NORTH TO ALASKA

Tomorrow is the day!!! We are finishing up all loose ends today...packing the last items, running the last errands, etc.
Our trip will take us about 3850 miles and we hope to make it in 8 days.
Zack is taking vacation next week so we can enjoy being together.
Kelsi is having some pain...baby Lucas is growing fast and causing her legs to hurt. Doctor gave her a "belly band" to aleviate the pressure. So, maybe the guys will go exploring and I can stay at the house and keep Liam busy so Kelsi can rest :)
Will add another message here when we arrive in Alaska!

Almost time to go again

We only have 12 more days until we start for Anchorage. It seems our TO DO list doesn't get smaller. We scratch something off and add 2 more TO DOs :)
The trailer got a test run last weekend when we stayed at Dolliver Park and had a family 65th Anniversary party for Mom and Dad. Had family from Georgia, Des Moines, Churdan, Marshalltown and Fort Dodge. We ate out for lunch and then had cake and ice cream at the community room at Northridge Apartments.
Well, I probably won't add again till we are on the road North to Alaska!!!

We are home!

We have been home about 10 days and have been busy most of that time.
First thing on our list was to find a nice pickup camper to take to Alaska next month. We found a new one in Walcott, IA which was our backup plan. Then we saw one on Craig's list south of Des Moines. We drove down last Saturday to look at it. As promised I called the guy on our way there to let him know when to expect us. BUT even though he said he would call if he sold it first, he didn't. He sold it Friday night. So, we called and met Sara and the boys at Bass Pro for a snack and visit.
Sunday we found another on Craigs list in Mechanicsville, IA and that afternoon we drove over there to see it. We bought it but need to get air shocks put on our truck before loading it, so plan to go after it Thursday if the air shocks come in time.
Today we sold our old pickup camper, also on Craigs list, so that is out of the way.
Bill has been busy getting the yard and garden work done.
I have spent some time getting the house cleaned and laundry caught up.
We are hoping for a nice day tomorrow so we can do some more yard work and enjoy the weather.

The end of our first Snowbird winter.

We had an unexpected event on Sunday afternoon. On the way to and from church we noticed a whitetail doe laying by the fence across the road from our park. We went to town again in the afternoon and she was still there. Then on our way back home a deputy was there. She had a broken leg and he shot her. Bill went over and asked what would happen to her and was told they had no one to pick her up and if we wanted her it would be OK. So we took her back to camp and Bill butchered her in the woods. We cut up the meat and put it in a cooler of ice and brought it to Georgia.
Monday we took the traiter to Camp Bullis for storage. Bill bought a cover to proctec it from the sun so we put that on. It took us a total of 4 hours for this process but it worked well.
We went back to the park and hooked the new utility trailer to the pickup. We stayed there that night and headed out Tuesday morning.
We got to an Air Force base in Shreveport, LA that night and they had a nice camp ground. Wednesday night we got to Pell City, Alabama and found a campground on a lake.
We arrived in Fayetteville at Rachel and Chris' about 1 PM on Thursday.
We went to a Weight Watcher meeting with Rach about 5. Chris got home before we did and put the trailer in their garage and our truck in the driveway.
The pictures I am including are of the morning coffee group and Bill and I by the river next to the RV Park!

The thrill hunt of my life!!!!!

Tuesday I went on my axis deer hunt. I was going for a doe.
Joe, my guide dropped Bill off at a blind to hunt hogs.
We went to another blind about 5 PM. We saw plenty of whitetail but they aren't in season to hunt.
Two does come along but the had babies. Another joined them but she was pregnant. Then 2 does arrived with no babies and not pregnant. This was about 630. Joe told me the right side doe was clear to shoot if I wanted to, but I could also wait and watch awhile more if I wanted. I decided to wait. About then we heard a bellow in the woods. Joe told me it was a buck. Then we heard antlers thrashing in the bushes and trees. A bit later here he came. My heart just pounded when I saw him. I asked him the price difference between a doe and the buck....Then I texted Bill to see if he agreed I could shoot him. He was in a valley and didn't get me message. So after 10 minutes I decided to go ahead and shoot. I aimed and squeezed the trigger and BOOM, down he went.
Joe said it was a DRT....Dead Right ThereA :)
We took some pictures and then went and got Bill and took more pictures. He field dressed it and we all went to a processor an hour away (after stopping at the camp to show Patty and Darlow).
Got home at 10 and it was 2 am before I was calmed down enough to sleep.
I am getting the horns mounted and Bill is tanning the hide. We will pick up the meat Tuesday and head for Fayetteville to see Rach and Chris!

The park is emptying out.

Three or 4 more trailers left today. But next weekend is a big motorcycle rally in town, so the emply spots will fill up fast. Patty and Darlow are leaving this coming SAturday. We will take the trailer to Camp Bullis Monday and then head out in the truck with camper on back Tuesday. The trip to Fayettevill will be a route we have never been on, so that will be interesting.
We will hunt Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am hunting an axis deer and Bill wants to get a hog or 2. We will hunt late afternoon before the animals bed down for the night.
Yesterday was an absolutely miserable day...44 and windy with some rain. It is still windy today but no rain and should get to 70. I guess it is much better than the cold and snow we are hearing about up north.
I'm on my way to choir practice and then we are taking a scenic ride in the country. We need to take advantage while we can.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's another beautiful day. 69 and calm.
The restaurant at the motel next door had corned beef and cabbage for lunch and LOTS from our park were there. We sat with a couple from Canada and got lots of info about traveling in Canada to prepare for our trip to Alaska in May.
Bill is washing the truck and then I will help him wax it.
We will be hunting next Tues., Wed., and Thursday. I will try for an axis deer (stay spotted) and Bill wants to get a hog or 2.
We will have them processed and sharp frozen and pick them up on our way out of town the following week. We picked up a couple of coolers at a garage sale last weekend, so have plenty of room for the meat. The 5x10 ft covered trailer we bought will bring everything home comfortably.
Time to wax the truck.