Adventures!

Martin pond, Iowa

Last Thursday I picked Ceili up from storage and headed east on US highway 24.

Ended up at Wakonda State Park quite near the Mississippi river!

Close to Hannibal, hometown of Samuel C. Clements better know as Mark Twain.

On Friday, I worked on the changes I'm making to Ceili so she will be more comfortable.

Did a bit of cooking for the next day.

Drove into Quincy, IL to purchase the things I forgot to bring!

Well, some of them!

Quincy had some very unusual houses.

I wished for my camera, 

but of course I'd left it behind.

When will I learn?

On Saturday, I managed to get myself lost.

Going from the campground to Larry's sister's place.

Thank goodness for Lucas!

Who talked me through sending him my location on the Iphone

and then found me and led me in!

There was an afternoon and evening of visiting,

most of Larry's family was in attendance.

It wasn't hot which was seriously welcome!

As was the rain that came off and on all afternoon.

Speaking of rain.

It rained at the campground off and on all night.

Woke both Quinn and I several times,

Well that and the folks talking in the wee hours.

Several folks lost dining canopies and one trailer lost it's awning!

Must have been windy,

I didn't notice that.

The rain continued most of  Sunday morning,

finally driving me out of the trailer from the pounding on the roof.

That pounding brought on a pounding in my head!

(I'm not complaining that it rained! 

For one thing we are in desperate need of much more.

Then, if I did, thinking of Chookyblue and how desperately she needs rain-

well I'd feel guilty.)

I had planned a trip into Iowa for Sunday.

When I think of Iowa I think of corn and flat.

I don't think I'll drive up and down hills through a pine and hardwood state forest.

Then we wandered up and down roads like this:

Osage Road to the south

and to the north.

 Not flat.

Although there was plenty of corn!

Finally, we arrived at our destination.

Center Chapel Church.

More specifically the cemetery at the church.

I was looking for this stone in particular.

John and Mary Ann Evans Watkins.

Emigrant ancestors from Breconshire, Wales.

The last of my families to come to the United States.

Arriving in 1881.

On the return trip I thought it would be interesting to see Keokuk, IA.

I don't know why.

Crossed the Mississippi river, unintentionally.

Decided to drive along the river instead of turning around.

I did drive beside the river for a bit then through farms of corn.

Had to go clear to Quincy to cross back over the river.

I've never been fond of Illinois.

I haven't changed my mind.