Forest City

We bid farewell to he Minneapolis NW KOA on Sunday morning and hit the road for Forest City, Iowa. We had a first hand experience of Minnesota Dept of Transportation's inability to manage traffic flow in construction areas. The signage stunk and the traffic flow was very poorly managed.

Our first stop, after finally clearing the construction zone, was In Faribault, MN for lunch with close friend Kay Heiskari at the Faribault Country Club. The lunch was great and we had a nice visit with Kay.

Then it was on to Forest City. We arrived about 3:30 PM and settled the Winnebago in at Pamel Park right on the banks of the Winnebago River. Friends Neil and Leah Boyd came for cocktails with their son Brent and his son Michael.

Brent & Michael

Leah & Mary Relaxing

Then we went to Neil & Leah's home for a dinner of what Neil calls Camper's Stew (we call the same thing a hobo dinner) where potatoes, vegetables and meat (in this case Elk burgers) are wrapped in aluminum foil and cooked on a campfire. They went well with the Alamos Malbec I brought. Dessert was watermelon.

On Monday morning Neil and I met Ernie Utz at Clear Lake for a bicycle ride around the lake (about 14 miles). Ernie is a friend from my old Winnegago days.

Jack & Neil

Ernie & Neil

Our ride took us past the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake where Buddy Holly gave his final performance. On their way out of town their airplane crashed and all on board were killed.

Surf Ballroom

Our wives met us at PM Park for breakfast after the ride. PM Park has been owned by the Odd Fellows since 1888 and is leased to the people that run the restaurant. The breakfast was outstanding.

Back in Forest City Mary and I did a tour of old familiar places while waiting for a part for our Winnebago to be ready to pick up. We stopped at the Winnebago visitor center where the fellow working the front desk was someone we knew back in the early 1970s. He took our picture with the 1968 Winnebago Model D22 on display.

Our New Winnebago

Then we drove to the Westgate subdivision that I was in charge of building during my days as Operations Manager for the Winnebago Housing Division. We took a look at our old house which had been the model home for the subdivision. The house looks the same but the trees sure have grown.

Our Old House in Forest City

Dinner was deep fried Walleye with corn on the cob and potato salad. Another great meal. Jennifer, Michael's mom, joined us for dinner. 

Cooking Walleye

On Tuesday morning Neil, Leah, Mary and I had a farewell breakfast, cooked by Neil, in Pilot Knob State Park. In my old Forest City days I was the chairman of the Committee to Preserve and Expand Pilot Knob State Park so it was nice to see how the park has developed. The breakfast of French Toast, bacon, eggs, pineapple and coffee kept me going for the rest of the day.

Mary, Neil & Leah at Breakfast

Mary, Leah & Neil

We were packed and headed west by 11:30 AM on our way to Sioux Falls, SD for the night. Tomorrow we continue on to Pierre, SD for a visit with friends Jim & Karen Stein.