Remembering 9/11

We were up early this morning to begin our work day on the parking team at Escapades.  I turned on the television to watch a few minutes of news before heading out and saw part of the memorial service for those who perished on 9/11.  I can’t believe it has been 11 years since that horrific day.   A friend of mine posted the following on facebook this morning, just thought I would share it.

Our friend Betty is celebrating a birthday today.  Happy Birthday Betty.  We hope you had a wonderful day.

Betty

Today was a work day for us.  We worked with Roger, Barb and Bob Chuck on devising a plan to expedite the parking for the rally.  We were busy all day but got lots accomplished.

Tonight Keith and Donna hosted the happy hour at their site.  There were lots of food and plenty to drink.  The crowd gets larger as more staff arrives.  It is good to see fellow Escapee members that we have not seen since the last rally.

Now this is a drink machine.  Wow, I have never seen one of these.

Tonight’s sunset.

Tomorrow will be another work day. 

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Chicken Gumbo.

Up early today.  We met with other Escapees staff members to help move supplies so that the office for the rally could be set up. 

This morning’s sunset.

Tonight the gang gathered for chicken gumbo prepared by Barb and Roger.  We also had salad, cornbread and an assorted desserts.  Everything was delicious.

Alligator man was there to greet everyone.

Another early day tomorrow.  We will be meeting about our parking strategy.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Clam Bake.

Still having sunny skies with cooler temperatures.  Hope it  continues this way until we get finished with the parking for the Escapees Rally. 

John made a run to the dumpster to dispose of the old dishwasher then we went back to Wal-Mart for a few more groceries.  After returning home he helped me get stuff ready to make an apple cake to take for dessert tonight.  While it was cooking we played a round of Ladder golf with Barb and Bob. 

Tonight the Escapees Gang met for a Clam Bake dinner.  The food was so delicious, as usual.  We had a great time visiting with everyone.

Look at that mountain of food. Yum Yum.

My plate.

Donna, Barb W. and Bob.

Wanda and Molly.

John finishing off the baked beans.

Bea and Wanda.

Mark.

Donna, Keith, Bob, Roger and Barb M.

Lisa, Mark, Bennit, Bob, Donna and Keith.

Fred and Mark.

Wallace and Molly.

Fred, John, me, Bob and Barb W.

After dinner a group of us went on a much needed walk.   A later while later Barb and Bob came over and we all played a round of 10 Penny.  Barb was the winner.  Way to go Barb. Yeah!

Tomorrow will be a work day for us.  We all meet up at 8:-00 in the morning.  Got to set the old clock tonight. LOL

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Fish Fry with the Escapades Gang.

Cool temperatures and sunny weather today.  Yeah!   John took advantage of the nice weather and washed the RV.   After lunch we rode to Wal-Mart with Roger and Barb to pick up a few things we forgot yesterday.
Later in the afternoon a few of us gathered over at Barb and Bob’s for some Ladder Golf.  We had fun but I am really out of practice.  LOL

John and Bob

Donna and Barb
Tonight all of us gathered for a fish fry.  The food was delicious.  We enjoyed eating outside even though the flies were out.  The area we are parked in is right across the street from the buildings that housed the livestock from the Missouri State Fair which ended recently.  You know that means there are lots of flies.




John and Bob

Wanda and John killing flies with battery operated fly swatters.  Yes they were battery operated.  They make a zapping noise when you catch the fly in the net.  A very fun past time. LOL
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Set up in Sedalia.

Up early this morning and out of Clarksville by 7:00 a.m.  We wanted to get an early start because it was supposed to rain in Clarksville so we were playing “beat the rain”. LOL

 

Sunrise in Clarksville as we were leaving this morning.

Our trip was uneventful and we arrived in Sedalia around 10:30 a.m.   After getting everything set up John and Bob W.  went to pick up our new dishwasher.   The old one bit the dust a week or so ago and John ordered one online to replace it.  The new one is installed and works great.

Our site.

As the afternoon progressed several RV friends came over to say hello.  Some of them we haven’t seen since last year.   As usual the laughter began. 

Later on Barb W., Barb M. and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few groceries.  While we were in the store it started to rain so we got  little wet loading groceries in the car.  The rain and winds moved through and brought some cooler temperatures. 

I managed to get a cool picture of the sun setting tonight.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Golf Balls.

We woke up this morning to thunder, lightening and rain.  Fred was not a happy camper.  The thunder really freaks him out.  Thankfully, it did  not last long and Fred went back to sleep.

This is Fred after John woke him up.  He looks like he is thinking, “What the heck do you want?”
By mid morning the rain had stopped and the heat moved in.  I think it reached the upper 90s today.   There is a driving range here at the park so after lunch John went to hit a few balls then played putt putt.  He wasn’t gone long.  It was just too hot.
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Mississippi River Lock No. 24.

Hot sunny weather today…..in the mid 90s. 

There aren’t many RVs in this park, only 6 including ours.  Four of the six are just parked here.  The only other person we have seen is the man in the C-Class motor home three sites down from us.  It is very quiet here. 

This afternoon we rode into the town of Clarksville to look at the Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 24.  When we arrived, a boat and barge was leaving so we decided to hang out and wait for the one coming in.

Boat and barge leaving.

1200 foot boat and barge coming in.  The lock is only 600 feet so they had to break it in half.

Load locked in and waiting for the water to rise.

Load moving out after gate opened.

Gate closing after the first part of the load is out.

Boat and remaining load coming in.

John’s brother Bill works for a towing company so when we see a load coming in or going out we think of him.  It is interesting to watch.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Clarksville, MO

Today was travel day for us.  We were out of the park by 10:00 and on the road heading to Clarksville, Missouri.  The trip was uneventful and we made it to Tievoli Hills Resort around 4:00 p.m.  It is hot here …..in the upper 90s and the forecast for the rest of the week is more of the same.

Our site.  We have 50 AMP and full hookups.  Yeah!!

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Breakfast Pizza.

Today we had a special treat.  Dennis and Donna drove over to visit us at the park.  They brought along a breakfast pizza.  John and I have never had that and it was very tasty.  We enjoyed visiting with them and sharing travel and RV stories.  We sincerely hope to see them down the road while traveling.  Thank you Dennis and Donna for a tasty breakfast.  We enjoyed your company immensely.

Fred really likes Dennis.  He jumped up on the sofa as soon as Dennis sat down.

Dennis and Donna.
Tomorrow will be travel day for us.  We will be traveling on to Clarksville, Missouri. 
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Visit with Dennis and Donna.

This morning John, Fred and I rode over to Sandwich, IL to visit with Dennis and Donna who are fellow travel bloggers.  John met them in 2010 when he flew to Illinois to pick up the freightliner.   Today Fred and I finally got meet them.  While we were there we also met Dennis and Donna’s daughter and granddaughter who were having a garage sale.  Fred surprised us at how well he took to everyone.  He especially liked all the attention and treats he got.   We enjoyed our visit very much and look forward to seeing them again tomorrow.

Me, Fred, John, Dennis and Donna
Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.