I’ve been too busy to share lately ….

[Thumper]

…. but figured I’d check in here. After a few days at the Winnebago factory in Forest City, Iowa, we headed north. But not before going on a tour of the plant. I’ll have to say, it was very impressive. Forest City is a small town, typical of small town USA, and a huge employment opportunity for the whole town. EVERYONE either works for Winnebago, has worked for Winnebago or has family members who work or have worked there. The people in town are extremely friendly and the whole stay was pleasurable.

Yesterday we spent the night on a small lake which was fed by a stream meandering through the camping area. I just now realized, I forgot to take ANY pics!

This morning we again headed farther north and stopped for the night at a nice, very clean and quiet campground on the Mississippi River. My notes are in the camper, so right now, I can’t even tell you where we are, only that we’re someplace on the river in Minnesota! Again, nice, quiet, clean little campground. We weren’t fortunate enough to snag a waterfront site, but are only 3-4 spots off the water. About a 1-min. walk, if that.

This huge piece of property has been owned by the same guy since 1946 and he carved this little campground out of the heavily wooded property with his own hands. It’s very isolated and so quiet you could hear a pin drop. He built a very large deck out over the water and that’s where I am right now. I’ve been sitting here over an hour and so far, have not seen one boat on the water. Just a little slice of heaven.




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[Thumper]

There’s very little in the way of civilization here. Just totally relaxing. Unfortunately, we’re leaving sometime tomorrow to head farther north. My bro and SIL are out walking a trail along the river right now (we were told this old guy has made and maintained, over 50 miles of trails through the surrounding woods). I find that hard to believe, but it’s what I was told. This property is his baby and he treats it as such. After 76 years of constant work, he still loves what he does.

Another shot down the other side of the river.




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[Thumper]

Well, my bro just showed up with a couple of brewskis, so we’re gonna enjoy a couple of cold ones and enjoy the breeze before dragging out the grill to burn a few steaks. I could get used to this! Life is good.




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[Chicken Dinner]

Sounds incredible!


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[BarryBobPosthole]

Beautiful summers. up in that neck of the woods.

Enjoy!
BKB

[Chicken Dinner]

I thought you said “beer”?


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[BarryBobPosthole]

Must’ve been out of Keystone Light.
BKB

[Thumper]

I thought you said “beer”?

I wondered who the first clown would be to comment. Youse dufes never disappoint! Hey, it was FREE … and he brought it down to me. Frankly, I quit drinking many years ago, but will have one or two occasionally. Heading up to Itasca, MN today.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Ooftah!

[Bwana]

I would be interested to find out where this campsite is at Thumper.

Going to Itasca next...cue the picture at the Mississippi River headwaters. ;-)

Glad you are enjoying yourselves.

[Thumper]

Bwana, we’re at a little mom & pop park called Camp Itaska. It’s right down the road from Itaska State Park. TBH, as soon as we pulled in, I parked my rig and we went to the park in my brother’s rig. We noticed they also have camping in the park itself and both of us wished we’d known that and checked it out also. We never went to check out the park campground as we went to the welcome center/museum there, then went to a little restaurant (Knob and Kettle) in Laport for a walleye dinner. We just got back to camp and it’s dark now. We plan to ride the bike trails in the park tomorrow, as well as do the walk across the Mississippi.

[Thumper]

Well, we hopped on the ebikes and headed for the river. We didn’t hit all the trails, but managed to do a little under 20 miles on the bikes. Beautiful scenery, but I suck at thinking about taking pictures.


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[Thumper]

Yours truly walking across the Mississippi!



Lynn made the trek herownfineself and never got her feet wet.

That’s Lake Itaska in the background. Where we crossed is where the water drains from the lake and is considered the actual headwaters of the river itself.

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[Thumper]

There was a log bridge for those who were afraid of busting their butts on the rocks.





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[Bwana]

The state park is a beautiful place for sure.

If you want a great view, be sure to climb the fire tower.

[BarryBobPosthole]

That’d make that tower a mite too top heavy for my taste.

BKB

[Thumper]

Well, we’ve moved on and arrived in Brainerd, MN yesterday. We had a big dinner bash last night and I got up at the crack of dawn this morning to take a walk. Out of the four of us, I’m the ONLY morning person, so I already have a half day head start by time these slugs drag themselves out of bed. This is a BEAUTIFUL park (Lum Park). We are two of only four campers in this park and they’re all the way on the opposite side. Great spacing and in fact, we chose the two sites that were closest together. No sardine can parking here!


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We’re supporting the Germans!




My morning walk catching the sunrise.

[DeputyDog]

I was all over that area when I was a kid. My parents would spend at least a couple weeks every summer at a fishing resort near Bemidji on Little Turtle Lake. All of the places you’ve been mentioning are familiar and bring back some memories.

How many Paul Bunyan statues have you seen?

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[Thumper]

We were in Bemidji yesterday Deppity. Decided to come on down to Brainerd for a couple of days. Yep, we’ll be taking the ebikes on a 30-40 mile trek today on some Paul Bunyan trail! Whipping up pancakes, bacon and eggs right now, then headed out!

http://https://www.paulbunyantrail.com/trail-maps/

[BarryBobPosthole]

I didn’t know you and your brother bought matching units!

BKB

[Thumper]

Different. His is an LTV (Leisure Travel Vans) Unity. (Made in Canada)

Mine’s a Winnebago Navion 24D (made in Iowa). We spent 3 days at the plant (and did a plant tour) on the way to Minnesota.

They’re both built on the same, Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis.

[BarryBobPosthole]

I’m wondering how long before you try to take it through the Mickey D’s drivethru!

And those bodies look almost exactly the same!

BKB

[Penguin]

My in-laws live in Brainerd. I think we'll be headed up there next summer again. Always liked the place tbh. Minnesota is a very pretty part of the world.

When you posted the photo of the Mississippi I was thinking that it looked about the right size to be somewhere in the vicinity of St. Cloud. It doesn't stay that small for long does it?

Will

[BarryBobPosthole]

On one of our Canada trips, we staged at a buddy’s house in Brainerd. I vividly recall driving up hwy 10 from the Twin Cities at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon, pulling a boat through St Cloud and on up to Brainerd. Half the damnworld was on that road that day.
Everyone headed to the Walleye Factory.
BKB

[Thumper]

We spent most of today on the bike trails. This one is 100 miles long, but we only did about 35. Tomorrow we’ll be headed down to Minneapolis/St. Paul.




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[Bwana]

Though you are probably already in the nasty Twin Cities, the St. Croix River area is pretty scenic.

Also a fair warning to you southern folk that the cool temps are getting nigh. We had a number of locations in the state earlier this week that were in the mid to upper 20's over night.

[Thumper]

That would be just getting comfortable to me. These clowns I’m with are bundled up like we’re in the Arctic! I have NOTHING but shorts and t-shirts. I think I might have a pair of Levi’s buried somewhere in the coach. I don’t own a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. I’m very comfortable down to about 20-degrees with a wind under 30-mph.

Here’s a pic taken just this morning in Winona, Minnesota. Lynn looks like she’s in a blizzard. I’m nice and toasty. Just yesterday she started insisting I start wearing shoes, instead of my usual flip-flops.

[LJ3]

I can't believe you didn't bring fishing poles. Hell, I'm sure Lynn could tie on a worm hook and attach your mickey mouse bobber for you, for fucks sake!

You're living my life, dude. I'm jealous.

Except the not fishing at every damn lake and stream you see. Wusshole.

[Thumper]

Here ya’ go Lenster. We were in St. Louis the past few days and weren’t going to leave until tomorrow. But, this morning, we decided to just “wing it” and headed out with no real plans. We stopped and did some exploring along the way, but eventually decided to pull into a little state park in Illinois this afternoon. BEAUTIFUL park and there’s nobody here! I decided to pull my gimp card and snagged a handicapped site right on the water! It’s hard to see, but the lake is right behind my camper.




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[Thumper]

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