Pismo Beach

Well the RTI rally is done and I can’t believe how fast the time disappeared. It was filled with activities and fun (and lots of wine). We were given wine ‘sippy’ cups (wine glass inside of other glass) for the tastings.

We went to Hearst Castle

and got a good idea of how those ‘rich and famous’ played.

Petey already told you about the doggie games. The food we had was phenomenal and it was one of the best Chapter Rallies ever done.

Oregon

Being in Oregon is wonderful. First we stopped at a camp with a ‘hot spring’ pond and found the waters to be soothing and nice after driving across the boring interstate. That’s also where I noticed the large crack in the windshield from rocks that hit during the ride.

Onward we drove to LaPine where it was two days in a private camp (got a new windshield while there) and then to the State Park where I met up with another solo.

Then it was to Redmond for the FMCA event and we had 22 RTs parked together (10 solos). We had a couple of rainy Happy Hours and then finally a couple in sunshine.

Then on to the beauty of McKenzie Bridge

		McKenzie Bridge Area VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Now we are resting on the Stiletz River and with cool nights, sleeping is fantastic.

		On the Stiletz River, Lincoln City, Oregon VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

What a fantastic life we have.

Wyoming stop

Here on the Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne really are a herd of Bison. I was a little disappointed with my Bison burger as they cooked it more than I like (I am a rare person) and the waitress didn’t pay as much attention to me as she did the tables with more than one person. But for a place to spend my rest day, it is OK.

    the facadeThe Bison herd

The office

Traveling west

It seems funny to say I'm 'on the road again' but it is true. I have left Bass Harbor behind me for this year and am heading to Oregon. Will be leaving Ohio and reach Illinois tomorrow. I have been driving longer than usual but enjoying it so without campground reservations I can just keep on going. Usually I have a vague destination and hope to get into wherever that might be and, so far, it has not been a problem to get a campsite with electric and not expensive.

   I found a cute, small COE park in New York State where the geese love and I got a level site.

     

 

 

And from there I headed to Ohio where I decided it was time for a rest day so I spent a day 'vegging' out and doing very little except reading and answering email.

 

Next stop is Illinois and westward from there.

 

Another couple of weeks

 I will be leaving Bass Harbor in a couple of weeks and heading west to Oregon. The weather here has become beautiful and I have done some wandering to take this year's photos.

     The flower lady in SW Harbor does a great job and these are by the bus stop at the Post Office.

The view from the bus down to the Harbor

Here in camp the chickens did some laundry

 

And, yes, sometimes I do put out my awning.

 

 

Time goes quickly

    Can't believe it has been two weeks since I wrote last but that's because I've been working (more hours than I am required) and haven't had much time to 'play'. I managed to get to Bar Harbor and not much changes there. I discovered a Thai/sushi restaurant I didn't know was there so that was a lovely surprise.

     

 

 

   The flowers in the square and the view of the harbor is always a lovely one.

And in the campground, we have some chickens (think they are coming in from the street behind us)

    who seem to want to do laundry.

      

 

they really were IN the laundry room but I failed to capture the photo until they were on their way outside.

Sunshine!

   We are in Maine and we finally have sunshine! It is cool outside (60-70) but with bright sun and that makes it lovely.

   Bass Harbor has not changed much in the last year except for road damage from the awful winter and so there are roads getting here that are not the smoothest of rides.

   

almost sunset

 

 

Bass Harbor 

 

So here I will be until I head west to Oregon for the FMCA Family Reunion. Petey will be happy to not be riding too much although we will be doing things on Mt Desert Island and Ellsworth while we are here.

On the way to the rally

 

One of the places we stayed on our way to the rally is Peter's Pond which is a nice campground in Sandwich, MA. Since Stephanie met me in Rhode Island, she booked here too but the cloudy weather keeps following me and today (a little further east) the rain is coming down heavily. It is supposed to clear by this evening and then we should have great weather for the next week.

    We are going to the rally campground a couple of days early so we can be settled in and do some housekeeping (laundry, etc.).

   

Weather blues

       I think the rain must be following us because now (in Connecticut) it is another 'yukky' day. All of yesterday it rained and today it looks imminent and I'm sure we will not see the sun until, perhaps, Sunday. It's not like we are doing nothing but it is all inside with very little outside time. It was lovely the day I got here and I even had to run the ac for Petey.

 

I have this huge site and could fit three Roadtreks on it.

       It will be interesting to see how busy this place gets for the Holiday weekend.

Camping in Carollton

 

I find this campground could be a really lovely place but with rain yesterday it is more mushy mud on the road. I am parked on the grass so should be OK by tomorrow morning pulling out since it seems to have stopped raining and the sun is coming out.

There is a nice creek and lovely flora but nicer in sunshine I am sure.

Having rain made the place muddy and I was not unhappy to head east to Pennsylvania. But, then it rained again for the two days I was there (and had no TV or internet) and was happy to leave there too.

Headed east and the sun was shining but today, guess what it is doing, again! Have T.V (cable) and some internet so have entertainment (other than books) while inside.

I know – ‘the sun will come out tomorrow’.

resting

   It has been a busy few weeks since last I wrote so I am taking a couple of days to do not much of anything (I will walk, take some photos).

    The INTO rally (International Area of FMCA) was a success for the Roadtreks who attended (27 of us). We were parked together, had our hook ups and were in the middle of all the rally activities.

 

  The first evening was a hot dog 'bash' which turned into a Solo Cup party and with the President of INTO and VP leading the show, it was a fun time.

      Then we had breakfasts catered by Cracker Barrel and evening entertainment that was really good.

 

 Perfect location for Happy Hours.

  But having fun is exhausting!

  

 

 

Tornado watch/warnings

  New experience for me and Petey was needing to go to a shelter (two at this campground) at 2am when the tornado watch became a warning. We planned on traveling to northern Alabama today (we are at the south end of Montgomery now) but even the campground where we were going said to stay put where it is probably safer.
   He was not happy to go into his carrier (and mighty heavy to carry) but got very quiet once in the office with all the people and dogs around him. We spent about an hour in there until the warning went away and the rain let up enough to get back to our rig. We had some wind to rock us but not too bad and nothing seems to have leaked, so that is good. I have my cable hooked up so I can watch the weather channel and do what's best for us to stay safe.
   We will stay another night here as it could be a repeat weather event. Then on to Lebanon, TN where we hope the fairgrounds is not a lake situation for parking.

T & C rally April 2014

 

Sometimes I have to remind myself why I go to the Region 5 ‘tech ‘ rally twice a year and today I absolutely remember the many reasons.

   First of all I get to be with Roadtrek International members who share interests. And, I always learn something either about the electronic stuff (purpose of this rally) or about my Roadtrek (from others). And, we always, always have fun!

Two weeks since .....

 It's not that I haven't thought about writing, but in the last two weeks I was home for three days before taking off again so being on the computer is limited since I'm trying to have fun.

    

Went to the FMCA Annual Reunion in Perry Georgia and, except for not so nice weather, it was fun.

 

Then on to Kennesaw to spend time with my friend celebrating her birthday and the whole city threw her a party (the Mayor gave her a key to the city!)

 

 

 

It was really fun and we wish her to have many, many more birthdays!

Another great McClean Festival

A typical Will McClean Festival except this year 30 plus Roadtreks were there.

 

 

       The music was great and the people amazing.

   I can't even capture the fun we had and it was an 'international' gathering since we had folks from Canada and many other (non-Florida) trekkers there.

Now that Petey wrote.....

  I guess now that Petey has written on his blog that I should write too.
   We were home only about three weeks before going to Kissimmee for my first (as President) Chapter Rally. I am pleased with how it seemed to go and since many have told me they thought I did a good job, I feel like I am off on the right foot in this job.
  

Ramona and rst

 

I didn't have time to take my own photos so this one was taken by another and sent so I would remember some of it.

We are now about to leave for a (non rally) couple of weeks in Florida to enjoy RT friends without 'meetings' to worry about so I will have time to take my own photographs.

 

For those who are interested, I actually am going to be able to work-kamp for a short while this summer and will be returning to Bass Harbor, Maine. It will be a 'break' between rallies and RTI get-togethers although I am hoping some RTs will come and visit with me there (mid June-July).