Day 11

........Hi everyone, Looks like it warmed up a bit in Minnesota. At least better than 27 below!!

We did some shopping today. Mel needed things from the hardware store. Next door is a garden shop so of course I HAD to get a flower basket. I washed cloths and then we got groceries.

We went for a walk around the RV park and then rode our bikes for a short time. I fell off mine..... Didn't hurt anything. I had to stop for a car and tipped. I can't reach the ground without tipping the bike and my shoe got caught. Maybe if I would ride more often I would figure it out. I hope no body was looking.

There is a couple here that made their own camper. They have a 1965 White truck pulling a 1946 Trailmobile trailer. Their traveling home is so neat. They are from Michigan.

Molly got a bath today. She is white again.

There was a beautiful sunset tonight. I could watch it while making supper.

Good night, God Bless

Day 10, Hidden Beaches, Blythe CA

#1 & 2... out our window...Colorado River

#3...Pat & Leroy Groh, They are full timers... from Mpls.

#4... The Ronkins from Kenyon. Camps in Wellton, AZ

#5... My cousin, Ed Qualle. from Patagonia, AZ

Click on picture to inlarge

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Hello everyone. We made it. We are sitting on the banks of the Colorado river.

I spent most of the day cleaning up the camper. We sure had a mess while traveling.

Mel got the outside set up. Lawn chairs, rug, grill, etc.

Showers, supper and sit.

Yes, our TV works here. Both of them. Can't get the local channels though. Not sure why.

We are suppose to. I see that I am missing the cancer telethon.

There is a Blue Grass concert not far from here so this camp ground is full of folks that go to that. A lot of them will go in a couple of days. Tomorrow will be laundry and not sure what else. The pictures are from yesterdays visits. Then what we see out our windows.

Good night & God Bless

Day 9, Quartzsite, AZ

We are about a half hour from our RV Park in Blythe. We will sleep here and go in the morning to get parked and set up. It has been a long but fun day. We spent the afternoon with friends at their campsite in Wellton, AZ. We met more friends in Yuma for dinner and visited for 3 hrs. I will put up pictures tomorrow.
Good night - Keep warm, we are! ;-)

Day 8, Gila Bend AZ

It has been a big day. We found the RV service place that would fix out Dish antenna... King Dome, and we were even there a half hour early. But the guy says we can't fix it. So why did they give us an appointment?....... Then he said the satellite guy wouldn't be in until afternoon........ So why did they make the appointment for 9 am? We just unhooked and went on our way.Just told them to fix it!!
We went to Patagonia and had coffee with my cousin, Ed Qualle. On South to check out Nogales. We shopped a bit then headed back to Tucson and our camper.
Guess what .......... The TV was on.....both of them. The service guy was gone so we have no idea what he did. We hooked up again and paid the bill. On down the road.
We stopped for the night in Gila Bend. Anxiously turning on the TV....... it don't work!
Mel gave up and went to bed. I tried a few things and walla..... We have TV!!!
Good night and God Bless.

Day 7, Sunny Tucson

We are here, And it is so nice. It was 70* today. I wish all of you could be here with us instead of the unbelievable cold.

We are parked in a casino parking lot. We met my school friend Jackie and her husband Don for dinner here. We had such a nice visit. They are from Rochester and live here for 6 months of the year.

Molly stayed alone in the camper for the first time. No damage done but she was sure we left her forever. Poor baby - so mistreated!! ha

We changed our appointment to tomorrow morning to get our satellite antenna fixed.

I hope they can do it. I miss TV in the evenings.

Good night & God Bless

Day 6, Lordsburg NM

Behind this hill is White Sands Missile base

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It was 63 degrees today. No coat weather!!! I just had to say that :-)

We didn't really see much of interest during our travels. Pretty scenery with the mountains

all around. We finally found a McDonalds and had Egg McMuffins for breakfast.

We got here about 3 this afternoon. Parked at the Flying J Truck stop. We filled our water tank for the first time but will have to dump and refill tomorrow. This one mostly just cleaned out the anti freeze. We had showers and then a nice supper in the restaurant.

Mel even got the pickup windows washed.

It is so warm that Mel went to get some ice cream!

Good night and God Bless

Day 5, Carrizozo NM (I wonder how they pronounce this)

We're just drifting along with the tumbling tumble weeds!!!!

Hi there,
Baby its cold outside. We were so thinking we would be in warm country by now but not. It has been very very windy all day. and only 33 degrees now.
There was even snow in the ditches near Duran NM,
Checking on AZ temps we will be fine. It is in the 70's there.
We have an appointment to have our satellite dish fixed on Friday in Tucson. I missed my favorite show already. If anyone watched "24" let me know what happened.
We traveled hwy 54 all day and not much to see but open land and little towns with nothing open anymore. No restaurants at all. Only post offices and schools. Maybe a fix it shop or two. McDonald's should open along there and make a fortune!!
We did see 2 big feed lots. At least a mile long and cattle as far back as we could see.

I hope none of you are in the snow storm up there. Stay warm!!
Take care and God Bless.

Day 4, Guymom OK

What a difference a day makes!!! Speirs driveway on Saturday and Kansas on Sunday.

Greetings from the panhandle of OK.

It was a good day. No problems. It sure was good not to wear a heavy coat.
The rivers are running. no ice. Alfalfa showing green in the fields.

This morning we stopped for a few groceries. I brought a lot along from home so didn't need much. Made some lunch and headed out. We ate out tonight. I had catfish. It was really good.

Not much else going on. We will get to New Mexico tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping in.
Good night

Day 3, Emporia, KS

Hello again, We filled up with fuel and LP then had supper. Mel tried our new satalite dish. But.... It doesn't work!!! I spent about an hour with the tech but still don't work. So frustrating. It worked at home. So I guess we will have to find a King Dome dealer and see if they can do anything with it.

I am listing to XM radio. Mel and Molly went to bed.

I will add some pictures in a few days.

Thank you Terri & Bob for a great weekend.
Good night

Hello, We are on our way! Into MO a few miles. We had a great time at Terri and Bob's in Des Moines but the snow wanted to stay with us. We got about 6 inches last night. So we got a late start today waiting for the roads to clear. Terri and Mel shoveled their long driveway. It took them a couple hours. No snow where we are now. Molly had such fun chasing Aidans kittys. It is kind of hard to type when going down the road so will write again tonight. bye

January 2 in Dexter

Welcome friends,

Happy New Year!



We had hoped to leave today but circumstances wouldn't allow. So we will be on the road next Friday. The 9th.

Our semi had some problems so it is in the shop. I am glad it happened before we left.

It is suppose to be done Monday or Tuesday.



We will spend some time at Terri and Bobs in Des Moines and head south on Sat.



Thanks for coming over. Will write again in a few days.

Diane

Home again

Hello family and friends,

We are home!

Molly got a bath almost first thing. I think half of AZ was on her.

We have been visiting with family and getting all kinds of hugs from them and the grandkids. I sure missed that.

Now to get the camper unpacked and cleaned. We did get all my plants in and the dirty cloths but that's about all.

Tomorrow will be busy too as we need groceries. Will head for Rochester right after church.

Funny how things seem so different. I even forgot how to run the remote for the TV.

We visited Mel's Dad too. He seen us way across the room with a wave and a big smile. He is in a nursing home now. Almost 95 years old. He fell and broke his pelvis right after we left. We felt so bad. But he is doing ok. Not liking the nursing home but doing ok.

We had such a wonderful trip with memories to last a life time. I have about 1500 pictures to print out. That is one bad thing about a digital camera. I take and take and take. Maybe only half of them will be worth printing out. Come over and see them.

This will probably be my last post. I thank all of you for your visits. I hope you continue with emails.

Love to all.

Take care and God Bless

Diane, Mel, & Molly

Day 58 - Hills, corn, & SNOW!

Yes, we are in Iowa.

Dinner with family. Now that's the best part of a vacation.

We got to Des Moines about 6:00 today. Parked in Wal Mart. Terri, Bob and Aidan met us here and took us out to Outback Steak House. We even had a blooming onion. mmm was that good. (thank you Bob and Terri) Amanda flew to NY today...all by herself. She will spend Easter with Bob's family.

It was northern MO when we seen some snow on the side hills. a little more in Iowa. The rivers and ponds were still froze. Showing some melt on the edges. Big snow piles here in the parking lot. It was 60 though so a nice day. So not really any snow other than what the snow plow piled up.

We visited the birth place of Jessie and Frank James in Kearney, MO. Another interesting museum. This is the house and the museum was in a different building.

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Iowa even had hills. Finally seen woods and corn fields too.

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Tomorrow we are getting our camper winterized. With the 20 degree nights we don't want to take the chance of freezing up the pipes. Then home... Oh the joy!!!!

Good night and God Bless

PS... Seen gas for $3.36 and fuel for $3.96

Day 57 - Kansas

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The Flint Hills of Kansas. (click on pictures to enlarge)...........

....Hello,

We are in Kansas City MO. Same place we spent the second night of our trip. Only now there isn't any snow and ice.

Just so amazing how every state has its own look.

Do you remember the news last year of a tornado taking the whole town of Greensburg KS?

We went threw it and it is still really sad. Lot of houses are in process of rebuilding but still lots of ground were nothing or no one came back. Trees are down or broken for miles around.

Holes in the ground where once a basement was. Red Cross hospital tents are still there.

We stopped for lunch in Pratt KS. Seen fuel for $3.95. We paid $3.79 I don't pay to much attention for the gas price but one was $3.29.

I was lazy for supper and we had Big Macs and malts.

Good night and God Bless

*****Big hugs to grand daughter, Amanda, for a great report card!!

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Seen some really wild lawn ornaments. This guy really had some imagination...

Day 56 - Going home

Hi there,

We are in a truck stop in Mead KS. Mead is about 50 miles into Kansas from Oklahoma.

I am still thrilled with the scenery. I want to finish the book I am reading but just to much to look at out the window.

For some reason I haven't been able to get into my email all day. Yahoo wouldn't open no matter what way I tried. I haven't checked yet tonight. So if you have left me emails you know why I haven't answered.

Just north of Albuquerque there was remnets of snow on the ground. uffda... I wasn't ready to see snow yet anyplace but the mountain tops .

We were on route 66 a few times. Seen a gas station called Kicks 66. It was a Philips 66 on Rt 66. Neat.....(remember the song... Get Your Kicks on Route 66 ?)

Mel is so thrilled with his pickup. It goes right up the big hills with ease. We have been getting over 12 mpg. Fuel is $3.89 here.

We went threw a town in OK that wasn't much more than a ghost town. Old abandoned buildings and cars. Although there were some people around. There was an antique store still full of stuff but closed. I wish we could have got in there.

We seen oil wells, windmills, wheat fields, & a gigantic cattle lot. Must have been thousands of cattle ready to be made into T-bones. And, of course, hills and rocks and flowers and..........

We didn't stop at anyplace important. Just stopped when Molly asked us too and for lunch and fuel.

We will try to make it to Kansas City tomorrow. Unless we find places to stop and slow us down.... :-)

Good night and God Bless.

Day 55 - Beautiful New Mexico

I have electricity now so will post yesterdays page again. My battery went dead last night just as the pictures were downloading.






Hello,



What a beautiful sight seeing trip we had today. I always like NM and now I even like it more.



The AZ desert was starting to bloom. (see picture taken yesterday) I wish there was more but a little early yet.



We stopped at a War Memorial that was so nice. It was a short wall with all the names and behind the wall was a huge walk way shaped in a star. It had plaques all around with a short story of all the wars.



My words can't describe the beauty in the hills and mountains. I took so many pictures. I wish I could show them all to you. You will just have to come over and see.



We were in Truth or Consequence NM and went threw a museum there. Lots of Indian things and a tribute to the TV show called Truth or Consequence. So much to look at in there.



Picture is of Geronimo. The town itself was pretty neat.



Then we got to Albuquerque at dusk. Mel drove up a hill to show me the city lights. Just awesome. as far and you could see... both ways. My camera doesn't take good pictures of night lights but here is one from a little earlier. (see picture)



I am running out of battery again so will say good night and God Bless

Day 54 - Homeward bound

Jackie and Don and ..... Who is that man in the black hat??? :-)


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Hi there, I don't have much battery so will make it short again.
I wish it would have lasted another week. Didn't want to start the generator just for the computer.

We are in Deming NM. Didn't get to far today. We met Jackie and Don just south of Tucson.
We had lunch and a good visit. They are really enjoying their new winter home.

Heading out early in the morning. Parked in a Wal Mart lot for the night.

So good night all. See you tomorrow. I can plug into the pickup so will have more power.

God Bless.

DAY 53 - On the road again

Hello,

We are in Tucson. We will spend the night at the casino. Meeting friends Jackie and Don for lunch here at 11:30 tomorrow. We will head north from here.
It was hard saying good bye to A.G. & Audrey. We had such a good time with them.
They went north and we went SE.
We just enjoyed the scenery while traveling today. The desert is starting to bloom.
I have to make this short. My computer battery is almost gone. I will have to replace it when we get home. I only get about a half hour use from it. We didn't start the generator so I don't have electricity either.
See you tomorrow night.
God Bless

Day 52 - Last night in CA

We seen the Partridge Family bus today. Welllll, something like that!! . ................
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A.G. and Mel deep in something!!


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Perfect weather today. Thinking about the cold in Minnesota. Should we head for home? Should we stay another week? I say it is warming up there. Mel said I hope so. Mel is already planning for next year. He thinks we will stay here much longer . (I don't think so.)


But we will start off tomorrow. We got a good start on packing things and will finish in the morning. Hope to leave here by noon and be in Tucson by tomorrow evening.





We were treated to a wonderful Beef and pork roast supper with all the trimmings. Audrey really cooked up a good meal. We ate on the picnic table and enjoyed the view along with the great meal. She made grapefruit pie for desert. Yes, you read right..... Grapefruit Pie. And was it good!! Thank you Audrey and A.G too.





I did get our clothes washed today. Also a few groceries for our trip.

See you in Tucson......

Good night and God Bless.

Day 51 - Fun with friends

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Pretty gardens at one of the RV parks............................................

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Hello to all, It was a nice day. No wind and around 70 degrees.

I made beef stew in the crock pot and then we went with our friends, A.G. & Audrey for a

nice ride to Quartzsite.

Seen some big campers and motor homes for sale. Fun to

dream. Went to a couple of rummage sales in a pretty RV park. Visited a church. The Pastor being the dad to Wilson's home pastor. Then checked out a couple more venders at the flea markets.

I really think it is best that we didn't come here in January when the market was in full swing. I sure can find some nice things. :-) (mostly jewelry) Right now there is only a few places left to shop in.

When we got home the stew was done and Audrey added a nice coleslaw. Good supper and good company.

Tomorrow is wash day.... Then, I wonder what .

Good night and God Bless

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Molly went to sleep on the way home in the back window on a pillow. Isn't she cute?

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Day 50 - More wind today

Welcome back. Hope you had a great day.

We happly had surprise company today. Friends, Wayne and Cindy Kiehne from Stewartville, MN were heading for Del Monte, CA with a load and stopped in Blythe and gave us a call. We and A.G. & Audrey had coffee and a nice visit with them.

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It is so windy again today. We weren't out very long. The Wilsons and us went out for lunch in Blythe. Another great meal. Big Big Big salad bar. mmmmmmmmmm.....

Home again. Mel took a nap while I gave Molly a bath and then read.

Audrey shared a book with me. 90 Minutes In Heaven by Don Piper. A true story about a surviver. He was pronounced dead after and accident and remembered being in Heaven. Much more than I can discribe. So good.

On the way to see the Kiehnes we came up on a bunch, flock, herd, what ever you call a few hundred sheep. They were being moved from one field to another and going right down our road. They were having quit a time keeping them going where they wanted them to go.

They use sheep to clean out the end of the alfalfa fields. The farmers here cut hay (alfalfa)every 28 days. It drys in a couple of days and then bailed.

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Good night and God Bless

Day 48 - Company coming

Meet our dear friends from Wyoming. A.G. and Audrey Wilson.

They arrived here this morning. And then treated us to a breakfast buffet.

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Today was mostly getting caught up with each others news. We made a trip to a produce store and got some veggies, grapfruit, oranges. Also picked up some things at the grocery store for a picnic supper at camp. More talking and a little walking.

I got some Irish soda bread with raisins. Oh boy is that good. Haven't had Irish soda bread since Terri had it in NY. In fact I think I just might have another piece.

good night and God Bless.

Day 47 - Another trip to Quartzsite

We went back to Quartzsite today and visited an interesting cemetery. It is where Hi Jolly is buried.







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Read the story about Hi Jolly by double clicking on this picture..........................






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The rest of the cemetery was so different then how we know them. But a cemetery in the desert is still very nice.























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This fish pole sculpture is also in Quartzsite. It is huge. even a fish on the end.















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..........................It was a much nicer day today. Not as warm as before but at least it wasn't windy. The Great Horned Owl is still in her nest. I wish I could get a picture of her. Up to high.

Many big campers came to this camp today. Part of a Good Sam rally. They will only stay one night here then move on. I guess you would call it a convoy. The camper that parked next to us is a $175,000.00, 40 foot fith wheeler. It sure makes our place look small. I wonder if theirs is paid for!!

Does anyone know how to make bead jewelry? I bought some beads today to see if I can do it.

Our friends from Wyoming, A.G. & Audrey, will arrive tomorrow. I can't wait.

Good night and God Bless

Day 46 - Windy day

Hello

It was soooo windy today. gusts up to 40 mph.

Opening the door about pulled me out with it. We stayed home all day. Only time I was outside was to chase a lawnchair and our flag.

The picture of the mountains shows them almost out of sight from the dust. At one point they were not visible at all.

Even had white caps on the water.

We watched the race. We almost went to this one. Took place in Las Vegas. But with it so windy we were glad we didn't.. We enjoyed it anyway........

Edwards won. I like him too. To the "Jr" fans ......oh shucks. ;-)

I crocheted a bit but don't like what I did so will start over some day.

I made a meatloaf with fried potatoes and mixed veggies for supper.

Not sure what we will do tomorrow. Only thing for sure is to get fuel for the pickup.

I hope it won't be so windy. I hear more icy roads in Minnesota.

I also heard that so many of Austin business's are closing. Kay jewelers, Cash wise grocery store, and maybe even Yonkers. Thats to bad. I like them all.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Good night and God Bless

Day 45 - It works!

Yaaaa... Mark Martin Won the Nationwide race in Vegas!!!!! .............


Welcome back, I have been checking on my wet camera all day. But, it just wouldn't go. I left it open and in the dry air but nothing happened. We went for a ride and I wished so many times I had my camera. Boats and those skidoo's or what ever you call them, was in the river but no camera. Tonight we enjoyed the local race at the half mile blacktop race track not to far from our camp. It was really fun but not as many spin outs as the dirt tracks. Along with the regular modified, street stocks, and factory stocks, they had vintage midgets. These midgets were old and were driven by drivers who were all over 55. Most were in their 70's and 80's. It was fun to watch them go. And did they go! Before the race started they were all in center field and we could go and look at them close up. But no camera....

Home again... tried the camera. IT WORKED! I am so happy.

We were at a rummage sale and the lady only spoke Spanish. Amanda, I sure wished you were with us. (my granddaughter,11 and grandson, 8 speak and write Spanish.)

There wasn't anything there we wanted anyway.

And big hugs to Mackenzie, (granddaughter,12) who made the better than A honor roll. Sorry, but I don't remember what the title is................................................




Good night and God Bless