Haley's 30th and Bar B Que Fun

The day began at 5:30 AM and delivering Jerry to Haley and John's in order for the guys to depart by 7 AM for Dillon, CO. The jeep and trailer were loaded down, and off they went like little boys going on a hunting trip!!! I returned to the RV to sleep another couple of hours, clean up and pack for our overnight stay in Dillon. Off to Haley's to load her car with all my stuff---I walked to the grocery store 2 blocks from her house to get hamburger buns and 2 heads of lettuce for John. Haley had to run downtown Denver to pick up something for one of the 3 bar b Que pits--she called to tell me I had the wrong lettuce---and could I walk back to the grocery and get the really pretty lettuce that you use for "presentations!" Now, I have not made too many presentations, so I really didn't know what I was to get---so, I shopped for really pretty lettuce!!! and parsley!!! When I returned from returning the 2 heads of lettuce, Haley was home and off we went to Dillon. We arrived and moved into our motel room, leaving Guy and Girlfriend to have a little R & R--Haley and walked to the guys booth---are you ready for this? John named his team (Jerry & John)---"Rub'um & Leave'um" and they looked so cute sitting in their folding chairs drinking beer! Soon, it was time to rub the brisket and put it on the grill----this is a really big deal! Jerry and I decided all was good for awhile, so he and I came back to the room to check on the dogs. Wouldn't you know, we had a little red beeping light on the phone that told us, people had been complaining about the dogs barking!!

Surely, it was some other dogs, not mine!!! We had left the TV turned up, the bathroom vent fan blowing and the air conditioner on full. So, we took Guy and Girlfriend shopping with us, to get them out of the room!!! They are crashed out, Haley, John and Jerry are holding down the tent, eating, drinking, listening to live music and having a great time-----while I am in the room watching Guy and Girlfriend sleep!! (But, they sure aren't barking!!!) Haley just brought me a grilled hamburger and it was great! I will sip my margarita and keep my fingers moving on this computer! Since they have my camera ---photos will be included tomorrow! Wish us luck, John's bar b que sauce and my salsa were turned in to the judges tonight.

Snow on the mountains

Life is good, this is truly God's country. We drove to Breckenridge, CO today and enjoyed seeing the snow on the mountains, waterfalls, and gushing rivers! John and Jerry registered for their competition in the Bar B Que cook off beginning tomorrow. I am entering my salsa and my yummy Peach Schnapps Cupcakes (watch out Judges!!!), you can bet they can't just take one bite of my heavily laced alcoholic sweets. John's trailer is loaded with 3 Traeger Pits, along with everything else in the kitchen. John shared with Jerry tonight they will take turns sleeping at the parking lot, under the canopy tomorrow night while the meat is on the pit!!! Haley and I will enjoy our Best Western Accommodations! I can't wait to share our experiences with you, gotta get things packed up, we leave the RV in Golden, but we are taking the dogs with us!

It is Cool in Colorado

Waking up to an alarm that was mis-set (4:30 am)--left me awake until Jerry got up and left for the Denver Manager's meeting. I actually had to put on a jacket to walk Guy and Girlfriend! I am sitting outside with a cool breeze along my glass of wine wishing you were here to enjoy this awesome weather! I can actually admit to a fairly dull day, no trauma, no disasters!

I cleaned up the RV, took the dogs for several excursions, and I went to the pool and read my book. Haley came to pick me up and all the Bar B Que equipment that we brought to help John with the cook off this weekend. When we arrived at her house, I got to see their very productive, amazing garden and then we went to dinner. Upon returning to her home, I began mixing my ingredients for my fabulous Peach Schnapps Cupcakes that I am entering in the Dessert Cook-off contest this weekend!! We also spiced up my salsa I had made this summer, by adding more Jalapenos! The dogs and I are waiting on Jerry to return from his wonderful day with all the managers-- to golf and finally dinner together, needless to say he is in his haven!

Colorado

Leaving Dumas, TX in our rear view mirror was pretty easy this morning! The weather got cooler as we traveled north through Trinidad, CO and into Golden, CO. Arriving at our favorite RV 5 Star resort, we called Haley and told her we were setting up and would like to take her to dinner. Jerry and I changed and I was ready walk the dogs before we left, however, I could only find Guy!! We realized we had left the door open while we were setting up the RV, meaning Girlfriend must have gotten out! Panic set in and Jerry got in the jeep as I took off on foot walking up and down the lanes looking under each and every RV and trailer for about an hour and a half. We alerted every person we saw walking their dogs to be on the look out for Girlfriend. I notified the office and they got on their walkie talkies and had all the guys in their golf carts looking for our little female. Jerry and I finally gave up and went into the RV and told Guy we had lost his girlfriend---I got out the treats and gave one to Guy to make him feel better. I emptied everything under our bed, since that was her favorite hiding place--she was not there, Jerry got on his hand and knees and felt around under the dining table (where we had Haley's babybed standing on it's side and wrapped in blankets). LOW AND BEHOLD, GUESS WHO WAS TAKING A NAP UNDER THE BLANKETS ====Girlfriend. I wanted to whip that little wench, but we were so happy to see her, we just gave her a treat! I had to get in the jeep and drive all around the park to report that we had found Girlfriend-----I just didn't tell them where I found her!!!!

Dinner was great as Haley took us to Golden to eat pizza at a really great place and have ice cold beer. Jerry is going to work tomorrow and then play golf. I plan on sleeping in, going to the pool and reading my book, I don't want any trauma or excitement!!!!! We are sitting outside in the cool night air, no mosquitoes, no humidity, just totally awesome! Wish you were here! Oh by the way, Jerry and I traded our RV for the new "GO GREEN" RV & trailer inculding bikes! As you can see we really got a great deal!!!

It is so hot in Texas...Trees are whistling for dogs.

There are no words for the various heat records we encountered today driving through Texas! Early morning we received a great gift-----we were getting 10 miles to the gallon! While stopped in Vernon, TX and handing over $300.00 to fill up our RV's thirsty tank---we had to pull into a WalMart parking lot to repair Jerry's rear view mirror that was shaking during the 30 mile an hour winds we encountered in 108' weather today. Naturally, Jerry can work on everything including a broken mirror base while standing on steaming asphalt as I tried to shield him from the blazing sun with our golf umbrella's!
After about an hour and a half we both got back into the cool RV and headed towards Amarillo, with the wind blowing against us we were actually getting 3 miles to the gallon! Needless to say, we will probably have to fill up again tomorrow!!!
We arrived in Dumas, TX where we are in the "2nd best RV park in town, "as you can see the Tumbleweeds are plentiful and you can see for miles! As Jerry was moving the tumbleweeds out of the line of the electrical and water hook ups, he raised one of the panels below and it fell off the hinges!!! We were thrilled it didn't fall off between Amarillo and here! This heat is not only melting our money, but it is melting the screws out of the RV!!!!
We are shooting for Golden, Colorado tomorrow and hopefully it will not be quite so hot. We are hoping to get up the mountains without any other items falling off our RV!!!! We are staying nice and cool inside, drinking lots of cold beverages to stay hydrated and getting on WIFI when we can.

A Willie Nelson quote: "On The Road Again!"

As the summer heats up, we hop into our RV for another adventure on the road! However, I have to go back a couple of days in order for you to appreciate where we are tonight!!
Friday, the 5th Keely drove from Dallas with Dylan and Jude, picked up Haley who had flown in from Denver. They joined me in Lake Jackson for a great fresh shrimp dinner and loved sharing our time together. Saturday morning we all got up and dressed in our best for Haley's baby shower that was going to be given by our wonderful friends at the Williams home. The brunch was absolutely great and the friendship, laughs, gifts and hugs were enjoyed by all. Haley's mother in law, Lacreta Carr had come from China Springs to attend the baby shower, while Rob her husband walked the beach. We spent the remainder of the afternoon packing the shower gifts in the RV, along with Bar B Que supplies that will be used next weekend. Haley's husband, John and Jerry have entered in the Dillon, CO Bar B Que contest that will take place this coming Friday and Saturday.
This morning we all got up early, dressed and had breakfast while Jerry got the jeep loaded on the back of the RV. Jude had to make one more run around the yard 5 times in the BatMobile (aka Ranger), Dylan had to race around the driveway on her bike without training wheels, and Keely and Haley had to climb up in the attic (100') to retrieve childhood treasures I have saved for the past 28 years! Once everyone had done their thing----and loaded up into Keely's car, they were off to the airport and back to Dallas and Denver. We left in our RV shortly after their departure.

We are heading to Denver to unload the baby gifts, help finish setting up the nursery, and to help John with his first adventure in the Cook-Off competition! We drove to Mansfield, TX (about 20 miles from Ft. Worth) and we have crashed in our cool RV, the dogs are belly up and enjoying being cool, it was only 105' today in Dallas! We will depart by 6 AM in order to get on the road before the heat wave claims us, our goal for tomorrow will be either Amarillo or Dumas!

Home Sweet Home

The ride home was uneventful, thank goodness! It was a beautiful drive until we approached the city limits of Conroe and Houston---whew, talk about traffic and rain! Needless to say, Jerry kept on driving non-stop in order to get home today! We have been so blessed to have had this wonderful opportunity driving through Texas, New Mexico and arriving in Colorado safely. There are no words to say how appreciative we are! It has been great keeping in touch with our friends and family via RV "WIFI"--when I could get online! We have already started our grocery lists and organization list for our next excursion, looking forward to it in October!
Have a safe and fun Labor Day, we will be thinking of you. Love you all, The Skidmore's