Effingham, IL

 The name was so effing-funny we had to stop for here for the night. We left Interstate 69, which could have taken us all the way to Edinburg in South Texas, and turned right on Interstate 70, which could take us all the way to Colorado.  We’re not heading for Edinburg or Colorado, but we *are* headed south.  Stopped for the night at Camp Lakewood, Effingham, IL. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=38.719805,-84.199219&spn=11.563316,26.784668 It’s a nice camp.   When we started south, we had seen birds in all but 3 states (in the lower 48).  We knocked off one with Indiana; saw 12 birds.  Now we’re in Illinois; got 12 birds.  Only one state to go now.  Arkansas.  

Auburn, Indiana

 The Auburn, Cord, Deusenburg Museum.  Who could pass that up? We didn’t.  There were Duesenbergs, like this 1926 touring car. Cords, like this 1936 Coupe. But for me, the highlight was this 1935 Boat-tail Speedster.  As I recall, Dad’s speedster was a 1936, but otherwise, it looked just like this (except it wasn’t finished).   A thing of beauty.  Supercharged, straight-eight Lycoming aircraft engine; the world record-holder fastest production car at 100 mph!  Stopped for the night at the Fort Wayne/Bluffton KOA. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=42.964463,-76.937256&spn=5.426063,13.392334 At this park, it’s offseason now. 

I remember

 Brother Bill talking about a campground where he got put between two big rigs and felt like he was camping in a canyon.  He got them to move him to another site. A similar thing happened to us today.  We’re at Waffle Farm Campground in Coldwater, Michigan. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=42.964463,-76.937256&spn=5.426063,13.392334 They assigned us a nice full-hookup site in the trees, surrounded by a bunch of little rigs. We got backed in okay, but the spaces were designed more for the smaller rigs than for us.  We felt claustrophobic.  Judy went back to the office and got us reassigned to an electric-only site. Much better. …and in today’s sports, the Exploding Green Ninja Leprechauns, Teigan’s soccer team, won their game 2-0. 

Back in the USSA

 Bye to Henry and Barb.  We left them at the Provincial Park. An easy drive on slow scenic roads.  We left the west coast of Ontario, drove south, crossed back over into the U.S. into Michigan.  It was another easy border crossing.  15 minutes total.  5 minutes with the border agent.  We chatted about what we did and where we were going.  He didn’t want our fruits and vegetables.  Didn’t care whether we had guns or not.  Wanted to know if we bought anything to declare. We drove on to the east coast of Michigan.  We’re still on Lake Huron, but now we’re at Lakeport State Park, Port Huron, MI. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201563872774147443355.0004e02f0c80f1461c0bf&msa=0&ll=42.964463,-76.937256&spn=5.426063,13.392334 It’s an urban park.  …but it’s warmer already.  We arrived here at 85 degrees. See the smudge on the side of the coach starting at the middle window? That’s an owl smudge.  While we were driving, we got attacked by an owl.  I don’t know if it saw a reflection or what.  Maybe he had his sights set on me, miscalculated our speed, and failed to lead me adequately.  Whatever, as we drove by, a great horned owl hit the side of the coach with a huge bang.  As we drove on, I looked in the left-side mirror and saw the owl flying back to his tree.  His bell must have been ringing.  Ours was.