Muskegon, MI

Lake Michigan

We arrived at Duck Creek RV Park greeted by Debbie & Chris! They are excited we finally came to see them here. Beautiful park with concrete pads and lots of nice grass. They have planned a big week for us!

Pie, Oh My, soooo good!

We went into Holland, MI. It is a Dutch town, so in the spring tulips are everywhere. It is still pretty in  the summer. 

We went to the downtown Holland farmer’s market, and again this time of year there are lots of corn, tomatoes and blueberries. Of course, there also are nice baked goods. The blueberry cinnamon bread was great!

We were told the story of the Pasty’s (pronounced pass ty.) The miners in England originally made them. They would put together “past” leftovers, put them in a pastry and take them in their pockets to the mines. They were warm when leaving home and helped kept them warm in the mornings. Then that would be their lunch. They brought this custom over to the states. A lady was selling them at the market. We did not get one, but they looked good.

Debbie, her sister Patty & I, went to a cooking demonstration in Holland.

It was a small class and we sat around an island while the chef cooked and gave us cooking tips. We got to eat the food!

Brave people kite surfing

We drove to several piers and lighthouses and enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Michigan.

This is a Coast Guard station near Lake Michigan. The black flag is a Prisoner of War flag flying for John McCain....

 

In the afternoon we all went on a ride through the Sandhills and got to view Silver Lake from high above.

Great ride and great views!

Michigan is beautiful!

Our visit has been full of sights, playing cards and visiting. Lots of good times together.

Muskegon has a wonderful market on Saturdays. We walked through lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Again, we got some great tomatoes and Debbie made the tomato salad that we learned to make in the demo class.

Doll house RV

After the market, we did a guided tour of two homes: two lumber barons. Beautiful homes and history of their lives and Muskegon.

Then, lunch - Pizza!

We went into Grand Rapids to visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum. Lots of history of that time in our nation. We think we are living through tumultuous times, but if you look back in history there were lots of those times. One thing we did not know is that while he was serving in WWII in the Navy, the boat Ford was on was in a Typhoon. He fell on deck and was saved from falling off the boat because his foot caught on the edge of  the deck. Think about the turn in history had things turned out differently. There was also a special Betty Ford exhibit. She would have been 100 this year. An excellent review of her life and her accomplishments.

Last night cook out at Debbie's sister, who                                                   lives in an historic home in Muskegon built by the doctor who treated Houdini the night he died. 

Our week here over, we enjoyed lots of sights, had good visiting times with family, AND I believe the girls won all the card games!!

Next stop Upper Peninsula!

Moving Along to Springfield, IL

St Louis, MO

Hwy 60, The road from Bartlesville heading to Missouri , is full of farms and wide open spaces. Lots of green grass with hay bales, cattle and horses.

After getting on the turnpike it started raining and temps dropped to 67! Haven’t seen that since last winter in Houston. I will take it.

Crossing the Mississippi!

The RV Express park in Marshfield, MO is a nice one night stop over. Pull throughs with concrete pads right off I 44. 

Again, we enjoyed the rain in the afternoon and cool temps. When we are planning a long trip, I spend some time before cooking stuff and putting in freezer, so when we drive all day and get set up, we don’t  have to get out again to find dinner. This day we had Chunky italian Soup! Nice on a cool rainy day!

Next stop Double J RV Park in Chatham, IL. Very nice park. Trees, gravel pads and surrounded by corn fields. We got set up, again, in cool weather; had walk around the park and visited with other campers who walked by while we set outside. You rarely find a grumpy camper. Everyone is happy to be out and enjoying their time.  This night we had beef pot pie, made at home, frozen, and yummo at camp - and easy!

Dennis wants to see as many Presidential Museums as possible. So, we are near Springfield, IL to see the Lincoln Presidential Museum and Lincoln’s home. Lincoln lived in Springfield for 27 years and had planned to return there after being president. The museum is one of the best ones we have seen. Lots of history of his presidency and life. The wax figures are incredible. There is one of Mary wearing mourning clothes after a son died. The suffering in her face was so real, I felt I was intruding if I took a picture.

We had a guided tour of the home. The museum is run by the state and the home by the National Parks. You can read books about the history of things, but seeing it in person and led by a knowledgeable guide, you learn new things. The railing up the stairs to the second story of the house is original to the house. President Lincoln would have touched this spot often where Dennis is touching....

 

Mary Lincoln's sewing chest.

Perhaps a relative

Around Lincoln's neighborhood

We were told downtown Springfield had a farmer’s market on Saturdays, so we went to check it out. Wonderful market with corn, peaches, tomatoes and delicious baked goods. We like to visit places like this when in a new city. It brings the city to life and tells us a lot about the people who live there. It looked like most of Springfield comes on Saturday! It is an easy town to get around in and the map of downtown is easy to follow.

 

Sunday is moving day at lots of parks. Friday we saw them move in and then Sunday move out. We, however, are doing laundry and a bit of cleaning before making a one night stop and then we will be in Michigan for a week visiting with Debbie & Chris!

Cute little camper all decked out in
red & white - and pink Flamingos.

Bartlesville, OK

The Merchantile

After a rather stressful day traveling and getting new tire, we were happy to settle in to Riverside RV park. A nice little park, beautifully landscaped; a little oasis in the city. We were happy to sit out under the awning and have coffee in the morning watching the rain.

Aunt Martha & Uncle Les

Danny

We met my precious aunt and uncle and cousin at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. My uncle is the Oklahoma Balladeer - singing western songs and telling stories. Check it out at:  www.lesgilliam.com. They live in the area. We enjoyed cinnamon rolls - so yummy - and visiting. The bakery upstairs has a large sitting area, where we could visit and not feel hurried. The Mercantile store is nicely laid out                                                            with lots of merchandise!

 In the afternoon Dennis & I went to Woolaroc - the country lodge and museum of Frank Phillips, founder of

Phillips Petroleum. It’s hard to describe the museum as it is too marvelous. Much Indian pottery dated in early A.D. found on the property. Lots of Indian history and paintings.

As you enter the property you are led to a mountain man trapper camp. We had an actual trapper show us through the area with the history of trapping.

We got to throw tomahawks and shoot a muzzle loader rifle! I need to practice a little….  

Entrance to the Frank Phillips museum

 

Cowboy RV!

 The lodge at Woolaroc was Mr. Phillips country home, where he entertained many famous and important people of the day.

The next day we went to his city home. All of the items in the house are original to the house and arranged just as they were when the Phillips lived there. Very good tour guide who shared many stories of the family. Stories: At Christmas Mr. Phillips gave gifts of fruit, candy and a silver dollar to every student in Bartlesville every year. When area churches had trouble meeting their mortgage, he paid off the mortgages. Both he and Mrs. Phillips were big givers and did much to help the community. He started out a barber and by hard work  and not giving up ended up finding oil.

The Bartlesville City Museum showed much about the founding of the community and history of the Indians.

All in all, Bartlesville was a great stop.

This picture was in the Bartlesville Museum.
Taken in WWII.
It is made up entirely of soldiers from the Armed Forces.