Scamping in Iowa
In early April, we retrieved the Scamp from the pole barn and headed for Dubuque, Iowa. Open campgrounds are not widely available this time of year in the Upper Midwest, but we found a couple good ones about thirty minutes south of Dubuque not far from the shores of the Mississippi River near the town of Bellevue. Our first campground was the county-operated Spruce Creek, and it was a steal at $22/ night and a choice of waterfront sites. In fact, we could choose any of the campsites here because we were the only ones camping. It wasn’t too hard to find the perfect spot. One of the reasons that no one else was camping is that the flush toilets and shower house were not open yet. There were pit toilets and the Scamp’s bathroom, so we didn’t mind. We passed several days hiking area trails and watching the barges go up and down the river. The town of Bellevue has locks to facilitate the barges. There is nothing better for the lazy man than to watch the locks in operation. Bellevue State
