10-5-25: Traveling usually provides us some amusements (not always funny, not always fun, not
always easy, sometimes hilarious).
We overshot the entrance to our first campground outside Menomonie, WI in a very rural area.
Not that we were driving fast. Not that it was dark. Navigation directions were a little "off." Not
us….I said the GPS was "off." Well, it does help if you LISTEN to the voice in the dashboard. It
also helps to follow the arrow on the map picture on the dashboard. Maneuvering even a small
RV towing a car is not necessarily joyful on narrow rural back roads. We pray that we don’t have
to unhook the car we’re towing.
I had to reacquaint myself with our lady friend who resides in the dashboard of our RV. She likes
us to get her attention by calling, “Hey Mercedes.” Yup…that’s correct. Mercedes is her name
and she’s quite contemporary in her desire to be called “Hey Mercedes.” That wakes her up.
“Hey Mercedes, please take us to Ma’s Campground by Menomonie, WI.” Wa La! She was our
friend.
We spent two nights at Ma’s Campground and felt fortunate (albeit lucky) NOT to hear banjo
music. Do you know what I mean? We spent a lovely Saturday with granddaughter Holly
Hultman who attends Stout before continuing our travels.
“Mercedes” was too sleepy and not receptive to our wake-up call at Ma’s Campground this
Sunday morning. We drove to the first Rest Stop just a few miles away to offer her some coffee.
That did it! “Hey Mercedes, please take us to the Tin Cup Campground in Illinois.” She didn’t like
the actual address but did acknowledge the campground by name and blessed us with a map
picture to follow.
While I was working with Mercedes, Scott Lee noticed the semi-truck parked at the rest stop
next to us. He wanted me to see something. There was a kitten sunning on the dashboard of
the semi-truck. While I was looking a 2nd kitten, and a 3rd kitten, and yes, a 4th kitten
appeared. Not sure if that was all of them; but how cute was that?! Guess that truck driver likes
cats. I refuse to think anything more sinister.
A well-known Dr. Seuss quote from his book “Oh the Places You’ll Go” about traveling is:
"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… get on your way!"
What else will we see and experience on this trip?

10-6-25 Travel Lessons:
#1: “Oh Siri. Siri? Siri take me to Nashville, TN today. Siri? Siri?” Um….Our lady friend
who sleeps in the dash of our RV is called Mercedes, and more specifically, “Hey
Mercedes.” Now she’s offended! She’s probably going to take us on an adventure. Or
maybe she’ll continue to ignore us. People are fussy about their names. I am Sylvia with
a “Y” Not Silvia with an “i” Besides I think Mercedes responds better to certain voices.
Just sayin.
#2: “Haymakers” Gas Station. Are these common? We had never seen one before. The
Haymaker gas pump news was about being a Panda Bear Cuddler. Did you know that
was a real job? Very cool. I might have to come out of retirement for one of those jobs.
I’d actually heard about this some time ago on one of those TV specials; but had
forgotten. Guess I needed a reminder about some good “self-care” Daily Panda bear
hugging sounds like a good effort.
#3: Remember to keep a sleep mask (not when driving LOL) for the occasion when
there are large cement construction barriers on the immediate left of the RV and the
Ohio River on the immediate right side. I could probably touch the cement blocks from
the driver’s window. This situation gives me a serious case of the hibbie-jibbies. I have a
“real thing” about this. “No Scott, I don’t care to look at the barges in the Ohio River right
now. I’m trying to do some therapeutic self-talk. Breathe. Breathe Deeper. Breathe
Slower. Are you breathing?! Whew! That was awful, one of the worst!!” This is NOT how
I like to amuse myself. I’d rather be smashed in the wall inside our murphy bed despite
claustrophobia than have to see what I’ve described. Did I tell you readers how awful it
is?
Again, from the Dr. Suess Book, “The Places You’ll Go, “You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

10-8-25 Today’s Travel Amusement–Sometimes it doesn’t take much.
We stopped at a Rest Stop to stretch our legs. Decided to use the Women’s Rest
Room. The picture below is what I encountered! What is this?! Price is Right for the
Ladies Room? What’s behind Door 1, or Door 2, or Door 3, or Door 4, or Door 5? My
phone camera did not quite capture the complete breadth of the scene.
Dear Sweet Engineer or Designer, do you not have any concept how confusing this
could be to some of us? Do you not understand that some of us are directionally
challenged and that our cell phone GPS is not going to help us with this dilemma? If I go
in one door, how will I know when I leave that I've come out the same door I came in?
Oh Good Lord, please (Catholic sign of the cross happening) have mercy and help me
pick the correct door and then turn the correct direction on the way out. I didn’t know I’d
need to drop breadcrumbs to find my back to the RV. And what if the pigeons ate them
while I’m indisposed?
Amusing? Maybe yes! Maybe no! The challenge is REAL.

10-15-25: Final Travel Adventure – “The Plant” (True Story)
Ha! It “might” be the final story for this trip. For some reason, I delight in finding things
of curiosity while traveling. They just seem to appear and I cannot resist. I make myself
chuckle about almost nothing. Guess it helps stagnant airtime on a plane or freeway
drive time more entertaining.
6:00 a.m. came early today. I think 6:00 a.m. came at 4:30 a.m., at least it felt like it.
Do you know what I mean? Our Uber Drivers were picking us up for Fort Meyers Flight
to MN at 8:00 a.m. Plenty of time, right? Why then is there never quite enough time,
especially when we were all packed, locked, and ready to go?! I think it was because
our Uber was 1-2 minutes early. Yes, that must be it.
Scott wanted to arrive at RSW Airport extra early. Most people think of dear hubby as
cool, calm, and laid back. Double HA HA! We have always been compatible travelers;
but he is a little fidgety when it comes to airport timing. This time he was twitchy about
whether there would be extra-long lines through security due to our government
shutdown. Me, not so much. As it turns out, we walked right through security
immediately without any waiting. Nothing.
What I didn’t know is that dear hubby had forgotten his passport. He does not have the
“real” I. D. driver’s license yet due to complications with his name. It’s complicated
because his birth middle name is one thing, his baptismal name is another, and I think
he’s always gone by something else. I always wonder which Scott I’m traveling with.
How’s that for fun….….or scary not to know your travel mate or today’s name. I hope
they don’t quiz me!
It turned out to be a piece of cake! TSA Agent asked for his I.D. to be placed in the
machine slot in any direction, it didn’t matter. He pulled out his non-real I. D. driver’s
license. Wa La! He’s in. If that had failed, we’d had to call our Uber driver back to fetch
us a ride back to our Florida house. Doubtful that we’d be able to make a round trip in
time to catch our flight.
On to the next “seeetiation” (misspelled intentionally). We are so early that the three
MN Sun Country flights are not on the board with a Gate number; yet they are marked
as “arriving on time.” Hmmmmm. How can that be? So where do we go now? What?
Another dilemma for dear hubby. Me, not so much. I don’t have to worry. He’ll figure it
out. A little bit of pacing ensued. Not much. Not too bad, but just enough to adequately
check, double, and triple check the board which continued to be blank.
I enjoyed a “HOT” cup of Starbuck’s decaf during the wait for our flight arrival
information. Too hot for dear hubby. He’ll drink it when it’s not hot enough for me. I like
mine HOT, so it all works out.

It’s a bit of a hobby to guess or make up other people’s stories. A housekeeping lady
found someone’s wallet near us, so that was exciting. Do you ever look at a couple and
wonder how they ever got together? Oh…..me either. LOL.
As it turns out we did sit and wait for our plane at the correct gate. Thankfully, Scott
knows these kinds of things, so I don’t have to worry. A Sun Country plane pulled in,
even though the signs Never changed. Flight staff were scurrying in and out of the
boarding ramp. Boarding was announced and dear hubby (as I like to call him mostly in
this story) likes to board quickly. I always worry we aren’t quite allowed yet and that I’ll
have to explain that I have a slightly gimpy left hip. Will that work?

 We’re boarded and oh boy, I immediately notice an intriguing seeeetiation (misspelled
intentionally again) unfolding. There’s an older gentleman across the aisle and up one
row from us. I can easily see him diagonally from me. His haircut is short and grey with
a small balding spot on top. He has a headset on his head, much like the teenager’s
wear. Really? I think he’s a “Plant” of some sort. He removed his cell phone from his
jacket pocket and placed it smack dab next to his lips talking in a quiet, unintelligible
voice. Could he be with the FBI, CIA, Undercover Airline Security, ICE? His left hand
perched on his left cheek. It is bruised as if he’s been in a brawl. He’s watching an
iPad type device that Dear Hubby thinks is a movie. Not me. I’m sure he’s
downloading some secret information. He got up from his seat; but I think it will be too
obvious if I follow him. Isn’t this fascinating?!

My $9.00 “Bistro” small snack box (because I was too busy and forgot to buy something
before boarding the plane) includes some “Baked In Brooklyn Pita Chips.” Ummm.
Where were they baked and when? They are certifiable pieces of carboard coated
minutely with salt. They come with a small container of hummus. Uh, no thanks. It
makes me think of baby poop. Here’s the gem, though. “Mario Pitted Snack Olives
Packed Loose Without the Juice” smooshed into a vacuum packed foil package. Have I told

you how much I like olives? I’ve started ordering a “side of olives” with my glass of
wine when we go out for dinner. These are worth the whole price of the box. I think I’ll
add olives to my Christmas Wish List this year.  We’re practical that way.

I’m running out of Syllee imagination, so I’ll end this story with, until we meet again,
“Happy Trails” to you, too.