December 31, 2011

Another year is finished. I can't say I'm unhappy about it!
For Christmas we took the motorhome up to Dallas to visit the Kids & Grands that now live up there. We found a RV park north of the city to be layedback with nice facilities at a reasonable rate. We noticed the temps were a few degrees colder than Hondo. We had a great time, but were tried when we got back. We have been enjoying Holiday cards we have been getting this year.
   We are still looking for a different RV, but haven't located one that pleases us yet.
Happy New Year, and DON'T drive if you aren't sober!
Mike & Carlyn

December 7, 2011

   On our way to Hondo Carlyn & I spotted a large motorhome we thought looked like an older Blue Bird located around New Bronsfield, TX. We drove up to see if we could locate it. We did but it was an older Provost that hadn't been inspected or licensed since 2009. It probably hadn't been started since then (almost 3 years) that made me think I would have a lot of work to get it into running shape, and I have no idea what had been sleeping inside, and under it. So we drove back to Hondo without deciding to go further. We will look in other  places to see if we can find a rig that will fit our needs.

November 30, 2011

Another month passes and we are still in Hondo.  Broke our campsite to get a Texas state inspection for our motorhome. We have been having lunch several times a week at the Senior Center in town and are enjoying the food and the neat folks who also attend.
  Our Daughter-in-Law's Grandmother has passed away, and she is travelling to the funeral.
  The weather has been respectable, and so far it isn't cold enough worry about the freezing of the water hose. Mike has been trying to learn to play bridge.
Happy Holidays
Mike & Carlyn

Veteran's Day 2011

Veteran's Day is the worst holiday for me. I served in the USAF during Vietnam. I never served in country like many of my friends. Most came home physically and mentally maimed and broken to a very ungrateful homecoming.  I was asked several times over the years if I still have my dog tags, I have looked but haven't been able to find them; that's alright!
   Last year I was honored to be at the homecoming of a fallen soldier; the road from the air port to the church was lined with well wishers to honor his sacrifice. The casket was carried via a motorcycle brigade past the hundreds of silent, respectful mourners. Another day another time!
   The RV park where we are now has a large population of military, and a celebration each Vet's Day. This year I missed it again.

November 9, 2011

   On October 25 we left Polk, Nebraska and after getting fuel in York we headed south for the winter. We stayed one night in Kansas then we stayed 2 nights near Guthrie, OK because of the weather. Just north of Oklahoma City we hit something in the center lane of I-35; I thought I had missed it but it hit and when I was able to get to the side of the road and stopped found our entrance steps had been damaged beyond repair (in my opinion).
   We stopped in Plano, TX for a scheduled stop to visit the kids in Allen; the moble repairman confirmed my opinion, he removed the steps, and ordered a new set. I located a set of plastic steps I could use to get in and out of the motorhome until the new ones could be received and installed.
   We were delighted to spend time with the kids in their new home. What a pretty place!
   On the Second the steps were in and we again were on the road. Dallas wasn't as bad driving through as I had feared; we stayed near Georgetown, TX at Berry Springs RV Park, a nice place to stay for short times. I recommend it to my friends. We then made it to Lone Star Corral outside Hondo for the winter.
  

October 10, 2011

We are still in Nebraska, the harvest is underway, the weather feels a lot like Fall with rain and cool nights and mornings. We have had a great time here, but the call of the road is tuggin' at our heart strings again and we need to respond soon. We plan on leaving for Texas around the 24th. We have a plan figured out for our time on the road; a stop for a visit with Number One son, and family in Dallas for a weekend ,  and we want to stop in Ft. Worth to take a look at a different motorhome.
Once we get to our site, we will start getting into the Holiday mode, and all the happiness that goes with that time of year.
Happy Columbus Day (don't forget your bank, and post office is closed),
MJ & CJ Drew

September 14, 2011

We are still in Nebraska, and if the temps remain high in Texas we plan to extend our stay up here. We spent a delightful weekend with many of Carlyn's classmates.
Travel safe,

August 1, 2011

The Nebraska weather today is the highest its been since 2006. 104 degrees in Lincoln, and feels llike 112 with the humidity. For those of you who are reading this in Texas I s

July 31, 2011

From Polk, NE.

While we were in Minnestoa we had an enjoyable time with Joe and his family, and also got to see the other Grandparents for a good visit, and to catch up from "way up North"! We had an uneventful trip back to Nebraska. The weather had gotten hot, humid, stormy and generally uncomfortable! The summers we grewup with; last year was a nice exception. This summer isn't that way!

In the midst of the heat our NEW front AC went out and we had to depend on the one in the back of the motorhome for all the cooling. It performed with the reliability we have come to expect. Took the rig back to Grand Island, NE and found it was only a capacitator that had failed, and the RV palce had a replacement, and it was all under warrenty, so we drove back to Polk in the late afternoon.

July 3, 2011

At Dakotah Meadows Campground in Prior Lake, MN;

Before leaving to Minnesota we were delighted that Dave & Peggy from LSC found time along their journey to spend a couple days at Polk, NE. We went out to eat a few times, and to Church on Sunday (this church only meets for service once a year, and that was the weekend).

After having new tires put on the front of the motorhome we discovered a water leak that we thought to be only a pipe sweating, but it got worst; we took the motorhome into a repair place and they found the original 1994 water heater had 3 cracks in the tank and needed to be replaced. That was done in an afternoon and we were back to our camp site by evening.

We left for Minnesota on June 29th. After eating lunch at the city park in Norfolk, NE I couldn't get the motorhome started, called our Good Sam Road Service for a start then proceeded to the campground in Adrian, MN. After parking I tried to start the motorhome again and it wouldn't turn over. Our next door neighbor suggested that the two of us might be able to find out what was wrong. We charged the starting battery, and when I tried to start there was a spark at one of the battery terminals. We removed the cable, cleaned the clamps and terminals, reinstalled the cable, tightened it down , and the motorhome started right away.

Once we got into Minnesota we noticed every Rest Area was closed. When we got to the news we found out the State of MN government was preparing to shut down because of bickering at the Capitol. On July 1 that is what happened. Also closing all the state campgrounds for the busy, profitable July 4th weekend. Oh Well!

The temperatures for the last couple days have been pushing 100 which is 20 to 30 degrees higher than we were used to in Nebraska so we have been doing a lot of sweating. A stromy cold front has just passed through with projected temperatures in the low 80's.

We are looking forward to spending next weekend with Joe and his family at a campground near Coon Rapids, MN then head back to Nebraska again.

Enjoy your summer,

MJ & CJ

June 21, 2011

We are still in Polk, NE and everything seems to be normal up to now. We have found when we start planning to get on the road again things start to happen! We got a new scooter for Carlyn. We met friends to attend the Mid-sommar Swedish Festival in Stromsburg, NE. We attended both Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. Ate good Swedish food, saw classic dances, crafts, midway rides, and on Sunday a 50 plus entry car show with some very neat cars rods, pickups, and a tractor.

The night before last there were reports of 23 tornadoes spotted in the state, and it seems like most were near us! Last night a tornado was on the ground just 3 miles East of town, several structures were either damaged or distroyed. Polk lost power for several hours; many fields suffered damage. We don't know all the damage that was done yet, and it will take several days to get all the information. It appears that no one got hurt.

Stay safe,

MJ & CJ

May 25, 2011

After getting settled in Polk the weather started turning cold after the first couple of days. Today we had rain most all day and a high of about 63 degrees with the wind gusting into the upper 40's. This month we have had between 5.5 and 8.5 inches of rain.

We are getting into a schedule that feels comfortable, and adding doctors appointments.

Not much else going on, just trying to stay dry.

See you down the road,

MJ & CJ

Headed for Polk, NE; May 2011

The night of the 8th we stayed at Elm Mott, TX at the I-35 RV Park, a park that is 183 miles down the road, and where we have stayed several times. The night of the night we stayed at a small park South of Wayne, OK and 237 miles on the road. Then it was Payne Oil Company in Newton, KS on the 10th; then at last home to Polk, NE. A grand total of 901 miles. We stopped at a Wal-mart in Northern Kansas and while I was in the store shopping a strong storm came up, and I jjust had to wait it out, or get soaked!

On The Road Again

May 8, 2011

First let us wish all those that qualify a Happy Mother's Day, and many many more!!!

We left Hondo on Friday the Sixth to drive a whole 75 miles to Bulverde, Tx where we stayed at Texas 281 RV Park, a place we have stayed at many times in the past, and it is much closer to the family for the Confirmation of our Granddaughter on Saturday. We had a wonderful time with everyone, much of our extended family spent the weekend with the kids. This will be the last time we will visit them in San Antonio; they are in the process of moving to Dallas as soon as the Grands get out of school. An opportunity to find a new RV park north of Dallas somewhere.

May 3, 2011 @ Hondo, TX

The weather has turned from mid 90's to trying to get into the lower 70's. It was 40 out when I got up this morning.
When putting things away before starting North I found a heat duct had ruptured from age and heat. We are getting it fixed so we can safely use our front furnace. We are aware the temps are colder in Nebraska, and Minnesota than here. Thankfully the materials were located locally and don't have to be ordered; all indications are we will be able to leave as planned.
The park celebrated it's 24th anniversery yesterday with a good meal, ice cream & cake, and great friends. Plans are already in the mill for a big blowout for the 25th., next year.
Our shed it being cleaned out so we can either take items with us or be stored here until we get back in the Fall.
Hope everyone is safe and happy!
Hugs,
Mike & Carlyn

A Great Honor

We ate lunch at the Medina Senior Center today. When we approched the center we noted more people and traffic than normal. About half way through our meal we were told the body of one of our VERY brave servicemen was due into the Hondo Airport and would be transported to the church for his final services and enturnment. The airport is next to the Senior Center.
The serviceman was U.S. Army Spc. Charles J. Wren who was killed by an IED while he was serving in Afghanistan. Charles was a native of Hondo, TX, graduated from Hondo High School and had married a local girl before he was deployed on his first tour of duty in 2008. They had no children.
There was a large motorcycle contigent to accompany the casket, and it seemed as if most of the towns people that could were in attendence either in vehicles, standing along the route, with many holding flags.
A very touching experience.

Our regular form of communication has been with the use of e-mail which was sent to many folks that we thought were interested in keeping up with our travels; we have sent around 84 such e-mails, but now we are going to try this blog thing. If you are on our regular mailing list you should have gotten an e-mail giving you this blog. Our e-mail address hasn't changed and we welcome them.
Carlyn, my wife, and I have been living in a 36' motorhome since May, 1999. We have traveled about 90,000 miles, and called home to 410 places even though just for a night. We have visited all the lower 48 states, have designs on spending time in Alaska. Spent time in SE Canada, and made a trip to Sweden, without the motorhome of course. We have had two RV sites. The one we currently own is in Hondo, TX and we will be leaving around May 6th for Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for the balance of the summer.
Now it is up to you!
Remember; "It's not the destination that counts, but the journey."