Our Week With Our Children

We arrived at Addison Oaks, an Oakland County MI park, around 1:00 pm.  The roads were atrocious and I swear it felt like the fillings in my teeth would come out!   That didn’t happen but the bottom of a kitchen drawer came out of its groove and the teeny, tiny staples used to secure it were useless.  I noticed the drawer cockeyed and was unable to open it.  We were able to empty it and determine nothing was jammed, it was the drawer bottom loose on one side that was the problem.  I worked the glides until I could walk it out.  I was glad nothing was "broken" but the bottom needed to be slid back into the groove and secured.  A job for Bill!  He would have what we needed.

We set up and headed to Walmart to have my two prescriptions filled then went in to Kara’s to visit.  Bill fixed the drawer bottom with screws and glue.  I was able to put it back and refill it.

We visited at Kara’s for awhile then moved on over to Kelly’s where we ate a bit of dinner.  Kristin has been staying at Kelly’s before Larry arrives.  We eventually came home. 

We had a quiet morning Wednesday while Ted fussed around outside and I gathered what we needed to take in. I stripped our bed and took the few things since I washed Monday night to Kara’s. I also took a bag of peaches I peeled and froze to give to Kelly, the gifts I brought for CeCe and the Mexican Train game that we never used.

Kara did a pick up order from our favorite Italian restaurant since she hasn’t been out of the hospital for too long.  She sees her surgeon Thursday morning.

CeCe is quite a dancer and did a little Bob Sager with Pop.

 https://www.facebook.com/kara.r.kneale/videos/171508418380104/?d=n 

Larry arrived so everyone is in town.  We met Cassie’s most recent "friend" and everyone had plenty to eat!

All this activity is tiring me out and I fell asleep for awhile in the afternoon and I am still ready for bed tonight!

Wednesday I dropped Ted off at Detroit Sportsmen’s Club and headed to the hair salons for a very much needed haircut!  

Then I proceeded to the east side to pick up my friend Pat to visit a work friend of ours, Barb.  Pat recently lost her husband and moved into a senior apartment complex.  Barb had a bad week from expired insulin strips causing a sugar level problem.  She too has moved but needs to find something better suited to her needs.  We had a good visit before I headed back to Troy.  Bill had picked up Ted and we were all going to Kelly’s for Skyline!  

I had a protein drink for breakfast and a nectarine for lunch so I was more than ready for dinner.  Kelly turned on the Amazon Prime music channel and we had a danceathon, starring CeCe!  I think you have to tap the link below once and then tap another that appears to see it.  Since we would be pushing 100 to ever see her marry, I think it would make an excellent addition to an engagement or wedding video.

https://www.facebook.com/kara.r.kneale/videos/559990852046966/

We stopped at the store to get things for our dinner that will be tonight.  Grilled beef tenderloin, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, rolls and chocolate eclair cake.  Kara is adding chicken breasts and  vegetables from the other night.  I believe  Kelly is bringing a salad too.  We have wood for a fire from the guy next door who just left so we need marshmallows! 

Dinner was excellent  Ted grilled the tenderloin perfectly  

I microwaved 10 baking potatoes and 12 ears of corn in the Instapot!   It isn’t easy to feed a dozen people out of a motorhome.

All On Board for the Weekend

On Saturday Ted and Dan took a group of six nephews to the Gun Range for Sporting Clay and Skeet shooting.  They had a great time and said the view was fantastic.  While they were gone I hung around the villas visiting with everyone coming and going. Burgers had been grilled, wrapped in foil and put in a roaster for a "grab and go" lunch.  By the end of the afternoon, the roaster was empty.

Festivities Saturday evening in the pavilion included a fried chicken dinner, Trivia which I played, Texas Holdem, charades, corn hole and jewelry making for the little kids.  Everyone had plenty to eat and drink plus many people to visit with into the wee hours of the morning.  

Our mother was the oldest of the six Ruhe children of Al and Lucille Ruhe.  

There was a hot breakfast served at the villas at 9 am on Sunday.  Those leaving had to vacate their lodgings by 11.  Twenty of us were staying over until Monday and we agreed to meet at the Marina Cafe for dinner.  

My brother Kim and his wife Marion went to check out and an error had been made checking them in a day later than they actually did.  The desk insisted they had another night’s stay and she could not give them a refund.  So they stayed the 4th night for the price of 3!  Why argue?

They joined us in a trip to Trough Creek State Park.  There are lots of trails but most involve a lot of "low level rock climbing" so we limited our escapade to the Swinging Bridge, Rainbow Falls, Balanced Rock and the Ice Mine. 

We visited the campground, the shooting venue because of the view, and then drove a bit to the Raystown Dam and Hawn’s Overlook.  

We returned in time for a freshen up, or in my case a 45 minute nap, before heading to the Marina Cafe.  They sat us at three tables for dinner.  I have eaten w-a-y too much and will need to get on the straight and narrow once we leave our last visiting stop which is Cincinnati.  

We stayed up fairly late around our last campfire but still managed to close up and dump for an 8:45 am departure from the park.  Our truck driving friend Rob came through again with excellent directions, suitable for our big rig, to I-80 in Ohio.  

Our only stops were for fuel once and a few rest area potty stops.  It is good to move around a bit.  We are spending tonight, Monday, near Sandusky and will hopefully pull into Addison Oaks, 15 miles from the kids, around noon or a bit after tomorrow.

Lake Raystown Resort

We left Monday morning and made our way in a little over three hours to our destination.  Our spot is big but a bit unlevel so set up took a bit longer but we finally got it right.  We found several of our family here and we all ended up at the park restaurant for dinner then returned to the villas. 

Tuesday we just hung out with various relatives and made the trip into town to Walmart!  I made deviled eggs and some chip dip to share at a burgers and brats dinner courtesy of niece Nancy.  

Wednesday I joined Keith, Steve, Cindy and Tim to visit Penn Cave, about 1.5 hours away.  The fellows were going shooting and it gave me time to visit during the drives up and back.  And I learned something!

I never knew what Nittany Lion of Penn State meant.  Turns out an Indian Princess, whose name sounded like Nittany, fell in love with a Frenchman.  They ran away together but were caught by her 7 brothers and father.  He was thrown into what is Penn Cave and left to die. This is the Nittany Lion today.

We stopped at a fruit stand and bought melons and berries to make a fruit salad to go with our Taco Wednesday dinner courtesy of cousin Nicole. 

On Thursday we took a two hour boat ride in Tim’s pontoon boat.  The lake is 30 miles long and we didn’t cover all of it.  This lake is a COE park so there are no houses along the shores, just a solid stand of trees.  It must be extra beautiful in the fall. 

Dinner that night was courtesy of Sue with the rest of the burgers, brats and smoked sausages cooked along with chicken wings.  Several sides and many appetizers were contributed also.  We had not eaten out since our arrival.

Friday the weekend arrivals turned up in droves with our numbers reaching 70+.  Ted and I had lunch with Kim and Marion at the marina cafe with other tables occupied with others in the family who had the same idea.

At 4:00 the party started in the pavilion followed by dinner, line dancing, face painting, corn hole and bingo!  Both Ted and I won … candy we will take to Michigan. 

Saturday will be more adventures with a return to the pavilion for another great dinner and fun!  

Our Turn

The next day was our turn. We had received directions last October from a truck driver friend about how to get from Gettysburg to Lake Raystown Resort.  He said the three ways our GPS was showing us was not suitable for the motorhome. He gave us the route he uses driving his semi. After our experience the day before we felt using the day to gather info would be well spent. 

We headed east to Harrisburg and then up and around the base of a mountain headed west and then south on the other side.  It took 3 hours but the directions were right on.  We got a day pass to drive through the resort which is huge!  

We found our site which is very large and should work fine. It has no sewer so we will have to minimize use of our “facilities” for the week. Using the campground facilities during the day and not using the washer will help. When in Retama under normal usage we can go a week so it should be fine. Worse case scenario is we have to close up, drive to the dump, then set back up. 

Because we were in the car, we took one of the three routes on the GPS back home and boy was Rob correct.  It was a long steep drive down the mountain with turns galore, signs advising lower gears, and a truck runaway ramp.  However, it was only two hours to get home. 

I don’t remember what we did Friday but on Saturday we went to Chambersberg to a street festival.  It was extremely hot so we did little besides walking the streets with booths before heading to Mass and out to dinner. 

Sunday was Tom’s 78th Birthday so we took them to lunch at the Dobbin House. This is a home built in 1776. Much of it is still original and we chose to sit in the spring cellar furnished now as a tavern. The food  and service were excellent. We all took enough home for Sunday dinner.

The spring

We still had a ticket for a tour of the George Spangler farm so we headed there after lunch. This was commandeered and used as a field hospital during the Gettysburg battle.  Period docents were on hand and we had pleasant conversations with several. We were glad we finally were able to visit. 

A replica Rosecrans field ambulance

Original stone walls of the barn.  

Soldiers’ “accommodations.”

We returned home and played a final game of Mexican Train and I won!  First time this trip.  We hut the road in the morning. 

Lancaster

I am falling behind!  We are ready to leave Gettysburg and I haven’t kept up!

A visit with Abe!  He was sitting outside the Visitors Center.  Glad he was still there in today’s climate

The next day I turned over my navigating duties to the men and when I looked up we were in Harrisburg!  We went up the left side of a triangle and down the right side to Lancaster. We were supposed to take 30 which would be the straight line forming the base of that triangle!  

We were in Lancaster to scope out the campground our friends were going to the next week.  They were advised the bridge was out and they wanted to find the route in just the car rather than in the Motorhome towing the car.  Best decision ever!  

Our first attempt found us on the banks of a creek across from the park. Our second attempt took us in circles. I called the number listened and wrote down the directions and it still made no sense.  By the fourth try we ignored their directions, ignored the detour signs and finally made it.  We stopped in the office to inquire about check in times.  I told the lady the directions made no sense and to end up across the creek in an RV would be awful.  She admitted she never listened to the recording!  I suggested she do it. My first suggestion, identify the starting point!  Traveling east or west?  

After that we went to Bird In Hand for an Amish lunch. It was okay but can’t hold a candle to the quality of a Frankenmuth MI chicken dinner.

We drove to a collection of small shops where I purchased some mustard and jelly made on site.  Then we headed west on 30, a much shorter trip home,

The sides of the roads were full of trash.  First I saw a red truck tailgate and garbage.  Then a mattress and box springs.  Next up was this sign.  Whatever  

After Monticello

After our hot day at Monticello we welcomed the AC at Michie Tavern, not far from the plantation!  We had a late lunch/early dinner and enjoyed the ambience of the 1784 complex.

We didn’t give up on visiting president’s residences and made our way to James Monroe Highland plantation.  It was much smaller but with a docent to take us around the buildings, we found it much more informative and enjoyable.  

We learned 12 presidents owned slaves and these foundations are battling with those who want to erase history by wiping out statues, etc.  I know there has been the accusation the Holocaust never happened and it was so wise of the Jewish people to document and preserve their history. In 50 years if these statues, books, flags, songs, etc. are all wiped out, will someone decide to challenge if slavery ever existed?  Will all the proof have been sanitized until no proof remains?  Nothing has touched me as deeply as a visit to Dachau outside Munich!  

From there we went to … the Trump Winery!  Who knew?  No one except me drinks wine so we bought an 8 flight of wines running from white to red.  We asked for 4 empty glasses and shared just sips of the samples.  When the others had enough I took one for the team and finished them all off!  However, I didn’t like any of them.  I bought two gifts and Eileen bought two bottles of wine for others.  We did sit outside on the veranda and enjoyed the beautiful vista.  

Our last day we spent at University of Virginia.  The grounds are beautiful and we visited the Rotunda, Colonnade and Lawn.  

Lee, Jackson and Lewis and Clark statues were scheduled to be removed.  The next morning, they were gone.  Not sure how long George Washington will be allowed to remain.

And then we were on the road again!  Next stop Gettysburg!

We went into town to eat dinner because the drive and setting up in intense heat just took the starch out of us.  We tried the Dobbin Restaurant but at 5 pm they had an almost two hour wait!  I told him at my age I couldn’t take the chance to wait that long.  So we went to an Irish pub.  I ordered pecan chicken with mandarin oranges served with a salad and corn fritters.  To wash it down I had a hard peach cider!  Awesome!

After a cool nights sleep we headed to the Gettysburg Battlefield bus tour.  The visitor’s center is beautiful!  We saw a film on how the Civil War happened with states’ rights and slavery the points of contention.  Then the diorama painted in 1884 was shown in a circle presentation.  It is longer than a football field and four stories high.  It showed positions during the battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863 and explained the triumphs and failures of both the Union and Confederates.

Our main event was a two hour bus tour through the battlefields complete with commentary that was so informative.  When we returned we took in an hour talk on how medicine was practiced on the battlefield which was very informative.  It was dinner time when we arrived home.  Then we watched The All Star Game,

Tomorrow is a trip to Lancaster so stay tuned!  

Charlottesville

We had a fun time driving to our present park.  We had 3 different GPS instruments and Tom had a 4th all showing a different route!  I called the park but had to leave a message.  By the time they called back we had taken the exit mentioned in two of our four suggestions and it was not the best one.  We had a roller coaster ride over twisting undulating roads to get to the KOA.  The office people apologized profusely.  We received our sites and it was a Buddy site which is our doors facing each other.  

Our first day was going to be at Monticello.  I went on line and reservations were available every 5 minutes all day long!  We expected no crowds.  Boy were we wrong!  First up was a purse sign.  None allowed.  I stopped in my tracks to decide what to do.  I had a small crossbody with my phone and ID.  A lady was walking out and I asked if they said anything about her purse and she said “No, just don’t have a gun!”  I noted we parked in C3.  

We were directed to a line that was quite long.  We were an hour early because the info said there was a half hour film to watch.  We determined the film was being shown in the building to our right.  We asked if we got out of line to see the film, could we get back in line based on our reservation time of 12:15.  No, you need to go to the back of the line which was now longer.  A man in line told us to go in and watch the film then take the elevator up to the shuttle level.  So we did!

Upon arrival on our shuttle we again were sent to the back of a line of almost 200 people.  I asked the young man where in line were the 12:15 people and were informed they pay no attention to that.  They move about 60 people at a time so we were about the third set.  The house “tour” is walking through 4 or 5 rooms on the first floor.  There are no docents giving info, a few signs you have no time to read because 60 people are behind you in 5 minutes.  You have to keep moving.  Terrible disappointment.

We did find a tunnel to the basement to see the supplies and workings of the household.  Since it was not mentioned on the tour, most people missed it so we had time to read about life on the plantation.

The most informative part was the docent giving a tour of the out buildings and enslaved people’s quarters.  She spoke of the children Jefferson fathered with Sally Hemming and what happened to them.  Jefferson never acknowledged them but gave two their freedom at his death and DNA more than a century later has uncovered an entire family descended from Jefferson.  

We went to the cemetery to see where Jefferson is buried but you have to peer through gates.  

A shuttle came to take us back down to the parking lot.  There were 4 of us, only 3 empty seats so we had to get off.  So we stood where we got off but when the next shuttle came she would not pull into the spot across the street until we moved over to it.  No signs saying where to stand!  

I was glad I noted where we were parked but it didn’t help.  There were no signs indicating which lots were where.  We headed in the right direction and there next to the car it said C3.  Not a lot of help until you find it yourself!  

We were hot, sweaty and tired not to mention disappointed after paying $128 to get in!