Reunion and back to Fort Dodge

Wow, time sure flies when you are having fun! We are now in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for our final stay for the year. Ellen has her book club tonight, we are visiting friends and I am having some doctor stuff done. Next week we plan on seeing comedian David Sedaris at the Civic Center and an Iowa Chops hockey game in Des Moines, and finishing with attending a wedding of one of Ellen's favorite student's wedding in Ames. The bride, a great young person, Hannah Carse, is the daughter of one of my favorite teaching friends and one of my poker buddies, Bryce and Steve Carse.

But last weekend was a ton of fun, as we had our annual 'reunion' of the "women from Clinton". This group started as a new mothers' group Ellen was in back in the 1970's. So we were graciously hosted by Wayne and Janet Walters in Port Byron, IL, just over the Mississippi River from Davenport, IA. Good food, good muchies, and great company!

Jim and Connie Dent (Indianapolis, IN), Elvie and Wanda Hirl (Clinton, IA) and Jim and Judie Ives (also full time RVers, retired out of Grand Rapids, MI) were there, along with Buddy rounded out the folks there. We played some games, watched some football (ouch for my Packers!), and ate a lot of food. We look forward to next year and thank Wayne and Janet and Buddy for being so nice to open their house up for us. I hope to post some photos soooon.

'CATCH UP' TIME

Omigosh! Over a month and no blog additions... I'll try and catch up here.

When I left off we had water in our 'basement'. Well, it was solved when we went to Sheldon IA .... The RV tech, Dave, at RV Central solved it, finding there was a missing gasket in the shower drain. He also did a lot of other stuff in a day and a half, so our 5th wheel is doing well.

FORT DODGE

We went down to Fort Dodge, had some appointments, and had fun with our FD friends...the Provins, the Pendry's Mike Zahm and Marsha Storbakken, and as well a poker night at Brian McClain's, and Ellen had another night with her LLLL Book Group.

PATON and SPRING LAKE
We also were able to connect with daughter Erin's family in Paton. Had fun with the grandkids, and we found out 3 grandkids are too many for our home on wheels. 1 or 2 are great, but there just isn't enough floor space any more! We stayed at Spring Lake, a Jefferson County Park, which is very pretty, and very quiet. We found out why it is so quiet! We stayed at Erin's til almost 11 pm, and as we turned into the park, found out the gate was closed and locked! They lock up at 10:30!!! It was a very long walk in the dark to get to our site...plus a long walk back to the gate in the morning. It was the forced restart of my fitness program...

MAYO CLINIC

We headed up to Rochester again for another recheck for Ellen, plus she got into the Women's Clinic there, and she was super pleased with the staff and treatment. All is well for her, her functions checked out pretty good...although her spinal bone mass was down a nudge, and the doctor had her get an infusion of Reclast, an annual IV osteoporsis treatment. She actually was really glad to get it as it has been 4 years since she was taken off Fosamax. She is getting all her medical stuff at the Mayo now, and she is very glad about it..

We stayed at Autumn Woods RV Park south of Rochester, a very nice and clean park, with friendly and helpful staff. Park up the way from us was a monster 5th wheel .

A 'Space Craft' RV (made in Concordia MO) that must have been over 50 feet long, pulled by a big Kenworth tractor. We wanted to find out more about it, but there was never anyone around. 5 slides, and tons of basement access doors. Three roof air conditioners!!! Check out the stairway!

WHAT'S NEXT???

This morning we drove up to the Minneapolis area to stay at Lebanon Hills Park near the zoo in Apple Valley. We will be celebrating daughter Jenn's birthday, and as well, have grandson Mica stay with us at least two nights. We're looking forward to a nice week!!!