SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Today is pack up day and that’s no small chore after 12 days in one spot. What a pleasure to have been able to stay in such a splendid area with so much to see.  I somehow know that wherever we stay there’s so much more to see and do, but we don’t stay long enough to really investigate.  Here we did it up right.  Not exactly planned that way though.

Our timing could not have been better.  The workers here came by this morning with a note that the weather service has predicted below freezing weather for the next few days, so as of the morn they will be shutting off the water.  So Jerry filled our water tank half full and buckled up the water system.  Like I said, lots of things to get done before we pull out in the AM.  I can’t believe how cold it’s gotten.  Jerry has to keep coming inside to get warmed up while getting ready to boogy.  I think snow is on it’s way.

We made a run to Wal Mart to stock up on some supplies.  Never know where the next one will be.  We put another 30 gals of fuel on board.  It’s $2.59 a gal here.  Jerry is now all hooked up and all we have to do is unplug and hit the road.  We were going to go up to the clubhouse for a burger, but it’s just to cold out there.  So, instead I’m making a hearty roasted garlic potato corn chowder.  I even put bacon in it and everything tastes better with bacon, not to mention the garlic.  Sounds good doesn’t it Kathy?  I have some very nice knives to cut veggies with, thank you Kathy.  You’ve helped equip both my home kitchen, and my very cozy home away from home kitchen.  I think of you so much.

In the morning all I need to do is round up and crate the babies, pull in the slides and we are headed for St Louis, Mo.  It will likely take a couple days.  We do have a fun spot located on the way, will tell you about it tomorrow nite.

Hugs to all,  S and J

I can’t believe I just opened my Coast to Coast book and picked out such a very nice RV park.  Orginally we were only staying 3 days, but even before the truck took a dive I knew we would need to be here longer. This resort is a 5 star Coast Delux.  It has more than 300 full hookups, a store, snack bar, great ice cream, and a club house with everything including a heated indoor swimming pool, which we will use with the rest of the fogies here. Very very nice  place to be stranded.

Today we drove around whats called Iowa’s great lakes area.  It encompasses Spirit Lake and East and west Lake Okoboji. We are at the latter and it’s suppose to be one of the bluest lakes in the USA.  Its definately a pretty blue.  We drove around all three lakes today what lovely homes along the lakes.  Theres lots of retirees around the area.  We stopped and had Mexican food, very good.  Lots of  places are closed already for the season, but thats OK because its peaceful here.

These are glacier carved lakes .  West Okoboji is spring fed, a georgous shade of blue and 134 ft. deep,  They fish for Walleye here, have never caught one or eaten one either, but they swear by them here.  They have some antique shops here and yes Angie, I did find you something very pretty.  There are some really nice old Victorian homes In Spirit Lake.  They also grow the most magnificent Blue Spruce trees around here and I love, love, love Blue Spruce trees.  Well home early  to relax with our feline family, Winkum, Blinkum, and Nod.  They are loving their trip and especially this park.  There are lots of birds and squirrls and folks walking dogs right by their huge back window.  More Later,            Hugs, S and J

What a riot, rounding up cats is like trying to herd them.  As all of you who know us know we travel with cats. We started with 2, Sophie and Ziggy and then a little fellow came to the door asking for some help, so he joined the family and was welcomed by the other two.  His name is . Scooby Do.  So in the AM, when they get wind of camp breaking they each run in a different direction and hide. They don’t like their crates.

After the roundup today we headed east having yet another breakfast at the Flying J, ( where oh where are the Cracker Barrels?) Talking to a fellow Calif. about the fact that you simply cannot get sour dough bread east of Nev, he told us about a different route to take on the way to Mt Rushmore. We went right up north thru the central part of Wyo, to Casper and on to Buffalo, where we are tonite. When we arrived here to get set up we had to wait for yet another thunder and lightening storm to pass. All along the way here the surrounding landscape went from sage covered plains to tree covered Mts. and back. What beautiful country.  We criss crossed the Continental Divide several times.  Drove along the North Platte and the Powder Rivers,  I’ve only read about them. The trees are starting to change colors, there’s gold, orange, red and yellow colors all tucked into the evergreens. Sooo pretty. All along the road were huge cattle ranches, mostly Black Angus.  This new route took us thru small valleys and prairies.  Some areas growing acres and acres of alfalfa.  Grazing in the alfalfa fields were small herds of Antelope, wonder what the ranchers think. Maybe there’s enough to go around. It’s easy to spot these animals by their very bright white rear ends. They are sweet.  We passed places called Crazy woman’s creek and Sandy Creek Massacre.

There is so much history to be found in the state of Wyo.  The Pony Express, the Calif, Org. and Mormon trails all cross Wyo. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than just touring this beautiful country and enjoying all it’s splendor.  Tomorrow we make it to South Dakota and a whole new adventure.   More later………..Shari and Jerry