tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80300220872989050132024-03-13T04:13:30.803-07:00Down Below EDown below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-80129997264275903232015-03-01T19:00:00.001-08:002015-03-01T19:00:05.000-08:00Exploring Virginia<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Virginia
had a climate similar to Alabama, one I was used to being in; cold in the
winter and hot in the summer with time in between for the leaves to actually
change colors and then fall off the tree. In Florida we had hot summers, a few
cold days in winter; this meant we also had green leaves one day and they were
brown, dead and all over the ground the next. It was nice to be back in a
climate that had all four seasons portrayed properly. The drives through the hills on those two
lane winding highways were very beautiful and relaxing; these rides also gave
me and the lil one time to just talk with no distractions. Wild turkey was one
thing our eyes were always open for, it seemed there was a flock on every other
hillside; there weren’t as many brave deer here as in Texas, they were still
smart enough to stay away from people in Virginia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGqdlY2Upp0/VPPOr3ciCJI/AAAAAAAACuI/XquzxbvPy1M/s1600/edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGqdlY2Upp0/VPPOr3ciCJI/AAAAAAAACuI/XquzxbvPy1M/s1600/edited.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We
tried to get out and explore the different small towns around us as much as
possible. It seemed we were always passing a Civil War Cemetery, Memorial
Marker, or a rock fireplace still standing from some structure that was
significant during the Civil War. The country side was littered with them; if
we had stopped and read about every single one we had passed, we would still be
in Virginia a year later. Our landlord was a history buff and filled us in on a
lot of the local history. Such as the old grooves dug into the ground behind
his house was part of a road to move soldiers and supplies through the rolling
hills during the Civil War. Lynchburg was a town he said we had to visit, just
for the beauty of the historical town perched precariously on the steep hills
leading to the main water source; the views here were awesome! This just so
happened to be the only major city in Virginia that was not captured by the
Union before the end of the war. I will advise against visiting Lynchburg if
you happen to have to travel West back home in the evening as the sun sets; you
will be driving up and down STEEP hills on very narrow streets facing due WEST.
This city was nicknamed the ‘City of Seven Hills’ and I guarantee you I drove
over at least 5 of those hills, blinded by the sun, wondering if I was running
a red light or stop sign and about to get side swiped by somebody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We
decided our plan of action was to find a central parking area and walk around
to explore, we didn’t have daddy with us to help navigate the unfamiliar roads;
it was left up to us to not get lost. We didn’t too many times; our first stop
was to ride the trolley tour. This would provide us with a local’s perspective
and also an idea as to where we wanted to go in this city that was saturated in
history. As our luck goes (if you’ve followed us to this point, you know I’m
laughing as I type this thinking of our ‘luck’), the trolley got stopped about
5 minutes into the tour. We had to wait on the street to clear from a
construction zone that didn’t look like it was ending anytime soon. The trolley
operator got word that it may be 30 minutes before we could move again about
the same the lil one told me it was time to visit a potty. Great. The trolley
driver broke the rules and let us get off midway; we were just sitting there
anyway, and pointed us in the direction of the nearest bathroom. This ended up
being a 2 block hike with a lil one doing the pee pee dance all the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We
found the free museum the trolley operator told us about. It was a beautiful
old house with the lined walkway up to the HUGE white pillars that was normal
on the plantation houses of old. Inside this magnificent structure, there was a
winding staircase in the original gleaming</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> hard wood that went from the ground
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">to</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> the third floor. I only thought I was in good shape until I started
climbing this staircase. In every room there were artifacts to look at and
plaques to read, we spent a little bit of time there exploring </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WL8FoAiK4/VPPIQmy2zxI/AAAAAAAACtc/ILGBoYQf_iM/s1600/edited18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WL8FoAiK4/VPPIQmy2zxI/AAAAAAAACtc/ILGBoYQf_iM/s1600/edited18.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">the two floors
that were open to the public. The lil </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">one’s eyes would twinkle as we wound
around another corner to view something of the old days, the mind was slowly
taking it all in. </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">We talked about what it would be like to live back then and
have to wear 50 lbs. of corset and dress even in the 110</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">⁰</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Dog
Days of August with absolutely no air conditioning. We decided those days would</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">ve been a lot harder in some ways
but much simpler in other ways.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Slowly
we made our way back out into the blinding afternoon sunshine, looking to walk
the streets of downtown enjoying the architecture. It seemed on every street
there was some old antique building that made us stop and stare for a few at
it, snapping all kinds of shots; there was beauty from every angle. Soon enough
we were staring at a huge hillside with steps and terraces all the way to the
top (after doing some research, I learned it was 139 total steps). </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilp1N91aI9M/VPPIIYagjVI/AAAAAAAACss/5S_pYAMZucs/s1600/edited12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilp1N91aI9M/VPPIIYagjVI/AAAAAAAACss/5S_pYAMZucs/s1600/edited12.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">On each
terrace there were benches and a monument </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">commemorating Lynchburg citizens who fought and died in any war. I say this vaguely because they literally had every war that I can remember studying represented here; the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and those serving presently. I was so thankful for those breaks in climbing those never-ending steps; we took advantage of every single bench along the way. At the very top of this climb, looking down, you felt like you climbed Mt. Everest; I did anyway. We found ourselves looking at the doors of the old Court House Museum and dreaming of its air conditioning cooling our heated skin after that momentous climb. I didn’t really care what the charge was to get in; we were going in no matter what. This one wasn’t one our most favorites, but it was interesting none the less.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iw0UhbJug4/VPPIR98mUSI/AAAAAAAACts/Wke05o2Sw8g/s1600/edited34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iw0UhbJug4/VPPIR98mUSI/AAAAAAAACts/Wke05o2Sw8g/s1600/edited34.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We slowly wound our way around down town, up
and down those steep hills, finally making it back to the parking deck and our
truck. There was one place we still had
to stop at that we spotted on our way in, the banks of the river that made this
town a town way back when. There was a nice park, with more benches and a
sidewalk that meandered along the river. There was a stark beauty in the old
abandoned broke down warehouses across the street and the beauty of the
majestic houses right across the river dotting the hillside. Soon enough it was
time to load up and head back to Dillwyn and a family dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYrsWX3BkuM/VPPINa7UblI/AAAAAAAACs4/4NiwSccP2FU/s1600/100_4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYrsWX3BkuM/VPPINa7UblI/AAAAAAAACs4/4NiwSccP2FU/s1600/100_4103.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> As I
mentioned previously, the drive out of town was torturous. The sun absolutely
blinded me to the point that I didn’t know if I had a stop sign or red light at
any of the intersections ahead. I prayed a lot during those few blocks. Soon
enough I was out of that area and facing a different direction and could
finally see again. I had decided to stop by a 100+ year old cemetery on the way
home, it was on the way; or so the map said. We found the cemetery easy enough;
our luck was that everything was closed. They had buildings from the civil war
era that were as original as could be, an old pharmacy and such to step back in
time in. One thing that wasn’t closed was the ol’timey rope swing hanging from
the majestic 100 year old oak tree. We took a minute to smell the flowers and
feel the breeze as we swung under the shade tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> As
our luck would also have it when me and the lil one wondered out on adventures,
we had road construction causing a detour and causing me to get lost. Go
figure. The lil one just so happened to have to go potty too, yep could it get
any better? Lost in a town I have no clue as to where to go and know by the
bars on the windows and project style apartments we had just passed getting
into the cemetery that we probably weren’t in a very good part of town; what’s
a mom to do? Pull up at the nearest gas station boasting to have the best fried
chicken for 3 counties and ask to the men standing outside how to get to the
main road and if their chicken was really that good. Yep I went in with them to
get directions from the cashier who was better at directions than them; and
some of their famous fried chicken and potato wedges, there goes the appetite
for the family dinner later. She got us back on track, telling us to turn 3
different turns; 2 of which happened to be by Juniors Used Tires (the names of
the places weren’t Junior’s Used Tires, Junior was what the owners were called,
I knew no Juniors that owned tire places so I was technically still lost but
getting full on the best fried chicken for 3 counties). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We
decided to get in the truck and head in the general direction they pointed us
in and was lost again soon enough, it never fails. We found a road construction
crew standing along the side of the road with a parking lot next to them,
pulled in there and they got us going in the right direction; FINALLY heading
home. It was a peaceful ride through the hillside as the sun set, after it made it
past the horizon and I could see the hills that is. The only worry was running
into a deer that just happened to be standing in the middle of the road, other
than that it was the same as taking a trip down the Natchez Trace on any fall day.
Soon enough we were home safe and sound, the lil one filling daddy in on what
all we saw and of course that mommy got us lost not once but TWICE in ONE DAY!!
I had to hang my head in shame after traveling the countryside and back and
getting lost in a small town like that, laid out like a perfect grid; even I
have my moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Until
next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">“We
travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">―
Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 7: 1966-1974<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-31057304474644138752015-01-27T04:56:00.000-08:002015-03-01T17:52:59.881-08:00 Heading North for the Winter<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">We got back with only a day to finish packing and get the rig
loaded on the truck and ready to roll north along the interstate. This was
absolutely no easy feat to accomplish, but we had been in this exact position
so many times in the past that we were getting really quick at it. There were a
few tears from a few neighbors, and plenty from our lil one as we were leaving the lil one's home town and brother, again. I think there was some jealousy that he got
to stay and enjoy all that Jacksonville had to offer, but we knew we’d always
look for ways to visit as much as possible. With the rig packed, everything
tied down, movies in the truck for the ride, snacks and drinks in the cooler,
the dog taken out for the last time and loaded up; we were ready to pull out of
Pecan Park RV Park and head to a much cooler climate. I wasn’t looking forward
to this part of the adventure; I loved the warmth and sunshine all year round. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> We slept with the rig hooked up to
the truck and slid in mostly, this way we could leave at the crack of dawn. It sounds like a good plan and we think it is a good plan every single time that we prepare
to pull out, I can’t count how many times we have made these plans. These plans
are all good and actually work if you live in Fantasy Land. In the real world
this is what happens, we wake up at the butt crack of dawn, make coffee, and
enjoy a cup with the sunrise. Refill the cup of coffee, enjoy more sunrise,
slowly start putting up all of the little things I hadn’t got around to yet,
toss everything else in the first bag/box/basket that I lay my hands on and
toss it under the table. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> There have been times that we have had to pack and
move so quickly that I’ll look under the table and it is slam packed full of
what seems like 50 bags and containers; enough that we dare not try to put our
legs under it for a family dinner. After landing it takes me weeks to get
around to unpacking these bags/boxes/baskets that are filled to the gills with
miscellaneous stuff that sits on any flat surface of any American home. We
being able to go without these items for these long stretches of time makes me
wonder just how much we really need it to begin with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> This trip was a very
long trip, truthfully it should’ve been stretched out into 2 days; but if
you’ve gotten to know how we travel, you know we don’t roll that way. We
tackled it all in one day. It turned out to be a very dull, uneventful trip;
these I have begun to enjoy. When we have trips with no surprises it only means
that our pockets are a little fatter when we get there, this gives me a couple
of days to stay out of the kitchen and explore the local cuisine (and possible
get some leg room back under the table).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> We landed in a little town called Dillwyn, in
the backwoods of Virginia close to midnight. What we were expecting to be an RV
park ended up being an elderly couple that had a couple RV hookups positioned
around their yard. The best part was that it was only 15 minutes from the
job site. The other points are that it was very secluded, we had no bath house
to use if an emergency arose in ours (luckily one didn’t), we were on well water
in the middle of coal country; just to name a few. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> We stayed about 12 minutes outside of Dillwyn;
this was a typical one horse town in the middle of nowhere. It had two grocery
stores, how it supported two I’ll never know; one wasn’t a favorite as it only
sold their off brands, similar to Aldi’s. We had about five restaurants, two quickly
became our favorites. A Mexican place
that had amazing cheese dip and burritos and an Italian place that had one of
the best pizzas I’ve ever tasted. If they could crisp up the crust just a bit
before putting on a pound of cheese and ½ lb. of meats on top it would’ve been
hands down the very best. We never really tried anything else from there, only
their pizza; there was no Domino’s, Pizza Hut or Papa Johns to call if you
didn’t like theirs; you made your own, simple as that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> I learned how to make a
few of our favorite restaurant dishes during these winter months locked inside
the rig in the frigid Virginia hills. One of them being Pasquale’s roast beef
sandwich, Granny D gave us her famous recipe from when she worked there; it was
delicious but not as good as her personal sandwiches were. </span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">To finish out the town there were about three
gas stations, two hair dressers, four thrift stores and two dentists, plus a
small downtown that stretched all of two blocks with a pharmacy and lawyer to
anchor it alongside the library.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jvMa-x7BHE/VMeH-M_eqhI/AAAAAAAACgE/5eThIhCJK68/s1600/100_4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jvMa-x7BHE/VMeH-M_eqhI/AAAAAAAACgE/5eThIhCJK68/s1600/100_4094.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view on most trips to anywhere, these were very enjoyable<br />
journeys thru the rollings hills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> Most days we stayed around the house or went to Dillwyn, usually
to Food Lion or to lunch at McDonald’s. When we did venture out farther to get
certain things like dark roast coffee, we had to drive 45 minutes to a bigger
town called Farmville; it was the nearest one with a Walmart and many more
options for dining out. If you’re one of the ones that play the game on Facebook,
as my family does, you get the irony here; right? It was a miniature Florence,
AL in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> Because we had
already went to universal studios at the first of November to celebrate the lil
one’s birthday early, I had forgotten to bake a cake and dinner until the day
of the birthday. I woke up and realized that I didn’t have anything special planned;
the days had slipped away from me. I ended up cooking our favorite meal,
spaghetti. We got dinner finished and while waiting on daddy, it dawned on me
about the same time this came out of the lil one’s mouth, “What about the
cake?” As we were running out the door headed
to the nearest bakery at Food Lion, daddy got home from work just in time to
ride with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> I was in disbelief that I had forgotten the lil one’s birthday
cake until time to sit down for dinner. I explained the situation to the deli
lady and I think she felt sorry for the lil one, having a mother that forgot
the birthday cake. We looked at the measly options and chose one with pretty
flowers on top. The deli lady got out her recently cleaned icing bag and dug
around until she found enough icing to write the birthday wishes on it. She even tossed in a light up fairy princess
for free to go on top of the cake with flowers on it. Like I said I think she
felt sorry for the lil one to have such a forgetful mom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> We got back and had
our small family dinner of all the favorites, and very simple too. After a trip
to Universal I was aiming for as simple as I could get at this point, I was
still exhausted after those whirlwind days. The lil one enjoyed the tablet we
picked up as an extra gift, I know the trip was supposed to be the present but
I couldn’t resist. This was what
occupied while I sorted thru the numerous bags/boxes/crates of miscellaneous BS
if you ask me, and I got my dinner table back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Until next time….</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No quote today, just </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">my most favorite picture from
the trips thru the backwoods…..</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Wc4DPQqQzw/VMeIHjoaoFI/AAAAAAAACgM/sJMW6AEVf60/s1600/my%2Bphone%2B027%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Wc4DPQqQzw/VMeIHjoaoFI/AAAAAAAACgM/sJMW6AEVf60/s1600/my%2Bphone%2B027%2B(2).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-91892621976621537062014-11-09T11:17:00.001-08:002014-11-09T11:17:33.770-08:00The Third Day is the Charm<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> This was the third and last day to
enjoy a real vacation; I know we travel all the time, but rarely is it the
throw-your-money-away-let-your-hair-loose type of trip. We normally end up
walking around at the free downtown festivals, gold panning, and seeing all the
national parks and such; pretty much anything educational we try to do. It was
nice to know that we had this much time/money to enjoy a few days honestly
enjoying ourselves doing whatever we pleased with no schedule except our
stomachs. This was the day we were visiting Hogwarts again and riding the water
rides, we saved the best for last. Our plan was to ride the water ones at the
very last so we could head out to the truck, put on dry clothes and drive the
three hours back to home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The hubby and I decided to try and
get a funny shot on the Hogwarts Castle ride, we had an idea of where the
camera was hidden after riding it twice before. Of course we went with the
football teams our home is divided with, Alabama and Florida State
Universities. The lil one enjoyed the idea of sneaking something in on the ride
and displaying it while riding, any reason to ride it again was a good one in
that lil brain. It worked pretty well, the cashier got a kick out of it; even
showing it to a co-worker before letting us get out of there. We already had
the wand from the previous trip so we didn’t need to carry too many trinkets
and gifts this trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksNdOVgiY9k/VF-7n1Z5xAI/AAAAAAAACdk/mFVlaiNfWOk/s1600/1090818_44646497.faces.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksNdOVgiY9k/VF-7n1Z5xAI/AAAAAAAACdk/mFVlaiNfWOk/s1600/1090818_44646497.faces.edited.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We rode everything we had missed
the previous day, even the smaller ones we hadn’t planned on riding. I wanted
to ride the Hulk roller coaster but the lil one was a bit short, we had to do
the parent swap and ride it solo. It was still one hell of a rush! I would have
rode it a few times had the lil one been begging to get on with it and hit the
favorites on our way to the water rides that we had waited so patiently for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McDvMUmJVfE/VF-7omnygyI/AAAAAAAACds/wumJ_PZ9ijE/s1600/edited2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McDvMUmJVfE/VF-7omnygyI/AAAAAAAACds/wumJ_PZ9ijE/s1600/edited2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;">This day being the last, for some
reason I went a lot lighter on the pictures; I may have went heavier on the
videos though, as I think about it. We were fully enjoying ourselves to the
point of not wanting to stop and take pics; our plans were to leave shortly
after lunch for the boring ride ahead of us.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XFB9ZwAEXs/VF-7pMK71FI/AAAAAAAACd8/lsB-nzkOpS4/s1600/edited5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XFB9ZwAEXs/VF-7pMK71FI/AAAAAAAACd8/lsB-nzkOpS4/s1600/edited5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">As we made our way around the loop
of rides we had ridden, we found ourselves staring at the entrance to the first
soaker; Popeye’s and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges. It wasn’t long before we were
stepping aboard, trying to find the driest seat to start in and tucking the
camera in the dry covered cubby hole in the middle. We were quickly shoved away
from the safety of the dock to rush down the river and be soaked with
waterfalls; not to mention and mean little kids standing on the bridge arming
the water cannons aimed at our barge. The lil one squealed and tried to avoid
the downpours and waves that seemed to be around every corner. You tried not to
laugh at your neighbor knowing that at any moment with the right turn, you
could be next to be laughed at as the cold water rushed over you. After this
ride, the lil one was ready for the next one and looking for the quickest route
to it on the map.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5xA8l-AgnY/VF-7njBXQ6I/AAAAAAAACdg/AxEqP1rfXcw/s1600/edited1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5xA8l-AgnY/VF-7njBXQ6I/AAAAAAAACdg/AxEqP1rfXcw/s1600/edited1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Just around the corner we found the
Jurassic Park River Adventure, this one we had to lock everything up in a
locker; you knew it was a good ride if you couldn’t carry anything on it. The
lil one had started watching the movie but we decided after watching the first
body being ripped in half that it was just a little too soon for this flick.
The ride was awesome with a few spots that made you jump if you weren’t
prepared. The very end of the ride received the epic response we were looking for,
the gut wrenching screaming on the edge of your seat drop that totally soaked
you; the lil one absolutely loved the thrill of the plunge. As we were exiting
we heard the ever pressing question, “Can we ride it AGAIN?!?!?!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmi_nBQNaQ0/VF-7pECSbLI/AAAAAAAACd4/rqHG339BZ7M/s1600/edited4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmi_nBQNaQ0/VF-7pECSbLI/AAAAAAAACd4/rqHG339BZ7M/s1600/edited4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Next on our list and the last of
the water rides was Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, the tallest of the plunges
and the one that was most anticipated as the lil one watched them scream all
the way to the bottom. The lines were moving relatively fast in comparison to
the 2 hour wait times in the dead of summer, for this reason I didn’t mind
taking a few days off from school to enjoy vacations during the off seasons. On
this ride we all sat in a single file row, with the lil one in front, me in the
middle and daddy holding down the anchor in the back. This one wound us around
and around in circles and over small drops in the dark, uphill. Yes, I said
uphill; through the windows we got a sneak peak of how high we were climbing,
the lil one started getting nervous the higher we went. There was no getting
off and turning back point, there was only hold onto to what you could and
enjoy the adrenaline rush that was building within our brains. As we neared the
top and saw a small waterfall ahead the lil said “Hold onto me”, I clutched the
small shoulders in front of me as we went over the first fall. Soon enough I
heard “HOLD ON TIGHTER!!” as the lil one saw the huge drop off in front of our
hollowed log. I squeezed as hard as I thought I could without causing pain,
wishing I could hold onto the bar in front of me but knowing that I was the
rock and security as we plunged over the edge and got the full split second
view of how far up we were before gravity drug us back to Earth into the frigid
waters. We only thought we were soaked after the last two rides, the last
plunge was definitely the best and wettest. I had to take the opportunity to
find a photo pass person and get our drowned rat look recorded for future
laughs. Luckily since me and daddy had been there 15+ some odd years ago, they added
driers just outside of the rides; I never thought I would pay for hot air to be
blown onto us but we did, just this once. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50M--ARzQq4/VF-9kPJ4BUI/AAAAAAAACec/FhOdUIxJA5g/s1600/edited3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50M--ARzQq4/VF-9kPJ4BUI/AAAAAAAACec/FhOdUIxJA5g/s1600/edited3.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> A bit drier and still floating on
cloud nine we began to make our way to the gift shops at the front of the
parks. This had been a wondrous vacation, as I’ve mentioned before; we may
travel a lot, but it is mostly educational and budgeted. Never have we thrown
money into the wind for a good time, but this was one birthday that ended up
being magical and well worth it. Granted we were a week early in celebrating
but this only meant that we got to do it big and then a second smaller family
dinner on the day of the birthday, that made it extra special (or so we
thought, but that is for a future tale). We wandered from shop to shop, knowing
that we wouldn’t be back to Disney or Universal for a couple of years at least
we made very smart lasting purchases as reminders. The lil one and I had made
sensible clothing purchases that would last a year or two, and we splurged on a
few 8 x 10’s printed for us; especially the one with our Roll Tide and FSU
signs in Hogwarts. Because we had already gotten a pearl necklace and the
SpongeBob jacket there wasn’t much left that the lil one wanted, only as many
memories as we could cram into the last hour at the park. It just so happened
that in one of the gift shops, Spiderman was greeting guests and taking
pictures. You know we had to have one last one. In classic Spidey form the lil
one got the fingers just right, and Spiderman posed all around. The issue here
was my cheap camera and being indoors, I could not get it to focus for the life
of me; a new camera is going to be added to my wish list for a future
extravagant selfish purchase. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We made our way out to the truck,
and out of the gates; waving a sorrowful goodbye to one of the most rushed but
happy places on Earth. I say rushed because it is just a bit expensive for my
blood most of the time to stay 10 days, the needed time to actually see and do
everything within all of the parks. I’m still hanging on to the dream of
hitting the lottery and living nearby one day. I’m holding my breath and
waiting patiently on this to happen; NOT! But one can dream can’t we? We
stopped at the first available gas station that had diesel, after having to
push Ol’ Blue on the last trip from Disney a couple of years back we had
definitely learned our lesson; fill’er up when you can. This trip thankfully
was uneventful, no flat tires or any unexpected emergencies that seem to hit us
at the worst possible time. We stopped and had dinner on the road and made it
home just a little past bedtime. The vacation bliss soon ended when we
remembered that we were to move in just a couple of days to the new job/town in
a new state. We were slowly adding them one by one to our USA sticker map to
show where we had been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time……<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">There are seven days in a week and 'Someday' isn't one of them!</span></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-87026130462435524602014-05-14T14:51:00.001-07:002014-05-14T14:51:45.651-07:00A Day of Bliss<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We awoke to a beautiful scene; the sun coming up over the
horizon, the pool glistening and the breeze blowing through the palm fronds. It
was going to be another beautiful day in Florida; exhausting but beautiful. It
wasn’t long before the lil one was bouncing off the walls asking when we could
leave, what time did they open, when could we leave, can we leave now; did I
mention the lil one wanted to know when we were leaving to go to Universal
Studios. This was our one day pass to this park unless we changed our minds
about which park to use our third day option on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> With all the
excitement it didn’t take us long to get dressed, have breakfast and hit the
gates. We knew that we only had the one day here but also knew that we would
skip a few rides due to the lil one being too short for them at the moment. At
the gate we got our map and magical birthday badge and began formulating a plan
to see it all in but only one day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UDoMS5IQnA/U3OyXNmhQoI/AAAAAAAACbw/HWdNzxpQwsA/s1600/.edited4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UDoMS5IQnA/U3OyXNmhQoI/AAAAAAAACbw/HWdNzxpQwsA/s1600/.edited4.jpg" height="213" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Right off the bat we
met Scooby Doo and Shaggy, it was almost as if they were there to welcome us.
By looking at the map we could see that we weren’t far from Bikini Bottom. This
path was dotted with shops, rides and even a talent show with the four legged
actors from the Universal movies; the lil one especially loved this. We rode
one ride and wanted to buy the picture, they explained how the photo pass
worked (better than the guy yesterday did) and we quickly jumped on the chance
to have someone else take our pictures throughout the park (I’m usually the one
behind the lens). Every person we saw holding a camera we ran up to them, had
our card scanned and smiled pretty for the cameras; I couldn’t wait to go
online and print them out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Soon enough we found
ourselves in the middle of Bikini Bottom waiting on SpongeBob for a meet and
greet with him. They had replicas of his chair, house and Gary to take pictures
with, not to mention SpongeBob himself. The lil one had two dreams to come true
in two days! It was time to move on to other sights and rides. We loved riding
bikes with E.T., you really felt like you were there. I’m glad the lil one had
watched the movie prior to this trip; similarities were pointed out through the
whole ride.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngaL7ZjT-U0/U3OyQ-s-J5I/AAAAAAAACbQ/74issH4S5Gc/s1600/.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngaL7ZjT-U0/U3OyQ-s-J5I/AAAAAAAACbQ/74issH4S5Gc/s1600/.edited.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The Transformers and
Simpson’s rides were two of my favorite. The lil one really enjoyed the
minions, the lil one and I rode this one by ourselves; daddy took a break. The
lil one even got special attention from one of the HOP bunnies in the birthday,
they came over with birthday wishes; these were those magical powers provided
to us by the birthday badges. We saw and did absolutely everything we could (we
thought), we ate at as many different places as possible; we smiled and laughed
until our cheeks hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ATMwpEAd9E/U3OyWeic-TI/AAAAAAAACbs/8AB9osyqkco/s1600/.edited3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ATMwpEAd9E/U3OyWeic-TI/AAAAAAAACbs/8AB9osyqkco/s1600/.edited3.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> As the sun started
going down, we rounded a corner and spied one more ride. I let the lil one and
daddy go on it by themselves while I took a mommy break from the hustle and
bustle. While enjoying some mommy time I did what every mommy does; I thought
of and shopped for the lil one. There just so happened to be a vendor for the
pearl jewelry outside the ride. While talking to the sales lady about the
oysters and prices, she showed me several pieces within my budget. I showed her
the few that I could afford for her to show the lil one, I didn’t want to spend
a fortune on a necklace that may or may not get broken/lost. When the ride was
over I pitched the idea to the hubby behind the lil ones back in parent code
that you learn over the years. He was sold; we did a U-turn and pitched the
birthday gift to the lil one. Oh how the eyes sparkled at being able to pick
the ugliest oyster and be the very first person on Earth to see what was hiding
inside. It ended up being a HUGE pearl, a whopping 7.9 in size. We had all
agreed that with the size of the oyster it needed a setting to do it justice; a
butterfly was the only one big enough to hold such a magnificent pearl. This is
very fitting as the lil one is very fond of butterflies. With the pearl set and
placed safely in its carrying bag we were ready to find seats for the fireworks
over the lake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1L8tPwZ_88M/U3OyUfukWBI/AAAAAAAACbg/FnpI2w6UMog/s1600/.edited2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1L8tPwZ_88M/U3OyUfukWBI/AAAAAAAACbg/FnpI2w6UMog/s1600/.edited2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting ready for the show!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> This just so happened
to be after Universal’s 100<sup>th</sup> Anniversary and they were still
performing the amazing show at the closing of the park. They had water curtains
to show scenes and images from their movies they have created over the years.
It was fun for the hubby and I to try to name all the movies that we knew from
the images created in the falling water; we knew almost all of them. Before
long we were following the crowds out of the park along all of the conveyor
belts (this was something the lil one had to do all the time, every time) and
into the parking decks; only to join the lines of cars waiting in line to get
onto the Interstate. I didn’t have another meal cooking while we played; this
meant a stop before getting back to the relaxing room. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We stopped at CiCi’s
pizza and filled up. On the receipt there was a coupon for the gift shop next
door. Being the tourists that we were, we had to see what they had to offer.
After filling the bellies and emptying the debit card, it was time to hit the
room and shower. The beds were getting more and more comfortable as our
exhaustion levels went up, we were falling asleep as soon as our heads hit the
pillows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know
where they’re going. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">̴̴̴</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">̴̴̴</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Paul
Theroux</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-73726413054782102112014-05-11T19:23:00.001-07:002014-05-11T19:23:27.648-07:00Better Than Toys<span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">A friend watched our furbaby for us, something she had swore she
would never do again after he whined the whole time we were at the Magic
Kingdom on that one day birthday trip. For some reason she had let us shnooker
her into watching the spoiled rotten dog for not only one day, but for three
this time! We appreciate her so much for putting up with him for this long, I
know how big of a pain in the butt he can be. Our tickets were paid for, the
bags were packed and we were going the night before to prevent some of the
exhaustion after driving 3 hrs. The last trip we took to Disney we by passed
the hotel due to monies (or lack there of) and drove down and back in one day;
this made for an exhausting day. We played the tourist role well and got the
room for the three nights we would need it. I did however save a ton on dinner
one of these nights by packing the crockpot, roast, and all the fixings. You
just can't beat the frugal out of me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGRvA36fAas/U3AqG9RwskI/AAAAAAAACY8/Bs1Z7u-qQE4/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGRvA36fAas/U3AqG9RwskI/AAAAAAAACY8/Bs1Z7u-qQE4/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We made this trip
with no problems except for getting turned around in Kissimmee looking for the
hotel. After finding it and lugging
everything upstairs it was time for a bit of normalcy; showers, TV and
bed. With the excitement brewing I the
room I wasn’t sure any of us would get any sleep. The lil one had a collection
of brochures from the lobby, already working on plans for the next birthday
trip. I think it was midnight before we all actually wore down enough to fall asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The sunrays beaming
in the window, knowing we were on vacation with no schedules, was an amazing
way to wake up. It was going to be a wonderful day full of amazement, thrills
and laughter. I am loving how materialistic toys are being traded for memory
making family trips; these memories will last a lifetime, unlike the toys.
Universal Studios has something no one else does, something the lil one had
dreamed of seeing for months, they had Diagon Alley and Harry Potter! The lil
one had drifted off daydreaming of visiting this place ever since the TV
commercials started playing. We had gotten three day tickets for the two parks,
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, this meant that we got to visit one
of the parks twice. Islands of Adventure had Harry Potter so the decision was
made that it would be the park we visited twice. This also meant that we could
meander through the park and relax some; we didn’t have to try to squeeze
everything into only one day. Upon arrival we got the customary maps and
birthday badge, the badges really have a lot of special powers inside the
parks. All of the actors/actresses dressed as characters paid extra attention
to the special recipients of the birthday badges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yieMhWj2pUE/U3Arv9DtdrI/AAAAAAAACZI/tvbuUeLBpoI/s1600/universal.edited3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yieMhWj2pUE/U3Arv9DtdrI/AAAAAAAACZI/tvbuUeLBpoI/s1600/universal.edited3.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We had to make it through Dr. Seuss’s
crazy and comical world, this was pure nostalgia for me. Dr. Seuss books were
my favorites growing up. As a family we had decided to save the water soaking
rides for the last day here, we didn’t want to walk around drenched for hours
afterward, plus it would be warmer on the third day. Our plan was to take the
most direct route to Diagon Alley. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQTph_8C9DI/U3ApTht-mPI/AAAAAAAACYw/Er8dTqqdKWM/s1600/universal.edited2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQTph_8C9DI/U3ApTht-mPI/AAAAAAAACYw/Er8dTqqdKWM/s1600/universal.edited2.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> It just so happened that we had a few rides
between us and the wizarding world of Harry Potter, the excitement was building
like crazy and all we were hearing was “How much longer?”, “When will we be
there?”. I’m thankful there were these other rides to distract and take the lil
one’s mind off of the main reason we had come to this particular amusement
park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Frd-PpOEsJY/U3At_s9imQI/AAAAAAAACZY/sr0DZE-vaVU/s1600/universal.edited11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Frd-PpOEsJY/U3At_s9imQI/AAAAAAAACZY/sr0DZE-vaVU/s1600/universal.edited11.jpg" height="200" width="167" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Soon enough we were walking through
the gates of Hogsmeade and the lil one was jumping up and down with joy, this dream
was coming true! We couldn’t decide where to go first; on the castle ride,
through the shop, to get a wand. Oh at the options to be had here. To help make
this experience even more memorable I had decided on lunch at the Three
Broomsticks restaurant, we had a couple of hours to burn. The castle won out to
be first in line of things to do, it was AWESOME! So much that we planned on
riding it again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-C3X5DDO88/U3AU0SgYrYI/AAAAAAAACYI/c5db2Uu703g/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-C3X5DDO88/U3AU0SgYrYI/AAAAAAAACYI/c5db2Uu703g/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+091.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the shows that made the lil one's eyes twinkle</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NESeW_tzfG8/U3AUepIh-rI/AAAAAAAACXw/DHRdDW2DnBE/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NESeW_tzfG8/U3AUepIh-rI/AAAAAAAACXw/DHRdDW2DnBE/s1600/Islands+of+Adventure+8th+Birthday+089.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sorting hat on the way<br />to fly with Harry around the<br />castle grounds.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">A wand was something every wizard needed;
a stop in Olivander’s was needed for this. They put on a small show before you
went into the shop to have a wand choose you. The even had a caged Book of
Monsters for us to enjoy, the lil one jumped as it growled and lunged at us.
After trying the flick and swish technique with several wands the most perfect
wand chose the lil one as its new owner. This was turning out to be a very good
day, it helped that with the new job we had thrown caution to the wind on money
and were enjoying a real vacation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWEDbfjXIWU/U3AuBRrAVPI/AAAAAAAACZg/ojJme42N57s/s1600/universal.edited12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWEDbfjXIWU/U3AuBRrAVPI/AAAAAAAACZg/ojJme42N57s/s1600/universal.edited12.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">After another ride through the
castle and lunch at the Three Broomsticks we were ready to enjoy the rest that
Islands of Adventure had to offer. We rode through the dinosaurs of Jurassic
Park, flying through the air riding a Pteranadon, moseyed through the gift shops; plus one more
ride through the castle with Harry Potter. I took as many pictures as I
possibly could; if it was there to take a picture with, we took one, or two, or
three with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We knew as the sun started setting
that it was time for one last ride on the way to the gate. We ended up climbing
our way through a rope jungle. It just so happened to offer a perfect photo op
on one of the rope bridges. I enjoyed just being able to stand still, take a
breath, and enjoy the sunset. This seemed to be the first time I had been still
all day long. After a short car ride to the room, there were only a few floors
that separated us from being able to sit down and kick our feet up. When we
opened the door we were welcomed with the smell of pot roast, cooked perfectly
all day in the crockpot. I was one happy momma to not have to worry about
dinner after this exhausting day. We pulled the curtains, cut the TV off and
dreamed of what tomorrow would bring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss109090.html" title="view quote">Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/drseuss109090.html" title="view quote"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Dr. Seuss</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-1841467814727002822014-05-09T08:14:00.001-07:002014-05-09T08:14:29.263-07:00Time Away from the Hubby<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">About a week before leaving Memphis I had called Pecan Park, the
old park we were in previously in Jacksonville, and made reservations. I was
very site specific as we still had friends living there that knew our personalities
well enough to help us select a site. Our arrival date had changed by one day
and I called to make sure this would be okay and confirmed our site with them
again. I had done everything needed to be done to ensure we knew where we were
going within the park in case of a late/early arrival. There is nothing worse
than driving for 20 hours, spending 2 hours setting up, only to find out you
have to go thru the process all over again and move to different site.. if you’ve
followed us this far, you know how good our luck can be but also how bad it can
be. You guessed it, when we went to pay in the office after arriving early and
setting up, they informed us the site had been reserved and paid for the
previous week; we would have to move. If only I hadn’t listened to the girl in
the office upon making the reservations, she assured me the site would be
available without my paying for it before hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdyjLw-rLxA/U2zWB90tzGI/AAAAAAAACWc/6tvgwijzZPU/s1600/from+phone+sep,oct+2013+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdyjLw-rLxA/U2zWB90tzGI/AAAAAAAACWc/6tvgwijzZPU/s1600/from+phone+sep,oct+2013+109.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glad to be back at the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> These ladies in the
office made my blood boil at this moment. I was running on empty and now these
people, whom I had talked to twice about this specific site, were telling us we
had to move to another site. Apparently she has never lived or camped in a
fifth wheel with the way she was telling us that it was ‘ONLY’ one site over,
telling us it shouldn’t be too hard to move it over just one site. I quickly
informed her that if we loaded the rig back onto the truck that we could damn
well move it anywhere, including to another RV park. They got lucky that day in
them being the only one that wasn’t a 55+ only park and close to Jax, FL. The
one north of Jax didn’t have ½ of the amenities, we really had no choice but to
push ourselves for a few more hours and move the rig.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Almost as soon as we
got settled the hubby had to go out of town to work in South Carolina. This was
only to be a short job; until he got there. As it happens in the construction
field, this job lasted longer than originally planned. The lil one and I
planned a trip to see him and spend a weekend with him. I planned and cooked
extra meals to freeze in individual servings if only to bring him a piece of
home to him while he is away.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Es--El-9_zU/U2zeEqvHJII/AAAAAAAACW0/pDts-EhRab0/s1600/159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Es--El-9_zU/U2zeEqvHJII/AAAAAAAACW0/pDts-EhRab0/s1600/159.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The hotel he was in happened to be next to a
Celebration Station, this helped with keeping the lil one occupied. We spent an
afternoon riding go-karts, water boats and playing video games for tickets.
These three days went way too quickly, knowing that he was going to have home
cooked meals in the weeks to come made leaving a little easier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> It wouldn’t be long
and all of us would be back together, I was already missing my oldest; he moved
out as soon as we hit town. With Halloween just around the corner I had plenty
to keep my mind busy, the lil one was going as our very own Hermione Granger
this year. Of course this meant trips to the thrift stores and some crafting by
me. Amazingly we walked down the aisle in one of my favorite stores and hanging
there waiting just for us was the Gryffindor robe. Soon we had found a dress to
chop and altar into the skirt, a new white shirt and shoes to match; the only
thing left was to make the beaded handbag.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsS0mJMIIVo/U2zaVl2h9wI/AAAAAAAACWs/C4TTpzqvcZM/s1600/purse.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zsS0mJMIIVo/U2zaVl2h9wI/AAAAAAAACWs/C4TTpzqvcZM/s1600/purse.edited.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beaded handbag we crafted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The lil one demanded
to have curly hair just like Hermione’s, this was another trip to the thrift
store for a curling iron. This made the most drastic change in appearances I have
seen in a while. With the hubby still out of town we were left to celebrate
this holiday almost alone. Thankfully we were in Jacksonvile where we knew
people, I quickly found someone to trick or treat with us. With flashlights,
trick or treat bags and good conversation, we were off to cast spells on any
unlucky bystander who happened into our path. The candy bags were overflowing
after this haunting night.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-la-HWbmthCA/U2zU828oYhI/AAAAAAAACWU/jgKefCSEPl4/s1600/halloween.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-la-HWbmthCA/U2zU828oYhI/AAAAAAAACWU/jgKefCSEPl4/s1600/halloween.edited.jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Halloween!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We also visited one
of the parking lot carnivals while here, these seem to be everywhere in the
fall down here. The lil one is getting big enough to ride some of the rides
alone, this gave my friend and I time to talk with no interruptions. We all
tossed quarters on the colored squares, betting that the mouse would run into
our color to win a prize. The lil one learned here that if you gamble you had
might as well be throwing your money out the window, a good lesson if you ask
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> It wasn’t long before
the hubby was home again. His first words in the door was “I’ve got good news
and I’ve got bad news”. The experience of living with him for almost ten years
now has taught me that these few words can be life changing when he speaks
them. I held my breathe as I asked what the ‘good’ news was. It ended up his
being offered a position with the company, the bad was that the next job was in
Virginia. There was no question on if we were taking the rig or not. After
being without him for the last 5 weeks, him having to live in a hotel room;
there was no question in us making this trip with him. It also only took us a
few hours to decide that if we could make it happen, we would celebrate the lil
one’s birthday trip this year (a little early) as Universal Studios before
heading north. Soon we were on the phones working out the details and packing
our bags for a three day fun filled trip to Orlando, FL.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Where thou art — that — is Home. ~Emily Dickinson</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-7321788496849437202014-05-07T19:05:00.002-07:002014-05-07T19:05:29.289-07:00Changes in Plans<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Everything went good on the first few miles of our departure
from Wheeler Dam Campground; we made it in one piece across the way too skinny
dam. Only a few miles down the road our luck struck again. We had a flat tire
on a late Saturday afternoon about 30 min away from civilization. Also as our
luck goes there was but one tire center open on this beautiful sunny afternoon.
We pulled into a church parking lot and waited until the hubby could get the
tire changed out. This consisted of him leaving me, 2 kids (even though he’s
technically an adult my oldest will always be my ‘kid’), and the dog with the
house but without a drivable vehicle for over an hour. We had packed a bare
minimal cooler; this was only going to be a short 3 ½ hour trip, right??<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> To keep the lil one
amused for this period we made up and played games that consisted of throwing
and tossing rocks. We also toured and paid respect to the fallen soldiers that
had found that cemetery as their last resting place. We try to instill a sense
of Patriotism in the lil one and make the sacrifices paid for the freedoms
realized in the ever growing mind we are cultivating. Finally, while on our
last bottle of cold water the hubby returned with a new-to-us tire for the rig.
A quick 30 minutes later and we were back on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96nMC7ZTz8M/U2rNdrlY1_I/AAAAAAAACVM/JRqR99SGUVM/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96nMC7ZTz8M/U2rNdrlY1_I/AAAAAAAACVM/JRqR99SGUVM/s1600/011.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view in the RV Park in Southaven, MS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> After this escapade
we made pretty good time as RVing time goes, you are really on your own schedule
when you travel the way we do. It was dinner time when we landed just south of
Memphis in Southaven, MS. We chose to stay just across the state line in
Mississippi so the lil one can add another state the map and be one state
closer to seeing all of the lower 48.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpjdmuc453M/U2rQbAyyt-I/AAAAAAAACV0/UIqN3FeYrek/s1600/from+phone+sep%252Coct+2013+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpjdmuc453M/U2rQbAyyt-I/AAAAAAAACV0/UIqN3FeYrek/s1600/from+phone+sep%252Coct+2013+041.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The only places I
really wanted to show the lil one here was the Memphis Zoo, one of the best in
my opinion, and the Pink Palace museum. We
wouldn’t get to be here for the Memphis in May celebration unless the security
badge was approved. This would be the only way to stay in the area longer than
a few months. As soon as we hit town the hubby started looking for temporary
work, it would only be 4-6 weeks until we got news on the work badge; we only
had to survive for this long. After only a few days and a few temp daily jobs
the hubby landed a job building a Waffle House with a guy named Denton from
Denton, TX, LOL. We tried to get my oldest in on the work too but his asthmas
wouldn’t allow it in the sweltering Southern heat. I got in on some of the painting
on the end to help us out with bill money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Thankfully he still
had this job when we got the denial for the security badge, very depressing for
a few days after that news. We had counted on this badge going thru and having
the security of the full time permanent long term position that we had moved to
the Memphis area for. Now we had to back up and punt as they say and come up
with another plan. The hubby called a few old work contacts in Jacksonville, FL
and soon had a job, albeit in South Carolina for a week. Temporary work but
work none the less. This soon led to more work and led to our decision to move
back to Jacksonville, FL and follow the work. My oldest was happy with this decision;
he was looking to move back anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAJRYyPKVi8/U2rQGlf3zwI/AAAAAAAACVk/myRinVf8jRg/s1600/memphis+zoo2+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAJRYyPKVi8/U2rQGlf3zwI/AAAAAAAACVk/myRinVf8jRg/s1600/memphis+zoo2+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> When the plan started
taking shape we got in a rush to see the sights we hadn’t been able to yet. The
zoo was top on the list; the Pink Palace could wait if I couldn’t find the
money for both. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SH9bI0v6gY/U2rQIvFvrcI/AAAAAAAACVs/HSwHNyCPjA8/s1600/memphis+zoo+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SH9bI0v6gY/U2rQIvFvrcI/AAAAAAAACVs/HSwHNyCPjA8/s1600/memphis+zoo+019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The lil one really enjoyed the surprise upon </span></span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">waking on one of
the last few weekdays there, we always tried to be tourists while everyone else
was at work; we had decided to visit the zoo before packing the rig up. We all
loved watching the penguins and the sea lions, especially there show they
performed in, the lil one’s eyes shined with pure amazement. It was a very tiring but fun filled day that
will go down in the memory books of the lil one’s childhood to be reflected
upon in the years to come.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We finished our work
on the Waffle House, got all the stuff stored at the mom-n-laws again and were
preparing to head south. Due to money being very tight we planned on an all-night
drive, making a 16hr run all at once instead of 2 days. This trip ended up
being pretty uneventful. I was coming to love these trips like this; you know,
the ones with no surprises. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HGVhYZxhx0Q/U2rmJe43FKI/AAAAAAAACWA/jDmUQnSZrzk/s1600/from+phone+sep,oct+2013+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HGVhYZxhx0Q/U2rmJe43FKI/AAAAAAAACWA/jDmUQnSZrzk/s1600/from+phone+sep,oct+2013+094.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We landed in Jax safe and sound the following
morning and pulled into our site about an hour before the office opened. We
were exhausted, road weary and in need of showers and long naps; but the
important fact was we had made an uneventful trip and landed safe and sound.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time……<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Luck never gives; it only lends. ~Swedish Proverb</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-41751779639712168552014-05-07T08:43:00.001-07:002014-05-07T08:43:57.501-07:00Family Times<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPp5cF5bQD0/U2orPRxlq-I/AAAAAAAACUQ/DPt3pCN3Pkk/s1600/104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPp5cF5bQD0/U2orPRxlq-I/AAAAAAAACUQ/DPt3pCN3Pkk/s1600/104.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our furbaby loved the big yard to roam in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">My sis-n-law had graciously offered us her driveway to park our
monstrosity. I call it that only because 32 ft. of a white house on wheels
parked next to your garage can be a little daunting if you’re not used to it. When
we are slid out we take up double the space of an older model with no slides. Most
people still think of these only when you mention a camper, they are completely
unaware even to this day of slides on campers. These almost double your floor space;
this really helps with the full grown Labrador.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Parking in her
driveway gave us an opportunity to do two things. One was to spend some much
needed time with our families only 45 minutes south of us in Alabama. Reason #2
was to save some money on rent for a short little while. After a week of
troubles, trial and a few triumphs we were glad to be here with a loaded baked
potato from our local BBQ joint. The next few days were playing and spending
time with the two of the newest niece and nephew of the family. The hubby and I even got to see our moms for
a short visit; I had one friend drive all the way up and spend the afternoon
with me. Believe it or not it is really hard to convince people to drive 0-45
min to see you after you’ve went halfway across the country. Staying this close
to the family and working in town for the summer just so we could spend some
time with them was our plan; we’ll see how well this one actually works out.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3PX0dlr94I/U2o1D6OAN6I/AAAAAAAACUw/ce7BEVh3smY/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3PX0dlr94I/U2o1D6OAN6I/AAAAAAAACUw/ce7BEVh3smY/s1600/015.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Crockett State Park, TN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The truth about our
hometown and most of the surrounding towns, they were poor towns; they just
didn’t have the industry and jobs like many of the towns we had been in. We
ended up spending the summer scraping and scrounging to get by, very thankful
the sis-n-law was nice enough to let us stay there. It was a total of ten weeks
that we were parked beside her house hooked up to a 15 amp circuit just trying
to stay cool in the humid Southern summer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94lDt6ssyO0/U2o1E4dVN5I/AAAAAAAACU4/xCG2Jo47_4g/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94lDt6ssyO0/U2o1E4dVN5I/AAAAAAAACU4/xCG2Jo47_4g/s1600/019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The hubby landed a temporary job which allowed us to move into
an RV park just down the road and get the rig hooked up to the full 30 amps. We
struggled to stay cool here but thankfully the owners were retired A/C guys who
just happened to have a few rooftop A/Cs lying around. It didn’t take long for
the hubby to start scheming on a plan to trade tools or something for an A/C;
we had been dealing with only a window unit for far too long. After being there
for almost a month the owner told us that if his A/C would fit, he would bless
us with it for free. This was an absolute huge blessing to us since we needed
it so badly; he said that since he had been blessed with so much in his life
that he would pay it forward. We count our blessings, big and small, every day
in this house.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We were slowly
sinking here but then again, can you put a price on being able to spend time
with the family? It was time to start planning our next stop and job in a
bigger city soon enough though. The hubby had applied for a security badge for
a job in Memphis, TN; still close enough to see the family for weekend visits.
We moved closer in to town for the last week of our stay in Alabama, by Wheeler
Dam. It was a beautiful small park make for smaller rigs. While backing the rig
in the hubby got it in a pinch. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing the
sound of fiberglass crunching as it tears a hole into our home on wheels. Yep,
add another repair to the to-do list, but tape will work for now (as I write
this, it is 9 months later and the tape is still holding).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Here the lil one got
to spend some much needed time with both brothers together. Oh how the lil
brain expanded with all the lessons they taught. There are certain things in a child’s
life that only siblings can teach them; being tough, the world doesn’t revolve
around them only, and that the world isn’t fair come to mind first. As parents
you try and try but these are some of the lessons only older siblings get to
do. The experimented with fire and ants, how long a marshmallow will burn
before it plummets into the fire along with just talking and enjoying their
time together. I think the most fun was had when the brothers were teaching the
lil one how to throw/catch a football. I think they got a kick out of being
able to actually throw the ball at the baby and not be yelled at. They are old
enough now to know how much force is needed but at the same time make it only
sting if the catch is missed; something only big brothers can do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Time flew by while
here, it was time to go much too soon. Leaving family and my son is one of the
hardest things to do, but knowing our little family couldn’t survive there
keeps pulling me away. I am counting the blessings of technology that allows us
all to stay in touch and share moments that would otherwise be missed by many. We
had a set of extra hands to help on this trip as my oldest was going on the
road with us for a while. A few tears and hugs to all who came to see us off
and we were ready to embark on the next leg of our journey. The hubby and I decided
on another leap of faith---move on to Memphis while waiting on the security
badge for the job there. All else fails it was a bigger city with more money
which usually means more jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time……<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">There’s no other love like the love for a brother. There’s no
other love like the love from a brother. ~Terri Guillemets<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-75778379782885783582014-05-06T10:59:00.001-07:002014-05-06T12:32:02.894-07:00Trials of the Road<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The day had come to slide it in and leave the wondrously tall
and windy state of Colorado. To keep it interesting and prevent us from seeing
the same scenery, we decided to go south over the Raton Pass through New Mexico
and east from there. The truck was running a little funny after the fire, not
to mention the 80 gallons of black and gray water that was a solid chunk of ice
in the tanks. I can imagine the strain Ol’ Blue was feeling with the added
weight in the higher altitudes and we were about to push her to her limits to
get us out of there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No room for error (excuse my dirty window)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Before long we were
navigating on I25 headed thru the pass on our way south. This pass was one of
the lowest in elevation across all of Colorado. It climbed to a towering 7800
feet and seemed like it was going to take forever to get to the top. We had
made it 48 miles along the 50 mile pass when I saw the worst that could happen;
I saw a trail of transmission fluid in the road, coming from Ol’ Blue. She had gone
as far as she could up this very steep incline. There was no room to pull off
the road; there were only 4 lanes of flying traffic with no shoulders, only
steep drop offs on either side of the road. The lil one and I had to leave
daddy and haul butt into New Mexico to grab some transmission fluid. While
waiting on s a state trooper pulled up to help keep traffic over. The hubby
explained the situation but because we were blocking a lane of traffic we would
have to be towed; no matter if I made it back before the tow truck or not, the
call had been made. I happened to get back into CO right after the tow truck
got there; they are almost on standby at the base of all the passes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We watched
them hook up Ol’ Blue with a monster of a truck. It was only 1 ½ miles to the
top, there happened to be a weigh station there and that was the nearest he
could drop us at. This ended up being a very costly mistake in navigational
plans; it costs us $325 for a 1 ½ mile tow. The normal fee for this was $300
just to hook up to you and then extra for each mile, we were blessed to have
gotten such a discount on the cost.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> After all the
excitement just getting up to the top of the pass we got to test the brakes on
the way down. I’ll tell you, after going down it myself previously, my butt
cheeks were quickly clenching at the thought of all ‘what ifs’ that could
happen. My mind was racing while trying to keep it between the lines as we
curved downward into the valley below; the hubby was carrying all of our
earthly possessions behind him, not to mention him being hurt in an accident
too. I was greatly relieved to have made it to the bottom and into the valley
floor welcoming us into New Mexico. Even out of the mountains there was a
beautiful view of them in the distance with the desolate rocky desert between
us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suMDJXePGQ8/U2knqLGjzzI/AAAAAAAACTs/OTfux-J7XIM/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suMDJXePGQ8/U2knqLGjzzI/AAAAAAAACTs/OTfux-J7XIM/s1600/047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The truck was acting up in spurts, almost as if she had a mind of her own;
for a few miles she’d run great and then just lose all power for the next 45
miles. It took us roughly 10 hours to go 300 miles. I think it was 3 days to
get from Colorado to somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma as a small RV
park on the side of the interstate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The hubby and I had
reached out to everyone we knew who may have any knowledge of a diesel engine
and a solution. One friend’s son had a few ideas, we tried them. They didn’t
work all the way so we went onward to his next steps in the solution.
Eventually between all the brain storming we solved the issue; a map sensor,
from the wrong type of truck was installed after the fire (they are not one size
fits all type of parts). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our view at the RV park in the middle of nowhere, OK</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> This was a very good
lesson in auto mechanics; when replacing sensors with used ones, make sure they
are from the same kind of motor. The lil one learned a lot about chasing down
wires and re-taping them, making sure they are no shorts. We spent about 6hrs
in an OK rest area under the dash repairing more of the fire damage. We got
lucky as this was one the nicer rest areas to have stopped in, aside from the
extravagant welcome center they had a dog park; this really helped out a lot.
Finally Ol’ Blue was really and truly fixed, except for the A/C, but then again
beggars can’t be choosers, can they? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPoDrFaL6uk/U2koLHYrTDI/AAAAAAAACT0/MYQ-pXIIPTM/s1600/196+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPoDrFaL6uk/U2koLHYrTDI/AAAAAAAACT0/MYQ-pXIIPTM/s1600/196+edited.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love being back in the rolling hills of the South</td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We ended up borrowing
money from friends and family, only to make it back to the Alabama area closer
to family. What started out as a 3-4 day trip ended up being a week with a few
extra days spent somewhere in the middle of OK and a couple of nights at Wal Marts
in KS, AR and TN before making it to Lawrenceburg, TN. We made it to the
sis-n-law’s house, or driveway to be exact. Our plan was to spend time with
family and stay for about a month. We’ll see how this plan works out, as well
as they have in the past, I ‘m not holding my breathe on it to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
~Confucius </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-45035999752653872922014-05-04T10:58:00.002-07:002014-05-04T10:58:35.485-07:00Sandblasted in the Dunes<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zsd3f9_jqyg/U2Z4KM1qK3I/AAAAAAAACSM/bz2GEV12Iq0/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zsd3f9_jqyg/U2Z4KM1qK3I/AAAAAAAACSM/bz2GEV12Iq0/s1600/167.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7QoRBD9RjY/U2Z4nbgPNXI/AAAAAAAACSc/NN_AtUacJe8/s1600/colorado4.20.20132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7QoRBD9RjY/U2Z4nbgPNXI/AAAAAAAACSc/NN_AtUacJe8/s1600/colorado4.20.20132.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We had decided to try and save enough of our tax money to make a
trip to Colorado, after fixing the trucks of course. Our method was pretty much
throwing a dart at the map and trying to keep the rig on the Eastern side of
the Rockies. After enduring long and slow inclines in SD Ol’ Blue had taught us
that she doesn’t like the high altitudes with that much of a load on her.
Walsenburg ended up being the only one with a campground that was open; the
catch was that the water wouldn’t be cut on for a few more weeks due to the
steady below freezing temps. This was close enough to a direct pass into the
valley to suit our tourist needs, a whopping 7000’ above sea level; the highest
I had been in my lifetime. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We were looking at land and what it would take to relocate to
the San Luis Valley. It quickly became somewhere I personally wouldn’t want to
live full time; it was way too cold and windy for my tastes.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyUoH-itn4U/U2Z4hZm_DBI/AAAAAAAACSY/mtzBWTz8V4o/s1600/colorado4.20.201312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyUoH-itn4U/U2Z4hZm_DBI/AAAAAAAACSY/mtzBWTz8V4o/s1600/colorado4.20.201312.jpg" height="103" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The RV Park ended up
being like most of the ones in the area; attached to a motel, in a one horse
town with only the essentials needed to survive. April 20<sup>th</sup> was the
day we landed in Walsenburg, National Smoker’s Day in a state it was legal to
smoke in; I’m sure a lot envied us. What I didn’t envy was the snow and sleet
we awoke to the following morning. Our storage tanks for the gray/black waters
had frozen solid, the only fresh water we had was a 5 gallon refillable water
jug. This was definitely not my idea of fun times in Colorado.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDgUFYLlhiA/U2Z-xN1n5zI/AAAAAAAACTE/sZrqJgSdib0/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDgUFYLlhiA/U2Z-xN1n5zI/AAAAAAAACTE/sZrqJgSdib0/s1600/145.JPG" height="108" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the desert in the middle of the mountains</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> On one of our
journeys into the valley we visited the National Sand Dunes Park. After renting
a board and spending $20 that we truly didn’t have, we were ready to conquer
the dunes. There just so happened to be a storm brewing in the northwest and
moving in on us. We quickly realized how the sand dunes were formed upon
stepping out of the truck; we were sandblasted! This was how the dunes changed every
day and climbed to a towering height of 700 feet. The lil one was singing a
happy song on the ride into the park; after digging sand that was forced into
every crevice (including our noses), the tune quickly turned hateful.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3ZDR9HXPjg/U2Z5JWeKHYI/AAAAAAAACSo/J9OEpeqetKI/s1600/071.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3ZDR9HXPjg/U2Z5JWeKHYI/AAAAAAAACSo/J9OEpeqetKI/s1600/071.edited.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">This
was not the list of ‘must visit again’ places. We gained the lifetime
experience of sledding down the dunes and those memories can never be taken
away.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The owners of the
hotel let us shower in an empty room. I’m thankful they did, we would’ve been
really stinky after a week there with frozen tanks. Only an hour away was some
old neighbors we had met in Florida; a trip to their sticks and bricks made for
an easy afternoon. The lil one got to feed a few alpacas while visiting her old
friends we had come to call ‘The Colorado Kids’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> After a week of
roughing it and gathering the info needed to relocate, it was time for us to
head south so our tanks could thaw out. Naively we planned on taking a
different route out than we did to get in. with our route planned it was time
to pack and move again, this time through New Mexico for a brief moment and
back across the plains. We were trying to get a little closer to home for a bit
and enjoy some family time and relaxation, not to mention a babysitter; we only
have those very few times a year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Uaw34cIhyg/U2Z5OX10WFI/AAAAAAAACS4/VS-dqdyCsMA/s1600/079.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Uaw34cIhyg/U2Z5OX10WFI/AAAAAAAACS4/VS-dqdyCsMA/s1600/079.edited.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain
and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can
ever learn from books. ~John Lubbock</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-77382778561537307542014-05-02T19:28:00.000-07:002014-05-02T19:28:15.684-07:00Record Breaking Snow<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">The small snowfalls had melted and our rent was up in El Dorado,
it was time for the “we’ll see ya again’s” and move to Wichita, KS. The lil one
promised to keep in touch with a friend from here, to this day they still talk
and send cards/gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> It was a chilly,
windy January day; but what could I expect being on the plains during the
winter time. A 20 mph day was normal, they didn’t worry about the winds until
they started twisting. It wreaked havoc on my long hair, keeping it perpetually
tangled and dried out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iO8oLgU_Pvo/U2RHShAc-BI/AAAAAAAACRA/6P65pi7QRSQ/s1600/wichita,ks+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iO8oLgU_Pvo/U2RHShAc-BI/AAAAAAAACRA/6P65pi7QRSQ/s1600/wichita,ks+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> Here we gave up our
weekends to work as camp hosts in exchange for our rent and utilities. For two
days a week, one of them being Sunday which was a half day, two people cleaning
and running the office for all of our amenities taken care of. This included
the rent, electricity, water, sewage, cable, wifi and free laundry; what more
could you ask for? Nothing except a paycheck but this was Ok with us as we
could bring the lil one to work with us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> The hubby worked
odd jobs for a while until Ol’ Blue caught on fire. We had no idea those block
warmers were operating at 15 amps. The cord got too hot and started blazing out
from under the hood. This being the second vehicle fire, we had gotten good and
quick at putting them out. I imagine it was a sight to see two half dressed,
bare footed adults running around in the snow for a few minutes putting out a
fire on their truck. We chuckle about it to this day as we re-tell the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh08F_LnfHo/U2RJKr2JNqI/AAAAAAAACR0/H2JCPOF3jzc/s1600/f350+fire+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh08F_LnfHo/U2RJKr2JNqI/AAAAAAAACR0/H2JCPOF3jzc/s1600/f350+fire+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imagine 1-2 ft flames shooting out of it!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> This was not a
major concern as we still had a few weeks before it needed fixed to move us.
Life went on until the hubby pulled up in the 2<sup>nd</sup> truck we had and
jumped out saying he smelled wires burning. Upon raising the hood he saw the
flames on the vacuum lines and quickly jerked them out. It was starting to get
bad at this point; in a strange town, both trucks burned, no steady work. We
had to keep counting our blessings though; our family was well and healthy, our
house was paid for and we were working for our rent. Life was still good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> The lil one really
enjoyed us working on the days the kids were out of school, it meant many more
playdates. We enjoyed having an extra set of enthusiastic hands helping us
clean the bath houses and laundry room. I learned how to use a pc program used
in many of the RV parks to make reservations; this could end up being a
valuable experience later on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOJT2-GEkfM/U2RHndxkEWI/AAAAAAAACRU/a1HjRTtZRlI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gOJT2-GEkfM/U2RHndxkEWI/AAAAAAAACRU/a1HjRTtZRlI/s1600/012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4wpOnAKkN4/U2RHcjNrDDI/AAAAAAAACRM/YNuPtH1hvaI/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4wpOnAKkN4/U2RHcjNrDDI/AAAAAAAACRM/YNuPtH1hvaI/s1600/009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> Our major event,
other than the trucks burning, was 18” of snow in one day. I awoke to a task of
kicking it off the porch just to get the door open. I wish you could’ve seen
the lil ones eyes light up. This was the most snow we had been in in our lives;
the hubby excluded as he had been in Chicago before. Thankfully we were not on
duty at the time of the snow. The managers that were used to KS winters handled
it like champs. The owner came and played with his toys, pushing the snow into
huge mounds on the edges of the RV park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4dFhGBIvY4/U2RH2Ym_y5I/AAAAAAAACRc/oxP-5o8PpEM/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4dFhGBIvY4/U2RH2Ym_y5I/AAAAAAAACRc/oxP-5o8PpEM/s1600/044.JPG" height="102" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> I’m glad we watched
and learned so well, the following weekend we got 4-6 more inches. This was our
turn to shovel the sidewalks and help clean the roads and sites as much as
possible. After this record breaking snowfall and the harsh Kansas winter I was
ready for buttercups and Springtime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIcA0OrKiyI/U2RJKAqVmTI/AAAAAAAACRs/XrpqL084B5U/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIcA0OrKiyI/U2RJKAqVmTI/AAAAAAAACRs/XrpqL084B5U/s1600/076.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> Before long our jobs
were finished, the trucks were fixed and it was time to plan the next step. I
can’t say that I’ll ever tie myself down every single weekend again. Our
circumstances with needing a 40 hr/week job for income made for this to be the
only way it would work. In the future after we retire this would definitely be
a possibility and just move to a new area every new season, but then again no
one knows what their future holds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="color: #ffd966;">"Que sera, sera<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Whatever will be, will be<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Segoe Print';">The future's not ours to see" ~ Doris Day</span>Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-48264375752998135042014-05-02T18:27:00.000-07:002014-05-02T18:27:02.562-07:00Running on Fumes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We were blessed just to have made it this far. Our original
plans were to head North to North Dakota and the hubby work on the oil rigs;
but after talking to the friends in Kansas, we decided to head south and help
her out instead. To have made it that many more miles than planned was an
absolute blessing after the hubby not getting all he was owed off the previous
job. When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. We parked and stayed at
their house in the middle of nowhere Kansas. The nearest gas station was 30
minutes away so we had to start planning ahead and keeping the tanks full. It
was a whopping 45 minutes to the nearest town with a grocery store.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We enjoyed some
more fishing and paddling around in their paddleboat on the lake in their
backyard. It was a miserably hot July here in the plains, our poor window A/C
couldn’t keep up. Our rooftop hadn’t worked since we bought this particular
rig. There was immense heat pressing on you as soon as you walked out of the
shade, making you want to high tail it back for the cover of the shade.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEaPy1giBI8/U2Q86VInc1I/AAAAAAAACPQ/PbwX-694CXU/s1600/lightning.ks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEaPy1giBI8/U2Q86VInc1I/AAAAAAAACPQ/PbwX-694CXU/s1600/lightning.ks.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with the heat came the storms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The hubby began
work on their house. Almost halfway thru the job there was an altercation
between us and the home owner. Needless to say that with our house on wheels it
didn’t take long for us to pack it up and get out of the increasingly bad
situation. This is another one of the plusses to fulltiming; if you don’t like
your neighbors, you can move.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOGpu-Fonfg/U2RAPcaIOEI/AAAAAAAACPw/4BU1DG_BK5I/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOGpu-Fonfg/U2RAPcaIOEI/AAAAAAAACPw/4BU1DG_BK5I/s1600/024.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> All we can do is
move on and move past the negative. The hubby was blessed with a new job soon
enough. We were now proud residents of El Dorado, KS. The RV Park here was
suited more for the workers at the oil refinery. There were no perks here; no
playground, no pool, small one person bathroom/shower. The best thing was
laundry on site, an enclosed dog park and phenomenally nice owners.</span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5o7MiZJBk0/U2RCrdi1G_I/AAAAAAAACQM/NqGp5szdtuQ/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5o7MiZJBk0/U2RCrdi1G_I/AAAAAAAACQM/NqGp5szdtuQ/s1600/033.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We celebrated the
lil one’s birthday party here at the Skate Center. She had just enough friends
to make it a nice party but not too big and impersonal. We also experienced the
local corn maze and pumpkin patch, their family kid’s day downtown and several
other small town festivities that you can only get in those small towns. There
were even a few small snowfalls for the lil one to play in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a37ZsYQYOTs/U2RCSdQ9euI/AAAAAAAACQI/RoopLBWXntU/s1600/snow+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a37ZsYQYOTs/U2RCSdQ9euI/AAAAAAAACQI/RoopLBWXntU/s1600/snow+004.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> My oldest had come
up to work with the hubby; my youngest and oldest were getting along
magnificently. Life was good. Until that day our luck changed, as it tends to
do from time to time. The hubby and my oldest lost their jobs at the oil
refinery right after the Christmas holidays this year. I’m not sure if there is
ever a ‘good’ time to lose your job but around the holidays is never a good
time, at least we had made it thru them first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> We quickly got
online looking for work as our rent was only paid for a few more days here. I
got lucky and we got our first camp host jobs just down the road in Wichita.
This would open a whole new chapter for us, not to mention keeping our heads
above the water. It was time to pack and move on a very cold January day, just
a short hop and skip down the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time…..</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;">The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">~ Steve Maraboli</span></span></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-62332571626434117672014-05-02T17:46:00.002-07:002014-05-02T17:46:37.350-07:00Thru the Fields of Corn<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> </span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We napped most of the day in preparation to the long overnight
drive southward, cutting across the state of Nebraska. With the previous
problems with Ol’ Blue, we decided to drive at night, all night long.</span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This should be easier on the truck and tires
with the temperatures being much cooler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The first part of
the journey went ok, as it usually does. We had cell service and could
communicate for the first few hours, but that was short lived. Soon we found ourselves surrounded by acres
upon acres of corn fields. A few of you remember the old horror flicks of ‘The
Children of the Corn’, I happen to be a child of the generation that got the
beejeezus scared out of us. Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger
come to mind; yes I was one of those kids. All of the images I had from ‘The
Children of the Corn’, the psycho kids chasing the helpless victims thru the
fields just before killing them came rushing back as we passed miles and miles
of corn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_00QT-PwB4/U1_0yGgapLI/AAAAAAAACO8/fm21jpgh5Ks/s1600/corn+fields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_00QT-PwB4/U1_0yGgapLI/AAAAAAAACO8/fm21jpgh5Ks/s1600/corn+fields.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imagine this on both sides for miles and miles but pitch dark on a 2 lane hwy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> What made my
uneasiness worse was the fact that it was 2 A.M. on a deserted two lane highway
with absolutely no hope in finding a cell phone signal surrounded by rows upon
rows of head high corn. Talk about making your skin crawl, if you were one of
the lucky ones growing up watching these movies then you can imagine how I
felt. I was praying mile after mile that we didn’t have any truck/tire problem.
Hoping we didn’t break down out in the middle of nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXVSh6-tmV4/U1_tIqAA39I/AAAAAAAACOc/HIgLNf6OK3U/s1600/100_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXVSh6-tmV4/U1_tIqAA39I/AAAAAAAACOc/HIgLNf6OK3U/s1600/100_3580.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> The hubby would
have to swerve the rig over every so often to make sure we were still behind
him. Most trips we have no problem staying in touch by phone but this trip wan
different from most, there was no signal for most of the night. You can do a
lot of soul searching going down a lonesome highway for hours upon hours with
no human interaction. After what seemed like forever the sunbeams started
peaking over the horizon, this was an extremely welcome sight after that lonely
night on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrUMby9bFA4/U1_tamfuj4I/AAAAAAAACOk/Eor0qn6aboE/s1600/100_3591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrUMby9bFA4/U1_tamfuj4I/AAAAAAAACOk/Eor0qn6aboE/s1600/100_3591.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Soon we found an abandoned building
with a big enough spot to part the rig. I have gotten pretty good at whipping
up breakfast or lunch with minimal dishes and space. I hate using paper plates
due to the ‘Reduce,Reuse,Recycle’ lifestyle we are trying to pass on to the lil
one; but on trips like this they are a must.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">After breakfast we stretched our
legs and walked for a few, enjoying the views before our eyes. We were on an
old two lane road with abandoned buildings dotting the rolling hillsides and prairies surrounding us, we were in the middle of absolutely nowhere. This was going to
be a good day, I knew this because we just happened to park at a crossroads and
one of the roads was ours, Miller Rd.
Yep, the Millers have their own road in KS. We had taken enough time
filling the belly and joking about our own road that it was time to load up and
move farther down the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VLWtQvmd3pk/U1_0NWADJXI/AAAAAAAACO0/9sUUGINU31Q/s1600/road+sign.edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VLWtQvmd3pk/U1_0NWADJXI/AAAAAAAACO0/9sUUGINU31Q/s1600/road+sign.edited.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">We landed just outside of our
destination, I only say this as we ran out of fuel before making it all the way
there; only 45 more minutes and we would have made it. After borrowing gas $$$$
from the friends we were going to work for we were able to pull into their yard
and hook up. We were running on fumes in
the trucks and our bodies after the all night long push to get to Atlanta, KS
with what we had, no extra money on this trip. I had only planned on going a
couple of hours north of our location in SD, to have pulled an all night run on
the change we had in our pockets was amazing. After 38 hours awake it was time
to wish the friends a goodnight and let our eyes close, we laid our weary heads
down and slept for what felt like eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Until next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">"Outlander! Outlander! We have your woman" ~ Malachai</span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-17707278331229262352014-04-26T06:42:00.000-07:002014-04-26T06:42:05.603-07:00The Simple Things are Free<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: orange;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">We were getting very familiar with packing up and unpacking the
rig by now. I was slowly learning how to spread out the stuff in the pantry to
minimize shifting as we flew down the highway. We had begun to try not to be
the first one who needed anything in the cabinets. I had secretly been making
bets on how many items would hit your toes upon the first opening after a move.
It was really unfair my being the mom in this situation as I was the one having
to go into the cabinets for dinner components, but this was just part of life
on the road; one of the negatives to compare to the long list of positives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> This being the third time we had trekked across the state of
South Dakota on I 90, we knew what to expect and how long this journey would
take. It was still grueling pushing Ol’ Blue up those rolling hills at a measly
35mph. The lil one and I had taken all the pictures you could take on this
stretch of open highway. We had played our ABC road sign game until all the
letters were running together before our eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> We had decided to stay in a smaller town this time; Belle
Fourche, about 1hr north of Rapid City, closer to the job. Wyatt’s Hideaway
Campground was the one we decided on, mainly because they had a creek running
through it. It was still a few weeks before Sturgis hit town so the rent was
still reasonably cheap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQR9qoRx2gY/U1uvMsURl4I/AAAAAAAACN4/-EwoNmqcfIk/s1600/SSPX1249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQR9qoRx2gY/U1uvMsURl4I/AAAAAAAACN4/-EwoNmqcfIk/s1600/SSPX1249.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzVlkqSngIc/U1usUOhVLJI/AAAAAAAACNw/skFgVQIHNCk/s1600/SSPX1263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzVlkqSngIc/U1usUOhVLJI/AAAAAAAACNw/skFgVQIHNCk/s1600/SSPX1263.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a school lesson at our fingertips<span style="color: orange; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> This just happened to be the geographical center of the USA,
including Hawaii and Alaska. The story goes that the center is actually located
30 miles north of the monument on a farmer’s land. He got tired of tourist
coming by and disturbing his sheep so they voted and decided to move the
landmark to town to visit and view; the sheep and farmer lived happily ever after
in history and peace and quiet.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2L73v0Z7PLA/U1ursFhpyJI/AAAAAAAACNY/OFsEb7KAi6E/s1600/SSPX1250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2L73v0Z7PLA/U1ursFhpyJI/AAAAAAAACNY/OFsEb7KAi6E/s1600/SSPX1250.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykp3mBp6olU/U1uw0VEC8ZI/AAAAAAAACOQ/bFUA2ZdruF0/s1600/belle+fourche%252C+sd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykp3mBp6olU/U1uw0VEC8ZI/AAAAAAAACOQ/bFUA2ZdruF0/s1600/belle+fourche%252C+sd.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One of my favorite past times here was fishing in the creek for
trout. Sadly, I only caught a few fingerlings that weren’t big enough to eat.
We let them live another day to grow bigger for the next fisherman. The lil one
and lab had a ton of fun playing in the knee deep creek on those hot summer
days. There was no fear of gators in these fresh waters, it was bone chilling
cold.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcAhl2kk3Kg/U1uwwy70gYI/AAAAAAAACOI/XBozXkSjtrU/s1600/belle+fourche%252C+sd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcAhl2kk3Kg/U1uwwy70gYI/AAAAAAAACOI/XBozXkSjtrU/s1600/belle+fourche%252C+sd1.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We had made very good friends while here previously, they too
became adopted family. We celebrated one of their girl’s birthdays during these
few short weeks. While having issues collecting our pay from the job, we all
bonded together over simple things like how to feed our family with no money.
We had found ourselves in the same boat as all of our husbands had worked for
the same guy who refused to pay them. The owners of the RV Park worked with us
on the rent and understood our situation. One evening the husband brought over
a bag of frozen chicken and fresh veggies from their garden; we ate like kings
that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;"> Eventually everything worked itself out, like it usually does.
The guy finally paid us most of what he owed, I think us harassing him had
something to do with it too. A friend’s mom wanted us to come down to KS and do
some work on her house. After a few phone calls and counting our pennies, we
decided to head that way. We would put off ND for a while longer. Our choices here
were to head south and do residential work or to head north to the oil rigs; we
decided the oil rigs would still be there, besides she couldn’t find anybody
else to do the work. Winter was coming on soon and she needed it done before
then. The decision was made and away we went on the next leg of this journey we
call life, to Atlanta, KS.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">Until next time......</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: orange;">The best things in life are not only free, but the line is shorter. ~Robert Brault</span></span><br />
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-83712811854886914502013-08-17T08:32:00.000-07:002014-04-25T06:14:53.887-07:00Small Town Mentality<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We landed late in the evening in a small
one horse town called Tea, the sites were small compared to some we had been
in, but the family owned RV Park made up for that with the atmosphere. They had
a pool, laundry, a trail around a soy bean field, lots of shade and wonderful
friendly neighbors. Some of these make the trek from Arizona in the winter to
Tea, SD in the summer, true snowbirds; a dream we were waiting patiently on ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Work had landed us back in this area, the
hubby had a few weeks’ worth ahead of him and after that we were on our own.
The owners of this park were very friendly; they worked with us on the rent and
let us pay it as we got it. We have to always be sure to not burn any bridges
with any of the parks we stay in as we never know when we may be back in the
area in the future. The owners had their son, daughter-n-law and grandchild
that lived on site too; there’s and ours were just the right age to play and
swim together. They hit it off nicely, like two kindred spirits that had known
each other for years; but then again children seem to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6S5LCiIvsk/Ug-SGon9XAI/AAAAAAAAAd8/-1dspQj88xg/s1600/SSPX1181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6S5LCiIvsk/Ug-SGon9XAI/AAAAAAAAAd8/-1dspQj88xg/s320/SSPX1181.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view on my morning walk on the outskirts of the Red Barn RV Park, Tea, SD</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Our days were spent in the park mostly
because we had visited the zoo a month ago while in Sioux Falls. The daily
routine quickly became breakfast, a quick play with her friend, watching some
TV and then a dip in the pool before dinner. You would think this in itself
would get monotonous and boring but it was actually very relaxing, knowing what
would come next. The only worry we had was to find the work to pay the bills;
this task was helped by with the boss we had followed back to his home city of
Sioux Falls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> The hubby had a job working on the boss’s family’s
house, then a few days off, before starting a framing job. This was not one of
his favorite jobs as the supervisor here would gripe about the workers stopping
work only to take a drink of water, in 90+ degree heat! This job didn’t last
but a few days, by the hubby’s decision. The next position we found was
interesting, it was bee keeping on Mormon land. It was interesting in the fact
that the hubby wasn’t sure if he was allergic to the bees or not; turned out
the allergies had been outgrown, but I was one worried wife during the days he
was gone. He learned new trades in this position too, something we’re always
looking forward to; you can never have too many trades under your belt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8AVflL1bRI/Ug-SfDmrHmI/AAAAAAAAAeE/OkX24H9KbLA/s1600/SSPX1190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u8AVflL1bRI/Ug-SfDmrHmI/AAAAAAAAAeE/OkX24H9KbLA/s320/SSPX1190.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Just before we left this beautiful family
run RV Park, he got a position working with geo-thermal heating/cooling.
Another great trade to have, I only wish time had permitted us to stay longer
and learn more on this one. Imaging heating and cooling your home with only air
flowing through pipes placed deep into the ground, your house would stay a
comfortable 68˚ year round. The only electricity used was to pump the air
through these pipes, not to power the compressor for an A/C or heat up the
coils on a heater. I was very interested in learning this one as I would love
to install in our future home to cut electricity costs tremendously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We had stayed in touch with the co-workers
from Rapid City, one being very determined to have the hubby trek back across
the state and work for him. After some convincing from him, we decided to take
another ride back West across the great state of South Dakota. If you’re
keeping counting that would be a total of 3 trips across this state on I90 in a
matter of a couple of months. After staying in Tea for a month we had really
gotten to know the owners and neighbors here, I will miss them terribly but it
is also on my list of ‘stop again’ areas in my travel book. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtddWkPT4Ss/Ug-TrmNvBkI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Jgrm3Pd0FgA/s1600/542374_2855772212642_369555437_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtddWkPT4Ss/Ug-TrmNvBkI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/Jgrm3Pd0FgA/s320/542374_2855772212642_369555437_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not one of my favs, but then again I'm still a work in progress too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> The lil one had gotten
to go to a carnival with her friend before we left, compliments of the owners;
they knew we were struggling to find work and thought she needed a good time
before we left. This park really defines ‘family run’ and they truly made us
feel like family while here; so much so that I painted a canvas of the badlands
for her as a gift. It was time to take that leap of faith again and go back
West.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Until
next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Learn
to smile at every situation. See it as
an opportunity to prove your strength and ability. ~Joe Brown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-35813883360860917532013-08-14T08:01:00.000-07:002013-08-14T08:01:43.976-07:00Backtracking East on I90<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></b><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">We woke up on a beautiful June
morning overlooking Rapid City for what was to be the last time on this very
steep hillside that had been carved out for the RV Park. I wasn’t going to miss
the steep climb to the laundry or to walk the dog but I was going to miss this
wonderful city with all of its history. After a hot cup of coffee overlooking
the hills and ravine surrounding us, it was time to get to work sliding in and
hooking up the rig.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SN1mbVuqEI/UgubVintZ0I/AAAAAAAAAds/bpgJLHstsp0/s1600/SSPX1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SN1mbVuqEI/UgubVintZ0I/AAAAAAAAAds/bpgJLHstsp0/s320/SSPX1041.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last time to have a hot cup of joe overlooking this scenery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We are slowly getting better with getting
everything ready to go; instead of three days, we’ve gotten it down to two. I
know to some of you this may not seem like a very big accomplishment but to us
it is. Can you imagine packing up a two
bedroom house with all of your belongings and getting it loaded on the truck in
a matter of only two days? I can’t either, that is why I am happy about our
being able to do this in our rig, much faster than a year ago when we started
full timing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> One
very important lesson we learned at this park; bed rails on your tow vehicle
are NOT a good idea. They look good when the truck is unhooked and riding alone
but when you get it in a pinch they will do some damage to the underside of
your fifth wheel rig. Yep, you guessed it! While pulling out we put a small
hole in the underside of the rig that has treated us so good on this journey.
The hole was smaller than my hand and we were out of time at this park meaning
there was no time to call the insurance company and wait for repairs. It was
time, for better or worse, to hit the road again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Seeing as we had already traveled this
same exact path only a month before, I didn’t bother with dragging out the
camera for pictures. There wasn’t much that had changed in the scenery in these
past few weeks. The lil one settled down with a movie and we got ready for a
long, boring, monotonous 6 hr. ride across the state of South Dakota again. We were
heading from the very west side of the state back to the very east side, back
tracking like this is not the norm for us; but work required it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We had run through all our saved funds for
this particular trip in these quickly passing four weeks, but we did get to see
and do all the great things Rapid City offered us as tourists. On the lil one’s
list of accomplishments was getting to see buffalo at Custer State Park, Mount
Rushmore Monument and the most impressive site being Crazy Horse, as her
bloodline ties her to this site. She did learn the faces on top of Mount
Rushmore and to this day can still tell you the first President of the United
States. If we can experience it firsthand the knowledge sticks in the ever
growing brain we are feeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q2TbwBgQjY/UguZuI2I70I/AAAAAAAAAdc/w7MbeYDgXAw/s1600/100_3173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_q2TbwBgQjY/UguZuI2I70I/AAAAAAAAAdc/w7MbeYDgXAw/s320/100_3173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miles upon miles of this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> After a very long day traveling up and
down the rolling hills of I90, sometimes not even making it up to 45mph going
uphill, we landed in a small town outside of Sioux Falls. I had researched the
area previously and quickly found that they didn’t have very many RV Parks to
suit our needs. This time we decided to stay just outside of the city in a
small town called Tea, this ended up being one of the best parks we had been in
to date. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Until
next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">And
that's the wonderful thing about family travel:
it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the
scar tissue of your mind. ~Dave Barry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-26069291867553451882013-08-10T05:43:00.000-07:002013-08-14T07:42:52.007-07:00It is Never 'Goodbye'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> It
was nearing our time to leave Rapid City, SD and the very special friends we
had made; vowing to always keep in touch. Facebook seemed to make this a much
easier job than it would have been years ago. While here we had met a special
couple, Lakota Rick (the nickname we gave him only to remember exactly who they
were, I’m terrible with names) and his wife Kathy. They quickly became family
to us if only in our hearts, they followed the Native ways as closely as
possible; something we try to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> They were two of the few people we got to
say goodbye to before hitting the road. There was but one more place the hubby
needed to see before heading out, Bear Butte; it was an honor to have Lakota
Rick and his wife go with us. We had to make a pit stop and buy tobacco as an
offering for our prayers, one of the many traditions still followed by the
Natives. We made a detour and zoomed through Sturgis; after hearing I hadn’t
been there yet, they felt I had to at least see the town before heading out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncCt8JnezM4/UgYu1JkRRqI/AAAAAAAAAbM/WsJpRoUe7nw/s1600/100_3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncCt8JnezM4/UgYu1JkRRqI/AAAAAAAAAbM/WsJpRoUe7nw/s200/100_3381.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJi9i_RGVCs/UgYu0r1t6CI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pNGq2nZ7eA8/s1600/100_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJi9i_RGVCs/UgYu0r1t6CI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pNGq2nZ7eA8/s200/100_3379.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> It was nothing that I had imagined,
considering all the activity and visitors this small sleepy prairie town had
all of one week a year. The most notable site were the huge white letters
perched on the side of a mountain to let tourists know they were in Sturgis, a
good photo op but nothing to really write home about. Our next stop was the one
we were really looking forward, Bear Butte. It was hard for the lil one to
contain the energy and curiosity from learning about another piece of the Sioux
heritage. While traveling down the
highway it didn’t take long for this magnificent mountain to appear, you could see
it across the barren plains for miles before actually reaching the winding road
up to the base of this mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNwvWPDqXXU/UgYu1P8-YCI/AAAAAAAAAbc/1KbqKYtFP7Q/s1600/100_3388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNwvWPDqXXU/UgYu1P8-YCI/AAAAAAAAAbc/1KbqKYtFP7Q/s320/100_3388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following Lakota Rick and Kathy to Bear Butte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We pulled in to what is now Bear Butte
State Park and explored the visitor center.
The hubby and the lil one, both of whom have Sioux blood running through
their veins, went up the trail for a bit to place their offering and pray. I stayed with the puppy in the only shade
possible as I felt this was something the two of them needed to share without
mommy interfering. It was a hot day in the middle of the summer in the most pristine landscape of prairie lands. I sat and imagined the pioneers coming across
this rugged landscape all those years ago with only the mountain as a guide to
the gold rich Black Hills. There have been artifacts found on the mountain that
date back 10,000 years; amazing when you stop and think about that little
tidbit of knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kTXX8eSL5KE/UgYu52jRtZI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5lhKs2eAzqQ/s1600/100_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kTXX8eSL5KE/UgYu52jRtZI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5lhKs2eAzqQ/s320/100_3392.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> The Cheyenne and Lakota people have had a
spiritual interest in Bear Butte that goes back as far as their earliest
recorded history. Crazy Horse and
Sitting Bull traveled to this majestic mountain, they are the two most famous
visitors I can remember from the learning lesson in the visitor center. Many Indian nations gathered at Bear Butte in
1857 to discuss the white settlers that were invading their homelands. There is
way too much history at this particular site to even begin to touch it in such
a short blog as this one is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> With the offering and prayers finished, a
short history lesson about the lil one’s heritage; the theme of this whole
summer, it was time to say goodbye to our friends and go further on our
journey. We promised to keep in touch, and to let them know how the buffalo liver
turned; this they had blessed us with, 100% all organic buffalo liver (it was
delicious by the way). It is never ‘goodbye’
in this lifestyle as we never really know when our paths may cross again; we
have learned to say…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">‘Until next time’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">It is
not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-76742545828048368832013-06-02T09:26:00.001-07:002013-06-02T09:26:42.167-07:00Gold Fever<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">A few days after getting settled in at
the Lazy J RV Park in Rapid City, SD perched high upon a hill the manager
suggested we move spots.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">If you’ve ever
traveled with a fifth wheel you know that this is not always a quick and easy
feat to accomplish.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">He wanted us to be
farther away from the traffic at the office, because of the lil one and the dog,
and also to give us more privacy; not to mention we’d now be on the bottom end
of the row with the better view.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">We were
getting quicker with each move we made in the rig, all of our belongings were
beginning to live in their travel spots, there was no need for me to keep
adjusting things right before/after a move.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> Traveling the way we do, we have to keep
our eyes to the skies and stay alert and up to date with the weather. We pay attention to wind speeds/direction
while pulling the rig; staying a few extra days if necessary to catch a good
tail wind. Also the rain and
thunderstorms are major factors in some of our decisions while on the road, you
don’t want to get caught downstream on a peaceful creek with a raging storm and
flash flooding a few counties north; you know it all rolls downhill, I just
don’t want to be in the way when it does. With the weather becoming more and
more extreme, I feel we have become even more vigilant in watching and learning
Mother Natures’ rhythm in the skies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> It wasn’t but a few days before she
provided a spectacle for the lil one to view for the first time, an annular
solar eclipse. All day long the lil one
watched the clock and the sun to see when it would begin. We had gathered a TON of tinted safety
glasses, wishing we had brought the welding hoods with us but knowing this
would be the only purpose to have them.
Finally the time had come, it was beginning. We loaded up in the truck and went to the top
of the hill, as steep as this hill was; yes, I drove up it every chance I got
instead of hiking. The lil one quickly
got out and sat on the roof top with the favorite stuffed animals that got to
witness the eclipse too. We all took
turns holding 4-5 pairs of glasses up to our eyes to view the eclipse. It turned out to not be that big of a deal
for us, but for the lil one; it was amazing that something could block out part
of the sun’s rays. Just as quickly as
the excitement grew it also depleted after trying to look through all those
glasses just to catch a glimpse of the moon blocking part of the huge ball of
blazing gases we call our Sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> We were back in our rig watching a movie
and planning the next adventure before the eclipse was officially over. Gold fever was taking hold of me and my
little family. A dear friend from Texas,
who just so happened to be a rock hound himself; passed on to us a gold pan,
just in case we ever found ourselves in gold country. We gathered maps, searched online for
information and started getting the tools we would need together. An acquaintance we had met there took us to
one of his hiking spots overlooking what seemed to be a peaceful winding creek
in the valley between some very steep and high mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> We were HOOKED!! It took us a few days
of watching videos, reading maps and gathering tools and such before we could
strike out. Our first stop was a small
stream on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere somewhere in the Black
Hills. We thought we’d try it out to get
the feel for working the pan, this is a learned technique that none of us had
acquired as of yet. One of the very
first huge lessons we learned, the water here is extremely bone chilling
cold. I only thought our spring fed
creeks in Alabama were cold, the water running through the Black Hills in spring
is like the Arctic ocean in January. I
quickly made a mental note to go shopping for insulated waders for the whole
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> After getting over the shock of the
frigid water we started looking for a good place to pan. We had watched numerous videos on where the
gold naturally settled at along the creek beds.
The hubby started working on turning over large rocks, or gold catchers,
and looking underneath. We dug around
and panned in the black sands for a while; only finding flour gold, little tiny
flecks skimming along the tops of the black sands. It was very interesting to look at the
different rocks from this part of the world, they had a shimmer and shine to
them like none other I had seen before, not to mention the crystals. The lil one fell in love immediately with all
the quartz crystals that littered the stream, just right for picking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> We dug for what seemed like eternity to
our numb feet and legs but in reality was only a short 30 minutes or so. Soon it was time for a picnic of peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches we had prepared, the simplest were always better
for me. It is really hard to let your
guard down and just enjoy the great outdoors when you know you are not on top
of the food chain in this wilderness. We
were forever on the lookout for the ever elusive mountain lions that call these
parts home; knowing they were more active at dawn and dusk we had chosen lunch
time to be in their backyard, but still ever vigilant watching out for them
none the less. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> With our bellies full and the feeling
back in our toes and feet, we jumped back into the freezing waters to dig
around some more. Never letting our
spirits drop when we came up with empty pan after empty pan, as it was the
memories and experiences together as a family that we were aiming for; not
gold. Some of the best times of our
lives cannot be bought and paid for by any amount of money, they are memories
of experiences we have with loved ones while actually </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;">living</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> life; this is one of the very
important lessons we are trying to instill in the lil brain we are in charge of
educating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"> Hours later as the sun began its descent
in the sky, our very blue and frozen feet told us it was time to head home for
the day; also the hungry mountain lions were ever present in our minds. Our plan was to return to the creek in the
valley, off of Falling Rock Rd, climb down the mountain and pan in an area that
wasn’t on the beaten path and less known to man. The sun slowly set over this beautiful and
rugged landscape as the city lights twinkled on below us, it felt as though we
were on top of the world, our own personal slice of heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">Until
next time……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">I
don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity
Crisis," M*A*S*H<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-89224731429619716752013-05-25T12:30:00.000-07:002013-05-25T12:38:43.057-07:00Exploring Rapid City, SD<br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Rapid City ended up
being a plethora of fun and exciting things for families to see and do.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">We started at the RV Park office to get
another map, no matter how careful I am with local maps; I always lose the
first one. You would think in only 32 x 8 feet of space that it would be easier
to keep up with things and know where everything is, I have yet to get me and
the others in the family trained in the habit of putting everything back in its
place when done with it. The host at the office gave us a list of fun things to
see/do in their home city.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> The first stop on our list was Dinosaur
Park. This park was free and on a HUGE hillside overlooking both sides of the
city, Rapid City is split into two parts by a ridge of a mountain that offers
spectacular views, especially at night. You only had to climb up 578 steps to
get to the 50ft statues of dinosaurs to climb and play upon. After only being in these higher altitudes
for a couple of days, I still had not acclimated to the lower oxygen levels and
this climb kicked my tail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Finally I had made it to the top, just
in time to witness the lil one climbing upon a triceratops’ head with the most
joyful look of glee and amazement. I think they had a statue of just about
every dinosaur that as kids we read about and dreamed of having one as a pet. I you had enough imagination you could easily
imagine these huge statues being in your own backyard for you to climb on and
slide down their tails; this was exactly what the lil one did. Soon enough it was time to climb back down
the 1096 stairs, by all logic going down should have been easier than the
climb; but the higher altitude wasn’t helping me any. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">We went into the ice cream/gift shop next, me being me; ya’ll know I
was looking for the clearance table first.
They had everything you would typically see in a tourist trap; the
t-shirts, hats and stuffed animals, the rack of science projects that are
marked up twice what you’d pay for them at any other store away from the
historical sight it was tied to. We
ended up talking the lil one into getting the only thing we have room for,
another squished penny stamped with the sight we were visiting; I really have
to remember to get us a book to store these in as we are getting quiet the
collection going.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Next on our list was to explore downtown Rapid City, Main Street to be
exact. I love strolling through these old historical towns that are still just
as they were when they were born, except all the motorized vehicles and paved
roads of course. The lil one is learning
a love of history by these trips too. Our only issue here is that the days of
old in the lil one’s eyes are the days before remote controls and cordless
phones, to think in the ‘old days’ we had to be tied to the wall and change the
channels by getting up and pushing buttons. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Only minutes later and we were parked and walking down Main
Street, enjoying all of the life size bronze statues on just about every street
corner. After the first few blocks we had decided we would walk all the way
down on one side of the street and then cross to see the ones on the other
side, sounded like a solid plan with logic behind it. What I didn’t count on was the blocks upon
blocks of walking we had to do in this climate that I had yet to get used
to. I slowly clambered along behind the
two really energetic excited people that I call family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8dynee2UCY/UaDqQxgYPHI/AAAAAAAAAZY/nd8KmVd1Rgc/s1600/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8dynee2UCY/UaDqQxgYPHI/AAAAAAAAAZY/nd8KmVd1Rgc/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">A few blocks later we found ourselves enjoying the mist from the
fountain at Main Street Square. Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries
quickly grabbed our attention, not to mention it was right across the street so
we didn’t have far to walk. This store
was filled with just about anything you can imagine in a store in the Wild West.
There were books, music, authentic crafts from the locals, and the finest
collection of Native American art; and beads upon beads upon beads, of every
size and color of the rainbow. I started looking at the art works and the
prices on them and started to really believe that I could be that good to get
that price with my own. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> On the other end of this particular block there was an alley, known as
Art Alley. This is the one spot in town that the local graffiti artists could
come and not get arrested. When I turned the corner and the alleyway opened up
in front of us it was like walking into a rainbow of colors. This is definitely
a must see if you are an artist and find yourself in the center of Rapid City,
SD. I wanted to go buy a few cans of
spray paint just so the lil one and I could add our own touches to this
magnificent piece of art that stretched the whole city block.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> One of the locals suggested a hole in the wall ice cream parlor not far
from us, ‘not far from us’ sounded like it was close enough to walk to. After the first 5 or 6 blocks we referenced
the map again and this was our moment we realized that ‘not far from us’ was
actually about 11 very long blocks, we
weren’t even halfway there yet. At this point the smart person would probably
get their car and drive; but not us, we toughed it out and walked. After the hot sun beating down on us for all
of these blocks we had trudged down the cold ice cream hit the spot. This was a very short lived mirage when
reality hit me; we had to walk back all those long city blocks to the truck. We
were absolutely exhausted by the time we pulled back into the RV Park, but we
were already looking forward to the new adventures that awaited us the very next
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Until next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">“The whole object
of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on
one's own country as a foreign land.” -Gilbert
Keith Chesterton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-77067264554358553202013-05-12T09:15:00.000-07:002013-05-12T09:15:18.219-07:00Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore Monuments<br />
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Rushmore, or on the road in front of it. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks they
have stopped the helicopter tours and any walking/rock climbing anywhere close
to the monument, but there are however several trails you can hike inside the
park that offer great views. We learned after arriving that you have to pay to
park, you don’t pay to see Mt Rushmore, you pay to park your vehicle and walk
to a viewing site and tourist shop; needless to say I was NOT paying to see a
national monument, I feel as these should be free for all to enjoy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We
found a safe pull off on the side of the highway to view it, get a short
history lesson and take a few pictures; we always have to pull these pictures
out to remind the lil one where all we have visited over the years. I cannot imagine the work it took to carve
those faces in the side of this huge granite mountainside. To this day the lil
one can still tell you who the first President of the United States was, I’m
very proud to have some knowledge sticking in that little brain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I know I shouldn’t even put these two in the
same writings together but our next stop was the polar opposite of Mt Rushmore,
we left the enemies memorial and went to the heroes memorial; Crazy Horse. With the hubby being part Sioux, we had
admission in to the museum free; this was one of the perks the Sioux people got
for having their land taken all those years ago. The government has tried over the years to
‘make it right’ but in reality all the Sioux want is their land back, their
burial grounds, their ceremonial grounds; all of these treasured grounds that
many died to protect. As a wasi’chu (non-Native) I can imagine what the
Sioux people went through; it would be similar to if someone started tearing
down EVERY SINGLE CHURCH, no matter the denomination; desecrating and ripping
up all of the graves of our loved ones, you watching and not being able to do
anything about it. THAT’S what they went through and for years have fought to
get back, only their land that holds all of their history and traditions within
its borders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> First
off inside the museum was a short video on the history of the huge sculpture
partially carved into the mountainside. The Crazy Horse Memorial was started in
1948 by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear and sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to
honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. The
lil one stayed glued to the screen, asking very mature heartfelt questions on
what happened to the Natives and why the new people had to be so mean. The idea
that someone could be killed for just not believing the same way another person
did was hard for the lil one to understand. I truly value all of these moments
as a homeschooler, the lessons seem to stick when the history has been
experienced firsthand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Next
it was time to step back through time again and explore the museum filled to
the gills with artifacts of the Native people. The walls were covered in
original artworks from days of old; floors were filled with very primitive
tools and weapons. Glass cases filled
with sacred artifacts to simple children’s dolls and toys lined the walls;
there was a teepee set up so the lil one could explore the lifestyle of the
Natives. We spent a good amount of time exploring here and using the knowledge
in front of us as a history lesson for the lil one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Before
we knew it we were turning a corner to go outside and view the monument without
a sheet of glass between us. It was truly an amazing sight to see what had been
accomplished with very limited funding; you see they have refused government
funding from the beginning, relying on contributions and admission fees to fund
this monumental dream and vision. The
hubby had marked one of his bucket list items off, the lil one and I enjoyed
the new sights and history lessons here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEjDiCHaKto/UY---DXFgOI/AAAAAAAAAXs/yPgghNXyuuo/s1600/edited+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEjDiCHaKto/UY---DXFgOI/AAAAAAAAAXs/yPgghNXyuuo/s320/edited+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Red man was the true American. They have almost all gone, but will never be forgotten. The history of how they fought for their country is written in blood, a stain that time cannot grind out. Their God was the Sun, their church all out doorss. Their only book was nature and they all the pages. ~ Charles M. Russell</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Soon
we were in an area that had traditional crafts of the Sioux being performed
right in front of our eyes. There were
beaded necklaces, dream catchers, painted feathers, way too many to remember
and explain here; this is a must see if you ever find yourself in the Black
Hills with a few hours to spare. We fell
in love with every single item that we laid our eyes upon, but of course we
were on a budget of monies and space inside the rig; the memories and pictures
would have to serve as our souvenirs from this trip. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> On
our way to the truck there was one more very interesting stop, the sculptor’s
log studio home and bronze sculpture showroom. There we viewed original
sculptures Korczak had done himself; one was of his wife among other pieces he
had completed. The log cabin studio home
was very small when you thought of raising ten kids in it as they had. On every
available surface you could see pieces of art; many of them completed some in
different stages never to be finished. Grudgingly we took a few last minute
pictures outside of the museum and loaded back into the truck to head back
along the scenic roads back to Rapid City for dinner and bed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Until next time……<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“My lands are where my dead lie buried.” ~~Crazy
Horse</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-70253274615044453862013-05-10T11:09:00.000-07:002013-05-10T11:09:00.638-07:00Custer State Park<br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Our list was very
long, longer than most Christmas lists from very privileged kids; we had caves
of crystals, all of the scenic roads, Sturgis, gold panning, and much, much
more. First off, since it was free, we
decided to journey through Custer State Park; one of the perks of vacationing
during the off-season, free activities that would normally charge an arm and
leg. They boasted seeing buffaloes,
pronghorns, prairie dogs, mountain goats and possibly a mountain lion if you
were lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We
got lost on the way to the park, it just couldn’t all be going our way for too
long. For some reason I just couldn’t read the map correctly and Hwy 16 and Hwy
16A really confused my brain. We did one huge very scenic loop all around the
area we were trying to get to, burnt through a lot of fuel; but luckily we were in
the 4 cylinder Ranger so it wasn’t too bad. To weigh the views we saw with the
fuel we wasted, well that made the waste not seem so bad. We drove through one of
the tunnels carved into the Black Hills mountain, there were several along the
scenic routes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> After going the wrong way on the right
road, a few times I might add, we were both very exasperated and
irritated. We pulled over and asked for
directions, something neither of us wanted to do as we prided ourselves on our
abilities to land in a city with only a map and a phone book (for the addresses
and road names) and NOT get lost; but here we were, confused and turned around
within a few miles of where we needed to be, asking for directions. Come to
find out we had missed our exit on this highway carved into the mountains; we
were on the right path again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> It didn’t take long to arrive at Custer
State Park, was a beautiful ride winding through the Black Hills of South
Dakota. We were thru the gates to the park and enjoying the lay of the land
when we spotted a path into the woods, along a dry creek bed. We quickly got out, grabbed our packs, a
hiking stick and started out down the trail.
Knowing we were in mountain lion country, we knew to keep the lil one in
between us and to get back before dusk; when they were known to roam, hunt and
be active. About ¼ mile down the path,
the hubby graciously reminded me what time of the month it was and I quickly
thought about being mistaken for an animal in heat and ravaged to death by
hooves or teeth; it was spring and breeding season for some after all. Only but a few seconds later did we decide
that we didn’t have enough bullets and that maybe it would be better to venture
out of the truck in a few more days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Back in the truck and back on the more
traveled path of roadways, we started seeing buffaloes right off. The lil one really enjoyed counting how many
we could see and how many calves there were. We knew to give them their space,
we were on their turf, wandering thru their homes after all. There were numerous pictures taken of the
herd as we had to wait for several to cross the road; it is never a good idea
to try to rush an animal that is all muscle and can turn your small truck over
if need be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> Soon we were at a crossroads, we took
another wrong turn here, but in the process saw some new animals that we had
never seen before; later on we found out these were pronghorns. These I would take the chance to get out of
the truck, hanging out the window at times to get pictures; they blended so
well with the prairie grass, they were almost invisible. A quick turn around
and we were venturing farther into Custer State Park, exciting to see some of
the many other residents who called it home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We were looking on every mountaintop for
the mountain goats, around every corner for more buffalo and especially those
cute little prairie dogs. We happened
across the Ranger’s station first and had to run inside for a map of the park
and to see which was the best route to go to see the critters we were looking
for. We met some Yankee folks outside
and were talking to them about the prairie dogs. They mentioned that they had
seen some weird looking chipmunks down this one particular road; they said they
must grow differently over here in the west than in the east. We got a good laugh when we realized they
were probably thinking the prairie dogs were the weird chipmunks that grow
different in this neck of the woods. Out of curiosity we went down the same
road they had, and sure enough there was a colony of prairie dogs out playing
for us to enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;"> We enjoyed the rest of Custer State Park
and all the residents out for visits, on my list of to-see animals is still the
ever elusive mountain lion; to this day I have to see one that isn’t stuffed
and mounted, although thinking about it; if I ever do see one it may just be
the very last animal I ever personally see alive. Soon it was on to the rest of our list of
places to visit, we still had Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">“Not all those who
wander are lost.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 120%;">― J.R.R. Tolkien,
The Fellowship of the Ring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-11508609307155753352013-05-08T09:20:00.000-07:002013-05-10T07:08:43.798-07:00A Short Hop and Skip Away<br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> With less than 60 miles to go to
our destination, we were ready for this leg of the journey to finally be over;
we had after all been on the road for more than a week. I knew that once we landed in Rapid City we
could spread out, relax and enjoy some down time together before daddy had to
go back to work. There was a list of sights to see and things to do, and this
list was growing with all the billboards of local attractions that I hadn’t
found in my research of the area. This would of course all be determined by the
work that was to be found in the area, if you haven’t learned this about us
yet, it is that I target the free family friendly activities. This way of life
allows us to do more as a family together and enjoy more of the simple things
in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
last leg was slow going as we were still steadily climbing higher in elevation
with every hill that we crawled over. Ol’Blue
just wasn’t used to the higher altitude and less oxygen just yet, but she pushed
forward like the workhorse we know she is.
The best sight we saw during these short 60 miles were the edge of the
Badlands, oh how I would have loved to have been able to drive through those
and enjoy that ruggedness on the edge of the prairie, but that would have to
wait, we had other plans for this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> While
researching the area for campgrounds that were centrally located to where the
hubby may possibly be working I found one with a wonderful view of Rapid
City. What I didn’t know was the route
to get to this particular RV Park perched upon a very steep and high
hillside. The hubby managed to get the
rig through downtown without bouncing it off a telephone pole or street sign on
those narrow and congested streets. We were going good, hitting all the lights
on green. Looking ahead there was a huge hillside with a very steep grade to go
up, and only a traffic light between us and this said hill. While trying to get
the momentum up to make it up the hill, we watched the light cycle from green
to yellow and to red; losing every bit of the force we had to help get our huge
rig up the hill. As the light turned we
slowly trudged up the steep grade, crawling at only about 5mph, up, up and up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finally,
we could see the top, luckily the RV Park was ¾ of the way up this hill, and we
didn’t have to crawl all the way to the top. Turning into the park I started
rethinking the wonderful view. You see, in order to have this spectacular sight
outside of every window that seemed like you were perched on the edge of a
cliff, you actually had to carve a flat perch out of the steep hillside; it
felt as if there were a strong wind you would topple down the hill like
dominoes with stopping point in sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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yeppers, I could see a wind blowing hard enough </div>
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to roll us right down this hill into those trees.</div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
first site we parked in was close to the office and all of the traffic, the
only problem was backing the rig up a small incline into this site. We dumped all the transmission fluid once again;
you’d have thought we’d learned our lesson in Bear Creek, AL while attempting
the same feat. After refilling the fluids we could finally get backed in and
set up, ready to rest for a bit and enjoy this magnificent view laid out all
around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVN_s1KMIuk/UYz0H6bONkI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/tT8qoYzFJ6E/s1600/1336324725938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVN_s1KMIuk/UYz0H6bONkI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/tT8qoYzFJ6E/s320/1336324725938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">believe it or not but there were actually 5-7 sites below us, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"> if they were parked there, you'd see their rooftops, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"> pretty steep hill to carve an RV Park into</span></span>
</div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was time to plan out our weekend and be the tourists for a few days before
getting serious again. The lil one had acquired
a habit of looking at all the brochure racks in each new city and state that we
landed in, this is where we got a lot of our maps and information about the new
area; talking to the locals helps a lot too. The front desk was helpful too;
they informed us that the state and national parks were free for the next week;
until their summer season kicked off. It
didn’t take much to decide where we were headed next. On our list to do was
Custer State Park to see the buffalo, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore for the history
and lessons to be learned there. It was
time to rest and relax with dinner and a movie and dream of the sights to be
seen in the very near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Travel makes one modest. You see
what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">― Gustave Flaubert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-37967879083221568452013-05-05T07:55:00.000-07:002013-05-10T07:19:44.357-07:00Free Ice Water<br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After we pulled into the little
town of Wall, SD, got the rig parked,
the dog walked and a light jacket tied
around our waists, just in case; we were ready to tackle this adventure.
There are not too many stops that we make that are pure fun, but this
particular one was. The lil one was jumping up and down for joy, ecstatic about
the next amazing sight around the next corner; after the 80ft dinosaur you
wouldn’t think that there would be much more, but you’d also be wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RncRKebBdbQ/UYZucmhxEeI/AAAAAAAAAUI/hL8trpQOlaQ/s1600/edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RncRKebBdbQ/UYZucmhxEeI/AAAAAAAAAUI/hL8trpQOlaQ/s320/edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was like stepping thru a porthole in the time warp continuum. We were transported back to the horse and
buggy days of old; if not for all the modern day gas guzzlers parked down Main
Street, you could easily imagine the sound of the very first automobile
chugging down the street. There stood the huge now famous Wall Drug Store in
all its glory, hard to imagine what had now become a city block of history and
tourism started out as a small one room drug store with a curtain hanging to
make room for living quarters; but it had. In the days of old, Wall was one of
the first towns you would come to after traveling west across a scorching
prairie. To draw in the customers, to a town of only 326 poor people in the
middle of nowhere, they came up with one of the best ideas ever. They offered
the weary and hot travelers free </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">ice cold </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">water; not
sure if it would work or not. Before
they got all the signs up along the highway, they had an onslaught of
customers; looking for free ice cold water and buying ice cream cones and such
also. It was a brilliant idea, to this day they draw in twenty thousand people
on any given day of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Our
first stop was in the old pharmacy, this was truly like walking thru time. The
walls were filled with what you would’ve have seen in the 30’s when they first
opened. Every kind of medicine in its original packaging was truly neat to look
at, the lil one loved the rows and rows of candy bins to scoop out and
weigh. We picked up our free bumper
sticker and a map, it was amazing at how it had grown from this one room to a
city block of treasures to admire and explore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Next
on our list was to try a buffalo burger, amazingly they were a lot cheaper than
you would expect in a tourist trap such as this. I think all three of us ate for under $20,
considering where we’ve been and some of the prices we’ve paid, this was cheap
as dirt. While enjoying our burgers we
also enjoyed the artwork and old firearms hung on every available space of
wall. In the center of the room, dotted
among the tables were larger than life wood carvings of a few of the pioneers
and heroes of the old west; there were all the great Indian Chiefs in one room
and the cowboys we’ve all read about growing up in another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghbHFMSEPc0/UY0AKoWXUEI/AAAAAAAAAVo/0lpg6WqYyQU/s1600/561850_2684459049920_739360771_n+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghbHFMSEPc0/UY0AKoWXUEI/AAAAAAAAAVo/0lpg6WqYyQU/s320/561850_2684459049920_739360771_n+edited.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRMtPqLRa5E/UY0APkh1cwI/AAAAAAAAAVw/EdAQcqvk7bs/s1600/576705_2684452289751_1381567560_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRMtPqLRa5E/UY0APkh1cwI/AAAAAAAAAVw/EdAQcqvk7bs/s320/576705_2684452289751_1381567560_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Once
lunch was over it was time to venture outdoors to see all the photo ops
associated with South Dakota. We ran
from one to the other like little kids in a candy store. There were wood
cutouts to make it look like you were in a teepee, an old wagon you could ‘drive’,
a jackelope to ride, a miniature Mount Rushmore; the list goes on and on, just
inside the door there was even a roaring T-Rex to get a picture with.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LT-bVHqrh9Y/UY0AR5lbJXI/AAAAAAAAAV4/RkHsVIKZ5ZQ/s1600/148754_2684462730012_1358759728_n+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LT-bVHqrh9Y/UY0AR5lbJXI/AAAAAAAAAV4/RkHsVIKZ5ZQ/s320/148754_2684462730012_1358759728_n+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-LYAA1vr3c/UY0AVgKBkcI/AAAAAAAAAWI/34INsigaRXY/s1600/545676_2684508891166_1428996445_n+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-LYAA1vr3c/UY0AVgKBkcI/AAAAAAAAAWI/34INsigaRXY/s320/545676_2684508891166_1428996445_n+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Being
the off season for tourists in these parts for a few more weeks the gold mining
attraction wasn’t up and running just yet.
The shooting gallery was however taking as many quarters as you could
feed it. It seemed that around every
corner and in every room there was something completely different to explore
but also all of it was tied to the western days of past; it was truly a
treasure hunt for the lil one to see what could be learned around the next
bend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjjLyfL_Sh0/UY0ATnwIgxI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RF2YDv3sKSA/s1600/318102_2684463290026_113058561_n+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjjLyfL_Sh0/UY0ATnwIgxI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RF2YDv3sKSA/s320/318102_2684463290026_113058561_n+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yUU5dkesR8/UY0AYYFt2wI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/UzY9M4F7260/s1600/582110_2684525651585_2022069535_n+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yUU5dkesR8/UY0AYYFt2wI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/UzY9M4F7260/s320/582110_2684525651585_2022069535_n+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Segoe Print;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: Segoe Print;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> We
spent hours inside all these buildings linked together to form a city block of
pure family enjoyment. The lil one loved
all of the souvenir and gift shops, wanting to get a whole outfit to look like
someone from the Wild West; but after seeing how much all of this would cost,
we all decided we would save those dollars and enjoy doing more things together
as a family. Soon we remembered to look
at the time and realized it was time to leave this little oasis in the middle
of nowhere and get back to our rig and dog that misses us terribly when we’re
not in his sight. It wasn’t long before
we were loaded up and ready to hit the road again, headed west towards Rapid
City and the Black Hills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You realize when you travel how
truly isolated some places are, and how different they are from each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">John Geary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-34479134685839863812013-04-07T21:06:00.001-07:002013-04-18T05:41:46.683-07:00Rolling Hills of I90<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After 1600 miles from our starting point in
Florida, we were ready to tackle the last 350 miles and land in our vacation
spot of Rapid City, SD for the rest of the summer. This leg of the journey turned out to be a
beautiful ride with rolling hills of prairie grasses, baled hay, and many
horses and cows. We had anticipated it
to be a long drawn out ride from the East side of South Dakota to the very West
side, especially after all the days we had already been on the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We were absolutely positively right!! During those very long 350 miles of barren
road the lil one and I started making up games with the road signs. Of course, they were all variations of ‘I Spy’
in one way or another. I’ll tell ya, you
can get to know someone when you go on a road trip with them; but if you want
to REALLY get to know them, go on a VERY LONG road trip with them. Don’t get me wrong, I knew my lil one to a
tee, but our lil one doesn’t know how our lives were growing up; you should see
the eyes light up and the smile we get.
We hear “Really?” quiet often as we tell stories of our childhoods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This seemed to go on for hours, there were only so
many times you could listen to your favorite cd’s and belt out the parts that
we knew without a care in the world. Zooming
along America’s Interstates with the wind in your hair, the sun on your face
and one of your most favorite people on the Earth riding along by your side;
headed to a whole new adventure for the summer; life couldn’t get any sweeter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5ZPP2zgMG8/UWI9lJDfYnI/AAAAAAAAATU/V7yh_MLBgy4/s1600/535111_2684240444455_1009661878_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5ZPP2zgMG8/UWI9lJDfYnI/AAAAAAAAATU/V7yh_MLBgy4/s320/535111_2684240444455_1009661878_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We were going along at a pretty good speed and all
of a sudden we would hit a slow incline that seemed to go up and up forever. These rolling hills were a pain, ol’Blue didn’t
like this one bit; we would go from 65 mph to 40 mph in a heartbeat. Our mantra became “Slow and Steady, Slow and
Steady”; after a while “Oh great! Another one!” became the lil one’s favorite
reply to the steep hills we were climbing.
I personally can’t tell you how many times I prayed that day, hoping one
of the 18 or 4 wheelers wouldn’t ram right into my tailpipe when we were forced
to slow for the steeper grades, but we survived and ol’Blue was a trooper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JT1pQGL334/UWI_P8aoxSI/AAAAAAAAATc/zk3OnaF5vCM/s1600/edited.gasnow.sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JT1pQGL334/UWI_P8aoxSI/AAAAAAAAATc/zk3OnaF5vCM/s320/edited.gasnow.sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gas now, Or gas can later."</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We learned that gas stations were very few and
very far between. If we were on our
second tank and came across a gas station, we were stopping and topping off, no
matter what. You just never knew exactly
how far and how many long slow diesel burning hills there were between you and
the next truck stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It wasn’t too long before we started seeing signs
for Wall Drug. I don’t mean every 100
miles you see a sign, I mean every 3-5 miles you see a sign. I only wish I had taken more pictures of the
signs. We could tell when we were
getting closer; it was like all the signs for Disney when we turned onto Epcot
Center Dr., if you can imagine that.
Only about a 100 more miles to go and we would be there, to Wall Drug
that is; we still had a ways to go before landing in the Black Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Soon enough, there was an 80 ft. dinosaur sticking
his head over the very distant horizon.
It didn’t take long before the exit in front of the giant green 80 ft. brachiosaurus
came into view and the lil one’s eyes lit up again; we were getting good at
getting this reaction. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We had landed at
Wall Drug, one of the many unplanned, unexpected stops that almost always go
along with road trips. They had RV parking;
it was cool enough to leave the dog in the fifth wheel and go enjoy lunch and
just being a tourist for a few hours. I
was looking forward to stretching the legs and filling our bellies, not to
mention pump a little bit more knowledge into the lil one’s brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time....</span></div>
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Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030022087298905013.post-90546058276374038892013-04-04T21:21:00.001-07:002013-04-04T21:21:50.550-07:00Sticking Our Toes in the Falls<br />
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<b><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Sticking
Our Toes in the Falls<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> After a short trip through Sioux
Falls we arrived at the waterfalls the town is known and named for. We pulled up to a beautiful park with rolling
lush green hills leading down to the river, everywhere in the park were huge
outcroppings of rocks. There were
walking and biking paths all over the park.
It just so happened that the time of year that we visited Falls Park,
the water level was really low; not surprising after a record drought the year
before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a look around this massive, beautiful park, we quickly decided to make our way
to the river’s edge.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing we may not
be back in this area for years, I just had to get pictures of the lil one
sticking the feets in the cold, chilly waters of Sioux Falls.</span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">With the water levels down it wasn’t hard to
hopscotch across the individual falls to explore all the pools created.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
exploring every one of the Falls that we could easily get to, we began the hike
around the park to see what else it had to offer. Across the river, there was an old hydraulic
plant turned café, being the off season for tourist, it was closed. Just next to this was the Queen Bee Mill,
long ago closed, but a beautiful structure in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> Our
next stop in the park was the five story viewing tower and visitor center, as
we glanced around we saw a busload of kids running toward the entrance. Me
being me, I quickly closed the elevator doors to beat them to the top, there
was no way I was going to be locked in an elevator with 10 screaming kids that
weren’t ours. Upon exiting the elevator
we were met with a 360˚ view of Falls Park that was absolutely
breathtaking. Imagine gentle rolling
slopes with the greenest grass, a few beautiful rocks placed here and there;
not to mention the meandering Big Sioux River cascading over multiple waterfalls. In my eyes it is one of many gorgeous sites
placed here by our Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> We
went back down by the stairs this time, the lil one’s choice, and stopped in at
the gift shop. If you know me, you know
I’m a sucker for a clearance rack; and they had one! The lil one and I both found souvenirs, a
stuffed husky pup and a Sioux Falls T-shirt. After talking with the sweet ladies running
the shop we found out that they offered a free trolley ride through downtown. Free!! Yep we were in line for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
trolley driver was very knowledgeable about the town and area, we even got a
history lesson as we waited, the lil one soaking up every word. We only had a few minutes to wait and we were
off on another adventure. The ride was
pleasant, a little bumpy; I’ve found that in the colder climates it is a lot
harder to keep the roadways maintained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> They
have bronze statues EVERYWHERE we’ve been, not really understanding why at the
moment but they are neat to look at. If
you take the time to read each plaque attached you will actually learn a few
things along the way. There was even a
building named after the lil one, had the first name we chose right on the side
of the building; of course we had to point this out, boy did that bring out a
smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> Before
we knew it, it was time to get back to the fifth wheel and prepare our meal for
the evening, take the dog out, showers and some quiet time. Knowing that we may not be back for a few
years I’m glad we got to see the highlights and stick our toes in Sioux
Falls. It turned out to be a very
relaxing weekend before hitting the road again, this time headed from the east
of SD to the west side of the state; Rapid City and the Black Hills being our next
destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Segoe Print'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">A vacation is having nothing to do
and all day to do it in. ~Robert Orben<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Down below ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09677160066970273723noreply@blogger.com0