Green Beans are the vegetable for my first post with the cooking group, Good Friends Good Food (GFGF). I am afraid it is rather late because we were traveling when it was due. However, GFGF is a very flexible group, which I like very much. So, you just post a recipe of your choosing every two weeks. The only requirement is you must include the assigned vegetable for the week in your recipe.
My Recipe this Week
My dish is a modification of one I have occasionally used for holidays. The original recipe was obtained from my bosses’ wife more than thirty years ago. The original was good, but way bad for you. I must say, my scaled-down version is still not especially healthy because it has bacon, that delicious, yet bad for you meat. But, you might want to limit this dish to special occasions.
Recipe, Green Beans Almondine
Ingredients
1 lb Fresh Green Beans (or 3 cans)
3 Strips Bacon
4 Tbsp Sugar
4 Tbsp Vinegar
3 Tbsp Slivered Almonds
Salt to taste
Directions
If using fresh beans, remove ends and strings; wash. Cook beans in a small amount of boiling salted water covered for 20-25 minutes or until crisp tender. Drain and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook bacon until crisp. Crumble and reserve 2 Tbsp of drippings. Stir sugar and vinegar into reserved drippings. After that, add the crumbled bacon to the dripping mixture.
Next, layer 1/2 the beans, bacon mixture, and almonds in a casserole dish and then repeat with remaining half.
Bake 35 minutes, uncovered.
The Results
Green Beans Almondine
It felt like a holiday having this somewhat decadent dish on a weekday. I haven’t actually served it in about ten years, but remembered it was good. Actually, it was quite delicious. The bacon remained crispy and the almonds were nicely toasted. Also, the beans had a nice sweet/sour flavor. My husband said, “I could eat this every day.” I told him that he should not expect that because it has too many calories and is too much work.
We planned a camping trip to the Midwest this summer, but were concerned about the risks because of the pandemic. Big Guy and I are both high-risk for multiple reasons. Ultimately, we decided that travel would be safer during the summer than the fall. Another consideration, we are older and have health issues and do not know how long we will be able to travel. So, Carpe Diem, we decided to seize the day!
Our Path
We hope to ultimately camp in all fifty states. This summer we planned to pick up some middle America. It was a pretty ambitious plan, considering the pandemic. We did not really know what to expect or what kind of shutdowns might occur.
Five New States on our Map!
We camped in five new states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Arkansas and Tennessee were stopovers to get to our new camping areas. We visited fourteen campgrounds, which included several state parks, a Corps of Engineers (COE), a county park, and private campgrounds. Rates varied from $10 a night to $50. The COE was the $10 and the $50 rate included full hookups, a nice laundry, and a pool.
Our trip to the Midwest
Links to Posts for Each State
I do a memory post of our trips. If you would like to read about any of our new states, below are links.
Checking out local cuisine is one of our favorite things to do while camping. However, this trip was vastly different. Our plan allowed for takeout or outdoor seating. In some of the camping areas, restaurants offered little or no outside seating. However, we were able to find some great outdoor options in Iowa and Missouri. In fact, we had our best barbecue ever at Jack Stack Barbecue
Our amazing lunch at Jack Stack in Kansas City
Many, if not most, fast food was drive through only. That worked if unhitched, but was a problem when towing our tall camper. We consumed so many meals in our SUV! I got very tired of that.
Normally, we would have a few breakfasts out. This trip, breakfast was always in the campground. Lunch and dinner was often in the campground as well.
Midwest Camping and Safety From Covid
While we wanted this trip, it would not be worth it if we contracted Covid. We tried to be careful by staying outdoors and distanced from others most of the time. Our masks were always on when we had to go inside where there were other people.
We visited a few museums, including the Lincoln Presidential Library. Most places required a reservation to limit the number of people. Almost all required masks. The only time I felt at risk at an attraction was the Mark Twain Home. It was not requiring masks. When a group came into the small area where tickets were sold, we waited outside until they had moved on.
Lincoln Library Wax Figures
The occasional stop for groceries was also somewhat risky. Almost everyone wore masks in some places and at others almost no one did. When the stores were crowded, it seemed the most risky. We did not shop on weekends or at night to try and minimize the number of people shopping.
Health Issues
I have a lung condition that has become considerably worse in the last year. My doctor has me using a nebulizer twice daily, which takes a good bit of time and effort for the process. Sadly, it added a level of complexity to our trip.
Nebulizing, My Twice Daily Activity
Activities on the Road
We spent much more time at the campgrounds this trip. A couple of the campgrounds had nice pools, which we enjoyed.
Nice Pool at Double J Campground
I am happy to say that we also went on several hikes/walks. It was nice to be outside among nature. Ultimately, we spent lots of time at the campgrounds.
Hanging in the Campground
We were seeking safe things to do outside. So, we visited two botanical gardens, a sculpture park, and several beautiful parks.
Beautiful Park in Chippewa Falls, WisconsinJapanese Stroll GardenPappajohn Sculpture Garden
Now that we have made it back home and enough time has passed that we can feel confident we did not contract the virus, I am so glad we took this trip! But, we have cancelled our planned fall trip because many of the states we were going to visit have travel restrictions.
Hopefully we will be camping again before too long. Stay safe out there!
Our Missouri camping experience was such a pleasant surprise. We camped in three cities, each different, but delightful. All three campgrounds were private and had full hookups. One also had a nice, big pool.
We stayed two nights in each city, which meant a full day in each area to explore the sights. The cities offered lots of fun, yet safe, things to do. Also, the people we met were friendly and accommodating.
Missouri Camping in Kansas City
World of Fun Village
World of Fun includes the largest amusement park in Missouri, a water park, and a campground to accommodate visitors. Due to Covid, the park is only open Thursday through Sunday and we were there Tuesday and Wednesday nights. So, we missed checking out the park, but we did spend an afternoon in the really nice pool. We also utilized the laundry.
Site # 33
National World War I Museum & Memorial
Kansas City is home to the impressive World War I Museum and Memorial. We have absorbed so much information through the years about WWII, but there was a lot about the First World War that I did not understand. There was a very good film, which laid out the world political and cultural climate that existed when the war began. Timelines and graphs throughout the museum also helped me to better understand the war.
Liberty Monument
The museum also included lots of artifacts from the war, including guns, uniforms, and personal effects.
Museum Artifact
Best Barbecue Ever
We had our best barbecue ever at Jack Stack Barbecue . It was raining during lunch, but the restaurant had a nice covered area. The meal was astounding and the service was excellent! There was so much food, we had leftovers for the next day. You can’t see in the photo below, but we also shared a decadent piece of carrot cake.
Fiorella’s Jack Stack BarbequeOur amazing lunch
Union Station
Union Station is near Jack Stack Restaurant, so we stopped to see it. It is a beautiful old (established 1914) building with a few restaurants and shops. It is also still an active train station.
Kansas City Union Station
While there, we bought a few truffles at a candy store. They were a little expensive, but so good!
Beautiful interior
Missouri Camping in Hannibal
Mark Twain Cave Campground
Mark Twain Cave Campground was nice. We had a shady site and the temperatures were quite pleasant while we were there. There were a couple of sisters in the next site and we enjoyed interacting with them. They lived close to the campground and were helpful in identifying the local sights.
Site # C22
All things Mark Twain
Everywhere we looked, there is a reference to Mark Twain, Hannibal’s most famous son. We stopped at all the obligatory places: the statue, the lighthouse, and his childhood home.
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Statue
I climbed the 240 steps to the top of the lighthouse and was rewarded with a great view of the town on one side and the mighty Mississippi on the other. So, it was worth the climb!
Mark Twain Lighthouse
There are several buildings preserved in the town related to Twain, including his childhood home, Tom Blankenship’s home (aka Huck Finn), and Becky (Twain’s girlfriend’s) home. Inside, the two boys homes are furnished as they were during the time the boys lived in them.
Mark Twain Childhood Home
Hannibal was a fun town and it was nice connecting with Mark Twain, an iconic and amazing writer.
Missouri Camping in Springfield
Cooks RV Motor Park
Cooks RV Motor Park was one of our favorite campgrounds. It was well- maintained and the owner was so friendly. We will stop at this campground again if we have the opportunity. (It is on an anticipated future path to the northwest.)
Site #21
Another Great Missouri Meal
We actually had two excellent meals in Springfield, Cafe Cusco, pictured below and Bambino’s Cafe. Both offered shaded outdoor seating, a necessity for us. I had blackened cobia fish at Cafe Cusco and it was some of the best fish I have ever tasted.
Bambino’s pasta and bread were incredible and inexpensive for the portions served. I would love to go back sometime.
Cafe Cusco Outdoor Seating
Cafe Cusco is a Peruvian restaurant and drinks were a little different. My husband had sangria and I had a margarita. Both had a generous sprinkle of cinnamon. Different, but we liked them.
Delicious Drinks with Cinnamon
Nathan Greene/Close Memorial Park
This park was so beautiful and peaceful. There were many shaded benches and we had a nice, slow-paced morning. A little exercise and fresh air was just what we needed.
Beautiful and peaceful parkGorgeous flowers
Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden
The Mizumoto Garden was inside the park. It was nice too with lovely plants along a generous path. Benches were plentiful at the garden as well.
Beauty and Serenity
The geese were also fun to watch.
Home to a Gaggle of Geese
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
I did not expect much from this Battlefield but was pleasantly surprised to learn the story behind the people who lived in this house. A Park Ranger was at the house and she told an interesting story about the people who lived there. So, her details made the history come alive for me.
John Ray Family HomeInterior of Ray Home
Many soldiers from both sides lost their lives on this battlefield. Therefore, it is a beautiful, yet haunting place today.
Guibor’s Battery
In Conclusion
To sum up, Missouri was a fabulous state in our trip. We saw so many cool things! We were careful because of Covid-19, but it felt more like our previous trips because we were able to see and do so much. If you would like to read more about our experiences, check out Retirement and teardrop camping!
Camping in Iowa was more like our typical travel because we were near mid-sized cities and there was lots to do. We camped in two fabulous campgrounds, a Corps of Engineers (COE) and a county park. Therefore, Iowa was a great leg of our trip!
Sandy Beach Campground
Sandy Beach is a Corps of Engineers campground and was only $10 a night with our Senior Pass. Though inexpensive, it was an excellent campground! We had a water and electric site and the lake just beyond the trees in the photo below. However, our camper was in the sun for most of the day, but our tow vehicle was under a bit of shade. A real plus at this campground: the bathhouse was nice and very well-maintained.
Late afternoon at Site # 9
The Sandy Beach is in the photo below. Some people were in the water, but this lake appears to be primarily a haven for boating.
Coralville Lake
Cedar Rapids
Our Iowa camping included a trip to Cedar Rapids, which was only seventeen miles away from our campground. We spent one of our two free days there.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
The Czech and Slovak Museum is one of the main attractions at Cedar Rapids and was well worth the time. I felt it was safe because it was not crowded and masks were required. The museum is about the history and culture of the Czech and Slovak people. A special section honored women, including Madeline Albright and Martina Navratilova in commemoration of 100 years since women’s suffrage.
National Czech & Slovak Museum
A Czech writer, Karel Čapek, first coined the phrase “robot” in the play, R.U.R. in 1920. The museum has many examples of robots from the Iowa First Tech Challenge.
Robots from Competitions
Much of the museum is devoted to the history of the country, Czechoslovakia, which was an advanced and prosperous democracy from 1918-1938. But the country and its people experienced massive change over the course of just just fifty-five years.
Firstly, Nazi Germany occupied it in 1939 and divided it. Entire towns were destroyed and the people were massacred. Many were put into concentration camps. This occupation existed until 1945. Next, the end of the war in 1945 led to communist rule and an alliance with the Soviet Union. During the 41 years of Communist rule, more than a half a million people fled the country. In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two democracies, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. I can’t imagine living through that much difficulty and change.
Stories of Immigrants
Our Iowa Meal with Outdoor Seating
While in Iowa, we had a couple of meals at restaurants with outdoor seating. One had all our desired elements, an expectation of safety from COVID, great food, outdoor seating, and shelter from the sun. Parlor City was a recommendation of a woman at the museum. It had all the desired elements and we really enjoyed the meal. We also had a good meal at Mullets (like the hairstyle) in Des Moines.
Parlor City Pub & EateryDrinks and a Great Meal Outdoors with Shade
Iowa City
The Old Capital Building
We spent our other free day in Iowa City, which was also just seventeen miles from our campground. Iowa City is a college town, home to the University of Iowa. The old Capital Building was on my list, but it was closed. Sadly, vandals had put graffiti on the lower levels of the building.
Old Capital Building in Iowa City
Waterworks Prairie Park
Waterworks is a 200-acre park that features three miles of paved paths that encircle several ponds. It is a lovely park—nice for walking or biking. We planned to just walk a portion of the it.
Waterworks Prairie Park
The temperature was in the low eighties, but the sun was extremely intense. However, we expected a bit of shade. Unfortunately, there was none on the path. We had started around the largest pond and the sun was bearing down on us. Both of us were sweating profusely. In the photo below, my expression shows how I felt. My husband was miserable too, but if there is a camera, he smiles. We were so grateful to get back to our car!
Unhappy Visitors
Iowa Camping in Des Moines
Yellow Banks County Park
Yellow Banks was a great campground and is located in Des Moines, which was a big plus. We had a level, gravel site with electric and water. The bathhouse was modern and quite well-maintained. It was only $25 per night and we were there for two nights.
Site # 2
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden was so beautiful. We had to make an appointment because they were limiting the number of people there at one time. Masks were also required.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
There was a large pond with beautiful lily pads and many frogs.
Lily Pads with Flowers
It was so nice and peaceful in the garden, which had an abundance of flowers.
Just a few of the Gorgeous Flowers
Iowa State Capital Building
We made an appointment for a guided tour of the Capital Building. I have found that a tour adds so much to my appreciation of buildings and historic sites. We certainly had a great tour guide and she shared lots about how Iowa government works. The building is breathtakingly beautiful and sits high over the city. The surrounding grounds are also nice and have many monuments.
Majestic Building at the top of the CityBeautiful InteriorUnbelievable MosaicsThe Capital Dome
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
The Pappajohn Park was so much fun! Many large scale sculptures were there to enjoy and photograph. It was a relaxing afternoon.
Pappajohn Sculpture ParkMy Honey and the Alphabet Sculpture
Iowa Countryside
Furthermore, as we crossed through the state, we were able to enjoy the lovely Iowa countryside. There was lots of corn and farms like the one in the photo below.
The Beautiful Iowa Countryside
The old barn in the next photo was at a turn at one of the campgrounds. It’s not in great shape, but I enjoyed seeing it.
Interesting Old Barn
In Conclusion
So, we really loved Iowa! The cities were fun and we felt that while being safe in the pandemic, we were also able to do many cool things. Lastly, if you would like to see other posts about our camping experiences, check out States Visited, a Campsite Resource.
Our Minnesota camping trip included two state parks, Interstate Park, which is near Minneapolis, and Mystery Cave State Park in southern Minnesota.
Interstate Park
We had three nights at Interstate Park, which is just across the Minnesota border. There is also a park on the Wisconsin side. We had a nice shaded electric only site.
Site # 9
Interstate Park is a great campground if you enjoy canoeing or kayaking. They have a large number of each for rent. Also, you can take long trips down the St. Croix River. Because the trips last several hours, they will bring you back to your starting location. Lastly, there is a large paddle boat that provides rides on the river.
We planned to do a little time in a canoe on the river because it looked like so much fun. However, the more I thought about it, I feared it would make my bad shoulder worse. So, we reluctantly abandoned that plan. I really wish we had begun this traveling when we were younger!
We planned to ride the paddle boat trip on our last full day at the campground and also drive into Minneapolis, but it rained all day. So, we stayed inside and binged Netflix, except for a trip to nearby St Croix to do laundry.
Canoe and Kayak Rentals on the St. Croix River
Interstate Park Hiking Trails
Interstate offers some amazing hiking trails, including a rather short one that features over 400 ancient glacial potholes.
Glacial Pothole Trail
Below is a photo of the deepest known pothole, which is sixty feet deep.
Deepest Known Pothole
We also did a large portion of the River Trail. The day was relatively cool and most of the path was shady. It was a pleasant afternoon.
The River Trail
Hanging in the Campground
We spent several hours at our campsite and some little red squirrels entertained us. That is, until we discovered after some time away that they had eaten a hole in our rug. My husband thinks they were attracted to something below it.
Pretty Red Squirrel
We enjoyed our Leinenkugel’s beer, purchased in Wisconsin. I liked the Grapefruit Shandy the best.
Wisconsin Beer
Meals in Minnesota
Our only meals at restaurants on this trip were takeout or at places where they offered outdoor seating.
While at Interstate, we had takeout at Juneberry Cafe and an outdoor meal at the Drive In Restaurant. Both of these Taylors’s Falls restaurants were good, but we really appreciated the outdoor seating at the Drive in. The seats were in the shade and the food was very good. I had very crispy sweet potato fries with a marshmallow dip. Decadent!
Outside Seating at the Drive In Restaurant
Lanesboro
I wanted to stop in Lanesboro because it looked like an interesting place to visit. So, we took a little detour before going to our next campground. It is a pretty 19th century town known for the Root River Bike Trail which runs through it. They have an extensive number of bikes for rent. People come from all over to visit and participate in the trail. Much of the town’s shops, art galleries, and restaurants were closed because of Covid-19.
We had an outdoor lunch at Pedal Pushers Cafe and ice cream at another shop. It was a pleasant stop.
Downtown Lanesboro
Mystery Cave State Park
Our last Minnesota Camping was one night at Mystery Cave State Park. The campground was very nice with a better than average bathhouse for a State Park. It was a peaceful and relaxing break in our trip.
Site #31
Forestwood Pioneer Village
Neither the Mystery Cave nor the Pioneer Village was open while we were there. We checked out the Village, but you could not get close because of construction. However, we met a nice lady from Oregon at the village and had a nice discussion.
Ancient Bridge
The Minnesota Countryside
We saw lots of the Minnesota countryside. It entailed cornfields and lots of barns like the one below. It was quite picturesque.
Minnesota Farm
Conclusion
We loved our time in Minnesota. The State Parks were great and the countryside was beautiful. We experienced several small towns, but sadly no larger ones. Considering the pandemic, our Minnesota camping was a good experience.
Our Wisconsin camping trip included five nights in two campgrounds, both of which were State Parks. There are a few things to know about camping in Wisconsin during COVID-19. One, the campground offices are not open for check-in. You just drive to your assigned site. Two, you must have a vehicle permit and you are expected to pay online for it before entering.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit
Pike Lake Unit is a pretty, small campground in Hartford on Pike Lake. Though we were there in the middle of the week, it was mostly occupied. We had a large electric site, but the area where our camper and SUV was parked was in full sun. Unfortunately, there was a heat wave while we were there, so air conditioning was a must.
Pike Lake Unit Site # 31
However, there was a nice shaded area on one side of our site that provided a nice place to sit in the shade.
Enjoying the shade
Hiking to the Tower
I was happy that my husband agreed to take a hike to a tower in the campground. I have struggled getting enough exercise and the hike was a good one which required some effort. Fortunately, the trail was totally in the shade, which made it relatively cool. This was one of my favorite parts of the campground, but was probably my husband’s last favorite.
The Tower Trail
The 60 foot tower is at the top of Powder Hill, which is a Moulin Kane, formed from glacial rocks. They had the tower closed and blocked from climbing. I would have liked to climb it, but not enough to go through their barricades.
Pike Lake Tower
We had a rainy day where we just hung out at the campground, but we did go into Hartford in the rain for ice cream for dinner. We’re old, so who’s to stop us.
Historic Cedarburg
Cedarburg is small town founded in 1885 and is a suburb of Milwaukee. It has some interesting architecture and an old covered bridge.
Last Covered Bridge circa 1876
The town has many buildings that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Advent Lutheran ChurchCedarburg Art MuseumBuildings on Washington Street
Most of the shops in this little town were closed, but we had a nice lunch at the historic Stilt House. The outdoor seating was right by Cedar Creek, a large tributary of the Milwaukee River.
Lunch at the Stilt House by the water
Milwaukee was just twenty miles away, so we drove through the city and stopped briefly at Riverwalk. It was very hot and we were tired, so we headed back to Hartford.
We checked out Pike Lake before we went back to the camper. It was a busy place and the lake was lovely. We weren’t tempted, which I took as proof we are old.
Pike Lake
Wisconsin Camping in Chippewa Falls
Lake Wissota State Park
Lake Wissota campground is larger than Pike Lake with over a hundred sites. Our site had no electricity and we were planning to use our new generator. But, we discovered that generators are not allowed. I must use a nebulizer twice daily, so it was a health issue for me. Park personnel were working to allow special permission to use the generator when a sweet young lady in the office discovered a cancellation. They were most helpful in solving my problem and moving us to one of the few electric sites.
Pull through Site #91
Our site had a large open area at the back. It was too bad that we did not have friends along with us to hang out.
Back of Site 91
Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls has one of the nicest parks we have ever visited. Because many businesses are closed, we really appreciated being able to enjoy this safe environment. Riverfront Park was one of my favorite stops in Wisconsin in this new pandemic world.
Riverside Park
The park has a shady swing where you can sit by the river.
Chippewa River Runs By the Park
We have never seen solar powered benches before. There were also several places with electrical outlets. This park has so many amenities for its visitors!
Solar Charging Stations on Benches
We were concerned about finding clean and safe bathrooms on this trip because of the virus. The park was great in this area! The building below is an enormous park bathroom that is modern and was exceptionally clean.
Giant immaculate park restroom
Lunch at a Winery
We were more interested in the food truck than the winery. However, they limited the number of people inside the winery and were wearing masks, so we went inside for a tasting. We bought a couple of bottles of wine and some sausage and cheese.
River Bend Vineyard & Winery
The Island Vibe jerk chicken was delicious. We had our chairs with us, but there was no available shade. So, we ate in our car, as so many meals are eaten these days.
Island Vibe Food Truck
The Place We Didn’t Go
Leinenkugel’s Brewery is a major Chippewa Falls attraction. The inside tours are not currently occurring, but we thought we might stop and try one of their beers. When we saw the number of people inside and how close together they were, we passed on this. It had me really wanting to try the beer though, so we got some at the local grocery store. It was pretty good.
Leinenkugels Brewery
In Conclusion
This was the first time either of us have visited Wisconsin. The pandemic made it difficult to interact with the people and experience its culture. We logged more time in the campgrounds than our typical trips. The state is beautiful though and our few interactions with its residents were positive. If you are interested in our trips to other states, check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.
Illinois was a new camping state for us. Previously, we visited Chicago, but were not camping. So, we camped five nights at three different campgrounds: one was a state park and the other two were private.
The pandemic was definitely a concern, but we considered the risk and had planned ways to reduce our chance in infection, Travel Amid Covid19 for At-Risk Campers. Covid-19 greatly hampered our ability to do what we most love—taking in the local sights and experiencing local cuisine. However, we still managed to do a few things that were high on our priority list.
Eldon Hazlet State Park
Our first Illinois camping site was in Carlyle. The park was lovely with large sites and lots of shade. Unfortunately, we had one of the few that were in full sun and it was during a heat wave. Setting up our camper in that blistering heat was most unpleasant. We were drenched in sweat in no time.
Site #17
Our site was very large though, with a shady backyard on the lake. Carlyle Lake is an enormous reservoir which covers 25,000 acres. Carlyle is the largest lake in Illinois and the largest lake located solely in one state. If fishing or boating is your thing, this campground is for you.
Our backyard on the lake
We were at Hazlet for two nights and pretty much stayed in the campground. I saw a groundhog for the first time in the wild. There were all over the campground, but they are shy creatures who would not let you get too close. I thought they were kinda cute!
One of the numerous groundhogs in the campground
Nearby Eldon Hazlet State Park
We drove to a nearby beach on the lake, but did not go swimming. I did, however, dip my toes in the water.
Beach on Carlyle Lake
After the beach, we drove into nearby Carlyle, a very small town. The town was cute, but pretty much shut down. We got ice cream through the drive through at the local Dairy Queen.
142 Year-old Building in Carlyle
Our camping experience at Hazlet was good overall. Our neighbors on one side were very nice and friendly, but on a Friday night we had very noisy neighbors on the other side that were up till wee hours in the morning. I had to restrain my husband from going to talk to them. You never know what kind a person you might encounter. We wore masks the few times we were briefly indoors and practiced social distancing. I feel we were safe.
The Land of Lincoln
We seek Presidential Libraries in our travels and were very happy that the Lincoln Library was open. For that reason, camping near Springfield was a must.
Illinois Camping at Double J Campground
Our favorite Illinois campground was Double J Campground in Chatham, which is about ten miles south of Springfield. Full hookups with lots of shade trees was nice. Immaculate bathhouses, large pool, well-appointed laundry, and Route 66-themed carpet golf sealed the deal. We loved this campground!
Site # 67
We had an afternoon free to enjoy the pool. Though we kept our distance, we had some nice interactions with some Illinois residents. They were very friendly.
After the pool, we took the opportunity to do a little laundry. So, we were ready to spend the next day in Springfield.
Getting some sun
Lincoln Presidential Library
Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency is probably the best known of all American presidents. It is certainly true for me. Because of this, there were fewer new insights at this library than there would be in one where I did not know very much about the president. I did feel a great sense of sorrow for all he went through and gratitude for what he accomplished.
There were multiple wax figures and portraits and a couple of shows.
Wax figures of Lincoln Family
The Lincoln Home
The Lincoln home was where he lived for seventeen years while he practiced law. It was where his children were born. I suspect he was very happy during those years. Many of the homes of his neighbors are still standing on the street, which is closed to traffic. There is information provided about his neighbors and their relationships to the Lincolns.
Sadly, the home was not open for tours because of the pandemic. I would have loved to tour it. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to take the tour one day.
Lincoln’s Springfield Home
Illinois Camping at Blackhawk Valley Campground
Blackhawk Valley Campground was a one night stopover to break up the miles to our next stop. It was a pleasant campground with full hookups, but no pool.
Site #62
There is a river and a tiny little beach area.
River at Blackhawk Valley Campground
Meals in Illinois
Most of our meals were in our camper, which is not our norm. We did not eat inside any restaurant, but we did have a couple of meals where they offered outside dining. Our first meal was in Camden at a strip mall. It was hot outside, but still nice to not have to cook. Service was excellent, but we were not crazy about the food.
Our second and favorite meal was at Obed & Issac’s. It is located in the house below and we were able to snag a table on the front porch. There were only two other people on the porch and they were at least twelve feet away.
Obed & Issac’s Microbrewery and Eatery
I had chicken and waffles and my husband had an omelet. The food was very good and the service was excellent. We were grateful to have been able to have this dining experience, given the circumstances.
First drink out since early March
Illinois Camping Conclusion
Overall, Illinois camping was good for us and the people were friendly and accommodating. I mourn some of the things we were unable to see and do, but am grateful for this opportunity to visit this state and travel with my sweet husband.
Travel amid Covid19 is a whole new ballgame. The next twelve months have a look of extreme uncertainty. There is the danger of the virus, plus the risk of lack of access to needed goods and services while away from home. I am also concerned about our personal safety. I haven’t really worried a lot about safety while camping in the past, but now feels like a greater risk.
Our Situation
My husband and I are part of the at-risk population. Both over sixty-five, we also have lung issues. We can’t just go out into the world like younger, healthier members of the population. The virus could easily prove serious or even deadly for us.
However, at our age, there are only so many opportunities to get out and see this beautiful world. I believe there will be some time to hang around the house when we are not able to travel, but we don’t want to start that phase of our life just yet.
Travel is our favorite retirement pastime. We love air travel, but will have to wait until the virus risk is greatly diminished. Camping is considered much safer and we plan to actively camp this year. Our ultimate goal is to camp in all fifty states. We planned to visit more than a dozen new states this year. I have partially booked a long, far away, autumn trip and an extensive summer trip is now reserved.
Our Preferred Travel Style
Under normal circumstances, we like to cover a lot of ground on our longer camping trips. Our desire is to experience life in other parts of the country. We prefer State and National Parks because they generally offer a closer experience with nature and a bit more privacy than commercial campgrounds. Additionally, we like to check out small and medium cities while on the road. Museums, historic sites, and presidential libraries are also sought. Lastly, we like to experience the local cuisine and have had some exceptional meals on the road. Our last trip, Skidaway Island State Park, One of Georgia’s Finest, is a good example of how we like to travel and camp.
Travel Amid COVID19 Modifications
Spending More Time in the Campground. While we love visiting the local sights, they often involve close contact with others. Also, two presidential libraries I wanted to visit during our summer trip will be closed. It is likely this will be true for most attractions. So, we will be prepared to enjoy the natural beauty of each area we visit without having as much of the cultural experience. Games and leisurely walks will be our entertainment.
Cooking Most Meals at the Campsites. For many, this may be the norm, but we love finding great food on the road. We will do takeout in the local areas and perhaps to eat outside at a restaurant. However, we will not be having any meals inside restaurants.
Fully Utilizing Our Camper’s Bathroom. Many of the campground bathhouses in our summer trip are currently closed. Also, there has been some indication that public bathrooms can be somewhat risky because of the virus. We generally take showers in campground bathhouses because our shower is small. The toilet in our camper has mostly been used at nighttime. However, travel amid Covid19 will require our T@B 400 to be our only bathroom resource for much of the trip.
Safety Precautions. Masks, increased hand washing, and social distancing will be a part of our camping trip, just like it has been at home. The greatest risk will be when we buy groceries and fuel or go out among people.
Our tiny bathroom
New Gear as a Precaution
I was concerned that if there is a severe outbreak of the virus while we are on the road, we might not be able to get back home when planned. We thought a generator was a good idea. We chose the Sportsman 2200 because it runs on propane and gasoline.
Our 2019 400 has a heavier tongue than later models. So, we don’t have the option of adding the platform to mount a generator and gasoline to our camper. Additionally, our tow vehicle is an SUV. So, we don’t have any outside storage. The propane option for a generator meant that we wouldn’t have the gasoline smell inside our camper or tow vehicle. We hope this proves to be a good purchase.
Sportsman 2200 Dual Fuel Generator
The thought of being on the road again and visiting unfamiliar places is exciting. However, it will be different from trips of the past.
Happy and Safe Camping!
Update
Here are posts about our travels during the pandemic.
My bucket list has included Skidaway Island State Park in Georgia since we first began camping. We were eager to visit because it’s so highly rated and near the beautiful Savannah. So, it seemed a logical stop on our way home from our winter trip along the Florida coast.
At the campground, there was a handy map of all the Georgia State Parks. I took a photo because I think it might help future trip planning.
Georgia State Parks
Skidaway has an abundance of gorgeous Spanish moss laden live oak trees which are such an iconic part of the Savannah area. We had site # 42; a lovely pull through with full hookups.
Skidaway Island State Park
We arrived just before sunset and were able to set up ahead the rain. However, dinner out at a nearby Chinese restaurant involved torrential rain and wading through ponds of water. Also, it had gotten much colder! The rain did, however, sound good on our camper while we slept.
A Rainy Day Plan
Our first full day in the area was filled with cold and rain, so we sought mostly indoor things to do. Despite the weather, it was a memorable day.
Pin Point Heritage Museum
This proved to be an interesting place. The museum is dedicated to the Gullah/Geechee culture, of which I did not know anything. The people there harvested oysters and crabs for 100 years, starting during the time of slavery. There is a movie with interviews of people in the area and an excellent tour that takes you into the history of the life and times in the area.
Interestingly, a famous person hailed from the area. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was born there.
Mrs.Wilkes Dining Room
We were looking for lunch after Pin Point and literary stumbled on a very unique dining experience. I chose it because we wanted a nearby place to eat while it was raining. The address was in our GPS, but it it was not much for signage. I asked a man on the street about it and he said, “follow the smells.” You could tell there was food in the area.
At Mrs. Wilkes, there are large tables that seat ten people and you eat with those that arrive at the same approximate time as you. We sat with travelers from as far away as New York. All were friendly! One couple had traveled hundreds of miles to eat at this restaurant for his birthday.
The food was homemade, abundant, and delicious. Some of our lunch mates had been there many times before and they said that the line is typically around the block to get in. That day for lunch, the rain was our friend.
A feast at Mrs. Wilkes
Forsyth Park
After eating way too much lunch, we were in need of a little exercise. Nearby Forsyth Park was just the ticket. It is a beautiful park with a lovely fountain. However, we did not stay long because of the rain and cold.
Forsyth Park FountainBeautiful Savannah
American Prohibition Museum
This was a great rainy day thing to do. It is the only museum in America dedicated to the history of prohibition, which occurred from 1920-1933. Firstly, it features some excellent displays with realistic wax figures.
Display at the Prohibition MuseumSome clothing of the times
Most noteworthy, the museum also provides scads of facts about what lead to the 18th Amendment which banned liquor and the resultant times. Prohibition ended with the 21st Amendment.
The self-guided tour ends with entrance into a speak easy where you can have a cocktail reminiscent of the times. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and learned a bit as well.
Skidaway Island and A Sunny Day
Our second full day was sunny and dry. Such a welcome sight! We rented bikes and explored the campground. It was a nice peaceful day.
Biking the Campground
Lastly, we met friends who had moved to nearby Jekyll Island from our hometown for dinner. It was very nice to see them!
A Foreboding
The last few days of our trip, we were beginning to hear more everyday about a new threat, the Covid-19. As we were still traveling, we sought some hand sanitizer. Alas, none were to be had at the local Publix nor Walmart. Little did we know that most of the world would soon be on lockdown and future travel plans would be cancelled.
Wishing you well and safe from the virus! Hoping we can all go camping soon!
This winter trip camping along the Florida coast was more than a year in planning because we tried to reserve in the more popular Florida state parks. We also camped at three campgrounds last year, Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Topsail is one of the nicest state parks we have visited. It is on Santa Rosa Island in a beautiful resort area. We paid $46 a night for an immaculate pull-through shaded site with a concrete slab and full hookups. However, you must book extremely early to snare a spot at this popular park.
Site 89 at Topsail Hill
A gorgeous, isolated beach is a 3/4 mile walk or a free tram ride away. The tram runs every hour from 9 to 5.
The boardwalk to the beachEnjoying the beautiful Topsail Beach
The park and the beach were wonderful, but our weather was not the best. It rained the first full day we were there and it was very cloudy and humid with drizzle the next. But, we enjoyed it because we went to see the movie, 1917, on the first day and some friends drove in from Port St. Joe to visit us on the second day. Overall, our stay at Topsail was very nice.
Manatee Springs State Park
Manatee Springs is a very special park. For a very economical nightly rate of $25 a night, we had a large, level site with full hookups.
Site 12 Manatee Springs
Within the park, we had many sightings of deer and we saw manatees on two separate occasions.
Deer at Manatee SpringsManatees in the Springs
The Springs are beautiful and you can experience them up close in one of the canoes that are offered for rent. Bikes are also available. If you are hungry, barbeque is sold on site daily. There is very little cell reception in the park, but there is WiFi in the rental area.
Manatee Springs
Hillsborough River State Park
We had three nights in site #26 at Hillsborough River, which is near Tampa. Our new awning was up for the second time and we liked the bit of privacy it provided. The park has nice hiking trails and a large pool. However, we did not utilize either on this trip.
Site #26
Our first full day was cold and rainy. So, our camping friends went with us to Tampa where we visited the Tampa Bay History Center and had lunch at Columbia Restaurant. At Columbia, the White Chocolate Bread Pudding was amazing and so was its 1905 Salad.
Lunch at Columbia Restaurant at Riverwalk
Our next day, we really enjoyed a visit to a small museum in Zephyrhills, the Museum of Military History. It has many artifacts from several wars. The museum is free, but is only currently open on Saturdays. Strawberries were in season in Plant City, so we ended our day with strawberry shortcake from one of the local farms. Timing was with us for these two special treats.
Museum of Military History
Florida Coast at Collier-Seminole State Park
Collier-Seminole is about twenty miles southeast of Naples and it has vegetation and wildlife typical of the Everglades. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. There are multiple bathhouses which were very nice for a state park.
Site # 30
The park began in 1924 to build the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) which crosses the Everglades, linking Tampa and Miami. The Walking Dredge was used to build the road and is now a National Historic Landmark.
National Historic Landmark, the Walking Dredge
Access to the Blackwater River is within the park. It is a beautiful place to canoe and the park offers them for rental. Tours are also offered on certain days.
Blackwater River
Because we only had one full day at this park, we just stayed onsite. In addition, the park had bikes for rent at $10 for two hours. It was a beautiful, breezy day—perfect for biking. So we really enjoyed it!
Rental bikes are available
The Florida Coast, Camping in the Lower Keys
Sadly, we could not get a spot at a state park for the Keys. We actually booked at an RV park almost a year in advance because there were not many options. Lazy Lakes RV resort in the lower keys proved to be a nice place to stay, but it was expensive. We had full hookups and a heated pool, but it was $100 a night. Not your typical camping rates.
Site # 34 at Lazy Lakes RV Resort
We had a partial day of beautiful, sunny, and warm weather. This part of the Florida coast was astounding to see—so much gorgeous water everywhere. We drove around and just took in the atmosphere.
View from a boat launchOld Railroad Bridge
An huge (to me) iguana was a frequent visitor at our site. My husband gave him some sweet potato. I stayed away.
Our Visiting Iguana
Dinner was at our campsite with our friends who were camping with us, followed by a game of Mexican Train. It was a rainy evening, so we did not leave the campground.
Key West
We drove to Key West for our next full day. The weather had turned cold and wet. We stood in line for about 15 minutes to get a photo of the marker for the Southernmost Point in the continental U.S. Cuba is only 90 miles away and we were told that on a clear night you can see its lights. A couple in our campground planned to take a flight there that included meals and a tour for $900 each. That’s a little too rich for my blood.
The Southernmost Point
The Truman Little White House
My favorite part of the day was a visit to the Truman Little White House, but getting there was quite challenging. Parking was nonexistent except for a few lots and traffic was very heavy. Then, there was quite a walk through a neighborhood to get to the house, which has a very interesting history. However, I really loved what we learned about Truman on the tour. We have not yet visited the Truman Library, so it was good to learn about him personally and his accomplishments. The guide was excellent! Also, it was inside and away from the cold and rain.
Truman’s Little White House
We had a delicious lunch at Blue Heaven. Though it was late in the afternoon on a cold, rainy day, there was still a wait of about 20 minutes. The food was good though.
Lunch at Blue Heaven
We tried to visit the Hemingway House, but they only accepted cash, which we did not have with us. So, we walked around a bit and bought some macaroons at a nearby bakery. We were back at our campsite before dark. Old folks!
The next morning, we said goodbye to our camping friends and were on our own for the remainder of the trip.
The Everglades
Our Everglades home for three nights was Long Pine Key Campground in Everglades National Park. Though it was dry camping, the campground was excellent. The roads were paved and the sites were roomy with pretty vegetation. The bathhouse and separate restrooms were nice and well-maintained. There is also a dump station and fresh water available. It was inexpensive at $24 a night. So, on our first afternoon, we cooked hot dogs and enjoyed all the birds that came to visit, including a pair of cardinals. It was so peaceful!
Site #99
The Miami Connection
Last year, we visited Miami on a non-camping trip and I got a short haircut that I loved. Wanting to obtain another magical cut, I contacted the same hairdresser and arranged for her to cut my hair again. So, we drove approximately an hour to Miami Beach and I had the same lady cut my hair. It was not the worst haircut I have ever had, but still, it was pretty bad. So disappointing!
Afterwards, we had a nice Italian meal outside at Mercado Della Pescheria on lively Española Way. The meal was good and the people watching was pretty interesting as well.
Late lunch at Mercado Della Pescheria
Exploring the Glades
Our second full day was all about exploring the National Park. We took a short walk on a nearby trail. It would be great for bikes, but was a little boring to walk. There were bikes available for rent in the campground.
Long Pine Key Trail
However, we decided our time could best be spent driving the 35 miles south to Flamingo, which is at the bottom of Florida and the Everglades. There is a campground there and we checked it out. It has full hookups, but is not nearly as nice as Long Pine.
Along the way, stopped at Mrazek Pond, one of many in the area. It was teaming with wildlife.
Mrazek Pond
Flamingo
Flamingo was rather lively. There was a a marina and you could take boat rides. We got hamburgers at a food truck. When I got up to throw away the containers, a large crow grabbed the strap on my camera and attempted to fly away with it. He didn’t get far and my husband was chasing him, but my camera dropped on the concrete. It seems to be working though.
The excitement continued when we had the opportunity to see a crocodile pretty close. He was just sunning himself on the shore. I personally think my husband was a little too close.
Florida Crocodile in the Wild
Lastly, we visited the beach. The water was very shallow and calm. The color was different from what we have seen elsewhere along the Florida coast. It was kind of a mint green—rather strange, but pretty in its own way.
Everglades Beach
The weather was fabulous while we were in the Everglades, so we did not miss having an air conditioner. Mosquitos were my biggest fear, but they were not bad at all. That was probably because we were there at the end of February. In conclusion, we loved this stop on our trip.
Tomeka State Park
Our last stop along the Florida coast was Tomeka State Park at Ormond Beach. It has an amazing canopy of live oaks nestled between the Tomeka and the Halifax rivers. The campground was beautiful and there was a lot to do and see nearby.
Site #44
We had an excellent meal at nearby Hulls Seafood. Another winner in the area is Donnie’s Donuts. Both were recommended by the park ranger. Needless to say, we both gained some weight on this trip.
The Casements
Sadly, we only had one full day in the area. The summer home of John D. Rockefeller, the Casements, was our first stop. The tour was free, donations requested. We really enjoyed it. The house has an interesting history and there was also lots to learn about Rockefeller.
The Casements, John D. Rockefeller’s Summer Home
We had Thai food for lunch and spent our afternoon at the Battle of Dunlawton Plantation. It was another free activity that offered the history of a plantation during the second Seminole War in 1836. Some of the equipment used for sugar production still stands. This eclectic site also has lovely and whimsical gardens.
Sugar Production Equipment in 1836Tree Elves
This was a wonderful stop on our trip and the community of Ormond Beach spoke to me. I would like to return someday.
Conclusion
We were so blessed to be able to take this trip along the Florida coast! But, when it was time to go, I had been sick for months with a respiratory infection. I was on my sixth round of antibiotics and my doctor said if I didn’t get better, I would need intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.
We departed with just a few days of antibiotics remaining and me with a considerable cough, not knowing if we would have to return early. I am happy to say that steadily I became better in the warm, sunny Florida climate. It was such a great trip!
Mrs.Wilkes Dining Room
