Living in Beaver Creek Valley SP is very pleasant. It's quiet, relatively isolated, peaceful, bug-free, and one can be lulled to sleep by the sounds of cicadas and the stream flowing over the many rocks. It really is an undiscovered gem. And, campers are delightful. We had cherry cobbler with a family from IL camped next to us and the cobbler came with a fun conversation. This park does seem to draw folks who just want to camp and enjoy the out of doors.

This is the view of the park from one of the trails. Beautiful. However it does have its drawbacks. Technologically, we are isolated. It's like living in the 1970's. We are experiencing little TV reception, no cell phone coverage, and no Internet connection, and we are linked to the outside world only by a land line pay phone at the visitor center. Until we came here, we were not even sure pay phones existed anymore, anywhere.

So to get back to the 21st century, we have to go up the hill to Caledonia and be connected with the world at the public library. It is a wonderful library, and we are now welcomed there like old time residents of Caledonia. However, library hours are limited. When we have to establish contact with the world and it is after hours, we have to find a spot close to the library and get the free wifi that leaks out of the building. It does work although sometimes the active spot we find is kind of hard on an old man.

Another technology issue living at BCVSP is that when we hike, and trails start in the bottom of the valley go to the top of the ridge and then back down to the valley bottom, Shannon carries her cell phone with her to supposedly take photographs. However, the higher we go on the trail, the more likely she will get e-mail and text messages. Then we have to stop so she can check them out and perhaps respond and do a little Internet surfing. Somehow the ambiance of hiking in the great out of doors is ruined by the technology we are so glued to. I warn her that texting and hiking can be as bad for your health as texting and driving. The trails are steep and narrow, and a misstep could spell doom. So, of course that means stopping and checking messages. I never remember hiking being so slow and taking so long.

On Wednesday we drove to Forest City, IA to visit Winnebago Industries. We took a plant tour, spent time in their museum, and talked to a service technician about our nagging issues. We have been having trouble with the propane detector and were convinced it was bad rather than it was actually detecting leaking propane. At least we haven't lit up yet. The service technician gave us a new detector, told us how to replace the old one, and elicited a promise from us that we would return the old one. We were amazed and very pleased. Came home, swapped it out, and so far no propane or whatever has been detected. We do plan to stop by on our way west in September and get the other small issues looked at. But we were very pleased with the outcome yesterday, and got pumped up about Winnebago motor homes. Just ask us.