July 22 - on to Mark Twain State Park, Stoutsville, Missouri

  We had a fairly easy 4 hour drive over our next State Park.  On the drive, we saw several wind turbine farms.  Dozens of wind turbines slowly turning, scattered throughout the farmlands.  It looked really neat.
  Today's challenge:  there isn't just one type of diesel gas.  We felt pretty good about now being comfortable finding where the diesel gas is on the pumps, and filling the RV.  However, when I pumped this time, I noticed a sign that said this diesel is bio-mass diesel, with between BS 5 % and 20%, and the little sign above my fuel tank that says "use only low sulfur diesel, or bio-mass with a max of BS 5%".  Uh-Oh.  What does all this mean?  We never noticed these signs before.  So, with a little online research, and discussion with a big RV owner, we now know we should NOT use bio-mass diesel, especially if it has more than BS 5%, as it can clog the fuel filter.  So, now finding diesel fuel gets a little trickier. 
  The Mark Twain State Park is located on a fairly new huge lake, created by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1982.  The campground is nice, with large wooded sites, with a view of the lake through the trees.  However, it is strange.  The entire area around the lake is rocks, that are all concrete color.  I think the water level is low, so you see the rocks.  There are lots of felled trees clogging the many inlets.  It is the only lake I've seen that is not very appealing.  Same with the woods.  There are nice trails, with little under story, but it too lacks appeal.  There are some nice overlooks of the lake.  Its like with all of the green trees and water, it should be vibrant, but to me, the energy here is sort of bland and dead.  All in all, not one of my favorite parks.

Wind turbine farm photo:

July 21 - still at Moraine View State Park, LeRoy, IL

  Did another morning hike (while it was still a LITTLE cooler).  This one was a little longer, through the woods, and by the lake.  Very nice.  It was so hot, but our site by the water has a strong breeze, constantly.  So, it was OK to sit outside, in the shade and read.  Just hung out the rest of the day.

More hiking photos of Moraine View State Park:

July 20 - Moraine View State Park, LeRoy, IL

  There's not a lot of places to go to nearby, or things to see and do--just big, huge, corn fields.  This State Park seems to be a destination location.  Since it is so HOT and HUMID, though, many folks seem to have stayed home.  We went for a nice hike this morning. There are some nice trails on various sides of the lake. We found a mile and a half  loop trail through an area that has primitive tent camping sites scattered throughout the woods.   A side trail led down to the lake, which was beautiful.  While standing there, we saw a large pike fish jump right out of the water a good 2 feet and catch a bug (I assume that is what he was doing, as opposed to just feeling his/her oats).  Then, we went over to the marina/restaurant area and had a beer and sat in the shade and felt the breeze.  We came back later for pizza and salad dinner.  This is a very nice State Park.

Hiking photos at Moraine View State Park:

July 19 - Left the family, and on to Moraine View State Park, LeRoy, IL

  We said all of our good-byes to all of the family.  We needed to do a few errands before we left the Saugatuck area, and then stopped on our way at the only Whole Foods on our route--near Hammond/Gary Indiana.  After a week of vacationing, I needed to stock back up my RV refrigerator.  Then we hit traffic on Route 80, so we sort of took a back road over to Illinois.  I was amazed at how many corn farms there are in Illinois!  And how big and flat the corn fields are!  And how straight the roads through the corn fields are!
  So, what would have been a 4 hour journey, actually took us all day.  When we arrived at the Moraine View State Park, there was a sign into the horse camp.  Since there was no other camping sign, we pulled in there.  Some guy with a horse and trailer said just find a spot and pull in.  But, it was really hot, humid and these spots had no shade, no lake, and just outhouses.  This did NOT look like the photos online.  Then the fellow came over and said since we didn't have a horse, perhaps we were in the wrong part of the Park.  Fortunately, that was the case.
  We drove further on to a very nice State Park.  A large lake, had a beautiful road surrounding it, with a beach area, campgrounds, trails, and a marina with a restaurant.  Unfortunately, it was SO hot and humid, many folks stayed home.  We had a campsite right on the edge of the lake, and it had a wonderful, continuous  strong breeze, that allowed us to sit outside for a bit.  But, we had the air condition turned on inside the RV, which allowed us to be comfortable and sleep well.

Moraine View State Park campsite photo:

July 12 - July 18, family vacation at Silver Lake, Saugatuck, MI

  We had a wonderful family vacation on Silver Lake, in Saugatuck, Michigan.  We rented a house that fit all 20 of us--my 5  kids, spouses, and 8 grandchildren.  Ed Pless's sister, Joyce, and her husband, Bill, joined us for a few days as well.   The weather was hot and humid, but sunny.  So we spent a LOT of time swimming and floating on floats in warm Silver Lake.  We also went over to the Lake Michigan shore and beach, just a few miles away.  We went blueberry picking, and Serena had her 12th birthday there.  Shanti brought their paddleboard, which everyone used, or tried to.  It was so much fun.  We played Canfield and one of Aaron's group game in the evenings. We all chipped in to cook dinners, and ate delicious feasts.  It was heart-warming to spend so much time with the family, and see everyone connecting, and having a good time.
 
I'll just post a few of the many, many photos we took:

Fun stuff photos:

July 11 - Ann Arbor visit with Lois & Ken

  We spent the morning going on a walking tour of the University of Michigan.  Actually, it was a tour for prospective students and their parents, along with us.  Of course, I was the only one actually asking questions of the tour guide.  But it was quite interesting.  U of M has an interesting history, and some beautiful architecture.  Ken actually went to college there, and had some commentary relating to how life was like then versus now. 
   In the evening, we went over to the nearby town of Chelsea.  They had an outdoor music festival, and we had dinner at a local restaurant, with its own live band.  Beautiful evening to be out and about.  Nice time.  It's always fun to watch Lois & Ken dance to live music, anywhere, anytime.
  Back to Lois's and another session of Rachael Maddow.

University of Michigan tour photos:

Chelsea town music festival photos:

July 10 - on to Ann Arbor, Michigan

    We made the final leg of the journey to Michigan.  Fairly easy trip.  We arrived at Lois & Ken's in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  They took us out for ice cream at a famous ice cream parlor in the afternoon, then out to a vegan restaurant for dinner.  The best vegan restaurant food I've had.  Then, we watched the Rachael Maddow news show.  She had Bernie Sanders on as a guest speaker. 
  It is so nice to be able to spend time with Lois (and Ken).  We have always had such a connection, growing up together, even though we don't get to see each other that often.  Now, of course, we try to "see" each other on our monthly sibling/cousin calls.

Lois & Ken - photo: