Our next destination was Helena MT to visit Tim and Katy who we meet 2 winters ago in Wickenburg AZ at the park we stayed in. They have a beautiful home high on top of a mountain looking down on the town, unfortunately the smoke from all the forest fires obscured the views. Everywhere we have been there has been smoke.
They were wonderful hosts cooking delicious meals and showing us the downtown area.
Thank you so much for a great time, until we meet again, hugs.
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We left Helena MT and headed to Sheridan WY staying over night at the Walmart, luckily the temps were cool. The parking lot was full with over nighters as the Sturgis bike rally was going on.
We scored a spot at the Elks Lodge in Rapid City, SD. Our friends from Wickenburg AZ, Bob and Sharel, were staying in Pedimont which was about 20 miles up the road from us.
About 2 weeks before we arrived Bob and Sharel were in a bad hail storm at the campground they were staying in at a dealership. They had all the roof vents, sky light, windshield and mirrors on their motorhome damage along with the pickup truck! The dealership had millions of dollars in damage to new RVs.
I can't imagine being in a storm like that and dealing with the damage!
Of course since the bike rally was going on we had to get the harley out and do some riding. We were at the rally in 2007 so we had to ride to the new Full Throttle Saloon.
It's has a very cool industrial feel honoring the backbone of our country.
On Thursday nights in Rapid City on the square they have free concerts. I will have to say this is one of the coolest downtown areas we have been in. They took us to dinner at the Fire House which is an actual fire house, great food and wonderful atmosphere.
There is this alley that folks can get a permit to paint, what a great idea.
Planned on leaving Saturday and when Mark went to backed up my truck to the trailer it wouldn't go in gear and the shiftier was moving all around! This was Friday night and he knew if we cut it off it wouldn't start again so Bob suggested a repair shop just down the road from where we were. So we dropped it off and Mark went back when it opened Saturday morning. The shiftier lineage had broke and the shop got the part delivered but weren't able to install it. They were super helpful getting a tow truck and suggesting another repair shop that was open on Sunday. The tow truck driver showed up, asked what the problem was, then asked if we had a zip tie. Gave him one and he crawls under the truck and made a temporary fix allowing us to drive it to the next repair shop. No towing bill and we gave the man money for lunch. Ok, so we get it to the shop and they said there was a possibility of getting it done that day if not it would be Monday. Back at home we were saying how super happy we were that this didn't happen in the middle of nowhere, about then the phone rings and the truck is ready!
A big shout out to Bargain Barn in Rapid City.
Thank Bob and Sharel for showing us a good time during our visit.
I'm going to miss you girlfriend, see you in a few years.
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Moving on we landed in Mitchell SD at the Moose Lodge and had to check out the one and only Corn Palace.
Most of the outside and inside designs are dried corn cobs!
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Next day we stopped at a rest area and came across this, it's the base column to a wind turbine which has 3 sections, so this gives you an idea how large they are.
Scored a spot at Walnut Woods State Park in Des Moines IA where Mark's nephew Jason lives.
This was a nice find for us that Jason suggested as we usually don't fit in a state park. It was nice to spend time with family and see his girls again, they were just little when we saw them last. Jason married Annie 5 years ago and she had 2 kids as well so they now have a wonderful blended family and the kids are nicknamed CHAOS.
Thanks for a wonderful time, great food and use of your laundry facilities.
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Moving on through Iowa we had to stop at the worlds largest truck stop in Walcott. This place has anything the traveler could possibly want.
Spent the night at the Moose Lodge in Joliet Illinos after driving through some horrible rain, sure glad we didn't wash the rig.
The next day we arrived in Howe Indiana at the DRV factory to pick up some parts for the rig. Got a spot that had full hookups, haven't had that since Utah. One of the things we got was the floor for the bedroom slide as we had some water damage that we need to address. We have an appointment with Allegaint RV Repair in Middlebury IN to get it fixed but it's a week from now so they were nice enough to let us park my truck and trailer at the shop, seems strange riding together!
On Sunday we went to the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, it's definetly worth a visit if you are in the area.
Man we have come along way in the RV world.
Once we toured the factory Monday morning we had to move and that morning Mark found out about some classes he could take in South Bend IN. So we had to scramble to find a spot and try to get there before a rain storm. Now this was only a 35 mile trip but it was our worst trip since we left Arizona. It cost a small fortune to take the toll interstate so we decided to take 20 but they were doing railroad repairs and detoured us about 40 miles out of our way. Rain, detours and me almost running out of gas along with a confused GPS made for a awful trip! But on the bright side we got a spot at the Elks Lodge in South Bend and it wasn't raining when we arrived. This location is 3 miles from the classes Mark will be taking for RV repair.
Found out about a speedway 30 miles from us that was having a race with monster trucks and a sort of demolition derby. What a hoot it was with a backwards race, fox and hound tag race and a trailer race.
We left South Bend IN headed to Greenville Ohio to the county fairgrounds where we will stay over the Labor Day Holiday. If you don't have reservations over the holiday it can be tough to find a spot but always check fairgrounds and as long as the fair isn't going on you can usually get a spot.
My brother lives in Englewood Ohio which is 30 minutes away, there was a KOA near him but they wanted $57 a night and we refuse to pay that! On saturday he came and visited us, it was nice to see him again as it had been 3 years.
It was a good decision to leave on Labor Day as the traffic wasn't bad and we landed in Mercer PA. I have family here in the area and we had a few days to kill before we needed to be in Hersey PA. Found a nice spot at RV Village and we were only ten miles away from my cousin Doug and his wife Patti. If you stayed 6 days you got the 7th free, we couldn't stay 7 but they will allow us to use the free night on our return trip.
Man it was hot and humid when we arrived. They were setting record highs with thick humidity, actually the schools were letting kids out early as they didn't have A/C. Who would have thought the weather would be so crazy the first of September.
The next day we took my Aunt June to lunch at her favorite restaurant Bob Evans, she is 96 years young and the nicer lady you will every met.
That same day my 5th grandchild was born!
Welcome to the world Nash Anthony Williamson.
That night we went to dinner with my cousin Doug and his wife Patti at Quaker Steak n Lube in Sharron PA which is the original one, this is a tradition when we are in town.
A few nights later we had dinner with the rest of my cousins, always great to see everyone!
We pulled out headed to Harrisburg/Hersey PA driving in the rain all day. Mark is taking some continuing ed classes and we have a friend flying in to attend the RV show and pick out his new fifthwheel. We were lucky enough to find a spot at Harrisburg East Campground, abit pricey but worth it. Stayed in one site and then moved the next day to another one, again lucky with the show going on.
Glad we could help our friend Doug Villers pick out his new RV, he fly's back home and we headed back to Mercer PA for one night and then to Middlebury IN to get the slide fixed. During this time there is a hurricane headed right for Wilmington, so worried about our family and friends!
These folks did a great job and we couldn't be more pleased! We got there on a Sunday and they let us stay in the parking lot hooked up to power. They started working on it Monday morning and it was done Tuesday, spent the night in a hotel. Damage was caused from broken caulk and poor construction. Tony the owner has worked in the RV industry for 30 years and knows his stuff. He put a larger L channel on the slide and was able to replace the floor without taking out the slide!
Call Allegiant at 574-825-3303 for your RV repairs and keep things caulked!!!
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Left IN putting some miles behind us staying at some Walmart's landing in Mount Airy, NC at the fairgrounds. Spent a few days and visited the downtown area. We have been here before and always go to Snappy Lunch to get a famous pork chop sandwich!
Left Mount Airy headed to Bracey VA where we visited my Aunt Ruthie. We were in a holding pattern waiting for I-40 to open up, the flooding from hurricane Florence was unbelievable!
After a few days I-40 opened up and we were able to make it home! Will be spending the winter at my son Ryan's house. It's good to be back home and be able to help folks recover from the hurricane.
Thanks for following our travels!
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