Ready to head west

Not much to post for this update.

The past week has been busy with getting things ready for the trip to Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons which will cover 7 states and around 3000 miles.

Had a couple dental appointments, a new heavy duty anti-sway bar installed on the truck, topped off the propane tanks, visited friends in Chicago and Indiana, picked up my 100-400 lens which was in for repair, washed and waxed the truck, cleaned the camper and got the laundry done.

Today Ronna and I spent some time familiarizing ourselves with bear deterrent spray. Hopefully there won’t be any close encounters but we want to be prepared for any circumstances that may arise.

We will be leaving tomorrow morning (Thursday) and should be at West Glacier Campground on Monday afternoon.  It should be a relaxed drive, covering about 300 miles per day and arriving at our nightly stay by 4pm.  Overnights will be near Menominee WI, Moorhead MN, Dickinson ND and Malta MT. After 5 days at Glacier, Ronna will fly back to Chicago and I will continue on to Yellowstone and the Tetons.

I have no idea of how cell and Internet reception will be, or if there will be any at all during various parts of the trip. But I will be in touch whenever possible. Hope to be sending you all some great photos of these iconic National Parks.

We did get a chance to visit James "Pate" Phillip State Park in Bartlett IL during the past week and snap a few pics.

Iowa

Ronna and I had the pleasure of attending our first truck camper rally, which was held in Amana Iowa on August 1^st through the 4^th. We had a total of 21 rigs attend, some from as far away as California and Florida. Although there was more people and activities than I’m used to, I have to say we had a great time meeting fellow truck campers and making new friends. Pot luck dinners were held on Friday and Saturday evening and a communal breakfast on Sunday morning.  Saturday afternoon was an “open house”, with everyone opening the doors of their campers to others for inspection. We managed to view most of the rigs and had many people show a great interest in my camper and truck. Saturday night also featured a raffle. Each attendee was asked to bring a gift representing their home state and gifts were donated by various sponsors as well. Ronna won twice and I once but I don’t think anyone walked away empty handed.

 

 





 

 

The Amana Colonies consist of seven small villages in western Iowa settled in 1856 by a group of mostly Germans, calling themselves The Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration. Ending in 1932, it was one of the longest surviving communal living environments. It’s also home to the Amana Corporation who invented the Radar Range, now better known as a microwave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amana_Colonies

On Friday morning we did a driving / walking tour of the Amana Colonies. Guided by a Lanny, a native and historian from the Amana Heritage Society, we made stops at the Heritage Society building in Amana for a short film documenting  the history of the colonies,  the last remaining communal kitchen museum located in Middle Amana, the still operating General Store in High Amana and the Amana Community Church Museum in Homestead.

 

 

The last stop was a tour of the Millstream Brewing Company in Amana, where Ronna and I broke away from the group and headed for Cedar Rock House near Quasqueton Iowa, about an hour’s drive from Amana.

 

Cedar Rock house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Iowa businessman Lowell Walter and his wife Agnes in 1948. It’s a prime example of Wright’s “Usonian” style and unique because not only was the house a Wright design, but the furnishings, dishes, carpets, draperies and  accessories were designed or picked out by Wright himself.  He even decided the furniture / accessory arrangement in the house. On some of his visits to the house after its completion Wright would relocate furniture and knick knacks to their original position after Agnes had re-arranged them.

In August 1981, when Lowell passes away, the house was left to the Iowa Conservation Commission with all the furnishings intact; in fact there are still some of Agnes’s dresses in the closet. The house has been fully restored and the boat house, also designed by Wright, is undergoing renovation. The guided one hour tour allows access to the entire house and maids quarters. You can even sit in one of the Wright designed living room chairs.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=3

 

 

 

 

Right now I’m at Rock Cut State Park, just north of Rockford IL. Leaving here on the 14^th and headed back to Kettle Moraine State Forest for a week. Leaving for Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons in less than 3 weeks so planning is taking up much of my time.

Hope this update finds everyone in good health.