Sugarbottom Campground, Iowa City, Iowa to Forest City, Iowa

Tuesday

It was another gray overcast day as we made our way north to Iowa.  Coming back to Sugarbottom Campground after spending six weeks here last summer was like coming home.  Everything is greening up with some trees just starting to get their leaves and others with leaves fully opened.  Crossing the bridge before turning into the campground road, we could see the result of last year's flood in the strip of land around the lake with no vegetation like we just saw at Mark Twain lake.  Hopefully, it won't take as long to recoup.

Once we set up, we walked around the campground and down to the waterfront.  The restrooms that we paddled over last year without even being able to see the top had a hundred feet of beach in front of them.  We found huge parking lots that we didn't even know existed.  There was a line where the grass stopped and dandelions and other weeds were growing.  This is where the high water mark of the flood was when we left.  It was really cold so we didn't stay out too long.  We put up the satellite dish and watched television for the first time this trip. 

Unsubmerged Bathrooms

High Water Mark on Lawn

After dinner we walked up to the second campsite that we had stayed in last year.  Where we had launched our kayaks from the lawn, there is now a twenty foot drop.  The effects of erosion were amazing.

Severe Erosion

Wednesday

It was really cold when we got up but the sun was up so it didn't take long to warm up enough to get outside.  Ted grabbed his discs and went over the the disc golf course which he said was much different without the flood waters taking out the third hole.  I took the long way around and walked out of the campground, up the hill and down past the course to the beach returning by the dirt road to the campground.  The beach and parking lot which didn't exist last year were interesting to check out.  I returned before Ted and sat outside with my audio book and my iPad.  We lost the sun mid afternoon and it got too cold to sit outside.  We again watched TV and I dug out the sweater I had started knitting and finished the first sleeve.  I should always start with the sleeves as they are what I hate to knit.  Now I have one sleeve to finish and then the trim.

This Whole Parking Lot was Under Water

Beach Beyond Parking Lot

Thursday

We didn't get started very early as Ted was the lazy bones this morning.  It rained off and on all day and at times there was some substance to the rain...snow or freezing rain.  Yuck.  We nearly froze when we got out at WIT (Winnebago/Itasca Travelers).  They told us there was room for us to park there but we should probably check with customer service at the factory to see if there was a place over there.  Ted drove the car over, found we could park there and we are in the same site we were in last year.  Miss you, Mary Ann and Marty!  It was so cold I didn't go back out.  People walking their dogs had hoodies on under winter jackets with the hoods up and they still looked cold.