Summer Trip Away From the TEXAS HEAT!! (cont'd)

 On Monday we left Michigan for Wisconsin and got about half way in Rockford, IL before spending  the night.  On Tuesday we made it to Merrillan where Tom and Cindy Clark are now living.  We knew them for many years as Tom worked for JCP and they attended our church before moving further north of Plano.

We found our campground - Doc's Bunkhouse - and got set up on our site.  We did see this CG along the way but opted NOT to stay here!!!

We found their house by the lake and enjoyed getting together, reliving old times and having dinner.

View of their house from the dock.

Lake views:

Tom and Cindi - they never age!!

Typical farms in the upper Midwest.

On Wednesday (while Tom was at work) Cindy took us around the area.  We visited a Menonite store that was really amazing.  It had everything you could possibly want!  

Notice all the items that are bagged.  We bought some blueberry jello and some chocolate chips (both in bags!).

Then we found an old saw mill - unfortunately it was not open so we could not get a tour.

We spent some time out on the deck waiting for Tom to come home and then had some refreshments before going out to dinner with them.

On Thursday we left there and drove to Owatonna, MN which is about halfway to Lake Benton, MN and got there on Friday where we plan to spend a couple of weeks.  Got together with my cousin Gary and his wife Shirl for dinner that night at one of our favorite pizza places - the Lakeside Resort.

On Saturday we met with my cousin, Claudia, at the Mexican Restaurant in Pipestone.  Margaritas of course and some good food.

We spent the week enjoying the cool weather and being with family and friends.

We also went out to dinner with Claudia again, this time to a restaurant in Ihlen, MN (about 10 miles south of Pipestone) with a population of 61.  This place has been a number of restaurants over the years but this one, Burgers and Brews, was really good and very nice atmosphere, and great food.

Continued...