Friday August 7, 2009

Yeah, what a bummer! I was driving in downtown Cleveland near the Rock and Roll H of F and a car two cars up decided to make a left turn without signaling and I didn't see the car in front of me stop, the rest is history and I am dealing with insurance, repair shop and reservation cancellations. AAA gave me up to $1500. for expenses and it is going to be between 3 - 5 weeks to repair, so I chose to fly home to deal with things in my comfort zone. No one was hurt, which is the most important thing and as far as accidents go, everything went smoothly. I am now flying with Cheryl to New Jersey on August 25th to set Bryanna up at Seton Hall. I will resume the blog when I get back on track, hopefully for the OSU vs. USC game in Columbus, OH on September 12, 2009. Good thing I am retarded...I mean retired!!!

Thursday August 6, 2009

Motor home and bike maintenance day and then a 12 mile bike ride to St, Clair and back. Spent too much time on the computer today researching "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" for tomorrow and future camp locations. I had time for a swim and workout, then made a batch of "Papa's green beans". No pictures today...

Wednesday August 5,2009

Headed south to Muskegan, MI; who said there wasn't a Navy Port in the middle of the U.S.? Then I headed east across the whole state of Michigan to Port Huron, where Thomas Edison spent his childhood. Across the port was Canada, where I did not venture! I ended up at St. Clair Thousand Trails about 50 miles north of Detriot.

W

Tuesday August 4, 2009

Hung out in Mears most of the day, just parked the motor home near Jellystone campground and play area. Lots of go-carts, resorts, off-road rentals for the sand dunes, and water sports on Silver Lake. Great place for kids to play [old and young]. Rode my bike all over town and to the only resort in town with a jaccuzi [imagine that]. Hiked up a sand dune and looked over Lake Michigan about 5 miles away. My resort was about 5 miles north across the street from the lake, drove back past my resort to Pentwater where there was a marina that headed out to Lake Michigan [cool town].

Monday August 3,2009

Took the rental car back to Niles and was driven back to the campground by Enterprize. Took time for a jaccuzi before packing up and heading north to Mears, MI at Timberlake Resort. Arrived about 5 pm and set up camp. Rode my bike around the resort and down to the private beach the resort owns. Swam in the pool and got on the computer.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Domestic day [4 loads of wash, house cleaned the motor home] swam and spa'd. Drove to Four Feather Casino and made a small donation. Shopped and toured New Buffalo on Lake Michigan and made it back to the campground for a jaccuzi!!! Heard a message from Mom that they made it home OK.

Saturday August 1, 2009

Boy, it is August already...where is the time going? Got up early this morning so Mom and Dad could get packed up [I think they had mixed feeling about going home]. We drove about two hours into Chicago and took the "Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. tour and it was awesome! It rained while we were up on top of the double decker, but it didn't stop us. After the tour we did lunch at Bennigans, where I haven't eaten since it was in Arcadia. Next, it was off to O'Hare and a curbside drop off for Mom and Dad. It has been a great two weeks with them, but time to move on. Six more nights in Michigan and them I am heading east and meeting more family.
Finally got a warm hot tub tonight!!!

Friday July 31, 2009

Enterprize rent-a-car came and picked me up at Bear Cave and we drove back to Niles to rent a Chev HHR and I drove back to the campground for a swim and pickup Mom and Dad to head to South Bend, Indiana. We spent a couple of hours in the College Football Hall of Fame and then a couple of more hours touring Notre Dame University. At Notre Dame, we saw the Basilica [there was a wedding in progress] and I went to the Grotto where prayer and candles are involved. Spent some time walking around Notre Dame Stadium taking pictures and then touring all the sports facilities. We went to Perkins Family Restrurant [all of us for the first time] for dinner and then back to the campground for a jaccuzi. Mom and Dad are flying home tomorrow Donna!!!

Thursday July 30, 2009

Woke up to rain this morning and we got on the road by 10 am to Rochelle, IL to meet with Dad's previous pastor Bruce and his wife Cynthia, who have moved to Geneseo, IL.
We ended up at Bear Cave Resort in Buchanan, MI at 8 pm and I finally got in the pool for about 1/2 hour and the hot tub was out of service [It figures!].

Wednesday July 29, 2009

Another long day on the road, about 400 miles today. We left Welcome, Mn about 10 this morning and arrived near Watertown, WI about 6 pm, too late to get a swim and soak in. We stopped at the Wisconsin Dells and had lunch and looked around. No satelite TV, so the movie tonight is "The Natural" thanks to Bryanna. Dad called his ex-pastor who lives in the Chicago area, so we are meeting Bruce and his wife Cynthia for lunch tomorrow in Rochelle, IL.

Tuesday July 28, 2009

We headed out for Karen [Odell] Boydston's ranch this morning and were treated to a tour of her and Dale's life, thanks Karen and Dale for the burgers from your cattle and the pie your aunt made. Then it was a long day of driving, where we arrived in Welcome, MN about 9 p.m. and then crashed with exhaustion of this awesome trip. TTYL

Monday July 27, 2009

Happy Birthday Nancy! Got up and prepared the motor home for travel. After breakfast at Jeff's we headed to Hart Ranch, just north of Mt. Rushmore and checked into spot #368. On the way to Hart, we stopped in Sturgis and did some grocery shopping, Jeff and Vivian drove along with us to take us to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse; and then back to Hart Ranch to bar-b-que with our cousin Karen [Odell] Boydston, who lives in New Underwood, South Dakota and brought beef burgers that were grown on her ranch. Karen, Jeff, Vivian and I played corn hole ee o into the dark. Had to say good-bye to Jeff and Vivian after a great visit.

Sunday July 26, 2009

Catch up day at Jeff's and Vivian's, late breakfast, couple of loads of wash, and clean up the motor home. We headed to Devil's Tower, which is only 15 minutes from Jeffs. Saw a field of thousands of praire dogs and a herd of deer on the property of Devil's Tower. Went back to Jeff's for a bar-b-que of pheasant, duck, and NY steaks.

Saturday July 25, 2009

Having a good visit with Jeff and Vivian and the dogs and peregrine falcon[Lox]. We toured the city of Hulett, met the new police chief and he showed us all the volunteer's fire apparatus and we traded patches. Then off to tour the countryside where Jeff flys his birds during hawking season, beautiful country. Next, we headed to Deadwood, S.D. and arrived in time for the shooting and trail of Wild Bill Hickcock, again! We all gambled in Saloon #10, where Wild Bill was shoot; Vivian and David played Blackjack for about an hour and had a great time with the locals.

Friday July 24, 2009

Left Yellowstone this morning heading to my brother's house in Hulett, Wy. Stopped in Cody at he visitor center, should have gone back to the old town as Val suggested, but we had a long drive as it was! Slow driving over the Big Horn mountain range and then met Jeff and Vivian in Gillette for dinner at Pokey's Bar-b-que. Drove up to Hulett in the dark [which I vowed not to drive at night], but we made it.

Thursday July 23, 2009

Spent the day touring the Lake and Canyon areas of Yellowstone. Made reservation for dinner at the Lake Hotel dining room and then off to the "Grand Canyon" of Yellowstone. We saw many bison grazing and along the roadside, deer and hawks were aplenty. The view of the canyon and falls were awesome. Dad bought his first "Black Stetson" hat and a nice SPF protection shirt at the canyon store. We do
not get phone, internet or satelite TV in the campground at Fishing Bridge, that is why I am catching up and sending my blogs today.

Wednesday July 22, 2009

Finally got the bicycle off the back of the motor home and rode around the lake where I saw a 2,000# Bison lazily crossing the main road. I was too slow getting my camera out of the case and worried about being gored. We walked with Mom down to the campground store and Dad and I walked into the main store at Fishing Bridge. We are planning a trip around the northern part of the park in the motor home tomorrow. I did not get a picture of Dad falling on my mountain bike! But, I helped him up.

Tuesday July 21, 2009

Today we left Star Valley Ranch and headed north to Jackson, Wyoming; where we went into the visitor center and saw many stuffed animals and eagles. The visitor’s center is also an elk preserve that has a great outdoor viewing area. From there we headed to the Grand Tetons and into the National Park where we stopped at Leek’s Marina on Jackson Lake for lunch…Awesome! From the Tetons we headed north into Yellowstone National Park, where the road was under construction and reminded me of Baja [Scott] for the first 11 miles. We drove straight to “Old Faithful” and timed it just right where the geyser went off within 15 minutes of our arrival. Next, we headed to Fishing Bridge RV Park where we checked in about 7 pm into spot #348. The campground is in a grove of pines about ¼ miles from Yellowstone Lake. No cell phone service, internet [that is why I am writing this in word and will post when I get service], or satellite TV [watched “Remember the Titans”] on video.

July 20, 2009

We'll it has been a few days since I posted...I must have been having fun!!! Molly's wedding was beautiful and we met alot of nice people and some old friends. John and Bambi Wade camped next to us at the Bench Resort. We headed out to the Crawford Compound for games and dinner...Thanks K.J. and Sue. Cheryl and I spent some time downtown McCall and at the beach along Lake Payette. On Wednesday July 17, Cheryl and I headed back down to Boise and had dinner at my niece and nephew's house with my brother and sister-in-law Vivian. We stayed at Gary and Carol's thru Sunday where I rode a horse along with Gary [This time I didn't bail off]. We floated the Boise river in blow up boats, went to the Idaho Stampede and saw my first rodeo, it was awesome! Cheryl got to go out for Sushi, which she was in Heaven. Sunday morning I took Cheryl to the airport [end of her vacation for now]. I went back to my nephew's house and met up with Mom and Dad who flew in to join me for two weeks thru Yellowstone, Rushmore, Chicago and Notre Dame. We went to the Peregrine Foundation and toured the museum dedicated to past and present falconers. My brother, Jeff and his family were instrumental in establishing the foundation. Mom and Dad took Kate, Praire, Blake and I out to "Cool Hand Luke's" for dinner and it was gooood! Monday morning Mom, Dad and I left Boise, heading east towards Yellowstone. We spent the night at Star Valley Ranch, just south of Jackson Hole, where Dad and I swam to unwind from 8 hours on the road. Well off to Yellowstone tomorrow and the next three days. I will get back to you soon!

Made it to McCall, Idaho!

I first left Huntington Beach on Wednesday morning. My first stop was Las Vegas to spend the night at our Thousand Trails campground.

Thursday morning I left Las Vegas after a "slight" mechanical dely (my leveling jacks got stuck halfway up and would not retract)! All it took was a quick phone call to my buddy at Mike Thompson's who then gave me the trick to reset the computer, 30 seconds later my jacks were up and I was on my way.

I headed north to Jackpot, Nevada where I spent Thursday night at Catcus Jacks.

Fast forward to this morning, and I traveled to Eagel, Idaho and met up with my friends from AFD, Gary and Carol. We picked up Cheryl from the Boise airport and she was surprised by my brother Jeff and family who came by just to say hello. Cheryl and I had not seen Vivian since 1988! We then headed to McCall where we set up camp at Steve and Linda's. Sat by Payette Lake and ate dinner and enjoyed some fun and laughter. Tomorrow is the big day, Jake and Molly's wedding. Should be fun and I will post some pictures in the next day or so.

Having fun and wish you could see some of the countryside in Idaho.

Adventure begins tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Finally packed and ready to hit the road. I hope to miss the morning traffic and then head to Boise, Idaho. Should be there on Friday morning just in time to pick up Cheryl from airport. Then we head to McCall, Idaho for Molly Bench's wedding.

I am not only loaded down with my things for the big trip, but luck would have it that I am also transporting things for Bryanna to take to Seton Hall in August.

Wish me luck as I head on the road. Don't forget to check in from time to time. I would love to hear from you. If any of you want to meet up with me somewhere in the United States, just email me or find me on Facebook.

Good night all and sleep well!
David