Bailey

Another short drive day.  These are kinda fun cause we start the day leisurely have breakfast do the dishes in our new dishwasher and then head out.  I’ve said this before, although this one is the direct replacement I liked the old one better.  More space in the drawer even though by measurements this one is a tiny bit bigger.

Yesterday, we set off to walk a trail we saw when crossing over the Mississippi River from Iowa to Wisconsin.  Turns out the park is closed but we did find this memorial with some surprising, new to us, stats.

A mean helicopter guarding the memorialBack to today and Country Roads Motorhome & RV Park

Site 48 

View from the Captain’s seats   

They have cute names, this is my favourite 

      time

Aug 13th:   Explore the section of Wis-Dells we missed the last time here.

There have been so many radio Culvers radio commercials for ButterBurgers  Allan “I like butter & burgers, gotta have me one!”

Here we are, I’m having a grilled chicken burger, Allan ButterBurgers with the works and sharing fried cheese curds.  First surprise it’s not a we serve you restaurant, it’s McDonald style, order and they will bring you the food.  Their claim to fame is their meat is never frozen and not pre cooked.  It’s all cooked by order.

Food arrives, mine is good, poor Allan’s burger has none of the “works” on it.  He takes it to the counter to get it corrected.  Was it the best burger, hum no.  Does he want another, NO.  At least it’s out of Allan’s system.

We’ll walk to check out this area.  We come across a Ponderosa Steakhouse  Growing up in Montreal we only went out for dinner once or twice a year and it was always to Ponderosa.  The last Canadian location closed in November, 2010. Wonder if now I’ll be the pain in wanting to go for old time sakes. Allan, I know it’s not your favourite but they do have Spotted Cow   Allan did go as a child as well. 

Next stop Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. 

Allan declares the RUSTIC RED  A rustic American red ale made with caramel malt for a sweet, malty finish. (ABV 5%)    Allan likes it 🙂  Mine is a Moosejaw Mary.Allan saying good bye to MJ 

Onward we walk when we see …

What did we buy?

Skill testing question,, where did Allan have this beer, Pretty Good Amber before??

Heading back to Bob still parked at Culvers.  We’ll have to visit when they are openBack to Bailey we go.

Next leg.. 

We’re in the correct spot, for now, Winnebago County, turn for Winnebago Road in our Winnebago

Although it was a short trip it was mostly a single lane each way and SUPER bumpy!                                            Even in town, Galena, WI wicked sky

      We’re here!

Someone has a sense of humour.  They do say speed limits are enforced

We stop   

Rustic Barn Campsite Site 18.  Site is not long enough to have Bob here

Site is not level, hard to see on the photo but Bailey’s front passenger tire is in the air.  We normally do not need the extra step, and we’ve never needed it at its max.  Plus the ground around it isn’t level.  Hoping neither of us break an ankle!

Our view out the side of the windshield

This is the rustic barn, I thought we may see farm animals, wrong       A chapel on site

Oh deer! 

Who’s that with the cow?  Yes, it’s me all wrapped up cause it’s super windy-feels like Lethbridge 🙁Look closely to see the cows in the gulleyWind died down, it’s fire time

Tomorrow is dishwasher replacement day at Sunny Island RV.  Will it fit as the measurements of the replacement is slightly off.  We did ask on a Winnebago info site and someone answered he replaced it with the unit we have ordered so feeling a bit relieved.

Back at the “Concrete Jungle”   

Chilling tonight waiting for tomorrow’s appointment

Aug 07th:  We’re here in our “regular” spot, Brad, our tech is opening the box 🙂

We have hours to kill; first stop McDonalds for breakfast, next Costco for fuel, next we see a mall on Google map close by.  Sadly, it only still had about 4 stores open the balance are all shuttered.  Next a Walmart; if there were folks watching surveillance cameras they would have been wondering what the heck we are doing.  i still get at least 10k steps/day so we just walked up and down the aisles.  Where to next… OK Prairie Street Brewery for Allan’s favourite, Altbier Amber Beer, wine for me and a snack.

Love it here Even the Canada Geese aren’t going home.

Then they say “Giant German Style Pretzel” they aren’t kidding.Half way through this delight, Allan’s cell rings!  Bailey is done, that means the new dishwasher fit 🙂                    Old                                                        New

 Next stop, around the corner a propane fill, we only use propane for our cook top. Last time we filled was 2ish years ago.  The tank been showing a half forever, fill was $20ish. Will be good for another couple of years.

Allan figuring out the dish racks. Shouldn’t be this hard!

Allan figured it out, the last dishwasher was more user friendly .  I want the old one back, maybe not as it didn’t work 🙂

Spending the night at Sunny Island Concrete Jungle then back on the road tomorrow

 

 

We have been at Badgerland Campground for a week.  Today is our last full day, despite the calls for rain we deem it “fire day”.  We didn’t want to put the wood in Bailey or Bob because of bugs so burn, burn burn.  Here is what we are starting with at 1148am.  Let’s see how this goes. 1153 burning nicely   

  101 pile is a little smaller

Let’s take a fire break to get some steps, take the garbage and stuff

500p  back at it 

     512, and then were were 3

And then there were none!  We did it!  Lovely fire day!!

Aug 06th:  Back to Sunny Island we go.  Hope the dishwasher replacement goes well 

Today’s outing is to Fort Atkinson with our first stop. Mr. Brew’s Taphouse.  We’re in Wisconsin, of course, our snack has to be fried cheese curds.  Delicious.  Allan say’s his amber is pretty good.   Actually, it’s called Pretty Good Amber, Allan says it’s deliciousThen off we head, it’s a cute town rather quiet on a Sunday but we liked being here.  Guess I should get used to clock towers actually having the correct time.   

Back at the campground we encounter these fellows on our walk

Badgerland is a nice campground with spacious spots, a bar, fug n activities, water, and 50amp power.  The one thing they don’t have is a sewer hook-up.  Chris, the owner comes by twice a week and empties you on Thursday & Sunday.

We’ll take advantage of today’s empty by doing 3 more loads of laundry.  All toll in this tank there are 5 loads, then we each shower.  Allan is just finishing when Chris arrives.  First time we’ve been emptied in this manner, Allan has always done so himself.

It was supposed to rain but it’s just cloudy, let’s go explore downtown Stoughton, WI with our rain coats.

I love a clock tower that actually displays the correct time as this one does. 

Fun but short walk!  Downtowns just aren’t what they used to be in smaller towns but we continue to visit.

Back to Bailey we decide to walk the other part of the park with an adult Kirkland freezie!  Yum yum   It’s nice on this side and even quieter than our side with mostly seasonal sites.   More bugs as more trees     

Catch and release pond

Got a chuckle of this trailer sign 

Walking along side of us, OK, I’m exaggerating a bit, but he’s right there

After dinner it’s fire & Yahtzee time under a cool sky

I have to brag cause I “almost” never win our Yahtzee games.  I made up for it with this game We feel a scattering of rain drops, “I’m going inside” Allan says; “There are only a few drops I’ll wait it out” says Me.  With that the sky opens up and it’s pouring….and so ends another day

Bailey and coffee to start the day.  What’s broken now?  The coffee maker 🙁  It made a few cups then shut off, I turned it back on it made a bit more.  Had to turn on 4 times.  We need a few one, we’ll pick it up after breakfast cause there is a Walmart right there.

Allan’s choice for an eat out meal: breakfast at Pancake Café in Stoughton, IL a 12 minute drive.  Forgot food photos, oh well.   Think this is the first restaurant we’ve been in that has a swing.  Sign behind Allan reads “Welcome to the Good Life”

Our Swinger! 

We need a pot with a thermal carafe.  None at Walmart, next stops Aldi’s, Ace Hardware, Pick & Save, another store who’s name escapes me.  In this store, when we asked another customer said Macy in Madison.  We would have never thought of there.

A flower bed @ Pick & Save

Home to search online.  Shouldn’t be doing this on Allan’s birthday but what if the coffee pot totally craps out?   Search & search and finally find one on Amazon.  Hoping ours holds out till we pick up in Madison.  Scheduled delivery Friday.

We spent a quiet day just hanging out and playing, what? Of course Kings Cribbage until it’s fire time!

Hope everyone had a great “Allan’s Birthday” Day!!   

07/29:  Because there is always something new breaking…. Today’s installment, the dishwasher.  Allan takes it apart as best he can, noise still there.We’ll have Sunny Island look at it when we go back for the W&D installed.  Fires make everything better, let’s have one.

07/30:  What else can break?  Our bathroom scale!  Gotta get that replaced.

We’re back at Sunny Island RV for the reinstallation of the clothes washer & dryer.   Here we are                                              Here are the appliances 🙂

After dropping Bailey, it was a productive morning, I got a pedicure-Allan a hair cut.  No, not at the same place 🙂

Our self improvement chores done it lunch time at Prairie Street Brewery.  The food is delicious and Allan loves their Altbier, amber beer.  They do can their beers so we’ll buy some.  Love the wrench taps.

Just Allan’s luck, no they don’t have any of Altbier canned.  Boohoo

After lunch we head back to Sunny Island.  Much to our surprise Bailey’s slides were closed indicating she was done or they gave up.  They are installed and back hiding behind the cabinet.

We’re overnighting in the “Concrete Jungle” across the street for zero dollars. Allan says “should we run a load to test the machine”  I say “No, Steve (the Service Manager) said they tested and all works, we’ll do a load at the campground tomorrow.”

The campground is only an hour from Sunny Island chosen because we’ve ordered a replacement dishwasher and it will be here Friday (we hope) so we’ll be back to SI

We had to jury–rig the dishwasher cause after SI looked at it, the lock doesn’t work.  We’re ingenious, place the chair against the dishwasher and back it with our yoga mat against the dining room table.    SPOILER alert; it worked, d/w didn’t open.

We’re here 

Love our site, it’s pretty large

A walk around the grounds, there’s a mini beach

   Still loving our sign & Dancy

Laundry time, yahoo!! Load it up, add detergent, push the start button and no lights, no spinning, no nothing!  Should have listened to Allan and did a load yesterday. Super hero Allan springs into action in short order electricity to unit is back.  12 minutes till our first wash is done!

Of course our day ends, whenever possible with a fire.  Notice our wood stack?

Another beautiful, sunny day, 84F (29C), let’s head to CherryVale Mall thinking it was an outdoor mall.  Turns out it is mostly indoors, but we’re here let’s check it out.  It’s a large mall complete with a Macy’s and JC Penny.

It also has the Corner Store, I think you gain weight just walking in.  Some of the goodies…

What did we buy?   Nuthin honey!

We’re having such an exciting day, next stop Woodman Market  Allan is almost out of amber beer and that will never do!  When I looked online they seemed to have the best assortment.  These are the ones they show they have, don’t really believe it but checking.

Turns out this is the largest liquor store we’ve been to in forever. Their shopping carts have a spot for your cell so you can read your shopping list easily.    And rows and rows of everything you can think of liquor and then some!

Best price! 

Did we buy anything?  Bet your ass we did but you already knew that.  Got a few different ambers for Allan, a few bottles of wine and the BEST score.  We’ve been looking for this in every liquor store we’ve been in since Wisconsin.  Burnt sugar whiskey

What’s broken now… the dishwasher.

We’re surprised how well we managed our black & grey tanks for the last 5 days.  The owner told us to dump the gray at the site, Allan really didn’t want to do that, we were entitled to one clean from the park but didn’t need it.  This photo doesn’t show the angle we were at to dump, but here we are dumping. Because of the narrow road in/out our plan is I’ll go first in Bob and block the road so no one can come until we’re back on a real road.  Turns out no one was coming but there were a few leaving with us.

This guy is ahead of us, great reminder.Got the Illinois sign   

Followed quickly by   

It’s too bad we can’t send some of this flood water to Alberta & BC to combat the wild fires.

Rockford, think this is the quietest Love’s we’ve ever been toThe day has almost arrived… @ Sunny Island RV for the repair of the clothes washer.  Our appointment is at 8am on the 22 so we are overnighting in the empty lot across the street. The view from our Captain seatsStill loving my funky Crocs

July 22nd:  She’s in and being looked at.  We wondered why the ladder, turns out they had to remove not only the washer but the dryer.  The option was to remove the dryer or the toilet, dryer was easier.  The ladder was for something with the venting outside.

Bailey being looked after it’s time to explore Rockford.  Michelle, our service rep, tells us of Prairie Street Brewery downtown Rockford.  You can sit outdoors overlooking the river.  We all know, those are words Allan lives by.  Allan loved his amber, the margarita was pretty good too

Quesadilla was one of the best   

Turns out the clothes washer water pump requires replacement.  Part will take 2-3 days to arrive.  The lot across the street is OK for one night but let’s search for a campground.

In case you wonder what we look like now

We find Blackhawk Valley Resort just 9 minutes away.  We drive to it in Bob to check it out.  The roads required to get there, and mostly everywhere, are tree covered, many branches overhanging the road. Will Bailey clear them? It makes me nervous.  I’m not surprised to learn Rockford is nicknamed “The Forest City” for its heavily forested residential neighborhood.  Also much to Rockford’s chagrin, it was once known as the “Screw Capital of the World” because of the billions of screws, bolts, and fasteners its factories produced for the manufacturers of the world. Back to the campground…

We chat with Susan in the office and learn It’s a members only, Venture Out campground.  Most members only campgrounds still offer a few sites to non-members.  Susan tells us we can stay for up to 7 nights FREE if we do their “2 hour tour”.  This is like a time-share.  We’re not keen to do this, Michelle, our service rep, tells us of a State park about 20m away.  Off we go, the highway is under construction, we’re OK going but coming back it’s stopped traffic. We bail.

Allan thinks we’ll be good travelling to Blackhawk Resort, he calls and tells our story and asks about the 7 free nights.  The first rep takes our information, they will process it and call back within an hour.  We are now enjoying the above bevies when they all back.  We’re IN!  Susan was surprised we got it done so quickly, Not sure why she’d be surprised the grounds are more empty than full.   

There were 2 wicked rain storms and a tornado that passed though the area.  The one storm was the day before.  Trees are down, the roads are more like off roading.  The first site they bring us too is, why don’t they train their folks..  I wish photos would depict slopes but my don’tAllan is standing on the slope where Bailey’s front end would be.  No way we could level

This would have been the view, but not really cause this was is a back in site. 

We get another site and have to travel the entire park, the road was washed out.  Bailey did well off roading..  At our stop!

Trees down, just good they didn’t hit an RV