Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

We are on the road again heading to Door County in Wisconsin. The humidity and heat in Ocala is scorching and it is time to escape!

First stop on the journey was at the KOA in Forsyth Georgia (the scene of the dog bite incident in May when we traveled to Ohio). No dog encounters this trip. It was just as hot and humid there as at home.

Next stop was Calvert City, Kentucky. The weather was a tad cooler but the smoke from the Canadian fires blew in. Calvert City was named for Potilla Willis Calvert. The town was incorporated on March 18, 1871. In the 1940s, the construction of nearby Kentucky Dam by the Tennessee Valley Authority brought plentiful electric power that led many industrial plants (mostly chemical manufacturers) to locate between the city and the Tennessee River. 

We were lucky enough to get a fantastic ride in … rolling hills, low traffic roads, and sprint practice from several loose dogs!

We did a quick visit to Paducah, Kentucky where we walked along the river front of the city. Paducah is located at the confluence of the Tennessee and the Ohio rivers. Interesting fact .. Paducah was nicknamed the Atomic City back in the early 1950’s. The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission selected Paducah as the site for a new uranium enrichment plant. The plant was closed in June 2013, and the Department of Energy began the process of decontaminating and shutting down the facilities.

As we traveled through Illinois we still had hazy skies, but once we headed north the haze started to abate. The route to North Utica, Illinois had us on five interstates (I24, I57, I74, I39 and I80)..maybe we should have bought a powerball ticket!!

We planned to stay two nights at Natures Way RV Resort in North Utica, do a bike ride and head to Door County. Being flexible is important on trips like this. Sooo…here we go!

First we did a wonderful hike at Starved Rock State Park. This park has 18 canyons formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion that slices dramatically through tree covered, sandstone bluffs on the south side of the Illinois River. Waterfalls are abundant during the spring thaw and rains. We hiked to LaSalle canyon (tree coverage the whole hike) that still had a trickle of a waterfall. It was a massive canyon. Beautiful day.

During the wee hours of the morning on our last night in North Utica, we had electrical problems (no power) on the inside of Tin Can Lulu. After numerous phone calls with Airstream it was deducted that we needed a new converter (the source that manages the power in the coach). Mechanically challenged we found an RV dealer (non Airstream) near Joliet, Illinois who ordered the part and agreed to do the install.

Thank goodness the evenings were in the 60’s and we slept with the windows open. Our gracious hosts at Natures Way RV Park were able to accommodate us for two extra nights stay. We made it to the RV dealer and they installed the new converter and we were back on the road by early afternoon only two days behind our original plans. Flexible we are!!!

Next up the adventures in Door County!