The purpose of this trip was to bring the RV home, and it really started yesterday morning July 9th. Scott drove to Tom’s new house, and we got a ride to the airport. The plan is to leave Khan and Polo with Tom for some much-needed love (particularly Polo’s display which has not worked since we parked it in Seattle.) Both vehicles are in need of state inspection.
The PHL airport experience was great – with Scott’s status we were able to use the new Flagship Lounge . The former lounge space has been closed for at least three years, but the newly-reopened lounge is very much over the top. We had some really good food and there were far more employees trying to look busy than they needed.
The flight was something we dreaded, as for various reasons we were both in middle seats in coach. However, Scott was on a bulkhead with a nice businessman in the next seat, and Tom was next to an aisle seat where the person did not show – he was next to the only empty seat in the plane. So the experience was not too bad.
Dave Phillips met us at the airport and drove us to Tom’s house. We had dinner with Tom and his wife Terry. Good food and excellent conversation.
On the way home from the airport Dave told us about the Festival of Sail Duluth , and said we could see the opening parade from his large powerboat. We arranged to do this after an excellent continental breakfast at Tom’s. Since Terry has a real job she could not join us. Oh – and Tom and Terry’s son and daughter-in-law had a baby overnight, so Tom and Terry were anxious to play the roles of doting grandparents. However, the young couple was not ready for company this morning, so Tom drove along with us in Khan and Polo to a dock where we met Dave and Nancy.
The tall ship part of it was a bit disappointing, as there were patrol boats from several jurisdictions keeping private boaters from getting close to the tall ships. However, we had a great time socializing and seeing the Duluth harbor. After our tour, hopped off the boat and drove to Superior, WI to meet up again with Dave and Nancy at Barker’s Waterfront Grill.
We then said goodbye to our friends and drove through a few thunderstorms to Badgerland Campground in Stoughton, WI. The place seemed nice and the management was friendly, but we found it to be very annoying in the nickel-and-dime category. The wifi requires daily payment and the showers require quarters. We’ve been to lots of places with crummy wifi, but this is the first to make you pay for it. And it is the second place to require coins to take a shower.
Dinner was downtown in a fine Indian restaurant Indian Curry House . Food was good and was delivered rapidly, but service was a bit slow (we finally had to ask again for the check.) It did, however, live up to its ratings for the food.