Thursday October 10, 2013-Mill Creek Ranch RV Resort

I woke this morning to see a very pretty sunrise out my window, so I went outside and took some pictures around the park. 

 There are a few of us here but our numbers will increase later today. There were probably 10-12 here this morning and we are expecting 23 total for the weekend.

Our trailer on the right and Terry and Carol's on the left. A very pretty sunrise!

This is the rear view of Don and Monica's trailer. He had an electrical problem when they arrived and while working on that, he found a water leak. The chores never end!

There is a nice little pond nearby. They have some tiny little signs warning guests of the presence of water moccasins and copperhead snakes. In my opinion the signs should be larger and not right down by the water, but that's just me...

Across the road from our site. It's gonna be a beautiful day!

As more and more arrived, around noon a group of us decided to go into town to explore the stores around the square and to get something to eat. 11 of us went to the Canton Bakery where we enjoyed a variety of sandwiches but the company was the BEST!

After finishing lunch, we walked around looking in the antique and junk stores. It was interesting to watch a crew of prisoners working around the courthouse cleaning up for some events this weekend. I'm glad to see the Sheriff's office using inmate labor. We returned to the park and some planned to get together to play games and to work on some jigsaw puzzles later. I wasn't feeling well and came on back home. Very nice first day of the rally.

So long.

Wednesday October 9, 2013-Mill Creek Ranch RV Resort

It was a nice morning here in Canton, not as cold as it was in Minnesota or Iowa, but a bit chilly at 53 degrees. That fireplace is still getting a workout!

We had made arrangements to go over to visit my aunt Janie and uncle Gail today and were to meet here at the Don Juan's Restaurant in Carthage. The trip was about 100 miles but there was very little traffic until we got to Longview, where there were several oil field trucks on the road which slowed us down a bit. We were about 10 minutes late, but I don't think they minded. At least I hope they didn't!

We had a good meal and it is good to be back in Texas and good Mexican food. This food wasn't the best I've ever had but it was good ol' Tex-Mex and it tasted like home! We went back to their house in Center and had a very nice visit. The bad thing was that time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to get back home. I stopped off at a rest area for Stella and capped a couple of Munzees too!

We made it back to the park and found about 7 new Heartland rigs have arrived. I went out and visited for an hour or so but the skeeters were out and I came back inside. A few of us guys are going to meet in the "Grand Lodge" for coffee in the morning. I think it's going to be a good rally! It has started off well.

So long.

Tuesday October 8, 2013-Moving day-Checotah Lake KOA to Mill Creek Ranch RV Resort

We were up early again but again went to eat breakfast at the KOA. Our meal was delicious and much cheaper than a usual breakfast. On top of that, there were other regulars from the park eating and drinking coffee this morning who gave us advice on our route this morning. 

After a very filling meal, we were on our way. We don't set up too much, so it is an easy tear-down in the morning. It was about 9:45 when we finally pulled out but it's only about 200 miles to Canton.

We made good time on the route suggested by our breakfast-mates and in just a couple of hours we were nearing the Oklahoma-Texas border. We stopped at the last travel plaza on the toll road so Don could get fuel. I didn't mention my latest finding on fuel mileage. Don said he normally drives about 55-57 miles per hour to conserve fuel. He drives a Ford F-450 with a low rear end gear, so he has to do what he can to improve his fuel mileage. I slowed down to accommodate him and guess what? My mileage went soaring! Yesterday I got a high of 12.4, towing the trailer. Today was not quite as spectacular, but an improved 11.5 is not bad at all!

While Don was fueling up, I deployed a few Munzees in the parking lot and got some good exercise in, so it was a good stop for all. Bathrooms, snacks, Munzees and fuel, how much better can it get?

Here we are, crossing the Red River, back into Texas.... Yay!!! 

And here we are, all set up. We have stayed at Mill Creek several times before but things have changed a lot here. There was a new release for yard-work damages, a notice of public alcohol consumption, neither of which was used before, new security codes on restrooms and buildings. There is now a charge for WIFI use that was free in the past, and then when we got to our sites, my electrical service failed because of my surge protector. It is unknown why it tripped but soon reset and is working again. Don's, however was not so good. His surge protector would not allow an open ground situation to allow electricity into his trailer. Some men from the park came over and couldn't find anything wrong on either site, so Don bypassed his Surge Guard and now has good power. I hope it works out for him. My problem seem to have been a momentary spike with no further problems. Not a good way to start out. 

Then, Monica went to the washateria and found that there is only one washer and dryer now. When Stella went down to start washing, she found that the hot water smells terrible. I guess there is something wrong with the water heater. Now an even worse way to start our stay here...

So long.

Monday October 7, 2013-Moving Day-Peculiar Park Place RV Park to Checotah Lake KOA

We were all up pretty early this morning, but we had already decided to go to the Denny's restaurant that was at a Flying J truck stop nearby. We had a nice breakfast and went back home to pack up to leave for Oklahoma. We were soon ready to leave, but it was nearly 10 before we pulled out. We didn't have quite as far to go today, so it should work out.

Stella and I have been waiting to make reservations at our overnight stops until we get underway on the morning of our departure. We were supposed to go to a small park in Mc Alester Oklahoma but when Stella called to make reservations for all of us, she learned that they could not accommodate us. Bummer! I think this was a first for us, but we soon found a KOA near Lake Eufala in Checotah OK. We drove across Lake Eufala on our way to the park but we didn't have time to do anything on the lake.

This park is a nice little place. It is shady and very quiet, pretty typical of a KOA. As many of them do, this one had a pretty nice menu for both supper and breakfast. Don, Monica and Stella went over and ate but I wasn't hungry and stayed home. Stella did bring home a huge piece of chicken fried steak for dinner tomorrow. She bragged on it, so I'm sure it will be great. 

We had another cool night, making sleeping nice. It has been nice to have cool (cold) nights, but fall should be here soon and we should have more then. 

So long.

Sunday October 6, 2013-Moving day-Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center to Peculiar Park Place RV Park

Well, the dreaded day is here. We always hate to leave, but after this great rally, we REALLY hate to leave. We had so much fun meeting new people and making new friends. 

We will be traveling with our friends Don and Monica, who also traveled a long way to get here. They are the Chapter Leaders of Colorado but came here from the Wyoming rally in Vernal Utah. We were all up early to get an early start but it was cold- about 45 degrees- and no one wanted to get out to start working. I had some firewood that had not been used, so I decided to light a small fire to warm my hands on. I got it started and then people began leaving and I went to say goodbye and when I went back to my fire, it had gone out. I guess the wood was wetter than I thought.

We didn't pull out until 10AM, or about an hour later than we wanted. The weather stayed pretty bad with cloudy skies and cold temps. We ran through several patches of light rain, which, if the temperature had been a little lower, would have been snow! 

We made a pit stop and ran into another Heartland owner, Don and Kathy Swanson that had been at the rally, who had stopped at the same rest stop.  We stopped for lunch at the border between Iowa and Missouri in a rainstorm. It was really nasty with low 40's temps and rain. It didn't stop raining until just before Kansas City but when it did, the skies lightened up and the temperature rose to the mid 50's so it was still chilly.

We went back to the Peculiar Park Place RV Park where we had stopped on the way to the Missouri rally. We like the park, it is reasonably priced and not far from the highway. When we pulled in here, Larry and Gayle Kuykendall were also checking in. They had also been at the rally and had left just behind us. They were on the other side of this park. If we had known they were coming, we could all have stayed together one more time. 

We were pretty hungry when we arrived and Don needed to get fuel in his truck, so we decided to go find something to eat. We found a Pizza Hut but it was take-out only, so we bought a couple of pizzas and took them home. For some reason, the pizza tasted very good. I guess it's been too long since we've had one. Don and Monica didn't stay too long after we ate because we were all tired from a long day of driving. 

One more day of driving and we'll be back in Texas!

So long.

Saturday October 5, 2013-Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center

Today is the last day of the Iowa rally. We have been having a good time up here, but we are TIRED! We've been going strong for the past three days and would like a day off to recover, but we leave tomorrow for Peculiar MO for an overnight stop on our way to Canton.

We furnished a breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, scrambled eggs, coffee and juice with our friends bringing whatever dishes they want to share. Dave Tardiff, our friend and chapter leader from Wyoming, used his huge "cowboy" cooking pan to prepare the gravy. It was large enough to make two gallons of delicious gravy that went over very well on top of biscuits. 

Everyone enjoyed the breakfast and best of all, we bought just enough ingredients so we didn't have a lot of leftovers. There is probably enough left to make a good breakfast for a few folks but we won't be one of them. 

After breakfast and the cleanup after, we came home for some much-needed rest. In the afternoon we went next door to sit by the fire and chat with friends. The free firewood here really comes in handy! 

We had Ketelsen's RV prepare authentic German brats with all the trimmings for our supper tonight. We brought a potluck assortment of foods to go with the brats and it was great! There were several delicious desserts for us to try including a chocolate one that Ray and Sally made in a dutch oven. Man, what good food!

We gave away our door prizes, including a hand made blanket by Mike Kennedy's wife. Some items were from Kettlesen RV, some from Heartland (Jim B) and a couple that we had acquired. 

Kettlesen RV organized some games and fun races, then performed some skits with singing from their camping group. They have an active camping group and we are interested in trying to go to one of their get togethers. They had a rally at this campground in May and had 175 units in attendance. In other words, they Owned this park during that time. They are planning a trip to Hill City South Dakota in July, but we can't work that into our schedule. Maybe someday! You might want to check them out at kettlesonrv.com . You may like to go on one of their trips.

So long.

Friday October 4, 2013-Amana Colonies RV Park and Event Center

This morning began with a bang! We had thunderstorms with loud thunder and then about 30 minutes of hail! It was marble size but sounded like boulders hitting the roof. When the storm was over I walked around handing out agendas for the rally and found out that the only damage was a couple of flag poles that had fallen. I later heard that one couple had a window knocked out but haven't verified that.

Stella and I had to go to the nearest Wal Mart to buy a few more supplies, so we skipped going to the Octoberfest activities in Amana. We went over to Coralville, where we found the store and made our purchases. We also filled the truck with fuel and ate a quick lunch at the Steak and Shake across the street.

We returned home and got a little rest before going over to the rally hall to begin preparations for the Meet and Greet ice cream social. We had plenty of help and everything went off without a hitch. There was a good turnout and with the folks that came from the Ketelsen club, all tables were full. In introduced David Lippe as the new chapter leader for Iowa as well as the other Chapter Leaders, moderators and of course Jim and Nancy that were there.  I believe everyone enjoyed the ice cream and toppings and we had a great time. Actually we were home by 9 o'clock, but we came on inside. Our firewood was soaking wet, so no campfires and we were tired, so we came in and went to bed pretty early. Great first day of the rally.

So long.