Northern Exposure--Day 17

We have gotten settled in here at the Frenchman's Landing Campground. The address for this place is Eastman, Wisconsin. Not sure why that is. We are seven miles north of Prairie du Chien and Eastman is a few miles east of that. Anyway, other than a train rumbling through about every 30 minutes this is a pretty serene place to be.

Yesterday we toured Prairie du Chien and the adjacent St. Feriole Island. There is not much to the town itself. You would think there would be more since this is supposed to be the second oldest town in Wisconsin. The bulk of the historical section is on St. Feriole Island. The island at one time was the location of Fort Crawford. Apparently this fort was very important during and after the War of 1812 and several important treaties with the Indian tribes were signed there. All that is left of the original fort is one a reconstructed blockhouse. This structure was rebuilt in the 1930's by the WPA. Originally the fort had two of these blockhouses. The second one sat on a mound which was the highest portion of the land and was replaced by the mansion of the subsequent land owner. After the fort was closed the site was acquired, in the 1840's, by a rich fur trader named Hercules Dousman. He also originally owned much of the property that is now the town of Prairie du Chien. Dousman built a large house on the mound where the second blockhouse stood. After his death this house was replaced, by his son Louis, with a larger mansion. It is now called Villa Louis and has been restored to it's 1800's grandeur. The grounds also have the original carriage house and servants quarters. Additionally there is a fur trader's museum in the building that the original Dousman conducted his fur trading business.

Today we drove north about 50 miles to the city of LaCrosse. This is a large city adjacent to the Mississippi river. It had a very nice, historic downtown area that has been well maintained. The convention center is along the river with a beautiful park with walking paths. Throughout the city a local art gallery has placed statues of herons. These have each been painted by local artist and will be on display throughout the summer months and then will be auctioned off. There are a total of 35 of these herons. We came across six of them in our walking tour of downtown. (This is very similar to the program the City of Oklahoma City did in conjunction with the 2007 states centennial last year except they used buffalo.) Each of the heron stands about six feet tall. After walking through the downtown area and having lunch at a Coney Hot Dog place we drove up to Grandad Bluff. This is a 540 foot bluff overlooking LaCrosse. From up on the bluff you can not only see all of LaCrosse but you can see into Iowa and Minnesota.

Northern Exposure--Day 15

Maybe spoke a little quickly in the last post about the storms being behind us. After I put that post up we decided to see if we could find a path south from Amana to Interstate 80. This trek had two reasons: 1) Joanne wanted to go to the Outlet Mall down on I-80 and 2) to see if we could find a shorter route for my brother to get to I-80 without going out of his way by going far north first. We did find one road that had the water recede enough to be partially opened. The Transportation Department had Flagmen there allowing use of one lane while the water was still over the other. (Brother Bill and his wife, Nancy, left on Sunday morning using this way south.) But, when we returned to the RV Park from this excursion we drove into the tail end of a major storm. While we had been gone it had rained, hailed and the winds got up to almost 60 mph. By the time we got back the clouds were clearing and the sun was coming back out. We had nothing but sunshine for the rest of the weekend.

By Saturday evening we were down to four coaches from the rally. We got together that evening and drove into Amana for dinner. This time we went to The Brick Haus Restaurant. Like everything else in Amana it had a German influence and the menu was full of German dishes. Sunday morning brought some more departures and then we were down to two. Gary and Carol Granat and us were the only ones left. We drove into Cedar Rapids to Fazoli's for a quick dinner.

We finally hooked up this morning and left Amana Colonies and Iowa. We traveled north and east and are now just across the state line in Wisconsin. The state line between Iowa and Wisconsin is marked by the Mississippi River. We are in a campground directly on the river. We are in the Frenchman's Landing Campground just north of Prairie du Chien, WI. Although the park has seen no flooding the river is up about eight feet higher than normal for this time of year. Most of the people here are "reverse snowbirds" in that they are here for the entire summer. Most of them have their RV's backed right up to the river. In normal times they would have steps leading down to the river and a place to tie their boats. Right now those steps are all under water. We have a great view out our front window of the river. The only problem with this campground is that, like many campgrounds, it is built next to the railroad tracks. Actually, this one has double tracks. Trains have been rumbling through all day long. When two trains come through at once it makes the ground shake in the whole park. We'll be here throughout the week before moving on next Sunday. There is quite a bit of history in the area in that Prairie du Chien is the second oldest town in Wisconsin.

Northern Exposure--Day 13

Aww, what a little sunshine will do for you. The rain has stopped and we've had beautiful sunshine the last two days. Most of the rally attendees left on Thursday morning and by that evening we had less than a dozen left. Several of us got together Thursday night and went into Amana for dinner at the Ox Yoke Inn. Joanne and I both had won gift certificates of this restaurant as door prizes during the rally.

We spent Friday doing some sightseeing along with a trip into Cedar Rapids. Although the downtown area of Cedar Rapids is under water we only had to go to the edge to get to Wal-Mart. We drove around the area attempting to get to the different towns that make up the Amana Colonies. We got to most of them but then ran into roads closed due to flooding. The picture is where the road turns south at West Amana and goes down to South Amana. This is not a lake but farm land covered in water where the creek ran over it's banks. We did get to see some things. In West Amana we stopped at a broom and basket shop where they have Iowa's largest solid walnut rocking chair. At the same place they had some other displays, along with a tractor that seemed really stuck. Fortunately, this is not from the current flooding. ;-> We did see several places that the flood waters have taken over, mostly in Amana. Areas that we had been able to drive earlier in the week are now under water.

By Friday evening we were down to six coaches still at the RV Park. We all got together to have a potluck dinner. There was plenty of food and everyone had a good time sitting around visiting. Another coach left this morning and the rest of us will be leaving tomorrow and Monday.

Northern Exposure--Day 11

Rain, rain, go away......We had another huge rain storm last night, probably the worst since we've been here, and woke up this morning to water all around us. They have reported on the TV that this is a 500 year flood. The picture to the left is of the RV sites just east of ours. Until early this morning those sites were all full of motor homes. Since the rally ended last night most of the coaches have left with many having to hookup and get ready in a torrential rain this morning. Since we did not have rally activities scheduled any longer I took the opportunity to sleep in and most coaches were gone by the time I got around. We have about a dozen still here and will stay through the weekend.

The rally was a great success. Although our numbers were down this time we still had a fabulous time. We had fewer coaches due to the weather and due to the high cost of fuel to get here, with diesel running well over $4.00 per gallon. For our entertainment last night we again had Ron & Kay Rivoli. We have come to really enjoy their shows and they have become great friends. Kay writes lyrics and Ron set them to music. They currently have one of the number one hits on You Tube with "Dial one for English". Also, they have a new song on You Tube called "Memorial Day". This is a great tribute that Kay has written in honor of our service members and veterans.

Each time we see Kay, either around the park, setting up their equipment or performing she always seems to have a different look about her. Last night Kay really outdid herself. Backstage she posed for pictures with a few of us that have gotten to know her & Ron so well. I have not personally known very many entertainers over the years but it is a real privilege to call Ron & Kay friends.

Although we have many of the Rivoli's CD's in our collection we purchased another last night. Additionally, Ron gave us a copy of the DVD with their video of "Dial one for English". After the show several of us hung around to visit with them before they hit the road for their next performance. Our last farewell was this morning as they drove out in their coach. We'll stay here until Monday and then head north somewhere. We are scheduled to go to southwest Wisconsin for two weeks but that area is underwater also. We may have to just cancel that portion of the trip and just head over to Minnesota, where we plan to spend the month of July.

Northern Exposure--Day 9

Last night at the rally we were entertained by Ron & Kay Rivoli with an evening of dance music. Ron & Kay have become one of our favorite entertainers and they put on a fantastic show. They travel the country in their motor home, entertaining at RV shows and rallies, conventions and other gatherings. Ron told me that his current coach has in excess of 250,000 miles on it and does not show any sign of slowing down. If you ever find yourself in an area where Ron & Kay are performing do yourself a favor and catch there show.

The Monaco America Spring Rally is in full swing. We have greeted the last two mornings with a great breakfast served by the caterer. During the day we have numerous seminars available on coach maintenance, caravan travel, crafts, etc. We also have technician from the Monaco factory here to provide services to our coaches. The techs will perform two repairs to each coach regardless of the coaches age.

I have been designated to be this rallies photographer. Each rally we wind up taking hundreds of pictures with a digital camera. Then, with the aid of an overhead projector hooked up to my computer, we show them on a large screen each morning and evening during meal time. In addition to taking pictures of all the activities we try to get a picture of each of the couples here. After the rally these pictures are then put in a file on our clubs website and other club members who were not able to attend can see them to realize what fun they missed.

Today, as usual was filled with activities. Following breakfast we had our semi-annual business meeting, which included elections of officers for the next year. The officers of the club, along with the past two club Presidents, make of the executive board. I was elected to the office of Treasurer. Although during a rally all the officers are very busy and involved the Treasurer is one of the jobs that requires a lot of time and work throughout the year. With a current treasury in excess of $100,000 it is the Treasurer's job to secure and to make sure all club expenses are properly taken care of. This includes the expenses for the two annual rallies, which cost around $35,000 to $40,000 each. Our outgoing Treasurer, Cookie Baker, has held this position for about five years and has done a very good job. Here the club President recognizes Cookie for a job well done.

At noon we had an ice cream social out in the new coach area. At all the rallies we have a local Monaco dealer bring in new coaches for us to view and buy, if the feeling strikes. (We bought our current coach at a rally in Tucson, AZ, in October, 2006.) The ice cream social is sponsored by the Monaco Dealer. This gives everyone a break and a chance to stand around and visit.

Later in the afternoon the Pet Parade was held. This is where all the pet owners bring their pet to show off. A drawing is held for pet door prizes. In the past we have not participated in this event due to our little Brandi not being very sociable around other people. (She was a biter.) Since she is no longer with us I felt it was time for Buddy Joe to enjoy the show. He likes to play with other dogs and this gave him a chance to meet a bunch of them. As most of you know Buddy is the grey Schnauzer in the picture.

Tonight, after dinner, we were entertained by a fellow Oklahoman. Sarah Getto, from Norman, OK, was born blind and with other physical problems. She has overcome these handicaps to become an extraordinary entertainer. At age three she taught herself to play the piano. She is now grown up, has a college degree in music education and has completed her student teaching requirements and has her teaching certificate. She has a fantastic voice and also plays multiple instruments. She is currently traveling in an RV with her parents performing at RV shows and rallies around the country. Seeing and hearing this young lady perform was a real thrill.

Northern Exposure--Day 7

This evening was the official kickoff of the Monaco America Spring Rally here in Amana Colonies, Iowa. Since this past Thursday I have been a part of the Parking Committee for the rally. As the coaches come in we get them registered and then escort them to their site and help them get backed in. Thursday, Friday and Saturday we did this in 30 to 40 mile per hour winds with threatening rain. Today we got the rain for real. It started raining about 6:30 am, when I got out of bed, and by 8:00 am, when it was time to go to work, we had received one and a half inches of rain. It continued to rain off and on all day. As you can see from this picture we spent the day in rain gear rather than just our usual orange vest and red caps. We had 93 coaches scheduled to attend this rally but two called to cancel due to fear from the bad weather this area has been receiving. By 5:00pm today all but four of them were here and properly parked.

Tonight we had our rally opening welcome get together. The caterer set up a small buffet of snacks and we had an open bar. This gives everyone a chance to visit, get reacquainted with old friends and meet the first time attendees. Joanne and I had a good time visiting with everyone there. Tomorrow morning will start off with breakfast served by the caterer starting at 7:45 am.

Northern Exposure--Day 6

The Monaco America Spring Rally has not officially started yet and I'm exhausted. I volunteered to serve on the Parking Committee again at this rally. This consist of waiting up at the entrance of the RV Park for the coaches to arrive. When they come in we get them checked in, help them get their toad (the car we all usually tow behind the coach) unhooked and then escort them to their site on a golf cart. Once at the site we assist them in getting parked, usually by backing in. We have been doing this now from 7:30 am to around 5:30 to 6:30 pm for the last three days. This is all done out in the weather, which so far has been in 30 to 40 mile per hour wind blowing out of the southwest. Even though we are not doing really physical work the blowing wind really tires a person out.

We are expecting 90 coaches at this rally. As of this evening we have all but 20 or so here and set up. The rally officially kicks off tomorrow evening with a scheduled welcome party. At that point the caterer of the events will start serving. It has become traditional for many of our members to come in anywhere from one to several days early for the rallies. (Many of the large rallies do not allow any one to enter prior to the day before the official start date.) Due to so many of us coming in early, a few years ago we started having a potluck dinner the night before the official start of the rally. That is what we did tonight. As is typical with potluck dinners, there was an exceptional assortment of food and plenty to go around. After everyone ate we spent a lot of time sitting around visiting and catching up with old friends and making new ones. One of the great things about the RV lifestyle is the vast number of friends we have made from all over the country.

As stated, the rally officially starts tomorrow night with a welcome party complete with an open bar and light snacks provided by the caterer. We'll have a chance to meet the first time attendees and welcome them into the Monaco America family. Starting Monday and running through Wednesday the caterer will provide breakfast and dinner for everyone. We also get to have good entertainment each evening those three days following the dinner hour. Over the years we have had the pleasure of having a very talented couple, Ron and Kay Rivoli, provide our entertainment at some of our rallies. We are excited at seeing and hearing from them again this year in that they will be providing music for dancing on Monday night and then their Rivoli RV Revue on Wednesday. They are full-time RVer's who spend their time traveling the country performing their music. Not only have they provided great entertainment they have become great friends. After they arrived today I got the chance to visit with them for awhile (picture to left is me greeting Kay). Kay writes the songs and Ron sets them to music.

Northern Exposure--Day 3

Amana Colonies RV Park. Not one of the best parks we've been to but not one of the worst either. The sites are gravel and grass and not all that level. I had to do some fancy arranging to get the coach level. Had to put some boards under our right, rear tires or they would have been off the ground once the jacks leveled the coach. We have gotten fairly level. The coach is down a wee bit in the rear but we did not notice it while we slept last night.

Spent this morning cleaning the bugs off the front of the coach and put up the sun shade. Not sure how much we will need the sun shade though since it was overcast and dreary most of the day. The sun did peak out a little this afternoon and by 5:00 or so we had full sunshine. But, after dark the clouds came back and it rained for a little while. We're hoping that it clears off some so the RV sites can dry out before the bulk of the coaches arrive this weekend. Currently we have around 20 coaches here, mostly the club officer's and the volunteers that make these rallies work. We have had a good time visiting with old friends we have made over the years at the rallies.

Tonight 27 of us loaded into cars and went to dine at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana. Although we had made reservations the place had not set up tables for us so we wound up in groups of six to eight at a table scattered around their dinning room. The food, mostly traditional German fare, was exceptionally good. One thing we have found that all RVer's seem to have in common is they like to eat well.

We were surprised with the area and the people when we arrived. We previously have had rallies where there are an abundance of Amish people and were expecting the same here, not knowing anything about the Amana Colonies. As it turns out these are two completely different sects and are very different, although they both come from a German/Switzerland background. The Amish have their roots in the Anabaptist movement, evolving from the Mennonites. They maintain the theology and lifestyle practiced 300 years ago, preferring to live without modern conveniences. The Amana people emerged as a part of the Pietist movement within the Lutheran Church in Germany, creating the Community of True Inspiration. They lived in a communal lifestyle from their migration to America in 1843 until this lifestyle was discontinued in 1932. Church life continues with very few changes, however, and many of the unique cultural traditions remain. The local Lutheran churches have two services on Sunday, one in German and one in English.

The Amana Colonies are made up of several communities, including Amana, East Amana, Middle Amana, High Amana, West Amana, South Amana and Homestead. As we get to explore the area we will be adding more information on the Amana Colonies.

Northern Exposure--Day 2

We were originally scheduled to arrive at the Amana Colonies RV Park in Amana, Iowa, tomorrow, June 4. After we made suck good progress yesterday we only had a little over 300 miles to go. We got up early this morning and headed out. Getting up early was easy considering we went to bed by 9:00 pm last night. Anyway, we headed north on U.S. 63 and just kept going. We arrived at the park about 3:30 this afternoon.



There are several coach's already here getting ready for the rally. The rally does not actually start until next Sunday but most of the Club officer's and key volunteers come in early to get everything ready. I usually help on the parking committee so we'll be getting all the sites ready and site assignments made. This makes it much easier when the main body of coaches start arriving on Friday and Saturday.



They have had a great deal of rain in this area. Driving up through northern Missouri and southern Iowa we were amazed at how many of the creeks and rivers were out of their banks and the fields that were covered with water. The RV park here received another inch or so of rain this morning. Everything is pretty wet and muddy. One coach has already gotten stuck and had to be pulled out by a tractor. They got off the edge of the gravel road when turning into their assigned site and buried their rear axle. The only way to pull these big coaches out of the mud is to pull them from behind with a VERY large tractor.



By the time we got parked, got the car unhooked and all the utilities set up it was time to relax and visit with some of our old friends. Tomorrow it will be time to get the bug and grim off the front of the coach so I can put the sun screen over the windshield. Of course, if the weather does not get better we may not see the sun while we are here.

Northern Exposure--Day 1

We finally returned to the road today. Left home around 7:00 am and headed up I-44 toward Tulsa. We had an appointment at the Monaco dealer in Claremore to get our windshield fixed where it was leaking around the seal. The glassman was there when we arrived and completed the job in about 20 minutes. We really had expected to be there several hours.

When the work was done we stopped at Flying J and topped off the fuel tank and then headed out. Original plan was we hoped to get as far as Joplin, MO, since we expected an extended period of time in Claremore. As it turned out we moved right along and decided to take I-44 all the way to Rolla, MO, before stopping for the night. Rolla is where we planned to leave the interstate and head north on U.S. 63. About fifty miles out from Rolla we hit a major rainstorm. Things were working fine until my windshield wiper decided to break. The clip that held the wiper frame to the arm popped off and the wiper frame/blade broke and fell down on the arm. So, here we are in a driving rain and no wiper on the driver's side. About 20 miles west of Rolla we saw a Wal-Mart so we pulled in there. I was able to get a new wiper, although not the exact same size, and then spent awhile installing it. At this point we decided to not move on and just spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Stopping over night at Wal-Mart is something we, along with many other RVer's, have done many times. We always check with the manager of the store to be sure it is okay. Thought Wal-Mart welcomes us with open arms some cities have ordinances against over night parking in public lots. There was not problem here. With the cost of diesel fuel I really did not want to run the generator to be able to fire up the TV so we just relaxed until it got dark around 9:00 and then went to bed. A good first day for being back on the road.