First Solo Adventure!

Okay seriously…… I write a post about how I am roughing it without Barb in the tundra of North Dakota and what kind of comments do we get? Sympathy from my friends for having to be all alone without my wife and our dog? No! Or about the fact that I have to cook, clean and do all my own laundry? Double No! Most of the comments are about how impressed people are that Barb is out there on the road alone….really?!?! Here I am working my @ss off and she is out gallivanting around the country and she gets all the comments and praise.

Think I am wrong? You can hear it straight from her for here is Barb’s first ever post and her account of her time on the road without me……........
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Heading out on my own from North Dakota I was feeling really good (I can do this!)  The winds were crazy (50+ mph gusts) which slowed me down a little.  When I got out for my second fuel stop something looked different on the side of the truck.  The wind had torn off the black plastic truck bed rail!  Luckily, it didn’t hit the front of the rig and do any damage.

I arrived at the KOA in Rapid City and while getting set up, noticed that the site they gave me was not long enough for the truck and trailer.  So I backed up as far as I could so that the bikes on the back of the rig were not in the road behind me, and then unhooked and parked the truck just down a little ways next to the laundry area.  Unfortunately, the sewer hose that I had still would not reach the dump and I didn’t want to dig out the other one we had in a tote.  I felt pretty good about getting everything set up (even with an audience across the street watching me the entire time).    Time for a cocktail!

The KOA under a 10 minute drive from the airport and at 11:30 pm that night I picked Jessica and the grandkids (Dylan, age 6 and Kendall, 18 months) up at the airport.  Surprisingly both kids were awake and ready to go camping.  Everybody got settled in for the night and ready for our adventure to start tomorrow morning.

The next morning we drove to Ditch Creek Campground which is about 20 miles outside of Hill City, South Dakota.  Jim and I have camped there a number of times, it is one of our favorite spots. Quiet, secluded and usually the only ones in camp because we go there on the off season.   There were a couple of campers when we arrived and unfortunately one was in the campsite where we usually park.  Darn it…..now which one is going to be big enough and be at a good angle to get into?  I picked one three sites down and backed in on the first try……..success!   I got everything set up while the kids and Jessica took a walk around camp. 



Me & Dylan at the campfire




Kendall at Deer Lake Reservoir

The next day quite a few more campers pulled in with ATVs.  After asking I found out that it was opening cow elk season.  Oh my, that meant that we were not going to be doing a lot of hiking.  We spent most of time outside in the campground, went to Deer Lake Reservoir and to the Prairieberry Winery for wine tasting.  I bought two bottles of their famous Red Ass Rhubarb wine! 

After spending a few days in the Black Hills, we headed out and spent one night in Casper, Wyoming to break up the trip.  Also, there is a Chinese restaurant there “Full House” that has the best Honey Walnut Shrimp! 

The next day we headed to our next destination, Flaming Gorge Recreational Area.  While in route, we found out that it was raining there and that the rain was going to continue for a couple days.  Let’s see…….small kids cooped up in 5er?  Nope, let’s just head to Jessica’s house in Sandy, Utah.  It was a long 9 hour drive but we made stops so the kids could get and play.  I spent a couple days at Jessica’s so I could babysit the grandkids for them.  I also got all my laundry done.

 On Saturday morning I headed down to my final destination for the next couple months, the marina in Lindon, Utah.  We usually stay here when we are in the area. It is not really a campground but the owner is nice enough to let us stay here. We have nice space on the pavement which looks out to the marina and Utah Lake.  Over the weekend I spent time with Forrest, his wife Somer and our granddaughter Lily (age 5).  On Sunday we went to the Lagoon amusement park which was decorated for Halloween.  There was food and fun for all ages.  I watched Lily so Forrest and Somer could go on the terrifying roller coasters (of course I used Lily as an excuse not to go on them myself.)  I did go on the kiddie roller coaster with Lily though.  When the zombies started to come out, it was time to head for home.

Over the next couple days I cleaned and reorganized the bedroom closet and dresser.  After finishing I looked around the bedroom and thought…….where are Jim’s clothes going to fit?  Apparently, I got carried away and took over all of his space…..guess I need to work on that before he comes back!

Halloween with the grandkids was a lot of fun.  Lily and Dylan practically ran from house to house and within a short period of time their pumpkins were totally full of candy and they could barely carry them.  So we all headed back to Jess’s house.  Jess decided that the kids should empty their candy and we would go out again.  The kids were all for that! So Jess  and I headed out with Lily and Dylan for round 2!  Of course Daisy had to get into the spirit of Halloween also!

One day Daisy and I went on a hike to Battle Creek Falls which is only about 10 minutes from our campsite.

Battle Creek Falls

Can you find Daisy?

More falls

It seems like I am usually busy here.  I spend time with the kids and grandkids,  go to the movie theatre on $5 Tuesdays and taking Daisy for walks and hikes.  I have also spent quite a lot of time looking for a truck camper.  Jim and I are planning an Alaska adventure for next summer and we have decided that we are not going to take our 5'er but buy a truck camper instead.  Good news! I found a truck camper that will be perfect for our Alaska trip. After some wheeling and dealing we settled on a price and it was delivered this morning! More on that next post.

Two more weeks until Jim is done farming and hunting and will finally meet me here in Lindon!
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........So there you have it, proof positive that she is out there living the good life spending money like there is no tomorrow while I am here eking an existence on cheese sandwiches and water trying to put food on the table and make a few bucks.

So I guess we will just have to wait and see what kind of comments we get. Do you feel sorry for me or are you more impressed with Barb out there living it up?