Our Journey To The Rally

[TNFSolitude]

With all the stress I've been under, I decided to take the day off from travelling. A few chores, a few errands a few minutes pondering the vagaries of kinetic sand. Did you know that a two pound box of wet sand can cost up to $25? The guy that invented this is a genius! Take a couple 40# bags of play sand, $3/bag, add a couple ounces some type of non-toxic oil, 30 cents at most, and put 2#'s into a fancy box with a picture of kids having incredible fun and you're a rich man. Never have to work again rich. Buy Grand Design back from Winnebago rich.

OK, tomorrow we'll probably hit the road. But until then we're still 171 miles from Goshen fairgrounds.

[TNFSolitude]

Back on the road, 195 miles to Northern Bear Paw campground on M-55 outside of Tawas, MI. It's good to be camping together, just the two of us DW and I.
We had a family wedding scheduled for tomorrow, my cousin's son and fellow deer hunting partner. Secondly, my cousin's retirment went through so the family planned a retirement party for him on Sunday. Then cousin junior, an airman assigned to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota got deployed. We think he's going to Guam, not good. So the kids moved up the wedding with just immediate family. Please keep them in your prayers, no one knows what the nut job dictator in N Korea is going to do.

Saturday's pretty open now, but we'll find something to do.

Now at 287 miles to Goshen Fairgrounds.

[TNFSolitude]

That was a fun weekend, meeting up with family and friends in the Tawas area. But it's also time to get moving. We've got places to go, people to see and things to do. Next stop on the itinerary, Mt. Pleasant Soaring Eagle Casino and resorts. Campground's just ok, trees need to grow up. Dan & Deb, friends from work live nearby so we'll be spending some time with them. For all the years we've been friends it's only in Florida that we get together. Now's our chance to see their place, go out onto the boat and do some relaxing. We'll get serious about putting some miles behind us, just not this week.
Distance covered; 117 miles.
Now at 199 miles to Goshen Fairgrounds.

[TNFSolitude]

Here we are enjoying a ball game with the Mid Michigan Loons vs. Lansing Lugnuts. Minor league baseball is a blast. Here with our good friends the Bowens, fellow Rally attendees. But to get here we had to change campgrounds. It was a strenuous 12 minutes, 5.5 miles to Outdoors Adventure, Mt Pleasant.
Rain forecasted for tomorrow, we'll probably go shopping and re-stock the pantry. Then we'll get serious and put some miles behind us. It's less than two weeks until the Rally and we don't want to be late.

Now at 200 miles from Goshen Fairgrounds.

[TNFSolitude]

Well, some serious seat time today. 400 mile drive from Mt Pleasant, MI (where we enjoyed two fun days with friends Jim & Cecille) to Geneseo, IL. You can't see or enjoy a total eclipse anywhere close to Michigan so we've decided on viewing in Beatrice, NE and Homestead National Park. Anyone else in the area? We've got our ISO certified eclipse glasses, a new filter for my camera and a desire to experience something new. Hey, we're retired and own a bad-****** camper and the pickup to pull it. Anyway, it's on the way to Goshen, IN.
Distance to Goshen Fairgrounds - 249 miles.

[TNFSolitude]

Another long day on the road, 375 miles, but I'm ready for the Rally. We'll be there in no time. Currently residing in Camp A Way campground in Lincoln, NE. Slight detour I realize, but there's a solar eclipse we want to see.
Distance to Goshen campgrounds - 675 miles.

[JCR GD]

Tom, it's fun watching your progress but it seems the closer you get the further you are Have fun!

[Cate&Rob]

On our way too .
Washed the trailer . . . Washed and waxed the truck . . . Drove through rain all day today .
First extended drive with the new disc brakes . . .just an amazing safety improvement !!!

Rob

[TNFSolitude]

Still in Lincoln, NE and staying another day. On the way to the golf course this morning we found a terrific arboreum and botanical gardens. After golf we visited the SAC Museum in Ashland. Tomorrow another course and the gardens.
There's been 2 days of rain so it's probably safe to get the truck washed. (Rob, if you headed through Michigan, we needed the rain. Be sure and get your truck washed prior to heading home.)
Midway to Goshen is the Amana Colony, that's probably worth a stop. Davenport and the Mississippi river might be worth a stop. Then there's all of Illinois to get through.
What day does the Rally start again?
Distance to Goshen campgrounds - 675 miles.

[TNFSolitude]

A funny thing happened on our journey to Goshen. We actually got closer to Goshen. We're at Little Bear Campground, West Liberty, IA - a 315 mile drive east on I-80. We'll spend some time exploring Amana Colony, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, and Davenport's Mississippi riverfront.
Distance to Goshen campground - 312 miles.