After much consideration, I decided to make another trip by RV. 😬 I’m calling this my RV’s Retirement Trip. . So… let’s see the West first, then South and then back home. 🤔 Pretty relaxed artinerary.

You would think it would be easier to pack up and head out since I’m already living in the RV… In some ways it is, as you don’t have to haul in all your clothes and groceries etc…. But in other ways it’s not, because you have been living in it for six months, accumulating things 😬 and adding furniture to the outdoors!

For 2 weeks before I left, I had lists of things that needed to be accomplished every day. It also included some minor repairs to the RV and a steering assembly for the truck. Included on the list was time to join my friends and cousins for brunch or lunch, enjoy their company, and say my goodbyes for the next 6 months. 🤗 And of course I definitely made time to be with my kids and grandkids, 👍 Plus, Bob organized a great going away lunch & family get together the day before I left. Everyone brought food and some things for me to take on the road ! ( From much needed RV toilet tissue, to high end bourbon! 😄 ) and then everyone, including the grandkids, pitched in to help do the last minute things!

• Screen house taken down, heavy picnic table leaned on its side, furniture and yard items stuffed inside the shed, roof cleaned off, and water bottles filled.

Braden, my budding artist grandson, sketched a sign on poster board that I will be outlining with black marker and putting up on the back of the RV. I will post that once I have it finished 👍

After everyone left on Saturday, October 9th 2021, I went to bed exhausted. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to take off on Sunday, the 10th like I had planned. 🤔 In the morning, I was tired and ached all over. Not looking good. I decided to just get up, have breakfast and do a few things and see how I felt. After all, I reminded myself, I made this schedule,… I can change it.

You wouldn’t think there would be a lot to do after everybody’s help yesterday, but that wasn’t the case. The tanks had to be dumped and flushed, sewer system disconnected, water tank partially filled, ( to minimize weight) hook up to the truck, prepare the inside and start pulling the slides and pulling up the jacks. These last two things had not been done for 2 months so I held my breath as I pushed each button. But it all worked fine! 👌 ( I will have a separate edition on what goes into getting ready and setting up/ taking down for those who are interested and as a future reminder for myself !! 😂 )

Well… then I decided I may as well hit the road and at least get a few miles under my belt. I pulled out at 1:30 p.m. .

I drove down to Lacrosse on a combination of highway, county roads, and interstate. It really was a beautiful and relaxing drive. I took my time getting reacquainted with driving the RV again. I stopped for the night just across the Minnesota border at a tourist information Rest Area on the Mississippi River. Beautiful location!

My trip had begun! 😊