Having Fun & Learning A Few Things Too

Monday
October 5, 2009

I woke up at 4:30 this morning so I could write and post the blog. This was so I could meet up with everyone else at seven o’clock for coffee and donuts. Mark Bruss was giving a seminar on securing your PC and accessing the internet at eight o'oclock. Mark did an outstanding job and I learned a few things that I didn't know about securing your PC. Thanks Mark.

When we broke for lunch Gina and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few more items for the taco soup that Gina was cooking for this evening’s pot luck. Once we got back home we started preparing and cooking the taco soup. While we were cooking Jack & Danielle Mayer arrived from Colorado. I gave them time to set up then I walked over to say hello and to give Danielle a hug. It was nice to see them again since we hadn’t seen them since February. After a few minutes I walked back home so I could continue helping Gina. A little while later Jack walked down to say hello to Gina and she could get her hug from Jack. Danielle walked over a little while later and we all visited for awhile until it was time to head over to the club house for our daily social hour. Jack helped carry one of the two pots of taco soup. Gina help get the kitchen and serving line setup while I visited with everyone until it was time for dinner.

Henry, Phil, Mike and Jack Snacking Before Dinner


Mark Chatting with A Group of People


Me with Mike and Jack

(I really look short next to them)


Here is Cindy, Danielle, and Pat

Everyone enjoyed the taco soup and there was still a lot leftover. Mike & Pat took a bowl home with them. That was a good thing since there was no way we could have put all of the leftover in our refrigerator. Around eight o’clock we all said good night and headed home. Right when we were walking back home Ed & Paula arrived back from Smith Center, Kansas. They had left this morning to take a tour of the Excel Plant. They are considering a new fifth wheel and they wanted to see how an Excel is manufactured. They walked back to our home with us and we sat and visited with them for a couple of hours to hear about their tour today. Around ten o’clock we said good night and called it a night ourselves. We enjoyed another wonderful day learning, meeting new friends and visiting with old friends. Just a wonderful day!!


Tuesday
October 6, 2009

Gina and I woke up this morning at seven o’clock. I put the coffee on and then jumped into the shower. The coffee had finished brewing so I fixed a cup for Gina and brought it to her in bed. I then walked over to the club house for donuts. Jeremy from Doonan’s Peterbilt in Wichita was coming over to talk about converting commercial trucks into RV haulers and explain some of the systems associated with big semi tractors. At ten o’clock Gina went to a gathering for all the women here at the rally so they could have their separate meeting. I’m not sure what all they talked about but I’m sure it dealt with women driving big trucks. I know Gina will be driving our truck before the week is up. YES!!!! There will be pictures when she actually gets behind the wheel, I promise. Jeremy finished up his seminar around noon. I then walked over the see Bryan Tillet, the president of Excel. They manufactured our home. He drove down from Smith Center Kansas to give a presentation on Excel Coaches. Bryan was also the same person who bought my old Dodge truck as an added bonus to get me to order our Excel. We visited for a few minutes and I toured the Excel coach that he brought down here to Hutchinson with him. It was a nice floor plan but just not what we would want. Bryan did his presentation at one o’clock and then walked over to our coach. I wanted him to see just how nice Gina has decorated our home. We walked back with him to his coach so Gina could see it too. After a little while Bryan had to hitch up and head back toward Smith Center. We said our goodbyes. However, he did say that we could come up on Monday the 12th to have our slide adjusted instead of waiting until the 26th.

We then walked back home and took Angel and Zoey for a walk. While we were walking we met up with Jack & Danielle as they were walking their dog. We invited them over to our home to visit for awhile. A little while later Pat walked over too. We all sat around and visited until it was time for our evening meal which was being catered by Hog Wild Barbeque. What a name for a restaurant. Their barbeque was delicious and we had yet another wonderful meal visiting with some fantastic people. Around 7:30 we all broke up to head back home. However, on our way home we decided to take a walk around the park to look at all the trucks and to see if we could come up with a name for our truck. While we were walking we met up again with Jack & Danielle and decided we would all go for a walk. After two laps around the park Jack and I broke off and let Gina and Danielle continue walking. Jack and I continued talking by my truck until the girls quit their walk. We all said good night and headed inside for the night. I watched a little TV while Gina was online. Around eleven o’clock we called it a day and headed off to bed.

I have learned so much in two days about my truck. I’m looking forward to tomorrow when Jack will be giving a seminar on solar power and Rob will be giving one on wind power. These seminars are about how to park in a natural setting without hookups. RV'ers call this boondocking and is something that Gina and I believe we will enjoy in our travels throughout west and northwest states.

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

A Beautiful Day & The Rally Begins

Sunday
October 4, 2009

We woke up late this morning to an absolutely beautiful morning. The skies were clear with a light breeze blowing and a temperature of 53 degrees. This is the weather that we want to chase around this country all year long. We did manage to enjoy a cup of coffee together before I ran off to get a shower. Gina followed right behind me. After I got dressed I sat down to write and post the blog. I sure hope I can keep the blog entries happening daily because donuts & coffee start at seven o’clock each morning.

After I finished the blog I went outside since there were people walking around and registering for the rally. I spoke to a few them. While I was talking Pat came over and asked Gina if she wanted to ride up to Wal-mart? She said sure, so they met up at 12:30 and off they went to Wal-mart with Dale driving, and Pat, Sheri and Gina along for the ride. I normally would have been worried that Gina was heading off to go shopping with three other women. However this was Wal-mart and I knew we didn’t need much. So no need to worry.

While I was outside there were more big trucks pulling their fifth wheels arriving for the rally. I have completely lost count how many trucks are here now. But, there should be about 28 trucks here. I spoke to a few more couples as they were out walking around looking at all the trucks here. Some asked if they could look inside of the truck which I said “of course”. One couple, Ed & Paula Hooper were amazed when they looked inside and saw a “Donate Life” decal on our refrigerator. Ed told me that Paula was an organ recipient.

Paula & Ed Hooper

They’re another wonderful couple that we have met here and hope to stay in touch with after the rally ends. While they were looking at the truck Mark Bruss came over to educate me by giving me a training lesson on a truck routing program that I use called Truck Co-Pilot. After Ed and Paula said bye Mark started teaching me some of the little quirks about this program that he has learned. Thank You Mark for taking the time to teach me!!! I really appreciate it. Somewhere in there Gina got back from Wal-mart with everything to make a big pot of taco soup for Monday night’s pot luck. It was now after four o’clock and everyone was gathering by Mike & Pat’s home for the daily social gathering. There would be no food outside for this one since we were having a Pizza party at six o’clock to officially kick off the rally.

The 6th Annual National HDT Rally Officially Begins

Ann and Gene put together a slide show of previous rallies. Gina and I really enjoyed the slide show and look forward to having a lot of fun this week. We walked backed home and Gina jumped on Facebook and Debbie, my sister-in-law had posted a few pictures from our photo session she did back on September 13th. The pictures came out great and was the perfect way to finish off such a magnificent day for us. I'll just end this entry with those pictures.

Our Marine


Yes, After Seven Years It Still Fit


Shane & Thomas


Shane & Nicole


Thomas & Haley


What A Lovely Couple

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

A Day of Learning & Making New Friends

Saturday
October 3, 2009

We woke up and drank our coffee while enjoying another cool and beautiful morning. However there was no wind today, thank goodness. Now I don’t mind a light breeze but wind blowing 30 mph all day long for three days is just little too much for me. After our coffee I wrote and posted the blog and then I got dressed and went outside to visit with the other guys here. I learned a lot of stuff about my truck that I didn’t know. I'm sure that I'll learn even more throughout the week.

With Hoods Raised, "Let My Learning Begin"


Here Are Four More Big Trucks

While I was outside learning, Sherry stopped by to grab Gina for a bike ride.

Gina & Sherry Out Bike Riding


Meeting A New Arrival

While Gina was bike riding I went back inside to see the start of the LSU vs Georgia football game which started at 2:30. Gina made sure she was sporting her purple and gold along with Jada, Ashley's & Parker's bulldog who lives in Grenada.

Jada Ready For A Little Football (GEAUX TIGERS!!)

Gina finally made it back inside and I helped her whip up a cake. The cake was for our pot luck later today. Around four o’clock we walked behind our home for the second pot luck. Pat McFall had cooked homemade buffalo chili for all of us HDT’ers. All the food was delicious and between dinner, dessert and socializing, what more could you ask for in a day.

Another Pot Luck and An Evening of Socializing

A fantastic benefit of attending a rally is meeting and making new friends. This one is no exception. We have met so many people and established new friendships in just two days and the official start of the rally is not until Monday. Tomorrow we will register for the rally which will be followed by a pizza social for all of us here to meet and greet each other.

Pat, Dale & Gina


Pat & Gina


Sherry & Gina

(her new bike riding buddy)

We walked back home around 8:30 and just chilled out for the rest of the night before heading to bed.

Until tomorrow, Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.