Apostle Islands, WI - Way Cool!

After arriving at the Apostle Islands Monday afternoon, Karla and I made plans for our time in this very unique environment.  The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a 22-island archipelago on the South Shore of Lake Superior. It is known for its red sandstone sea caves, sandy beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and historic shipwrecks. 

On Tuesday, we biked from RVMakes3 to the town of Bayfield, WI.  From there we boarded a ferry to Madeline Island, about a 20 minute ferry ride. 

Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one not included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It’s 2.5 miles across the channel from Bayfield. The Anishinaabe name for Madeline Island is Mooningwanekaaning, which means Home of the Golden Breasted Woodpecker. Public signage on Madeline Island is bilingual, with place names written in both English and Anishinaabe.

Upon arrival on the island, we biked across the island to the north shore/beach, about a 16 mile ride roundtrip.  After admiring the unique scenery, beaches and landscape, we trekked to LaPointe, WI for a late lunch and relaxation by the shore.  The bike ride was tough, 20 miles in all, but Karla persevered.  Inspiring!

Wednesday was spent touring the bay and islands via boat.  We toured 19 of the 22 islands viewing multiple lighthouses, abandoned brownstone quarries, and numerous fascinating sea caves.  Tomorrow we venture to Marquette, MI where we will celebrate Karla's birthday.  

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers for Karla.  We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you soon.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway near you.  Take care!

    

Karla's Eggs-cellent Adventure!

On Sunday, Karla and I arrived at Locally Laid Egg Company near Duluth, MN where we boondocked (Harvest Host) for the night.  In the US, 91% of all birds are caged and housed in warehouses of 300,000 chickens or more.  Locally Laid Egg Company are MICRO-BROOD with flocks of approximately 3,000 birds, foraging and exercising on pasture.  The result is a healthier, happy chicken and better egg.  

Karla spent the evening corralling the chickens into the hen house for the night and next morning gathering the many eggs produced overnight.  After gathering several dozen eggs, we selected our favorites and had a wonderful scrambled egg breakfast.  

Today we plan to arrive at the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin for a 3-day stay.  Please stay tuned for that blog update.  We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you soon.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway near you.  Take care!

     

   

Campground Debacle at Badlands National Park

This past Tuesday, Karla and I arrived at Badlands National Park only to find the campground was overbooked and our guaranteed reservation useless.  All "spots" were first come first serve.  We snatched spot #18 and squatted there for 3 days.  Given the fiasco, it was a free stay!  

While all of that was a hassle, we had a wonderful time in the Park.  Wednesday, we biked 12 rigorous miles to and from the pinnacle (almost).  Then spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the unique scenery and optimal weather.  Thursday, Karla and I ventured on very strenuous hikes, creeping along cliff edges, crawling through narrow passages, and scaling makeshift ladders to reach many vistas and canyon overlooks.  A very active, unique, and fun 3 days.

On Saturday, we arrived at the home of Bob and Karen Evans.  The Evans' are long time friends from Ohio now living in Minneapolis, MN.  Bob is a Professor of Biochemistry Molecular Biology and Biophysics at The University of Minnesota and Karen is the College of Biological Sciences Graduate Program Coordinator at The University of Minnesota.  Karla and I have always enjoyed spending time with the entire Evans family (which includes 8 grandkids now).  Thank you Bob and Karen for your gracious hospitality and the thoughts and prayers for Karla.  See you again soon.😊

Happy Memorial Day to ALL!  We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you soon.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway (just like Bob and Karen's) near you.  Take care!  

A Bust! Great Sand Dunes National Park

Good Evening All.  On Saturday, Karla and I drove over the San Juan Mountains (14,000 feet elevation) through snow to reach our destination of Great Sand Dunes National Park.  Nestled against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are the focal point of a wild natural system of high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, forceful winds, and billions of sand grains.  These huge dunes, North America's tallest, are about 11 percent of a 330 square mile deposit of sand.  Eroded from mountains, shattered by freezing and thawing, then tumbled by streams and winds, sand grains cycle through the dunes system.    

We did visit the park and hike/explore the great sand dunes a bit, but most of our time was challenged by rain.  Sunday afternoon we departed on our way to Badlands National Park in South Dakota....we plan to arrive there tomorrow. 

Karla is doing well and having fun.  I am so thankful for that.  Stay tuned for a "full report" from Badlands National Park.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway near you.  Take care! 

    

Two Days in Mesa Verde National Park

Thursday Karla and I arrived at Mesa Verde National Park where we boondocked for a couple days.  Mesa Verde National Park was created to preserve the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people, both atop the mesas and in the cliff dwellings.  About 550 AD, people living in the Four Corners region decided to move onto the Mesa Verde.  For over 700 years these people flourished eventually building elaborate stone communities in the sheltered alcoves of canyon walls.

Karla and I spent the days hiking, climbing, and exploring the rugged terrain.  We experienced many vast overlooks, shuffled past many dramatic shear cliffs, and eventually reached the largest petroglyph display known in the park.  While strenuous, the days were invigorating! 

I hope this blog post finds you happy and healthy.  We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you soon.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway near you.  Take care! 

         

Made Our Way to Canyon de Chelly (d'SHAY)

Good Evening All.  It has been about 3 months since my last blog post.  I hope ALL are doing well.  As you may know, Karla and I traveled back to Ohio for our quarterly medical visits.  We are humbled by and grateful for the additional time God has given us.......so no time to waste.  After flying back to Sedona to close-up the house and stage RVMakes3 for our next adventure, we departed on Tuesday for Canyon de Chelly in north east Arizona.  Our Sedona neighbors, Barb and Jerry, joined us for this leg of the trip.  It is always a pleasure to get time with them.  Following Canyon de Chelly, they traveled back to Sedona for a couple more weeks then will departing for Eagle Lake, WI for the summer.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, which is within the Navajo Reservation, comprises several canyons that include Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto.  At the canyons' mouth near Chinle, the rock walls are only 30 feet high.  Deeper in the canyons the walls rise dramatically until they stand over 1000 feet above the canyon floor.  Native Americans have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years.  About 700 years ago most people moved away, but a few remained in the canyons.  Finally, about 1700 AD, the Navajo arrived building homes and adding their own designs to the ancient gallery walls.  .

We hired a Navajo guide to take us several miles into the canyons.  We viewed many of the multistoried cliff dwelling villages still (somewhat) in tact and pictographs and petroglyphs, some thousands of years old, throughout the canyons.  After a long afternoon exploring the canyons, Karla and I retreated to RVMakes3 for the night.  On Thursday, we ventured to Mesa Verde National Park.  Please stay tuned for that blog update.

We look forward to seeing each and everyone of you soon.  And as always, (we are) coming to a driveway near you.  Take care!