NOW FOR MORE OF THE STORY

  Last time left off with the start of 2021. We started the year with renting a spot for a month in Lazy Palm RV Ranch in Edinburg, Texas.  We were getting to know the park and people. Enjoying ourselves. Making visits to different places in the Rio Grande Valley.

Then the morning of the 12th of January I receive a call from Ronda's sister-in-law while I was out for my morning walk. To tell me that Ronda's mother had passed away in the night. After going back to the rig and telling Her. We started preparing to head to Kansas. So, Ronda could get there as fast as She could we call our son Mike in Temple, Tx. to start our way, as we started that way to meet us and take her and go on to Wichita.  They were there the next morning. 

I came along in the motorhome the next day.  They had services planned for the 19th in Arkansas City, Ks. As we stayed a few days help with stuff. It was January 23rd and were at my sister's house for lunch with both my sister's.  Which turned out to be our 50th anniversary party.

This was the start of a very difficult time, but also very joyous time. Starting with the celebration of life for Gladys, Ronda's mother.  Then we had our 50th wedding anniversary, which we had celebrated with the trip we took the fall before.

At this time, we returned to the Ranch in New Mexico for a month and then to Temple, Texas. Helping our son Mike with setting up his new warehouse. Now it's the middle of March and time to head back to Wichita for transplant check-up.  Was good check-up.

During this time Ronda's Dad had been shutting down and now on Hospice and passed away April 2nd and had Norman's celebration of life on the 6th of April.

After time with family, we headed back to Texas to help Mike with new business warehouse. Then to Hondo, Texas to the Lone Star Corral Co-op Park to visit and see new Doctor there. As we were on the list at that time to get a lot there. 

After we headed back to help Mike with some more, this time with sales. We got a month in the Hwy 281 rv park, in Bulverde, Texas to work out of. 

Back in January my mom's cancer had come back, this time stomach. And had moved to my sisters in Wichita. My sisters called 7 days into the month of our stay to tell me they had started Mom on Hospice. So again, we headed to Wichita. was there in time to see her and visit some. Mom passed away May 24th.  We had her celebration of life service on the 27th.

As these were a difficult few months, yet also it was good time in many ways. As always this brings family and friends together that you haven't seen for a while. 

One thing that happened was that myself and all my siblings were together at once. Over the years 2 or 3 and once 4 were together. But it had been when our father passed over 20 yrs ago that all 5 of us were together a once.

Not the best-looking bunch but it's my bunch.

After spending a few days in the area seeing family and grandkids. It was time to get started back to our spot in New Mexico. But first we have another family get together. My youngest brother, youngest son's wedding. This was a good time.   Which brought 4 of us together again.

Pat and son Justin

Connie

Dan and Wife Valerie 

Patrick and Mackenzie Dutton

Now on to the Ranch. It's now the 15th of June. Not the best time to be at the Ranch, but we had acquired some items that were too much to carry all the time and needed to be stored there.

We were having problems with our motorhome roof. I needed to repair. My sweetheart that worries about me. [ something about being old] Didn't think I should be doing that and told me to find a different rig with a good roof.  Won't go through the process of finding the new rig. But when Ronda saw the big windows and opposing slides, she said that's it. 

So, we unloaded the motorhome to our shed and headed to Mesa Az. to pick up new to us Rig. 

These were taken at Tailwaters Campground by Yankton, SD.

After picking up rig went back to ranch to make it ours. 

After cleaning, remodeling and maintenance on rig. It was time to get on the road again. We decided to head up through Kansas and Nebraska to Yankton, South Dakota to start a trip up the Missouri River to the head waters in Montana.

It's now July 5th, 2021, as we leave the Ranch.

As we head out, we spend our first night in Hereford, Tx at their city park which we've stayed before. Then the next night in Ulysses, KS. At their city park. Then 2 more nights in Cambridge, Nebraska and Stromsburg, Nebraska.

The next day we arrived at Nebraska Tailwaters Campground of Lewis and Clark Lake by Yankton, South Dakota for our first week on our adventure on the Missouri River.

We spent the week checking out the area and finding stuff to change our new rig to make it more ours. 

We then moved on up to river to Left Tailrace Campground, Lake Francis Case. Fort Thompson, SD.

One of the things to see in this area is the Chamberlain, SD rest area on I 90.

 Dignity of Earth & Sky

Views of the Missouri River 

We move on up the river to Beaver Creek Recreation area, by Linton, SD.

It was hazy because of fires out west.

We left the river here and headed to Billings, Montana area. On the way we stopped in Glendive Montana to have Motorhome serviced. While there we visited a very interesting Dinosaur Museum. Hiked the Makoshika State Park.

Makoshika State Park

  

\As we headed on toward Billings we stop at Range Riders Museum in Miles City, Montana.

Picture for my gun collector

Brother in-law 

For my nephew the Ferrier 

We arrived in Harding Montana just outside of Billings at the Grandview Campground for a week.

While here we visit a few close by places. The Pictograph Cave State Park.

At the Yellowstone County Museum.

We took a day and drove over Beartooth Pass to Cook Montana and spent the night in Soda Butte Lodge.

On top the pass

We did the driving tour of the Little Big Horn Battlefield just south of Harding. 

After leaving Harding we headed north to the Missouri River Headwaters. 

Staying at the American Prairie Reserve Antelope Campground. 

This was beautiful spot and amazing hiking. 

Leaving the prairie, we went over to Fort Pike Lake on the Missouri River. After a few days checking out this area we decided to start back toward the Ranch. 

We stopped in Gillette, Wy. at Green Trees Crazy Woman Campground, a couple nights.

Visited Devil's Tower.

As we headed on south, we stopped in Cheyenne at Terry's Bison Ranch RV Park. Then on to Poncho Springs, Co. 

Boondocking spot forest road 200 south of Poncho Springs.

We arrived back at the Ranch 9/2/2021

We spent the month of September working on rig changing things to fit us better and some repairs. Then it was time to get ready to go back to Kansas for checkup. Taking a roundabout way, we went to Temple Texas to see our grandson Keegan play tennis and attend 

 a convention for our son Mike's business in Auston, Texas. 

Leaving there we went to Freedom, OK. to meet my siblings to place our mother's ashes beside our father.  In Haskell Cemetery.

 

Then on to Kansas to see family and Dr. Checkup was good.

We headed back to Texas. Stopping in Temple again to watch Keegan play ROTC flag football. 

It's now November 1st and we have arrived at the Alamo Area SKP Co-op. Where we were on the list to get a lot. We were number 9 on the list and thought we might get one. We did get awarded # 48. We moved to our new lot and started planning how we would like to have a shed for it. But another lot became available that was more to our liking. So, we traded to lot #56.

Lot 56 when we got it.

Lot 56 after making it ours. 

We end 2021 here at the Lonestar Corral in Hondo, Texas.

As always thank you for reading and hope you're enjoying the tale.

The next tale will be the adventures of 2022

One thing to come.

 

  

  

 

WINDING UP 2024 SUMMER TRAVELS

             Left off last post with us leaving Utah. We went to Mancos, Colorado. Staying at Redwood RV Resort. Lots of times I'm still trying to figure out the resort part of these parks. This one was rough parking. Was on concrete but had to put 6 inches of blocking under rear wheels.

The town of Mancos is a neat mountain town. We visited the First Baptist Church and checked out the rest of town. Had lunch at a unique cafe/ bakery the Moondog. 

 

MOONDOG

It was a great location for our main reason for being in the area. Just a hour to see Ronda's Uncle and Aunt in Farmington, NM. 

                                                             

Emanuel, Lois and Ronda

After our visit with them, the next day was time to venture   on. Next stop Abiquiu Lake in New Mexico. Which we've been before. The lake was down from last year.

Abiquiu lake from Riana Campground.

While here made a trip to Santa Fe. having lunch at Tomasita's and then walking and shopping as required in a tourist town. took in the art on Canyon Road.

As you enter the restaurant.

In the art world a giant Road Runner is 😎 

After our time at the lake, we moved on to Questa, New Mexico. Next day made trip to Taos to do labs for upcoming Dr. visitors. Had Brunch at our Taos restaurant Michael's Kitchen.

 

The next day we drove the enchanted circle stopping in Eagles Nest and Red River. As required, we walked and shopped the tourist town of Red River.

The beautiful sites found in Red River.

Right on Main Street 

Our son Mike is always texting where do you find yourself today. So, while walking and shopping sent him this picture.

Next as we moved on we decided to go back to Colorado by Fairplay. to visit our friends Mike and Janice at the place they have there. Which set at over 9000 feet. best way to talk about it is Pictures.

Not sure what these two were looking at or for. I was getting the shot of the Aspen reflection in window.

When we arrived all the mountain tops were clear. After a snowy night we had snow cap Mountains.

 

All of these views right from our camp site.

One day Mike took us on a drive to Breckenridge and scenic drive over Boreas Pass. The fall colors were beautiful.

Another day we went to Leadville. And we walked and shopped as required in a tourist town.

Mike and I taking a break from walking and shopping as we were taking shots of each other.

As said before If you see these 4 together you know fun is being had. 

Shoots of snow caps from main Leadville

Then on way back took side drive up tp Cottonwood Pass.

The views from Cottonwood Pass

It was cold

As most know Mike and Janice are hikers, I mean HIKERS. Janice said she has a flat hike for us to go on. Just saying our view of what flat is, not the same. We made it just fine. Also learned when Janice hikes, she takes pictures, lots of them.

Trying to explain what flat is to Janice

 

This was another great time with good friends.

Our last night there we went to Buena Vista to watch Mike play at a open mic night.

It was time now to get back to Wichita for semiannual transplant checkup. So headed back. 

Checkup was good, back in 6 mouths. Was able to see family. then on to Searcy, Arkansas for repairs on Motorhome. This was a 12-day job. So, we left it and went to our timeshare resort at Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. We spent our time take walks and short hikes in this area of Arkansas.

The Botanical in Fairfield Bay.

Greers Ferry Lake Dam.

Repairs were completed and it was time to start back to Texas. It's now the last of October. So we headed to Livingston, Texas to our domicile to do early voting and pick up our mail in person at our post office. 

Then on to see our son and family in Temple, Texas for a couple days. Then home to our spot in Hondo, Texas. Arriving October 27th to end our summer '24 adventures, we left Hondo the 22nd of April to head towards our summer adventures. 188 days.

We've had several adventures since being back but those are for another post. 

As always thank you for reading. And hope you're enjoying the tale.

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