We woke up, packed up and parked the trailer for the kids to go and enjoy the multitude of activities they offered. This park had an inflexible schedule for everything: our kids wouldn't be able to go on the pillow for another hour, the petting zoo would be open late in the afternoon, the pool was jam-packed and jelly tight. We left disgruntled but rested.

We decided to leave Interstate 90 and take some back roads down into Iowa.We can't go as fast as the speed limit on the Interstates anyhow.We really enjoyed the ride through the little farm towns of Iowa.Very clean and all-American looking.Since we were behind schedule, we just kept pushing to catch up and didn't make any real stops in pretty homespun Iowa.

We arrived early in the evening at the best campground we have seen.It was in Joslin, Illinois.We set up camp right on the bank of a large lake.We paddled out into the lake on the provided paddleboats and had a great time.I must add the footnote that Paige took a spill getting out of the paddleboat onto the dock.I mention this because she reported my mud puddle fall. The campground personnel grilled steaks and corn on the cob,baked potatoes, and provided a great salad bar for a very modest price.It was a great July 4 dinner.

We then went fishing and both Paige and Elise caught a catfish.The kids were horrified about cutting a worm in half and putting it on a hook.You would have thought they were witnessing a massacre.As Little Jimmy so aptly put it, "Just shows you that we aren't desensitized by our violent video games."

About 10 o'clock the fireworks started.Clark says that they were the best fireworks he ever saw in his life, including Disney's.They were impressive, and we saw them at close range.It ended with a sparking display of the American flag.They were great. We all went to bed with happy camping feelings.