Showing posts with label SKP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SKP. Show all posts

Readers Ask....summer 2008

Thursday, August 14, 2008

I know I promised that I'd blog about Yellowstone next but I still have to choose & edit photos from the over 400 we took during two days. I spent a little time catching up on reader email & blog comments so thought I would do a Readers Ask blog to reply to those I couldn't (no email address) or those that were of general interest (I think). LOL! So here goes!

Comment on "A full day....":
"In reading today's blog....I knew Escapees was a tremendous group, but how did they convince those deer to help with the parking......LOL It would be worth the trip to see that!"
~ Paul Weaver (long time reader)
and
" I agree with weaverworks that the deer might be helpful on the parking crew. Just have them lead the RVs to their proper place."
~ Dick

Have to admit it took me reading & re-reading what I wrote that figure out where these comments came from. As many of you have noticed, I don't proof edit my blogs. LOL! I spent too many years doing professional writing that required that as well as proofing others work. Well, in this case I should have.....see if you can find the problem.

More from the same blog:
"As I was driving north toward Gillette this morning (Wednesday) I saw a the RV in your picture being towed south toward Cheyenne. Apparently it wasn't driveable, and the whole front was criss crossed with tape. Maybe to keep the front windows in one piece. I feel for the owner of that rig, hope I'm never in that position."
~ Brenda

I never heard anything more on that accident or what caused it. It was not a pretty sight. But did hear about another VERY bad accident in Buffalo that killed a man and seriously injured his wife. Seems they lost their brakes coming through the mountains, couldn't stop when they hit town and ran into a building at a T intersection. A strong reminder to not overtax your brakes in the mountains....AND if towing a trailer or fifth wheel, be sure your truck is equipped to handle stopping the combined weight of your rig and all your stuff.

"What king of gas miles are you getting while towing your toad??"
~Whitey

That's an easy one....I get between 7 & 8 mpg regardless of what I'm towing or how much my rig weighs. Just seems to be the set point for it....unless I put my foot in it. LOL!

Comment on "Summer in Montana":
"We think you will like White Sulphur Springs--we live about 70 miles from there--we will have to take a motorcycle ride one day and come visit you."
~Mike & Janna

Love to meet you...I'm off on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays!


"We'd be *most* interested in hearing all about your workamping experiences. Anything you are willing to share about it would be appreciated. We are still thinking about doing some workamping, but being stuck in one place for a season doesn't sound that appealing. Tell us all about it!"
~jc&bev
and
"OK, Donna, you owe me one. I want to hear about your workcamping. Do you have Internet there? What are your tasks? Is it too hot to do them?"
~Linda

I hadn't seriously looked at Workamping even though I had subscribed to Workamper News for almost 2 years (if anyone joins, please use me as your reference - #48536). I had gone as far as making my application on their website and there had been a few "look-sees" by employers. Since many employers are looking for couples (one inside, one outside), I knew my chances were slim.

Since I didn't want a 5-6 month committment, I figured my best chance was a late season replacement opening and planned to look for one after the Escapade. Before I could do that, I was contacted by the owners of the Conestoga Campground and offered a position for two months (till after Labor Day). We agreed that I would only work inside (not into doing yard work and not capable of mechanical/repair work). This was a first solo experience for them as well as for me. Turns out there were two other workamp couples - one a replacement for a couple leaving and the other here for the season.

It's been wonderful....I would come back here in a heartbeat. I work four half days a week - Monday & Friday I work from 2:30-7pm and Tuesday and Saturday I work from 10am-2:30. The two morning shifts include cleaning the bathrooms but so far that has never been bad.

I answer the phone, enter reservations, check campers in and out, ring up items from the store and if there is an ice cream social on my late day, then I stay to ring up those sales. The owners are great...while there are a few things to do to fill time (vacuuming, dusting, checking stock), for the most part if I'm not busy I can read, work on the computer, play games, do puzzles, etc.

The weather here is wonderful....most days are in the upper 70's to upper 80's. There have been very few in the 90's. The nights range from 40's-50's with a few up into the 60's. Nice sleeping weather. There are winds....haven't put my big awning out at all. Many afternoons there is a big wind followed by a little rain. Nothing overly severe.

The town is cute, enough supplies to take care of basic needs but within 1.5-2 hrs there are several major cities for sightseeing and big shopping. The sunsets are glorious....here are a few more samples of post storm & sunset pics.



Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Gillette WY Updates - Escapade, SOLOS & Motorcycle Ride

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

I think I left off with my July 4th salute....but no news. The day was perfect....lots of sunshine, little wind and no humidity. The Escapees SOLOS BOF was having a hot dog picnic, sort of a pot luck and grill-out. My new SOLOS friend and fellow motorcyclist, Stu, asked me if I wanted a ride over. He carted two chairs on the back as well as his and my pot luck contributions.



It was a great success...there were many SOLOS there that I hadn't met before and the food was plentiful. Stu was asked if he could give one of our SOLOS ladies a ride on the trike, I think her name was Lila but I could be wrong. Anyway, I think she enjoyed it...here the are returning.



As the night darkened we prepared, we thought, for the fireworks. At 10pm the parking lot lights were dimmed and we had a perfect view. I don't know how long the display went on but it was at least 30 minutes of non-stop action. We all felt it was the best fireworks display any of us had seen in a long time...many felt it was the best they had ever seen (I'm one of those). I wished I had brought my better camera but here are a couple of shots from my little camera. Very hard to see the explosive colors and amazing display of lights.



At the picnic we met a local rider, Russ, who invited Stu on a local sightseeing trip the following day. I was "persuaded" to come along (yeah, my arm still hurts.....LOL!).

The next morning we went to breakfast at Lulu Belle's...great start to the day. Stu had gone exploring and thought he knew the location of the gas station where we were to meet up with Russ. We got there 5 minutes after the meet point...no one there. Fortunately they had exchanged phone numbers and we soon located the right station. Russ, and his little MinPin, had brought along a lady rider friend, Diana. We made quick introductions and headed off.

The trip was from Gillette up to Sheridan, through the Big Horn Mountains, down to Worland and Ten Sleep before hitting Buffalo and going back to Gillette. It ended up being an over 400 mile day. I took so many photos but I will try to pick a few for flavor and you can see the some of the rest (maybe 30% of what I took) in my SmugMug album.

The day was amazing....we went through little historic towns, up through the Big Horn Mountains, through canyons, tossed snowballs at each other, watched a hang glider prepare for the "right wind" for his first solo ride (we waited over 30 minutes and finally gave up), past wildflowers of all colors and odors, sighed over waterfalls hidden behind a construction area and so much more. As I said, an amazing day! But the highlight was near the end when we, okay Russ, spotted two moose down below us. Hard to capture with the little camera but there were there. Finally...a real moose sighting. LOL!



Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna