Sunday, 09/20/20 - Day 6

 39 degrees outside this AM, 57 degrees inside before I kicked the thermostat up several degrees. At least it was warm enough this morning that I could check my blood glucose level. Yesterday morning when I tried to check it my meter said it was to cold to operate. I had to put inside my shirt for several minutes to warm it up.

When Kathy put up the blind/shade on the window at the back of the camper there were 3 deer standing 30' away, staring at her.

The high for the day was a VERY breezy, but sunny, 68. There was a good turnout of family for lunch and an afternoon of fun at the pond.

Yes, that is an outhouse at the far left.

The old bulldozer is one of Mom's lawn ornaments. My Uncle Richard ran it doing some grading one day. That evening he went home went to bed, had a heart attack and died. Many years ago Dad drove it up to where it now sits and it has been there ever since.

My brothers grandchildren did a lot of fishing.

My brother is an awesome grandfather.

For a period of time my sisters granddaughter, Sara, got on the bus at my Mom's. Dad built her a place to stay out of the wind while she waiting on the bus. (This was back before bus drivers had to wait for snowflake kids to come out whenever it is convenient for them). It is now a storage building for fishing tackle, back at the pond.

 Kelsey is our granddaughter. I had never noted these "license plates" before.

An old corn crib on wheels has set back in a field as long as my brother and I can remember. He decided to turn it into a mobile hunting cabin. The tires were rotted away and even the rims had partially rotted away. My brother had rims fabricated to fit the rear axle and is putting and old house trailer axle under the front of the building. The "slot" window is to shoot a bow out of. All the small windows open as shooting ports.

After sitting out in the elements for over 60 years the wood framing was still in excellent condition. David, my brother, covered the old corn crib walls with insulation board and metal siding. He plans on installing shelving and battery powered lighting. The family normally harvests 6-7 deer a year. They do their own processing. The deer provide them with a beef substitute for most of the year.

A good day was had by all. We are so blessed to live in a nation where we have the freedom to earn a decent living, to travel as we please and to join one another in family gatherings.

The plan is to hit the road again tomorrow, and head southeast.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Some Saturday Morning Sunday Thoughts

 When we come to an understanding that we are all sinners who are absolutely unable to earn God's favor during this life, as well as unable to earn a place in Heaven after this life; and we choose to acknowledge and accept the free gift offered to all (the gift being that Jesus Christ, the sin free Son of God, came to Earth and paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross) we are invited to join God's workforce. When we ask to join that workforce we become part of God's "well oiled machine". 

Sitting here this morning, catching up on my daily devotional reading, I received a picture of a factory floor full of workers, workers who are joyful because they understand that even though the work is some times very difficult, it is rewarding now and that the "pension plan" is absolutely out of this world. They know that they work for a Boss who cares about each of His workers and who wants only what is best for them. They also know that their Boss has a plan, and the vision and the authority to guarantee that His plan will be enacted.

To often I fail to keep in focus that the Boss doesn't actually need the workers (me) to help Him bring His plan to fruition, He could do so without them (me). He has chosen to design the plan so that each worker (me) gets to join in and participate in His plan. He delights in watching as we (I) begin to understand our (my) part in the plan, and even more so as we (I) actually embrace the concept that He has chosen us (me), He has a plan for each of us (me) and our following His plan will make our (my) time here the best that it can be.

Now, as usual for me, begins the difficult process of moving this vision from my head and planting it solidly in my heart.

Saturday, Day 5, 091920 COOL Morning

 It was a COOL morning. 35 degrees outside and 45 degrees inside when I got up. Didn’t take me long to get the furnace turned on. There was steam coming off the pond.

After a great lunch of Kathy’s homemade vegetable soup she drove down to Hamilton Lake to visit her sister who has a cottage there. Mom and I went shopping for some exterior porch lights, unsuccessfully. Her post mounted exterior light has broken. We bought some JB Weld epoxy. I tried gluing the 3 pieces back together. Tomorrow we will learn if it was a success.

My brother took me for a Polaris tour around the perimeter of the farm. He has deer plots around the perimeter of almost every field. We saw 5 deer during our tour. He showed me his new mobile deer stand that he is building. I will try to remember to get a photo of it tomorrow.

I also cleaned the storage area under the trailer today and reorganized some of the stuff I just threw back in there after yesterdays escapade.

Parked down by the pond.

Mom, Kathy & I had bacon and tomato sandwiches for supper and then went out and sat by the campfire. 

My brother and his wife came down a little later and had some vegetable soup and joined us at the campfire.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Friday, Day 4 - A very busy day

 

Today’s plan was to travel from the south side of Indy to Mom’s place in Michigan, only about 200 miles. Before hooking up I went to a local station and topped off with fuel, $2.29/gal. We say fuel as high as $2.77/gal today. 

Lake Haven Retreat - Greenwood, IN

Then it was on to Mom’s.

About 30 miles north of Indy, maybe 50 miles into our days travel, a stake truck pulled up beside us and the guy in the passenger seat used his hands to make a circle with his fingers and thumbs. The he pointed back at our trailer. I pulled off to the side of I69 and saw that a wheel bearing had failed. We were a mile from the next exit so we slowly drove along the shoulder to the exit. Forutnatley for us there was a Love’s truck stop at the exit. We parked out back with the semi’s and this is what we found.

On the front axle, drivers side, the outer wheel bearing was in pieces. (Last year in WV I had problems with the rear axle on this side. (BTW-I had greased the SuperLube bearings while in WV last year and again this year before leaving home.)  

The axle cap was gone and as you can see from the wheel, there was definitely grease in the bearings. After loosing the axle cap last year in WV I try to visually check them during a walk around before leaving. Perhaps pieces of the bearing pushed this cap off. I would suggest that everyone with EZ-Lube or SuperLube axles carry a cap in their tool box when traveling.

This is what I found removing the drum. The axle nut was still so hot I didn’t want to touch it for long. The brake assembly was intact but coated with grease. It was going to require major degreasing and new set of brake shoes before being serviceable.

After further removals I was at the stage of hoping the spindle surface was still in good enough shape that I wouldn’t need a new axle.

Our son Doug came up from Indy and acted as my Uber driver and parts runner. I found an RV place about a 20 minute drive from us. They had a hub assembly in stock. I "polished" the spindle with some emery paper and didn't think it looked to bad.

After Doug’s second parts run I told him it was OK for him to go home. As I finishing up and ready to put the new axle cap in place I realized a new one wasn’t include with the hub assembly. No problem because I had thrown an extra one in with my “stuff” before leaving. Found it after 15 minutes of searching. It was one of the ones I had bought in WV that wouldn’t fit (it is going in the trash can so that this doesn't happen again). 

I unhooked the truck and Kathy became the parts runner. While she was gone I jacked up the other 3 tires and spun them to see if I heard any suspicious noises, I didn't. 

It took us around 10 hours to make our 200 mile day. While setting up at Mom’s I needed a flashlight to finish up.

What do I take away from this experience:

The guy at the RV place claims that the EZ-Lube/SuperLube axles don’t really fully grease the bearings. He said wheels still need to be removed and bearings pulled to repack them properly. He also claimed that pumping grease into the zerk until you see it oozing out, as the directions claim you are to do, tends to blow the seal.

We were fortunate that the guy in the truck passing us noted the problem and pointed it out to us.

We were fortunate that we were close to an exit where we could park for several hours and not be exposed to constant 70 mph Interstate traffic.

We were fortunate that an RV parts place, with everything we needed in stock, was within 20 minutes of us.

Most importantly. I don’t know why the Lord allowed this to happen. I do know that it wasn’t some chance “luck”, it was part of His plan. He looks after those who follow Him and NOTHING happens to us that isn’t part of His plan. While still here on Earth I may never know why this event occurred, but I do know that, as the old song goes,

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and  home

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

God cares about even sparrows, and He cares much more about me, and others who are His. Matthew 10:29-31.

God is good. May He bless you and yours, and may we all recognize that He is blesses us, even when we sometimes don’t understand how.

Thursday, Day 3, Sept 17, 2020

 It was a beautiful, but windy, day here in Indy. Temperatures rose from a mid 50’s overnight low to a mid 70’s high during the day.

Nothing exciting today. Kathy went to Frankfort, IN for a lengthy lunch with a friend who now lives near there. Then she stopped by to visit one of our neighbor ladies from when we lived near Lebanon, IN.

I stayed at the camper and veg’d. I had an interesting fiction book on my tablet. I started reading it last night and finished it today.

Doug and Anthony brought Mexican for supper. We had another nice visit with them.

I recently listened to a Just Thinking Podcast, #93, on “A Biblical Theology of the Role of Government”. At 1:01:20 into the podcast Darrell Harrison quotes a section of a sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on May 16^, 1907. “THERE is no crime and there is no credit in being poor. Everything depends upon the occasion of the poverty. Some men are poor and are greatly to be pitied, for their poverty has come upon them without any fault of their own. God has been pleased to lay this burden upon them and, therefore, they may expect to experience Divine help and ought to be tenderly considered by their Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Occasionally poverty has been the result of integrity or religion–and here the poor man is to be admired and honored. At the same time, it will be observed by all who watch with an impartial eye that very much of the poverty about us is the direct result of idleness, intemperance, improvidence and sin. There would probably not be one-tenth of the poverty there now is upon the face of the earth if the drinking shops were less frequented, if debauchery were less common, if idleness were banished and extravagance abandoned. Lovers of pleasure, (alas, that such a word should be so degraded), are great impoverishers of themselves. It is clear that there is not, of necessity, either vice or virtue in being poor and a man’s poverty cannot be judged of by itself–its causes and circumstances must be taken into consideration.” Harrison and Virgil Walker go on to question if any Pastor would be bold enough to make a similar statement during a sermon in today’s PC world.

It is a thought provoking quote. By the way, the main point of the sermon was not an indictment against slothfulness. There is both the poor in finances and the poor in spirit. You can read the sermon at https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/3040/

God is good. May He bless you and yours.

Wednesday, Day 2 - September 16, 2020

It was 80 degrees here in Effingham during the late afternoon yesterday, the 15th. The humidity was low and we sat outside for some time, reading and enjoying God's gift of such a nice place to spending the evening. The overnight low was 48. We left the windows and roof vents open all night. When I got up it was 62 in the camper, a glorious night for sleeping. 

This morning I sat, thinking/studying some, looking out some, since first light. It is now 7:45 and so quiet. There is some background noise from the tire whine on the Interstate. I haven't heard anyone leave the campground yet, I'm surprised. In the past it seems like people started firing up their diesels and hitting the road shortly after first light. I just saw our neighbors come out of their motorhome. She is walking the dog, he just walked around the other side of the motorhome and back, maybe checking something with the utility connections. Earlier I was another dog walker and also a guy who walked over and spent a few minutes looking at the lake. No need to social distance, they are outside and there is no one else around, but still this is the democratic republic of Illinois, I expected more people to be wearing masks when outside their homes.

We had a short travel day planned for today so we didn’t leave the campground until around 11. Part of the days schedule included a stop a Lou’s Diner in Cloverdale, IL. We had stopped there on our way home during the summer, when Kelsey and the great-grandchildren were with us. I had a tenderloin and Kathy had a Chef’s salad, plus we had an order of their great onion rings to get started. The food was very good, same as last time. I could almost feel my arteries clogging as I ate. 

Then it was on to Greenwood on the south side of Indy.

Eastbound traffic seemed lighter. We were occasionally somewhat shocked to see 6-8 westbound semi’s in a cluster as they slowly passed one another. Probably the same thing was happening eastbound but we just didn’t notice it. We are not in a hurry. On the Interstate I typically drive 65 mph. Occasionally I need to pass someone and will bump our speed up to 68-70 to get around them so that I minimize our blocking faster traffic. Fuel prices were high, compared to Missouri, in both Illinois and Indiana. What is a little surprising is at the “truck stop” style stations, the ones I know I can get in and out with no problem while pulling the trailer, the prices are the highest. They sell tens of thousands of more gallons of fuel per day than smaller stations yet charge 30-40 cents more per gallon. A 100 gallon fill up for a trucker costs him $30-40 more than it would if he could get in one of the smaller stations. We had enough fuel to get to Indy. After getting unhooked and set up I made a run to a Camping World to pick up a few things. On the way back I filled up at a Speedway for $2.259/gallon, still 36 cents a gallon more than I paid at Sam’s in Jeff on Sunday.

Masks and Camping World – I assumed I would need a mask to get into Camping World. I saw  no sign saying a mask was required, nor was there a mask “policeman” as there is a Menards in Jeff. The vast majority of  shoppers and staff were wearing masks.

We are staying at Lake Haven Retreat in Greenwood, IL for 2 nights. It is a little over a mile south of the I465 beltway. We have stayed here several times. It is a serviceable, “no frills” campground. At $36/night for a full hook up it is reasonably priced.

It was in the low 80’s when we arrived. It was hot enough inside the camper that we ran the AC for until around 7PM.

Doug and Anthony brought supper to us at the campground. Anthony has a late appointment so they didn’t arrive until 7:30. Doug had fixed some type of trout and also a dish of pork and mashed potatoes. The food was good, the visiting even better. It was nice enough that we sat at the picnic table and visited.

God is good, may He bless you and yours.

Tuesday, Day 1 2020 Fall Trip

 Good day today, no surprises out first day out. I like to make the first day a short day, in case we do have some surprises. We traveled only 243 miles today. We left a little after 10 and was at Camp Lakewood, Ellington, IL around 3:30.

Temperatures were in the mid to high 70's. The humidity must be quite low. We stopped at a rest area and had lunch in the trailer, it was quite comfortable. 

One thing that was a little suprising was the level of traffic. There was a LOT at times. There were several slow downs at construction areas but only one caused a small delay, no more than 5 minutes.

Our great-grandkids would have a ball at the playground.

 

There is a small lake. The photo below shows maybe a third of it.

There are a few concrete pads at sites but the vast majority of surfaces are pea gravel. Sites are mostly level. Ours was long enough so that we did not have to unhook, a plus since we will be heading to Indy in the morning.

Fuel prices in Illinois are ridiculously high, as usual. I filled my truck up at Sam's Sunday for $1.899/gal. When I filled up in Greenville, IL I paid $2.389/gal. We saw diesel prices ranging from $2.29-2.45. The cheap places were stations I didn't think I could get in and out of. A calculated 10.1 mpg on our first tankful.

Mask wearing: Saw one person entering the restrooms at the Illinois rest area wearing a mask. The guy doing the cleaning was not wearing one.  There were 4 people in the campground office, none were wearing masks. We took a short walk around the campground. We say only saw one lady and here 10(?) year old son out walking, neither were wearing masks.

May the Lord bless and keep you. Our God is a good God.