Slow Sunday

2 pm cleaning garage..so well 'do-over' my lost post


Somehow I deleted part of my story the other day. Since their isn't much to talk about today I will retell this story.

Summer of 05 I work camped in West Yellowstone, Montana. Mr Van was having a great time exploring. We worked 3 months, average about 35 hours a week This was a tourist shop called Back Country Leather. Great place, great people.

End of June we wanted to explore. Yellowstone Park was at its peak of tourist, kids out of school So off to North Idaho. Idaho Hwy 20, south, towards Targhee Pass and Henry's Lake are only about 20 minutes away. Closer than the park. Headed west off Hwy 20 just cuse. Found a sign that said 'Self Guided Driving Tour' . Great, followed the signs up the EDGE of this mountain, just beautiful. Close to the top Mr Van was splitting rocks. We are not 4 wheel drive vehicle and we weight about 9,000 pounds. I have all that I own with me including the famous Chief. Would you be worried? I wasn't, my thoughts where if I die on this mountain, well what a beautiful place. Could not turn around, so I had to back up for about 1/2 mile before I could turn around. I must have gotten out of van to look a couple of dozen times. But all went well and down the mountain we go. Henry's Lake has great fishing.

Continued south on Hwy 20 to Island Park , went canoeing with a family that needed another car for drop off and pick up. You meet the best people in these restful places. Island Park also has a great dinner theater. Don't miss this area. Some top notch lodging.

Afternoon of store hopping

5 pm Back from Danville

Stopped at Cook's pawn shop. The owners are the parents of Eric, who works for DH. Wow, this pawn shop had more guns and knives and high end jewelry. Prices where high too. Didn't have much in the way of electronics. So nothing belonging to us. Oh well. The kind of place that older guys where just hanging around. Like you see in small town farm country.

Made a stop at a large inside flea market but didn't find any treasures. No picture, the place in Danville, KY is called Peddle Flea market.

Seems to be a hunter's day. On to one of Craig's favorite hunting/fishing stores. Family owned and been around for a while Curtsinger's. This place is packed to the ceilings with stuff. Again, this is a place where guys are just hanging around talking to each other. Prices are very good I always find something to buy.

Craig didn't purchase anything but I got 4 crane fishing poles. The kind that telescope into a sleeve. One pole is for me to take on trip and the other 3 are gifts for a friends kids, I'm hoping to visit at the fish hatchery on the way out of Lexington, Ky.

Also, stopped for dinner at a Italian restaurant. I will take the Mom's fifth, you know the one that says ' if you have nothing good to say, than say nothing'.

Spending time with DH

NOON Saturday

Snowing of course!!!! DH fixed french toast and carried one of the dogs to groomer.

We plan on going to Danville, KY to check out a pawn shop. Still kind of hoping to walk up on some of our stolen belongings. These thieves have played on my sense of well being. Will report on that later.

Redo..lost yesterday's post

1 pm busy cold windy day

Will try to re-post yesterday's lost post but first what happen today to prepare for trip

You might remember that part of the team is my 15 year old puppy, The Famous Chief. Well Chief is not entirely healthy. August 2009 Chief began to cough, hard and deep. Seem like he could not stop. He got dizzy and took a 5 foot fall onto concert. This put his back out. Typically I am my dogs medical care giver but this required more. Off to vet.

He now takes 1/2 pill of Vetmedin (pimobnendan) heart pill, 1-2o mg tab of Furosemide (water pill) and part of 1-5mg tab of Prednisolone. Prednisone only when he is 'on tilt', pain from a bad back.

Last August we didn't have a long term prognoses but now he is doing great.

Refilled all his scripts, enough for 3 to 4 months. Total cost $80 dollars.

Puppies don't get much cuter than this. People talk to us because they want Chief. Seems like people that are on vacation have left their buddies home, so they need a pet fix, and Chief is it. Another reason why I RV, my buddies come with me and are safe. That's one for campers!!!!

Redo..lost yesterday

Lost my post from 10 o'clock am

Seems that my post from 10 am has dissappeared. Blogger is by far easy to use but I guess I still have a lot to learn. Anyone have a suggestion on how to get it back, if possible?

Fear not what might happen

5:30 pm Inquiring Bloggers want to know

Reader Tom (tom and rhonda's adventure) asked about the two burglaries that has me rattled. I guess robberies means face to face. Well what happen was they broke into my 2 rv's in our driveway, when we where home, twice. Talking about this is hard and I will do it soon. But it will be a rant and as you know I don't do well with ranting.

Worry and fear can not be a part of my life. This roundabout trip will be therapy for me. This is too hard to think about. I am physically well but having dreams and mean thoughts.

What does DH stand for in my blogging? Are you a member of RV.net? Well, this forum is a great place for information on RV's, camping, volunteering, tenting, or whatever you can dream of. So DH means Dear Husband

DW means Dear Wife

Room for everything

4 pm Room for big stuff, small stuff is harder

Final packing today. I have waited to load the items taken during the two robberies. I feel like these people are watching, because they came back a second time. Sad thing is these things don't bring much $'s for the thieves. Oh well, can't go there. Street rats, die.

Large items, like my suv tent, level blocks, electric cords and such seem to find room. But the small stuff. Shampoo, washcloths, towels, eyeglasses, sunshades, chap stick, medicines and all can't seem to be contained. I use a load of Velcro. Velcro to wrap coaxial cable, roll up a blanket, just everything.

Hardly any room for can food, so I will make a lot of stops.

My Budget

When you travel do you have a firm budget, or even a budget in the back of your head? I have a budget on this trip. This budge only includes gas, camp fee's, entertainment and eating out. Like my inspiration, Tioga George, I do a lot of dry camping. It's fairly easy because I'm in a van. But because of the very cold (remember I don't do cold) I will have to pay to park so I can have heat. If the cold temps continue for Texas on to Southern CA, than my $'s will far short.

This $ limit is strictly self inflicted. My DH says not to limit myself. He feels better knowing I am not hanging out on the side of the road. But spending what it takes and having heat and AC when I need it. He is very sweet.

Snowing in Dallas

9 am Wednesday, where is Global warming

Wednesday is here and so am I. The beginning of my planned route has a storm passing. My friend in Dallas (Cindy) emailed to say 'don't jump out there right now, wait a few days'. She was right the weather channel showed unbelievable snowing in TX.

I need inspiration, badly.

Remember last week I needed to take my moped (aka toad) to the shop. We had a huge snow storm so it didn't make the shop. Started the engine and it ran smooth, off we went for a ride around the neighbor. Ran great. Guess I will wait to have it looked at. Maybe on the road.

Norton 360 security

2 pm Installing Norton 360 has taken all morning

This house has 4 computers. My idea of backup.....thought that I would always have one available. Not entirely true. The subscription to this security program has flashed warnings, for the last 30 days, that it will go away. Hey, who am I to care, right...wrong. Last night my computers started announcing that they are no longer being protected. Scared the bee-gee-bees out of me.

Soooooo, $75 dollars later and 4 hours I have a one year deal, loaded on 3 computers. Completed the scans and fixes. I'mmmm baaaaaack. Woohoo.

Pictures are not loading today. So later.

3:30 pm Trip plans..firmly written in Jello

Soon, I leave from Lexington, Ky, south to TN line to visit Fish Hatchery, over by Nashville visit cousin , on to Dallas visit my Friend Cindy, down toward The Valley in TX, over to Big Bend, onward towards Yuma AZ, to San Diego, north to Yosemite, north to visit my friend Roses in Laytonville, CA.

That's enough can't think anymore. Anything else would only be a weak promise. Hope to meet each and everyone of the RV world.

Ky Horse Park has a perfect state campground next door. Be sure to visit off I-75

When you sleep, does your mind rest

7 AM Remember 4th of July weekend trip

As soon as my mind came awake this am I was living a July 4th weekend about 12 years ago. Would like to share this with you. Living and working in Charlotte, NC dear husband and I had a 3 day weekend for the 4th of July. I (that is me) decided we should go to the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, section. Without reservations or planning. Off we go in a 1991 Dodge conversion van. Looking for a rv park to spend the night proved hopeless, all booked up, duh 4th of July weekend.

Alone the parkway we kept seeing these homemade signs announcing 'Blue Grass Fiddle Festival', someone suggested to us 'go their and that lady will let you stay in her pasture' he also added 'you will be glad you did'. I believe in reading between the lines and when someone takes the time to say something like this I want to believe in great things.

We where not disappointed. On top of a mountain was a covered amphitheater type structure built into the side of a hill. Complete with mismatched church benches, old movie house seats, dirt/straw floor and a stage with a small dance floor of plywood. We stayed the entire weekend. Taking a seat towards the top row, closes to the exit, just in case. We watched. Middle of the seats was an older, tiny in statue, man and a younger lady. She turned out to be his daughter. I watched as every woman in the place would ask this man to dance. He never refused. They where clogging, mountain clogging. Soooooo, I made my husband move and took seat directly behind these people.

Turns out this man is the premier clogger and teaches how to clog. He was featured in a documentary on the travel channel, showing mountain life and clogging. The daughter owned a local radio station, one of the last stations playing only mountain music. She blew me away, very bright and patience. Obviously, loves her Dad.

Turns out clogging is not as easy as it looks. It is all in the heel and can become uncomfortable.

We found the pasture owner and asked to pay for staying overnight. She said that was not necessary. But she did accept a donation.

Did my mind sleep last night? Why did I relive this memory so early this am. Who knows!! Hope you enjoyed.

3 pm Wash that gray right out of your hair

Travel on the road in a van that does not have a inside bath/shower makes washing a ladies hair tough. Tougher is coloring said hair. So coloring my hair needs to get done before I leave. A few days ago I found a bottle of color. Sooooo. Turns out the bottle was old and had be frozen. Ended up with very very black hair and the plastic bottle busted , so now have black cabinet and bathroom rug. This afternoon I re-colored my hair, better but not perfect. Will post picture tomorrow.

Several campground shower houses, actually have posted signs saying 'please do not color hair'. This is reasonable, messes do happen. But you know I saved $30.

Yosemite--30 years ago

2 pm Sunday afternoon--busy packing


Packing cloth's is the devil for me. What to take? Writing a list will help. We will see.


JJ is a lady I volunteered with at Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery. She lives in Washington State She called today. How great to hear her voice. Hopefully, we can get together in Northern CA or OR sometime in April or May. Great part of the RV world, is meeting great people, like JJ and then getting together again 'down the road'. Check out her blog rvingtoadless.blogspot.com


This is JJ's rig. Pictured at Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery, provided RV sites.



In 1981I had the pleasure of a trip to Yosemite. When someone asks, what place I like best or want to go back to, well that would be Yosemite. I want to return to Yosemite on this trip. Before Memorial Day, as to avoid crowds. I still need to find information on how best to see Yosemite, now that it's the 21 century. I would welcome any comment on this.

5 pm Hard to write with someone trying to talk to you

Writing, journal or otherwise, is foreign to me. I do numbers, analyze things, not grammar, spelling, composing. But I have always wanted to. This is on the job training. This old lady will give it a shot. Sooooooo, if you find something in this blog so wrong that it is funny, well you can just laugh. That's what I will do. Because at this stage in life, everything is fair game. I refuse to back up to nothing. Why do we have to get old to know this?

DH is home today and his presents has made me self conscious. Doesn't make sense, can not think when he is around. Young love, I suppose, we have only been together 22 years.

Does one size fit all..no

9:30 am Saturday..which motor home to choose



We have two motorhomes. Each has its own valve. Which to choose for this 'roundabout' this spring?



I call this 'The Condo'







This picture was taken at Freedom RV in Jefferson, IN where 'the Condo' was purchased, Sept. 09. Mr. Van was parked on the lot next to this class A. Wonderful couple from Lexington. Will think of their name later.



This picture shows how different the two RV's are!!! Look close, that's Mr Van on the left.

If we choose the Condo we would pull a toad (for the first time). Would this be more than I want to handle by myself? Might be a better idea to wait for DH.

12:30 pm Mr Van wants you to know

Here, this is better. Mr Van looks large and spaceage (new word) here. Will I have have enough room? Especially when the weather is cold or raining? After all Chief, who weighs 4 1/2 pounds, takes up a lot of room!! He has his own bed area, his own kitchen/dinning area and most of all he has to be taken for walks.

Today is a major day of loading all that I will bring. I want to organize but still have some spaces empty. I plan that if something is not being used I will mail home to DH. That way, my limited space will feel large.

7 pm Will I get more rest once I'm on the road

I think so. Trying to do too much. Moved Mr. Van to the back yard and the 5 car garage, yes 5 car. We rent this house and the people who own it sell race car parts and restore old cars. So their new house holds even more cars. Isn't that wonderful.

Anyway, I want to modify some cabinets in Mr Van and remove the doors to my potty area. DH is here to help today. Questionable fun. Run sum test on how much amps the heat strip in the AC and a small electric heater pull. Which is best on 15 amp feed. Mr Van has a 30 amp plug but very often I only have regular house 15 amp plug. Better than nothing.

Volunteer Jobs

11:00 am Volunteer or work for pay

Wolfe Creek Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Ky under the Lake Cumberland Damn is where I volunteered Sept. and Oct of 2009. What fun. They have a beautiful interpretive building and of course they raise trout. Learned all about trout. They supplied a Rv site with full hook ups including propane and made a washer dryer available.

Six GE turbines. Do you see the light about middle of the row. That is the only turbine running today.

Very special day, these are some of the volunteer for the Fish Hatchery. The damn people gave us a private tour. Where the damn is Corp of Engineer''s the Hatchery is Wildlife and Fisheries. In the picture, left to right, Zac Lindsay, Latisha Lindsay, Josh Lindsay, Isaih Lindsay, Jerry Balfort, and me. Missing in pic is Susan Grimes and Tom Crofton.

4 pm Enjoyed the late afternoon's visit of deer

This is taken while sitting in my motorhome. The deer came every evening, we watched as they put on a better fur coat as the days got shorter. This is one of the 5 RV spots furnish by the Hatchery, that's Susan Grimes and Tom Compton enjoying the deer. Nice nice rv spots. If interested check out Wolfe Creek Fish Hatchery and call Amanda Patrick. You will be glad you did. Also, Corp of Engineer has a very nice campground but call ahead if available, as they fill up fast. I believe it's called Kendall Campground.

Needing inspiration

8:30 am Watching National Parks programs



After a full day of computer stuff I need to dream my dream. Did you watch Ken Burns's series on the National Parks? This series is one of my favorites. Hopefully this will take the edge off my attitude.

DVR's are a good thing!!!!

11 am......Can’t Fix Stupid

I don't rant well, but I don't have to. To get a fix on ranting just go to Bad Nick's Blog (or my sister) he is sooooo good, that he is bad. Today he has listed his top 10 things that piss him off. All so true. Do you agree??

37 degrees a heat wave?

9 am On the East Coast 37 degrees is now a heat wave



Promise to myself was to put a date on leaving on my trip. Will this help get me 'out the door'? We will see. Part of the excuse for not leaving is packing Mr Van in the freezing cold. As you can see Friday is suppose to hit 37 degrees with part sun. My hope is to complete my readiness. So I choose next Wed to leave. A challenge, will it work??


Only job that you have a 50/50 chance of right/wrong

7 pm All day trying to set computers programs

Why spend all this time on computer programs now?? Well, experience tells me that trying to accomplice anything like this on the road, just invites hardship and heartache. Strong Internet connections drop and failing battery power, or the devil made me do. Something will happen. Just easier to have more resources available. Like another computer to look something up while the other is loading.

We use verizon air card (usb). We dropped our DSL coming into the house and now have a Cradlepoint router to light the house up wireless. Verizon plan is 5 KB (5,000 mb) a month. For the past year and 3 months I have never used more than 1/5 th of this. So all is good. Problem is when I travel the USB 727 goes with me on the road, that leave DH without Internet. Our verizon plan includes two phones, 700 shared minutes and the air card. Bill has been $143.00 a month

Around the house are a few hopspots but the signal is weak. So I'm trying to boast the signal with this. So DH can use internet if he wants. Will report results tomorrow. Still working.

Hawking HDN1 antenna

9:s0 pm....correction: Verizon USB is a 727 not 730 (sounds like an air plane to me)

tell tomorrow nite nite

Computers take up a lot of your time

11:30 AM Computers and Digital pics

Does computer technology take up a lot of your time? Years ago, I protested about using computers. Now I have something to do, everyday, that involves using the computer. Very often managing digital pictures.

All my camera's and SD cards where stolen during two robberies this year. The thieves entered both RV's, in our driveway, when we where home. Most of the pictures (not all) are saved on my oldest computer, which is a Sony. For some reason this computer will not transfer folders to a CD. Then I could move them to the computer that is going on my trip. Enter this cable used for transferring files. Going to give it a try.


Newest computer cable to loose tack of.


Back to 'computers take up a lot of your time'. I expect this new cable to use up most of this afternoon.

5 pm didn't get to the computer transfer

Will try tomorrow to transfer files.

THE HARDEST THING ABOUT TRAVELLING IS SETTING OFF. It is so easy to delay travelling for various reasons but if you just take the plunge and get going many of the reasons for not starting seem to disappear and before you know it you are into the trip and having a great time. This is what is happening to me right now. The cold weather has me delaying. How do I get past this? Having a Van for a camper makes the cold really cold. Chief and I don't do cold. Looking for that 70 degree, but it seems to be cold from Ky to almost south Arizona.

What are we to do? I'm going to give myself a deadline for leaving then, maybe, we should just drive like the wind and not stop tell we are warm. Then sit for days and put Mr. Van into RV mode. Does this sound like a good plan??? We will see.

Winter storm's and RV's

8 am This is the view from my front door

Rv's and very cold temps offer a huge challenge. A challenge I don't want to deal with. Want to leave on my trip, but from here to south Texas temps are very cold. My fear is when I fill up the water tanks and all that, well, I will have something frozen broke and would have to repair on the road. Yesterday, I ran the engine on the van and checked all the fluids, also ran the 2.5 onan generator, ran the 'generator from hell' for about an hour with a 1500 watt heater running, all went well. My generator has 449 hours on it. Not a whole lot for a 1998 van, most of the hours are just exercising. But I like having my gen and would choose to have it on board.

When you power up your computer, do you have a series of click's? Probably my first or second click is a blog I have read for the past 4 years. George is my hero and inspires me to write and have a better attitude about life.

This is his header!!

And this is his view from his window!!!


Call me a ready freddie. Soon I will make it to a warmer place. Do you see the difference from my view this morning and George's view???

Daytona 500

Easy slow day, watching the race, well watching them stand around. Repair one hole in blacktop takes this long? Must be city workers. I'm sure they will get the race in.

Last year Chief and I attended bike week in Daytona. What a blast. The weather was cold last year, too. Don't have a big motorcycle but that has never stopped us before. My Yamaha 49cc moped gets the job done. Just slower. Chief rides in the basket and gets a lot of attention, me too. Often a big guy on a big Harley would look over at Chief and I, on the moped, and smile. Secrets are special.

This is my toad.

My Moped has a tiny leak. Looked and looked for the source but can't be sure. Not enough room to see, need to take all the purple and white plastic loose to see. Not me. Going to Yamaha shop tomorrow. Most of the Yamaha shops don't want to work on my moped, but with a little reminder that this is their product, I'm in. My DH wishes to buy a new moped but this older one is about 20 pounds lighter then the new ones. Makes a huge difference, for me, when it's being loaded on the versa-haul carrier.

Not a big leak but seems to suck air and loose power too.

Supper early was Hot Sausage and Chicken Jambalaya. Come out OK not great. Do you put ketchup on you jambalaya, I do, but I would never tell my friends in Louisiana or family.

5:45 pm Update blacktop fix at Daytona-----didn't work

Well, the guys are standing around, again.

Retail Therapy

Shopping calms me. I know the guys do not get it.

Because Major has no teeth he will not eat kibbles. Soft can food or I will need to prepare his food. Off to the big town of Lexington, Ky to buy a special brand of dog food but in cans. Remember the scare of bad dog food a couple years ago well, right before, I changed from Ekanuba to Innova. Dogs do well on this, no gains in food.

One of my fav blogs is Nick's Blog, he talked about a intruder coming into a Motor home, while the couple were sleeping. Partly because of this, I included a stop at a gun shop. I have decided to purchase a stun gun. Not just for using on an intruder but also for hiking alone, could be needed for a unfriendly dog, bear or my out of control imagination. This model also has an 'ear piercing alarm' suggested to scare off an attacker and summon help. I think of this as a panic button. This thing uses two 9 volts batteries and stores current in a capacitor. Prices have come down and this only cost $34.99.

Trip to Sam's club, liquor store and lunch. Mexican for today because Red Lobster had a hour and half wait time and the line was out the door.

This was desert. I miss Mardi Gras.

How much planning do you do for a 3 month trip? I try not to worry about thinking of everything because, on the road, I can always go shopping. After all my time and schedule belong to me.

If you like my blog, please leave a comment. It's nice to hear from you.

Run away Dog

When you carry your pet to the vet's office does he know, where you are, when you get there? My guys do. Mornings are not my time, very slow to wake, but Major (Jr) has a vet appointment to have teeth removed. He needed to be there before 9 am. Of the three dogs Major is my runner. When I got to vet's office I put Major down to do his business before handing him over to the tech. Well, he hurried to the foot door and smelled it. Off he went. Think the vet's building has a smell, he knew this smell and wasn't having it.

Usually, my dogs will come to me, when called. Major just looked at me and ran pass me. Not good. Out the parking lot and across a busy busy, major four lane hwy, Hwy 127 in Harrodsburg, KY. The tech in the office saw him run by, thank goodness, she came out and behind the dog we run. Major made it all the way across all the lanes of traffic. Traffic was clear, no cars. How did this happen? Luck, or something higher, was with us. Gina, the tech, is a angel. She is a full time fireperson and stopping traffic did not scare this firewoman. Major stopped on the other side and came right to Gina, letting her pick him up. Safe now. What a emotional thing. He could have been badly hurt right before my eyes. Gina held on and never let him go until in the office and to the back rooms he disappeared.

4 pm Dog Done

Vet pulled 16 of Major's teeth, that leaves him only 5 teeth. I expected a $175 to $200 bill. Ha.

Paid $275, oh well. Teeth gone won' t have problem anymore.

This is the road that he crossed and survived.

And our angel, Gina, the vet tech. That's Major, he was ready to go home.

UPS knows my address

UPS has my address. My 'brown' truck driver is very cute and he has been here often, in the last few weeks, to delivery my treasures. Buying for our adventure this summer. Found a tent that attaches to your vehicle, from Euro Camper.com . Suppose to fit a full size Chevy Van. We will see. Sooooooo, decided to erect the thing. With the outside temp at 20 degrees, doing this outside wasn't going to happen. Soooooo, put the thing together in the garage.

This is how it looks attached to my CRV, AKA toad.

Couldn't hammer tent stakes down so this is how the corners where secured. Think this could work even on the road. Tent camping is a new thing for me, so putting tents up will be a real challenge.

Oh yea, Chief, that is the Famous Chief, wanted you to know who he was supporting to win the Super Bowl last Sunday.

This is Chief with his Mrs and Jr.
That's Jr (Major) on the left and the Mrs (Ibu) on the right.

Well, I'm ready to Journal my Rambling Travels

About 6 summers ago My puppy and I started traveling 3 to 4 months of the year. People I meet alone the way keep saying " you should post you travel experiences". Well here we go.

I want to post often and include pictures. Travel in a Van Camper as a single women, poses special skills. In my opinion. Hope to share these with you. Soon I will travel in a much large RV but I do love my Van. I've logged 102,000 miles, so far.

Special thanks go out to my sister (also a blogger) and to my husband. Sister will help with English lessons, because she is a retired Florida teacher, and because I want to see who writes the most. English teacher verses accountant. My husband because of his enlist patience. I do have itchy feet.