We're heading for California, but it's not a straight line

We're really on our way to California where we will be working all winter, but it's taking us a long time to get there, and there is a lot of detours and change of scenery. Photos cover from northern Illinois to Minnesota and back to Illinois. Pretty soon we'll get serious and set the compass on West and boogy. Until then, here's a catch-up.

Just before leaving northern Illinois we visited an apple orchard just east of Rockford. Angel and her girls were with us.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a sleek delivery truck like this one?

In Saint Paul, we got together with grandsons Dominic and Gregory at Olivia's birthday party.

Angel came from Illinois for Olivia's birthday.

Side trip to Silver Bay where we visited with my sister, Shirley, and b-i-l Vern, who did the honors on the barbecued chickens.

Side trip on the side trip - we traveled the new Forest Highway 11 from Silver Bay to the Iron Range. Nice road, beautiful scenery.

Visited in Rochester with brother Ted and wife Betty, also daughter Amy. Side trip from there was to Lanesboro, passing through Chatfield, above, and Fountain, below where we JUST missed the lutefisk dinner by a mere 24 hours (whew!).

Street scene is scenic Lanesboro.

Pat, Betty and Ted in the Pedal Pushers Cafe.

On to Champaign IL to see sister Kate and her husband, George. Camped at a very pleasant, small campground just two miles north of Champaign on a small private lake.

Our gnome enjoying the view from the dock.

On to Mascoutah to see son, Steve. Next door neighbor girls really like Annie and Molly.

View in Steve's back yard.

Pat and Donna Farrer (former neighbor from Saint Paul) at Eckert's Orchard near Belleville IL.

From here, Mascoutah IL, we'll be moving on to Fort Worth TX and then westward from there.