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A Bumpy End to the Journey

3/20/2016

3 Comments

 
Friday we left Oklahoma after paying hefty tolls, stopped in Carthage, Missouri to look at a sweet new trailer, and continued north to Nevada. Not Nevada Nevada but Nevada, Missouri. We found a spot at Osage Prairie campground--pull through, level, and full hook ups. On a post supper walk, we stopped at the office and admired the leather work that the owner was doing. Showers and restrooms were probably the most unique on this trip, with three hooks in each shower--one made from a tree branch and two from horseshoes!

Saturday's beginning should have been a clue to the rest of the day. At 7:00 am the water was running freely but by 7:30 was froze up. Mostly in the hose we think. We packed up and started north. We stopped for lunch in northern Missouri at a diner we have eaten at before, but it was very slow and the fare was not impressive.

Into Iowa, we hit snow. Weird snow--a rash of driving pellets and then sun, more pellets, more sun. A lot of time spent putting on and taking off sunglasses. At the last gas stop, Butch's debit card expired. (The new one was in the mail at home.) Right outside of town, the check engine light came on in the truck. But we got the camper parked and partially unloaded, laundry to the ceiling. In the mail, along with the new debit card, was a letter from the IRS. They won't send our refund until we send copies of 1099s--ones that were supposed to be submitted by the agencies involved. We have 20 days from the date of the letter (March 3) or they will come for our firstborn child--sorry, Andy. A couple of important calls on the voice mail that should have shown up in our email but didn't. Then about an hour after we were home, the power went off--very briefly--but the furnace didn't restart which we noticed after it started to get very chilly in the house. Butch managed to get it going again and I managed to stop beating my head against the wall long enough to fall asleep in my chair. At least we didn't have to go back out and sleep in the camper.

So now that we've paid the piper, it's time to regroup. This was our longest trip yet (4400 miles) and 14 campgrounds in 30 days--probably too many for the length of time. We enjoyed our stays at Poverty Point State Park in Louisiana, Tyler State Park in Texas, Midway COE campground in Waco, and the campgrounds at Ft Stockton, Texas, Santa Fe, and Nevada, Missouri. The rest were places to plug in the trailer and sleep. We loved watching grandson Jack play soccer and visiting Vicksburg, Poverty Point, two presidential libraries and numerous great museums. We connected with family and old friends and met several new ones.

Today we finish unloading the camper,  start the laundry, hit the grocery store, and catch up the financials. I have to get back on my exercise regimen--eating on the road is not conducive to weight control. Tomorrow, first thing, call the IRS, return the other calls, and get the truck to the dealer. The camper needs a lot of TLC, inside and out. There's still Christmas decorations up on the front porch. I need a haircut. Oh, and we have to plan our next camping trip.

3 Comments
Vince Ottaway
3/20/2016 07:14:03 am

Glad you guys make home safe. Getting ready to wind things down and get ready to head north. March madness down here on South Padre was very very interesting.

Reply
Ginge
3/20/2016 07:50:43 am

The worst part of traveling is greeting all business back at home. But think how you enjoyed being disconnected from all that same business.

Reply
Andy Chris
3/20/2016 11:15:02 am

HO. HO. H.O. Also I have survived the return home, clearing Christmas, beginning spring, finiishing taxes, next Ortho appt March 25th will give me full weight bearing for R leg and an end to hobbling on walker (Ruining kitchen floor) Like your trip, there have been delightful highlights, wonderful supporting players, and the feeling of a journey well worth the effort. Soon that Buckeye bush will be in
flower again and I am jealous again!

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