8 May 2022 - Arrived at Wapello IA

 8 May

Today we departed Clear Lake State Park campground at 0830 hrs and traveled the "Avenue of the Saints" for the majority of the 227 mile trip to get to our camping location #4, North Park in Wapello IA.  We arrived at 1256 hrs and it did not take us long to set-up.  

The "Avenue if the Saints" connects Saint Paul MN with Saint Louis MO and goes completely through Iowa from north to south.  We entered the "Avenue of the Saints" on Route 18 just outside Clear Lake, and remained on it until we turned off Highway 218 just 23 miles from Wapello

Wapello is the county seat of Louisa (pronounced loo-eye-za) county in southeast Iowa with a population of just over 2000 at the last census.  The city is named after a Meskwaki Indian Chief and was platted back in the 1830's. I believe Wapello would be the largest town between Muscatine and Burlington Iowa.  It is not far from the Mississippi River.  

The camping area in Wapello is at North Park, at the north side of town.  The park is not huge, but there are five non-reservable full-hookup sites at a very reasonable price.  Two of the sites are occupied by workers of some sort.  The guy next to us said he is working the night shift which will be no issue for us as we are gone most of the day anyway.

Aerial view of North Park.  Camping sites in the lower right corner

All set up here

Wind was ferocious so we flew the flags for a while and then took them down.

After setting up we had a quick lunch and then headed out on an extended  "walk about the town" with little Miss Liberty.  After being in the saddle for over four hours today, the walking really felt good.  I picked Doreen a Mother's Day bouquet for the local violets!  

We headed towards downtown but there are no businesses open on Sunday, so we had the place to ourselves.  Doreen identified at least one shop she wants to visit tomorrow.  A few pictures:

What looks to be an old movie theatre.  Hopefully they are restoring it.

Wapello is on the west bank of the Iowa River

A very quiet Sunday afternoon in downtown Wapello

Part of the downtown area that is being restored

The quaint Wapello Hotel is for sale, in case anyone is looking for an invetment!

After we walked around town he headed to the highway and found "Cynful Smokehouse and Creamery" open for business, so we stopped in for an ice cream.  The aroma of the smoked meats was mouth-watering!  We may have to stop back here for dinner in a couple days!

Smokers out back.

The ice cream menu.  I failed to get a picture of the smoked meats menu but they offer smoked pork, sausage, beef, etc.  Smelled delicious!!

Back at the RV we talked to all the kids for Mother's Day and then settled in to watch the Cubs lose to the Dodgers at Wrigley.  Come on Cubs!!

So why Wapello IA?  Well, Wapello is the home of a dear friend Bart French.  Bart's dad was the Captain of Area C in the Iowa State Patrol and when he retired my dad Lefty was promoted to Captain and assumed his command.  I may have met Bart years ago, but when I was Fire Chief in Norwalk, Bart's company Midwest Breathing Air Systems sold the Norwalk Fire Department a Mako breathing air compressor and air fill station.  Bart and I ended up reconnecting because of that and ever since I have tried to maintain connection with him.  He is a great American, a navy Veteran, a retired firefighter, a life-long scuba diver/instructor and a retired school teacher from Mount Ayr IA.  He has touched and positively influenced so many lives in these roles.  I have the utmost respect for Bart.  It is because of people like Bart that Doreen and I enjoy our RV travels so much, and the opportunities to reconnect with our friends, relatives and military comrades across the Nation and  MOST IMPORTANTLY thank them for their friendship and their service.  This world needs more people like Bart French.

Tomorrow we will pick up Bart shortly before noon and enjoy lunch with him at the local Mexican restaurant.  It will be great to see him again!  We are so sorry he lost his wife Pat on 29 Sep 2021.  Pat was such a sweetheart, just like Bart.  Here is a picture when we came over for a visit on 11 Jan 2017: