Charles City, IA (State #12)-R Campground

We had such a wonderful time in Charles City, Iowa! Visiting Charles City was important to us for two reasons:

The first is that Greg's grandfather and the kids' great grandfather helped to build the Charles City post office. It was one of the big projects he worked on when he lived nearby in Ruthven, Iowa.

The second (and bigger reason) is that Charles City is the home of Tracy, my best friend from junior high and high school! It was so good to see her again.

And her children, Connor and Brooke, were awesome.  They were so kind and Jacob and Jordan LOVED being with them.

We spent all but one evening with Tracy and her family. On that evening, we drove to Ruthven to see the family home and the area where Greg and his family would visit during the summers.

And the rest of the time, Tracy spoiled my kids like crazy! They got to eat powdered donuts and brownies, ride a horse, play with moon sand, jump on a trampoline, take bubble baths (which is a HUGE thing after 9 months of only showers) and they had a sleepover at her house not once, but TWICE!

AND their most favorite thing was to feed all of her farm animals. In fact, a couple of weeks later, they are still talking about it and planning DAILY (on paper) what they will have on their farm when they grow up.

Tracy was also our tour guide for the bike path along the Cedar River. The weather was great and the scenery beautiful.

This was a pretty bridge. The original swinging bridge was washed away in a 2008 flood.

We also spent a few hours at Rustic Corner, a cute craft store, where we painted pottery and made our first mosaic pieces.

And Jacob was able to spend some time doing what he loves...FISHING.  And since Connor enjoys fishing too, the boys had a good time together.

We stayed at R Campground located just on the edge of town.  It was a great campground with a pond and the river running through.  You didn't feel like you were right in town.

On the weekend, we all headed to Osage for the fall festivities.

Afterwards, we checked out nearby Spring Creek

and then headed back to the campground for our last night together.  We were enjoying some time around the campfire when the rain began.  So we all piled into the RV and got a little closer! Ha Ha

It was a wonderfully fun week and we can't wait to see these guys again!

Next stop:  Champaign, Illinois

Dodgeville, Wisconsin-Governor Dodge State Park

We stayed at Governor Dodge State Park for one week. It was a nice shaded campground and like most campgrounds this time of year, there weren't many people except on the weekend. My biggest complaint was the cold showers!! But apparently it was just my bad luck because the men's showers were warm!

Most of the week was rainy and cold. We played at the playground a few times and went outside when we could. Greg and Jacob were able to do a little fishing at the lake.

We checked out one of the trails and Stephens Falls.  A few of the trails were closed due to tornado damage.

The kids earned their Wisconsin Explorers patch.

For our last outing, we went to the House on the Rock. I am not quite sure how to describe this place. It was interesting in a weird sort of way. If in the area, you should definitely see it but it is bizarre. 

The, House on the Rock, itself is pretty cool. It was built, as its' name implies, around a rock. It was pretty dark inside so pictures were pretty impossible to take. I don't think the owner ever lived there and it was mainly used to entertain with its many wonderfully designed rooms with ample seating areas.

He also built the Infinity Room onto the house which extends 218 ft out unsupported, 156 feet above the valley floor. That was fun feature but, like the kids, I think it would be so much more awesome if you could see through the floor.

The last part was room after room of his many, unusual collections and creations from dollhouses and dolls to guns, boats and circus figurines.  But the number of pieces in each collection was just massive, so massive that that is what made it bizzare.

He also constructed the WORLD'S LARGEST CAROUSEL (not the best picture, but it was moving).

And there were many instrument sections designed to play by themselves including this mannequin orchestra.

It was really a fun place and took a couple of hours to go through but also definitely kind of odd.

Next stop is Charles City, Iowa