Jim, going camping?

[johnkool]

I realize that Memorial Day is coming up.

Are you still a camper, Jim Redelfs?

[Jim Redelfs]

Heck, YES!! :)

Post by johnkool
I realize that Memorial Day is coming up.

In the past I have avoided camping during "Amateur Night at the Campground".
That is, specifically, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

However, I have taken quite a liking to Wilson Island State Recreation Area on
the Iowa side of the Missouri river at DeSoto Bend.

<http://www.iowadnr.com/parks/state_park_list/wilson_island.html>

<http://www.fws.gov/midwest/desoto/>

One of the best campouts, not to mention a holiday weekend campout, I have had
was at Wilson Island. Iowa DNR runs a nice, TIGHT operation. Also, I have
found a legitimate place to spot my camper that is off the beaten path (camp
loop) by a few, dozen feet. It is as secluded as one can get during such a
weekend.

Post by johnkool
Are you still a camper, Jim Redelfs?

Yes.

However, as gas approaches $3.50/gal and the travel trailer needs a $3k rubber
roof, my dedication to, not the appreciation if, RVing (specifically) is
taking a big hit, not to mention my wallet. I just put four, new tires on the
beast.

Our 26th annual Redelfs Family Campout is coming up. It will be held in only
its fourth venue after all these years, this one for the second time. It's
about 480 miles, one way, the furthest we've ever gone. At ~8 MPG, my
participation in the tradition started by my late mother has become quite
expensive.

Still, it's nice to "camp" for a week with full hookups and cable TV in a nice
resort, retiring to my own bed every night. I like to hang out under the
awning and read a lot. I don't fish and I don't shoot (yet) so there's a lot
of time for me to do SOMETHING - or even nothing. Oh, yeah. I eat too much.
<sigh> It will be a blast camping this year with three (of four)
grandchildren of grandpa-occupying age. I plan to <ahem> get my exercise.

I am pulling out of here Thursday morning for Wilson Island and, for the first
time in a long time, bringing my old, black Labrador Retriever, Hannah, with
me. If she can't make it in/out of the trailer, it may be a short campout for
her. Otherwise, she loves it and it gives me something to do.

Do you have plans to do something "different"?

[johnkool]

No.
At my size, walking is getting extremely difficult.
Phyllis will be working.

I will probably drive to the nursing home we put my Mom in to see her
Monday.

But I have dance jobs Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Thank God, since I have been unemployed for over a month.

If I can teach for 15 hours / week, I will make as much as 30+ hours at
my former employer.

I am working on promoting my music. Have sent 100 letters to local area
High Schools and Junior Highs touting trumpet lessons. Hope they get
there before school is out for the summer and that I get some results.
1 new student, taking for a month will pay the cost of the materials and
postage.

Next will be a bunch of picture post cards to make myself available to
perform at church services, weddings, funerals, lessons, private parties
and even bugle grams.

My doctor thinks I would qualify for Social Security disability, but I
am reluctant to apply. Big mental barrier.

Post by Jim Redelfs
Heck, YES!! :)

Post by johnkool
I realize that Memorial Day is coming up.

In the past I have avoided camping during "Amateur Night at the Campground".
That is, specifically, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
However, I have taken quite a liking to Wilson Island State Recreation Area on
the Iowa side of the Missouri river at DeSoto Bend.
<http://www.iowadnr.com/parks/state_park_list/wilson_island.html>
<http://www.fws.gov/midwest/desoto/>
One of the best campouts, not to mention a holiday weekend campout, I have had
was at Wilson Island. Iowa DNR runs a nice, TIGHT operation. Also, I have
found a legitimate place to spot my camper that is off the beaten path (camp
loop) by a few, dozen feet. It is as secluded as one can get during such a
weekend.

Post by johnkool
Are you still a camper, Jim Redelfs?

Yes.
However, as gas approaches $3.50/gal and the travel trailer needs a $3k rubber
roof, my dedication to, not the appreciation if, RVing (specifically) is
taking a big hit, not to mention my wallet. I just put four, new tires on the
beast.
Our 26th annual Redelfs Family Campout is coming up. It will be held in only
its fourth venue after all these years, this one for the second time. It's
about 480 miles, one way, the furthest we've ever gone. At ~8 MPG, my
participation in the tradition started by my late mother has become quite
expensive.
Still, it's nice to "camp" for a week with full hookups and cable TV in a nice
resort, retiring to my own bed every night. I like to hang out under the
awning and read a lot. I don't fish and I don't shoot (yet) so there's a lot
of time for me to do SOMETHING - or even nothing. Oh, yeah. I eat too much.
<sigh> It will be a blast camping this year with three (of four)
grandchildren of grandpa-occupying age. I plan to <ahem> get my exercise.
I am pulling out of here Thursday morning for Wilson Island and, for the first
time in a long time, bringing my old, black Labrador Retriever, Hannah, with
me. If she can't make it in/out of the trailer, it may be a short campout for
her. Otherwise, she loves it and it gives me something to do.
Do you have plans to do something "different"?

[Mike Riddle]

Post by Jim Redelfs
I am pulling out of here Thursday morning for Wilson Island and, for the first
time in a long time, bringing my old, black Labrador Retriever, Hannah, with
me. If she can't make it in/out of the trailer, it may be a short campout for
her. Otherwise, she loves it and it gives me something to do.

So will Wilson Island be an island, or under water, or . . . ?

Do you have a sufficiently long extension cord so that your generator
will not disturb you all night long?

Alternatively, do you have a sufficienetly long extension cord to plug
into Fort Calhoun? ,-)

What date/time are the s'mores on the menu? <g>

[Jim Redelfs]

Post by Mike Riddle
So will Wilson Island be an island, or under water, or . . . ?

I must extend the auto-empty-deleted-items-after-x-days period. I emailed the
Superintendent and received a prompt reply some days ago, about when part of
Missouri Valley was flooded. Apparently, the park never flooded although
water "backed-up into the chute".

Post by Mike Riddle
Do you have a sufficiently long extension cord so that your
generator will not disturb you all night long?

Yes. However, the generator doesn't disturb me all night long, right NEXT to
the camper. It's off. It is officially insufficient to run the air
conditioner, so I do everything else using 12V or propane. I run the genset
just long enough to warm-up my coffee a couple of times in the morning.

Post by Mike Riddle
Alternatively, do you have a sufficienetly long
extension cord to plug into Fort Calhoun? ,-)

We don need no steenkin' extension cord! :)

Post by Mike Riddle
What date/time are the s'mores on the menu? <g>

Probably Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening. (no joke, c'mon out)

To my frustration, I was unable to get off work at the end of 8 hours. I
worked mandatory overtime (2.5-hrs). I rarely get off work after only 8 hours
and regularly work overtime. The one time (a few times/year) I want to get
off - not early - just ON TIME, I can't.

I'll probably pull out of here tomorrow afternoon, trailer in tow, just in
time for rush hour. <sigh>