tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63882667097891395812024-03-15T21:09:21.697-04:00R Sanity RV AdventuresPast, present and future travels around the United States in our motorhomes.Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.comBlogger1149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-57153178989881578072023-05-27T10:49:00.006-04:002023-05-27T10:50:41.196-04:00How to take down my Blogger Account?<p> Sadly I've been getting notices that posts recently made to my site have been taken down for violation of Blogger guidelines. I have not posted anything on my site for over a years or so, so these bad posts are not coming from me. </p><p>Apparently someone has hacked into my Blogger account and is putting out bad junk in my site. Does anyone have information on how to contact Blogger directly on how to see what steps can be taken to either take down my site or stop whomever is putting up these bad posts?</p><p>Thanks! </p>Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-35216930541569344392021-07-19T15:35:00.000-04:002021-07-19T15:35:20.073-04:00Mel's Angels Ride Again<p> My Dad, Mel, was an avid motorcycle rider, having ridden Harleys and Indians before WWII, Harleys during the war and many years afterward. Somewhere along the way kids (6!) got in the way and his two wheeled escapades went on hold. In 1968, Dad scratched the itch again and bought an SS125 Honda motorcycle, with all mighty 8 horsepower, and began riding again, this time with various sons, daughter and wife along at various times.</p><p>The motorcycle bug bit hard in the family and soon there were always a couple of bikes in the garage that my brothers Dave, Gordy and I owned, as well as Dad. We often went on rides together with Dad and usually had a couple of friends with their motorcycles tagging along. We called ourselves <i>Mel's Angels", </i>a play on words from another slightly less friendly motorcycle club.</p><p>As Dad got older, his riding days grew to a close, but he was always ready to hop on the back of one of our motorcycles and enjoy the freedom and fresh air with us. </p><p>Dad passed away peacefully in December 2019, just two weeks after his 98th birthday. I'm sure he now is riding his heavenly motorcycle around the Pearly Gates.</p><p>This July, Dave, Gordy and I, along with good friend Danny met up in Roanoke, VA for a week long adventure riding the back roads of Virginia and West Virginia. My sad attempt at a group selfie cut Dave in half.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP64GqzlkFLVLLAro4OnY0Bp9HW638FrQMscCHQvG0VsWTppyuRuYItIRSC8ROFBdoIGfBj3TzOBRqERPFqbuOd2fRwpWDj6GbsLq4Xlox-M0cm4-2iQE5N7rBKrWFBKyMTafPRVqk2VSa/s5152/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP64GqzlkFLVLLAro4OnY0Bp9HW638FrQMscCHQvG0VsWTppyuRuYItIRSC8ROFBdoIGfBj3TzOBRqERPFqbuOd2fRwpWDj6GbsLq4Xlox-M0cm4-2iQE5N7rBKrWFBKyMTafPRVqk2VSa/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We had our mighty steeds ready to take us on our adventure, Dave and Gordy on their Harleys, my Honda and Danny's Yamaha. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vG-F22ZIjA8JcQ5PUM4lf05OOLS4cXKpYw_FeJA49acIwqnAAG0nT5fiDEFLA8tN7NNmrPMiOIKEz-dJmkD1HBO-ff8j4g0t8GuNOFRV-akySaCF6kDnvkP_SpfTB9QjFKQ1o41gNDAG/s5152/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vG-F22ZIjA8JcQ5PUM4lf05OOLS4cXKpYw_FeJA49acIwqnAAG0nT5fiDEFLA8tN7NNmrPMiOIKEz-dJmkD1HBO-ff8j4g0t8GuNOFRV-akySaCF6kDnvkP_SpfTB9QjFKQ1o41gNDAG/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Each morning we started out our day with breakfast and plans to see which roads we wanted to ride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4KSLEndyH4UDdILFn2L1bJMrKwWDk3PyuopUkzA-f2VU2Y4PsSPXlGEqaUVk25tRLJuj-QFutq9TrBDN8he27-Chhcry7ZzgX9VTCXUo7yGqFSEn5JXhGuP0jaHDQ_gj_VyqQjA-uj0L/s5152/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4KSLEndyH4UDdILFn2L1bJMrKwWDk3PyuopUkzA-f2VU2Y4PsSPXlGEqaUVk25tRLJuj-QFutq9TrBDN8he27-Chhcry7ZzgX9VTCXUo7yGqFSEn5JXhGuP0jaHDQ_gj_VyqQjA-uj0L/s320/IMG_1823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Sometimes we got so lost we had to stop and ask for directions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAySRB4MziIMJQFC5ZubdueGZG8CeWz7cwjjpRTTb7rvHuvCd9yy0LpT3WvY7IyW40zSrBzNpn6GX9PQMZ8xTp0rTvLIh5HXIg8K-VKkjV3RTmrEFszIdfqJKRWhWRg1fLExYMvjA-b1kn/s5152/IMG_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAySRB4MziIMJQFC5ZubdueGZG8CeWz7cwjjpRTTb7rvHuvCd9yy0LpT3WvY7IyW40zSrBzNpn6GX9PQMZ8xTp0rTvLIh5HXIg8K-VKkjV3RTmrEFszIdfqJKRWhWRg1fLExYMvjA-b1kn/s320/IMG_1804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8ff9_pW4pIohrrLLaUUMUy0VesW2_KTr9-bNb4-j1I9T6C7p8qzmTWpUmS_BMtEb2PIuXfPujx2f0Bc-fOU673luiuW5ahapwH2mmd7CPQTOMireeVyknkI8fGDD0Hmlo_KUXVPVatL4/s5152/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8ff9_pW4pIohrrLLaUUMUy0VesW2_KTr9-bNb4-j1I9T6C7p8qzmTWpUmS_BMtEb2PIuXfPujx2f0Bc-fOU673luiuW5ahapwH2mmd7CPQTOMireeVyknkI8fGDD0Hmlo_KUXVPVatL4/s320/IMG_1821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Even with the best directions, sometimes it seemed we didn't know which way we were going.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXPvEx9Qm6oaL_hsKRBUCa3ys2u01mUB4gxpZG6ocj2aEtGUcWPyki2DkkCJui66CioGxXmMqCRdxCrfPxqyIKxX6labX0I3Zhr1WpiBCSU51uIbo6o2XZd2MnlWPbcFIN6dMPT9MA3x-/s5152/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXPvEx9Qm6oaL_hsKRBUCa3ys2u01mUB4gxpZG6ocj2aEtGUcWPyki2DkkCJui66CioGxXmMqCRdxCrfPxqyIKxX6labX0I3Zhr1WpiBCSU51uIbo6o2XZd2MnlWPbcFIN6dMPT9MA3x-/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>But we finally would get going and ride some beautiful roads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP-O0yoGn3rmzQL9Jhhph_CQBjlnQkEFpqArdBocRiqFTFsyv20Hwu9vQ0W8O1fEqpvh9yDhsVv5N1gjt08m7yXYOSzIZd5MbIC7WeiNnXrb4u3y79Y1NZD8dLLCQhmre4fwhtmF_woaZ/s5152/IMG_1810.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP-O0yoGn3rmzQL9Jhhph_CQBjlnQkEFpqArdBocRiqFTFsyv20Hwu9vQ0W8O1fEqpvh9yDhsVv5N1gjt08m7yXYOSzIZd5MbIC7WeiNnXrb4u3y79Y1NZD8dLLCQhmre4fwhtmF_woaZ/s320/IMG_1810.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Often early in the morning the mountains were clothed in fog, hiding the views.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0P3uEeRpprf5suTLqDk-PVHEJjq1OzUx-VGUjdhq8ML-6OOYIuSkpNtNuylLq-cpIGN-xMc1XAS-E9Bj8S9T05MpNszEsSYS0uq_4U_oouUYwzX3eYMgnpWjhnXhGOPm2psBlnNuEpJE/s5152/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0P3uEeRpprf5suTLqDk-PVHEJjq1OzUx-VGUjdhq8ML-6OOYIuSkpNtNuylLq-cpIGN-xMc1XAS-E9Bj8S9T05MpNszEsSYS0uq_4U_oouUYwzX3eYMgnpWjhnXhGOPm2psBlnNuEpJE/s320/IMG_1813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Once the sun burned off the fog, the views were amazing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-lLlDLfrBGcy2aQo50mBqhJbEAC_BkbqDPYr45ScBWmB1Whl8LaPhdWPH1zWvGmLFtOTHSONfy5ERZajVHc7aIqhbG72jJNZxwN86KsrmwNpnatxoboudvLtYegUNS0YYFk1NHwhkU6/s5152/IMG_1792.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-lLlDLfrBGcy2aQo50mBqhJbEAC_BkbqDPYr45ScBWmB1Whl8LaPhdWPH1zWvGmLFtOTHSONfy5ERZajVHc7aIqhbG72jJNZxwN86KsrmwNpnatxoboudvLtYegUNS0YYFk1NHwhkU6/s320/IMG_1792.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We stopped often to take in the scenery and let the blood reflow in our butts from the motorcycle seats. I'm glad to be retired so I didn't have to check in with work like Gordy and Danny did at each riding break. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt6Mu5yqwdS3gdZ2N-fvG761d-y0VcpYK48EDGlVd9PdBEVk-CyfdrxAe5nhkOEHhR8si7RWhvuALZFBNNiuCDAscluJCKPe1LNpOjbSiR8BNGE9cvljs7tl1BD2hedyay7dMySFwQBEK/s5152/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt6Mu5yqwdS3gdZ2N-fvG761d-y0VcpYK48EDGlVd9PdBEVk-CyfdrxAe5nhkOEHhR8si7RWhvuALZFBNNiuCDAscluJCKPe1LNpOjbSiR8BNGE9cvljs7tl1BD2hedyay7dMySFwQBEK/s320/IMG_1796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>At the country store in Wytheville, VA, there was a tower that you could go up in to see the views. Not me, I always prefer sea level whenever possible.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXddKfyj2SLY_ai3Xjmbv0FBWPML_qtu4-5Z9tvXkuWbag3P-rhNd9V5QiA6LkJdyCLohyphenhyphenOZjPzil6FhJ34XS2rulsWjYJUZE5N0tUjpQYEyjQmxLD0iEc3H2e0Ac7uQtFB1TWWn7PXpUp/s5152/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXddKfyj2SLY_ai3Xjmbv0FBWPML_qtu4-5Z9tvXkuWbag3P-rhNd9V5QiA6LkJdyCLohyphenhyphenOZjPzil6FhJ34XS2rulsWjYJUZE5N0tUjpQYEyjQmxLD0iEc3H2e0Ac7uQtFB1TWWn7PXpUp/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZMjFsVx3tEJdEDRfemMPVb-N9VwEO4rm8D9PJPxel6kzh34EXN0MF9XgfVyeEKclyh8Xwu8wPlgSFUUvkHADgrPJgwn8HA0DNFPOFtuG4HYGMNOuybxnM8OwB4DmdKCwU_CVvNJITffv/s5152/IMG_1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZMjFsVx3tEJdEDRfemMPVb-N9VwEO4rm8D9PJPxel6kzh34EXN0MF9XgfVyeEKclyh8Xwu8wPlgSFUUvkHADgrPJgwn8HA0DNFPOFtuG4HYGMNOuybxnM8OwB4DmdKCwU_CVvNJITffv/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I always like to be prepared as possible, so I brought along a selection of tools and assorted repair items. The guys teased me about it at first, but they ended up using my tools at various times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpkYhWfPFMlMymGYW-sbnVFsREtF7Rt64AbFdRBwzBNr1CD-evRaR16FByVpec-P1AlxkqQGaoxU6cf7g6XNPnaNpKOmeokCKz0zfWGfUrgdpt9kD_q4Cq6DSAI49lPbBADMZ9yiDiCR4/s5152/IMG_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpkYhWfPFMlMymGYW-sbnVFsREtF7Rt64AbFdRBwzBNr1CD-evRaR16FByVpec-P1AlxkqQGaoxU6cf7g6XNPnaNpKOmeokCKz0zfWGfUrgdpt9kD_q4Cq6DSAI49lPbBADMZ9yiDiCR4/s320/IMG_1825.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGgHq60a1zoJhDlYEWi7hj8fIfjX1iE7rYY62WYru3ycP-8Qn-wp65SiOtdKmfwPIHtHNRy2Uocen1hwCoVh70eNt0rSVn_aM_C2q8zeTpNKR1cfblymDlL8eYy2az_T0UF91hVDoyL3O/s5152/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGgHq60a1zoJhDlYEWi7hj8fIfjX1iE7rYY62WYru3ycP-8Qn-wp65SiOtdKmfwPIHtHNRy2Uocen1hwCoVh70eNt0rSVn_aM_C2q8zeTpNKR1cfblymDlL8eYy2az_T0UF91hVDoyL3O/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I found something that I haven't seen in years. I couldn't resist buying it and enjoying it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJawpxIWKf9PIOK-dYHv13lJB7PfXsbK6n_IX7WanxXh6nKaGMVTbSLP4AS_mSpF75yrAiFZkdygpuyFbQzIUiOZPpeV0vh2PpnYVC-lgL6hfUv5PvKTSX6yvWA2AI4du8XHgYXEKLyqb1/s5152/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJawpxIWKf9PIOK-dYHv13lJB7PfXsbK6n_IX7WanxXh6nKaGMVTbSLP4AS_mSpF75yrAiFZkdygpuyFbQzIUiOZPpeV0vh2PpnYVC-lgL6hfUv5PvKTSX6yvWA2AI4du8XHgYXEKLyqb1/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Note to self: Blowing gum bubbles while riding a motorcycle at 60 mph is not the smartest idea.</p><p>We spent a lot of time cleaning and polishing the bikes at the end of the day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAO3m_6XiWXDq7wW2MB6Vzc2vwiitHIAlbvci3Nw_dV9vUnO4GrDSD-Y7FUSfvwMb0cUVta8TcUD0deWTSEv4nH3D61yuPKX7rpjSBtONzyd9667Gyb3ILm4WldMW6DMiqOyl7UMavkN6/s5152/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAO3m_6XiWXDq7wW2MB6Vzc2vwiitHIAlbvci3Nw_dV9vUnO4GrDSD-Y7FUSfvwMb0cUVta8TcUD0deWTSEv4nH3D61yuPKX7rpjSBtONzyd9667Gyb3ILm4WldMW6DMiqOyl7UMavkN6/s320/IMG_1778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then it happened. Gordy's bike acted up and gave all kinds of warning dash lights indicating the engine was malfunctioning. After looking for something simple, it was decided we needed a higher level of help. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZnK70LnBGyR3zQDlMy3wW0LnyhguzGyljaV2lKkXTMpuB6dX6snX-xURjrcGh-tZMP_dTm3Go2QP0ugyE5tnNDqbUH7LhNySNZwZxFxxSIm457Xg9Wkyve7ntIzFxytPUqhZU1ENpllY/s5152/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZnK70LnBGyR3zQDlMy3wW0LnyhguzGyljaV2lKkXTMpuB6dX6snX-xURjrcGh-tZMP_dTm3Go2QP0ugyE5tnNDqbUH7LhNySNZwZxFxxSIm457Xg9Wkyve7ntIzFxytPUqhZU1ENpllY/s320/IMG_1831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Harley dealer was able to get Gordy's bike in right away, but it was going to be a long while to fix the problem. Thankfully this occurred the last day, so I headed back south to home in South Carolina and the others home to New Jersey once the repairs ($300) were completed.<div><br /></div><div>It was only a five hour trip to my house. Of course, I hit massive traffic jams and got home after eight (!) hours safe and sound, baked and soggy from the humidity and the rain storms I ran in to. I do love riding my motorcycle, no matter what.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we're already talking about next year's ride. Maine? Nova Scotia? Loop around the Great Lakes? Good thing we have a year to plan! 😁</div>Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-84794258027299789802020-10-11T16:16:00.001-04:002020-10-11T16:18:41.371-04:00Alternate Pandemic RV Travel<p> Being fairly locked in with the Covid restrictions, I have the Journey sitting patiently in its storage lot awaiting the chance to roll again once this is all over. But having the travel itch, I fired up my alternate RV and wandered some of the isolated back roads in South Carolina.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLujukwykUI_frZ8boA6QTX6BlZUsfGqGXXzTuvihhbmF68nIF4r_jXbr5mbUAWWs0zopVQJRNqDZD6-spi9hJdo7diVrp_uydA-4VUIAWsiZriJ9yKNl84tQLoDClLLuGhi-uI0MeLbZH/s2048/IMG_1737.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLujukwykUI_frZ8boA6QTX6BlZUsfGqGXXzTuvihhbmF68nIF4r_jXbr5mbUAWWs0zopVQJRNqDZD6-spi9hJdo7diVrp_uydA-4VUIAWsiZriJ9yKNl84tQLoDClLLuGhi-uI0MeLbZH/s320/IMG_1737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Of course along with all my safety gear I wear, I added a new item.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQGh1uthLXQhzCRm9q8KPokLHvpjipdWvjgxa8JlIBR0oTNFvdXHzVwsWmOetHKIhB6crf0U5y-DKQB8Hd-k0-IF-JSUw5R2VJeJmHl5vEUQRXe3TrrWNfXvmhMdz_fW8zIkjNqpChX83/s5152/IMG_1741.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQGh1uthLXQhzCRm9q8KPokLHvpjipdWvjgxa8JlIBR0oTNFvdXHzVwsWmOetHKIhB6crf0U5y-DKQB8Hd-k0-IF-JSUw5R2VJeJmHl5vEUQRXe3TrrWNfXvmhMdz_fW8zIkjNqpChX83/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The roads were quite empty as I motored along on a beautiful day.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISic1tMZcWV1m3qtade-RH9345EAa09nLPXA9nTJKgOfv6QkmU6fczbSa-TK0z14TrWZeniq0-ce4pPvdJryF_I11niVXYmDqYJFIIBOOSBOyWRqVuxvZ5lghrJLvwMb1pXO7ShsejOeg/s2048/IMG_1772.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISic1tMZcWV1m3qtade-RH9345EAa09nLPXA9nTJKgOfv6QkmU6fczbSa-TK0z14TrWZeniq0-ce4pPvdJryF_I11niVXYmDqYJFIIBOOSBOyWRqVuxvZ5lghrJLvwMb1pXO7ShsejOeg/s320/IMG_1772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>My destination was a nearby Revolutionary War battlefield National Historic Park in the little town of Ninety Six. A small town that endured a siege of Colonial forces by British troops.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxi2GDDdr-6h68EWud1JB9pBMuQ7FLk2pDNWCVNQKwNNIEADjbOnbl2LTL-w9JpnPlo4H4sN7c5iBXrWiWE5Fj9y6UJ9bvjzq5fSVNZ5r7gHx2jjbjzCzHMsE54gX-6Lh33ByOJGWCPZw/s5152/IMG_1745.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxi2GDDdr-6h68EWud1JB9pBMuQ7FLk2pDNWCVNQKwNNIEADjbOnbl2LTL-w9JpnPlo4H4sN7c5iBXrWiWE5Fj9y6UJ9bvjzq5fSVNZ5r7gHx2jjbjzCzHMsE54gX-6Lh33ByOJGWCPZw/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I learned long ago to find a shady spot to park my motorcycle out of the hot South Carolina sun. I only like toasted buns made out of bread. 😉</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip51a6H7pjv8Z6U0DIJVfKZRvoOixn3-BhQWG7eW4QLJknHQNOO5PNaQGYWkXm3A1xAmxh14yMt-gzkVu_OD8A09eGrVU0L8Qi4THu1tbzWFq7mlMdfz9tZPXSK-NItsgwHJrW-4fZ4x-/s2048/IMG_1747.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip51a6H7pjv8Z6U0DIJVfKZRvoOixn3-BhQWG7eW4QLJknHQNOO5PNaQGYWkXm3A1xAmxh14yMt-gzkVu_OD8A09eGrVU0L8Qi4THu1tbzWFq7mlMdfz9tZPXSK-NItsgwHJrW-4fZ4x-/s320/IMG_1747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHgyUHXnyLdNd8u5TPuhj-E6ESGaUwL19iToW0hYjtborYVXCWQ2FtMow-Pr_hHMxsCXZmBv483VuhrG8b5Vlz790FOZcP3JttyG3KHD6mlLC1vQMv8Xmn_5OfTUnOifZk-7P46kHDYtU/s2048/IMG_1764.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHgyUHXnyLdNd8u5TPuhj-E6ESGaUwL19iToW0hYjtborYVXCWQ2FtMow-Pr_hHMxsCXZmBv483VuhrG8b5Vlz790FOZcP3JttyG3KHD6mlLC1vQMv8Xmn_5OfTUnOifZk-7P46kHDYtU/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Unfortunately everything was still closed from the pandemic restrictions. So I wandered around a little bit to see what I could see. One old building was near the closed visitor center that I could at least view from the outside.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmfcwmzx9GLs3T1DGxAb-zOQ8rFzVhETZSrCxDSvPVV2JlkcVYCQv86noluVF9x4Q0PfhGnkGrekt3R3CT3oRocGiSxP3QA8mlcvPnCe0HcSC8-5sW7rRdiez88FesTgxS5TVPXRzbv7y/s2048/IMG_1759.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmfcwmzx9GLs3T1DGxAb-zOQ8rFzVhETZSrCxDSvPVV2JlkcVYCQv86noluVF9x4Q0PfhGnkGrekt3R3CT3oRocGiSxP3QA8mlcvPnCe0HcSC8-5sW7rRdiez88FesTgxS5TVPXRzbv7y/s320/IMG_1759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The siege couldn't have been too bad because next to the building they had a pizza oven!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW4PbVMUec3lrJSgtrEd72xdL86H47nsl0ZzacKOaTUQGsWyXrA00HRTHj8mo-UaNo7R1rCUoSOL0tSbRjTbFU3N3hJDIaBCo94mpWEKsI_NCKaDmhXfUGPfuMYhXuAe_wEO-gkGZztS8/s2048/IMG_1761.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW4PbVMUec3lrJSgtrEd72xdL86H47nsl0ZzacKOaTUQGsWyXrA00HRTHj8mo-UaNo7R1rCUoSOL0tSbRjTbFU3N3hJDIaBCo94mpWEKsI_NCKaDmhXfUGPfuMYhXuAe_wEO-gkGZztS8/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div>Unfortunately there was no pizza ready for me to eat.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwKiDeLxKpnuRoqUCODp7OtjtDBYNWcZ6Rnpo7_iNnoEfbWrtl9Y3Ms_tRIMHReRKtSEjgzEXjkZ_0epms9tDTfpXALUSrmLUkR8f3uNEUVkQHJDET3ZZoV-hkn5F5yEtyHfiIBysesAa/s2048/IMG_1762.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwKiDeLxKpnuRoqUCODp7OtjtDBYNWcZ6Rnpo7_iNnoEfbWrtl9Y3Ms_tRIMHReRKtSEjgzEXjkZ_0epms9tDTfpXALUSrmLUkR8f3uNEUVkQHJDET3ZZoV-hkn5F5yEtyHfiIBysesAa/s320/IMG_1762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Colonial forces did have the foresight to have a type of punishment for those people caught without a mask or violating social distancing.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kJHqGIXVJ76LdFzXaZzLtwBEuHQUYAEA3REfGeIaC5O1XGwBHKXz96USdCBq-YFPu_m1d6I657_c-6CyKddNwomAXhV8Jx5-1CxU-cRfk7suCinc-t3lWR9dk61zKaykMMkTLY_O-o9i/s2048/IMG_1763.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kJHqGIXVJ76LdFzXaZzLtwBEuHQUYAEA3REfGeIaC5O1XGwBHKXz96USdCBq-YFPu_m1d6I657_c-6CyKddNwomAXhV8Jx5-1CxU-cRfk7suCinc-t3lWR9dk61zKaykMMkTLY_O-o9i/s320/IMG_1763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Around the site there were interesting things to see like this small cannon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVurmuObSLnO39Tlg1Qe1MnOsRArjrzU5npNseEPrTk8tSKVaEFdXmg8hSUmjdmxvilZji8WQIWaYUbStLync7ef-CsgnYnPbojP4G-RiUX0cZfXy0bIT56kf0OTUDOGtiKTjjETqARLCF/s2048/IMG_1754.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVurmuObSLnO39Tlg1Qe1MnOsRArjrzU5npNseEPrTk8tSKVaEFdXmg8hSUmjdmxvilZji8WQIWaYUbStLync7ef-CsgnYnPbojP4G-RiUX0cZfXy0bIT56kf0OTUDOGtiKTjjETqARLCF/s320/IMG_1754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I could have walked around and seen more things, but I had made a big mistake. I recently bought a new pair of motorcycle riding boots.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJu_vDwOqGkf7SK3e_jR3cI_gJhQ6Bezpw28xCHJsbM3CX1C8XOegIdwp3-K9ZcFqHcb-evpgTSgT-Xt8JgTkls3I6zKD1mcrm2fOO1MFmcpuNW-qBmu_UO9SxN-cUPF7AYcti3zBTLWl/s5152/IMG_1775.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJu_vDwOqGkf7SK3e_jR3cI_gJhQ6Bezpw28xCHJsbM3CX1C8XOegIdwp3-K9ZcFqHcb-evpgTSgT-Xt8JgTkls3I6zKD1mcrm2fOO1MFmcpuNW-qBmu_UO9SxN-cUPF7AYcti3zBTLWl/s320/IMG_1775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Silly me, I should have realized they were <i>riding</i> boots, not made for <i>walking.</i> Duoh!. I need to put a spare pair of sneakers in my motorcycle saddlebag.</div><div><br /></div><div>After enjoying the nice weather and peace and quiet, I hopped on my trusty stead and headed back to the barn.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_2aLSM_Z5QfonnBM5pBJQhBYZnC32r-bcEeQaV-2RDkv77oBXCWMzs1K32KF1DDtbC00-hTEf5cxcZ11SpVgTNOGatBBZRFq7FT68plotPgcJ6l8KYxGXfsHsfjGgMiAZaPP_PvQibuw/s2048/IMG_1768.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_2aLSM_Z5QfonnBM5pBJQhBYZnC32r-bcEeQaV-2RDkv77oBXCWMzs1K32KF1DDtbC00-hTEf5cxcZ11SpVgTNOGatBBZRFq7FT68plotPgcJ6l8KYxGXfsHsfjGgMiAZaPP_PvQibuw/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Only a trip of 124 miles, hardly PDD levels, but I'm happy to get out and about.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38iFZc3jZ2CtIYJu3KeOjRmOF2ISQF4N2PMvfgIGMl4V2pTaPMwjIwzJk3StuwPLrr9V-2kBVLPECt8ZqIZ2l5f_fPYLF9glZiZeBLxG_leRnaYg0xhGd37wVvBK7CgXzLIEv6B5CGvzJ/s5152/IMG_1774.JPG" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38iFZc3jZ2CtIYJu3KeOjRmOF2ISQF4N2PMvfgIGMl4V2pTaPMwjIwzJk3StuwPLrr9V-2kBVLPECt8ZqIZ2l5f_fPYLF9glZiZeBLxG_leRnaYg0xhGd37wVvBK7CgXzLIEv6B5CGvzJ/s320/IMG_1774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Thankfully this time of year is some of South Carolina's nicest weather, so I'm sure to get a few more rides in. I'm now checking the maps to see where to go next.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-57874699721805041222020-07-01T15:04:00.000-04:002020-07-01T15:04:32.056-04:00Traveling With My Other RVThe new "Normal" certainly has changed things. Chances for us to travel in our beloved Journey have been completely wiped out for the time being. But just recently things here in South Carolina have loosened up a bit and one day each week for the last three weeks I've been able to take a jaunt with my other "RV".<br />
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In my town we have an informal group of folks that get together on Tuesdays, meeting at a nearby parking lot and then taking off for a ride on the back roads of South Carolina to a restaurant for a lunch together. Doesn't matter what type of bike or brand of motorcycle you have, all are welcomed. Some of the older riders ride three wheeled Harleys. One of the fellows is 88 years old and it's fun trying to keep up with him.<br />
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We're very fortunate that restrictions have loosened up enough that with careful protocols in place we can taste a bit of what used to be normal life.<br />
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Even buffets are available with paper plates, plastic forks and plastic gloves handed out to prevent contamination from handling servicing spoons, as well as tables spaced out to follow social distancing guidelines.<br />
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These weekly rides are a lot of fun, even with high heat and humidity that's the norm here in South Carolina summers. It has done me a lot of good to be able to get out of the house and get some fresh air. I think I need to name my motorcycle "My Sanity". 😁<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-73819666395984515092020-05-30T12:03:00.003-04:002020-05-30T12:07:36.589-04:00What is up with new Blogger Format???Holy smokes, Batman! I gave the new format a try this morning and it doesn't work. Couldn't open a new post window and the feed back box wouldn't open either. I guess the brain trust that came up with this "better" Blogger forgot to make it even work.<br />
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Typical new stuff doesn't work even close to the tried and proven old system. Again.<br />
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Oh well, an update about how we've been doing lately. As I posted before, we were care taking my 98 year old father in our stix and brix home for almost two years. Sadly, he passed away just before Christmas, peacefully, which we're thankful for. Marti and I were with him right at the end in the ER where he was being checked for heart pain. We talked and joked for almost two hours, then he closed his eyes and was gone. I'm grateful we were with him and he didn't pass alone.<br />
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One of my favorite pictures of Dad a couple of years ago, he always was a character and wasn't afraid to have fun.<br />
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Now we've dealt with estate issues and have finished getting his house cleaned out and sold, just one messy issue left with his remaining bank account. Dad had updated his will back in 2016 and gave each one of my siblings a copy but we couldn't find the original, we don't know what he did with it after an exhaustive search. The bank will not release his funds remaining in his bank account without an original will. I'm dealing now with a lawyer going through probate. It's complicated because he was a NJ resident and the will was drawn up there, but since he stayed with me in SC the last years of his life, it is considered his residency here. So we're dealing with two state courts to get it settled. As if one isn't enough. 😵<br />
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The Journey sits in our storage lot. I visit it every couple of weeks and either run the generator under load for a couple of hours or take it for a spin up and down the highway for a good run. The Corona virus had really put a hold on our plans. I was going to take the Journey up to the Winnebago factory in June for a replacement of our slides seals, they are leaking and then a cross country trip to CA in July for a family reunion with all our kids and grand kids. That ain't happening now.<br />
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We really were looking forward to it because it's been years since our three kids were together and some of our 9 (!) grand kids have never met in person. Our daughter, Heather and her two boys lives two miles from us here in SC, our son Corey lives in NJ with two girls and boy and son Ryan lives in CA with his four girls. Ryan is in the Coast Guard and is stationed out there, since he has moved every 3-4 years it's been hard to get everyone together at one time, and we were tied down with my Dad. Hopefully next year we'll be able to make it all work.<br />
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Marti and I have been busy up until the shutdown with volunteer work at our church and the USO. We have been very glad for our subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime TV. We've really been enjoying lots of British shows, some are funny, some have you on the edge of your seat. Sad we don't have that quality of TV shows in the U.S.<br />
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We're well and comfortable and at time miss traveling, but this virus thing will pass. Hope all is well wherever you may be.<br />
<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-45794797793624700362019-07-29T20:30:00.002-04:002019-07-31T15:27:51.526-04:00180 Shopping Days Till Christmas! With Poor Quality Pix This Time (Don't Know What Happened)Just a warning, July 25th was 180 days away from Christmas 2019. What better way to spend that day than volunteering at my local USO. Of course, if you don't know how to say "<i>No</i>" you can find<br />
yourself in the strangest places doing the most unusual things.<br />
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Somehow I found myself resurrecting "Santa Paul", ie: Santa interrupting his summer vacation to visit a nearby military training base riding on a fire truck that was playing Christmas tunes. We stopped all over the base, everywhere we saw groups of service members and brought some summertime Christmas cheer into their day by handing out candy canes and free energy soft drink hats.<br />
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Everybody wanted their picture taken with Santa. They also took a lot of selfies with the old guy. I think they wanted to prove to their families and friends that Santa really did visit them in the middle of a hot summer day in South Carolina, and it wasn't a mirage they saw due to being out in the sun too long.<br />
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All tolled, we gave out over 140 hats and numerous candy canes to service members in the Army, Navy and Marines. It was great fun and just another way the USO supports our military members.<br />
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Now, Santa is back on his well earned summer vacation while those wonderful elves are keeping toy production going at the North Pole. Me? I'm wondering what the ladies that run the USO have in store for me next!<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to make a comment.</div>
Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-55179024146894901582019-06-19T11:53:00.001-04:002019-06-19T11:53:44.326-04:00Shakedown TripSince we came off the road fulltime and bought our little house in South Carolina, the Journey hasn't gone more than a few miles every month or so for a little exercise before returning to the storage lot where we keep it. That changed when we fired it up for an extended 460 mile trip to Disney World with our daughter and grandsons Andrew and Owen. Thankfully my brother Jon came down from NJ to stay with my Dad (who now lives with us) while we were away.<br />
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Before we left, I spent several days going over the Journey with a fine toothed comb, I serviced the generator myself but had to take it in to the nearby Freightliner dealer for the engine and chassis service. I know how to do all that myself but I don't have the ability to deal with 20 quarts of used engine oil anymore, so I had to pay to get it done. 😟<br />
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Also my front tires needed replacing, the Michelin XRV tires, despite only being five years old had serious cracking on the sidewalls. Not wanting to experience a blowout I replaced them with two new Goodyear G670 tires. The rears, even newer than the fronts, are starting to show slight cracking on the sidewalls, but were in good enough condition to last for this trip. I'll be replacing them later in the summer, we have a wedding in September in Rhode Island and we're planning on taking the Journey there. No more Michelin tires for me. <br />
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We've mellowed a bit. Marti and I were heading down a day early and decided to stop halfway at a Flying J for the night, Heather and the boys were driving down the next day. It was quite a shakedown trip for us. I-95 in South Carolina was in poor condition and cause us a couple of problems. First to go was a hubcap.<br />
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A little later on we heard an occasional thump from the right front area of the Journey. I was perplexed wondering what that could be. When we stopped, I found out that the right front fog light had come loose and was dangling from the wire harness, from time to time as it swung it contacted the back of the bumper making that noise we heard. Thankfully it didn't come loose and I unhooked it and took it inside. Another item to repair later.<br />
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Thankfully, that was the last problem from the shakedown cruise, I thought. But I found another issue after we got home from the trip. <br />
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Our favorite sign.<br />
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And our home away from home away from home. For the week.<br />
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As always, we had a wonderful time, despite the heat and most afternoon rain storms. We actually waded ankle deep in water down Main Street one evening in a heavy storm. It added to the fun as we laughed with every step. <br />
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Andrew had special fun this trip, he is old enough now to drive the golf cart we rented. A happy camper was he.<br />
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All too soon the week was over and we headed home. This time I drove the whole 460 miles, getting back in the PDD groove. It felt good and has me looking forward to our next trip to Rhode Island.<br />
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We cleaned out the Journey upon returning home and I scrubbed all the bugs off the nose. Where did all those bugs come from? As I washed the Journey I noticed a small stain of fluid under the entrance step. Looking into it further, it seems I have a leak at the hydraulic pump area for the slides/jacks. I didn't have time to investigate so it's on the repair list for this summer. Hopefully it's just something loose and an easy fix for a change. Fingers crossed.<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-2193234801301448952019-05-20T20:12:00.003-04:002019-05-20T20:15:43.067-04:00Time Marches OnIt's become a bit of a "Groundhog Day" existence here at our South Carolina home. My Dad is still living here which has really been an adjustment for us. He is a 97 year old man with an 18 year old's mindset. He still thinks he can do anything, until he takes a "digger" and I have to pick him up off the floor. <br />
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One of us has to be physically present with him at all times to monitor his movements. Thankfully we have been able to hire a respite company to have a companion with him two days a week for several hours so Marti and I can get out and do some of the things we need to do. He doesn't like the companions, he calls them "baby sitters". We call them angels! :c)<br />
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Since Dad came to live with us last July, we've had three ambulance trips to the hospital, once for the broken hip, once for what appeared to be a stroke (it wasn't) and once for severe chest pains. His ticker is getting a little worn out. But he's happy, eating well and watching his favorite TV shows: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. I never really watched those shows before, now I'm not thrilled I watch them now, they make me feel really stupid. Maybe I shouldn't have slept so much in school!<br />
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We are planning a Disney World trip first week of June with our grandsons Andrew and Owen. My older brother Jon, who recently retired, is coming down from NJ to stay with Dad. That's a great relief to know Dad will be well cared for and will enjoy somebody else to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with. ;c)<br />
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I've been getting the Journey ready for the trip, I serviced the generator myself but had to make an appointment with a Freightliner dealer for the engine oil/filter and chassis service because I have no place to handle 20 quarts of used engine oil. On the appointment date I drove the Journey down only to find out they never got me on the schedule and were not able to do it. Thankfully since I'm retired, I was able to reschedule another date for the next week.<br />
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Drove to the next week appointment and ended up cooling my heels in the truckers lounge for FIVE hours. I learned two things from this experience: In the future, I'll stick to using Speedco shops for the Journey's service (which usually takes no more than and hour) and that truckers are very touchy-feely. The truckers in the lounge with me were mesmerized by watching Dr. Phil on TV. <i>The whole five hours.</i> I was enlightened to discover after five hours I am not touchy-feely.<br />
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The Journey lives in a nearby storage lot where I check on it regularly and about every 4-6 weeks run it around. I am amazed at how dirty it gets just sitting still. It gave me great satisfaction to be able to bring it to the paved lot next to our house (we live on a dead end street) to wash it and go over all the systems. I tossed all the can goods we had left in the cabinets, they were all over two years old, and gave the carpets a good cleaning. More scrubbing will be done over the next week.<br />
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I went to replace the water filter and fill the water tank to flush the antifreeze out and found the filter canister was cracked on the bottom. A call to Lichtsinn Motors in Iowa got a new one mailed out to me, it arrived today. It is a bit different so I may have to change some fittings to install it. I took the Journey back to the storage lot for the next couple of days (don't want the HOA to complain) until I can work on it again and noticed one of my air pressure gauges has gone bad and when I closed the door, the step motor broke. Another call to Lichtsinn and a new motor is on the way, I'll have to run by Freightliner to pick up a new gauge sometime next week.<br />
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I'm also replacing the front tires, they are Michelin XRV tires and although they have not aged out, they have severe cracks in the sidewalls. A known issue with them. It didn't matter that I've been very careful about keeping them covered and used 303 Protectant on them. I'm done with Michelin and have two Goodyear G670 RV tires on the way, should be in next week. The rear tires are just starting to show tiny sidewall cracks, they are even newer than the fronts, but I'll wait to next year to replace them.<br />
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I want to go to the Winnebago factory service center to have my left side slide looked at, it appears to need adjustment, it has dropped in the front side about an inch. It still works just fine, but the slide arms ride on plastic bushings and I think they are worn. Unfortunately that will have to remain on the back burner because of my Dad living with us. Since we use the Journey so infrequently, it can wait.<br />
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So that's the latest, just doing what needs to be done. Family first. Dr. Phil, no way!<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-83566810564357898902019-02-23T12:47:00.001-05:002019-02-23T12:47:59.273-05:00Life As A CaregiverWe are soldiering on day by day caring for my 97 year old father. It's hard to see him so slowed down and nearly helpless after growing up under his parenting. He was an energetic, brilliant man who could do almost anything he put his mind to. I learned so much from him.<br />
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Now he isn't sure what day of the week it is and needs help with everyday basic tasks. We do whatever we can to make him comfortable and happy, whether it be putting on his favorite TV shows (Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy) to serving him his unending love for another bowl of strawberry ice cream.<br />
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We've had doctor visits, a night in the hospital when we though he had a stroke (he didn't) and have a visiting home health nurse and physical therapist several times a week to closely monitor his health.<br />
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When the weather cooperates, we have him outside enjoying the sun and fresh air for a change of pace. We get him out to various places as much as we can but it really tires him out so we have to be very careful.<br />
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The bottom line is we will keep him here at our home as long as we can, glad to be able to provide a safe and warm environment for him. As for our life, we have put it on hold, we have only limited days with him and would not want to look back and be sorry for not doing enough for him.<br />
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The Journey patiently awaits in a nearby storage lot. I try to get over every other week to check up on it. At least once a month I start up the generator and engine and drive it around the storage lot in circles for a bit. When I have more time I take it for a long drive up and down the nearby interstate.<br />
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The house batteries are starting to show their age as the are over five years old. I have a list of items I want to take care of this coming spring to get things up to 100%. First on the list is an overall wash, it is amazing how dirty the Journey gets just sitting. At least there are no new bugs stuck on the front.<br />
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We are planning a trip in June with the Journey to Disney World's Fort Wilderness with our daughter and grandsons Andrew and Owen. It will be good to get out on the road for a bit. We have been making arrangements for my brother to take my Dad for the time we're away. Haven't quite figured out how we'll juggle him back and forth from SC to NJ and back but we'll find a way.<br />
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We've had occasional thoughts of downsizing the Journey to a smaller RV, but at this time it just doesn't make sense. We'd never get a return on the money the Journey cost (ah the joys of a depreciating asset) but we do like the large room and sleeping space (8 beds!) for our Disney visits and trips with the grandkids. So we'll continue to hang on to it. Hard to believe it's 12 years old already, seems like just the other day we drove it brand new off the dealer's lot. It's got a little wear and tear on it but there is a lot of life and miles left in it. Hopefully I have the same! :c)<br />
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Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-72785109020696406512018-12-11T13:17:00.000-05:002018-12-11T13:17:08.428-05:00Didn't See This One Coming<i>Semper Gumby</i>, our motto (Always Flexible). It has been put to the test once again.<br />
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My 97 year old father has had some serious health issues that have changed his lifestyle, the last one was when he fell and broke his hip while visiting us last summer. The hip is doing very well, but it came with a variety of new challenges, he needs a walker and wheelchair to get around and no longer can dress or bath himself, let alone drive a car or cook meals. He's also having some mental decline with memory issues. He can no longer live by himself. The "joys" of getting older.<br />
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We had worked out a good plan to take care of him with my brother and SIL, rotating Dad back and forth every couple of months between their home in NJ and our home in South Carolina. Unfortunately that didn't work out, because my brother still works, so a lot of the care issues fell on my SIL. After a couple of weeks they realized they could not handle Dad's care.<br />
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The solution? Dad is back here with us in SC permanently. It is a new challenge taking care of him, nothing we can't handle with both of us retired, but it requires one of us (usually me) to be with him at all times. I handle the dressing and bathing and Marti ensures we provide Dad with his favorite meals and oversees all his meds and health care needs.<br />
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Basically, it has locked us down and we can't go anywhere and do things like we used to unless we bring Dad along with us. Every time we do take him out to eat or shop it tires him out so mostly we stay home. So the Journey sits in a nearby storage lot unused. I do go there and check on it, run the generator and engine every couple of weeks and take it for a short spin. I can't let it be neglected. We do miss our travels in it and are not able to make any travel plans in it for the foreseeable future.<br />
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So it's a lot of sitting with Dad watching Hallmark movies along with a steady diet of Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy at night. It's hard seeing Dad decline after being an amazing brilliant man, but Marti and I are happy to be able to love and care for him in these twilight years. Family first.<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment. Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-4547855705955376402018-09-29T11:51:00.000-04:002018-09-29T11:51:18.323-04:00Just a Quick UpdateThis has been an unusual summer, for sure. Sometimes you don't see the curveball coming your way, but when it hits, you have to deal with it.<br />
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After we returned from our cruise, I had looked forward to giving some love to the Journey and even going away for a weekend or two. I have a maintenance project list to keep it in good shape.<br />
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All that changed in an instant.<br />
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My 96 year old Dad came down from NJ for a week long visit mid July. Normally he has been living with my brother and SIL in NJ. They had a planned vacation in Europe, so we welcomed my Dad to stay with us.<br />
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After the first two days with us, Dad got up and bent over to make his bed. He lost his balance, fell and broke his hip. On the way to the floor, somehow, he also sliced his ear open on a bedside table. I ran into his room and found him on the floor in agony, with blood all over. Amazing how an ear can bleed.<br />
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The usual then took place. An ambulance ride to the ER, then a stitching up of his ear. X-rays, CT scan and then surgery the next day for a partial hip replacement.<br />
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So I've been pretty much by his side 24/7 ever since. Sleeping in the hospital next to him for a week, then in the rehab hospital for two more weeks. After release from the rehab hospital, it was outpatient rehab three times a week. We've completed that and he is getting around pretty well with his walker and occasional wheelchair use.<br />
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Since he has limits on how he can and can't bend, I have to help him dress, undress and shower. If he should move in the wrong way, he could dislocate the hip and we'd have to start hospital and rehab all over again. Nope, don't want to do that!<br />
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We've kept him active, taking him out at least somewhere every day, sometimes just to the store, but we've been to a couple of high school football games, band concerts, church, dinners and so on. I've even taken him with me to the USO where I volunteer and also to the gun range to shoot a few holes in a paper target (he did amazingly well, the last time he fired a gun was in WWII). He's been enjoying watching the Hallmark Channel on TV most nights, too.<br />
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Looks like next weekend, we'll be able to take him home to NJ, just in time to see the leaves turning. He's looking forward to going back to my brother's. We've decided since he can no longer live on his own, we'll rotate hin back and forth from NJ to here in SC every couple of months, giving him a change of pace and a break for us caretakers. It's a lot of work, but you have to take care of your family.<br />
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One thing, though, we don't let him make the bed anymore! :cD<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-11133282503492185612018-07-27T10:32:00.000-04:002018-07-27T10:32:35.896-04:00Pirates of the CaribbeanWell, we certainly cruised in much more luxury than the pirates of old did. We sailed from Port Canaveral, Florida on the Royal Caribbean <i>Oasis of the Seas.</i><br />
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Funny, back in 2007 when I was on an assignment in Finland, I visited a shipyard where the <i>Oasis</i> was being built. I thought at that time it would be great to cruise on it someday. Little did I know then that I really would.<br />
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We sailed with Marti's sister Gail and our daughter Heather and two grandsons Andrew and Own.<br />
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We booked two side by side balcony cabins and enjoyed the views both in island ports and at sea.<br />
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The <i>Oasis</i> is the second largest cruise ship in the world. It has all kinds of amazing things on it, like a tree lined park,<span id="goog_1542536340"></span><br />
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and a grand concourse.<br />
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There is even a beautiful classic automobile on the concourse. No you can't drive it, but if you could there is plenty of room on the ship to do so. Any guesses on what this car is?<br />
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The ship has some amazing activities on board, like a rock climbing wall. The boys had a ball scaling the cliffs.<br />
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A zip line over the park. No way was I going to do this, I left it to Andrew and Owen.<br />
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The Flow Rider on the stern of the ship is where brave passengers could try their hand at surfing.</div>
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We visited the Bahamas where the boys got a chance to try out their driving skills.<br />
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At a port call at St. Thomas we took a tour of the island on an open air bus.<br />
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The views around the island were amazing.<br />
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Another port call was to St. Martin/Sant Maateen, an island that is half Dutch and half French. We booked a private tour and were saddened to see all the damage still unrepaired from last year's hurricanes that hit the island. Wrecked buildings,<br />
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devastated marinas with scores of wrecked boats.<br />
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Even Captain Jack Sparrow was not spared, looks like he will be shopping for a new ship.<br />
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Fortunately, the island is starting to bounce back, with tourism helping to fuel the repairs. Shops were open with loads of goodies and souvenirs<br />
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And local wildlife were doing their part to put dollars in the pockets of the islanders.<br />
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It was a great cruise, all seven days of it and the boys are still talking about how much they loved it. Sounds like a good reason to book another cruise next year if you ask me. 😎<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-66097383557618947222018-06-21T22:00:00.002-04:002018-06-21T22:00:39.501-04:00Out Of CirculationFor a while, that is. Spent the last week in NJ taking care of my 96 year old dad while my brother and SIL were away, he is living with them for the foreseeable future.<br />
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To extend my absence further, Marti and I are leaving for a cruise in the Caribbean next week with daughter Heather and grandsons Andrew and Owen. Should be a lot of fun, the height of summer and hurricane season to boot! <br />
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Hope Royal Caribbean knows what they are doing! 😅<br />
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PS: No title yet but we're getting closer. In the modern era of electronic titles, you'd think it would be a snap to produce one. Nope, but I now have a letter authorizing South Carolina to title the Journey. We'll have to wait until we return from the cruise and see what happens.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-54195333743030390942018-05-17T19:38:00.000-04:002018-05-17T19:38:36.503-04:00I'm Sick Of Looking At Santa, Too!Life goes on, we have not been able to go anywhere in the Journey since we parked it in the storage lot last July. Lots of things got in the way, like my back surgery (I'm doing fine) and a battle over the Journey's title between South Dakota and South Carolina DMVs. Seems the title is electronically maintained in SD and it will take about 5-6 weeks for it to be transferred to SC. It's already been over eight weeks and I'm ready to do battle again tomorrow. <br />
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I have periodically run the Journey's generator and diesel engine to keep the batteries charged and the engines lubed, but it is better to run it on the road. Since the SD registration expired back in February I can't drive it until I get SC plates on it. If I hadn't already paid the annual SC vehicle tax of $1800, which the SC DMV requires before they will talk to you, I'd have just renewed in SD for a fraction of that. DMVs are never fun to deal with, no matter what state.<br />
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So I'm keeping busy volunteering at the USO and our church (rode herd on a bunch of middle schoolers today at an after school homework helping session, and boy am I worn out!). We have taken two car trips to NJ (750 miles one way, boy do we miss the Journey...and its bathroom) to visit my dad who is having some health challenges and our son Corey's family.<br />
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There are a few new faces in the family, daughter Heather got a new puppy, a rescue. Colby is his name and he is the sweetest little guy.<br />
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Corey got a new dog last year, a rescue from Georgia. He was supposed to be a mix of Bloodhound and Lab, after DNA testing, he is a mix of American Bloodhound and other breed(s) undetermined. He is the size of a small horse, but the most gentle dog you'd ever want to meet. Here is Colt.<br />
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Another new addition is Jackson. He is grandchild number <i>NINE! </i>We need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the birthdays now! We can finally say he is the Caboose.<br />
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Marti is already spoiling him.<br />
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Jackson has two big sisters, Anabelle and Lizzie. Anabelle is showing her artwork at a school art show. Yep, that's a cast on her arm, she broke her elbow playing on the monkey bars at school. She's a tomboy.<br />
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Sister Lizzie is our little lady, always wants to wear dresses. <br />
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While we we visiting, Corey and DIL Amanda ran a 5K race with the girls at our old home area of Sandy Hook, NJ. Jackson was so bundled up he had a hard time cheering them on.<br />
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After the first lap, the girls had enough and joined us as spectators. Corey was happy. In fairness to Anabelle, it's hard to run with a cast from your fingers to your shoulder.<br />
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Lizzie stuck it out with her mom and made it on her own two feet.<br />
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Later, after the race, we walked around Sandy Hook, where we lived for 11 years while I was stationed there in the Coast Guard. Sandy Hook is a 7 mile long peninsula pointing at the mouth of New York Harbor. There are many old gun emplacements all around the Hook from days when the Army had many cannons guarding New York. The decommissioned base, called Fort Hancock, is now a part of the National Park Service's Gateway Recreation Area.<br />
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Lots of memories from our walk, our three kids still consider it home after growing up there. The girls enjoyed hearing stories from Corey about how he, his brother Ryan and their friends played on all the crumbling gun emplacement structures that time has worn down. I'm glad I didn't know that at the time and even more glad they survived without a pile of concrete falling on their heads.<br />
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Before we left, we wanted to get some family pictures. Amanda and her kids.<br />
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Corey, Marti and the kids. No matter how hard you try, someone is always unhappy at too many pictures being taken!<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<i> Insert picture of South Carolina License Plate when I finally get one!!!!</i>Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-44090836797159353822017-12-23T13:08:00.000-05:002017-12-23T13:10:37.058-05:00Saving Christmas (Again)Last year I wrote a post about how I saved Christmas when Santa's sleigh harness broke and he crashed into the ocean. History repeats itself, at least around me, as I got another chance to save Christmas.<br />
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I've been enjoying my volunteering at the USO at the Columbia, SC airport near where our home base is. Always something to do to help out our transiting military folks as they pass through the airport to and from assignments. It's been really nice to see many families reunited in time for the holidays.<br />
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This USO has three wonderful full time ladies that run the place (along with about 150 volunteers), they put their heart and soul into making sure everything possible can be done to support the troops. During the course of the year they put on special events for the military members and their families and at Christmas time they do several amazing parties and concerts for those stationed at nearby Fort Jackson.<br />
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Last night I got a chance to volunteer at a family Christmas party at the Fort with an Army brigade that had had a tough year, tragically losing several members to a training accident. The Christmas party was a way to have the families gather and have a special fun time to put the sadness behind them.<br />
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Santa Claus was enlisted to visit the children at the party. He arrived on a fire truck.<br />
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The kids were delighted to see him and rushed out to greet him.<br />
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Inside the building Santa sat in a chair and handed out gifts to the kids as they sat with him.<br />
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A few kids weren't quite sure what to make of this jolly, old fellow in the red suit.<br />
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Other kids thought it was a blast to meet Santa and tell him their wish list.<br />
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Two of the USO ladies even had to get their picture taken with Santa, Katie on the left and Anne Elise on the right.<br />
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Once all the children had met Santa and received their gifts, I too wanted to get my picture with Santa as he sat by himself.</div>
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Here is my picture with Santa:</div>
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Yep, that's "Santa <i>Paul</i>". I never played Santa before and it was a last minute call as the original volunteer who was going to play Santa got sick and couldn't come. So I was able to step in and "save" Christmas.</div>
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The USO ladies, Katie and Anne Elise said I did such a great job that they have plans to use me again for another occasion. Something about being shot out of a cannon wearing a ballerina costume...</div>
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Here's to wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year wherever your travels have taken you!</div>
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<img alt="Image result for picture of santa kneeling at the manger" 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" 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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-7132315365730959952017-11-30T15:49:00.002-05:002017-11-30T15:49:22.219-05:00Still Alive, Nothing NewSometimes life is just that: life. We're living it here at our homebase in South Carolina. I've taken the Journey out for a good spin up and down the highway to keep the batteries charged up and everything in good running order. It was hard to put it away, it seemed to want to keep on going.<br />
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I now have to get ready to winterize it in the next few weeks, hate to do that, it makes it seem too permanent to not be using it. Fortunately we have plans to hit the road quite a bit next year, February to Disney World, April/May to California to visit the grandgirls, then later summer to New Jersey to hang with the Jersey grandgirls and their new little brother, due to arrive in early January. Yep, grandkid number nine. Need a spreadsheet on the computer to keep track of the birthdays. I'm sure we'll squeeze in more trips as the year progresses. <br />
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So I'm keeping busy with my volunteer days at the local USO, lots of fun with the workers and the troops coming through. Making the best use of my free time now that we're retired. Plus, it keeps me out of trouble...<br />
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The back is doing very well, just being careful not to overdo bending and especially lifting. The spine doctor told me that the disc is in bad shape, he repaired the herniation part but it could happen again and then I'd be facing rods on my back. Don't want that so I'm being very good at following his orders. <br />
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The poor Journey still is dirty, I may just break down and take it to a Blue Beacon truck wash and let them clean it. I've used them in the past and they do a pretty good job, but don't do roofs. I like to wash the Journey's roof before I do the sides, otherwise the roof dirt drains down on the sides. But until I'm back in full washing trim, the roof will have to wait.<br />
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So that's an update. Looking forward to Christmas and all that shopping for the grandkids. Thank goodness for Amazon! 😉<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-40845445323852360732017-10-03T11:59:00.001-04:002017-10-03T11:59:10.097-04:00End Of An EraFolks that have served in the military know that they make friends with others that have bonds that are very deep. I have met and become friends with men and women that are more like brothers and sisters than just friends. This past weekend, Marti and I had the privilege of attending the retirement ceremony of one of my close friends, Scott, who was retiring after thirty years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard.<br />
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He is the last of my Coastie friends that I served with to retire from the service after an amazing career. Not only is he an amazing guy, but his career took him to many places and trouble spots all around the world. We should be very thankful there are many men and women serving today just like him to protect and keep us safe.<br />
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One of the best things about this ceremony was it brought together several other Coast Guard Special Agent friends of mine that joined the retired ranks some years ago, I hadn't seen some of them in years and it was great to meet and catch up. Of course a picture was required.<br />
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There were many touching parts in the ceremony, including passing the flag, an American flag that was flown over each of Scott's duty stations where he had severed during his career. A solemn and moving sight.<br />
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The flag was passed through nine Coast Guardsmen until it was finally handed to Scott, a real way to honor both the flag and his service.<br />
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There were many moving moments, some hard to hold back the tears. Scott's wife spoke about the times of worry and fear she experienced as well as the good times. Tears and laughter.<br />
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When it came time for Scott to read his final orders sending him into retirement, we all lost it. Tears flowed through the crowd, myself included. A lifetime of service, a way of life, is hard to handle when it comes to an end. Thankfully it opens new doors and opportunities.<br />
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After the ceremony, there was a great celebration party that lasted well into the evening. It was a wonderful time and I'm so happy I was able to go, even though I had back surgery two weeks ago. I'm glad that Scott and I live pretty close together so we'll be able to visit often. <br />
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As to my back, all is going well. I feel better every day and in another week I'll be able to return to a more normal schedule, volunteering at the USO and even being able to cut my own grass. You can be sure I'll be very careful not to overdo it, I don't want to go through a painful experience like I've been through ever again! :c)<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-84725340771811432332017-09-20T13:33:00.001-04:002017-09-20T13:33:37.722-04:00Getting My Back BackIt has been a long and very painful road, but thankfully the end is in sight. Monday I had a long awaited operation on my back to correct the condition that had kept me down and out. I'm home now with a six week recovery ahead to get back to full strength. I have some serious restrictions on what I can do (not very much) and what I can't do (lots!). But it is worth it all to be rid of the unbelievable debilitating pain I experienced. I'm very grateful for modern medicine and an outstanding neurosurgeon that fixed me up.<br />
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So the Journey will have to wait a little bit longer to get its long overdue wash job, but when I can get to it, it'll be the best one it ever got.<br />
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Thanks to all my friends and readers for the encouraging comments and emails. It sure helped me in a very dark time to know you were out there and concerned for me. :c)Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-8269930922617931142017-08-04T12:31:00.000-04:002017-08-04T12:34:39.048-04:00Slow Going On The Back<br />
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Rome wasn't built in a day. It seems my quest to get my back...back is going to take just as long as the Rome build.<br />
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After trying to get help through the VA Hospital and not getting any satisfaction on the glacial pace that they work, I went on the outside to our family doctor. That, at least, sped things up a little bit.<br />
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I'm now waiting for my appointment with a neurosurgeon my doctor recommended, and the earliest I could get is for September 13th. My doctor put me on this track right away recognizing that my back issue is quite serious. As for the VA, they wanted me to go to a pain clinic and a physical therapy route, never mentioning a neurosurgeon's review of my MRI.<br />
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The funny thing (NOT!) with the VA is the earliest appointments I could get if I took that route was for the last week in October. That's a long time to be hurting.<br />
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So I'm taking it easy, I have some meds to help me along. I still get around okay and am able to drive short distances and even continue to volunteer at the nearby USO a couple of hours a week to have something to look forward to and get out of the house.<br />
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It's very rewarding to help some of these young kids who have stepped up to begin their military career at basic training at the local Army base as well as a chance to exchange "War Stories" with some of the more senior military folks that stop in for a rest, a snack or two and a hot cup of coffee. My fellow volunteers are a great bunch to work with and the three full time ladies that run this USO are nothing short of amazing, they put their heart and souls into it.<br />
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Sadly, the Journey still resides in the storage lot with the bugs and road grime from our California trip. I'm hoping that once the old back is straightened out I can show it some love, it surly needs it!<br />
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I'd be remiss if I didn't remember that today is the birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard. It sure provided me with a wonderful career and a "boatload" of memories.<br />
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<b><i> Semper Paratus! </i></b><br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-67422658241489156892017-07-11T20:19:00.001-04:002017-07-11T20:19:09.962-04:00A New WrinkleNope, not in the Journey, or our Element tow car. It's me. Again. <br />
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Many years ago during my Coast Guard days, I got injured in a rescue. To make a long story short, I got smacked across my lower back by a pipe (actually a Jack Staff for you Navy/Coast Guard folks). It's a campfire story. (The rescue turned out okay).<br />
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I was a little sore for a few days and the bruising soon disappeared. Didn't think much of it after that.<br />
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A few years later during an MRI on a fraud investigation (another campfire story) it was discovered that the pipe smack had damaged a disc in my back ( L-5). It didn't bother me but I was told it could cause problems later on in life. <br />
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Occasionally over the following years, I'd get a minor backache and treat it with some Motrin. It worked okay for me.<br />
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Fast forward to now, now that I'm of Old Fart status, the back started acting up about three months ago. The Motrin was working but as the days passed, it worked less and less and I'd be taking more and more.<br />
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On our California trip, the back really started to talk to me. I didn't let it slow me down (too much) but on the trip home my back started talking to me, yelling actually. Now I was up to 800 mg Motrin 3-4 times a day and it wasn't working. <br />
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By the time we were visiting our friends at the NWR, my back was now screaming at me. Time to get home and to the doctor. The pain was getting to the excruciating level and my left leg at times tingled and went numb.<br />
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I got an appointment at the Columbia VA today and after an X-ray, there shows problems with that pesky disc that got smacked all those years ago. Thankfully I got some more powerful meds that have helped turn down the pain. I'm going to get an MRI in the next week or so as they have an opening. The downside is there really isn't much that can be done to fix me short of surgery. <br />
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That new wrinkle is throwing a wrench in our remaining summer plans. I'm not complaining, just facing up to the fact that reaching the age for a Golden Age pass can come with a few unwanted side effects. ;c)<br />
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Anyway, we had a great trip to California, the granddaughters were so much fun to be with, the many sights we saw and things we were able to do on the way out and back were worth it all. We did 5366 miles on the trip and the Journey did us proud, we sure are pleased with how well it ran and how comfortable it was. <br />
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The downside is I couldn't wash the Journey, I had to put it in the storage lot with all those bug casualties all over the nose. I may have to take it to a nearby truck wash when I get a chance, I like to keep it clean and shiny. It's the least I can do in return for all the Journey's great service it's given us.<br />
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So I'll be chilling here at our SC home base for the time being. A good place to be. :c)<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment. <br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-82724865799257783102017-07-07T22:08:00.002-04:002017-07-07T22:08:42.324-04:00Rolling Out In The Home StretchWe had a good visit with our friends at Crab Orchard NWR. Because we're on a roll towards home, we didn't tour any of the refuge. So some of the wildlife came to our site. In the tradition of my great wildlife photographer friends, Sherry and Nancy, I gave it my best try. <br />
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Unfortunately, my best try was somewhat lacking. All my subjects either fled from me or gave me their best "end" view.<br />
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Finally I got close enough to one guy and he "dissed" my pathetic attempt to snap his picture.<br />
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I did get one good picture of another sight. Thankfully this subject stayed still long enough to get a good picture.<br />
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A tribute to the many young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who built many wonderful things for us to enjoy. This is the Lodge and Restaurant where we went to have a fantastic family style dinner of fried chicken. No pictures, unlike some people who post amazing pictures of lobster rolls, I chose to eat rather than snap a camera shutter. :cD<br />
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This is located at the Grant City State Park.<br />
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We're overnighting at a Flying J just 280 miles from our SC home base. As usual, with my luck, we hit a big backup several miles from our exit.<br />
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It was really slow going, thank goodness we carry a bathroom with us in the Journey. I swear many of the other drivers were looking longingly at us, probably regretting that last cup of coffee. ;c)<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-40470794448907228812017-07-05T22:29:00.002-04:002017-07-05T22:29:52.624-04:00Taking A Day OffAfter a day of rain filled driving,<br />
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we made it to Crab Orchard NWR in Illinois to stay for two nights. We have some very dear friends, Denny and Mary, that volunteer here. We worked with them the last several winters at Strom Thurmond COE so it's nice to take time off from the road and catch up. <br />
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Yes, that is actually trees behind the Journey instead of a Walmart or Flying J store. :c)<br />
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Stay tuned.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-80186476401223488512017-07-04T22:27:00.001-04:002017-07-04T22:27:22.888-04:00Not All Who Wander Are LostFor us it was just the opposite. We got lost. Really lost. In Kansas. Lost so bad that we were even looking for a handy tornado, just to get us out of the state. Hey, it worked for Dorothy and Toto...<br />
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It all started as a nice day of driving. The interstate was not busy at all, probably everybody was off celebrating Independence Day. Oh yeah, hope you had a happy Fourth.<br />
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We laughed as we passed some bikers riding down the interstate...on the shoulder. Maybe they lost their lane? We laughed too soon.<br />
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When we left California, we had to go over a bridge. The bridge has a $5 per car toll. When we drove over it, towing the Element, we got hit a $20 toll. Not $10, they charged us like a truck by axles. If we had known that in advance, we'd have disconnected the car before the bridge and saved ten bucks.<br />
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With the stinging $20 toll in our minds we saw ahead that the interstate by a major city turned into a toll road. Not gonna happen to us, we're going to take the beltway around the city and avoid paying.<br />
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Now sooner had we turned off onto the beltway we saw another sign: Toll Ahead. Un-uh. Not going to happen. We're going to turn off at the next exit and find a different way to go.<br />
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Of course, the GPS told us the next exit was 25 miles away, so we were stuck on this toll road. After driving the whole distance to the exit, with my teeth being ground down to nubs after I realized I only had $35 cash in my wallet (debit cards are so handy) we pulled up to the toll both.<br />
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$4.75. Wow! We got off cheap. Now to find our way back to the interstate. Except the only road we were now on was going through the countryside and was going Southwest. We needed to go East!<br />
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The road was narrow, but pretty as we drove. And drove. And drove.<br />
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Thankfully, there was water available so we wouldn't die of thirst if we never found our way back to the Eastbound interstate.<br />
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All the little towns we ended up transiting were empty, folks were enjoying their day.<br />
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Finally we found the interstate. In the right direction, too. <br />
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It only took us 100 miles out of our way. Now lets see, 100 miles, 7.5 miles to the gallon, a gallon of diesel fuel runs an average of $2.75, um I should have sucked it up and just paid the toll.<br />
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Sometimes, no matter how much I look up, I still find myself in another self induced adventure! ;c)<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-32150136421393047312017-07-03T20:51:00.000-04:002017-07-03T20:51:19.656-04:00No Drama DayThat's just the way we like it. A simple (and safe) fill up at the RV pump at the Flying J we stayed at. This Flying J had an IHOP restaurant, so we filled our personal "tanks" with a great breakfast before hitting the road.<br />
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Driving through eastern Colorado and western Kansas we didn't see those amazing views we saw the last couple of days. Instead, we saw lots of flat land, some fallow, some with crops.<br />
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Not too exciting. But one view got me very excited, something I don't see too often.<br />
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8.8 mpg! That's something very rarely seen in our Journey. Usually we see fuel figures averaging 7.2 to 7.5. With the flat highway and no winds, we got the much higher figure. Almost like free fuel. No complaints, we'll take figures like that. Sometimes you win! <br />
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About another 1200 miles to home base, we'll see what new things we see along the road.<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6388266709789139581.post-2284116128958239512017-07-02T20:50:00.000-04:002017-07-02T20:50:53.074-04:00Situational AwarenessThat's what I stressed when I taught my trainees in law enforcement classes. Always be aware of your situation, don't get tunnel vision and lose track of your surroundings.<br />
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Yet today, me, of all people did exactly that, I lost track of my situational awareness. How did that happen? Let me 'splain.<br />
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Western Colorado is beautiful, but not too friendly to large vehicles like trucks and our Journey, towing our Honda Element. There are many gas stations that carry gas and diesel, which we use, but aren't laid out to allow big vehicles to fit in.<br />
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After yesterday's 415 mile trek and an overnight at a Walmart, with some generator use, the fuel gauge was under 1/4 of a tank. Normally I fuel around half a tank so I have plenty of mileage left to search out a fuel stop. Of course, this morning all there was available in the quaint little Colorado towns were gas stations with no room for a big vehicle like ours. We looked and looked to find an accessible station no avail. We tried exit after exit with no success until I spotted a station across the street that I could swing into, the pumps were parallel to the road instead of the pumps facing the store.<br />
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I turned left into the station and before I could get all the way in, a man came running out and stopped me. He said I wouldn't fit under the roof over the pumps. He was right, the roof was only 11 feet high and the Journey stands at 12'6". I almost installed a sunroof in the Journey because I lost situational awareness, I was looking for a place to pull in and not looking up.<br />
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Now the fun started, I was half in the station with the car sticking out in the road blocking the lane. You can't back up a towed car so the only hope was to dodge traffic while I unhooked the car and then backed the Journey out into the road which had traffic backing up.<br />
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Fortune smiles on a fool and it sure did for me. A police officer came along and stopped traffic while I unhooked the car which Marti pulled out of the way and then he helped me back out. Phew!<br />
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Now that I was unhooked, I was able to drive down the street to another station that I fit under and now could maneuver without the car. After I fueled up, Marti and I moved to a large area and hooked up the car.<br />
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Lesson learned, keep track of your situation, breathe, and remember to drive the RV in three dimensions, width, length and <i style="font-weight: bold;">UP!</i><br />
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I did figure out a new cable to replace the one I tore yesterday. This is the cable that attaches to the plug that would stop the car if it ever came unhooked from the Journey.<br />
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I found a cable that is used by boaters to attach to an engine kill switch in case the operator falls overboard. The cable pulls out and stops the engine. With a little modification, cutting off the plastic part on one end and I had a new cable. Cheap, too.<br />
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After the fueling debacle, we had a nice drive on I-70 through the Colorado mountains, passed Vail and drove along the Colorado river. The mountains were beautiful,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoonbQXkjX2QRlWNb4vf8mwHYfN0KWTACV4Uhyphenhyphen4hoiExbNZDMxyGxKoF8E5EusnUN1M-Go_mkxcyUFvzmO8KFjUuSA_3Rnhg96xiLql-VcLaMYt4xZrtRgL3TlQBNZxicKWpZ2bhB7TEex/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoonbQXkjX2QRlWNb4vf8mwHYfN0KWTACV4Uhyphenhyphen4hoiExbNZDMxyGxKoF8E5EusnUN1M-Go_mkxcyUFvzmO8KFjUuSA_3Rnhg96xiLql-VcLaMYt4xZrtRgL3TlQBNZxicKWpZ2bhB7TEex/s320/IMG_1226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and we saw many people rafting on the river. That looks like fun, one of these days we'll have to try that. <br />
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The highway even runs through some tunnels. The road is well engineered.<br />
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Tonight we're blacktop boondocking at a Flying J. You can be sure we'll top off our fuel tank here before we head out in the morning. 1500 miles to go to get back to home base in South Carolina. And I'll keep looking UP! :c)<br />
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Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.<br />
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<br />Paul and Marti Dahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.com16