etienettebluet

11:30... epp! meant to be up at ten. Out for lunch and PO for hold. Loaded wool blankets, fripping bag, scale, shoes, book/underwear drawer. Walked Bonnie 3 blks. Finished packing tote and loaded that. Sorted Doggie Bag, Day Bag and loaded them along with game bag. Helped Leofwyna attaching stuff to the top of the RAV. At this point we decided it was late in the day and we'd stay to sleep here and go early in the morning to Coronation.

7am... up and ready to leave before eight. Can't get the brake lights check on the trailer. Took the RAV and trailer to Dave. It was about three when the electrical problem was finally fixed. We recognized we wouldn't make second court either and had already decided to skip feast. We went home to change out of the garb we'd been in all day and went to supper at __ before getting on the road to spend the night at the Cracker Barrel in Independence.

10am... let Leofwyna sleep later. Bonnie is behaving reallly well. We stopped at a few thrift stores that were open before heading to St Louis. Was able to link up briefly with the gaming group but the wifi connection was baulky and I had to give it up. The trailer bearings were grumbling loudly tonight and a servicing was in our thoughts for Monday.

9:30... let Leofwyna sleep and when she did get up she got right on the cell to find help for the trailer. The trip is aborted, an era is ended, Al had died of terminal axle/ball bearing/brake failure. We rearranged the load in the RAV leaving stuff in the trailer to pick up on a second trip and headed home, arriving after one in the morning and straight to bed.

10am... alarm clock... and Leofwyna's up too. Final organization and loading are happening. I took Bonnie for a short walk to the corner. No doubt we'll be on the road soon.

9:30pm Heading west stopped at Lexington for the Goodwill before continueing to Cheyenne's Walmart for the night.

July 8 Shopped in Walmart then two Goodwills before heading across south Wyoming. Green River for spper at The Hitching Post (heavy-sauced beef stroganoff). 9:30pm stopped at Evanston WY Walmart for set up on a frustrating day. Learned Salem merchant was cancelled on us, the RAV cruise control iffy and power to trailer lights failing, still can't reach Idaho tax person.

July 9 A slow start today, ate from cooler but got supplies before heading out for Yellowstone on state highways. Stopped in Jackson for Sunday gaming then on to Grand Tetons. 10:30 set up at boat ramp area Signal Mt Summit. Fortunately no one appeared to notice.

July 10 Ate from cooler, started north toward Yellowstone. Saw a big Black Bear. Stopped to get Leofwyna's passport stamped. 12:20pm arrived Yellowstone, Buffalo at Mud Volcano, Sulphur Caldron, Lower Geyser Basin. Out of Yellowstone to West Yellowstone for supper at Three Bears Restaurant. 9:55 set up at Island Park Res.

July 11 Out of camp at noon. In Rigby MT contacted Leofwyna's event merchant coordinator and we tried to arrange to leave tables and some other stuff to make it easier for us this week vacationing but unable to accomplish this. Leofwyna let me out at the library for some computer time while she dealt with the Idaho tax office. We drove on to Idaho Falls for supper at the Evergreen Chinese Buffet and a couple thrift stores. We set up at Walmart around 7pm and watched three West Wings before settling in the trailer.

July 12 Went to a Goodwill in Idaho Falls before getting on the road west to Craters of the Moon Nat'l Park. Supper at Savory Layne in Mountain Home, then on to Boise Walmart to set up.

July 13 Boise Goodwill and two Idaho Youth Ranch, Thriftology and SAVERS. I84 all afternoon; off at Pendleton for supper at Saddle Restaurant for a good supper (Ribeye Steak). On to Wasco to seet up at Pilot Truck Stop but moved instead to Easy Trip for the night.

July 14 On the road before 11 w/o trailer, headed to Collumbia Scenic Gorge toward Mt Hood. Hwy 14 (wrong road), didn't find waterfall beffore reaching Porland/Vancouver so hit a few thrift stores (incl. Goodwill) then back to waterfall corridor on the (Old Hwy 30) Columbia. 3-4 falls incl. Miltnoma as desired. On to Hood River's Mesquitery for supper (salmon). Went for Camper; set up at ood River Walmart about 11pm.

July 15 Call to Idaho Drug Company, Rigby, arranged Wed med pick-up. drove down to Klamath Falls via Crater Lake and got motel (Travelodge) for two nights (Sat/Sun). Ate at Red Lobster.

July 16 Slow day followed by gaming with Agnes setting up trade with Giants and fighting Land Sharks TBC in three weeks.

July 17 On the road at noon across sosuth Oregon to Boise Walmart. Police moved us on so went to TA Truck Stop about 2am.

July 18 Lowe's for plastic and bucket, Goodwill (been here) and KFC lunch. Then on the roadd toward Idaho Falls. Supper at Evergreen Chinese and set up at Walmart and watched a couple West Wings before settling in.

July 19 Onward to Rigby via Taco Bell and 31 Flavors to set up merchant before 4-day event starting tomorrow. There was 3 hrs lost due to a miscommunication but the booth ended up next to troll in a permanent shelter. The spot we though we'd claimed would have been shadier and maybe a little cooler. I ended up driving into Rigby alone for supper at the ___ Star Restaurant for uninspired Chinese sweet and sour pork.

July 20 Bonnie woke me several times during the night but I prevailed so Leofwyna could get her sleep. After camper duties I dressed and joined her for the afternoon.

July 21 Bonnie finally ate four times yesterday so hopefully she'll be better today. At least we weren't up so ofen in the night. Leofwyna is up and gone to her shop. She did her accounting last night and confirmed she'd had a good, prosperous day. She is having another good day selling and we found a really good Chinese Restaurant to eat supper (Egg foo Yung). We'll go back tomorrow.

July 22 I cleared the RAV for loading before heading to the merchant area for the afternoon. Tofa was there and spent the afternoon with us then helped Leofwyna pack up. We three went to Hong Kong Restaurant for supper (more Egg Foo :Yung). Leofwyna had help loading the RAV and we had time to watch one West Wing. We;ll probably have to reset the "closet suppports" in the morning though.

July 23 Broke camp, drove into Idaho Falls and waited at park (watching West Wing) until 3pm to check into LeRitz where wifi only worked for internet but ZOOM failed so no gaming. TV choice were reallly poor and qit in the middle of a show so more West Wing. Leofwyna extremely POed.

July 25 Up and loaded to go look for laundry and brake check/oil change. Drove on to Vernal, UT for the laundry after supper. Set up at Walmart for the night.

July 26 A slow start this morning then on to Dinosaur Nat'l Monument. Cont'd to Steamboat Springs, supper at Three Peaks Grill. Hahn's Peak Bears' Ranger Dist. to set up. Walmart was posted, no overnight..

July 27 A slow start beside US40 over-looking a beautiful vallley. Drive through Rocky Mt Nat'l Park. Stopped in Estes Park Chocolate Factory before heading to Fort Collins for Goodwill, ARC and supper at Hunan Express. Tehn driving down to Johnson's Corner to set up for the night.

July 28 Was able to leave the camper at Johnson's Corner. Headed to Boulder to Kathmandu II for lunch, then Arts Parts where ew found a black 301A wi/case for Leofwyna to buy. Hope this worked out better than the 401. Went to Salvation Army, Greenwood Wildlifd Thrift, Goodwill and Tru Hospice Thrift Shop. On to Loveland Goodwill and fried chidken for supper at TZ. Two West Wings before settling in the trailer.

July 29 Loaded (shifted pillows, etc) for arrival home tonight. Drove to Ft Collins' Creperie then The Fig Leaf (quilt store) beffore heading to I25 and I80 going home.

Up, showered and finished my loading while Leofwyna went to her appointment. Ate while she finished loading her stuff. And we're off to Colorado... Loveland overnight where we know we can set up. Boulder Tuesday and Denver Wednesday before we boogie to California to set up Monday afternoon at Great Western War.

FROM the Travel Journal:
Monday, a pretty day. Mickey began the drive (1:39pm - 150375). We switched at Henderson when she was drowsy. Stopped for gas at Givvon, Pat continued driving. We're listening to Reisen's The woman behind Little Women though Mickey has found it to be dull. She took over driving from North Platte. Gas @ North Platte where price was good. Gas @ Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Stopped at Cheyenne Walmart about 9:40pm and had a quick set up. Gave up on Alcott, started NOra Roberts collection with The Reef. (turkeys)
Tuesday up abt 9:30am MT. On the road to Creperie in Ft Collins for brunch, then thrifting... JoAnn's next to ARC, Goodwill and quilt shops, Fig Leaf and Sewing Circle. On to Loveland... Goodwill and ARC. On the way to Boulder we found a prairie dog village close to the road for Mickey, then another Goodwill. Our pretty morning turned into a grey, cloudy afternoon. Later the sun came through again. We saw a full arc of rainbow after some sprinkles. Gerald lent us a movie for the trip SkyFire which wasmade overseas (China or Japan?)... turned out pretty good. (antelope, buffalo, prairie dogs, Canadian geese and crow)
Wednesday 9:30MT, up and out - filled propane bolttles then headed to Katmandu for buffet. Stopped @ Berthoud for gas! Thornton - ARC and Goodwill, then another Goodwill near Denver. Great Scott Eatery for supper (poor) then set up at Cracker Barrel. Watched more West Wing before bed. (geese, ducks, prairie dogs)
Thursday 9:45MT Sorted things from RAV to Al. Heading into Denver and its outlying communities. Aurora = Schlotzsky's, World Market, Basking Robbins, ARC (16801), ARC (1070 S.Sable), ReCreative (765 SanteFe), Winchester ARC (1505 Cortez). Supper at Double Tree Bistro was turkey avacado sandwich. set up at the same Cracker Barrel for the night. (seagulls, prairie dogs, greese)
Friday 9:44MT Leftover Schlotzsky's for brunch. Gassed up for driving on to Utah, up and over the Rockies through Eisenhauer Tunnel. Stopped for stamp at White River Natl Forest, Mickey's toenail!!! Stopped at Glenwood Springs for gas and lunch at Smoked Modern BBQ (good). Drove through hearty storm; scrap of rainbow near Grand Junction. We're nearly to Utah. Arrived 11pm MT at Richfield Walmart. (buffalo, raven)
Saturday 9:30MT Shopped in Walmart before back on the road West on I70 switching soon to I15. Forgot to get gas at Richfield; squeaked into Beaver for gas. Crossed the line to Pacific Time. Los Vegas, ate at Hofbrau Haus, then Goodwill (3345 Tropikana), SAVERS (2300 Tropicana and 11oo E Charleston Blvd) Cruised through The Strip then out to North Los Vegas to set up at Cracker Barrell. (Joshua Trees)
Sunday 9:45PT Stopped at Los Vegas Goodwill (110 Sahara), SAVERS (3121 N Rancho Dr) and another SAVERS (?), On the road to California after a quick breakfast pickup, via Bakersfield and Barstow where we stopped for supper at Black Bear Diner (very good). Set up at Bakersfield Cracker Darrell. (raven)
Monday 9:45PT Heading to Taft and setup at site. Good neighbors - Ellen & Tim. (Returning to camp after Chinese supper and showers found our north entrance closed before 11:30 to our frustration. Fortunately east entrance allowed us in.
Tuesday 9:45PT Continued setting up (plus M. went to town for a required five extinguisher. Supper at Black Bear Diner. This time the east gate to SCA was closed and we drove 21 miles around to North Gage arriving well before midnight and was admitted, Communication folks!!!! (ground squirrel, coyote)
Wednesday 9:30PT M. made several sales! (P $120, M $214 profit) Supper at Red Lobster.
Thursday 9:40PT L made several sales! (P $64; M $200 profit) (lizard, heart coyotes)
Friday 9PT/11PT Took M to her shop before heading into town to the library for the afternoon. Went back to Red Lobster for supper. Had no problem getting around until Golf Course Road (could NOT find it). Didn't get back to her until Eleven o'clock! She was closed at 9... worry time for both of us.
Saturday 9PT/11PT Today I wore the embroidered yellow tunic in order to show it off. Folks missed me yesterday. I made a quick run to Shell for ice, water and Pepsi. Then headed into town for the library (which turns out to be closed on weekends!) Back before 8 though due to Walmart stop and early supper. M is doing Halloween merchant tonight. (egret, ravens)
Sunday 8:30PT Up for a little organizing before heading to merchant area for the day. M had an excellent day of sales. One of the big leather and the smaller one and S's carder finally went. She started packing up mid afternoon. We pulled the trailer over from the RV area so all's in one place.
Monday 8PT We had until noon to finish loading up (Thanks to the generous Latina we made it). Lunch at Pyrenees in Bakersfield... Oxtail Stew!! Stopped at library for a couple hours. M called World Markets in LA checking for her flatware. No Joy. Set up in Cracker Barrel at Bakersfield.
Tuesday 9:20PT Breakfast at Black Bear and making plans for Whale Watch this week. In Bakersfield, Salvation Army, Post Office, 31 Flavors, Salvation Army, Goodwill x3, Bernards) and gassed up. On the road to Palisades Natl Park to camp tonight. (wild boar x2, jackrabbit, bunny rabbit, raccoon x3 at camp) The boar barely missed the RAV as we drove into the park. Low on gas, must change plans.
Wednesday 10PT Up before "check-out" and headed to the office re closest service station. Releaved its only 30 miles. Saw wildlife, got passport stamped. Hollister - Saladworks, Goodwill. Left Al at State Vehicular Red Area "near" Hollister for 2 nights. Gilroy - Salvation Army, Goodwill, Longhouse Restaurant. (W Scrub Jay, finches, squirrel, partridge, ground squirrel, buntings, raven, deer, coyote, magpie, vulture, turkey x3, hawk) M made friends with 3 resident ferel cats.
Thursday 7:30PT Up and out for Whale Watch at Monterrey. (hawk, deer x3, egret, humpback whales, cormorants, seagulls, common m***, sealions, jelly fish)
Friday 7:30/10:30PT Out on the road at noon. Carmel Mission (Basilica) & Museum. Continue to SanJose for forks and spoons at World Market. Supper at Dennys in San Hose. Then set up at Sausalito Drakes Landing Office parking lot about 2am... instant sleep for me. (shrub jay, flicker, ground squirrel, magpies, hawk, egret, pelican, squirrel)
Saturday 11:30/10:30PT Thrift stores - Salvation Army (350 4th Street, San Rafael), Goodwill (936 7th St, Novato) and Hodgepodge in Novato. Crepevine for lupper. We moved from Drakes Landing down 101 south to Sausalito and Mill Valley across from Buckeye to setup for the night. (raven, finch)
Sunday 9:15PT Slow start today then drive to Modesto for Starbucks computer time and Sunday evening gaming (unsuccessfully due to sound levels). Golden Corral for supper. Set up at LUVS. (guineas x3, vultures x2)
Monday 11PT Slow start then showers, laundry and oil change. Supper at Golden Corral. Plans for 2 days at Yosemite including water at Dollar Tree. Set up at LUVS.
Tuesday 10PT Stockton thrift store. Drove out to Yosemite Park, set up at Moccasin Point. (hawk, deer)
Wednesday 9:30PT Slow day in camp! Put away clean clothes. M doing checkbook and merchant paperwork. Headed out to Mariposa Grove. (sparrow, flicker, magpie x2, squirrel, deer, raven, ground squirrel)
Thursday 10PT Spent the day in camp. Steak and potatoes for supper. Campfire with "special" log. (veriols, woodpeckers, grey squirrels, robin, blue jay)
Friday 11:30PT Loaded up to drive across Yosemite. Took wrong leg of the triangle, lost more than an hour from our starting point this morning. Made Thai Soup for supper. (vireos, woodpeckers, flickers, hawk, raven, deer, Sutter's jay, squirrel)
Saturday 10PT Heading across Yosemite on 120 east to Lee Fining, then Winnemucka. (hawk, raven)
Sunday 10PT Heading toward SLC. Stopped in Elk,o Nevada for an unsuccessful try at gaming again. Stopped at LUV before Wells to set up. (raven)
Monday 10PT Dead battery this morning recharged, replaced marine battery. Reached SLC, picked up more flatware. (duck, rave, sparrow, many antelope, 2-tone robin-sized birds)
Tuesday noon MT Lunch at Fieldman's Deli (good), a few thrift stores and 31 Flavors. (ravens, pigeons)
Wednesday 11MT Black Bear Diner, probably the last one east. Driving across Wyoming in a snow "shower" Overnight at Days Inn, Rawlins, Wyoming with wifi and showers. (rabbit, ravens)
Thursday 8MT 2 thrift stores in Rawlins, Wyoming then on the road. 3 thrift stores in Laramie, Wyoming then 2 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Supper at Little Bear Inn. Set up at Walmart. (raven, antelope, deer)
Friday 10MT RAV almost didn't start. To Ft Collins and the Creperie and three thrift stores. On to Loveland, Colorado to set up at Johnson Corners. Turns out there's nothing wrong with the new Marine battery (?!?) (geese)
Saturday 10;30mt To Boulder for Katmandu, several thrift stores and Art Parts. Set up at Johnson Corners. (raven, prairie dogs)
Sunday 10:30MT Lunch at Thai Thai'm with Agnes, Goodwill then Carl's offer LaQinta suite for gaming tonight with Agnes DM!
Monday 10:30MT Headed home! But first 31 Flavors and Quilters' Dream in Loveland. Pulled in before 11pm (blue jay, antelope, buck)

Continued --

3/20 Sunday   Load car top freight and drop camper so we can head out to LOVES for showers. Nice hot showers! Ate and gassed up, too. On the road at Noon. No thrift stores open so we drove across the state to Nachez.

6:30 drove about the old part of town before supper (great old architecture) at Magnolia Grill down by the Mississippi River 'Under the Hill'. Leofwyna had shrimp and grits and I ordered the crawfish etouffee. Between the two of us we had enough to eat without the disappointing etouffee. The waitress deducted the etouffee and brought us two pieces of pie. I didn't care for the chocolate pecan (L loved it) so I ate the coconut which was lovely. Set up at the Information Center and settled by 10.

3/21 Monday   I started my morning embroidering. Leofwyna had her chance to sleep in today and start slowly. When she did get going she swept out the caper before we dropped it for the day. So many things closed on Monday, no thrift stores or plantation house tours. Lunch at the Moo Barn then less than an hour at the library (they closed at 5). Drove around looking at flowers, houses, basilica, etc. then the old cemetary until dark. Subway for supper and two episodes of West Wing in the RAV. Settled in the RAV by 10.

3/22 Tuesday   It's a wet day. We left Nachez to drive up the Nachez Trace to Jackson where we found that like Nachez they've closed everything for the day due to the so-called terrible storm which turns out to bbe an all day rain with occasional lightning and thunder. To add insult to injury the three Baskin Robbins are no longer open and the city library is closed as well. Supper at Sonny's BBQ then on he road towards West Memphis. Settled by 11 at Cracker Varrel. There was lots of rain to drive through; found beds dank, Leofwyna's corner rather wet.

3/23 Wednesday   A grey, overcast morning with rain predicted in the afternoon. We're into Memphis for thrift stores after waffles for breakfast. Goodwill, AmVets, DAM and other smaller ones. 6pm heading towards St Louis. Supper at Hayti and settled at Cape Girardeux by midnight after a couple erroneous detours.

3/24 Thursday   Stayed the night at a Cracker Barrel in Cape Girardeux. Overcast but only sprinkling a we closed up the camper. Golden Corral for lunch then on to St Louis and St Charles (naps along the way). Goodwill, St Vincent de Pauls, etc. And for supper teppenyaki; our table mates Russian descent, two sons. Settled at Cracker Barrel about 9 for a nice, relaxing evening.

3/25 Friday   Waffle House in St Louis for breakfast then several thrift stores through the afternoon. Found a deli (Pickles) before it closed and got Pastrami sandwiches and brownies to go as we headed out of town, Stopped at a SAVERS in O'Fallen then remembered we needed Propane!! Drove across Missouri to Independence. Settled at Cracker Barrel by 11:30.

3/26 Saturday   Lunch at Schlotzkeys then thrift stores through the afternoon. Home by 8:30.

3/27 Sunday   Settling in at home after the trip. Unloading waits for the upcoming weekdays. Missed that gaming Sunday was at Theron's so was zooming Arne DM with Buck Bannerman. No points assigned but did get some cool stuff from the dwarves. Monday headed out for crispy fish and the Apple Goodwill where I found a couple white tops for this summer. Tuesday was an appointment with Dr Owen. He ordered an ultrasound to check in left leg for a blood clot and we were relieved that was not the issue. No med changes. Wednesday, three sessions at the library then was reminded Magmor was still zoom this week. Leofwyna and I headed to Red Robin for salads before going home; missed the zoom meeting altogether. Thursday, grey so stayed in working on the laptop all day and through the evening. Friday I didn't get to sleep last night and then slept until near noon; Leofwyna slept until near two. We were late going to lunch then I headed to the library for a session before going home to continue on the laptop.

From the travel journal:
3/8 Tuesday   A pretty day to finish loading up. Couldn't get the ice chest handle down wo had to rearrange that area. Out of the driveway at 4:28pm.

Audio Books: William R Forstchen's One Second After

Stopped in St Joseph for Red Rack Thrift and supper at McDonalds. Gassed up before KC. Stopped at Walmart, Booneville and settled by midnight.

3/9 Wednesday   Bought replacement flashlight in Walmart. Stopped at Waffle House in Columbia and gassed up. In St Charles stopped at Goodwill and St Vincent de Paul. Cape Girardeux Golden Corral and gas then on to West Memphis Cracker Barrel and settled by 11:30.

3/10 Thursday Headed to Schlotski's for lunch in Memphis, Tennessee then on the road to Jackson, Mississippi gas at Shell before Jackson then Goodwill in Jackson. On the road to Hattiesburg racker Barrel. Settled by 10:30

3/11 Friday   Last minute shopping iist in Hattiesburg then on the road to Lumberton Taco Bell (our restaurant there no longer exists) an then King's Arrow Ranch. Since there was an afternoon downpour we headed back to Lumberton for groceries. The site was drained enough to begin setting up camper then shop tent. Into Lumberton for supper at Road House and settled by 10:30. It was a cold night as predicted, lots of rain off and on into evening and all night.

3/12 Saturday   A pretty, clear day warming nicely. Leofwyna at work filling tent with goods. Works on it until 6:30. [Forgotten at home - tarps, my heart and hard-boiled eggs.] I spent the afternoon in the RAV reading as the afternoon chilled. Headed back to Road House for supper then up the road to LOVES for a hot shower in a not cold room. Settled in trailer about 10. It's been a cold evening but at least dry.

3/13 Sunday   Another pretty, clear morning. Leofwyna continues unpacking merchandise, now in garb. I'm in garb too but taking it easy most of the afternoon until the sun lowered and I got chilled and headed to the RAV to read. We tried a Chinese cafe in Pervus - meh. Settled in trailer by 9;45. Leofwyna had enough sales today to make her happy. She gave me a big piece of scrap linen, instead of pricing it to sell.

3/14 Monday   Opps! Overslept (my watch was off an hour somehow). It's going to get warm today. No ones said anything yet about where we're parking by the trailer so we continue to have both heat and light, no alarm. Yay! I spent the afternoon with Marcella and continued embroidering the dog wheel. Got complimented on my work by Lisette.

We got supper at KFC in Hattiesburg. Leofwyna had left her phone in camp so we had to be careful not to get lost. She is very happy with her shop numbers today. I finished second dog wheel badge tonight. Just three tongues to do tomorrow.

NOTE: Learned Sunday night was the switch to DST so that's to blame for our time confusion this morning.

3/15 Tuesday   Rained really hard for along time in the night until just barely light. Went back to sleep to dream. Leofwyna up to check at merchants' office for her tax report forms before opening her shop. When I got up and dressed I headed up the merchant line to spend another afternoon with Marcella. After closing we headed out to find supper and groceries for the next couple days when we won't be getting away. Settled for the night at 9:45.

3/16 Wednesday   Headed to EpL for the afternoon. Made progress on the neck piece embroidery. A Meredes gentleman gave me a ride back to our site when a 'bus' hadn't come by. We hit the food court for supper (roast chicken wasn't too bad). Leofwyna had long day with Midnight Madness.

3/17 Thursday   I had a slow start today reading. Early afternoon headed to Calontir party to ensure a good spot for court later. Continuing embroidery on Gerald's neckpiee at the Calontir pavilion which is, by the way, a new one with a new floor-covering.

Asa Luffa received a Silver Hammer. After court and some of the party Leofwyna and I headed to 31 Flavors in Hattiesburg for ice cream. Settle in camper by 10.

3/18 Friday   The predicted storm didn't arrive until near dawn and wasn't the wildness some had expected. Leofwyna did end up fighting 'wet' again though. I began slowly then covered for her so she could shop. Continued the afternoon with a fold car foray to check out the entire site. When I returned to relieve her again for another shopping foray she decided to put dirty laundry in the bigger RAV cubby and managed to spill the night bucket I'd put off dealing with until 'later', phew! Once merchants finished we headed out to find a Red Lobster in Hattiesburg. Settled in camp by 10:30 after flooding Robin at the gate about benefits of SCA.

3/19 Saturday   Last day of merchanting closed at 3pm. Packing up and taking down tent and loading RAV 3-9. I dropped a table on my right foot at the end of it all - OUCH! Settled in camper 10pm.

Up and finish pulling sundries for trip, out for lunch while Leofwyna bustles at home. Back to load up trailer, check downspouts and lock up garage. Waiting now for Leofwyna to change and load ice chest. Let me note both trailer and van are TOTALLY loaded. And we're off... approx. 4pm for her prescription and propane before we really hit the road east then south.

9am... I have some catching up to do. We pulled in at home from Colorado last Tuesday night... early Wednesday morning really. As Leofwyna says, it was a perfectly satisfying trip and now we're glad to be home. As she let me have the twin bed in the camper this time I have to agree with her, I slept great. The experiment to use the laptop for Sunday gaming was a fail but getting the right charging cord can change that. I found lots of clothes to add to my new wardrobe and Leofwyna had good luck with her dishes... well, she wanted more bowls and fewer plates but all the same she brought lots of stuff home. We spent two days, three nights in camp at Poudre River where I got to have campfires every night.

I had appointments Thursday with Dr Owen who decreased my insulin and with Emily who reports my thyroid nodules are stable thanks to the records from many years ago for comparison. I seem to have much better energy and breath control which I credit somewhat to dealing with the altitude in Colorado and having pushed to keep up with Leofwyna in the thrift stores.

This last week here at home I continued to find additional clothes. I'm enjoying my new size... XL and 20W. I've cleared every large garment from my closet and have it nearly full again. Cera benefited and took away all my tops; Leofwyna is keeping some of my jeans. Sunday's Magmor get together out at Gerald's got postponed due to threat of rain (which didn't occur). It's been rather chilly too and I've been wearing some of my 'new' sweaters.

Enjoyed gaming Sunday evening with Agnes as DM. After next week she's taking a break and sounds like Volkmar will pick up the baton. Theron is in the midst of job problems and won't be able to deal with DMing while that's going on. Neither Arne nor Owain spoke up at this time.

9:15... a pretty day. Up to finish loading and shower then finally we're on the road again, heading west.

9am... Leofwyna is up and out to get her replacement driver's license; I'm up and out for breakfast. Learned this afternoon there's snow on the East Face today and tomorrow to the tune of a foot... followed up by rain the next week or so. We postponed leaving for a few days to let snow be melted... we can deal with the wet when the time comes I tried on some things while packing up my totes an found a few I shouldn't wear yet. Managed just enough items for the fourteen days. After supper we headed downstairs where I worked on sniglets.

Thursday (noon) finished packing and loading up for the trip to Minneapolis. Got on the road before 5pm and drove to Sioux Falls, arriving about 9pm. Set up there at the Walmart before midnight among many, many RVs. Following the dash to set up for the night had an unpleasant 'episode'.

Friday in spite of a noisy morning slept until noon. Visited half a dozen thrift stores in Sioux Falls and stopped in at the park to see the falls (saw many big trout trying to leap the falls). Drove through the evening to Bloomington Walmart... then followed suggestion to go to Burnsville Walmart instead as sometimes Bloomington's gets towed. Set up abt 11:30 and set the alarm for eight.

Saturday (8am) joined up with Asa, Randy,and Volkmar for the Viking Exhibit at the American Swedish Institute which was very nice. Had an interesting lunch there before heading to the St Paul Conservatory. At the conservatory on the spur of the moment I splurged and hired a motorscooter. Turned out not to be as extended as I'd anticipated so could have saved the expense. Oh well, it was sort of fun. Said goodbye to the others and hit a couple more thrift stores and found Jaegerschnitzel at Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit... very good. If we're ever back we should split one order as they are huge portions. Back to Burnsville Walmart for the night.

Sunday... it drizzled all night and there was a tiny drip over the foot or my bed. Scarcely noticed it until I was well awake. Up about ten during a pause and got the camper closed up. Thereupon the skies cleared and there was no more rain. We visited several more thrift stores and took in a movie (Dobbs and Shaw from the Fast and Furious series). Back to Burnsville Walmart and set up about 10:30. Ate leftovers from last night for supper.

Monday I got up at ten and left Leofwyna sleeping in the camper. When she got up she dropped the camper herself before coming in to find me at the Subway. She found a bead shop to check into, then several more thrift stores. We had supper in Minnetonka at Christo's Greek before getting on the road to Ames, Iowa. Turns out the lucky pennies we'd each found came to our aid. The trailer wheel failed in north Iowa and Leofwyna called Farmers for help. We spent the night in Belmont at Cody Barnstetter Auto Body.

Tuesday while we were still sleeping Cody jacked up the trailer and the wheel FELL RIGHT OFF. Turned out the bearings were worn to a sliver and we were lucky it hadn't come off while we were on the interstate! When he checked the other wheel it was getting pretty thin too so he did them both. About 2:30 we were back on the road to Ames where we visited three thrift stores before finding a chinese buffet for supper then another movie... Angel Has Fallen. Coming out of the movie we saw there was a Walmart a block away and we set up for the night.

Wednesday it rained all morning. Although Leofwyna had caulked the fanvent frame again I had more wet at the foot of my bed worse than before. This time though we think its from the roof-wall join where a strip had come out; it was probably windy from that direction this time. Woke about 10:30 and waited for a break in the rain to stike the camper. Headed in to Des Moines where we visited nearly a dozen thrift stores before finding supper at another chinese buffet (International... sucks). Then on the road to Council Blufss where we were set up at the Walmart by midnight.

Thursday (11) visited half a dozen thrift stores in Council Bluffs before crossing to Omaha for another few. Leofwyna finally ran out of steam and we went to Pla's for supper before I drove us home before 9pm. Loefwyna's plan to stock up merchandise for Kris Kinder and Twelfth Night was a rousing success and she's ready to match up sets and make bags for the next couple months. We didn't get all the stores in Omaha so if necessary we can go back for a day this fall.

Friday (10:30) I headed out for lunch after noon and library computer time leaving Leofwyna loafing for the day. At the sewing table I'm still trying to use up the sniglets.

Thursday we loaded up to go to Topeka and hit into several thrift stores and supper before driving on to Wichita to set up the camper in a Walmart there. It was a cold night without heat but plenty of wool blankets. During the night it started raining and kept on with it all day Friday. We spent all day Friday in various thrift stores with mixed luck and finished the day trying to find the right Walmart where we'd left the camper. Third try was successful much to our relief. It was another cold night with light snow flurries. Saturday we overslept (alarm was mis-set) but arrived at coronation, missing only a Laurel elevation and a few recognitions. It was a beautiful site with a 'town square' community hall. Leofwyna also was approached about a co-hosting of 2020 summer coronation with Lonely Tower; they have a site that might work. She napped part of the afternoon. Returning home late Saturday night coming through Beatrice where we were stopped for a broken taillight and into Lincoln found 5-6 inches of snow. What a delight to pull up home to find someone had cleared our drive and walks. I only had to push snow off the two steps in front.

9/29 Saturday [104376] on the road found Martin's Beads and Crafts in Tydendinaga, Ontario (bone feathers). Through Toronto to Niagara Falls (6:30pm), then Red Lobster for supper (hey, there's a Value Village across the parking lot). Change of plan, across to Buffalo for Walmart for the night and load book on cellphone. (11pm). [297]

9/30 Sunday [104673] on the road to Buffalo for lunch, library and three thrift stores. Back into Canada for drive to Port Huron for Walmart there (midnight). [228]

10/1 Monday [104901] Port Huron two Goodwills then on the road to Frankenmuth (2pm) for GOOD weiner snitzel supper and visit to bakery for date bars. Back on the road to Flint and Clio for three Goodwills then Battlecreek Walmart. [237]

10/2 Tuesday [105138] Battlecreek 2 Goodwills, then Kalamazo 3 Goodwills, then New Buffalo for OINK! ice cream. Then on to Chicago for SAVERS, Goodwill and Huck Finn Restaurant for supper. On the road to Ottawa, Illinois for Walmart (11pm). [274]

10/3 Wednesday [105412] Ottwah, Illinois Goodwill, Peru, Illinois Goodwill, Geneseo, Illinois Goodwill, Moline, Illinois Goodwill, Bettendorf, Iowa Goodwill, and Davenport, Iowa Goodwill. On to Newton, Iowa for Dynasty Chinese Buffet for supper, then Walmart. [259]

10/4 Thursday [105671] Newton, Iowa Goodwill, Des Moines, Iowa three Goodwills, then on to Pla's in Omaha for supper. Home by 9:30pm. [105905] [234]

9/22 Saturday [102871] Vernon Diner for lunch then on to Worcester for Savers, Best Buy and Goodwill. Supper in the car on the road to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Walmart (10pm). [160]

9/23 Sunday [103031] Route one along Main coast to Two Lights State Park for Lobster Shack, then on to Cape Elizabeth and Brunswick Goodwill. Camden Hills State Park (7:45pm) for campfire and finally the sausage supper. [154]

9/24 Monday [103185] had accident in Elsworth, Maine. RAV tour in Acadia National Park... Cadillac Mountain (oops) and backtrack to Sand Beach Road. Gateway Lobster for supper. Houlton Walmart (9:15pm) [274]

9/25 Tuesday [103459] pharmacy stops, library for M and Salvation Army. Crossing into Canada at New Bunswick. (1:26pm) [206] Oops, no GPS on cellphone while in Canada. Book runs out, no reloading available.

9/26 Wednesday [103665] Saint Lawrence Seaway ferry for whales... lots of fog, no whales. I think I saw a seal though. (3:30pm) on the road to Quebec for Walmart. McDonalds in the same parking lot for supper. Settled for the night (10pm). [120] RAIN

9/27 Thursday [103785] RAV touring Quebec... Chez Carlos for lunch, one SAVERS then on the road (5:20pm) for Vermont... Newport Walmert (10pm) [256] Make notes from Internet to find SAVERS and Walmarts while back in Canada. [256]

9/28 Friday [104031] Walmart battery recharge and Newport Library computer. Chocolatier on the road to Montreal. RAV touring Montreal but couldn't find SAVERS, did find Thai for supper then on to Kingston, Ontario for Walmart (midnight) [345] RAIN

9/15 Saturday [102144] Break camp and stop at Larson's for pancakes. On the road 1pm... Yonkers on the way north. While on the road to Boston decided to reroute to Rhode Island. At Mystic Overlook a whaling barque "Charles W. Morgan. SAVERS, then Chinese buffet for supper. Coventry Walmart (10pm). A pretty day!

9/16 Sunday decided to rest today with laundry and library computer in Coventry. RAV touring at Greenville-Exeter-Warwick loop abbreviated with a stop at Village Tavern in North Scituate for supper. Back to Coventry Walmart (8pm). [Saturday-Sunday 249]

9/17 Monday [102393] Middle of Nowhere Diner for lunch. Newport, Rhode Island The Breakers tour. WOW! Lobster rolls and cemetary tour. Back to Coventry Walmart (8:30pm). [81]

9/18 Tuesday [102474] Salvation Army in North Warwick and a couple hours at the library then on to Provedence for lunch and three SAVERS. Then on the road again to Boston Walmart (9pm) RAIN Opps! DVR player left behind at library.

9/19 Wednesday Zaftic deli for lunch. RAV tour of Boston Liberty Trail, USS Constitution (stopped for a walkthrough tour), Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument, and Chinatown. Back in camp (10pm). [Tuesday-Wednesday 180]

9/20 Thursday [102654] break camp to return to Coventry for DVD. Stopped at laundromat to dry pillows. On to Sears in Attleborough, Massachusetts to recharge battery, oil change and rear trailer light. Found a SAVERS (we've been here before). Supper at Friendlies then back to Covenrty Walmart (10:30pm) [95]

9/21 Friday [102749] on to Hartford for Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, one Goodwill, one SAVERS and Texas Roadhouse for supper. Camp at Walmart (10:30pm) [122]

9/8 Saturday [101491] Lunch at Grandma Zook's on Hwy 23. Valley Forge National Park, Independence Hall, one Goodwill then supper at NafNaf Grill in King of Prussia. Back in camp (10:40ppm) [140] RAIN

9/9 Sunday [101631] Giovanni's Italian for lunch, four Goodwills, drive through Amish country in the rain, Miller's for supper then back to camp. [133] RAIN

9/10 Monday [101764] Noon heading to Reading to recharge the battery, lunch, library. Had to buy new battery. Back to camper (10pm). [74] RAIN

9/11 Tuesday [101838] Breaking camp. Goodwill in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania avoiding toll roads. Arrived at Marina campground in New Jersey with New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty across the water (9pm). [179]

9/12 Wednesday [0] Took the train into New York City (9-11 Memorial Pool, Macy's bathroom, Garment District: Mood, Ben's Deli, ribbon stores, New York Library then back to New Jersey and drove to Larson's for supper. Back in camp (9:30pm). [0]

9/13 Thursday [102017] Breakfast at Larson's, two Goodwills, post office, Walgren, Library (no computer), supper of leftovers in the park. Back in camp (9:50pm)

9/14 Friday Metropolitan Museum at The Cloisters including fashions and gallery with columns. Bronx (library no go due to lack of parking). Manhattan Heideberg for weinersnitzel with spatzle, and affelstrudel. GPS took us right through downtown New York (9:15pm) and through the Holland Tunnel on the way back to camp (10pm). A pretty day! [Thursday-Friday 127]

9/1 Saturday [99800] the RAV is fine and we're off again. Stopped at Pla's for lunch and to reattach to the trailer (2:11pm). Drove through to Peru, Illinois Walmart (9:45pm). [430]

9/2 Sunday [100230] to Youngstown, Ohio Walmart (11:30pm) [471]

9/3 Monday [100701] two Goodwills and a deli in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; off Interstate for Antietum and West Virginia. Washington's Greenbelt Campground (10:30pm).

9/4 HOT NIGHT!!! Tuesday into Washington DC car touring (White House, Washington Memorial and Jefferson Memorial). Thai for lunch (Pla is better). Toured the Cathedral and found two Savers. Back to camp (10pm). [Monday-Tuesday total 432]

9/5 Wednesday [101133] into Baltimore for Peabody Library, Walters Art Museum and Fort McHenry National Monument. Back to camp (7pm). Tried to have a campfire but was too damp so supper was cereal. [68] RAIN

9/6 Thursday [101205] Into Washington DC for Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Memorial drive-by and a movie, Mission Impossible: Fallout. Back to camp (12:30pm) [95] RAIN

9/7 Friday [101300] Broke camp about 10:30am. Teppenyaki Buffet for lunch. Goodwill in Bowie. On the road 3pm via Maryland and Deleware. Goodwill, ice cream and groceries in Middletown, Deleware. Remember the storm on the Chesapeake bridge after a quick side trip into New Jersey, then on to French Creek Campground in Pennsylvania west of Philadelphia. [191] RAIN

Friday morning [99705] and I'm ready to load up the rest of the stuff when Leofwyna's got it ready.

Friday evening and we're back home to sleep in our own beds one more night. Turns out on our way to Pla's for supper before getting some miles done our brakes sounded odd. So we left the camper at Pla's and took the RAV back to Dave in Lincoln.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent quietly at Halsey State Forest. We had a pretty campsite right on the Middle Loop River and there we stayed. Wednesday night a thunderstorm rolled through with pouring rain and went on an on well into the night. Fortunately we were done with supper and even had time for a campfire. Thursday there was no sign of the rain (sandy soil) though the river was a bit higher. We played scrabble in the afternoons and for a change I was beating her two out of three games. In fact in one game I used all the tiles twice and really trounced her big-time. Friday we were loaded up and heading home by way of North Platte and Kearney, stopping a their Goodwill stores along the way. I got a pair of white sandals at one and little plastic drawers at another. I passed up a beautiful compost sifter I would have nearly killed for before I gave up the garden this year. We pulled in around ten and watched the final bit of Survivor before bed. I worked on the silk tunic

Tuesday from the Broken Bow library. We didn't get out of town Monday until after 2pm. We stopped at the Grand Island Goodwill on the way through and pulled into our camp at Halsey about 9pm. It was a pretty day for a drive. Today we ran into Broken Bow to get a charge on the DVD player, buy some firewood and ice.

It's time to get back to posting. We spent most of October out of town, leaving Braganza to look after Cassie. The first two and a half weeks was exploring Utah and Nevada and the second two and a half weeks housesitting again in Loveland (they went to South America this time). We had beautiful weather for all the best parts of the trip although it snowed and blowed on us the day we traveled to Colorado. In the week since we got back I've procrastinated on the yardwork and gardening so that's still to do.

Anyway, Wednesday I spent the afternoon at the library computers working on geneaology, then the evening catching up with SCA friends. I was able to deliver the HOURGLASS to Master Gerald and he was delighted with it. We went to Tandor for supper; I do love the Goa Chicken there.

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