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View of the day-The guys say farewell outside the TOMY store at Dyersville.
Al had another early morning as he got ready for Roger and Ken to pick him up to go to the big auction. Marilyn stayed back at the camper, her job was to get it ready and hooked up for the trip home.
We had decided we had seen enough of the toy show and should start back for Canada. Marilyn got the camper all flanged in and was on the road to Dyersville by 11:30am. Even though the water had froze during the night, the sun had it thawed out so Marilyn could get the fresh water tank filled up...because we would surely need iton the road.
The plan was to park the right up at the Shopko lot by the school, but the traffic was insane and although it was a right turn on to the street where the Shopko was, that would mean makings left turn on to the main street...with no lights at the intersection. A long wait, indeed.
Marilyn opted to make a left off the highway and parked in the TOMY lot, then called Al to him know where she was. The auction was still in full swing,so they weren't leaving to pick her up,but as luck would have it, there was a shuttle bus and Marilyn took advantage of it by catching it for a ride to the school.
At the school, she went in through the side door...what a lineup and crowd...she could hardly get into the gym, never mind trying to get through the masses to the auditorium where the auction was being held. Since she was near the rooms where the dioramas were, she stopped to take some pictures of some of them.
She couldn't stop thinking about the one she had seen yesterday with some culvert work being done..the attention to detail...stunning. The barn with the farrowing crates, the tiling being done in the field...there was even one that had a black cover over it and there was a tractor working the field with its lights on, and the combine was dumping into a cart with its lights flashing. Unfortunately, taking a picture would not have done it justice...as with so many of these works of art.
After the picture taking was done,she fought the crowd again to try and find the guys...fortunately they were just down the next hallway. They were pretty much done with the auction...a little too rich for their blood. That, and they had pretty much spent their allowance for the show. Marilyn hadn't, so she was able to pick up a set of Big Roy 1/32 tractors...the price was right, and they are an amazing set.
We got a ride with the guys back over to the TOMY lot and the camper, but we couldn't leave without taking Roger and Ken through the TOMY store. We all came out empty handed, but they had a nice wrapping table if we would have found something we wanted.
Time to head for home. Neither of us had any idea of how far we would be going today...it was time to "shut up and drive"...something we do a lot of.
Al drove the first shift until we turned north on to I35, then Marilyn took over so Al could have a nap. Once we got into Minnesota, Al took the wheel again and we dropped the hammer hoping to make Jamestown, ND.
Which we did...and parked in the Walmart parking lot for the night...in the snow...
View of the day-Some of the amazing things we saw today at the toy show. The details on these machines is not done any justice by the picture alone...this man loves his work.
Al was up early and out the door with Roger and Ken as they stopped by on their way to Dyersville from Dubuque. Marilyn had the morning off, since the main thing on her agenda was to browse through the displays in the toy museum and the high school...but this would not happen until after 2pm.
Al took the guys around the yard sales and to the Scale Models factory, where they got to see the tail end of the process to ship out the current model of pedal tractor that on the assembly line. They checked out a few of the other sales that were open early and by this time the outdoor market in the parking lot of the sale barn was set up and they were able to go through there.
Marilyn had gotten in to Dyersville, parked at the high school lot, then walked across the way to the museum, where she picked up the floor pass buttons for her and Al. These $25 buttons gave us the right to "preview" the vendors from 2-6pm and would get us in for the three days of the show. After the tickets were purchased, she called Al and found out they were at the sale barn about 4 blocks from the museum, so rather than move the truck and lose a premium parking spot, she walked up the hill to meet the guys.
After a pass around all the vendors there, it was time to go downtown for lunch at Nora's again...we were becoming regulars. After lunch, we killed some time walking through the tents that were set up on the lots around the plaza and museum. Then it was time...2pm...time to get down to business.
We went through the museum vendors...everything was pretty high priced and these guys were not budging at all in their prices. According to them "the prices are already too low"...that mixed with tired from walking already meant they weren't seeing any of our cash in their tills.
We walked over to the school to see if there was anything better over there...and there was. They gym had its share of those guys with attitude, but as we worked our way through the hall displays and the dioramas in the classrooms, we actually had a couple of things to carry out to the truck.
Marilyn didn't get a lot of pictures today of the dioramas, but did manage to take a few of a Massey display. The detail in these displays will have you looking for hours...just when you think you've seen it all, some little thing catches your eye and it starts all over again.
We met up with Roger and Ken out in the Shopko parking lot next to the school...they hadn't been through the school yet. We were going out for supper, but they wanted to shop around a bit more, so Al stayed in the truck and read his magazines and Marilyn checked out the Shopko.
Once we were all done with buying for the day, it was time to go to the Ritz for their "all you can eat" jumbo shrimp Friday special. Wow. The place was packed and with good reason...the shrimp was fabulous...and there was lots of it. Too much, in fact...we could hardly move when we were finished. Of course, it could have been the 10 miles we walked today...but more likely it was the fact that we were stuffed.
By now, we were pretty much shot for the day. They guys want to get up early to be at the school for the big auction that starts at 10am, so they will pick Al up at the camper again. Marilyn will get the camper cleaned up, closed up and hooked up for the start of the trip home.
Originally, Al wanted to stay until Sunday to get in on some of the last minute deals that one gets when the vendors just don't want to be bothered repacking and hauling the stuff...they just want to get rid of it and that is when you get the best deals. That plan changed to leaving by 6pm on Saturday and getting halfway home...then it changed to 3pm...then after the day we had today, it changed to 12 noon.
But that could all change again...
View of the day-This was how we spent the better part of the day...rooting around in people's garages for treasures...and Al actually found a few.
We had clouds during the night, so we didn't have frozen water this morning...a pleasant change. It was supposed to be a bit warmer out, but at this time of year, as long as it isn't wet, it is a nice day. We still had wind, but thanks to the tents and buildings, it was cut off and it wasn't so bad...as a matter of fact, Al was in short sleeves all day. Marilyn, on the other hand had two tshirts, one hoodie and a jacket.
We got to Dyersville and the first thing we had to do was meet a "guy" out by the storage lockers on the north end of town. We got there to find two other guys rooting around in the locker and they told us the "guy" would be there shortly. Al felt like he was doing a drug deal, sneaking around like that. The "guy" showed up, right on time and found Al the two toys that he had ordered. We don't know how...this place was jammed full to the front door...and it wasn't his only locker!
Once we got the tractors, we checked out the garage sales around town. Al found a few items that he picked up, but wasn't committing to anything really big...just in case. Just in case...the price came down or he saw one cheaper...that sort of thing.
While we were looking around, we ran into Tom Waterhouse and his wife Audrey, from Davidson, SK. They are at all the shows we are at...and then some...so we stopped to have a chat and look at one of the custom built threshing machines that he had bought here. Wow...the detail was absolutely amazing! Pictures just don't do it justice...but will have to do.
We continued on our way, checking out the various tents on the grounds that were getting set up...some let us in, some told us to come back later and some wouldn't let us even close. Since it didn't officially start until tomorrow, we didn't take offence.
We went downtown for an early supper, where Al spotted this Halloween decoration...complete with head turning horse, then came back to the camper. Roger and Ken had made it to Dubuque and were checking in at the hotel before coming over to Dyersville. Apparently they didn't get away from Bossen's at Lamont, without thinning out their wallets before heading to the hotel.
Al had them stop at the camper on the way to Dyersville to pick him up for the auction sale...Marilyn didn't see anything she couldn't live without, so didn't want to go sit through all that "rhroofelling"(Al's German slang for the sound made by the auctioneer-you really need to roll those r's). She will be resting up for the big walk yet to come.
Another early morning tomorrow, but this time we get to check out all the displays...
View of the day-Today's road trip took us 3 miles from Dyersville to the movie site for "Field of Dreams".
It was another laid back day as we got a late breakfast in Dyersville, then did a bit of toy shopping. The toy show does not officially start until Friday, but there are some places that are set up early, and Al figured there were bargains to be found.
We started out in the TOMY store, filling up the back seat of the truck with cases of toys, then toured town looking for garage sales...we found only two, but there are sure to be more by the weekend. We came out empty-handed from the garage sales, even though there was still some room left in the truck...no bargains yet.
Next we took a tour through the Plaza Antique Mall which was next to the toy museum. This place is two floors of consigned...stuff...dolls, games, antique dishes and furniture...and of course, farm toys. You can see the shelves at the top of the picture with all the toys on them and on the bottom, just past the cars are glass cabinets, all filled with treasures from various consignors. This took a loooong time to go through and the only thing we came out with, were two programs for the weekend. The first trip through most of these places is just a "scouting" tour...the real buying will start on the weekend...if the stuff is still on the shelves.
We took a coffee break at McDonald's...Marilyn managed to get the seniors rate on her beverage...there are some perks to "getting up there". Now it was time to check out the items going up for auction on Thursday night.
The viewing was in a hall that was in the town park...the place where we had inquired about parking the camper and got no reply...so we were surprised to see five or six campers parked here and there on the grass behind the building. Oh, well, we have big power, sewer and water...at least after the sun thaws out the hose...where we are now and they only have 110 power in the park. We're OK with that.
We strolled along the tables of toys that would be up for auction...Al said most of them looked better online, but is never one to miss out on a bargain...should there be one on Thursday. Once that was done, it was time to head back to the camper and get the latest batch of boxes put away.
Tomorrow we will get to check some of the other places that will be opening up for the show, then Roger and Ken will show up from Canada and Al will get to take them on a tour of all the places he has been.
Marilyn will figure out a schedule for all the craft shows going on in the area this weekend. Originally, Roger was coming down with his wife, Linda, so Marilyn would have had a travelling partner, but Linda decided to stay home, since Roger told her there was nothing to do in Dyersville.
And she fell for it...
View of the day-We managed to find another combine looking for a grain cart on our three state road trip today.
Today's list had finding a place to fill a propane tank at the top of the list. After searching online, we found a place in Cascade, 10 miles south of Farley, where we were camped. The road down was scenic and we got to see a lot due to the fact that it was really curvy and rough, so the going was slow...but we had nothing else on the agenda, so we enjoyed the view.
We got our propane tank filled, then took yet another scenic route, this time to Dubuque to check things out over there. Marilyn had been checking online and had discovered the riverboat cruises ran until the end of October, so we were hoping to fit one in...until we saw the website had a notice up that October 28 was the final one for the season. So much for that plan.
We crossed the bridge and went down to the lookout point to see the river, from the shore, at least. Al found his bench by the lookout and sat there until it got too chilly...the sun was shining but the wind was howling out of the north, so it made short work of any enjoyable water watching.
We decided to cross back to Dubuque on the bridge to the north of us and since we were now in the state of Illinois, the 10 mile trip around to the other bridge would take us through Wisconsin before crossing back into Iowa...hence the reference to the three state tour that we took today. While we were crossing back across the bridge, Al noticed that there was a barge being moved down the river that he wanted to watch, so we looped back around to the lookout where we had been to check out its progress...this time the jacket came out.
We watched as the barge lined up to go through the pass where the train bridge had swiveled out of the way. It took some time, but finally it came through, but then had to rearrange aim to make it under the main bridge, while the train tressle turned back to position. It was really quite interesting for us flatlanders to watch the procedure...it must be like someone from the mountains watching a field being combined...simply, mesmerizing.
Al stood down on the dock and was impressed by how close the barge front got as the tug pivoted at the back to line up We watched as it passed under the second bridge, then crossed back to Dubuque to find the Applebees so we could have supper before going back to the camper.
Back at the camper, we got the propane tank hooked back up, then fired up the furnace and called it a night.
This "professional tourist" thing is something Marilyn could get used to...
View of the day-The Wapsipinicon Mill in Independence, Iowa this morning...we didn't do a tour, however.
We got up to a frozen hose...and the hydrant handle was frozen open, too. It got down to 23ºF during the night and the water never had a chance...good thing we had gotten the tank filled when we stopped in Sac City, so the holding tank was full for showers.
Back to Sunday. We left Wakonda and started for Dyersville, we weren't sure where we would be spending the night...apparently there isn't a real good place to find RV parks. Marilyn spent most of the drive trying to find a campground online, finally after dark, we found one in Independence and it was by asking someone at the local gas station.
This morning after closing up the camper, we drove around town and managed to find a restaurant that served real eggs. After breakfast we hooked up and started for...well...someplace to park the camper for the week. We knew there would be no place in Dyersville...we parked in the Pamida parking lot the last time we had the camper...so we had to find something that wasn't to far from the action.
Before we had to find our new camping spot, we had to make a side trip to Lamont and Bossen Implements, where Al had to pick up about 14 cases of farm toys. We were there for the better part of an hour as Al and Katey went through the list of things that Al had purchased and was there to pick up...Marilyn made sure there was plenty of room to pack them under the camper, then we were on our way again.
Marilyn had found a campground at Earlville, which was 9 miles west of Dyersville, so we pulled in and found a spot to park. The campground was quite scenic...big trees with a pond nearby. The thing about "scenic" is that it usually means uneven ground...there was not one site that had a flat spot...so we tried to find the best one of the bunch.
We got the camper parked, blocked the tires so it wouldn't roll down the hill into the pond, then used the "auto level" feature to get it set just right...we didn't know the front jacks could go that far out. It looked pretty precarious and we were a bit nervous about staying there, so we went on a road trip to see what else we could find. Apparently we weren't the worst off...there was a motor home that had the front wheels about 6 inches off the ground, so it would be level.
Al remembered seeing a campground east of Dyersville on the way to Dubuque, so we drove out to see if he was remembering correctly. He was. It was only 6 miles from Dyersville, in Farley, so we pulled in to see if it was still open and we could park for the week...it was a bit pricey at $30 a night, but at least it was flat, with cement pads and a good road in and out.
We figured we should check Dyersville, so Marilyn went into the city hall and got a couple of phone numbers for possible places to try. One was the town park...no one answered the phone and we couldn't see any posts in the obvious places, so we were pretty sure that one was out.
The second place was 4 miles north of town in a county park. It was kind of narrow, winding roads, up and down little valleys...and narrow bridges...not really meant for a big camper. So that one was out and it was settled...Farley would be our home for the week.
Now we had to go back to Earlville to get the camper off the cliff it was parked on. It didn't take long to hook up and make the move, so we were set up in the new campground just as the sun was setting. We went in to Dyersville to have supper at Pizza Hut, then came back to the camper to call it a night.
So if any blog readers are harvesting near the Dyersville area, email us (kunthzharvesting@gmail.com) so we can check out the corn harvest close up...
View of the day-Well...yesterday...something we didn't come home with. A calendar from Lipton, SK, just north of Fort Qu'Appelle...where Al's toy show buddy, Roger, is from.
We have been pretty laid back here in Wakonda, outside of the regular trips to get water...two five gallon jugs at a time. We never did get the tank on the camper filled...that portable water pump that we left at home would have made short work of the jugs. We are getting good shoulder work done using that hand pump to transfer the water from the jugs to the camper.
We went to the auction last night and came away with a few brochures...Al wanted the JD 7020 4WD and the Case 1200 4WD, because they were the tractors that his dad had owned back in his youth. And being a Versatile collector, he had to get the playing cards...too bad they were the 5 of spades short. He likely wouldn't use them for playing anyway.
This morning, we were up early to get ready for the big day of sales. Al was rechecking his "need it/got it" list and making a note of the lot numbers, so we could take off during the long stretches. We were hoping to get eggs in at the local coffee shop, but had to wait for a break in the action since we got to the hall in time to browse through the toys one last time before they started selling.
Once we did get a break, we went across the street and had a fine feed of eggs and an omelet. This was the last day for the restaurant according to the sign, they were moving away and would be closing down. Too bad, the eggs were delicious.
Marilyn got to take a couple of breaks...to go get water, of course. It was cold enough out that it wasn't a pleasant job pumping it into the camper, but it had to be done...Al would get the next shift. After going back to the auction and helping Al carry out his purchases, we grabbed another couple of jugs of water, then went back to the camper.
It was still pretty early, so Al managed a nap in between watching the college football on TV and Marilyn worked on the computer and watched a little TV, too. We decided to take a road trip into Yankton...about 25 miles away...to have supper at the Pizza Ranch. It had started to rain just as we were leaving the camper and it rained all the way there...and back.
Let's hope we don't have the white stuff for the next leg of our trip tomorrow...
