Lots of miles and wonderful visits with friends along the way.

After we reached Thunder Bay, we dropped down into Minnesota to head toward Artesian, South Dakota. Along the route to Artesian, Sean suggested we should go through Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Tim’s brother, Chris, has researched states and towns where there are or have been families of Rooneys. Sean and Ashley found one of those locations while traveling through Minnesota.

He said there was a Rooney Pub and cemetery there. He sent me a pin, and we followed the directions. It took us to a crossroad where there was farmland on the northeast corner, a small white structure on the southeast corner, a long dilapidated-looking structure on the northwest corner that I thought was an old repair shop, and a dense wooded area on the southwest corner.

We saw nothing of a pub or cemetery, so we drove back eight miles to Sauk Centre. We drove around looking for a Rooney Pub and finally decided to ask someone. We stopped at a market, and Tim asked the cashier. She had no knowledge of anything called Rooney, nor did the other cashier. A customer overheard the conversation and said, "Yes, there is a Rooney Pub and cemetery about eight miles out, but it is called Padua Pub and Padua Cemetery." She said the pub has always been owned by a Rooney.

So we went back to the crossroad for another look. Sure enough, there it was in the dilapidated building. If we had turned the corner instead of making a U-turn, we would have spotted the church and cemetery behind the wooded area. There was a gentleman there this time. In front of the building stood Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pub. Tim got out, and sure enough, a small part of the building was a pub. Unfortunately, it was closed that day.

He gave us a short history of his pub and the town of Padua. The small community was settled in the 1860s by Irish immigrants who homesteaded in the area. It was known as Rooney’s Settlement or Irish Landing because of the large number of Rooney families. Eventually, the Rooney Catholic Church name was changed to Saint Anthony’s of Padua in honor of St. Anthony, and eventually the town adopted the name change also.

There was a lovely little church across from the pub and a lane that led to the Padua Cemetery. We walked back to the cemetery and found many Rooney headstones. Dave told us that another reason for the name change was that many immigrants from different countries came after Rooney Settlement was established, and consideration was given so newer families would feel welcome. It was an interesting adventure and well worth the drive. I am not good at tracing ancestry, but I hope Chris checks further into this particular family and settlement.

Rooney Pub and Cemetary

On to Artesian, South Dakota, where Jim and Sue Nelson have a barndominium. They spend a couple of months each year there visiting family. As luck would have it, they were there for two more weeks when we were passing through. It was the perfect spot for boondocking.

His sister, Jane, lives a stone’s throw away and was so kind to let us do laundry and take long, hot showers. We got to see Sue’s mom, Beverly, who is a world-renowned cookie baker. Jim and Sue both grew up in the area and have lots of family there. Tim helped Jim build two small bars for Jim’s party area. It was so great to see them.

The Nelsons and Their Barndominium

We drove through the Badlands. Such beautiful views. Never disappointed with this drive. It took about three days to get to Missoula, Montana. We went to our friends Mike Hall and Heidi Heitmann’s for a week.

Mike had knee surgery while we were there, and Tim offered to help him with a house project in town. I played Nurse Hatchett while Heidi worked, and Tim did some drywall and electrical work that Mike could not do while recuperating.

Mike and Heidi & The Badlands

Aunt Peg, Steve & Mariel Rooney

We also went to Bretz RV, where we purchased our trailer in July. After our episode in Canada with the wheel, the trailer brakes were shot. They were awesome and submitted everything to the trailer manufacturer, and the company covered the repairs under warranty. We were even reimbursed for the expense we had in Wawa, Canada. I was pleasantly surprised. Kudos to InTech Company for standing behind their product.

We headed to warmer weather as snow started spitting a bit in Missoula. We stopped in Salt Lake City to see Steve and Mariel Rooney, and Aunt Peg was there for a visit. It was fun to see them.

We went down to Zion National Park and did some hiking. We found Blandy Doll in Kanab, Utah. We stayed at a great spot, Dark Sky RV, where she had been for almost a month. We hiked at Sand Caves near Kanab. We got up the rock and into the caves. Very cool.

We stayed two nights at Dark Sky, then headed toward Flagstaff. Blandy told us about a nice hike at Toadstool Hoodoos that we would be going by. We stopped and felt like we were on a different planet. The rock formations and colors were amazing.

Zion National Park

Sand Caves with Blandy

Toadstool National Monument

We made it to our sister-in-law’s, Jodi Lair’s, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. We stayed a couple of nights at her house and went to a Saturday morning Coffee and Cars. Kevin has a couple of awesome Corvettes that he shows.

We also had a slumber party at Carol and Roger St. Clair’s. Carol and I have been friends since 1956. She was born two weeks before me, and we were best friends in grade school. We lived in Scottsburg, Indiana, until I was 10, when my dad was relocated to Findlay.

After many years of not seeing each other, we reconnected when I was visiting Casey and Jodi a few years before Casey passed away. Whenever we visit Jodi, we make a point of going to lunch or dinner with Carol and her husband, Roger. This time we had a slumber party at their house. We stayed two nights and enjoyed reminiscing, food, and libations. So much fun, and we are planning on doing it again next time.

We arrived at Imperial Dam two days ago and will boondock (camping without hookups, no electricity, no water, no sewer connection) here until December 15. Blandy decided to get out of Utah before the snow flies and came here to join us for a while. It will be great to have someone with us for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving dinner will be an interesting challenge with limited cooking sources. I have a frozen turkey breast, potatoes, and green beans, and that is about all I think I will try to accomplish for this first boondocking holiday feast. Fingers crossed.

If It Looks Abandoned, It Might Be the Rooney Pub