May 28, 2012 Monday Memorial Day

We left Santa Rosa NM after filling the propane tank -- something we have been meaning to do since we started. We had an uneventful drive to Albuquerque. Difficult finding the correct gate to get on base-- finally got in and a man riding his bike gave us directions to the fam-camp. Found out later his wife is the camp host here. Picked out a site, walked the dogs in a nice dog park here at the campground then hooked up the utilities. We had lunch in the RV then a nap. Woke up at 4:30 pm found the commissary -- too late-- it closed early for the holiday. We went off base to Route 66 Diner and had a burger & fries. The diner was decorated really cute. Then we had to go to Wal-Mart for groceries and back to the RV for bed time. We also did a little trip planning for the next leg of the journey. The plan is to go to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History plus Old Town tomorrow. The weather here is great-- in the 80's and delightful in the shade. Also planning to grill our supper tomorrow and the next night... got some nice looking ears of corn and strawberries!! YUM!

May 27, 2012 Sunday

We got up about 7 AM-- the wind was not so bad today. We got stuff put away, disconnected the utilities and drove the RV to the gas station ( I drove the pick-up). We filled the RV with gas- hooked up the pickup and left Amarillo about 8:50 AM-- Drove to Santa Rosa, NM. We had a scare today with a terrible cross-wind that threw us around. We thought we had a blow-out but all tires were OK. We stopped and ate a sandwich in the RV. Steve's tummy hurt so we rested then decided to stop for the day to see if Steve can get to feeling better. After resting at the Santa Rosa Campground we went to Joseph's on Old Route 66. I had a great enchilada & beans--Steve had a patty melt. Then we went to the Blue Hole -- which is on of 7 rare sinkholes near Santa Rosa - The water is very blue and 62 degrees!!. Scuba Divers can train here. The temperature is about 80 - 85 and lovely in the shade. We drove down south of Santa Rosa to Puerto de Luna on the Pecos River. "It is an adobe village in a hauntingly beautiful desert landscape. According to legend, Coronado's conquistadors built a bridge across the Pecos here in 1541 and watched the moon come up behind the rock outcropping and gave it the name meaning "Gateway of the Moon" (From travel brochure). Then we went back to Santa Rosa to look at the Santa Rosa de Lima Chapel (built 1865) and then walked the dogs around the courthouse Square which also has a lovely fountain and a gazebo. Back to the RV for bed. Great Day!! This was a great stop and I could spend lots of time delving into the history of this area. You may have to check my facebook posts for pics!! I need to get to a free wireless connection to download my Iphone pics to this computer.

May 26, 2012 Saturday

The howling, blowing wind does not let up much in the panhandle of Texas. I Believe: Hairspray was invented for the women in Texas and Oklahoma who fight the wind every day. Perhaps if we spray our hair enough it will stay attached! My Fitness Pal (calorie counting app on Iphone) sent me an email this morning to remind me I have not been tracking my food intake. So I guess it is nagging me to do better! We drove to Palo Duro Canyon -- very Hot and Windy. When we returned we met up with Irene and her family for supper at the Iron Skillet.

May 25, 2012 Friday

Slept til 9 AM - Windy and the high was 99 degrees today. I paid bills on the computer using my Iphone Hot Spot, then took a shower, put on makeup and fixed my hair. I talked to my cousin Kathy -- she is in the hospital in ICU but she is getting better and expects to get out soon. Irene came over about 1:15 and then we went to the American Quarter Horse Museum. I really enjoyed that since we used to raise and race horses. I studied blood lines a lot years ago in the late 70's and 80's. The admission fee was only $5.00 for seniors. Then we went to the Texas Roadhouse for supper. Back to the RV for visiting. After Irene left we watched Bonanza and rested. Then we went for a drive to check out the car races (none this Memorial Day week-end). We also drove by Steve's old house and around Amarillo -- took the dogs sight seeing-- Ha! Ha!. Back to the RV to be rocked to sleep by the wind!

May 24, 2012 Thursday

Got up and straightened up the RV, put things away. Got it backed out of the driveway and hooked up the pickup. Took us awhile because we haven't done it for a long time. Left Kristi's about 9:30 and looked all over El Reno for a place where we could fit to gas up the RV. Finally found a place downtown. Left El Reno about 10 AM drove I-40 West and took some nice pics. Finally we are on the road! Woo Hoo! It wasn't too hot today while driving. Ate lunch at Subway in Erick OK (Love's store). Back on I-40 and got to Amarillo TX about 3 PM. Steve took a nap. I rested and talked on the phone. We are staying at AOK RV Park for $11.00 per night (Escapee's rate). The park is a not very pretty but we have cheap hook-ups!! We went to visit Steve's sister Irene last night. Plan to see the quarter horse museum and go to the Big Texan on Friday. Have a good day!!

May 23, 2012 Wednesday

Continues to be windy and hot. We mowed the back yard at Kristi's --in the morning... didn't take us long with two people. We did our laundry and ran some errands at Yukon. Steve got new overalls and Mary got new shoes!. We ate lunch at Alfredo's -- taco salad and they had some great cheese dip for the chips! Took Kristi and the kids to Long John Silvers for supper. Then back to Kristi's to watch some TV and sleep in the RV.

May 21 & 22, 2012 Monday & Tuesday

Monday- Windy and Hot! Took kids to school and picked them up. Steve worked on vehicles... Went for a test drive later... things seem to be working right now!! Yea! It has been very frustrating with the vehicles. Kristi went to the doctor for check-up - she was not allowed to return to school... she needs to stay home and rest to get over this pneumonia. Tuesday - Windy and Hot! Steve worked on the Awning on the RV - it is fixed now.

May 20, 2012 Sunday

Rainy. Helped Kristi with laundry -- got some supplies at Walmart. Steve still working on vehicles. We even went to Lowe's in Yukon for parts to hold on the pulley - but they did not work. We went back to the parts store for full tensioner bar pulley thingy and tool to remove the old one. Things still not working quite right.

May 19, 2012 Saturday

Ate Breakfast, walked the dogs. It was rainy some today. Unhooked the RV and drove it to town. We parked it in Kristi's driveway so we could help her and the kids out. Steve is still not happy with the way the RV is running -- also not happy with the pickup squealing. Steve re-checked the firing order of the spark plugs on the RV and put on new spark plug wires, and a vacuum line. All very difficult and time consuming.

May 17, 2012 Friday

Windy and hot 70 - 90 degrees. Steve installed a new fuel filter in the RV. We watched a video on the correct way to do it on You Tube on the Iphone. We ate a sandwich, fruit and yogurt at the RV. Checked on the pick-up -- found out it would be ready to pick up this afternoon. Kristi messaged me that she was not feeling good --could we pick up Austyn from school. Austyn was late getting off the bus due to her field trip. Finally caught up with her at her Mom's school. We took her with us to Perry to get the pick-up and leave the car and do the final lock-up of the house. We got the pick-up and Steve worked about 2 hours changing pulleys on tensioner and idler (???). Finally left Perry in the Pickup, ate at Braum's then drove to El Reno. Meanwhile Kristi went to urgent care and got checked out--chest Xray and labs (Logan was with her). She found out she had pneumonia!! By the time we were almost to El Reno she called and said that Urgent care wanted her to go to Yukon for a CT scan of her chest to check for a blood clot in her lungs-- very nervous and scared. We got to El Reno and Steve, kids and dogs stayed at Kristie's house while Mary & Kristi went to the ER at Yukon. Found out she did not have a blood clot just bad pneumonia. We got back to her house about 3:30 AM. That is the latest I have stayed awake for years!! LOL. Steve and I got to the RV at 4:00 AM - way past our curfew! We slept in til 10:00 AM the next day.

May 17, 2012 Thursday

Windy and hot -- up to 90 degrees. At Lucky Star Casino - FREE!! Got up late--about 9 AM. Walked the dogs in a nice pasture beside the casino. Went to town (El Reno) for lunch at Taco Mayo - back to RV for a nap. Went to town later and took Kristi, Austyn and Logan to the movies -- The Avengers--very exciting. Then we had supper at Montana Mikes and went to Kristi's to watch The Mentalist and then home to the RV and bed.

May 16, 2012 - Wednesday

Left Perry about 5:00 PM and took I-35 to Hwy 51 through Hennessey on to Hwy 81 through Kingfisher and to El Reno. Stayed at Lucky Star Casino -- full Hook-ups for free!. Steve drove the RV and Mary drove the car--Pickup is still in the shop (darn)!! Delivered our fish and aquarium to Kristi's house for them to babysit this summer. Ate Hamburgers with the kids at Braum's. We got tired of sitting at home and decided we might as well go somewhere while waiting for the pickup to get fixed.

May 11, 2012 Friday

A Day of Anticipation!! We are ready, willing and able to leave.... wait not soooo quick. The gas line on the pick-up (toad) is leaking very badly!! Of course the part is not in and may or may not be in on Monday. So we are being very patient and trying to tie up loose ends in preparation. We will go to Oklahoma City tomorrow (Saturday) and do a little shopping and take Kristi and the kids out to eat for Mother's Day. Then we will be patient and thankful that this did not happen when we were out in the middle of nowhere. We sold 117# of aluminum cans today-- not enough to fill the RV, but good to get them out of the back yard. Our excitement has not been dampened, we will keep busy doing things and re-checking the lists to keep us occupied -- LOL. We got our hair done last night, we are gathering things to put in the RV, we are twiddling our thumbs. We wanted to roll!! Well nuf said, when it is time everything will fall into place. Have a great day!

May 3, 2012

Wow!  My husband got so much work done the last 2 days!!  He shampooed the carpet in the RV, got the oil changed, washed it, put in new spark plugs and an air filter!
He is such a hard worker I am proud of him.  I have to work on my list of things to do tomorrow.  Hopefully get closer to blast off!!! Many things to do.... so little time.
See ya!
Mary