August 2, 2025 (Sat.) - Post-Troll Recovery Mode: A Slow Day in Detroit Lakes
Not much to report today—the troll hunt is officially over in Detroit Lakes, and we slipped into full-on relaxation mode.
Lynn was up at 7:30 AM, savoring her morning coffee on the patio, soaking in the fresh air. Otis joined her, having been banished from the bedroom sometime during the night—his loud licking noises had finally driven Kirk over the edge.
Kirk slept in until 10:00 AM, recovering from a restless night thanks to Otis’s non-stop licking. Poor guy—his allergies are flaring, and his skin is clearly irritated. So today, Kirk set out on a mission to find the infamous cone of shame, hoping it would finally give Otis’s skin a chance to heal.
We headed out for brunch at Hub 41, a lakeside spot with outdoor seating so Otis could join us. It wasn’t exactly brunch—more like bar food, and honestly, just so-so. After eating, we cruised around town, picked up the pet collar, and browsed a few shops and street art. Lynn wanted to check out the troll-themed shirts we’d spotted through the window at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area the day before, so we drove back up there. Unfortunately, the selection was pretty sparse, and we left empty-handed.
The afternoon was all about taking it easy. Lynn spent time blogging and chatting on the phone (for hours!), while Kirk napped. The internet was spotty and unstable, which made blogging a bit of a challenge. We soaked up the nice weather outside, and Kirk fired up the grill for a classic campfire dinner: hotdogs. We rounded out the night with a nice campfire.
That’s about it—a mellow day filled with a little shopping, a little eating, and a whole lot of down time.
Upcoming forecast shows rain for the next 8 days straight! Good thing we leave on Wednesday (hopefully we’ll get better weather in WI).
Weather – High 77*, Low 56*. Winds 6-18 mph. Low humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Hub 41 – so-so.
Notable – Nothing much. Great weather to relax outside.
August 3, 2025 (Sun.) - rAINY dAY rAMBLINGS & fIRESIDE fEASTING
The day kicked off under a blanket of rain—no patio coffee for Lynn this morning. She was up early and dove into blog catch-up mode, while the steady drizzle kept us cooped up indoors. It rained nonstop, the kind of persistent gray that makes you lose track of time. So, we leaned into it: chores, blogging, and TV marathons. Kirk took the opportunity to fully relax, while Lynn battled the spotty internet, making blog updates a slow crawl.
Eventually, we hit our limit on cabin fever and decided to venture out, rain be damned. Kirk made dinner reservations at Fireside Steakhouse, a lakeside spot that promised a view—though the weather had other plans. Our table? Let’s just say it felt like an afterthought. Lynn’s chair was practically in the server’s flight path, constantly bumped as trays of food hovered dangerously overhead. Not just a plate or two—massive round trays stacked for 4–6 people. It was a miracle nothing came crashing down.
Still, we had a partial lake view, albeit a misty, gray one. On a clear day, it’s probably stunning. We arrived early and settled into the bar for a few drinks. And by “few,” we mean Lynn sipped a single glass of wine while Kirk went on a whiskey adventure:
One complimentary house whiskey- One personal pick—Blanton’s (not a hit)
- One bartender’s favorite—Red Spot ($50 a shot!)
One complimentary house whiskey
Kirk wasn’t particularly impressed by any of them, but he powered through two, especially the pricey pour. His palate tends to differ from most—what others rave about doesn’t always hit the mark for him.
Dinner was… fine. After a steak-heavy week, Lynn opted for chicken, and Kirk went with a pork chop. His was solid; hers, not so much—decent flavor but tough texture. Dessert (shortcake) was ordered to go and was very good. Still, the real win was just getting out of the RV, stretching our legs, and shaking off the rainy-day blues.
Not the most glamorous evening, but definitely a change of pace. No pics other than food today.
Weather – High 72*, Low 62*. Winds 9-12 mph, gusts up to 23 mph. Rain all day. 
Traffic – None.
Food – The Fireside – so-so.
Notable – Nothing other than dinner out of the RV.
Screen time – War of the Worlds, Nautilus, The Dry.
August 4, 2025 (Mon.) - rAIN, cOFFEE tROUBLES & A fERGUS fALLS dETOUR
Another day, another dose of rain. Lynn was up early, greeted by the same dreary skies—and a minor morning crisis: the Keurig had no power. She tried multiple outlets, plugging and unplugging like a woman on a mission. Finally, one outlet cooperated and she was able to brew her precious morning coffee. Worst-case scenario, she could’ve used the stovetop percolator, which takes longer but admittedly makes a better-tasting cup. Still, when it’s early and raining, speed wins. Side note: Kirk found the outlet problems, fixed it and now there should be no more coffee troubles.
With the weather stuck in a cycle of light drizzle, we took a chance on Fergus Falls, hoping to catch a glimpse of the town’s namesake. Reviews online were all over the place—some swore the falls were real, others hinted they were more myth than marvel. Our GPS didn’t help much, sending us on a wild goose chase through muddy trails and dead ends. After a few soggy detours and no clear sign of cascading water, we called it quits and headed to Fiesta Bravo for lunch.
The food was decent, but Lynn skipped her usual crispy taco test. She’s developed a sixth sense for spotting places that won’t meet her crispy taco standards, and this one didn’t pass the chip-and-salsa sniff test. Instead, she went with carnitas street tacos, which are always a safe bet—and they were delicious. Kirk’s plate of shrimp, chicken, and chorizo was also a hit.
One bright spot: we stumbled upon Snoopy and the Peanuts gang at Dairyland, a nostalgic surprise that almost made up for the elusive falls. Sadly, Dairyland was closed today—otherwise, that would’ve been our lunch spot for sure.
After our failed waterfall hunt, we returned to the RV, where ‘Barber Lynn’ gave Kirk a much-needed haircut during a brief lull in the rain. The showers picked up again later in the afternoon, so we spent the rest of the day unwinding with some TV. Not every adventure goes as planned—but hey, at least the Mexican food was a win.
Another day of few pics, mostly food!
Weather – High 75*, Low 62*. Winds 10-13 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. Low humidity. Rain all day.
Traffic – None.
Food – Fiesta Bravo – decent.
Notable – Nothing.
Screen time – The Dry 2.
August 5, 2025 (Tue.) - Prep Day, thunder
Today was all about getting ready to travel. Kirk was determined to start early and was up by 8:00 AM, while Lynn—true to form—was already up and moving. We were out the door by 8:30 AM and headed to a spot Kirk found called 59er Diner, a cozy little locals-only kind of place. The food was just okay, but the coffee hit the mark. Lynn couldn’t resist trying the country fried steak, hoping it might rival the one she had in Wyoming—but sadly, it didn’t live up to the hype.
After breakfast, we swung by ACE Hardware for supplies—Kirk has a grill project brewing. We also picked up our Detroit Lakes souvenir t-shirt and stickers, a little memento before moving on.
The rest of the day was dedicated to travel prep, especially with rain in the forecast and knowing our next stop won’t have sewer hookups—just electric and water. That meant deep cleaning and laundry were top priority. Kirk tackled the outdoor gear: loading the bike, grill, chairs, and everything else. Lynn focused on the interior, waging war against the ever-present dog hair. With rugs and pet beds airing out in the sun, she turned her attention to the truck, which had started to resemble a shag carpet on her side. Kirk had long surrendered to the dog hair situation, declaring it a permanent fixture. But Lynn had a secret weapon: a credit card-sized gadget she’d ordered months ago, designed to remove pet hair from car carpets. She finally gave it a try and—WOW—it worked like magic. She ended up cleaning the entire truck, and even Kirk had to admit it was impressive… as long as Lynn was the one using it, of course. Around 4 PM, the skies opened up. Thunder cracked louder than we’ve ever heard, shaking the RV and sounding like it struck right next to us. Even Otis was spooked, and Kirk let him snuggle on the couch for some comfort—a rare treat.
Later that evening, while getting ready for bed, Lynn noticed something odd in the shower: freezing cold droplets in an otherwise warm stream. It might be a leak, and Kirk will need to check the roof once the rain lets up. Fingers crossed it’s just condensation, but that icy splash was suspicious.
After a full morning and early afternoon of hard work, we spent the rest of the day relaxing and watching TV, grateful to be dry and cozy inside.
Weather – High 79*, Low 64*. Winds 11-16 mph with gusts up to 28 mph. Rain.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing notable.
Notable – Dog hair cleaning gadget!
Screen time – Elkhorn, We Bought A Zoo
Slim pickings on pictures over the last four days. But, we didn’t do too much due to the rain!