New Tools

 July 30, 2022

Wapakoneta KOA site 15

Wapakoneta, Ohio

The rally, full of educational sessions, meals,

tours: such as the MorRyde fabrication plant

with robots turning flat metal into shapes

As well as humans using machines to bend metal

and camaraderie

in the marvelous location of Amish Country - Shipshewana, Indiana

ended last night with a give away session of donated items.  Dad scored a torque wrench and a light on a flexible rod.  

Can you believe he got to use one of those items today....along the side of the road?  With only 65 miles left to travel, the tire monitor alerted to rapid pressure loss and Momma watched the numbers tick down to 38 pounds by the time we stopped along the side of the highway.  And wouldn't you know, it was the rear tire on the driver's side....in other words ...the traffic side.  I guess you could call it tread failure as some of the layers had separated/peeled away.  Dad said that torque wrench worked like a charm!!  Too bad he is having some back issues.  The tire change just aggravated the issue even more so.  

Now we get to go tire shopping.  I guess it's a good thing we aren't rolling until Tuesday as there won't be any tire shops open until Monday.

Our weather has been amazingly comfortable dipping into the high 60's at night and  80's during the day.  And that turns out to be another plus for us as it appears our bedroom AC unit isn't chilling to the same degree as when we began our trip.  It makes one wonder if the low voltage at Terra Haute had anything to do with our current issue????

Dad says one of the things he misses about traveling with an additional rig or two is that we appear to be the only ones with issues.  There is no one else to report an issue or two that needs addressing.  I mean Dad does enjoy a project, but sometimes it's nice to have a project that isn't digging into HIS wallet.

I'm Chloe

Shippy

 July 23, 2022

Trading Places RV site 103

Shipshewana, Indiana

I was enjoying a peaceful ride in the back seat of the Ram when I heard it.  The clip clop of a horse's hooves.  I raised up and took a peek out the window and spotted the buggy being drawn by a horse.

I've been here before.  This must be Shipshewana, where there is a large population of Amish.

Our plans were to depart Johnny Appleseed Campground in Fort Wayne and slide into Shipshewana about an hour up the road.  The phone digged and the thunder and lightning really got my attention.  Storm warning for the next hour....so we sat right where we were and didn't even think about departure.

Shortly after 10am, all the flashing and booming dissipated but it was still raining.....not drenching...but raincoats were needed for sure.  We only had water and electric at our site so it didn't take long to wrap up the hose and cable and get on our way.

Would you believe we actually drove out of the rain and enjoyed beautiful set up weather?  Momma said she thought 65 was a tad chilly at 11:30 am, but there were promises of some sun later to add a touch of heat.

We are at the Coming Home Rally for Open Range/Highland Ridge Owners.  Parked in the site right across are Wanda and Dave from Pennsylvania.  I know we are going to be visiting with more friends as the weekend crowd arrives.  We arrived a day early.

Wait, were are you going with Wanda and Dave?  Oh yeah, you had this all planned out.  Saturday night is the Prime Rib special at Hopper's Restaurant in Goshen.  Bring me a doggie bag, please!!  I hear the meat is fork tender and seasoned perfectly.

I'm Chloe

Comfortable outside

 July 21, 2022

Johnny Appleseed Campground site 7

Fort Wayne, Indiana

I'm almost afraid to say it out loud, much less put it in writing.  We have VERY comfortable temperatures.  Daytime is 80's and low 70's at night.  Every evening we watch the news reporting dangerously high temperatures all over.  But we have somehow found a nitch that is a blessing.  On top of the agreeable temperatures, most of the sites have some shade as well, along with a nice breeze.  Very comfortable for outside, fresh air time!!  And snacking!!

This is one of our favorite campgrounds for a short stay.  It is water/electric only but they do have pump out service for $10 or an available free dump station.  With a price of $27 a night, it's like balancing the scales as the lowest diesel price available is $5.49 in this area.  What happened to fuel prices dropping?  But then again, maybe this area was super high to begin with?!?  

There is a lovely dog park within walking distance with nice grass to tickle my toes.  But our site is close to a grassy area on the edge of the campground that Dad and I have visited to play frisbee.  

Now what really seems to have Momma and Dad excited is their lunch plans for Friday.  Jerry and Carolyn are about 2 hours away so they have made plans to meet midway. Too bad Penny, their poodle and I aren't invited to tag along.

I'm Chloe

Much happier

 July 20. 2022

RJourney Campground

Anderson, In

Now this campground delivers what it promises unlike Terra Haute Campground who said they would give us 50 amp service but failed to deliver!!  We would have been better off running our generator if its use wasn't banned.

It meant two one night stays in a row and a double campsite payment as Terra Haute would not refund the unused night, but it is well worth it!!

AND....this campground has a wonderful grassy, large, out of the way of traffic area for a great game of frisbee.  

I am so relaxed here!!

By the way, did you notice how white I am.  I had a nice tubby at this new campground with a full body massage.  No wonder I am so relaxed!!

I'm Chloe

Don't camp at Terra Haute Campground

 July 19, 2022

Terra Haute Campground

Terra Haute, Indiana

Here we go again!  Low voltage on one leg.  Our surge protector keeps shutting down the power to protect us.  As soon as something was turned on, the voltage dropped as low as 103.

and we were only pulling 18 amps on that leg.Momma had started a load of wash and had attempted to begin dinner.

The gal in the office gave us a list of 4 other sites we could relocate to.  As Momma and Dad were walking around to check them out, another camper who had arrived today said when he plugged into the 50 amp receptacle, his power protector went haywire so he connected to the 30 amp plug instead.  

Dad got out his voltage meter and every site on the offered list was registering the same as our site:  115 on one leg and 124 on the other.  Moving wouldn't be solving our problems because as soon as we would begin to use amperage, that 115 would take a dive.  

Now get this....this is a first.....the gal in the office called her manager who said they could call an electrician and forward the cost on to us.  Say WHAT???  WE don't have a problem.  This campground has issues.  

Well, as it turned out, Dad took Momma out to eat.  He had quickly located a Culver's a couple of miles away.  He said the meal was great but he would probably have indigestion because he filled the Ram's tank....at the tune of....... $5.65 a gallon!!!  And we had just departed from the $4.99 a gallon location in Missouri.  Welcome to Indiana.

So even though the campground refuses to acknowledge a power issue and refund our second night, we are heading out tomorrow.  We aren't playing the 'can't plug in/turn any devices on' game.  Good bye Terra Haute, a Keifer Campground.  Even the chocolate chip cookies they presented to us upon arrival isn't getting rid of the bad taste of this campground!!

It seems every campground has its quirks.  The last campground had a train that ran on a high trestle. 

We are used to trains being near campgrounds, but these trains had an unusual effect on us.

If we were watching over-the-air TV, our signal would be blocked and we would lose our picture until the train cleared the track.  Now wouldn't you know, it always seemed to happen during the evening news broadcast.  That was much easier to accept than this campground's failure to acknowledge their low voltage on one leg issue and the offer to have us foot the repair bill.

Now me....I'm disappointed that they won't let me play with the donkey they have at this campground.  He keeps bellowing out an invitation to play but policy won't allow any playtime with me.  

Yep, time to move on.....

I'm Chloe 

Good info

 July 16, 2022

Sundermeier RV site 74

Saint Charles, MO

The locals know all the best spots.  The tour guide for the First State Capital of Missouri was well informed.  She gave a history lesson on Missouri's early years as we viewed the building used for the temporary state capital 

as her audience sat on the hard wooden benches that were replicas of that period of time.

She also opened the doors of the dry goods store 

where settlers bartered with pelts, corn, grain or other items for goods available on the shelves.

It was a warm day and the buildings were not climate controled so at the conclusion of the tour, with thoughts of the disappointing ice cream shop of the previous evening on the mind, Momma inquired about where to find the best ice cream in Saint Charles.  Without any hesitation, the reply was the Sweet Shop just down the sidewalk next to the gazebo with the recommendation of the deep raspberry with chocolate chunks flavor.  

The tour guide was spot on with her recommendation.  And there was even a vacant table with two chairs in the air conditioned store to sit upon as the decadent treat was savored.

What a delightful afternoon!

I'm Chloe

We've arrived: Saint Charles, Missouri

 July 15, 2022

Sundermeier RV

Saint Charles, Missouri

Momma, did you say we are camping in a parking lot?  Well, it does rather resemble a parking lot ....but there is grass between the double-wide concrete sites....just  a bit of grass.  I think I see a potential problem here.  Is there any room to chase my ball or frisbee?  Is this what they call city living?

And tomorrow will be the hottest day of the summer so far in this area 101...and no shade to be found.  At least last week we were treated to some nice temps to enjoy.

Momma and Dad found an interesting housing development as they were heading for some cheaper fuel.  This area seemed to be inhabited by young families and looked like fairly new construction built around a body of water.

Most of the homes had inviting porches.

But the houses were built so close, it resembled where we are located with our rig being parked so close to our neighbor's rig.  Just room enough for an outside AC unit to sit beside each house.  

It was a Friday evening and the people were gathering in the downtown area and riding up and down the streets on their golf carts.  It reminded us of being in The Villages in Florida, but these weren't seniors, they were young couples with school age children.

The golf carts were equipped with lights...turn signals, etc...but they did not have license plates even though they were driving on the same roads as licensed vehicles.

Momma and Dad decided to stop at the ice cream stand but it wasn't the best choice.  Dad said he had crystals in his ice cream (refrozen) and the hot fudge wasn't quality rich fudgy chocolate, even though you would expect high quality when you consider the price for the sundae.  Momma's Muddy flavored ice cream was lacking the lumps and bumps advertised as being mixed in with the base. 

I guess I don't have to feel too bad about missing out on the ice cream stop.

I'm Chloe

Boring

 July 14, 2022

Ozark View RV site 26

Omaha, Arkansas

Well, I have to admit today was b o r i n g.  Momma and Dad brought breakfast out to the picnic table and never shared a morsel.  Boring!!  It was refreshing to have temps in the low 70's to begin the day though.  Momma almost contemplated a light jacket.

Momma had the clothes washer cranked up and was puttering in the kitchen making potato salad and a batch of double chocolate cookies.  Really Momma, chocolate??  You know I can't have chocolate.  Dad got out the vac and cleaned the inside of the RAM.  Boring!!

The only good part of the day was when it was coffee break and Dad dug into my treat stash for some of those mini trail mix bones. Hey, let's not be stingy today.  I was a good girl all morning waiting for you to finish your chores.  I think that calls for a big handful.  Besides, you won't be sharing any cookies with me....fudgy, rich double chocolate cookies are on my banned list you know.  

I didn't even get to play with the water hose when the outside of the Ram was washed.  You could have parked closer to my rope or made my lead longer so I could have gotten in the water stream. The sun would have dried me quickly.  You don't need to towel me off like you do the truck.

Yep, it has been a boring day.  I didn't even get to go to the Farmer's Market.  

No one even played with me and my new green frog.  Talk about some L O N G legs.  Just check out my frog.

But it's boring playing by myself.

At least I got to spend the majority of the day outside in the fresh air.  

Tomorrow we will slide up the road in our shiny, clean truck and glistening rig as we head for Saint Charles, Missouri with our tank full of $5.09 a gallon diesel fuel.  

Catch you down the road....

I'm Chloe

Among the Ozarks

 July 12, 2022

Ozark View RV site 26

Omaha, Arkansas

Would you believe our neighbors were from Ocala...although they have recently relocated to Ormond Beach, Florida?  Yep, small world.  They have an interesting story.  With relation in this area, they decided to 'get out of the Florida summer heat' so they purchased ...not quite sight unseen as they did a walk thru via video chat... used Mobile Suite fifth wheel and hired an acquaintance to deliver it to this campground as they own a car right now...no truck. They are here for the summer.   This is a nice area and seems to be a well maintained campground in a great location. 

 Our view from the back of our rig:

One of the seating areas in the campground:

The weather was even conducive for breakfast at the picnic table this morning.

We are so close to Branson, Missouri that Momma and Dad took off this afternoon to see a show at one of the many theaters.  The Petersens are a very talented family who enjoy sharing their musical talent with the public.  Mom Petersen plays stand up bass and the kids (the youngest is a junior in college) play banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, ukelele, and dobro as well as sing excellent harmony.  When Dad isn't working his day job, he joins the family on stage.  

It is nice to finally be out of the 100 degree temps but I'm afraid it won't last too long.  I'm enjoying it while I can.

It's frisbee time!!

I'm Chloe

Settling into new surroundings

 July 11, 2022

Ozark View RV site 26

Omaha, Arizona

Travel day today and let me tell you, I REALLY knew we were on the road...for the first hour and a half anyway.  Bumpity, bounce; bumpity, bounce.  If we weren't in construction, we were traveling on roads that definitely needed some repair.  

And then....things smoothed out to a typical, calm, relaxing trip where a gal can stretch out in the back seat and take a decent nap.  I guess that means I can't claim all of Arkansas has lousy roads.

When the tank got to just under the half full mark, our timing was perfect to snatch some diesel at an unheard of price of $4.79.  The beginning of the day, the signs read $5.18 and the end of the trip, the signs still read over $5.  Can you believe our luck?  

This is a lovely campground with a friendly, efficient, vivacious, informative manager who led us to our shady pull thru, terraced site

and shared some ideas for our stay.  Momma said her suggestion about Lilliehobbs Cafe and gift shop was timely and accurate.  

You see, we have been on the road for quite a while collecting road grime, bird droppings and yuck.  It was time to wash the RV.  Seeing as we had a shady site and the temps weren't over the top hot as they have been, the RV was washed from top to bottom before any slides were deployed.  After traveling, washing and avoiding water spots by following up with a squeegee, it was late afternoon and Dad and Momma decided the recommendation of grabbing a bite at the cafe was perfect.  Did I mention that they not only offer filling, holsom food, but they have in house bakery items for sale as well.  How could you go wrong?  And that's exactly what the park manager had told us....you can't go wrong with any of the offerings at Lilliehobbs.  

The timing had Momma and Dad arriving at the same time the insulation workers arrived to blow insulation into the attic area.  And all those hoses and noise earned Momma and Dad free dessert.  It doesn't get any better!!

Of course Momma was recharged after dinner and was ready to shop the gift shop half of the building.  What a collection of craft items from local crafters.  Okay, Momma, I'll forgive you this time for being so enchanted with the endless display that you failed to snap a pic.  At least you didn't fail to purchase a treasure.

I'm Chloe

Hot Springs National Park

 July 8, 2022

Treasure Isle RV site A3

Hot Springs, Arkansaas

Hot Springs hosts one of the smallest National Parks.  It is centered around a row of 8 bath houses that offered healing treatments of Mother Nature's hot spring water.  The Fordyce's Spring bathhouse is now the Welcome Center and museum for the National Park with it's marble floors and stained glass dome ceiling.

It's interesting to note that this colorful ceiling that is above this statue

is located on the Men's side of the bathhouse. 

The men would sit on the benches while waiting their turn in the tubs.  The lady's side lacked the opulence.

After a hot spring water treatment, you would spend time in the cooling room

while your body returned to its normal body temperature.  

They even had a set up for the handicapped to lower them into a tub

The top floor was laid out with a parlor and rooms for those spending the night. Two of the eight bath houses are still available for 'spa' treatments.  

I think Dad was wondering what Momma had gotten him into when she guided him to Mountain Drive.  The road was full of twists and turns as they climbed higher and higher.

I think you can understand why they posted a vehicle length limit of 30 ft.  Many tight switchbacks.

But when they arrived at an altitude of just over 1000 ft and the Mountain Tower, they decided the drive was worth it.

What a view

And they didn't even have to climb the stairs to reach the top of the 216 foot structure, but you do have to purchase a token to gain access to the elevator.

Thankfully, Mountain Drive is one way traffic only so the only challenge was negotiating the turns with no worries of meeting on coming traffic.

Dad got a chuckle out of this shirt on display at the tower gift shop

But the biggest smile arrived when he saw this sign.

Too bad the trip on Mountain Drive was so short.  We were still reading full on the gauge and didn't need a fill up. 

It's still HOT here.  I kind of forget that when I'm inside enjoying the AC cooled air.  I beg to go outside and play ball, but I'm whipped after a couple of tosses in the 100 degree climate.  The thermometer here is recording temperatures much higher than at home.  I thought we left Florida to get out of the heat.  There's something wrong with this senario!!

I'm Chloe