8/30/13

Hotter than h…. in Kansas!

 

DSC_6073

(Caution…this post may jump in time and space!)

We are feeling fortunate to be sitting in the cool of the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library in Junction City, KS as the temperature climbs toward 102 degrees outside!  Very fortunate!

Yesterday at this time we were baking on the shore of the beautiful Wilson Lake, about one hundred miles west of here where we landed last Monday.   But let me back up even more!

One week ago today, after leaving Glenda and Jeff, we are relocating to ….IMG_2110

Where we find the unknown berries that are a welcome addition to our morning oatmeal.

IMG_2107

After one night and a little rain we are heading to Englewood, CO (really it’s Denver) to visit with our former neighbor, good friend, Chris who moved away 4 years ago.

Enjoying her company in her back yard oasis, we meet one of the neighbors’ cats.DSC_6034 

DSC_6035

Chris,a hiker, backpacker and bicyclist, is recently started her own business.   You can learn more about being healthy here.

Our time in Denver is short.  Slept comfortably in the Casita on the street in front of her house.  (Never ceases to amaze me….all the spots we can find to sleep!)  The next morning we attended a farmers’ market  where I purchased a clay cooking pot from Columbia.  These amazing little pots can be used in the oven, on the grill or in the microwave.  My oatmeal is being cooked, for a change, inside the Casita on the propane grill!

DSC_6085

 

Due to the morning at the market, we are heading toward Kansas in the heat of the day.  Barely made it across the state line before stopping at the High Plains RV Park.   The winds are howling, gusting around 30 miles per hour!  David’s frustrated as everything he lays down is instantly blown away.  Arriving just before dark, we see our first Kansas sunset.

 

IMG_2115

The problem of camping on Labor Day had been bothering me.  While in Poudre Canyon there was no phone and the Reserve website wasn’t working on my computer.  While at Chris’ house, we were just too busy to look!  Finally scored one of the two last electric sites at a COE on Lake Wilson…right on our path to the Farnum Creek rally!  I prayed for a shaded site with a good solid cell phone connection.

Arriving on Monday afternoon before the holiday, we are almost alone as it’s mostly empty.  Searching the huge 7 loops of Minooka Park campground, four or five sites had afternoon shade.  We picked D-9 as it had two trees and a beautiful view of the lake.  And a solid 4G with 4 bars!

DSC_6047

The first night is spent exploring and taking sunset pictures.

DSC_6051

DSC_6065

We are on the eastern side of the peninsula so it was no problem to get a few sunrise pictures.

 

DSC_6074

DSC_6076

It’s hot, we need ice and decide to explore the closest little town of Wilson.  After eight miles of rolling hills we find the town’s only store/ gas station closed.  Five PM closing time!  Well, surely there’s something else?  Sure, we were told, if we want to head back west on the interstate 26 miles!

Already I am wondering if this pretty spot with the perfect internet connection is doable for 7 nights.  The heat is getting more intense.  Then a water main breaks, the shower house closes and we are advised to disconnect our water as maintenance is turning it off and on.  The second day of no water begins and I am holing up inside the Casita.  The reflectix is back on the windows in attempts to keep the A/C inside.  I am dreading the weekend when we must move to our previously reserved site with no shade on the western side of the hill.

Full of indecision and drained from the heat, I email Tom, one of the hosts of the Farnum Creek rally, telling him of my misery mentioning that if our A/C quits, we would be heading home if we were not in the hospital!  And, bless him, he immediately jumps into action and finds us a site on Milford Lake.  We call back and forth, my calls constantly getting dropped, until we can make the 90 mile trip to the West Rolling Hills camp.  Drove much faster than normal due to concern over him sitting in the heat saving our site.

So last night was great! Ate hamburgers at the marina and had a shower.  All good except when my laptop electric cord shorted and threw the Casita into darkness.  After momentarily sitting in shock, we got everything unplugged and explored the converter.

I found a switched that had been thrown and we were back into the light.  This morning discovered the cord no longer worked, had one of the wires burnt.  Found a great little repair shop and he put me back into the blogging world in a few short minutes.  Wizard Electronics performed magic!

If you are wondering why I am writing so much, it’s 4 Pm and 101.  Think we will stay here until closing time!

Few more thoughts…..This coming week will be our last on the road.  The rally starts (officially) midweek and then we will be heading to Chattanooga.  It will be great to be home after 3 1/2 months …….but what will I write about?

More of Wilson Lake

DSC_6096

DSC_6081

DSC_6089

DSC_6091

14 comments:

  1. Did you wave at me when you went by Ellis? Make a note: City has a nice little campground on a (very low right now) lake, with E/W/showers, wifi, dumpstation. Probably where am going to stay when I come back for a week in Oct.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, did not realize Ellis is your present home until Tom told us. We were shooting for the little campground....the KS Welcome Center recommended it..but it was too far to drive that day.

      Missing you on the net and will be missing you at the rally! Understand that you are going through a big transition with your relocation
      Take care of yourself!

      Delete
    2. Hey, if you need a place for overnight or two while in southern NM, give me a hollar as I will have room and hookups.

      Delete
  2. Love the header picture! BTW, I'm finding the house huge after 135 days in the Scamp but temps here are still terribly hot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thks....it was time for a change and Glenda helped me with the resizing.

      Know what you mean about huge! Every time we come home I wonder why we have so much space...and our house is small in comparison with others.

      It's almost September...fall must come soon!

      Delete
  3. I'm translating that smilely face into "glad we are home in our shady AC home!

    Will miss you two!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad for the air conditioning, but still wish we were up there with all of you. Maybe the heat will break. Bet y'all will have a fantastic time, whatever the temps.

      Delete
  4. Terrific Sunset photo's....Boy what a trip you two have had....and I didn't realize it had been 3 1/2 months....time flies when you're having fun..LOL...BTW..really like those clay pots...we're going to have get some....hope the weather breaks pretty soon...here in south Texas it been close to or hitting a hundred ever day and no real rain....have a relaxing time at the Rally and a safe trip home.....Horst sends

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know that many people live with temps hovering around 100....I guess the body adapts and one learns how to do it. But it feels life threatening to us as we are dependent on the Casita's A/C. But a front has blown through and the temperature has dropped...all is good!
    Still learning how to cook in the pot....found not to lay it down while hot on a synthetic drying mat!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The air is ok but wow do I love a cool evening with the windows open and the quilt on!! I'm more a Fall, flannel shirt kind of girl. It's the loss of daylight that really gets me messed up.... I want one of those pots! How handy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hate the loss of daylight...also! That's why I love the desert southwest in the winter. The days are not longer but the intensity of the sun makes up for the lost hours.

    Still learning how to cook in the pot...continuing to be amazed at its performance!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think those berries are Saskatoons.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Shirley. I will look them up. Entirely a new plant for me!!

    ReplyDelete