Newport Washington back to Pennsylvania

    We had planned on being in Newport WA for about a week. But because of the medical problem Bob is having we were here for almost 3 weeks. This certainly slowed our plans a bit. We don't have a true schedule just an idea of where we want to go and about when we would like to be there. We did want to be here in Newport about a month ago. Oh well we will adjust. That is what is nice about not having a firm schedule.
      This trip started in Florida and so far we put  3953   miles on the truck mostly towing. We put 8001 miles on the car.  Following the truck and RV  and 4048 miles touring.  We average 10.2 mpg with truck and 35.2 mpg with the car. These mileages are since leaving FL, that is highway and city driving and many miles on two lane roads. We also found out there is Western music. It is quit different then the country and western music we are use to. Much of the music was from the 40's and 50's. A lot of it we never heard, but this is what is great traveling this wonderful country of ours, the many different things we experience.
     We also added 4 new states to our map. We do not add a state unless we spend at least one night in that state with our RV. The new states we added are Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Idaho. That makes 46 states we have stayed in at least one night. The only states we have not stayed in are Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware and Hawaii. We have been through 3 of these states, but never stayed a nigh. Hawaii may be a problem. Funny all but Hawaii is a short distant from our home area.
       After several visits with doctors and spending a lot of time agonizing over our plans we decided to head back to PA. This was also suggested by the  neurological surgeon. So we left WA on 2,911 mile cross country trip back to PA. The mileage in the truck stayed at 10.2 mpg and the car it went up to 39.8, that is since leaving FL. We did over 4,000 miles touring with the car, but the last 2,900 miles were mostly highway driving. Hopefully sometime in October we will be able to hit the road.
   Thanks for following along.


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Thousand Trails/KOA Little Diamond RV Park

Newport Washington
      Not sure were to start. This is a park that is part Thousand Trails and part KOA. Don't let the pictures fool you. We had one of the better sites. About half the sites in the TT part are unusable. Maybe with a tent they can be used. This park requires MAJOR updating,  or a total remake. Not to noticeable in the pictures, but our hookups are in the front of the site between those tall trees in front of our truck. There are two hookups, one for us and one for the site on our left. But one of the electric outlets didn't work. We had 30 amp electric and water. There are no sewer hookups. But there is a pump out for $25. Never did we pay more for this service then $10. The KOA part of the park was in a lot better shape. They did a lot of upgrades. The pool and all amenities are shared by both TT and KOA. Everybody we had any contact with that worked for the park were very friendly and helpful. They all wore yellow KOA shirts, with a very little Thousand Trails embroider below the larger KOA emblem. Not sure who is running the parks. Did ask one lady who she worked for and she said our checks come from LLS. The laundry was clean with 5 W/D's. Checked the restrooms in the TT park and they were in good shape and very clean.  There is some new gravel in some of the sites, like ours. The roads are very hard packed dirt with very little gravel. There are many sites, 50- 75 or more in the woods behind us that are so grown in that they must not have been used in 10 or 15 years. A worker here told us they weren't used for 30 years. There are evergreen trees growing on them that are 5-6 foot tall, were you would park your RV. There are two abandon restrooms and what looks like something that was a lodge in the unused area. Not sure what that's about.  In the second pictures note the site that is on our right. It has a major sloop. One of the great things about this park is the super aroma of all the evergreen trees. Most days it just like opening one of those pine air freshens for your car or pine aerosol for your  home. Everybody and I mean everybody that worked there was very very friendly.

Doctors visit

Again Thanks very much for all the good wishes. Had my doctor visit with the Neurologist today. He concurred  with the Neurosurgeon  in Spokane WA that I have Trigeminal neuralgia. Still have to go for a MRI of the brain. Hopefully the medication will stop all the pain. I have been living with mild to severe pain for about 5 weeks  in my lower left gum. The meds are beginning to help. I can talk and eat almost normal without much pain. I did loose about 10 pounds in the first two weeks. At times the pain is still there and bad but getting better. My medication is being increased about fourfold over the next 4 weeks. I'm hoping it works with no side effects and for a clear MRI.  Again thanks for all the great emails and calls.

Also, I am so proud of Linda driving cross country at the rate we did. It wasn't the way we like to travel.

  Bob and Linda

Back in PA

      Hi, we are back in PA staying at Timothy Lake South in the Pocono Mountains. We arrived here on Wednesday about 4:30 in the afternoon. It has been a long hard trip without much rest in between. We both decided we could not be long haul truck drivers. We love travel, but not like the passed week. We traveled 2,911 miles in the passed 8 days, that's about 360 miles a day. I know, I know that doesn't sound like a lot. Its a lot when towing a 38 foot trailer along I 90 and its "bike week" at Sturgis or its raining so hard its hard to see, its a lot. We are used to 1-150 miles  a day, then staying a couple of days. But we made it without any problems and the Chevy preformed outstanding, pulling them there mountains in Montana, and the plains of South Dakota. This is the third time we made a trip like this for medical reason's. This is the first time for us, and the longest. In 2008 we made a trip like this from South Dakota when my mother fell and was hospitalized.  That trip was a lot easier in that we didn't have the car and Linda and I took turns towing the RV. We travel longer each day, and made it back to PA in 3 days.  The second time was from Georgia when Linda's brother and sister in law were both hospitalized. That was the shortest, only about a 1,000 miles.  But the good thing is we are mobile and can do these trips if necessary.

       Again thanks for all the prayers sent my way. BUT, someone shirked their duty as I was ONE prayer away from sainthood. Now the process must start over, we just can't add one more prayer, it doesn't work like that. I go to the bottom of the list. Oh well! I wasn't ready to be called saint Robert just yet. But again thanks for all the emails and calls.

Thank you

 

Hi, and a special thank you to one and all for you emails and calls and comment on our blog. RV folks are the best. We had calls from six RV friends that offered to come to Washington to drive us and our RV back to PA. Plus an offer of airline tickets from a friend. Also one of our sons wanted to fly out and drive back to PA. Also emails from others to help however they can when we get back to PA. Plus enough prayers to make me a saint. Thank you again.We left Washington on Wednesday and are now in Wall South Dakota, the evening of the 9th. We have over a 1000 miles behind us and about 1700 more to go.

   Bob is having sever pain in his gum, thought it was a tooth, but it is nerve damage. Couldn't get into a neurologist for 2-3 months in WA.. So we called our doctor back home and have a appointment on the 22nd.  Hopefully drugs will work, which Bob is now on, and possibly others. We will know more in a  couple of weeks and will keep you posted.

  Again THANK YOU all.

 

    Bob and Linda

Change in Plans

Hi, just a short update. We have changed our plans. We are heading back to Pennsylvania for medical reasons. We will not be posting for a short time and will let you all know when we get there.  We will also give you a medical update at that time. Take care.
   Bob and Linda