Day 3, 31Jul2025 - On the road

Thursday Kris made us biscuits and gravy for breakfast...it was awesome. Rich and Mike had to get off to work and left a bit after 08:00. June and I hung around a bit to install a doorbell camera that Kris got  Rich for Christmas (Reolink, my recommendation)...yes the ungrateful slug never installed it.   After the install, I gave Kris a quick tutorial and we set off about 09:30 in a westerly direction. 

Crossing the Mississippi

We crossed the Mississippi before noon, it started to feel like we were on the west side of the USA.

I still wanted to replace our brake controller so we diverted to Davenport, IA to stop at Camper World.  They did not have the direct replacement but did sell me a version made by Curt. We stopped at a rest area for lunch and I decided to install it. Unfortunately, it was not going to work, the unit they sold me needs to be wired in....Doh! So....we routed to the next closest Camper World in Cedar Falls, another 30 min detour. The good news is they exchanged the one I was sold in Davenport for one that would work, a Curt Echo. I installed it in their parking lot, no problems, our trailer has brakes again. I estimate my tailer with my bike and other stuff in the trailer is about 2500lbs.  

The general rule is that if your trailer weighs over 3000lbs it should have brakes. Qur tow vehicle is about 11000lbs so we were not unsafe without trailer brakes, but I do feel better having them and you can tell a difference, especially during a panic stop. 

I purchased the Curt Echo which plugs into the 7 pin connector and has a phone App to change the settings.  I also purchased a remote button that sticks to the dash so you don't have to have the App open to engage the brakes manually. 

Curt Echo App 

This is a a screen shot of the Curt Echo App, as you apply the brakes the red circle is lit and it indicates how much braking is being applied. 

June feels like this should be at the end of the Blog with the other (boring)stats....:)

From Cedar Falls we took Route 20 due west to Sioux City.  It is a bit over 200 miles of some of the finest road in the country, with almost zero traffic.  It was a very stressless drive. 

Corn Fields of Iowa

There was corn and soy beans as far as the eye could see.

SD Sunset Rt 20 to Sioux Falls

We did notice the haze is very thick, apparently from the wild fires in Canada. However, it did provide a spectacular sunset as we drove into South Dakota.

We arrived at the Sioux Falls, SD Cracker Barrel just after 21:00, it was packed with trucks and trailers. Apparently we are not the only ones headed to Sturgis!. 

We had a restful night despite some moron running a generator in the parking lot all night. I am always amazed at how inconsiderate people can be, or are they just stupid...I really wanted to ask them. 

Today, Friday, we should arrive in Sturgis in the early afternoon and meet up with our friend John.