North into Lake and Loon Country

Just like that ... 

colorful flower baskets made their cheerful debut,

we crossed a fun fix-it task off the list at our cozy "adopted" home in Rochester,

and it was time to break the news to Peter the Pug that our game of fetch would have to be put on hold until next spring.

With summer's arrival came the call of the road ... along with the call of the loons ... as we journeyed north into Minnesota's beautiful lake country.

If we had a title for this summer's travel playbook, it might be:

"Canadian Provinces, Capitals, and National Parks That Have Thus Far Eluded Us".

From Manitoba to Saskatchewan, and maybe even into the Northwest Territories ... our route west (and north) will be filled with plenty of national and provincial parks along the way that will no doubt tempt us to hang out for a spell.

Our ultimate goal is Alaska where a few boats (and possibly a bush plane or two) will help us reach some of the United States most remote, and yes, most expensive national parks.

But first, Minnesota's lakes and loons, along with some dear friends, gave us a beautiful sendoff.

We stopped to see the new summer hangout for our RV friends, Joanne and Gary, and I got some valuable pointers about how to "chill-ax" if I ever find myself settling in a 55+ community.

Dog sitting? Cabin sitting? What followed was more like living the dream at Mary Beth and Gary's new lake home.

The goal of someday riding every mile of the 115 mile Paul Bunyan Bike Trail enticed our friend Dave to meet up with us to complete the Pine River to Nisswa segment.

We got extra credit (and a Dairy Queen treat) for riding in conditions that more resembled early April.

A delicious barbecue and time with my sister topped off this beautiful lake visit. Although "farewells" are always hard, I take along a treasure chest full of beautiful memories as we resume RVentures. 

From Minnesota's central lake region we continued north to the shore of Lake Bemidji where Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox greeted us,

and a hike through the state park's bog revealed more of God's delicate yet important creations that include peat-filled ponds dotted with insect-eating plants

 and colorful wildflowers.

And just as quickly as spring turned to summer, we found ourselves nearing the Canadian border

... carrying cherished memories while looking forward to new adventures.

Although I have to admit, I'm not quite ready to join these hardy Canadians for a dip in the lake just yet!

Back to Familiar Territory: The Great Midwest!

When one flower blooms, spring beckons you to take a stroll.

But if you happen to be in the Midwest ...

don't forget your down jacket!

In late April, we left Philadelphia and turned westward where familiar roads would lead us back to the great Midwest. But first, Baby Beest was in need of some attention, so we were headed to a small town in central Pennsylvania where "the dynamic duo" of Hymer van repairs have set up shop.

A leak in our propane line prevented us from running our propane heat at night, so it was time to have Nick and Greg work their magic. After a day in the "spa" for Baby Beest, she was once again ready to keep us warm as we headed back to ...

... the land of Kwik Trip lattes and blueberry dunker donuts!

The Great Midwest!

Now most travelers could have made the trip back to Minnesota in one or two travel days, but what fun is that?? It's much better to visit favorite sites and spend time with family along the way!

Boondocking near Cuyahoga Trail National Park was the first test of our heater repair. The sun shone along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail during the day,

 and we were, thankfully, very toasty at night.

Hiking along the trails leading to Brandywine Falls, we realized that the trees and wildflowers were just starting to wake up from their long winter nap.

The next day our journey took a special detour as we stopped in Michigan to visit Doug's dad and dine on the local culinary classic

 ... the Michigan coney dog.

Cute towns and Amish buggies greeted us as we made a stop in northern Indiana to visit Doug's sister's "new" 100+ year old adorable country farmhouse.

Doug has long been interested in trying out a popular boondocking spot near the heart of downtown Chicago, so we headed to the Windy City ... with winter coats handy just in case. We were able to park in the long term parking lot near North America's largest convention center, McCormick Place. A short walk brought us to the commuter train station that took us into The Loop.

Spring was in the air as Chicago's famous culinary scene welcomed us to indulge ... and indulge we did.

Doug was able to add a few more breweries to his list,

while I was happy to top off our Giordano pizza feast with dessert at Molly's Cupcakes.

After visiting more family in Milwaukee, we decided to take advantage of the abundance of unique bike trails in Wisconsin,

 

... but we were a tad too early, as the Sparta Trail's tunnels had not yet come out of hibernation. But it is a good thing that we were forced to turn around, because another true sign of spring in the Midwest was moving right towards us!

The next day we crossed over the Mississippi River ...

and arrived in my "happy place", Rochester, Minnesota

... where a wave of wild bluebells,

... and an abundance of smiles welcomed us back.

Since our anniversary, Mother's Day, and my birthday all take place in May, Doug lets me turn the whole month into a celebration. And celebrate we did!

Highlights of my "Anni-Ma-Bir" month

Arriving back in our favorite driveway, we were greeted by the warm hospitality of our dear friends, Mary Beth and Gary ... and of course, Zoey, their dog who always seems ready to settle in and hit the road with us.

Celebrating 40 years of wedded "bliss" with a family picnic on Star Wars day ...

May the Forth be with you!

Taking hikes with friends, surrounded by wildflowers just waking up to spring.

Soaking up the Vitamin D along with a healthy dose of laughter with our camping buddies.

Celebrating my Godchild's high school graduation ... so proud, and honestly wondering where the time went.

Savoring special meals along with delightful conversations that just seem to continue where we last left off.

And just like that, May is in the rear-view mirror ... and it’s time to start dreaming up our summer adventures after a week of "grand" pug bonding in Minneapolis.

Thank you, Dear Friends!

It’s always wonderful to celebrate Spring in the great Midwest with those whose friendships continue to fill us with bursts of color and joy.

The Historical Charm of The East Coast

Since landing in Orlando and getting the Baby Beest up and running once again, we have enjoyed following "spring" up the East Coast. Our travel timeline was set by the desire to be in Richmond, Virginia for a family wedding in early April.

A colorful pop of spring colors added to the charm of that day,

... as did the pop of historical charm that we found along the way as we made our way up the East Coast.

Here are some of the highlights ....

St. Augustine, Florida

We headed up to Anastasia State Park where the beaches seemed to be hinting that summer is headed our way.

In nearby St Augustine, the cobblestone streets of our nation's oldest city charmed us with delightful shops and restaurants.

A little further up in Jacksonville Beach, a celebration of a Gator's win with friends reassured us that Florida was still enjoying its "March Madness" spring!

Cumberland Island National Seashore

From there we drove to the cute town of St Marys, Georgia which is the launching point for the ferry that takes visitors to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Cumberland Island is one of several barrier islands off the eastern seaboard. Located in southern Georgia, its sandy beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests provide ideal breeding grounds for various species of birds, turtles, and fish.

We actually planned ahead and were able to reserve a place on the national park ferry that takes a limited number of visitors to the island a few times a day. When we arrived, a park ranger led us on a tour of the southern tip of the island and filled us in on some of the island's fascinating history.

Indigenous people, Spanish explorers, and wandering pirates were the first to occupy this island. In the 1700s, Cumberland Island was settled by wealthy plantation owners, and later it became a popular winter get-away for the rich and famous. The Thomas Carnegie family purchased a majority of the island around 1880 and built their mansion, Dungeness, overlooking the southern tip of the island in 1898. It must have been a magnificent structure, but unfortunately, we can only try to imagine its grandeur as it burned down in 1959.

In 1972, the Carnegie family donated much of the island to the National Park Service in order to preserve the natural beauty of the island. Today tourists, along with about 150 to 200 wild horses, can freely roam the island

 

... or just sit for a spell under the canopy of palms and live oaks.

Savannah, Georgia

A number of years ago, we spent a couple of hours walking around Savannah and like many other tourists, we were captivated by its "southern charm". This time through, we decided to stay a couple of days at nearby Skidaway Island State Park so that we could spend more time in this city that was spared from destruction by General Sherman's army in 1864.

Savannah was methodically laid out by James Oglethorpe in 1733 with an organized grid of streets, neighborhoods, and public squares. Each one of the city's 24 squares offers a unique park-like setting that invites all

... to come and sit for a spell.

Savannah's waterfront area has an array of shops and restaurants nestled within the historical brick buildings that date back to the late 1700s. A free ferry ride took us across the river and back again, allowing us to see the city from a different perspective.

Dubbed "the prettiest street in Savannah", Jones Street is lined with antebellum homes whose historic charm has been meticulously preserved.

Thankfully, Savannah's vibrant food scene offered a just reward for my ever-so-patient walking partner. From cute coffee shops to fall-off-the-bone southern ribs to the famous Leopold's Ice Cream, the food offerings in Savannah can quickly re-energize even the most weary of walkers.

I'm sure that Doug will thank me later for training him up for the mega-walking experiences that await us in Washington DC and New York City!

Richmond, Virginia

Next, we were able to experience the charm of downtown Richmond which was the location of the pre-wedding and wedding activities.

Our Airbnb was located in an eclectic neighborhood near a university campus and was easily walkable or bike-able to a number of coffee shops, restaurants, and craft breweries ... Let Doug's "birthday month" celebrations begin!

Love was in the air (along with a fair amount of pollen), and the trees burst out their very best flowery attire during the ceremony and reception that was held at the historically charming Branch House Museum.

Of course, sister time is always the best of times!

Washington, DC

I've lost track of how many times I've visited our nation's capital, but the charm of this history-dense city always draws me back when we're in the area.

This time we stayed at Cherry Hill RV Park that is located just outside of DC in College Park, Maryland. While it's a bit pricier than our average resting spot, the convenience of being able to hop on a bus, transfer to the Metro, and be at the National Mall in less than an hour was priceless.

 Some highlights of our four day trip included ...

United States Capitol Tour. Usually advance tickets are required, but somehow, we lucked out and were able to get in on a last-minute tour to see the rotunda in all its architectural and artistic glory.

Being seated directly across from Abraham Lincoln's theater box during a live performance of "Sister Act" at Ford's Theater.

Watching Doug ponder the wonders of air and space at the Smithsonian museum of the same name.

Being greeted by the iconic giant elephant at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Marveling at the majestic architecture while walking the streets of DC.

Fueling up in preparation for miles of walking each day with a cappuccino and espresso cream pastry at Good Company Donuts and Cafe ... definitely a delicious double dose of caffeine! Yes, the baristas began to recognize us as repeat offenders.

New York City

Since April is Doug's birthday month, I was happy to "gift" him with a return visit to one of his favorite places ... New York City. Our camping spot once again was the pricey but oh-so-convenient Liberty Harbor RV Park across the river from Manhattan.

A short walk led us past a Krispy Kreme factory ... which probably contributes to Doug's fascination with visiting the Big Apple.

From there we caught the subway that took us under the Hudson River to Manhattan. Activities abound in this city that never sleeps, and each time we enjoy new experiences.

Some highlights of this, our third visit to New York City included:

A visit to the American Museum of Natural History where we were greeted by a herd of elephants ... as well as quite a few other tourists. This museum wasn't free like the Smithsonian in DC, but we found a "mammoth" amount of exhibits and interesting information.

Seeing another Broadway production, Operation Mincemeat. This hilarious award-winning new musical is based on a true story of a British "Trojan horse" type spy mission that helped turn the tide for the allies during WWII. The five-person cast dazzled us with their musical and comical talents as well as with their quick character and costume changes.

Trust me ... and treat yourself to Broadway's newest hit!

We completed one of Doug's bucket list items by visiting a craft brewery in each of the five New York City boroughs. This fun feat was accomplished by figuring out our route on the subway to Queens and the Bronx,

... and we only got slightly lost when Google Maps led us astray, but sometimes the journey is the destination.

Whether walking through Central Park by day,

... or Manhattan at night,

... with each visit, New Your City continues to capture our hearts.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The last city on our east coast historical tour is often referred to as the Birthplace of America, since that is where the Declaration of Independence was written, discussed, agreed upon, and signed in Independence Hall during the summer of 1776.

During and just after the American Revolutionary War, Philadelphia played an important role in the formation of our young nation. It was where the First and Second Continental Congresses met, where Ben Franklin spent most of his life, where George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, where the United States Constitution was signed, and where President George Washington and the new nation's other government leaders lived and governed from 1790-1800 while the permanent capitol city of Washington DC was being built.

It's also where many American revolutionaries made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

When we arrived in Philadelphia, we found a free public parking lot near Independence Square which allowed us to spend two days exploring this historical gem of a city.

While it's best to make advance reservations to visit Independence Hall, I found out that no reservations are needed from 9 to 10 am each morning,

... so a chance to see the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed was reason enough for this "night owl" to become an "early bird".

Because of Philadelphia's important role during the Revolutionary War, the National Museum of the American Revolution is located here also. An afternoon visit to the museum helped me recall some of those "revolutionary" lessons that I'm sure that I was taught long, long ago.

Besides refreshing our memory of the important battles and diplomacy efforts, we got to see George Washington's original wartime tent as well as one of the earliest examples of this new nation's stars and stripes. 

During our walks around Philadelphia, we had a chance to admire the many historical buildings,

monuments,

and colorful murals that reflect the historical charm of Philadelphia.

The only thing that we couldn't quite admire was the traditional Philly cheese steak

... maybe it's an acquired taste??!!

During our journey up the east coast, we noticed the temps rising, the trees budding, and the tulips blooming,

... but also, the struggles continuing.

As we watched a large, peaceful, political rally take place in the shadows of Independence Hall, we realize that our country's struggle for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" continues today. Whether charming or not ...

We, the people,

need to continue to learn from our past in order to improve our future.