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

Running Down the Road!!

Well, it was not pretty getting up at 5;30 AM in order to get an early start--I thought being retired meant no clocks! Ha--not with Jerry Skidmore!! Guy and Girlfriend were in a coma when I hauled their rear ends out the door and told them to hurry up and do their "thing!" On the road, with our loyal GPS (we used to call her the Bitch in the Box), but, we have grown to love and depend on her floating around in her satellite telling us when and where to go!
Our first challenge today was facing the sun as Jerry was driving. So, naturally I stand up and pull down
the really neat visors, but Jerry had tightened them so tight (not to rattle)---I had to find an Allen Wrench and try to loosen the nut---now this is while he is driving and I am straddling the dogs, standing up, twisting with all my strength and it would not budge---meanwhile, Jerry is blinded by the sun, I am stressed wanting to help him, and he is worried I am going to break the visor---so, I just sat down , forgot about it--- and he held his hand up to block the sun for about 50 miles!!! We had extensive natural landscaping you could see forever down the road, just a beautiful sun rise, and cotton fields, while Jerry was fighting the West Texas gust of wind and blinding sun. Jerry and I now have a growing enthusiasm for RVing...we love eating sandwiches in the Picnic Area's---I now spot them with my binoculars!!! Seriously, life in the RV is fun and relaxing, if you don't have to drive!!! We arrived in Mansfield, TX to hook up and get the jeep ready to drive to another destination--- into Dallas to have dinner with Keely, Dylan and Jude. Even tho the visit was short, it was better than no hugs and kisses at all! Jerry has fallen asleep watching the Dallas Cowboys, and I am not far behind him! We depart for Lake Jackson in the morning---no early bird start for our final destination!!! Enjoy our perfect Texas Sunset --it was too beautiful not to share with you!

Kinda Boring day!

Well, Jerry got my butt out of bed about 8:00 and we piddled around until 9:00 and hauled out of Santa Fe. It was so cool and beautiful, sure hated to leave such a great setting!! As Jerry wheeled our RV onto Interstate 40 we sailed through New Mexico with the jillion 18 wheelers that zoomed by us at ungodly speeds!!! This has to be the 18 wheeler road for all 18 wheelers---about 350 passed us in about 6 hours!!! We arrived in Amarillo, TX feeling so good and so confident with our travel today---no mountains, no hair pin turns---just a jillion trucks zooming by at astronomical speeds!!! Jerry and I got out our Traeger Grill, slapped on our steaks, got out wine in our acrylic wine glasses...sitting in our lawn chairs with our little, old dashunds sitting by us. What a scene------until a million dollar RV drives up and parks right beside us----pulling 4 brand new 4-wheelers, that are totally loaded for hunting with gun racks, cargo boxes, windshields in tow---along with the fanciest Jeep Wrangler we have ever seen!!! We are going to bed early tonight because tomorrow is a LONG day for Jerry,lots of miles, he told me we will be pulling out of our little spot in Amarillo by 6:00 AM---enroute to southwest of Ft. Worth for our last night on the road. So, I will have another glass of wine, pray for my friends, family and Pat and Johnny (dear friends). and get ready to shut down for the night. I love you all and appreciate you following along on our wonder trip, you are always on on minds and in our hearts. I love you---

Change of Plans heading to Santa Fe

After an enjoyable breakfast this morning--Jerry and I decided to hit the
road and drive to Santa Fe, to help cut the length of the day drives for Jerry.
Oh my gosh, what a beautiful drive through the mountains, plateaus and various
terrain with ponderosa pines, aspen, cliffs, and mountain streams----
this natural majesty truly drove Jerry bonkers today!!! I don't think he
even noticed the breathtaking views of the La Plata Mountains, the hiking trails,
all the lush ranches, and flowing rivers! Don't ever listen to "the guy from OKLAHOMA!"
he told us this short cut and the roads are so good!!! Ha, he must have been drunk
and on drugs and had someone driving his RV for him! Poor Jerry was shifting gears all day,
climbing mountain after mountain, going down hair pin turns, breaking, and climbing...
he was so worn out when we arrived I gave him a couple of beers, fed him fajaitas and
I went to the gift shop, walking up hill all the way--by flashlight, to buy Dylan and Jude gifts!
Needless to say, we arrived safely after our 6 hour drive in horrible conditions! We are figuring
out so many things on our RV and the little jeep, makes us feel almost one step above amaturs!
Tomorrow we are not going to have a daylong adventure going down hiway 25---we plan on
getting up late and try to enjoy the plains and plateaus as we journey on flat land across New Mexico!

The Jeep earned a badge today!

Jerry and I took off in our little Jeep Wrangler to explore Lemon Lake and Vallecito Lake! What a beautiful drive up into the mountains and occasionally rain and even hail! We stopped at a unique place on Vallecito Lake that was a Costa Rica Restaurant in the mountains!!! The food was unreal, the view of the lake and mountains was awesome---but, what was so funny....they had decorated it all with none other than our guy---"Jimmy Buffet!!" We headed home to have our afternoon cocktail and then head out again with Guy and Girlfriend in the Jeep! We drove up to the infamous "Baker's Bridge" where Robert Redford and Paul Newman jumped into the river in the movie, "Butch Cassisdy and the SunDance Kid!" We are sitting outside wearing sweatshirts, drinking wine, watching the pink clouds float over the mountain. Of course, Jerry is smoking his cigar and I am thinking of you! Tomorrow is our last day in Durango, we are planning to hit the golf course, if the weather is good. This is the life, so cool--today it was 64' and I mean it is truly God's country!! We have our air conditioner running in the RV, because we are so use to it, however, the RV behind us is running their heater!!!! You would not believe how huge some of these RV's are in our park---ours has 3 slide outs, there is actually some here with 6 slideouts----so, we might be considered white trash with all these enormous RV's that have matching golf carts!!!!! No mishaps with the RV and we are doing just great, wish you were here with us!!!

4th Grade Reunion a Success

What a tremendous experience and terrific memories we made this weekend
reuniting as one class under the most astonishing teacher in history!  Everyone was a
little nervous driving up to the old Quonset Army building that was to hold our
19 classmates and spouses for the afternoon.  Everyone had a name tag with their
4th grade photo on it---that really helped in recognizing a couple of people that
had changed soooo very much!  However, the rest of us just have a 61 year old aged
look from our 4th grade photos, along with a few extra pounds and we were recognizable!
 Awards were given, hugs and jokes, laughs and tears were shared.  Mrs. Erikson, who is 95,
was our teacher for 5 years, sat in a gracious state of awe as we reintroduced ourselves
and retold stories about her!  Willie and I were nominated Class Favorites and we given
beautiful gifts and paper crowns, we were so honored!  Our  4Th grade class ran off
2 teachers before October and the third teacher lasted almost a week!!!! Then Mrs. Erikson
arrived as the boys were turning of desks and have put a birds next with real birds in her
desk!! She whipped us all into who we are today!!!  We shared stories, bragged about our
children, and reunited again in the evening for dinner and drinks to toast the 3 guys that
found us all from California, Tennessee, Texas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas,NV, CO, FL, and AZ
on the Internet! Of course, I still had my 5Th and 6Th grade Scrapbook that everyone
enjoyed reminiscing over.  This was an experience of a life time, so much better than
a High School reunion---it was so personable and so unique.  I am blessed to have
had this opportunity to be reunited with my friends and Mrs. Erikson .

First Day to Really Relax

Oh my gosh, we actually slept in and didn't have to hit the road at 6:30 AM!!! Following breakfast, I sat outside in my yard recliner and read my book, of course I had to sit with my jacket on! Guy and Girlfirend are loving it, there is an enormous Dog Run---so much to sniff just wears them out! We drove into Durango today for lunch and shopping. I took Jerry on a quick tour of Ft. Lewis College, found the golf course and found all my parents rentals they had. The sun was shinning and the weather was about 78'--totally awesome! Jerry grilled a steak for our dinner and we baked brownies on our Traeger grill!!! Tomorrow is my big 4th grade reunion---I am so excited and nervous about how old everyone will look!!!! Of course my 96 year old teacher will probably look better than all of us!! Have a great weekend everyone---I know we will.

We are in Durango, Colorado

Yeah, we arrived in Durango!!  Jerry is exhausted after driving our huge RV and towing our little jeep over 1,000 miles (I have read every magazine I brought---know the state of NM and CO maps by heart)!  Ya know---RV's are great for gals about my age----when ya gotta pee...you don't have to beg, hint or plead anyone to stop---you just walk like a drunk back to the restroom and take care of business---they don't even know you are gone!!!  We will be here until Sept. 1st --- I told Jerry I would drive for him the next 5 days in the jeep!! The day was beautiful driving through New Mexico and into Colorado.  We did stop in Albuquerque to do a little shopping at none other than "Camping World!" Then on the road to drive through the Indian Reservation.  Arriving at our wonderful 4 Star, (not a 5 Star---we don't get ESPN!!!) and sitting out in our yard , while wearing jackets, in our new lounge recliners and drinking a couple of beers with the cool breeze blowing was awesome!  We finally got up and drove into Durango and had a wonderful authentic Mexican Dinner and Wonderful Margaritas.  We are in our abode with Guy and Girlfriend, and ready for a good night sleep and hopefully, Jerry will let me sleep in tomorrow---I told him to get up and get his coffee, throw the dogs in bed with me and shut the door!!

Until tomorrow----goodnight! 

Totally a negative 9 on the RV park!

Arrived in Eastland, TX around 3:00PM---to face our nightmare--no star RV park!!!  Jerry walked around the park for 45 minutes trying to find an electrical outlet that was connected and didn't have bird nest with cherping baby birds in the  switch boxes!!!  After lots of sweating and patience we finally got our lovely RV connected and the air conditioner blowing a full speed!  We ate dinner with my mom and dub who had cake and ice cream for Jerry's birthday!  We were loaded down with pecans, garlic, pears and tomatoes before we returned to our RV.  Guy and Girlfriend greeted us with great affection!!!  Wednesday, we woke up to Jerry celebrating his 70th birthday!   We stopped twice today and literally froze to death in  Snyder and Lubbock.  Bless his heart he had to drive for 9 hours today in order to make our reservations in Santa Rosa, NM--the photo is taken outside Santa Rosa!!!  We parked, pushed out all the slides, turned on the air and had a couple glasses of wine in his honor!  He had several birthday wishes from friends and family that thrilled him and made his day.  I took Jerry out to dinner in the RV cafeteria and dined on paperplates---we didn't care, we were tired and hungry!  We plan on an early night and up again at 6:30 AM to drive through Albuquerque and up to Durango, Colorado. See ya in Colorado!

Our Itenary from Aug. 24th-Sept. 3rd, 2010

Hello everyone, 

It's RV Blogging time again!  Jerry and I leave Lake Jackson, TX on Tuesday, August 24th enroute to Eastland, TX.  That will be our first full day, and we will visit my mom and Dub for dinner.

Wednesday, August 25th we will be traveling through Texas into New Mexico and have reservations at Santa Rosa, NM.  On Thursday, August 26th we will drive into Durango, Colorado.  We will stay in Durango from the 26th-Sept 31st and begin our route home.  I will keep you updated as we travel through 3 states.  Along this wonderful trip we will get to visit my mom, Dub in Eastland----Haley and John will join us in Durango, along with Zac--who goes to Ft. Lewis College in Durango.  As you all know, we are making this awesome trip to Durango for my 4th grade REUNION!!!!  I am so excited, I wake up at night thinking about everyone!!!  Stay tuned... we will be keeping you updated!!!  Coni

Arrived in Lake Jackson, TX

After 17 wonderful days on the road in our RV, Jerry and I are still speaking and still love each other very much!  Our "Maiden Voyage" was a great learning experience for us and we are so grateful for friends who helped us out with electricity, tornadoes, great meals...family that let us help them out and have a great time esp. at the Rockies game and dining together.  We are blessed with so many loved ones and appreciate your comments, love, encouragement and prayers while we traveled 2,400 miles!  We are  looking forward to another  RV trip in June, one with friends in July and to my 4th Grade Reunion in Durango, Colorado in August!

Love to you all---have a great summer, Coni & Jerry

Mansfield, TX enroute to Lake Jackson, TX

Well...we left  cool Dumas this morning and Jerry said it was the best day ever for driving----NO WIND, AND NO HORRIBLE ROADS!!!! He even drove with one hand for about 29 seconds!! Our challenge for the day was in  Childress, TX at Wal-Mart!  Jerry pulled in the gas station, filled up and depended on me to direct him out of a very tight exit!  Needless to say, I directed him straight tooooooooooo far and he could not make the turn out!!!!!!  So, out of the Blue comes this really, really nice man---who lies on the grass and directs Jerry and makes him turn reallllllly hard and then tells him to cut his wheels and back up!!!  Jerry informs the man we can not back up with the tow trailer (with my car)---the man says, "oh, yes you can!"  So we back up!!!@$#! and then pull up and back up again!!#$@#% and as the man is lying on the grass directing Jerry ..... we make it out of the Wal-Mart gas station, whew!!!  Then off to 

Ft. Worth we go with our "B---- in the Box GPS" who directed us through Rush Hour Traffic directly to our "Texas RV" spot tonight!!  Yeah, we actually unloaded my little car and drove to "On The Border" for dinner and huge Margaritas!  We stopped to get Jerry a paper, I walked the dogs, Jerry is reading and watching the NBA playoffs as I am writing to you!!! Tonight is our last night on the road.  We are traveling back to Lake Jackson in the morning for a 5 hour trip home---the dogs are more anxious than we are!  It has been an awesome 17 days on our "Maiden Voyage!"  As Jerry said, we have learned alot, stressed alot, loved alot and had God watching over us the entire trip, we are blessed and it has been fun!!! Thanks for following our new adventures in our RV!!!! love you all---Coni & Jerry

Wednesday, June 2---LEAVING COOL COLORADO

Bye Haley, John, David, Darby....we are leaving our 5 Star RV park and driving to Dumas, TX today  our journey home begins!!

Tuesday, June 1 Lakewood, Colorado

What a great COOL day in Golden, CO---I began the day wearing a sweatshirt while taking Guy and Girlfriend on the "Doggy Path."  Then switched to shorts before heading over to Haley and John's!  Jerry and John completed the fence in the backyard, WoW what a great job they did!  Haley & I had other Honey-Do's and worked all day getting pictures hung, windows washed, yard mowed, groceries bought and dinner prepared for my brother & Sister-in-law, (David & Darby).  They drove from Ft. Collins to have dinner with us at the kid's new home.  We had fun catching up, laughing about old times, and  just being together.  We returned to our RV, and put on the sweatshirt again to walk the dogs,... we are preparing to depart cool Colorado in the morning.  After talking to our neighbor, Ronnie, we are hesistant to return to the heat, humidity and mosquitoes!  But, we are getting a little homesick!  Today was our 14th day to live in our RV, and we have loved every minute of it!

Monday, May 31, 2010  Lakewood, Colorado

Loving our 5 Star RV park!!  Headed to Haley and Johns for the day....Jerry is helping John build his fence in the backyard....Haley and I are hanging curtains and cooking Barrick Hamburgers for our Memorial Day.  Have a great Holiday everyone, it is sunny and beautiful  in Colorado!   I am drinking a Coors Lite for you guys!!

Saturday, May 30, 2010  

Brrrr...woke up to cold  a morning in Golden, CO!  Guy and Girlfriend made their "Dog Run" quick then ran back to the RV!  Jerry and I took a stroll around our 5 Star RV park, we were impressed by all the "Designer Coaches & enormous RV's"...... a stroll around this park is like going to an RV show at Reliant Center!  We went to John & Haley's and loved touring their new home and admiring all their work they have done. Then the 4 of us loaded up to head downtown for  the Colorado Rockies vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers game.  The stadium is awesome, and the day was perfect.  It was tough sitting on the second row from the field, a sold out game, and hottest day Denver has had since last summer! I was totally in awe as men started taking their shirts off during the game, women were rolling up their jeans and shorts, it was like a huge "sunbathing stadium!"  After the game we enjoyed grilling our Walleye Fish and "Ruder's Famous Potatoes" for dinner at Haley & Johns.

  

---Friday, May 28th Day 8

The day began in the "Sunflower RV" park in Hays, KS and Jerry left for a day of golf with the guys.  I toured Hays, did a little shopping---the wind never stops blowing in KS!  Dinner with the Champion family was great fun laughing and telling fish and golf stories.  Girlfriend is having "Anxiety Attacks"---she runs to my little red Equinox every chance she gets, evidently she thinks I will take her home if she stays in it!  Guy is doing great, he is just "Proud to Be Alive" and make the Maiden Voyage!!! (he is 12 yrs. old!!)

Saturday, May 29, 2010  Day 9

Jerry and I disconnected the hoses and cords, loaded up the little red Equinox and off to Golden, CO we BLEW!!! The wind jerked us from one side of the road to the other for 4 hours, as we crossed the Colorado line the wind subsided a little, whew!  Jerry was worn out holding us between the 2 white lines!  We arrived at our WONDERFUL Dakota Ridge RV resort!!  Heated pool, hot tub, private dog walks, paved driveway....really a 5 star hang out!!  Haley met us and we went into Golden for dinner and Coors Lite ...what a unique place, we really like Golden!  To bed early tonight!!!

Monday, May 24, 2010   DAY 6   DEPARTING WICHITA----WILSON LAKE, KANSAS

We arrived at Wilson Lake with 40 miles/hr. winds pushing and pulling us 145 miles from Wichita, KS.  Jerry said it was pretty tough keeping the RV within the white lines with the wind and other 18 wheelers passing us! I am afraid "Toto and Dorothy are lingering around!" Chuck Stahl had ribs on the grill when we arrived,  we enjoyed eating by the lake, even if the wind blew everything on the table!  Jerry and Chuck worked on minor repairs on the RV and grilled hot wings for dinner---totally delicious.  Needless to say, we haven't been hungry on this trip!!

We built a campfire with the help of Chuck's 9 yr. old son, Adam, and enjoyed marshmallows he cooked for us!

Tuesday, May 25th  DAY 7        WILSON LAKE, KANSAS

Jerry and Chuck got up early and headed out for a great fishing day in Chuck's boat. After getting in the middle of the lake, the motor started smoking--- burning up type of smoke, along with taking on water in the hull. Even with Chuck getting into the freezing lake to check the motor out (& Jerry laughing his head off at Chuck), they had to use the trolling motor to return to the boat dock.  Chuck took his boat into Hays, so, Jerry decided to fish from the bank.  Wouldn't you know today was the most beautiful day, no wind, calm lake, ...Jerry ran out of beer and no fish!  But, what a great day it has been, Tim Ruder came out to grill steaks and shrimp for us tonight.  Talk about a great meal---these Champion boys really know how to cook on their "Traeger Grill's"!! Nothing could beat the sunset, the full moon, sitting by the fire with Chuck's family and Tim....well, Several Tornadoes touching down all around us made it an eventful night!  Tim headed back to Hays, where the Tornado was destined to hit, along with 80 mile an hr winds, we stayed out by the campfire listening to the radio until 12:30 AM, then  "Dorothy and Toto" were circling our campground...the Tornado's took a turn for Wilson Lake...winds came up, lightening all around.  Chuck loaded his family in the car, we grabbed Guy and Girlfriend & headed for the Camp's Shower house!!!  Chuck led us into the Men's shower house, Stephanie (Chuck's wife) brought blankets and pillows... and made our nest in our "Stalls" ... we listened to the portable radio a young couple had (who joined us in the shower). 

As the storm lessened and the "OK " was given by the weather  channel. We all returned to our RV's about 1:30AM to change out of wet clothes and get to bed. "Sorry, Wicked Witch of the West, you can't take a "Champion" down!!!

Wed. May 26th   DAY 8      WILSON LAKE, KANSAS

Morning came awfully early today, Jerry headed out for another day of fishing, Tim Ruder  & Rod picked the guys  up out on the beach in front of the RV.  They fished off a barge, and the day is just perfect!  However, after Jerry left,I got up to shower and begin working on my Blog, but there is no electricity in our "TOY"...thank goodness, I had charged my computer, so I can get caught up on my just reading emails and items I have saved to read. 

Guy and Girlfriend love the RV life, they love the fact that everyone puts their trash out in bags behind their RV...they think everyone's garbage is their

next TREAT, they have gained weight, as well as Jerry and I!!!!

The Barge arrived about 6:00 this evening with the fishermen proud of their Walleye catch, needless to say, they stayed out until Jerry caught the big one! After the fishermen left for home, Jerry and I settled down to a campfire, and enjoyed the beautiful lake and solitude of our beautiful campsite.

May 27,2010  DAY 9                 HAYS, KANSAS

We packed up and left the beautiful lake and traveled to Hays, Kansas this morning.  We arrived within an hour, parked, hooked up all the goodies and I made a sandwich for us to enjoy.  I already have a load of wash on in my tiny washer/dryer, and the dishes are done!  We are going to the Hays Champion office so I can send out my email and my Blog!  Tim Ruder is hosting dinner tonight for several Champion managers, we are looking forward to being with everyone and eating Tim's great pork!

Sunday, May 23, 2010 

Life is Good!!!  You can't believe how wonderful our RV is!  We slept in today, (or rather, I did!), had a fried chicken lunch with Kent and Jeanine, took a long walk,worked on my scrap book for Jude, watched a movie, took a nap, now we are sipping wine and thinking of our family and friends.We leave Wichita tomorrow for Wilson Lake.  We will be there for 3 days, and may not have internet or phone connections---but, I will get caught up on Thursday when we arrive in Hays, Kansas.  We are anxious to fish for Walleye fish and be by the lake with our Champion friends.  The manager has fishing guides scheduled for us in a boat.

We enjoyed reading your notes on our Blog---love keeping in touch with you.

I must confess...yes, we do have "RV Work clothes"---for loading and getting it all together, before we pull out, I am so thankful for my tiny washer/dryer, I use it daily!!!

Have a great week---love ya, the Skids

Saturday, our 4th day living in our RV--Jerry got up early and left to play golf. Needless to say, the wind has been blowing 35-40 miles an hour, yes, he finished his golf game and actually played better than he has lately!

I got up and cleaned the  RV, and started my first wash in my tiny washing machine/dryer!!  When it finished, I plugged  Wal-Mart into my GPS and off I went, alone in Wichita, depending on the "Bitch in the Box" to deliver me to my destination and then return me to the RV park---which she did with only 4 or 5 "re-calculating attempts!!!

Guy and Girlfriend have adapted to their new home well, they love to go on their walks strutting their stuff---of course, I am picking up "their stuff" in my little plastic poop bags!!1

Tonight we are going to Kent and Janeane's home for dinner, Jerry will fight the Kansas Wind tomorrow on the golf course and we will head for the Lake on Monday.

Jerry is getting so good and more confident with his driving.  I am re-arranging all the items I packed a month ago, and will close to have an afternoon "5:00 Somewhere drink" with Jerry.

Cheers to you all, we are having a ball.  Skid

Maiden Voyage

Our first morning prior to departure was as the book said, "Perfect!" We traveled 300 miles in 6 hours without rain, hail, sleet or snow!!! Awesome, parked the "Toy" and left it alone in Grand Prairie for the night and headed for Keely's and our sweet grandchildren. All is well, we head out first thing tomorrow for Wichita, KS. Yeah!!! RV...HO!!!! Skid