Bound for New Mexico

Wednesday, October 5th:  Well, it started out as a normal trip for us. We had a late start, but had barely made it around the block before we had to go back to the house because I forgot something. We were all the way to Holland when we remembered that we forgot to go to the bank.  After finding a bank, we were on the road for good.  This time we made it all the way to the southern end of Illinois before we stopped for the night.

Thursday, October 6th:  We were up and on our way about 8 a.m.  No problems/no worries... that is until we stopped for the night in Oklahoma. Not a great RV park but you get what you pay for and we only spent $25. I  think we overpaid. As we set up I did a walk around the motor home and thought that the right rear tire looked soft. I was partly right.  The inside rear tire was soft. Well no big deal because we have GOOD SAM ROAD SERVICE.  I figured we'd watch the Tigers beat the Yankees and call Good Sam in the morning.

Friday, October 7th:  Called Good Sam's and talked to Freddy and explained that I needed someone to come out and take a look at the tire and repair it if needed. Well now it gets interesting, so pay attention.  Freddy said they could send someone out to (1) replace it with my spare, not an option due to the fact most motor homes have no spare. I do have a lug wrench but no jack and no spare. (2) They could sell me a tire over the phone and have someone come out and put it on, (I still haven't figured that one out), or (3) have someone come out and put air in it and I could take it somewhere to have it fixed. What the heck, why do I pay these people all that money for "stupid" answers. Well after this I just told him to send some one out to put air in it and thanks to Jeff (the service man that came out) he did put air in it after he found the leak.

I-40 RV Park Shamrock, TX.

Just before the storm in TX

All right... we are off... right into the wind. Now don't get me wrong, I can handle a little wind but this was not a little wind... this was a BIG WIND!  It was so strong that when we stopped and took the dogs out on their  long leashes it looked like we had dog kites. No, really, people kept coming up to find out where we bought them so they could get one, too. Well, after the morning start with the Bad Sam Road Service ( I am not done with them yet) and fighting the crosswinds all day, we made it to Shamrock, Texas. A nice park, the bathrooms and showers are clean.  It's still windy, but the sunset was nice. 

Saturday, October 8th:  We woke up to not just the wind but now we also have rain, thunder and lighnting.  We drove out of everything but the wind in about an hour but the wind was even stronger then the day before. The poor motor home stayed in 5th gear most of the time.  The only time it ever went into 6th was when a truck passed us and blocked the wind for a moment or two.  We finally made it to Albuquerque, N.M. and found a spot for the night. The first place we stopped at wanted $75 for one night, after I pulled myself up off the floor and asked her  "how much?" and she repeated $75 ( I thought that was what she said ), I told her I would stay at a Wal-Mart before I paid that much for a site. We did stay at a quaint little park (notice the quaint). They did have an outdoor sales area and we are trying to decide if we want to downsize a little.  See picture below.

Well that's all for this entry. I know that we don't have a lot of pictures, but we were traveling 8 and 9 hours a day and not stopping for pictures. I promise the next installment will have some great shots. I myself am amazed at what a good photographer I have become with a point and shoot camera. Until next time, keep shopping at Meijers and moving those trains. I need the retirement money every month.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Not sure about all of that chrome!!

Young State Park Part 2

Craft time with Grandma.

 Well here is part two as promised. We were able to get some of the kids to come visit even though it is a hike from home to get here. Brianna stopped by with a friend on the way home from Petoskey for a couple of hours. Wendy, Graysen and Heidi were able to stop up and spend a night with us. We went out on Lake Charlevoix with Jim and Terri.  The kids and Wendy went tubing and swimming.

Can you believe it is noon and they are still sleeping.

Krista, John, Chloe and Mikayla came up the next weekend and spent some time with us as well. We all went out with Jim and Terri on the boat again but it was too cold to go swimming.  We did take Mikayla out fishing and I do believe she caught more fish then I did. We let John be host for a day, but we had to take his vest away due to the fact that he was trying to throw everyone out of the park.

Super host.

John and Krista, after we took away John's vest.

Chloe's favorite Grandpa.

Heidi and Graysen, happy to be here!!!!

Chloe and Mikayla with their favorite Grandma.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Can you believe Jim let these three drive his boat?  What a brave man. Oh wait... is that a beer in his hand?  Now we understand!    

Holly and Terri  really enjoyed their time together. They had so much fun catching up and and picking on Jim and I.  We also had a chance to visit with our friend Mary who worked on Mackinac Island this summer.  Such a good time talking about those "remember when" moments.  

This was a great place for us to be first-time hosts. We had the chance to meet some nice people, the park staff was great, and we were able to visit with family and catch up with good friends. We want to thank Jim and Terri for entertaining us and our family, and for the great meals that Terri made.

Well this gets us caught up to the present. Even though we enjoyed our time at Young State Park, the trees are telling us it's time to get out of here and get on the road. We'll be home for a few days to take care of some business, repack the motor home for a different climate (we hope) and our next stop will be Elephant Butte, New Mexico. It just don't get no better then this.

Young State Park - Sept.1 thru 30, 2011

Looking good.

There is nothing better than a tropical paradise.

                                                                  

 

 We have finally made it to Young State Park in Boyne City. The first weekend here was Labor Day and the park was full.  That meant we had to have a craft day with the kids. This was what we worried about...it turns out the two crafts, which were a spider web complete w/spider and a skeleton made from Q-tips were a big hit!  We had about 6 or 8 kids show up which was a relief that there weren't more, and they had a good time.        

    

Big scary spider.

Q-tip skeletons are cute but not scary

                                                

  

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                                                                                                                                                                                                             Since then it has been really quiet. About 10 campers on and off during the week, and about 20 or so on week ends. We've had mostly adults so there have been no more craft hours (thank goodness), just coffee hours on Saturdays (that I can handle). 

Our friends Jim and Terri live right next to the park so it's nice to be able to visit with them when we have some free time (like when the Tigers are playing). Petoskey is about 25 minutes away so we can run in there to shop or go to the casino for lunch. So far we have held our own at the casino. We've taken a boat trip into Charlevoix with Jim and Terri and their friends Jim and Linda; our good friend Mary, who is working on Mackinac Island, has come down a couple of times; we've explored all around the area, visited with campers and have just had a great time.  Be sure and check back for part 2 of our stay here.

I thought someone said we were going someplace warm?

Hi Mr. chipmunk. Is that a wide screen??

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse August 1-14, 2011

Looking at the lighthouse from Lake Huron.

The keepers of the light. Holly is the good looking one.

The 3rd order Fresnel lens. Made by hand and beautiful.

The kitchen as it may of looked in the early 1900's.

The dining room.

Our home for the two week stay at the lighthouse.

After a week at home after Ludington, we moved on to our next assignment. The first two weeks in August were spent at Forty Mile Point Lighthouse. This is located just north of Rogers City on Lake Huron and was built in 1896 and put in service in 1897. This is a beautifully restored lighthouse. It is a duplex with the head keeper living on one side and and his assistant on the other with the light tower in between. The tower houses a 3rd Order Fresnel lens (pronounced frenell). This lens was built in 1872 in Paris. We were given a full hook up site for the coach just down the lane from the lighthouse. As in Ludington, we had a chance to meet and make new friends and talk to people from all over the U.S. and the world. I even had them thinking I really knew something about lighthouses, and that was just the people we were working with! The walk to the lighthouse was shorter and it did have one less step to get to the top then at Ludington, which made the daily commute a little nicer. Enjoy the pictures and if you are ever by Rogers City, go north a little more and see the lighthouse. We can guarantee you will not be disappointed. Next stop, Young State Park in Boyne City, Michigan.

Ludington Lighthouse July18-24, 2011

Ludington North Break Water Lighthouse built in 1926

Always on the look out for pirates and sea monsters.

The LNBW crew--Holly, Marv, Cynthia, Tracy and Sandy

T

This was our home for the week we were keepers, it is located in Ludington State Park.

Our adventure began July 18 as we took on the position of lighthouse keepers at the Ludington North Break Water Light also known as the LNBW. Right after meeting our other three house mates we knew right off we were in for a great week. Four bright and intelligent women and then there was me. We had a great time, made some new friends and met people from all over the world. Italy, Nepal ( how they ended up in Ludington is still a mystery), Scotland even all the way from Holland. That's Holland , MI.  We recommend that anyone that loves lighthouse do this at least once, you won't regret it. Plus the half mile walk out and back and climbing 54 steps up and 54 down several times a day is great exercise, at least that is what they kept telling me. Next stop on this great adventure will be Forty Mile Point Lighthouse. If we had known retirement was this much fun we would have retired before we got jobs.

This is about the travels of Marv and Holly since our retirement in June of 2011. We are living in our 40' motor home and traveling where ever the winds take us. We have worked as volunteer lighthouse keepers at two different lighthouses. One in Ludington, MI. and one in Rogers City, MI. We are currently camp ground host at Young State Park in Boyne City, MI, In October we will be heading to Elephant Butte State Park in New Mexico for the winter. Be sure and check on us to see how our adventures are going.