2022 Trip – Cleo on Tour

Sep 23-27, 2022 – Florida

Susanne Pawlik — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 21:48:12 +0000

We just noticed that (because of hurricane Ian) we did not post the last part of our trip. So here you go – the belated post:

Army Corps – Eastbank Campground, we have been here before. Very nice campground with lots beautiful waterfront sites.

We booked one of the nice waterfront sites – one we have been to before.

The park is located Lake Seminole – on the state line Florida/ Georgia, at the Jim Woodruff Lock & Dam.

… we drive with our bicycles over the state line …

… and enjoying gorgeous sunsets from our campsite.

Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam at night

Nice paddling through Merritts Millpond to Jackson Blue Springs.

The dam between Merritts Millpond and Spring Creek were the rent tubes to float doen the clear creek.

Merritts Millpond

Jackson Blue Springs

.. with some wildlife

From here we canceled the last campgrounds in the panhandle of Florida to “avoid” Ian …..

On I-75 we see a lot of “emergency convoy’s”

Arriving at home – one day before Ian

And this is the “result” from our trip

Sep 13-23, 2022 – Georgia

Susanne Pawlik — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 14:51:28 +0000

Finally we getting lower gas prices

Our first stop in Georgia is Bald Ridge Creek Campground – this map is a track from a campground walk – most of the sides are waterfront at the very pretty Lake Lanier.

Our campsite

Very pretty Lake Sidney Lanier

Celebrating Birthday with a Publix Sub for Lunch!!!
No Publix up North – so FINALLY we get to enjoy it again.

.. and a yummy Birthday-Dinner

The lamb chops where delicious!!!

…. and a birthday campfire – what a perfect day !!!

Next stop is the Ridge Road Campground at J. Storm Thurmond Lake.

We have been at this campground before – just love it here !!!

Prefect pace for a good campfire …

… and the Dutch Oven …. (we call our Zaubertopf)

Yummmy !!!

The volunteer brought us an extra delivery —- wooow that was cool!

Beautiful Sunsets!

Another impressive Army Corps Dam – J. Storm Thurmond Dam

From here we visited Augusta – walking the River Walk

Next stop is Hamburg State Park. We lived many years in Hamburg, Germany – so feeling just like “home” here

Our campsite – we think the best on the campground –

with 270 degree waterfront

The mill at Hamburg State Park is still functioning – but haven’t been used for 2 years since Covid.

Hamburg Lake

My “little friends” here a very active

Next stop is the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

Our campsite is not “first row” but as it’s not busy here before the weekend – it is very nice.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt stature on Dowdell’s Knob. He liked this place with a beautiful view – just to relax and for picnics with friends and family.

Yes, that is a really nice view from here !!!

F. D. Roosevelt State Park has 40 miles of beautiful hiking trails! Some call it “hiking heaven”

We did “just” two of the many trails – very very nice!!

.. with a stop at cascade falls.

And “Ferney” the big old Lollypop Pine

What a beauty !!! … we watched the Barred Owl for quite a while.

.. and Mr. Pileated Woodpecker had a good breakfast !!

So finally – after so many trails – Cleo is ready for a much needed bath !!!

Sep 9-13, 2022 – Tennessee

Susanne Pawlik — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 13:37:16 +0000

On the small rural streets – we did not get a “welcome sign” – so Google said “Welcome to Tennessee”

Our first stop in Tennessee was Lillydale Cape Campground

We got a nice site … but no waterfront this time.

Dale Hollow Lake is amazing – with all the island, lake arms, forest down to the lake – very beautiful.

Lot’s of little islands on the lake

… and it is a boating paradise.

Sunset Time

Next stop was Cumberland Mountain State Park – with a very private campsite in the forest.

Nice trails … along the Byrd Lake and Byrd Creek

The Byrd Creek Dam retains a reservoir that covers approximately 50 acres – build in 1935 – 1938 by the CCC.

And an interesting bridge – an Eagle Scout Project

Aug-29 – Sep-8, 2022 – Illinois & Kentucky

Susanne Pawlik — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 23:28:10 +0000

This windmill directly on the Mississippi River was closed for construction – but the super nice volunteer gave us a private tour!

Really amazing to see this working windmill

So we bought some flour ….

… made a bread and enjoyed it super-fresh

Our next stop the very impressive Starved Rock State Park – we enjoyed it.

We had a nice campsite …

… and got the little visitors right away.

The view to the huge Army Corps lock – which fits 8 barges at the same time.

A view of the Illinois river.

Interesting but scary history – people from a the Illinois village fled and took refuge on top of this rock – surrounded by enemy tribes “starved” to death ….

View to the Starved Rock

Beautiful hikes to many canons and waterfalls.

The waterfalls with very little water this time of year – but very beautiful scenery.

White Pelicans – and we are wondering if we will see them on Sanibel Island this winter.

Beautiful wildflowers and butterflies.

.. and Cleo provide us a “Camping Meal” …LOL!

On the way to the next stop – we enjoy the convenience of Amazon lockers

Next stop – the South Sandusky Army Corps Campground

Our campsite …

And finally I get the male in front of the camera lens :-).

Another impressive dam – the Rend Lake Dam

… and the outlet – the “Big Muddy River” is loaded with birds.

In town we visit a small “Franklin County 1910’s Garage Museum” – and the volunteer lady give us a private tour and a lot of history of the little town Benton.

Ooooops – the AC is not working anymore.

Let’s see if we can investigate and fix something …..???!!! (Fingers crossed)

Next stop is Ferne Clyffe State Park – we have been here before – another nice place!

The waterfall – is nice – but not today.

Nice hiking trails and cliffs.

Ooops … don’t miss the “miniature” person in the photo.

Another great Army Corps Campground …

Location, Location, Location ….

Our campsite.

Hmmmm …. if I want the best nuts I need to work upside-down .. LOL!

Our typical campfire …

Barron River Lake is just beautiful

Enjoying a nice sunset at the campsite from a New Zealand couple that we met here on the campground.

Lake Sunset with campfire and friends – just a perfect evening.

Oooooooh and the best for last – we got the AC to work. Luckily the new thermostat (tx Amazon ) does the trick and not using all of the cables )
so we can travel slowly more south

Aug 23-28, 2022 – Idaho

Susanne Pawlik — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 15:58:18 +0000

We drove on rural roads with no Idaho Welcome-Sign to the fist stop – the Backbone State Park.

We got a very nice campsite …

… with lots of space …

… and it looked like the little guys where already waiting for the sugar

Soooo cute !!!

Very nice trails …

… beautiful forest …

… rock formations …

… and streams

.. with plenty trouts.

Another park where the CCC left their “evidence”

Pretty impressive list !!

Yes, some housekeeping on the “To Do List” today.

But housekeeping need to be rewarded … with a Hershey Pie from Burger King

Driving through Iowa – soy beans and corn – as far as the eye is reaching !!!

Next stop is the Bellevue State Park on the Mississippi River

… with a nice campsite for us.

… and yes, we got more hummingbirds here :-).

Beautiful views from the top of the State Park

The Butterfly Garden hat little butterflies – but …

… beautiful flowers ….

.. and birds. The Goldfinch looking soo beautiful picking in the yellow sunflowers.

And hummingbirds everywhere.

We stopped at the Mines of Spain – and early European settler received a land grant from the Governor of Spain to mine the land for lead!! We hiked the Horseshoe Bluff – an amazing 120 ft. cliff – which is now “dead” arm of the Mississippi River.

We hike the Green Island Recreation Area ….

… to the Mississippi

See a Red-Headed Woodpecker …

… and a Bald Eagle – fishing in the Mississippi.

Aug 17-23, 2022 – Wisconsin & Minnesota (Part-2)

Susanne Pawlik — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 23:40:34 +0000

With our dirty vehicle from the Off-Road at Boundary Waters we visit a friend at her cabin in Lutsen – Minnesota.

Her cabin with a beautiful location – right at Lake Superior.

The view is just breathtaking!

.. so are the Hummingbirds!

Countless (!!!) Hummingbirds feeding on her two feeders she has to fill very morning!!

On the way to Wisconsin – a stop at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Our next stop is Copper Falls State Park.

Beautiful private campsite.

And very nice waterfalls!

The next stop is back in Minnesota – the Wild River State Park.

We are greeted by the many deer in the park!

Not the stairway to heaven – but the staircase to the St. Croix River.

The St. Croix River is most likely named after a French voyager.

The woods are loaded with mushrooms – this one “Chicken of the woods” is edible – but we did not try! Tough we met an Asian family picking the mushrooms – telling us how good they are !!! Ooooook!

The next stop is Forestville / Mystery Cave State Park

Forestville – a frontier village from 1850.

Super beautiful trails loaded with wild flowers ….

… and limestone bluffs along the river. The park has three streams loaded with trout.

Mystery Cave

Very special are the long straight passages – which appear manmade – but are not!

The Tortoise Pond is the highlight of the cave tour.

… and our little friends come to visit !!

Aug 7-16, 2022 – Minnesota-North

Susanne Pawlik — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:40:03 +0000

Itasca State Park, Minnesota – contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River and beautiful Lake Itasca

Our campsite

“Here 1475 ft. above the ocean the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico”

Yes, this is the Mississippi !!!!

… and Andreas can cross it on the first bridge with a few steps

Beautiful Lake Itaska

… and many beautiful smaller Lakes in the park

The little chipmunk comes every morning to pick our fallen down bread crumbs.

Paddling Lake Itasca almost to the headwaters.

Next stop is Scenic State Park

Many beautiful lakes – and a “ridge in the middle”.

Our “harvest” on the trails – some wild raspberries – hmmmm very good!

Our little friend here is a Franklin Squirrel

From here we drive to Voyageurs National Park – a true water wonderland full of exposed rock ridges, cliffs, wetlands, forests, streams and huge lakes – right at the Canadian Border.

Yes, of course – we have to take a short canoe trip here – soo beautiful.

Mister Beaver was very busy here !

Next stop is Cascade River – right on Lake Superior.

Lake Superior – just soooo beautiful!

Cascade Falls

A trip to the Grand Portage State Park.

High Falls at – Grand Portage State Park. We saw video from the falls at spring this year – 4 times more water – amazing.

And Grand Portage National Monument – almost at the border to Canada – very very interesting history. During the American fur trade times – the 8.5 miles long portage was used between Lake Superior and the Pigeon River. Small canoes brought fur from Canada and in huge Canoes it was taken via the Great Lakes to Montreal.

History of the Grand Portage from way back.

The depot.

Birch Bark Canoe

Where the large canoes arrived …

Our next stop was pretty rough – but super nice!

Our campsite – just next to the lake.

The lake in the forest.

The National Forest is right next to Boundary Waters. Over 1,098,000 acres in size (5 mal so gross wie Berlin ), it extends nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary adjacent to Voyageurs National Park and Canada’s Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks. The BWCAW (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness) contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.

From the top of Eagle Mountain – a view to the Boundary Waters

Eagle Mountain – the highest point in Minnesota with 2,301 feet.

This time we “harvest” some blueberries

July 30 – Aug-5, 2022 – More North Dakota State Parks …

Susanne Pawlik — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 23:25:16 +0000

The first stop is Lewis & Clark State Park

Located at one of the upper bays of the huge Lake Sakakawea – a man-made reservoir.

Next stop is Lake Metigoshe State Park in the Turtle Mountains – it is located along the U.S. / Canadian border.

In the Turtle Mountains – everything is “turtle” here …

.. everything

Our nice private campsite …

The park has miles and miles of beautiful trails for hiking, bicycle, kayaking and many smaller lakes.

Our first trail — goes to the Canadian border.

So, one of our bikes is in the US … and one in Canada !!

Also you can paddle to Canada …

… and we did !!!

At our campsite a family of (I think) Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers – picked, every late afternoon, for hours at the same tree. What a sight!

The way to the next stop … along the road “dotted” with lakes!

Next stop is the very interesting Icelandic State Park. It got it’s name from the settlers from Island.

We got a super nice campsite – and the park is not much visited during the week.

The main feature at this park is the Pioneer Heritage Buildings. Imagine moving to a new land, traveling across grassland on foot or in an oxcart. Everything you and your family own is in one trunk. The only clothes you have may be the ones you are wearing. If you are lucky, the soles of your shoes do not have holes – if you have shoes. There is not a house waiting to be occupied or a town eager to welcome new neighbors. This is a new land. There is not another family for as far as you can see. To build a house you need land! Pioneers could acquire 160 acres of land, provided that they live on the land for five years and cultivate a portion during this time. A fee of $14-$18 was required to file and another $4-$8 was required when they made the final proof of title. —- For us is was very impressive to hear what risk immigrants took way back than – not knowing anything about the “new world”.

This replica of a 12′ x 16′ log cabin was home for a family of six to ten people !!

The Gunlogson House … a very unique homestead for a family from Iceland – it was lived in for 100 years.

Many schools like this with one room for eight different grades at the same time! Amazing !! We also learned about the Dunce cap

The Hallson Church was build in 1897

Across the road from the state park – an even more interesting museum.

With many very interesting collections !!!

… one of the collection fills two barns – full of classic cars !

.. and I liked the Puppe Cook Car – a restaurant on wheels – provided food for the families working on the farms.

Very nice trails in the park

Our next stop is the Turtle River State Park

.. again … a very nice campsite.

.. and nice trails !

July 25-29, 2022 – Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota & Makoshika State Park, Montana

Susanne Pawlik — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 16:17:28 +0000

Highways up north – as far as the eye can see.

Next Service 52 Miles! … good that our tank is not empty!

Nice Lake – we stayed here for one night.

… with beautiful sunset.

Street Art on the backcountry roads ….

“In Honor of a President
When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.”

Our campsite ….

… with a nice view.

Rolling hills ….

… and interesting formations.

Beautiful trails … we really like this park.

Little Missouri River – early morning with a heard of bsion in th back.

Bisons everywhere in the park .. crossing streets, stopping traffic …

Beautiful wild horses

The little one – probably just a few days old – soooo cute!

Prariedog twons everywhere in the park.

The Sotted Towhee was super loud

A very young – just 35 cm long – Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake.
No rattle yet – but poisenes from the first day they are born!

… and nice wildflowers !!

One stop in Montana.

… at the interesting Makoshika State Park.

The park is Montana’s largest state park features badland formations and the fossil remains of Dinosors dicovered in the park. The visitor center / museum is very informative and shows a collection of fossils and dinosors.

Our campsite ….

… with a supr-nice view!

The mountain blue birds living here with us.

Tipi and wagon – are also availible for rent.

Some beautiful sunsets !!

We walked a lot of the trails – super nice !! And even the moderate once are not easy! We wanted to walk the longest one – but could not find the trail. At half way, turned around – we do not want that our fossiles will be put in the museum someday.

May 30-June 1, 2022 & July 24-25 – Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Susanne Pawlik — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 23:04:16 +0000

Part of this post is delayed – when you are reading this – 2 month later – we are back in South Dakota and started the second part of the trip …..

We are staying a couple days on a private campground – near the Badlands National Park Entrance

We driving many miles through this amazing park.

And take a walk through the “fossil bed”.

The weather is not perfect – but we still do some hiking between the strange formations.

Picnic in the cold.

Bighorn Sheep climbing the cliffs

… and many Bison in the grasslands.

We visit the touristy town Wall … with one of the biggest drugstores you can imagine.

Hi !!!

Wind Cave is the seventh longest cave in the world (3rd in the US) with 154.2 miles (248.16 km) of explored cave passageways.

We take a tour down – pretty impressive!

Lots of “Boxwork” in the cave.

Then we stay a Cold Brook Lake – a very nice Army Corps Park.

Our Campsite … on the almost empty campground … is super nice.

Our friends campsite.

The Cold Brook Lake

Cold Brook Reservoir & Damm

The campground was “occupied” by 4 geese families – wonderful to watch them all day.

… and the little once where soooo cute!

Lots of very busy swallow nests in the walls behind our site.

One last campfire and dutch oven meal with our friends.

“bye for now” … our friends leaving to Denver to fly back to Munich.

We take another trip to Wind Cave National Park – for a nice hike.

… with a prairie dog town

… and many beautiful wildfowers.

Our last campground – a KOA in Rapid City – so we can clean, pack and get ready.

… a very busy campground!

One last visit to downtown Rapid City

Rapid City – Art Ally

For the next 2 month we found a storage place – and will leave our truck and trailer here in Rapid City, South Dakota.

… flying home …

The airport in Charlotte is packed !!!

This is the result for now … !
… but more to come soon!

… 2 month later: July-23 …

… back at the Storage Place – we are finding the trailer in good shape — Puuuh that is perfect!!

This time we got a spot on the National Park campground – very nice!

A bit more lucky with the weather this time.

We get to hike inbetween the stone formations.

Even some wildlife on the trail …

A short visit a the Minuteman Missle Site.
A 30 minute visit – the same time frame from hitting the button to a totally changed world.

Visitor Center – at this brand new facility we watched the virtual tour presentation of the command center – 60 feet under ground, 24 hours shifts with no escape in a very small place – with the knowlege if you had to push the button there is no escape – and the world will be changed forever.