Our first stop was Oil City in north-western PA, the site of the first oil well in the country. Unfortunately we were going to do all of our touring on Monday, when most of the sites were closed, but we made do and had several good hikes along interpretive trails. To tell the truth, we just enjoyed the peace, quiet and relaxation of being alone!
After just one night of “roughing it” we arrived at Iris Grhul’s house in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 3 days of great fun, despite some rainy weather. Touring Ann Arbor, a lovely town, eating at Zingermann’s deli, kayaking on the Huron River down man-made little rapids, seeing Buckwheat Zydeco at the Arc and eating a great seafood dinner all the while having great conversations with Iris made it a wonderful visit.
Then it was off to another really rough three nights with our friends Asher and Ellen Bronfield in their beautiful apartment in Skokie, Ill. We went to a Cub’s game, 
visited our favorite Mexican museum and purchased our dinner plates at a Mexican artisan shop, and went to a craft fair and lunch with Ellen and Asher. Both friends surely know how to be great hosts!
visited our favorite Mexican museum and purchased our dinner plates at a Mexican artisan shop, and went to a craft fair and lunch with Ellen and Asher. Both friends surely know how to be great hosts!
And then it was camping for real! 6 nights in Iowa at the Nine Eagle State park. 
For the first 2 nights we had the campground to ourselves, which made for very casual dressing (or not). By the third night we had two other campers which put a bit of a crimp in our style, but not much!
For the first 2 nights we had the campground to ourselves, which made for very casual dressing (or not). By the third night we had two other campers which put a bit of a crimp in our style, but not much!
The first night we had the hardest rain we have ever experienced, and found that our Craig’s List tent was a bit leaky at the seams, so a very long ride to Wal-mart was our first priority on a rainy Monday. Rain, tornado warning, hale warnings and thunder and lightening kept us from doing too much. Finally, late in the afternoon we ventured to the lakefront, only to get trapped in the picnic shelter by a serious and windy downpour. Then it was back to the campsite and an early bed.
Tuesday was a lovely and sunny day and we dipped into Missouri and the Truman library 
and homestead 
and some great barbecue! Great day!
and homestead and some great barbecue! Great day!
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