The Journey begins, part 10

Our next stop was Cambridge, MA on Oct. 24.  If you've ever been to the Boston area you would know it's no place for a 35' motorhome!  With winter coming on, it was getting harder to find RV parks that were still opened.  We found a spot in Middleborough, MA at a KOA.  Just a couple of blocks away was a kennel for Krikkit.  This would be the first time we had both been able to be present for Samira's birthday, her fourth.

A chillin' day

Our spot at Trailside RV Park

We didn't do much today.  We did start planning a little for fall and winter.   We both missed our morning walk but hit the Butterfly Trail after dinner.  It sprinkled a little at that time, just enough to produce a beautiful rainbow. I didn't take my camera, and we weren't walking together, so Pat didn't think to take a picture. So here's your view: 🌈.

Sunny, mid 70's, breezy--perfect day

We ordered stickers tonight for our RV and car.  One way to advertise our blog to the RV world.  We should get the proofs on Mon. and they should be ready later in the week.  Neither of us are good at getting things on straight so we'll see!

Fixes and Fails - Jack pads

When we first started in Grain Valley, we were in a site that was gravel and the jack pads did OK, but tended to sink into the gravel a bit.  When we visited our son in Houston, I didn't look real close and the jack was right on the edge of the concrete pad, so it didn't just sink, it slipped off the edge and bent the pad. 

Taking it easy isn't so much fun

I'm suppose to take it easy today after an upper  GI scope, which got me a drink from sonic and a cinnamon/raisin biscuit from Hardee's.  Not sure what brought that on.  Hadn't had one of those since we lived in Palmyra.  Pat even ate one.

Back at it...

We went for a ride today.  Near Bass Pro in Independence there's Water Falls park with, surprisingly enough, a waterfall.  It's man-made.  You'll have to use your imagination as they didn't have the water going!

Now I'm not allowed to use the convection oven!

First I was banned from power equipment.  The way I saw it the cord was in the way of the power hedge clippers anyway.  Then they wouldn't let me help with Christmas lights.  Honestly, I barely felt the shock.  Anyone could run over a vacuum cord, right?  I didn't make much of a case for myself when, the day after Pat and Chris spent an entire afternoon replacing the retractable cord, I did it again.  I was ok with a cord repair the second time, and obviously the retractable part wasn't meant to be. Now, by the way, I have a cordless vacuum.

The Journey begins, part 9

We arrived at Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Camping, near Freeport, Maine, Oct. 18.  Their power was out there too, so we we got some use out of our generator.  In fact, generators were running everywhere!

RV driving not for me!

Longview Farms 48 room mansion

When we bought the RV I made it clear I wouldn't drive nor take care of the "stinky slinky."  First, and last time, to drive the RV today.  My teacher was fired before we left our spot (but I still love him). Something about me not having the brake on hard enough and we were rolling forward, and he YELLED at me, so I started out in tears. 

Butterfly Trail

Across from our our RV park is a nice figure 8 trail that's about a mile long.  Butterfly Trail goes around what looks like 2 ponds, but is actually just one.  We spent a lot of time last spring walking the asphalt trail and also rode our bikes there frequently.  We spent our time watching the goslings in a goose family grow. 

Fixes and Fails - Internet access

Our Thor Palazzo 33.2 has a Winegard Connect 2.0 4G2 (4G LTE + WiFi Extender), which is used to amplify over the air TV signals as well as provide WiFi internet.

A beautiful little trail on Lake Remembrance

Lake Remembrance is across the interstate and down about 1 mile from our RV Park in Gregory O. Grounds Park.  It is managed by Blue Springs, MO and the Missouri Conservation Department.  Several fishermen could be found along the shoreline, along with a few joggers and those enjoying the scenery.  The asphalt trail doesn't circle the 53 acre lake, although that would be nice, but it does follow the lake.  One end starts by the parking area and the other end is further down the interstate.  We followed just one of the side trails and calculated that we walked about 3 miles from one end to the other and back.  One of the side trails leads to a dog park.  It was a nice quiet walk, with lots of smelling for Krikkit.

Errands

With a dog in 300 sq. ft., it can get a little smelly in here, and rather quickly! Fortunately,  Pat and I don't contribute to that smell, lol.  We invested in a Hathaspace, smart true HEPA air purifier, https://hathaspace.com/.  Excited that it arrived today.  

Appointments

I lived through my MRI this morning.  I know surprising. I know it's irrational but...  So glad that's done, and I'm sure they are just as glad for me to be done.  He said it was a new state-of-the-art-machine (they always say that) but it was done in 18 minutes!

The Journey began, part 8

On Oct. 11 we left Timberland Campground for Bass Harbor Campground in Maine.  We were having problems finding campgrounds as many start closing for the season mid October.

A final farewell tour, #13 out of 16 things to see in Carthage

We headed to Central Park in Carthage this afternoon to see, according to one internet site, #13 out of 16 things to see in Carthage.  What was it?  A large sculpture of Marlin Perkins, who was born in Carthage in 1905. He died in 1986 in St. Louis but is buried in Park Cemetery in Carthage.  For those of you who don't know, he was host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom for over 20 years. He was a zoologist and had been director of the St. Louis Zoo.

Winding down

Precious Moments Chapel, Carthage, MO

THURSDAY:

3 more nights here!  This may have been one of the nicest days we've had, 79°, partly cloudy to sunny, and a fantastic breeze!  Took advantage of the day and gave Krikkit a good bath.  Lots of suds!  She may not appreciate it, but we sure do.  She layed outside on her bed and sun/wind dried.

Fixes and Fails - Diesel fuel discount

As you can imagine with getting around 10 mpg, we can go through a lot of diesel, but the bigger issue is trying to navigate a 35' RV towing a car around the gas pumps at your average filling station.  So, we try to use the trucker pumps, which will not take a standard credit card.

Well, I guess the sun did come out...finally!

The rain quit around 3 and we finally saw sun after 4.  Yesterday it projected a relatively dry day.  It was in the 50's most of the day and I think it was a few degrees shy of the supposed 75°high.

Took advantage of the rain day and did laundry--lots of it.  We played gin rummy this afternoon.

Camp Mi Casa

Dinner with the Bostonians tonight.  Dinosaur movies appeared to be a hit at their house today.  It's so nice to spend time with them!  It was International Limerick day, so I wrote "somewhat of a Limerick" about each of the kids and read it to them.  I'll have to see what holiday, and I use that term loosely, falls on next Tuesday.

A return home

Sunday we went to Joplin and followed Route 66 west.  We found some interesting things, but Galena, KS definitely promoted the historic route better than any other.  Really enjoyed our trip through that town.  Galena is the oldest mining town in Kansas.  It is named after the mineral "galena," a lead sulfide ore that was mined there.  The town inspired Disney-Pixar's hit film Cars.

The Jouney began, part 7.

Fall Colors in Gorham, NH

On October 2 we arrived at Quechee State Park, Quechee, Vermont.

Here is Quechee gorge, from the top and the bottom.  This is a beautiful Vermont park.  The leaves were just starting to change.  It got really cold there.  No hook-ups so we practicing cold weather camping without power.  Normally our motto is if it's too cold OR too hot we move on!

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day to

My wonderful Mother-in-law, Mary

And

My two wonderful daughter-in-laws,

Zia and Toni

I hope you all have a great day!
Missing my Mom

💗🌷💗

Auto tour of Route 66

Breezy and a little chilly today so we decided to take an auto tour of Route 66 near Carthage, https://www.theroute-66.com/carthage.html#attractions.  I wanted to see some of the old businesses that are still there, although many are "repurposed."  I had heard a lot about Red Oak II and hoped we would have time to see what it was about.

Fixes and Fails - LiFePO4 Lithium upgrade part 2

We were staying at Dellanera RV park on the beach in Galveston and since we have a son in the Houston area, who is an Electrical Engineer by training, I invited him to help me.  Actually, I think I begged!

A different stretch of the Ruby Jack Rail Trail

We walked a different section of the Ruby Jack Rail Trail today, heading West towards Carl Junction, MO.  It was an older, but wider section than the one we were on before that headed towards Carthage.  It too was a well packed limestone and one of the best drained rail trails we've been on.

Tues. Boston Zoom dinner

Tuesday dinner with Josh and his family.  They had burgers, sweet potato fries(yum), crackle cookies and we had hot wings.  Guess we both missed Cinco de Mayo!  I need to pay more attention to dates.  Tonight we learned about Lego creations, ordinary items aren't necessarily what we thought they were, and floating heads!  What a great way to spend the evening!  Masks are required in Boston and I am so proud of my 2 masked bandits for sewing their own masks.

Ann cooks!

Woke up to sunshine and then the rain came.  Pretty hard for while, then just sprinkles here and there.  Severe weather predicted for after 5 p.m.

The Journey began, part 6...

We left Four Mile Creek State Park Sept. 26 headed for Bruce Creek Campground in Dolgeville, NY.  We were going hunting for Herkimer Diamonds, which are really just quartz.  5 miles from the campground the "stop engine" light came on and we entered hobble mode, which allowed us to go a whopping 5 mph.  We were fortunately on the edge of Fairfield, NY.  No more than a blip on the map I walked into town and the Highway Department said we could spend the night down the road from them.

Quiet day

We didn't do much today.   People are out more on the weekends, so we try to stay home and do our exploring during the week.  Laundry, made a few more face masks of different kinds to see if we like one better than the other, and picked up our first carry-out order in weeks--pizza!  Very tasty.

Parks and paths--we lived up to our name the past two days!

FRIDAY Pat fixed us scrambled eggs with cheese and sausage for brunch.  It had been on our list, but thanks to the description by my sister-in-law, Sally, we packed some snacks (which we didn't eat) and went to the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin, MO, about a 20 minute drive from here.