I think I mentioned I would post when I got to Winona. Well, here I am. I'm in my home town now. I'm a week late. There is a good reason for that. I traveled here with my trailer and found the camp ground full. They had no spots. There is another RV park here, but the bang for the buck at that place just isn't there. I checked out a place near Bluff Lands State Park. It's a private farm with about four or five hookups behind their barn. The Park itself has tenting only sites.
Access to the park was skinny but I think I could manage. They have no water of sewer, or dump station. I told the lady I would be here on Wednesday. She charges $25.00 per night with no break for a weeks stay or months stay. I can't believe how high fees are around here! Unfortunately, I changed my mind when I discovered the road leading down the bluff to Winona was closed due to construction. The detour was almost as far as it would be for me to drive from Rochester.
Okay, I stayed a night in the parking lot of the Elks Club in Goodview. Then I drove back to Rochester and stayed there until today. The park in town (Prairie Island) now has a lot of open spots. I guess last week was too close to the 4th of July weekend. RV Parks in this part of the country are monopolized by locals. It must be the long Winters. People want to be in the good old outdoors when they can. I don't blame them.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of my old buddies and maybe playing a round of golf. Who knows!
In the mean time I found myself driving out to the old farm my parents lived on when they were in their twenties. The old barn is the only structure still standing. The farm house has long since burned down and the remaining farm buildings gradually disappeared. The road, or really a country lane, has been renamed Cox Drive in honor of the homesteaders that lived at the end of it.
I wasn't there for three minutes when a car came roaring up the gravel drive to check me out. What was I doing there, he asked. I told him I just wanted to visit and my folks once lived here. He looked surprised and after he understood my dad was Tom Cox, he introduced himself as George Martin. He knew Dad and has lived down the road for 83 years! We chatted a bit as he interjected little stories about the barn.
It was the largest barn in the county at the time. The current owner tried to have it re roofed, but it can't be done these days without a structural engineer's okay. George remarked that he remembered my uncle Francis painted it and had to swing from a rope fastened to the roof to paint the peak. The last time I saw this barn I was in grade school.
I bid George a goodbye. It's nice to see neighbors being neighbors. He was watching out for the property of the current owner.
The Winona County Fair was on. It's held each year at the fair grounds in St Charles. The old farm and St Charles are only 12 mile apart. I stopped in for a quick walk of the fair grounds. It amazes me. My memories of the county fair are of hot, hot and some humidity thrown in for good measure. That was today too! It was sticky, tough to draw a breath. But the fair goers were out in numbers.
I munched on a corn dog. I bought an ice cube tray from a Tupperware vendor. I stopped by the Fastenal booth and talked with the people there. They have a portable display with a CMC machine turning out can openers, golf ball markers, key chains and other souvenirs. I mentioned I always spec'd out Fastenal Products on my drawings whenever I could, during my work years. They gave me a hand full of everything they were handing out!
I always enjoy the farm animals and displays. I watched as judging was going on in the 4Her's pavilion. A little guy with big glasses won First Place for his rabbit. He was quite excited!
I hope I get over my lazies and post again soon.
