I imagine many campers are like us in that they often check the state parks and Corps of Engineers campgrounds first when searching for campsites. One advantage is the ability to reserve sites and not worrying that you will end up camping in the median of the interstate because there's no place else left.
But there are lots of wonderful county parks and Iowa now has a website called mycountyparks.com where one can reserve some sites in some county parks. We are at Roberts Creek West, a county park on the north side of Lake Red Rock. It is one of the largest county parks in the state with over 1500 acres. The park is near the bike trail and within striking distance of Jaarsma's Bakery in Pella.
The map of the campground looks like one of those human genome diagrams--long and serpentine. There are over eighty campsites in this part of the park (there is another campground at Roberts Creek East)--some with cement pads and over 40 with full hookups. We prefer the ones on the outsides of the loops that are backed up against the woods.
We arrived yesterday in beautiful weather and were in the midst of backing up the trailer (with me giving clear and precise directions) when our daughter-in-law called. She had received a call from Iowa's Best Burger Cafe, where we had stopped for lunch about 35 miles back, that I had left my purse there. With my billfold, credit cards, and phone, of course. Gulp. They had been going through my phone contacts looking for someone who could get in touch with us.
So that cancelled the nap plans for the afternoon and after setting up we treked back to pick the purse up. Many thanks to them for making the effort to find us. And if you received a call from me yesterday early afternoon, that was it.
The photo above could be titled: "Still Life: Grill Awaiting Steaks." Also in the shot is our collapsible wagon with sharp new black tubs for firewood. A couple of the old ones gave up the ghost from hauling stuff out of the basement in the flood. It was a perfect evening to be cooking outside.
But there are lots of wonderful county parks and Iowa now has a website called mycountyparks.com where one can reserve some sites in some county parks. We are at Roberts Creek West, a county park on the north side of Lake Red Rock. It is one of the largest county parks in the state with over 1500 acres. The park is near the bike trail and within striking distance of Jaarsma's Bakery in Pella.
The map of the campground looks like one of those human genome diagrams--long and serpentine. There are over eighty campsites in this part of the park (there is another campground at Roberts Creek East)--some with cement pads and over 40 with full hookups. We prefer the ones on the outsides of the loops that are backed up against the woods.
We arrived yesterday in beautiful weather and were in the midst of backing up the trailer (with me giving clear and precise directions) when our daughter-in-law called. She had received a call from Iowa's Best Burger Cafe, where we had stopped for lunch about 35 miles back, that I had left my purse there. With my billfold, credit cards, and phone, of course. Gulp. They had been going through my phone contacts looking for someone who could get in touch with us.
So that cancelled the nap plans for the afternoon and after setting up we treked back to pick the purse up. Many thanks to them for making the effort to find us. And if you received a call from me yesterday early afternoon, that was it.
The photo above could be titled: "Still Life: Grill Awaiting Steaks." Also in the shot is our collapsible wagon with sharp new black tubs for firewood. A couple of the old ones gave up the ghost from hauling stuff out of the basement in the flood. It was a perfect evening to be cooking outside.
We kept things simple with baked potatoes, Harriet's bean and tomato salad (The Lady of the Lake, Happy Camper Hint #12) and a little coconut pie for dessert. No definite plans for today, but I like that. Maybe the bakery, maybe the bike trail, maybe the reclining lawn chair with a book.
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