Sharp's Travels

I thought yesterday was windy will today was worse. I thought we would get bowled away on our morning walk. We went over to Coz and Nikki’s this morning and started working on their house entry door. Nikki had locked herself out of the house and used a crow bar to get the door open. She really did a job on the door frame. Coz and I took it apart and then the four of us went to Menards to get the materials we needed, also picked up a new ceiling light fixture for the dining room. It was 4:00 pm before we got the door frame back together and a coat of plaster on the wall. We should be able to put on the final coat of plaster tomorrow and have it ready to paint. We even got the new light fixture put up. For supper we had stuffed pork chops on the grill with a baked casserole of potatoes and fresh baked biscuits. After we got things cleaned up we played a couple of games of cribbage which the girls won one and we guys won one. We got back to the 5th wheel around 10:00 pm.

After our morning walk we got ready and went over to Coz and Nikki’s. Coz, Darren and I took a motorcycle ride to Brandon to get some beef sticks and steaks at the meat market. They have the best meat in the country. We took a little longer route back to Fond du Lac for a total trip of 50 miles. Nikki fixed lunch for us an then it was time to get Darren’s motorcycle loaded up as they are leaving to head home to Atlanta. After they left Coz, Nikki, Cheri and I played cribbage, which the girls won. Coz did the steaks we bought on the grill. There’s nothing better than rib eye steaks on the grill with mushrooms and onions. We head back to the 5th wheel around 8:00 pm as they had a thunder storm warning out with strong winds. Will it never did hit here.

We guys did a 90 mile motorcycle ride up the east side of Lake Winnebago and back down through the holy land and stopped in Campbells Port at the bowling alley Nikki, Cece, and Cheri met us there, also Ray and Espie. It was Ray’s birthday. We bowled a couple of games what a time as it has been over a year since we have done any bowling. This evening we all went out to eat to celebrate Ray’s birthday. Then back to Coz and Nikki’s where Nikki made grasshoppers for all of us.

After our morning walk we got a rain shower so we couldn’t leave to go for a motorcycle ride. So Cheri and I went to get groceries at Wal-Mart. After we got things put away we went over to Coz and Nikki’s. The rain was over and the sun came out so we left for a motorcycle ride. We ended up in Madison and then back to Beaver Dam where we met Jodi’s family, Nikki, Cece, Cheri at Ponderosa for supper. Our motorcycle ride turned out to be 185 miles. By the time we got back to the 5th wheel I was tired and ready to hit the hay.

42 years ago today Cheri and I got married. It has been a great ride and hope for many more. Cheri and I did our walk by ourselves this morning. At 10:00 am we went over to Coz and Nikki’s and waited for Darren to come from his in-laws. At 12:00 pm Coz, Darren, Marty and I left for a motorcycle ride down through the Kettle Moraine State Forest and back to Fond du Lac for a total of 90 miles. Cheri and Nikki went shopping again today. It was another hot day, was 74 degrees when we got up this morning and quickly climbed to 94 degrees. Nikki and Coz fixed a wonderful Mexican supper for us. After supper we watched a movie and then headed for home.

At 8:00 am we went over to Coz and Nikki’s to do morning walk and jog at the school grounds again. It was a very warm and humid day with a high temp of 94 degrees. After our fitness work out Cheri and I came back to the 5th wheel and got showered and dressed, then back to Coz and Nikki’s for brunch. We played a couple of games of Apples to Apples. It is a fun game and a lot of laughs. Then back to the 5th wheel so Cheri could do some laundry and I did some cleaning on the motorcycle. Nikki picked up Cheri and they went to Oshkosh shopping and we guys went for a motorcycle ride down south of Milwaukee to pick up a new motorcycle (Big Dog Chopper) for Marty (Coz’s brother in law). It was a very hot ride down and back, put on 160 miles. Cheri and Nikki had supper waiting for us when we got home. After supper we tried to watch a movie, but I couldn’t stay awake so we headed back to the 5th wheel and called it a night.

Happy birthday Grandma!!! 88 years young. We got a short rain shower this morning that started around 6:00 am and was over by 7:30 am. We were over to Coz and Nikki’s at 7:00 am. We all walked over to the school grounds and did our morning walk. Coz also got us to stretch our muscles before we started to walk and also got us to do some jogging. The jogging really gave us a work out. Then we went home and showered and got ready to go to Appleton for a late breakfast. We were on the road by 9:30 am. We guys took the motorcycles and the girls took the car. After breakfast the girls went shopping and we guys went to the Harley dealer and then for our ride. We put on 170 miles before we got back to Coz and Nikki’s. When the girls got back we went to the Pizza Ranch for supper. Then it was back to Coz and Nikki’s to do some bowling on the WII. This was something new to Cheri and me. We had a good time, but when it comes to bowling on the WII I am not very good. They also showed us the WII Fit. That could give you a good work out; I think we will stick to our walking.

While we were closing up the 5th wheel it started to sprinkle rain. Bro was also getting their motor home closed up. After we got everything closed up Bro and Katherine took us up to the cemetery to say good bye to Grandpa one more time. On the way back to the campground we stopped at a craft fair. Katherine bought a couple of things that Cheri pointed out to her. Cheri is good at helping other people spend their money. At 11:00 am we headed for Fond du Lac. Bro and Katherine followed us until it was time for them to head north. We stopped east of Lodi and had a late lunch together; we said our good byes and continued on to Fond du Lac. We arrived at the fairgrounds campground around 4:30 pm. Coz, Nikki, Cece and Darren stopped in later for a visit. I was having computer problems so Darren worked on them and now I am good to go again.

It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and no rain, a high temp of 87. Bro, Katherine, Cheri and I went to Fennimore for breakfast and to pick up the cookies for Grandpa’s memorial lunch. We got back to the campground about 10:15 am and dropped Bro and Katherine off. Cheri and I went over to Burl and Dorothy’s with the cookies and to help get things set up for the lunch. We got back to the campground about 11:30 am. A few minutes later Darren & Jodi, Coz & Nikki, Ray& Sespie came. The guys road their motorcycles down. At 12:30 pm we went over to the cemetery for the grave side memorial at 1:00 pm. There were about 45 or 50 people for the service. After the service everyone went to Burl and Dorothy’s for lunch. We had a nice time visiting with all the friends and relatives. We got back to the 5th wheel around 4:00 pm and I fixed brats and hamburgers on the grill and Cheri had made potato salad. Katherine and Bro bought over cheese, crackers and sausage. The kids headed for home around 5:30 pm. Bro & Katherine and Cheri and I took our evening walk and then we played cards and visited. It was a great day and I think Grandpa would have been proud.

Boy did ever rain last night. When we went for our walk and got to the trail along Sanders Creek it was under about three feet of water and the water had already gone down at least five feet. So we had to walk the streets this morning. When we got back to the 5th wheel Cheri said she would like some day old Casey’s doughnuts, so off I go to Casey’s to get her some doughnuts. Of course I helped her eat them. I heard later today that we had over four inches of rain last night. Then around 10:00 am we had another rain shower. Early afternoon I got the motorcycle loaded on the 5th wheel ready to leave Sunday. Later in the afternoon we went with Burl and Dorothy to the church to pick up some chairs and Coffee pots for tomorrow. Bro and Katherine arrived around 5:00 pm. After they got set up we went to Woodman for a Friday night fish fry, it was very good. When we got back to the 5th wheel we played cards and visited until 10:30 pm. Also during that time period we got another rain shower.

It rained last night so things were pretty wet this morning for our walk. Cheri put in a bad night and I wanted to let her sleep, so we were kind of late getting around this morning. About 10:00 am it started raining again. We did some shopping in the rain and then back to the 5th wheel to read and watch TV. It quit raining at 2:30 pm so we went for a nice lazy 70 mile motorcycle ride through the county side and got home at 5:30 pm. It started raining again just before we went to bed.

This morning we went to Richland Center to see Ken & Eileen and Dean & Betty. The four of them fixed lunch for us. We had a very nice visit and then played a game of dominos, which the girls won. At 4:30 pm we headed back to Boscobel and went over to Burl and Dorothy’s for supper. They also had Rick & Marsha (cousin) and their son Shannon and his wife Amber for supper. We had some good Wisconsin brats on the grill and fresh strawberries and ice cream. It was a good day for us, but we ate too much.

Nikki, Cece, and Cheri went shopping and I worked on the 5th wheel. I raised the pin box one hole. The 5th wheel wasn’t level when pulling on the highway. Now I have to wait until we get on the road to see if that took care of the problem. I can still raise it one more hole if I need to. I also move the set up level as I had it mounted to far back on the pin box and made it hard to see when leveling the trailer. I also finished cleaning the motorcycle. The girls got back around noon and I grilled some hamburgers for lunch. After lunch we played a game called Apples to Apples. It can be very funny at times. Nikki and Cece left for Fond du Lac at 3:00 pm. At 3:30 pm we headed for Viroqua to see Roger and Jean (another cousin). We ordered pizza for supper and then played a couple of games of dominos, which the girls won one and we guys won one. It was a fun evening and we got home a little after 11:00 pm.

Remember this is Flag Day; hope everyone that has a flag will fly it. After church Burl and Dorothy pick us up and took us to the farm breakfast up north of Muscoda. We had pancakes, sausage, milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and cottage cheese. We didn’t go away hungry. After we got back home Burl and Dorothy came in to see our new 5th wheel. Later Cheri and I tried to watch the NASCAR Race and couldn’t keep our eyes open, must have been our big breakfast. So we went out for a 60 mile motorcycle ride. I was recording the race so we watched it when we got back. We had pizza for supper (A Sunday night ritual)

We had rain off and on last night and thought it was done this morning when we took our walk as there was a light mist in the air. Nothing to worry about, but the mist got heavier and we had to cut the walk short. We went to Prairie du Chien shopping. I wanted to get a new Weber grill and had been looking for some time and today was the day to get one. Had a hard time finding the one I wanted. We also got the supplies we needed for Grandpa’s lunch after the grave side service, also got flowers for his grave. Late this afternoon Cheri and I took another 50 mile motorcycle ride through some more of my old stomping grounds, brings back a lot of old memories also some I should forget.

When we took our morning walk it was foggy and damp, by time we got back to the 5th wheel the fog was almost all gone and the sun was shining bright. Cheri and I took a motorcycle ride to Fennimore to order cookies for Grandpa’s lunch after the grave side service. We continued our ride around the country side and got back to the 5th wheel at 12:00 pm for lunch. Then this afternoon we took another motorcycle ride around the area where I grew up and lived. Things have changed a lot in the last 50 years. We stopped and picked up some cheese curd and then headed for home. We did a total of 100 miles. As soon as we got home I had to have some of the cheese curd, first we have had in two years, sure is good. It was one of those days God made for us retired people.

We went to bed early as we were both tired and didn’t have any TV. We can’t get a shot at the satellite because of the trees. We both had a good night and feel refreshed today. The first thing we did was our morning walk as it has been a while since we have walked. I unload the motorcycle and have that ready to ride. Then I got the portable satellite dish out and tried to set it up. I was able to get a signal and when I would set it on the ground I would lose the signal. I tried for over a half hour and finally gave up because we had an 11.00 am appointment. After our appointment we went to see Burl and Dorothy (aunt and uncle). We took them out for lunch and then back to their place for fresh strawberry short cake with ice cream. It doesn’t get any better than that. We left Burl and Dorothy’s and went to the cemetery to see if Grandpa’s tomb stone was updated, not done. Cheri had four stores she wanted to go to, so by the time we got done with that and got back to the 5th wheel it was 4:30 pm. I tried again to get the satellite signal on the dish. Cheri was watching the signal meter on the TV and kept saying no signal. After another 10 minutes I gave up and dropped the dish on the ground, Cheri said we have a signal. So next time I guess I will just drop it on the ground.

We were on the road before 8:30 am. We made a stop for fuel just before we got into Wisconsin. The diesel fuel price is going up as fast as the stock market use to. In a matter of 10 miles we saw the fuel prices from $2.36 to $2.65 per gallon. We couldn’t get into the station with the $2.36 per gallon. We ended up getting it for $2.46 per gallon. The cheapest we have found it here in Wisconsin is $2.55 per gallon. Two weeks ago it was $2.07 in Atlanta and in a matter of four days it was $2.19. All will enough for that. We stopped in Barneveld Wisconsin to see an old friend (Todd Recob) that we haven’t seen in five years. It was fun reminiscing about the old days of snowmobiling and motorcycle trips we made, plus catching up on the latest events. It was after 4:00 pm before we got to Dream Catcher RV Park in Boscobel Wisconsin. We will be here until June 21 and then will go to Fond du Lac to see family and friends.

We took out time getting around this morning. We went shopping for a desk for Kari’s Camp Bow Wow. After much searching we found one at Staples and at very good price. It was almost noon by the time we got to the Camp. We visited a bit with Kari and then headed for Jason and Kari’s place. We stopped at the grocery store on the way. We picked up the things we needed to have brats and hamburgers on the grill for supper. We spent the afternoon visiting and helping Jason do some odd jobs. It was 8:00 pm before Kari got home from work. After supper we visited a while and then headed back to the 5th wheel. Cheri answered some e-mails and I did some reading before we called it a night.

It was raining when we got up this morning and cold. At 10:00 am we headed over to Camp Bow Wow to see Kari. Kari is having a doggie luau event later this month at the camp. So Cheri and Kari made a list of things she wanted to decorate the camp. Cheri and I went shopping for the things she wanted. Between rain down pours and six different stores we managed to get everything (I am tired of shopping). We left the camp at 3:00 pm and stopped to get groceries on the way back home. We just made it into the 5th wheel before it poured rain again. Part of the campground looked like a lake. Kari and Jason came over for supper. Cheri fixed lasagna with garlic toast and wine. She made a peanut butter pie for dessert.

We both were up before 5:00 am this morning, not sure why. We were on the road before 8:00 am. We only had 150 miles to go and not looking forward to the drive around Chicago. The bad news is it started raining when we got to I-80 and rained most of the way to Volo. The good news was that it being Sunday the traffic wasn’t too bad. We arrived at Fish Lake Beech Campground in Volo IL around 10:30 am. After we got setup we gave Kari a call and got her voice mail, so made a call to Jason and also got his voice mail. About a half hour later we got a call from Jason. So we headed over to their house. Kari pulled in just ahead of us. We visited for a while and then headed out for a late lunch of pizza. After lunch Kari headed for work and we took Jason home. Then we went to Camp Bow Wow to see Kari. It was 7:30 pm before we got back to the 5th wheel. We weren’t home very long before it started raining again. It was still raining when we went to bed.

We were up early this morning as we are use to the Eastern Time. We took a long walk around the campground and the temp was 56 degrees, cold for us. We were packed up and were on the road by 8:45 am. It was only 15 minutes to our first stop, the Corvette Museum. We spent over 2 hours looking at all the Corvettes and the history of the car. Of course Cheri and picked out around 16 or 18 we would like to have. I did purchase a ticket on a new one last week and the drawing was on 6/4/09. No luck for me but someone in Colorado is a very happy person. Cheri did purchase a ticket on another drawing that will be sometime in September. We had lunch in the Corvette Café. Finally around 11:30 we pull ourselves away from all the Corvettes and hit the road going north. We arrived at the Caboose Lake Campground in Remington IN around 4:30 pm. We will be here for one night.

I have uploaded pictures of the Corvette Museum

We got the 5th wheel closed up and headed over to Darren and Jodi’s to wait for UPS to deliver my fuel tank controller. It arrived at 11:30am. I did the install (3 minutes) and we said good bye to Jodi and headed back to the 5th wheel. Cheri made a sandwich for lunch and we got on the road at 12:30 pm. After driving a couple of hours I see the fuel being pumped from the ancillary tank into the main tank. So now everything is working the way it is suppose to. We arrived at Beech Bend Campground in Bowling Green Kentucky around 5:00 pm local time as we are now in Central Time Zone. We will spend one night here and be on our way tomorrow. While setting here in the campground this evening I could hear race cars nearby. It turns out there is a race track next to the campground so Cheri and I went to the races tonight. We saw some figure eight racing, something we have never seen before. It takes more guts than I have to do something like that. They also had the regular racing and turn out to be a fun night.

I called on my fuel tank part and I won’t receive it until tomorrow. So we decided to get the 5th wheel out of storage and set it up for today and spend the night in it. That way we could get the motorcycle loaded and all the stuff we had at Darren and Jodi’s put away. It started to rain before we left Darren and Jodi’s, thought I would get wet riding the motorcycle to the campground. I had only gone a short distance before it quit raining. So I ended up with a dry ride. I even got it loaded on the 5th wheel before it started raining again. After we got everything put away we went and got groceries. We had Darren and Jodi over for supper. Cheri made lasagna with garlic toast and wine. Then peach cobbler for dessert.

Darren wasn’t home when we got up this morning. He pulled an all nighter. He did get home around 2:30 pm. He did some work from home and finally lied down around 4:00 pm and back up around 6:00 pm. Cheri did some laundry, reading and watching TV. I took a walk, read, watched TV and did a lot of work on the computer. When Jodi got home from work around 6:00 pm. We went out to Quizno’s for supper. When we got back Darren and I loaded his motorcycle on his trailer. He wanted to see how the new wheel chuck would work with the bike. He is happy with it as he doesn’t need any help loading it. When we got back in the house he did some more work on my computer. He had trouble getting one of my RV programs to work, had to install an older version Excel to make it work. He also installed the new printer software. I went to bed at 11:30 pm and Darren said he still had work to do. It’s nice that he can do a lot of it from home.

I went to work on the truck before it got to hot. I had to reverse the lead on the fuel tank that I thought was the reason it wouldn’t work. Now when the fuel controller comes back (tomorrow I hope) all I have to do is plug it in and everything should work ok. It will take awhile before I know for sure if it is working as I filled up with fuel. The price of fuel has gone up 18 cents in the last two days. This afternoon Cheri and I went to Wal-Mart and pick up the new printer, I found the one I wanted, HP C4580 wireless. Darren was going to do the set up for me this evening but he had to go back to work. He wasn’t home when we went to bed. Jodi said he probably will work all night. That is the one thing about computers and networking, you have to do all the work when nobody is around.

I didn’t sleep very well as I kept thinking about Darren’s truck not starting. Darren called for the tow truck to come and pick up. Darren and I followed the tow truck to the Ford garage. After they check it out they found the transmission module shorted, didn’t have one in stock and will be in tomorrow. They said the truck would be ready tomorrow afternoon. Jodi took Cheri for her 10.00 am hair appointment. At 12:30 pm Cheri called me and said she was done and want me to pick her up. On the way back we made a stop at the 5th wheel to pick up my back up drive for the computer. At 1:30 Darren got a call that the truck was done, turned out to be a faulty connector and not the transmission module (covered under warranty). So we headed over and picked it up. The four of us went out to the Long Horn for supper, great steak and it was really good, plan on going there again on our next trip to Atlanta. On the way home we stopped a Wal-Mart. I wanted to pick up a new printer, ours died last week. I had been searching on line and found the one I wanted (HP C4580). They were out of stock so tomorrow Cheri and I will go shopping at some other Wal-Mart’s to see if we can find one.