Last day of parking & opening ceremony.

Another beautiful sunny day for our last day of parking.  Everyone gathered around for a group picture before the RVs started rolling in.

Back row: Mike, Jerry, Bob, Barb B., Joe, Debby, Earl, Lynn, Chuck, Roger, Leland and Erwin
Front row: Nick, Linda Kathy, Dianne, Ralph, Linda L., Ty, Barb M., Dylan,  Me and John

Dylan waiting to help me load some water in the cooler.   Thanks Dylan.  I appreciated your help.
It was a long day with RVs coming in a few at a time but everyone got parked and at 2:00 p.m. the parking team’s job was complete.  A huge thank you goes out to all the members of the team.  They are an awesome bunch to work with.
With the parking complete it was time to rush over to the  opening ceremony at 3:00 p.m. followed by an ice cream social.  The next scheduled event was the entertainment at 7:00 p.m. Tonight’s performers were Ron and Kay Rivoli.  They combined music and comedy and were very entertaining.
We are all very tired so it will probably be an early night tonight.
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Busy days at Escapades.

FRIDAY:
Today was the first official day of parking.  Yesterday the parking team was busy parking staff members and early arrivals.  Tonight all staff members attended the Staff Appreciation Dinner.   We had potatoes, salad, mixed vegetables, chicken and prime rib. Everything was delicious. 

After dinner a few of us “short people” got our picture made with Kay Peterson.  Kay and her late husband Joe founded Escapees Travel Club back in 1978 so it is a treat when we get to visit with her.

Some of us “short people”.

Me and Mrs. Kay.
SATURDAY:
Today our friend and fellow Escapee member Dortha is celebrating a birthday.  Happy Birthday Dortha.  We hope you have a wonderful day.
The parking team was up early and out guiding the RVs in and parking them.  This morning coffee and donuts were delivered to the team before we all headed out to work.  Our thanks to the Coffee Chairs for this treat.
We have been blessed with beautiful weather for parking.  It gets a little hot in the afternoons but it has remained sunny.  The team was at their posts at 8:00 a.m. and continued getting the RVs routed and parked until the last one of the day arrived around 2:30 p.m. 

This is Ty, one of Roger and Barb Maxey’s grandsons who has been helping me with distributing water and helping out with multiple chores.  He has been a big help to me.  Thank you Ty so much for your help.

Barb B. standing at her post.

Barb B. in action.

Nick checking an E-Ticket.

Linda checking an E-Ticket.









Debby at her post waiting to direct the RVs.

John at work.

Chuck at his post in Marketing.

Leland at his post at the Boxelder Campground gate.

Leland in action…waiving the RVs into the campground.

Cathy at her post ready to direct the RVs.

Mike and Ralph at their post waiting for RVs to direct.

Joe, Bob and Jerry waiting to park an RV.

Bob showing us his sense of humor.  He is too funny.

Earl and Jerry waiting to park the last RV of the day.
For lunch today the Parking Team had a sack lunch delivered to them.  A huge thank you to Bob, Molly, Wallace, Wanda, Dortha and anyone else responsible for this.  It was greatly appreciated.
Tomorrow will be the last day of parking.  We will have a very busy day but the team is ready to get it done.   The Parking Team works hard but we also have a great time doing it.  They are such an awesome group to work with.
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Having fun in Gillette.

We have been very busy with parking preparations at the rally.  Even though we have had a lot of work to do we still find time to have fun with friends.

Barb and Roger’s grandson’s Dylan and Ty have been helping us out.

Dylan and Barb.

Ty and me.

Barb and Roger.

John and Kathy sharing a laugh.

Fred enjoying visiting with everyone.

Chuck and John having a conversation.

Chuck and Kathy are parked next to us.

Today the rest of the Escapees staff arrived which means the parking team was very busy.  Tomorrow we will be parking the early arrivals and marketing people.  It will be a very busy day.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

We have arrived in Gillette.

Our trip to Gillette was uneventful and we were all setup before 2:00 p.m.  Upon arrival we saw lots of fellow Escapee members cleaning up from the storm that passed through yesterday.  Some of them had damage on their awnings, sky lights and air conditioning covers due to the hail.
We were pleasantly surprised this afternoon by a visit from Chuck and Kathy.  They are staying in an another campground and will be attending the Escapees Rally next week.  It was so good to see them again.  We look forward to seeing them next week also.
Later on John and I rode our bicycles over to the other campground to visit with Howard and Linda.  They have just finished up with the Family Motor Coach Rally and will be leaving tomorrow.  When we arrived at their RV John noticed the placard in the window indicated a departure date of  6/24/14.  He thought it was funny and asked Linda if she was going to stay for a year.  She looked at it and laughed.  She is so ready to get down the road for new scenery.  
I can’t believe I forgot my camera. I don’t have pictures of Chuck and Kathy or Howard and Linda.  We were so busy visiting and catching up on our travel stories that I totally forgot to get pictures.
Tonight Bob and Molly and the gang invited us to dinner at their place.  We had hot dogs, brats, burgers with all the fixings, beans, pasta salad, deviled eggs and for dessert homemade ice cream with rhubarb pie.  Everything was delicious.  A huge thank you for dinner goes out to them.  This time I brought my camera.

Bob fixing his plate.

Dennis and Bob.

Joe, Dortha, Wanda, Wallace, Carol and Molly.

Carol, Molly, Jan and Bob.
As everyone started to turn in for the night a fire truck came riding through and stopped for a minute.  John and Mark went out to talk to them.


John and Mark standing on the fire truck talking to the guys. I am sure they felt right at home on that truck.  I couldn’t resist taking a picture of that.
Laugh everyday.  Happy Trails.  Stay safe.

Water pump and thermostat.

John got up early this morning to go to Napa to pick up the water pump and thermostat for the Suzuki.  He finished installing them and we were on our way to Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area…..only eight miles up the road.

John busy at work.

Our site at Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area.

The sites are nice and large.  We have electric only but we should be fine here for two nights before heading to Gillette.   After dinner we walked around the campground and took a few pictures.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Aunt Martha

Most of our friends and followers know that my mom and dad fulltime RV'ed for more than 10 years beginning in the early 1990's. Shortly after they started my mom's twin sister's husband passed away. Aunt Martha joined my mom and dad during their travels across the USA. Sometimes (mostly in the mountains) she would do the driving. They traveled until their health caused the RVing to stop. My dad passed away in 2006 and Mom and Aunt Martha have lived together ever since. This afternoon my brother called with the heartbreaking news that  Aunt Martha had passed away this morning.  She was a very special lady who will forever be in our hearts.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Aunt Martha

Aunt Martha and Mom Hatch.


Tomorrow will be moving day for us.  We will be traveling a whole ten miles and stay 2 nights at a small park before heading on to Gillette.
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Happy Birthday Dad and Mary Beth.

SUNDAY:

Happy Birthday to my dad.  He is 82 years young today.

Happy Birthday and Happy Father’s Day to the best Daddy a girl could have.  Love you.

Also Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. 

Remembering Dad Hatch on Father’s Day.  We love and miss him everyday.

Our niece Mary Beth is celebrating a birthday today also.  Happy Birthday MB.  Hope you  have a wonderful day.

Mary Beth

MONDAY:

John pulled the alternator pulley off the Suzuki this morning.  Other than that not much going on today.  LOL

TUESDAY:

We are waiting on all the parts for the Suzuki to come in.  John went to Napa Auto Parts and picked up the parts he ordered on Saturday.  All that is left are the ones he ordered online.  They are supposed be here by Friday. 

We had a four legged visitor this morning.  A little deer wandered up to chew some leaves off the tree at the front our site.

We got a little rain this afternoon.  It is the first rain we have encountered that has lasted  more than five minutes since we left Arizona.  After the rain moved through the temperature dropped into the mid 60s.  Very nice.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.