Minnesota and Madison

After we weathered Betts --the campground from Hades, I have concluded we’ll have to do a Boomer rating scale of RV sites when the trip is done.  The dramatic South Dakota topography gave way to wide open, flat Minnesota terrain.  Gluttons for tourist punishment, we gamely decided to visit the “Corn Palace.”  (Unbelievably, more than one person suggested this was a “must-see” thing).  Since we really didn’t stay for the show, or read too much on the history, we have no idea what possessed people to corncob a building and make giant cob wall murals.    Ray and Chuck ‘popped’ (sorry) away as fast as they could.  Joanne and I bought popcorn, lemonade ice and got back on the road. 

Around 4, GPS dumped us onto a farm in the middle of nowhere.  There was not an RV in site??!  Out comes a man in stereotypic coveralls.   While Chuck is scrambling between all of us to pull together the ‘cash’ since ‘no credit cards,’ Farmer Brian, looks over at Joanne with a knowing smile.

“Bet yer wondering where the heck the RV park is?”  We nod.  “Everyone does.”  He points off in the distance, “It’s down there, it’s really nice.  Trust me.” 

He hops on a small farm vehicle telling us to follow him.  As we wind down the dirt road into the woods, we’re not so sure.  Then, we arrive at probably one of the most peaceful RV places yet.  There are also very few RV’s there; it is supremely quiet and restful.  There is also only one dump site for the RV, one bathroom and one shower each for men and women.  But hey, it was only for one night, right?

Farmer Brian farms corn and soybeans.  He started the RV park and poured about $140K into making it work.  They just started making a profit on it a few years ago.  Right now, he’s hoping for rain. . . no irrigation.  He is bemoaning new inheritance laws that will make it difficult to turn the spread over to his sons.  He took the time to show us a hawk nest.  He wished us well. 

Mitchell is next to Austin which is home to the…wait for it…… SPAM museum.  Chuck and I took a brief side trip there. . . very enjoyable and informative.  A great museum; well done.   Who knows how SPAM got its name (NO LOOKING IT UP)?  We met up with Ray and Joanne for lunch and rolled on to Badgerland Campground outside of Madison, Wisconsin.

This site has no “off the grass rules” – they seem to drive all over it, but lots of water rules, one dump site, and quarters are needed for the showers.  Ray was in the middle of his ‘three-quarter-maximum-allowed-nine minute- shower’ when the lights went out—and him dripping wet without a headlamp.  Later, Chuck, back from another midnight run, put his quarters in and no water came out.  Sigh.    

Today our day was bright with sun and enjoyment – we were with Chuck’s brother Don and his wife Sheila.  They made us wonderful breakfast, then we all walked around the botanical gardens, followed by some of the best ice cream ever at a local place: Michaels.   Back to their apartment for silly talk, fun, laughter and Sheila’s to-die-for Moroccan chicken.    

We are wonderfully full of food, and the blessed afterglow of  friendship, laughter and loving family.