Austin, MN

 On Friday, 9/8, we left Pipestone and headed East across Southern MN to Austin, MN.
Our campground was slightly off the beaten path --

First, the road turned to gravel and the yellow sign that you can barely see in the distance says 'Dead End!!"

We turned off the gravel road and into a farm yard.

After checking in, we drove down this road...

turned right and drove ahead...

then turned left...

and followed this road, turned right, and...

followed this road up the hill ahead..

another left, and we went down this hill/road...

finally, getting into the campground area...(1/2 mile back into the woods).

And, here we are.  Not sure how we got into this site but we did.

Very heavily treed campground.

On Saturday we drove about 5 miles into Austin to visit the SPAM Museum.  Had a tour guide who was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Hormel and SPAM.  It was first introduced in 1937 by George Hormel.

During the wars, Hormel supplied millions of cans of SPAM to troops overseas. They were supplying the British and French in WWII even before the US entered the war.

SPAM can be found in many countries these days.

In 2007 the 7 billionth can of SPAM was sold.  Hawaii consumes more SPAM than any other state - 7 million cans a year.

What kind of meat is SPAM you say??

According to their website, the canned meat contains only 6 ingredients:  already-cooked pork (two different cuts:  pork shoulder and ham), salt, water, potato starch (to keep the meat moist), sugar and sodium nitrate (a common preservative).

They are working toward supplying undeveloped nations with SPAM to aid in the growth of children - both phsically and mentally.

Notice the picture below and its caption.

The museum has a sort to train going all around the ceiling - actually SPAM cans.

We enjoyed the tour, and, whether or not, you like SPAM, it is worthwhile to visit here and learn all about Hormel and SPAM.

Now, we are up-to-date!!!!

Leaving here on Monday, 9/11, and will spend a week in the Mpls area with Judy's sister and family.   

Lake Benton, MN

We left St. Cloud on the Thursday before Labor Day and drove to SW Minnesota.  Along the way we went thru Granite Falls and they had a nice display of flags (patriotic).

we weren't sure why it was so foggy but later found out that it was actually smoke from the fires up north (Canada mainly).  It was with us for a couple of days.

A picture of the lake (Lake Benton - smoky).

Flowers.

We stayed at the Hole in the Mountain Campground.

My cousin, Gary Serie and his wife Shirl camped with us.  They have the trailer on the left, and, we are in the middle.  Their friends, Chuck and Colleen, also camped with us.  They live on a farm about 7 miles from the campground so we had fresh sweet corn for dinner that was picked that day.

Chuck and Colleen had just purchased a newer RV so we had a tour of it.

This is a picture of where we spent most of the weekend. Had a fire going the entire time.  (Clothes needed washing after the long weekend!!).

The park had some good displays of flowers around the campground.

 We had a great time, as usual, and hated to leave but the road beckons!!

On Tuesday, we drove all the way to Pipestone, my home town (20 miles!!).
We camped at the local campground where Judy and I were camp hosts back n 2013.
Unfortunately we don't have pictures - there was a malfunction with the camera and Judy lost all her pictures on the camera chip.
We did get together one evening with friends, Larry and Marlene Smallfield, at the local Pizza Ranch.  Great pizza, salad bar, and fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy.  Mmmm good!!

Always fun to go back home for a couple of days.

St. Cloud, MN

We left Bemidji on Monday, 8/28, and headed south to St. Cloud.  Saw a lot of geese in the sky.

We purposely took an different route than the one GPS wanted us to so that we could visit this 'special' town.

There was this restaurant on the right side of the road, and...

and, this building/church/school(???) on the left side of the road.

Actually it is a 'University."

 Definitely worth a side trip to see it!!

We did get to our CG in St. Cloud that afternoon and got set up.  I found out that we could wash our RV and truck so I did that.  Neither vehicle had been washed since we left Plano in early June so they both needed it.

We did find the local theater and saw The Glass Castle with Woody Harrelson. We would highly recommend it.

Not much else to report from here but it was a nice stopover for a couple of days.

Next stop - Lake Benton, MN for the Labor Day Holiday.

Bemidji, MN

We made it to the Bemidji area on Thursday, 8/24, and found our campground - Hamilton's Fox Lake CG.  Nice place.

For supper we met Donna and Karen at one of their favorite dining establishments - Pour Willies in the little town of Ten Strike.  Good tacos, beer, and fried ice cream!!
On Friday we drove over to Donna and Karen's cabin/house on Long Lake.
This is a view from their deck.

We spent the afternoon and evening with them.  Had walleye for supper and then played some "9 hole golf" a fun card game.
Saturday was "Turtle River Days" so we met them at their church parking lot where vendors were set up.
The church was beautiful.

A parade started in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, it was misty/rainy the whole day.  And the parade suffered some.

You saw most of it in the pictures above!!  Their were actually a few other participants, and, lots of candy was thrown out!

Back to their house afterwards.  Judy took another picture - this one zeroed in across the lake.

The hummingbird feeder was busy.

Karen loves the water and spends a lot of time in it and on it.  As you can see, it wasn't very warm.

They had a big day planned for us on Sunday.  First, church at the fairgrounds. The local Bemidji Lutheran Church does this all summer.
We arrived and were given bulletins at the entrance, then we found a place to park (just like at the drive-in movies).  Turned the radio on to 91.7 (I think) where the service was being broadcast.

There was a pastor, a keyboard player, and a couple of singers in the tent.  So the 4 of us sang hymns in the car along with the music over the radio.  (Never did that before!!).  For the sharing of the peace, everyone honked their horns!
It was another misty/rainy day, but, when it was time for communion, it had stopped, so we all got out and shared it in sort of a semi-circle.  Those that were car-bound then flashed their lights, and, the pastor took communion to them.
It was a very moving different kind of service.

After the service we went back their house and had a great breakfast - an egg casserole and waffles.

In the afternoon we went to a concert at the state park and then did some sightseeing around Lake Bemidji.  We went to Ruttger's Birchmont Lodge, a beautiful resort.

A little blurb from their web page:

We get it. We are still in awe…

Northern Minnesota, a truly magical place filled with the maniacal song of the loon, clean air, vast forests, and, of course, pristine lakes. After more than 115 years of historic Ruttger family resort operation and four generations of ownership, the Northern Lights still take our breath away. Sometimes, we withstand temperatures of 30 below. Yet, there is something mystical, even in that. We get it.

And then into town for see Paul Bunyon and his blue ox.

We toured the town, saw the beautiful college campus (Bemidji State University), and did a little shopping.  They like to adorn their street corners.

Very impressive Freedom Defenders Memorial. Six stone pillars dedicated to the six branches of US service:  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.

After touring, we ended up at another favorite restaurant of theirs (and ours too now).

After dinner we said our goodbyes and headed back to the campground for the evening.  And departing tomorrow, Monday, 8/28, for St. Cloud, MN for a few days.