06/28/16 - On 6/23, we did nothing but get acquainted with the area.

6/24 - I did the laundry and did some grocery shopping.

6/26 - We went to church at United Bethel and then had lunch with Uncle Allen and his wife Connie.  We had a nice afternoon visit.

6/27 - We have been having some TV issues with the TV in the front and around 5:00pm it died!


Today, I called several different RV repair shops and one was not taking appointments until September and the other one stated 7/14 was the first one.  Of course, I opted for the 14th.  When I called back to make the appointment, a guy answered and he had a whole different schedule so now I am scheduled  for 7/6 instead.  Aunt Ada went to her reunion and I went to Marysville to visit a friend who had a hip replacement and is in rehab.  After her visit, I went to the Corner Cupboard and visited with a 1st cousin Mary Grace.  We got some ice cream and visited between her customers.  I then picked up Aunt Ada and we came home for the evening.

06/22/16 -  Sue came over about 9:30am to help put things away, take care of water, sewer and electricity.  She helped to put on the car as well.  We left at 11:00am for Columbus, Ohio.  We drove Route 33 all the way so sometimes went through small towns but then found ourselves in rush hour traffic on I-270 but finally found the park a little after 4:00pm.  I got parked and then hooked up electric and water to learn that I had a leak with the hose attached to the RV which I had not moved for at least 2 years.  Well, I tried everything and things still leaked so a nice male camper came over to see if he could help.  He was able to make it tighter and in the process, the top of the hose broke off because it was rotted.  So finally I knew that it was not because I could not make it tight enough.  Thank goodness, I had another hose that I was able to connect and then he informed me that the hose was repairable so will try to do that.  Well, it took a long time to get everything done but finally got dinner made at 7:30pm and by 9:00pm had a shower and I really think that I am done.  They have a tornado watch out for early morning so not sure if I want to be in the RV.  Just not sure what to do!!

06/21/16 - On 6/20, we spent some time in an urgent care since my Aunt Ada needed some medication for an inflamed sciatica nerve.  We cancelled lunch and she rested the day.  I went to Sue's Condo to see if since I had not been there and then we drove to a RV superstore to buy some light bulbs that I needed.  It rained so hard, I had to pull into a parking lot and wait out the storm.  We than learned that we had to order the bulbs.  Sue and I then went out for a quick bite to eat and home since she had to work early today.

Today, Aunt Ada is feeling better, so we made lunch plans with Aunt Kay, Aunt Martha and Wilbur.  We had wonderful liver and onions and lots of left overs for another meal.  It was a very nice visit.  Then Aunt Kay needed to go to the bank for some cash and we stopped off at a grocery store so she could buy a green non blooming plant for her desk.  I then took Aunt Ada back to the RV since she needed to take her medication and then took Aunt Kay home.  Sue came over and we went to get the bulbs that we had ordered.  Stopped off and took a picture of a quilt garden and back to RV.  I then had a cousin call and wanted to stop by and see the RV and we chatted for a while.  Now, need to start putting things away since plans are to leave tomorrow for Ohio.  I will try to attach a picture of the garden:

                                             A Quilt garden in front of the Courthouse

06/19/16 - On 6/17, We left around 3:00pm and went to visit Aunt Kay.  My sister (Rachel) and her husband drove in from Waterloo, New York and met us at Aunt Kay's place for a quick visit since we had plans for dinner at a cousin's house (David Bontreger).  At 4:30pm we left with a wheelchair for Aunt Kay and got to David's house.  They have a lovely backyard so we sat out there and enjoyed the visit until dinner was ready.  We ate dinner which was delicious and then sat in the back yard again.  We sang some songs as a family and was really nice.

6/18 - Rachel, her husband (Ivan) and I went to a family reunion that neither one of us had ever attended.  We were not sure that we would know anyone but when we walked in the place to put our food on the table, we met some relatives from our home town in Ohio.  It was wonderful because suddenly I knew at least 6 people.  We met other relatives that we had not seen for a long, long, time. I was also able to meet some new relatives and make friends that I hope will be in my life for a long time.  It was a very interesting day.  After the reunion, I picked up Aunt Ada and we went to visit Aunt Kay.  We got some sandwiches and joined Aunt Kay for dinner.

6/19 - We got up and went to Aunt Kay's place and watch live video from her church.  She then made arrangements for all of us to have lunch with her in the private dining room. It was really nice and the food was great.  Aunt Ada and I then drove about 35 miles north (just inside the Michigan line) to visit one of her in-law relatives and a friend that she has not seen for a long time. We had a nice visit with both of them.  Back to the RV and plans were to stay home for the evening, when I got a call from my sister and was informed they had plans to visit a relative that was about 3/4 mile from where I was parked.  So I then went to another cousin's house and ate lots of popcorn and s'mores over an open fire.  My sister will be leaving early tomorrow to travel back to New York.  Now is time to relax and then go to bed!!

06/16/16 -  On 6/15, we left the Walmart parking lot at 10:00am and headed for Goshen, Indiana.  We had a good trip but could not find a rest stop so ended up just pulling off an exist and had lunch.  We arrived at the campgrounds around 3:45pm.  By the time, we took off the car, found our spot, hooked up it was a little over an hour.  It was rather warm and humid so I got very tired and of course was very dirty.  It felt good to make some dinner, get a shower and then relax and go to early bed.

06/16 - We met up with Aunt Kay around 10:30am.  She showed us around her new place which is very lovely.  Her room is arranged very nicely and quite comfortable.  We loaded her and the walker in my car and took off for Indian food, stopped off a consignment shop and off to Walmart for a little more shopping.  Aunt Kay needed to rest and so Aunt Ada and I left and back to the RV.  My friend Sue came over after work and we plan to do something for dinner.

06/14/16 - We left this morning at 9:25am.  We had excellent conditions for driving and stopped on the other side of St. Louis at a rest stop for lunch.  We got into Terre Haute, Indiana around 5:45pm eastern time.  We shopped at Walmart, had dinner and now going to play on the computer for a while before bedtime.  I am now back on the planned schedule!!

06/13/16 - On 6/11, we did laundry, Aunt Ada washed her hair and relaxed until we went to dinner at a German restaurant and then to a community  theatre for a play.  The play was a little slow and lots of dialog and not much action but entertaining.

6/12 - Teresa and daughter Lauren went to a baby shower, Aunt Ada and I went to church with Ron and after church we stopped off at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  Ron tried to go golfing but soon was rained out.  We then went to the RV to make sure that things were good when I soon learned that I had very dead house batteries and the generator would not even start,  I called the guy who repair things and begged to bring the RV back very early on Monday.

6/13 - We got up and Teresa followed me to the repair shop and we got there right at 8:00am.  I explained things and was promised they would help me right away.  I called around 10:45am to see if we would be traveling today and was informed that one battery was beyond repair and the other battery was a tester to see if it could be salvage but should have things ready by noon.  I called back and told them that I would prefer just to get two new batteries.  That was accomplished at 12:07pm.  Teresa came home from the bank and thought it would be nice to have an early lunch and then we would not have to stop for lunch.  We had a mexican lunch and on the way back to the house we got the call and RV was ready.  We went to pick her up, drove back to the school parking lot, back to the house to get our things and the freezer and refrigerator things and we were finally on the road at 1:30pm.  I am one hour short of being on schedule so am hoping to make that up tomorrow.  I did drove a solid 4 hours but did not want to stop until we had reach another Walmart so kept driving.
Ron and Teresa daughter Erin who is in school in Columbia, Missouri decided to drive down and meet us for dinner.  We ate at Applebees.  It was very good to see and visit with her even though it was a very short time.  Now am running the generator, making ice tea and playing on the computer before going to bed.

06/11/16 - The evening of 6/8, we went to see a show named "SIX".  It involved 6 brothers who sang a cappella but used the microphones and mouths to make background music.  The talent was amazing.

6/9 - We went to a forenoon show named "Dublin Tenors and Celtic Ladies".  There were 5 guys and 4 gals.  It was a great show.  Since we had a sausage and biscuit breakfast, we did not have lunch.  We then had tickets to a Light and Sound theatre and the production was "Moses".  I took a little bag of chips for a snack.  The theatre is huge and had 3 huge stages.  It was a marvelous production.  We then planned to have dinner at a "50's" diner but soon learned it was basically a hamburger, funnel cake and ice cream shop.  So we ended up at Denny's for a cup of soup and sandwich.  Back to the motel.

6/10 - We slept in a little, had another sausage and biscuit breakfast, went back to the room, packed and then stopped for a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts before heading back to Alma. We left about 12:30pm. Had a good trip.  We got back to Alma around 3:15pm so drove over to the repair shop to learn that it was not quite finished but would be finished before they closed. Teresa had left the front side door open so we were able to get into the house.   Around 6:00pm they called and I picked up the RV and Teresa showed me a good parking space at a school.  We then returned to the house, watched a Carol Burnett special on PBS and the NBA game and off to bed.

06/08/16 - Aunt Ada and I left just a little before 10:00am today and drove to the outskirts of Branson, Missouri and stopped for a sandwich.  We then drove into Branson and decided that we would stop off at several of the theatres and obtain tickets for the shows that we choose.  We then went and checked into the motel.  Now, resting a little and then our first show is at 7:30pm this on evening.  I need to stop for gas and we plan to get a little dinner before the show.  We are keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be repaired by Saturday and I want to head for Goshen, Indiana on 6/13.

06/07/16 - On 6/4, it was raining in the morning and Ron's daughter Lauren had driven up from Dallas, Texas to spend the week end with us.  It was very nice to visit with her again.  It was a quiet day although Ron and I learned there was some problem with the house current for me to plug in the RV to charge batteries.  We watched it most of the day and did get some electrical current to the RV.

6/5 - Off to church, had a great lunch and sat outside in the gazebo.  We planned some games, Lauren then had an appointment and when she returned to the house, she soon left for Dallas.

6/6 - Teresa and Ron both had to work so Aunt Ada and I took it easy by reading, playing on the computer and I did some crocheting.  Ron came home and we ate dinner with him and then relaxed for the evening.

6/7 - This morning, went to the RV to get some more items that we need since we have made plans to go to Branson, Missouri with the car for the next few days.  Hopefully, it will keep me busy so I quit worrying about the RV.  The repair shop stated that they are just waited for a phone call regarding the part.  They have been very kind and plugged it in so I have battery life.  I just pray, it will be finished when we get back late afternoon on Friday.  Teresa was scheduled only a 1/2 day today, so we went to Fort Smith for a mexican lunch, a little shopping, and then we went to a car wash and Teresa washed her car and I washed my car.  Getting ready for dinner and then will relax for the evening and get ready to leave for Branson by 10:00am tomorrow.

06/04/16 - On 6/3,  I called the RV repair place in Alma to see if I could just bring the RV in on our way to my cousin's house to learn that they do not do any engine work.  I then asked if he could recommend someone and gave me a name of Alma Automotive Repair so I called to see if he could check things out but since it was Friday afternoon, it was kinda impossible so he made arrangements for 8:20am on Monday, 6/6 so now not sure if we will be able to leave for Branson on Monday.  Time will tell.  We checked the coolant level to learn the reservoir was empty again so before leaving Walmart parking lot, we went in and bought two gallons of coolant and put them in the reservoir.  Therefore, we did not leave until almost 10:00am.  The trip was good, no lights coming on and the engine was not running hot!!  We stopped for fuel and checked again and it was empty again so we put in two more gallons.  I could not figure out where all this coolant was going because there never was anything under the RV.  So we left again and headed for Alma. We stopped for lunch and learned the reservoir was empty again.  A few miles down the road, was a Walmart so stopped there and got two more gallons to take us into Alma.  When we got to Cousin Ron's house, I backed in the RV up to their garage so we could plug in for the refrigerator.  Because it was on a slope and before I leveled the RV, it really leaked out the coolant on the passenger side on the front so now I know there definitely has a huge leak and I believe that every time, I went down a hill, I lost alot of coolant.  So now we at least know where the problem is.  We got everything leveled, cleaned up for the evening, went out for vietnamese food which was delicious.  Did some visiting and off to bed.

06/03/2016 - On 5/30 Aunt Ada and Robyn came over for dinner and Aunt Ada brought all of her stuff that she needed for the next 2 months.  We unpacked her, had dinner and then off to bed.

5/31 - We left Phoenix at about 10:00am.  We stopped at a rest stop for lunch and then spent the night at a Gallup, New Mexico Walmart.

6/1 - We left Gallup around 9:00am.  We stopped for lunch at a rest stop and it was rather cold, so I decided to turn on the heat when there appeared to be a problem.  I immediately turned it off but then checked and lost some coolant but things seemed to be fine.  When we got to a Love's truck stop, a low water light came on.  I was thinking that it probably was the coolant I lost.   We spent the night at the truck stop in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

6/2 - We left around 9:00am and soon after the low water light appeared again.  We stopped at a small repair shop who put in about a gallon of coolant in the plastic container.  We were on our way again but soon, the light came on again and then the engine temperature gauge starting going nuts and at one time when over to "high" so I pulled off the road but soon the gauge went back to below normal so then we stopped again to ask for a mechanic and found one just down the street.  He immediately learned that the other tank which was also coolant was almost empty so the coolant in the plastic container had not made it to the tank and he felt it was because of some air that had gotten in since it was so low before.  Anyway, he put in two gallons of coolant and we are once again on our way.  Just before we got to Weatherford, Oklahoma it the engine started to run hot again but would immediately cool down.  I called Mark (mechanic in San Diego) to get some information, and he thinks it is the gauge since a Cumins engine does not heat and cool off that fast.  We have decided to try and limp to Alma, Arkansas where my first cousin's lives and there is an RV repair shop there.  We have 263 miles.

6/3 - I finally can blog because I was out of gigabytes for the Wifi until this morning.