July 23 – Shelly and Jacob were up first and into town for a paper. None to be found in Eldora, so they made their way through the departing RAGBRAI’ers to Steamboat Rock. No paper there either so back to the cabin. The kids ate breakfast and then we were off to the Hardin County Fair! The kids both had money left and were so excited about the rides and games and prizes they were going to win. We parked and entered through what must be the back of the fairgrounds and checked out the livestock barns. There were the usual cows and sheep in a couple of barns. Another contained roosters, chickens, rabbits, ducks and geese. We walked on to the next barn and outside was a dog show, while inside was a pig show (I was wondering where all the pigs were) Next was an open area where some local kids had some games set up (Little basketballs to be thrown through a little hoop, plastic balls to be tossed into buckets, etc.) Then on to the last two barns which contained all the fair contest entries including baked goods, quilts, veggies, flowers, photos, clothing, drawings and all manner of crafts. Looking out the door of the last barn told us we had walked the length of of the little fair, there were no rides and the only games were the ones we had past. Shelly and I could see on the kids faces that this was it. We waited for their reactions. “Can we play some games now?” Shelly and I were relived and proud of them both for trying to make the best of it. They bought their tickets and played some games. We stopped for some lunch and then decided to check out the other Eldora city park. The kids played on the new wooden playground called Twister Park (very nice) and then back to our cabin. Shelly took the kids swimming again while I stayed behind to prepare Hobos for supper. When Shelly and the kids got back we started the fire, enjoying it before letting it burn down to cook on. Shelly and I ran the boombox out one of the windows and listened to music while the kids roller bladed and played. Everyone enjoyed the hobos when they were done and we spent the rest of the evening listening to music and enjoying the campfire.

July 24 – Up and at it for our last full day here at the cabin. Relaxed and lounged until I served a late lunch of almost all the leftovers in the fridge mixed with a dozen eggs. Then we were off to Upper Pine Lake so Shelly and kids could go around the lake in a paddle boat. When they got back they talked me into a canoe trip around the lake. Back to the cabin, and then a hike. Shelly and the kids then drove into town to watch “Mulan” at the Eldora Grand Theater. They came back tired and we all relaxed, cleaned out the rest of the fridge, and went to bed. I am tired now and ready for home, as we all are.

Part one can be read here.

Part two can be read here.

Part One of this travel log can be read here.

July 21 – (Shelly writing) Lounged until 10:00 am, then kids and I went into town for a few supplies (we thought we should stock up on beer before RAGBRAI showed up) then back to the cabin. David made his famous scrambled eggs with all the leftovers (wonderful!) I did clean up then we all piled back into the car to go back to Eldora to do fun things. David went checking out a few stores while the kids and I went to BJ’s Video. We played pinball and pool. Their favorite game was Motorcycle Derby – they actually sat on a plastic motorcycle and leaned left and right to curve it and turned the throttle to speed up and pulled the brake to stop. We had agreed David would come back to us in 40 minutes. When he came back the kids and I went to Ahoy Fountain while David explored a few more stores. The Fountain was great, Jacob had his first real banana split (he ate the whole thing) Sarah had a single dip cone and I had an old fashion yummy root beer float. The whole town was gearing up for RAGBRAI – extra supplies and help. We came back to the cabin, Jacob roller bladed, Sarah explored, David and I read and relaxed. David took the kids down to the creek and I continued to relax and read. It was great weather today, cloudy and cool. We turned off the AC and opened the windows in the cabin. After the kids and David came back from the creek they showered and had supper. We all relaxed, read then played a game of Monopoly. We are looking forward to tomorrow – we go fishing!

July 22 – We all slept in (again!) then ate and to the beach. Too hot for me, so I came back to the cabin and relaxed for a while. I decided to try fishing the Iowa River (one snag, several bites, no fish) After two hours at the beach Shelly and the kids came back and wanted to fish too. We packed up and walked over to Lower Pine Lake. Sarah caught three fish, Jacob two and Shelly and I had no luck. After about an hour and running out of worms we decided to try the river. We restocked at the cabin and tried a new spot on the river, where the spillway stream from Lower Pine Lake meets the Iowa River. In the shallow of the stream just before it empties into the Iowa there was a lazy school of at least 300 fish. Everyone was very excited and began casting right into the fish – who, of course, were not interested at all. After about an hour of actually hitting the fish with our casting and them ignoring it we decided to head back to the cabin. The kids ate, then Shelly, then they were in bed reading for the night. Time for me to get some grub and join them.

Continued Next Month

During every family vacation Shelly and I took with our kids I would keep a travel log of where we went, the route we drove, what we did there and even sometimes what we ate. On this, our second long vacation together (the first one is here) we were driving a 1979 Buick Park Ave. We lived in Des Moines, Iowa and two years earlier we had purchased our first desktop computer for $2,500. It had a 1 GB hard drive that we were told we would never be able to fill up and that our kids would use the computer in college. Most people still did not have cell phones or GPS.

July 18 – Packed up car from 1 – 2 PM. Left dog Belle in care of neighbors with keys to the house and feeding instructions for the dog. Packed just about everything in trunk, the rest in back seat with kids. Ate a quick McDonalds late lunch at the house then hit the highway around 2:30. On 35 North, very hot and humid, car windows down, AC does not work. Everything fine until I noticed a massive cloud of black smoke pouring out of the back of the car. We were close to our exit so I kept on driving. When the exit appeared I turned off and looked in the rear view mirror before stopping and there was no smoke at all! The car was clicking loudly, but no longer smoking. We continued along the local highways until we reached Eldora then Pine Lake State Park, where we had reserved a cabin for a week. We picked up the keys to the cabin (#4, Sandstone Cabin, one of four right along the Iowa River) then used a Radio Flyer wagon provided to move your stuff from the parking lot along a path to the cabins. After four trips we were moved in and began unpacking. Later we checked out our surroundings, wadded in the creek feeding into the river, figured out where the beach was, then settled down to our first evening in our wonderful cabin. Kids played, Shelly and I read, then I wrote this.

July 19 – Everybody lounged around this morning, enjoying the cabin and air conditioning. Into town for groceries around noon then to “Places” a discount store where the kids bought a few things (colors, coloring books, toys) with the money they have been saving for our trip. Unpacked the groceries and hauled them to our cabin in our wagon. Cooked lunch and ate then Shelly and the kids were off to the beach while I stayed behind to read the paper and nap. When they returned we hiked the trail closest to our cabin (hot and humid and lots of mosquitos) then back to cool off again. We decided to drive into Eldora and stopped at the city park right next to the speedway. The cars were roaring around the track while the kids played at the playground. There is a deer pen in the park, made up of a big chain link fence with some goats and a big hairy thing we could not identify. Back to the cabin, the kids showered and ate and we all relaxed in the coolness again. Shelly and the kids played some cards, we all read and listened to music, then the kids were asleep while Shelly and I ate our late supper, talking about what we would do tomorrow.

July 20 – (Shelly writing) I was up at 8:30, made coffee and went outside to enjoy the cool breeze and the birds singing. Having one hour alone outside was too much to pass up, especially knowing the the heat was coming. The rest of the family got up and we went into Eldora for a newspaper, bait and fishing licenses and to ask if there was a riding stable nearby. No licenses or stables so we drove to Steamboat Rock for the licenses and another dozen worms. Back to the cabin for mac and cheese. Then I took a nap and David read the paper. The kids were outside watching a woman clean her fish. After I woke up we went to the beach and swam from 4 – 6 pm. While we were gone David cleaned up the fishing poles and organized the tackle box. When we got back the kids practiced their casting. Back in the cabin we were cooling off when I saw a movement among the rocks of the fireplace chimney. David said it was a bat so I went to get the park attendant. He brought a fish net to catch it and then showed it to us. He said it was a box bat and let it go. We stepped outside and listened to the night and saw a raccoon in the bushes. The kids were kind of scared so David sent them on a couple of missions into the night to show them there was nothing to be scared of. We went back inside and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Continued Next Month

Part One of this travel log can be read here.

Aug. 23 – Broke camp, showers were out, hit Hwy 371 South around 10:15 AM, Shelly driving. (My 30^th Birthday!!) Down to Brainerd, 18 East to 169 South to 27 East and Father Hennepin State Park, around 12:30 PM. Set up camp, Shelly and Sarah into town of Isle for a few provisions. (And a B-Day present for me, a blue Mille Lacs Lake T-shirt) Down to beach, children played 3 hours in water and with other kids. Shelly and I sat on the beach, in the sun, enjoying the sights and the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. I drove up to the phone and called Mom just before 7:00 PM. [the time I was born] We talked for around an hour, then back to beach to pick up Shelly and kids. Once at camp lit the fire and Jacob and I up to shower. Shelly and Sarah went when we got back. Two women and three seven year old girls had set up a couple of campsites down from us. Jacob and I and two of the girls ended up taking a walk down a path in the dark, all of them with flashlights in hand. Walked down to beach and back along path to campsite. Stew and French bread for supper. Campsite #7. Counter @ 1,290. Raccoons and squirrels had to be chased off all night.

Aug. 24 – Woke up around 8:30 AM to lightning and thunder and strong winds, tent starting to leak around the edges and dripping from above. Finally decided to head for the van, bringing most bags, packs, etc. with us. In van only 15 mins when tent collapsed under weight of water and poles slipping in the mud. Dozed in van, hoping storm would pass, didn’t, so decided to break camp and head for I-35 South. Put all wet things in garbage bags and hit the road around 11:00 AM. To Hwy 18 then I-35 South, eating on the road. Down through Minneapolis/St Paul to Myre-Big Island State Park for some fishing. Caught seven or so bullheads (let them go) then quick drive through Albert Lea around 7:30 PM to Bel Aire Moter Inn, 700 Hwy 69 S. Room #20. Counter @ 1,582.9. Kids played on playground equipment in front of motel then we checked out “V.I.P. Room” in basement (portrait of Elvis hanging above stairs) Shelly played piano, she and I played game of ping pong (I won 15-12) Ordered Godfathers Pizza to be delivered. Children ate first, then to bed. Shelly and I ate about an hour later, watching Forbidden Planet (old sci-fi movie) then to sleep.

Aug. 25 – Up around 8:30 AM (me around 10:15) and checked out at 11:00. Had read about a man building a grotto like series of structures just outside of town called The Itasca Rock Gardens. Eventually found them (no signs) and walked around the grounds for 30-60 mins. When you observe a work of art/love like Itasca one can not help but…be impressed by one mans lifelong vision and goal. Back on the road into Albert Lea to liquor store to pick up some five point beer for home. Hit I-35 South again, back into Iowa to Clear Lake State Park. Drove around park then on into Mason City for a late lunch at Perkins restaurant. Over to I-35 South again and decided while on road to just drive on back home (had thought about stopping at a few places) Got into Des Moines, picked up the puppy at my sisters house then in our driveway around 5:00 PM. Home Again!! Counter @ 1,792.6. Shelly and I took our time unloading the van, talked with our next door neighbor Pat Irish (who took care of our [other] dog Hannah while we were gone) Started some laundry, did dishes, put things away, etc. All in all, a very good vacation.

During every family vacation Shelly and I took with our kids I would keep a travel log of where we went, the route we drove, what we did there and even sometimes what we ate. On this, our first trip out of the state, we were driving a 1979 Dodge Sportsman van nicknamed The Botamobile. We lived in Des Moines, Iowa and this was before most people had cell phones, GPS or even home computers.

Aug. 19 – Set counter at zero and left house at 2:00 PM. Gassed up, dropped off puppy [Belle] with Ann [my sister] and hit 35 North to 18. West on 18 to Spencer, Iowa around 6 PM. Looked around for motel and decided on Grand Motel, 714 South Grand Ave (“You Are A Stranger Here But Once) Counter @ 226.5. Jacob lost his first tooth (tooth fairy was able to find him, despite his worry) Stayed in room #2.

Aug. 20 – Left motel at 9:00 AM…and stopped at Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, a sacred Sioux area that I have been wanting to see for years. We walked all of the trails and enjoyed the experience very much…Left around 12:30 PM (after about 1 ½ hours at preserve) on God knows what roads into South Dakota (42 bridge across Big Sioux River was closed so we had to detour) through Sioux Falls and North on 29. This part of South Dakota looks so much like Iowa that we decided to drive straight through to North Dakota. Decided to head for Fargo and then, once there, to Grand Forks. Hit Grand Forks around 7:00 PM…the van vapor locked…waited ½ hour for it to cool off, and headed straight for the Roadway Inn sign. So, am writing this now in Room #206 at the Roadway Inn, 4001 Gateway Drive, Grandforks, ND. Counter @ 673.7.

Aug. 21 – Left motel around 9:15 AM, gassed up, bought a few groceries and hit 29 North again. Reached Canadian/US border and customs asked us to pull over and come inside the building. An hour later we were heading South on 29 back into the States…[they tried to charge us extra entry fees, money we did not have] Now our plans had completely changed and we decided to head for Minnesota. Off 29 South to…Lake Bronson State Park for lunch. Then…to Zipple Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods. Set up small tent, children rode bikes and then to beach for them to swim and Shelly and I to re-plan vacation. Back to camp, beer, meat-packets and then, once dark, out to the shore for an incredible view of the stars. Counter @ 945.

Aug. 22 – Broke camp, showered and hit the road around 10:00 AM. Stopped to gas up along Hwy 11 East when the storm we were trying to outrun hit us. Black and greenish yellow clouds rolled from west to east over us and the wind was throwing dust and pea size gravel at us, stinging our arms and legs and making it hard to see more than 100 feet around us. I was filling up the van, braced against the wind when both of the trash barrels next to me blew away and out of site. Shelly came out of the gas station and the wind caught the door, busting the top brace. We sat in the van, wondering whether to go on. Radio would not pick up anything but static, and gas station did not even have a radio, so we did not know if there was a tornado coming or not. The rain finally hit, wind decreased and we decided to continue. Took 11 East to 72 South, 1 East, 71 North, 46 South, now in Chippewa National Forest. Various Hwys and county roads to Stony Point National Campgrounds. Beautiful spot (Campsite #13) with swimming beach 30 feet from camp. Children swam and rode bikes, Shelly and I talking, working around camp and enjoying the view. Counter around 1,180.

Part Two can be read here.