On The Road May 23 - 26

Sunday, May 23, 3:30 PM - slides are in; holding tanks emptied. Holly escaped from her carrier again while I was putting the slides in. I had the door closed and got the pillows stashed in the openings before she escaped. I don't know what it is about the door on that carrier. She doesn't pry it open when we go to the vet - but she has a way of getting out when she hears the mechanics of the slides.

I have no idea where she hides when she cannot get under the bed. How many hiding places are there in this RV! She finally came out. I guess the moving floors upset her!

Lee and Mary Jane came by about 5PM and had me hitched up in no time at all. Much quicker when they do it than when Fred and I try it! I leave the electric and water plugged in, just empty and stow the sewer tank and hose. Ready to hit the road first thing in the AM.

Monday May 24 off to the tire store to have the RV tires aired and checked. On the road by 9AM. Arrived at Guthrie OK about 3:30PM. The trip from Gatesville to Guthrie was good. Some really bad road construction from the OK state line up to OK City. I'm afraid to open my kitchen cupboards. At least the refrigerator didn't fly open and the kitchen drawers remained closed, but stuff I had on chairs that never moves during travel was all over the floor.

I didn't have a lot of wind and what I did run into was mainly from the south so served as a nice tail wind for me. I averaged just under 12 mpg coming up.

By 4PM I had the electric hooked up and the A/C going full-blast. 89 degrees; 59% humidity. The air was really heavy. Nice breeze on the hill but hot and humid air SUCKS! Li'lBit sniffed the air and watered the grass; Tinga munched on her yummies and Holly remained in hiding from the trip.

Looked like the RV next to me was traveling with a few others. Lots of in and out and carrying drinks. They set up a horsehoe pit (portable one) between their RV and mine and all the drinkers proceeded to pitch horsehoes. Was was expecting a wild night, but I didn't hear a thing. With the bedroom slide in, I have no windows on that side. Actually with the A/C running, the windows closed and the ceiling fan on, I barely hear anything from outside.

Tuesday was my short day; only about 275 miles to go. There was a huge bank of red and orange on the weather radar headed right for I-35 between OK City and Wichita KS. I waited for that to cross I-35 before I unplugged the electric, loaded the truck and left.

The RV park in Kansas is a Mom & Pop operation and the office opens about 3-4 PM. I pulled off the road about 45 miles south of the park exit at a truck stop. I pulled around back where the trucks park, ate a late lunch, played with the laptop and sniffed diesel fumes for an hour or so. It was good driving. Roads dry, no rain, but lots of water in the ditches around Wishita. They must have had a gully washer come through before I got there. The sky was overcast so I didn't have to fight the sun. Just a good day to drive.

Pulled into the RV park about 4PM. Remained hitched to the truck, again, hooked up only the electric. Checked my water holding tank and still had plenty, so didn't bother hooking up the water. The park is on a hill, nice breeze, didn't need the A/C. Li'lBit went for her 'inspection tour' of the space, Tinga munched on her yummies and Holly, again, remained in hiding until later that evening. Tinga, tired of being cage-bound, started hollering, "I'll come out, Let me out" I know she hates being cooped up like a bird! She acts like it is killing her! She can be sooo dramatic!

6:30 AM Wednesday, the weather radar had a blob of bright orange just south of KC...by 6:45 the rains started. They passed by 9AM and I was on the road.

3PM Marshalltown Iowa! Randy was there to back me in. My sister did most of the setting up...at least the important stuff..electric and water. She stayed to help me put my wooden steps together...no more excuses for falling. I took a tumble coming out of the RV that morning and landed on my left knee. Not good. Then to be setting behind the wheel all day and not moving about enough to keep it limber, by the time I pulled in to Marshalltown, it was SORE and swollen! I didn't want to take anything stronger than tylenol since I was driving. But once I got into the RV, out came the pain meds. I've fallen on this same knee several times - and not gracefully, I might add!

My plan for the evening was a nice warm shower and early to bed. But, as I'm standing naked and wet in the shower, I realized I forgot to turn on the hot water heater! Very short nippy shower! The water heater was turned on immediately. I have a list of things to do to close up and move. Maybe I need a list of things to do when I arrive!

Aside from the fall, the trip was uneventful. I lucked out on the weather. The heavy storms stayed just ahead of me or I stayed just ahead of them. Had some wet pavement, but no rain, wind or other plagues of nature. Lots of road construction but that is a plague of MAN!

Oh, the best part of the story -- I put the slides out and later in the evening I heard this faint "meow" coming from under my bed. Holly had slipped under the bed while the side was going out. Of course, I had to pull the slide back in to let her out. DAMN CAT! She stuck to me like velcro all nite, under the covers, right up next to me. Guess she didn't like being stuck under the bed. I wish I could say she learned her lesson but I know it will happend again.

Not quite all set up and unpacked but I'm HOME for the summer and have all summer to get 'er done!