Monday, August 31, 2009
It is already in the mid 80s by 9:00, and I am up and getting ready to hit the road. I cleaned all the windows on the outside, checked the tire pressure in all tires, hooked up the Jeep to the tow bar, emptied the holding tanks, filled the fresh water tank, loaded the quad back onto the roof of the Jeep, dumped the trash, and was on my way by 11:15 AM.
I had a 60-cents a gallon discount on gas at Safeway, so decided to fill the RV and Jeep before departing Helena. I stopped for my mail before getting to Safeway, and then pulled in so I could fill both the RV and the Jeep at the same time. I guess because I was doing both at the same time, it gave me the 60-cents discount on both pumps. I was really glad because the RV only took 13-gallons and the Jeep the same. The discounted price is only up to 30 gallons, so it worked out well.
Without needing anything else, we hit the road, heading east on Highway 12, to connect with Interstate 90 East. I had studied the maps and there really aren’t many side roads headed in that direction, at least none that I hadn’t already taken on previous trips. I decided to head east on I-90 and then south on I-25 into Wyoming. I stopped in Buffalo, WY to fill the tank with gas, and then drove south about 40 miles until I found an ideal spot on a side road to pull off and spend the night.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The drive down to I-90 was easy and unremarkable, and I enjoyed a book on tape as I traveled. Zack and Zoey have become seasoned travelers and Zack sleeps on the couch, while Zoey sleeps behind and under it. She feels safe and that has become her home-away-from-home.
We traveled 412 miles before stopping for the night. I found a side road off I-25 just south of Buffalo, Wyoming, that had a large area allowing me to turn the motor home around and was far enough from the freeway noise to be comfortable. I fixed Zack’s dinner, but he refused to eat. Zoey ate heartily and was even scarfing down the dry food I bought for her. We left there close to 11 O’clock, after playing until Zack was worn out, and continued south.
After fighting a bit of wind coming from my right side, my neck and shoulders were complaining, but we drove 321 miles before stopping. After almost 7 hours of driving, I was ready for a rest and Zack was ready to play again. We had stopped at two different rest stops and played, but he thinks we should stop every 10 miles play.
The side road off the freeway had a wide spot that looked like others had turned around and I thought I’d be able to also, so I pulled as far off the road as I could and put the jacks down to level the motor home. Zack and I played and then I fed him and Zoey. Zack refused to eat once again, so I ended up throwing that out also. Traveling has his system changed enough to throw off his routine, plus he isn’t getting the amount of exercise as if he were at home, so evidently doesn’t have an appetite.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Studying the maps, and seeing my progress, I decided to stay on the interstates and drive directly to Missouri, rather than side roads, which are always more interesting.
I prepared to depart at about 9:30, raising the jacks and making sure all was in order to hit to road. The alarm bell, indicating that the leveling jacks aren’t all up continued to ding long after it should have shut off. I got out to inspect them and found the right rear jack still firmly on the ground. This is the same jack I had completely replaced last December while I was at the dealers in Portland, so thought maybe it wasn’t installed correctly or that the mount was binding, causing the jack to fail.
I got on one knee and kicked the jack, hoping it would free it, but it was not to be. I got out my shovel and tried to pry it loose with the same result. I knew I had the manuals for the jacks, showing how to relieve the pressure by loosening a bolt, so went inside to read the information. I climbed into the driver’s seat to shut the engine off and thought if I tried lowering the jacks again and then release them; it might allow that jack to free itself. I reached down and discovered I had released the front jacks, but not the rear jacks. DUH. I released it, the jack came up, and the warning bell stopped dinging.
I sized up the turn and slowly started but before I was totally committed, could see that I wasn’t going to make it, so quickly straightened out and drove down the road, looking for a spot to turn around. I came to a cross road that appeared to be wide enough for my turn around, so attempted it. I almost made it, the key word being almost. I ended up having to unhook the Jeep, back it away, back up the motor home and then reattach the Jeep before we were on our way.
I continued south to Denver, taking a toll road that allowed me to bypass the downtown area and connected to I-70 East. The toll road was confusing as I kept seeing signs that said it was “cashless” and would read the license plate. As I approached the Denver International Airport, I read a large sign indicated the toll cost for the number of axels and I was prepared to pay the $12.50 for the privilege of bypassing the city, but I didn’t want to get off at the airport and continued on, never seeing a toll booth or passing any type of station that might “read” my license plate. I guess the toll is just for those using the road to get to the airport.
I connected with I-70 and continued on my way. The landscape along my entire route has remained the same, rolling hills and fields of various corn, maze, sunflowers and other crops. Really nothing to see at all, so more books on tapes, and I am glad they were tapes and not CDs because the roads were awful and would have caused the CD to skip. Setting the speed control at my usual 65 mph, I sat back and enjoyed the stories as I rolled along.
Although we had stopped twice to play, Zack was acting like he needed to stop for a potty break and it was almost 7 PM. We had traveled 446 miles, so I looked for a good side road to pull off on. I spotted a boarded up gas station just off the freeway, with a large paved parking area, so I got off and pulled in. I parked next to the deserted building and set up to spend the night.
After letting Zack out to pee, I discovered that he really just wanted to play, so we did and then came in for the night. There was a nice warm breeze and I opened up the windows to enjoy the cool night air. It is humid here and I have been using the air conditioner the entire way to avoid the sticky air.
After dinner and watching some of my DVD episodes of Jericho, I retired for the night.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
We were on the road again by 10 O’clock, and the weather was the same as the previous days. We traveled to Abilene, Kansas, where we stopped to visit President Eisenhower’s library and boyhood home. I found a suitable place to park and left the generator and air conditioner running for Zack and Zoey. Zack and I played so he would nap while I took the time to walk the grounds and see the entire place.
There is a visitor’s center, which shows a 20-minute film about Eisenhower from boyhood to president and after, plus the mandatory gift shop. I watched the film and then walked to the Place of Meditation, where both Dwight and Mimi are entombed. It is a small chapel with the interior being all marble and having pews for about three-dozen people. Next was his boyhood home, which has been maintained in its original state with all the original furniture. The house sits exactly where it has been since it was built in 1887. His father and mother both lived there until their death, and the entire memorial is on the original 2-½ acres that is the homestead. Although Dwight was born in Texas, his father moved the family back to Kansas when he was young. He is one of seven boys (they lost one at 10 months, so often only report 6 boys) that comprised the Eisenhower family, and they all lived in a two story five-room house, with the boys sharing two upstairs rooms. An indoor bathroom and kitchen were added to the rear of the house in later years.
Next stop was the Library, if you can call it that. I thought that Presidential Libraries housed all of the papers, letters, etc. that the President accumulated over the course of their service, but this library, as large as it was, only had a few letters and a speech and only covered the space program and men landing on the moon, which occurred AFTER his two terms as President. Disappointed, I left and was going to take in the Eisenhower Museum, but they wanted $7.50 to go in, so I opted not to see it (yes, I am cheap when it comes to these things).
We left, driving through Topeka to Lawrence, Kansas, where I took State Route 10 southeast, bypassing Kansas City, and connecting to US 71 South. I was now in Missouri, although the landscape hadn’t changed, the amount of traffic did. I drove to Peculiar, which is a city, not a state of my being, found the Good Sam RV Park, and pulled in. I didn’t realize that I had crossed a time zone and instead of 6 PM, it was 7 PM. The office was closed and a sign told me to choose a spot and pay in the morning.
The park advertises, “Every site has a view,” but fail to say that it is a view of the freeway, complete with stereophonic sound of the non-stop traffic. You hear the semi trucks coming from the left, and then going to the right and visa versa, all night long.
I hooked up the water and electricity, and then had a play period with Zack before taking a nice hot shower and relaxing for the remainder of the night.
Friday, September 4, 2009
I awoke to heavy rain falling on the roof and a gloomy overcast sky. Between the rains lull, I walked to the office and paid the $25.00 fee for one night. Due to America’s financial state, they only take cash, so I was lucky I had gotten cash before leaving Helena, as I normally don’t carry any.
Back at the motor home, I had breakfast, updated this log and prepared to leave. The drive to Kathy and Dave’s place outside of Warsaw is about an hour from Peculiar, so I should be there by a little past noon.
After playtime with Zack, we headed south to Warsaw to Kathy and Dave’s place. It rained the entire trip and the four-lane highway soon gave way to a two-lane shoulderless road, but traffic was light, so travel was good. I stopped in Warsaw to fill with gas ($2.29 regular), and then following Dave’s map and written directions, heading to their place. The map was a Google map and hard to read but I had been warned not to trust my GPS as it would take me to a town further south.
After driving out of town and onto the correct highway, I drove a ways before I realized I must have gone too far. I called Dave to get directions and he met me at a bar near the highway. I followed him to the house and was glad I had called as the roads aren’t marked, or are different than the map I had, so I would have been lost for sure.
Dave and Kathy’s house is right on the lake and more of a cottage than a house. They have done a lot of remodeling and it is very nice. They plan to move the business (Legends of America) to this location from the present Kansas City location, and now that Dave is leaving Google they will work together from the lake house to build the business.
Kathy’s relatives began showing up and I met her older sister, a younger brother, sister, and spouses. It seems that land and houses around this area are dirt-cheap and many bank owned, so Kathy’s brother and sister-in-law bought a lake house a block away, and her father bought one just up the hill. Her dad only paid $16,000.00 for a two bedroom, one bath, with attached garage. Kathy had paid $10 k for her house and two adjoining lots, so they are correct that houses and land are cheap here.
We drove up the hill for a BBQ at her dad’s house and I got to meet them and some other relatives. All of the family is easy going and fun people to be with. We stayed until about 8:30 and Kathy almost fell asleep in her chair and badly needed to go to bed. Upon returning, I excused myself and went to the motor home to let Zack out and then watch another episode of my program before going to bed.
I am parked directly across the street from their house on a neighbor’s empty lot. I have electricity and a view of all that is going on. Tomorrow will be a busy day preparing for the party in the afternoon. They have a band and a local restaurant is catering food. They are now expecting about 80 people, so the entire neighborhood is involved and participating.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
It rained off and on most of the night but had stopped when I got up, only to start again. The hope is that it will clear by noon, but if not, the band is going to play inside a neighbor’s large two-car garage and a tarp will be put up over the food area. Dave and his brother-in-law went and bought straw to spread over the muddy ground and help keep it from getting too messy. I certainly hope the weather cooperates as they have done a lot of planning and spent a lot of money for this party.
Relatives and friends started to show up most of the morning and I was introduced to about 30 of them in the course of a couple of hours. Both Dave and Kathy had grown children from previous marriages, plus Kathy’s sisters, brother, and her father and his second wife were there. Trying to remember everyone’s name was a hopeless task, so I was grateful that Kathy’s daughter, Torri, printed names on nametag stickers and applied them to all the people there.
A few were pitching tents next to the lake, while others were staying in neighbor’s spare rooms or the cabin Dave and Kathy had on the property. Some slept in the house, on the couch, in the office on a futon or the floor. One of Kathy’s sisters and her husband had a trailer, but other than that and my motor home, we were the only ones with all the conveniences of home.
I had purchased a tank of helium and a large foil birthday balloon, plus a dozen black 10” balloons, so I filled those and took them to Kathy. I also filled some small balloons and used a permanent marker to write “Kathy’s Party” and then put them at each corner so finding the house would hopefully be easier. I gave Kathy a black ribbon that said, “Over the Hill” and her sister pinned it to her red cowboy hat, which looked great.
By the time it reached 3 PM, most of the relatives and friends had arrived and settled in, so the keg was tapped and the party began. The local restaurant brought and set up a buffet of pulled pork; roast beef, beans, coleslaw, and dinner rolls and everyone helped themselves.
All of Kathy’s friends are party animals and even her dad (76) was getting into the mood. He was the auctioneer and everyone was asked to bring something to be auctioned to help pay for the band, which cost $400.00. It didn’t need to be new, but just something you’d sell at a garage sale. Everyone brought something, including me, and the number of items caused the auction to go past the 7 PM starting time for the band. They brought in just over $900.00 and paid for the band, kegs, and the food. That whole concept is a wonderful idea for reunions and block parties, so keep it in mind for your next event.
Due to the possibility of rain, the band set up in the garage of a neighbor across the street and blockades were put up to keep traffic out. In was truly “dancing in the street” and with the full moon poking through the clouds, it was a great night to party. I took copious pictures with my new camera and watched all the partygoers make the event a great one. The entire neighborhood was invited, so there was about 80 or more people there and they all were having fun and being respectful of the others.
I finally called it quits at 10:30 and went back to the motor home. The band quit at 11 PM, but the dancing and party went on until the early morning hours. I was awoke several times by loud voices and music, but survived the night.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I awoke at about 8:30 and dragged myself from bed to have a hot cup of coffee. The weather had passed, so it was overcast, but no rain or sprinkles. It had rained off and on yesterday and the straw Dave spread over the muddy areas helped immensely.
One of Kathy’s best friends from high school, Carol, had made a large tray of sausage, cheese, and potatoes for a breakfast, so that, cinnamon rolls and coffee gave everyone breakfast. As the late night partiers got up, the day began full of visiting and catching up on news. I enjoyed all of the new people and closeness of Kathy’s family and friends. I was really glad I had made the trip and now have several new friends and even invited a few to come up and visit me, which they said they would.
Kathy’s daughter, Torri (32) and her husband, Peter (32), along with their daughters aged 5 and 7, promised they would come next summer and Peter wants to pick my brain and help me around the cabin, so I welcomed them. Kathy’s older sister, Deb, and her husband, Jimmy, which live in Texas, also said they’d love to see Montana and when they both retire, hopefully next year, they want to come up and see my place. Kathy’s good friend, Carol and her husband almost made it to Montana this past summer, but had to return to Kansas due to their dog getting hit by a car back home. She spent a lot of time in Cook City, Montana, which isn’t too far from me, and wanted to show her husband the area, so they are invited up also.
We had plenty of leftovers from last night to feed everyone and for dinner, another friend brought steaks directly from a cattle feedlot and we barbequed them for dinner. There was never a shortage of food and beverages for everyone there.
We all sat around an open gas fire pit on the deck and visited until late into the evening. Crazy Kathy never went to bed Saturday night, but had taken a short nap Sunday afternoon, so soon excused herself to hit the pillow. By 10:30, most of us wandered off to bed, some saying goodbye as they planned on leaving early the next morning.
