I've Evolved......not Flip-Flopping?

     I'm starting to get a real kick out of some of these candidates running for office in our country, and the media reporting the so called news.  Reporting, I'm not sure we can call it reporting any longer, it's more like campaigning for liberals by the vastly liberal media......but that's a different subject.
     What used to be lying, pandering, flip-flopping is now being conveyed as evolving....I have evolved since then, the world is evolving, our country is evolving...bullshit!  Just like we didn't evolve from a monkey, these politicians aren't evolving, their just changing their minds to go along with those folks who's vote they want at the time.  Flip-flopping (an abrupt reversal) to please the crowd at the time, why can't we just say "dude, I changed my mind on that issue"?  Is it so bad to change your mind, has not everyone changed their mind now and again?  No you don't evolve on all these subjects you flat out change your mind to please those whom you seek their approval.
     All of a sudden liberal candidates who once believed marriage is between a man and a women as God has taught us, are now pimping themselves for those few votes from those believing their gay or as God calls them an abomination!  You really think Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle or Hillary and Bill would rather their daughters lay down with another female and not care one way or another?  Do those of you who follow and agree with them really don't care who your sons or daughters lays down with?  Do you really think they'd rather their daughters never conceived an heir to the family name or lineage, or never give them blood grandchildren?  I for one am very pleased to have my grandchildren and don't know what I'd have done without them.  No I believe they're looking for votes and will get on whichever side of the fence is convenient at the time.  Do they really stand with those on an issue like this if they have a child and are looking forward to grandchildren....I believe they are doing nothing but pandering!
     No, don't give me this crap "I've evolved" on that issue or because the "world is evolving when it comes to that or this" no just tell me you changed your mind to get a few more votes.  We all want our children to do it the way God intended, to give us grandchildren the way Adam and Eve started this world.  God created a Man and a Women to look after the other creature of the earth, and to marry and have children.  These are my opinions and the way I believe, just saying........even candidates can change their minds and should be able to without getting so much flack.
     If there are a couple of words/phrases that just drive me up a wall now days it's "I've evolved" or "Don't Judge" or "Don't Judge Me"...........giving ones opinion is not judging and changing ones mind is not evolving.........




 

All good things must eventually end...............

     This day was coming all along, yes, this day, the last night of our journey of 2015.  We're here in Las Vegas spending the last night of this years journey, we been here visiting our good Friend Fred Keene who is working here in the area and staying in his RV at this park.  The Oasis Las Vegas RV resort is a fine place and a place we would definitely stay again, top shelf RV resort.  Normally it's comp'd rooms at one of the Casino Hotels, but I wouldn't hesitate to drive the motor home up here and stay here in the future.  If you know me you know that this would be one of my favorite places to spend the last few days of any journey anytime, I love this place.
     After we travel the 296 miles from Las Vegas to Phoenix tomorrow we will have traveled 6495 miles from May 30th when we left to September 1st when we will arrive back in Phoenix.  That's not a record for us but it seems to be about the norm for a 2 1/2 - 3 month trek across this great country of ours!  We usually end up with between 6,000 and 7,000 miles on these trips and based on an average of let's say 6.85 mpg, that's like 948 gallons of gas at an average cost of about $2.60/gal. on this trip.  Yes if you us the 6495 and the 948 gallons it's like $2400 in gas.............but well worth it believe me for the time we spend together (in between visiting friends).
     Even though this trip mirror a couple of others in some ways, we always seem to find new places and things to do and see.  This year some of the high points were like North Dakota, especially Medora..........freaking awesome time in that area!  Florence, Oregon this year was one of the greatest weeks of the trip, two nice golf courses and wonderful weather..........good friends too!  Thanks Al and Tabatha!  We may have to reconsider when we visit family in Iowa, that first couple of weeks in June just really suck!  We had more rain in those 2 1/2 weeks that we get in Phoenix in 5 years......no shit, believe it, that makes for miserable times.  Then there was the hail storm that totally trashed our 4 week old new car (mostly the hood) in Superior, WI.  And then we hit Vegas......it really puts us back in the climate of our home, 102 - 104 for the past few days and not all that bad.  Hey it's a dry heat and that really matters........believe it.  We both can breath one hell of a lot better in the dry air, not all stuffed up all the time!  We dodged fires all through Washington, Oregon and California, no matter what road we took we missed all the fires and smoke.
     We both looked at each other today and said...........why are we going home?  We can to northern Arizona for a while, not a problem!  One big problem or should I say two big problems, that would be "Jack" and "Dalila", we miss the grand kids so much and our friends at home too but those kids we just need to hug............big hugs!  Now we may after a few days or a weeks say OK we got those hugs, now lets go again for a few weeks!
(One thing I might add to this blog.............there seemed to be some weight gain on this trip, man do we need to address that when we got home! Too many visits with friends and too many meals out of the coach! We have our work cut out for us)
   
   

Pacifica, CA.

     I could spit over the cliffs and hit the ocean...............yes the only thing better in Bev's eyes would be to have the coach pulled up to the edge and see that view out the front window.  San Francisco RV resort's front row accommodates 26 foot and under along the front row so we're back one in a pull through but that doesn't detract from the fact that we're just steps from the ocean view Bev has always wanted.  We are only spending three days here in the Bay area but enjoying every minute of it as usual when we visit San Francisco!  

     Reality stuck it's little head in yesterday morning as we sat on a bench just after dawn watching the pelicans and seagulls working for their breakfast in the early morning mist and fog.  As we sat there Bev said "you realize that we'll be home in a week from today" and we both looked at each other and wondered where the last 3 months had gone.  We neither one are ready to go home as far as the traveling goes, but we both can't wait to get home to the kids and grand kids, we really miss them a lot!  

     This our last day in the Bay area we plan on going in to town, doing tourist thing once again and visit one our favorite places, the Wharf, yes Fisherman's Wharf and some fresh sea food.  How does clam chowder and some good old San Francisco sour dough bread sound?     We might even head to the corner of Green and Columbus to this little Italian joint I seen on the travel channel for this sea food dish that sounded so good.  The dish had clams, mussels, shrimp, fish and calamari all steamed and combined in this sort of tomato based sauce.  Not sure of the name of the place but remember it was on this corner and shouldn't be too hard to find.

     Tomorrow morning we'll hookup for the the drive to Las Vegas where we'll spend out last few days of this our journey of 2015.  Normally when in Vegas we stay at one of the resorts in comp'd rooms at the Luxor or a Harrah's property, but this time we'll be staying in an RV resort near our good friend Fred Keene.  Fred's been working on the road for some time and we've missed seeing him over the last year or so, and look forward to camping near him at the Oasis Las Vegas Resort.  Going from this 50 - 60 degree weather on coast to the 100's of the desert will be a stark reality that home is right around the corner.  One thing will be welcomed by me at least, and that will be the dry air..........I look forward to being able to get "unstuffed" and breath more freely in the dry conditions of home.

     One or two more blogs for this trip I would imagine, one from Las Vegas (I'll try) and then a wrap-up upon our return home on September 1st.  Don't be surprised if this coach doesn't take a couple of little trips this winter!

  

Sacramento to San Francisco

     Arrived in Sacramento on Sunday the 16th and will be leaving here on the 24th for San Francisco or at least the Bay area.  We've got a spot in San Francisco RV park, Pacifica, Ca. over looking the Ocean.  It's been a little warm during the days here in Sacramento but does cool down quite nicely during the evenings.
     Hooked up with my cousins on Tuesday for the evening, dinner at Chicago Fire and then ice cream down in Old Sacramento.  Going to Don and Sharon Paper's tonight for a BBQ along with them and Rich and Lynn Paper.  We're hoping to get a round of golf in just not sure when or where, looking into a Troon course at Cache Creek Casino and Resort.  A very beautiful course called Yocha Dehe Golf Club, gave it a peek last year while visiting and checked it out again yesterday, just hoping for a bit cooler temps.  The Troon course is really not the type of course for Bev based on her handicap but she would enjoy the beauty of the course, but it could be very frustrating too!
     If you've seen FB then you know we visited Lake Tahoe and spent the night at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino.  While there Bev gave paddle boarding a try with the guidance of cousin Suzanne, she finally got up on the board, but it sure wasn't as easy as one might think and she found out!  After numerous efforts she finally got up and paddled a bit but she'll admit she has a ways to go to master it.
     We're on the final leg so to speak of this journey of 2015, from Sacramento onto to San Francisco for a few days and then Las Vegas for a few more days to arrive home on September 1st or 2nd.  It will be just over 3 months on the road and we miss our family but will definitely miss being out and about around this great country of ours!  No friends to visit in San Francisco but will enjoy the cool temps and the city itself as we always do when visiting the Bay area.  We will be hooking up with our Friend Fred in Vegas, have missed him and will enjoy visiting and catching up on the long time between visits.
     There will be more to come in these last few weeks and days of this journey!      

California....."State of Jefferson"

     Finally in California, spent the night on the 11th at a KOA in Shasta City, CA in the shadow of Mount Shasta with it's still at this time snow peaks!  This would be one of our last cool nights in the motor home, heading south on this the last leg of our journey the temps will continue to get warmer and warmer as we near our home in Phoenix (which broke the old record of 112 yesterday with a new one of 117).  We arrived at Ghost Mt. Ranch RV park and campground on the 12th and will leave here on Sunday for our next stop in Sacramento, CA for a week.  Ghost Mt. Ranch is still in the tall pines of northern California so the temps at night still are cool but starting to reach the 80's during the day.  Pollack Pines where this park is located is a nice densely covered area of tall pines with the sun peaking through here and there.  Bev and I both have commented on the eerie feeling we get coming home at night on the 1 mile winding road leading to the camp, the road lined tightly with these tall trees and the bright lights on just gives you that feeling when not being used to these surroundings.  We have had great fun visiting cousin Suzanne Floyd and her family here at Pollack Pines, she has been a great host and we surely enjoyed meeting all her family and dinning with them.  We feel very blessed to have so many friends and family in so many parts of this beautiful country of ours to visit along the paths of all our journeys.  The many days and nights of just being with each other is great, but a day or two here and there friends and family is also very much enjoyed.
     If you keep up with the news you are aware of the proposals to divide California into multiple states, one plan has California being divided into 5 separate states.  The upper most part of California, norther California has really jumped in with both feet, you see the sign along the roadways and many buildings and businesses simply saying "the State of Jefferson".  If I were living here in northern California I too would be pushing for this, tax wise, water wish, regulation wise it would make life so much better for the folks up here to not be lumped with the liberal thinking of the south and middle of this state.  Yes, I for one hope something like this comes to fruition for the folks here that don't agree with the Hollywood elite or the loons running the Bay area!  In case you haven't seen or heard about it here are a couple of articles referencing this idea which I believe now has the signatures to make the ballot.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/20/california-state-division/5661143/

http://dailycaller.com/2014/07/15/plan-to-divide-california-into-six-states-will-be-up-for-vote-in-2016-election/

     Well we're looking forward to hooking up with up some more family in Sacramento, cousins Rich and Don Paper and families, always a good time hanging with these folks and oh so many laughs will be had and as always a lot of reminiscing too!
     Colorado River Adventures ( http://www.coloradoriveradventures.com/ ) we joined this here at Ghost Mt. Ranch and are planning some winter stays in a few of these places.  Check it out at the site listed above.



  

Where the hell have you been Mike.......................

     Well we must be having a lot of fun, why else would it be not 5 but 10 days now between blogs!  Yep, we're still in Florence, OR and it's been a total joy and so relaxing not to mention such cool temps and no rain until yesterday.  The rain was and is again today so fine its basically a heavy mist or fog, not too hard to handle.  I'm not normally a rain guy, do not like rain or wind but this for the time now seems refreshing.  Snuggling beneath and in between flannel sheets and a blanket and a throw over that make for some great sleeping to say the least!
     Between dinners with friends, movies, a couple of rounds of golf, ACS relay for life events, a couple of trips to Three Rivers Casino and a whole lot of vegetating this has been a great 10 days.  We plan on pulling out of here tomorrow morning and heading back to Interstate 5 heading south into California, yes the fires have us a bit worried but folks we know along the way tell us I-5 is clear and should have no problems going into the Lake Tahoe area and on to Sacramento.  We want to also go back to the Watsonville area but realize we are running out of time.............wait we can't run out of time, but we did and do have an idea of when we wanted to arrive back in Phoenix.  As long as the cash holds out I'm kind of sure we might just find any time we need.  (but you know we miss the kids and grand kids immensely!)
     If there is going to be a problem from here on it's going to be our water problem!  Yes we may just have a major item to deal with upon our return (we don't want to spent anymore time waiting for the coach to under go repairs) our water system has a leak somewhere underneath the floor.  At this time if we hook up to city water the floor gets wet under the kitchen tile and living room carpet, even if we leave the coaches water pump on and don't hook to city water we still have the leak problem.  As of now we're using the pump and turning it on and off as needed and that seems to be working right now in a pinch.  Once again I'm hoping the extended warranty covers not only the leak and it's causes and repairs but the repair/replacement of damage done to the coach.  New flooring will be needed and we wanted to do that anyway so hopefully this problem will take care of getting that done under warranty.  Oh well just part of living in a house that rolls down the road....................
     We made our reservations this morning for our stay in the Sacramento area and now need to focus on the Tahoe area or somewhere near there.  We like Zephyr but it's another one of those places that are hard to get into without long range reservations.  Once again...........oh well, we're fly by the seat of your pants couples and love it that way!
     Mercer Lake RV resort here in Florence, OR was a super place, nice lake, boats and pines................NO INTERNET OR WIFI CONNECTS!  It will be a great place to park and relax in the future, but it will have to be after Beverly quits working and will not need those lines of communications open while on the road.  We're spending our last few days of Florence at the Three Rivers Casino RV lots and are cooking with 4G and 5 bars!  My lady has been over-joyed!
     Will try not to take so many days between blogs............Life is all good and we're loving each other and each day more and more!




 

Times flying by........

      Can't believe it's been 5 days since my last blog posting, so little seems to have transpired yet so much has.  We spent two nights in Woodburn, OR right near Molalla, OR where we had planned on stopping and paying another friend from Orangewood (Kitty Madlinger) a visit before heading to the coast.  A funny thing happen....Kitty and her daughter Connie had went to the coast for a couple of days, but returned in time for us to visit our last night there.  A short visit but a nice visit non the less, just one of the disadvantages of our traveling by the seat of our pants so to speak......we do like it that way though!
     It wasn't far to get to our next stop, Florence, OR, what a nice little place along the pacific coast of Oregon.  The liberal environment is a bit unsettling at times, things like hanging from bridges protesting ships heading to Alaska oil diggings while others paddle in  support from the kayak's made from petroleum!  Then you have the 5 cent deposit not all the regular bottle like a few other states (very few) but it's also on those paper thin water bottles you buy by the case....$1.20 deposit on a case and then you have to push them into a container with a hole to have the code read one by one at the store!  NO crushing.....and NO caps left on???  Oh well you take the bad with the good when in this corner of our country!
      First night in Florence and we got to visit with old friends Al Rojas and his wife Tabitha, they moved to Florence two years ago, actually the same time we were visiting the area last.  Hoping to do more with them during our weeks visit.  Two very nice looking golf courses and we plan on playing both during the week sometimes.  I'm sitting at an outside table at a place called "Spice Bistro" while Bev does some work and I do this blog....because our Wifi sucks at the camp site, oh well.  Good food and a lot of tourist walking by And locals with dogs!  I love dogs, but don't walk by my table and let your dog lick my leg while I'm eating!  I've had many a dog but never felt compelled to take them where or near strangers eating and enjoying the day, and trying to bring them into eating establishments......once more, oh well.
     Can't wait to take some pics of Sand Pines golf course tomorrow........links style course!  By the way did I mention the weather is nice, very nice, low to mid 70's here on the coast line.  One more note....I'm already tiring of seeing fluorescent yellow "O" and green crap........for me, Go Beavers when in Oregon!

Liberty Lake, Idaho (laundry day)

     Saturday the 25th and we're now at the RV (mini park) of RnR RV Sales and Service in Liberty Lake, Idaho.  Our reservations at Blackwell's Island RV in Coeur D'Alene ran out and the place is always so busy as most this time of year we couldn't get an extra night or two.  I have an appointment for some minor service items on Monday here at RnR (antenna, water pump noise/leak, lights on tow vehicle) so it's nice that they have this parking area with "full-hookup service" for out-of-town traveler's.  We are looking forward to hitting the road again and heading towards Florence, Oregon for our next stop.  We finally found a place there for a week off the coast and on a lake which sounds like it's just full of fish!  Yes, fish.....and Bev wants to rent a boat and do some fishing, go figure...I guess catching all those Walleye at Devils Lake got her the bug.  As we all know, fishing isn't always throw the line in and reel in a fish shortly afterwards, sometimes you must work at it so we'll she how she fares next weeks.
     Sometimes you want to be alone, and sometimes you want to be around friends and family and a trip or journey like this can afford one the best of both worlds.  We'll have been gone from home at least 3 months by the time this journey is over, and will have experienced the best of both those worlds.  We do so enjoy being alone, just the two of us in a new area of the country or even familiar parts of the country.  We do enjoy waking up in the morning with nothing to do but relax and enjoy the day together, our alone time, or by exploring someplace new.  We very much enjoy going to a movie in the evening in a small town movie theater, or any town movie theaters.  We go the the movies occasionally when at home, but on these trips it seems to be at the top of an evenings list as long as there is something worth seeing.  That is why it is also nice to have so many friends in so many different states across the country.  We will have spent time with friends in every state we been in from time we left Iowa and all our family there.  We've spent time with friends in WI, MN, ND, and now ID and looking for to seeing friends in OR and CA before heading home.  It is nice to stop and spend time with friends while traveling, but nice spending time alone also.  We're just so lucky to have so many friends all over the country.
     These past couple of days have really been relaxing, we really haven't done much of anything, today is laundry day (once again) so we'll be heading to the nearest laundromat to spend about 2 1/2 hours of doing 4 loads.  It usually run about $20 to do laundry at a nice place, Big Boy washer usually cost more but help get us in and out a bit sooner.  Tomorrow we hope to get the coach in and out without costing too much and then hit the road towards Oregon!  
   





        

Coeur D'Alene, Idaho

     We landed in Coeur D'Alene on Saturday the 18th but couldn't get into Blackwell's Island camp so we spent a couple of nights at the Coeur D'Alene casino RV park until our spot opened up at Blackwell's.  We could only get a spot at Blackwell's for 3 nights and then would have to move sites for a 4th night and now we've been able to move to another spot for 2 nights instead of the one night which will make it 7 night in Coeur D'Alene all together.  We like staying at Blackwell's but it seems so hard to get a site without reservations long in advance, and as you might have surmised we just don't travel that way.  When you are "seat of the pants" travelers you usually take what you can get at the moment in time you are occupying!  Hey.........we like it that way.
     We had been thinking of renting a pontoon boat again this year here at Blackwell's, but it's up to $300 a day and Jeff and Margene are not able to join us so we've passed on the idea.  Besides you may remember my "close to death" experience of two years ago here after jumping overboard to take a swim.........over weight and 67 years old didn't make for a pleasant experience let me tell you!
     We will be spending Sunday night at the RnR RV in Liberty Lake, WA. RV camp area while waiting to get the coach in for a bit of service on Monday morning.  No big problems, just a couple of minor things while we're in the area (Liberty Lake is like 20 miles from Coeur D'Alene just inside the boarder of Washington) we like the service provide by this huge shop in the past.  Having the coach water pump looked at, it's leaking a bit and may need replaced and then the TV antenna isn't cranking all the way up so having that checked also as well as the wiring to the car since the lights haven't been working since Camping world put on a new 4-way before we left Phoenix.  Should be in a out within a few hours.
     We finally hit the links again yesterday, it had been a couple of weeks.  We just played a course in Liberty Lake called Trailhead, a very nice executive 9 hole course we've played in the past while in the area. (  http://www.libertylakewa.gov/343/Golf-Course )  We've both been experiencing a bit of back pain and it actually felt good to get out.  It has been a very relaxing few days here in cda (it took a long time to learn the spelling of this city and even the locals us cda a lot instead of writing it out) we always enjoy the cool nights and not so hot days like we've had this year here.  Blankets and the 50's at night and mid 80's during the day..............just what the doctor ordered for this trip!
   

Idaho.............yep, finally in Idaho (it only took 49 days and 4219 miles)

     I can't believe it's been 5 days since I blogged last, maybe because it's just been a lot of relaxing and hanging out in the motor home at a few different stops along the way to Idaho.  Two years ago we took basically this same route across the northern United States, stopped in Medora, North Dakota to play golf at Bully Pulpit and heading westward after the round of golf.  This year we stayed in Dickenson, ND for a few days and enjoyed the area between there and Medora.  The Medora Musical was a great show and if you were a native North Dakotan you would be beaming with pride!  Bev made the comment "it makes one want to move to North Dakota" a very proud and deserving State for sure.  As I mentioned on FB, it you are ever in the area of Medora the Musical and the city are a must see!
     Driving through Montana the next couple of days is always nice, because this is one of the most beautiful States in the Union.........big sky and all.  Montana just seems so big, vast hills into majestic mountains and crisp steams lining the highways.  It has literally taken us 4 days from leaving ND to finally entering Idaho, with stops in Billings for a night and a couple of nights in Garrison, MT just past Deer Lodge MT.  We found a great little RV park off the road near Garrison, Bernie & Sharon's RV park and camp.  A God fearing couple bought the place in the 90's and turned a dump trailer park into a nice camp/RV park.  All the facilities needed plus more, laundry, game rooms, shower houses, and even a building with a chapel with services on Wednesday evening and Sunday mornings.  Should have stayed into Sunday just to worship with those folks and the campers there.  With reservations needed at Blackwell's camp in Coeur D'Alene that we had made we had to hit the road.
     We're now in Coeur D'Alene and going to spend at least 5 days here, we had hoped to visit Jeff and Margene DeSmet (friends that used to live in Orangewood) but found out yesterday their visiting family in Northern California until Wednesday evening.  We have not plans after leaving Coeur D'Alene so maybe we stay an extra night or two if we can keep the space at the RV park a couple of extra days and visit our friends.
     It's hard to believe we've been traveling for 49 days already, over a month and a half and we're about half way through this journey of 2015.  There is so much more ahead of us, and just so blessed we can make these journey's each year.  It's not just to get out of the heat of Phoenix, but it's the folks we visit and meet along the way............you just wouldn't believe what a small world this is!  We love the USA and traveling it's many wonders.  You can take the same roads from one year to the next and see all sorts of new things you missed the trip before, stopping to smell the roses here boss!
     I just added the ( )'s to the title of this blog, 49 days and 4219 miles...........stop and think about it, that's averaging 86 miles a day!  So glad gas has been on average about $1/gal. cheaper this year than last.

North Dakota..Montana...and men shopping for groceries!

     There is a reason this country of ours is now leading the world in oil production, and one is hard working dedicated men making a living for their families anyway and anywhere they can.  We visited this area two years ago at the height of the boom in these oil fields, and even with a bit of a slow down their still going strong here.
     But what brings about this blog is what I/we see in the stores and shops and RV parks around these small towns in this neck of the woods.  Let's take the RV parks, most are full, expanded, but yet a few spots for travelers like ourselves.  Housing has been booming and high priced as you might imagine, so trailers, RV's, motor homes, park models are filled with folks making a living sometimes far from home.  Yes, sometimes far from home and far from families but providing a good income and sending it home.
     We shop a lot at Wal-Marts while on the road, and in these small communities it's the go to store for most folks, including the guys working in the oil industry and all the jobs that go along with keeping the industry going.  Literally thousands of jobs are created keeping the drillers and their rigs operating.........my God if you were a truck driver right now you could write your own ticket anywhere around here for big bucks...........help wanted truckers signs along the highways.
     Enough of that, needless to say jobs are abundant if you want to work..........but this is about my shopping experience.  In the few days and weeks we've been in the area I've had occasion to go shopping for odds and ends at Wal-Mart and groceries there and other markets.  The isles are filled with men, hand baskets, grocery carts, and typical man stuff in those carts.  I notice things like frozen pizza, lunch meats, munchies and things like that, large cans of white chicken meat, hamburger and hot dogs and beer!  Their not like shopping for the week but shopping for the next couple of days it seems or maybe just for lunch stuff and eating out a lot.  These are the guys living away from home and building bank accounts for their families and making due with want they can prepare I guess.  My shopping has been in the early evening like after work for these guys, and on weekends.  Weekends at Wal-Mart will have long lines at the service counter and a counter called "money service" where these guys go to send money back home to their families.

Back on the links............

     We hadn't been on a golf course since like July 2nd with Alan and Kathy Nelson, so today we made it a point to give the little white ball a beating!  There was a lot of fishing while at Devils Lake and that took over for the golf, but it was good to get out on the links again.
     We played a course here in Dickenson, ND called Heart River golf course, what a well manicured golf course and enjoyable to play, we had a great day.  You need to check out the pictures on FB if you haven't already.  Two years ago we played the course "Bully Pulpit" in the Bad Lands, top notch course and a great experience for sure.  We probably won't play it again this trip, we like to play all sorts of courses wherever we stop and new ones come first.
     Tomorrow evening we have tickets for the Medora Musical, something we've heard a lot about and decided to check it out for ourselves.  An outdoor amphitheater, western setting musical of dancing songs and skits from what we understand.  We also purchased tickets for the "pitch fork fondue" dinner buffet cowboy meal.  There will be Buffalo, BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken and all the trimmings served cooked over the outdoor BBQ.  You can check it out and this URL:    
 http://www.medorand.com/attractions/?50
     Bev has been getting a lot of work done, she loves it when she gets busy while traveling this great nation of ours.  She gets some work done in the morning (even though there is a time difference) and then again in the early evening after a day of exploring or whatever.  The traveling office is in full swing and Fairway's mobile office is alive and kicking on the roads of the USA.  I keep telling Bev she needs to tell her boss to give our coach a "Fairway Wrap" and we'd be advertising across the USA during our travels.  Yes, a rolling Fairway office.............I can see that!
     Looking forward to some Buffalo roast and a great show tomorrow night, will let you know what we think.

Catching up a bit........

     After leaving Devils Lake we decided to head north and visit Canada.  We've had passports for about 5 plus years and have never used them, Bev wanted a stamp in her passport...so we're this close why not visit Canada (a first for both of us).  We camped in a small camp ground with full hook-ups for $20 a night, very cheap for full hook-ups on this trip so far.  Pembina, ND just a couple of miles south of the Canadian border, so after a good night sleep we headed to Winnipeg the next morning.
     The first border agent we see gives us a lot of questions to which I guess we answered to his liking and he began to send us on our way to Winnipeg.........wait a minute, don't you stamp our passports?  He said it wasn't necessary but if we wanted them stamped just pull over to the left and go inside and the agents will stamp them.  Bev says "hey I want the stamp" so we pull over, park and proceed inside the building.  Sign says wait for the next agent, so we join some others who cars are being searched by agents outside.  A couple of agents come in and call us up to the counter and ask for our passports.  We explain the guy out side said if we wanted a stamp to come inside so here we are!  This dude starts with an attitude, asking all sorts of questions including all those asked by the agent outside at the booth.  I explain while grinning a bit that the wife wanted stamps on our passports so that's the main reason for us being in here.  He gives us a bunch of shit about this being his country and we'll be entering his country and on..............then he says to me: "you agitated?" I grinned and said NO..........he said you look agitated!  Then he told us to go sit down as he farted around with another agent and thumbed our passports and poked at his computer for a few minutes then called us back up and gave us our passports...all stamped.  Bev was now happy and off we went saying under out breath...........what an asshole!  But I must say if we were illegals we probably wouldn't have gotten passed the border.  Good job boys!
     Go figure we find a Casino in Winnipeg, very nice place and very big and we decided to give it a go.  We only took $100 in and they used Canadian money..............go figure!  We exchange our $100 for like $121 Canadian (the rate was like .79 to the 1.00) anyway when the few hours was up we had had dinner I ended up with $650 Canadian so I guess I won about $500 bucks or so.  Only one problem, they didn't exchange it back into US dollars...........so here I am with $600 plus Canadian money until I find a bank on Monday that will exchange it for me.  After dinner and tips etc. I have $600 which is probably about $475 US.  Canadian bills are like plastic, plastic and see through in parts, very funny money that looks like play money compared to US currency, and very hard to bend in a money clip which I carry.  Oh well when in Rome..............
     We're now in Dickenson, ND and will probably stay here a few days commuting back and for to Medora for maybe golf at Bully Pulpit and also the famous out door amphitheater and the musical they preform all summer long.  We hear it's a wonderful show and a must see if you are in the area!  The bad lands will be visited for sure.

Watching Star Wars Trilogy...........Why?

     Devils Lake, ND has turned out to be a wonderful experience on this our journey of 2015, so much to do and great friends to spend time with.......oh yes and Walleye fishing!  We arrived here on July 2nd which was 3 days early for our reservations at Woodland Resort, so we were able to snag an RV spot at Spirit Lake Casino until our spot opened at the resort.  Moved into the resort on Sunday and can't believe we'll be leaving on Thursday already.  Hey, guess we could hang around but still want to head West more and possibly venture into Canada somewhere along the line.  Host Friends Fran and Barb Johnson have made this stay such a pleasure you wouldn't believe it.  We were as if we were part of the family on their 4th of July gathering, and the BBQ and fish fry that followed were fantastic.
     Went Walleye fishing for the first time with Fran and we caught our limit of 10 nice Walleye, I must admit as a beginner I had that luck and caught a slight majority of them.  Fran was more like a paid guide, he supplied the boat, the fishing area's and the rigging that made it possible to have the catch we had.  Taking the girls out tomorrow and the boat limit will then be 20 and we hope to meet that challenge also!

     Learned a new card game the other night with Fran, Barb, Bev and a couple of their friends Al and Carol.  It was called 9 holes or Par 9 or something like that, like a golf game of cards, fun and would like to find a game like it of our own.

     Oh yes, Star Wars..........remember me saying we had no TV reception while spending the time in Superior due to tree interference and weather..........well this camp is also well protected with huge trees and I'm literally in between trees on all sides!  Needless to say we don't even have the one or two local channels this time, we've been without TV for all but 3 days out of the past two weeks and I must say are doing quite well without it.  Have no clue as to whats going on in the world around us so I just feel like one of the multitude that doesn't give a shit.  We have plenty of DVD's and for the past two nights it's been the Star Wars Trilogy!  Oh well maybe Dances with Wolves tomorrow night, I love it Bev thinks once is enough..........................

Devils Lake, ND

     Arrived in Devils Lake, ND last night, 3 days before our reservations at Woolland RV park here at Devils Lake.  Yes finding a place last minute on a weekend like the 4th of July is no an easy assignment that we know.  After numerous calls looking for cancellations etc. we found a place for one night at the Spirit Lake resort/casino on Devils Lake.  It's in an overflow area of the RV resort with electric hook-up only, so we're basically dry camping with the water on board (approx. 70 gallons upon arrival).  Then late last night the resort called and the spot, #13 was now available for the other two days so hey 13 was lucky this time and so were we!

     Made contact with my friend Fran Johnson this morning via text message to let him know we'd be doing laundry (much needed at this point) most of the day after Bev does a bit of work, his reply " I'm our fishing right now" for a fish fry tonight!  How nice, I'm hoping he takes me out a couple of times and shows me how to catch a mess of Walleye's............we've attended one of his fish fry's back at Orangewood, and he does a bang up job with those fish, what a great treat it was!

     The weather outlook is looking pretty good for the next week so hopefully it stays that way from here on out across the north and northwestern USA.  Love this country and traveling through it's many, many wonderful areas not so highly publicized, the rest of the world I'm sure is nice as well but this is the United States of America and there is so much to see, and people to meet.  God bless America!      

Wednesday a.m.

     Just returned from the progressive auto body shop for the initial estimate on the damage done by the hail the other morning.  It was a lot worse than I had thought, this guy found stuff I couldn't even see and came in with what he says is a very conservative estimate..........$6000.00!  Things like the roof he put down as to be repair but said it in fact may need to be replaced, molding the same and the hood definitely replaced.  His words were: "I won't lie to you, this is bad, worse than I imagined".  So when we get back to Phoenix I take it to a body shop specializing in this sort of damage ( the progressive rep called it an art to repair this sort of damage due to hail) and see what they estimate and go from there.
    In other news, we played golf once again yesterday with Alan and Kathy Nelson, this time at Nemadji golf course in Superior, WI.  As usual a couple of bad holes but pretty happy with the round of 47 on the front and 43 on the back, but very happy with the 13 fairways hit.  The driver is getting the ball down there straighter all the time, 15 fairways the other day and 13 yesterday, pleased as punch!
     Just paid for another night here at Northland Camping and RV park, needed to get the estimate and one last dinner with Alan and Kathy tonight before hitting the road tomorrow after we get all closed up and ready.  We'll be heading towards Devils Lake, North Dakota ultimately and it's actually only a 7-8 hours drive but we plan on it taking 2 1/2 days....hey a lot to see between here and there if you look!
     Right now I'm waiting for Bev to wrap up some work and get ready for a trip over to Duluth, we need to stop by the RV store and the Golf shop over by the Mall.  Lazy day ahead and travel day tomorrow!

Hail..Hail...Hail...and not the gangs all here!

     Bev has been under the weather, sore throat, head cold, stuffed up and all that.  She planned on working a bit this morning then maybe an afternoon trip to Grand Marais, but it's now 2:20 pm and she's still at he computer and I'm going nuts and the damp weather is driving her nuts I guess.
     We just weathered a storm the likes of which we have never encountered in the motor home before, rain, hail, wind and lots of it.  The hail was the size of quarters (a sample pictured below) and sounded like the end was coming the way it hit on this rigs roof, and it now looks as if we're on our own little Island..........yes surrounded by large puddles.

      The newly repair awning arm/spring did just fine, the prayers were answered, so now I've closed it up and will roll it back out tomorrow to dry off a bit.                                                                                                 It's suppose to dry out by tomorrow and we have another round of golf planned with friends Alan and Kathy from Orangewood........(I just typed Orangeweed.....hahaha our friends from there will understand why the hahaah!) so at least that's what we're hoping for.  We may have to add another day onto our Superior stop to make up for basically missing this entire days planned activities.

     It's now day 4 without a TV and only one local channel in the bedroom, believe it or not we're surviving just fine.  I only know whats happening in the world from FB and we know that could be a two sided coin for sure.  I did manage with Matt's help to get into a place called Couchtuner our of the EU and was able to watch a couple of episodes of Mad Men which we've been waiting for Netflix to air and still haven't.........pretty good site, they have it all.  Lisa and Jack gave me a few DVD's for Fathers Day as part of my gift, classics which I've seen way way to many times but still love watching, those will come in handy now too.

     Well I think I hear movement in the back bedroom, maybe we'll get something done together today after all................or maybe I'll venture out on my own!

Superior, Wisconsin (day 2)

     We arrived in Superior, Wisconsin on Friday late afternoon set up and prayed the weather would be good from here on out.  Called our friends Alan and Kathy and made plans to have some breakfast in the morning and golf afterwards on Saturday the 27th.  We played Black Bear golf club in Minong, WI  just outside of Superior,a very nice lush and friendly course.  I was feeling pretty good about my game since my drives have really been straight for the past couple of rounds, something like 15 fairways hit.  A couple of horrendous chips and like 3 or 4 three putt greens and still shot an 88, very pleased with that.  Now you pros out there must also need to know that beings we're all old or getting old and being seniors we now get to play from the senior tees.........the course was a mere 5100 yards but still I'm very happy with the score.  Bev hit a wall about the 13th hole, headache and sinus probably from the lack of dry air we're encountering, both of us have been pretty stuffed up since entering the Midwest.  Bev started off great, hitting the ball a lot farther and up in the air quite a few times (that's important for her as you might imagine for distance) her game is really improving, just needs more time on the course.  By the way, 1 birdie, 6 pars, 6 bogeys and 5 dreaded double bogeys....great round for me.
     No need for the air conditioners today, it's right now at 10:45 only 66 degrees and pleasant.  A chance of rain today and tomorrow but then it looks to be sunny and in the 70's.  Normally we'd be out running around, checking out the cities and things to do, but Bev isn't feeling well as I said so she's trying to get rid of this headache so we can go over to Alan and Kathy's about 3 pm for cards and dinner.
     It's really quiet, especially in the motor home..........we're in a forest of different kinds of tall pine trees here at Northland camping and RV park and that means no satellite coverage which in turn means no or very limited TV coverage.  We get no satellite and only two local channels here, ABC and MeTv (all old series TV shows)...........so it's been Gilligan or Saved by the Bell and Hogans Hero's and/or local news and weather.  I'm kind of glad in a lot of way, I'm sure the "Sunday Shows" would have put me in a terrible frame of mine at this time.  No national news right now might be the best thing for me, the shit over the past couple of days has for sure put our country deeply at odds with one another...............whoops!  Sorry this blog is for our 2015 journey around this great nation of ours, no politics allowed in this blog until the journey ends, enough was posted on FB as you might agree. 
     Well Bev is still resting, I'm heading to the store to pick up a few things and some medications for the little women, it's so far been very relaxing here and should remain that way for the next few days. Our plans are to be here for at least 5 days and then onward towards Devils Lake North Dakota!  No rain yet, crossing our fingers.


 
   

Wisconsin...Minnesota...Wisconsin...........

     It seems from Dubuque, Iowa heading north on US61 you can go in and out of Wisconsin and Minnesota and back and forth all the way up the river.........the great river that is.  I was a bit hesitant to take 61 rather than heading right to I-35, but we've been pleasantly pleased traveling on US61.  The scenery has been so green and lush with trees and foliage and crops and actually more hills and bends than I would have imagined.  I would take it again on our future trips heading north from Iowa.
     We spent last night in Winona, MN. and looked up some friends from our home at the Friendly Village of Orangewood in Phoenix.  We had dinner with Alan and Linda Carlson who live in the Winona area, Minnesota City to be more precise.  It was nice to see them and the area of the country they call home in the summer months.  After a nice dinner and some more getting to know each other we spent the night and then headed north later the next morning.  Wow we made it a mere 75 miles, we got as far as Treasure Island Casino just outside of Red Wing, Minnesota.  What an awesome casino, one of the largest Indian casino's we've ever encountered, and very nice and plush.  Yes, that's the luxury of traveling the way we do, one day 200 miles, the next day 300 and then maybe only 75 miles, whatever we feel at the time.  If it looks interesting, fun, or a nice golf course you may find us stopping for the night............loving life on the road!
     Superior/Duluth tomorrow and a visit to some more good friends from Orangewood, ready or not Alan and Kathy Nelson here we come!        

West Lake park, Davenport, Iowa

     We love parking our motor home at West Lake in Davenport, the majority of sites are well suited for larger motor homes.  We've been coming here for at least 8 years now to begin our journeys and enjoy the many large trees, camp sites, wild life, and so many Cardinals adding brilliant red color to those green trees.  If there is a negative to this wonderful place it's the fact that it's not traveler friendly..........let me explain.
     When we're traveling we stop somewhere each night and sometimes stay more that one night depending on the place and what we find to see or visit.  Golf courses attract us a lot, historic places, also lakes and streams, if you know what I mean!  Even a Walmart will do if we're running late or find no place suitable to stop.  All travelers whether on a 2 week vacation or a 3-4 month trek like we do each summer do this, we're all looking for a place to stop for the night or longer.  At West Lake park RV spaces are always at a premium, they do not take reservations and all spaces are first come first serve.  If you are wanting to stay at West Lake, you need to get there on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to find a spot to park your rig.  Traveling across country and decide to stay or visit family or friends in the Quad Cities you pretty much have to plan your arrival on one of these days if you want to camp at West Lake.  A good guess would be that 95% of the campers at West Lake no matter if it's a motor home, trailer, tent or whatever are from somewhere within a 25 mile radius!  The locals dominate these sites in all the sections of West Lake, and they show up starting on Wednesday and park there rigs and go home until Friday night!  Yes, the cost is very low compared to most RV parks no matter where you stay, so they put out the $20 just to have that space come Friday night.
     Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure the parks would not get the excellent care they get and be in the great shape their kept if not for the locals supporting these parks..........hell if they weren't there you might only fill 10-20% of the sites on a daily basis for quite a while until RV'ers learned that the place had spots available on a regular basis.  We've come to learn that if we want to stay at West lake we must arrive on Monday-Wednesday or we go somewhere else until the next Monday.  That is what I mean by traveler friendly, there are only 3 out of 7 days a week you are most likely to get a site here.  I would guess even if they did take reservations locals would make those calls whenever they had to in order to get those sites............hell then the park would lose funds because the locals wouldn't have to pay for those 2-3 nights they don't stay in those empty rigs!
     My suggestion is this, the new Rhythm City Casino which will be located off of I-80 would be wise to have an RV park for all the retired travelers that love to stop at all casino's they encounter along their journeys.  You all can put this in the suggestion box if you'd like.  One way or another we'll be making the stop in the Quads as long as we have family and friends living in the area to visit each year.  




    

Monday 6/22/15

     Well the motor home is quiet now, Lisa and Jack joined Matt and the girls on a flight back to Phoenix and the end of their vacations.  We will miss them and then again we will enjoy being alone for the rest of our travels this year.  It's always bitter sweet when they leave, we get along but then again at times we don't.  I for one need to remember our vacation last 3 months or so and they are trying to squeeze as much a they can in a couple of 2 or 3 weeks.  Let me apologize right now to Lisa and Jack for being a grump now and again........we also appreciate the help you give us.

     It's been a jam packed 5 days since my last blog update, with Father's day thrown in and trying to get Matt and the girls to see as many family members as possible in 2 1/2 days........I think we all did a pretty good job of that.  With a lot of thanks going to my sister Nancy and our niece and nephew John and Kathryn(Kathy) for showing the hospitality of their homes for an evening of dinner and a great Father's day BBQ, good job you guys!  Thanks again, and thanks again to my kids and grand kids for the great gifts, much appreciated and I love you guys.

     Would it be a extended trip without some repairs even one ever so minor, yes there seems to be one each trip.  The 18' awning on the side of the motor home had been retracting slowly for the past year or so and finally during one of the thunder storms we've had to endure the spring inside broke and we had to roll it up in the pouring down rain by hand (thanks for your help Lisa).  Of the two RV stores/repair locations here in Davenport both tell us it's going to be 2 to 3 weeks to get it in for repairs, unacceptable to say the least!  With the help of one of them I've found an individual who does mobile repairs and told me today he's ordering the new spring and should have it tomorrow.  Hopefully he gets it and can install it and we can be on the road as scheduled by Wednesday the 24th.

     I'm looking at big storms from just north of us here all the way into Minnesota and Wisconsin which is our next direction to head.  Sure home all this nasty weather lets up so we can have smooth sailing from here on out.  We're having dinner tonight with brother Russ and his wife, gotta see Mom one more time before we hit the road and to give Nancy (sister) and Phil some imported Gouda cheese from the Netherlands.................we received a wheel of it from Matt's mother-in-law which he brought back from the Dominican Republic from her via the island of Curacao via the Netherlands, thanks Dalila (Da lee la).  We love this cheese!





    

Matt and Dayani bring the sunshine!

     I'm going to get the car washed inside and out this morning, yes the forecast is calling for sunshine for at least the next three days as it stands now!  Matt and Dayani and Dalila arrived last night after a day from hell in airports.  Delays, missed connections, having to rent a car and drive in order not to lose a day of their short stay in Iowa, all that made for a long day.  Silver lining in all this, I believe they brought the sunshine with them from the Dominican Republic to the Quad Cities!  Whatever it takes it's a very welcomed sight for sure.

     If Matt and his family catch up on some sleep and get up early enough the kids are making yet another trek to the "Field of Dreams" but it will be a first for Dayani.  Bev and I are going to skip it this year, 3 times is enough for us, besides the sun will be shining and the car needs a good cleaning!  We have a family dinner at my sister's place tonight at 5:00 pm, a chance for Matt and the family to see Grandma and some cousins and Aunt Nancy and Uncle Phil.  I can't believe it will be Happy Joe's Taco pizza..........what's the fascination anyway, isn't pizza Italian?

     The rain and wind over the past week has caused some minor damage to our awning, I'm hoping I can get it in to Thompson's RV up the road on Monday or Tuesday to have it checked out.

     Well I guess our friends in Phoenix would welcome the cool rainy days we've been experiencing, record heat for the next week or so for this time of year is what I'm hearing.  110's to the 115's for a while is the reason we leave for the summers now, I miss waking up to the sun each day, but not the triple digits for weeks on end..................but it is a "dry heat" remember and it is a bit more bearable.  Stay thirsty my friends back home, as I know you will!

Sun shine and visiting an old friend.

     What a beautiful day Tuesday was, the temps in the low 80's, low humidity and a slight breeze made for a great day.  I wish, hope, and pray for a similar day on Friday when we go golfing but I'm afraid that won't be happening but I will be saying my prayers.  I've been up since about 3:45 am, hard time sleeping with some back pain, seems to hurt when I'm laying down but once I get up and moving no pain or discomfort.  So from about 4 a.m.until now (the writing of this blog at 6:15 am) I've been sitting in the chair in the bedroom just listening to the rain go on and off about 5 times in that period of time.  A hard rain then a drizzle then a hard rain etc. etc. etc., probably another inch or so to add to the 6 inches they say we've received already since arriving in the Quad Cities!  My Arizona friends, yes we've endured the rain of an entire year in Phoenix in a matter of a couple of weeks...........freaky and not very pleasant.  One thing we know for sure, this motor home does not leak, it's had plenty of chances and it is staying dry as a bone, that's a good thing!

     Yesterday was a very hard day for me, we visited a good friend, the widow of one of my best friends.  My buddy and my pallie Dave died last January very suddenly, we spent time with Dave and Marilyn each year on our trips to Iowa, a day at their home, a night out dinning and a trip to the casino and many times more time spent with them than family.  You might ask how could one be a best friend and you only see them once a year for a few days/nights, well we we worked together for 12 years before we moved to Arizona and from that time on we communicated a lot.  In the beginning it was e-mail and phone calls and as technology advances so did our communicating, face time, texting, phone calls and still e-mails a lot since we were both old school in a lot of ways.  Yes even with 1600 miles between us Dave, I (and occasionally Mr. K) had our shares of heart to hearts in between our annual visits....not to mention some rendezvous in like Las Vegas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and a few visits to Phoenix.  We spent a few hours with Marilyn, had a nice lunch, talked about Dave, caught up on things and just plain had a wonderful visit, it was as hard as I had imagined.........I really miss Dave and our talks.

     Well tonight I pick up Matt and the D's from the airport here in the Quad Cities, they'll be trying to cram a week of visiting and sight seeing into a few days.....no it's not three more in the motor home this year, they have a nice hotel room waiting there arrival.  We can't wait to see them.

     Well it's now just after 7:00 a.m. and the rest are still sleeping...........don't look like we'll have that bright sun shiny day we had yesterday, right now it's another morning of gloomy skies and humidity and not a good start to another day here in Iowa.  Don't be giving me that "is this heaven" "no it's Iowa" stuff, the sun shines in heaven!

Monday...Monday....

     What a wonderful weekend of family time, two reunions, some surprises of folks attending and some disappointments of folks not attending, but all in all it was great visiting with so many family member's.  It was sure great that Jim and Joyce attended, it had been oh so long since I've seen those cousins.  I'm guessing, but I believe it was probably at Dad's funeral over 20 years ago since I've seen them.  Walt had moved back to Davenport and it was good to see him and Linda, also Darilyn made the trip from Tennessee again this year and so many others it was just a great time!  I estimate by looking back at pictures that we had over 50 at the Anderson reunion, and even though the group at Bev's Ackelson reunion was small it was still a good time seeing those that attended.  With the change of venue next year again I think the Ackelson reunion will get a shot in the arm and be on it's way back from years gone by!  It's an event, it's a happening make it a weekend of camping folks, camp fires, smores, family and more!

     We were blessed that the rain stayed away at least for the reunions and the time we spent with each other, but same old shit this morning.............woke up to more rain!  How much rain does one area need?  I know the farmers need the rain but holy cow enough is enough!  The car needs washed so back inside and out but it rains everyday at some point in the a.m. or the p.m.  To all my Arizona friends and family...........don't take our beautiful sunshine for granted!  To wake up each morning to sunshine is so refreshing and makes for a great beginning to each day, I miss it at time like this.  It's a little after 9 am and I've been up since about 6:30 am and in that time it's rained, let up, rained a little harder, let up, rained much harder and then spit a bit and now it's raining like hell once more!  OK enough of the weather report we all know it comes each year so work around it I guess.

     Making a tee time this morning for golf next Friday, Matt and his family will be in town for a few days and we'll be squeezing in a round of golf with Russ and Scott...........next year we'll squeeze one in with Bob and Steve, wouldn't that be nice!  Dinner plans for this evening with Brother Russ and a little casino action (hope we win this time) and then tomorrow a visit to my best friends wife Marilyn, this will be hard since Dave passed away but we so much want to visit with her.

     OK lets get another day going despite the weather, let's make it a good one............................... 

     

Same place different year same start

     By that I mean same miserable weather to start our Iowa stay, and hoping it changes for the better soon.  Some might say...."did you bring this weather with you?"  From Arizona....right!  We get maybe 7 inches a year if we're lucky, I think we had that since we entered Iowa.  It will change and we usually get a few very nice days for golf and that I'm counting on.  Looking forward to a round at Fyre Lake again this year with Russ and hopefully Scott and Matt this year.  Fyre Lake golf club at www.fyrelakegolf.com golfer check this one out!
     Family reunion weekend is upon us, one of the reasons we make this trek each year, a great way to visit with a lot of family all in two days.  The Anderson reunion is Saturday and is becoming larger each year it seems, and Bev's Ackelson reunion will be Sunday, that one might be due for a change in venue to increase participation in future years.
     Answer me this..............when or at what point in trips back to your home town (that has now been since 1984 that we moved to Arizona) do you stop driving by your old houses!  I really don't need to see the "old house" anymore!  The family on our very first ride outside the park where we're camped said before we had gone 10 minutes "we got to drive by the old house"................What?  Why?  This is something I can do without from now on.
     I hope it stops raining soon, has been drizzling since I got up this morning and it's now noon, have some errands to run and a trip to the market for reunion potluck items!  The car need a good washing inside and out but we need a few sunny days to make that happen..................

Iowa Cubs game on Monday

     Monday was a re-coop day in a way, at least for Bev and I.  Lisa and Jack made their second day at Adventureland with cousin Kamden, Bev caught up on some work and I was just plain lazy!  Monday night it was a visit to Principle Park and the Iowa Cubs baseball game with rival the Memphis Cardinals.  Good game, Cubs and a no-hitter though five and ended up with a 2 - 1 3 hitter in a pitchers duel.  Nice ballpark, but was surprised when I order a beer for myself and a Mike's hard Lemonade for Bev the the cans came in 24 oz size!  Been a while since we've been to a game....probably all parks are like that.  Good family fun at the old ballpark just can't be beat.
     Today is laundry day, can't believe the cloths etc. we've went through in just over a week, Lisa will be helping with that today while I entertain Jack.  Tonight it will be kind of a farewell dinner of sorts at Mark and Susan's, we pull out of Des Moines for Davenport Wednesday morning so we'll all get together for pizza or something bad tonight to say our good-byes.  We'll see Mark and Susan next weekend in Buffalo, Iowa for Bev's family reunion, but the kids and their families from Des Moines don't sound like they'll be attending......too bad, family is important but sometimes travel isn't that easy even if's it's only across the state.  Maybe it's time for the venue to change like it used to in years gone by, might get more participation.
     I must say after the first couple of days in Iowa the weather has changed to the better, it was great yesterday and last night and looks to continue at least through today and tomorrow......but looks like a bit more rain ahead when we hit Davenport.
     The kids had a long day yesterday with the second straight day at Adventureland and then a ball game and not getting to bed before midnight...........not sure if it will be easy to get them up for laundry day.
     We hit the road as I mentioned tomorrow in the morning, hoping to arrive at West Lake park and campground in plenty of time to get a spot before all the locals come out and grab them for the weekend.  Now that I mention that I think it's bullshit that locals bring out the campers on Wednesdays and Thursdays, park them and go back home until Friday night tying up all the spots for travelers like ourselves.  Think of your local economy folks!  I know...sour grapes!

Farmers Market, storms and golf.......

     Saturday was a trip downtown Des Moines to the Farmers Market.  Bev and I in all our travels have visited many farmers markets from Pennsylvania to the coast of California, but to date not one compares to this one in Des Moines.  You name it and you'll probably find it, and produce and baked goods from big farms to small gardens to fares from the Amish folks.  We enjoy our trip down town on Saturday morning as just a part of the trip to Des Moines, Iowa.
     I don't know how much rain we got last night, but an educated guess would be 2 - 3 inches and some of the loudest thunder you'd ever want to hear.  Within the camp grounds here we are surrounded by many mini lakes right now, but thank the Lord the sun is shinning on what should turn out to be a nice day for golf.  Yes, going to hit the links with Steve, Bob and Bob's uncle for a round at the Legacy course here........I'm ready for an improved round from the other day with Steve.
     It's been a lot of family time with our family here in the Des Moines area, Lisa went our with the girls last night, Jack went with Bob and Jill's kids for Masons birthday to jump and whatever joint called sky something and they had a great time, Thanks Uncle Bob for doing that.  Bev and I spent the evening with Mark and Susan over a nice dinner and being entertained by Georgia while she lasted.........what a happy little girl and not much fussing!
     After golf today for us guys and Adventureland for the girls and nieces and nephews, and a day of relaxing for Beverly (I think she might try her luck across the road at the casino) we'll all meet for a family dinner at Mark and Susan's (Bev's brother and sister-in-law).  We'll all be doing a bit of puddle-jumping today no matter where we go, my God did it come down last night!  Sun shine predicted for the rest of the week I think!

TGIF.....6/5/15

     First active day of the trip so far yesterday, I was beat last night!  Woke early as usual (Lisa and Bev can attest to that) caught up on a few minor chores around the coach, fixed a chair, did some cleaning etc. and got a call from nephew Steve about some golf.......but of course I can play a bit.
     Bev had her usual annual few hours of alone time with her brother Mark and then there was the planning for the evening at the Jasper Wine event which is a Thursday night summer thing at this local winery.  Last nights entertainment was a "pick'n and Grin'n" sort of night with the banjo, steel and bass fiddle shit kickin music!  Beer, wine, sangria, and food with family picnic style made for a good evening, by the way it was me and Bev's third year in a row to participate at the Jasper Thirsty Thursday night party.
     It was work day for those of us not on vacation or retired so Steve and I schedule 9 holes at Copper Creek golf club near the park here.  Nice course, as you might imagine lush green grass from the Iowa rain and great greens to putt on.  After knocking a bit of the rust off from my 3 week or so layoff I hit a few good ones but also that damn head picked itself up to or three too many times!  After a few beers on the course, a draft after the round and three or four at Jasper, this lad was ready for the sack when we got back to the coach.  Planning another round of golf on Sunday morning with Steve and Bob............anyone want to fly in and join us?
     Some errands today and the East village later I guess and do some research on the Belmont for tomorrow, spitting a ticket with Steve throwing out the favorite!  Need to check my power ball tickets now, looks like someone won!

Adventureland, Altoona, Iowa( 6/3/15)

     If you'll notice the post heading says Adventureland, Altoona, Iowa..........yep give Altoona it's due, not DesMoines but Altoona!  Oh well like any other city, the suburbs and the cities all run together anymore.
     Well we arrived a day early and lucky for us Adentureland could accommodate us in the site we had booked for a week, we love this park and a fair price at $35/night full-hookups.  In some respects in seems we haven't left from last year, the skies are all cloudy and we must have had 2 or 3 inches of rain last night!  Since entering Colorado we haven't seen much of the sun, and forcast say it will be hit or miss for the rest of the week..............I want to golf.  Like a lot of folks, I'm not a great golfer but there's not a better place to spend 4-5 hours on a nice day, a beautiful golf course.
     I think the guy's name is "Marty" and why I can't remember that is beyond me (maybe getting old has something to do with it) he's has a barber shop in Des Moines.  Bob Carico turned me on to him a few years back and I've been stopping in every year since, a big and I mean big Iowa Hawkeye fan!  He even knows a bit about Arizona so we find plenty to talk about.  Jack needs a haircut bad and I will get a trim for kicks, we'll take care of this while the girls and getting their usual "mani-peddi" at their favorite spot in Pleasant Hill area.
     Well it's midweek and all our family in the area have jobs to attend to, so as long as the rain lets up we'll just get some of that kind of stuff taken care of............retirement comes with certain downs, but way..way more ups!  Next,breakfast (late) and a walk.

North Platte, Neb.

Better day today, 509 miles and back on track.......even after stopping at Santa's North Pole workshop and fantasy land at Pikes Peak, Co. for a couple of hours.  What an animal.....right?  Rolled into North Platte at about 7:15pm after losing our second hour due to the time changes, Wal-mart tonight and an early start in the morning.

Getting out of Colorado was a joy, what a mess that state is.  The roads are a bumpy jokes and holy shit  I'm trying to get down off the Colorado HIGH!  Toke'n numbers here...toke'n numbers there and the fools are all on the roads it seems.  Didn't want to transport so had to give it up once more like back in the early 70's........the state smells like Jeff Spicoli's Chevy Van, (come on folks, Fast Times at Ridgemont high).

By the way, Wal-Mart allows RV's and big rigs to overnight park......why you say, seems everyone that parks shops a bit too.  Example, Bev and Lisa just got back from picking up a few items to the tune of a combined $170 so the parking isn't free!

Sunday night, May 31st

Raton, NM. Border of NM and Colorado at the end of day two.  Only 290 miles today and that puts us behind a bit, late start, trouble dumping, all that made it a long day other than the miles driven.  Storms in the early evening and we did stop for the day at about 4 pm.  With reservations for Adventureland RV park in Altoona we need to hustle a bit tomorrow.

Summerlan RV park advertised repairs on site, as it turned out we had a water leak in the bathroom piping behind the toilet.  Good old boy "buddy" fixed it within a couple of minutes of us setting up and did it for a thank you!  Other than the leak we have no lights on the tow vehicle, new 4-way and female socket......no clue!  If I make it to Des Moines without getting stopped I may be in the market for an electrician........anybody know a good one?

So far only a few plow-ups between the captain and the crew, you'd think after all the trips made the routine could be adhered to.......now hear this, Captain my Captain!  Ship shape is the word of the day.

Looking forward to about 500 miles tomorrow and peace in the coach!

T-minus 2 days and a wake-up

Picked up the motor home this morning from Camping World, finally got the new tow package braking system finished.  Hooked up the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and drove home with no problems, now some minor cleaning and then packing and we should be set for another journey across this great land of sights beyond imagination.  Yes, I love traveling the USA, as Dinah Shore used to say "see the USA".

Now we just need to say our prayers and hope the price of gas stabilizes and doesn't keep going higher!  

Counting down......

It's that time again, getting ready for our annual journey in the motor home.  We plan on leaving Saturday this week, the 30th, that is if the motor home is ready.  Seems each year the cost of getting it ship shape or travel ready cost more and more!  This year we made it more stressful by buying a new car which needed a towing package installed, only problem was only a limited number of parts from the Jeep Wrangler could be used.  The new Jeep Grand Cherokee is a dream come true to our old bones and bodies, climbing  in and out and the ride much more enjoyable.  Seems everything made easier or pleasant comes with a price!  At this point we're just hoping they get it done by Friday.

As usual this year we will once again begin by heading to our roots in the Hawkeye State, Iowa.  A week in Des Moines then onto the Quad Cities for another week or so after a couple of reunions sandwiched in between.  Daughter, Lisa and Grandson Jack will be joining us for the first 3 weeks of the trip, then Matt, Dayani and Dalila will flying into the Quads from a few weeks in the Dominican Republic to spend 3 days with us before all the kids and grand kids fly back to Phoenix together June 21st.

I will be once again trying to document our journey via this blog while traveling, please join us again this year as we see more of this great country of ours.  We will by visiting friends and family along the way see and interact with folks and learn more of these lands we call our great nation.  Yes one of the best places for doing all that is the golf course, and we plan on doing a lot of that too!  Bev and I hope you will join us via my blog.  Counting down.....T minus 4 days.