Cold Spring, Minnesota

Spending two more weeks in my home town where four of my siblings still live with their spouses called for a LOT of get-togethers. I counted nine separate eating events that I attended, which included the meals Jerry prepared for individual couples. Needless to say, we enjoyed every minute of it. We didn't take many family pictures this time around, however. And, we didn't take the time to update the blog either until now.

Jerry continued to upgrade our coach. Installing the 40-inch HDTV created a slight problem. Seems that our Winegard Dome Satellite dish, though "high-definition ready," did not bring in high definition viewing. That's because, we found out, DirecTv switched all of its high definition stations to different transponders. Long story short, we had to install a new satellite dish on top of our coach. This thing weighed 56 pounds. Jerry was able to get it up on our roof with the help of a volunteer. But, before he found the guy to help him, he tried to do it himself.

Jerry trying to get the satellite dish hoisted up 

to the roof of the motorhome.

So far, in addition to the new HDTV and satellite dish, we now have new fixtures over the long counter, a new smaller television to replace the old one that was on the counter (because the people were now squashed down and all looked fat on the old one which was not HD), new energy efficient blinds, LED light bulbs, an over-the-bed fan in the bedroom, two new Fan-Tastic air vents that have a rain sensor on them which causes the open vent to automatically shut down when it rains, and other new miscellaneous smaller items. We are not done yet and are headed back down to Winnebago in Iowa to finish the work.

Here are a few of the pictures that we took at some of the gatherings.

Jan's caramel rolls (to die for)

The gang at Tim and Jan's place for brunch. (Jerry, me,

Ann, Dorothy, Dave, Tim, Jan, Dan and Kasi)

Dorothy dancing with her granddaughter, Sophia,

with her daughter, Laurie, in the background.

Fish fry at Dave and Dorothy's place.

Dave, his brother, and Tim caught the fish for the fish fry.

Brother, Tim, enjoying the High Life of retirement

at the fish fry.

We all went out one more time yesterday (Sunday) for a very nice brunch at the Coyote Moon Restaurant next to a golf course in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Today, we moved on and are currently staying at Camping World in Rogers, Minnesota, where we will have the braking system installed on the Chevrolet Equinox before we attempt to go over the Rocky Mountains to get back to California later this year.

It is absolutely miserable here with the temperature registering 98 degrees a few hours ago. Can't wait for this heat stream to break. 

Tomorrow or Wednesday, we will be on our way back to Forest City, Iowa, to the Winnebago facility.

As always, continue to live the life you love!

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Well, it was really a fun week here in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The Forest Hills Golf & RV Resort is huge, clean and well kept. Obviously, there is a golf course surrounding the Resort on all sides. Some long-term residents have put up wire mesh to keep the golf balls from hitting their RV or cabin. We actually found a golf ball next to our hook-up one day, and know that it must have hit our motor home before landing there.

Parked at the Forest Hills Golf & RV Resort.

Because we are members of Coast-to-Coast, we only paid $10.00 a night. Normal rates are $75.00 a night. Love all the greenery around here.

Behind our motor home and in the distance, there is a lovely church on a hill that really stands out.

Church on Forest Hill

We spent a couple of days at the lakes with Sean and Rachelle and family. One day we went on a long pontoon ride around Pelican Lake and the next day, we took a shorter ride around the lake. Of course, there was plenty of food and BBQ.

Danica and Sean on the pontoon 

Jerry and Chanti enjoying the ride, with Donovan trying to catch some sun

Just a cabin on the lake worth $48 million dollars. Sean

says that Pelican Lake is the second most expensive lake

in Minnesota.

An absolutely beautiful day on the lake.

Angela and Danica

Angela and Danica, again

Sean, being Sean, and tossing Donovan into the

water with Rachelle and Danica looking on.

Later, we sat around the fire as the sun was setting

Then, yesterday (Saturday), Sean and Rachelle asked us to join them at a large campsite with their friends. Since we did not have clear directions on exactly where this campsite was located, we drove a few miles too far and stumbled across a farmer's market in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Jerry and I always stop at these and we usually find them quite interesting. This one was one of the best with many very unique items.

Farmer's market at Battle Lake, Minnesota

Tonight (Sunday), Sean and Rachelle joined us here on the coach for dinner. They were beat from a week-end of camping with their friends. Jerry made a great dinner and then they were headed home after we said our good-byes.  All-in-all, it was a great week. And the weather was perfect (in the 70s). The only regret we have is that we were not able to connect with Daniel.

Tomorrow (Monday), we will travel back to Rockville where we will stay for the next couple of weeks. We are continuing to up-grade our motor home and have a number of items showing up at Dave and Dorothy's house this week which Jerry will have to install. He has his work cut out for him.

Stay healthy and continue to live the life you love!

Cold Spring, Minnesota

Had a great week spending time with my brothers and sisters and their spouses in Cold Spring, Minnesota. Again, the weather was really perfect. We understand that, normally at this time of the year, the weather is humid, hot and with lots of mosquitoes. Not last week -- more like in the 70s with hardly any mosquitoes.

Parked in front of Dave and Dorothy's 

garage in Rockville, Minnesota (four

miles from Cold Spring). 

Within walking distance of where we were parked

there is a new park called Eagle Park. 

Jerry ran around it a number of times. 

Eagle Park Sign

Granite seating areas are throughout the Park

Walking path in the Park

Cows near Park (after all, this is Minnesota)

More pictures taken from the Park

Bridge one-half block from where we were parked.

Eagle Park is just on the left hand side of this bridge.

And, here are a few family pictures.

Ann, Dorothy and I spent three hours in this coffee shop.

My brother Danny and I

Jerry took this group picture of the gang.

Starting at the left, there is Ann, Mike, Jan, Me, 

Danny, Tim, Dave and Dorothy. It was a fun evening.

Jerry removed our 100-pound Sony TV box and replaced it with a 30-pound 40-inch flat screen HDTV. He also installed new sconces and a new hanging light over the long counter. More updates to come.

Today, we drove 163 miles north to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where we will spend a week at the Forest Hills Golf and RV Resort. This is a first class facility. From here, we will drive to see Sean and his family a few times, joining them at their lake cottage and at other events that they are attending. It should prove to be a fun week.

Stay healthy and continue to

live the life you love.