Our Travels, where they have taken us

 We got home from our month long trip to Yellowstone, cleaned up and restocked the camper and headed back out.  We went to a couple of our favorite places to camp. The first being Eagle Cliff Campground in Lanesboro, MN.  This was a trip with a motorcycle group through our friends church.  We no longer have our mototcycle but it was good hang out with them over a campfire. We had our ebikes and did some trail riding along the Root River.  

We they made an overnight at home and picked up one of our daughters and we to Two Harbors, MN for our last trip of the 2025 season.  We are never disappointed in either Lanesboro or Two Harbors and already have reservations for May of 2026 in Two Harbors.   Highly recomend Eagle Cliff Campground and Burlington Bay Campground.  

We have been planning this trip for three years. The first two attempts were postponed, the first due to flooding in the park that closed the roads, and the second for our daughter Kelsey's wedding to Travis. A wonderful reason to postpone. 

We were accompanied by Joe and Kathy, who asked if they could join us. We've traveled with them many times and always enjoy their company. We kept our travel days leisurely since we have the time and dislike being on a tight schedule. 

Our stops along the way included Jamestown, ND, where we stayed at the Jamestown Campground for one night. The next stop was Glendive, MT, which was quite an experience. The campground was fine, but the dinner at a local diner was probably one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had, so bad it was laughable by the time we left.

From there, we headed to Hardin, MT, for three nights. On the way, we visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which was fantastic. We saw our first buffalo and enjoyed some beautiful scenery before moving on. About 20 miles from Hardin, Joe's truck broke down. Thanks to some local help and quick thinking, they got it running again. If a breakdown had to happen, it was at the right time. We then took his truck to a dealership in Billings and while they were working on it, as planned, drove to Cooke City via the Beartooth Pass, an exhilarating drive with unbelievable views. We used an app called Guide Along, which really enhanced the trip. We spent the night in Cooke City, then picked up their truck on our way back to the campground in Hardin.

The next day, we made the final stretch to Yellowstone. There was a slight hiccup in the morning with Joe's truck, but he was able to get it running, and the rest of the trip to Yellowstone went smoothly. We spent a week marveling at the park's stunning beauty. Though the crowds remained large, aside from some traffic jams caused by wildlife sightings or animals crossing the road, the experience was fantastic. Having several days here allowed us to explore at a relaxed pace, reducing the stress of trying to see everything quickly.

Pat found a Blowout Sale in the alley behind one of the gift shops in West Yellowstone. For $20 a bag, we could stuff as many, shirts, hats, stickers and mugs as possible. The woman running the sale explained it was leftover stock from previous seasons she’d been storing, and she was tired of paying for storage as new inventory continues to arrive. We managed to stuff a hat, two mugs, and 17 shirts into our bag.

We have a couple more days in Yellowstone, including a visit to Old Faithful and dinner at the Old Faithful Inn. We also plan a catch-up day to catch any sights in Yellowstone we missed and find any end of season sales we may have missed. We will also prepare for our move to the Tetons, a short day but with traffic in the park is may take a little longer than expected. Ill keep this updated as we continue our journey.

After a great week in West Yellowstone, we headed to Dubois, WY, to spend some time in Grand Teton National Park. We were surprised to find that the RV parks near the Tetons were all full—even after Labor Day, the crowds hadn’t thinned. Our campsite ended up about 60 miles from the park. Dubois itself is a nice small town with friendly, welcoming people.

On our first day, we drove into the park to see the Tetons, but it turned out to be a mistake. The park was packed, and smoke from wildfires was so thick that the mountains weren’t visible from the best viewing spots. We toured what we could, then continued through Jackson, WY, where the sidewalks were so crowded that people were walking in the streets. Overall, it was a disappointing day.

The second day started with some internet research, which confirmed that the smoke wasn’t going anywhere. Rather than waste fuel, we stayed in Dubois. We did laundry and biked around town for a community garage sale, where we found a few bargains and met interesting people. Later, we had a late lunch/early dinner at Crooked Creek Ranch, a rustic spot just outside of town. Our travel companions had visited years ago while snowmobiling and recommended it. It lived up to their praise—the food was good, and the owner spent about half an hour chatting with us at our table. It turned into a great day.

By the third day, the smoke had lifted, so Pat and I took our e-bikes into the park. We stopped at several overlooks with clear views of the Tetons and struck up a long, enjoyable conversation with a retired game warden from Mississippi and his wife, who were traveling by motorcycle. Later, we set out from the South Jenny Lake Visitor Center to ride about eight miles to Dornan’s for pizza. The trail followed the mountains, offering plenty of photo opportunities. Just as Pat was about to order, I checked the radar and saw a storm forming directly over Dornan’s. We decided to head back, hoping to beat the rain. A few miles in, the drops started, but we pedaled hard and managed to stay ahead of the storm. Looking back at the darkening clouds and sheets of rain, we knew we’d made the right call. Our friends Joe and Kathy stayed behind to visit an old friend of his who lives nearby, and they said they had a wonderful time. That evening we all regrouped, did some laundry, and played games.

On day four, Pat and I returned to the park with the group to try Dornan’s pizza and ride the trail again—this time under clear skies. We also stopped at Mormon Row to take photos of the iconic barns with the Tetons as a backdrop. Afterward, we headed back to Dubois for a quiet evening, getting things ready for the return trip to Minnesota.

The trip home was uneventful, with good weather and no equipment issues. One highlight was a stop in Rapid City, SD, where we attended a chuckwagon dinner and country music review. I was skeptical at first, but the food was excellent and the band was outstanding. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

All in all, it was a great trip. We had no major issues—just a few minor maintenance items to take care of, nothing that disrupted our travels.

 Our second year camping at Stoney Creek Campground in Osseo, WI.  One of our daughters family does a coupld camping trips with some other hockey families and are always nice enough to invite us.  We had a hiccup with the RV in that the fridge wasn't working and we didn't find out until paking for the trip.  We adapted to coolers and all was fine.  This is a nice campground for families as there are many things to do. A swimming pond with huge floats for swimmers to climb on, a splash pad, separate swimming pool, mini golf, catch and release fishing pond and numerous activites during the day.  A great family expericne. We took the opportunity to head about an hour west to Marshfield,  WI to attend a Hot Air Balloon Jubilee.  It was definitly worth the drive as there were about 30 Hot Air Balloons attending.  Live music and enough Food Trucks to please any palet They did what is called a Glow, where the Balloons stay on the ground, but inflate after dark.  the entire balloon lights up like a bulb when they run the burner.  Quite a site to see.   If you are looking for a good family experience you may want to check them out.   Stoney Creek Campground

 This was a stop at one of our favorite campgrounds.  Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harobors, MN  Our visits to the area never disappoint us.  We had what I would call perfect weather. Warm enough you needed a light jacket or sweat shirt but not cold enough to keep you inside.  We hit our favorite spots, Betty's Pies, Rustic Inn, Split Rock Lighthouse and the harbor itself.  We enjoy watching the captains manuvering the Iron Boats in and out of the loading pier.  As always we met friendly people at the campground and reconnected with some folks we have seen on previous trips.  There are several campgrounds along the shore so do check them out.  Burlington Bay Campground. 

 This was a stop on the way to South Padre Island with a stop in San Antonio, TX.    We stayed at the Love's in Cameron using one of their RV sites.  We stayed here in the past, the rate is Fifty bucks for the night.  That is high as far as I am concerned.  Access is easy, quality hookups, good Wifi, but it is noisey with traffic all night.  We stopped here on the way home as well,  Nothing changed, but its still and easy place to rest up for the rest of the trip. 

 This was the next stop on the way to South Padre Island with a stop in San Antonio, TX.   This location has different size spots, and I got one that a 40' rig wouldn't fit in.  It took several phone calls to get things worked out.  While they did move us, it seemed to be way to hard to get done.  Access is easy, quality hookups, and good wifi.  We stayed here on the way home as well.  Easy access, just have to remember to get one of the end slots.  

We are attending the Volunteer Leadership Conference for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in San Antonio, TX, which is a great stop on our way to South Padre Island. We are staying at the KOA in San Antonio. Initially, while driving to the site, it seemed like we were in an industrial area, but once I entered the park, my concerns were put to rest.

The park is very large and offers a range of amenities, including some unexpected ones, like an onsite café. There's also access to a walking or biking trail. Everything is well-maintained, and the staff has been very helpful. Located just minutes from downtown, this is a conveniently placed facility. I highly recommend this park if you’re spending time in San Antonio.  

We are spending two weeks here in the KOA .  A very nice facility that is going through some expansion as they are adding some more sites, closer to the water and updating their Laundry, Exercise Romm and Community Room.  The construction isn't detracting from our time here at all.  I will say the sites here remind me of the older KOA's in that they are pretty close together.  We are glad it is off season and park isn't close to being full so the closness isn't to much of an issue.  I  personally would not want to come here on a weekend when they are full.  They have a heated pool, which is quite nice but no real activities to speak of.  It is close to the beach and plenty of things to do away from the campground.  As always the folks here are friendly and will do what ever is needed to keep you happy.  The other guests seem to be in our age range so its easy to strike up a conversation when on a walk or at the pool.  Space X is just across the intercoastal and visible during the day.  It would have been nice to see a launch from here as the view is unobstructed and according to some others we have talked with it is quite an experience seeing a launch from here.

The South Padre Island area doesn't have much to offer other than the beach.  We enjoy daily walks on the beach but we also enjoy exploring local shops, attractions and restaraunts.  The local shopping is all beach wear related and there are very few other activities to do in the area. There are good restaraunts on the island and in Port Isabel so do take advantage of those should you come here.  We have changed our plans and are leaving early to explore the Corpus Cristi area.  While this is a nice park, and will be better when the construction is done, there just isn't enough to occupy us for two weeks.   KOA South Padre Island

Just 30 minutes from Corpus Chisti in Rockport, TX.  We ended up doing a couple nights here.  A very large park, no trees, good spacing and all concrete spots.  Great sunsets and there is plenty to do in Rockport. We really enjoyed exploring the town, visting a flea market going on as well as several great shops.  We ate a Mac's BBQ in Rockport.  A must stop if you like BBQ.  Great food and nice staff.  We also got back to Corpus Christi and toured the USS Lexington, and wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  KOA in Rockport, TX  

 This was a stop at one of our favorite campgrounds.  Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harobors, MN  Our visits to the area never disappoint us.  We had what I would call perfect weather. Warm enough you needed a light jacket or sweat shirt but not cold enough to keep you inside.  We hit our favorite spots, Betty's Pies, Rustic Inn, Split Rock Lighthouse and the harbor itself.  We enjoy watching the captains manuvering the Iron Boats in and out of the loading pier.  As always we met friendly people at the campground and reconnected with some folks we have seen on previous trips.  There are several campgrounds along the shore so do check them out.  Burlington Bay Campground. 

Our second of three trips here this season.  This is one of our favorite spots to just get away for a few days.  This was anohter one of those, lets just get away and have some down time.  No projects or places to be. Mother Nature really slowed us down evern more.  We had a dry drive up, stopped at High Hat Drive Inn in Cloquet, MN. Another one for our favorite stops for a burger and malt.  A family run drive inn that serves good food and is worth the wait.  We went up on a Monday, Tuesday had enough scattered rain that we cancelled out plans for the day and took in a movie in Duluth, MN  F1, with Brad Pitt, the movie was well done and we enjoyed it.  Wednesday was worse than Tuesday rain wise so we did a little shopping in town, read, did a jig saw puzle and just relaxed. Thursday dried up so we had an easy pack up and headed for home.    

If you spend some time in Two Harbors, do stop in at the information cabin on the edge of town, adjacent to the campground.  There is a pleasant woman working there that is full of information on the area and her enthuasim to help you have a great trip is refreshing.  We know the area pretty well but always stop to talk to her as she always brightens our day and usually has some information on a local happening or event that only the locals hear about.    Burlington Bay Campground

This is our thrid attempt at making this trip and it all has come together.  We have had wonderful weather and some very unique experiences.  I wrote about it in our Blog and you can read more about the trip on that page.  Click here to see it.  We are still on the road so I will be editing the Blog as we go.