Tag: RVing

The Buddy Holly Crash Site

August 3, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed in a field north of Clear Lake, Iowa. I was not born yet. American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” J. P. Richardson all died along with their pilot Roger Peterson. This event later became known as “The Day the Music Died” after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song “American Pie.”

The most famous song I know of Buddy Holly is “That’ll Be the Day.” He was born in Texas and died at the young age of 22. The crash devastated the Rock and Roll community.

This morning we left our campsite at Grant River Recreation Area in Wisconsin and headed west across Iowa. Sometimes when I am planning a route, I find the coolest, strange and unusual places to visit as we pass through. 

We are headed to Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, and the Buddy Holly Crash Site came up on my Google Maps. Right beside it is the Don McLean American Pie Parking Lot. As soon as I saw it I clicked on the website and contacted the owners through email. They were quick to respond when I asked if there was room for us to get in with our 38 foot RV towing a car. 

There is plenty of room for an RV towing a car but be aware it is over a mile down a gravel road just to get to the parking lot and crash site. They allowed us to park overnight for free. 

The iconic glasses of Buddy Holly mark the entrance to a trail that is near a quarter of a mile back to the memorial spot. Many visitors leave a pair of sunglasses at the entrance. I wonder how many pairs of sunglasses the family has collected over the years.

As you walk the path, you can see a bare spot of weeds and dirt in the field to your left where the plane landed. It was cold, snowy, and icy on the night of the crash and the plane skidded 558 feet across the field and everyone on board was ejected from the plane.

We were surprised to see cars pulling in and out of the small parking lot all day long. It was a steady stream of people from all across the country wanting to pay their respects just like us, and to remember an icon of Rock and Roll. Some people just park on the side of the dirt road. At one time I think I counted 8 vehicles.

The memorial at the end of the path is worth the hike. This is the spot where Buddy Holly’s body landed after being thrown from the plane. We met people from Canada, Kansas, and Louisiana as we hiked the trail. Some people leave flowers or trinkets or more sunglasses at the memorial site.

The small memorial to the right is for the pilot. If you aren’t familiar with Buddy Holly’s music, or Don McLean, take some time to listen to the songs and refresh your memory or find some new favorites.

The owners of the parking lot are trying to create a nice place for people visiting the site to park. Parking is free. If you are ever in the area, this is one spot you should take the time to see. And take time to talk to the owners of the parking lot, and to the people you pass along the path. We meet some of the best people in the country by just saying hello.

Thanks for coming on the journey with us. Stay tuned for the next adventure.

Effigy Mounds National Monument

August 1 and 2, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Yesterday, August 1, was spent driving from the Iowa 80 Truck Stop to Grant River Recreation Area in Potosi, Wisconsin, and relaxing after a long day stranded by the side of the road waiting to get the RV fixed. $700 later, we arrived at the campgrounds.

I wanted to stay along the Mississippi River, but close enough to visit Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa. The goal of this trip out west is to see as many of the National Parks and Monuments as we can.

Grant River Recreation Area is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. Reservations had to be made online and with Rich’s lifetime National Park Pass it was only $10 per night to camp.

Our site had 50 amp electric hookup but no water or sewer. Drinking water is available throughout the park and a dump is available when you leave. The view of the river was absolutely stunning.

On the way to Effigy Mounds today, Wednesday, August 2, we stopped at the Fort Crawford Museum in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Zachary Taylor, who became the twelfth president of the United States commanded the fort from 1829 to 1837. Jefferson Davis, former president of the Confederate States of America, was stationed at Fort Crawford, and the Sauk leader Black Hawk surrendered here and was held prisoner after the Black Hawk War of 1832.

On to the mounds. Effigy Mounds National Monument holds 206 known prehistoric mounds with 31 of them in the form of animal effigies. Some of the other mounds are conical, linear, or compound. These effigy mounds are not the result of nature, but were built by American Indians between 850 and 1,400 years ago. I wasn’t able to hike to the individual mounds, as many of the trails are anywhere from one to four miles long.

After exploring the Effigy Mounds Visitor Center we drove on down the river to the Marquette Scenic Overlook at the Pontoon Bridge. What a beautiful view this was.

The next stop was Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa. I do want to mention here that all of the State Parks in Iowa are free entrance to anyone. Some of the state parks are the most beautiful places in the country. Please take advantage of this if you are ever in Iowa.

Known for its majestic views of the Mississippi River, this is a must stop place for anyone. It was a short walk to the platform. The view of the river and surrounding area is gorgeous, and several bald eagles soared above our heads as we stood in silence enjoying the view.

It was a glorious day exploring another small corner of America. Stay tuned for the journey as we travel further west.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

July 31, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Herbert Hoover was born on August 10, 1874 in a small town in Iowa. He served as the 31st President of the United States from 1929 – 1933. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is located in West Branch, Iowa and we were only 30 miles away while we were parked at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop & Museum.

We hopped in the car and drove to the Visitor Center. I got my stamp and sticker for my National Park Book. From the Visitor Center you simply walk the old wooden plank sidewalk to the small cottage where he was born.

This 14 foot x 20 foot home was built in 1871. It doesn’t take long to go from the front door to the back door. With two adults and three children, there was not much room in the small dwelling.

Out the back is another wooden plank sidewalk leading to the outhouse and across the street to the Blacksmith Shop where Herbert’s father, Jesse Hoover, worked.

Next is the one-room schoolhouse built in 1853. It served as the primary school for the children of West Branch when Herbert was a boy. It used to be a couple blocks away but it was moved here beside the Blacksmith Shop.

From here you can walk to the Presidential Library & Museum or drive to it. We got back in the car and drove to it. The Presidential Library is separate from the National Park so there is a separate fee to enter. We chose not to enter the museum.

Continuing on the road past the Presidential Library we drove through a peaceful park leading to the gravesite of President and Mrs. Hoover. It is very simple and elegant. I have never visited the gravesite of a president before and I was extremely impressed with the simplicity of this one.

Herbert Hoover died on October 20, 1964 and was buried here – on this hill overlooking his childhood home – five days later, beside his wife Lou Henry Hoover who died in 1944.

From the parking area it is a short 280 ft. walk to the graves. The path will continue around to a Tall Grass Prairie Observation Deck or you can simply go back to your car.

If you are ever on I-80 in Iowa it would be good to take the time to visit this gem of a place.

Iowa 80 Truck Stop & Museum

July 31, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

We left home in Ohio early this morning and traveled 358 miles to the Iowa 80 Truck Stop and Trucking Museum. This truck stop claims the title of the world’s largest truckstop.

It was established in 1964, which makes it as old as I am. Stepping inside the doors is like stepping into a large shopping mall. There are shops and fast food restaurants galore. Other amenities include a barber shop, chiropractor, custom shop, dental office, laundry facility, showers, library, and even a movie theater. Who could ask for more?

You can eat and shop and visit the trucking museum. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum is down the street, but we walked to it from the parking lot. Entrance is free but donations are welcome. What a wonderful display of old antique trucks, modern trucks, rare trucks, and toy trucks.

If you are traveling down Interstate 80 through Walcott, Iowa, you simply must stop and visit the largest truck stop in the world. Overnight parking in the RV is allowed and there is plenty of room.

Back at Home

July 28, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Leaving a campsite is a lot of work but after 15 months we have it down to a science. Well, almost. One thing I never did, that I always say I should have, is make a checklist of things to do. It seems like we always miss something. Usually it is something minor, but I think I will make a list.

Back at home in Convoy, Ohio, the kids were glad to see mom and dad, but sad to leave Grandma and Grandpa. I think they had a memorable vacation that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

It stormed in Northwest Ohio several times in the past few days. As I write this we are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and I can see a tornado spotter sitting in a vehicle on the road when the lightning flashes. The wind rocks the camper back and forth making me feel like I am back on that ferry boat. At times like this you wish you had a basement to go down to.

Okay, back to bed. Tomorrow is another adventure. Thanks for stopping by and checking in on us. Safe travels.

Gotta Getaway RV Park

July 26, 2023 – Traveling With Rich & Julie

Yesterday we headed east on Highway 30 from Convoy, Ohio to 53/67 North exit toward Tiffin. Highway 20 then took us to Bellevue, Ohio and our final destination at the Gotta Getaway RV Park. The motorhome ran fine and we didn’t have any issues. The grandkids all traveled well and we didn’t have any problems with them either. They pretty much had devices in their hands and earbuds in their ears for the whole two-hour drive.

Two lane highway between a green corn field and a green bean field.

Highway 53 North is a nice two-lane highway in good shape – compared to some of the roads we have driven. There are a lot of small hills in the road which made the ride fun for the kids. It was a beautiful sunny, 80-degree day. What a wonderful beginning for a grand (grandparent/grandchildren) vacation.

North central Ohio is green this last week of July. Beautiful fields of tall corn stand about four or five feet high. Some of the corn is already beginning to tassel here. The beans are green, but the wheat has already been harvested, the straw has been baled, and the golden fields left behind are empty now.

Gotta Getaway RV Park in Bellevue, Ohio was our destination. I booked this park for only $50 per night for three nights. One piece of advice – make sure to put 20 E on the address. If you just put 4888 US-20 as listed on Google Maps, the GPS will take you to the wrong place. The correct address is 4888 US Hwy 20 E. The campground is on the east side of Bellevue.

RV campsite

RV sites contain electricity and water only, there are no sewer hookups at the sites. There is a dump station, or a honey wagon service if you need to dump while camping. We were parked in site 4, which was a nice level pull-through site facing the pool and playground.

The kids were excited to see the pool and the playground. These are very nice and clean. The store has a fun arcade in the back where kids can play games, play pool, and play ping pong. The store is small, but well-stocked with necessities. The workers were helpful and polite.

Playground set

We went swimming in the pool, played on the playground, won prizes in the arcade, played games at the picnic table, and ate hot dogs on the campfire. It was a great day at Gotta Getaway RV Park in Bellevue, Ohio.

Stay tuned for day 2 of our grandparent/grandchildren vacation adventure.

Camping With Grandchildren

July 25, 2023 – Traveling With Rich & Julie

We are getting ready to pull out this morning with three grandchildren in tow – ages 15, 9, and 5. We have already accumulated a ton of toys, games, clothes, pillows, blankets, and snacks. Oh my goodness, the snacks. These kids will probably eat us out of house and home (or RV motorhome) while we are gone.

Stay tuned for the adventure as we take them to Seneca Caverns in Bellevue, Ohio and a few other places.

Breakdowns & Fixes

July 19, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Living in a motorhome full-time is no more glamorous than living in a sticks and bricks house. Driving your house down the bumpy, and many times “under construction” highways across the country takes a pretty big toll on the unit and the stuff inside. It is all part of the process.

Breakdowns are common. Many times our issues are minimal and affordable to fix. Rich and I have learned to fix many things ourselves as most full-time RVer’s do. This time I don’t know though. I try to stay positive but we are looking at an electrical issue.

I live my life under the assumption that things always work out for the best and this issue will too…eventually. I may just have to be patient. Schedules change regularly and I am always mindful when I make reservations to note what the policy is on cancellations.

We finally found someone to come and hook up a computer to the engine to find out what error codes there were, and one of the fixes is only $65. We will start there and work our way up to the expensive fixes if we have to.

We are scheduled to do some traveling next week with the grandkids before leaving for a long time on Monday, July 31. We hope to be fixed and ready to go by then, but our schedule always remains flexible.

I also want to mention that I don’t feel like we have any more problems in this 20-year-old RV than some of the newer units. We have met many people in a lot newer units who have had some pretty serious problems too. We hope to stay in this one as long as it is still fixable and gets us from point A to point B.

To anyone out there who is a mechanic I would like to say that there needs to be more RV mechanics who are willing to come to where you are broke down. We struggle with calling many places sometimes before finding help.

Traveling With Rich & Julie

July 17, 2023 – Welcome to the new blog.

I have been thinking about starting a new blog to document our travels and experiences since moving into an RV and traveling full-time.

I have been writing faithfully about the places we have seen at Medium, but feel that more people would be able to read about our travels here where it is free to read.

At Medium it costs $4.99 per month to read unlimited stories and articles, although you can read three articles per month for free.

Don’t get me wrong, I love it when you read my posts at Medium because that’s how I get paid, but reaching my readers is more important than the tiny amount of money I might make.

I also love taking photos. All the photos on this site were taken by me unless otherwise noted. Some of my favorites are posted in the side bar slideshow on the bottom right.

I have decided the best way to bring you along with us on our journeys is to post a daily blog right here on the landing page of my website. I hope you bookmark it and check back regularly. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Travel on.