Sunday October 2nd, 2005
Two weeks have passed since we were at Rend Lake Campground. We meet lots of our friends at the campground and we all went into the Escapade Rally together as a group. The Rend Lake Campground was pretty nice. Electric only so we had to conserve on using water. Mickey and I got a chance to go fishing. I caught a bass the first day and the next day Mickey caught a crappie. Was pretty hot the whole time we were there which was quite a chance coming from Minnesota where is was in the 60's. First thing we saw when we were turning into the campground were 2 yearling deer grazing in the grass. We also saw wild turkeys in the park and lots of other deer. On friday night the 23rd, we had a pot luck dinner with lots of great food. Over 20 people in the group. Took lots of pictrues but have not uploaded them yet. On that sunday we left for the Escapade. After arriving as a group we waited for over an hour to get parked. It was raining all day and never really let up. Pretty sad sight when we saw them using tractors to pull people INTO their parking spots! Talk about slushy. But that did not dampen the spirts of the group. We attended a few classes but nothing like last year. Most of the classes were repeats so we just enjoyed visiting with all our new friends. In the main meeting building they had a sign up sheet for anyone interested in our BOF formed group with the Escapees for people going fulltime this year. There were enough that signed up that they assigned us a meeting time and place. Wednesday at 4:00 our group meet with 39 people attending. Was a great turn out.
The grounds had nearly dried out when it rained again on Wednesday night and made it a total mess again. By Friday it was draining but still sloppy. Several were still being towed out but we just put truck in 4 wheel drive and pulled out without incident. Our new friends Mickey and Patti joined us by coming to the Terre Haute KOA. We were planning on staying till Wednesday but Molly and Bill will be having their baby early so we are taking off on Tuesday. Mickey and Patti will head west and hang out in Branson Mo. After we leave St. Paris we will meet up with them again and they will travel with us to Oklahome and Arizona.
We did end up buying a satellite dish for internet at the Escapade. So now we can have internet basically anywhere we go. If you ever want to find out where we are just go to Direcway satellite user # 2003 and this will show our location. We also added direct tv so we can keep up with all of our shows we were used to watching at home. Only takes about 20 minutes to set up the dish and get it locked onto a satellite.
Tomorrow we are going to go to the factory where our 5th wheel was built and take a tour. Then on our way home we will stop at the dealer and get some items taken care of hopefully. We are anxious to get back ot St. Paris and visit eveyone and the grandkids.
Tuesday October 11, 2005 Pictures for this update
We are back in Ohio now. We arrived here last Tuesday in anticipation of our daughter-in-law being hospitalized to induce labor. She ended up not going in till Wednesday and not having the baby till Friday. Tabitha was born at 4:01 pm and she weighed in at 8# 8oz at 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well and are at home now. Poor Molly had to go thru 52 hours of labor to persuade Tabitha to move out. Fortunately all went well and once again we are happy and lucky grandparents. Tabitha is a wonderfully cute baby and we are glad to have her as part of the family.
Before we left Terre Haute, my friend Mickey and I went to the Fleetwood factory to take a tour of how our unit was built. Well unfortunately they were not building our trailer at the time so I did not get a chance to see the things I had hoped for, although I did get a chance to speak with a service manager there and expressed our concerns about a few items with our trailer. I was assured they would be taken care of at the dealers facilities. So we stopped at the dealer on our way to St. Paris and showed them what we wanted fixed. They took pictures and said to bring it back on the 19th to get some measurements they need. Hopefully thye will get this taken care of quickly.
We will stay here till early next month then back on the road to meet up with Mickey and Patti again.
Sunday October 23, 2005
Been a busy 2 weeks since the last update. We took the trailer in to be checked out and they did agree that the axles are crooked on the frame. So this wednesday we take trailer back in and they are sending a crew from Goshen Indiana to cut the axles loose and reattach in the CORRECT positioin. While the trailer was there they fixed the water leak in the slide by resealing a window and adding a new seal to the wiper system on slideout. They also fixed the electric part of the refrigerator so we can now use the fridge on electric when it is available. Hopefully they will finish up the other items when it is there next wednesday. To my suprise they have been very helpful on correcting these items and working with us on the issue of this is where we live and can't be without the trailer. We are extremely pleased!
So to fix another problem we had which was being overweight on the truck and trailer combo. We found a Chevy Kodiak C4500 series truck with the capacity we needed. We were fortunate enough to be able to trade almost even up. The truck is a 2004 model with 6500 miles and already had a flat bed and tool boxes mounted. One thing I need to do is get a new hitch mounted on the truck as we need a low profile hitch and some cushioning as the truck is pretty stiff. To fix the stiffness I will change the pin box on the trailer over to an air ride box to absorb shock. It sure takes a bite though with a bigger truck and not quite as good of milage per gallon and diesel fuel still climbing and now over $1 more per gallon than gas. Don't really see it getting any cheaper with the heating season coming on. But at least we can travel safely.
Loss of Keesh
Unfortunately this last Monday the 17th, we had to have our beloved Keesh put to sleep. Keesh was a real trooper and never ever complained by whining or moaning when he felt pain. The only way we would ever know was he panted a lot. He had endured surgery on both rear legs for tendons that had snapped and had gotten arthritis pretty bad in his hips. To compensate for his rear legs he learned to carry most of his weight on his front legs . It just became increasingly harder for him to get in and out of the trailer even with the ramp we use for him. We just could not see him go on like that anymore. He was almost 14 years old and the best dog we probably ever had. Never did he ever show a violent side and he grew up with Jordan our grandson who when he was little sometimes did not so nice things to him as most little kids do. But he never once showed an aggressive side. He loved to be hugged and paid attention to and would just sit down and lean on you. He never really even complained when Major was brought home to live with us. As a matter of fact they quickly became best of friends and brothers. Keesh really did not like to travel and was always nervous while doing so, but as soon as we got home he would be fine. All he really wanted was familiar surroundings, his bed and yard and he was happy. It only seem fitting that home be where was when he left us. Bill and Molly allowed us to bury him in the yard he always knew as home. Now he is off traveling on his own without boundaries or discomfort. So long my friend your presence will be greatly missed and we appreciate all you ever did for us. On yeah brother said tell you he misses you too.
To close this entry I am adding a poem I found on line by an unknown author:
If it should be I grow frail & weak,
And all that's left is peace in sleep,
I know you'll do must be done,
to end this fight that can't be won
I don't fear death as Human's do.
So let me try to comfort you,
Come...let us take a quiet stroll,
And share some quietness soul to soul.
Do not grieve, it should be you,
Who must decide this thing to do,
We've been close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
You will be sad, I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love & friendship must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
That's what to come can hold no fears,
You'd not want me to suffer so...,
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only....stay with me until the end,
Hold me close with soft good-byes,
Till life's bright light has left my eyes.
I know in time, you too will see,
It is kindness that you do for me,
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain & suffering I've been saved
The final sound I need to hear ,
Is your soft voice upon my ear,
Your loving face will fade and dim,
As the rush of Heaven closes in.
-Unknown
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