What better way to start a trip to Canada than spending a week at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Henderson State Park Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast. The soft white sand and warm waters of the Gulf were very relaxing and we almost had the beach to ourselves.

Any time we are near Pensacola a must stop is McGuire's Irish Pub. It is a converted large old fire house with a lot of charm and great food.

We stayed at Timberlake Campground in Brandon, Mississippi and enjoyed a BBQ festival in the adjacent park.

Lake Chicot State Park is located in Lake Village, Arkansas. Located on the Mississippi River, from 1845 to 1860 what is now the State Park was the location of a steam powered sawmill. As the area was cleared to make way for corn and cotton, the sawmill cut the timber for buildings and fuel for riverboats. Now it is host to many huge cypress knees.

Minooka Park Recreation Area is a Corps of Engineers campground on Wilson Lake almost exactly in the middle of Kansas. Our site was on a point overlooking the lake and since we were the only ones in the area, we decided to let Luna run free for a while. Several hours after sundown the wind began to pick up and since we had left our shoes outside, I firmly grabbed the door handle and opened it to retrieve our shoes. Suddenly, the wind really increased and actually pulled me outside, which in itself wasn't a disaster but the door slammed against the outside wall of the RV. The wall wasn't damaged but the door window glass shattered. Fortunately we were on our way to the factory in Winkler and I contacted them about replacing the window.

In North Dakota just a few miles south of the Canadian border we spent a night at the Dale & Martha Hawk Museum. It consists of many metal frame building housing a large diverse sample of historical farm and living machines. Cars that ranged from Model T's to Kaisers.

All type of farm tractors from rubber tires to steel to track.

There was a collection of machines from a snow plane with skies and a small airplane engine that was built by Dale Hawn in the early 1940s, 1130 Blow Torches, compressor topped refrigerators, early home radios, a small general store and a variety of hand powered farm implements.

Of special to me were the massive steam powered tractors that closely resembled small locomotives.

The first two nights in Winkler we stayed at a nice city campground with several other LTVs. Adjacent to the campground was a nice water park supported by Leisure Travel Vans. It was early September and we were all bundled up but people were still enjoying the water park.

The rally was held at a Mennonite Church retreat site a few miles out of town. There were 70 Leisure Travel Vans attending and it was great seeing that many LTV in one place.

The rally was kicked off by a LTV executive welcoming us and telling his experience with a macerator.

We heard from Mercedes-Benz technicians about the proper oils to use and some misconceptions about bio-fuels and diesel engines.

It was mentioned that most everyone that has a RV also has a dog.

We were treated to a bountiful eating from an evening bonfire to the LTV managers cooking us waffles on xxxxx.

The real highlight of the rally, a factory tour.

The chassis as it arrives from Germany

Aircraft grade aluminum framing.

Walls are vacuum bonded.

Cabinets assembled with screws not staples.

And the You-Tube man himself, Dean xxx.

After Winkler we visited a Frank Lloyd Wright home in xxxx.

Sinclair Lewis' birthplace in xxx.

The Mall of America.

Near Eureka Springs we stopped by an Apopka Farm. When we were first talking with the owner in his office, we thought the Apopka standing in the corner was a full sized stuffed animal. Later we were very surprised to see it move and realize that it was just standing still. Bobbi found one she wanted to take home but we didn't have room in the RV.

A quick visit to Memphis is not complete without a deep fried hamburger from Dyers.

Our last and most important stop was Atlanta where we shared in a joint birthday party with Yoshi and Stevie.