With our RV hauler (old 5th wheel) 

Dining at Lodi, CA 

Update on Loretta

Wednesday Loretta didn't feel as good - the numbness had gone out of her knee. So she was in quite a bit of pain, but she iced it regularly and kept it elevated most of the time. She hadn's slept too good and didn't Wednesday night. Thursday she was feeling somewhat better. Her daughter/nurse Sharon removed the dressing and the 3 small incisions looked very good. The leg was still somewhat swollen.

By Friday she was feeling somewhat better and was getting around quite a bit. She had been using Sharon's walker. But Sharon and Bill were going to a fair in Memphis to see their son Scott. He manages the sheep operation at Martin College where he is studying to be a vetrinarian. I am not sure whether they are showing sheep or he is going as coach for the college animal judging team (perhaps both). As Sharon is still recouping from her knee replacement, we felt it best she take the walker. Loretta was getting along well with her cane anyway. So last evening we went to Lawrenceburg for supper and shopping at Wal-Mart. She got along quite well, but when she got ready for bed, found that her ankle was black and blue as well at the leg was quite swollen. So she called the number the doctor had provided her for emergency. She was reffered to a substitute who said "Not to worry". But she should keep off of that leg more. She iced the knee and elevated the leg again. But didn't sleep well as she was in a lot of pain and still is somewhat this morning. However the leg does look better.

She had expected faster recovery, but may have been using that leg too much. And we aren't kids anymore.

Back in Tennessee

September 4

The office at Town and Country RV Park was closed in the evening when we arrived. Yesterday morning it still was, and I didn't have the correct change for the Self Register. So I went for a walk, and found a pathway that led to a farm building out back. There was a pickup parked in front of it with the door open, so I went there and found the owner. He had been baling hay the evening before when we arrived. We had a nice visit and then he took me for a ride around the farm to show me some of the best Soybeans I had ever seen.

He had moved to Sikeston, MO from the Imperial Valley of California. So he had greded the fields for "Flood Irrigation", a lot of farmers around Sikeston do not irrigate at all. But it sure shows in his crops. He had also leveled the campground area and put crushed stone roadways and parking sites. He had planted a lot of flowering shade trees and the spring photo he showed me was beautiful. After settling up for the night in the campground we got back on the road. Before leaving MO, we fueled as I expected cheaper prices (NOT MUCH), also got breakfast there. By the time we entered Illinois (for a few hundred yards) then Kentucky, the roads were very crooked and hilly. They were somewhat better in Tennessee. Sitting in one spot was getting to me, so we did make another stop to strech out some. We arrived at Circle P Farm just ahead of the rain. But it only sprinkled while I got parked and set up.

Loretta's son and his wife stopped by for a visit and to invite us to the wedding of their daughter today. We visited with Sharon (Loretta's daughter who is recuperating from Knee Replacement surgery) After supper, we returned to our trailer as I was beat. In fact all night I hurt everyplace one could I think. But getting better this morning.

Unfortunately even with the Wilson Trucker Antenna, I still cannot get cell phone signals here. So will have to do email on line from the computer in the house and keep this updated there also.

Have a Happy Holiday

September 2

September 2 Sikeston, Missouri

Last night the lights were blinking, so I checked this morning and found a circuit breaker tripping that switched the 12V between the batteries and the converters. Also found that the battery disconnect relay seemed to be stuck closed. I bypassed the relay with a fuse but couldn’t get relay working. We then got on the road and stopped for food, fuel and dump tanks after getting back on I-70. We took I-270 around St. Louis and after getting on I-55 found a RV dealer. But the shop was backed up there. Talked with the service manager about the problem while there.
We stopped at Wal-Mart in Festus, MO where they checked the batteries to find no problem. Then we got dinner at Ryan’s. We located a campground off the highway and when we called they did have spaces available. It was a couple of very hilly, crooked miles that was partly dirt. When we got there, they wouldn’t accept the discount card even though they were in the directory. It looked like a dumpy place and didn’t appear to be worth the $20 they wanted - they said that was a discount price. Glad we decided to move on as the interior roads were terrible and spaces were no where near level even though well shaded. We did find another near Sikeston for $15 with large level sites, on a good road. Did not check in as the owner was baling hay, but understand he is great. Visited with several other campers including one with a Wiers Towmaster a year older than ours. They also used to belong to the Avion Travelcade Club and know many of our Florida friends. And to top it off he is an Amateur Radio operator. So a nice visit till the bugs sent me home to do my computer work and watch the President speak on TV.