Thursday, September 1
We attended more workshops and then the closing ceremony for the Escapees RV Club Rally.
Friday, September 2
We met up with Mike and Pat to do some sightseeing and started at an overlook to a coal mine pit.
Saturday, September 3
Mike and Pat came and said “good-bye.” We had our truck and fifth wheel weighed before we left and headed to Interior, SD. Badlands Ranch Resort is located just outside of Badlands National Park. It was a nice, small, quiet resort. There were two other couples who had also been at the Rally. We ate dinner at the Cowboy Corner – a gas station that had a small convenience store and also a small café. The interesting thing about the café was that most days only lunch was served and only one entrée was available. But that evening, dinner was being offered – prime rib, baked potato, salad, and dinner roll. It was a great meal, almost a pound of meat and a huge potato. We took half of our dinners home.
Sunday, September 4
Attended the Christian Church in Rapid City.
Monday, September 5
Went to Wall Drug Store and ate lunch and did some shopping. Had homemade ice cream that was really good.
Drove through more of the Badlands.
Tuesday, September 6
Moved to Camp America in Salem, SD.
Wednesday, September 7
Went to DeSmet, the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder (author of Little House books). We saw the school that Laura Ingalls Wilder attended as well as the one she taught in.
Toured the house that Charles built in town and learned about the Ingalls and Wilder families.
We then walked around the town seeing other historical buildings, including the church that they attended and the house that Laura and Almanzo built. Ate lunch at the Wards Store/Bakery in another historical building. Then we drove to the location of the Ingalls homestead outside of town. None of the original buildings are there, but the cottonwood trees that Charles planted are still standing.
From there we drove to Mitchell to see the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace has murals around the outside of the building that are made of ears of corn and other grains. The murals are changed every year.
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Thursday, September 8
The next move was to the KOA in Sioux Falls. Kent had an adjustment made on the fifth wheel so that it would sit differently on the truck and adjust how weight is carried. Went to Falls Park to see the falls illuminated at night.
Saturday, September 10
Went to Falls Park for the Octoberfest. When we got there, things were just getting set up, so we walked around the old town area and went to the museum. The Octoberfest was disappointing because there was very little German food (one stand with main dishes, another with pastries). Also, the music was a mixture of country and western and very little polka.
Sunday, September 11
Attended the Oakwood Park Christian Church in Sioux Falls.
Monday, September 12
Mike and Pat had told us about the campground at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. We decided to try it when we moved to Des Moines. It wasn’t too bad and there were very few rigs.
Tuesday, September 13
We did some shopping and then ate lunch at Brickhouse Café. Had trouble finding our way out of the Fairgrounds when we headed to Christy (my niece) and Mike’s for dinner. There was a special event at the fairgrounds and the road to the gate that we’d been using was blocked off. We kept wandering around finding locked gates and dead ends. We were late getting to Christy’s but had a good time when we got there. After dinner, Mike and Christy wanted to show us around the area and we also stopped so they could see our home.
Wednesday, September 14
Mike and Christy recommended Woody’s Smoke Shack. The owner has won or placed in several BBQ competitions. The food was very good.
Thursday, September 15
Left Des Moines and drove to Kellerton. I wanted to see the church building where my dad preached when I was 2 to 4 years old. The house that we lived in was also still standing—just barely. We walked around the town a little.
Then we drove to Centerville. When arriving in town, we missed the sign that said no large trucks around the town square and it was an interesting maneuver to get the fifth wheel around it. Fortunately there were a lot of open spaces in center parking. We had lunch at the Blue Bird Restaurant which is a place my family ate at over the years when visiting my grandparents, aunts and uncles. After lunch we went to Main Station Cemetary outside of Moravia. This is where my dad is buried as well as my mother’s parents and many relatives. The little country church that used to be here was moved into Moravia.
Then we drove as far as Columbia, MO and got permission to stay overnight in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot.
Friday, September 16
Arrived at Lost Valley Lake Resort outside of Owensville, MO. After we were set up, we drove to Owensville and ate at Dos Primos. Great Mexican food. The cheese sauce on the chimichanga was different than what I’ve had before and very good.
Saturday, September 17
Dorcas (sister), Gary (brother-in-law), Debbie (sister), and Mom came to see us. It was the first time that mom and Debbie had seen our fifth wheel. I fixed breakfast for everyone and we visited. Mid-afternoon all of us went to Owensville for lunch and then to Walmart.
Sunday, September 18
We attended worship at Warrenton Christian Church which is where Dorcas, Gary and Debbie attend. Lunch was served after the service and we stayed for it. Then we all went to Defiance to Daniel Boone’s Home. Other buildings have been brought there and some constructed to form a village. After the tour of the home, we went to the school house and had our “lessons.” One of the demonstrations on the village green was firing of a cannon.
We went to Maggie’s for dinner. The pork tenderloin sandwich is huge--big enough to make two large sandwiches.
Monday, September 19
We met Dorcas, Gary, Debbie, and mom in Linn for dinner.
Tuesday, September 20
Emily (niece) brought mom out to the resort to spend the day with us. Mom was staying with Debbie and Emily. Debbie came out when she got off work. Then we went out for dinner in a little town nearby.
Wednesday, September 21
We picked up mom to take her home. We stopped at Meramec Caverns in Stanton, MO and took the tour. Mom was going to wait for us, but when she found out that the path was paved and easy to walk, she decided she would be able to do it. She was glad that she did.
Then we headed to St. Louis and stopped at Sweetie Pie’s (featured on DDD) for a late lunch. The Southern comfort food is served cafeteria style. We finally got to mom’s apartment in O’Fallon, IL.
Friday, September 23
After breakfast, we left mom’s and headed back to the resort. Debbie called and invited us for dinner. So we went to Hermann for an evening with her.
Sunday, September 25
Went to church in Owensville and then had lunch at Dos Primos.
Monday, September 26
We had passed Swiss Meat & Sausage a couple of times, and decided to check it out for lunch. It turned out that it had been featured by Jamie & Bobby Deene on Food Network’s “Road Tasted.”
Tuesday, September 27
Debbie and Dorcas came over when Debbie got off work. We ate dinner at the café at the resort.
Wednesday, September 28
Moved to Grand Rivers, KY and stayed at the campground behind the Miss Scarlet Restaurant.
Thursday, September 29
We went to Paducah, KY and toured the National Quilt Museum. No photography was allowed. Then we walked along the flood wall of the Ohio River and looked at the murals painted on it depicting the history of Paducah.
Friday, September 30
Moved to Diamond Cavern Resort at Park City, KY. We went to Mammoth Cave to find out about the tours. Had dessert at the restaurant in the hotel at Mammoth Cave.
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