2021/06/27 - Sunday - Vacation - Day 10 - Natchez Trace Pkwy - Another day on the Trace

 We left about 9:30 - Had to pull out of the spot and then load the 4Runner so that takes some time.

Our first stop was at Flying J's for the RV.

We drove 2 hours to get to the location were we left the trace the day before.  Once on the trace, pulled into any pullout that I could fit.  We even drove out to Davis Lake - they had were full!.

We stopped for the night at Campground At Barnes Crossing.

We unloaded the 4Runner and headed out onto the Trace for more driving.  We stopped a the Visitor Center, Old Trace and Confederate Gravesites, 

It was starting to get late and I needed gas for the car, so headed back.

We went grocery shopping and headed back to the RV.

Went out to dinner at Mugshots - it was as good as last time we where here.

Back at the RV to relax.

2020/06/27 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 16 - Full and Exploring

We got moving at 9, so right on time.  For some reason Turquoise would not setting down, so the next town (Ilwaco) we stopped to let him out.

We head south over the Astoria - Megler Bridge and headed in land on US26.  I could not believe the amount of vehicles heading to the beach, almost a constant stream with very little breaks between the very large groups.

We stopped early so we could do some more water falls.  When we finally made it to the Silver Falls State Park, but when we tried the different parking lots, they were all full and we tried to circle some of them but nobody was leaving when we were passing through.  We were able to stop at an overlook and see one of the falls.

So we went exploring.  We headed to Detroit Lake.  We noticed that people were allowed to drive over the dam, so we drove about 7 miles up the road until it turned to gravel.  We found a couple of water falls.

We went back into town to have dinner and picked up our order of items from Walmart.

Back at the RV we put things away and I did laundry.

2020/06/23 - Tuesday - Vacation - Day 12 - Views, Drive, and Falls

I got up about 7:30, we finally got out of camp about 10.

1st stop was at Starbucks,  but the wrong one, so off to the one that we put our order to.

We stopped at the visitor center and was able to get our stamps for National Park Pass book and A was able to get her JR Range book and she also got the badge for it ahead of time. 

Next stop was at the very end of the road going to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.  We then stop at the center and did a little bit of shopping. 

I went ahead and drove the dirt road to Obstruction Point Trailhead.  That was an interesting road and views were cool!  Two different ranges were saying make sure we don't get a flat tire... we were good this time. 

On our way back down, we stopped at the park sign really quick and then headed to go get lunch.

Next stop was at Madison Falls, very short walk to it.

Next we drove to Sol Duc Trailhead, but we didn't do the walk/hike. We drove around the hot springs resort area and we stopped at Salmon Cascades area.

Heading back to the RV we determined we still had plenty of sun,  so we stopped and did the hike to Marymere Falls.  Most of the hike has a very slow rise, but the last section is interesting.   You have to cross a one log bridge,  then climb several steps to get to the first viewing area, then several more steps to the other viewing area and head back down to cross that one log bridge again.

On the way back to the RV the van needed more juice.

We ate leftover for dinner.  Turquoise is definitely feeling better, but not 100% yet.

I am doing laundry tonight and while I am waiting I decide I might as well do the blog....

2020/06/19 - Friday - Vacation - Day 08 - Shopping

We slept in, nothing was really planned for today. 

We finally got moving,  headed towards L's business, but before getting there we stopped for lunch that Cheryl could get fried gluten free chicken. We had to order and eat in our car.

We did our shopping,  and stopped at a barbershop so I could get my hair cut.

We stopped at L's place and got the windshield wipers replaced on the van.

Back at the house, Cheryl started the laundry and than they started to work on dinner.

After dinner we played Five Crowns.

2020/06/14 - Sunday - Vaction - Day 03 - Steps Issue and Family

Got up shortly after 7 and we did the normal morning routine.  About the time to leave at 9 and the steps would not go back in.  I tried a few things but nothing was working to get the steps in.  So go find the owners manual in our big folder of RV stuff.  Found the manual and quickly looked at the instructions.  Instead of trying to go through each of the steps, I got some wire out and powered the motor to get it to move the steps up.  All of this took about 45 minutes.

Next stop was for gas and have lunch.  This flying J's did not like my card so I complained to the attendant that was out and about, but I will have to call the card company tomorrow (because they are closed on Sundays)

Next stop is for the night at E's place.  We had to trim some branches from the tree so they were not rubbing the RV.

Cheryl started a load of laundry.

I spent about an hour trying to find the problem with the steps. I finally found it, it was a wire that broke at a connector for the magnet that indicates when the door is shut or not.   And because I had thing out to help me find the issue, I went ahead an unloaded everything out of the front passenger storage area.  It needed some organization. By the time I finished putting things back, it was time to leave for dinner.

Dinner was at Cool Hand Luke's.

Back at E's place to relax.

2019/07/11 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 21 - HOT - Rain - Wind

We got start a little late, but I need to stop by the office to pay the bill.  We got on the road about 19 minutes after 9.

Our first stop was just two exits up for the necessary gas for the RV at a Flying J's

At about noon, I stopped at a over look.  The generator keeps stopping, so I checked the oil level and it was fine.  So must be hot.

In El Paso, we stopped at Chamizal National Memorial Park and Grounds.  Amanda was able to get another JR Ranger badge.  The walk from the parking lot to the visitor center was a killer for my back...

 We stopped at a Flying J's for more gas.  C.M. was trying to pay for things and they were having all sorts of problems, but they finally got it squared away.

We did hit rain heading to our stop for the night.  I also had to reduce my speed to 55 to keep my tires from reaching 177.  (The highest that I seen on it was 176).

We are at Little Vineyard RV Resort for the night.

We unloaded the van and headed into town to go eat.  While we were eating at Marie's Italian Grill, the wind picked up and we were having a dust storm.  The last time we were in this town it was because of a dust storm, I don't about our luck.

Back at the RV park, Mom M and I went and had some Ice Cream at their Ice Cream social they were having

C.M. finished up the laundry and now relaxing in the RV and once in a while we hear the wind or a little bit of rain.

2019/07/10 - Wednesday - Vacation - Day 20 - HOT - Tire Temp

We left at our normal time a little after 9.  I did stop by the office to make sure I was all squared away.

The drive through San Antonio was ok.  The construction heading out of town was tight and slow.

We stopped for lunch at a rest area.

Gas stop at a Pilot

A little past 4:15 the Smartire sensor was going off about a tire being at 177 degrees, so I found the next exit and stopped for about 45 to get the tires to cool down.  Drove about 45 minutes and had to stop again. for another 30 minute stop.  Drove again about an hour and stopped for another 35 minutes.

We finally pulled into Fort Stockton RV Park a little after 8.

I unloaded the van and C.M. worked on laundry, while J.M., Mom M, and E.M. went in to town to get fast food dinner.

2019/07/06 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 16 - Wet

We got moving a little late, but we were saying our goodby's to the family.

Our fist stop just down the freeway was at a Flying J's I was below a quarter tank left...

The next stop was at a rest area (drank to much of my tea that C.M. made while we were stopped at Flying J)

For part of the day it was raining.  During our lunch stop that we made it was also raining...

Next stop was at a Pilot for the necessary gas.

We stopped for the night and Mom M and I went and did the laundry.

C.M. made dinner.

C.M., A.M., E.M, & J.M. then did our Ark of Osiris battle before heading to bed.  But the lag/connection issue made it a very difficult and frustrating battle.  But we did win even with all of our connection issues.

2019/07/02 - Tuesday - Vacation - Day 12 - Atlantic Ocean

We got going about normal time a little past 9:00.

Our first stop for the day was at Fort Frederica National Monument.  A.M. got her JR Ranger badge from here.  Was not able to walk out to the fort because of my pain.  (this back pain sucks!).  Back at the RV we did lunch.  I discovered that Turquoise wet our bed, so not a very happy camper!

Next stop was gas for the RV before our stop for the night.

We are at Jacksonville North / St. Marys KOA.  We stopped about 1:36 and unloaded the van and headed out.

The next stop was at Cumberland Island Visitors Center.  A.M. got her JR Ranger badge from here.

I wanted to get my toes wet in the Atlantic Ocean and be able to see nothing but water looking East, so we drove over to Main Beach in Fernandina Beach FL.  The water was warmer then I expected. 

Dinner was at Gator's Dockside.

We stripped the bed, Mom M and I went and did laundry.

2019/06/26 - Wednesday - Vacation - Day 06 - We Made It Here

We got going a little late, but that is ok, we knew this was going to be a short day.

We stopped at the visitor center so A.M. could turn in her Jr Ranger booklet.


We stopped at a Love's Travel Stop and had lunch

We drove through some rain and seen some lighting. 

Gas as close to our destination at a Pilot.

We made it to the camp ground and setup camp at about 5:30.

We went to Verizon to replace our mifi that had the batteries expanded.  And stopped at Bed Bath to get a seat cushion for me to see it would help - so far it has not.  I am still hurt a lot!.

Back at the RV, A.M. made dinner and Mom M and I started laundry, I could not sit there any longer and went back to the RV and Mom M finished it.

2019/06/13 - Thursday - Brush off the Cobwebs

Well preparation are happening and we are excited for this year vacation.  Doing this post to brush off the cobwebs and making sure things are still working in the blogger world.

Getting the RV ready is not done yet.  Still need to put away all the laundry.

2018/07/12 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 21 - Drive and Hot Tires

We left our friends a little after 9.

We stopped for gas.

We stopped for lunch at a rest stop - but it was not much of one, it was at the top of a pass and it only had a pit toilet, it was basically on an off-ramp.

Stopped for more gas.

it was getting later in the day, and I started checking the temperatures of the tires.  I noticed the driver inside dually was at 170, so I slowed down form 60 to 55.  That did bring down the temperature to 168.  About  30 minutes later the tire was back up at 170, so I pulled off to cool down the tires.  We looked and found a campground in the town so we drove to check it out.

At the campground nobody was at the 'store front' but they had a way to register and pay, so we did.

Drove the van back into town to get dinner and try to find a laundry mat, but they all close to early to be able to do any loads. 

We had dinner and then back to the RV to relax.  While at dinner, I made a phone call to the location where we were going to stay but they are full, so now I am not sure where we will stay for the night tomorrow.  I guess we will wait and see.

2018/07/05 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 14 - Short and Drive

We started about 9.  I did not spin the tires getting out of our camp spot.  I thought I was going to but not having the van on the tow-dolly most likely helped.  I put the van on the dolly out on the street where it was dry.

We stopped for the necessary gas for the RV.

We stopped for the day at noon - so an extremely early stop for the day.

We unloaded the van and headed into town for lunch.

After lunch we went for a long drive.  We stopped at 4 different places up and down the Missouri River.  We did the Nebraska side and then returned on the South Dakota side.

Before returning to the RV we stopped for gas for the van and dinner for us.

When we returned to the RV, Turquoise was not happy with the fireworks that have been going off near the campground and messed up our bed.  So I had to do laundry - I was not expecting to do the bed stuff also.  That took about 3 hours -  6 loads - they only have 4 machines.

So a late night.  Tomorrow is also going to be a short day.  So I am planning to sleep in a little bit.

2018/07/02 - Monday - Vacation - Day 11 - Mounds and Family

When the alarm went off, I did not hit snooze... so we got up a little later then we wanted to.

We went and picked up B.G. and headed towards Effagy Mounds National Monument.  But it was lunch time, so we crossed the Mississippi river and had lunch in Prairie du Chien.

Amanda got Jr Ranger number 79.  We also walked to the top to the overlook.

We headed back and dropped off B.G. and we went back to the RV.

I washed the pillows but man those machines were expensive 3.50 for one load and the machines were very small.

We went back to B.G. and had dinner with him.  G&N stopped by and we chatted.

2018/06/30 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 09 - More NSDC and Friends

I got up early and did three loads of laundry while Amanda and Cheryl slept in.

We got going to meet friends for lunch, but before heading to lunch we stopped at Walmart to get a few things.

Went to the convention center to check on a few things - we did not win anything on the raffles.

We watched the closing ceremonies and then headed out for dinner.

Our friends headed to a round dance hall while we watched the dancing in the live band hall.

Back at the RV, Turquoise must have not like the weather/rain and peed on the couch and on the one of the bench seats.  So off to do more laundry very late at night.

2017/07/01 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 17 - Full and Horses

After getting the RV ready and pulling out of our spot, I put the van onto the two-dolly.  We finally left about 9:20.

We arrived in Fargo and our first stop was at Flying J's to fill the RV.  At the next location, the RV park was full, so we went to choice number two and they are full also.  So I headed for the airport.  Found a big parking lot and stopped to do lunch.

Called a few more places further out of town.  Finally found one that could take us for one night.

After eating lunch we headed for camp, come to find out they are on a gravel road and they really tailor to the horses.

Unloaded the van and Mom D got her stuff ready for her flight home tonight.

We got into the van and headed back into Fargo, first stop was at Flying J's again but gas for the van.

Next stop - dinner

After dinner we went to the airport and dropped off Mom D for her late flight home.

We went to Walmart to do some shopping.

I took the route that Waze wanted me to go and that was longer and more time on the gravel.  The van is really dusty now!

I did laundry - two loads, the first load I had to do two cycles in the dryer.

2017/06/28- Wednesday - Vacation - Day 14 - Mining

Again, we got another late start... We left at 9:50, but then stopped to fill out the gas guzzling monster.

We are going to stop earlier then normal.  So the next stop was to camp on the outskirts of Hancock MI.  We only have electricity hookups for this park, the two reason was to be able to do laundry and the other was go visit two National Parks locations up the peninsula.  The office put us in a very deep spot, we are extremely secluded.

After eating lunch and getting dinner items made, we headed out.

We are doing the "Keweenaw National Historical Park".  The first stop was at the Quincy Unit location.  We decided that the mine tour (2h45m) was going to take to much time and the rain had started up so we opted out of that.  The next stop was Calumet NP Visitor center and Amanda worked some more on the JR Ranger badge.  She also picked up two other JR Ranger programs to work on.

On the way back to the RV, they wanted to get some shopping done, so we headed over to the Wal-Mart in town and got a few things.

We ate dinner and Mom M and I went and did laundry - which was only one machine for washing and one machine for drying and we needed to do three loads, and that took over two hours.

2017/06/22 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 08 - Taft and Picked Upped

We headed out for an appointment for Amanda.  Once that was done, we headed over to the William Howard Taft National Historic Site and spent about two hours.  Amanda got another JR Ranger badge. 

Now it was time for lunch we found a small place and was extremely surprised on how little we had to pay for all three of us.

We came back to the RV and took Turquoise for a walk around the pond.  One section of it you were walking in the mud because the pond is over the normal level. 

I also went ahead and did laundry.

We headed over to the airport to go pickup Mom D and Cheryl.  On the way back we stopped for dinner.

Back at the RV we got everything put away and now it is time for some needed sleep.

2016/07/04 - Monday - Vacation - Day 18 - Fort

We left a little after 9.

We stopped in Lusk for gas and then pulled to the side and Cheryl made lunch for us.

When we pulled into Fort Laramie Historic Site, the parking lot was over flowing, I had to park on the grass.  Amanda got another JR Ranger badge.

Heading back into town we stopped at Chuck Wagon RV Park for the night.

Unloaded the van and heading into town, but only on place was open and that was the bar, so we drove to the next town west and got dinner.  We brought it back to the RV. 

The little dog was not good, left us a present, so the kennel will be used for the rest of the trip (even for when we are out for a short time).

We had to do laundry again.  Turquoise has issues last night with the thunder and rain, he left wet spot on the bed again.

The fireworks that the volunteer fire department put on was good.  They used donations to buy all the fireworks.

2016/07/02 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 16 - Wind and Crazy

I got up on time, but we made the choice to make lunch before heading out.

The Van needed the necessary juice so a stop at Pilot was necessary.

On the way to Wind Caves, Waze took us via a dirt road.  It was ok but it did have several potholes (which I did not report any of them :) !)

When we got to the visitor center, we got in line to buy our tickets and the first one up that had room was the Garden Tour (the easiest of three main tours).  We had no real time to explore but head straight to the meeting location to head into the cave.

After done with the cave tour it was time for lunch, so we got into the van and headed to a picnic area, this also gave Amanda time to finish the JR Ranger program book.

After eating lunch we headed back to the visitor center so she can get her badge.

On the way to our next destination, we did the Needles highway, a little slow going but great views!

Today was a beautiful day and we got to see Crazy Horse.   We even did dinner there at the complex.

On the way back to the RV, we drove through Deadwood, man that has changed, now it seems like everything is just another casino no real shops.

I was hoping for a relaxing night, but found out Turquoise peed on our bed, so I had to do laundry!  So much for trying to get to bed early.