Friday, May 28, 2010

The Start

Friday, May 21, 2010


The start...
The u-haul is stuffed and tomorrow I head off on my journey. Tonight was the kickoff for Outdoor Gourmet Guild at my building... I will miss these Friday night socials, but I know I leave things in good hands. I'm looking forward to my journey.

DAY 1 - Departed Marina Towers on Saturday, May 22nd pulling a fully loaded U-Haul 4x8 trailer. Headed up IS 270 for PA and the PA Turnpike. Encountered rain at Breezewood, but traffic was light and the driving was effortless. Drove 330 miles on Day-1 to Cloverdale, IN and RON in an Econo Lodge.

May 23 - Got an early start after the free breakfast. Was on the road by 6:15. A few miles down the road I gained an hour as I crossed the timeline. Filled up onthe cheapest gas of the trip on the Missouri side of St Louis--I think I was running on empty. Paused in Columbia at a Wal-Mart to get some Mizzou stuff and then back on the road. I was tempted to make a campus visit, but thought better of it because of pulling a trailer. Stopped in Topeka for lunch and gas and then made it to Junction City around 4:00. Both AAA and the Honda navigation system worked flawlessly. My uncle was at local festivities for the Rolling Thunder group passing through JC. I went next door to see my step-mother, Dottie, but shewas already in bed. I did get to talk briefly with her daughter. Dinner prepared by my uncle and early to bed.

May 24 - Unloaded the trailer and put the stuff in my uncle's garage. Returned the trailer to the local U-Haul place without any problems. It was a whole lot easier unloading than loading. I settled in and put things away in my temporary home while my uncle attended a change of command ceremony at Fort Riley. After lunch, I visited Fort Riley and picked up a few essentials for the camping trip. It was a restful day.

May 25 - Early morning exercise at the nearby YMCA and "coffee club" with my uncle after breakfast. The "coffee club" is an informal gathering of local men (about 6 - 8) who jawbone over the local events and activities while poking fun at each other. I had know these folks for years, so I fit right in. I was the youngest by at least ten years. The rest of the day was spent organizing for the next trip. We did pay a visit to the commissary at Fort Riley to stock up on essential foods.

May 26 - After early morning exercise at the Y, breakfast, and "coffee club", hit the road for Lawton, OK. An uneventful trip--much easier without the trailer--and arrived in Lawton about 4:00. Checked in to the local LaQuinta and tried to establish contact with the local family elements--unsuccessfully.

May 27 - Made contact with the grandkids and took them to lunch at the Olive Garden. Caught up on all the news. Made our plans for Morgan's HS graduation that evening. Son Mike, Kelly and Aspyn arrived around 4:00 from Killeen, TX. At 5:30 we left for graduation. A lengthy ceremony at the Great Plains Colliseum ended after 8:30 and we then went to granddaughter Jennifer's house for pizza, beer and wedding discussions--Jennifer and JR ar getting married in June--another OK trip to make. The wedding plans still have a few gaps to be sorted.

May 28 - After breakfast, it's off to Tahlequah for camping and rubber boat rafting on the Illinois River. Arrived at the campsite by about 3:00 and got my stuff set up. Iced down the beer and soft drinks for the kids arrival. The kids starting arriving around 5:00 and made quick dents in the beer supply. Heather, Brian and their kids arrived at about 9:30 and everyone pitched in to get their tent set up. We sat around the fire and swapped lies and wiped out a good part of the cold beer and soft drinks, but fortunately more was cooling. Bedtime was after midnight, but we all slept well in our respective tents.

May 29 - Breakfast of Pop-Tarts, and other sweets before loading for the bus trip up the Illinois River for the rafting journey back to the camp. We had three rafts--each with a cooler of food, drinks and water balloons. Most of us were armed with water guns for the close-in battle. The trip down river was filler with inter-raft water fights and dunkings. We stopped enroute for lunch on the river bank before resuming the journey to the campsite. After arriving back at camp, we showered and prepared a diner of frajitas cooked by Andy with special meat from the Dallas area--yummy! Much more beer and soft drinks--Scotch for Brian--around the camp fire after dinner and uff from Tahlequahwashers. It was another late night, but everyone slept well after the day's hectic activities. We made breakfast wraps and cleaned up our mess before heading for water activities and cooking ourselves in the sun. For dinner, I provided Pizza Hut stuff that lasted only briefly. Smoores, beer and other drinks, along with more washers and conversation around the fire. The local authorities gave us a warning about severe weather nearby, which fortunately missed us.

May 30 - We ate the remaining food for breakfast and cleaned up our mess while packing gear for our respective drives home. This was the first time in several years that we packed dry stuff--no rain on our adventure. By 10:00 we were all on the road home. My journey was longes and I was back in Junction City by 4:00. Uncle Dick prepared a supper and we watched the Royalswin a ball game before bed.

May 31 - June 2 - Organizing stuff and trying to plan where to live after staying with Uncle Dick.

June 3 & 4 - Attended a 7th Field Artillery change of comand ceremony before getting on the road to Port Aransas, Texas arriving mid-afternoon on Friday. Unloaded the truck and settled in with friends. After visiting the local art show, went to the surfing museum in Corpus Christi.

June 5 - 11 - Walked the beach and visited some of the local restaurants. Did church Sunday morning and then spent more time on the beach. Relaxed and enjoyed the local attractions. Made a trip to Corpus Naval Air Station and checked out the NEX and Commissary. Both were very good for such a small place. Attended a performance at the little theatre Friday night called "Tuna Texas."

June 12 & 13 - Back to Junction City to be ready for Victory Week.

June 14 - 20 - 1st Infantry Division Big Red One (BRO) victory celebration with parades and other military and social events. Met a lot of old/retired folks that I had known when I was stationed at Fort Riley in the 80s. Attended Rotary Club on Tuesday and saw lots of familiar faces--and new ones too.

June 21 - 23 - Settled in to Junction City. My step-mother was admitted to the hospital after a fall. She is 92 and needs full-time help. Subsequently she was moved to a rehab facility at Wakefield, KS, about 30 minutes away. That left my Dad's house empty. After some legal maneuvering, it was decided to transfer the house to me as soon as repairs could be made, rather than waiting for my step-mother's death, as was provided for in my Dad's will. That turned out to be a long process.

June 24 - 27 - Drove to Lawton, OK to attend my son Mike's oldest daughter's (Jennifer) wedding. It was the first time all the kids and grandkids had been together with me in many years. This weekend was the umpteenth anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn where Custer met his Waterloo.

June 28 & 29 - Prepared for my long summer road trip to Wyoming and Montana. Had to vacate my home with Uncle Dick because his kids were all coming in for the 4th of July celebrations and their annual "Christmas in July" gathering.

June 30 & July 1st - Drove back to Port Aransas to pick up my college chum and begin the trip north.

July 2nd - attended a birthday party in Austin, Texas.

July 3 - 5 - Made the road trip from Austin to Sheridan, WY with RON stops in Guthrie, OK and Limon, CO. I don't know how Custer made the trip from Fort Riley to Montana on a horse. He must have been a tough dude.

July 6 - 11 - Rodeo Week in Sheridan, WY. Made an overnight trip across the mountains to Cody, WY and the Wild Bill Hickcock Museum. Stayed the night at his hotel (WBH's) and toured the town with friends. Back to Sheridan for a 55th HS reunion. I've always thought that attending another person's reunion was some form of evil punishment, but this proved to be a lot of fun and I met a lot of great folks. Attended the Sheridan "WYO Rodeo" and saw the real cowboys in action.

July 12 - Visited the battlefield at Little Big Horn, MT. The Park Service has done a terrific job with this disterous event in military history. From there it was up north of Billings to see friends in a very small town in the middle of no where--no cell phone connection, nor computer link.

July 13 - 15 - The long journey back to Port Aransas with stops in Colorado and Oklahoma before getting in late.

July 16 & 17 - Back to Junction City. Somehow on the trip I irritated my neck and after self treatment didn't work, I sought professional help.

July 18 - August 11 - In Junction City with daily trips to Wakefield to see my step-mother. The legal hurdles were overcome and the planning for me to take over the house got under way. I spent a lot of time getting my neck manipulated by one of the local chiro-docs.

August 12 - 14 - I took Uncle Dick to the airport in Kansas City for his trip to Fort Bragg as the keynote speaker at the 70th anniversary of US military parachuting--he was one of the originals. I spent the weekend in Kansas City with my daughter, Heather, and her family before picking up my uncle and returning him to Junction City. His speach got rave reviews. He is a very active 92 year old.

August 15 - September 8 - Daily visits to my step-mother and efforts to get the house fixed. The entire house needed painting--inside and out. Most of the carpet needed to be replaced and tile put in the bathrooms. There was an air conditioner leak that soaked the basement carpet and a toilet leak to add to the mess. The inside painting is complete and the new carpet has arrived. There was a lot of tree removal requited--a work in process. Checks of the wiring revealed that many outlets were improperly wired 38 years ago and those had to be fixed. The attorney won't transfer the house title to me until all the work is done.

September 9 - 12 - Attended my 51st college reunion in Columbia, MO. The event was a great success and we won the football game. I was able to find some new Mizzou stuff to decorate the house. MOst of my neighbors are Kansas State graduates/fans and the area is blanketed with purple and wildcats. I'll fight back with Mizzou black and gold! Sunday I drove to Kansas City and will stay with Heather until I pick up my uncle at the airport on Tuesday and then back to Junction City. I hope that the house is in a livable condition when I get there tomorrow--probably too much to expect.

Friday, May 21, 2010

The start...

May 21 - The u-haul is stuffed and tomorrow I head off on my journey. Tonight was the kickoff for Outdoor Gourmet Guild at my building... I will miss these Friday night socials, but I know I leave things in good hands. I'm looking forward to my journey.

DAY 1 - Departed Marina Towers on Saturday, May 22nd pulling a fully loaded U-Haul 4x8 trailer. Headed up IS 270 for PA and the PA Turnpike. Encountered rain at Breezewood, but traffic was light and the driving was effortless. Drove 330 miles on Day-1 to Cloverdale, IN and RON in an Econo Lodge. May 23 - Got an early start after the free breakfast. Was on the road by 6:15. A few miles down the road I gained an hour as I crossed the timeline. Filled up onthe cheapest gas of the trip on the Missouri side of St Louis--I think I was running on empty. Paused in Columbia at a Wal-Mart to get some Mizzou stuff and then back on the road. I was tempted to make a campus visit, but thought better of it because of pulling a trailer. Stopped in Topeka for lunch and gas and then made it to Junction City around 4:00. Both AAA and the Honda navigation system worked flawlessly. My uncle was at local festivities for the Rolling Thunder group passing through JC. I went next door to see my step-mother, Dottie, but shewas already in bed. I did get to talk briefly with her daughter. Dinner prepared by my uncle and early to bed. May 24 - Unloaded the trailer and put the stuff in my uncle's garage. Returned the trailer to the local U-Haul place without any problems. It was a whole lot easier unloading than loading. I settled in and put things away in my temporary home while my uncle attended a change of command ceremony at Fort Riley. After lunch, I visited Fort Riley and picked up a few essentials for the camping trip. It was a restful day. May 25 - Early morning exercise at the nearby YMCA and "coffee club" with my uncle after breakfast. The "coffee club" is an informal gathering of local men (about 6 - 8) who jawbone over the local events and activities while poking fun at each other. I had know these folks for years, so I fit right in. I was the youngest by at least ten years. The rest of the day was spent organizing for the next trip. We did pay a visit to the commissary at Fort Riley to stock up on essential foods. May 26 - After early morning exercise at the Y, breakfast, and "coffee club", hit the road for Lawton, OK. An uneventful trip--much easier without the trailer--and arrived in Lawton about 4:00. Checked in to the local LaQuinta and tried to establish contact with the local family elements--unsuccessfully. May 27 - Made contact with the grandkids and took them to lunch at the Olive Garden. Caught up on all the news. Made our plans for Morgan's HS graduation that evening. Son Mike, Kelly and Aspyn arrived around 4:00 from Killeen, TX. At 5:30 we left for graduation. A lengthy ceremony at the Great Plains Colliseum ended after 8:30 and we then went to granddaughter Jennifer's house for pizza, beer and wedding discussions--Jennifer and JR ar getting married in June--another OK trip to make. The wedding plans still have a few gaps to be sorted. May 28 - After breakfast, it's off to Tahlequah for camping and rubber boat rafting on the Illinois River. Arrived at the campsite by about 3:00 and got my stuff set up. Iced down the beer and soft drinks for the kids arrival. The kids starting arriving around 5:00 and made quick dents in the beer supply. Heather, Brian and their kids arrived at about 9:30 and everyone pitched in to get their tent set up. We sat around the fire and swapped lies and wiped out a good part of the cold beer and soft drinks, but fortunately more was cooling. Bedtime was after midnight, but we all slept well in our respective tents. May 29 - Breakfast of Pop-Tarts, and other sweets before loading for the bus trip up the Illinois River for the rafting journey back to the camp. We had three rafts--each with a cooler of food, drinks and water balloons. Most of us were armed with water guns for the close-in battle. The trip down river was filler with inter-raft water fights and dunkings. We stopped enroute for lunch on the river bank before resuming the journey to the campsite. After arriving back at camp, we showered and prepared a diner of frajitas cooked by Andy with special meat from the Dallas area--yummy! Much more beer and soft drinks--Scotch for Brian--around the camp fire after dinner and uff from Tahlequahwashers. It was another late night, but everyone slept well after the day's hectic activities. We made breakfast wraps and cleaned up our mess before heading for water activities and cooking ourselves in the sun. For dinner, I provided Pizza Hut stuff that lasted only briefly. Smoores, beer and other drinks, along with more washers and conversation around the fire. The local authorities gave us a warning about severe weather nearby, which fortunately missed us. May 30 - We ate the remaining food for breakfast and cleaned up our mess while packing gear for our respective drives home. This was the first time in several years that we packed dry stuff--no rain on our adventure. By 10:00 we were all on the road home. My journey was longes and I was back in Junction City by 4:00. Uncle Dick prepared a supper and we watched the Royalswin a ball game before bed. May 31 - June 2 - Organizing stuff and trying to plan where to live after staying with Uncle Dick. June 3 & 4 - Attended a 7th Field Artillery change of comand ceremony before getting on the road to Port Aransas, Texas arriving mid-afternoon on Friday. Unloaded the truck and settled in with friends. After visiting the local art show, went to the surfing museum in Corpus Christi. June 5 - 11 - Walked the beach and visited some of the local restaurants. Did church Sunday morning and then spent more time on the beach. Relaxed and enjoyed the local attractions. Made a trip to Corpus Naval Air Station and checked out the NEX and Commissary. Both were very good for such a small place. Attended a performance at the little theatre Friday night called "Tuna Texas." June 12 & 13 - Back to Junction City to be ready for Victory Week. June 14 - 20 - 1st Infantry Division Big Red One (BRO) victory celebration with parades and other military and social events. Met a lot of old/retired folks that I had known when I was stationed at Fort Riley in the 80s. Attended Rotary Club on Tuesday and saw lots of familiar faces--and new ones too. June 21 - 23 - Settled in to Junction City. My step-mother was admitted to the hospital after a fall. She is 92 and needs full-time help. Subsequently she was moved to a rehab facility at Wakefield, KS, about 30 minutes away. That left my Dad's house empty. After some legal maneuvering, it was decided to transfer the house to me as soon as repairs could be made, rather than waiting for my step-mother's death, as was provided for in my Dad's will. That turned out to be a long process. June 24 - 27 - Drove to Lawton, OK to attend my son Mike's oldest daughter's (Jennifer) wedding. It was the first time all the kids and grandkids had been together with me in many years. This weekend was the umpteenth anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn where Custer met his Waterloo. June 28 & 29 - Prepared for my long summer road trip to Wyoming and Montana. Had to vacate my home with Uncle Dick because his kids were all coming in for the 4th of July celebrations and their annual "Christmas in July" gathering. June 30 & July 1st - Drove back to Port Aransas to pick up my college chum and begin the trip north. July 2nd - attended a birthday party in Austin, Texas. July 3 - 5 - Made the road trip from Austin to Sheridan, WY with RON stops in Guthrie, OK and Limon, CO. I don't know how Custer made the trip from Fort Riley to Montana on a horse. He must have been a tough dude. July 6 - 11 - Rodeo Week in Sheridan, WY. Made an overnight trip across the mountains to Cody, WY and the Wild Bill Hickcock Museum. Stayed the night at his hotel (WBH's) and toured the town with friends. Back to Sheridan for a 55th HS reunion. I've always thought that attending another person's reunion was some form of evil punishment, but this proved to be a lot of fun and I met a lot of great folks. Attended the Sheridan "WYO Rodeo" and saw the real cowboys in action. July 12 - Visited the battlefield at Little Big Horn, MT. The Park Service has done a terrific job with this disterous event in military history. From there it was up north of Billings to see friends in a very small town in the middle of no where--no cell phone connection, nor computer link. July 13 - 15 - The long journey back to Port Aransas with stops in Colorado and Oklahoma before getting in late. July 16 & 17 - Back to Junction City. Somehow on the trip I irritated my neck and after self treatment didn't work, I sought professional help. July 18 - August 11 - In Junction City with daily trips to Wakefield to see my step-mother. The legal hurdles were overcome and the planning for me to take over the house got under way. I spent a lot of time getting my neck manipulated by one of the local chiro-docs. August 12 - 14 - I took Uncle Dick to the airport in Kansas City for his trip to Fort Bragg as the keynote speaker at the 70th anniversary of US military parachuting--he was one of the originals. I spent the weekend in Kansas City with my daughter, Heather, and her family before picking up my uncle and returning him to Junction City. His speach got rave reviews. He is a very active 92 year old. August 15 - September 8 - Daily visits to my step-mother and efforts to get the house fixed. The entire house needed painting--inside and out. Most of the carpet needed to be replaced and tile put in the bathrooms. There was an air conditioner leak that soaked the basement carpet and a toilet leak to add to the mess. The inside painting is complete and the new carpet has arrived. There was a lot of tree removal requited--a work in process. Checks of the wiring revealed that many outlets were improperly wired 38 years ago and those had to be fixed. The attorney won't transfer the house title to me until all the work is done. September 9 - 12 - Attended my 51st college reunion in Columbia, MO. The event was a great success and we won the football game. I was able to find some new Mizzou stuff to decorate the house. MOst of my neighbors are Kansas State graduates/fans and the area is blanketed with purple and wildcats. I'll fight back with Mizzou black and gold! Sunday I drove to Kansas City and will stay with Heather until I pick up my uncle at the airport on Tuesday and then back to Junction City. I hope that the house is in a livable condition when I get there tomorrow--probably too much to expect.