Okay, you can picture it, Me, my husband, and friends--or Gene Kelly if it's easier-- outside in the persistent downpour, umbrellas up, and we peer up at the sky. The music starts and we do a little tap step in the puddles around the firepit, whack our umbrellas on the seats of the lawn chairs sending up a fine spray, jump to the picnic table bench and then the table itself for a little hop and step-shuffle-ball change before a leap to the trailer roof. From there we dance across the roof and with a graceful leap, land on the roof of the next camper, and so on down the row. For a grand finale, a slide down the wet awning of the last camper, landing with both feet on their picnic table, and finally plopping butt first in a lawn chair as the rain stops and the sun comes out. Of course, my hair isn't wet and still looks good.
Well, perhaps that scene requires too much imagination. So what do you do when it rains relentlessly for two days and you are living in 240 square feet? Road trip. Being a reader and writer, one of my favorite stops is an independent bookstore. Yesterday, we perused The Paper Moon in McGregor--three floors of books and gifts. This is a good time for me to do a little early holiday shopping. Do you know someone who needs a purse entirely made out of can tabs? Cool socks? A great new children's book or one of the classics? These shops are each unique from the decor to the merchandise. Saturday, we were in The Book Worm in Bellevue, which carries, as well as books, a multitude of signs with inspirational or humorous sayings. My favorite: "Ahhh-I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again." They also have a vast collection of used paperbacks.
After checking out a few other shops in McGregor, we crossed Old Man River to Prairie du Chien and had lunch at Rowdy's Bar and Grill, known for their great burgers. Their fries aren't too shabby either. Then on the recommendation of a fellow camper, we had to stop at Valley Fish and Cheese.
Well, perhaps that scene requires too much imagination. So what do you do when it rains relentlessly for two days and you are living in 240 square feet? Road trip. Being a reader and writer, one of my favorite stops is an independent bookstore. Yesterday, we perused The Paper Moon in McGregor--three floors of books and gifts. This is a good time for me to do a little early holiday shopping. Do you know someone who needs a purse entirely made out of can tabs? Cool socks? A great new children's book or one of the classics? These shops are each unique from the decor to the merchandise. Saturday, we were in The Book Worm in Bellevue, which carries, as well as books, a multitude of signs with inspirational or humorous sayings. My favorite: "Ahhh-I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again." They also have a vast collection of used paperbacks.
After checking out a few other shops in McGregor, we crossed Old Man River to Prairie du Chien and had lunch at Rowdy's Bar and Grill, known for their great burgers. Their fries aren't too shabby either. Then on the recommendation of a fellow camper, we had to stop at Valley Fish and Cheese.
While at first guess, you might not realize that a shop like The Paper Moon carries books, there's no question about Valley Fish and Cheese's general focus. But the fun is in the details. The sign out front gives hints. It's the place to go if you need turtle jerky or bison sausage. A variety of other products not available in Hy-Vee or Costco are interspersed with stuffed and hand-carved wildlife, including a ten foot muskie out front.
A few stops at more mundane places like the dollar store and Piggly-Wiggly and we were headed back across the river and the campground. Just enough time for a little R and R before a soup buffet supper: beer cheese soup and sausage minestrone, followed by the rest of the peach upside-down cake.
Today we must return home, but we decided our departure could wait until after lunch if the rain is gone (as the weather people promised) and there's a chance of some good color shots.
A few stops at more mundane places like the dollar store and Piggly-Wiggly and we were headed back across the river and the campground. Just enough time for a little R and R before a soup buffet supper: beer cheese soup and sausage minestrone, followed by the rest of the peach upside-down cake.
Today we must return home, but we decided our departure could wait until after lunch if the rain is gone (as the weather people promised) and there's a chance of some good color shots.
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