The Maiden Voyage of Spamalot - The Quest: Part 1

Spamalot III, the Return Voyage

When we left off, the kids were in big trouble.

Actually, we were having quite a bit of fun. We had just escaped the Wisconsin Dells' KOA, after being bush-whacked by a teardrop groupie who wouldn't let us pull out until he had finished "drooling over" Spamalot, and were on our way to Taliesin for a second tour. Had a lovely drive over hill and dell through cow country and arrived with time to spare....and give a tour, of course.

We were sitting on the tail gate of the truck, lunching on cheese and sausage (still) when a group of tourists approached. By this time we had come to recognize that special guilty smirk on the face of a stranger that just seems to shout: "Hey, can I bug you about the trailer?" We still had time, so what the heck-we gave them the grand tour.

Noon found us on our long desired tour of FLW's home and personal studio. Fabulous. We roamed and photographed (the outside only. please) and ooowed ourselves silly for over two hours, then off to the gift shop where we squandered a positively sinful amount on two FLW design pillows to adorn the interior of Spamalot. We left Spring Green with our hearts (and pocket books) considerably lighter than when we started.

Next it was off to Dodgeville and our destination for the night: Gov. Dodge State Park. As we stopped to inquire about camp sites, we were met by two young park rangers who were completely bowled over by the teardrop. They had never seen one before and were so excited that of course they got the tour. In return, we were showed which camp sites were best this time of year. The park turned out to be a gorgeous, secluded stretch of heavily wooded rolling hills. This was a definite "return" spot on our list. And another plus to this park: the hills blocked the wind and I was able to make full use of my galley-two hot meals in a row! I went all out with eggs, bacon and hot-hot coffee for breakfast.

Sunrise found us on the road again in search of I-90 and the way home. By lunch time we were in La Crosse, Wisconsin and in search of the local Toyota dealership. Don't panic, we had packed on a couple of thousand miles on the truck since leaving home and it was time for our 20,000 mile service...on our vacation...our road trip...what a drag! But the local grease monkey proved to be quite a gentleman and we were in and out in 30 minutes(cool)and off to the supermarket deli to pick up a sandwich for the road.

As we drove around the parking lot trying to find a space long enough for the truck and trailer, we were followed by a nondescript, late model beige van. Uh-oh. As soon as we came to a stop, the van pulled up next to us, the door flew open and a large elderly man swooped down on us like a hungry cat on two especially fat mice! This proved to be our "Where do you poop?" guy. And another tour........it wasn't getting any easier. He followed us to the store entrance, gabbing all the way, there he espied his wife (who was wondering if she should call out the hounds to locate her missing husband). He called her over and began raving about the trailer...we beat a hasty retreat before they dragged us back for another tour. Sandwich in hand-and an eye out for our admirer-we hit the road, crossed the Mississippi, stopped for a photo-op and then off to our next destination: the Spam Museum (this was your fault, Jean W).

We made it to the Spam Museum one hour before it closed. Snickering over childhood memories(fried spam on Sunday-yuck)we couldn't resist buying some truly hideous trinkets for our kids....and, of course, a couple of Spam mugs for the TD. What a blast (thanks, Jean)! It was getting late and we still had to drive to Big Myre Island State Park in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

We arrived in the park at sunset and self-registered for the night. The place was empty except for the camp host (who didn't show up until well after dark) so we had the place to ourselves and enjoyed a peaceful supper under a scarlet and gold evening sky. Dawn brought pink tinged clouds and freezing temperatures. A hot breakfast and layered clothing solved that problem and we took some time to explore the park. Then it was back on the road to the Badlands.

Of course we didn't go straight there, no way. We just had to make a quick pass through Blue Earth, Minnesota to visit the birthplace of Jim's Great Grandmother.....and the Jolly Green Giant (no relation). Another photo-op! We stopped by Sioux Falls and clambered over the pink rock formations. A few more photos and on the road once more...and driving...and driving...and farms...and road kill...and farms...and road kill...and hundreds of signs for Walldrug, dang!

The sun was just beginning to tint the hill tops pink as we pulled into the Badlands. Freezing cold and extremely windy, we non the less managed to crank up the stove for chili, sausages and hot cocoa. We greatly enjoyed that hot meal...and so did the neighbor's mongrel dog who scampered about (off leash) and mooched sausage morsels from yours truly. Stargazing in the Badlands was fantastic, but the wind-chill felt somewhere around minus 30 degrees, so we turned in early to our warm cabin. Our neighbors were though-as-nails winter campers and roughed it in tents-BBBUURRRRRR!

We were up early as we wanted to see sunrise over the Badlands. We were not disappointed. Slipping from purple to lavender to pink to gold, the dawn colors were more spectacular than expected. Full sun-up revealed huge swaths of yellow, green, pinks, blues and creams painting the canyon walls. We paused at a turnout and breakfasted on yogurt and granola while enjoying the solitude. Mountain goats, deer and prairie dogs everywhere, the Badlands were more wonderland than bad. Another "must return" spot.

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay longer and hit the road again. Jim suggested we stop at Walldrug for a mid-morning pie and coffee break. A crazy place; Waldrug was home to one of the largest and finest collections of Western art in America....and the cherry pie was great. There was only one way to top it: Deadwood! Jim's cousin was toying with the idea of moving to Deadwood and we had promised to check it out for her. So we did.

And we'll tell you about it later as once again my fingers are in revolt. Ouch.

And the saga continues....


Jim and Sue

And Spamalot.
 
Jim & Sue,
Yes, I agree with Jenn, I can't wait for the next installment! Hurry!

We're so ready to head out west and the Badlands are on our big to do list. But we're having to wait till next year and once we get settled in our house. But I'm living vicariously through you! Thanks for all the details, it makes it so real!
 
Bear...

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it-in spades! Jim and I will be posting the next installment of the return voyage soon. Lots more nonsense to come.

Am I Italian? There's a question...I don't know. My father's side is Maltese and being a small, strategically located island in the Mediterranean, everybody got in there at one time or another. So I guess you could say, yes-I am Italian (or Roman) and Phoenician and Spanish (Knights of Malta) and Moorish and English (Knights Templar)...you get the picture. And yes, force feeding is part of the culture!


Sue
 
Spamalot The Quest Part IV: Lively Times in Deadwood.

In the last episode, your intrepid travelers had made it through the Bad Lands (which were very good), stopped off at the biggest tourist trap in the known world-Walldrug and were hoofing it to Deadwood.

The skies were clear and sunny as we shot up I90, skirted the edges of Sturgis (yikes) and hung a left into the Black Hills to check out that little lost town of Deadwood. Jim's cousin was interested in it and we had promised to reconnoiter. What a cute place. It's a remarkably well restored old "wild" west town tucked into a deep and beautifully wooded valley. Lots of wonderful old buildings down the main street, but full of casinos, restaurants, hotels and trinket shops. Not exactly what Jim's cousin was looking for. She's trying to escape Las Vegas, not move to another one. Ah well, but it's still a fun place.

It was lunch time and we were hankering for a buffalo burger. So, who do you ask for the best BB in town? Why the mailman, of course! He knows about everything in town and just happened to be headed out way as we were walking down the main street (actually, Jim ran him down...I hid in the shadows). He recommended Diamond Lil's, a restaurant on the third floor of a casino across the street. Cool.

Off we went into the smokey bowels of the local gambling den and up two flights of stairs into....a wonderfully kooky restaurant owned by Kevin Costner. Diamond Lil's is a grand Victorian room (smoke free)jammed packed with memorabilia from most of Costner's films. As it was the end of the season, seating was not a problem...heck, we were almost the only ones there besides the bartender/cook and waitress. But they were a very friendly, laid-back pair and we had their undivided attention. The service was excellent (only us, you know) and the buffalo burgers were delicious! We'll definitely go beck there next time around.

Lunch done, we wandered through some of the tourist shops and bought more trinkets for the kids-including an extremely rude take on a Mount Rushmore mug for my lunatic daughter (she asked for tacky-she got it!).

After that we headed out to Mount Rushmore. What a gorgeous ride! Truly, the Black Hills have to be one of the most beautiful ranges we have ever traveled. Steep, mountainous terrain covered in black pine forests shot through with blinding veins of golden Aspen and Maples. Stunning, absolutely stunning!

We arrived at Mount Rushmore late in the day and managed to reach the viewing stand just as the setting sun stuck the face of George Washington, leaving the other three in shadow. A moving moment. We gazed for a long while at this marvel and watched the light move down the mountain side, then off to the interpretive center and, of course, the gift shop. A post card for our eight year old granddaughter and off again. We had to get through the hills and to our camping destination before nightfall.

Now, it really isn't far from Mount Rushmore to Custer State Park as the crow flies.....but we aren't crows and we sure the heck weren't flying. NOPE, we took the long and winding road. And I do mean WINDING! It was a fantastically bizarre ride of sharp twists, blind curves, hairpin turns, wooden overpasses-WOODEN, mind you and one lane tunnels. Exciting, especially when we would come out of one of those blasted one lane tunnels and find some knuckle-headed tourist stopped in the middle of the road to snap "that perfect shot" of Mount Rushmore through the trees! After several close calls like that, we finally managed to ditch the sightseeing crowd and make good time to our campground.

Now Custer State Park is an interesting place. The only campground opened this late in the season was the Lodge campground. Very nice grassy area dotted with trees and along a small river in a wooded valley. Here is where we had our second encounter with Buffalo...only these weren't on a bun. Quite a sight, those huge, shaggy Ice Age creatures (Jim says, "And so tasty, too!" But enough of that!). They were wandering along the road, munching greenery and giving us the evil eye as we slowly drove by, staying as quiet as possible. Didn't want to provoke them and have to explain the imprint of a Bison's head on our front bumper to the insurance agent.

Dawn brought a pink sky, frost covered grass and more buffalo and mountain goats grazing near by. We decamped as quietly as possible. We had planned on traveling north to Devil's Tower and Little Big Horn, then turning south through Yellowstone (with more buffalo and hopefully those elusive moose) and then the Grand Tetons, but we were running out of time. We opted to head straight for the Tetons; the others would have to wait for another trip.

The drive form Custer to Dubois, Wyoming took most of the day, but it was a beautiful ride filled with wide vistas of prairie land, mesas and those distant jagged mountains which we approached oh, so slowly. It was almost nightfall by the time we rolled into town and not a campground sign to be seen. Uh-oh. We pulled into the Conoco station and, while Jim gassed up the truck, I walked into the shop to talk to the counter lady. Were there any campgrounds nearby I asked. She said I could try the Bureau of Land Management campsite-ten miles out of town along a dirt road. She didn't think the road crews would mind sharing their camp with us.... Road crews, hhhhmmmmm.......

As luck would have it, we didn't have share with the construction gang; such a shame. As we were chatting with that lovely lady in the Conoco station, she saw the owner of the local KOA (which was closed for the season) drive by. Now, Dubois is one heck of a small town with the inevitable result that everyone knows everybody. Our store lady knew Barbara, the KOA owner's phone number by heart. A quick call and the campground was opened for us. Wow! A great campground with spotless, heated restrooms and showers...and all to ourselves for only $20! Now that's what I call small town hospitality: opening your closed up tight campground to a pair of weary travelers for one lousy night. Good people in Dubois, Wyoming.

After a quiet night, we were up before daylight and on the road through the Tetons. We had been warned of some extensive road work and wanted to get through before the crews were on the job. We didn't count on 24 hour construction schedule. Miles and miles of muddy gravel roads (it had snowed over night) traffic control, pilot cars, quarter hours waits and long, long lines. At one point we pulled up a dirt tract to a soon to be scenic overlook. Dawn was breaking and we were hungry for breakfast. We broke out the yogurt and granola, propped ourselves up against the truck and munched away as the sun escaped the storm clouds and streaked across the mountain tops changing them rose, pink, lavender then gold.

After ten miles, the construction ended. Our once brilliant blue truck and shiny Spamalot now carried, half way up their sides, a heavy coating of mud and grit much like a high tide mark. Poor babies! But it was worth it! The road through the Grand Tetons took us along some of the most breathtaking scenery yet. The sun had again been hidden by the storm clouds but it's early heat turned the frost on marsh reeds into streams of low lying fog that swirled and eddied around trees and shrubs; turning the landscape into an ocean of mist with sharp mountains riding high above like a fleet of battleships preparing for war.

We reached the town of Jackson around 10AM and stopped for a little sight seeing, gas and coffee. On the road again, we were headed for West Wendover-all the way through Utah and the over the boarder into Nevada in one day. Mad, totally mad, but we did it and by 6PM we pulled into the KOA of West Wendover.

Now, how do we describe the wonders of that particular campground..? The night was brilliant with a million twinkling lights-on the high rise casinos right next to us. We were lulled to sleep by the dulcet tones of big rig horns, shrieking laughter from passing female inebriates and shattering beer bottles. We locked the doors.

At dawn we decided not to risk an open fire with all the alcohol fumes from the busted beer bottles; getting singed from a flash over was no way to start the day. We breakfasted at a small casino and got out of there pronto! We still had a long way to travel and only one day left in which to do it. Not possible. We called our daughter and told her we couldn't make it in time to pick up her child from school the next day. She would make other arrangements. Good. That covered, we started on the road again. Pushing it, we made it to Boomtown, just outside of Reno by evening.

The KOA there was rather nice, but only one bathroom opened after 8PM. That was awkward. It was very windy, so we decided to dine at the Boomtown casino-their buffet was supposed to be very good. Yeah, right. We walked up to the counter girl at the buffet, she smiled and asked how many, we said two and she said that would be $68, thank you very much. SIXTY EIGHT DOLLARS! The term "Are you barking mad?" came to my mind as Jim said something about us just wanting salad and there not being enough salad in the world to warrant that price. Apparently there was a "special" on-all you can eat lobster-and that was the reason for such a high price. Jim and I told the girl we didn't like lobster. She countered with something about there being other items on the buffet we could choose. We said not for $68 there wasn't. The casino had closed it's other restaurants(evidently they had lots of lobster and they hadn't been able to shift it),so Jim and I had to make due with the only place left: Denny's. Can you believe it? We went to dine in a casino and wound up with Denny's! Too bad it was so windy; that last can of chili was looking darned good at that point.

It is only four hours from Boomtown to our home in Castro Valley so we took it easy. By early afternoon, we drove up the street and pulled into the driveway of our house. We were exhausted, hungry and very, very happy. 5,474 miles round trip in 17 days, 3,334 miles with Spamalot in tow and we loved every minute...well, almost every minute. There was that creepy campground in the UP....

So we are home. The quest is over and Spamalot is clean and comfortably tucked away in the garage. And that, my friends, is that.

Until the next time.

Jim and Sue

And Spamalot.
 
Hi, Jim and Sue. We were traveling at the same time you were so I was just able today to read the full account of your trip - so fun to read. We, too, visited the SPAM museum and the Badlands NP. Had T-Falls SP in the UP on our radar but were a day behind the original date for picking up our TD so drove more directly to Bob's family's in Lansing, MI. As we eventually drove home north on I-5, we passed the exit to Castro Valley, so guess we were in your neck of the woods for a brief time. Glad to hear your trip went relatively smoothly and that you had a good time. Let us know if you ever plan a trip up the coast to the PNW. Kathy
 
Jenn,

We're probably going to hit the desert this coming Spring. Death Valley or maybe Crossroads on the California side of the Colorado River near Parker dam. It has some history in my husband's family.

His grandfather was an engineer on the Parker and Hoover dam projects and the family lived in Crossroads and ran a general store during the construction years. The town is gone now and all that is left is a wide spot on the road with a few crumbling foundations and one partial shell of the town's original store (not Jim's family, someone else.), but it is still a lovely spot with lots of memories for Jim.

Yeah, maybe we'll go there if the spring flowers are not cooperating in Death Valley.


Kathy and Bob,

I'd love to head up north soon. Maybe 2013-we're planning a month long trip back east next fall and can't fit too much into our schedule, what with taxing the grandchild to school and all. But, I have my eye on a place along the Olympic coast called La Push-on the res. The coastal scenery looks fantastic. Ever been there?

Sue and Jim
 
We camped all along the Olympic Peninsula when we were in college. Can't remember the names of all of the places we went, but it's hard to beat for natural beauty. The rainforest is spectacular if you get a chance to go.

If you go through the desert, keep in mind a lot of places require bringing your own water (so fill it up), have your shade (yep, even in the winter it can be an issue, and always check your shoes for critters (better yet, lock them up).

We just found out about a place near us called Agua Caliente (hot water) in the Anza Borrego desert. Apparently they have nice trails and well-maintained pools / therapeutic spas fed by hot springs. Now is their peak season since the sun won't broil the guests. We'll try it out soon.
--Stelena
 
A couple months after we moved to Seattle we decided to take a trip around the coast.Somehow ended up in La Push one night.It was a little Native American fishing village.Rented a cabin for 22 dollars ( 1979 ) on the ocean.We were treated to a great winter storm. It is one of my fondrst memories.
 
Stelena,

Yes, we know about Anza Borrego. Great place in early spring when the wild flowers are in bloom. Spectacular! We always have extra water, shade and sun block, lock up our shoes and always step warily when in the desert...critters, critters, critters; some with lots of hairy legs going at different times in different directions.EEEeeewwwww! But it's a wonderful place. Never stayed at the spa, so if you do let us know how it is.

Kathy and Bob,

La Push is nice, huh? Gotta go for sure. I'm a sucker for a good wild ocean.

Sue and Jim
 
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