Monday to Illinois

On Monday morning, we left Des Moines area of Iowa, heading toward Dubuque.

On our way north on I-35, traffic slowed -- the cause was a windmill blade that had stopped by the side of the road -- we couldn't figure out why they had stopped. Boy is that thing long!

We were heading to Dubuque because the captains chairs in Gracie are wearing pretty badly. We had read on owner's groups that there was a shop in Dubuque that could provide covers for them...

Flaking headrest

Flaking edge of seat

Flaking (nearly bare) armrest

It turns out, from what I have read, that FlexSteel, a reputable furniture manufacturer, made a lot of RV furniture. For whatever reason (aka, "follow the money", I'm sure!), about 10 years ago, the RV manufacturers directed FlexSteel to use an "Ultralux Leather" vinyl covering for their RV furniture. Newmar definitely did this, and I understand that other RV manufacturers did also. Some of the covers broke down very quickly, and people were able to get them addressed under manufacturers warranties. Gracie's chairs are just now getting to look pretty rough, as you see above.

If the corrections would not be done by the coach manufacturer, RV owners looked to FlexSteel to make the corrections. Ultimately, FlexSteel exited the RV furniture business.

One of their RV furniture employees, Lisa Bauer, saw an opportunity. She started Bauer Upholstery, specializing in replacing and re-upholstering RV FlexSteel furniture. https://bauerrvupholstery.com/about/

I had communicated with her by email, and had gotten the information I needed on the price and process, but we were concerned about selecting the fabric without seeing it ourselves (colors on computer monitors do not communicate well). So, we decided to stop by their shop in Dubuque on our way to Illinois.

We brought the sample pieces to Gracie and Miss Kitty concurred on slightly darker brown color (the one under her nose).

Continuing east from Dubuque, we crossed the Mississippi River...

... looking upriver...

... Entering Illinois!

We drove US 20 east across Illinois -- some beautiful views, but wow! the road surface was really rough in a lot of places!

We arrived at Big Rock Campground late in the afternoon on Monday, one of the Kane County Forest Preserve campgrounds. We are looking forward to seeing family and friends while here!

 

Iowa, Cousins, and the High Trestle Trail

On Saturday, we continued a little east and south into Iowa. We had visited Iowa last year so not a new state for Gracie...

We were able to meet up with Carl's cousin Jenice and husband Gary for dinner and visiting -- we had a great time catching up with them!

Besides visiting Jenice and Gary, Carl was wanting to bike the High Trestle Trail in Ankeny, Iowa. He and Sue had stopped in Ankeny on their first RV trip after retirement and did their annual bike ride with friends Greg and Candace, and Bob and Kathy on the High Trestle Trail. He wanted to do it again now with our e-bikes.

We weren't sure that the weather was going to be favorable...

... but it turned out to be a nice day! The trail starts out in Ankeny going behind homes...

... but it soon is in farmland. We kept hearing crickets singing as we were riding... we said it sounded like they were traveling with us...

... when we stopped, we found a grasshopper had caught a ride (he may have just hopped on when we stopped).

More beautiful farmland

As we got near the Des Moines River (and the trail's namesake bridge) we went through a few tunnels on the trail.

The bridge was 2500' (or so) -- Carl video'd the whole way across -- I didn't figure anyone wanted to see 2.5 minutes of bike riding -- so here's the fast version -- bet you didn't know e-bikes went that fast!

Selfie from the overlook

Halfway point on the far side of the bridge.

Heading back across the bridge

On our way back

"High Trestle Trail - Madrid" - shops and restaurants near the trail.

In the town of Madrid, we thought this was a funny sign... other places had crossings for the bike path -- a button you could press to get the traffic to stop. "Madrid **Loves** bikers" -- but don't expect vehicles to stop for you!

Some of the signs we saw along the bike trail... some identified "Proud Farm Bureau Member"...

... someone who wants to ensure the proper people get involved if a cow or calf gets out...

... another "Proud Farm Bureau Member" sign.

By the time we were about 2/3 the way back, quite a headwind had come up...

...I passed Carl (using the throttle on my e-bike) leaning down to try to get a little less buffeting by the headwind. He thought I was trying to get extra speed, but I was honestly just trying to keep my bike helmet from strangling me as it tried to blow off!

All in all, it as a 44 mile ride - a LOT longer than we would have attempted on our conventional bikes. Sue and Carl did it on their regular bikes back in 2014... I admire that they did it! Even with the e-bikes, it was a long ride, and our backsides are not interested in another bike ride anytime real soon!

Continuing East - another new state and another Harvest Host

On Friday, we continued east, leaving South Dakota and entering Minnesota -- Gracie's 8th added state since March 2022!

Our picture of the "Minnesota Welcomes You" sign was not in focus cuz it came up before we thought we were at the border!

The Harvest Host where we stayed Friday night was in Worthington, Minnesota, very near Okabena Lake -- so we got the bikes out and had about a 5 mile ride around the lake.

Back at the Harvest Host site, Carl was riding his bike around the parking lot trying to get it up to maximum speed.

Gracie at the Harvest Host.

The field behind the parking area.

The Harvest Host is at the Worthington Christian Reformed Church.

A picture of the church with Gracie and the Jee-rage behind (hard to see as it was near sunset).

World's Only Corn Palace - Mitchell, SD

On our way across eastern South Dakota on Friday (we learned from Wayne at the Tractor Museum this is known as "East River" - east of the Missouri), we stopped for a visit to the World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Front of the Corn Palace with the 2022 theme: "Under the Big Top"

This is near the end of the year for this theme - they will soon be dismantling "Under the Big Top" mosaics and replacing them with the new ones for 2023.

... but we got to enjoy the mosaics for 2022.

Mosaics down the side of the building.

Information about "The world's only Corn Palace" was provided outside...

Looking up at a couple of the mosaics -- you can see that some of the side parts have come loose (or been removed in preparation for the next year's?) and the plywood backing can be seen. In addition, some of the corn has been eaten by birds and maybe other critters.

The subject for 2023 and the artist's conception of the mosaics that will soon be created.

Information about the materials for creating the mosaics.

Inside the Corn Palace is a multi-purpose space. They were preparing for a concert to be held Friday night.

We went upstairs and out on the balcony -- there is a live cam at https://cornpalace.com/157/Corn-Cam

Carl posted on his family's WhatsApp communication group that we were going to be there - so we were outside waving. I did a screencap of us on the webcam while we were out there!

While the 2022 theme was "Under the Big Top", on Friday when we visited (and for the weekend, I guess), there is a carnival going on all around the area of the Corn Palace. This made finding parking for Gracie a little challenging, but we found on-street parking not too far away.

I was trying to convince Carl to get some funnel cakes since he has never had them... but he was strong and resisted.

This vendor would allow you to get all the soda pop you wanted once you purchased their stein (not sure how much the stein cost!).

This was my third visit to the Corn Palace, but Carl's first. We both enjoyed it!