M bo batan

Lots of "green" for an RV park

Stop 1, Deer Creek Valley RV Resort.  Topeka, KS:  After lunch, I ended up on the couch with an upset stomach (crew member down!).  Then we hit a small rain shower with more gloom on the radar.  The Colonel pulled over at a rest stop before Topeka to:
1) call our second choice stop (first choice hadn't called back)
2) bring the iPad back so I could reprogram the directions
Then he had to:
3) go in to check in on arrival.
4) set up on his own
5) make his own dinner & toast for his wife
Yep, he appreciates everything I do!

We ended up stopping 20 miles short for the night.  This turned our to be a great stop.  $39.60 (Good Sam).  Large pull-thrus, large grassy areas between pads and the park is surrounded by trees (second best to parking under a tree).  Great atmosphere.  Staff is very friendly (and reviews say the bathrooms are immaculate).

Bonus:  the rain showers didn't arrive until after we'd gone to bed.  An overall good day.

Stats:  313 miles

Ahhhh, beautiful Kansas with light rain thrown in for variety!

Lunch stop, day 2:  Flying J Truck Stop, Salina, KS.

The windmills of breezy Kansas always make me smile

Despite all the jokes, Kansas can be beautiful!

This afternoon's road trip music:
Pandora's Southern Rock Radio...
"Somebody is gonna hurt someone before the night is through..."
"There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know!..."

I do miss the fabulous sunrises & sunsets from the boat, but we still keep an eye out.

Stop 2, High Plains Camping.  Oakley, KS:  This was a bare bones stop but the options get sparse in western Kansas.  It turned out to be a decent facility.  The owner's keep it tidy and are very enthusiastic.  They even convinced us to check out the adjacent restaurant but it turned out to be a little disappointing.  Oh, well.  At least I didn't have to do dishes!

Stats:  309 miles

For people who skipped last winter, this is chilly!  Digging out the flannel jammies!

Day 3:

Hanging with the big boys!

An advantage to a Class A RV is we sit up high with a great view. How high?  The Colonel requested a pic as a semi goes by because "they look so close!"  (They are close!). It took him awhile before he realized many were waving. Got the perfect shot today--see the stuffed animal in the window?  We're up here with the big boys!

Mountains in sight--a little hazy today.

Spot #17

Destination, Boyd Lake State Park:  Check in was interesting.  We accidentally turned into the office entrance instead of the main gate.  I quickly panicked, thinking I'd directed The Colonel into a dead end but he maneuvered the round-about like a champ (we saw several large rv's make the same maneuver during our stay).  It gave me opportunity to purchase a state park pass ($70 for the year, versus $8/day in addition to the $23 campground fee.  We'd later learn our family didn't have a state park pass either, and paid $8 to come in to greet us!)

Stats:  289 miles

A view of the lake or the mountains. Pick your seat.

Welcome to Colorado--sunset over the mountains.

Catching up on some paperwork.  Leg One from FL to St. Louis was 1395 miles.  Leg Two from St. Louis to Colorado was 904 miles, for a grand total of 2299 miles in Odin the Winnebago in two months!  Certainly much faster than the Odin the Sailboat!

Road route map for leg two is up (interactive--zoom in and switch to satellite to see the rv parks):  https://goo.gl/maps/rKa2WVAtPBq