Going Back to Caledonia

ByDeborah Raney
9 Comments

Going Back to Caledonia. Hmmm. That might make a lovely book title some day. But this past week, it was the “title” of our weekend. Many of you will remember that six years ago, my husband got the bug to get a camper. It did NOT sound like my idea of fun. But he talked me into a trial run, we rented a camper near St. Louis and made our way toward our daughters’ homes in Southeast Missouri. (You can find that blog post HERE.)

Along the way on that maiden voyage, we came upon the town of Caledonia, Missouri, and that charming tiny village may just be have been the tipping point that convinced me camping could be fun.

This weekend, we went on what Ken calls a “shake-down cruise”—a two-night trip just to make sure everything is working right on the camper before we embark on a month-long trip later this fall. We visited beautiful Missouri sights like Onondaga Cave State Park, Maramec Spring Park, and Montauk State Park. They were all so unique and beautiful, this time of year especially.

As we headed toward home late Saturday morning, we realized that we would drive very close to Caledonia again. And in fact, it would only be an 8.5-mile detour to visit the town that charmed us so much.

So we went. We parked in front of the General Mercantile, which has to be one of the coolest stores in the state, if not the country! What a great, old-fashioned mercantile!

Caledonia hasn’t changed much in six years, but it has grown and improved with new shops and new places to eat. And the town was hopping on a Saturday. We had delicious quesadillas at Roma’s and they were big enough to be Sunday leftovers the next day.

Here are just a few more scenes from the General Mercantile.

Caledonia was a good reminder that I shouldn’t have been so negative about Ken’s idea of traveling and camping. We’ve come to a great compromise and I’ve learned and grown so much.

Is there anything in your life that you initially resisted but that ultimately turned out to be something you now enjoy and are glad you did?

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DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a four-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

9 Comments

  1. So fun to “see” your travels! Thanks for sharing your adventures, Deb (& Ken)!

    Moving. My husband has a “gypsy spirit” of sorts, so he feels the need to move more frequently. (Also, these moves were due to his changes in jobs as he pursued his career.) Initially, I was not a fan but God has knit the two of us tighter together as husband and wife and provided wonderful church family along our many moves. (And various jobs for me, too.) Now that he has finished his education and found a great job, we are learning how to “stay” in one place and really “know” people. It’s a new season in our lives!

  2. What a charming town! How fun that you found it!

    I guess my adventure that it turned out I enjoyed was getting talked into a condo in a high-rise in downtown Austin. It was so very small, but living downtown was fun–until COVID and some work things. Even though we are now back in a house outside of Dallas, I’m glad I gave in and got to experience that kind of life for a little while.

  3. You always share such wonderful pictures. A real treat.
    Your mercantile reminds me of one in Julian, CA, an old gold mine town east of San Diego. Since my daughter has lived in CA for 30 years, we have been many times. It is one of our favorite places to go. They are known for their apple orchards, and you don’t go there without getting scrumptious apple pie, by the piece or to take a whole pie home. My grandson is named Julian (no connection), so everytime we go, I take a picture of him under the Julian Cider Mill sign. It is fun to ser how he’s grown.
    Looking forward to your fall trip.

  5. I have always longed to be a camper family. I loved camping growing up, and have dreamed of having my own camper. But I just can’t afford it. I do like the idea of renting a camper. I’ll have to check that out. It may be that I hate it. Lol! Wouldn’t want to buy a shiny, new-to-me camper just to hate it.

  6. Oh I remember those early conversations about camping and RVing so well! LOL And yet look at what God has done. Let that be a lesson for me, too. LOVE your post and hope to one day visit Caledonia!Great pics, too. And that RV. Travelin’ in style! 🙂

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