Epoxy!

The bathroom countertop, before installing the backsplash and faucet.

Take out a letter and this would be a 4-letter word. It can certainly make you say a few.

When you want to fabricate a one-of-a-kind countertop, it’s very likely you’ll reach for counter/tabletop epoxy. Either as a clear, hard coating or a vehicle for special effects. Unique slabs of wood with interesting grains and colors are good candidates for a clear coating. Want to transform a piece of plywood? Then you’re most likely going for a special effect which involves adding something to the epoxy.

Working with epoxy requires reading and following manufacturer instructions to the letter. 1-to-1 formulas are somewhat less complicated to work with than products which require a small amount of hardener in proportion to the resin. There is a slight fudge factor for large batch 1-to-1 products, when measuring, which will still allow the product to harden. Anyone who has worked with small casting 1-to-1 resin projects might find the similarity to tabletop epoxy comforting. But when you scale up, the complexity and opportunities to screw it up increase with the size of your project. Especially when you’re adding something to your resin.

Let’s just tackle internet learning for a moment, before you plan any large projects. There is no reason not to watch all the videos you wish, and read as much information as you can find about various brands/forms of epoxy. Ask questions of technical support staff for any product you might want to try, too. They should be able to assist you with purchasing the correct epoxy for your project. It is possible learn a lot, with plenty of inspiration. However, none of this is a substitute for actual hands-on practice. Using resin isn’t particularly cheap. Neither are the substances you might add to it. Our bathroom countertop (smallest of 3), pictured above, had 7 colors of pearlescent micro powders added to the resin. It may not take a lot of the powder to get the effect you want. Still, when you price most versions of this stuff, you pay a rather substantial amount of money for a small amount of material. Kristal is a life-long artist with a well-stocked studio. She had 4 of those colors in her stash already, along with the correct amount of resin. Cost wasn’t an immediate factor for the bathroom countertop. When you calculate the costs for a finished piece, it can be very tempting to skip smaller practice pieces.

Take the sting out of cost by starting with projects you can actually use or give as gifts. Such as a small tabletop or wall art. Begin with clear pours and learn the basics of working with this stuff before tackling add-ins. More petite projects will also allow you to experiment with your favorite epoxy brands/types to determine their tolerances for your grand plans. Epoxy is notoriously tricky. It can be affected by temperature and humidity. Did you stir it enough to cure? Including sides/bottom of the container? Did you stir it too long, and now it’s heating up? When it gets hot you pretty much have no hope of pouring and spreading it in time. Not to mention it can almost get hot enough to burn.  There is a learning curve, and you can pretty much guarantee there will be a project at some point which won’t behave the way you expected. It’s only thru practice you learn what works and how to trouble-shoot issues. If you’re a note taker, photographing and recording your procedures/conditions for each project you complete could certainly be helpful when that one piece doesn’t cooperate. For those working toward the goal of completing a larger project, make sure someone else is learning and practicing with you. Additional sets of hands may be necessary to make sure all the epoxy is stirred, poured and spread properly before it starts to gel, especially if you’re working with a fast-cure product. Larger batches of epoxy also tend to heat faster (sign of chemical reaction between the 2 parts.)

This isn’t a seat-of-the-pants type of project, either. It takes planning to make sure you have enough material to finish the job, the proper containers/tools, protective supplies like disposable gloves/drop cloths, workspace and a large enough block of time to supervise the cure. All your needed supplies have to be within easy reach once you begin. The steps necessary to complete the job should also be rehearsed in your mind first or written down. And discussed with your work partner to make sure everyone knows their part. While you’re in the middle of a pour isn’t the time to be asking questions, especially when you begin working with add-ins. It takes time to incorporate paints, tints and powders, which could cut into the time you actually have to apply the epoxy. No, it’s not a good idea to add that stuff when you’re first mixing the 2 parts. Especially if the add-in is opaque. The epoxy we’ve been working with turns cloudy when first stirred and clears again once thoroughly mixed. You don’t want to risk the success of your pour by missing this visual cue. There is also the issue that a large batch not properly stirred is going to be skewed if you’re dividing it up for various add-ins.

To make a larger batch, or several small batches, when adding other materials such as paints or powders? That is the question. The level of complexity increases either way. The small batch route means you have to be really good at attention to detail. Every batch has to be measured and stirred correctly. Don’t get a container or two right, and the entire pour is affected. But this method can buy you more pot time to add your goodies, do the pour, and play with it. We used the multiple small batch method for the kitchen countertop, which turned out fine. To increase the odds of success none of the pots were stirred until both parts of resin were in the last container. Each of us did about half the containers. All the colors were premeasured and ready to add the moment the resin began to clear. Then we started pouring. Our favorite method of mixing and manipulating the colors was to just use our hands, while wearing nitrile gloves, of course. It was fun. And meant there were fewer tools which needed to be cleaned or thrown away.

Another option for manipulating pot time would be temperature of your workspace. Going a couple of degrees cooler might buy more time. Once your work is done however, it’s best to use the optimal temp recommended by the manufacturer for a cure. Whichever route you choose to reach your destination, make sure you use a torch after the epoxy is spread. It is virtually impossible to keep air bubbles out while stirring. The flame will pop the bubbles, as well as assisting the cure process. After the first sweep, check to make sure all the bubbles are gone. You may need to go over the surface again, or just a few small areas.

Rehabbing existing countertops is going to require some extra thought before you decide to coat them with epoxy. It is messy stuff. You can cover things with plastic and painters tape, but miss one small spot, and the epoxy will find it. Which could mean epoxy in your sink or on an appliance. Pour-in-place has other issues too. The epoxy will run off rounded edges like bull-nose. Which means it will be on the floor. What steps are you willing to take to make sure the epoxy doesn’t migrate to your flooring via your feet? To minimize the likely-hood of an epic mess, it would be better to remove the countertops and place them on a larger, level work surface which can catch the drips. The RV renovator has to consider all the following issues for an in-place pour. Is your RV itself perfectly level? If it’s not, the epoxy will run downhill and possibly right off the surface you’re trying to cover. The product won’t self-level, and if it doesn’t stay thick enough, curing may take longer or not cure at all. What are temps and weather conditions for the time allotted to your project? Will you be able to provide the correct conditions for a proper cure? You may need to run heat or AC. Plan on having enough propane, shore power, or both for at least three days. Working in a confined space with more than one person, if the project needs it, offers challenges too. Choreography will need to be planned ahead of time, to stay out of each other’s way.

All this info may make epoxy sound scary. And it will be, at first. To become consistently successful with it, you should be able to embrace failure occasionally. You will learn something from it if you’re willing.

Kristal was immensely pleased with the bathroom countertop. It turned out beautifully, exceeding her initial expectations after it cured. The countertop covering our new electrical equipment was another matter. A bit more than twice the size of the bathroom countertop, the second project was nothing but a problem child. It was large enough not to be suitable for one person using the same techniques. The larger batch of resin heated up far too fast to work with it. Kristal had just finished dividing it up and mixing in the various colors. She tried to work as fast as possible. After she poured the first color and was reaching for the second, she was horrified to discover the remaining colors not only hardening in their containers but melting them. That initial batch of resin was a total of 64 oz. Ouch! The first pour of colored resin hardened so fast on the countertop, there was no hope of scraping it off. Extra coatings of plain epoxy, and a good amount of sanding to level the surface again, stretched a three-day project into almost a week. To salvage the piece without further waste, Kristal made the decision to rub the base-coat paint into the sanded resin surface, brush the powders/glitter on it, then cover with one last coat of clear resin. This change resulted in a surface whose dark blue base color was more prominent and gave a somewhat subtle appearance to the pearlescent powders. It’s still a nice piece in its own right, even with a few small flaws. None of these countertops, including the kitchen, are exactly the same anyway. Now the front countertop also has an interesting story.

This story does illustrate one of the biggest issues with epoxy. When a project goes wrong, can you still salvage it, or is it necessary to start over? If your product hardens, saving an item is possible. Unless your time frame won’t allow you to do the necessary work. When it doesn’t cure, starting over might be the only option you have. Unless you can completely remove the uncured batch, it will contaminate the next pour. For the person who abhors creating waste, guilt over throwing a failed project away is bad enough. Increased cost of reaching the eventual goal doesn’t help either. But the most difficult part of scrapping your hard work is separating your emotions from it.

Your emotions are attached before you ever begin a project. Otherwise, there would be no motivation to begin and see it thru in the first place. In the project realm, there is nothing worse than the sick feeling in your stomach when you realize your brilliant idea is not working out. It’s only natural to struggle with disappoint for a bit. This is another area where practice helps, though. It doesn’t just make “perfect”. Folks with a long history of DIY have experienced their share of failures. You eventually reach a point when pragmatism becomes second nature. The left side of the brain is engaged from the very beginning. Anyone who says the creative process is strictly a right-brain activity has no idea what they’re talking about. You can’t plan and organize any of the technical aspects of a project without the left side. It may still take some time to resolve issues, but when you’re in the habit of consciously engaging your logical side, you’ll soon find yourself moving into this phase much faster. This particular skill is also helpful in recognizing when you’ve done everything possible to make an item stunning, and now it’s time to leave it alone.

Mckinney Falls State Park

The Upper Falls on Onion Creek

This park was our last stop on our way home. It’s at the SE corner of Austin, TX.

If you’re looking for some nature while visiting the state capital, this would be your place. Just be aware the park is still recovering from the widespread flooding experienced by the state of Texas in 2016. The campgrounds and bathrooms are fine. But the visitor’s center is still being repaired, and a trail below the upper falls was washed out. You can still visit the falls on Onion Creek, though. There are also several other trails, including one to the horse trainer’s cabin. The park is named after an early Texas settler who originally owned the land where it’s located. Since we were at the end of a two-month trip, our explorations were kept closer to the campsite. From what we saw, it’s a pretty park. We’re certainly willing to return at a later date.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls

Pool below the Upper Falls

Cypress trees

Remains of the Horse Trainer’s Cabin

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Monarch Migration

This beauty was photographed in our yard Jan. 2016.

Even in Texas it’s rather unusual to see butterflies in the winter.

This might seem like a bit of a cheat, to combine three camping sites in one post. Especially since they aren’t located near each other. Bear with us. They have one thing in common - Monarch Butterflies.

We’re going to begin with Kaw Lake, sitting on the border of Kansas and Oklahoma. It’s east of Ponca City and west of Food Network’s Pioneer Woman home turf. This is a Corp project with a few campgrounds located around the lake. We stayed at Coon Creek on the west side. The roads which take you into the various campgrounds can be a bit rough. They’re not necessarily an indication of campground condition, though. We were there in early Oct., shortly after the main camping season had closed. The campground was still open. A volunteer host wasn’t available to assign a site and check us in. There were envelopes available for self-check in. Which we strongly recommend you do, along with hanging your America the Beautiful Pass, if you have one. The campground was still being supervised and maintained.

The storm and cold front which followed us.

The butterflies had disappeared for the day by this point.

Kristal wished she could get photos of them.

They were mostly staying under the trees where the light was not so great.

Her cold wasn’t helping with photographic endeavors either.

This is the first location where we’ve experienced Monarch Butterfly migration, ever. Shortly after we set up camp we started noticing groups of them flying thru our campsite. At first, we weren’t quite sure what we were seeing. Fall had arrived in northern OK, too. There were leaves which were falling. The butterflies were flying anywhere from 4-5 feet above ground to several feet above our heads. They kind of blended in with the leaves, until we realized they weren’t landing on the ground at all. We arrived around 3 PM to our campsite and noticed our visitors as we were setting up camp. Several groups flew over for about 2 hours. The next day, there were a few in the morning after the sun was up. We didn’t see any more after that. We think we arrived at the tail end of migration for the area. It’s also possible weather had an effect. It was 84° when we arrived. A thunderstorm with a cold front followed us in. While it remained mostly on the east side of the lake, the cold didn’t. And the rest of our stay was chilly. Still, it’s the most butterflies we’ve ever seen in one place. We didn’t choose this campground with the expectation of seeing them either, since we didn’t see any while further north. It was an unexpected blessing after a rather difficult day of travel. (Kristal’s cold was settling in.) Which illustrates the best blessings are always the ones you don’t expect to receive.

Lake Arrowhead SP, approximately seven miles south of Wichita Falls, TX was our second butterfly encounter. We actually stayed at this park twice, while leaving Texas and on our return. We don’t think there is a campsite here which isn’t level. Heard of mesquite? Perhaps as BBQ wood? There is plenty of it here. Along with cactus, prairie grass and some wildflowers. Some sages were still blooming in October. There was the occasional Monarch along with some other species flitting thru the park. The main attraction for Kristal was the discovery of a butterfly garden on the park’s map. It’s by the ranger station/park entrance. We stopped as we were leaving, for a photo op & to ask questions. A Monarch did visit, but Kristal wasn’t yet in the habit of wearing her new glasses while using her camera. Which gives her trouble when zooming for close-ups. The photo came out fuzzy. Pooh! Oh well, she learned something new while inquiring about the garden. The previous week the park employees had been tagging migrating Monarchs. We didn’t know such a thing was possible.

One of the official Texas State Longhorns.

Note the yellow flowers at the bottom of the photo.

They attracted butterflies at both state parks.

Kristal tried to take photos. The butterflies were just really skittish.

And her patience was a bit short.

San Angelo SP was Monarch stop number 3. The weekend we were there, the park was hosting a Monarch themed BYOH (bring your own horse) trail ride. San Angelo is referred to as the Gateway to West Texas. It bridges prairie and desert, with the desert becoming more prominent, than it is up by Wichita Falls. The state park is located just north of the city. We were actually in the area to see if we might like to live there, and looked at some real estate in a town 30 miles north. The real estate hunt wasn’t so successful, but we did take note of large bushes in peoples’ yards. Those bushes attracted a lot of butterfly activity, of varying species. (Sometimes called Texas Sage. See the wildflower.org link.) Unfortunately, the cold weather found us in San Angelo the last two days we were there, when we had more time to explore and take pics at the SP. There are several Texas Sage bushes at the south entrance. But the butterflies had skedaddled.

Now, what does any of this info mean to you, the RV traveler? Monarch migration is a major miracle, in our opinion. Such fragile beings, and yet the last generation of summer/fall makes the trip to their special place in Mexico, to ensure the survival of their species into another year. If you want to witness this event, you have to be in the right places at the right times. And you need to be observant. Or you may miss them. In our case, our butterfly encounters at each of these campgrounds was a total fluke. None of them were planned ahead of time. For those who are interested in tagging, we definitely recommend visiting the following butterfly websites. It’s a very interesting study which gets a lot of its help from citizen scientist volunteers. Earlier summer Monarchs don’t migrate. However, it’s not a bad idea to practice your butterfly netting skills, identifying genders, proper handling of the subject, and documentation. (You never know. Data you collect on summer butterflies might be valuable to another study.) When migration begins, you will hopefully feel confident in your abilities to return a healthy specimen to the skies. Once you run out of tags, submit your documentation, then a few months later you can check to see if any of your butterflies arrived in Mexico. This is an activity for people of most ages, as long as they can be patient and very gentle. RVers who are traveling thru a large geographical area have the potential to provide a lot of interesting data on one report. It could also be a way to volunteer at state parks.

http://www.kawlake.com/

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-arrowhead

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/san-angelo

https://www.monarchwatch.org/

https://texasbutterflyranch.com/2012/09/04/butterfly-faq-how-to-tag-a-monarch-butterfly-in-six-easy-steps/

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LEFR3

Victorian Acres RV Park

This private RV park, just to the SE of Nebraska City, NE, deserves to be mentioned as a nice place to stay. Unfortunately, we don’t have photos from our visit. Kristal was developing a cold while we were there. But their website does a nice job of showcasing their facilities.

It’s within reasonable distance from I-29 on Hwy 2. Not far from the interstate are some fuel centers on the hwy. Depending where you’re going when leaving the park, you can either top off the tanks on the way back to the interstate, or fill up before arriving if you’re heading for Hwy. 75.

Besides being an easy place to reach, there are some reasons you might enjoy visiting the Nebraska City Area. It was the home of the Arbor Day founder. His house is a state park. The Arbor Day Foundation still resides there and has all kinds of education and interactive activities. We would like to visit during apple season. To discover tourism opportunities, visit the links below.

We do need to give a shout-out to some fellow Airstream owners/Wally Byam Caravan Club members who happened to be there during our stay. They were a Nebraska chapter who was having a rally and swearing in new officers. We enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with some of them.

http://www.victorianacresrvpark.com/

https://www.arborday.org/

http://gonebraskacity.com/

http://outdoornebraska.gov/riverviewmarina/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g45722-Activities-Nebraska_City_Nebraska.html

http://visitsoutheastnebraska.org/

Maka-Oicu County Park

We stayed at this campground for 3 nights while we visited some friends who live just a couple miles away. It’s about 19 miles North of I-90 and Worthington, MN. It’s location in southern Minnesota does mean it’s surrounded by farmland, which really isn’t uncommon for rural campgrounds in the Midwest. (The same is also true for Lake Pahoja.)

For now, we’re giving it an honorable mention. It’s a work-in-progress, with a new county employee, who’s in the process of upgrading the facility. Besides a face lift, he’s also planning to extend its usable seasons. One of the completed projects includes new power posts. The work was completed by our friends, who are licensed electricians. The bathrooms aren’t fancy, but are cleaned and had hot water in October. Future improvements are making the campsites better defined, and addressing water quality. The campground’s water has a mineral odor due to some excess iron. For now, we definitely recommend using an inline water filter, if you fill your fresh water tank there. Besides smell, you won’t want any sediment making its way into your hot water heater.

Catfish a jumpin’?

Or maybe wall-eyed pike?

Kristal’s camera isn’t set up yet for high-speed photography.

She wasn’t quite quick enough to catch the fish out of water.

The ripples they left behind weren’t too difficult, though.

This campground, with its neighbor around the corner, are on two small lakes. They are natural spring-fed, rather than damned reservoirs. A joy-killer for us, it rained 2 out of the 3 days we were there. We were getting tired of cold, wet weather. (The weather wasn’t the campground’s fault.) Still, Kristal went out with her camera and explored a bit between storms. There are trees and shrubbery on the shores of most of the lake, which limits the campground view a bit. She wanted a closer look. While she was down at the dock/boat launching area, the fish were quite active, jumping at the surface. The population appears to be healthy and some were decent sized. She forgot to ask our friends what species live there, but that info is available from Minnesota’s DNR, along with information for obtaining the necessary fishing license. If you enjoy fishing, staying here for a few days may be worth it. We certainly would have enjoyed spending more time down by the lake, had the weather been more cooperative. The county website below lists the other activities available here. We had the place to ourselves due to the timing of our visit. Our friends confirmed it’s a popular destination for locals during summer weekends and holidays.

Do be aware of coyotes if you’re staying here with small pets or young children. Just use some common sense, and everyone will be fine. They probably aren’t as active in the immediate campground areas during the busy summer months, while more people are around and staying up late. When there are groups of these critters, they do sing. But you can’t count on absence of vocalization as a sign they aren’t around. Solitary animals, or while they’re hunting, aren’t going to make much noise. You need to be observant, or you may not see them until it’s too late. We caught a few glimpses of a howler or two sneaking from one soybean field to another, mostly at dusk. They’re also active at dawn. Encourage your kids to stay in sight and out of neighboring fields or tall prairie grass. Don’t ignore campground leash rules for pets. You should take wildlife safety seriously, especially as the weather begins cooling. Small animals start going to ground, making a meal harder to find. Retractable leashes are a bad idea, and are often against the rules anyway. A pet kept close to you is far less likely to become the target of a hungry predator. Staying in areas where there is decent lighting, when Pookie needs to take a bedtime “walk”, is also a good idea.

Farm country does attract other wildlife too. Sightings might include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and pheasants. And it can be a great place to get some peace and quiet for a few days. Exceptions would be during planting or harvest, when a lot of large, noisy equipment is out & about. Including being on the roads while the farmers are traveling between their homesteads and fields. For those who have never seen farming in action, you might find it fascinating. Farm equipment runs the gamut from practically antique to mega machines equipped with GPS and other tech goodies.

While on your travels, keep an open mind when looking for places to stay. Occasionally, they may be a diamond-in-the-rough. Then again, you might just find a true gem.

http://www.co.nobles.mn.us/departments/public-works/parks/nobles-county-parks/

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/windom/lakes/topfishinglakes.html

Insiders’ Guide to NW Iowa

Our daughters during Orange City’s Tulip Festival, in the late 1990s.

They’re all grown up now.

We’re aware the Midwest states are often considered pass-thrus while people are on their way to more “interesting” places. We’ve been Texans for almost 18 yrs. now, and it’s probably safe to say our state is in a class of its own. Still, we have a soft spot for our former home. We enjoyed a few local specialties and businesses as a part of daily life, and still miss them. One is relatively new to the area, developed several years after we moved. Most of them are on our list when we visit, and you might enjoy trying them too.

Starting near Lake Pahoja, Grand Falls Casino/Golf Resort is on Hwy 9 just a few miles SE of Larchwood, IA. It does have a 14-site RV park next to the golf course (link below). We haven’t stopped there, but Karl’s brother & sister-in-law enjoy the casino occasionally. It’s a just few years old, and looks very nice. Gambling isn’t our thing quite so much (Kristal thinks she sucks at it.) But there is also dining and entertainment. We might be tempted to visit in the future.

Our Rock Island post provided some info on Rock Rapids in 2016. So, we’re going to travel south on Hwy 75 from there.

Take a little side trip to the small town of Hull, IA.  It’s home to the Foreign Candy Co. (E on Hwy 18. to the town. FCC is at SW corner of town.) Their core business is school foreign language teachers, but the public can purchase goodies at the Warehouse Outlet. In researching this attraction to determine what they’re up to these days, I came across a reviewer who was underwhelmed by the outlet’s selections. They complained that the inventory was found just about everywhere. Which is actually true, but I don’t think this individual knew Foreign Candy Company was one of the importers responsible for bringing gummy bears from Germany to the US in the 1970s. (Were marketed to high school German language teachers). Haribo is a German brand. To be fair, anyone who is the same age or younger than our daughters, probably believe these candies have always been in the US.  When our kids were young, in the 1990s, FCC was the place to get interesting candies and other goodies for birthday parties. Kristal took the girls there once, as a special treat for a streak of good behavior she really appreciated.

Return to Hwy. 75. Your next stop is Sioux Center and Casey’s Bakery. It’s in the Centre Mall, located in the middle of town on Hwy.75. Kristal used to treat herself to an occasional lunch at the bakery deli, when she worked in Sioux Center 20 years ago. Can’t think of anything we wouldn’t recommend there, but if you’re looking for a regional specialty try the almond patties or soft rusk buns (6 in pkg.) They also have a gift shop stocked with kitchen items and Dutch imports such as Delft pottery. If you’re passing thru Sioux Center in the summer, keep your eye out for folks selling sweet corn at the city park (north side of downtown, also on 75.) The town’s summer festival is coming up at the end of May.

Of course, we almost always go to our home town of Orange City when in the area. The Dutch fronted downtown is popular with visitors. No surprise it’s the setting for the Tulip Festival, which is coming up very shortly. (Usually the third weekend in May.) Difficult to say if the tulips will be blooming in time due to the cold spring. But they can be surprisingly hardy plants, often coming up under the snow. Our favorite store, Woudstra Meat Market is a must-stop to stock up on cured smoked beef, brats and Saucijsjes (sa-saw-shees - AKA pigs-in-a-blanket.) If you ever do attend the Tulip Festival, yes, it is worth it to stand in line for the brats. Fresh meats can be ordered at the meat counter if you’re looking for something to cook right away. However, if you’re like us and don’t live close by, we recommend buying from their storefront freezers. Kind of handy to put already-frozen items in the RV freezer. The ready-to-bake Saucijsjes are only available frozen. (Can’t speak for anyone else from the area, but one of our favorite meals is still Woudstra’s cured beef in cream sauce on sliced rusk buns from Casey’s.) Orange City does also have a small bakery downtown, on the block just to the north of Woudstra’s. If we happen to be there with either of our daughters, we get cream filled long-johns and Care Bear cookies.

It is possible to get small pumpkins and winter squash as edible souvenirs.

These beauties made it all the way back to our house,

even though we traveled for a month after their purchase.

Just make sure there is no damage to their hard skins.

Otherwise, they should fit in an RV oven or Dutch Oven, if you enjoy campfire cooking.

Planning a late summer/fall trip? Be sure to visit Pumpkinland, just north of Orange City. They started in the 1990s with an assortment of pumpkins and squashes, including several heirlooms; at a time when many people were just starting to rediscover the almost lost diversity of our ancestors’ gardens. Now, they not only have the pumpkins, but a community craft fair; Alpaca products from a nearby farm; a variety of treats including preserves, caramel corn and whole pies; a corn maze and farm animals to visit. Kristal and Kristen stopped by while we stayed at Lake Pahoja. If it works with your travel plans, we definitely recommend going on a weekday. They’re very popular on the weekends.

http://www.grandfallscasinoresort.com/hotel/rvpark.html

http://foreigncandy.com/index.html

http://www.caseysbakery.com/

http://www.siouxcenterchamber.com/events--calendar.html

https://orangecityiowa.com/

http://www.woudstrameatmarket.com/

http://www.pumpkinlandiowa.com/

http://siouxcountyparks.org/

The last website is for the Sioux County Conservation Board, in case you’re looking for more camping and rec options.

Lake Pahoja Recreation Area

Lake Pahoja was our home base for the last 2 weeks of Sept., while we visited with Karl’s family in NW Iowa. Autumn was also making its appearance there; with leaves changing color, waterfowl beginning to migrate, corn field harvests and mercurial weather.

The rec area is about 13 miles W/SW of Rock Rapids, IA. It’s a Lyon County Conservation Board project. We chose to stay there, rather than the park in town, because it was quieter during the week. For the most part. West Lyon Community School is just a couple of miles to the E of the rec area. There were some school related activities, such as a picnic lunch for elementary students and a high-school cross-country meet. During the 2 weekends, a surprising number of campsites filled up, even though it was after Labor Day. (West Lyon School is on Hwy 182. Lake Pahoja is off 180^th street which runs on the S side of the school.)

Would we stay there again? Most definitely, though like most campgrounds we’ve stayed at, there were positives and negatives. Campsites 1 – 42 have a lot more shade, are a bit shorter in length, and some aren’t level. We stayed in #19. While we had a view of the lake from that site, it went downhill a bit. We also had to get creative when parking the van to keep it out of the road. The shade on those sites would be nice in the middle of summer. But as the weather was cooling and days getting shorter, the ground just wasn’t drying out much between thunderstorms. We were rained on about half the time we were there. Cleanliness/stocking of the bathrooms isn’t exactly a complaint. County employees took care of the bathrooms every morning. Our main issue was night-time use. If campers left the interior lights on all night, bugs invaded in droves. The creepy-crawlies were “not quite dead yet.” There hadn’t been enough freezing weather at that point.

Lake Pahoja is an ADA compliant facility. The main roads in the park had recently been resurfaced. Gravel areas are also kept maintained. The paved path around the lake is easy to access. It was one of our favorite features, nice for walking the dogs, especially when there was plenty of wet weather. There aren’t any specific campsites labeled handicapped, but those with mobility issues would definitely find campsites 43 – 71 suitable, and sites 64 – 71 have water hook-ups. This section’s sites are generally longer and more level. The lake isn’t within sight, but it’s not very far away. There are also seasonal sites. 1 – 8 are paved with concrete. The seasonal sites were all occupied by RVs, most likely owned by locals. We weren’t there for the season, so we don’t know how often those sites become available. (Don’t own an RV? There are cabins to rent.)

This rec area can be a destination in its own right. There is more to do there than just camping; such as disc golf, swimming, no-power boating, fishing and archery. You can get a history lesson at the museum site just north of the lake dam. There are also signs along the path identifying different trees and plants. Kristal enjoyed the photography opportunities which were provided by the transition of seasons. Besides changing leaves, there were purple asters still blooming and bushes with ripening berries. As an overnight stop from I-29 or I-90, it’s probably not as practical, though it is less than an hour from I-90. But if you’re looking for a nice little detour for a few days’ rest, Lake Pahoja might suit you. There is an entrance fee on top of campsite fees. Pay by the day, or a season pass can be purchased. Our visit was long enough the season pass actually made more sense for us.

Find more information and directions at the following website.

http://www.lyoncountyiowa.com/lake_pahoja

Sioux Falls, SD is the closest large community. It’s about 45 minutes away. Need to take care of “household” matters while in the area? There are newer shopping areas E of I-229 & off Hwy 11/42 (Arrowhead Pkwy). Target (Dawley Farm Village) and Walmart are around the corner from each other. A Hy-vee grocery store is a bit further to the west on the pkwy. Take Hwy 9 thru Larchwood. It becomes Hwy 11/42 in SD. Restock on any supplies you need & head to northbound I-229. From I-229 you can reach I-90. Heading to southbound I-29? From the east side of Sioux Falls, travel S/SW on I-229 to the interstate. If you need to do laundry while in the area, there is an Uptown Laundry on 26^th street. The laundromat is almost new and well-maintained. The owner was on the premises both times we were there. (She’s very friendly and does offer laundry services. Why not drop off your items? Then go have a nice lunch, check-out downtown, or do your shopping?) We were there on weekdays, so it wasn’t a problem to use multiple machines at one time. Even with the 45 min. drive, we found it faster & easier to do laundry there than at the relatives’ house, whose laundry room is in the basement. From the pwky, turn south on 11. (Dawley Farm entrance is on this road.) The next light is 26^th. Turn right, heading west. Uptown Laundry is on the south side of the street. A gas station is on the corner just to the east of it.

So you know… many counties in Iowa have a conservation board. If you find yourself traveling thru any part of the state, visit the site below to find and learn more about CCB camprounds. You might find a campground in an area where there aren’t many other options to stay with an RV.

https://www.mycountyparks.com/default.aspx

Reptile Gardens

It might be safe to say this Rapid City, SD attraction is a family favorite. We’ve been here a few times over the years. If asked to describe in a nutshell, we would say Reptile Gardens is part zoo/botanical garden. Our most recent visit was after Labor Day, when the outside shows are shut down for the winter. Kristen brought her roommate’s 3 ½ yr. old daughter, so a shorter visit was already planned anyway. (Have enjoyed some of the shows during previous visits.) We saw the snakes, lizards and parrots in the dome; then paid a visit to the bald eagle, an owl, giant tortoises, and alligators in the outdoor exhibits.

The flower gardens were still really nice the day we were there. Identification tags for the various plants can be found in the beds, which is great for gardeners who see something they may want to try growing at home. Orchids and bromeliads can be found in the dome. Kristal has several orchids as houseplants. She enjoys looking for varieties she hasn’t seen before, and photographing the collection at Reptile Gardens.

The best parts of a weekday, off-season visit? The admission price was lower, and there were no crowds. Which is ideal if you’re taking younger children or grumpy older folks, like us. After looking at the animals and gardens, we stayed until the peewee decided Methuselah’s Playground was no longer interesting. Since our visit was less than 2 hours, it didn’t feel like we were ripped off.

Our outing was followed by lunch at Pizza Ranch, a restaurant chain with which we happen to have a long history. It was founded in Hull, IA and had several locations in NW IA, including our home town, Orange City. (Had a couple of birthday parties there when the girls were small.) Since we moved to Texas 18 years ago, Pizza Ranch has expanded beyond IA. The Stumer Rd. location is easy to find. From Reptile Gardens, turn left on Hwy 16 toward Rapid City. There are shopping centers west of the intersection with Hwy 79. The larger center has the area’s newest Walmart. Pizza Ranch is in the shopping center on the opposite side of 5^th St. While you can still order whole pizzas and broasted chicken for eat-in or take-out, the buffet is probably their most popular option. It’s our first choice when we go there.

http://www.reptilegardens.com/

https://pizzaranch.com/