There was an ice cream social at 2:00 and dinner at 5:30 followed by the kick-off announcements and credits. I took a few shots during the afternoon and evening. Enjoy!
Our Alto R1713 in Florida
We're lovin' it!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
2012 - June 19-We Arrived at the AOC North American Rally
We made the 22 mile drive from Loveland to the Lakeside KOA in Ft. Collins, arriving at 11:30am! We checked in and got set up, including our new canopy, before we started visiting with old and new friends.
There was an ice cream social at 2:00 and dinner at 5:30 followed by the kick-off announcements and credits. I took a few shots during the afternoon and evening. Enjoy!
There was an ice cream social at 2:00 and dinner at 5:30 followed by the kick-off announcements and credits. I took a few shots during the afternoon and evening. Enjoy!
2012 - June 18-Trenton, NE to Loveland, CO
It was only a 235 mile drive today and with the time change, we gained an hour, so we got to the park about 2:30pm with the temperature hovering between 100 and 102 degrees. The humidity is only 10%, so that helps.
On the way into Loveland, I snapped a few pictures of the Smokey, er, I mean Rocky Mountains. There is a lot of smoke from the forest fire all along the mountain range, but here in Boyd Lake State Park, it's smoke free. The fire is about 30 miles from here, and the helicopters are flying from the fire to Boyd Lake (here) to get water.
We couldn't believe how it started cooling down between 8:00 and 8:30 when the sun went down. I took a few more pictures and our neighbor gave us some firewood so we could enjoy a fire before turning in. It's 10:45 now, 75 degrees outside and going down! We opened the new window for a nice breeze to sleep by.
It's only about 20 miles from here to the rally site in Ft. Collins. Check-in time is noon so we won't be in a big hurry to leave here in the morning. See you there!
On the way into Loveland, I snapped a few pictures of the Smokey, er, I mean Rocky Mountains. There is a lot of smoke from the forest fire all along the mountain range, but here in Boyd Lake State Park, it's smoke free. The fire is about 30 miles from here, and the helicopters are flying from the fire to Boyd Lake (here) to get water.
We couldn't believe how it started cooling down between 8:00 and 8:30 when the sun went down. I took a few more pictures and our neighbor gave us some firewood so we could enjoy a fire before turning in. It's 10:45 now, 75 degrees outside and going down! We opened the new window for a nice breeze to sleep by.
It's only about 20 miles from here to the rally site in Ft. Collins. Check-in time is noon so we won't be in a big hurry to leave here in the morning. See you there!
2012 - June 17-Seneca, KS to Trenton, NE
We left the campground this morning at 8:15 and headed west on Rt. 36. Pretty uneventful until we saw a sign that said that the geographical center of the contiguous 48 states was just a little bit out of our way. After a short 5 mile detour, we were there. Still pretty uneventful! Well, anyway, that's one more obscure place that Marsha and I can say we've been and we've got the pictures to prove it.
We stopped in Phillipsburg, KS at a popular-looking spot called the Branding Iron II where Marsha took me for Father's Day lunch. About 2:00, we started looking at the map to see where we might camp for the night and found Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area, just about an hour's drive up into Nebraska, near Trenton. We were in a nice shady camp spot, set up, and drinking a beer in 100 degree heat by 3:45.
So, while we were walking around the campground, we watched a guy trying to get his boat trailer into the water deep enough to load his pontoon boat. The water was over the rear wheels and the exhaust outlet, but the pontoon boat never made it onto the trailer. During the process, the guy killed the truck engine and probably filled the cylinders with water. He never did get it started again. Another truck towed him up the ramp and the truck is sitting there drying out!
We ate dinner at the marina. It was nothing great, but at least we didn't have to mess around fixing dinner in the camper. The forecast is for 106 degrees here tomorrow, so I think we're going to shoot for a state park near Loveland, CO. It's at about 5,500 feet, so maybe it will be cooler. More later.
We stopped in Phillipsburg, KS at a popular-looking spot called the Branding Iron II where Marsha took me for Father's Day lunch. About 2:00, we started looking at the map to see where we might camp for the night and found Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area, just about an hour's drive up into Nebraska, near Trenton. We were in a nice shady camp spot, set up, and drinking a beer in 100 degree heat by 3:45.
So, while we were walking around the campground, we watched a guy trying to get his boat trailer into the water deep enough to load his pontoon boat. The water was over the rear wheels and the exhaust outlet, but the pontoon boat never made it onto the trailer. During the process, the guy killed the truck engine and probably filled the cylinders with water. He never did get it started again. Another truck towed him up the ramp and the truck is sitting there drying out!
We ate dinner at the marina. It was nothing great, but at least we didn't have to mess around fixing dinner in the camper. The forecast is for 106 degrees here tomorrow, so I think we're going to shoot for a state park near Loveland, CO. It's at about 5,500 feet, so maybe it will be cooler. More later.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
2012 - June 16-On the way to Ft. Collins, Colorado
We left the house this morning (Saturday) at about 8:40. We're headed for Ft. Collins, CO and the Aliner Owners Club North American Rally. Then on Friday, we'll go up to Rocky Mountain National Park and camp "off grid" for three days with a group of Aliners, most of whom will have been in Ft. Collins. After that, we'll drive about 3 1/2 hours south to visit friends, Doug and Carol, who used to live in Decatur, IL.
So, today was pretty uneventful. W drove 361 miles to Stallbaumer RV Park in Seneca, KS. Nice little park on the west side of town, behind a hotel on Rt. 36. We found the place on the Internet and decided to make it an easy destination for our first day out. They got 5 inches of rain here in six hours a couple of nights ago. Hope some of that makes it to Springfield. We drove thru a few showers today, but not a lot of rain.
We have no idea where we're staying tomorrow night. It could get interesting. Stay tuned!
So, today was pretty uneventful. W drove 361 miles to Stallbaumer RV Park in Seneca, KS. Nice little park on the west side of town, behind a hotel on Rt. 36. We found the place on the Internet and decided to make it an easy destination for our first day out. They got 5 inches of rain here in six hours a couple of nights ago. Hope some of that makes it to Springfield. We drove thru a few showers today, but not a lot of rain.
We have no idea where we're staying tomorrow night. It could get interesting. Stay tuned!
Monday, June 11, 2012
2012 - June 7-10 - Camping at Bo Woods with Chad & the Grandkids
Marsha and I arrived at the Forrest "Bo" Woods COE Campground, just south of Sullivan, IL, on Thursday. Our friends, Joe and Loretta had already been there for a day. On the reservation website, our campsite was listed as "full shade," but the three or four large trees surrounding the site had died and were marked for removal, so our site was in "full sun."
The afternoon of our arrival was spent relaxing and visiting with Joe and Loretta. We shared an evening meal and enjoyed the campfire at their site. The night-time temperature was in the 50s and our newly installed opening skylight provided great ventilation for a perfect night's sleep. Friday afternoon we hit some rummage sales in Sullivan and picked up a few odds and ends. We were back in camp in plenty of time for the arrival of Chad, Adi and Grayson which was when the relaxing part ended. ;-))
We had a great time with the kids. We made S'mores on the campfire, went fishing, and the kids went swimming rode their bicycle (Adi) and drove their John Deere tractor (Grayson) around and around the campground loop. Although the evenings were cool with overnight temperatures in the low 60s, the kids decided that we would all sleep in the camper instead of pitching their tent. So, it was five people in the Aliner with the air conditioner on high!
As usual, our time with Chad, Adi, and Grayson was too short and we said our good-byes on Sunday morning as they left for more scheduled events later in the day. I took a few pictures while we were together.
The afternoon of our arrival was spent relaxing and visiting with Joe and Loretta. We shared an evening meal and enjoyed the campfire at their site. The night-time temperature was in the 50s and our newly installed opening skylight provided great ventilation for a perfect night's sleep. Friday afternoon we hit some rummage sales in Sullivan and picked up a few odds and ends. We were back in camp in plenty of time for the arrival of Chad, Adi and Grayson which was when the relaxing part ended. ;-))
We had a great time with the kids. We made S'mores on the campfire, went fishing, and the kids went swimming rode their bicycle (Adi) and drove their John Deere tractor (Grayson) around and around the campground loop. Although the evenings were cool with overnight temperatures in the low 60s, the kids decided that we would all sleep in the camper instead of pitching their tent. So, it was five people in the Aliner with the air conditioner on high!
As usual, our time with Chad, Adi, and Grayson was too short and we said our good-byes on Sunday morning as they left for more scheduled events later in the day. I took a few pictures while we were together.
