Ready to Roll

Ready to Roll

Our History

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Ohio, United States
Having recently retired we are fulfilling our long time dream. We began our camping life with a tent in 1969 adjusting as each of our three sons arrived over the years and gradually progressed to a 32' Class A in 2007. Even after our sons became too busy with their own interests, we continued dreaming over the years. The Louisville, KY 2003 Great North American RV Rally and the book "Movin' On" convinced us that a motorhome after retirement was really for us! In 2007 we sold our home and disposed of most of our belongings and awaited the wife's retirement on February 1, 2008. We were out in our first motorhome ten times in our first summer in 2007, with our grandson joining us eight of those ten times. Since he must stay behind with his mom and dad to continue school, we told him he can join us on vacations (by car or plane) anywhere we are as we travel the US. Imagine the history lessons he could acquire! However, Mom and Dad don't look at it that way, especially the flying. Fortunately we don't miss work one bit!! We just miss the friends there. We have many hobbies to keep us busy when we decide to sit still for a day. Hope to see you on the road.

Friday, April 30, 2021

WISCONSIN DELLS area and WISCONSIN RAPIDS VISIT with CAROL

April 24th, Saturday, after leaving Woodhaven Lakes Area where there were almost 6000 sites around the lakes, we were looking forward to visiting relatives. 

Cute Site we saw as we drove around the Lake.

 

This is our pull through site. 
Several sites around us very nice, and
many not so nice.  But most of the area
around the lakes was very nice!!


Sites across from us.

More sites across the way.

Going on to Wisconsin Dells, we drove north again to Wisconsin Rapids on Sunday to visit Gary's cousin, Carol, only to find out that we had been invited to dinner at her daughter and son-in-laws across town at Nekoosa.  It is always fun to visit with Roxanne and Dan also.  Gary always has a great time in political discussions with Dan.  They sure see eye to eye and Dan seems to be quite well read.  Their daughter, Sherona, who is quite shy was also good to say "Hello".  Dan and Roxie, the brats were great and the cake sure filled our sweet tooth!!  

Dan, Rosie and Carol

Audrey and Carol

Audrey, Roxie and Carol

Audrey, cousin Carol and Gary 
Monday was Gary's and my day out and about. We checked out the Antique Mall here at the Dells.  I found a box of 50 decorative thimbles, so that I could add to my collection at home with any that suited our travels.  I took the other half to Carol as she and Roxie are collectors also. We left the Craft store next door for our next visit!  We also went to Ho-Chunk Casino for a couple hours of fun. 


Lots of junk??
Tuesday
was our fun day with Carol at the Antiques Shops and Thrift Stores around Wisconsin Rapids!!  I never did find the ceramic ring dish that I wanted.  So will have to keep shopping. I'm surprised that Carol and I survived that day!!  Hard on the feet, knees and hips. But we did enjoy lunch with Carol in spite of the woman across the restaurant with a little daughter who did not know how to keep quiet. I am not sure who was worse, mother or daughter. 
On  Wednesday  Gary and I found a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.  We always like those and got a couple good finds 
(another Miche purse cover for me and Johnstone books for Gary.). We also got our mail set up for the next month in Minnesota.
Thursday turned out to be laundry day with a fiasco!!  One of the washers would not drain, so had to run that load through another machine.  But we found enough time to go to Ho-Chunk for a couple hours.  Wonder of wonders we came home with our money doubled.  That is not our usual.  We usually figure it is money well spent for fun!.  
And today is pack away time to move on tomorrow morning to Farmington, Minnesota to see Ben.
Talk with you again soon.

Trip north from Florida to Wisconsin Dells

April 6th we put our mail on hold for the duration of our trip coming up to travel north!!

Thursday, April 8th, we drove 3 hours north in Florida to Metro Diner in the Villages to meet up with my cousin and her husband, Jeanne and Norbert.  Very good visit and it turned out to be productive for us later. 

Cousin Jeanne and her husband, Norbert
at Metro Diner in the Villages in Florida.
A couple weeks later when we were on the road for our move north for the summer, I received a text from Jeanne about two bookcases with glass doors wanting to know if I really wanted a barrister bookcase.  Of course, my answer was "YES!!"  I had been looking for a decent one for several years!!  Gary would find some but they were either terrible condition or way too much money.  She found these as she likes to check out estate sales and living part of the year near Jacksonville, Florida, she sure finds the sales!

This one she found for $65.
Not quite what I wanted.




Ahhh, exactly what I wanted!!
It even has a little drawer at the 
bottom and only $250.

It sure sounded and looked perfect to me and she was willing to keep it at their condo until we return to Florida for the winter 2021-22.  All that Gary ever found in Ohio were all anywhere from $800 to $1200.  Way beyond our means!!   I wanted it to keep my Blog books and photo albums from our travels.  Now I just need to get rid of an open bookcase to make room for this one!

Gary also had to make a last minute trip to Arcadia, Florida to pick up some of his framed drawings that were on display in the hospital there and at the Art Center where he volunteered and taught a colored pencil class. He didn't want to leave all that work out and about. He only left a few at the Art Center.

I did my last laundry, emptied the refrigerator in the shed and defrosted it.   So that will be safe for the summer.  I put Preen on the flower beds at our park's landscape guy's recommendation.  I am real anxious about what the condition will be of those beds by time we get back there in November. 

By April 15th, we were ready to leave Wauchula, and stayed over night at an ELKS Lodge in Perry, Florida for that night.  We then moved on to a Walmart in Clanton, Alabama and on north toTuscumbia, Alabama. While at Tuscumbia we attended the Methodist Church where Gary's nephew, Michael pastors. We went out to Logan's Steakhouse for dinner after church.  

Michael
His church attendance sure has suffered since the pandemic.  Many still use the Internet for their services.  

On Monday we hit the thrift stores with them and stopped at a Mexican Restaurant for lunch. We did a lot of visiting and always enjoy that visit!!

Cindy

Michael
 


Michael with the family pet, Pitty paws. 

When we left them for the day/visit, we forgot to get our jackets from his car.  So he was kind enough to bring them out to us at the Heritage RV Park in Tuscumbia.  Many thanks, Mike!!

The RV Park was a very nice and neat park!!  I loved the lot numbers on the meters at each site.  They sure were easy to see. 

Heritage RV Park at Tuscumbia, Alabama


From Alabama we went on to Mt. Vernon, Illinois where we were going to stay in the Walmart Lot.  They did not want any trucks or large vehicles parking there.  They even had two of their entrances with 9 foot bars over the entry.  So we went across the street to Lowe's and found a much flatter place to park!  We sat there and watched the snowflakes/sleet come down.  But were surprised in the morning to find a dry lot!!  It was cold and we were very thankful for a very heavy bed spread.

The next day we went on to Woodhaven RV Park at Sublette, Illinois, a good piece off the Interstate.  We did find a very small heater there at a Walmart and I finally got my hair cut.  I sure felt better. 

We got into Christmas Mountain RV Park at Wisconsin Dells on Saturday.  We began our visit with Gary's cousin, Carol and her family on Sunday

My next Blog will be all about that visit.Trip