The North Shore of Lake Superior

Decided to give Jenny and Vito a break from us and headed up the North Shore of Lake Superior for a couple of Days. Stayed at an overpriced inn at Silver Bay and went to Terragouche State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park the next day. Very busy and fun! I loved Split Rock State Park and Renita's favorite was the waterfall at Gooseberry.

The leaves were close to peak but not quite there yet as there were still some green trees. It was still a very good day with incredible scenery. Went to agate beach at Gooseberry State park and found a crowd of agae hunters, and one tiny agate!

We returned to Jenny's for the night. Definetly want to return with the camper!

Back in St Paul

We are starting to feel like yo yos as we are back in St Paul and still waiting for our new home to be finished. The new pick up date is next Saturday soooooooo we are going to take a break and go up to Duluth to see the leaves.

This is our second night here and I feel so disruptive to Jenny and Vito. We did get to see Jenny and the fire dance troop rehearse for Valley Fair. I knew but had forgotten how good a dancer Mel is.

Other stuff...... we ate at a Tibetan/Indian resturant the first night here, took a nice walk along the river, got to see a black squirrel in the park with the neat gazebo. Even read the TS Elliot poetry with the gazebo. Oh and we road a bus, 94b, across town.

Matt and Patty

Here we are in Rock Springs till tomorrow and then off to St Paul and Indiana to get our new home! At last!

It has been so much fun couch surfing but we are ready to get the fifth wheel, have it licensed, and head to Florida. The weather here took a turn for the worse and I actually saw snow mixed with rain, yuck. Did I say we sold our snow shovels? And talk about more crazier, we have to bring the fifth wheel back to Wyoming to have it inspected for the vin and then licensed, and then Florida.

Anyway the picture in this blog is of Matt and Patty,(Matt' fiancee). They are planning a wedding in May and we are so excited and happy for them! She is a nice and caring lady with a special place in her heart for all animals, big and small. We welcome her into our family.

Along the Green River

Had a fun day Monday as it was my birthday and we drove along the Green river to Seedskadie National Wikdlife refure and on to Fontenell Resevoir. Saw huge moose and eagles, both golden and bad, and mergansers, and wild horses. Checked out campsites and never plan on cmaping at Fontenell. What a dump. The only good campsite is weeping rock but the rood is bad getting there.

Used the spotting scope for the first time and saw lots of other birds. A good break from our work on eliminating paperwork, changes of address, etc. Almost done!

The picture above is where the two brothers had a shoot out over the ones wife, and were found dead, days later!

Back in Gillette again

Well here we are in Gillette again. Dale and Michelle are letting us couch surf for a couple nights as we get some stuff taken care of and then off to Matt's for 10 days. Got good news that our fifth wheel will be ready the week of the 24th so we are planning that trip also. WE have been so busy that we haven't had any time to relax.

Don't miss work one bit. Doesn't surprise me.

Saw loess hills in western Iowa Monday, that was pretty neat as we drove from Omaha to Sioux City on 29.

Busy day ahead of us so that's all for now.

Clear skies,

Mark

September 8th 2007
Well I am way past due for a blog entry and here we are in Keosauka and the verizon card is slow and says we are roaming so I am afraid to use it. Anyway what a time we are having. Celebrated jenny's birthday on the fourth by going to Galactic pizza, vegetarian was good but I was starved, followed by Sushi Tango in Minneapolis. Not sure I liked the sushi with eel but the rest was ok. I've been around raw fish way too much and this was a little fishy tasting. But the important thing was I had another moment of peace. Sitting there seeing everyone happy, surrounded by beautiful women, of course my wife is included:), life is good and retirement is great.
Went to Waterloo Thursday afternoon and checked into the Comfort inn. Made me happy that we are getting a fifth wheel and won't have to motel it much longer. Saw Aunt Myrtle and Beckey and had an enjoyable time catching up on all the gossip. Listening to the gambling plans and cleaning the church and all on how busy she is made me feel good to see such a busy 78 year old! Played golf with Mick Friday morning at Gates park, along with Bob(Dolenes Husband), and Ralph a golfing buddy of Mick's. What a nice course and oh did the trees exact their toll, but I shot a 93, or there abouts, so it was good. After golf Mick took Renita and I to a lunch buffet at Mama Nick's circle Pizzaria. Had walleye on the menu and meet the owner George who elk hunts with Mick in Colorado.
Ate way too much and then drove to Renita's sisters house in Southern Iowa.
Had another special moment of peace as I was walking the dog in Keosaukia, where Renita's sister Pam lives. Early Saturday morning and no one out and the whole town was quiet. I forgot what it was like to be in a small town in Iowa. It was so quiet. The trees are so neat, the walnuts falling to the ground, the dog wanting to chase each one.............
Then later we went to Lacey Keosaukua State park to look at potential campsites and found some but the place to camp is Lake Suregma! Full Hookups at 16 bucks a night and partials for 14 dollars. Definetly the place to go.
Then Pam took us to an Amish grocery store in Catrail, Iowa. Black raspberry pies, home made choclate candy for 2.99 a pound, rootbeer twizlers. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. We loaded up with sugar purchases. Tonight is steak dinner.......thank goodness we packed the scale and left it in Gillette.

Jenny and Vito and us at Pizza Galactia

Welcome Family and Friends!

September 3, 2006



Well the journey has begin and we are several weeks into our travels so it's long past time to start the blog.



As a synopsis of what has already happened we finally closed on the sale of our house August 23rd, took off to Rapid City and spent the night in a hotel. Got up early,8 am, made some phone calls and ordered our fifth wheel,(a Bighorn 3400rl).



Now it would be nice if one was ready that had what we wanted but our special order will take 6 weeks soooo we are homeless, i.e. couch surfing. First couch at St Paul's at our daughters studio.



Saw the Pompeii exhibit, went to Stillwater, been bike riding, walking and resting. Kind of playing the touristy thing, including eating out a lot, and now I am sick from all the crummy food. It will be so nice to get our fiver and be able to cook a normal diet.



Had a special moment in St Paul's as I was resting in Jenn's building and was able to listen to jazz being played by the neighbor,(He's a sax player and Jenn's building is an Artist Coop). I felt like I was in New Orleans. It felt so good to not have to worry about work.



Well I need to go for now so until the next post.



Clear skies,



MarkandRenita



Leaving Thursday for Waterloo and then Friday for Pam and Roys. Should be fun and then back to Wyoming looking for more couch's:)