Busy, Busy Week

We left Cloud 9 Ranch in Caulfield, MO on Sunday morning and arrived at the Escapees 52nd Escapade in Sedalia, MO that afternoon. 

I was delighted to see Marty (Vice-President of Florida Chapter 57), wife Peg and friends Fred and Barbara (Volunteer Club Representatives) at the registration desk.  Friendly, familiar faces are always wonderful.

It was pretty much non-stop from there on out.  The entertainment that evening was Yakov Smirnoff, who performs at Branson.   He was hilarious and thought provoking as he recounted his family's adjustment from Russia to USA.  It makes one truly appreciate the fact that we live in a free country.  He signed books afterward and Gene took our picture.   I'd love to post it, but the "add attachment" seems to have disappeared.

The rest of the week was filled with seminars on a myriad of subjects from RV Safety, Engine Performance, Fire & Life Safety to Working in Picasa, Identity Theft and Health Living, etc.  Whether you are a newbee or have been full-timing for years, there was something to learn.

Gene volunteered to drive one the golf carts that picked folks up from the campground and delivered them to the various seminars and then back "home" again.  He did this on Tuesday from 11:30 - 2:45.  I can assure you I was very thankful for those golf carts as we were parked about 3/4 of a mile away.  I did get plenty of exercise, though, going from one building to another.  On Wednesday he volunteered for Security for a couple hours.

The Christian Fellowship group met every morning for a one hour devotion, singing and fellowshipping.  It was great to meet Christians from other parts of the country and share our testimonies.  We all went out to eat Thursday evening at Kehde's Barbeque.  It was a unique experience eating in the Katy Flyer Dining Car.  I had a moment when I was sure the train car was moving, but it was quite stationary on the ground.  The food was delicious and we enjoyed getting to know Richard and Glenda, who gave us a ride over there.

Friday morning we said our goodbys to old and new friends and headed for Wentzville, MO.  We chose the backroad routes and came upon a Lewis and Clark Marker at the Marion Access to the Missouri River.  William Clark's servant, York, swam out to the sandbar to pick greens (probably cress) to give them some good green leafy supplement to their diet.  We ate our lunch there, (no, I didn't send Gene out to the sandbar for cress) and then continued on our way.  We saw little farms, large farms, soybeans, corn, little towns and large hills in the distance -it's my favorite kind of countryside.  We stopped a little later so I could take more pictures of the Missouri River, and met four folks who are bicycling the Katy Trail.  They will spend six days on the Trail and end up in St. Charles, MO.  What stamina and energy!

We had a great visit with our friend, Bill and his daughters Ginny & Dorothy and husbands Mike & Tim.  We spent the night in our Roadtrek in his yard and then out to breakfast the next morning and on the road again back to Cloud 9 Ranch.

We attended the Cloud 9 Ranch Chapel this morning.  It's 25 miles into town, so I really appreciate having a church service right here on the premises.  This afternoon we'll go down to the Fogey Hollow Campground and set up right by the water - my favorite place.  I can sit outside and watch and listen to the water rushing over the rocks - so very peaceful.

 That brings this edition to a close.  "Talk" to you next week.