Greetings from Iowa on Day #123!

Posted byWhere's Wendy? Livin' in the Edge!Posted inUncategorized

September 1-3, 2021

I’m popping in to say hello today because Maddie & I are celebrating Day #123 of our adventure! We left Massachusetts on May 2, so today is our 4 month mark. I’ve now driven 6,779 miles!

Time really does fly when you’re on the journey of a lifetime❣

We arrived at this Iowa state park last night for a short stopover, before heading on to Wisconsin tomorrow. This part of the campground is considered “primitive” because there are no water or electrical hook-ups, although we have do community water faucets & there is a restroom close by. There are no showers here, which is why it’s a quick visit! 😉 I do have access to the showers & some other modern conveniences, but it’s over a mile away & honestly, it’s just not worth the effort. 🥴

My definition of primitive & this state park’s definition are worlds apart! Primitive in a campground generally means very minimal modern conveniences. I wasn’t expecting such wide open areas & lush, green grass! I’ve also managed to choose the perfect campsite again! We’re all alone on this side of the campground!

We fell asleep last night to a chorus of owls, cicadas & frogs. Maddie woke me up at about 4:30am for a pee break, at which time I heard roosters 🐓 in the vicinity. 🤔 Not the usual wildlife I’d expect in the “wilderness”. A few hours later, I awoke to cows 🐄 serenading us! Welcome to Iowa! 😁 The temperature had dropped to about 54° overnight, but we were nice & toasty in the tent! (Thank you, Lowell… 🤗)

Almost this entire section of the lake is thickly covered in green algae. I’ve heard Canada geese, great blue herons, owls, cardinals, crows, blue jays, woodpeckers & many others.
The condition of the lake is probably keeping a lot of the campers & boaters away.
The wildlife inhabitants are loving it!
The humans, not so much. 🤷‍♀️
Maddie & I walked a short trail behind our campsite.
I think this tree had the lead role in the Wizard of Oz!
My current view from the tent.
Maddie always gets herself tangled up within 3 minutes! 🙄
Breakfast this morning❣ I had bought almost a pound of fully cooked ham & decided to grill it this morning. I glazed it with Mike’s Hot Honey, which is honey infused with hot chili peppers! I bought a tiny jar to try several weeks ago & now I wish I’d bought a large jar! It’s DELICIOUS & I’m not usually a fan of hot or spicy foods. I added red delicious apple slices & green onion cheese. And of course, coffee.
Full disclosure: This is Wendy. 😁
I haven’t been kidnapped and/or brainwashed!
Most of my family & friends know that I’ve never really been interested in doing much cooking…until this adventure!
Now, I’m LOVING it! I’ve always believed that food cooked outside tastes better & I’ve proven my point!
I don’t have refrigeration & my cooler isn’t efficient, at all. If I splurge & buy something that needs refrigeration, I have to use it up very quickly. So, here’s my early supper! I finished up the ham & added a wild & brown rice combination, along with fresh, local tomatoes.

Sadly, I’m packing up the tent early & we’ll be sleeping in the car tonight. 😒 We’re heading to Wisconsin tomorrow & it’s supposed to start raining by 5am. We’ve survived some seriously intense storms recently, but I have zero interest in packing up in the rain, if I can avoid it.

And before I close, my thoughts are with everyone in the path of the crazy weather that’s been happening almost everywhere lately. It’s a surreal feeling to be sitting 1242 miles away from home, watching the weather reports from there. I hope everyone stays safe & healthy. 🤞🏼

Hugs 🤗 Wendy & Maddie 💕

This is a P.S. – When I said we’re alone, we’re ALONE!!! I just took Maddie for her last walk (🤞🏼) for the night & we took the long way around. Our campsite is marked with the arrow.

There. Is. Nobody. Else. Here. 😳

Published by Where's Wendy? Livin' in the Edge!

On May 2, 2021, I departed from Massachusetts in my 2017 Ford Edge (Breezy Blue) with my 13.5 year young pup, Maddie, to fulfill a lifelong dream of a road trip across America. Our departure was delayed by a month, but we're making up for lost time now! My goal is to be out and about for a year.

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