Sept. 28: Lake Afton - week 2

After two weeks (almost) at Lake Afton, we have moved to the other side of the lake. We're now closer to the RC Airplane area. Gives Larry something to watch during down times. We've had another week of follow up doctor appointments and more gatherings with friends and family based on food. And, more to come.

This weekend the kids all came out and we had a small BBQ. The boys (and grandpa) got to get in a last-of-the-season swim. Today we went to Tanganyika Wildlife Park (www.tanganyikawildlife.org). Rebecca's department at her work had a family day at the park complete with BBQ. Pretty interesting place. The boys fed Lorikeets and lemurs. I put the camera down on the ground and got a cool picture of this tortoise. I took several and they came right at me - must have thought I was going to feed them. The Gibbons made the most noise. We heard one of


them when we pulled into the parking lot. Rebecca, whose home is just behind the park, says you can hear them at her house too. I've attached a short video because a long one would be very annoying.

Trina ran in the Race for the Cure Saturday and volunteered to help at a car show at Wichita State University today. Apparently you have to volunteer a lot while in the police academy. In two weeks she will be doing evacive driving at Hutchinson.

Larry has one more sleep clinic - he didn't pass because he only got 1 1/2 hours of sleep and Medicare requires 2 hours of sleep study. So he'll get another night of being wired - this time with the help of a sleeping pill.

My x-rays on my back showed arthritis, slipping discs and scoliosis - nothing that Tylenol arthritis strength a couple times a day won't cure. Also spending time on the ice pack and then hot pad. They want me to do physical therapy but they can't get me in until the week after we leave so that won't happen. Maybe I can do something this winter when we'll be at one place for a longer period of time.

This next week will be devoted to catching up with friends and relatives that we haven't gotten with yet--once again around food.

I finally figured out how to upload my video. You click on the "video" icon instead of the "picture" icon. Duh - mental head slap - duh. Now you've missed out on the blues from Memphis and the Bluegrass from Kentucky but by golly I managed to save the ride that Larry rode at Silver Dollar City. Be sure to turn the volume up. That's Nathen with the white hat on backwards watching.

This past week has just been a whirl wind of getting a few errands ran and doctor appointments completed. Larry did a sleep clinic that he'll get the results on Tuesday. We're hoping he slept enough for them to have some results and he doesn't have to go thru this again.

Plus, my sciatic nerve has flared up this past couple of weeks so my lower back has been killing me - especially in the mornings. I have a follow up with the doctor Wednesday to see what the x-rays show. I think it's getting better but not fast enough.

Took Trina to lunch yesterday and had Rebeccca and family out this evening to roast hot dogs. Trina was studying all weekend for a test Monday; and Rebecca and Willie are doing homework all weekend for their classes. Quite the studying group.

Saturday night we met with all of our cruiser friends. That night's meeting was a Spangle's at Broadway and Kellogg. Inner city location with lots of interesting people passing by. Thankfully no drive by shootings. We took up the wheel chair spot between all of our cars and sat outside and visited. In the first picture you'll see our little Crossfire trying to be inconspicuous between all the big cruisers.



The next two weeks will be spent getting together with other friends and relatives for more food. Wow it's great to be back home - like we never got to eat while we were away.

Our plans have changed for October. We originally we going to go to Montgomery, TX to a KOA camp near Lake Conroe for a Hitchhiker Rally - about 30 miles north of Houston. However, it was canceled because power companies from across the country are staying there. Now, we'll be heading for NE Okla to visit Dean and Don; then to Lake Texoma for some striper fishing; then to NE Texas to visit Wayne & Sharol; then to New Braunfells, TX for a couple of weeks. Finally on to Corpus Christi where we'll spend the winter. We'll be chris crossing Oklahoma and Texas like we're trying to dodge a bullet.

Oh, and check out my cousin Niki's blog--it's one of the links on the left. They do a walk thru the swamp every Labor Day and she takes great photos. Someday I hope to make it so I can muck up some shoes too.

Sept. 14: Lake Afton

We arrived at Lake Afton Thursday night after the camper had spent the day in repairs. They were done with us around 3:00 so we headed on into Wichita which was about an 1 1/2 hours away. Of course, we were driving in a pouring down rain.


On the way, we decided to stop by Riverton, KS and enjoy a sandwich at Eisler Brothers Deli. This little shop is set into an old gas station that sits on approximately 13 miles of Route 66 that goes thru Kansas. We've been here before with ham radio special events and with our P.T. Cruisers on our way back from a car show in Eureka Springs, Ark. Inside is the original convenience store complete with a Route 66 gift shop. We got our pop out of a cold Coke tub with the cap opener on the side. Sat at tables outside on the "porch" to eat. Usually he has lots of flowers sitting on that flat wagon but the shipment of mums was coming in that day and was running late.

Since getting into Wichita, we have had 10 inches of rain sitting out here on the lake. Lots of flooding on the west side of Wichita and the lake did come up but not enough to threaten us. In the past two weeks we've experienced about 20 inches of rain. The rain here in Wichita was the remnants of some tropical storm that hit the Baja area of Mexico combined with a front that came thru. We didn't get anything but wind from Ike. After not having any wind for the past 2 months, this is a little overwhelming. Should make for better campfires and Larry says his charcoal works better.

In just 3 1/2 days, we've had dinner with both girls, gone to a Pow-Wow and met with all our cruiser friends at a local diner and had one whole day at camp. I'm sure the next three weeks will also bring more dinners with friends and family.

Sept. 9: More from Shell Knob, MO.

Our last night at Shell Knob and I reflect back on what a great two weeks it has been. We've had family here for fun times and visited with good friends. Thanks to Doug & Janie for dinner at their house and some fun visiting. Thanks to Duane & Barb for more great food and a wonderful visit. Nothing like some home cooking for people who don't eat at home often enough.

We pull out in the morning for Chanute where the camper will get some repair work done on Thursday. They want us there at 7 in the morning. I don't think I've seen that kind of time since I retired. It'll be a really new experience to have me up at that hour. It will depend on when they get done with Beauty as to when we head for Wichita. My best guess is that by Friday sometime we'll start that way.

Looking forward to seeing all our friends and visiting more with family.

Sept. 3: Silver Dollar City & The Lake

Silver Dollar City, on Labor Day, was all we remembered it to be. For the boys, it was their first time there. We tried to show them the crafters too so they could see some history but not all of them were working. Mostly it was all about the rides AND mostly the water rides (some food was involved too). The rides I rode are the ones not shown - no one to take a photo. I did get wet but not like these four. The common denominator in all of these pictures is Larry. We finally had someone with us that would ride all the rides he would ride. We were there a couple of years ago with our youngest, Trina, and she also rode all those wild rides - some of them several times.

We even went to the kiddie rides and they rode the Tea Cups which as you can tell, Larry and Nathen really enjoyed. This was the last day for the toboggen ride so they rode it 3 times. Larry pooped out after the second time because there was no line. You just climbed the stairs straight up to the top with no waiting and sledded down. The other three boys went a 3rd time.

We got home around 8ish and were in bed by 9:30. We were all tired and did we ever sleep good.



Tuesday was our day on the lake. The boys had a great time tubing. Austin even learned how to jump from one to the other in full motion. As you can see by the sky, Gustav was not too far away. It started raining about 4:00pm and kept up all that night all the next day and up until about midnight last night. About 30 hours of rain and a two foot gain in water level on the lake. Our friends here said they dumped 6 1/2 inches out of their rain gage from the past two days. Yesterday was spent partially at the laundry mat drying out clothes from Silver Dollar City and time spent in the rain.

Rebecca and family left today around noon and now we're here in an empty camp ground with wet wood. However, charcoal starter works wonders on wet wood. We managed to work up a small fire this evening before coming in to hear John McCain's acceptance speech. We have another week here and then one last stop at the trailer manufacturer in Chanute before heading into Wichita.