Roughrider Days Parade

Today is the Roughrider Days Parade and our class was one of the featured classes on one of the "floats" (a flatbed towed by a large pickup truck). Thank you Bobbie (Weiler) Hauck and her husband Neil for furnishing the truck and flatbed. Not everyone who was at the social last night showed up this morning for the parade.  Gee, I wonder why?????  What's the matter folks, a little too early???  Somehow, I don't think that is the situation!  Me thinks it has something to do with the liquid libations people were partaking in last night.  Hmmmmmm!
Thank goodness I never partake in that sort of thing (tee hee).

Although we still had a pretty darn good turnout.  The parade was a blast.  I can't tell you how much candy we had to throw out to all of the little kiddies along the parade route.  After the parade we all took a tour of our high school.  Couldn't believe how much the school hasn't changed.  Even the same classes are still being held in the classrooms that they were held in when we went to school!  After the parade we didn't want the reunion to be over yet.  So a group of us decided to go and have pizza together.  It was so much fun and the pizza was really, really good.  The management told us that we could have all the frozen yogurt and toppings we wanted free of charge.  Yup, that's our hometown.  And ya'll wonder why we want to move back there????????
We went to the DHS (the public school) Class of 1973 social at the Elk's Club.  Wow, what a small turnout.  The public high school had four times the number of graduates in the class of 1973 than we did.  We had over twice the number of alumni show up for our 40th reunion.  We met up with two of our classmates, Tom and Alicia and went to the social.  After about an hour we all left and said our goodbyes to them and headed home.

Trinity High School Class of 1973 40th Class Reunion!

Our 40th class reunion is beginning this evening with a social at the Ramada Lodge at 6:00 p.m.  We are really looking forward to seeing who is all going to be there.  Told Dad that we probably won't see him for the next three days due to the scheduled events as well as the possiblity of just getting together with classmates.

Not a bad looking group if I do say so myself.  Can't believe we are all 58 years old already.  Seems like yesterday we were all graduating.  Out of a class of 118, 68 actually showed up.  That is awesome.  We have had 7 classmates pass away.  So sad.

Got to spend time with Judy (Pavlish) Duerre.  She and I were friends in grade school all the way through high school.  She now lives in Texas.  Mike had a nice visit with his cousin Randy Rummel.  Haven't seen him since the 20th class reunion.  Whoa.  It is so awesome how the clique barriers have disappeared and we are all just one big group.  Had a blast.  Really had a great time with Bobbie (Wieler) Hauck and her husband Neil.  Also spent alot of time with Tom Keller and Alicia (Jaeger) Keller. 

Hated to see the night end.  Looking forward to tomorrow morning so that we can get on our class float and ride in the Roughrider Days Parade.  The only bad thing is we have to get up so dang early.

Day One in Dickinson

June 26, 2013

Headed to Dad's house around 10:30 a.m.  This is going to be he norm for us since I don't get out of bed before 9:00 a.m. unless I really, really have to.

Delivered the items that Dad asked me to get for him because he couldn't find them in Dickinson.  While we were in the house putting things away, Mike was outside looking over the yard.  He decided that the lawn needed to be edged and mowed, so he got to business and asked Dad where all of the tools were so he could get busy.

Dad and I sat and watched Mike mow and edge the lawn.  Once that was done, we all sat and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Pretty uneventful day, but just really nice to visit with my Dad.  We know the next few days are going to be filled with our class reunion, baking and more yard work for Mike.

Day 2 on our way to North Dakota

Can't remember the last time we saw this area so green.  They have been getting allot of rain and it truly shows.  It is just so beautiful.

I think I am going to have to call the campground in Dickinson to let them know that we are more than likely going to arrive a day earlier than anticipated.  Guess we didn't calculate our travel time correctly.  We gave ourselves 2 1/2 days to get there and it is really looking like we are going to get there today.  Oops!

Ate lunch at the rest area right on the edge of Buffalo, South Dakota.  Getting into and out of that place is a nightmare.  Very steep dirt roads going in and going out.  Yikes!

While I was making lunch Mike was outside checking to make sure all was ok with the motorhome and car.  He started talking to a couple who had gone to North Dakota to work in the oil boom.  They had been there for some time and were now leaving.  They told Mike that they were both working full time jobs and that while they were both getting paid quite nicely, the cost of rent, groceries and fuel were unbelievable.  They said that they were just making ends meet, but weren't getting ahead at all.  So they were going to Texas.  Somehow I don't think this will be the first of this type of story we will hear.  Very sad.

Left Buffalo and sure enough, we are going to get to Dickinson this evening.  As soon as we drove through Bowman, North Dakota I got on my cell phone and called Northpark Campground to check to see if there would be a problem with us coming in a day earlier than anticipated and reserved.  Nope, no problem.  Thank goodness for cell phones!

Lots of new construction going on just outside of Dickinson along Interstate 94.  We will definitely have to check this out and see what is going on!

Arrived at the campground and got checked in.  Yikes $420 for two weeks!!!!!  Yup, the oil boom here in North Dakota is a good thing!  Somehow I think that is questionable. 

Called my Dad to let him know we are here a day early.  Told him we would be up after dinner unless he wanted to come to our place to eat.  He already had dinner on the table, so I guess that was a no.

Got all settled in, ate, and then went to see my Dad.  He is looking really good.  Getting a little slower, but other than that, doing great.  Sat and visited with him for a little while then headed back to the motorhome for some much needed sleep.  Nighty night everyone!

On the Road Heading to North Dakota

June 24, 2013

After five days of relaxing, shopping, eating, and visitng at Colette's it is time to start heading to North Dakota.  Got our 40th class reunion starting the 28th.

As we were doing all of our normal pre-trip preps I noticed that the tire pressue monitor was telling us we had a low tire.  Well, anothe tire mounted monitor had bulged and gone bad.  Thankfully Mike brought along three new ones.  So he put a new one on and then proceeded to try to blow up the tire with air.  Every time he tried to use Colette's big air compressor in ther garage, he blew a circuit!  So, we had to use our little compressor in the motorhome.  Took a little longer but it got the job done.

Said our goodbyes to Colette and Mom and got into the motorhome. So now, it is time to get on the road again.

At least Mike timed things so that we got out of the Denver area without hitting rush hour traffic!  I hate driving through Denver in heavy traffic.  At least they seem to have widened the lanes on the highway.  Now I don't feel like we are threading a needle with this monster on six wheels!

Got into Wyoming and stopped at a beautiful rest area outside of Douglas to have lunch.

They must have had a really mild winter here in Wyoming.  I can't remember ever seeing this many deer and antelope in the past.  We drove past one field and at first I thought it was a sheep herd.  Then I realized, no it is actually antelope.  I lost count after 50 some.  The little babies are so cute.

Other than looking for deer and antelope and looking at the green fields, there really isn't much else to see on our route here in Wyoming.  We have taken this one quite a few times. 

Decided that we would stay the night in the parking lot of the WalMart Super Center in Gillette.  Also decided that we would eat dinner at the Perkins Restaurant beside the parking lot as well.  Of course once we got there there were alot of RVs already parked for the night.  Of course Mike chooses to park right by the entrance to the parking lot.  We got to listen to cars, trucks, and motorcycles coming and going all night long.  It was so pleasant. NOT!

Space Foundation Exhibit - Colorado Springs, CO

Drove to Colorado Springs today.  We are going to the Space Foundation Exhibit with Mike's sister Joan, brother-in-law Bob, nephew-in-law Dave, and great-nephews Luke and Kyle.

Mike has always wanted to travel out into space, so couldn't resist taking a picture of him beside the spacesuit exhibit.

Think it would fit him???????  Man that astronaut had to be a short guy!  The exhibit was really quite interesting.  They even had four different astronauts there to sign autographs for all the little future astronauts.  Luke and Kyle loved the stomp rockets that they made.  That was so much fun watching all the little kids make the rockets and them stomp on a 2 litre soda bottle to make the rockets fly.  Wow, some really made it up there.

After the exhibit we went back to Joan and Bob's house for a barbecue.  Dave and the boys came over and so did Brian (Mike's nephew) and TK (Brian's wife).  Brian is currently serving in the US Army and had just returned from a tour in the Middle East two days prior to our visit.  It was so nice of them to come by just to see us.  Love those kids. 

After dinner the Nelson's left and Joan, Bob, Mike and I went into their hot tub for a little bit of relaxing.  That sure felt good!

We called it a night and said our goodbyes.  Headed back to Lone Tree to our motorhome and some badly needed shut eye.

Heading to Lone Tree, Colorado

June 19, 2013

Took off from River Dance RV Resort this morning on our way to Mike's sisters' in Lone Tree, Colorado.  So far the motorhome seems to be running just fine since its repair. Hoping this pattern continues.

OK, I knew Colorado had mountains.  But seriously?? This many?  And why do they have to be so dang high?  Don't they know I don't want to stress out my little motorhome engine?  Sheesh!

It is just so much fun traveling up these passes at 20 miles per hour!  Thank goodness people can still get around us or else we might have some really ticked off drivers.  Wow Vail Pass the motorhome was like the little engine that could, I think I can, I think I can. . . . . . . .

I CAN!!!

OK, now it's downhill.  Hoping this keeps up.  Can't help but worry about the stress on the engine.  As we drove through the edge of Vail, you can't help but notice the beautiful hotels and the ski slopes where all of the celebreties and beautiful people hang when they visit.  Should I be impressed? 

Oh no, we are heading uphill again.  I think I can, I think I can. . . . . . .

I CAN!!!

And to think we thought Vail Pass was bad! 

Made it to Colette's safe and sound and the motorhome performed wonderfully (except for the climbing at 20 mph part).

Now it is time to relax and visit with Mike's sister and mom. 

June 18, 2013 - Vacation 2013

Back on the road again.  Keeping our fingers crossed that everything is fixed and working fine and that the secondary fuel pump doesn't go out (the Cummins service manager warned us that this could be a possibility).

Stopped in Parachute, CO to take a break and mail a letter to Cummins to make our 10% discount official. 

Went into the little gift shop.  Overpriced?????  You'd better believe it.  Did see a really cute handbag made from license plates and duct tape though.  Just may have to try and make one of those if I can find the Navy Mom license plates that I want.

The Parachute rest area had these wonderful "palm trees."  Well, at least they looked like Colorado's version of palm trees until we were walking back from the gift shop.  It was then that we noticed that they are actually decorative solar panels to power the information center building in the rest area.  Gee, ain't they purty?

Well, let's get on the road and try to make up some time.  We were planning to go to a spa resort for a couple of days before we are scheduled to get to Mike's sister's house in Lone Tree, CO.  But thanks to the motorhome issue, we won't be able to do that.  So it's looking like we will need to scope out a campground on the route to spend the night.

 Some very beautiful country with spectacular views whichever direction you turn.  Gonna stay at the River Dance RV Resort tonight.  Looks to be very, very nice.

Cummins Please Be Kind - Vacation 2013

June 17, 2013 - Vacation 2013

Woke up to an awful noise this morning.  Oh, it is only the alarm clock.  Hate those things but have got to get cleaned up and dressed early so that we can go into the Cummins office to talk to the service manager.  They are expecting us because of the wonderful lines of communication yesterday.  Yay!

OK, now what??  Oh we get to sit in the customers lounge while they analyze what is wrong with our motorhome.  At least it has really nice comfy black leather chairs, a TV, and a fridge full of soda and water! 

The luster has worn off of the perks in the customer lounge.  Yes, the chairs are comfy, but you stick to them if you are wearing shorts.  Yes, the fridge has cold diet sodas, but the date on the can is over a year old and they taste like it.  Yes, the TV has multiple channels to choose from, but it is Dish Network and not DirecTV and I cannot figure out how this stupid remote works.  Hopefully Mike will come back here soon and show me how this dang thing works!!!

It's past 9:30 a.m. and they haven't even started on our motorhome yet.  They have talked to Mike and let him know what they think it could be, but of course they haven't done anything to confirm their suspicions yet.  At least Mike came back into the lounge and showed me how the stupid remote works. 

Getting hungry and all of our food is in the motorhome that I am unable to access.  Hmmmmm, I recall a Carl's Jr. down the road a bit.  Maybe Mike would like some breakfast?????

Yup, he started drooling as soon as I asked him if he wanted me to drive over to Carl's Jr. and get some breakfast.  On the way I noticed a billboard sign that was advertising an egg white egg mcmuffin at McDonald's.  Since we are both doing Weight Watchers I thought, hey why not?  Pulled into the McDonald's.  That was a huge mistake.  I stood in line and waited and waited.  One register open, old guy who already ordered and paid for his food wouldn't move from his position by the counter right in front of the register.  McDonald's employee doesn't have the sense to ask the old guy to move to the side to wait for his food so she can wait on other customers.  She just stands there and looks around at everyone.  Little boy walks up to the counter and stands beside old guy.  McDonald's employee asks him if she can help him.  Never mind that there are three people in line waiting behind old guy.  Little boy tells McDonald's employee that he wants three breakfast burritos.  She taps the order into her register, collects the money from little boy and gets him his food.  Old guy finally gets his food.  McDonald's employee looks at me finally and asks me if she can help me.  I ask her where they have the breakfast menu posted because it is nowhere to be seen.  She looks at me like I am an alien from another planet and then turns to her manager and asks if they are still serving breakfast.  McDonald's manager tells me they are no longer serving breakfast (it is 10:00 a.m.), but she can check to see if they have anything left over in the back.  Ummmmm, let me think!!!!!!!  NO!!!!!!!  Turned and walked out and got in my car.  Drove down the street a little further and pulled into Carl's Jr.  Guess what?  They are still serving breakfast!  Ordered our food, paid for it and got back in the car.  Drove back to Cummins.  Mike is still sitting in the Customer's lounge and they still haven't started working on our motorhome yet!

After eating our wonderfully greasy, calorie ridden breakfast Mike left the lounge to go talk to the service manager and I sat and watched TV.  Mike came back in and informed me that they had finally started working on our motorhome and asked me if I wanted to drive over to the mall and do some shopping while he sat there in the lounge.  Well now, you don't have to ask me twice.  I knew I fell in love with that man for a reason.  So I took the car and left.

Three hours later, I arrived back at the Cummins repair facility.  Mike was shocked, I came back and didn't spend a penny.  Yes, three hours of shopping and I didn't buy a thing.  Could it be I was a bit worried about what the bill for this repair is going to be and our vacation is just starting??????

Looks like they found the problem and are repairing it.  Guess this little motorhome of ours has two fuel pumps.  The initial pump gave up the ghost.  Of course, now we get to worry a little bit more.  They informed us that some times when the initial pump goes out, the secondary pump can get damaged.  Keeping fingers crossed that that is not the scenario.  I am seeing $$$$$$$$  flying out the window!!!! 

New initial fuel pump installed.  Service manager taking motorhome out for test drive to see if all is ok.  Prayers, prayers, prayers. 

Service manager is back and he says all looks ok thus far.  OK, now pay the bill!!  OUCH!!!!  $1000 later we have a lovely piece of paper in our hands saying that the motorhome has been repaired.  Guess what, it is past 6:00 p.m.  Too late to get back out on the road.  So we are going to spend another lovely night in the Cummins parking lot.  Oh joy!

Please let tomorrow bring smiles and joy back into our lives!

Father's Day on the Road - Vacation 2013

 June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day!  And what a day it was!!!!

Left Shady Acres Campground this morning.  All seemed to be going just fine, at least for a few miles.  Then all of a sudden Mike noticed that the engine was lagging and we were losing power.  Of course, some might think that the reason for this is the hills we were climbing.  Nope, not the reason.

Mike pulled over onto the shoulder and turned the engine off to check things out.  All seemed to be okay, just a decrease in power. Engine back on, pull back onto the highway and away we were.  Welllllllll, at least for a little while longer.  Limp, limp, limp into the rest area on top of the little hill.  Hello AAA??? We need a tow truck.  Nope, not just your simple tow truck.  Ummmmm, we are driving a 37 foot motorhome and we are pulling a car.  Soooooo, I'm kinda thinking we need a flatbed tow truck.  Oh, and by the way, we need to be towed into Grand Junction, CO as they seem to be the nearest location with a Cummins authorized repair facility.  Oh yeah, we are currently still in Utah. 

Several phone calls later to AAA and them calling us back, Jake showed up at the rest area with his lovely flatbed tow truck.  Excuse me???  You want Mike to drive the motorhome up onto the flatbed and you'll direct him?  Oh this ought to be exciting!

Jake even asked if I was nervous when Mike was driving it up on the flatbed.  Of course like any good wife I said, "No, he knows what he is doing."  I mean, what else was I going to say?

All loaded, now we get to follow Jake with our motorhome on the flatbed he is towing with his semi truck tow truck into Grand Junction, Colorado.  What a heck of a Father's Day for Mike and Jake!

One of the funniest, yet sadest sights to see is the front end of your motorhome traveling backwards away from you on the highway!

We arrived at the Cummins repair center in Grand Junction.  Now Jake tells Mike he gets to drive the motorhome off of the flatbed.  This time I got to witness everything close up!  Holy Crap!!!!!!!!  The inside tires on the back of the motorhome drove over thin air.  I mean, they weren't touching anything.  The front tires had to be driven over tires that were the same width.  There was no wriggle room for any type of error.  Once Mike got the motorhome off the flatbed and onto solid ground I told Jake it might take Mike a few minutes because I was sure he was in the bathroom changing his underwear!!!!!

Jake was such a nice guy he was even concerned about what kind of food we like so that he could steer us in the right direction to get something good to eat.  Once I found out there was a Red Robin nearby, I knew where I was going to take Mike for dinner to try and salvage some of his Father's Day.  Red Robin, Yummmmmmm!

Thank you Jake for taking the day to spend with us rather than your wife and 7 month old son!!!  We greatly appreciate it! 

Now off to Red Robin to get dinner and then back to the Cummins parking lot to our hotel on wheels so that we can get some sleep before we get to see what type of problem we will face in the morning.  Yay!

On the Road Again - Vacation 2013

June 15, 2013 -

Well, here we are again heading out on our annual vacation to visit family and friends. 

On the road by 5:30 a.m.  Just love seeing the sun come up!  Nope, not really!  When you are retired and enjoy being able to sleep in each morning, you would expect sunrises to be way more spectacular than they actually are. 

Seem to be making really good time, even though Mike keeps telling me that he is keeping it at around 62 to 63 miles per hour.  Sheesh, it's only 1:30 in the afternoon and we are already in Utah. I guess it's just that we have traveled this route so many times in the past, I seem to be paying less attention to the scenery.  Jeesh, I've seen it how many times in the past 35 years?????  Hmm, Las Vegas has constructed yet another new casino.  Go figure!  The Virgin River Gorge still has only a trickle of water flowing in the river.  Hmm, could it be that the reason is it is only 110 degrees outside??  St. George has gotten bigger, yet again.  That place grows every time we have driven through it.

Oh, wait a minute.  We are doing what??  We are turning east onto Highway 70?  Well now, this is a new one!

Got to see some new and beautiful scenery.  Of course, God forbid we can't stop to really take a good look.  I get to take pictures through the windshield.  Maybe that's why so many of our vacation photos have bug spots in them!

Spending the night in Green River, Utah at a lovely campground called Shady Acres.  Now isn't that appropriate for the retired crowd??  Hey, at least we got coupons to go to Blimpies Subs.  Nummy.
On the road again in the morning.  Tomorrow is Father's Day!!