It is hard to believe we are more than a week into our big adventure. So far we have not treaded into uncharted (by us) territory. But the trip over the passes was a dream with the new V10. We allowed 2 days to get to Renton and picked up a couple of hitchhikers (no, just met up with our daughter to bring two of her kids along). We moved the RV to a friend's house 15 minutes away. I nearly cried as we left it there knowing we were off to the mountains for 5 days of tent camping. Seriously, I felt like I was leaving one of my children with strangers. But my daughter has no place for us to park more than 3 days. So it was off to Camp Pickanosee4 for some fun with swimming, hiking and campfire singing. A couple dozen home-schooled kids and their parents. Five of my grandchildren were there so that made it special for us. The first bit of fun was pitching our tent atop a hornets nest. I escaped (as they did not make their presence known until Rod was driving the last stake) but he got nailed twice. Crazy thing was; there was caution tape up. But, some geniuses had ripped it down to trod on through the area. (We moved the tent but not before our grandson got stung.) The next bit of *fun* on that first day; as we were in a different campsite visiting with friends; the lady's daughter came up with her *hover* board saying she was bringing it back because Morgan Fox (our 11yo granddaughter) had fallen off of it and was screaming!! Off we set to our group campground and got a text on the way saying they were headed to urgent care. (Long story short, they had to go to an emergency room instead where they said it was a *hairline* fracture and splinted and slung it). She was able to stay but was, of course, limited in her activities. (Most of the kids were spending anytime that they were not eating or sleeping in the lake.) That was Wednesday and today she saw the orthopedist who showed us an xray of a broken elbow and she came home with a cast. But all in all it was still great with a good deal of fish being caught and lots of swimming and S'more toasting. We are spending the next few days in Renton. We will retrieve our RV and repack and be off into the somewhat unknown.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend with the exception of the broken elbow and hornets! I'm jealous of all of your little mini travels. Our big trips this summer are simple weekends in Long Beach, and my treat of spending some time at Trout Lake with some friends and their kids. I love all of the little trip reports that you guys post!
Enjoy the rest of your travels and thanks for the trip report and photos. Camp Pikanosee...Perfect! I may not be on LP much over the next few days. We're actually going up into the mountains for a little camping too.
We spent a couple of days on the road. We found two lovely National Campgrounds in Montana. They were only $5 and $7.50 respectively. That is 1/2 price for us old folks but even full price is cheap. Then we headed into Yellowstone expecting to just pass on through. Well, we were astonished to find a vacant campsite and settled in for two nights. I do not have the pix loaded yet but will post in a few days. Mt. Rushmore tomorrow and then we leave the backroads and hit the I80 to Michigan and our grandchildren.
Sounds like a great trip! S and I are thinking a little more seriously about selling our little condo in Long Beach, and using that money for a travel trailer so we can go anywhere we want to go.
So far we are loving it. Iowa rest stops have free WiFi! We should make Michigan by tomorrow but won't get Ludington until the next day. Experiencing the spender of Old Faithful in the comfort of the air conditioned observation room Vehicles must yield to wildlife!!!!!! Pictures do not do it justice.
Made it to Michigan. Getting reacquainted with grandchildren. A year and 2 months is just to long between visits.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think we can make it??!!?? Whew! It was a tight fit
Great times with the grandkids. More than 5 weeks on the road. It has been amazing. We have had great luck with both the weather and camping sites. After Michigan we headed south to visit dear friends in the Ozarks of Arkansas. They could not be happier building on their waterfront property they got for $7000. We did have to tell them we were not at all interested in the house and land for $26,000 across the street. Heat, humidity, bugs...……...not for this California/WestCoast girl. It was really beautiful but I need to feel dry some of the time. This is that view from their porch. You can see the fish and turtles swimming about.
We have made our way down to southwestern Arkansas to visit my sister and niece and nephews. It is quite hot but the humidity is a little lighter. we had a marvelous thunder and lightening storm last night. Hope everyone is well. Keep good thoughts for our continued safe travels. The Badger coming into port on Lake Michigan
Your friend's place in the Ozarks just might be worth the bugs and humidity. It is beautiful!! Keeping you guys in my prayers for your safe travels!
Well, time has just flown as we prepare for the last leg of our journey. Things have gone so well that I knock wood every time I mention it. It has been so much fun visiting my sister and BIL whom we have not seen for 3 years. We have not done a lot. We talk and play a few board games and in the evening we have a little wine and binge on Big Bang Theory. My dear niece was widowed 3 years ago and we were happy to see her in a new relationship. He is a Mena local and a lot of fun. He likes to play games too. We had visits with both grand-nephews and grand-niece. This is a small town and everybody knows everybody so we have met many new people. We did go camping/fishing for a couple of days. There are so many lovely lakes in the area. (Southeast side near Oklahoma.) And we pulled of a Luau. Today we are defrosting the 'fridge and getting stuff packed. We are not leaving until Sunday or Monday but it is good to get some of this stuff out of the way so we can relax our last couple of days. We will be heading for Carlsbad Caverns and then up and over to the Grand Canyon. (The last time we saw these was in 1974.) Then a 2-3 day trip home. It seems weird to refer to is as home as the RV has become such a home to us.
We are leaving Mena with a bang. ; There was another catfish that was so big it managed to bend the pin on the stringer and escaped
