We're Off

“On the Road Again!”

Before I forget – while I was taking food out of the freezer I came across a package of two rolls that we bought last year in Malpica – the wonderful bakery near Mazatlan. They’d been stuffed behind a bunch of packages. So I defrosted them and believe it or not they were almost as good as they were when we bought them. Ate them both!

Yep we really finally left. Ended up doing about 190 miles to a little town in Illinois.
We were up before dawn, not hard to do as it doesn’t get light until after 8:00 a.m in Central Indiana. Watched some “news?” ick! Then went out to breakfast. If you are ever in Bean Blossom, IN stop in at Brownie’s Café.

It’s just up the road a piece from the Bill Monroe Bluegrass RV Park. The food is excellent, plenty and inexpensive. And the people are wonderful. We used to eat there all the time then got out of the habit. Need to renew that habit when we get home.
Got home with tummies full and finished loading Jennie. Didn’t take long. Final walk around and check of hitch.

Last look out over the valley in back. Not much color or leaves left now.

Hit the road about 9:45. Wanted to let the traffic let up in Bloomington around the construction. Worked well. Hardly any delay. Everything was fine until we hit a detour on SR46 – a bridge was out. So off we go into the countryside. Narrow winding roads. Pretty scenery and cute little towns. Not that we really wanted to see them.  

Added about 30 miles and a lot of time to the trip. Both of us were glad we were in Jennie instead of the Alfa.
Pretty uneventful once we were on Interstate 70. Crossed into Illinois and stopped in Effingham at a TA for gas (cheaper than in IN) and lunch. Always good food in their Country Pride restaurants.
Did you ever wonder how vinegar got shipped? Well now you know.

Hot weather – over 80, a little wind and mostly good road. We are in Mulberry Grove, ILL at a campground we’ve stayed in before. Has everything we need. One thing we didn’t need though – just as we got here they were burning leaves. Smells good but doesn’t help the breathing. Stopped by the time we were finishing setting up. Glad to say both the Direct TV and the MiFi are working fine. That always worries me until they connect.
I forgot to mention. When Jennie is parked in the driveway she is under a lot of trees. Trees that in the fall shed lots and lots of nuts. So for the first few miles it sounded like we were in a pinball machine with them rolling around and off the roof.
Today was the nicest weather we've ever had for the begining of our yearly trip. Hope it stays that way the whole trip. Need to watch the weather channel.
If I think of anything else I might add it later.

Go Day minus One

Well today is “go day” minus one. Barring any bad weather or unforeseen happening tomorrow morning we will hit the road west. {Like the deer we just missed by inches yesterday morning going into town.}

Today is going to be warm – almost 80 and there is quite a bit of rain in the area but it is missing us so far. Bill is going to take Willie in for a transmission oil etc change. Got to keep Willie happy!
Just about everything but the food and the electronics are in Jennie and put away – well put away until we start rearranging them that is. Put rubber maid liner around the glasses and bottles yesterday so they don’t clink as we go down the road. There is a lot of room for stuff in Jennie – it’s just getting it where it is convenient to get to and doesn’t rattle around.
Wish we had a little bigger freezer but it will do. Just hope the power doesn’t go out at home for too long of a time over the winter.

Going to be busy Sunday

Well things are coming together and getting done. Bill found his glasses right where they should be – guess he didn’t think about looking there first. And I hadn’t found them ‘cause I was looking for the wrong pair. Do we need keepers yet?

I’ve put together a whole small shoe box full of beading projects to take with us for when we’re just sitting around. Wonder if I’ll even open the box? Time will tell.
All the paper work we were waiting for has come, been filled out and sent back to various places. So that is done. And yesterday the license plate for Jennie arrived. So no more excuses – we are just about ready. Last of the errands loading and watching for good weather now.
Going to town for breakfast this a.m. and making a short stop at Sam’s Club, Wal*Mart and maybe BestBuy for a cord if I can’t find the one we need stuck here in the house some where.
Going to watch the NASCAR race from Kansas this afternoon it should be a good one. Yesterday afternoon watched the Nationwide race – a really exciting one for once. Lots of cautions without much wrecking. Just didn’t like the ending. My driver ran out of gass ¼ lap from end and he was leading. Also watched an exciting soccer game – ended 4 to 5 – favorite team won but really had to work for it. Of course the referee was biased against them –not my thought - commentator’s thoughts.
Tomorrow will be business as usual, bookkeeping, laundry and cleaning. Tuesday is Bill’s birthday so want to go out to dinner or late lunch or something. Then just final packing and watching the weather for a good departure date.
Our friend will be moving in the day we leave – this year he’ll be able to drive the 4-wheel truck if the weather gets bad. Make it easier for him.
Going to be warmer for the next couple of days – with maybe a little rain (hope not.)

Keeping busy with Jennie

Word is still skipping lines between paragraphs – maddening – can’t fix it. Computers have a mind of their own I guess. So will just have to live with it until it decided to behave.

We went to the guy who did the graphics on the truck [Signs by Ron in Columbus, IN] and had him make us a map of South America so we could add it to the one of North America on the back of Jennie. All the places we have traveled in an RV. We should really draw a highway through the countries – maybe paint a line or something showing which ones we went through. All but five (the green ones) in South America and one in Central America.

Bill’s been working inside of Jennie on storage spaces and decorations. He built a book case to go above one of the windows in the bedroom. Holds a lot of books.

Then he built a platform with partitioning and carpet (noise reducer) for under one of the dinette seats.

Put up some decoration.

AAGGHH – now it is spacing right – make a liar out of me. Nice computer!
I remade some covers for the arms of the recliner. Just a dish towel cut in half, hemmed and Velcro to keep it together.

The cover of the passenger seat with remote holder spaces. Keeps the upholstery clean.

Kind of glad we decided to take Jennie instead of the Alfa – the difference between gas and diesel, at least here is almost 70 cents! That’s crazy. Both RVs get around the same mileage but the price difference is a lot especially for a long trip. [Glad we aren’t in California.]
We are leaving here later this year than last, by this date last year we were already almost through Texas and about to run into snow. Here today it is rainy and in low 50s, by Monday it is supposed to be in low 80s – got to love Indiana weather.
This year has been the prettiest we’ve seen since being here with the colors on the trees and they seem to be lasting longer too. Lots and lots of reds and vivid oranges and bright yellows. Nature is wonderful. And we get to live here and enjoy it. Riding down the roads is like driving through a Disney movie.
So far in moving things and packing we have lost two things, a pair of Bill’s sunglasses and the plug for the walkie talkies. Hope we find them.