Loading the motor home & Taylor's Birthday

Just in case anyone has the false impression that we live an exciting and interesting life all the time should have been up here the past 3-4 days and help us load the motor home for our upcoming venture out west.   We didn't completely unpack the mh, so it is a little easier this time.  The storage bays are also larger and that helps somewhat.  But the fact remains, the "stuff" still has to be carried out there and stored someplace where we can remember where we put it.

I've been watching the fuel costs spiral  upward the last couple weeks or so and am hoping that they have gouged us enough around Labor Day to satisfy their appetite for huge profits.   I am sure if the prices do go down, they won't fall as fast as they rose.

We were getting ready to leave on a trip right after 9/11/2001 and I was talking to a couple in a tire store who were from the state of Washington.  The woman was frantic and in panic mode to get out of the Washington, DC area before they bombed it.  She believed doomsday was just around the corner and she wanted to cut their dream trip short and head back as fast as they could.  I tried to reason with her and quickly saw that it was impossible for her to understand what was happening.  I felt sorry for her poor husband as they planned on driving the mh 600-700 miles a day to return.

We continued on our trip to Texas and then Las Vegas, NV as planned.  That was the last time I was able to purchase gas for $.89 gallon in San Antonio, TX.  WOW!   We never paid over $1.10/gal on the trip and there was plenty of gas available.  You might say a glut of gas and we really appreciated that on our 7,000 mile trip that fall.  

In any case, we will continue to travel as long as we can afford the fuel, campground fees and our health holds up.   Lots to see out there and we want to see it all.

Today is the birthday of Taylor Hagadorn ( grand daughter-in-law ) and we wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday.  Gerry made her a special birthday card and sent it a couple days ago. 

Barbara & Henry, Ed & Vicky (Taylor's parents), Taylor and Sean all went out to dinner this evening at Hawthornes in Mint Hill, NC to celebrate her birthday.  It looks like they had a great time from the picture Henry sent us.

Taylor, Henry, Barbara,Sean, Vicky & Ed

While they were celebrating without us, we had a nice dinner of steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and a nice salad.  A cold bottle of Blackstone Merlot set the meal off great.  

Of course, when I was grilling the steaks, the propane tank ran dry.  I had hoped to get through the summer with one tank, but it wasn't to be.  Thankfully, we have two extra tanks at the cabin and a quick switch over was in order.

Did I say I am stuffed to the gills?  Now, that's good eatin'!.