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