Varied Skies

From Wisconsin Dells, we hopped on I-90 and ventured west back across the Mississippi River (our third crossing).

We settled outside of Austin, MN, home of the Hormel Company and, most famously, a SPAM production facility.

Hormel invented SPAM in 1937. Made from pork shoulder and ham, SPAM is a precooked, canned meat product that requires no refrigeration.

GI’s consumed millions of cans of SPAM during WWII. Eventually, SPAM became ingrained in many cultures, particularly in Pacific Rim countries and Hawaii. Today, Hormel sells a variety of SPAM flavors in 44 countries. Historically significant and still popular today, Hormel honors SPAM with a modern museum in downtown Austin, MN.

Before immersing ourselves in all things SPAM, we sampled the eats across the street at Piggy Blue’s BBQ, a prime example of how pork can be prepared in ways infinitely better than SPAM.

While not directly comparing BBQ to SPAM, we made a point of making SPAM and cheese sandwiches a few days before our visit to Austin. They weren’t bad, but the high salt content threatened to turn my mouth inside out.

Inside the museum, the familiar blue and yellow SPAM theme dominated.

The museum blended history and marketing with interactive displays ranging from the Hormel company’s founding, to SPAM’s role in WWII, and conflicts since then, to SPAM’s use and marketing in cultures throughout the world today.

We especially enjoyed a simulated SPAM production facility that challenged you to can, seal, cook, and label cans of SPAM in the shortest time possible. After several production runs, a family champion emerged. Humility precludes me from revealing the champion’s name.

A relaxing and enjoyable Father’s Day followed.

After hanging at the pool, we ventured back into Austin for the Second Annual Father’s Day Dinner Extravaganza at Pizza Ranch. Having first sampled Pizza Ranch while celebrating Father’s Day last year in Yankton, SD, our expectations were low, but few options exist in small-town mid-america. This location, however, put Yankton to shame and we enjoyed some tasty pizza.

Just south of the state line, Winnebago Industries, probably America’s most famous RV manufacturer, designs and bangs out motorhomes in its Forest City, IA, facilities. Having lived in an RV for over year, we couldn’t resist seeing how these things are born. Factory tours departed from a small visitor center detailing the history of Winnebago and its founder John Hanson.

The visitor center houses one of the first motorhomes produced by Winnebago, a 1967 model D22.

The visitor center also documents Mr. Hanson’s Boy Scout career.

An avid Scout, Mr. Hanson became an Eagle Scout in 1929.

Indeed, Mr. Hanson “remained active in the Boy Scouts of America throughout his life.”

It is that kind of upbringing and experience that enabled him to keenly observe that “[y]ou can’t take SEX, BOOZE, or WEEKENDS away from the AMERICAN PEOPLE.”

I guess some might say that at the center of the triangle formed by sex, booze, and weekends you will find an RV.

Thoroughly inspired by the vision of its founder, we left to tour the production facility (no photos allowed). We saw a good chunk of the operations, from the white-light flashes of the weld shop assembling the basement foundation on the chassis, to the flurry of activity on the house assembly line, to the precision work of the stichcraft factory making sofas, chairs, and valences for the interiors. Workers demonstrated a waterjet cutting machine and a vacuum assisted device for inserting foam cushions inside fabric shells. In addition, we saw all varieties of motorhomes on the assembly line, including fancy Class B vans, Class C Minnie-Winnies, Class A Gassers, and Diesel Pushers.  It was a treat to see how how it all comes together.

The next morning, we arose early for a long haul to Kansas City. But the motorhome would not start, the chassis battery didn’t have enough juice. Undaunted, I engaged the emergency start switch that supposedly allows you to draw power from the house batteries to start the motorhome. Didn’t work. Moreover, we then lost 12 volt power to the motorhome. Even when you are hooked up to shore power, the house batteries drive many things, including lights and thermostats. No thermostats equals no air conditioning. With 100 degree weather looming, the idea of foregoing AC was a nonstarter.

I got the motorhome running (turning off all unnecessary accessories (TPMS, GPS, AC, etc.) provided just enough power to get it to turnover. While we idled, I worked to troubleshoot the 12v problem. I though we might have a converter problem as it had been making more noise than normal and the breaker had tripped. Eventually, our 12V power returned when, as I later learned, the chassis alternator provided enough juice to recharge the house batteries.

We found an RV shop three miles down the road that agreed to help us out. They confirmed a bad power converter, but found nothing wrong with the chassis battery. Our repair guy, Jerry, just happened to have ordered an 80 amp power converter for his camper and it was only 30 minutes away. After getting some poor service from the Tiffin parts department, this looked like our best option, even though we only needed a 60 amp converter. Jerry left and we went to grab some breakfast in Albert Lea. He was about done with the install when we returned.

After being charged full retail ($370) for the converter available on Amazon for $230 (shipped 2-day), and an hour of labor for driving to pick it up, I stood upright, pulled up my pants, and waddled off to make the drive to KC.

Fixing the 12 volt system before heading to KC proved a good idea.

Travelling to KC completed our circuitous loop around the country. As we skirted Des Moines and spotted the gold-domed Capitol Building, we remembered fondly our visit their last June (Diggin’ Des Moines). Motoring south on I-35 we finally made it to Worlds of Fun Village, the same Kansas City RV park we visited last year.

After arriving late the evening before, we took a rest day before driving to Branson, MO. That provided another opportunity to sample some of KC’s best BBQ. Last year, we indulged in Jack Stack BBQ at the Freight House (Kickin’ It in KC). That was a terrific meal and the urge was strong to return. Ultimately, we decided to try a highly rated competitor, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, we favored a newer location over the original gas station location.

Joe’s did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the tangy ribs. I’ll forego comparisons and just say that the good folks of KC sure are lucky to have so many good BBQ options.

Well, that’s a lot of words. I hope I did not lose you along the way.