Oh what a weekend.

Where to Begin.....
Pete had a great birthday (so he says)... We went out to eat, had a mini fire with all the candles, and Ben helped open all his gifts.
Saturday we left to go camping.. We headed out for a state park in Iowa about an hour away... Got there and it just wasn't what we were looking for.. So we told TomTom (our GPS) to navigate us to Swan Lake State Park (another 45min out). TomTom usually does a really good job of taking us to the right spot. And ALMOST always asks us if we want to take unpaved roads... EXCEPT this time. TomTom said take a right - and we did.. Pete and I were both puzzled b/c the road was gravel... ODD - TomTom hadn't said we would be on a gravel road.. but before we could question it we drove over the hill and both GASPED! The road was no longer gravel but dirt.. and by the time we noticed it was too late to turn around - we were already sinking in the MUD!! Keep in mind we were towing the camper!!!! Our only hope was to keep the momentum and trudge through... Now with no faith in TomTom we look to see 2.1miles until our next turn - Hoping and praying that over the next hill there will be gravel.. but no - still mud ... as Pete tries to accelerate down the hill for momentum to go up the next steeper hill... we can hear the engine rev - but we don't move any faster. The trailer is sliding all over the 'road'... the truck is fishtailing.. and I'm now thinking.. where was the last house we saw - how far am I going to have to walk.. b/c there's NO cell phone signal... Finally over the hill we see the beginning of gravel.. and OUR TURN on to pavement! WOHOOO we made it...
We stop and get out to check on things and see this...

WHY WASN"T THIS SIGN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD??

So after a little off roading in the Truckasaurus - we headed to the next town in search for a car wash. Pulled in to Ray Dee's Carwash... and there sat Ray Dee himself.. and he told us OOOOH NOOOO!.. Keep on truckin... He didn't want that mud all over his bays - It's a CAR WASH - HELLO?!
Finally we arrived at Swan Lake.. and scraped off as much mud as possible b/f setting up camp.
Swan Lake is a really nice park and lake but lacks in the campground department (for our style). We had a great time hiking the trails, and seeing the sights, and of course finding the geocaches!
A few of the amenities at SwanLake:

• a petting zoo (closed for the season)
  
• buffalo
  
• trails galore
• Eagle shelter - The park cares for 2 bald eagles that have been injured and aren't able to be released. You can walk right up to the shelter and gawk at the amazing birds. It was really amazing for us to see them - but how incredibly sad that they are pinned up.
  
• Swans - They are trying to establish a swan population. They have a pair of swans held captive but release the offspring.
  

after a great weekend camping - Sunday afternoon we pack up and head home. Driving through Audubon we had to make a quick stop and see Albert.....




Albert is the worlds largest bull, and is anatomically correct!