We got up a little later than usual. Jeanne was not feeling well and decided to skip the workout. It was a smart move, since the ‘Honey Truck” showed up while I was running. Jeanne very much enjoyed supervising the emptying of the waste water tanks.
Ed and Mary, seasonal campers at the Devils River Campground near Maribel, Wisconsin.
After cleaning up, we visited with Ed and Mary before they left. We really enjoyed their friendship and hope to keep in touch. By about 3:00 PM, most of the weekend campers were gone and the campground was quiet.
In the late afternoon, we hosted DeeDee, Liz and the two boys, EJ and Joshua. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs while keeping an eye on the boys. A good time was had by all and we said our goodbyes shortly before sunset. We are happy to see that everyone seems to be making a good life for themselves here.
After dinner, we cleaned up and prepared the coach for departure.
The morning was clear and cool and the weather forecast promised a picture-perfect day.
Our agenda included a sightseeing trip through Door County, which is the peninsula that separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan. We set out early and were pleased at how pretty the area is. The small towns along the way were very clean and the farms were well tended. Mercifully, the cherry orchards were already picked clean (cherries are a weakness). We got as far north as Sturgeon Bay, which is a good size town for the area and spent time in a nearby State Forest that followed the shoreline. We were amazed that the State Park was deserted. A facility like this anywhere in Southern California would be mobbed. Today, a Sunday, most of the parking lots were empty and all you could hear was quiet. We hope these folks know how good they have it.
Our way back followed the coastline along Lake Michigan. Passing through the quaint town of Algoma, we almost found ourselves in the middle of their annual parade. We must have been one of the last cars down Main Street before the parade started and the sidewalks were lined with onlookers. There was only one thing to do: smile and waive to the crowd.
Farther down the highway, we reached the town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the National Maritime Museum, which documents the fascinating history of shipping and ship building in the Great Lakes region. The museum collections are outstanding and includes the WWII era submarine, the USS Cobia. Here’s the backstory. Shortly after the outbreak of WWII, the shipyards in Manitowoc were commissioned to build about 20 GATO class submarines for the US Navy. The Cobia was one of those boats. Years after the war, the Cobia was decommissioned and eventually ended up as a donation to the museum in Manitowoc. We took the tour through the sub and were surprised to find the tour guide, Roland, had served on a similar boat, the USS Rasher in WWII. His first-hand depiction of life aboard a GATO class submarine was compelling. He had actually been there and survived to tell about it.
Shoreline of Green Bay near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Porcupine in state park near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Bridge of USS Cobia, a WWII submarine on display at the National Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Forward torpedo tubes on USS Cobia. These were actually used to sink Japanese shipping during WWII.
Steering station on USS Cobia.
More controls on USS Cobia.
A really unhappy Jeanne in front of diesel motor aboard USS Cobia.
Returning to the campground, we decided that dry or not, we were going to fire the bowls, beads and trinkets. We gathered around the campfire, carefully placed the greenware (dry, unfired clay) and got the fire going. The large bowl immediately blew up. The small bowl blew up shortly thereafter. However, to the delight of the group, the beads and ashtray looked good. The remaining items were carefully plucked from the fire with a pair of tongs donated by Ed. Beyond all expectations, a detailed inspection revealed the smaller items had successfully survived the crude bisque firing. We were now proud owners of a terra cotta ashtray, beads and trinkets. With much ceremony, the ashtray was presented to Ed and Mary to commemorate the occasion. We’re sure this will be a conversation piece for years, if it holds together. The beads and trinkets will be added to Jeanne’s cache of adornments.
When the fire burned low, everyone headed for the shelter of their coachs.
The morning was so cool that we had to break out the winter workout gear to keep warm. With the overcast and light drizzle, running was easy and the distance rolled by.
No trip to Green Bay is complete without a visit to Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers. The stadium had recently been upgraded and the facility was impressive. We visited the new Atrium and browsed the shops. No cheeseheads for us, but we did get some pictures.
Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers.
View of recently upgraded stadium.
Marty with statue of Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
Much has been written on the impact of the Packers on this region. It is sufficient to say the Packer marketing department is world class and the Packer ‘brand’ is everywhere. We mean EVERYWHERE. And, the locals are passionate about their team. Suggestions about moving the team to Los Angeles were not well received.
We returned to the coach and DeeDee joined us when she got off work. After dinner, we sat around a roaring campfire with Ed, Mary and Ann. The conversation stretched well into the night and included the Green Bay Packers, of course.
We made the drive to Green Bay to run a few errands and have lunch with DeeDee who returned from California yesterday. Although she had to get back to work it was good to talk with her.
After lunch, we went to the National Rail Road Museum in Green Bay. The exhibits were interesting and included some truly unique locomotives, passenger cars and small artifacts. We even took a train ride around the museum grounds.
Jeanne in front of Aerotrain at the National Rail Road Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This was an idea that looked good, but really didn't work.
Jeanne in front of railroad car designed to carry vinegar. Notice the wooden tanks made of redwood.
Marty on railroad handcar.
Marty at the controls of steam engine.
Train used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower when he was in England as commander of allied forces during WWII.
Big Boy train used to haul cargo over the Wausatch range in Utah and Colorado. This is the biggest steam locomotive ever built. It was massive.
In the late afternoon, we returned to the coach, fixed supper and went to bed early.
The weather these past three days has been cold and rainy. Although this prevented us from doing much outdoors, it did give us a chance to catch up on chores and take advantage of the washing machine and phone connection at DeeDee’s house. We stumbled into a Fleet/Farm, which is a mega-store devoted to Guy Stuff. Real guy stuff like farm equipment, tools, construction equipment, hunting gear, generators, automotive, etc. Everything you would need to maintain a fleet of vehicles or run a farm. We managed to get out of the store for under $40.
Grilling Out on a cool August afternoon in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Exploring the campground, we found an old mill, silo, barn and farmhouse. Most interesting was a dam built to supply water to the mill. The dam had been destroyed long ago, but the connecting points to the shoreline are still intact. Whoever built these structures was both determined and persistent and we’re glad to see they are being preserved by the property owners for their historic value.
Not far from the campground is a county park that includes a series of caves. We stopped by and found three guys excavating one of the caves by hand; one bucket of clay and rocks at a time. Here’s the backstory: In the early 1900s, the caves were formed when lead was discovered and mined. The lead deposits were soon mined out, but the caves were perfect for bootleggers. Water and ingredients were readily available, the area was remote and Chicago was a huge potential market. No brainer. Eventually someone (either the County or the bootleggers) sealed up the caves. Fast forward to 2004 and some locals with the assistance of volunteers from the University of Wisconsin began to excavate the site. So far, no human bones were found.
While talking with the guys, I sampled the clay and found it to be perfect. It was relatively clean, plasticity was good, shrinkage seemed good and moisture content was about right. Coincidently, one of the guys was staying in our campground and offered to bring by a bucket of clay. This was an offer too good to be true! Sure enough, that night Kasey dropped off a bucket of clay and the stage was set for the great pottery experiment! The goal was to make some simple terra cotta (bisque) items using a campfire as a heat source. There was absolutely no hope of pulling this off, but it would be fun to try. The next day, I formed two bowls, an ashtray for Ed and Mary and some beads and trinkets. Getting this stuff dry enough to fire would be a challenge.
After sleeping later than usual, we had a quick breakfast and headed to Green Bay to rendezvous with Jeanne’s niece, Liz. Meeting Liz at a Burger King, we were escorted to the house of Jeanne’s sister (Dede). We also saw Liz’s new house, which is in moving-in and fix-up mode. It is a nice place and we’re sure they will quickly turn it into a warm home for their family.
On the way back to the campground, we found a really nice market with good produce, meat and prices. We stocked up, returned to the coach and got to bed early.
This morning we got a later start than usual, but eventually rolled out of bed to face the dreaded workout. At least the cool air made running up the hills a little less challenging. After cleaning up (which included a haircut), we prepared to do nothing for the rest of the day.
Mid-morning, we talked with two of the seasonal campers, Ed and Mary. We really enjoyed the visit and hope to keep in touch with them. I encouraged them to visit this web site to keep current with our travels.
For the rest of the day, we achieved our goal by doing nothing. Well, we did get some reading done, but the most productive thing was a nap.
For dinner, we heated some brisket that had been quietly resting in our freezer since Suzi gave it to us in Springfield. What a treat!
Not even the double shades could keep out the bright morning sun, but that’s o.k. since we had to get moving early.
Doing our workout, the cool air was a relief and the deserted country road along the campground was perfect for running. We’re getting used to running through farm country. What a nice change from jumping curbs and watching for traffic in the city.
Coach in KOA Campground in LaSalle, Illinois.
Running through corn and soy fields along lightly used farming road near LaSalle, Illinois.
We quickly cleaned up and got on the road before 9:00 AM. Our destination is near the small town of Maribel, Wisconsin, which is just south of Green Bay. The drive was long (about 250 miles) and mostly uneventful through endless cornfields in northern Illinois and rolling hills in Wisconsin. The air was crystal clear and it seems that you can see forever. Except for a stretch right over the Wisconsin state line, the roads were mercifully smooth.
The fuel gauge on the coach was one of the things on the Monaco fix-it list and it was a relief to have a reliable fuel reading. However, just in case, I tested it. Sure enough, it is right on.
We were road weary when we finally got to the campground. We were pleasantly surprised to find the campground a really nice family-run place. The campsite is in a small valley cut by a bend in the river. There are several well groomed campsites, most of which look like seasonal rigs. Getting into the site took a few minutes, but we were soon set up for our stay.
Folks here are really friendly and one-by-one they stopped by to welcome us and check out the coach. I think we’ll like it here.
Contemporary note: The campground was split into two sections. One section around the top of a knoll was reserved for short-term camping — tents, trailers, kids, swing sets, barking dogs, smoking campfires, boom-boxes — you get the idea.
The second section was at the bottom of the knoll beside a small stream. This was reserved for seasonal campers — families that installed park-model trailers on larger campsites. These trailers were really small summer homes of a sort and the occupants had been camping at this same location for several years, some as long as 25 years or more. In effect, it was a small, close knit village.
Since we planned an extended stay and were too big for the short-term camping, the owners plunked us down in the middle of this community. Even with a California license plate, we were immediately accepted and invited to share space around the community campfire. We very much enjoyed the friendship and hospitality.
What a sparkling day! The sun is out, the air is cool and a light breeze is blowing. We also got a good nights sleep for the first time in several days.
After three days working on the coach, we were ready to roll. We had a quick breakfast, put a few things away and left the Monaco warranty facility. Our destination was La Salle, Illinois, which is a small town about an hour west of Chicago.
Except for the road construction around Chicago, it was an easy drive along well-maintained interstate. The landscape really opened up and endless fields of corn and soy beans seem to surround the highway. The weather was cool and a steady breeze pushed the clouds across the sky. It was perfect driving weather and the scenery was spectacular.
During the drive, we discussed how the feel of the trip has changed. We were uncomfortable moving around on the east coast, but starting in western New York, the countryside seemed to open up and the people seemed friendlier. Even in a town the size of Elkhart, the folks seemed friendly. We hope the trend continues as we move farther into the midwest.
Around 2:00, we found the campground, which was literally surrounded by cornfields. The site was a perfect pull-thru and we left the Jeep hooked up. After settling in, we grilled some salmon (Walmart special) and kicked back for the evening.
It stormed during the night; the thunder, lightening and rain kept us awake. It was still storming when we rolled out of bed and brewed our morning coffee. It was one of those mornings when you pretend to be awake.
Around 6:30, we looked for the service writer, Mike, to complete our check-out paperwork. Mike was busy, so we took the opportunity to have breakfast at a local cafe, which turned out to be surprisingly good. It was the first time in a long time that we had real eggs and real butter on toast.
Returning to the warranty facility and after a short wait, Mike got us checked out. In accordance with Monaco policy, we were allowed to stay in the facility 24 hours after repairs are completed. This was a godsend because we really didn’t want to travel in stormy weather.
With the where-will-we-stay issue settled, we ran some last minute errands and returned to the coach to spend a quiet afternoon in the coach. We really needed the quiet time and I took a two hour nap.
In the early evening, the storm passed and the air was cool. There were no more excuses to put off the workout so I got out the weights, mat and running clothes. Although it had been several days, the workout was relatively easy until the run, which I cut short at 24 minutes.
After cleaning up, we spent a quiet evening watching TV.
Here was the plan for the day: After turning over the coach to the technicians, we would try to find some parts for the Blue Ox towbar and then take tours of the Monaco and Roadmaster production plants.
After six months of heavy use, there were two parts on the towbar that needed replacement; minor fixes really. With all the production of motorhomes in the area, we should be able to find what we need. Stopping at a Blue Ox dealer, we found and installed the parts. Problem solved. The Blue Ox towbar has worked really well and we highly recommend it to solve your towing problem, if you should ever have a towing problem.
Before reading the next paragraphs, it should be noted that Monaco does not allow taking pictures during the production line tours. Although this is an understandable policy, it is unfortunate that we can not share the visual experience with the reader. We are grateful that Monaco offers these tours and very much enjoyed the experience. We came away impressed with the quality of their product and the care that goes into its construction.
The coaches are built at a huge facility in the nearby town of Wakarusa, about ten miles from the warranty facility. We were absolutely amazed at the complexity of the facility and the motorhome product it produced. The scale of the operation is hard to describe. The assembly area covers over 20 acres, which doesn’t include the facilities needed for the sub-assemblies. The place was a beehive of activity. Of particular note was the paint facility that included 30 huge paint booths. Painting a 40 foot motorhome is no small task and is very, very labor intensive. Try to imagine a building large enough to house 30 paint booths large enough to handle a full size motorhome. The place was huge.
In the afternoon, we toured the Roadmaster chassis plant. Roadmaster was bought by Monaco several years ago and produces chassis on which the coaches are mounted. The tour of this plant was just as impressive as the coach plant. Due to the nature of the product, the assembly process is what you would expect for a heavy duty industrial item. Motors, tires, axels, steel, hydraulics and wires are all welded and bolted together on various production lines in a noisy and gritty factory. The tour guide knew his product and gave specific, detailed answers to questions. We learned many important things about the motor, transmission, sub-systems and maintenance.
We are very glad to have taken the tours and learned much about our coach. There is no doubt our coach is a quality product that should provide years of good service if maintained. If you are ever in this area, I would highly recommend taking the tours just see how something this big and complex is produced.
Returning to the warranty facility, we were informed late in the day that our repairs were completed and to show up tomorrow morning to complete the paperwork.
After dinner and a trip to Borders to update the computers, we watched some TV before going to bed.
