Forest City, Iowa to Spearfish, South Dakota

June 1-14:  We spent a week at Winnebago Factory Service in Forest City, Iowa.  While they fixed our defective floor, we stayed in a nearby lodge.   Once finished, we headed west through the Badlands to Spearfish, South Dakota.

 While camping along the Missouri River in SD, we spotted a bald eagle fishing near the rocky cliff.

                          Camping in Spearfish, South Dakota along Sprearfish Creek.

                                                  The drive and hike through Spearfish Canyon.

                                                Lunch at Cheyenne Crossing

  While biking one of the many paths in Spearfish, we were spotted by two deer hiding in growth.

                                         Learning about the history of the area.

                                                   Local ice cream shoppe.

Surprise! They make gluten free waffle cones: coconut and dark chocolate ice cream with hot fudge.

Coralville Lake

May 29, 2015:  We stopped here for one night on our way to Winnebago Factory Service.  It's an Army Corp of Engineers Park.

                     This is a fossil bed that was exposed when a flash flood occurred.

                                                                  Fossils

                                                                    Iowa River

      What Skip does when we are out exploring.

Starved Rock State Park

May 27, 2015:  We spent two days in this area.  Starved Rock is located on the Illinois River in LaSalle. Starved Rock got its name from a legend about a battle between two tribes.  It was told that one tribe was trapped on the rock and rather than surrender, they stayed there until they starved.

                                                              Campsite

                            There were many goose couples with goslings.

                                      This tree was alive before the Civil War. 

                              White pelicans were swimming in the river near the dam.

                 There were hundreds of white pelicans on the shore of this island.

      While hiking, we came upon this woodchuck gobbling the leaves on the tree branch.

                                     A model of the fort built on Starved Rock.

Michigan: Our Visit Back Home

May 2015:  We were greatly blessed during our visit back home.  We loved our visits and cookouts with family and friends and worship and Bible study at our church.  If not for our June 1st appointment at Winnebago, we could have stayed longer.  Here are a few pictures from our stay. (I forgot to take pictures at some of the gatherings.)

                   Silver Beach and the St. Joseph pier walk with friends before lunch.

              The dogwoods bloomed just as we arrived!  Warren Dunes State Park

                 We watched two bluebirds eating dandelion seeds one rainy afternoon.

               Bluebird picture Shirley took while they camped with us at Warren Dunes.

A milkweed growing in the sand dunes.  According to Sharen, the monarch butterflies love them!

                              These flowers were blooming in the sand dunes.

        May Apple: On our walk, Monica pointed out flowering plants throughout the dune walk.

                                                              Columbine 

        Windy walk through the wooded dunes to the beach, then back across the dune ridge.

                        We chose to go down this steep dune to the campground!

                             Chuck, Dennis, and Bill at our campfire cookout.

                                      Just a silly picture at the top of the dunes!

                               Lunch at Clementine's with fellow retired teachers.

   Asparagus was in season in Michigan!  We ate as much as we could, even grilled!  Delicious!

                                                    Lake Michigan Shoreline

                                                   Lake Michgian Sunset