WEEK ONE

We have survived our first week of our Great Adventure.  A few mishaps along the way, but then themishaps are what keep life interesting.

Tuesday, September 7, we are loaded and ready.  After tying up all the loose ends in Dodge City we are finally ready to hit the road.  We get the tow dolly hooked up---in helping Lydell with tow dolly I stepped back wrong and sat down rather abruptly and hard right on my tailbone. I jumped up---well sort of---nothing appears to be hurt but my pride.  You would think to look at me that I have enough padding in this area so that nothing could be hurt.  Well apparently, as I would find out in a couple of hours, the padding is on either side of the tailbone.  We get the dolly hooked up and the new to us '07 Toyota Rav4 (steel blue) loaded on and secured.  At 2pm we pull out of the driveway of 871 East Beeson, Dodge City, KS.  We're on the road and off on our "Great Adventure".  Colorado here we come.

We stop in Scott City to see my sister, Ida, and her husband, Joe, to show off the motor home (Bertha).  Had a great visit then Ida and Joe took us out to supper.  Thanks Ida and Joe!!
Then off for Colorado.  We stopped in Burlington, Co at the Tourist Information and Rest Area for the night.  There were a couple of other RVs and lots of 18 wheelers stopped here for the night.

Up early Wednesday morning, had breakfast then on the road again.  Next stop to feed Bertha in Limon, Co.  Had a phone call from our mechanic in Dodge that had worked on Bertha that a recall on all the Workhorse engines (which is what Bertha is) breaking system.  We should get a letter with more information about it.  While we were at the truck stop another RVer asked Lydell if he had heard about the recall--seems he had already gotten his letter ---doesn't seem to be a big rush on this----replacement parts are not ready yet---kind of just a heads up.  OK so I guess I won't worry about the fact that our brakes might quit working?!  On to Loveland!!!  We stopped at a Camping World just south of Loveland to schedule some maintenance work for Bertha and have them check the refrigerator---it quit cooling when on electric, but cools great when on butane.  The heating element----What? a heating element in a refridg?---is out.  Come back on Friday.  OK.  On to Loveland and Fireside RV Park and Cabins.  We find it without any problem.  Pull in and get all set up  YEA!!!! Home Sweet Home!  It's beautiful here.  Fireside is a small family owned and operated place.  The RV lots are behind the owners home and 5 or 6 cabins so they are back off the road---you wouldn't know they were there except for the sign---and quite.  A really pretty place.  The home and cabins have a German/Austrian look to them.  The wife sounds like she is probably form Germany.  All set up and off to see Bonnie, Matt, Emma and Molly ( our daughter and her family)  Emma and Molly are so excited that we are going to be here for a whole month.  Usually when we come up it's only for a couple of days.  Bonnie fixed supper for us, visited until time for the girls to get off to bed, then home.

Thursday we took Bonnie to a couple of Doctor appointments, did some shopping (mainly looking), had lunch, took Lydell back to Bonnie's so he could pick the girls up from the bus stop and take them for ice cream.  (This is their first time for this treat.---Papa picking them up and going for ice cream--- this is something he sometimes did for our grand kids (Kylee and Tucker) in Dodge.  They were a bit smug about the fact that they got blizzards and we didn't.  It's funny.)  Then Bonnie and I went to another Dr. appointment and did a little more shopping.
Bonnie had not slept the night before and was really wiped out by the Dr appointments and shopping so the girls and I fixed supper.  They thought it was really great to help Granny fix supper.  According to Emma, "This was the best Chicken and Rice EVER!"  Bed time for the girls so we head home to watch some football then off to sleep in our own bed.

Friday we take Bertha back down to Camping World for the maintenance work (change oil & filter on generator---something that needs done every so many hours of running--,check and service the water heater, check the refridg. and repair, check and service the heater)  I followed Lydell down so we could leave her there then come back and get her later.  Over to Bonnie's for a while then back to get Bertha.
Had to order a part for the refridg, did change oil & filter on gen., check and service the water heater, Lydell decided to wait on heater because a gasket set would have to be ordered to do that.  We can take her back home and bring her back when the part comes in for the refridg.  Ok  so back to Fireside and get set up again. 

Saturday morning Emma called just as we were getting up to say Bonnie was fixing pancakes and waffles for breakfast, did we want to come for breakfast?  Of course we did!!!  Wow---bacon, waffles, pancakes and maple syrup!!!! YUMMMMMY!!!!!!!!!
Saturday afternoon the girls had swimming lessons.  We went with them to watch.  Next time we will take our suits and swim or just sit in the therapy pool there.  Fort Collins has a great city indoor pool facility.
The girls are both doing pretty good with their lessons.   Then back to the house and Bonnie made homemade pizza.  Delicious!!!!!!!!  Bed time for the girls, so home we go.  Watch a little colleg football and off to bed we go.

Sunday morning---what a beautiful day!!  Off to church we go.  We feel so right at home at Snowy Ridge Church (this is Bonnie and Matt's home church).  We know most of the people there from our visits over the past 15-16 years that Bonnie and Matt have attended here.  The Pastor and Sunday School teacher know us so well, I think they forget we are just visitors.  A Great time of fellowshiping with brothers and sisters in the Lord.
When we get out of church we notice smoke over in the mountains.  Sure hope it's not a forest fire!! But we find out later it is and just 4 miles west of our home. 
Bonnie fixed a wonderful lunch---roast pork loin, gravy, rice, green beans, and salad with brownies for dessert.  Then we head home---let them have some family time.  We're going to be here a whole month, don't want to wear out our welcome.
On our way home we notice the smoke is heavier. Oh my.  We can smell the smoke.  Not to worry the fire is moving on west and north.  We don't see any flames just smoke.  We hear on the news that 900 to 1000 acres have burned---3 dozen families evacuated to churches in Loveland and a couple of homes destroyed.  So sad.  In Kansas we have Tornadoes, along the coast they have hurricanes--here it's forest fires.  I guess everywhere has its' disasters.  Even Dallas Cowboys have problems. 

Monday September 13, Lydell's 64th birthday! Happy Birthday Lydell!!!
We are back to Bonnie's to take her to another Dr appointment.  Then to Mimi's Cafe for Lydell's birthday lunch.  We had eaten at Mimi's Cafe in Tampa and when Lydell saw one here, he wanted to go there for his birthday.  It is very good. Bonnie needed to go to Jo Ann's Fabric--I could spend all day there.  Then back to Bonnie's.  Bonnie made a German Chocolate cake for her dad and hamburgers and brats on the grill for Lydell's birthday supper.  Then home again to watch Monday night Football.  KC wins-- go Chiefs!!!!!!!!!!!

And oh yes, my tail bone is still very sore.  Sitting hurts.  Lydell puts the tenes (electro
 massage) unit on for me and then puts Blue GOO (something like Deep Heat--only not as smelly) on my tail bone.  This seems to help.  It does seem to be getting better.  Just takes time for this to heal.  It's been a very long time since I've had this particular ailment.  Ibuprofen helps too.

Soon I hope to have a picture to put on the sight for you.

Until next time--
God Bless each and every one of you.  III John 2