Onward to new living quarters

After visits with Diane’s sister’s family, we started heading back to the north and west.  We stayed a couple of days in the Washington, DC area staying at Andrews AFB FAMCAP. 

Leaving there, we drove on to the Pittsburg, PA area and visited with Diane’s Aunt Peggy and her daughter, Lisa’s and her family.  It has been more than 50 years since they had seen each other in Arizona near the time of Diane’s paternal grandmother’s passing.  We stayed at a KOA in West Newton, PA.

Had a nice visit with Christina, Scott and the boys and girls while we rested up a few days at the Springfield, Il State Fair Campgrounds.  We had a nice spot and got to see some dirt track motorcycle races and a Swine show/auction.

It was then on to Waterloo, IA and we spent time before and after the 4th of July with Bob’s brother Tom and his wife Sherrie.  We stayed at the newly opened KOA campground and had a great spot up on the hill where we could see all of the campground, its lake and the Isle of Capri Casino next door.  We had great fun, great meals, and played lots of Farkle!

On the 7th of July, we headed to Sioux Falls, SD .  We spent two nights at the Yogi Bear Campground.  Enjoyed a meal with Winnebago friends Charlie Cross and Francoise Mulligan.  This fun couple showed us the highlights of Sioux Falls and the Falls park which we really found quite amazing.  We obtained our South Dakota driver’s licenses and became “official” full-timers.

We then travelled I-80 back to the east and I-35 south to head into Forest City, IA for the Winnebago Industries’ Travellers (WIT) Grand National Rally and the Military (MILWIT) National Rally which is the week preceding GNR.  As early arrivals, we assisted in the area set up for our rally.  We had a great time with old friends and made new ones.  Found 9 rigs from the Alaska Caravan in attendance and had a great reunion with them. 

On Friday, July 26th GNR closed with the MILWITs lowering the flags.  Bob and Diane relocated to the dealer’s parking lot for the change out of their new coach.  Our biking, camping, and MILWIT friend, Mary Dodd, spent two long days carrying stuff from the old to the new, one laundry basket at a time!  Today, Sunday is a relaxing day with a visit from Tom and Sherrie to see the new coach and a lunch at Shooter’s!    More pictures of the new coach to come.

Suffolk, Virginia Visit

We spent a bit over a week in this area in June to visit with Diane’s sister, Cheryl and her family.  Cheryl and James have a nice place a few miles out of town with room for their pasture pets and dogs.  We camped at Davis Lakes Campground between the downtown Suffolk area and where Cheryl’s home is.

We spent a couple of hours touring the beautiful Mills Riddick Mansion.  Riddick's Folly was the 1837 town home mansion of the Riddick family, one of the region's wealthiest and most prominent families. The house served as headquarters for the Union Army during its occupation of Suffolk in the Civil War. Writings from some of the soldiers can still be seen on the walls. The museum features restored parlors, servant's spaces, and bedrooms with period furnishings and decor.

Bob poses with Mr. Peanut.  Suffolk is home to Planters.

We took a nice drive out through the Dismal Swamp and ended at Lake Drummond.  It was a neat drive terminating at the boat ramp; but we didn’t see any of the bears, dear, or birds that frequent the area.

North Carolina Family Visit

We stayed at the High Point, NC Oak Hollow Campground for eleven days.  It is really nice city park and campground with many recreational opportunities. Near the end of our stay about 15 Airstreams arrived and had their state chapter outing.  Showing up on Saturday was the Sheriff of Mayberry!

It was really nice to spend time with Terry and Misty Conder and their children Devon and Cason.  It was time for Devon to celebrate her High School graduation and we were really pleased to be able to be part of it. Terry’s mom, Janice and Misty’s mom from Little Rock, AK, Mary attended.  Misty and Terry’s niece from  Little Rock, Whitney, escorted her Grandma.  She had also just graduated a few days prior.

We had a terrific dinner at a really interesting steak house near the Oak Hollow Mall.  It is called Liberty Steakhouse Brewery.  Neither of us had steak nor did we sample their brews; however our meals were excellent and the house wine superb!

Starting the next chapter of our lives on the road.

After closing on the house, Friday, May 24th, we departing our Lebanon, IL home of 14 years.  We started eastbound on I-64 heading toward our first “destination” of High Point, NC.  Our granddaughter will be graduating High School on June 6th and we are excited that we will get to be there.  We are spending the Memorial Day weekend at a KOA just south of Louisville, KY.