Author: kaybrownsite

Up, motorhome ready and back on the road by 8.15 am

And, back on the busy Interstate 94, our scenery today, cars, cars, trucks, cars.

Across the border from Wisconsin to Illinois.

Road Tolls, Tolls, Tolls…

Across the border from Illinois to Indiana.

A quick stop in a gas station carpark for lunch before arriving at our campsite for the next couple of nights, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, Portage Indiana. One of the closest RV Parks to downtown Chicago with rail access. Even if it is still 45 miles and another state away.

Time to set up camp and then time to get frocked up( for Wes and me, anyway) and ready to travel into Chicago, with an early birthday dinner at Giuliana & Bill Rancic’s RPM Italian.

We have decided to take the easier, although the more expensive option, of catching an Uber instead of the rail into the city. It is Sunday, it is an early birthday present and I am in slightly nicer clothing than my usual ‘tourist’ clothes. Plus, it was Pete’s suggestion, it’s almost like taking a limousine…

An easy Uber in and Chicago was buzzing in the warm sun and glorious day.

The last time we were in Chicago was about 10 years ago. It was late October, FREEZING cold, we were wearing inappropriate warm clothing and after 4 days we went to a travel agent to get us out of there. Puerto Rico, here we come…

Today the weather was warm and without sounding like too much of a whinger, almost too warm. Well, for walking the streets in a face full of makeup anyway.

We walked through the beautiful city buildings, along the Chicago River Walk and down to the shoreline and Navy Pier to soak in Lake Michigan and join the rest of the happy crowds enjoying the day.

By now my makeup was starting to run, the boys were hot and bothered and Pete’s feet hurt, so we jumped into an Uber to the restaurant.

I love Giuliana and Bill, I have followed her career on E, followed their reality show (not since we replaced Foxtel for Netflix) and Bill even ran the New York Marathon the same year I did (he probably passed me even though he was the last person to start). Caroline and I (my travel buddy) looked out for him on every corner. Unfortunately, we did not see him but did see John Worsfold (who was also running the event), three times. Could we be any more unlucky?

On arrival, the building was not a standout and I did not even notice the restaurant’s name until we had left.

It was an early dinner, however, the last kid-friendly reservation I could get was 4.45 pm or after 9 pm. Who am I kidding, 4.45 is always the time that we eat.

The food was delicious, the restaurant pretty, the servers pleasant, however, and I feel awful saying this, the atmosphere…bland. And it was not because we were early as the restaurant was full by the time we had left.

Liquid Jonny’s had a better atmosphere and that really is just, sad.

Back in an Uber and back to our Indiana campsite. A short exploration of the campsite for Noah, Wes and myself and then time to settle in for the night.

Interstate 94

Cars and Trucks

Our Campsite

Walking Chicago Streets

River Walk

Street Art

What a beautiful day

Chicago

Selfies

The Brown Boys

Lake Michigan

Ugh, that hair!

Dinner

RPM Italian

Hot in the City

Yogi and Friends

Birthday Week?

Ubering

As it happily happens, there is a bike path that runs from the Wisconsin State Fair Park to downtown Milwaukee.

After a relaxing start to the morning and breakfast, we got the bikes ready and set out on our ride. The trail was beautiful and there were lots of others riding and running and enjoying the gorgeous sunny summers day.

We rode into the funky riverside neighbourhoods, along the shores of Lake Michigan and a lovely walk down one of the three city rivers.

The highlight of the day? Getting a picture taken with the Fonz.

Lunch at a healthy salad bar and then on our bikes, dodging traffic downtown until we were back on the cycle path towards the RV park.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to explore the city, with the locals, on a Saturday, and with perfect weather.

The afternoon was spent relaxing in the motorhome with Pete cooking Tacos for dinner.

Ready to Ride

Touring

Milwaukee

My riding partner

What a beautiful day

Art Museum

Riding along the shores

The other riders

Lake Michigan

Funky River Neighborhoods

“Aaay”

The Browns do Wilwaukee

River Walk

River Crossings

Gorgeous Buildings

Wisconsin State Fair Park ‘Lot’

Our Campsite…

Bike Trail

A very spoilt morning with breakfast of french toast, bacon, and sausages from our beautiful hosts, the Regnier Family.

Time to say our goodbyes and get back on the Brown Family Road Trip. We have been blessed to have been able to spend time with another gorgeous family on our travels.

Leaving and driving through the suburb we saw many walkers and cyclists and houses without fences, it had a lovely community feel. A similar feel to the suburbs of our childhoods. I am very glad this experience can still exist, I think we shut ourselves out to the world with our fenced off, Fort Knox homes…

So, Milwaukee has been on my radar, you know, since watching Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley…

We almost took it off the radar as there is only one RV Park in town (Wisconsin State Fair Park) and it was almost sold out due to the Wisconsin State Fair being held on the very week that we have decided to visit.

After some discussion, we decided to take our only option of a dry site and spend a day or two here. I mean, it is the home of the Fonz, even if Happy Days was filmed in Los Angeles.

A nice surprise when we arrived at the campground and they were able to give us a site with water and electricity, perfect.

A few chores and then time to explore the Wisconsin State Fair.

The boys were in fair heaven and Noah had beginners luck winning a basketball with one of his first tickets.

We played games, watched the rides, walked through the exhibitions, animals, back to the games. I actually didn’t get bored for a change.

Bless Noah, he had won a basketball on one of his first attempts and then we secretly went back (on his own accord) with his last few tickets to try and win one for Wes. Unfortunately, he could not get a basketball in. What a lovely brother. I almost cried.

Enough time walking around the fair. I think I had broken my show record for the longest time without wanting to escape…

Time to look for somewhere for dinner and away from the fair ride, screaming crowds and hot dogs and hamburgers.

A lovely quirky spot found at Liquid Johnny’s, just across from the RV park with average food but AWESOME atmosphere and music.

Back to the RV, ready to explore downtown Milwaukee tomorrow.

Breakfast

Regnier Family, missing Drew

Wisconsin State Fair

Ready to go…

Ride Anyone?

Taking a break

The Brown Boys

Animals

Playing Games

Milwaukee Shenanigans

Dinner

Liquid Johnny’s

Trying to get back into running, a lovely run around the very quiet park.

Waiting for the boys to wait up, breakfast, get the RV ready to go…

And on the road by 8.30 am.

We are very surprised at the number of bike trails and fitness activities available in Iowa. You could get very fit in Iowa…

Our views today, corn, barns, corn, farmhouses, corn, cows, corn, cows.

We did not realise until discussing with locals that there are two types of corn grown, the type we can eat and the type that is grown for dairy feed.

It is possible that most of the corn we have seen today is cow food.

Time to pull over for gas.

Across the yellow River, following railway lines and then through the small cute river town of Marquette before we crossed the Mississippi River and into Wisconsin.

More c & c (cows and corn), the fields so beautifully green.

Through the small town of Gotham and more driving until we arrived at Waunakee, Wisconsin, to visit another old Buccaneer basketball veteran, Joe Regnier and his gorgeous family, wife Sharon and their boys, Michael and Drew.

We spent a lovely afternoon playing bag (it’s an American thing), table tennis and shooting hoops in their amazing indoor basketball court.

An absolutely delicious (probably our best in America) home-cooked dinner, a lovely walk to the park with their beautiful dog Chester and then a fabulous end to the evening chasing fireflies. Another wonderful day filled with laughs, new friends and spoilt with their generous hospitality.

Good Morning

Corn, Corn, Corn

Dairy Farms

Gorgeous Green Scenery

Railway Lines

Crossing Rivers

The Mississippi River

More Cute Farmhouses

Indoor basketball court

The boys and Chester

Do you want a dog Noah?

At the park with Drew

Awesome Court!

Shooting Hoops

We let the boys have another sleep in this morning. They are having long days, plus the extra peace and quiet in the morning is priceless…

All packed, with a short run around the campground, we left the RV Park at 9 am.

Back past the cute farms set amongst the prairies and back to Sioux Falls, to continue our journey east.

Across the border and into Minnesota.

Corn, corn, corn and the occasional cow.

Back along the busy Interstate 90 East, where we saw a helicopter hovering above while a maintenance worker was attached, fixing the power line. I missed the photo but the sight was incredible.

Past more cute farmhouses, wind generators and even a cycle path that went for miles.

Corn, corn, corn…

Along the Shooting Star Scenic Byway and past small farming towns such as Adams (Pride of the Prairie) and Le Roy.

Then we crossed into Iowa.

The time was now approaching late afternoon and we had not yet found a campsite for the night.

We stopped in at the historic town of Cresco and the boys had a play on the old heritage train at Beadle Park, while Pete explored the visitor’s center looking for campsite suggestions.

Success, the Howard County Conservation Dept. Campground, about 2 miles down the road.

The campsite was gorgeous and deserted. For $25 we get a site with power and water, practically to ourselves… perfect. Plus, there was a cycling trail connected straight into downtown Cresco.

We set up camp and hopped on our bikes. The trail was magically set amongst the trees, farmhouses, rolling hills and cornfields.

We had a stroll around the historic town, admiring the street art and then found a local Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Time to return via the trail to our campsite. The ride was going perfectly until all of a sudden, at the bottom of a steep hill, Noah got the wobbles and face planted into the track.

Luckily he had his helmet on. There were no bones or teeth broken but he had grazed a fair portion of this face and body and was in a bit of shock.

We wheeled his bike back to the RV and settled him on the couch to recover. Poor little thing, he is going to have a sore head and a fat lip for a few days.

Our Campsite

Shooting Star Scenic Byway

Farms

Train Driver?

Sweet Town of Adams

Ready for a ride…

Road Trip?

Magic Bike Ride

More Street Art

Cornfields

Street Art

Dinner

Riding through cornfields

Poor Noah

Cresco Courthouse

Paint Me!

Howard County Cresco

Historic Cresco

Heritage Trains

De Smet Pond

Prairie

We were woken around midnight with a storm passing directly above us, thunder, lightning and pouring rain. AND the wind, the RV was given a good shake.

Once again, we looked outside to see if we should be alarmed but there was no movement. Everybody else had either moved to a tornado shelter already or this was nothing to worry about.

We hoped for the latter and as the storm eased we went back to sleep.

When we woke in the morning there were signs of rain but not a branch on the ground. These trees have weathered storms before.

A nice little sleep in for Noah and Wes after a big day yesterday.

Back on the road by 9.20 am with Miss USA advising us to stay on I29 for 80kms…

The landscape was filled with farms (vegetable and cattle) and cornfields, cornfields, and more cornfields.

Through the small towns of Brookings, Volga, Arlington (Pop 914) and Lake Preston (Pop 737), until we reached our destination, De Smet and the Ingalls Homestead, Laura’s Living Prairie.

I grew up reading her books and watching the television series and they influenced my yearning to hopefully, one day, visit America.

There are 9 books in the series, Little House in the Big Woods (1932), Farmer Boy (1933), Little House on the Prairie (1935), On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937), By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939), The Long Winter (1940), Little Town on the Prairie (1941), These Happy Golden Years (1943) and The First Four Years (1971).

Regardless of her books ‘political correctness’ you cannot deny the book’s insight into historic pioneer life. Plus, it always scares me when society tries to change history. The past is the past and we need to learn and grow from both the positives and the negatives.

Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family moved to the De Smet area in 1879, at the beginning of the book, By the Shores of Silver Lake.

The Ingalls Homestead was a wonderful historical experience and educational for us all. It did make me appreciate and feel very glad that I was born in the modern-day and not pioneer days.

We saw the different types of Ingalls old homesteads, drove in a covered wagon across the prairie to the one-room schoolhouse and participated in a schoolhouse session to learn about what school was like for children living in Dakota Territory in the 1880s.

Noah and Wes loved washing clothes ‘pioneer-style’, making a jump rope and corncob doll and driving in a pony cart and riding on a saddled horse.

The walk to and visiting the historical church was gorgeous.

We were also very lucky that the attraction was not crowded, it was a beautiful day and we almost had the experience to ourselves.

Time to move on and drive into the De Smet township. A lovely simple, fresh and cheap lunch at the Ward’s Store and Bakery with the sweetest young waitress in existence.

A small look around the Surveyor’s House and De Smet’s first school at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society and then a drive to Third Street to see the last house that Pa built.

The day had crept away from us. We decided to see if the small RV park we had seen when we arrived in De Smet had any sites available. They did and we were able to secure one right on the pretty pond.

Dinner across the road and down the street at the simple dinner, Oxbow Restaurant.

An unexpected, very lovely day.

De Smet’s First School

Pa’s Last House

Washing Clothes

Wagon Selfies

De Smet

Walking to the church

Burvee Shanty

The pond, De Smet

Noah driving the wagon

Pony Cart

Ingalls Homestead

hat off schools in…

Corn

Spot RV Park

Ringing the bell

Pioneer School Time

Dugout

Noah LOVED the horses

More horse riding…

Wes driving the wagon

Hay-Roof Barn

West Bethany Church

Dinner

Pioneers?

Oxbow Restaurant

After the big countdown, the big, big day has finally arrived, Noah’s 8th Birthday and the second time he has been away from home for it.

Funnily enough, Noah was the last to wake.

And when he did wake he was very excited. He had lots of birthday messages from family and friends and a birthday phone call from the Dobsons.

A lovely relaxed morning with croissants and Nutella (the first time I have ever made that purchase) and the opening of presents.

A little bit more relaxing and playing with new gifts and then it was time to jump in the motorhome (only as a means of transport) and drive into Sioux Falls to take the boys to the Washington Pavilion and the Kirby Science Discovery Center. They spent hours immersed in the interactive hands-on exhibits and loved every minute of it.

A walk through the historic old town and more gorgeous street art.

Soon our tummies were rumbling and although there appeared to be an array of wonderful restaurants in Sioux Falls, it was Noah’s day and Burger King was what he wished for. Hang on, a last-minute change of mind…

It was McDonald’s he wanted instead, and I thought he was going to say a lovely cafe in Sioux Falls.

Off we drove to the closest McDonalds. Pete and I resisting and having a healthier homemade option.

The afternoon was spent relaxing in the RV with Noah and Wes downloading a new iPad game (persuaded by Wes to ask as Dad as he could not refuse today) and birthday cake for afternoon tea.

A lovely end to the day with a birthday dinner at Tailgators Bar & Grill in Brandon, one exit down on the I90 East.

Happy Birthday our beautiful 8-year-old boy Noah.

Monkeys

Made with forks!

Tornado Simulator

Opening Presents

Rock Climbing

The Birthday Boy

Sioux Falls

Street Art

Kirby Science Discovery Center

Big Sioux River

They’re back…

Wes in Space

Brown Boys

Happy Birthday Noah!

Our Campsite

Birthday Boy and Yogi

Everybody was up early for Noah’s Australian Birthday.

An early breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausages at the KOA, a quick couple of arcade games and then back on the road trip by 7.30 am.

Another beautiful scenic drive. We passed farms, horses, alpacas, cattle and gorgeous farmhouses.

And again, through the beautiful rolling hills.

The road at the beginning of today’s journey was flat, straight and quiet. A nice change.

Our first stop was the historic western ghost town of Scenic, not a soul in sight. And, where at the Longhorn Saloon, Indians were allowed…

Then past the small town of Interior, population 94. Today there may be a little more with the arrival of the bikers.

Next, the spectacular Badlands National Park. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires.

More bikers touring the area, they might not like to wear helmets but they sure like to use their high beams.

There was not a lot of wildlife out in the meadows today, however, we did see a cute Prairie dog (herbivorous burrowing rodents native to the grasslands) run across the road. Luckily he was not roadkill.

After a lovely cruise around the national park, it was time to move on, we have a long drive ahead. As it is Noah’s birthday tomorrow we have decided to try and get the long drive done today and stay in a reasonably sized town.  He wants a Walmart to get his cake and King Burger (what he likes to call Burger King) for his birthday lunch. Oh, and he does not want to be driving on his birthday, fair call…

A small break at a truck stop in Belvidere for lunch.

No time to stop at the Dances with Wolves film display or South Dakotas original 1880’s Town. I got the picture from the Interstate.

A little fact: most of the Dances with Wolves movie was filmed on location in South Dakota, mainly on private ranches near Pierre and Rapid City, with a few scenes filmed in Wyoming. Specific locations included the Badlands National Park, the Black Hills, the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, and the Belle Fourche River area. Thanks, Google.

More farmlands filled with wheat, cattle and lots of corn. Small towns and cute farmhouses.

And, more rolling hills…

We crossed the Missouri River, the longest river in North America and then the rain set in. This is probably not so good for the bikers but great to clean our dirty dusty motorhome.

After more than 8 hours in the driver’s seat, an unexpected time change, a final stop at Walmart for Noah’s cake and other birthday goodies, Pete finally got to stop driving on our arrival at Sioux Falls and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort.

As the weather was still wet and grim we decided to have an easy dinner in the RV, receive calls from home and get ready for the big day tomorrow.

Here’s hoping the weather is a little nicer. If we get stuck in the motorhome together for another day there may be a mutiny.

Happy Aussie Birthday

Breakfast

Flat Roads

Rolling Hills

Escapees…

Anybody Home?

Ghost Town of Scenic

Indians Allowed…

Ready for bikers

Forgotten something?

Road Tripping!

Our 8 year old

Badlands National Park

Sunflowers

Don’t step back

One armed Wessy

Sightseeing

1880’s Town

Missouri River

Two more days until the big boys 8th birthday…

Another day spent travelling on the I90 East, the scenery was still very beautiful.

We passed horses, cattle, oil wells, historic battlefield sites and rolling hills for miles.

It was a nice drive for Peter, no winding mountain roads, and nice big roads with little traffic.

A brief stop in the small town of Gillette for gas, a supermarket and lunch.

Back on the I90 East and US 16 East.

More oil wells, trains, rolling hills and towns like Upton (with its town slogan ‘The best town on earth’) and Newcastle and past lots and lots and lots of bikers.

Bikers over 18 are not required to wear a helmet in Wyoming/South Dakota, so they don’t. You would think if they valued any part of their life or family they would, I have no words…

Apparently riding in short, singlets and bandanas is also the latest fashion. They would match nicely with flesh wounds in the case of an accident.

I don’t know why they even bother to enforce seatbelts.

Soon we crossed the border from Wyoming to South Dakota passing more and more bikers and upon entering the small cowboy town of Custer, the town was completely full of them.

Something must be going on? And something was going on, the 78th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. From the 3-12 August 500,000 riders, concert fanatics, and street-food enjoyers attend the rally every year. Jeepers…

Through the Black Hills National Park, passing bikers, and onto the Crazy Horse Memorial, a mountain monument under construction (started by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski) on privately held land in the Black Hills near Custer. We watched a very informative video outlining the history of the monument and took in the view of the huge Crazy Horse sculpture. Very much a work in progress, however, very impressive.

Next stop, the one I have been waiting for, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. Completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the sculpture’s roughly 60-ft.-high granite faces depict U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Although very crowded and full of bikers (have I mentioned them?) the sculpture is also very impressive.

We took our photos, sat and soaked in the atmosphere and then returned to the motorhome ready to drive to our campsite tonight, Rapid City/Black Hills KOA.

After checking in and realising there were no restaurants in walking distance we jumped back in the motorhome and drove to a delicious Japanese Restaurant, Fuji. After spending most of the day in the motorhome we all needed a break.

Back to the campsite and time to relax.

I90 East

Browns do Crazy Horse

The best town on earth?

Terry Tourists

Browns do Mount Rushmore

Tipi

Rapid City KOA

Bikers

Getting Informed

Mount Rushmore

Oil Wells

Bikers at Crazy Horse

What Crazy Horse will look like

Crazy Horse Memorial

More Bikers

Bikers Everywhere

Selfies

Welcome to Mount Rushmore

We thought we may get some wet weather overnight, however, that did not appear to happen.

I was also hoping to go for another small run this morning but after hearing what sounded like gunshots last night, I changed my mind. Maybe it was the weather…

Instead, we packed up the van and hit the road, Jack, leaving just after 8 am.

Back on I90 East.

Our scenery today was filled with farms, cornfields, wheatfields, railway lines, factories, historical battlefield sites and gorgeous rolling hills, albeit on the busy interstate.

We did take a slight detour when we missed the next interstate, which was lovely as we drove through beautiful farms and more rolling hills. As we turned onto the detour there was a small aircraft parked off the road, in a very random spot. On researching, we found that the plane had an emergency landing on the Interstate the previous night.

Soon we were back on Interstate 90 East, Miss USA advising us we had 242kms more on the busy road.

A small stop amongst the farmland for a simple lunch in the motorhome, through the Big Horn Mountains and across the border into Wyoming.

At this stage, Pete asked how long we wanted to drive and we responded, not much longer.

Good news, Pete decided we only had a half an hour more until our campsite for tonight, Peter D’s RV Park. Peter D’s not Peter B’s…

Settle into the campsite, school work and then a lovely ride into and stroll around historic ‘cowboy country’ Sheridan. The street art in these small towns is incredible, it would be wonderful if we could see something similar in Geraldton. If it could survive the vandalism…

Dinner at Wyoming’s Rib and Chop House, ride back to camp and then a lovely evening relaxing in the RV.

Rolling Hills

Farms

Our Lunch Spot

Gorgeous Buildings

Historic Sheridan

Cow Boys

Broken Bones

Look a bear!

Walking the Streets

Driving, driving, driving

Monkeys!

Street Art

Exploring

Dinner

3 More Days!

Wyoming’s Rib and Chop House

Finally, out on the bikes

Peter D’s RV Park

Our Campsite