Friday, July 24, 2015

July 20th to 22nd - Minnesota

July 20th – Mon
We got up to see 2 huge juvenile eagles sitting on a picnic table at the empty site next to us. We took a couple pictures through the window but not before one flew away. Terry went outside and was able to get a couple more pictures. We saw a mature eagle flying along the river a bit later.
We had a short drive today so were able to laze around before packing up. We stopped for breakfast on the way to Minnesota and St. Paul East RV Park. Shortly after we exited the freeway we saw a sign saying there was a closure at the road where the RV park was located. We hoped the closure was on the road where we were driving but it was the park road. As we drove past the road I grabbed the phone to call the park and ask “what now”. Of course she said to follow the detour signs and I said “too late”! So she gave us good instructions and we followed the next detour signs to the park. We still had to go past barricades to get to the park driveway.
We got set up in a nice pull through site and called Dennis & Gloria to say we had arrived. We are not far from their house so they showed up shortly. I had told them about the detour and they made it after a bit of rerouting.
We chatted for a while and then went to their place for dinner. Lovely weather to sit outside for a drink first. Great dinner and a cool but not cold ride back on the bike.
The GPS in the truck has some problems and keeps shutting down and restarting. It was particularly bad yesterday so Terry used the GPS from the motorcycle today. It worked great but wouldn't speak the directions! Guess it's time for a new one for the truck.

July 21st – Tues
Dennis & Gloria picked us up for breakfast before going golfing today. It didn't take us as long to eat as we thought so we had time to check out a couple of places for a new GPS. After asking for help and being ignored in a Best Buy, we continued on to the golf course with plenty of time to share a bucket of balls on the driving range before our tee time of noon.
The weather was wonderful and everyone had enough good shots to enjoy our 9 holes of golf. Dennis & Gloria have played the course before so could help us with the layout and invisible hazards.
We went to their house after golf for a “cool one”. Dennis took us back to the rig while Gloria started dinner and we returned on the motorcycle. After dinner we played a game of Ponytail Canasta which the guys won after a hard fought battle. As we went to leave, Terry got on the passenger seat of the bike so I drove to the park. Terry assumed I knew the way so I missed one turn when he didn't tell me ahead of time but otherwise it was another great chance to learn & practice with little traffic on the roads.
 
July 22nd – Wed
Dennis & Gloria were going to pick us up at 10 but last night there was a note on our steps saying the driveway to the park was being paved at 10 this morning so they had to come earlier. Our plans today included a trip to Stillwater which is a touristy town on the St Croix River. We wandered through the shops with only one specific goal – a hat for me to wear after the motorcycle helmet really messes up my hair. We finally went back to one of the first shops and got a hat. Then it was time for lunch on a deck overlooking the river. It was a nice little excursion.
Now we continued our search for a GPS with a stop at Costco and then another Best Buy where we got a helpful salesman and bought a unit. We stopped for Coke & tonic and enjoyed a drink(s!) at our place this time. We were all still full from lunch so we decided to skip dinner together and hugged goodbye with the knowledge that it is only a 2 ½ months until we are back at VVV.
We hoped to stop in St. Peter to see Mike & Susie and sent an email a couple days ago asking if they would be home. We didn't get an answer to the email so we called and found out that they are camping at Garrison. While we were on the phone to Susie, Mike went to the office and found out that the site next to them is available for 4 days so that is where we are heading tomorrow.

 

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