Chily Expeditions: Early Fall in Pepin, WI 2015

Thanks to Anna, OT from Pepin we are headed to Yuma, AZ for the Winter. Anna also works in Yuma during the Winter and told me about the job. My contract is signed...YAY! The job is for 6 months. I've not worked that long at any travel assignment since we started 5 years ago. We spent our last weekend driving to the Cities for the day, making one last Costco run, and eating lunch with the girls (Kristy, Robyn ) at Matt's Bar. Matt's is world famous for their Juicy Lucy's. Kirk is close to mastering the JL. Don't think there's much Kirk can't master on the grill! October 10th was my last day at work in Pepin. Matt, Anna, Tessa, and I enjoyed our bittersweet last day together.

Kirk picked me up after work in the motorhome and we headed out of town. First stop was Gladbrook. We spent 2 nights in front of Kirk's mom's house. Bev, Kirk's sister came to Gladbrook on saturday and spent the day with us. We drove over to the very small town of Beaman for lunch. The little bar there serves some yummy tenderloin sandwiches. Heather, Charlie, and new granddaughter, Kaylee also met us there. Kaylee was born September 21, 2014. She is just a cute, tiny, little thing. Kirk is one proud happy Grandpa! :) That evening Kirk and I took Mavis (mom) to Marshalltown for the famous Taylor's Maidrites and malts. Excellent! The next day, we left Gladbrook and headed to Granger, IA to visit Nate, Lindsey, and little Mason. We were only able to stay a few hours as we needed to make it to somewhere in NE before dark. Of course, it seems like all we do is eat, so we did take Nate and his family to the Corn Patch in Grimes for lunch. Nice family style meal. Mason loved it.

Stopped in Elm Creek, NE and stayed at Sunny Meadows Campground for the night (10/12). This is basically just a gravel parking lot with full hook-ups and pull throughs. It was Passport America, so the price was right ($15). The next morning we left early and drove all day through NE and part of WY. We stayed in Rawlins, WY on 10/13 for the night at Western Hills Campground. This was a place we had stayed 2 years ago when passing through on our way to Utah ($30). While there, we went downtown and ate at a very good Thai restaurant called Anongs. On 10/14, we headed to Utah and arrived at the Springville/Provo KOA (formally Eastbay RVPark). The price ($49) had gone up from when we stayed there before with the previous owners, but it was near Carries (Kirk's daughter) and was a nice place. When we arrived there, the weather was in the 70's, and the Fall colors were beautiful. We had a great visit with Carrie, John, grandkids, and Paul and Lois (John's parents). Again, we all went out to eat at an all you can eat buffet. The kids had a blast.

On 10/15 we hit the road again and made it as far as Laughlin, NV. There we stayed the night at Davis Camp Park and boon docked. My allergies started to hit me hard, so out came the allergy bomb (combo of essential oils) and bam!!! gone in a day. We arrived in Yuma on 10/16. Finally at our destination. The Palms RV Resort. This was our first time to Yuma, so we were excited to be here. Before arriving though, we were about 10 miles north of Quartzite, AZ on hwy 95 when a van coming toward us blew a tire and rolled over several times. Scared the crap out of us. We called 911 right away and ran over to help. The guy was cut up a bit, but was okay. We waited till help arrived and took off for Yuma.

The Palms is a gated RV resort and very nice. They have owners/renters. The owners have villas instead of park models like other parks. There is a lap pool, regular pool, and 2 hot tubs. Lots of activities and entertainment. Also, has a nice workout gym, and massage rooms. We are in site 110. I start work on the 20th.