Author Archives: Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

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About Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

We are a husband and wife team living in St. Paul MN. Both of us retired by the end of 2012 and decided to travel and visit areas of the U.S. and Canada that we had not seen before. Most of the time we head out for 3-7 weeks; usually by driving, first in our 2001 Saturn and then when it hit 225,000 miles we traded it in for our 2016 Subaru Legacy . This travel blog is written to help us remember the great places we have visited and people we have met as well as to inform family and friends of our whereabouts. Contact us at ckeh72@comcast.net In 2013 we took the following trips: Trip 1-January--2 weeks in Florida to visit Orlando, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Amelia Island. Trip 2-February and March-4 weeks in Hawaii, visiting the four major islands. Trip 3-March and April--several weeks in New Mexico visiting family followed by traveling cross-country to VA for VA Garden week. Trip 4-May and June--6-7 weeks driving to Las Vegas, the Sierra Nevada Mtns, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia N.P, Salt Lake City, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Devils Tower and home. Trip 5-June- a quick trip to Boston to visit family. Trip 6-July and August-a 6-7 week trip to Calgary, Banff, Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens, Olympic N.P., North Cascades N.P., Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler, Revelstoke, Jasper, Yoho,Whitefish lake, Theodore Roosevelt N.P. Trip 7-August and September- our daughters wedding in MD and returning home through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Trip 8-October and November-3-4 weeks in the Ozarks, Arkansas, Missouri. Trip 9-December and January 2014-Christmas in Santa Fe and New Years in Flagstaff and points in between. In 2014 we took the following trips: Trip 1--a week in Ely MN, most of it dog-sledding in late Feb. Trip 2--6 weeks in the Deep South including LA, MS, AL, GA and FL in March and April. Trip 3--a trip to Boston to visit family Trip 4--May and June houseboating on Lake Powell followed by Monument Valley, Arches and Canyonlands N.P, Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P, San Juan Mtns of CO Trip 5--time spent in MN and the Midwest Trip 6--visiting Ontario, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, the Adirondack Mtns of NY, our daughters wedding in CT and home through Philly and Ohio, 7 weeks in September and October. Trip 7--Southern California including Joshua Tree and Mojave Desert N.P, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and then to Flagstaff for Thanskgiving for three weeks in November. In 2015, we took the following trips: Trip 1- 8 weeks traveling around FL in February and March, most of it on the panhandle, penninsula and Gulf Coast. Trips 2 and 4 to Boston in April and July. Trip 3 was to Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. Trip 5 was to southern MN. Trip 6 was to Voyageurs National Park and northwestern MN. Trip 7 was to the Great Smoky Mountains and neighboring areas. In 2016 Trip 1 was to Chicago IL. Trip 2 was to southwestern MN. Trip 3 was to Boston. Trip 4 was to southwestern United States. Trip 5 was to Lake Superior. Trip 6 was to Winona MN. Trip 7 to western Massachusetts (the Berkshire Mountains). Trip 8 to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Trip 9 to Boston and Rhode Island. In 2017, Trip 1 was to the Mississippi River Headwaters. Trip two will be a month long tour of Texas and another month traveling to and from Texas across the southern US. Image

2023 Trip 8: Flag, South Texas and Mississippi River: Dec. 21

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Grants, New Mexico

Hi family and friends, We stayed in Amarillo, Texas last night and if one is in Amarillo they MUST stop at the ritual site for those who travel the Mother Road…Cadillac Ranch.

In 1974 a wealthy land owner in Amarillo hired some hippie artists from San Francisco to create a public art piece for the town. We got 10 vintage Cadillacs buried at an angle somewhat in dirt. Artist statement is left to your imagination. Over the decades, Cadillac Ranch has welcomed spray paint aficionados to create their own art work on the cars.

Do I have to tell you what the Mother Road is? OK….Route 66

As we left Cadillac Ranch for New Mexico, our scenery was wind turbines, dirt or trucks.

Besides their coffee, I do like a McDonald’s fish sandwich for lunch.

We made it to New Mexico and the scenery is changing; caught view of snow capped peaks in the distance.

Leaving Albuquerque, we noticed that there was a significant backlog on I40 because of construction. Google offered a parallel route which took us on a gutted, gutted, gutted gravel and dirt road that ended in a dead end. We had an easier time doing a Uturn to retrace our steps than the semis, who also tried this alternative route.

Had dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Grants suggested by Jude…who lived years in Santa Fe. We chatted with the owner’s son who is helping out and is looking at different career options.

There was a life lesson in today’s journey: Sometimes the road less taken is a dead end and one needs to turn around, retrace the route and take the well trod road. (Would Robert Frost approve?)

Tomorrow is Flagstaff and family.🎄

Chris and Ed

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2023 Trip 8: Flag, South Texas and Mississippi River: Dec. 20

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Amarillo, Texas

Hi family and friends, At the end of this year, it will be 11 years of traveling around the United States and Canada (and a trip last year across the pond). You know we have had many adventures, chatted with interesting people and explored off-the-beaten sites in our ramming around. However, even we were impressed when today we knew, as we were traveling through a small town in southwest Kansas…population 714, where the nice, public bathrooms could be found. We had been to Greensburg, KS before for museum and ice cream stop.

Lunch was at Ozzie Bakes in Coldwater, Kansas…population 647. Chicken salad on croissant for lunch and chocolate mousse cup and danish for snack later.

As we have traveled around the country, we often find ourselves asking “who would want to live here?”. Why do people stay where they were born? Why do people come to a place which to us seems like “a nice place to visit but wouldn’t want to live here”. Let’s go to Sue, the owner/baker at Ozzie’s. Fifteen years ago she was living and working (not as a baker) in Australia. She meet on-line in a poker game a guy from Kansas. They emailed outside of the poker games for 3 years before meeting and became great traveling friends for 10 years. He finally asked her to marry her a few years ago; she came to the States, got married and she started the bakery.

Would you rather be living somewhere else?

Traveled through the panhandle of Oklahoma, stopping for gas and to had our desserts from Ozzie’s at the Shattuck Windmill Park. Windmills were power machines “in the day” in this part of the country.

We are spending the night in Amarillo, Texas. Tomorrow is driving across New Mexico.

Chris and Ed

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2023 Trip 8: Flag, South Texas and Mississippi River, Dec.19

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Wichita, KS

Wichita, Kansas December 19, 2023

Hi family and friends, When we were planning this drive to Flagstaff for Christmas, we thought we would plan for a 4 overnight trip rather than 3 overnights which we had done before. Our rationale was this would give us a cushion for bad weather and/or Ed’s restless legs acting; neither has happened yet so we are just driving along.

We had breakfast this morning at McDonald’s…love their coffee…I know all you coffee lovers said “what” in disbelief..yes, I like McDonald’s coffee. I had some coffee remaining after breakfast so in the car I had a Christmas cut out cookie to finish it off. Kathy had the Heuer Christmas on Sunday and she gave us a bag of her treats for the trip.

Gas prices are great! Why Biden’s polling numbers are so dismal is beyond me.

After breakfast, we are driving down 35 in Missouri and pass a billboard that said Missouri Star. As we sped by, we both said “wonder what that is”…casino, porn stop, newspaper. I am quickly Googling and find that the Missouri Star Quilt Company has made Hamilton, Missouri the Disneyland of Quilting. Are we near Hamilton?…yes..if we back track a little and we do. What a gem. And we are not quilters. About 8,000 visitors a month, most of main street properties that had been vacant are now owned by company and refurnished to niche quilting shops, including Mans Land shop for the guys to wait and watch TV and play pool. Rags to riches story which can be read in a Forbes article. Fun, fun, fun.

Back on the road again for non healthy lunch of Nut Goodies…yeah, we support Minnesota business even when traveling and they came bagged in Christmas colors… bag of Nut Goodies was gift from Tony and Bernie.

The last leg of today’s trip, we decided to get off the highway and take the scenic backroads to Wichita. You know you are on a scenic drive when there are few cars.

Tomorrow on to Texas.

Chris and Ed

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2023 Trip 8: Flag, South Texas and Mississippi River: December 18

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Bethany, Missouri, December 18, 2023 Traveling to a Southwest Christmas

Hi family, When we retired and starting traveling in 2013, Ed would do blog posts to let family and friends know about our travels as well as to be a journal for us. We are spending Christmas this year with my brother Lucien and his wife Joyce and are driving down starting today. My sister Kathy is flying down later in the week to join us. Ed said that he would not be doing a blog until our return trip since he we are “just driving” down to Flagstaff. I said something like…the journey is the destination and I would blog some stuff…so here goes. Chris

It’s Christmas, so we have lots of stuff to take down which Ed has successfully put in the trunk.

We stopped for lunch of our usual yogurt and granola bars at the first rest/tourist info stop in Iowa. The sign above me celebrates immigrants. Many today including evil Trump have forgotten that our ancestors for most Americans were immigrants.

Sun was setting as we drove 35 thru Iowa; we gassed up the car right before entering Missouri.

During one of their trips to visit us this year, Lucien and Joyce stopped in Bethany, Missouri for a meal at Toot Toot Restaurant; operating since 1984. We had dinner tonight there from their yummy buffet.

On to Kansas tomorrow.

Chris and Ed

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2023 Trip 7: Northwest U S: History and Adventure: Oct. 12

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Saint Paul MN, Oct. 14

The last day frequently gets left out. Once you are home, as we are now, the blog post is less urgent. And honestly, less exciting. Rain was forecast for the long drive home on Thursday, a continual heavy rain. We changed our plans, cut short one of the nights at Badlands, took one last series of walks at Badlands Wednesday morning, and headed for Mitchell South Dakota. Staying here would shorten our Thursday drive in the rain by three hours.

For the unknowing, Mitchell has been home to the Corn Palace for 125 years. Inside a gymnasium used by a local college and high school. Outside, an exterior covered in 325,000 ears of corn in 13 different types of corn kernels to present a mural to the world. The theme changes so each year the exterior is different. The interior also has a series of panels describing the Corn Palace and its history.

One final night at a Hampton Inn and Thursday we were off for home. The rain was a bummer for driving but much was much needed moisture for this part of the country.

Next trips not set yet but possibly the end of the year including the southern tip of Texas and back up the Mississippi River, next fall to the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and a spring trip either to southern California or southeastern U.S. This trip: nine states, 48 days, and 8,420 miles.

Ed and Chris, Saint Paul MN Oct. 16

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2023 Trip 7: Northwest US: History and Adventure: Oct. 10-11

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Mitchell, South Dakota, Oct. 11

Tomorrow, October 12, we should be back at home in Saint Paul. Our blog posts are a little behind so we have a some catching up to do. We were completely out of Internet and cell service at our lodging in the Badlands National Park last night.

Our last posting went up before we went for dinner Monday night in Buffalo Wyoming. You may recall that earlier on this trip we went out for dinner in Mackay, Idaho at a small bar. The people were lining up for darts competition that evening. Monday night, in the saloon at the historic Occidental Hotel in downtown Buffalo, it was trivia night. We did not compete, but the first topic of the solar system would have shown our lack of knowledge on the topic, and we probably would have greatly displeased two relatives.

Tuesday morning we drove to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The only intermittent stop was at Wall drug in Wall South Dakota. There may be those among you, particularly younger than us, who do not understand the significance of Wall Drug. Wall Drug grew from obscurity to a major destination by the use of plentiful and humorous billboards along the highways in South Dakota. Their initial marketing tool was free ice water. Recognize that this was in the early 1930s when cold water on a hot trip in a slow car across South Dakota to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills was extremely eye-catching and valuable. They still offer free ice water, and five cent coffee today. There is much more to the story, but I have changed my style to minimize the writing, so look it up yourself.

Badlands National Park in southcentral South Dakota, has wildlife, fossils, and glorious landscapes that show the erosive affect of time, wind, and water. The Badlands get their name from the lack of water and the desire of Native Americans and settlers to avoid it. The topography is American prairies with a wall of eroded rock separating the prairies into a higher and lower natural feature, with the beautiful eroded rock separating the two sections of prairie. We drove the loop road from Wall through the park, which alternates between the higher prairie and the lower prairie.

This is not our first time here, but thought it worthwhile to visit again on the way home. We spent the night in one of the cabins located inside the park. This morning, Wednesday, we did some more walking around before departing for our one more night on the road before reaching Saint Paul.

Ed and Chris, Mitchell SD Oct. 11

Remember—-October 12 is National Farmers Day

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2023 Trip 7: Northwest U S: History and Adventure: Oct. 8-9

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

View of Mammoth Hot Springs from the upper level terraces


Buffalo, WY Oct. 9

It is 6 1/2 weeks into our 7 week road trip. I am finding it easier to use fewer words and more pictures as the trip comes to its conclusion. Plus, there really is less to write about. We are taking it easier also.

Sunday we continued our stay at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Both because we wanted to relax and enjoy the area and because my legs and hip were acting up, we stayed just in the Mammoth Springs area. Watching elk was a primary activity that was easy to do and enjoyable.

As we were leaving this morning, this elk just wanted to say goodbye to Chris as she stepped outside our cottage door.


Monday we continued the drive towards home. Due to road construction in Yellowstone, we took a different route up through Montana and avoided the eastern part of Yellowstone. We are spending the night in Buffalo Wyoming before continuing to Badlands National Park tomorrow.

The pictures below are in chronological order so they show sights from around Mammoth Hot Springs and then our drive to Buffalo. Enjoy.

Ed and Chris, Buffalo Wyoming October 9, 2023

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2023 Trip7: Northwest US: History and Adventure: Oct. 7

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Oct. 7

Our Yellowstone location has changed. We are now at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northwest corner of the park for two nights before continuing our return to Minnesota. Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin were the primary stopping points today before checking in.

Once again, the blog post will consist primarily of pictures. Enjoy.

Ed and Chris, Mammoth Hot Springs, Oct. 7

No Internet in our cabin. Have to work in the big room at the lodge..

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2023 Trip 7: Northwest US: History and Adventure: Oct. 6

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Old Faithful

Island Park, ID Oct 6

It took us an hour and a half from our hotel in Island Park, Idaho to park and be at the Old Faithful visitor center at Yellowstone National Park. I had forgotten that Island Park is half an hour west of the entrance to Yellowstone. There was a 10 to 15 minute wait to get into the park as the rangers processed the entrance fee for the cars lined up. The fog made for a slower than normal drive, but by the time we reached the Old Faithful area, the skies were blue and the day began its beautiful unfolding.

We walked around Geyser Hill, that area close to Old Faithful that is home to so many small and medium geysers. We made it back to Old Faithful in time for its 10:40 eruption. After a quick lunch, we went on to visit the thermal areas along the Loop Road stretching from Old Faithful to Madison Junction. This includes the Lower Geyser Basin, Firehole Canyon, Midway Geyser Basin, and Fountain Paintpots.

Once again, the rest of the blog is pictorial. I am not going to go into details about calderas, hot spots, magma, etc. Just sit back and enjoy. The hardest part has been done already, winnowing down to the photos to be included.

Ed and Chris, Island Park, Idaho October 6, 2023

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2023 Trip 7: Northwest US: History and Adventure: Oct. 5

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Ed Heimel and Chris Klejbuk, MN travel bloggers; ckeh72@comcast.net

Island Park, ID Oct. 5

Today was a scenic travel day. No museums. No natural science buildings. No informational tours. Just driving along the east central scenic byways of Idaho. Leaving Soda Springs, we passed the phosphate mines and processing facilities. The fall colors were just the aspen yellow, not the rich red and orange of yesterday. Most of the route was in the valleys between mountains. We saw the west side of the Tetons with their snow capped peaks. We crossed the Snake River several times. No gravel roads but multiple rural roads that had no shoulders and no center lines. Roads that were so minor they did not show up on any state map.

The only sites of any significance were Upper and Lower Mesa Falls. Lower Mesa Falls is 65 feet tall while Upper Mesa Falls is 114. The two waterfalls are the last prominent waterfalls on the Snake River to resist human control.

Our lodging for the next two nights is a Springhill Suites in Island Park, Idaho, just west of West Yellowstone. Tomorrow will head in for a day of seeing the sights of Yellowstone National Park.

For the rest of this blog post, we will just make it a pictorial journey.

Ed and Chris, Island Park, Idaho, October 5

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