Treasure Island MN, Red Wing MN, Wabasha MN, Winona MN, Galena IL,

Okay, so last we left off, we had just attended the Minnesota State Fair. After the Fair, we headed to Uncle Jim and Aunt Marilyn’s lake house in Hayward, WI. They were packing to head to Germany, and yet they still made the time to treat us (and feed us) like royalty!

They took us out on one of their boats and Jim ran us aground on a sandbar, AND bumped into someone else’s dock as we were looking at their home. All on purpose, he says – ha ha – but I love telling everyone I was in two boat-wrecks in the same afternoon! (No boat damage. He’s kind of a quiet guy so you wouldn’t see it, but I am guessing he’s a bit of a tease!)

We drove to Treasure Island, which is a Casino with an RV Park.  Spider (Tim) and Deb met us there for a day of BINGO. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. Spider is a hoot. Looks like I’m not the only one that finds dobbing your BINGO cards slightly stressful.

Some of Spider’s comments as the number-caller seemingly sped up. “Is he going faster? He’s going faster! He must have a hot date tonight and wants to get this over with!”  “Crap, I’m dobbing the wrong card!” “Oops, I missed that number. Anyone know what that number was?”  “I lost my card! Where is my card?” . . . 
Deb stayed calm throughout the whole thing, saying; “Just keep dobbing honey, just keep dobbing.”  It was a good day, even if we didn't win anything. Our smile muscles sure got a good workout!

The next day the Paplow's arrived and we all headed out of town together. Our first stop was Red Wing, MN

. 

This boot was the coolest thing; all made to scale. Nothing fake about it! 

Can you imagine all of the vermin that may have fallen inside and couldn't get out?(shivers!)

Hopping back into our rigs, we headed to Wabasha; the town made famous from the movies Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men.  Even though the stories were based on places and people from Wabasha, the film was essentially shot in St. Paul, so there wasn't a lot to see that was familiar to us. Still, lunch at Slippery's Tavern was a must.

The original bait shop/eatery before it burnt down.

After lunch we headed to a renowned Toy Store, Lark's. Not only did they have nearly every toy imaginable and tons of 'old-time' candies, they had a great display of vintage toys ~ I could have spent days in this place, literally fitting in as one of the displays!

Probably why God married me off, so I wouldn't spend my days living in toy stores or taking up residence inside a mall - trying on everything in sight with no time limits at night when the mall was closed...or living in obscurity with an infinite number of stray dogs and cats, or whatever other critters

that needed a home. Never mind. Back to reality . . . 

Here are some fun pics from the store:

There'd be a ton more pictures, except'n I spent so much time playing with all the toys that by the by, when I got to taking pictures, the rest of the gang were waiting for me out in the parking lot. <sigh> 

Once they pried me away from the toy store, we headed to the National Eagle Center where I was equally excited to see live eagles that had been rescued and were being prepared to be set back into the wild.

Wabasha sure takes the blue ribbon when it comes to fall decorating! These little wooden folk were all over town!

 

These lil wooden-heads look a bit familiar!

We made a quick stop in the little town of Winona, MN where Pat and Dawn first met during their college days. Very beautiful, quaint, post-card town!

Back on the road; destination Galena, Illinois, where in hindsight, I think we all would have spent more time had we known what a great town it was.

Here is a picture of the main street. 

This town is bursting with little, unique, fun shops; not the run-of-the-mill souvie shops that you typically find every other door in small destination towns.

Mark's nickname in College (and still, with his college gang) was/is Poopsie. Hey lookie....it's a Poopsie Store! (And it's full of TOYS!)

Galena is the location of one of the homes of our 18th President; Ulysses S. Grant. The best part of touring this home was the fact that all the furnishings and contents were the original items of the Grant's - not replications. 

The tour guide was well informed and once again I found myself on the edge of my seat as I stepped back into the past. How was History my least favorite subject as a student? 

Time for a break. Tomorrow's blog will bring us through our final adventures with the Paplows in the town of Hannibal, Missouri (Mark Twain's territory). 

Then after we part their company, through bits o'the south and on into Texas where we are presently. 

(Tumbleweed and Toad)