Eclipse/Galena/Rustic Barn Campground

EclipseTrip 20170819

 

This was supposed to be the Dayton trip – where Deb and I go visit her family there. But part way into planning, it was realized that there’d be conflict between grand kids there and wanting to visit with Dayton family. So, the trip morphed into a trip to Galena since we’d never been there and was about the same distance. We wanted to stay away from the eclipse craziness. Besides, this trip was about getting the kids trailer back on the road for a shakedown cruise as well as trying out the new Propride hitch.

So, we spent a week getting ready for the trip and didn’t quite get everything ticked off the list. Installing, adjusting and re-adjusting the new trailer hitches took quite a bit of time. We also got the Tow Vehicles and Trailers weighed and got a few surprises as to how much everything weighed. We also did some final adjustments that transferred more weight forward on the van and back to the trailer. I fixed the dinette light, installed a dump hose storage tube, a chain for the dump hose support and a few other things.

We managed to leave fairly early (before noon), but between extra stops, didn’t get into the camp until well after

Panorama of campsite and Wisconsin farm at Rustic Barn RV
Panorama of campsite and Wisconsin farm at Rustic Barn RV

5pm. We went to Rustic Barn Campground, off highway 61 in southwest Wisc. http://www.rusticbarnrvpark.com We dropped the trailers and headed out for supper.

The camp host was great, friendly, helped us set the trailers to get

Sunset view out back window at Rustic Barn RV
Sunset view out back window at Rustic Barn RV

the most of the sunset

small Chapel at Rustic Barn RV
small Chapel at Rustic Barn RV

view. The camp was clean, neat, mostly level with clean, nice bathrooms/showers, a community room, outdoor games. The second night we were there, they had their (1 of 4) community nights with a

Sunset over farm at Rustic Barn RV
Sunset over farm at Rustic Barn RV

DJ, home-made root beer, snacks and dancing. The girls made the most of the dance floor.  This park is definitely on our “will go back some day” list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown Galena – its one long curving street full of shops and restaurants.

The next day we spent in Galena – walking main street, hitting shops, eating lunch and having the BEST gelato.

We took a trolley tour to see the non-downtown sights and gather in some of the history. Afterward, we went back to the trailers for a short nap, then went out to a lookout over the river and drove out to Potosi to hit up the brewery for some craft beer. Then home for hotdogs on the grill and a bit of drone practice at sunset. (we forgot to focus the camera – 8^{ we need more practice) .

Galena, stairs that Grant used to walk up and down every day.
Galena, stairs that Grant used to walk up and down every day.

As usual, the next day we were worried about storms and rain so we tried to be quiet breaking camp before 8am – and finished around 8:30, leaving the noisy stabilizer jacks and hooking up till after 8. It was supposed to be a full test of dumping etc, but because we were in such a hurry, I helped out with some things on the kids trailer.

The hitches worked pretty much as expected. The girls did feel some push from semi trucks as they passed – just not the suck in and sway like we did with old hitches. The coincidental thing was when we pulled in – the trailer next to us also had a Propride P3 – so we had three of them in a row.

It was a good trip with no major problems. We did see some of the eclipse on the way home and were very glad we didn’t try to go into the path of totality.

 

 

 

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Mill Point Campground & RV Park

Mill Point, Settled in.
Mill Point, Settled in.

For our first trip out, we wanted a location that was far enough to get a sense of what towing would be like and close enough to home that we could dash back if things went horribly wrong.  We chooose Mill Point, on the east side of the Illinois River, just across from Peoria.  Its a quiet little park right on the water with lots of large pull through sites.  There are massive old growth trees that cast a lot of shade.  Depending on where you park your trailer, you can sit just outside and watch the barges go by.  Sites were full hookup, but no cable and WiFi was pretty weak.  But, if you just wanted a quiet restfull stay, its the perfect place.

The park was in easy driving distance of restaurants, stores, the all important ice cream shop and even Peoria, but we spent most of the three days, just taking walks, watching the boats and relaxing in the shade.

Below is a slide show with a few of the pictures we took on the river.

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