A unique set of days came together this year. Both presidents day and Valentines day landed on the same weekend. This meant a 3 day weekend and the chance to get away. Lori checked at work and was able to getFriday off as well. Where to go and what to do? After a few checks and compromises, we decided we would head south and stay at the Seven Feathers Casino and RV resort. This resort is rated very high and we stayed here last June.
Both of us were getting over the crud and not very ambitious, so we put off most of the packing till Thursday night when we got home from work. Lori was headed east about 3:30 and I was watching the clock tick away. I took off and we met for a Latte on the way home.
As we walked in the door at home, I was quickly reminded of how no matter what you envision, reality is waiting to show its ugly head. Walt was sick and pooped throughout the house. It was time to break out the carpet cleaner and get to it. Lori dodged the bad stuff and took stuff out to the trailer, while I gagged from the smell and worked on the living room and hallway. As I got near the couch, I was surprised by vomit on the couch from one of the cats. Ki Ki has been seeing how much she can eat in a setting and tries to get all of Daryls food before she starts on hers. Then she is so full, she yaks it awhile later. We have to feed them in separate rooms or she takes it all. So I clean that the carpet. I needed to send Shawn a couple of pics of the trailer and as I sit there, Walt walks in and Throws up all around the studio. What else...well, as I clean that, I find a spot the cats have been using as a cat box! 1.5 hours later, the house is really clean and Lori has the trailer loaded.
We were up and off just before nine. We were worried because Walt had been sick for a couple days and not feeling well. This meant frequent stops to make sure he was ok. He was drinking some water, but if he drank alot, he would throw it right back up. I gave him just a little and he had a problem the first time, but was okay after that. The trip south was about 335 miles of freeway, so little driving challenges except heavy traffic in Portland.
As we pulled into the park at about 4:30, there several rigs in front of us waiting to check in. This place is very busy for the middle of winter. It is such a nice park, I can understand why there are so many people here. Soon we were set up in a nice pull through site near the pool and hot tub. By the time I got set up, Lori had tacos cooking and we had a great dinner.
Off to the hot tub to soak. My ankle was acting up from the drive for some reason and we wanted to relax. On a good note, Walter was drinking more and more water and some snacks. He seems to be getting better.
After dinner, Lori wanted me to set up the satellite dish so she could check out her soaps. This was not to happen tonight. For some unknown reason, the setup would not change to this setup. I tried and tried and nothing. I gave up and we hooked up to cable to watch the opening of the Olympics.
The next morning, Walt was ore alert and ready for a walk. He was doing alot better today and we were hopeful he was ok. We headed out for a Latte after a great Lori breakfast. We drove around a bit and found a couple small towns in the area. Not alot down here, but a nice area.
We stopped for lunch at the truck stop at the base of the hill. Very good food and then back to the trailer. We goofed off and it was in the 50's here, so we took out the lawn chairs and watched the world go by.
This is when things go bad...when you get a little bored and start to goof off. I felt the desire for some reason to open the awning in order to dry it out. I unhooked and loosened, looking like a pro with years of experience, but the post near the door stuck. As I opened from the front side, some water came down. I went and tugged on the other post a couple times, and pop, it comes loose! A large amount of water cascades off the awning to completely drench me head to toe. My lovely wife offered her support by asking if I needed a towel. Of course this was between the hysterical laughter.
This triggered a most feared necessity in our lives. Loren used to travel alone with us on the bikes and at least once a trip, Gwen gets a phone call that starts out " I wanted to call you first, so (insert a name here, usually mine) and tell you the truth about what happened before you hear it from someone else!"
It was my turn to make that most distasteful call to Loren. Not alot of support on this call, as I soon found out I was on speaker phone! The unsupportive *&@$.
Around 3:30 we caught the shuttle and headed for the casino. We had found out last wek that Frankie Avalon was performing tonight here and I got us a couple tickets. I could only think about his performance at his age would include tricked out walkers, maybe a quick break to change an adult diaper and samples of ensure for the audience. What the heck, its valentines weekend and nothings too good for my bride!
Much to my surprise, Frankie at 79 performed as well as entertainers half his age or more. We were treated to 50's and 60's hits as well as tributes to many icons of that era. Well worth the price of admission and the only downside was no ensure samples or even geriatric vitamin samples!
We donated our money to the casino and came back to the trailer and watched Olympics till bed time. As I write this, we are finished with breakfast and headed for the hot tub. With one exception, a great weekend so far.
Later, we both returned to the casino and while I lost money, Lori did okay, winning about $80.00, We wanted to try the buffet and were surprised how mediocre it was. There were alot of places with no food, little choice and tastless food. Not all worth even half the $19.00 per person. I do have to say this was n the heels of one of their busiest nights ever and may have flat run out of food. Either way, we walked away disappointed. Back to the trailer and more Olympics for a quiet evening and off to bed. I had been worrying about my slideouts as when we set up, they would not go out very well. I was worried we would have trouble getting them closed and with a long drive, could be a problem.
I woke at 6 and soon we were up getting things ready to head out. Finally, it was time to close the slideouts...no problem, closed like normal. I did grease the tracks, so not sure if that helped.
It took nearly 8 hours to get home with traffic and stops. We had a good trip home, but freeways are not very scenic. The truck did great and trailer pulled well. We were greeted to heavy rain as we got close and had to unhook in a rain storm...typical. I went to open the slides and again they struggled to open. Not sure what is going on, but need to figure it out. It was a great weekend and we had fun. Lori already wants to go next weekend as the weather is calling for sun and highs near 60. We will see.
