The Grand Canyon was grand! Couldn't have picked a better day...weather was pleasant, train ride from Williams was delightful...and the canyon was grand. On Thursday, we toured the charming town of Williams, brought in some groceries, did a little laundry and made plans to go our separate ways.

Friday morning, the Nelsons headed south to visit friends and check out possible "wintering" places. We headed north and east through Navajo and Hopi nations...a six hour scenic drive to end up 3 hours away in Gallup. And the winds came. ....and then we woke to 2 inches of snow!! So much for our plans to visit the wild wolf sanctuary that was down at least four miles of dirt road.

Plan B...drive to Taos by way of Santa Fe....so off we went...through rain and more snow...and a serious jam off traffic in Albuquerque....what a mess! I scored two fun rings in Santa Fe...and we managed to arrive in Taos safe and sound.

Where we plan to stay a while. The weather is predicted to remain the same...and today has been cold and snowy. Our heater is acting strangely...so we're staying toasty warm using the small portable electric heater. More to talk to Thor manufacturing about.

Monday we hope to explore the town...and if weather continues to disappoint we might just head for home.

OMG...where has the time gone?? And where the $&@$ is the damn cord that attaches camera to computer???? I really think it is here somewhere...but have given up hope of finding it...and can you believe I already have several extras at home from previous bouts of forgetfulness....so far this trip has been so much fun!! OKC...Cowboy Hall of Fame and Murrah Building Museum and Memorial...El Reno Route 66 museum, trolley ride and fort...nights in Palo Duro Canyon without Internet, cell phones, or tv...but with deer and wild turkeys...a rainy day in Santa Fe...a visit to the crest of Sandia Mts in Albuquerque ...then the wigwam hotel, Jack Rabbit Trading Post, standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona....
And even though I'm taking photos with phone...I can't seem to find them on iPad and get them to post...something is just not right....
We are now in Williams, Arizona...preparing to tour the Grand Canyon...train and bus tour is booked...don't think I'm gonna do that mule ride!
While we are having a grand time...just know my blogging self is beyond frustrated!! I am posting to Facebook...so friend me there...meanwhile, Where's a 12-year-old computer nerd when you need them??

Getting the RV loaded and ready to roll is very similar to loading the boat....just as intense and not as much space....and nothing gets to stay on the counters. We ran a little behind schedule....but got there safe and sound! We are at a KOA camp site that is listed as El Reno West...but is actually in Calumet OK....We are heading out shortly to explore some sites that cater to Route 66 in this area ...planning  to head back to OKC tomorrow. Doug is experiencing back issues and walks with difficulty and a big stick...wish we could fix that...but otherwise, we are off to a slow but great start. Burger joints on tap for today...my kinda lunch!

Whew...are these skills rusty!!! It has been a long while since I blogged...and its been a wild and crazy winter! Our Shockers made a nice run at NCAA but fell short...a new grandson arrived right on schedule...and Floyd enjoyed a sailing/working cruise from the Bahamas to Bermuda for 15 days in March...and now we are packed and headed out in the RV to travel Route 66 to the Grand Canyon. We'll be traveling with our friends, Jacque and Doug Nelson...and, of course, sweet Dakota.  The Nelson's currently reside in Bella Vista and own an RV like ours. I spent many years teaching with Jacque at East and Northeast Magnet. Interestingly enough, Doug and Floyd graduated from East High together...but with over 850 classmates they never knew each other until Jacque and I got them together. We are excited to be taking a land cruise...plan to be gone until end of April...and yes, I'm planning to blog alittle. I know you want to see photos of me riding that mule to the bottom of that big hole....

I'm sure you noticed the sudden end to postings on the blog...I was hatching a plot to surprise my daughter for her birthday....and it worked!!! We spent time with the Bemis couple in Charleviox and then made the quick run to Northport. Wednesday morning, August 12th, 8 AM our new friend Scot arrived with our new Thor Axis motor home and we headed to Elkhart, IN. Scot did mention that he thought this was the longest test drive he'd ever been involved with. ( 4 and 1/2 hours) Floyd signed papers. We got a few RV lessons. We bought necessities and headed for home on Thursday afternoon. We spent Thursday night in Joliet, Ill...on an RV campground that was once the Empress Casino complex (which a friend of mine built in 1992)...now Hollywood Casino complex. Then we toodles on to Grain Valley, MO (just east of KC). Arrived on Kelli's doorstep at noon on Saturday...she was more than a little shocked to see me standing there. In fact, I feared she'd be in such a panic that she'd go into labor right then. But she recovered quickly...and spent most of the rest of the day interrogating me about how I managed to pull off the surprise. Seems lots of folks were in on this...and she hadn't a clue.
It was a great birthday surprise....

We've spent time doing marathon laundry, getting hair cuts, manicures, pedicures, teeth cleaning...playing catch up...We are almost fit to be seen in public again. The rooms are still rocking a bit.

For now, the boating plan is that we will return to Lake Michigan around Father's Day and head south to complete our second loop. Then return to Lake Michigan...where we hope to continue to store the boat for several years and use it in the summers to play in North Channel, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron...etc. We love the idea of escaping Kansas heat...and maybe we'll have company.

Love Love Love being home....and once we get things situated in the RV, I think we'll love it too. At 25 feet, things are much tighter than on the boat. Plus there are no little nooks to tuck things in to...its in a cabinet or outside storage. No hidey holes inside at all. That will take some getting use to. Dakota seemed to settle right in...though when we are underway, he thinks he's a lap dog.

I do think I need to blog about RV adventures...but haven't decided whether it needs its own blog or I should just continue posting on this one....but for now, I'm shopping for RV things and anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Boy Rappard #2...he-who-has-not-been-named is coming September 1...after 10 AM...

August 6…Captain Floyd had us up at 5AM…water is smooth as glass…and we are outta here. We couldn’t believe how peaceful and calm the water was…all 7 hours of our journey into Drummond Island. IT WAS LOVELY!!!! Cleared customs at 2:47PM…added gas-o-line (measured in gallons, eh!) …beer thirty on the aft deck…a little celebration at supper and we are down for the count. Even though we are back in the states…WiFi, phone coverage and internet on this island is bad at best. Hoping tomorrow it will be better in Mackinaw City. Rain is in the forecast this weekend and wind is due to change direction…so maybe we’ll have slow down again.  But we are excited to get to Charlevoix, summer home of Ted and Linda Bemis. We’ve got some serious catching up to do!!!!...and laughing, and eating, and drinking, and shopping, and solving of world problems!!!!

August 5…several boats left this morning, and even though it looked calm we stayed put. Several of us did comment that leaving was probably a bad idea, winds “out there” were still predicted to be higher than we like…tomorrow the weather looks really good. We are willing to wait. Today we began sorting and labeling sacks of items to go to Wichita…we’ve had an “RV” box and a “going home” box (which are both full) since we arrived in April. Things in the Crew quarters have gotten more than a little out of control…especially since the waves on July 31 sent everything crashing to the floor and left the shelf wet. Floyd has lost so much weight he needs to re-think his wardrobe…and I’m constantly changing thoughts about mine. So we spent most of the day sorting clothes into garbage sacks depending on where their destination would be…labeling according to where in the RV they need to go. WHEW! We are definitely subtracting weight for TUMBLEWEED. We still managed to take breaks and naps. We returned to the restaurant for supper. We think tomorrow looks to be the perfect day to head to Drummond Island and re-enter the USA. Departure at o’dark thirty!!!