GOING FOR THE GUSTOW!!

On Thursday, February 10,2011 we drove to Dickinson, North Dakota to pick up our new 5th wheel, a 2011  Heartland Landmark Augusta. We got to RoughRider RV about 10:00  and they started putting in the new 5th wheel hitch, and Shane started walking us through  the RV, explaining how everything worked. The temperature was in the 20s,  but Gustow was inside.

 Shane showed us how you  push a button and,  like magic,  each slide goes in/out separately, explained how the microwave was also a half time oven, tvs, by then it was time for lunch. Darrell and I had our first meal in what is to be our new home. It was warm and cozy. Darrell started coughing during the day and we both wondered if he was geting a cold, within a few hours the wondering was over, he had a full blown cough and was starting to feel sick.

We relaxed in the RV for a while and then it was time to learn about the 4 point leveling system. Steve, a technician, explained the procedure to us. We thought we understood everything (we just hoped we remembered it all) and then the training was over.  We paid for her and said we would be back at 8:00 the next morning to pick her up.

  

We left there and went right to Walmart to pick up cough drops and whatever else we could find that would make Darrell feel better. We checked into our motel, the Holiday Inn Express and enjoyed the hot tub and pool for a while. We walked over to Sanford's for supper and went to bed early, anxious for the morning to come so we get on the road. Darrell didn't feel 100%, but he was able to sleep some, the coughing had subsided.

We got to RoughRider RV at 8:00, as we had promised,  and there she sat all buttoned up, ready for us to take her home.

It was a very nice day for Dickinson, 27 degrees, the sun would come out ever now and then and then go back behind the clouds. The guys there told us  the Interstate was very icy, it had snowed a little overnight and snow had blown onto the highway. They advised us to wait for it to get warmer and hopefully the ice would melt off. We left there and drove out the Interstate, it was very icy, and we were glad we were waiting. We went to Walmart for more cold medicine and walked around there for a while, I found the flannel sheets I had wanted in Rapid, but by the time I went to buy them, they were sold out, so I was happy. We drove around Dickinson, drove to the college, and then decided we should eat an early lunch so when and if we got to go we wouldn't have to stop.

We got back to RoughRider at 11:00 and the Interstate looked clear and dry. Steve helped get her hooked up and we were ready to go.

With wishes for a safe journey, we were off!  Nothing but sunshine and blue skys, smooth sailing!!

The Interstate was dry, we drove on it about 17 miles, and then made the turn onto a two lane road to go to Bowman, as soon as we made the turn, there were cars and  semis  in the ditches. The road looked dry, so we assumed it had happened earlier when everything was so icy and continued on our way. There were several places that snow had blown across the highway  overnight and it was snowpacked and slippery, but we just took it easy and Dually pulled her like a dream! We were very glad we had bought an RV only 4 hours away from home! We had no problems, and when Darrell looked at the speedometer once, he was going 70 and didn't even realize it. We had her unhooked by 5:30, and  were glad to be home, it was in the 50's here, it felt great! We were tired, and Darrell didn't feel the best, but we felt like we had accomplished something major, another step on our journey to become fulltime RVers.

FIRST RUMMAGE SALE OF 2011

On Saturday, January 22, 2011 we had our first rummage sale of  the new year, our tenth since we started selling our belongings so we can go Fulltiming  later on this year. We rented a table at the Rapid Valley Methodist Church, this was our third time going out there. It was from 8:00 to 1:00 and we joined 5 other tables, it is held right in the church.

We set up the night before it  only took about an hour. I didn't take alot of my stuff, as you can see by the picture it was alot of tools, hunting and fishing stuff, alot of Darrell's "stuff". We got there Saturday morning about 7:30  and  we already had shoppers. We were so busy! We were able to sell alot of "stuff". The men just loved our table! They loved digging through the tools.

Darrell took quite a few jackets, a few hunting vests and we sold all of those, all that was left was the spring jackets, which we will take to the next one, hopefully in February, if we can get a nice day  for it. We took a pickup load plus stuff in the back seat and came home with a quarter of a pickup load.

The folks at the Church are very nice, and they had the most delicious cinnamon and caramel rolls and our customers were great. We recognized some from the other sales that we've had there. We made $336.25, the best we have done out there and we were very pleased!

BUYING GUSTOW!!!!

After discovering in early December 2010, Heartland discontinued the Landmark Augusta floorplan, the 5th wheel I have been drooling over since seeing my first one in January 2008, we anxiously awaited the floor plan for the "new" Landmark, which was hailed as "Bigger & Better" than the Augusta. After seeing the two new floorplans, the Key Largo and pictures of the new San Antonio, we decided that we still wanted the Augusta. So, I started searching online for a dealer that still had Augustas. I found 3, one in Oklahoma, a 2010, which was a really good price, new, but almost 2 years old, one in Denver, Colorado, which was loaded with every option Heartland puts on Landmarks, and one in Dickinson, North Dakota. Darrell called  all 3 dealers, and we decided the one with the closest to what we wanted, was the one in Dickinson. Darrell dealt with Shane Johnson, at Roughriders RV, and after a little dickering, they agreed  on a price. Of course, we wanted to look at it before we bought it, but, at that time the temperature in Dickinson was 20 degrees below zero. We agreed we would come up as soon as possible, weather permitting. Shane said to just let him know a couple days ahead so they could bring the Augusta inside.  After looking at the weather forecast for Dickinson, we realized there wasn't going to be a nice day in the near future. So, on Thursday, January 20, 2011 with temperatures in the single digits, we drove the four hours to Dickinson. We took Maggie and Marlee with us in their nice warm crate, and they were very good! They had brought  the Augusta  in the day before, and she was all thawed out, warm and beautiful. Shane had to be gone for the day, so Rod Schaper, the owner,  took care of us. In the 3 years of talking to different folks about the Landmark, Rod was by far the most knowledgeable. He is very passionate about the Heartland products, and is an exclusive dealer of Heartland products. He posts his business philosophy right on the door as you walk in.  

He answered all of our questions, I asked him about the awnings over the slides, which is an option that this one doesn't have, and he said, he can't order them in with those, because the wind tears them off. So, then I was glad that this one did not have those. He told us to take our time and look her over good, he was in no hurry and the Augusta wasn't going anywhere. 

I didn't remember the Augusta having so much storage space, everywhere you look there is storage.

. The cherry cabinets are beautiful! And the stainless refrigerator with water in the door is quite large!!

And this is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Augusta floorplan. Of all the 5th wheels we have looked at, none had this extra countertop space!

The computer desk will be very convenient and love the electric fireplace to take the evening chill off. The Augusta interior colors  are so warm and welcoming. 

We've never had a King size bed, and this one seems  very comfortable. Darrell has already picked his side of the bed, of course it is the side with the little table for all his bedtime snacks! And there is even storage under the bed!

I was glad to see after looking a second time the bathroom has more storage than I remembered.

After nearly an hour of opening every drawer, cabinet, looking at every nook and cranny,  we decided that this  is the one for us and our lifestyle.

I'm confident we can be very comfortable in Gustow, and I can't stop smiling!

We told Rod we wanted  to buy it, so we put some money down on it and will come up to get it as soon as we can, weather permitting. They will fill it with water and check for leaks, order a new refrigerator door, I found a small dent, and check a bunch of other things out. When we come up again, we will have them put a fifth wheel hitch on the truck, and while that is being done, someone will walk us through the 5er (RV talk) and explain everything to us, Rod thinks it will probably take the 3 hours. We will spend the night and then come home the next day. Can't wait to get her home!! 

 

THANKSGIVING 2010 & TURKEY TROT

Clint, Nikki and I registered for the annual Turkey Trot, a 5 K Run/Walk held every Thanksgiving in Rapid City. The predicted temperature that morning was 8 below zero, luckily it wasn't quite that cold. Clint and Nikki ran, and I walked, and when we started at 9 that morning the temperature was 13 degrees.

My one hand was cold when I started walking, but it didn't take long and it was OK. The walk was from the Shelter to Canyon Lake Park and then you turned around and walked back. Clint and Nikki ran the other way.

It took me one hour to walk the 3 miles, Clint finished in 22 minutes, Nikki in 28 minutes. When I got back to the Shelter, they were drawing for pies, Nikki had already won one and she picked a peach pie. We stood around and waited for them to call our names and finally after a half hour, they called Clint's name, and finally mine. So, we each ended up with a pie, 2 pumpkins and 1 peach.

I had been told that the pies (from Colonial House) were worth the walk and they were right. They were so YUMMY!!!! I really wasn't cold until the last 10 minutes of standing around waiting for my name to be called. Clint and Nikki came out then, and we had a wonderful dinner and did alot of standing in front of the pellet stove the rest of the day.

RUMMAGE SALE NUMBER SEVEN OF 2010

On Saturday, November 6, 2010  we held our Seventh Rummage Sale of 2010, the ninth since we started selling our stuff back in 2009, so we can go traveling when Darrell retires in 2011. We held it  at the Rockerville Community Hall from 8 to 4. Put ads in the paper, signs up on bulletin boards at all three Family Thrift Centers, and signs by our mailboxes in downtown Rockerville . It paid off...not only did we sell alot of stuff, we made $624.35, our biggest sale yet.

Although my Christmas tree and wreath did not sell, I was able to sell most of my outside Christmas decorations,  and quite alot of Christmas stuff, which I was glad about. We didn't ask anyone to go in with us this time and it's a good thing, because with our stuff the hall was full!! After getting set up Friday night, Darrell and I stood back and looked and couldn't believe we still had this much "stuff". 

It was perfect weather for a rummage sale and we had a steady stream of people all day, even after we were packing up we had people still coming. Alot  of our customers had been to our previous sales and remembered us and our plans.

We were tired Saturday night, but so glad to be able to sell more stuff! A couple that has attended every sale out here said they would see us at Number 10!  Not sure when that will be, but already planning on one more for sure!

GIT' R DONE

After spending the weekend after the hail storm picking up the debris, and not nearly getting done, we decided we would do all  the repair work on the house, so on Saturday,  August 7, Darrell started putting the new filon on the back deck roof, he got all but 3 pieces put on by dark, it was really hot! He finished on Sunday, August 8, about noon. It looks so nice!

We decided we would start shingling the out buildings first, the detached garage, and then the two sheds. They brought the shingles Monday, August 9 and we started shingling that evening, and shingled every evening all week, we finished Saturday morning.

                          

And then we moved onto the small shed, and then the larger shed, by 8:30 that evening the sheds were done!! We were pretty proud of ourselves.......4 roofs in 7 days, not too bad for folks in their 60s.

                         

                         

Now the child's play was over.....onto the house roof!! Darrell is taking Wed., Thurs., Fri., the next two weeks in order to get the house done.  So, on Wednesday, August 18, Marlee's 3rd. birthday, we started tearing off the shingles on B & T's side, at 6:30 a.m., we were done by 8:30, unfortunately all the shingles were on the ground and had to be loaded on the trailer. The shingles for the house were supposed to be delivered by noon, but they didn't get here until 4:30 in the afternoon.

                         

By the time we got the shingles it was just too hot to shingle, so we had supper early and went out at 6 p.m. and shingled until dark, we got quite alot done. Started at 6:45 the next morning and shingled until 11, took load of shingles to the dump, had lunch, shingled until 2:30, it got too hot again, and quit until it cooled off from 5:45 to 8:00 and finished the half we started!!  Yaaaa!!  Half  Done!!  Darrell insisted I wear a safety jacket and was tethered to the roof.

                       

                       

We figured it took us 10  hours to do that side. Spent the rest of the weekend resting and getting ready for the next week of shingling. So, again on Wednesday morning, we started in again tearing off the other side of the roof, it was harder than the first for some reason and took us longer, not sure why, but we were able to put them right in the trailer, which saved alot of time.

                     

We had the roof torn off and the Titanium down by the time we quit for lunch. We shingled from 1:45 to 3:15, but it just got too hot again, so we quit until it cooled off and went back out at 5:45 to 7:45, we got 2/3 done. We were both tired, but felt like we had accomplished alot. Started at 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning and finished that half by 11, except for the ridge. Darrell went out at 6 that evening and put the ridge on, it only took an hour. So, the house is done!!! All that is left is the garage, we tore the back half off on Sunday, August 29, one month after the storm, it took 2 1/2 hours to tear off and put the Titanium down. Darrell shingled Monday evening and finished Tuesdy evening.....Almost done!!!

                      

We tore off the front half of the garage on Thursday evening, it went really good. Loaded shingles on trailer Friday evening, and took them to the dump on Saturday morning. Darrell shingled Saturday afternoon and finished on Sunday......we're done!!! With the shingling at least, still have alot of repair work to get done before the snow flies. During all this time everyday I picked up pine cones and branches and the pile just kept getting larger and larger.....

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And became a gigantic pile!!! OH MY!!!! All this has to be hauled to the dump!!!

HAILSTORM JULY 29, 2010

On Thursday afternoon, July 29, 2010 at  about 3 p.m. the sky turned dark, the wind started to blow, and  at first it was just a torrential  rainstorm,  and then it turned into small hail that just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger! Marlee and I ran to the basement, Maggie had already hid somewhere, I was afraid all the windows were going to get broken out. The pounding  was relentless, and  by the time it quit, the power was out . When I opened the front door and looked outside, the ground was  covered with  broken pine tree branches, pine cones, and hail.....lots of it!!

The cover on the back deck was in shambles, the gutters were overflowing and bent from all the water, hail and debris. 

Darrell called right before the storm hit asking how it was out our way, while I was talking to him it started hailing, I told him to call back, when he did, after the storm, I asked him to come home. He said he would, and started home only to be delayed by a several accidents. He said there were between 50-75 cars along Highway 16 with their windows all broken out!

After taking a look at the size of the hail stones I wasn't surprised! The biggest hail I have ever seen or ever hope to see again!

And if all the outside damage wasn't enough, then the roof started to leak! There was water coming out of the light fixture in the kitchen and a leak in the living room ceiling . Darrell crawled up on the roof and realized all the vents were broken and the hail stones had actually gone through the shingles and plywood! He put tarps up to cover the holes and the leaks stopped! Thank Goodness! He was soaking wet when he came in and put in a call to American Family Insurance and told them what had happened.  American Family called the next morning to say an adjuster would be contacting us sometime this weekend to come out and look at the damage. They both called on Sunday (camper and house) and we made appointments for Tuesday morning. The house damage came to $15,500 and the camper was totaled, which saddened me.

                                 

The camper had been in another hail storm with us in 2000 and we fixed her up and have used her all this time, but this was too much for her and she was headed to a salvage yard, she deserved better than that!!

Darrell and I worked all weekend cleaning up the debris out of the yard and probably only got half done. I started in Monday morning on my own and do a little bit every day and I'm still not done.

The hail actually made holes in the ground where they hit! I saved some of the hail stones and have shown a few people and it's hard to believe that hail actually is that big! I'd say the bigger ones were larger than a baseball and not quite a softball.

                                

We were fortunate to have good insurance and a wonderful Insurance Company and wonderful adjusters! It will take a lot of work, but we will have everything back the way it was.