ADVENTURELAND, ALTOONA, IOWA

WE ARRIVED AT ADVENTURELAND ON FRIDAY THE 13TH. OF APRIL, WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS ISN'T AN OMEN!  WE CHECKED IN AT THE OFFICE, AND WE WERE ASSIGNED LOT NUMBER 67, AND WE LOVE IT!!

IT IS A VERY LARGE LOT AND WE ARE CLOSE TO ADVENTURELAND AMUSEMENT PARK, WHERE WE WILL WORK FOR THE SUMMER. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE BRIDGE THAT WE WILL WALK OVER TO GET TO WORK.

THERE WERE ABOUT 40 OTHER  RVS HERE, WE MET RANDY AND DEBBY, OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS, WHO HAVE BEEN COMING  TO WORK AT ADVENTURELAND FOR  SIX YEARS. WE ATTENDED THE WELCOME MEETING AT 9:00 ON APRIL 17.

WE MET ALOT OF NICE PEOPLE AND PICKED UP OUR UNIFORMS WE. ALSO SAW A SCHEDULE OF THE ACTIVITIES THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR US THIS SUMMER. LOOKS LIKE FUN!!!

ON THURSDAY, APRIL 19, WE HEADED TO SAULK RAPIDS TO VISIT JSZ. IT IS ONLY A FIVE HOUR DRIVE FROM HERE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE DECIDED TO COME TO ADVENTURELAND FOR THE SUMMER. JACOB OFFERED TO CLEAN  MAGGIE AND MARLEE'S TEETH. WE ARRIVED EARLY ENOUGH TO ATTEND ONE OF ZACHARY'S TRACK MEETS.

WE WORE OUR WINTER JACKETS, IT WAS FREEZING!! ZACHARY'S RELAY TEAM WON FIRST PLACE!!! ON SUNDAY, WE TOOK THE GIRLS DOWN TO HAVE THEIR TEETH CLEANED. THEY BOTH HAD TO HAVE SOME TEETH PULLED.

AFTERWARDS, WE TOOK THE GIRLS HOME AND JACOB AND SONYA WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME BACK WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR ME. ZACHARY'S GIRLFRIEND, SIERRA, CAME OVER AND HAD CAKE WITH US. THE NEXT MORNING WE HEADED BACK TO ALTOONA, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM. WE WILL GO BACK ON MAY 29 TO ATTEND ZACHARY'S GRADUATION.

OUR FIRST WEEKEND TO WORK WAS THE WEEKEND OF APRIL  28. I WILL BE WORKING IN PIZZA AT RIVER CITY. DARRELL IS WORKING THE NORTH SKY RIDE. WE WILL WORK OPEN TO CLOSE, WHICH IS 10:00 TO 6:00 ON SATURDAY AND 10:00 TO 5:00 ON SUNDAY.  

IT WAS A TOUGH WEEKEND, IT WAS COLD AND RAINY AND BUSY, I STARTED OUT MAKING PIZZAS,  IT WAS A VERY LONG DAY, MY FEET AND LEGS HURT SO BAD BY 6:00 . MY PLANTAR FACIITIS  FLARED UP, WASN'T REALLY  LOOKING  FORWARD TO GOING BACK SUNDAY, THANK GOODNESS, WE WEREN'T BUSY AND I OFFERED TO LEAVE EARLY. HOPING I CAN GET THE PLANTAR UNDER CONTROL AND HOPING I CAN DO THIS JOB. ON FRIDAY, MAY 4, WE WENT TO PELLA, IOWA TO THE TULIP FESTIVAL. THE TULIPS BLOOMED EARLY THIS YEAR, THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL DUE TO THE  "WINTER THAT WASN'T" ......THIS IS ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THE TULIPS........

WE HAD A GREAT TIME!! IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHOLE TOWN TURNED OUT FOR THIS EVENT!! EVERYONE WAS IN COSTUME....SAW THESE CUTE KIDS IN THE PARK!!

THERE WERE BEDS AND BEDS OF TULIPS WITHOUT BLOOMS........I'LL BET IT'S BEAUTIFUL WHEN THEY ARE IN BLOOM!!

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWN.......THIS IS THE TOWN SQUARE....

AND OF COURSE A DUTCH WINDMILL........

WE EVEN FOUND WOODEN SHOES!!!

BEFORE LEAVING WE WENT TO  A DUTCH BAKERY AND BOUGHT BREAD, IT WAS DELICIOUS!!   THE PARADE HAD STARTED BY THE TIME WE WERE READY TO LEAVE, BEAUTIFUL FLOATS......

MARCHING BANDS AND MARCHING PEOPLE

MARCHING KIDS......

WOODEN SHOES....

IT WAS SUCH A FUN DAY!!

BRANSON, MISSOURI

WE ARRIVED IN BRANSON AROUND 1:00 ON FRIDAY, APRIL 6, GOT ALL SET UP IN OUR PASSPORT AMERICA RV PARK, BRANSON STAGE COACH RV PARK.

 WE WERE SURPRISED AT ALL THE EMPTY SITES!! WE HAVE A NICE SITE, CEMENT PAD, PICNIC TABLE,  CABLE TV,  TREES, ALL THE CONVENIENCES OF HOME!

WE RESTED A BIT, AND THEN COULDN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER, WE HAD TO GO EXPLORING!! WENT TO BASS PRO, DOWNTOWN BRANSON, JUST HAD A GENERAL LOOK AROUND. ATE, AND PICKED UP SOME SHOW TICKET INFORMATION.

WE ARE OUTSIDE OF BRANSON A FEW MILES, AND CROSS TABLE ROCK DAM TO GET INTO THE TOWN OF BRANSON. WHAT  BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!!

OUR FIRST SHOW WAS A REAL TREAT, WE WENT TO THE IMAX THEATRE COMPLEX AND  WERE TREATED TO A JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE IN THE  LITTLE OPREY THEATRE.

ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING WE WENT BACK TO THE IMAX THEATRE AND ENJOYED SOME GOSPEL MUSIC.

WE ARE  ALSO NEAR TABLE ROCK  STATE PARK AND WONDERFUL WALKING TRAILS. WE'VE ENJOYED OUR WALKS AND SO HAVE MAGGIE AND MARLEE. 

I FINALLY GOT TO SEE AZALEAS IN BLOOM!

WE WENT TO THE SHOW "SIX"  MONDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS A GREAT SHOW!!!

THESE GUYS ARE 6 BROTHERS AND  EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SO TALENTED!!!

ON TUESDAY MORNING I WENT ZIPLINING!! DARRELL DID NOT WANT TO GO, I HAD BOUGHT MY TICKET BEFORE GETTING TO BRANSON. I WAS A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE THAT MORNING, BUT I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO CELEBRATE MY 65 YEARS ON THIS EARTH. 

THERE WERE 9 OF US AND HERE WE ARE GETTING ALL THE "GEAR" ON.

AND GETTING READY TO LEAVE TO TAKE US UP THE MOUNTAIN. IT WAS A VERY BUMPY RIDE!

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!

IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!! I TOOK THE QZARKS XPLORER CANOPY TOUR WITH 7 ZIPLINES AND 10 SUSPENSION BRIDGES. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE GUIDES WERE SO HELPFUL! HERE I AM AT THE END!!

AND I JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS SHIRT!!!

IT SAYS, "THIS GRANDMA CAN FLY!"

THIS IS THE PICTURE THEY TOOK OF ME!! I LOVE IT!!!

AND THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO AN ELVIS TRIBUTE!!

TONY ROI WAS A GREAT ENTERTAINER! WE ENJOYED HIS SHOW VERY MUCH!

THE END TO A PERFECT DAY!!

THE DAY BEFORE WE LEFT BRANSON WE WENT TO THE COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS FOR LUNCH. A LADY AT THE CAMPGROUND TOLD US ABOUT THIS AND WE WERE ANXIOUS  TO TRY IT.

WE ATE AT THE KEETER CENTER, THAT IS LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAMPUS. THE FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED BY THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS HERE WORK FOR THEIR TUITION.

THE RESTAURANT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WE WERE SERVED IN STYLE!!

WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL LUNCH IN ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS WITH FRESH FLOWERS ON ALL THE TABLES.

THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

WE WENT OVER TO THE BAKERY AFTER LUNCH AND HAD A SAMPLE OF THE FRUIT CAKE THEY MAKE AND BOUGHT SOME JELLY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE A COLLEGE THAT BELIEVES IN HARD WORK!!



WORKAMPING AT GRAND LAKE

WE STARTED WORK ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012. OUR FIRST JOB WAS TO WASH DOWN TWO BUILDINGS IN PREPARATION FOR PAINTING. ON THURSDAY, WE STARTED PAINTING A GARAGE THAT HAD NOT BEEN PAINTED IN 20 YEARS. HERE IS A "BEFORE" PICTURE.

AND AN "AFTER".

WE WERE PRETTY PROUD OF THE WAY IT TURNED OUT AND KATHI AND IRV WERE QUITE PLEASED WITH THE RESULT. THEN WE MOVED ON TO THE RV  PARK BATHROOM BUILDING. HERE IS THE "BEFORE".

AND AN "AFTER."

WE ARE WORKING 10 HOURS EACH FOR OUR SITE. THE SOFFIT HAD NEVER BEEN PUT ON THE GARAGE, SO WE STARTED GETTING THAT CUT AND PAINTED.

AND THEN IT STARTED RAINING, IT RAINED   FOR FIVE DAYS. WE ENDED UP WITH EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE IT WAS DONE. WATER STANDING EVERYWHERE!

THE TREE OUT THE BACK WINDOW WAS STARTING TO DROWN!!!

WE TRIED TO FIND WORK TO DO INDOORS......KATHI HAD DARRELL CUT AROUND A SIGN FOR HER.

SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP!!

ONE OF THE RAINY DAYS WE WENT DOWNTOWN SHOPPING AND  SAW THIS SHIRT, WHICH   WAS CLOSE TO HOW WE WERE FEELING ABOUT OKLAHOMA.

OUR WALKING PATH ALSO DISAPPPEARED INTO THE WATER!!!

THIS IS  NOT EVEN CONSIDERED "FLOODING" HERE, I GUESS THE LAKE FLUCTUATES YEAR AROUND.  KATHI AND IRV WANTED TO TAKE US OUT TO EAT, SO ONE OF THE LESS RAINY DAYS WE WENT TO PENSACOLA DAM AND ATE AT PENSACOLA PIZZA. THE DAM WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

SO MUCH WATER!!!

THE PIZZA AND SPAGHETTI WAS GOOD TOO!  

SO, WHEN THE RAIN STOPPED, AND THE SUN CAME OUT AGAIN, WE PUT THE SOFFIT UP ON THE GARAGE. IT LOOKED REALLY NICE. 

IRV HAD ROOF VENTS HE HAD NEVER PUT ON, SO WE PUT THOSE ON FOR HIM.

AND FINALLY THE GARAGE WAS FINISHED!

THE FLOWER BEDS STILL NEED WEEDING, SO WE GOT RIGHT ON IT!!!

IN PREPARATION FOR LEAVING FRIDAY, APRIL 6, WE TOOK DUALLY OVER TO VINITA TO BE SERVICED. WHILE WE WERE WAITING WE WALKED OVER TO CLANTON'S CAFE, WHICH WAS A CAFE THAT GUY FIERI  SHOWCASED ON DINERS DRIVE-INS AND DIVES.  WE REMEMBER WATCHING THAT EPISODE ON FOOD NETWORK WHILE LIVING IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE HAD A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST, VERY REASONABLY PRICED, AND LARGE PORTIONS!!

WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE VISITING WITH THE GAL AND SHE ASKED US IF WE HAD SEEN THE LARGEST MCDONALD'S  IN THE WORLD.......WE SAID, "NO, WHERE IS IT?" SHE GAVE US DIRECTIONS AND WE WERE SO GLAD WE WENT, BECAUSE WE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! 

BUILT ACROSS  INTERSTATE  44!!! OF COURSE, WE HAD TO GO IN AND LOOK AROUND, IT IS HUGE!!

INSTEAD OF BEING A "DRIVE THROUGH", IT'S A "DRIVE UNDER!" WE DIDN'T SEE THIS ADVERTISED ANYWHERE, AND WERE SO GLAD SHE TOLD US ABOUT IT!!  WE'VE BEEN FANS OF MCDONALD'S SINCE HIGH SCHOOL!!!
WE FINISHED UP OUR WORK AT GRAND COUNTRY LAKESIDE RV PARK AND SAID OUR GOODBYES TO KATHI AND IRV ON FRIDAY APRIL 6.

 

WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE ONLY 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM BRANSON UNTIL AFTER WE ARRIVED AT GRAND LAKE. IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO PASS UP....SO WE SAID HELLO TO MISSOURI!!