Oh my, it has been interesting getting here!  I’m at Dune Lake Campground in Coloma, Michigan.  It was raining so hard this morning I was afraid to unplug my electric cable.   Had to wait 2 hours for a break in the downpour!    Did have a really nice breakfast at the happiest little place ever…Joy & Ed’s.  It was the kind of place where every person who ever comes in there is a local and discusses the issues that will be presented at the town meeting AND stares at anyone “foreign” that comes in…LOL  They didn’t stare long though.Read More

   The rain ceased and the sun blasted through the clouds!!!  Yippee!  Off I went bright and early to find more falls and take another shot at spying the nest!!!  Success all around.  Four more waterfalls in gorgeous canyons AND I located the tree top where the bald eagles’ nest was situated.  The thing I didn’t know on Tuesday was that I was gonna need binoculars to see clear across the river!  Thanks again to my binocular benefactor….they did great!!!  I was able to see 2 bald eagles…one resting on the nest and the other perched on a branch besideRead More

3 crazy nuts I met in Utica joining me on my journey Frank is going green…LOL Illinois & Missouri Canal I&M canal On porch of shoppeCarved out of wood Great Ice Cream Shoppe This sign is what made me get their ice creamRead the line just above AWARDS!!! Awesome  On Visitor center grounds Dinnertime at the visitor center Falls at French Canyon-Starved Rock River from Eagle Cliff Aerial view of river from Eagle Cliff platform Pathway in park Something to look forward to-Hmm-mmmm? Uh-oh!!! Drive in to the park Peek a boo tree trunk Poem written after 2 unsuccessful attemptsRead More

   Yes, this is day 2 at Paradise Campground in Garden Prairie, Illinois!  Well, it rained like the dickens through the night….but the day has been gorgeous!  The grounds here are quite beautiful as well…perfect for walking, chillin’ by the water with your favorite book, photo-ops, swinging at the playground and YES…riding your bike!  I am happy to announce that my new bike’s tires are officially dirty…rode it for the first time today!  It was great!  On the first trip, I had a bag of freshly folded laundry hanging off the left handlebar! Then I just rode around for kicks!Read More

   The vertical water part of my last post is here!    After my ‘waking siesta’, I was on the road to Galena, Illinois.  A brief 25 minutes later, an incredible experience awaited me!  Sometimes an event is just plain perfect!  Joe, from Niabrara State Park had grown up here and told me of several places worth visiting, but once again time constraints insisted I prioritize…of course, I chose the waterfall at Galena Territory!  I drove into this gorgeous golf community not having a clue where to go and noticed a gentleman walking across the parking lot.  I told him I wasRead More

   Last stop in Iowa – Dubuque!  I unexpectedly began my day at 5:30 AM in the ER of Mercy Medical Center!  My ankles and calves were pretty swollen.  The results of an EKG, an ultrasound, and some blood work showed that I’m in great shape over all…the legs aren’t accustomed to sitting and driving for 3-7 hours at a time however!  Solutions: 1-wear compression knee highs while driving  2-break up the longer drives and get out and stretch and walk around  3-use PC on lap on the couch with legs up or wear knee highs if seated at aRead More