Peete and Repeat (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries Book 3) (20 page)

Late Tuesday Night

Frannie and Larry pulled into the campsite. Ben and Mickey had built a roaring fire and chairs had been found for the Larsons, Dale, Mel, and Jonie. Mel had repeated his part in the adventure several times, each version more dramatic, while Jonie clung to his arm and gazed at him with adoring eyes.

Mary Louise said, “Well, Jim had a lot to do—”

“Hush, dear,” Jim patted her hand. “Mel is the real hero here.”

His wife smiled and said, “You’re right.”

Dale sat nodding while Larry summarized Richard’s story.

“So you
were
there…in the tunnel,” Frannie said to him.

He shrugged. “I guess.”

His father sat forward in his chair. “Son, he could have killed you too!”

“I don’t think so,” Dale said. “He saw me when he climbed down in the tunnel and he was pretty shook up. He just said I’d better keep my mouth shut or his Chicago mob friends would come after me.”

“He was in a hurry to get out of there. He went through the tunnel and back up the hill by the bird watching area to the parking lot where he’d left his truck,” Larry said.

“And had plenty of time to get back to the campground before we did,” Frannie added.

“Sorenson says there’s no evidence he has any connection to Chicago gangsters,” Larry assured Dale.

Nancy said, “So he did love Valerie?” glancing at Jonie as she spoke. But the singer seemed oblivious to anyone but Mel.

“No,” said Frannie. “I think he is just a fortune-hunting scumbag. Claire, the woman who came with him, is rich but isn’t interested in marriage. Valerie and Virginia inherited quite a bit of money from their parents. Jonie told him she is the only heir to her uncle’s estate. I think he may be in money trouble back in Chicago so he’s just looking for a rich wife. His anger got out of control because he thought Virginia had removed Val from the list of candidates.”

Now she had Jonie’s attention. “That no-good creep!”

Larry said, “The sheriff told me that the gun was registered to Virginia and only her fingerprints were on it.”

“What gun?” Jane Ann asked. The others looked surprised too.

Larry explained about the small gun in the backpack.

Frannie added, “It’s possible that Virginia went to the rendezvous planning to kill Richard.”

“Oh, my,” said Nancy.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Mickey said.

“But,” Donna frowned, “what about the people in the meth lab? They didn’t have anything to do with this?”

“Not the murders,” Larry said. “They have been picked up in Illinois.”

“So they knew or suspected that the twins had photos of them and broke into the trailer in case there was something incriminating them,” Ben said.

Larry nodded. “Change of subject. What’s our departure plan tomorrow?”

“We have to get going early. Rob has a dentist appointment in the afternoon,” Donna said.

“And I have clients to see in the evening,” Ben said. “We did some packing up when we got back from Farrell’s so we’re pretty much ready to go.”

Frannie looked around the campsite and realized that a lot of the camping implements had disappeared.

“I don’t think it would take us long to get ready,” Larry said and turned to Frannie. “Did you want to hang around for a while tomorrow or get going early?”

She smiled. “An early start is fine with me. I think I’m ready for the couch and a few boring days.”

“After the laundry’s done,” Jane Ann reminded her.

Dale turned to Frannie. “I’m very sorry about the attack on you. We just don’t like some of the stuff the government does, and y’know, some of the Muslim ideas are good.”

“I understand,” Frannie said, “but there are other ways to go about change.”

“Speaking of change,” Jonie said, “Mel has convinced me that country is not my style. I got a pretty good response from the crowd tonight on that last song, so I may try for some gigs around here doing more Thirties and Forties stuff.”

“Jonie, that’s great,” Frannie jumped in. “That was beautiful tonight. Much more your style.”

Mel grinned. “That’s what I told her. I’m gonna be her manager. Well, we’ll say good night—nice meetin’ all of you. I think we’re ready to turn in,” he said and he helped Jonie to her feet in her wobbly heels.

They said goodbye, and as Mel, Jonie, and Dale started down the road. Mickey crooned, “We’ll be seeing you…In all the old familiar places…” They could hear Jonie’s giggles long after the trio disappeared in the darkness.

Several readers have commented that, while they like the ‘Happy Camper Tips,’ it is somewhat distracting to have them at the end of each chapter. So, in this book, I have put them all in one place. Less distraction and it should be easier to find one that you want to refer to later.

Happy Camper Tip #1

There’s great appeal in the image of the Happy Wanderer when camping: taking off on a whim and stopping wherever it suits you. But for most of us, camping is primarily on the weekends when campgrounds are crowded, and hauling a gas guzzler many miles with no reserved site doesn’t leave many options. Cruising around an area looking for sites is cost prohibitive.

Fortunately, most state and national park campgrounds, as well as private establishments now have online reservations systems. Iowa state parks even have photos of every site. The website, Reserve America, has lots of state, federal and private sites, www.reserveamerica.com. Federal campsites can also be reserved at
www.Recreation.gov
.

Different entities have varying reservation windows, from three months to a year so be sure you know what the requirements are. Many sites have information as to the size, shade, and degree of slope that a camper can expect.

A word of caution: most campground maps appear to have been drawn on the back of a napkin from memory. Two sites that look close together or right across the road from each other on the map may in reality be a mile apart. Or on top of each other.

Happy Camper Tip #2

For most of us, firewood is an absolute necessity for camping. In recent years, the emerald ash bore has posed a major threat to our forests, especially in the Midwest. Consequently, many states have posed bans on out-of-state firewood. Some campgrounds don’t allow any firewood brought in. Observe this ban. Many parks sell firewood, and there are often private sources in areas around parks.

Happy Camper Tip #3

Camping offers opportunity for wonderful pictures. I keep an 8 x 8 scrapbook of each year’s trips, and include photos, journal entries about weather and experiences, and sometimes minitiarized park or campground maps. Brochures from places visited can be stuck between the pages. We enjoy looking back over past trips and they are also useful for settling campfire arguments over who was where, when.

Happy Camper Tip #4

Sometimes inclement weather and sometimes just an itch to explore push many campers out for short road trips. Neighboring towns, even small ones, often boast delightful museums, antique shops, and interesting restaurants. And who could pass up a visit to Rutabaga Days, a bottle cap museum, or the birth place of Jesse James? I didn’t make these up. The growth of the wine industry in the Midwest has spawned a corresponding tourist business. Many wineries, often located on scenic Grant Wood-esque hills, supplement their income by hosting musicians in pleasant outdoor gardens or on decks and stage wine and food-tastings. Check the Internet for the local Chamber of Commerce information on what you might be missing if you never leave the campground. A few parks hand out flyers with this information; those who don’t are missing the boat—er, camper.

Happy Camper Tip #5

On the level: Getting an RV level can be a challenge but is extremely important for the functioning of the mechanicals: the refrigerator and the water system especially. In addition, it is much more convenient to be able to open cabinets without danger of dire injury, sleep with one’s head above one’s feet, and lay a pencil on a counter and have it stay there. There are commercial levelers that are nice and convenient, but expensive. We carry a couple of boards that can be used under the wheels on the low side to get close.

Happy Camper Tip #6

Compact, lightweight storage is a constant issue in an RV. We are becoming more and more entangled in a web of charger cords. I made a hanging thingamagig with labeled pockets for each charger—like one of those shoe caddies that hangs over a door, only smaller. It hangs next to an outlet on the end counter and I can tell by glancing at the pockets if we have all the necessary chargers before we leave. It is made of upholstery material and has loops at the top that hook on cup hooks installed under the counter.

Happy Camper Tip #7

Jane Ann’s Apple Bars: Combine two cups whole wheat flour, one-fourth cup toasted wheat germ, two teaspoons baking soda, one teaspoon cinnamon, one teaspoon salt, and one-half teaspoon nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine four cups diced apples, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour mixture and blend well with a wooden spoon. Spread in a greased 13 x 9 pan and bake about 50 minutes at 350.

Travels well in canoes. Also good with butter pecan ice cream on top.

Happy Camper Tip #8

Balsamic marinated salmon filets—Whisk together a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, three tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, one fourth cup of olive oil, two tablespoons of soy sauce and a tablespoon or so of honey. Pour over washed salmon filets in a plastic bag and marinate in the refrgerator for one to two hours. Grill over medium coals about ten minutes or until done, turning once.

Happy Camper Tip #9

Don’t get bugged! One of the greatest annoyances of spending much time outdoors is the insect kind. In the spring and early summer in Iowa, gnats become the state bird and everyone has their own home remedies. My favorite is vanilla. Gnats don’t like it and you smell like a cookie. What could be better? Some people say it has to be the real vanilla or the clear type, but I find that the cheap imitation, brown kind works just as well. It also doubles as a fake tan if you put it on evenly. And as a corollary to this tip, those cardboard cut-out evergreens sold as air fresheners for cars in the vanilla scent do a fairly good job just hanging on your lawn chair. Fits in with the woodsy theme, too.

Happy Camper Tip #10

Veggie Pancakes—These are delicious, healthier than regular pancakes, and can be made ahead and warmed up. Grate two cups of zucchini and one cup of carrots. Add one cup of corn—frozen works best. Stir in one egg, two tablespoons of plain yogurt, one half teaspoon of salt and one eighth teaspoon of pepper. Combine one half cup of flour, one half cup of corn meal and two teaspoons of baking powder and add to veggie mixture. Stir well and add one half cup of cheese.

In a skillet with a small amount of oil, use a scant quarter cup of batter for each pancake and flatten slightly with a fork. Cook about three minutes on a side and drain on paper towels. Store in the refrigerator between layers of waxed paper and reheat in the microwave. Excellent with butter and syrup or ranch dressing.

Happy Camper Tip #11

Those of us who have to winterize and store our campers for the non-camping season are faced with a mighty task. Everything that might freeze or be attractive to Friends of the Forest (mice, etc.) must be removed. This includes liquids and foodstuffs, of course, but also most paper items: napkins, paper towels, magazines. But our camping group swears by dryer sheets. We put in one or two in every cupboard and cubbyhole and have never had an invasion from Mickey and his friends. That would NOT be Jane Ann’s husband; rather the rodent type.

Happy Camper Tip #12

Step it up: As a result of space and traveling constraints, the folding metal steps that come on many travel trailers and other RVs are narrow and shallow. We like to cook and eat every meal outside possible, but this necessitates a lot of carrying in and out and negotiating those silly steps. We bought our trailer used, and the previous owner had cleverly devised a better step system. He cut boards wider and deeper than each step, notched them to fit around the side supports, and covered them with outdoor carpet. They attach through the holes in the steps with bolts and wing nuts and take about ten minutes to attach during our set-up. Besides making exit and entry less precarious, they provide extra seating—well worth the time and effort.

Happy Camper Tip #13

Useful gadgets: Like every past time, camping has produced a variety of gadgets, some very clever and some more trouble than they’re worth. One of my favorites is the folding wagon: a collapsible frame with a canvas bed that is great for hauling firewood from camper or truck to fire ring. It can also be used to haul children and/or groceries and takes up very little space when folded. Another large item that we would not travel without is a metal folding utility table. It normally sits right by the trailer under the outdoor outlet, providing a place for the coffee pot, a crockpot, and cooking in the electric skillet. A mini-blender can be used for breakfast smoothies and quick homemade salad dressings.

Happy Camper Tip #14

Dine in Style: There is nothing wrong with roughing it, but if you like to add a little ‘glam’ to your meals in the woods without too much effort, there are lots of ways to do that. Want cloth napkins? Bandanas come in multiple colors and wash up well. Saves on the use of paper products as well. Add these to a bright vinyl cloth and you would think you were in a sidewalk cafe in Paris. Sort of. I keep an old, small blue spatterware coffee pot in the camper and often cut flowers, grasses, small branches—whatever is blooming in my yard right before a trip, wrap the stems in wet paper towels and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator while traveling. Once we arrive, they reside in the pot and provide a rustic, but bright, spot of color. Finally, what gourmet meal would be complete without candles? There a lots of cute outdoor candles but just a glass jar with a little sand or a few pebbles and a votive will do the trick.

Happy Camper Tip #15

One of the advantages of camping, especially away from urban areas, is the great view of the stars. State and national parks offer wonderful programs on nature themes and sometimes have a stargazing walk. You may also be able to spot the International Space Station going over, a very impressive sight. You can find out where and when to look by entering the zip code of where you will be camping on: http://
spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/#.UgNj7lNZXC4

Happy Camper Tip #16

Campfire Mac ‘n’ Cheese: I’ve tried a couple of different methods, and this one seems the easiest. At home, cook sixteen ounces of macaroni rinse and drain well, and put in a zipper bag. Chill. Oil a cast iron Dutch oven well and layer 1/3 of the macaroni, two or three pats of butter, salt and pepper and about 1/3 cup of shredded cheese. I like a blend like cheddar/jack. Repeat twice.Pour about a cup of milk over the whole thing. Cover and cook over the fire or in the coals until cheese is melted and mixed in with milk. This is fairly conservative on the cheese so you may want more. A big hit with picky kids.

Happy Camper Tip #17

Entertaining the kids: I figure there can’t be too many hints on this subject. I saw this one somewhere on the internet. Make a night-time ring toss game by putting glow sticks in empty plastic water or soda bottles. You can then fill them with water to increase the glow and make them less tippy. Make circles out of other glow sticks for the rings. You can also use glow sticks to make the line on the ground to stand behind when trying to ring the bottles.

Scavenger hunts are a favorite time-tested activity and can be used to improve awareness of nature. Include on the list sticks with a certain shape, different rock shapes, varieties of tree leaves, pine cones, and something the finder considers a treasure. You can even require a couple of pieces of man-made litter and help the environment at the same time.

Happy Camper Tip #18

Red and White Oatmeal Bars: Melt two sticks of butter or margarine in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add one cup of white and one cup of brown sugar and stir well. Add two eggs, one teaspoon of vanilla, one-half teaspoon each of baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and one-fourth teaspoon nutmeg and mix. Stir in one cup of white flour, one cup of whole wheat flour, and one and a half cups rolled oats. Add one and a half cups white chocolate chips and one cup dried cranberries. Spread in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes and cut into bars when cool. These store well and are a big hit with adults and kids alike. And like most desserts, they’re even better with ice cream or whipped cream.

Happy Camper Tip #19

Recycling containers for camping purposes is environmentally sound and cheap. Some food items can be purchased in containers that can be reused when empty for storage of leftovers. Plastic jars with screw-on lids are especially useful and lightweight. Tic-Tac containers can be used for small amounts of spices. Other low-cost ideas that save space: waxed paper and plastic wrap boxes actually come with punch-in holes on the ends. Mount plastic adhesive hooks sideways with the open ends facing each other to a wall or inside a cabinet and slip the boxes into the hooks. Or store vertically in plastic magazine holders. Collapsible plastic containers take up little room until you pop them open for storing leftovers. Hanging bags with compartments for shoes can be used for tools, cords, or other small items that tend to get lost. You can even mount one over a headboard and use it for glasses, watches, or remotes if you don’t have nightstands.