On the Road Again to Rio Bend RV Park

Not much of anything has happened since I last wrote.  We spent a week at Emerald Cove RV park and did nothing fancy.  We drove to Lake Havasu City and to Quartzsite for lunch.  Those were both fun days.  We're spending our last night at Emerald Cove in Earp, CA which is just across the river from Parker, CA.  Or is it visa versa?  I can never remember but glad we're getting out of here because the time zones are really weird.

We're on our way to Rio Bend for the winter which is in El Centro, CA.  That's where we spent last winter as workampers.  Don't let that title scare you........it's working our our site, electricity and vouchers, to boot.  The work is fun and easy and we love the people we work with, the people in the park and the management!  There's new management this year so maybe I shouldn't say that yet.

Zumba will start soon there; I'm hoping not till next week, but I'm ready to see all my wonderful friends and hope we can get  few more to try the class.

When we arrive, tomorrow, Halloween, there is a party but I'm not sure we'll be attending.  We're not into dressing up too much and we didn't even find any masks.  Besides it a potluck and I don't have time to make anything.  Guess I could always bring bread and butter.  LOL

Then on Saturday there's another dinner to welcome everyone to the park for this season.  I'm expecting there to be even more fun and more activities than last year.  Can't wait to get back to pickle-ball and ping pong with my friend Bob.  I know now that he had a hip replaced, he'll beat me every game but I still can't wait.

Well, I'll write more, I promise, as the days evolve at the park.  We are welcoming anyone that wants to come visit.  We know of a very nice RV park less than a mile away that has an affordable park model to rent;.

I hurt my hand about a month ago and it's not healing very fast.  The doctor said there's no break and their splints didn't fit me so I'm supposed to wrap it and not use it!  LOL  Can you see me not using my hand?  It's a good thing it's the left one.

Signing out.......everyone have a safe Halloween.

KIVA RV Park, Tucumcari, NM

We found this park in the Passport America Book.  We spent two nights at this park for $40.  They are super friendly and love to have you come stay with them.  It's a clean park and we really enjoyed our stay.  It's truly historic route 66.

Welcome to the Historic Route 66 RV Park  
Please call (575) 461-1561 with any questions and or concerns.

This is taken from their website:

Historic route 66 rv park (575) 461-1561

Prices are subject to change.

We do all that we can to ensure that your stay here 
is a relaxing and enjoyable one, offering.....

30 amp and 50 amp full hook ups

  PULL-THROUGH SITES up to 60' plus

Plush Shade Trees

Centrally located, grassy area with picnic table, seating, 

BBQ grills, gas fire pit and gazebo area with fountain.

Restroom with shower, lounge area and mini kitchen

Coin-Op Laundry

Dog Run

Our Base Rate is $36 but we participate in

several discount clubs

so most RVers who stay with us

end up paying $20 per night.

Prices are subject to change.

Antiques & Curios - Art Space - Bluegrass Music - 
Bowling Alley

Dinosaur Museum - Historical Museum - Historic U.S. 
Route 66

Odeon Theatre - Municipal Golf Course - Conchas 
& 
Ute Lakes

Scenic Byways - North American Wind Research Center

  Watson's BBQ - Ostrich Ranch - Rodeos - 12 Shores and 
more!

Double D RV Park Texola, OK

Double D RV Park in Texola, OK is a nice little Passport America park.  I think there was around 16 sites and they were full hook-ups.  Extra for 50am.  It has a real nice country feeling yet really open and close to the highway....40W.  It is a very nice and quiet park.  You don't hear the highway.  No clubhouse.  Just good for a stop-off after a long day on the road.

We were able to get our satellite, DirecTV, to work.  We paid $14 for the night getting 50amp.

Exit #1, I-140
Texola , Oklahoma - 73668
United States

Here you go:  this is taken from an RV park review site:

Amenities & Highlights:

16 total RV sites, 30/50 amp, can accommodate any RV lengths, all pull through spaces, gas & diesel, full hook-ups, fuel, laundry, 2 comfort stations, groceries, restaurant on premises. Located 7 miles from Erick, OK.

Notes:

P.A. discount is valid for 2 nights. P.A. discount is not valid with any other discounts and is not valid during special events. Call for details. *30 Amp Rate: $24.00, P.A.: $12.00. 50 Amp Rate: $28.00, P.A.: $14.00.

Highways and Byways 44W into Branson, MO S65 out of Branson, MO

Going into Branson, MO on highway 44W, there are several large hills and but the road is smooth.   The scenery is beautiful.


Hwy 65S out of Branson  was smooth but hilly.  Hollister is a nice little town with some history.  Still hilly.

Takes you through Bill Clinton's home town.  Well, it's off the road.  Still 65S through the Ozark Mts. and still hilly.

We turned left on hwy 412 and went up a steep hill.  Narrow country roads and it was windy.

Treasure Lake RV Park Branson, MO

We spent one week at the Treasure Lake RV Park in Branson and took in about 6 shows.  What a week we had.  The park is close to just about everything!  We saw 6 shows and the park offers a discount on all the tickets.  There's lots to do in the Lodge and Club House.  I saw line dancing, couples dancing, movies, things for the kids, entertainment, they walk every morning and more.  They have a restaurant in the clubhouse serving a different menu every day.  

Treasure Lake is a Coast to Coast membership park and they DO sell memberships.  Call them at: 417.334.1040 ext 2

Excerpt taken from their Website.

"Seven restaurants are within walking distance:  Golden Corral, International House of Pancakes, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, The Olive Garden, Paradise Grill and Little Hacienda.  You may also walk to the Shoji Tabuchi Theater, Hamner Barber Theater, Pierce Arrow Theater, RFD Theater and the IMAX Theater, which is located at the entrance to Treasure Lake.  The IMAX complex houses a six-story movie screen, the Little Opry Theater, the Elite Cinema III, numerous shops, a food court and McFarlain's restaurant, where you can enjoy reasonably priced Ozark cooking.  The park is open 365 days a year, 366 on leap year.  If you arrive to the park after the Welcome Center closes, please proceed to the Guard House or use the phone by the front door (inside the glass vestibule) to contact Security and they will assist you."

Their website is:  Treasure Lake RV Resort, A Coast-to-Coast membership park.

Pin Oak Creek RV Park Villa Ridge, MO

While traveling from Nappanee, Indiana to Branson, MO, we stayed at the Pin Oak Creek RV Park in Villa Ridge MO.  On highway AT.

We only spent one night there but it was a very pleasant stay.  We paid $39.25 and had full hook-ups with 50 amp service.  They are a Passport America park.  It's realy close to St. Louis if you're interested in visiting that city and not far from Six Flags.

They claim to have room for groups and big rigs and there's plenty of trees for shade.  There's plenty of area for tent camping.

They have a camp store stocking camping necessities, ice, propane, RV parts, apparel and much, much more! And DVD rentals for the whole family!  Laundry room with 6 washers and 6 dryers.  They have a lake for fishing and you do not need a fishing license to do so.

For the kids, and big kids, too, they have paint ball! I saw a nice playground, too.  The bathrooms have hot showers and are really nice and clean.  There's WIFI which is Tengo Internet and there is a charge for that.

Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring.  They have a swimming pool, volley ball, putt-putt golf, video arcade, ping pong table and pool table and here's a link to some coupons to use at the park:  COUPONS

You really should check out the park if you like that wooded camping feeling of the days gone by when you DID camp in a tent or little trailer.  It's quite the park.

On The Road Again

The roof was finally worked on; all they had to do was spread or roll this thick coating from end to end on the roof and then it had to dry, of course.  We'll see what the hot AZ and So CA sun does to it and will meet the PJ and Megan at an Alfa rally in April to have them check it out.

The last night in Nappane, Ind we went to dinner with the Millers at Joe's Italian Restaurant in Mishawaka, Ind. Boy oh boy was that awesome food.  The best  Italian I've ever had; sorry MOM and Grandma.  We said our goodbyes after dinner.

The day we left was a cool 60 degrees at 9am.  Our first night was at Pin Oak Creek RV Park in Villa Ridge, MO.  On the way we went through a couple large cities with awful traffic.  It didn't help that it was Sunday; there was still bumper to bumper traffic on the interstate.  Both hwy 70 and 40 were really bad.  

I decided to get up to use the bathroom and as I was coming out, the car ahead of him decided to make a quick stop.  You don't stop quickly when you're driving one of these big rigs but he did a great job and didn't hit him.  BUT, I went flying towards the front and wound up on the floor.  I think I grabbed the shower towel bar on the outside of the shower door breaking that off, forcing the bathroom door to hyper extend and it opened way beyond it's limits.  I think on my way through that doorway, I slammed my left hand on the wall, hit my left him in a few places and wrenched my neck.  I had a sore nose, hit that someplace, a sore ear, two large bruised on my left thigh, a swelling left hand, and my neck!  OMG!  That hurt like a sun-of-a-gun.  It took me awhile to even get off the floor.  I couldn't get my wits about me.  Trying to figure out what happened and where I hurt.  I iced my hand and my neck immediately which really helped my neck.  My hand still swelled and turned black and blue and today it still hurts and is a little swollen.  It's been two weeks today.  Maybe I should have had it xrayed and maybe I still will.

We decided to skip Nashville, TN and New Orlelans and go to Branson, MO instead.  It was perfect weather and we really enjoyed a few shows.  We stayed at Treasure Lake RV Park which is nice and close to everything.  We saw 7 shows!  You may not know any of the entertainers but we sure enjoyed them.  Jim Owen, an old Country singer and song writer, Barbara Fairchild and her husband Roy Morris, Pierce Arrow a group that sang mostly country but did a variety, the play/ballet Marco Polo, the tribute to the Statler Brothers and SIX another singing group.  On Sunday, we went to Barbara Fairchild's church service and they sang more there.  What I great time we had.

Marco Polo Show

Tribute to the Statler Brothers

Left Branson on the 6th of October heading to Texola, OK and the Double D RV Park for one night.  Sunny and nice quiet park.  The next night we were in Tucumcari, NM.  I always wondered where Tucumcari was.  By this time, we had driven 1787 miles since Nappanee, INd and paid $546 for fuel.

We arrived at Bullhead City, AZ October 10 and are at Ridgeview RV Park.  It's been hot hot hot here......in the upper 90s but we really don't mind.  So far all we've done is eat out at Taco Bell and picked up some groceries.  We'll be here for two weeks.

Rest Stop in Arizona

Arizona.....We never get clouds like this in Seattle

I've been catching up on my cleaning and working on some paper projects for fun.  I am practicing my routines for teaching Zumba at Rio Bend when we get there.  That should be by November 1st.

This was about 6:30 pm

Nappanee, Indiana McMiller Customs

Another update.......We have not had the roof worked on yet by PJ and Megan; owners of McMiller Customs........excellent company to have your RV worked on.  They can do everything!

 The materials just arrived today, Wednesday, so they will start tomorrow and hopefully, we'll be on the road by Friday.  We were planning on going through Nashville and on to New Orleans but we may not do that.  Then we thought maybe going through Branson instead, AZ park Emerald Cove, and save some gas and shorten the trip.

The weather has been beautiful.  Just gorgeous and we cannot complain.  We drove to Goshen today to Kohls for shoes and had lunch at Wendy's.  They have great salads.

Tomorrow, while they work on the roof, we hope the go through lots of cupboards and do some purging.  You need to do that every once in awhile.

We have talked to the folks at Rio Bend RV park and everything's a go for us.  We may get there before November 1st but that's what we're shooting for.
Great times all summer and more fun to come.....

Mullets Amish Family Farm Dinner Nappanee, Indiana

Here's my shortened story of our wonderful dinner with Ben and Mary Etta Mullet at their farm in Nappanee, Indiana.  If you ever get a chance to do this, I highly recommend you do so.

	9:38 AM (7 hours ago)
to

We certainly didhave a wonderful time yesterday and last nights dinner with the Mullets was an experience I'll never ever forget. Nor will we ever forget Ben and Mary Etta Mullet!  ever!

We arrived in a thundering extremely windy storm. Our cars were almost lifting off the ground as we processed down the road through the countryside heading to the Mullets Amish farm. There were 5 cars. We were second and everyone that was behind someone said the same thing; the car ahead of them appeared to be rocking so bad it was going to leave the ground. Black skies, no lightning or thunder, I missed experiencing that again, but experienced enough. I watched the skies for a tornado. 

When we arrived, we all stayed in our cars except Keith and his wife. Keith is deathly afraid of his car rolling over in the wind and killing them. You gotta know Keith!  LOL

After being allowed into the hall, running through the deep puddles, getting soaked, we had finally arrived. Ben was lighting the propane lights; no electricity allowed,gas is. 

We had a long social hour as Mary Etta furiously cooked away in the kitchen. There were 16 of us; 11 in our group and another group of 4. Ben and Mary Etta weren't able to sit and eat with us as usual as the children were not available to help serve. Ben did the serving. 

The first that was served was an amazing salad and homemade dinner rolls. The salad was peas, cheese, ham, onions, and chopped lettuce with a sweet sour dressing. The dinner roll was served with butter and Mary's famous apple butter. I was full already!

The whole meal was served family style; passing the bowls along. 

Next came the main course of mashed potatoes and gravy, homegrown buttered green beans, a spaghetti dish with a chicken and buttery flavor, AND the most amazing meatloaf you'd ever imagine!  The bowls came around for seconds and I had to have more beans and a small chunk of meatloaf. 

Ben then brought out dessert!  We had a choice of chocolate cream, butterscotch cream or blueberry pies. Awesome!  I wanted one of each but took the blueberry and Chuck the butterscotch. More amazing food and coffee. 

Then Ben was able to sit down and answered any and all questions about their family, their life and their lifestyle. I for one was amazed to hear they are no different than us. I was always a little afraid of them. But they are the friendliest most kind people you'd ever want to meet. You make friends with them for life. Guess ignorance isn't bliss in this case. 

We've spent the week with the Amish people everywhere we went; stores, bakery, walking down the street, at the history of tractors, parade, watching the horse drawn buggies run past us, the bicyclists; even the young girls in their dresses, etc. the are just like us living within a community and have all the same problems the English, us, have with groups and/or family dynamics. A 5k race was run and the young Amish girls ran in their pretty dressed and coverings. 

The men pretty much asked about his farm life. He explained how the family farm became his and not any other siblings; there were two boys and two girls. They have what they call a "grandpa" house where his parents lived till they died and Ben and his family took care of them. Ben is now enlarging the home for the daughter and spouse to move into and they will vacate as they will be moving into the "grandpa" house soon. Their turn to move on and turn the farm over to the child that was able to work the farm. Choosing is a hard decision but they all meet and figure out who wants to and who is the most capable to carry on the Mullet farm. 

They have/had 160 acres but one brother took half so Ben worked 80. He is now down to not working much of the farm but the family garden, renting out much of his land to, actually his boss; yes, Ben works a normal job. The renter has agreed to give Ben what he needs, corn, to feed his 5 horses for a year every year.  I've never seen anyone so completely involved, heart and soul, into his work and his horses. He told a story about his two main horses he used for plowing and how they are very very committed to their master. The love goes both ways. Ben cried as he told the story because it's an end of his farming journey and moving on as it has been done so many times, it being his turn and a very emotional time for him. You could see the deep love he has for his family, life and farm, including his friends, his horses. 

I asked lots if questions about the ladies; from the cooking, laundry , sewing (treadle machines or battery operated), their covering (bonnets), colors, shoes, hair; did you know they never get their hair cut and many have hair to the floor?  

We learned about the history of the Amish and Mennonites. Way back to 1400-1700s. Amazing heart renching stories of torture and killing by the Catholics because they didn't believe in baptism till they each, on an individual basis, are ready to commit to their faith not at be baptized birth. They were called Anabaptists and, like I said, tortured and killed. While imprisoned, they wrote verse or song which are published with their individual stories in the book called "Martyrs Mirror", still available on amazon. When Ben read some to us, he cried, stopped to wipe his tears, and continued. These songs are used in their church services but only sung acopella. No music. 

We ended with a prayer, Ben spoke a parting from the book "Martyrs Mirror", and again stopping to wipe his tears. Hugs and tears all around and I mean hugs!  Great sincere words of safe travels and love to all. We certainly have made some serious memories we'll never forget. 

I'm sorry this got so long. It really is an abbreviated version as it is. 

Kathy

Summertime in Minnesota

It's time for an update on our summer.  I spent lots of fun fun quality time in Plymouth, MN with my sister and visited with my brother several times.  We would walk whenever we could with Dan and always stopped for a latte and lots of conversation.

Pat and I did our utmost to get in as much art work time as we could.  She's extremely talented and so helpful when it comes to having creative block.  She has an amazing art room with everything you could possibly need or want to do whatever art project your little heart desires.

We visited often with Brian and Nicolle; helping them move into their new abode!  What a lovely place they have; lots of work ahead of them but it's fun work for sure.  Nicolle is also very talented when it comes to decorating and making their new home there's.

Quinn also bought himself a new home.  Yay! Quinnie!  It's really a nice place and needs very little work changing the decorating.  I'm sure by now he's moved in completely and loving his home ownership.  Actually, Quinn and the Whites, Brian and Nicolle, live very close to one another now.  Crystal, MN.  Also, while in Plymouth, I was able to meet my dear friend, Sue Damyanovich, for brunch.  We try to see each other whenever I get home.  We've known each other since we were 12 years old!  We went to St. Joe's school together.

We celebrated our 47th anniversary in Windom with the Rossows going out to dinner.  They gave us an awesome gift!  A NewWave oven!  We haven't had much change to use it but I'm looking forward to have it for all my favorite recipes.  It's a beautiful machine!  We had a wonderful time with the Rossows at their home and always do.

From Windom, we went back to Westbrook and settled in in Warren's front yard again.  Chuck so enjoyed playing cards everyday a the VFW with Warren and the gentlemen of Westbrook.  We sure miss all the home grown tomatoes, muskmelon, corn, etc.  So generous of Pat to share her bounties.  We miss being with you.

As soon as I got back to Westbrook from my sister's I got sick.  What a horrible cold or whatever it was.  I was so plugged up I couldn't hear and it's still not good.  It's been a month!  Chuck had it and lost his voice.  We were quite the pair.  Also, I contracted pink eye!  Nice, huh?  I had to see a doctor for that one.

While in Plymouth, I took in my annual mammogram which came back super and had a mole removed that came back ok, too.

We left Westbrook on September 8th, Pat's birthday.  Stopped for fuel on the way out of town; $146.  We made it to the Amana Colonies RV park our first night and stayed for 3 nights.  We love the area and had a great time shopping, having coffee and beer!  We went to a play at the Old Creamery Theater and saw Cash on Delivery.  A very funny play.

Ok, we've driven 2000 miles since w left Lake Sawyer, WA.  We spent one night at the Condit Ranch in Putnam, Ill and then the next day headed on to Nappanee, Indiana arriving about noon time.  We've been here ever since.

On the 15th PJ started the work we came for him to do so we checked into the Victorian Guesthouse B&B.  Great time there and beautiful historic home.  Spent two nights there doing lots of fun things during the day like eating Rocket Science ice cream, shopped through the Coppes Commons, mall, checking out all the shops, attending the Apple Festival and eating more Rocket Science ice cream.  We met some awesome people while checking out of the Guesthouse that we went to an Amish farm for dinner on Saturday night.  I'll have to post my little synopsis of our time with them in another post.  It's an experience we'll never ever forget.  We took in the tractor show, Chuck's favorite, the Dutch Village where we were almost locked in.  We didn't hear the announcement that they were closing!  So funny.  We saw the Apple Festival parade with our new friends and had a terrific time.

That bring us to today, Sunday.  We're vegging at home; he's watching football and you know what I'm doing.  Enjoying every minute of our day.  Tomorrow we hope they work on the roof.  We're waiting for product to arrive that they will roll on the roof.  We're doing it as a favor to PJ and we'll get it done free.  Then we'll test it's endurance while we're in El Centro under the hot southern California sun.  In April, we'll meet up with PJ at the Alfa rally in Arizona and have him check it out.  Rallies are so fun and we can't waity.

We'll be contacting Rio Bend RV park soon to find out if everything is copacetic and how we hope it will work for us. 

Kathy

Shady Acres RV Park & Campground Green River, Utah

Shady Acres RV park is one of our favorites but we have only stayed here once and for only one night on our way north to Seattle.  We took a beautiful route through the state of Utah and spent several days here and there in the state.  It is gorgeous and a must-see.

Anyway, Shady Acres is a perfect RV park if you're into exploring the natural wonders of this beautiful state.  The Southeastern corner anyway.  There's lots of nice shade trees; cottonwood, and wonderful mountain views right from your campsite.  Local wildlife might just walk right through the park and you might be lucky enough to see them.  The park has 16 acres.

They are a year-round park with 97 paved sites with many 100 foot pull-thrus and have full hookups.  WIF is free and there is cable TV available.  They have groceries, clean restrooms, dog park, basketball and volleyball courts.  There is a golf course just next door.  If you have children, there's three playground areas, laundry facilities, rv and car wash, facilities for your group,30 and 50 amp is available.

There's so much to do and see from this park; John Wesley Powell River History Museum, Crystal Geyser, Swasey Beach and Rapids, Green River Dam/pump house/water wheel and Arches National Park. 

There's showers, but no laundry that I can remember.  They do have a convenience store with groceries and fast food, gas and diesel pumps, too.  3 cent per gallon discount for guests. Close by is Blimpie Subs.  There are a few handicapped sites available but remember to call with all your questions and prices.  Prices seem to change often and without notice.

It's a quiet park and we had a very pleasant stay.  We were on our way early the next morning and didn't use any of the facilities ourselves but did check them out for you.

Contact them at:
800-537-8674 or 435-564-8290
350 East Main Street
Green River, UT 84525

email address:  shadya@etv.net
Theyt accept Good Same
Escapees
AARP
FMCA
ARVC and is an AAA approved campground along with Woodall's Approval

.

Oregon Trails West RV Park, Baker City, OR

We've stayed at this park only once on our way south to southern California but it was a very nice lovely park.  We only stayed one night but from this park you have an endless number of touring possibilities if you plan to stay longer. If you love hiking, biking, fishing, birding, skiing, this park is for you.

There's also Sumpter Valley Railroad, Oregon Trails Interpretive Cntr, and many historic buildings to spend hours of your time going through.  There's quite a history to the Oregon Trail from the Missouri-Kansas border to the Willamette River in Oregon.  If you love history, this is a great park to stay at and plan to spend a couple days at least to visit all the historic buildings.

There's a life sized exhibit and living history at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center located just 5 miles east of Baker City. 

Ok, the park has all the normal rules and restrictions.  Check out and register time is by 11am.  Pets are allowed on a leash and must be leased at all times.  Clean up after you pet is a must and no barking is allowed.  No pets are allowed in any of the park buildings.

You cannot wash your vehicle nor do any maintenance on any kind on your vehicles while in the park.  This must happen.......but no washing pets, dishes or clothing in the restrooms and NO clotheslines allowed.

There's 44 RV sites and it looks like by the map, about 7 tent sites.  There's 4 sites designated with a F which looks like tens only and with only water. 3 sites have electric only.  Call for rates and any questions you may have.  They're very adamant about NO rugs on the grass.

Phone number: 541-523-3236
42534 North Cedar Road
Baker City, OR 97814

Tri Mountain RV Park, Ridgefield, WA

We have stayed at this park a couple times as it's real convenient to Vancouver, WA where our daughter lives.  It's a lovely park and we're so glad it's available for us. The manager is super friendly and very accommodating.  It's neat, clean and well maintained.  It has a nice picnic area and includes utilities; water, sewer, electricity and trash.  Please, check with the park for rates.

There's coin operated showers, coin operated laundry facilities and for $5 you can was your RV and/or car.  All pets must be discussed with the manager before renting by the month but they are welcomed on a day to day basis.  They have a nice doggie pick-up area.  There's an extra charge for extra people in your RV but no extra charge for children under age 5.

Besides being close to our daughter, there's a little strip mall across the parking lot with a wonderful pizza place and a Sub Way sandwich shop along with other little shops there.  The park is close to Battleground, Ridgefield's little quaint shopping town and not far from Vancouver if you like bigger cities and what they have to offer.

Pets are to be kept under control at all times and supervised.  They must be on a leash at all times and never leave them tied up outside alone.  No dogs over 30lbs are permitted and limit of two dogs per site.

No RV over 10 years old is allowed and newer based on condition.  It is a no smoking park in any of the park facilities.  Check with the park for what's available but we have always had 50amp.

Please contact the park manager for prices, questions and reservations.
Brenda Morse / 360-887-8983
office hours are 9am to 5pm

Address:
109 S. 65th Avenue, Building C,
Ridgefield, WA 98642

 

The Best Place in the World!

Yup, the best place in the world I love to be........in Plymouth, MN at my sister house.  Just the two of us.  I've been here for over a week and have two more to go.  We are having so much fun doing our art work, watching whatever we want on TV, shopping and enjoying each other's company.  It took getting to retirement age for us to be able to do this.

We spent our growing up years very close and then when we each got married, we drifted apart which was my fault because we moved away. 

We're on he road most of the time.......well, all of the time having no house to go to except our motor home.  Actually, we've seen each other more since retirement than we ever have and we are making up for lost time.  We're loving it!  Loving it!

So enjoying my time here.  After two to three weeks, it'll be Chuck and my wedding anniversary; 47 years and we plan to spend it with the people that stood up for us; Chuck's sister and brother-in-law.  Our anniversary is the 5th of August so Chuck will come  back up to the cities to get me and we'll go down to Windom where his sister lives for our celebration.  Chuck is right now staying in Westbrook, MN with friends in our motor home so I can have this wonderful time with my sister and him with his friends in his home town..

Then, we think we'll leave the motor home in Windom and come back up to the cities to spend another week or so before leaving the area for Indiana.  Of course, we'll have to go back down to Windom for the motor home and leave from there.

Maybe I can get some pictures taken of our fun time here and will post them soon.

Lake Sawyer RV Park Black Diamond, WA

Here all the time I was saying Lake Sawyer RV Park is in Maple Valley.  It's not!  It's in Black Diamond, WA.  Oh well, we're still here.

Chuck's recuperating super well.  In fact, it's been 6 weeks since his hip replacement and he's now just using a cane.  He is trying to strengthen that hip and butt muscle so he can depend less and less on that cane.  He drove us down to see the kids, Jen and her boys, yesterday.  Conner graduated from high school and we weren't able to attend the ceremony so we promised him we'd come down and spend the day with him.  We took him to lunch at Olive Garden.  He seemed to enjoy it even though that boy doesn't eat much.

We walked around the mall awhile, stopped to see his mom, Jen, at the Island Cafe where she works and had something to drink.  We took him on home and when Jen got off work we got to see her for a bit at home.  We were back on the road about 5pm.

The boys, now 21 and 18, are so fun to chat with and see what they're interested in now.  We had a great day.  Which is good because the 30th of this month, we feel we'll be heading east.  Feel because those darn storms, tornadoes and flooding are kind of not exactly what we want to purposely head into.

We'll leave here the 30th, stay in eastern WA some place, probably Spokane, and head on to Red Lodge, MT for a few days and visit with friends there.  Then on through SD and stop for buffalo burgers at Al's Oasis and in Wall, SD where we get a free dozen of their donuts!  Last time through, we were shorted one donut so I just sent an email and the nice manager there gave us a certificate for a free dozen.  So it does help to complain.

Then we'll be in Westbrook, Plymouth, and Windom, MN for a month or more.  We'll see.  That's so far in advance we just don't really know the exact dates.  Then we're on to Indiana for a week or so and travel diagonally down through Indianapolis, St. Louis, Tulsa, Albuquerque, NM and on to El Centro, CA.  Where we'll be workamping again this winter.  Me teaching Zumba and he'll be working in the maintenance department.  Hey, free rent and a chance to build up some funds for next summer.

So there you have it.

We went over to the storage unit today.

Chuck, Jen and Conner

More later.............

Still In Maple Valley

Yup, we're still in Washington state in Maple Valley, WA at the Lake Sawyer RV Park on beautiful Lake Sawyer.  WHy?  For one reason, we're waiting for the weather to cool down south and for another, we came to see our kids and spend time with them and the grandkids.  Another important reason is because Chuck had a hip replaced last Tuesday, well, May 6th, so we're recuperating here.

He is doing just awesome!  He was up walking the day after surgery, had some physical therapy the 3rd day and was home in a week.  He spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Terrace Gardens facility where they could take care of his needs and teach him a few things before he came home. 

He took a few naps today and spent 1/2 hour outside.  It was a beautiful day; not too hot and not too cold.

A nurse visited yesterday and she'll be back tomorrow with a PT.  He's looking forward to that to learn more about how well or how bad he's doing.  I know he's doing very well.  He made his own breakfast of eggs and bacon the first morning home and gets to the bathroom on his own AND even took a "sort-of" shower this morning.

He'll see his doctor on Monday, we'll be going through PT for awhile and hopefully will be back on the road the end of July.

Our plans this year are to head east again through Montana, and spend some time in Minnesota with family.  Then head south when So Cal weather cools.  We will be returning to Rio Bend RV Park to work; me teaching Zumba and helping with fun activities and Chuck will remain in the maintenance department.  We love it there and the El Centro, CA area.

More later.  Maybe I'll get some pics taken post. 

Wellton, Arizona M & M RV Villagage and RV Resort

Full Time Travel in Your RV Can Be Fun in Welton!

We discovered a nice, small but really nice RV resort in Wellton, AZ. Last year, between November and January of this year, we traveled south from the Seattle area to check out what all the hub-bub was about in Quartzsite, AZ. We were delighted all along the way to find such friendly wonderful resorts and M & M was one of them.

Technically, called M & M RV Village, it's located in Wellton, AZ and is a small but really nice little town.

We found it located just 20 miles from Old Yuma and minutes from the Colorado River and Martinez Lake for a wide variety of water activities. We ventured out to Old Yuma and Yuma as we're little boat boaters but not really looking for water activities. There is fishing near by and the little local town of Wellton offers shopping and restaurants. Even a VFW is there. Mexico is only 45 minutes away and there's an 18 hold golf course only 1 mile away. We happened to be there at Christmas time and spent one week.

Christmas day we went to a show at the Yuma Palms mall.

There are trains running past this resort but in all honesty, we were more enthralled by them then anything else. They went by often but never ever did they wake us up at night nor bother us in any way.

We did a lot of walking to town right from our RV site. Lots of safe sidewalks all along both sides of town.

We all pulled together to put on a wonderful Christmas dinner for everyone. We all brought our favorite dishes and/or desserts and had a great time.

They're open year round and reservations are recommended but required from January through March. The maximum RV length is 45' so they can accommodate huge rigs. Their physical address is 28541 Arizona, Wellton, AZ. 85356 ane the phone number is 928-785-4273. There's no swimming pool but there is a nice clubhouse where games are played daily. There's even a breakfast get together.

www.mandmrvvillage.info
tsmangine2@aol.com

Sleepy Hollow RV Park in Wall, South Dakota SD

Clean Quiet Park

Sleepy Hollow RV Park and Campground is a wonderful place to stop for a night to sit and read, watch TV or even a longer stay if you want to explore the area. We spent a night there last year about the same time of year and found the park to still be friendly, neat, clean, quiet as ever and wonderfully close to Wall Drug. There are nice wide and long pull-through sites. We didn't need to disconnect our vehicle as there was plenty of room.

A little about the park......Sleepy Hollow RV Park and Campground:

They have 54 RV site and are all pull throughs with 20/30 amp power and some of them have 50 amp power. Full hookup sites come with cable TV. There is a dump station in the park if you go with only water and electric. There are 40 tent sites, a heated pool, restrooms with showers that come with a very good rating from Trailer Life and Good Sam Club. Woodalls Directory gave them a 4 star rating for the season of 2011 and they still deserve it. Sleepy Hollow is a great place to use as a base camp for exploring the area such as the Bad Lands, Mount Rushmore and more. Don't forget you can make it just an overnight stay as well.

The park, in our estimation, has great pull-through sites, as mentioned, the dump station, great restrooms, a laundromat, pool, a new dog park, great playground and recreation area, picnic tables at every site, security, FREE WIFI and more!!

I hope you make it your stop for exploring, seeing Wall Drug, Wall, SD or just an overnight stay. We love this park and will be going back for sure.

If your coming from:

the junction of I-90 and Exit 109 (4th Avenue) go east 0.8 mile and turn left into the park.
From the junction of I-90 and Exit 110 (Glenn St. ) go north 0.8 mile on Glenn St. turn left on 4th Avenue, go .3 mile and we are on your right.

If you are at Wall Drug go north to 4th Avenue make a left and the park is one block on you right.

Sleepy Hollow RV Park and Campground
118 West 4th Avenue Box 15
Wall, SD 57790

Phone 605-279-2100

http://www.sleepyhollowsd.com/index.html Email sleepyhollow@goldenwest.net

Lake Easton RV Park, Lake Easton, WA Park Review

Lake Easton happens to be our home park as we're members of Sunrise  Resorts.  It's been over a year or so since we've been there but we have been there many times in the past and have never been disappointed.

We were there usually in the summer time but there's also some winter activities in the area which include cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. And in the summer there are four area lakes with facilities for fishing and water-skiing. And there's supposed to be some local fishing ponds around but we have never seen them of found them so make sure you ask about them..

Lake Easton R.V. Resort is a membership resort associated with  Resorts of Distinction, Coast to Coast, Resort Parks International, Campclub USA and Passport America.  

We stayed for 5 nights at the Lake Easton Resort which is located on the eastern ridge of the Cascade Mountain Range off I90 in the state of Washington. Coming from the east you take exit 70. It's just east of Snoqualmie Pass and is on the south side right next to the freeway.

You can have a nice relaxing time or you can hike, walk, fish or whatever you desire. I highly recommend this park. There's always other RVers to chat with and exchange ideas and experiences. It's truly a friendly place.

The park is set in a nice wooded area; which feels more like camping with a very short walk to the lake. There's a back gate you can go through to make that hike which has a lock on it.  At least the last time we were there it did, so make sure you get the lock combination so you can get to the lake. 

There are showers and a laundry room, too.There are two restaurants across the highway that has very good food and yummy desserts. One is a burger spot that I've heard rave reviews about.. The burger shop has great homemade shakes, too! Don't miss them.  You can walk to the town of Lake Easton for a newspaper as it's not far down the road and a nice chance to go for a walk. It couldn't have been even 1 mile one way.

We found the owner and employees to be exceptionally friendly and the facility very clean and neat

There was plenty to do right in the park and in the clubhouse.  But after Labor Day there are no planned acitivities. The clubhouse is very cozy.  You can work jigsaw puzzles, play cards and games and you can plug in your laptop so you can connect to the Internet. There are cozy sofas and a TV. Don't forget to check out the movies and they have a nice library of books. In the summer time they used to have Saturday and Sunday breakfasts in the clubhouse. So if you're interested, ask about that.  Find out how much they charge, time, etc. There's an indoor hot tub, horseshoes, hiking, biking, children indoor play area, and outdoor playground area.

Pets need to be on a leash but are welcomed.

Make sure you make your reservation before going. They may be made up to 60 days in advance. 

There are resort cabins available to rent.  Call for new rental costs and requirements.  They change sometimes and find out if they are stocked with the necessities. The cabins are A-frames and sleep 4-6. 

Several found their satellite dish worked great despite the trees but I would ask when making a reservation or at check-in which sites are the best for that. There are 50 full RV sites, 100 partial RV sites and 0 dry. The maximum length of your RV is 40 ft. The electricity hook-up is 30 amps and there is water at the sites. Some sites have sewage hook-up and there is a dump station in the park.

So give them a call, make your reservation.  You won't be sorry, I don't think, if you like a wonderful mountain resort feeling. It's on I90 so you do hear the traffic a bit but it's not worth worrying about. It's truly a lovely resort. Why not ask about membership!

The old mining town of Cle Elum and Roslyn appeal to history buffs. The Yakima Valley wine country and picturesque Leavenworth is a short drive away. We did the railroad self-guided tour in Cle Elum, which was fun and very informative.

RV Park Review Pioneer RV Park Hermiston, OR

Our trip home continued on to Hermiston, OR when we stayed at the Pioneer RV Park.

This park is open year round and located near lots of shopping, dining and entertainment.  They feature paved pull thru sites, 30/50 amp electric service, wireless internet, cable TV, lalundry facility, restrooms and showers.  There's a rec room and book exchange, and complimentary coffee.

You'll find many amenities, directions, a map, address, and phone number, park rules and Park Map
They have daily, weekly and monthly rates (Icouldn't find them on the website) and a dump station in the park. Below is taken from their web site located HERE

Recreation Room with Full kitchen Comfy Recliners Book Exchange Games Courtesy Phone
Laundry Facility Coin Operated Coded for 24 hour use Ironing Board Folding Table
Restrooms Coded for 24 hour use We do not charge for our showers
Storage Units Available for long term residents

RV Park Review Jones High Country RV Park

The day we left Rio Bend RV and Golf Resort, wasn't very windy like it had been.  It was a 75 degree day, sunny and beautiful.  Hated to leave.  We spent the night at Jones High Country RV Park in Nephi, UT at an elevation of over 5100 feet.

Jones High Country RV park is near the small town of Nephi, Ut.  It's fairly small but very quiet and quaint.  There are about 30 sites and has pull throughs if you need.  And big rigs are no problem in the longer sites.  There is power hookups with 50 amps, water and sewer.  WIFI is available but we didn't need it so I"m not sure it's free.  There is no cable TV so if you have a satellite dish, you're in business.  And pets are welcomed.  There are shade trees so you need to check which site is ok to get satellite TV.  The shade would be awesome in the summer time but whe we were there it was a bit windy and cold at 56 degrees the end of March.  

We had a quiet evening watching TV and resting for the continuation of our trip home.

Rainy Day at Lake Sawyer RV Park

AND Maple Valley, WA

Well, we can't complain since we had only one day of rain all winter in El Centro.  It's a good excuse to stay home and drink hot tea and snuggle up with a good book.  Normally.

But I"m not normal.  I've been making paper beads for the last few days and listed a few on Ebay.  See HERE and scroll down a bit.

 or HERE

They are addicting!  I can't stop making them.  I'm making some pendants, too.

Lake Sawyer RV Park, Maple Valley, WA

Home again at Lake Sawyer RV Park in Maple Valley, WA.  Home again home again jiggity jog!  Something like that, LOL

We arrived Monday after a wonderful weekend with Jen and the boys.  We talked and laughed here at the motor home at the Tri Mountain RV Park in Ridgefield, WA, so close to where she lives in Vancouver, WA and then we went over to her place on Saturday.  We spent the day with Jen, Tyler, Ashleigh and Conner.  So much fun.  We went to the Vancouver Saturday Market, had yummy corn dogs and kettle korn.

Then we went to her place where Tyler smoked us the most amazing pork roast for sandwiches!  I had no idea he was such a good cook.  He loves to cook and we loved it, too.  How yummy we had it all day.  That evening we had a few margaritas and more laughing and fun.

Sunday we met Jen and a friend Danny, his Mom, Peggy and his step-dad Ray, at Jollies for the live country band.  Oh, my what another great time we had.  The time was way too short.  We danced and had a wonderful evening and weekend.  Thank you so much Jen!

Wish I had thought to take some pics.

As I said, we arrived here on Monday and got all set up, relaxed and boy, it felt weird.  We are home, but it doesn't feel like it.  We really miss Rio Bend RV Park, I think.  We were there for so long.

Today, Tuesday, I made another loaf of gluten free bread, or am trying anyway; it's a tricky thing to do.  He got the car washed, I got some clothes washed.  We'll just relax and watch some TV.  I'll maybe get to a Zumba class tomorrow night.  I should feel like it by then.

More later and maybe I"ll get some pictures taken.  Hey, guess what?  It's   r a i n i n g  !!   Surprise surprise!!

Snowbirds Going Home

The ladder to put up the pickle ball court lights came just in time.  Chuck put the lights up and we made sure they worked that night, on Thursday.  We left Rio Bend on March 28th, Friday, around 9am.  It had been extremely windy but was pretty much a thing of the past by Friday.  It was a beautiful 75 degrees and sunny on Friday.

We took Hwy 78 on the which turned out to be very hilly which made Frank a little car sick.  We stopped for lunch in Vidal about noon and I made grilled cheese sandwiches and we had the rest of the potato salad.  We pulled into Mesquite, NV at the Oasis RV park which is affiliated with the Casa Blanca Casino.  What a mess.  We were to go to the Casino hotel to register, which really wasn't really for big rigs 40' long towing a car.  They told us to drive right up to the front door.......you know where they have bell boys and where you load and unload? !!  HA  We wouldn't have fit and they would have be furious with us.  So we parked in a near parking lot.  I walked over to the hotel to check in and find out where the Oasis RV Park is.  I'll write up a park review later.  After finally getting security to help us find the park, we arrived early enough to have dinner and relax before bed.

We found out they gave us an rv site already given to someone but we couldn't do anything about it so just stayed put.  It was also very hard to get into the rv park because we couldn't make a left-hand turn so had to go up and turn around and then come back.......those that drive a 40' motor home towing, understand the problem of just "turning around".  U-turns are impossible.

We decided to go out for dinner so found a Jack in the Box.  Tummies full and parked for the night, we watched a little TV and got to bed early.  Early for sure, we had a time change so it was an hour later than normal for us.

March 29th we travel from Mesquite, NV to Nephi, UT where we stayed at a really nice RV park that looked like a former KOA.  Mind you, we are now at 5100+' in elevation.  We arrived around 3:15 so decided to eat leftovers in our frig and not go anyplace.  There really wasn't any place to go.  It was cold, 56 decrees, and windy.

Sunday morning, the 30th, we lingered around the park for a little while as we only had a little more than 100 miles to do.  We watched our favorite Sunday morning TV show, had our coffee and tea and breakfast.  On the road about 9:30 with the wind at our back this time, yay!

I did a little napping and worked a puzzle.  We found our destination, Charlies Service, in Sunset, UT, where we are getting another air conditioner (not changing out the one we have but getting another one), installed on the roof.  We pulled into their parking lot and plugged in and will wait to talk to them in the morning.  Hopefully, they will get the work done in a couple days, however, every day we sit here is rent free.

It's not warm here.......we left So. Cal. on a 75 degree day and arrived here on a 37 degree day and it's snowing!  It snowed even more than this photo shows.

Sunset, UT Charlies parking lot

Tonight will be the Amazing Race for me and he's still glued to the basketball tournament which I assume is on yet tonight.

I'll post another soon.