more and more sand ...and the pounding of the waves was magnificent ....

and then finally, my last picture tonight is one that will just make ya smile ....cause its self explanatory

Moving on tomorrow - the weather has been magnificent - sunny and 80 (+25 C) but storms are due in over night so hopefully we wont have to hook up in the rain ....On to Mackinaw City, Michigan and will follow Hwy 31 along the shores of Lake Michigan

Happy Trails !!!!