2019 Door County June 25-29 2019

We met Steve here at the campground since he was coming from Appleton.  Our timing was perfect.  We stayed at EGG HARBOR CAMPGROUND AND RESORT, which was very nice and clean.  Friendly camp staff and a nice pool.  We arrived at 2:30pm and set up on Site #15 (next time Site #13 would have been shadier and private at the back). 

 We had ample time to take it easy and relax, which is always nice.

 Oscar had a nice lawn to rest on until he spotted something coming toward him.

 He continues to watch this thing that was moving in the sky, a thing he has never seen before.

 Contrails!  After they passed he again found time to nap. 

 And play!

 Evening in the coach is very comfortable for everyone.  Movies on TV, here I'm watching Men in Black for some added ambience while staying in the wilds of Door County.

 We arranged a new configuration for the way home.  Instead of Oscar sitting on the couch, which is hard for him and nerve racking for us, we positioned his bed between us and he felt safer and was able to sleep.  This was only AFTER Tim insulated the engine hood.  Why don't manufacturers do that?  Dear Thor:  INSULATE THAT HOT BURNING SKIN BURNER you guys, we'll pay the extra $50!!!

2019 I spot and "American Flag" Thor Vegas and had to take some pics of it.

June 16, 2019
I spotted this beautiful Thor Vegas just like our Beatty and had to take some pics.  So pretty!

 

 

2019 Big Trip to South Dakota Towing the Trailer May 26-June 6 2019

Our second trip was one we have wanted to take for over 30 years.  Destination South Dakota.

We spent the night at the Cabelas in Mitchell, South Dakota before arriving the next day at Badlands National Park.  We had reservations at Cedar Pass Campground in the park.  Because of the rain and no hook-ups we decided to move to the area's KOA.  Had we done our homework a little better we would've known that the beginning of June in South Dakota, weather wise, isn't the best time to go.  Lots of storms, flooding, tornadoes, etc...
But we prevailed and endured the hardships along with many beautiful days and gorgeous scenery.

 Comfortably set-up at the KOA near Badlands National Park after leaving Cedar Pass early. 

 Leaving KOA and driving through Badlands NP again we spot some sheep on  the cliffs as we head to our new destination Mystic Hills Campground in the Black Hills National Forest near Deadwood.

 Cruising Needles Highway.

 Cooking meals in Beatty is fun, so much more room than Ol' Blue.

Friday, Rapid City Dining at Firehouse Brewing Company before taking Steve to the airport for his Dallas Seminar over the weekend.  We pick him up again on Monday. 

 We had to pass by this lake often to get to places for sightseeing.  This time we stopped there to take in the beauty and take some pics.

 On the UTV we took rides up the mountain to the ranger look out station.  Because of all the rain and flooding the trails were closed.  Another reason we should have dug a little deeper in our researching.

 One day we took an hour and a half ride to Devil's Mountain in Wyoming.  I absolutely loved this place, so peaceful and magical.  I want to go back!

 

At Mystic Hills, Oscar wants out!

 

 On our way home we stayed at a KOA north of downtown Mitchell, still in Mitchell.  They had really nice tornado shelters and a beautiful dog run for Oscar.  It was very nice!

 

 Oscar being safe and wearing his seatbelt.  Good boy Oscar!

 We are the blue dot trying to get ahead of this nasty storm with torrential rain and lightning.  We did out run it finally.  Scary!

Beautiful South Dakota, WE WILL RETURN!!!!

2019 Maiden Voyage in the New Coach and Naming Her "Beatty" May 20 - 22

Our highly anticipated first trip in Beatty (short for Beatrice = "she who makes happy") was to Oshkosh Wisconsin.  We stayed at Hickory Oaks Campground,  a very nice and quiet campground with friendly people.

There is definitely a learning curve when starting out in a new rig.  So many things are different than the last coach.  Most of those things are wonderful and some were better in Ol' Blue.  But, we'll figure it out as we use it.  We only stayed here three nights with our son Steve, so as 3 adults and 1 dog we were all pretty comfortable.  Although the beds need some added padding and the leather/vinyl seats are very slippery when traveling so we purchased rubber bottomed chair pads to sit on to keep us more stable.  Who would have thought that would happen.  We're learning.

2019 OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW Purchased on April 26, 2019

We have many treasured memories with our Old Coach, lovingly named "Ol' Blue" pictured above.   She was our second RV, the first being a brand new Jayco Pop-up trailer.  Ol' Blue was renovated and used by us for over 10 years.  The farthest we had gone in her was Brownsville Texas to visit my Dad some years ago.

TIME TO UPGRADE:  It was during our trip to Lake Allatoona, Georgia during the Spring of 2019 that we decided to trade her in for a newer model.

We had left home and hours into our drive, we experienced our very first RV blow-out.  It was on the front passenger side, whilst going through Kentucky which is what created the resolve in us to get something a bit newer and SAFER.  Right after we heard the loud explosion, our lives passed before our eyes as the motorcoach violently veered to the right side of the road throwing us into the steel guardrail.  We had absolutely no control as we slip down the length of that guardrail until we slowed down enough to bring the coach to a stop.  We rode the full length of  that metal guard, at least 50' or more until it ended and we stopped.  Looking back we are thankful for that guardrail, because if it hadn't been there, we would have rolled the coach and probably died.  That was when we realized we needed a vehicle made in this century.

So we headed to the nearest RV store and traded in the old Coach for a new/used Coach.  We liked Thor so we stayed with that brand and this is what we purchased.