More Minnesota, Memories, and on to Moscow

City driving can be a challenge!

   It's hard to believe how quickly five weeks in the Twin Cities passed by.  What a great time we had catching up with family and friends!  

Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake has an RV Park where we spent over five weeks.

   I suppose we did have lots of personal business which needed attention, and business business as well.  George taught several lessons and took time out for a few one-on-one visits to the Apple Store.  I spent time scheduling appointments and running back and forth to the chiropractor who treated the plantar fasciitis which has pained my left heel for the past year.

The detour on my detour

   All was going well until the primary highway we traveled north, Highway 169, closed down to one lane on July 27th for construction.  We carefully checked the map and located a back way for me to drive to my doctor's appointments.  I left early for an 8:30 a.m. appointment to be sure to be there on time, when I learned that my detour had a detour.  It's a good thing I left early!

George's daughter, Patti, and granddaughters, Chelsey, Alicia and Jamie at the Old Spachetti Factory

  We always enjoy the theater, but when George's grandson, Max, takes the stage, I have to admit it's far more entertaining.  Max did an outstanding job of playing the part of Sebastian in Disney's Little Mermaid, Jr. at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center -- with two solos even! 

Max as Sebastian, the crab

   We experienced lots of rain, but a major storm moved through and pelted us with nickel and dime-sized hail.  Apparently, not far from Prior Lake where we stayed, the hail was much larger -- ping pong to tennis ball sized I'm told -- where it inflicted a good deal of damage!  

The storm approaches...

...And leaves this in its path!

   There were lots of family gatherings, and George and I both gained at least 10 pounds, which we will have to work hard to drop off somewhere.  

George & Valerie's Wedding Day 2003

This one is the small cone!

George & Valerie in Stillwater - ten years to the day!

   August 15 marked our tenth wedding anniversary.  We took a drive out to Pioneer Park in Stillwater, Minnesota, where were married in 2003.  The park sits high on a bluff and overlooks the city and the St. Croix River.  George's sisters and brother-in-law met us there until we moved the party a few blocks to Nelson's Ice Cream.

   It was bittersweet saying goodbye to such a big part of our past, especially with George's granddaughter, Alicia, soon to be on her way to college.  Kids grow up too darned fast!  But the dogs were getting very bored!  

Captain and Princess are ready to go!

   Our stay finished almost the way it began, with a beautiful fireworks display at the end of the big Pow Wow event at the casino.  This one was visible from the picnic table at our site.  

Fireworks to end the weekend Pow Wow

   George was finishing a lesson the morning we had to vacate our site, so without his assistance for the first time, I moved the Mandalay across the road to wait for his return in the parking lot.  

   We got a later start than normal upon our departure Sunday and found that we were locked out upon arrival at HWH Corporation in Moscow, Iowa.  Darkness was upon us and it was a bit of a drive to turn around.  We were tired after a long day and asked permission to dry camp at the Kum & Go across the highway since we had a 7 a.m. appointment for some minor tweaks and repairs to our hydraulics.  



   As always, the technicians took good care of us, and we again got a late start but wanted to make Kansas City.