Toto Is Home !

It's Spring and Toto is blooming with flowers and ready to hit the road!  See the little white box on top?  That's called "air conditioning."  Oooo, aaaahhhh!  Yes, it's true.  I can now plan camping trips this summer and be comfortable when the outside temp is sweltering, I will be cool as a cuke!  Might even need to snuggle under my down comforter in the middle of July.  Yeah, baby, that's roughin it!  Thank you A-Z Mobile (Ed Smoot & Crew) for taking such good care of Toto!

A new bumper was built to accomodate a spare tire holder and a bike rack for "Dorothy."   The bumper is hollow so I can store my awning tent poles or other misc stuff.  I laughed when Brent (the super guy who built the bumper) said I could store my sewer hoses in there!  What's that???)  During Toto's stay at the RV Doc, she also got a new rear window, tempered glass for safety, and an additional side storage door.  I now have pass-through access.  Only the best for Toto!

 

 

Gearing Up For Camping Season

Counting down the days until the first camping trip.  If all goes according to plan, Toto and I will hit the road for Sidney Nebraska on April 20 for a couple of nights at the original Cabela's.  The SOTF Rocky Mountain group is attending a Ladies Weekend at Cabela's.  Public tours of our trailers, demonstrations, and a chance to meet more new Sisters!

After that comes "Girls Gone Wine" in Broken Bow OK May 3-6.  Italian themed weekend complete with a winery tour and Italian potluck dinner on Saturday.  We are camping at Beaver's Bend State Park, riverside sites for fishing, hiking and biking.

Then the big one.....Giddy Up 4 in Branson MO, May 30 - June 6.  Look out, the sisters are arriving from all over the country for a week full of fun.  I plan to take Dorothy (the bike), my kayak (need to come up with a name for it), plenty of books to read, and my camera.  Can't wait to "Get Out Of Dodge!"

Toto Has A New Home .... for a little while

Toto has been unwrapped and delivered to trailer Doc Ed Smoot.  What a nice surprise to find no critters had camped out over the winter in my trailer.  Clean as a whistle inside!  Secret weapons:  moth balls and Bounce dryer sheets.  Ed will spend some time with Toto to replace the glass in the back window, install a sturdier bumper so I can attach my bike rack and spare tire holder, cut another storage door to my "basement,"  and best of all, see about installing air conditioning.  WoooHooo! 

Had to remember all the steps to hitch and unhitch the trailer.  Got her done!

The Happy Camper Loves Her Special Gifts From Friends !! Merry Ho Ho !

Bottle of white from Jim H.  - Happy Camper Winery

Happy Camper Hallmark ornament from Sister Cathy in Arlington TX

My Sister Christmas exchange gift from Cathy P. in Arlington Texas. 

Ready to make Lemon Martinis from Carolyn C.

Sisters Have Christmas Fun!

Sisters of Kansas & Missouri met on Dec 3 in Warsaw MO for a day of fun, shopping and eating.  Sister Deb Gaskill made  arrangements in her hometown for us to experience a small-town Christmas celebration. 

We had lunch at the Hummingbird Tea Garden.

As we wandered around the downtown shopping district, we wore our Ugly Christmas Sweaters.  Quite a sight!

Later in the afternoon we stopped at the Truman Lake Visitor Centers, and guess who was there?  Santa Baby!

Old fashioned Christmas at the park

Luminary walk with lanterns hanging in the trees, and a bonfire to warm the visitors.

Dinner with Sisters at the Chuckwagon BBQ in Warsaw.  Best darn burnt ends....see previous posts!

Glammed up the joint with sparkle and petticoats

Look out - Deb's  showing off!

After some of the sisters went home after a fun-filled day, the rest left behind got silly at a slumber party.  You're really never too old to share funny stories, snack and sip til the late hours.  Night Night!

All Wrapped Up

Toto is all tucked in for the winter.  Bounce dryer sheets are strategically placed inside.  A mountain of mothballs are scattered on the ground underneath (to keep the critters away). I wonder which smell will win out over the winter?  We will drive down to Gardner every once in a while and check on Toto to make sure she's covered and safe.  See you in the Spring!

Last Trip of 2011

To begin this story..... I have a complaint.  If the AAA Guide Book and the State of Missouri campground website say that a campground is open all year, that no reservations are needed after October 31, and that camping is "first-come-first-served," one would think you could camp in a state park.  We arrived at Bucksaw State Park in Clinton, MO, and proceeded to search for the perfect spot to strike camp.  Level here, close to the restrooms, not too far from a water faucet.  Humph!  Well, all the bathrooms were locked (except one pit toilet for the entire campground)and most of the faucets were turned off.  Yes, there were people (hunters?) camping, but I shudder to think what they were doing for their sanitary needs.  Vernon said something about trenches????  Uh, no.  Let's go home. 



So after I finished having my temper tantrum, we decided to go to Warsaw and eat dinner at a highly recommended BBQ joint (Thanks Sister Deb!).  OMG....best burnt ends I've ever eaten.  If you are ever in the area, stop by.  I'm going back in December with the Sisters and will save room for the blackberry cobbler!   (www.chuckwagonbarbeque.net) 

Little Toto was very pleased with the meal!

We met the Pit Boss Brothers responsible for some mighty fine BBQ!

So after enjoying a meal, Vernon & I were feeling pretty full, but facing a 2 hour drive home.  We asked the server if we could park in the lot overnight (ala Walmart), but she suggested the RV park right next door.  Who knew!  Vernon called and a very kind lady by the name of Joanna, assured us the bathrooms were working and we could have cold running water and electricity at our campsite.  Perfect!  We drove right over, made camp and settled in for the night.



This wasn't exactly as I had planned, but we spent the night in our trailer one last time before it was time to call it a day for the winter.  A nice drive from home, fresh air and sunshine.  Good enough!