Rolling Along With The Reynolds

Jim and Cindy's Adventure Blog traveling all over the USA

Tag: thunderstorm

Hitchcock Nature Center

We left St. Joseph, MO today and have arrived in the beautiful land of the Loess Hills in Iowa. What was to only be a 2.5 hour drive turned into 4 hours due to a lengthy detour off of I29 along with 40 mph gusts – something this southern gal sure ain’t used to (my arms got a steering wheel workout keeping Clark on the pavement!). But so well worth it! I’m thankful we have 2 days to soak in this locale at  HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER, located in Honey Creek, IA.  P0ttowattamie County. 

Nestled on the rugged western edge of Iowa’s Loess Hills and just 25 minutes from central Omaha, Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) offers the most diverse four-season hiking and backpacking terrain in the region. Rising sharply from the Missouri River Valley, the Loess Hills, nearly 300-feet tall in some areas, possess the ridgelines and inclines you need to enjoy for your next backpacking adventure. The park’s 12 miles of ridge/ravine and open prairie trails, interspersed with expansive flats and dramatic elevation gains, provide the perfect experiences and challenges for all ages and abilities.  http://www.pottconservation.com

Last night the winds were so strong that we had to bring in the slides; it felt (and sounded) like a hurricane. Quite the experience in a Motorhome! 

Today it is very wet and extremely overcast. Our initial plans to hike and bike have been thwarted, but I’m still hoping for a break to get outside for a bit today. Happy Mother’s Day to my awesome Mom and all other Mothers!

Hitchcock Center – Honey Creek, Iowa pictures

Harvest Host stop

Harvest Hosts membership is well worth experiencing. The venues are typically independently owned businesses that allow RV-ers to stay overnight in their parking lots for FREE (in exchange for patronizing their biz).

One particular Harvest Host stay we did last year was very memorable. It was in Homosassa Springs Florida at a River Boat Cruise and Airboat ride place. We had a parking place immediately beside the water, and had the dock all to ourselves all night long. 

Tonight’s Harvest Host site wasn’t as near exciting, but just as memorable. One does not find an abundance of Campgrounds around London, KY (a pit stop to get from Asheville NC to Cave City KY) to choose from, but HH was there to the rescue.  “Corinth Baptist Church, across the street for overflow parking” was perfect. Easy to find off the Interstate, easy to park, and easy to welcome an opportunity to unwind. It truly was a pastoral picture for the <18 hours we were there; black birds (yet to be identified) were flocking all over the pasture and beautifully singing, two cats confidently patrolling their barn and surroundings, and a fantastic light show with surround sound to wake us up (a strong thunderstorm, LOL) just before dawn. By the time we were ready to leave, the skies had cleared and roads were dry.  We are in God’s Country. AMEN.

London, KY pictures