We were up early and on the road a little before 6 a.m. It was an uneventful ride back to Jackson. We have made this drive so often that we are very familiar with the sights so I either played Sudoku on my little hand held or played games on the computer. I was so ready to be back home!!!
We arrived around 12:30 and Carol was here to greet us. Hot, hot, hot here, but good to be home. I rather felt like a stranger in my own home - when I went to get stuff out for a drink, or things in the kitchen, I had to stop and think where they might be!!
We spent the next several hours unloading the car, unpacking suitcases and just
stacking the boxes we did not want to deal with (which was most of them). Who wants to handle flannel sheets, down comforters, fleece blankets and winter clothes when it is close to 100 outside???? NOT ME!!!!
We also spent a lot of time on the phone letting people know we are finally home!!! E.T. is finally home!!!!
Looking back on the trip....I guess I have learned some things....
First of all...basic facts....
We left MS on May 21 and returned Aug. 11.
We put 7,400 miles on the truck
7,250 miles on the RV
Maybe it is not a good idea to turn me loose for 11 weeks with 2 digital cameras and ways to unload pictures so I can take more....I have 5,256 digital images in my laptop from this trip and will be adding some more when Barb Grainger sends me a DVD w/ some pictures to fill in for the ones I lost when I damaged the SD cards!!
Jerry has about 20 hours of video in addition to about 15 rolls of 35 mm film!!
It would have been better to have a tow vehicle. There were lots of places we would have ventured that the RV could not go.
We needed to spend longer than one night in most places.
Was sorry we did not have enough time to go fishing (plus fishing in AK is full of LOTS of strange and specific rules about where you can and can't fish, and the kind of license you need, etc...)
I should have taken more time to visit art galleries and craft stores...I love seeing all the things people can create.
I wish I had time to paint - it was all I could do to take pictures and record the places we were seeing...(of course I have fun with cameras also!)
In fact I wish I could have spent at least 24 hours in most places so I could get the sun and light in different positions.
I did not see TV or have much access to news for 50 days in the RV. A couple of times we tuned in when we were in Frank and Barb's RV. I didn't miss it.
We should have taken some music CD's to listen to on the road....no radio stations in the wilderness.
I should have loaded pix onto computer each day from both cameras, even when there were not so many pictures to load....
Wish I had taken pix of us getting to STL, getting to Piedmont and then finally getting home. I guess once I got back in familiar territory, the cameras could finally leave my hands.
Our world is an awesome creation and all the parts that I have seen have their own characteristics and personality, but they are all part of the whole.
It was a great trip and I don't know how it could have been any shorter, but I also know that I was gone a long time from home....what a dilemma...
I guess this is the official end of the blog for this trip....it has taken many hours and longer than I would have wished post trip to finish all this up, but I am glad I have persevered and finished it. The next step is to print out the text, order copies of the pictures I posted and put it all into an album. I told John I had a few suggestions for Google and blog posting.....wish they had one part of it dedicated to travel and vacations and there were easier and better formats for including pictures!
It's nice to be with friends and family. We had such a good time with Frank and Barb and then with Nana and our family in St. Louis and at Piedmont.
Our next adventure is a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico in October for the Balloon Fiesta. We have been before but are anxious to go again. Jerry's sister Carol and her very good friend are going with us and we will also go to Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and Santa Fe. Have not decided whether to do a blog or not, but will keep you posted.
All for now and thanks for traveling with us through the blog. It meant a lot to us to know that our friends and family back home could tune in and kind of keep up a bit with us. I hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as I enjoyed putting it together (in spite of lack of internet connections everywhere!!!) Happy trails!!! Linda and Jerry
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday, August 10 07 PIedmont
We spent the day getting ready to leave for Jackson tomorrow morning. There is always a lot to do to get ready to leave....all the outside stuff has to be put up, the inside cleaned, linens changed, and refrigerator cleaned out, etc. We really need to make a checklist of all that needs doing to close up the house so if anyone wanted to use it while we are not here they would know what to do.
To bed fairly early as we are planning on being in the car by 6 a.m. Can't wait to get home!!!!!
To bed fairly early as we are planning on being in the car by 6 a.m. Can't wait to get home!!!!!
Monday, August 6 07 Piedmont
We were up early as John and Susan wanted to take the 4 wheeler over to GreenTree and ride the trails over there. Jerry had been over earlier in the week to bush hog the trails and b/c it is so dry there was not much to do.
I stayed at the house while they went and cleaned up a bit and gathered some of the leftover foodstuff to take back to STL. We head out about 11 a.m. as their flight was at 5:45. When we got to STL we stopped at Jean's to leave the dogs, then went to the nursing home to see Jim and introduce him to Susan....of course when we were done there we had time to go to Ted Drewe's again for more ice cream and hot fudge sundaes, then we headed to the airport.
When we got there, the plane had been delayed for 1 1/2 hours so we went to the restaurant for drinks and some food. It was a good chance to visit some more before we had to say good-bye. They were finally able to board their flight and head home. We went back to Jean's and ate dinner, then left for Piedmont. We arrived about 10:30 and about 10 min. later, John and Susan called saying that they had made it back to San Francisco and were headed home. A very fast, busy weekend crammed with lots of family stuff, water sports and land sports. Sigh....they go by too fast sometimes. We wish Malia and David could have been with us but they had friends getting married in Blacksburg, VA and Malia was a bridesmaid. One of these years they will make the trip we hope.
I stayed at the house while they went and cleaned up a bit and gathered some of the leftover foodstuff to take back to STL. We head out about 11 a.m. as their flight was at 5:45. When we got to STL we stopped at Jean's to leave the dogs, then went to the nursing home to see Jim and introduce him to Susan....of course when we were done there we had time to go to Ted Drewe's again for more ice cream and hot fudge sundaes, then we headed to the airport.
When we got there, the plane had been delayed for 1 1/2 hours so we went to the restaurant for drinks and some food. It was a good chance to visit some more before we had to say good-bye. They were finally able to board their flight and head home. We went back to Jean's and ate dinner, then left for Piedmont. We arrived about 10:30 and about 10 min. later, John and Susan called saying that they had made it back to San Francisco and were headed home. A very fast, busy weekend crammed with lots of family stuff, water sports and land sports. Sigh....they go by too fast sometimes. We wish Malia and David could have been with us but they had friends getting married in Blacksburg, VA and Malia was a bridesmaid. One of these years they will make the trip we hope.
Sunday, August 5 07 Piedmont
Up fairly early and making pots of coffee.....again a leisurely breakfast as we tried to eat up some of the food that folks had brought. We had a run on cantaloupe this year - wound up with 9 of them I think....lots of food left over. Fixed biscuits, ham and cheese, fruit etc.
People started leaving around noon or in the early afternoon. When everyone had gone, John wanted to take Susan out on to Clearwater Lake. We had not checked out the jet skis and they had expired stickers but we took the bass boat and the water ski stuff and headed out.
We toured the lake and showed Susan the sights and then we proceeded to teach her how to water ski. It was kind of a tough day to learn b/c there was some wind and the lake was rather choppy. In addition there were lots of boats and that contributed to the waves and rough water. She tried and tried, persevered and finally got up! It was great!! It is always great to see someone learn to ski. John skied a bit also. We stopped at the marina for a drink and an ice cream and headed back to the house about 7 p.m.....very tired from being out in the sun and on the water.
We ate leftovers and they packed up their stuff and got ready to leave tomorrow.
People started leaving around noon or in the early afternoon. When everyone had gone, John wanted to take Susan out on to Clearwater Lake. We had not checked out the jet skis and they had expired stickers but we took the bass boat and the water ski stuff and headed out.
We toured the lake and showed Susan the sights and then we proceeded to teach her how to water ski. It was kind of a tough day to learn b/c there was some wind and the lake was rather choppy. In addition there were lots of boats and that contributed to the waves and rough water. She tried and tried, persevered and finally got up! It was great!! It is always great to see someone learn to ski. John skied a bit also. We stopped at the marina for a drink and an ice cream and headed back to the house about 7 p.m.....very tired from being out in the sun and on the water.
We ate leftovers and they packed up their stuff and got ready to leave tomorrow.
Saturday, August 4 07 Piedmont
Today is float trip....At Jack's are Tony, Mary Kay, TJ, Emily, Steve and Katie...
Pat, Annie, B.C. are coming here and will only stay the day. Robert, Danny and Sally drove in about 11 a.m. Can't believe all these kids are so grown up.
Had leisurely breakfast and coffee at the house....then scurried to get everyone ready for float....Got to Kemper's at noon and got all the canoes lined up, took group pix and then headed out.
We had 12 canoes and had a wonderful float. It was hot, but the water was cool and the shade was nice on the gravel bars where we stopped. We got back about 3:30 or 4:00 and Jerry went to pick up the meat we had ordered. I had gone over to Jack's earlier to pick up the food they were contributing. We had decided to eat immediately after the float trip rather than send them all back to Jack's to clean up, get food ready and then come back to our house. We learned that lesson last year.
We just all enjoyed being together. After dinner and the Stemmler's went back, those of us left at the house decided to play a hot game of Pictionary. We played 2 games and have added a new classic drawing to our growing list.....in addition to John and Malia's famous "duck dive", we now have John Simon's "placemat"! It was really funny and we all got lots of laughs from that one.
Pat, Annie, B.C. are coming here and will only stay the day. Robert, Danny and Sally drove in about 11 a.m. Can't believe all these kids are so grown up.
Had leisurely breakfast and coffee at the house....then scurried to get everyone ready for float....Got to Kemper's at noon and got all the canoes lined up, took group pix and then headed out.
We had 12 canoes and had a wonderful float. It was hot, but the water was cool and the shade was nice on the gravel bars where we stopped. We got back about 3:30 or 4:00 and Jerry went to pick up the meat we had ordered. I had gone over to Jack's earlier to pick up the food they were contributing. We had decided to eat immediately after the float trip rather than send them all back to Jack's to clean up, get food ready and then come back to our house. We learned that lesson last year.
We just all enjoyed being together. After dinner and the Stemmler's went back, those of us left at the house decided to play a hot game of Pictionary. We played 2 games and have added a new classic drawing to our growing list.....in addition to John and Malia's famous "duck dive", we now have John Simon's "placemat"! It was really funny and we all got lots of laughs from that one.
Friday, August 3 07 Piedmont
Up early and getting ready for today...Jerry going to STL to pick up John and Susan. I am cooking Texas BBQ for tonight and most of the family is coming in this evening. Some will be here for the day tomorrow....
Jerry got back w/ John and Susan late as they went by some places to show Susan and then of course to Ted Drewe's.....It was great to see them when they finally got back to Piedmont.
At the house tonite we had John, Susan, Carol, MaryBeth, Diane, John Simon, Jean, Ben, Grace, Buddy, Gary, Jerry and I. Had a wonderful time. It's fun to get together. We are so fortunate that we are all close and enjoy spending time with each other.
Jerry got back w/ John and Susan late as they went by some places to show Susan and then of course to Ted Drewe's.....It was great to see them when they finally got back to Piedmont.
At the house tonite we had John, Susan, Carol, MaryBeth, Diane, John Simon, Jean, Ben, Grace, Buddy, Gary, Jerry and I. Had a wonderful time. It's fun to get together. We are so fortunate that we are all close and enjoy spending time with each other.
Thursday, August 2, 07 Piedmont
Well today is our 32 wedding anniversary. Spent the day getting ready for the weekend. Jerry took me to dinner in Dexter, MO. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Piedmont and we had to go there to pick up the jet skis so we decided to kill two birds w/ one stone....We went to a very nice BBQ place that had great steaks. It was a very good dinner and we had a very nice evening.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
