Getting Repaired in Smith Center, Kansas

Wow, It’s Wednesday already and I haven’t written for the past three days. The reason is we have not had anything worth writing about. So in an effort to catch everyone up on our happenings we got on the road Saturday morning around eleven o’clock driving north to Smith Center, Kansas. However, first we said our “see you down the road” to our friends at the big truck rally. We arrived in Smith Center at the Excel service center around three o’clock and settled in for the evening. We had a nice and easy drive through the fields of Kansas. We both went to bed early and I guess we didn’t realize how tired we were since we didn’t wake up until after nine o’clock Sunday morning.

Gina and I both have been behind in our blog reading. After we both had a cup of coffee we sat down and the first thing that hit us both was the death of fellow fulltimers, Bruce and Margie. Even though we had never met them we were stunned over this senseless accident. They were run over Saturday morning by a car that was driven by a man who was trying to kill himself as they were taking their daily walk in Pismo Beach, California. We mourn their loss and pass along to their family our prayers. Which brings us to this “There is no guarantee that we get tomorrow”. Its situations like this, which is only one of many reasons why we decided to retire early and enjoy what Our Father has so graciously blessed us with. Caedmon's Call wrote and recorded a song titled "There is a Reason". This song was played at our son's funeral and will forevermore hold a special place in our heart.  Kevin Davis states it best in his review of the song "... Jesus gave His life for us and we know that He believed in God’s purpose. We as believers are all eternally grateful that Jesus relied on God’s will and reminds us that “there is a reason” for everything under Heaven. As His children we can all rest in the knowledge that we can fully trust in our God and lean not on our own understanding".

Later Sunday afternoon we washed our dirty clothes to get caught up. It took most of the day since they only have one washer and dryer. We enjoyed taco soup for dinner and went to bed early.

Monday, Tuesday and this morning found us up early so Excel could move our home inside their service center by 6:30 each morning. We pretty much hung out in the customer lounge to fill our days. Then around four o’clock each day they move our trailer back outside so we can stay in it overnight. We are hoping they will finish up our home today and we can be back on the road Thursday morning.

I know the last three days have not been exciting. However, if your home goes down the highway at 60 mph on a regular basis there will always be some item that will need repairing. It’s just part of living full time in an RV. We would normally do some sightseeing. However, we saw just about everything around here last year when we spent a month in Smith Center.

We wish Maw Maw Sue & Paw Paw Jack a Very Happy 42nd Wedding Anniversary. Thank you both for giving us such a wonderful example to emulate.

Congratulations & Happy Anniversary

We love and miss you both

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

HDT Rally 2010 Ends

Thursday morning found Gina up early and heading out for a day of shopping with all of the ladies here at the HDT rally. Their first stop was in Buhler, Kansas. Buhler is a small town with unique shops.  From there they went to Yoder, Kansas, which is a small Amish community for lunch.

First table of the ladies

(looks like their waiting on food)

Second table of the ladies

(this table looks like they have finished their food)

While Gina was gone I sat in a discussion on tires.  Once that was over I walked over to the horse arena here at the fairgrounds. They are having the Kansas Cutting Horse competition this week. I met a Dave and his son-in-law Ryan on Wednesday as they were admiring all of the trucks here for the rally. After talking to them for a few minutes I learned that Ryan trains cutting horses and was also competing in the professional category. As I was walking into the arena Dave saw me and we walked over to his motorhome. I had the pleasure of meeting his wife Sue, their daughter Cody and their two grandchildren Rydan and Chloe. A beautiful family that I'm sure our paths will cross again.  I then walked inside of the arena and watched a little of the competition. It was quite impressive. I knew that Gina should be getting back soon so I told them goodbye and wished Ryan the best of luck on Friday. Just before walking inside of our home I noticed that Rick had just bought a pressure pro system for his truck and trailer.  I decided to help him install them so he wouldn’t have to keep climbing in out of his truck for each sensor. Perfect time because as we finished installing the pressure pro system I saw Gina arriving.  I then walked back home where Gina showed me what she had bought. Around four o’clock it seemed that everyone was gathering around Mom & Pop’s motorhome for happy hour. We grabbed our chairs and joined in and had a great time.

Our large group enjoying social hour

Gina and I having a great time

With nothing planned for Friday other than the truck photo shoot and bring your own meat dinner we just relaxed the morning away. I did cook and serve breakfast in bed to Gina. We decided we better get our showers and cleaned up before morning is gone.  Once we were dressed I drove our truck over so it could be in the truck photo shoot.

The 2010 HDT Rally Truck Photo

We even posed in front of our truck

Once that was over we came back home and relaxed some more until around four o’clock. Gina made a watermelon tray along with some Mexican dip for appetizers tonight before dinner. After dinner they gave away a lot of door prizes.  We won the very first prize, three food covers that you can use outside to keep the bugs away from your food. All of the prizes were finally given out a little after eight o’clock at which time we walked home. We had a lot of fun and just a great time with everyone tonight. We are leaving sometime today heading north to the Excel factory service center for our appointment on Monday to have our slides adjusted. However, first we are meeting up with everyone this morning for breakfast and then we’ll all say “see you down the road” as we all head out in different directions.


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

Truck Show Off Day

Welcome To The National HDT Rally

Wednesday morning found me up early. Gina decided to stay in bed and watch the news. I walked over and enjoyed coffee and donuts with a few guys. Around nine o’clock Jack started his presentation on Solar power and off grid electrical systems. He did a great job and was very informative. Around 11:30 I walked back home and Gina was sweeping out the truck’s storage compartment. She knew that I was going to show off my electrical system today. Open house started around two o’clock, which means the ladies toured some of the trailers and the guys toured some of the trucks. Mostly, it was for all of us to see how some of us have modified our trucks and why we did the modifications. Here are a few pictures of our afternoon.

Looking down a row of trucks

A very nice four door Freightliner

How about this truck motorhome

This truck has a flat bed that carries a PT Cruiser

This truck has a garage for a ford focus SVT

This is a very neat setup

How about carrying your jeep this way

Here's Jack and I discussing my electrical system

Showing off the inside of my Midnight Solar E Panel

My Electrical System
Magnum 4024 inverter mounted on a Midnight Solar E Panel
Xantrex XW Solar Controller
Midnight Solar Combiner Box
Not shown but below all of this are eight L-16 batteries with a capacity of 740 amp hrs @ 24 volts


My Solar Panels
Three 170 Watt BP Solar Panels
Mounted in a custom frame which is raised and lowered with an electrical linear actuator

These guys had a lot of questions

This is Mike's elevator lift 

Here I am being raised up.  This is just the coolest thing

Mike even installed a small crane on the back to carry a golf cart

Mike's wife JoAnn has some difficulty with her knees but that doesn't stop them from enjoying this wonderful lifestyle of fulltiming. You can do anything to these trucks if you have an imagination.  Every truck here is unique because each one has been set up to fit the owner's individual lifestyle.

After we had seen enough trucks if that’s possible we headed off to a Freddy’s restaurant with some other couples. The food was good but the custard ice cream was fantastic.

Freddy's Frozen Custard, The custard ice cream is excellent

Here's everyone enjoying dinner

We left Freddy’s stuffed and after we told Mom & Pop’s good night we walked home. We had a wonderful day and hopefully a few guys got some ideas today of what can be done to their trucks. We had another wonderful day.


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