Last year I used our RV to travel around my smaller sales markets, in the Midwest, to visit our dealers. I didn't blog about it here. Most of these markets are very small (5000-25,000 people) and are expensive to see if I travel the traditional way of out and back each week and use conventional travel means. (Hotel, Air, Rental Car, etc). Using the RV and staying in RV parks, which are much less expensive per night means I can see these clients and save my company money. I have always believed that spending more time (knee to knee) with your clients insures the best results. Last year I did it alone and it was 15 days. This year Vicky is going with me and it will be 18 days and 2700 miles. We are going even further west to the edge of my territory in Rapid City and Spearfish, South Dakota. Since Vicky was along I will stick with mostly the social aspects of the trip. The business side was very successful, but I am sure would be boring.
Day 1- Saturday
Our first stop going directly north of St Louis (lower right of map) was Waterloo, IA. I have a couple of dealers in this market. My first appointment was not till Monday, and I wasn't sure if we would leave Saturday or Sunday, depending on Vicky being ready to go, but we did leave on Saturday. It takes about 5 1/2 hours of driving and I wanted to do it leisurely and not have to leave to early. Easing into it, so to speak.
However, in the first hour of leaving we ran right into our first storm. This will become somewhat of a theme for the first half of our trip. It is May and the Midwest weather in springtime can be very volatile. Missouri and Iowa are no place to take storms lightly.
There was considerable hail and we had to pull off the road for about 20 minutes as visibility became zero. Fortunately, and this was also a trend this trip, the worst of the weather passed us by.
No damage to truck or RV and we could carry on.
By Mt Pleasant, Iowa, the worst of the storms had cleared and we were able to stop and have lunch at my favorite gas stop on my trips to Iowa, a small Sinclair gas station
They make the best pork tenderloin sandwich and it has become a tradition on drives into Iowa.
The supplier for the pork is very close to the Station.
Vicky approved!
We made it to the KOA in the afternoon with no issues. This KOA is located next to the giant waterpark and Casino in Waterloo, but it is still early season and there were only 2 or 3 other RV is the entire park. I would normally stay at all KOA's as they are a large chain of RV parks across the US and I am a member, but this trip I tried to make reservations in as many "mom and pop" type campgrounds as I could.
Another reason it makes it more economical for me to do these types of trips for work, is we tend to eat more in the RV than out in restaurants, which is what I would do normally on the road.
The cars were fantastic
Yum
and then I clean up. 😂
Back at the RV park, we strolled around the grounds,
We did some laundry
Day 2- Sunday
Waking up early Sunday to near zero visibility in the park.
Just outside our RV was an apple tree with a birds nest and we watched them come and go during the morning.
There was also some really pretty flowers (young magnolia trees, I think) scattered around the park
The sky's started to clear by late morning, but the forecast was still for some storms.
We took a stroll around the lake, where the KOA has a village of tiny homes for rent, as this is used, not just by RV's but by families coming to the water park.
I wanted to take Vicky over to Cedar Falls. It is the sister city to Waterloo as they are almost connected. When we arrived we happened to be there on a day they were having a car rally. The downtown streets were closed but we arrived just before they officially opened and I got a great parking spot just one street over.
We walked all up and down main street looking at the cars and the old buildings
Single Speed Brewing, one of my favorite breweries, they have a beer called Spot The Calf, which is on my list of all time great beers. They have a small location in Cedar Falls, so we stopped in for a sample or two, or four.
The highlight was a new beer called From Our Bakery. This was a great sour, tasting just like a lemon, blueberry pastry in a glass!
After walking around Cedar Falls most of the afternoon, we returned to the KOA to watch the sky again trying to decide what to do. In the end it was all show and no go... Thankfully.
It didn't stop me from doing filet's on the grill with baked rice and salad.
I think this is why Vicky keeps me around, especially on RV trips. I cook, we eat.
Day 3- Monday
Monday was back to work, I had my morning conference call and then two appointments in town which took most of the day. I had my normal after meeting paperwork and returning emails. I did manage to make us grilled hotdogs with the remainder of the baked rice for dinner. Tomorrow will be a travel day.
Day 4- Tuesday
We are off to Mason City, or for us Cedar Lake, just 100 miles away. Cedar Lake lies just outside Mason City and is a very important tourist area. This is where the RV parks are located. There is a city RV park in Mason City, but it is first come, first serve, and I can never take the chance on a work trip, that I will not find a spot for a night or two. I need somewhere I can make a reservation. I found a "mom and pop" park last trip called Oakwood RV park and while it is cash only, the rates are very good and the park and people are very nice.
Every trip requires some unforeseen issues and in this case it should have been one that I was prepared for, but simply overlooked.
In this case, while setting up the RV upon arrival, we managed to lock ourselves out of the RV and I did not have a spare set up keys hidden anywhere! Dumb...
We called all the locksmiths we could Google in the area, but no one was answering or available. The folks at the RV park were so nice to round up a lot of spare keys so we could try them, but nothing worked. I was ready to break in to the RV via one of the roof vents. When one of the companies we called, returned out message and actually were able to rush right out to us. They were super nice and they actually picked the lock, like a burglar. Needless to say that I know have a set of spare keys if that every happens again!
making spare keys.
After a waste of a couple of hours we were in and set up. We did take Vicky on a quick tour of downtown Cedar Lake, pick up some donuts as a thank you to the campground hosts for trying to help us with our RV lock, but then it was back to the RV after what had become a bit of a stressful day.
A giant chicken breast, nicely grilled. A success to end the day.
Day 5-Wednesday
Dawn and sunrise were beautiful.
I had my appointment with my dealer early and was done by noon and able to come back and finish my paperwork in time to take advantage of our first really nice day and take Vicky back to the downtown area and stroll the shops. We found some really cute dresses for the grandkids at a local shop, picked up a souvenir magnet.
Day 6- Thursday
I took it as a good omen that I had two yokes in one egg this morning
We have to drive 130 miles to Storm Lake, Iowa this morning for an appointment I have around 2 pm. There is another big storm brewing and heading this way. So we are going to try and skirt around it by driving south on Hwy 35 before joining Hwy 20 west again.
We made it successfully, watching the storm blacken the sky to the North of us. We only had minor sprinkles of rain on our short trip today. Sunshine Park is right on Storm Lake and run by the City.
I did have my meeting in town, the dealer has a shop right on main street and Vicky walked up and down the street and shopped while I had my meeting. After work hours we then walked the bike path that runs around the lake, right in front of the RV park. They have some really weird and comical carvings all along the path.
Yes Bigfoot is holding a beer!
Birdhouse
KingsPoint Resort in Storm Lake has a major waterpark.
Serpent guarding the RV entrance
Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin for dinner.
Day 7- Friday
Another travel and appointment day. I didn't want to have many of these with Vicky along, they make the day very hectic, but these shorter drive days lend themselves to trying to do as many meetings as possible during the week. Today it is only 79 miles to Sioux City, Iowa and it is at the end of the week, so I wanted to make sure I got into see my dealer today. We were uneventful getting backed up and on our way. I had booked us into the campground in downtown Sioux City. Actually just across the river and technically in Nebraska, as the Missouri River is the boundary between Iowa and Nebraska. From this side you get to see the "skyline" of Sioux City.
I actually called ahead to this park, as normally check in time isn't until the afternoon, but I need to get to the park while still in the morning, so I could get set up and still have time to prepare for my meeting. The park, as they all usually are, was very accommodating and said it would not be a problem. One of the advantages of coming in the early season, the parks are not as crowded as they will be in a couple weeks with RV's already on your designated site.
We got set up and I had my meeting successfully. But as you might have guessed the weather was chasing us again. It looked to be building in the southwest.
Radar confirmed it was coming our way and it looked like a strong one.
A few minutes before the front was due to hit the local police where driving though the RV park letting everyone know, on their loudspeakers, we should take shelter. We actually closed up the RV, bringing in the two slides that open. This gave us the smallest footprint to the possible wind to come. We sat in our our bedroom and watched movies while we waited. Some of our neighbors actually got in their cars and left the park.
For a few minutes it didn't look good, but almost at the last minute the storm split in two parts and literally went around the city.
It did give us a spectacular light show to the South. You could see this for couple of hours.
We waited about an hour with the RV closed up and then it was over.
Day 8- Saturday
Dawn the next day was not completely clear but it seems that Iowa was giving up on trying to kill us this trip.
It is now Saturday so we have the day to wonder around Sioux City. While not a big place it does have some sights. It was an important stop for Lewis and Clark and there is a very nice cultural center to see.
Of course, Vicky needed to go into the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino while we were here. Can't let a good slot machine opportunity go to waste. Foreigner was actually playing in the Casino tonight and we briefly thought about getting tickets, but their theater in General Admission and standing only, no thanks.
Day 9 Sunday
We finally have a good but windy morning. that always make pulling the RV and adventure. The last of Iowa is not going to let go of us easily.
Tower Campground was a bit of a disappointment. While I had forgotten it was Mother's Day (you do lose track of some details when you are traveling like this) the campground office was closed, even though it showed Sunday hours. More importantly there was a long term RV on our designated site and no one was answering or returning any calls to their after hours or emergency phone numbers. We had to park off to the side for an hour or so until I did actually find a sheet on their outside bulletin board that showed that they had moved us to another site. I called and left another message that I had found the information and changed sites, but we never heard back from them at all, even the next day when they were open.
In addition our dinner meeting got cancelled due to some dealer projects that were still ongoing, even on a Sunday. We rescheduled for Monday morning. Vicky and I went and got Chinese food for dinner at a local place that I know and brought it back to the RV for a quiet dinner and movie night.
Happy Mother's Day Vicky
Day 10- Monday
Monday was a super busy day for me. My dinner appointment Sunday night was moved to 7:30 am on Monday, then my normal conference call at 10 am, followed by 4 more meetings with dealers in town.
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| Sunrise at Tower Campground right along Hwy 29, Sioux Fall, SD |
RV at Tower Campground.
I did manage a trip by Falls Park in downtown Sioux Falls.
Our friend Ryan, my7:30 am meeting, did stop by the RV park at the end of the day and we sat outside and chatted with him till it got very dark. I am very pleased that his business is doing so well. Vicky and I will plan better, hopefully soon, to come back and spend more time with Ryan and his family.
Day 11- Tuesday
Heading into the heart of South Dakota
This is the part of my territory that takes so long to reach. It is really not served by any major air carrier from St Louis. It take a couple of very indirect flight that are really very expensive. It takes about 7 hours pulling the RV across South Dakota to reach the other side in Rapid City and another 45 minutes to reach Spearfish. Vicky and I both love South Dakota and with the fairly hectic travel I had scheduled the past few days, I scheduled an intermediate spot in one of our favorite and quirkiest places, Wall South Dakota. Wall is the town that sites at the gateway to the Badlands National Park, one of our very favorite National Parks and is famous for Wall Drug Store, a collection of every touristy shop you can imagine, including a dinosaur park and giant jackalopes.
Checking in to our RV campground., Pretty empty now, but in a few weeks it will be packed.
The entire "downtown" is pretty much Wall Drug Store with other business' just supporting it.
Still just a farm town. Giant grain silo's right in the middle of town.
When I mentioned you can see anything at Wall Drug, I meant it. A couple was walking their pet duck, in the store!
That is matching duck booties and a diaper!
Even a giant jackalope in the backyard
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| internet photo |
We ate at one of the local restaurants and got a typical western hospitality. Our meals were so large that they lasted for two additional meals later in the week.
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| internet photo |
Vicky got the cowboy sirloin (below) and I got the chicken fried steak. Both our meals were so large that they lasted for two additional meals later in the week.
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| internet photo |
Evening in Wall.
Just a short trip from Wall to Spearfish where we would base ourselves for my meetings in Rapid City and the weekend. As we drove in we just missed a huge storm that dropped lots of hail on Rapid City. It seemed to go just around Spearfish. We dogged another one!
It was a great excuse to see our friends Susan and Brian. We got out that night and had dinner at one of their favorite places in Spearfish.
In the evening it looked like the Sun was on fire as the smoke from the Canadian wildfires had made it to western South Dakota.
I had two sets of meetings in Rapid City today, so Vicky went along and in between, we went to the Bear Country drive through animal park. We had not been here before, as I think we thought it would not be much to see. We were wrong, it was a great experience. The park was not crowded during the week and all the animals were out and about.
There are no fences and you need to keep your windows rolled up. You move from one section to the other. A little bit like Jurassic Park!
These guys were actually just staring at the sheep just 50 feet away. The only thing separating was the very narrow cattle guard. I figured if they wanted they could just leap over the cattle guard and have a snack and when I asked this later, it was confirmed that they could and they have!
We then got to the stars of the show, the bears.
Some did ham it up for us.
Once you are done driving through the largest section, there is another more 'zoo-like' area. We didn't realize it but it was baby bear season and they were all up and playing in their areas.
cool sculpture at the entrance
I couldn't understand why we had to keep our windows rolled up and then we got to the mega fauna!
Being a star is rough life
They didn't really care that there were cars or trucks, they just walked where they wanted.
After the bears the spaces open up with a bit more room and you have to look hard to find the animals
real mega fauna!
Bobcat
Coyote
After that it was time to meet with Barry and Saundra for a great dinner at their house with their fur kids, Moose, Stout and Riley. It was a terrific time.
Day 14 Friday (also Friday the 13th)
After work we were out at Bear Butte in Sturgis. This is a well known peak in the area and is a good 2 mile walk to the top with great views. We were lucky as some wind had helped to move most of the smoke from the air overnight.
Brian has Friday's off, so he accompanied us.
It was a beautiful day for a walk up
nearing the top
A few more steps
The gang at the top
View out from the platform, still some smoke but not bad
Panorama
backside view
Crow Peak Brewing is right next to the KOA campground and after our hike we needed refreshments
Hanging out in the sunshine
Vicky went next door to get us just a snack and came back with enough for an army of hikers
After that is was back to clean up in the RV
Day 15- Saturday
It was over to Brian and Susan's that afternoon for some Doggy Therapy and homemade pizzas.
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| Murphy |
Murphy and Willow giving Vicky all the attention
Angus
Homemade Pizza!
more Angus time
Susan and Darby
It was a lovely day and great spending some time with Friends. We did miss not seeing Carol and Dick this trip.
It was hard to say goodbye to the Black Hills area and our friends, we could move there is a heartbeat, but it was off to get ready for more meetings in Grand Island Nebraska. This was a long day and it took about 7 hours. We had no troubles and got to our park and set up. The temperature certainly had shot up here.
Day 16- Monday
I had meeting first thing in the morning, but after Vicky and I wondered the downtown. Monday didn't seem to be a day the town was too eager to wake up for as was very quiet downtown.
It doesn't look like much now, but millions of birds spend time here on their journey and most come at once or in a very short period of time in March.
They have a field of Bison and we saw them, but it was such a distance that pictures really would not have looked good.
Day 17- Tuesday
Close to Grand Island is the Crane Conservatory. I did not realize that the largest migration of Crane's happens here on the Platte River. More cranes migrate through here than anywhere else, including places like the Amazon and Africa.
The Conservancy does offer viewing access and I think Vicky and I will come back in March and view the birds.
Even though it was getting hot, we walked around the area.
Back to the RV for a homemade burger night and some air conditioning!
Last night off the trip. It was a good drive over to Maryville, Missouri. We arrived and set up at an RV site I have stayed at before. In fact, I was one of the first guests last year. Back Nine RV park.
We had a bit of a look around downtown Maryville and got some ice cream and some exercise.
It was a lovely sunset for the last night in the RV
Day 18- Wednesday
It was up early to have my meeting in the morning before the team got out for the day. After the meeting it was back to the RV to pack up and we had uneventful, but long, 310 mile, drive back home. Vicky had been off for two weeks and was due back to work tomorrow.
That ends our 2700 mile trip over 18 days as I worked around some of my Midwest territory. I hope to do one more this year, in the Fall.
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