My latest trip

Donna and me by Lake Pepin.

Sign by Lake Pepin

Lake Pepin is just a beautiful lake. The scenery in that area is so great.

A little history about Lake Pepin---------

Lake Pepin was named after the Pepin Brothers, two of the first French trappers in the area. The village of Pepin was settled in 1846 and was initally known as a steamboat boomtown familiar to Mark Twain and wealthy Chicago Socialities who summered on the lake. It is the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Lake Pepin was formed by the delta of Wisconsin's Chippewa River. It is a 28 mile long, three mile wide natural waterway that is part of the mighty Mississippi River. It is located 70 miles South of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

I cannot believe how much traveling I have done since I have been by myself. I decided to write them down again so I can keep track.

May 2008---Memorial Day weekend in Victoria with Donna and Laif and then Debbie, Kent, Erik and Badal joined us.

September 2008---Wonderful trip to Washington DC with Debbie. It was such a great experience to see our Nation's Capital.

October 2008---We went to Sophie's blessing in Salt Lake and now Sophie is walking. Also I rode the Zip line.

January 2009---Went to Las Vegas with Debbie and Kent. I always worry about the weather being bad in the winter but we had wonderful weather. Didn't even need coats. Debbie says I start worrying about winter in September and she is probably right. Dave, my husband before Clayton, used to say I was not happy unless I was worrying about something so I guess I will probably not change at this point.

April 2009---We took a Mexican-Rivera Cruise. We managed to get our cruise in before the big flu scare and people could not go into the Mexican ports.

May 2009---I spent a wonderful week with David and Debby in Ketchikan, Alaska.

July 2009---Donna and I vacationed for ten days in the midwest. Laif joined us the last three days.

Donna and I are already planning our next July vacation. We are planning on going to Helena, Montana where I was born and then go to Mansfield, Missouri to the Rocky Ridge Home of Almanzo and Laura Wilder. This was Laura and Almanzo's last home. He built Laura a 10 room house and they both died there. Almanzo had Scarlet Fever shortly after he and Laura were married and it left his leg crippled but he still did all the hard farming and built their house. He lived to be 92. Almanzo was ten years older than Laura. Laura lived to be 90. The moral of this story is---hard work doesn't shorten your life.

Donna and I won't make as long a trip out of it next summer. We will plan to fly into Helena and rent a car. Then we will fly to Missouri and rent a car.

Then of course next May I am still planning to go to Ketchikan.

Now Debbie and I have to plan a vacation again.

Someday I will run out of tomorrows but it is fun to keep planning.