June 11th - June 17th 2012 -Gillette, WY Camp-Plex

June 11th    Monday

Gillette, is windy and cold this morning..Got up early 5 AM and that is that they sun is shining in my eyes so brightly.  Turned on the fireplace, made a cup of tea and settled in my chair and turned on the news and the computer...  We went out for breakfast with some Heartlanders. 

Then afterwards Dan dropped me off at a nail place to get a pedicure..

June 12th  Tuesday

More Heartlanders were arriving today.. The park is filling up.

 We got a little more settled and then we went to the rally hall set up tables and goods that we will be selling for the Heartland Market.  We had 3 tables full of items..We went back I had to borrow some tomato sauce from my friend Stella as I thought I had some with me and it was to late to go to the store.  We invited our neighbors from Indiana to join us for dinner and they were new to the rally life.  We had a great time and lots of laughs.  Before we knew it, it was 10 PM and we said our good nights.   Our lights went out soon after.

June  13th   Wednesday

Good morning, it is windy this morning and cooler.. as the afternoon arrived is getting hot and of course sunny...Dan and I had our 1st day as vendors, and it was so nice to meet old friends and new friends.. Jim and Bette McGee were in the vendor area, and I had seen them and I was over at another table.  I was walking over to see them and I tripped over a orange rubber  mat over electrical wires and down i went for the count.  My rubber on my shoes and the rubber on the mat connected. I was very fortunate that I did not land on my replaced knee and that i did not break a arm or wrist that I landed on.

Pat and Jim Doggett arrived.  They came to the rally but are staying in a motel as they left their 5th wheel in Texas. 

Wisconsin Chapter had a meet and greet at 3 PM.  Everyone was suppose to bring finger food.  Oh my there was alot of food there.  Nice to see everyone again.  Later the Doggetts, Housers, and Maisack's and Dan and I we all went to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant.. We had a great time.

Went back to the Camplex and I took Herbie for a ride on Maiscak's golf cart and I stopped to talk to someone and they had their dog out for a walk. 

Herbie jumped off the cart and went to meet the dog and was sniffing around and went and pee'd on Rex's leg. OH MY GOSH!  I was shocked and tongue tied for a few seconds and I apologized profusely, and scolded Mr. Herbie.  I did not stay long, being so embarrassed..   Time to relax and unwind...  Good Night!

June 14th   Thursday

Sunny again at  5AM,  sun was shining in my window and woke me up.  We had breakfast and got ready to go up to the vendor hall to sell Heartland Items again.

Had another long day, but we did so well again for day two.  Met some more new people and visited some more... This is the actual first day of the rally and we had a heartland Pot Luck.. Chicken was being furnish and everyone was to bring a dish to pass..  Lots and Lots of good food and desserts. 

133 rigs had arrived... Dan and I brought Lasagna and at our table was the Doggetts, Housers, Maisacks,and Dan and I..The Heartland version of the Newly wed game was played and fun and laughs were in order.  We were really tired and headed home early.

June 15th   Friday

We were up early again, oh my, I don't know if I will ever recover from the time change.  Had our breakfast and then down to the Rally Hall to open up our table for the final day... Still lots of shoppers.. Jim had ordered lunch for some and we had a break and then back to work.

I had a flower pin making class, I was not sure how many would attend, but I had lots of supplies. Mary Hromek was my assistant, helping out some of the ladies get started. I think I had 14 ladies and they had a great time.. so many different color of pins.. 

while I was doing my class Dave Hromek (COOKIE) was helping Dan and Jim inventory the surplus and box them up and get them ready to be shipped back to Indiana..  Dan and I went back to trailer and rested for awhile before we had to back to the rally hall for dinner. Tonight everyone was suppose to wear their Heartland shirt.

The entertainment was Kenny Miller and he was an impersonator for many music artists. 

 He did a great job...We did not stay for the whole show as we had all we could do to keep our eyes open.  Does that mean we are getting old????

June 16th   Saturday

Nice and sunny morning. We were up early and had our breakfast.  We are scheduled to go on a Coal Mine Tour.. The mine is a strip mine and it is just amazing to see the black strips of coal.. The machinery is the biggest I've ever seen.  One tire on a end loader costs 70,000.00. 

 After the tour was done we came home and had lunch and visited. Before we knew it, it was time to get up to the rally hall for dinner, prizes and entertainment. We had chicken picattica, sliced round of beef and salad, scalloped potato's and veggies.. Very nice prizes were given out, 3 TV's and a handmade lamp from deer horns, and gift cards for fuel..  We won a gift card for 50.00 and our friend Les and Janice Houser from Nebraska won a 19 in flat screen TV... 

The entrainment was a blind lady 28 years old who plays piano and sings. Sara Getto is her name and she entertains around the country during the winter.  She has played in the Refurgio Country Music Show in Texas.

Another full day is done with.

June 17th    Sunday

Last morning of the rally. We got up and went to the rally hall for breakfast and say our good byes.  The continental breakfast was really good. Hot Oatmeal with fixn's bagels, fresh fruits, dry cereals, delicious sweet rolls and coffee and tea.  We sat with a couple from Nebraska and a couple from Missouri.  The couple from Missouri, we found out were on the same cruise we were on in February.  They will be coming to Port Aransas this coming winter and I told them that they have to join The Heartland Winter Texan Group.

We went to Wal-mart and got a few items that we needed before we left for Custer. Came back to our trailer and got hooked up. Alot of people were gone already.  Headed out for Custer. 

Took Hwy 16 and it was a nice scenic ride. 

Arrived at Beaver Lake Campground, got settled in our site and Pat and Jim Doggett came for a visit and we made plans to go out to dinner. Went to the Bavarian Inn for German food. They left and I went and took a long nap.  I sure was tired. There was a few more Heartlander's in the park.  The temps got to 97 and it was hot. After dinner we took a ride thru a part of the park. 

                          It was great week .... 

June 4th  to June 10th 2012  On The Road Again!!!!

June 4th   Monday

It was a nice morning out.. I thought that after breakfast I would make some cookies for Dan.. So, he was out side doing his stuff and I started making cookies.  Oatmeal cranraisin, Peanut Butter and a Cherry Cookies.  That should be enough to hold him...

June 5th   Tuesday              

Up early and trying to get everything done...  Had breakfast and then called to see if I could get in for a haircut.  Dan thought it was a good idea to get the grass cut before we left so he was out doing that.   I was going to leave the haircut go, but it was pretty long already,  Picked up Jim DeVoe's bread and Trenary Toast.  Went to the bank, post office and then for my hair cut.  Came home and planted the rest of my plants and put away some gardening items.  Got the rest of my stuff done.
Had dinner and went up to Ron and Eileen for coffee and dessert. Yummy Rhubarb crisp.. Molly and Herbie were happy to see each other and ran around outside. When we got back, I watered and fed my plants.  Time to relax and get ready for bed.

June  6th   Wednesday        Leave For Tomah

My alarm went off at 5:30 am and I shut it off and rolled over just for a minute,which turned out to be an hour... Since I got a new C-Pap, I feel like I am more rested.  It is amazing what it does.  1st of all, I do not even hear it, and this new mask is more comfortable, not very attractive though..  Got up, took Herbie out, and got dressed and put a smile on, and paced the rest of my stuff, took it out to the truck and trailer.  Left the house at 7:25 am, EST.. Stopped and had breakfast in Gladstone, and then on our way.. Went as far as Tomah, WI", staying at a friends.  Jim  and Lou welcomed us graciously. After Dan got parked and set up he went and checked the new disc brakes on the trailer..  The breaks did not work when we were coming up Jim's yard.  The hand brake was dead like..  He went and checked the break lines and they all were empty...  Come to find out that the brake line moved and was rubbing against the tire and rubbed a hole in the flexible hose.  Dan not being a very happy camper, had Jim take him to auto parts store and got another flexible hose.  Here he was on gravel, moving around underneath and changing that hose,  He got it all fixed and re-bled the brakes. After everything was done we had a delicious dinner of Baked Pork Chops, Potatoes and Biscuits and Frog Eye Salad..   Later after dessert of homemade rhubarb pie, we went out to our trailer and relaxed and got ready to retire..  What a day!!

June 7th   Thursday            Sioux Falls, SO. DAKOTA

We were up early, say 5AM, got cleaned up and dressed and had breakfast with Jim and Lou at 6 AM.. She made a delicious breakfast casserole, hot muffins and toast for breakfast.. It was really good.

We had a nice visit with them and we were on the road heading west at 7:30 AM... Stopped at the REST AREA right into Minnesota and got a map, took Herbie for a squirt and then we were on our way,,  We arrived at the KOA on the state line around 2 PM, set up and rested for a while.  Called Mike and Sheila and they came for a visit. Then Sheila had to go play BUNCO with the girlfriends and Mike and us went for dinner at The Tailgaters, not far from here and then we took him home and seen his classic 59 Chevrolet Biscayne with a 502 engine.

 It is really a beauty.  We looked at some pictures when we were younger and our parents were younger also. Got caught up with family and etc.  It was so nice to see them..

June 8th   Friday                 Wall, SO. DAKOTA

We were up early this morning. It was so nice out. Got all ready and we went to Perkins for Breakfast.  I had senior pancakes with strawberries on and Dan had a ham and cheese omelet with pancakes.   After we were done we went back and hooked up and was heading west... Sun was shining and it was just so pleasant.  As we were heading west there were bales of hay all done already,  lots of cattle with the baby calves just roaming the fields. We stopped in Mitchell So. Dak to go to a Walmart and get some milk, and pop and a few other items.   We came into Chamberlain and the Missouri river looked a bit low. The construction was in full swing..  It was not that bad as it did move along quite well. Arrived at Wall, South Dakota around 2 pm, got set up and then went into town to meet with Reggie and Nancy Hromek who also was on the way to Gillette.  We were in Wall drug enjoying a Glass of Free Ice Water...   

 They were moving on to Rapid City....  We walked through some stores and then came back to the campground and put our feet up..  Had dinner at home tonight, and then afterwards Dan sat outside and enjoyed the evening air.. It was light very late. I could not keep my eyes open any longer, I was in bed by 8:30 PM.. 

June 9th   Saturday             Hill City,  SO. DAKOTA

Up early 5:20 AM, sun shining brightly in the window.  The time changes are hard on my ole body.  LOL   I am having a cup of tea this morning and watching the morning news and a shower of rain comes and goes.. That is good as it settles the dust.  Leaving this morning for Hill City, So. Dak  Arrived at Rafter J Ranch Campground around 11 AM.  As we were driving to Hill City, I noticed that the some of the pine trees on the hills have been hit with some kind of bug and is killing them.

It is so sad to see all the brown dead areas among the beautiful green pines.  Makes me wonder what these hills will look like in another 5 years.  We set-up and then we took a ride and stopped and had a Dairy Queen.. Went into the hills on some of the roads and then came back to the RV and relaxed.  Nice soft wind and warm temps.. Dan sat out and took a nap with the breeze blowing on him..   We ate dinner and then while Dan was out walking Mr. Herbie I was sitting outside working a Sudoku and this truck stopped by and said, "Is this herbiesrig"  I said yes, come to find out it was Erica and Tony (traveltiger) from Texas.  They just arrived and are staying here until Weds.  They are going to go and Explore this area... They will have a great time.  So much to see and do..   We went in as it was getting colder out and then around 8:30 PM the rains started and the wind picked up and then came the hail..  Herbie was in traumatic state with all the noise.  So I got ready to go to bed. He came with me and the storm got worse...  All I could think of was that our pretty truck was getting beat up.. Oh well, Herbie and I fell asleep..

June 10th   Sunday              Gillette, Wy

Woke up this morning and it was just starting to get light out..  I looked at the clock and it was 4:30AM.. So, I just laid there for a while and then got up. (5AM) It was cold in here so I turned up the furnace.. Then Herbie pestered me that he wanted to go out, so I opened the door and he went out and did a short squirt, well what he wanted me to do was take him for his sniff walk. So here I was in my pj's, robe and Dan's jacket. Taking him for his walk, thank goodness no one was up.  We had some breakfast and then hooked up and headed for Gillette, WY.  We changed our plans and are coming in a day earlier..  We had some breakfast and then took a ride over to Erica and Tony's unit (traveltiger) and visited with them and then came back and hooked up and left for Gillette. We arrived about 12:30 PM and when we arrived there were quite few here already.. We got our goodie bag and then Jay escorted us to our site.  Went and met out neighbors, Tom and Gerri Weber and The Gotts.  Stella walked down for hugs and then we went out for Kentucky Fried Chicken Buffet and ate and visited.. Came back and then took a nap.  The weather was in the 60's, windy and cold. I wonder if this wind will calm down..  Dan took a nap, and I and Herbie went and visited with Tom and Gerri Weber.  It will be nice to see the other Heartlander's as they come.  It was a busy day, and we are going to bed...

We have another busy week ahead.  Until next week...