Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Home is on the Horizon

Funny thing - We saw this RV towing a car the other day out of Denver (9-10-17) and guess what - They are at the same RV park as us this morning. We thought this was unusual!

OK today we got up about 9:00 - we stayed up late last night watching Football. We left the RV park about 10:45 and filled up with gas and were on the road about 11:05 AM. It was an uneventful drive home. Smoky Hill, KS - Love Kansas Sunflowers!

We paid $4.75 toll for the part of I-135 after Wichita - no problem. Braman, OK - This picture is supposed to be the Oklahoma Welcome Sign - I wasn't expecting it to be on the ground. I thought it would be up on a sign post-like every other state. NOT. I had to find an old picture to use for Facebook.

Here is a crane putting up a windmill near the Billings Exit.

We arrived at Perry about 2:20 PM.

First we unhooked the pickup and removed the tow bar from the RV so it will fit in the driveway. We did this in the parking lot of what used to be Walmart. Perry has no Walmart anymore! It was closed while we were gone. I saw this on Facebook - it is bad for our town and us. We got the dogs situated at home and started removing the satellite dish (so the RV will fit under the RV carport). This took a little hard work, planning and sweat, but we got it done! Then rest. I started sorting the mail. Steve rested. Then we met Hazel at La Mac for supper - Yum! Great Mexican Food. Then we came home and I sorted more mail and relaxed. Then to bed.

Monday, September 11, 2017 Heading East Some More

What amazing surprises are in store for us today? We'll see. We were both tired this morning and didn't get up early. We walked the dogs carefully because the Mid America Camp Inn is full of sand burrs and they hurt (people and dogs). We would not stay here again unless absolutely necessary. It is a little run down and the sand burrs are extreme! Anyway we got underway and gassed - $100.00, $2.45 per gallon. It took awhile because they charge your card then let you pump. This is a PITA. So I waited inside to get my receipt. That didn't fill us up but we don't like doing business this way, so we will buy more gas on down the road. Plus I saw some real weirdos in here. Glad to move on. Park, KS

Steve headed East and drove about four (4) hours to Salina, KS and we stopped for the day at KOA. The same RV park where we spent our first night out on this trip. Plus we have stayed here other times, I think last year. The check in was very slow. The lady in the office was on the phone and took care of that first before the people standing in front of her. Plus I needed to go to the bathroom, and went around the side of the building to their restroom and guess what? You need a code just to go pee! I hate that. Perhaps I am grumpy. We walked the dogs and worked on the TV - hooking up to cable here. Not sure why we didn't use the dish - maybe something was blocking it, not sure, I don't remember. We wanted to watch Monday Night Football - The Denver Broncos. We also took a nap. Talked to Marsha and Kristi. I also called Pam - So checked in with family, which is always good. We watched football, then showered and went to bed. Stillwater VA called finally so I could tell them to order/schedule the ultrasound. Progress made.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Another day in the books! We got up about 8:00 and did routine things. We got ready to hook up the pickup and needed to back it up a couple of inches and guess what? It wouldn't start. So after some discussion (Steve didn't want to ask for help), I went to the office to see if someone would give us a jump! Of course they said, no problem. So we got it started, backed up and hooked it up to the RV. We can't put it in neutral for towing if we can't start it. Next we filled up with gas- no problem and were on our way about 10:45 AM. Leaving Laramie, WY

Crossing into Colorado!

Heading toward Denver

Denver on Sunday

An uneventful drive. We got through Denver without a problem. The key to driving through Denver is doing it on Sunday-best day! We stopped at Limon CO to walk the dogs and stretch. Then I decided I should drive again. So I got behind the wheel of the RV and away we went. Steve played the music and relaxed. Plus he got up to get me a drink and had a hard time walking in the moving RV! (I do this all the time). He was also having trouble figuring out how to use the phone to find a campground, I laughed till I cried! Funny! My navigating job is harder than it appears. Agate, CO

Crossing into Kansas

Anyway we arrived at Midamerica Camp Inn in Goodland, KS about 5:45 PM. We passed a Steak and Shake on our way in and the plan was to set up the RV, get the satellite turned in for the Dallas Cowboys Football game and go pick up burgers and watch the game. We paid, pulled in the RV and plugged in the electricity. We were ready to unhook the Pickup but decided to make sure it would start first - Oh NO-- It would NOT start. So I explained to the lady in the office that we will leave in the RV (towing the pickup) and go eat and get a new battery. So that's what we did -- Supper: $20.00, RV Park: $30.00, Battery for Pickup: $128.00. This stop cost $178.00 without counting gas. Some days cost more!! Steve installed the battery for the pickup in the Walmart parking lot. That made the pickup work! Yea! We returned to the RV park, and set up the RV, walked the dogs and put the dish up, jacks down and slides out. I had to contact Dish online to change our local channels. We got to watch the second half of the Dallas Cowboys game and we are pooped again! Two more days and we should be home.

Saturday, September 9 2017 A Day Off

We slept a little later today, then took our time getting around walking the dogs and putzing. We went to Walmart for supplies - fun! I got a birthday card to mail to Parker (my nephew) and the glue to seal the envelope was not good. Steve had to go back in to Walmart and buy some tape to keep it sealed. Then we found the post office and sent it off. This would be a neat place to spend more time - it has some mountains and pretty scenery. The University of Wyoming is here also. When we were here a few years back we toured the Wyoming Territorial Prison. There are some trails to explore also. We were just too tuckered out to do much more exploring. I came back and took a nice nap and Steve relaxed in his chair. Tomorrow we'll hit the road again. More South, east, south! We are on a plan to get home -so that Steve can see the doctor, get an ultrasound for his suspected hernia and get that in the works. Otherwise we would have stayed and played longer!

Friday, September 8, 2017 Wyoming- It Never Ends!

We left at 10:05 Am- Just had breakfast, walked the dogs and unplugged the electric. It was a pretty uneventful drive. We saw Badlands very similar to other areas of Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota We passed Flaming Gorge, an interesting looking place and went through a tunnel. We stopped somewhere at McDonald's for lunch and a nap. Then moved on. We got to Laramie about 6:00 PM and check into KOA. We had pizza delivered and watched OSU (Oklahoma State) play Football! Dish - Yes, LTE cell signal - Yes! 1288 miles in 4 days equals tired! Fort Bridger, WY

McKinnon, WY

James Town, WY

Green River, WY and Tunnels

Arlington, WY

Rock River, WY

Thursday, Sept 7, 2017 Driving for the third day in a row!

We walked the dogs and unhooked the utilities then left about 10:45 AM. Nothing special about this famcamp but the price is right at $15.00 for a FHU. We are still seeing interesting scenery -- but it is smoky. Therefore the pictures turn out lousy. I take some anyway to remind me. I hope to return here again, hopefully when it is not smoky. Glenn's Ferry across the Snake River

We crossed into Utah at 4:30 PM at Malad City. And we still see smoke. Guess what? Utah has fires also!

Tremonton, UT - Smoke, Mountains, Truck!

They also have Grant's Range Bulls - see their roadside statue.

I had picked outa place to stay called River Bridge RV Park at Morgan, UT. When the GPS led us to the place , there was a NO Trespassing sign - so Steve thought we should call before heading down that road. That was a great idea! So I called the guy and he gave me different directions -- which we followed and finally got to the entrance where we were confronted with this extremely narrow bridge -- crazy - Steve made it! He is an excellent driver! The bridge picture is in color - the mirror and how close to the side of the bridge - those are B & W pics - Somehow I hit the B & W button taking the picture! Another error! Blame it on tiredness and being totally terrified that we would lose one of the expensive mirrors on the RV.

We drove around a narrow path in the park but could not find site # 42. So we stopped and walked to it. It was not big enough for our slides and had potholes-but it would have been a lovely place if we could have fit. So back out over that narrow bridge we went. We bought gas at a Phillips 66 station, the first we've seen in over a month and decided to try to make it to Evanston, WY. Leaving Morgan, UT

Coalville, UT and the Wyoming sign!

We made it there - crossed into Wyoming at 8:00 PM - Driving late for us. So we were a late arrival - no one in the office to tell us what site to pick, it was dark, we didn't know the layout. We actually parked in a site that I thought was the exit. Anyway - we made it! There is only 3 G service here with AT & T, no dish here because trees are in the way. We found a site by hook or crook after dark and only plugged in the electric. We were tired and hit the sack pretty quick. 980 total miles in three (3) days. Here is one of Wyoming's electronic signs: It says - Embrace Life, Wear Your Seatbelt!

We saw another one that said "Buckle Up Buttercup!" But I did not get a picture of that one. I love the saying though, so thoughtful and Western!

Wednesday, Sept 6, 2017 Moving East and Southeast

We left Driftwood RV Park about 9:45 today. There seem to be a lot of trailers and fifth wheels parked here. I think a lot are seasonal and residential. They have their water hydrants insulated and heat tape wrapped. This park is open year round and evidently people stay here year round instead of moving south with cold weather. We can get going a little faster when the pickup stays hooked up to the RV. We moved through some big country heading southeast on I-84 through Oregon. We stopped a few times for a break to walk us and the dogs. It is still very smoky. We passed through Pendleton, OR. Next was La Grande OR Then the Oregon Trail Viewpoint over Cabbage Mountain slowed us down - it was a hard climb. I can't imagine having to go through this huge country in a covered wagon! It was a little clearer at North Powder, OR. Also today we changed from Pacific to Mountain Time - so we lost an hour. A picture of cattle resting and snow fence! Baker City, OR - a nice old structure that Steve and I could "fix-up"!! Ha Ha! Huntington, OR My mistake trying to get the Idaho border picture - which led to using one from the internet that has beautiful blue skies and no smoke!

Again, it was still smoky at the Snake River on the Border of Oregon and Idaho. Then we stopped at a beautiful rest stop inside Idaho and relaxed. We had a nice walk with the dogs and enjoyed the scenery for a bit. This rest stop was at Fruitland, ID where you have views of the Snake River and crops.

We got to Mountain Home AF Base Famcamp in Idaho about 6:15 PM. Here is the lay of the land on the outskirts of Mountain Home Air Force Base.

We walked the dogs and relaxed. We have satellite and LTE signals! Also FHU here. I kind of goofed when I put some of these pictures in - I forgot to tell it to Center them or put them on the Left or Right -- Not sure how to fix - so they will stay the way they are!