2013 Vacation Plans, Part I

Cutter's Log - Stardate 3102.92.30
Current Song - It's My Life (No Doubt)

2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Part I
2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Part II
2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Part III
2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Part IV

2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Pictures I
2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Pictures II
2011 Mississippi River Vacation - Pictures III

"With a lot of vacations, there are some regrets. I have a few. I regret not being able to make the trip from Little Falls to Bemijdi, and stopping at those Wisconsin State Parks, and waking up late on the final day. But I think the best thing about these types of vacations is that the opportunity to come back is there because of these regrets. Of course, I would do the whole thing all over again if I could. However, to be honest, I don't know if I'm going to be able to travel this far for leisure for a while. I would like to get things straightened up back home before putting the money aside."  -- Me, 2011

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I have vacation time reserved from April 28 (my 27th Birthday) until May 5.

With a new house and still trying to find a way to make a bill cycle work without worry, it doesn't seem likely that a vacation is in the cards. However, all of the stress of undertaking this pretty much tells me that a vacation is needed.

The last vacation I took was along the northern part of the Mississippi River from Clinton on up to the Headwaters in Lake Itasca, MN. It was a really fun trip! Didn't anticipate the return trip through Wisconsin being the attraction it was.

I woke up late on my 4th and final day of the trip and it got dark by the time I reached the crossing of the Wisconsin River. I drove through Wyalusing, Bagley, Potosi and East Dubuque while it was dark out. I told myself that one day I would return up there to see what I missed. When, I don't know.

Well, I have plans to return up there this year. However, I'm going to try to make it as "el cheapo" as possible. Thus, I have camping plans.

Two places that intrigued me along the Iowa-Wisconsin border were North Buena Vista and Wyalusing. Both are small towns that are off the beaten path. NBV looked like a campground city on hills with one-lane park-like roads. Its cafe, I swear, was in a mobile home-like structure. One thing's for sure: When you think of Iowa, you think of cornfields. Not the case for NBV. Wyalusing looked similar, but with less campers. It is on the bottom of a bluff. Lots of shade space in both towns.

I found a Jellystone campsite in Bagley, south of Wyalusing. I had originally planned on camping or renting a cabin for a whole week there, but that changed after I found out that Opening Weekend was on the tail end of the vacation span. Still, I'm going to inquire about that weekend and see if I can get a spot for a tent.

But I don't have a tent. I would like one for my 27th Birthday.

Since the campground opening is on the last part of the week, I thought it was best to divide my vacation time into smaller fun things in a row rather than one thing for the whole week.

So hopefully the weekend part of it is official. Just have to make the call. I got something in mind for Friday, but still not sure on how to plan it yet. That'll be "Part II" in this Blog. Subsequent entries will follow.

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If you're an avid reader of the Blog, you're probably wondering about the car.

Not too long ago I took it on a drive to Dixon to get gas and a car wash at the Shell station. However, I noticed that something started to kick underneath. I'm going 65 miles per hour on the freeway with my cruise control on. That cruise control has been acting up lately and I wondered if that was why the car was "kicking."

I came back home on the Old Route 2 and drove 50 mph back to Sterling (no cruise), and things were back to normal. Last night I went to Dixon and back to see if the problem was still there. I took Old Route 2 both ways at 55 mph. There with no cruise, and back with cruise. I noticed nothing. So I'm guessing that the car shouldn't go anything over 55 (and why would it, outside of an Interstate?) with or without a cruise.

I guess the good thing about that is that I won't be speeding.

Sterling to Bagley is all two-lane road, with the exception of a stretch from Galena to East Dubuque. I think doing 55 won't be a problem.