Lake McConaughy State Park - Lamoyne, NE

So first of all I thought it was Lake MacNaughty...but then I realized that I was in Nebraska.  Got our first real dose of rolling prairies yesterday.  We are sitting right beside the Lake (reservoir actually, at 95% capacity) at site 40 (E/A/S) which is next to the camp host...kinda like having to sit next to the teacher..
We took Drex down to the water...life is good!

Hastings, NE

Spent the night at a KOA. (Cleaning & Maintenance Stop).  Finally got some pool time.  How can the pool be so cold when it is so hot out?

This morning, we went to Hastings, NE.  had breakfast at the Back Alley Bakery, cinnamon rolls and local coffee.  We picked up some Brie Bread for lunch.  Hastings is well known in the area as the place where Edward Perkins invented Kool-aide.  So we went to the Kool-aide museum to check it out.

Ponca State Park - Ponca, NE

A short driving day, now that we are out of the east.  We try to book some extra miles each day as we are leaving familiar ground.  Ponca State Park is so nice it is almost luring us to stay an extra day.  We are way up on the hill (3 miles from the entrance), with only one other camper (site 99 W/E).  After a short hike, I suggested that we go to the pool.  Deb says, "I know what you are trying to do....you're trying to do something interesting." She caught me!  Anyway the pool was closed...bummer.. But we went for a drive on the scenic outlook road.  We saw the Missouri River, in the only part that is not channeled or dammed all the way from South Dakota to St Louis.  Last night Deb had a hankerin' for Baby Back Ribs.  It was a challenge in an RV, but with a little parboiling before putting it on the Barbie basted

with some BBQ sauce made with Ketchup and Maple Syrup, it was pretty good.

Went for a before breakfast bike ride to see an old burled oak.  It was a sapling in 1644.

Ledges State Park - Boone, IA

Fairly cool today, the weather forecasters say we will have mild weather for the next several days.  Yesterday, northern Iowa got 4" of rain, which closed the Canyon Road at Ledges.  We had read about it in their website, so we were ready.  The campsite is at the top of the canyon and was unaffected.  For us it meant that the park was closed to vehicles, but wide open for bicycles.  Instead of bridges, the park has paved the road across the stream, so you ford the stream.  Yesterday it was over half a foot deep!  We had a lovely site (21 Electricity) right next to camp dog sitter.

Starved Rock State Park - Utica, IL

Rainy day. It's suppose to clear up in the afternoon or not depending on what you read.  We're supposed to hike but I think I might need a plan "B". By the time we found our site (99) with electricity, it had started to rain again, so we headed for the August Hill Winery in Utica. Deb tried a flight of whites and I tried a flight of reds with crackers and cheese, of course.  By the time we were done the sun was shining. We took a short hike to Starved Rock and Frenchman's canyon.  Although it wasn't too hot, it was muggy and Drex didn't want to go any further. Smart Dog!  Back to campsite  for dinner, some fortified grape juice (no alcohol allowed) and a Dr Who episode. In the morning we hiked into St Louis Canyon before heading to Iowa.

St. Louis canyon, Utica, Il

Hueston Woods State Park - Camden, OH

Our second night at Hueston Woods (site H31).  It has been raining so it was a little bit buggy.  Got to use our new power extension cord.  Most exciting part of Ohio was the 25 miles of Yard Sale on route 127  even one the campgrounds turned into 127 yards sale sites. After we left, we realized that we never took a picture.  Guess it wasn't that memorable.

Ohiopyle State Park, PA

Our first day out.  Started with torrential rain as we were heading down the driveway...we had to pull off and wait for the rain to stop.  But within a few minutes we made it to the end of the driveway.  Lunch in Sky Meadows State Park, VA.  Just a little drizzle, but it was nice.  The road thru the picnic area kept getting smaller and smaller, and windier and windier... We saw Goldfinches, gorgeous.

As we approached Ohiopyle, the roads got narrow, windy and steep.  With a long steep narrow downhill, we came to the center of town... The Ohiopyle River is wide and rocky

..but it is the center of all activity, swimming, rafting, fishing, etc.  so we followed the signs and headed to the right up a steep narrow winding road...nothing...no cell coverage...so back down the steep winding road.  Saw a sign for camping, so again up a steep narrow winding road...nothing...no cell coverage...down again...one more time up another steep winding road...nothing...no cell coverage...back down...this time I hit SOMETHING on the side of the road..thought I had ripped the camper right off the frame...WHAT A NOISE...got back to town, assessed the damage (really nothing..a few black marks that came off, and a little mark on the tire skirt). Used the cell coverage to find the campground.  I'm sure it's a lovely place, but we were ready just tuck into our little hidy hole.

So our photo of the day is "dinner in the Tardis."