Ruth's Life is Good: Thursday 4-16-26 New State and Campground & Motorcycle Ride

Iowa welcome sign

We had a gorgeous day with sunshine and a breeze.

The temperature in Missouri has been 20 degrees warmer then normal. Usually the normal high temperatures for April in Missouri are 63-72 degrees and the lows are 39-50 degrees. We have been having the highs in the 80s and lows in the mid to high 60s. So we have had temperatures 20 degrees warmer then normal.

We woke up to the temperature of 60 degrees in La Grange, MO with blue skies. It rained last night and went away early this morning. The weather felt good because there was a breeze. We had a high temperature of 82 degrees in Keosauqua, IA with a breeze.

I crawled out of bed at 7:15 and got dressed. Today we're said good-bye to Missouri and hello to Iowa. We had a quick breakfast and got the Minnie ready to go. We didn't have too far to go, about 70 miles.

Before leaving Boulder Lake Campground we stopped by a water spicket and filled our water tank and the dump station and dumped the tanks. We weren't sure if the water was going to be on in the Iowa state parks because their website said they try to get the water on by May 1st.

Good-bye Boulder Lake

We were on the road by 8:15 am. The first part of the adventure was on a four lane highway through small towns, we saw a lot of farms and ranches. The highway was Hwy 61 North. Then we turned on Hwy C, which was a two lanes. We drove this highway for a ways and then got on Hyw 81 North, which was a two lane highway. As we were driving we went through Amish country so we had to share the road with buggies. We saw one along the way, it had a male driver and two women in the buggy and one beautiful black horse pulling the buggy. The horse was going very fast so I couldn't get a picture. The people were all dressed up. When we got to Farmington, IA we stopped by the Des Moines River where I took a picture. Farmington is a small town. After stretching our legs we continued our adventure.

Farmington Iowa post office

Des Moines River

When we got to Keosauqua, IA we stopped at Circle B and filled the Minnie with gas. Then we drove around the town. It didn't take too long because it was very small. The state park was right before you enter Keosauqua.

We arrived at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park about 10:15 am. We drove around a little bit looking at the sites. Then we parked the Minnie and Larry went to the website to see what sites were available for three nights. Then we walked around looking at the sites. One loop had some full hook-ups in the middle and on both sides there were electric sites. As we were walking the camp host drove up, he explained that reservations were all online even though the sign coming in said there was a kiosk, he also said that at the moment every site was $20 dollars. Larry asked about the bathroom/shower house, they are open and all the water is on. He was very nice.

We found site # 26, it was level enough we didn't have to use blocks and Larry could get the motorcycle off the carrier with no problems. Most of the sites weren't level. There were a lot of pull through sites but we took a back in site.

Once we set the Minnie up for it's stay we had lunch. After lunch because it was such a beautiful day we went on a motorcycle ride around the park. Lacey-Keosauqua State Park is a CCC park and has some CCC buildings, bridges and other structures. We drove around to the entrance, where there was a CCC worker statue, a CCC gatehouse and a CCC stone lodge. We stopped and walked around the area. We learned more about the CCC. While walking around the lodge we noticed the door was open and the windows were open. So we popped in. There were two ladies cooking in preparation of a wedding tomorrow. They were very nice and friendly. They had three little girls on blankets playing. After saying hi we continued our walk. Then we loaded back on the bike and stopped at another historic site called Ely Ford. Ely Ford is the crossing point of the Mormon Trek heading westward from Nauvoo, Illinois. I walked around and took pictures. Then we continued riding around the park. We drove by the cabins. We drove around for about an half hour. It was a beautiful ride through the park.

CCC Bridge

CCC Worker statue

CCC Entrance Gate

CCC Lodge

Fun Facts on the CCC

CCC Gatehouse

Ely Fork Mormon Crossing of the Des Moines River

Des Moines River

I spent the rest of the day playing games. I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Tri Peaks Adventure of 20 games. It took me 1 hour, 1 minutes and 50 seconds to complete, which put me in 10th place in my group. I played Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds 2.

After I finished my games I continued reading A Stranger In The Kingdom. Larry finished the thirds book in a series he has been reading and started another book.