Follow the Hilleys as they Travel

We started the day by Donna, Cathy & me making breakfast for everyone. We bought hash browns in Grand Forks, but I forgot to put them in the motorhome freezer. Had to go to Miller’s Super Market and get some. We had sausage, eggs and hash browns. Helen made grits. Colleen brought scones from Ada, Doris brought zucchini bread, Myron brought fruit.

They opened up the buildings do we could see the old tractors

And steam engines

We had an appointment to tour Eddy County Museum at 1 PM. We went to wrong Museum at west end of fairgrounds.

Used Google Maps to find right location

Part of the location was in Stravanger Lutheran Church

Cathy & I have Nye Stavanger Lutheran Church behind our house in Buxton

They had a taxidermy exhibit with a two headed calf

There was a medical office exhibit

The mayor of New Rockford, Calvin Packard was our guide

They also had a rural school house and depot building

We drove around town and looked at the two other RV Parks, either would have been too small for us

We stopped at bakery to put in order for tomorrow

Went back for Happy Hour

Joy got in a lot of ball playing with several playing with her

Then Donna and Cathy put out dinner. Pork loin, corn, beans from Gloria, coleslaw from Doris, broccoli salad from Colleen, potato salad from Helen, brownie dessert from Gloria, water melon from Myron and ice cream novelties from Mark.

Donna started the day by making breakfast for everyone. She made ham and potatoes and Mark & Myron brought rolls & fruit.

We had our club meeting in the main fairgrounds building

We went to the Latte Lobby in the basement of the Old Church Theater for dinner

After dinner we went upstairs for the production of “Oklahoma”

The cast was very professional.

Cathy visited with the cast after the performance

The show started at 7:30 PM. The intermission was at 9:00 PM and ended at 10:15 PM

Left Buxton at 2:10 PM. Took US-200 to Carrington then US-281 to New Rockford. Camping at Eddy Country Fairgrounds. Donna, Mark and Myron were already here.

Shortly after arrival a storm blew in

Some hail. The town evidently got quite a bit as reported on WDAY weather.

Everyone came into our motorhome for tacos

Watched two episodes of “Murdur is My Life, ” an Australian series staring Lucy Lawless.

After spending the night parked in front of my sister’s house in Bismarck, we decided to go back to Buxton

We stopped at my sister’s shake and tea nutrition store on the NE side of Bismarck in a new shopping center

Cathy and I each enjoyed a shake and Cathy also had tea

We said good bye to my sister Judy and headed out

We stopped at truck stop in Steele.

Prices we’re good, but could only pump $50 at a time to get Fuel Rewards 3 cent/gal discount. Got tired of that after 3 times and 60 gallons.

Price with discount $2.469

This truck stop is now a Travel America

Next stopped at Oriska Rest Stop to walk Joy

It is in the center median of I-94

Stopped in Fargo to fill up at Mill’s Fleet Farm

Gas was $2.449

Bought some nuts and jelly beans to get the 4 cent/gal discount for final cost of $2.409/gal.

Got home at about $8:30 PM.

Cathy heated up the Ravioli take home from Olive Garden and made a salad.

Left home at 2:30 PM. Stopped at Stamart in Fargo for propane.

John and Helen passed us twice.

Got to sister Judy’s house at 8:00 PM. Was sitting on deck talking and felt sick to my stomach. Got up to leave and passed out.

They called 911 and I got taken to Saint Alexus ER

They did blood work and EKGs. Everything was normal. Got an IV.

Cary and Judy picked us up about 11:00 PM.

Staying in motorhome in front of Judy’s.

Watching “Rules of Engagement” on ROKU.

Miles to HWH in Moscow, IA 611

Miles round trip 1,523

Round trip includes sight seeing in Muscatine and West Branch and Walmart in Tripton

Gasoline was $2.689 in Alexandria and 2.489 in Waterloo

We spent one night at Cabela’s in Owatonna, MN, one night at HWH in Moscow, IA, one night at Walmart in Waverly, IA, one night at daughter’s in Hastings, MN and one night at son’s in Cold Spring, MN.

Paid $625.38 for parts and 2 hrs labor for repair of slide and jack.

Weather was mostly in the 50’s and 60’s, strong winds almost every day and heavy rain on last 23 miles of I-80 on Tuesday.

Got up and made coffee. Took Joy outside. Joy wanted to go in the house to see Vegas and Jersey

Watched Jay mow the lawn

Said good bye to everyone and headed out at about noon.

Headed north out of Cold Spring past Big Fish Lake to Avalon. Took I-94 to Alexandria. Just before the Alexandria Exit, the left hand lane was closed, causing a bottle neck. An idiot with ND plates speeded down the closed lane

There was a cop in the right lane

We stopped at Aldi

And Mill’s Fleet Farm

Filled with gas for $2.689 less 4 cent discount

Drove on to Moorhead and stopped at Menards.

As we crossed the bridge into ND, the sun came out and the clouds cleared.

Stopped at Stamart to dump tanks, first time since Deming, NM.

Drove on to Buxton, arriving home at 7:30 PM.

The sump pump had done a good job.

Made a pizza for dinner.

Left Alison’s at 11:00 AM. Overcast and cool, sprinkling a little

Drove up US-61 to US-10/I-94, I-35 and I-694 to Maple Grove. At first traffic was moderate and drivers were considerate

Then got into high traffic with construction and drivers wouldn’t let you change lanes

Stopped at Trader Joe’s

Got quite a few things including a pot of nice Basil plants, beer and Chianti

Getting onto I-94 from I-694 we ran into a traffic bottle neck

25 mph until St Michael exit

Drove into St Cloud and met my son Jay at Best Buy to shop for new laptop. He ended up buying an HP 2 in 1 for $699 at Office Depot.

Drove to Jay’s house in Cold Spring

Joy likes pool life

And relaxing at pool side

While brother Jay cleans pool with pool robot

Becky made delicious lasagna and garlic bread for dinner

After dinner we drove to their place on Big Fish lake

Had a local Third Street Brew House Minnesota Gold beer

The lake was calm and beautiful

Jay took us to neighbor’s lake side bar made out of old boat house

Nice outside patio and beautiful interior

Finished my beer and sampled his home made Rootbeer Schnappps

Drove back to motorhome at 10:15 PM

Spent the night at Waverly, IA Walmart parked next to a refer whose unit ran about 45 minutes out of every hour.

Weather prediction was for 11 mph, was actually gusting much higher.

Left Waverly at 9:00 AM. Took US-63. It started out as a nice 4 Lane divided highway. The last 60 miles or so in Iowa were some of the worst I’ve ever been on. Turned decent again in MN.

Got on US-52 at Rochester. Got to daughter Alison’s house at 1:30 PM.

Went see my best friend since the second grade, Gary and his wife Inez in River Falls, WI. Had a nice talk and great apple pie.

Got back to Hastings and visited with family. Joy played with Duke and Nala the dog and cat and Alison’s niece and nephew. Sean gave me a Two Heart beer.

Son in law Jimmy ordered in delicious Chinese food.

Talked more after dinner and went to bed about mid night.

Took motorhome into shop at 9:30 AM.

Parked in second stall

They were working on a large black Prevost motorhome

Took a drive to Muscatine, IA to kill time. Very interesting city on Mississippi River. HON office furniture is made there

Drove back through Wilton. Stopped at I-80 Welcome Center. There is an interesting sculpture there

Stopped at HWH to check on progress. Mechanic wasn’t around.

Drove 18 miles west on I-80 to West Branch, IA to eat and see Herbert Hoover’s birth place.

Herbert’s home is a National Park. Nice visitor center.

His home was very small

It was right next to his father’s blacksmith shop

We are at the Main Street Sweets on the main street

I had a hot dog

And Yogurt

While I was eating, Ashley called and said everything was finished.

They had to replace a solenoid valve, a jack the broken threaded rod and synchronize the slide. Just over $600.

Hooked up and took off at 3:30 PM

Retraced our route down

Stopped at Waterloo Flying J for gas and then stopped for the night at Waverly, IA Walmart for the night

Ate dinner at Applebee’s next to Walmart. Had 2 for $22 steaks and $1 Margarita