KarenMusserNortman
  • Home
  • Frannie Shoemaker Mysteries
  • The Time Travel Trailer Series
  • Mystery Sisters
  • Karen's Blog
  • Large Print and Audible
  • The Newsroom
  • Coming Events
  • Borrow My Books-KU
  • Camping (when it isn't murder)
  • Giveaways and Stuff
  • About the Author

It's a Wrap

10/25/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
We have come to that sad day each year in the lives of most campers--at least in the northern climes--when we have to face the fact that the water is being turned off in the parks and camping becomes a survival exercise rather than recreation. But we finished with a flourish. On Friday, after four enjoyable days at Pere Marquette, we packed up and headed back north. We had arranged to meet some of our camping group at Lake Darling State Park in Iowa, one of our old favorites.

Lake Darling has undergone extensive renovations in recent years. The lake has been drained and dredged, the campground redone, roads rebuilt, and excellent facilities added, including shelters, year-round cabins, and a beautiful lodge. The park is named for Iowa cartoonist/environmentalist, "Ding" Darling. On Sunday, in commemoration of Ding Darling's 140th birthday, they featured a one man show by Tom Milligan called "A Conversation with Ding Darling." Afterwards, birthday cake (!!) and tours of the new cabins.
We also had visits from Butch and Harriet's baby sister Mary and husband Leon on Saturday, niece Kelly and boyfriend Caleb and old friends John and Karen from nearby Washington on Sunday. The weather was impeccable and the campfires unmatched. Ken's smoked pork roast on Sunday night provided the final flourish on the finish.
Lake Darling is one of Verizon's Black Holes so we had no internet or phones for four days--hence, no blogging until we got home. Now it's time to clean up the Christmas wrappings and lick up the cookie crumbs. The laundry is in progress and the refrigerator emptied, but we still need to haul in all of the dry food and liquids. Then one more trip to the dealer for a couple of repairs and winterizing. Lucy the Gray Ghost will be surrendered to her first winter behind the garage until a spring trip rescues her from her exile.

Meanwhile, other adventures and challenges are on the horizon. This Saturday, I will be going to Maquoketa to the Maquoketa Art Experience gallery for a book sale and signing with several other eastern Iowa authors. Nearby Maquoketa Caves State Park of course is the basis for Bats and Bones. If you live near, come and visit us between 11-1.

Saturday, Nov 5, will be our third annual 'Book Bums Writers' Workshop.' Fourteen other authors will be joining me for a full day of writing trash-talk. The following Tuesday, I am scheduled to work the election for 16 hours and less than two weeks later we leave for St. George Island, Florida and our biennial family far-off fling.

My actual writing is on the back burner until all of this is over, but A Campy Christmas just came out in audible format in time for you holiday travelers and The Space Invader is doing very well.

1 Comment

The Bike Ride

10/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
When you drive from Pere Marquette State Park into the small town of Grafton, five miles away on State Highway 100, the road curves a little but is fairly flat. The bike trail runs along the north side away from the river and much of the way, it is clearly visible. So Thursday, after spending a day in the rain chasing phone batteries, we were ready for freash air, exercie, and sunshine. We would ride our bikes into town. We could always turn around, right?
 
The first stretch, like the road, is level and easy. It passes woods, well-kept farms, and fields, as well as the park's riding stables and equestrian day use area. We reached a sign that said three miles back to the park and two miles on to town. This was a piece of cake, so we might as well go on, right?
 
There are parts of the trail that you can't see from the road. The reason being that in those areas the trail climbs hills, winds back and forth in hairpin turns, and crosses ravines. Fallen leaves cover much of the paving, peppered by areas of black walnuts, acrons, and hedge apples. We stopped frequently to rest, and I walked my bike up most of the hills.
 
And you know how it is when things get tough--you think it won't last and you can muddle through it. By the time we realized it probably wasn't going to get any better, we knew we must be close to town and the idea of turning back without lunch and a refreshing beverage was even more daunting. We soldiered on.
 
Grafton is 650 people, and stretches along the river with several bars and eateries catering to the summer and fall tourist trade. The bike trail crosses the highway right before town and runs behind these establishments beside the river. The heavy rains the night before left shallow puddles and thick mud along the path, causing a few precarious moments. We finally reached a road leading back up to the highway and decided The Hawg Pit looked like a good place for lunch.
 
It's obvious from the structures on stilts and building materials that flooding is a frequent occurence. The Hawg Pit is not on stilts but built entirely of cement block with a cement floor. Even the bar is cement block, painted a hot pinkish red. But the sandwiches were excellent as were the sweet potato fries. As we ate, the weariness in our legs and soreness of our rear ends became more insistent. We debated our options. Tugs pushing empty barges regularly passed going upriver, and we considered hitchiking on one but the chance of success seemed a reach. We didn't know anyone at the campground we could call for a ride. We thought about pleading for help from one of the other patrons, which were few, and we dismissed that also.
 
Finally we faced the inevitable--and a headwind--and started back. We did more walking than riding in some areas and wished we had a hot tub at our camper. We dreamed of our recliners and tried to recall whose idea this was so we could lay blame. Inthe throes of desperation, we finally made it.
 
It is a beautiful trail, especially in the hilly parts. For someone who is younger, in shape, and ride hardened, I'm sure it is a piece of cake. We are none of those things. Perhaps in the future we will recognize our limits sooner. Perhaps not.


0 Comments

Tempest in a Tin Can

10/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
After beautiful weather on Tuesday, a visit from great old friends, and a scenic drive along the ridge line of the park, we woke up yesterday to clouds and sprinkles, with dire forecasts of more to come.

The first indication of a less-than-perfect anniversary day was that both of our phones were dead and wouldn't take a charge. It is a tradition among our kids that every anniversary, birthday, or Mothers/Fathers Day, whoever calls early starts out with "Do I get the house?" No house winners yesterday. More importantly, the only time we really care about having a working phone is when we are camping or on the road.

So after breakfast we bundled in the truck and headed to a phone store. Now the rain got down to business. After some wandering, we found a store and watched the young man who waited on us try to hide his expression of "Why would anyone have phones this old?"

I guess it's significant when they have to open a package to get a charger because none of the ones they have out will work for those phones. He pulled the battery from Butch's phone, blew on it, shook it a little, and put it back. It worked. No such luck with mine. And they can't tell if the battery is done or not. What's with that? And they don't sell batteries. Anyway, next to the battery store, where $43 later, I also had a working phone that apparently predates the last invasion of England.

We stopped at a Wendy's--usually my favorite in the fast food genre--for a quick bite. A half hour later, we had our 'quick bite' and headed back to the campground, the wipers on the truck doing their best to keep up.

By the time we got back it was midafternoon so we got in a little rest before getting ready for supper at the nearby Pere Marquette Lodge. That part of the day was a lovely experience--good food, fast service and reasonable prices--all in a restored 1930s CCC building. The lobby features a life size chess set and a fifty-foot fireplace.

Once back at our camper, we settled down to watch the debate, but the rain became so heavy and persistent on the roof, that we couldn't hear anything. Maybe just as well. But it's not for nothing that campers are sometimes referred to as Tin Can Tourists. The name really hit when about 12:30 we were awakened by hail--lots of it.

So today, the rain is supposed to be out of here, and, although the high temp will be 30 degrees below the high on Monday when we arrived, the sun should be back out and we will try out the bike trail that runs along the river.


0 Comments

They call the wind...

10/18/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
...lots of bad names when they're pulling a trailer and trying to set up camp. At least we did when the wind played havoc with my driver on a five hour trip south to Pere Marquette State Park. It is just north of St. Louis but actually in Illinois, because the Mississippi takes a big jog here.

It is a beautiful park and we are anxious to explore it. There are miles of hiking trails and a bike trail that has been highly touted. An old CCC Lodge has been refurbished and expanded into a conference center that looks very interesting. We plan to check out the restaurant for a non-camping anniversary dinner tomorrow night.

Old friends who live in St. Charles and recommended the park will come out for lunch today. The very unseasonable forecast predicts a high of 86 today--down from the 94 degree high when we arrived. Fortunately, the winds are also supposed to be down. After arrival yesterday we did get in a little bike ride around the campground and over to the conference center before a salmon-and-veggie foil packet supper over the fire. We also found all of the flies we thought we left behind in South Dakota plus numerous other pests so retired early to the AC and recliners.


1 Comment

    Author

    Some random thoughts about writing, camping, and eating.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly