Michigain to home

August 16, 2011 – September 3, 2011 -   We drove back to Mackinaw City and Mackinaw Bridge to take more pictures because our camera didn’t work and we had no new pictures of the bridge.   The next day we drove to Traverse City and enjoyed the fabulous view of the Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan that we have always enjoyed and checked out our other favorite sights.  Kelly and Jon came for the weekend and we enjoyed playing Put Put Golf and eating at the famous Silver Dollar Bar. 

We left the cottage at Higgins Lake, MI on August 25^th.  We stopped to visit with my sister Judy and her husband Al and then went to Allen & Karen’s for the night.  As always we had a great time and left Friday morning for Helena, Ohio to pick up our trailer.  We had the outside refinished and polished and it looks like new.  They did a fabulous job!  We’re now on our way to Heather’s for the weekend.  We arrived late in the evening and enjoyed seeing everyone.  Heather kept Mollie up so we could hold and hug her too.  Heather and I shopped the next day and enjoyed the rest of the weekend catching up.   Dave learned to make beer can chicken at Allen’s and he made it for Heather, Matt, Hannah, Holly, Meghan, Mollie, me, and himself.  The chicken was so moist and delicious.  We left Heather’s on Monday and arrived at Chrissy's late that night.

We enjoyed our visit with Chrissy’s more since she didn’t have to go to work because of hurricane Irene.  While we were there, Chrissy and I went for a pedicure and checked over our plans for Disney.  What fun it was, and Dave made fish chowder at our request.  YUMMY!!!!  We decided to take Ollie home with us.  We enjoy him so much and so do our neighbors Mary Ellen and Ken.  We left Chrissy’s Friday morning and headed for home.  We spent the night in Brunswick, GA, the weather is pleasant and we have the windows open and enjoying the evening.  We left Brunswick, GA around 8:30 a.m. and arrived home about 2:00p.m.   We have had the best 4 months plus a few days of travel.  We left April 27, 2011 and arrived back home on September 3, 2011. 

To sum everything up!  We traveled 19,444 miles, spent $6524.53 in fuel, and purchased 1500.79 gallons of diesel at an average of $4.35 per gallon.  We only had to replace one windshield, and two tires only for precautionary measures.  It’s hard to express or describe the beautiful scenery we saw, the wildlife viewings, the sighting of the Deadliest Catch boat and countless of bald eagles.  We also loved the time we spent with family and friends and the support my family gave me at the Family Reunion.  You’re the best! 

Thanks for following us through this adventure.  We are planning to return to Alaska in 2013!!!!

Love to All,  David and Marilyn

Pictures Oshkosh to Higgins Cottage-July 29 - August 15, 2011

Allen and Jon at the Easterling reunion

Ollie

Scott's Bonanza

Peggy and youngest granddaughter

Airventure sign at Oshkosh

Cabin after painting

Cabin after painting

Cabin after painting

The Wetmore Clan

Nuff said

Marilyn's Indian

Oshkosh

P51

Candy anyone

Oshkosh to Higgins Cottage-July 29 - August 15, 2011

July 25 – August 15, 2011 -   We enjoyed our time at Oshkosh.  The airplanes were awesome and the airshow was terrific.  It was pretty warm and humid and it rained a few times but nothing like last year.  We met up with our friend Scott from Maine and he had dinner with us.  Dave and Scott knew the guys across from us from last year and they had a fun evening.  We left Oshkosh on Friday July 29^th.  We made it to Mackinaw City and saw the Bridge, picked up some fudge, carmel corn and stayed at the Tee Pee Campground.  The next day we headed for the cottage at Higgins Lake to see Jeff and Tricia.   We had a nice visit and took off for Lake City for a few days.  Gary and Deb stopped by on Tuesday to visit and the next morning Jan came by to say hello.  We’ll soon see Jim and Jan in Florida around the first part of December.   We also had a nice visit and we’re now on our way to Allen and Karen’s.

We stopped in Mt Pleasant for a few supplies for the Reunion.  We arrived at Greg and Jon’s place and set up camp.   My sister Judy stopped by.  It’s always great to see her and catch up.  The Reunion was a success!  We had 41 people on Friday night and 40 people on Saturday.  Chrissy, Jon, Kelly, Heather, Holly, Meghan and Mollie arrived Friday.  Hannah had a tournament and couldn’t come. 

After everyone left on Sunday and the cleanup was finished, we moved to Allen and Karen’s.  We stayed until Tuesday the 9^th of August and took our Airstream to Ohio to have the outside recoated.  We’re now heading to the cottage for a couple of weeks.

We decided to do some upgrades while we are here.  Jeff and Tricia did a lot of cleaning out while they were here.  Dave and I painted the doors inside and the front bedroom.  It looks great!  Lori next door and a couple of her friends from Texas had us come over for Happy Hour.  Gary and Deb came over and we went to the Silver Dollar for dinner.   It was great fun, a lot of laughs and a late night.  On Sunday we caught up with our laundry and had lunch with Gary and Deb. It’s only Monday so we’ll see what we can get into tomorrow. J

7/19-7/31/2011 Oshkosh, Wisconsin - Annual EAA Flyin

July 23, 2011Oshkosh, Wisconsin- Saturday-     We arrived here on the 19^th of July and Dave is  volunteering his time in this heat.  I'm not sure how he can stand it, but he's having a good time.  I'm enjoying the air conditioning and working on a few projects.   It's hard to explain how big this place is.  Over 100,000 people have arrived here.  Every type of camper, tent and motorhomes are here, plus all the airplanes that have flown in.  It's well organized and everyone is having a good time.  The events don't start until Monday, but everyone is setup and ready to enjoy it. /Marilyn

Jackson Center, Oh On our way to Wisconsin

July 18, 2011-   Jackson Center, Ohio- On our way to Wisconsin-   We left the Airstream factory this morning after getting quotes on replacing the floor and bedspreads.  The curtains weren’t anything that I wanted and decided it would be a waste of time to get a quote.  After the outrageous quotes, they waved the camping fee and we were on our way.  We stopped at another place in Ohio and they got the job.  They will replace the floor and polish and recoat the outside.  Both were reasonable – not cheap – but reasonable.  At least they didn’t want our first born and a deposit. J 

Next on our list was to stop in Angola, IN at a branch of our bank, since they don’t have one in Kentucky, Ohio, or Michigan. L   Dave wants to purchase a Honda Trail 90 to ride around at Oshkosh and Lakeland.   We accomplished all of that, purchased the bike and now on our way to Oshkosh.  Good Times!!! /Marilyn

Pictures from Nicholasville to Jackson Center Ohio

Mollie and Sophie

Look Ma I got hands

Are they coming

Horse Park at Lexington

Horse Park

Is it a spaceship no it is a 1937 Airstream

Lexington, KY to Jackson Center, OH

Lexington to Jackson Center, Ohio- July 17, 2011-   We’re back on the road again after having a great day at Heather’s on Saturday.  Kelly and Jon came over after going to a car show at Keene land.   We played Mexican Train and Dave won only by a few points.  We barbequed and afterwards Kelly, Jon and Sophie left for Louisville.  Matt, Hannah, Holly and Meghan are at his parents in Frostburg, MD.  We left Heather’s this morning and heading out on I 75 North.   We’re stopping at the Airstream factory to see about updating our carpet or some type of new flooring and our curtains.  The price will probably scare me to death, but camping is only $10 and quotes are free.   LOL!  The air conditioning is working and we’re enjoying our evening talking with other Airstreamers parked here for the night.   Once we get our quotes in the morning we’re heading toward Wisconsin.  We want to be at Oshkosh, Wisconsin by the 20^th of July. /Marilyn

Lexington, KY and Louisville, KY - June 6th through June 17,2011

Louisville, KY-July 6^th, 2011-    We enjoyed dinner with Kelly and Jon in Louisville and arrived at Heather’s in Lexington around 8:00p.m.   We're having a great time with the grandchildren and we’re able to watch Hannah play soft ball with the traveling team.   We called Kelly and Jon and they came to Hannah’s game and afterwards we had a fish fry.    We are staying with Heather, Matt and the grandchildren until the 12^th and then going to Jon and Kelly’s until the 15^th. Heather and Matt had already planned their vacation in Frostburg, MD, before our plans had changed.  Heather and Mollie are coming back on Friday and we'll head back to her house to get ready to go the on the 17^th.  We have a few stops on our way to Wisconsin. We sure are enjoying our time with the girls.  / Marilyn

Picture on the way to Kentucky

Welcome to Lexington Kentucky

Horse farm in Kentucky

Horses near Lexington Kentucky

Heather waiting for us on her front porch

Hannah playing Softball

Holly and Meghan

Eddie the black and white wiener dog

Hannah batting



The sign says it all



Pictures at Lincoln NE

Back in Nebraska

Jeff and Tricias' pool and back yard very nice.  If you want to know the best place to plug in, have excellent food and dessert.  Call us!!!!  I'm sure we can hook u up!!

When we stopped in North Platte we swung by the UP shop. I had never seen it before it is very large.

Ready to hit the road again

Thanks Tricia and Jeff for a great 4th of July weekend!!!

Some of the flooding along the Missouri River

Lincoln,NE to Columbia

July 5^th, 2011-    We left Tricia and Jeff’s this morning and are heading for Columbia, MO.  The weather is fabulous, 75 degrees, sunny and very few clouds.  We had a spectacular 4^th of July at Jeff and Tricia’s.  It’s hard to believe we arrived on Friday afternoon and it’s already Tuesday.  We had our windshield fixed on Friday and I can once again take pictures out the front window.  We swam and barbequed Saturday, and on Sunday, Jeff and Tricia’s friends came over and we swam and barbequed again and then watched the fireworks.   As the weekend flew by we cleaned the back of the truck and sprayed all of the dust out that we had accumulated.  We repacked everything and are all set to travel on Tuesday.   It’s time to eat and Dave and Jeff are barbequing Chicken.  YUM  YUM  !!!!!  As you can tell, we never get tired of barbequing, eating or swimming.  If you could see Jeff and Tricia’s backyard you would not get tired of it either.  We watched a plane circle and then three parachuters jumped and landed at Knoll’s Golf Course, just one street over from Tricia and Jeff’s house.  The last one had an American Flag and it was awesome. 

We are staying once again at the Cottonwood RV Park.  We stopped here on our way to Alaska a few months ago.  We should be at Heather’s on Friday, if not Thursday and then onto Kelly’s.  Once again, we’d like to thank Chrissy for her help with our computer, you’re the best.  We also would like to thank Tricia and Jeff for all your hospitality.  We had an awesome time, great food, and such a relaxing time in that fabulous pool of yours.  /Marilyn 

Wyoming to Nebraska

June 30 – July 4, 2011- Thursday-Monday -     We traveled across the rest of Wyoming and into Nebraska and saw a few antelope and a lot of cattle.  The sky is clear in front of us, but quite dark behind us and we’re just ahead of the rain.  We arrived in Lincoln and went straight for the glass repair shop and they put in a new windshield.  We’ll be at Tricia and Jeff’s for the weekend and enjoying the pool since the temperatures are in the 90’s. / Marilyn

Pictures Yellowstone and trip to Casper WY



An elk jam in Yellowstone




Lot of snow at 8000 feet




Old Faithful was faithful




Anyone want a funny looking dog




The scenery is so spectacular in Yellowstone



Mountain in Grand Tetons

Ice on one the lakes in Yellowstone

Just spectacular

Antlers in Jackson Hole

Cowboy Saloon in Jackson Hole

Mama and baby elk in Yellowstone

BNST railroad on our way to Casper WY

Yes it fits

Famous movie barn used in Shane near Jackson Hole

Sheep near Yellowstone