WOW

Sorry for the lack of posts. We have had major flooding going on after 12 inches of rain fell in a very short period of time last Wednesday night. I work for the American Red Cross, so I have been a bit busy helping coordinate disaster response for thousands of people affected by all this water. On a side note. The heavy rains have swollen rivers to all time highs. These records go back over 100 years, so you can only imagine how bad it is.

A Happy Teardrop

This past weekend we saw a very interesting RV at the lake. It was a homemade teardrop camper built by a very talented man from Mankato,Minnesota.

This little palace on two wheels was a real work of art.
According the owner and craftsman of this unit,it all started out because they stayed at a motel in the Black Hills and were not Happy with the accommodations. He thought he could build something lightweight that could be pulled with just about any vehicle.
In my opinion, he was successful!
The little beauty started out with a trailer kit from Harbor Freight. He moved the axle and started building. He used plywood for the shell with a neat stain to really bring out a beautiful wood pattern.
Inside he has LED lights, a sound system, TV and other creature comforts.

This rig can run on shore power or two on board deep cycle batteries. The inside sleeping area is 6'2" long and appeared to be very comfortable.
The back of the camper raises up to expose a nifty kitchen area accessible from the outside.
With a weight of only 700 pounds, it can be towed by almost anything.
Great job!
As we were pulling into the campground we saw some movement in the ditch and saw several turkeys flitting about. Sue was able to capture one with the camera.

As farmers begin harvesting, we have noticed more wildlife out and about. Be careful out there...those critters can cause some damage.

Heading Out

It is Thursday and that means getting ready to head out for the weekend. We will be spending the weekend in our camper on beautiful Rice Lake at Pihls Park South of Wells, Minnesota.
The manager of the park, Mary, sent these pictures that she took this Spring.



This is a very peaceful place and we are glad we found it.

Looking Good!

Age has a way of creeping up on all of us. It is just one of those things that we can't escape.
Here is a great example of how someone takes great pride in staying healthy.

A doctor on his morning walk, noticed the old lady above,
Sitting on her front step smoking a cigar, so he walked up to her and said,
"I couldn't help but notice how happy you look! What is your secret?"
"I smoke ten cigars a day," she said. "Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big
joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week,
and eat only junk food. On weekends, I pop pills, get a little lovin', and don't
exercise at all."
"That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?"
"Thirty-four," she replied.
So much for that method of "clean living".

Back From A Great Weekend With Pictures

I have been promising some pictures of our seasonal site near Wells, Minnesota. This is a Faribault County Park with 30 camp sites. It is called Pihls Park, named after the gentleman who donated the land to the county some years ago.
What impressed us the most about this park was the super quiet and laid back atmosphere. The manager, Mary is a great person and very accommodating.
The sites are huge as you can see in these pictures of our camper and no other rigs breathing on us. You can click on the pictures for a larger view.


And a few more pics to show distances between units.



While the park itself is about 20 acres, it is surrounded by woods and a very nice lake with a fishing pier.

Here are a few general pictures so you can get more of the cozy feel of this wonderful park.





The campground is mature and offers 110v and 30 amp electrical service and water. There is a dump station on site so hauling the "blue-boy" wheeled waste tank is not a problem at all.
Their rates are $20 per day or $175 per month May through September. That monthly fee even includes utilities. I know that there are several seasonal sites still available for next year in case you know of someone who appreciates peace and quiet.

Time For An Update

My how time slips away! Last weekend was a huge success at our new favorite campground.
Even tho it was a holiday weekend, it was very quiet and peaceful. With only thirty sites, there is never a problem of too many people, and with each site about 100 feet apart and no spots behind us, we have all the privacy we need.
We were so impressed we paid the seasonal rate for the rest of September and signed up as a seasonal for next season, May through September. We can even come earlier in the season and stay later with no promise that the water will be turned on yet. No charge for early or late stays!
We even worked out a deal so we can just leave the camper parked in the off season for $100. That is cheap storage and makes it very convenient. This way I don't have to plow snow around the rig all winter like I would if it were parked at home.
I did take some pictures, but they will have to wait for posting as life (work) is still getting in the way. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and am thankful everyday to be doing something I love.
I will take more pictures this weekend and get them posted as soon as possible.

It is Too Warm in Minnesota Right Now

Who in their right mind would think that the lovely land of 10,000 lakes would be too warm? Please allow me to explain.
I have noticed over the past few weeks that the ice cream (three different kinds) has not been as frozen as it should have been. I blamed it on the extremely hot temperatures we have been having lately. Deep down I probably thought..."oh no, the freezer is on it's last leg". Anyway, Sue was getting some food out of the big white box to put in the camper after work today and she discovered that we had major melt going on in there. Of course it happened while it was full of food. I do think we caught it in time and the meat was still very cold, not frozen, but still preserved.
I guess we will know for sure after we consume the flesh this weekend. We transferred the items to other freezing devices here at Coyote Ridge so we should be okay until we get to the freezer store to purchase a new one.
That project will have to wait as we are pulling out tomorrow for a long weekend of camping and fishing at our favorite campground. If this weekend goes as planned, we may become seasonal residents. The campground is on a lake with VERY large sites and only 20 of them, so it is very quiet and laid back. That is just our style. I will get some pictures this weekend if we can strike a reasonable deal.
Since we are still among the ranks of working stiffs, we thought this would be more convenient and get us out of Dodge more often.
I will fill you in when we return.