Summer '22 Cross Country - Day 15

Travel day from Utica, Illinois to Amana, Iowa

Back to Day 14

Sunday, 19 June 2022

It’s hard to believe that today marks the start of our third full week on the road. Time flies when you’re having fun, and Frieda, Maddie, Skipper and I are having fun!

We began the day with a leisurely, sleep-in for Fathers Day. With only a little less than a three-hour trip ahead of us to Amana, Iowa, we figured we could leave as late as the noon check-out time and be fine. An RV rule of thumb we came across a few months ago is the 3/3/3 Rule that we are now firm believers in. That is:

• Drive no more than 300 miles in one day (we had less than 170 today)

• Stop at least every 3 hours (we stopped just inside of Iowa to have lunch in the trailer)

• Arrive no later than 3 pm (we busted this one, but not by much, and we knew that we were registered as Early Birds for the rally, so we would have the pick of sites, which we did)

• Alternatively, stay a minimum of 3 nights (we have already found that less driving and more nights is the way to RV)

Breaking camp at Nature’s Way RV Park was a pleasure as the temps were downright cool after such a hot arrival five days ago. A little after 11 am, we were on our way.

One last selfie, a kiss for luck, and we are on our way!

One of my absolute favorite things about having a trailer behind us is being able to pull into a rest area and to be at “home.” Lock the truck, walk 10 steps, and enter your own house. Use your own bathroom, take off your shoes, kick back on your own bed, make a pot of coffee, and have a meal. It’s truly amazing and a truly refreshing experience. It’s even better when your lovely bride asks, “Honey Bear, would you like chips with your lunch?”

Lovely Bride

Skipper, Maddie and me anxiously awaiting Lovely Bride to finish preparing lunch!

We added another state to Ollie Hull #961’s travels — Iowa — which is also Frieda’s birth state.

A bucket list item for me is to take Ollie to all lower 48 states no later than the end of 2023.

We arrived at the Amana RV Park & Event Center a little after 3 pm and after a quick decision on which site to select, we settled on one with a nice little maple tree in our “front yard” to give us a bit of shade in what is a rather exposed, ginormous RV park. To my delight, something that doesn’t happen as often as I would wish, the site was perfectly level! To not have to level the trailer up is a huge time saver.

Our “Early Bird” rear view.

We love our little maple tree! Not many sites had a tree so we are glad we arrived early.

The grass fields here are enormous and Maddie and Skipper enjoyed several nice long walks today.

“This is just perfect,” says Skipper!

Vast, grass fields.

Skipper resting after a long walk. He’s also being rather sweet and cute. Do. Not. Be. Deceived.

Lovely Bride resting after a long walk. Engrossed but also disturbed that I make her watch Naked and Afraid XL. She thinks that secretly I want to be on the show. Not for the afraid part though.

We ended the day around our wonderful propane fire pit while enjoying a glass of wine. The only thing that would have made today better would have been to spend it with my amazing dad, father-in-law, and sons on this Father’s Day. Fortunately, we will see all four later on this trip.

Please be sure to comment, like and share! I want to hear from you.

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