Sharp's Travels

We took a long walk around the campground and surrounding area looking at all the fall colors. It isn’t at pick color but close to it. It started raining at 10:00 am and didn’t quit until around 5:00 pm. Jason and Kari picked us up later this afternoon, we took a ride down to Tomah, and Kari wanted to go to some Amish stores that are there. She bought an old ten gallon milk can and an old copper boiler. She wants to use them to decorate in their new Doggie Bow Wow day care center. When we got back Cheri fixed supper for the four of us. She made hot French dip sandwiches. Jason and I talked about the motorcycle trailer and I think we have come up with a plan that will fix the problem. We had a nice long visit before we called it a night.

We took a long walk around the campground and surrounding area looking at all the fall colors. It isn’t at pick color but close to it. It started raining at 10:00 am and didn’t quit until around 5:00 pm. Jason and Kari picked us up later this afternoon, we took a ride down to Tomah, and Kari wanted to go to some Amish stores that are there. She bought an old ten gallon milk can and an old copper boiler. She wants to use them to decorate in their new Doggie Bow Wow day care center. When we got back Cheri fixed supper for the four of us. She made hot French dip sandwiches. Jason and I talked about the motorcycle trailer and I think we have come up with a plan that will fix the problem. We had a nice long visit before we called it a night.

After our morning walk we closed up the 5th wheel got hooked up and on the road by 10:00 am. We took hwy 54 all the way to Black River Falls. We are going to spend three nights here with Jason and Kari. They will be out riding their four wheelers while we take it easy. It was around 1:30 pm before we got set up. We made a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up some groceries. The campground is full and we couldn’t get a sewer hook up. Jason and Kari got here around 9:00 pm. They stopped over for a short visit as they were both tired from work. Jason had worked all night the day before.

The day started out to be a good one, but soon turned not so good. It was move day for us, so we packed up and got hooked up. It was time to hook up the motorcycle trailer to the back of the 5th wheel. All went well and got the motorcycle loaded and tied down. Has we left the fairgrounds I could see the motorcycle trailer rocking back in forth and knew this was not a safe condition. So we took it over to Nikki and Coz’s, unloaded the bike and put it their garage and left the motorcycle trailer in their yard. It was a real disappointment for me, I was sure everything was going to work great. Now it’s back to the drawing board to see how I am going to solve the problem. We arrived in Waupaca around 1:00 pm; we are staying the night with Greg and Jeanene Peterson. Cheri was giving me a hair cut when Greg arrived home from work. Jeanene got home around 4:30 and at 5:00 pm we were on the road to go to our financial update dinner. We got home around 9:30 and called it a night.

After our morning walk we went right to work on installing the cover on the motorcycle trailer. We decided to add some more hook and loop to help hold the cover to the rails. So I headed over to Joann Fabrics to get some and found they wanted $10.00 for 5 feet and I needed 60 feet. So I went to Wal-Mart and found it, $15.00 for 20 feet. When I got back Cheri had the rails cleaned and ready to put on the hook and loop. Then we had over 100 rivets to install. Cheri had to go in and start supper; Coz and Nikki are coming for supper. It was 5:15 pm when I got done. After supper we played two games of cribbage and the girls won. We won’t see them again until next year in September. It was hard to say goodbye.

It rained last night and was still raining this morning; it did stop long enough so we could do our morning walk. It was over cast all day and more rain late in the afternoon. We took a ride up to Oshkosh to see Tom Praxl and his friend Kris. We had a long visit catching up on old times. On the way home we stopped at Coz and Nikki’s to see Cece. This is the last time we get to see her until next year. The five of us play three games of uno and Cece won all three games. Then it was time for her to go to bed, Cheri read her two bed time stories. We said our goodbyes and headed for home.

I walked this morning by myself; Cheri had to be ready to go shopping with Nikki at 8:30. I worked on the motor cycle trailer and loading ramps. I got all the aluminum straps drilled and ready to install. These straps are what hold the canvas to the trailer frame. The ramps are three separate ramps that fold in half. They come with bolts to fasten them together in the middle. It was hard to fold them up so I drilled holes in both ends and bolted them to together. Now they work like one folding ramp. At 1:00 I went and picked up the cover, but couldn’t get as Cheri had the check book and had to wait for her to get home from shopping. Coz and Nikki had us over for supper and Nikki made a cherry pie for me. After supper we had an early Christmas for Cece as we wouldn’t be here then. It was fun to watch Cece open the presents. Of course what 5 year old wouldn’t be excited?

We did our morning walk and went to church. After church we stopped at Sub Way and picked up subs for lunch and then over to Coz and Nikki’s to watch the Packers play, what an exciting game. I was sure they were going to lose, but pulled it out in the end. Nikki and Cheri went picked up pizza for supper. After supper we play two games of cribbage which the girls won. We got home around 7:00 pm. Cheri read and I watched the NASCAR Race that I had recorded.

We went over to Coz and Nikki’s for breakfast this morning. After breakfast Cheri shortened 10 pair of pants for Cece. She didn’t get done until 4:30 pm. I came back to the 5th wheel and work on the motorcycle trailer. I mounted the chock for the bike, didn’t get done with that until 4:00 pm. I had to do some grinding with the dermal to get things to fit right I stopped at Fleet Farm on the way to pickup Cheri to pick up some bolts for loading ramps.

It was another very windy day with high of 86 degrees. My job was to wash the truck and with the wind it created quite the challenge, I got more than one shower while spraying off the truck. A couple of weeks ago we had a problem with small ants in the kitchen cupboards. We tried a couple different kinds of ant poison and didn’t do any good. Found out that they were a sweet ant and got some poison for sweet ants. When we put that out, they showed up for a meal of the poison. We haven’t seen any for a few days, so today Cheri cleaned the cabinets and put things away. Late this afternoon we got a call that the cover for the motorcycle trailer was done. So went to pick it up and had them help put it on so we could check it out. They need to add a two inch flap on the bottom of the roll up doors. They said that we could come back on Monday at 1:00 pm and get it. That was good news. We went to Beaver Dam with Coz, Nikki, and Cece for Chinese. We stopped at Fleet Farm on the way home to pick up a couple of things. It started raining before we got home and was still raining when we went to bed.

It was a slow day around here, late getting up and taking our walk this morning, actually it felt good. We made a trip to Menards to pick up some aluminum rails and pop rivets to finish off the motorcycle trailer when we get it back. On the way we stopped at the Sprint Store to check out their plans on cell phones and internet access. They also have a good looking plan that seems to be the cheapest. When we got home I took a walk to see if they had started on the motorcycle trailer cover, but the trailer had not been moved.

Cheri and I made a trip to Randolph to have lunch with the group from the telephone office that we used to work with. It was fun catching up on all the things that has happened since we have worked there. From there we went to Friesland to visit with Bruce Braaksma, and then it was a ride by our old home. Everything looked real nice with all the flowers in bloom. When we got back in Fond du Lac we stopped at Best Buy to look at cameras, then to the mall so Cheri could pick up a book she ordered. We got home around 4:30 pm. It was a fun and relaxing day.

It was warm with a high of 78 and windy. We got a call that the graphics for the truck fuel tank were done, so at 10:00 am we headed out there to have them installed. They look very nice. I have uploaded some pictures of the tank. They are in the Truck Fuel Tank album. When we got done there we stopped at Mertz RV looking for 12” receiver extension. They didn’t have any, but did find an adapter that you can use to get 50 amp service by using a 30 amp outlet and a 20 amp outlet. I thought I could buy it off the internet cheaper, but after doing some searching I found that they had it for a good price, so tomorrow we will go back and buy it. Then we went to Wal-Mart to pick up groceries, Coz and Nikki are coming over for supper. Later while Cheri was baking a pie I went for a motorcycle ride. After supper we played cribbage and the girls won both games in fact they beat us really bad one game.

Nikki picked up Cheri at 8:30 am to go shopping. I did some internet surfing on a new digital camera. We are looking for something with a 12 optical zoom to use on our trip to Alaska next year. The one I am interested in is the Kodak Z712 and see on the internet that it has some good reports. Later in the morning I was frustrated because I hadn’t received a call to take the motorcycle trailer in to have the cover made. So I went to another company to check on having it done and they wanted almost twice as much. So I came home depressed. Cheri got home shortly after I did and told her about the cover and decided to wait on getting it done. About that time I got a call to bring in the trailer for the cover. When I got there I added a couple of things and the price didn’t change that much, so I left it to be done. They said it would be done on the 27th, hope they get it done early because we leave for Black River Fall on the 27th.

Greg and Jeanene came over for breakfast, Cheri made Belgium waffles. The four of us did our morning walk together. When we got back we sat down and visited for a while and then it was time for Greg and Jeanene to close up their 5th wheel. By 1:00 pm they were on there way home. It sure was good to spend some time with them. Cheri and I watched the Packer game until half time and then went over to Coz and Nikki’s to watch the rest of the game. After the game the four of us went to a movie. We saw The Brave One with Jodie Foster. It was a movie with a different twist and very bloody. After the movie we picked up a pizza and went back to Coz and Nikki’s for supper and to watch some more football (us guys). The girls were checking the sale papers and planning there shopping trip for tomorrow.

It was only 36 degrees this morning, but the sun was out and warmed up to 76 degrees with no wind, a beautiful day. Greg & Jeanene Peterson from Waupaca came down with their 5th wheel and camped beside us. It gave us a chance to see their new 5th wheel and catch up on what they have been doing for the last few months. They will be retiring next May, so we were trading tips on traveling and camping. Jeanene fixed lunch for us and for supper we went to Beaver Dam for Chinese. When we got home we settled in for an evening of trading stories about our experience with traveling and camping. It was a fun day.

It was 46 degrees this morning, a little cool for our walk, but no wind. This afternoon it got very windy and a high of 52 degrees. I made a trip down town to get a tank of LP, a stop at the post office, and the station for some milk. It was too cold outside with the wind to do anything. At 2:30 I got a call that the frame for the motorcycle trailer was done. So I headed out to pick it up, they did a nice job on it. On the way back I stopped and filled the truck up at a station that had diesel for $2.99, all the other stations are at $3.13 that saved me $12.00 on the fill up. Late this afternoon we got an e-mail from the graphic center wanting the approval for the lettering and graphic on the tuck fuel tank. I had e-mailed the approval on Tuesday; they said they didn’t get it. So now that won’t be done until next week.

Friday the 13th came on Thursday this mounth. We made a trip to Fox Lake to see friends Bill and Barb Mullin. While Cheri and Barb visited Bill was showing me his new GPS unit. It is a very nice unit that is made by Magellan, it is a cross over unit that can be used in the car with turn by turn instructions or used for Geo-caching. On our way to lunch we tried to find a cache in Fox Lake, but had trouble with coordinates. So we headed to Beaver Dam and had lunch at Applebee’s, Thanks for lunch Bill and Barb. On the way back we stopped and looked for the Geo-cache and you might know Cheri the eagle eye found it. We went back to Bill and Barbs and visited for a while and then Cheri and I went to Beaver Dam. I wanted to stop at Fleet Farm and see if they had a receiver extension to use between the 5th wheel and motorcycle trailer. I did find one and Cheri also found some shoes.

We had a temp of 43 degrees this morning and a high of 56 degrees today. It made for a cool walk this morning. In fact we were both cold today and turned up the furnace. I spent some time working on the computer. We spent most of the day reading and watching TV. We went over to Coz and Nikki’s for supper and cribbage. The girls won two games and we guys won one game.

It feels like fall has arrived, it was 46 degrees this morning and we had a high of 64 degrees today. The wind blew so hard that we may be in another state. I put on a heavier jogging suit this morning for our morning walk. We made a trip to Wal-Mart to get a money order to send with our paper work for license plate for the motorcycle. On the way home we stopped at the AT&T store to check on new cell phones as our contract is up. We were thinking about changing providers. We need to do some more checking, but I think AT&T has the best plan for internet service. We had Coz, Nikki and Cece over for supper and a game of cribbage that we guys won.

It was raining when we got up this morning, in fact it rained all day, nothing real hard just enough that we couldn’t do anything outside. It was cold enough that we had the furnace on today. Cheri spent most of the day shopping with Nikki. I took the trailer to the welding shop so they can start building the frame for the motorcycle. Then I went to Fleet Farm to look around, it is one of my favorite stores. Then it was back to the 5th wheel to fill out paper work to get the license plate for the motorcycle trailer.

After our morning walk and church we picked up sub sandwiches to take over to Coz and Nikki’s for lunch. It was an afternoon of football for Coz and me. By the way the Packer won, they didn’t play very good, but a win is a win. Cheri and Nikki sat and visited, and then Nikki made chocolate chip cookies. We made a big dent in them, sure were good. Later Nikki and Cheri went out to pick up pizza for supper. It took them two hours to get it; I suspect that they were doing some shopping.

We got an early wake up at 4:00 am from a detector chirping. I thought it was the smoke detector and took the battery out of it and still had the chirping, took the fuse out of the LP detector and still had the chirping. It turned out to be low battery in the carbon monoxide detector. After all of that I couldn’t go back to sleep. Cheri cleaned out and washed out all the cabinets in the kitchen and a load of laundry. I washed the 5th wheel and motorcycle. Late in the afternoon we took a 53 mile motorcycle ride though the county side. I took a picture of an old shed to put in my collection of old falling down buildings. After supper I took a nap to get ready to watch the NASCAR Race. Cheri watched a movie.

It was raining this morning when we got up, so no morning walk. We took a ride to Byron where there is a welding shop and asked them for an estimate on building the frame for the motorcycle trailer. An hour later he called me with the estimate. Last Tuesday I went to a place here in town to get an estimate and the guy told me to give him a call mid morning on Thursday. When I called he said he didn’t have it done and to call him late that afternoon. Well when I called a 4:30 I was told that he leaves work at 2:30, so I left a message for him to call me. He still hasn’t called; I guess he doesn’t want my business. On the way home we stopped at a place that does lettering and graphic decals. We ended up ordering a lettering decal that says SharpsTavels.com and a graphic decal to put on the back of the new fuel tank.

After our morning walk we made a trip to Fleet Farm and Menards to return some things I didn’t need to install the fuel tank. Then it was on to Wal-Mart for groceries, and then to the Harley Davidson dealer to get a back rest extension, only to find out they don’t make anything for that. So when we got home I took off the back rest brackets and did some measuring and was able to drill some different holes and set the back rest back an additional three inches. It gave Cheri more room and a better position for her back. That took most of afternoon. Cheri made chicken and dumplings, Coz and Nikki came for supper and cribbage. The girls whipped us guys in two games.

After our morning walk I headed for a place that makes covers. I wanted to get a price to have one made for the frame that I am getting an estimate for (motorcycle trailer). The price for the cover was $285.00. Tomorrow I should hear how much the frame will cost. I stopped at Feet Farm to pick up a few things to finish installing the fuel tank. It took the rest of the day with Cheri’s help to get it done. At 4:30 pm I went to the station and put in 30 gallon to make sure I didn’t have any leaks, well it passed the leak test. I am very happy how it came out. Cheri fixed supper for Coz and Nikki and then it was cribbage time. The girls won both games. We guys haven’t done so well lately, of course girls think it great.

Our fuel tank for the truck is painted and ready for pick up. On the way to pick it up we stopped at Menards to get some stainless steel bolts to fasten it to the bed of truck. We had it painted at Jerry’s Auto Body in North Fond du Lac. It was painted white to match the truck. I spent the afternoon drilling holes getting it ready to install. Tomorrow I have to pick up some fuel hose to finish the job. Cheri did laundry today. We went over to Coz and Nikki’s early evening, they had a party for Cece has it was her first day of school (kindergarten).

I have the car show pictures up loaded; the first ten pictures are of the car I really like. Some day we hope to have one like it. Cheri and I did take our morning walk. When we got back Nikki called and wanted to know if we wanted to go out for lunch, couldn’t turn that down. After lunch Cheri and I went over to Menards, I wanted to get some ideas on how to build the closer for the motorcycle trailer. I have a couple of ideas I am going to check out tomorrow. Later in the afternoon we stopped at Nikki and Coz’s so I could upload the pictures of the car show. Then Nikki fixed pizza for supper. The girls were the big winners in cribbage, they won three and we guy won two.

Coz and Nikki came over for breakfast. After breakfast Cheri and Nikki went to the flea and craft sale here at the fair grounds. Coz and I went to the car show. I thought there were a lot of cars yesterday, but there were twice as many here today. I took a lot more pictures and will try to get them uploaded tomorrow. Coz and I didn’t get back to the 5th wheel until around 1:30 pm. The girls were already here when we got back, Nikki wasn’t feeling very good so Coz took her home so she could rest. Later this afternoon we went out to Marty and Anna’s place for Michele’s home coming party.

After our morning walk we went to the car show here at the fair grounds. It is there 36th year, last year they had over 400 cars. We spent over 3 hours looking at all the cars. I took a lot of pictures that I will upload to our photo album. Look under Fond du Lac car show. I only have about 5 pictures in the album. I am having trouble uploading them because of the slow speed internet service. I have over 100 pictures, so keep checking and I will get them out there as soon as possible. Coz and Nikki came over this afternoon and played some cribbage. Then they took us out for supper in Oshkosh to celebrate Cheri’s birthday (39th so she says), it was an excellent meal. I don’t remember the name, but we will go back again sometime. When we got back to the 5th wheel we played some more cribbage. The girls won 2 games and we guys won three.

I was up at 4:30 am this morning getting ready to go and escort the 1157th National Guard returning from Iraq. Coz’s niece (Michele) was one of the 165 coming home. There were six of us that rode to Milwaukee to meet the four buses that were bringing them back to Oshkosh. We got to Milwaukee and had some breakfast and were on the road to get gas for the bikes when we met them heading north. We quickly got our gas and headed out to catch up to the buses. Will by the time we got to Oshkosh we were still about 4 minutes behind them. We headed to the airport hanger and the buses made a trip through Oshkosh. It was a nice home coming with a lot of people on hand to welcome them back. We rode back to Marty and Anna’s for Michele’s welcome home gathering. Then I headed home to see what Cheri was up to. She spent the day cleaning and doing laundry. There is a big car show here at the Fair Grounds this weekend and lots of campers and old cars coming in. So this evening we took a walk around and looked at the cars. Then we took a walk to DQ for ice cream.