Bentonville Take 3

And we're back on the road! Can't wait for all the trips we have in store for 2023!

First up, 3rd times a charm in Bentonville AR for spring break.

We left Friday after work and stayed in Bloomington, in our camper parked in front of my college roommate's house. Always love when we get to see them!

We left by 730 on Saturday morning to make our way to Bentonville. Well, actually we stay at the Blowing Springs RV park in Bella Vista, AR, which is about 10 minutes from downtown Bentonville.

Since we had a late lunch on the road, we decided that dinner would be icecream at Trash Creamery.

 On Sunday we woke up refreshed and ready to try something new, which was participating in the Trailcat Challenge which is a bicycle scavenger hunt. We spent the day leisurely riding around town and checking out bike shops and landmarks in the Bentonville area.

Gearhead bike shop/owner

Sculpture at Buddy Pegs bike shop

On Monday we decided to try out the Little Sugar trail system in Bella Vista. 

Later that afternoon Alex and Liam went to the new Castle hub, then over to the free ride park where they could practice on the progressive drops, while me, Gavin and James went to the children's museum called Amazeum.

Later that evening we went over to Wolf Park which has 2 trails that are geared towards the youngest members of the family and to the Velosolutions at Thaden School, which is a pump track-at a school!

We wrapped up the evening by stopping by Leopard’s loop trail, one of our favorites, and supposedly has glow chips embedded in the trail, so it glows at night. It only kinda glowed.

On Tuesday we wanted to try another newer trail system called Hand cut hollow, which was too difficult for Gavin, so we just hung out at the swing in the parking lot!

The boys then rode the following trails: Ozone into Hammer down over to Masterpiece, where James and I tried the "rideable art" for the first time.

We headed back to camp where Alex and Liam rode the Boom diggity trail and the rest of us hit up the section of the All American trail that's behind Cooper Elementary school.

Wednesday morning we made our way about 35min south to Hobbs state park, where Alex and Liam rode, while Gavin, James and I checked out the Visitor's center. 

We then had a picnic lunch and I found out we have some tree huggers:

 

On the way back to camp we stopped at the Snowbird trail which is connected to the Back40 trail system. This was a great little trail for Gavin, which had several art installations around the loop. Then Alex and James hopped on the Back 40 where it would lead them back to our campsite.

Gavin had to try out the Bentonville bike park where he found his favorite thing to do: ride around in circles on the kiddie pump track!

We tried a couple different days to check out Huntley gravity zone, which was too advanced for us the first year in Bentonville, but sadly it was closed for maintenance.

Thursday was our day reserved for Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, one of our favorite spots in Bentonville where you can ride easy trails like Good Vibrations, or the dual slalom track called Thunder Dome, or black diamond trails with huge drops like Hammer down.

We even checked out the new "Rise" stair installation at the park-all 11 stories of it!

Of course we spent time at Airship coffee and checking out this cool barn!

After we left Coler we went back to the parking lot on Cub and A St where everyone could access all of their favorites: All American/ Masterpiece/Black apple/Leopard loop/Tristan’s trail /Castle hub

To finish off our evening we went to town and ate wood fire pizza dinner at Oven & Tap and had ice cream at Superfine. 

We tried to pack up quick on Friday morning and get out of town before the nasty storms came through. It was a WINDY ride up to St. Louis. We stopped at Steelville bike park on our way and got in some rides before getting back on the road.

Of course, the rainbow that painted the sky made us think of Sue Voigts (Alex's mom, my MIL and the kids grandma) and how she is always watching over us. Thanks Sue, we miss you.

We finished up our camping at Babler State Park before heading home, with a stop at Wally's for $70 worth of roadtrip gas station food!

Next up...where all our dreams come true....

 

Something to prove

Over Labor day our family went camping in Dubuque Iowa. We headed that way mostly for a mountain bike trail system called Proving Grounds. The park came to existence in 2018 from land donated by John Deere. The area was the original proving grounds (testing area) established for John Deere Dubuque Works. It has since been transformed into a premier mountain biking destination. So of course the Voigts family had to check it out!

But first, on the way west we hit up the Alpine slide at Chestnut Mountain in Galena on the way to Dubuque. 

At the top

At the bottom

  

Going back up

Our campsite base location was the Swiss Valley campground. 

We arrived Friday night and early the next morning we found our way to the Proving Grounds. The trails were in great shape:

We also hit up another trail system in Dubuque called Interstate Power Preserve (IPP according to the local shredders):

And there was one more that we tried in Dubuque called Cloie Creek Trail:

Last but not least, on our way home we made a pass through Platteville WI to visit Lima Union Cemetery. I think Grandma Voigts would approve of our family camping and mountain bike riding adventures. We sure do miss her.

Summer living at The Triple V

This is a bit overdue but I've been busy and now it's back to school. But for the record, we had an awesome summer and here are some of the highlights of summer living at The Triple V:

So proud of this kiddo, he donated 14” of hair to Wigs for Kids!

Fiesta Days in McHenry where Gavin learned that he loves roller coasters.

Great America

Liam’s fishing trip with Grandpa V and Mary Beth 

Back to school pool party

Spending quality time with one of my besties at Lake Geneva Ziplines &Adventures

Hurricane Harbor in Rockford

Dinosaur Discovery museum in Kenosha

Summer concerts in the park

A Day at Brookfield Zoo with family

Volcano Falls (laser tag, go carts & mini golf)

First Day back to school (Liam=8th grade, James=5th grade, Gavin=pre-K at The Learning Tree)

Last but not least, after 18 years and 4 months with AIG, I am joining another company in <2 weeks. I have nothing but great things to say about my former employer. I will cherish the memories, having built ever-lasting relationships. I have learned so much about the personal lines insurance industry and, more importantly, about myself. I'm not quite starting over, as my new company (Chubb) is in the same business, and my position will be similar, as will many of my colleagues and clients. But I would be lying if I didn't say I was a bit nervous as I start this next chapter in my career. I hope I can look back at this blog in another 18 years and remember fondly the summer of 2022!