Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Travel and Quilting (part 6)

We decided to leave Texas the way that we arrived, taking the Galveston Ferry. Headed to Lafayette Louisiana for a night.

Continuing on we drove along the coast…enjoying the scenery. it was fun watching the dolphins swimming along the boats.

Our first night on the way home was in Lafayette Louisiana, we spent our evening relaxing and going for a walk to check out the campground.

The next days driving took us to Hot Springs Arkansas driving through the Ozark Mountains was amazing and at times a challenge. We made an interesting stop at the Hidden Bridge … the sign said no trailers or long Motorhomes and once on the very winding narrow road we could see why…it was well worth the driving adventure!

We attempted to find rv parking in Hot Springs Arkansas to check out the baths however parking wasn’t to be found and we were tired so made our way to the campground, had supper a walk and slept!

One of the things that we really enjoyed were the welcome centres in most of the states. Unfortunately the one in Springfield Missouri had closed just before we arrived. Route 66 is on our to drive list.

After another one night stop we were on the road again! Headed to Hamilton! For a few years I had mentioned to Erik that I wouldn’t mind going to Hamilton Missouri and so it was added to the list!

When we arrived, Erik dropped me off to explore! It was a bit overwhelming but my kind of fun overwhelming! Walking through and exploring 13 quilt shops!

We spent the night at A Country Charm Campground which I highly recommend, it wasn’t far from the shops and was a relaxing quiet stay.

Our next destination was Clear Lake Iowa. We made a fun stop at the Iowa Visitor Center…

Clear Lake Iowa is the home of the Surf Ballroom… it was the last place that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. The Big Bopper performed before “The Day Music Died” sadly they were tragically killed in a plane crash February 3, 1959 shortly after takeoff.

That night we stayed at a Harvest Host location, we found a nearby park to grill at and explore before settling in for the night.

Onto our next adventure and headed to our final campground for this trip was to Hinckley Minnesota.

We love the areas around Minneapolis and so made some stops along the way…

First stop was Northfield, famous for the Bank Raid of September 7, 1876.

https://www.northfieldhistory.org/the-bank-raid/

We also stopped in Hastings for a walk, the weather was not cooperating it was a cool rainy day not at all what we had gotten used to!

We settled into our campsite in Hinckley and woke early in order to have some time in Duluth before heading to the border and home.

We had fun in Duluth and bought a fun pattern… for a really cute little bag at the new quilt shop in Miller Hill Mall.

We arrived home early evening…

Erik had been watching for the smelt run so on the way home he had me ask Liam if he would go with him that night…that was a big yes and a very late night but fun for them.

We were both tired and it took a few days before we felt settled in again. The first few nights we woke up wondering where we were 😊.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Travel and Quilting

I have been hinting at the trip that we set out on March 20th of this year. (When we arrived home May 3rd we had put almost 10,000 km on the Motorhome!)

After a lot of planning and preparation and trying to finish as many customer quilts as I could, we had the Motorhome loaded and ready to go!

Just after crossing the border, the view of Lake Superior is breathtaking especially on a sunny day!

Our first night was spent in a hotel in Wisconsin Dells after a long day of driving…and a stop or two in Duluth. (it was still too cold to sleep in the motorhome)

We booked a three night stay at the first campground in Paducah Kentucky.

It was warm enough to change into warmer weather clothes and if you are a quilter you probably know where I was planning to go while in Paducah.

If you guessed Hancocks of Paducah you were right! Wow what an amazing amount of beautiful quilting fabric!!

I behaved for the most part 😊 I did indulge in some fun of course

We also visited The National Quilt Museum which really deserves its own post!

After Paducah the Weather was perfect and the Motorhome had been fully set up for use. Unfortunately for those at home they were dealing with a snow storm.

Montgomery Alabama was our next stay!

https://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/hankwilliams.html

The drive from Montgomery to Perry Florida was so interesting and fun. We did go for a walk around the Farmers Market in Nashville.

We slept so well in the Motorhome maybe because we were exhausted. The quilt that I made for the MH bed still needed the binding stitched down and it is almost finished! I had thought there would be time to stitch however as the navigator Erik preferred that I kept my eye on the road for the most part.

This quilt will soon have its own post. It is perfect for the Motorhome and will be all finished before the next trip!

We left Perry Florida headed to St Augustine, this sign was near our campsite.

More to come!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Heading Home

One of the things we really enjoy when on a road trip is staying off of the interstate highways as much as possible!

Driving home along the Mississippi in Wisconsin allowed for interesting sites and finding fresh corn for sale at the end of a farms driveway…no pictures but wow you can’t beat fresh corn!

The roadside stops were interesting and this was at one of them…the guys really enjoyed using it!

We stopped to explore and play in Hastings MN.

Liam really really wanted to rent the scooter…unfortunately there wasn’t time and it also requires riders to be 18 and over…

We did find some other fun though…

Erik found a play to play too!!

Liam likes to climb and tease me that he is going to jump!!

The next stop was Stillwater MN where we climbed the 150 step stairs!

The bridge we were standing on used to be for vehicles, now it’s pedestrian only and the new bridge is in the background.

Another rest stop just before Hinckley MN where we stopped to grill. Liam had a great time in the play area with his skateboard!

We stayed overnight at the Hinckley Inn…we all had a good sleep…

The next morning we were off to Duluth MN for a little shopping…

Liam loves his Lego!

All things that drive

And esp visiting Camping world where he likes to explore the Ice Fishing “Shacks” and travel trailers.

One last cookout of the trip was in Beaver Bay…the weather had changed to drizzly and cool but that didn’t stop the fun!

One last stop to play and explore!

I didn’t take pictures but I did visit the newer quilt shop in Two Harbours MN on the way home it’s called One Old Loon and is well worth visiting!!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Annual Birthday Trip

We have been going to Duluth Minnesota every May or June since we met to celebrate Eriks birthday. (Missed the years when the border was closed)

We love the drive down, and usually stop for a few hikes…this year we chose not to feed the mosquitoes…they seem worse this year.

We did stop at the scenic lookout in Grand Portage. I am always in awe of all of the different greens in the spring and early summer!

I love Canal Park so we always book a room there so we can walk to restaurants and explore.

Much to Eriks delight I’m sure, I didn’t take the usual pictures in the restaurants haha.

This spring trip we usually do some shopping for supplies…this year was mainly parts for the backhoe on Eriks side of things.

My shopping in my opinion was way more fun!!! More Pantographs to add to my collection…it’s always so much fun to have more to offer and to learn, and of course fabric!!

We also visited 4 quilt shops missing one but will get there next time 😊

There is a new granddaughter arriving in August and the quilt requested is for pink!!!!

Thank you Megan at Hannah’s Quilt Shop you are amazing!!
Oh those puppies!!!

I really love my morning coffee and I really don’t like drinking from paper cups…so I almost always bring a favourite mug 🥰. Staying at the Inn on the Lake we request lakeside and ground floor and enjoy walking outside from the room.

Oh and the view!!

The hotel also offers bikes to borrow and the trails are fantastic in Duluth!

We stopped along the drive home…I thought of our rock collecting grandchildren and the fun they would have had!!

Lake Superior really offers spectacular views!! The lake was so calm yesterday.

After stopping at the DQ in Grand Marais for a bite to eat…we were on our way home. Sven and Ollie’s is open again which was our first choice but this popular pizza place had a very long line!

It’s good to be home!

My Longarm awaits!

I am really looking forward to my visit with Ana Paula and seeing her Studio and Open House today!

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Hastings Minnesota

A couple of years ago we decided that when we visited Minneapolis, we would stay the the smaller towns in the outlying areas. I am so not a big city girl. When we discovered Hastings I fell in love! This visit we stayed in Cottage Grove (I just love the name!) and visited Hastings.

I found some treasures at a shop there but only indulged in one small piece of Pyrex. The one I bought is no in this picture but I will share later. I bought the small friendship casserole with the printed lid!

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How cute is this table and chair set, thankfully I already have one very similar.

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Here is the sweet little piece I added to the collection

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Rauma

We went out for dinner in Rauma and Erik’s cousin Erikki said we’d go out for Kebabs. I thought we we’re going to have shish kabobs. Not quite

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That is all finely sliced beef under the pita like bread and salad on the side. I was never really sure of what I was ordering…..sometimes I was suprised.

This dinner was really good but enough food to serve my family for supper!

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Erikki’s son Patrick had just come from soccer practice and happily ate everything on his plate and helped another cousin finish eating hers.

after dinner we went for a walk around town and came across this site

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From a distance it really did look like women that were swimming in the canal! It turned out they were very realistic statues.

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a few after diner drinks…

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