Chasing the Blues Away

Julia told me this morning that yesterday’s post was too depressing. After knowing me for forty years, she should know that’s a feature, not a defect. 

I didn’t head down to this part of the country to park the Scamp on the rear of a former minor league baseball field. I was waiting for Thomson Recreational Area to open up its COE campground across the Mississippi River from Clinton, Iowa.

It’s pretty much booked solid every weekend that it’s open. With dicey weather during the work week of May 1st, I put my reservation claim in on perhaps the best site.

Darker than Grey

 It was a grey day in Clinton, Iowa. Not just the weather. Things I saw on my long walk with Callie put me into a somber mood. 

We walked from downtown to the Lyons’s business district on the walkway along the Mississippi River. Early into the walk, I saw this.

Someone vandalized this fence in the name of American freedom. And for what? To access a flooded backwater where the trail ends just beyond the fence.

I walked several miles contemplating this angry, misguided act before turning west into Lyons. In fairness, I later saw attractive, thriving blocks. But this was my first impression. 

This was an empty city block, except for the last apparent business remaining: a gun store.

I walked up a few blocks, returning to downtown via what had to be its most prosperous street—many years ago.  Huge homes that must have been the pride of their owners at some point.

Continuing my walk, I saw some well-kept homes, large and small, but I couldn’t shake my feeling of American decline. Calling it great doesn’t make it so. Sometimes, it’s just a turd floating in the water. When we accept lower standards, something is lost.

“combined sewer overflow”

Urban Camping

I have camped in Little Rock and Raleigh. So it may be a stretch to describe my campsite in Clinton, Iowa as urban camping. Clinton is a small city of 25,000. But until recently, it boasted a minor league baseball team.

Due to Major League Baseball’s minor league contraction in 2020, Clinton now has a more modest claim to a collegiate summer team.  Why have I posted a photo of their stadium?  Because my campsite backs up to their downtown property.

I will say that Riverview Park is the gem of Clinton, a city which seems to be really struggling. The park included a riverboat theater, pickle ball courts, a swimming pool, and a great walking/biking path.

These are some of the nicest courts that I’ve ever seen. Eight beautiful courts, and no one played during during a weekend.  Too cold or windy, I guess.

Callie and I walked about eight miles up and down this path each day of our stay. Watching the barges work is always a good time.

April Camping: Take Two

 Our early April camping attempt met nasty weather. Last week, Julia started a kitchen cabinet project that drove me out of the house to the safety of the Scamp. The cabinet guy is good at what he does. In fact, he installed the original cabinets in this house thirty years ago. But I didn’t need to be around while the kitchen underwent open heart surgery.

So I fled for Iowa and the Mississippi River. Callie was happy to go too since she would have been staying in a basement crate to keep her out of the way. We decided to stay at Clinton’s waterfront park, which is an urban campground associated with the Clinton marina. 

First come, first serve, I picked a concrete slab furthest from the train tracks and the inoperable bathroom(waiting for parts).  For the inconvenience, camping was only $15/night and included electric, water, picnic table, fire ring and dump station.

Upper Peninsula: Downtime on Lake Michigan

From August 2021

Callie and I stayed three days at Little Bay du Noc campground.  I didn't do a whole lot:  walking the several campground loops and trails, reading by the fire, and enjoying the quiet mid-week solitude.  There were some sites with a lakeview but they came with neighbors and sometimes contractor generators. We were happy where we were.

By the end of our stay, I was ready to move on. It was time to move on to the shores of Otchipwe-kitchi-gami, (Ojibwe for the Big Sea) or Lake Superior.

Upper Peninsula: Bay du Noc

 From August 2021

After  wild weekend at Kleinke Park, I was done with camping directly on the beach.  Hitching up the Scamp on Monday, August 16th, I continued heading north past Escanaba, Wells, Gladstone, and Rapid River.  

I headed east and then south until I was across from Gladstone on the other side of the water at  Little Bay du Noc, a national forest campground.   The campsites were well-spaced and nestled into the trees.  No electric, but there were pit toilets and garbage service. $22/night without the senior pass (next year).

There was a small beach but not for camping.  And there wasn't anybody on it.  

 

Instead of sunrise views, I had sunset views from the east side of the bay.

This was camping.