Monday - Tuesday; July 11th & 12th

 Monday

More visiting with family.

Kathy getting her feet wet.

Colton, my great-nephew. Travel Trailer in background is Jeremy and Shellies (my niece). They live in Battle Creek but come to enjoy family at the pond many weekends during the summer.

Colton (far left), Kathy, Beverly (my Mom) & David (my kid brother)

View looking back up towards Mom's. Yes, that is an outhouse right, and it gets used.

Lots of the grading work to develop the pond was done with this old dozer. My Uncle Richard did some grading with it the same day he died. It is a "lawn ornament" that will be there as long as Mom is alive, and maybe even after.

I bought new coach batteries and made an appointment to have them installed Tuesday AM on our way north from Coldwater.

Kathy and Cindy (one of her sisters)  went shopping over at the "Amish" store in Sturgis, MI.

Tuesday

We were on the road early. We arrived at the battery place at 8:15 and were out on the road headed north by 9:15.

Interstates in Michigan were better than those in KY & IN. We stopped for a break at a nice rest area.

Not sure what is happening in the photo below. The first two trucks are big wreckers. The first wrecker is towing both the second wrecker and the red tractor on the left.

Back of the facility at the rest area.

Front of the facility.

We pulled in to Houghton Lake Travel Park at 1:15. Kathy has done several loads of laundry. I took the mattress cover over to the campground laundromat to wash and dry it, it is to big for our RV washer and dryer. $1.00 for the washer and $0.25 for 15 minutes in the commercial size dryers.

All sites here are pull thrus, easily long enough for our coach and car. The only problem is that if you don't unhook, and pull through the site to the next roadway, you need a LOT of sewer hose. A little tree trimming would also be a good idea.

They have a pooland kids were in it having a ball. They also have a nice playground, horseshoe pits, a volley ball net and shuffle board courts.

Today's high temperature was 74 and tonight's low is forecast to be 52. We are loving the cooler temperatures.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

Friday - Sunday, July 8 -10 - How Time Flies

 Friday - The drive up to Mom's was uneventful. We topped off our fuel tank ($390) for $5.75/gal, so that we would have plenty of fuel to run the generator and AC if it was hot.

There is only one electrical circuit that runs from the barn down to the pond. It powers a refrigerator and some lights, and whatever else campers might want. After we set up I plugged in to the other side of the duplex outlet that powers the refrigerator. The coach automatic transfer switch sounded like it was going crazy so I figured we would have to use the generator for 120volt use, and to keep the batteries charge, until I had time to figure out the problem. The coach batteries were pretty well charged after the trip up here. The alternator keeps them topped off, but I did run the generator to make coffee and for a few other 120 volt odds and ends.

After some get reacquainted visiting with my David & Kathy (my brother and his wife who live less than a quarter mile down the road) and Colton (My brother's youngest, 11, grandson. My  brother just gained custody of him.) and my Mom. We all piled in the car and headed to the Moose Lodge in Fremont, IN for Friday fish night, something we normally do if we are here on a Friday night. We also had to make a near mandatory stop for ice cream in Freemont.

By the time we returned to the campground  Jeremy & Shellie (David's daughter and her husband) and their 2 youngest kids had arrived. They have a travel trailer they at Mom's pond most of the time. During the summer they spend a lot of weekends at the pond. They live in Battle Creek, MI, about an hours drive from Mom's. More catching up.

Around 1 PM we all decided it was time for bed. I spent about another hour playing with the electrical system on the coach before going to bed. After only 2 hours my CPAP had depleted the coach batteries, way sooner than it should have. I managed to get another couple of hours sleep without it.

Saturday - In the morning I borrowed a  battery charger from my brother, to charge the four 6 volt house batteries. I had asked the mechanic to replace them but he said he load tested them and even though they were original (14 years old) they tested OK. I had not seriously considered checking the battery water level previously because I assumed he had done so and I only had to add water to the batteries i our other coach one every several months. I checked them and all I saw was bare plates. I had a full gallon of distilled water and put the full gallon in them, without covering the plates. Kathy had gone to the grocery and brought me another 2 gallons and after using all of a second gallon the plates were adequately covered and I hooked up the charger.

In the meantime I had taken our coffee pot out to the pavilion to make coffee. It did not work properly when plugged in to the same outlet the coach didn't like. I tried another outlet and it was fine.

Then it was down to Ed & Cindy's (Kathy's sister and her husband) for Elliot's (there youngest son who is back from Kuwait but leaving for Germany Monday, he is a civilian contractor who does maintenance on jets that fly the military brass around) birthday party. Colton went with us but Mom wasn't up to the trip. Elliot, Alison (Elliot's wife), Ed & Cindy out in front of the barn.

Then it was back to Mom's, which included a stop at the Freemont ice cream place.

Lots of family was at the pond for the evening. Lots of good visiting and food; brats, venison hamburgers and other food. Around midnight everyone had left, except Jeremy and Shellie who spent the night in their trailer. I tried hooking our coach to a "good" outlet and it worked fine all night.

Sunday - We all, 10 of us, Jeremy and Shellie's kids spent the night with cousins, had breakfast together. Around noon Jeremy and Shellie packed up and headed back to Battle Creek. The rest of us sat around and visited more. I'm up at Mom's on her WiFi writing this now. Mom was up at her house for awhile but is back down at the pond. Kathy was going to lay down for awhile. David and Kathy went home. David is spraying for weeds and his Kathy is starting supper. One of suppers delicacies will be blue gills that were caught thru the ice last winter. There no fish or seafood that tastes better. I've been doing some online shopping for coach batteries. Even is these seem to be okay they will fail before we are done travelling. I might as well get them replaced whenever its convenient and not have to wonder about how long they will last. It's 4 PM if I hurry back to the coach I think I might be able to squeeze in a nap before supper.

PS. Can hardly wait to hear Robert Strong's first message as Freshwater's new Lead Pastor.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

PPS. Hope there are to many typo's in this. I'm tired to proof read it.

Thursday, July 7 - Another Slow Day

 Temperatures were a little better today, but still to warm for us. We went to Menards this morning to buy a replacement for the new coffee pot we had, that lasted less than 10 brew cycles. We also bought some shelf support clips to replace the ones that failed while being battered on the rough roads in KY & IN.

Doug came over for a visit in the afternoon. He had not seen the coach. He brought a chicken dish for Kathy and ribs for me, our supper. The weather was OK for an AM & PM walk around the campground.

There are 101 sites at the campground. After walking around the campground I think there are at least 30 units that have 300 gallon propane tanks. Many of the units have some potted plants, including tomatoes, around them and one even has a flower garden behind it, next to a forested area. Even living full time in a unit it would take a LONG time to burn 300 gallons of propane. None of the units are "skirted". Living in one during the entire Indy winter would be a real challenge.

After walking the trash to the dumpster I checked out the laundry and bathroom facility. A load of laundry costs $1.85 to wash and the same to dry.

The PO Boxes, and packages, in the photo below seem to indicate that quite a few people stay for extended periods.

The individual toilet and shower facilities were nice.

When I looked out the front window this morning I was a little surprised at the neighbors pet. At least its quiet. He also has a yappy little dog. The dog is real, and noisy.

We head to MI in the morning. Below is our schedule for the next couple of weeks.

Fri, July 8    travel to my Mom's near Coldwater, MI

Sat, July 9    coach at Mom's, spend the day at nephews birthday party near Monpelier, OH

Sun, July 10    Mom's

Mon, July 11    Mom's

Tue, July 12    travel to Houghton Lake Travel Park & cool temps 76/57

Wed, July 13    travel to Paradise Point, De Tour, MI temp 70/58

Thur, July 14    Paradise Point, take ferry to Drummon Island?

Fri, July 15    travel to Soo Locks Campground, Sault Ste Marie, MI 

Sat, July 16 - Thur, July 21  Soo Locks Campground

Fri, July 22    travel to Bay Mills Casino Campground - Brimley, MI

Sat, July 23 - Thur, July 28 coach at Bay Mills

Mon, July 25     drive Flex to Mom's for her gall bladder surgery

Tue, July 26    Mom's surgery

Wed, July 27    at Mom's

Thur, July 28    drive back to Bay Mills

Fri, July 29    travel to Marquette

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

Wednesday, July 6 - Not Much to Report

It was miserable hot here again today, I did virtually nothing. Kathy was tougher than me. She did some shopping and had lunch with a lady who used to work at Teen Challenge when Kathy volunteered at there.

I caught up on some reading, had an afternoon nap and managed a mile long walk around the campground after supper.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

Tuesday, July 5th - Made it to Indianapolis

 After saying our goodbyes we left Tom & Mary Lou's at 8:30 this morning. Temperatures were decent in TN but increased all the way to Indy. By the time we arrived at Lake Haven Retreat the temperature was 100 degrees and the heat index was 105. At 5:10 EST we were all set up.

The 341 mile trip was relatively uneventful. We stayed on I40 from Crossville to Monterey, TN and then took US & state highways up to Glasgow, KY. We took I65 from Glasgow to Indy. Once again we noticed that the US & state highways are in much better condition than the Interstates. I65 in norther KY and in IN is terrible. There are some smooth sections but most of it is so rough it will shake the fillings out of your teeth. 

Kathy drove to Glasgow, then I drove 100 miles to a rest area where we stopped for lunch. She finished the drive to Indy. Praise God for air conditioning. The dash AC could not keep even the front of the coach cool. When we stopped for lunch we started the generator and ran both coach rooftop AC units. When we left the rest area we let the generator and AC units run for at least another half hour. Later in the afternoon we started the generator again and ran the rooftop AC units. The first time we turned them on it was 90 degrees in the coach, back at the shower area. The second time it was 94 degrees. Even running both 13,500 BTU units, and the dash AC, it still took a long time to cool the coach down to a tolerable level.

Below is our route from Crossville to Glasgow. From Monterey to Thompkinsville there are some narrow sections of road, with lots of 35 mph curves, but the pavement was in good condition for almost the entire length.

The only significant traffic problems was when we neared Louisville and one of the lanes was closed. Traffic was backed up, stop and go, for 5 miles.

So how rough was I65 you ask. We had more stuff flying around the inside of the coach that at any  time during the trip so far. When Kathy started to put out the kitchen slide she heard a crunching noise and immediately stopped the slide.

This basket, which was full of stuff and sitting on a stationary shelf next to the section of countertop that slides out with the kitchen, had fallen between the slide and the stationary wall. It had been full of lots of stuff and all the stuff also went into the hole. We worked a long time fishing this bent up basket, pepperoni sticks, a bag of macaroni, a dish towel, and other stuff out of the hole. Oh me of little faith, I didn't think we would  ever get the basket out without tearing out the cabinetry under the sink. Kathy finally managed to hook it with a coat hanger and fished it out. The area was so cramped that it wasn't possible to reach a hand/arm back in the hole to retrieve stuff. As the back of one of the cabinet drawers hit the wire basket the drawer support broke. I'm going to have to study some on how to repair it, because of the very limited access.

There are some advantages to being back in civilization 😀. We were both tired from the heat and the travel, and then dealing with getting the stuff out from behind the slide, so I ordered a pizza and picked it up, could have had it delivered. There are 3 pizza places within 2 miles of the campground, we tried the non-chain one. The pizza was good, but not great. 

We have stayed at this campground numerous times. It has 101 sites spaced fairly close together. Many of the sites have some shade but those sites all seem to be taken up by people who are here for lengthy stays. The number of 300 gallon propane tanks at RV's in the campground always amazes me. They have made some upgrades since we were last here. A new office, a new shower and laundry facility and a new, but modest, playground for kids.. They do have a small lake for catch and release fishing.

We keep watching the temperatures up north, and yearning to be up there. Over the next 10 days the highs in Sault Ste Marie are in the high 60's and low 70's. Over in Marquette the highs are only in the high 50's for 2 of the days in the 10 day forecast. Marquette even has one night with 49 being forecast for an overnight low.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

Monday, July 4th - Proud to be an American

 Happy Independence Day to all. While the US is not perfect it is still the best nation on the planet. Last month the Washington Times reported that since January of 2021 over 2 million people have immigrated to the US, 1.35 million of them illegally. At the current rate of immigrants entering the US, by the middle of next year 14.9% of our population will be immigrants, the most in our history. I find it almost beyond belief that so many claim that we are a racist nation when the VAST majority of those who risk their lives to come here are non-white. They know the US is still a Land of Opportunity for those willing to work. OK, I'm off my soapbox 😀

The weather was nice here again today, the high was 85, the overnight low is forecast to be 70. We got a nice shower mid-afternoon. It was needed, but its not as dry here as it was in MO when we left.

No problems with the electricity last night or today PTL. All seems to be working as it should.

A screw had come out of one of the basement bay doors. I was able to scrounge one from Tom's shop, so a trip to town on the 4th to find a screw that fit was not necessary. I borrowed a pole saw from him this morning and did some minor tree trimming around the campground area.

In the afternoon Tom and I went down to visit Marvin Burgess, a neighbor. Marvin built T&ML's house and the shell of our TN cabin. He is an EXCELLENT carpenter, now a retired carpenter. He also helped me do a lot of finish work inside the cabin and when I built a 8x12 storage building. Marvin is also a great story teller. He and his many brother and sisters have lived here their entire lives. They know almost everyone, and everyone's history. It is a joy to be able to spend time with him. Every spring I look forward to Kathy showing me a Facebook post by Derek, Marvin and Diane's son. The post will show Marvin plowing a furrow with his mule while other family members follow along planting potatoes in the furrow. Tob, Marvin's mule, turned 33 on May 13th.

We went down to T&ML's for supper. Dean did another great job providing us with a good meal. Then it was out on the front porch to watch the ducks on the lake, the birds flying around and the beautiful partly cloudy sky.

Tomorrow we pack up and head for Indianapolis.

Recently my daily Old Testament reading has been in Deuteronomy and Proverbs. I have a literal mind, when I read something it is difficult for me to find any meaning other than what the words actually say. In Deuteronomy God is constantly warning the Israelites not to worship other gods. Many of the passages in Proverbs talk about the dangers of becoming entangled with prostitutes. Today, as I read Proverbs 7 it occurred to me that the adulterer/prostitute that the young man was being warned about did not need to be a person. The adulterous woman is only an example of the many things that can entice me and cause me to take my focus off God, and all that He has done for me.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.

Sunday, July 3rd - A Great Day Worshiping at Cumberland Fellowship

 We have been having some challenging electrical issues (at least they have been challenging for me and my skillset). Late in the evening the first night we were here we lost shore power. I checked the breakers in the campground panels and none needed reset. I finally gave up, ran the generator and AC units long enough to cool things down, shut it off and we went to bed. Overnight lows were in the high 60’s so that was a blessing. When I  plugged back in to the outlet on Saturday morning shore power was fine.

Last night, about 11PM, we lost shore power again. I fooled with things until 1AM this morning and was not able to come up with a solution. I ran the generator and AC units again to cool things down, shut it off and went to bed. Plugged back in this morning and shore power was fine. We did notice that our new coffee pot no longer works. Part of my diagnostics both nights was to check the voltage at the 50 amp outlets. Each leg tested 117-119 volts.

We attended the 9:30AM service at Cumberland Fellowship. It was AWESOME! Every bit as good as we remembered. I was a little disappointed because Pastor Sam wasn’t preaching this morning but the guy who did give the message was dynamic. He was part of a group that had just come back from a mission trip to Costa Rico. His report on the trip was a great message starting with how he had the trip all planned out but God had something totally different in mind. Rather than building an 8’ fence around a mission facility they were thrust into ministering to sex trafficked people, mostly women.

Through the years a main theme of Cumberland Fellowship has been to Love Crossville, not the town, but the people of Crossville. While he didn’t make any direct references to this it was impossible not to hear that message during his talk. The mission team was rubbing shoulders with young women who had been sold into slavery as well as women, and trans men, who believed that their only means of making a living was prostitution. The focus was showing these people that someone cared about them, and not only did those running the local missions care about them, God cared about them so much more. I don’t want to minimize the importance of the mission outreach to other nations but what I heard in the message, and what I have heard come through time and again in messages at Cumberland Fellowship, was God loves us all. We as Christians need to show that love to even those who society, and to often we Christians, consider unlovable.

Cumberland Fellowship’s first service was in 1996. Kathy had I first attended a few years after that. The growth has been phenomenal. They now have an 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 service Sunday morning, a 6:00PM Sunday Service and they have planted satellite church about 20 miles away.

There were 400-500 adults in the service we attended. Kids and Teens attend other services in the facility where messages are geared to their age groups. Many of these folks are not embarrassed about showing their love of God during a church service. Check out their website and make it a point to click on the calendar link at the top right of the page. https://www.cumberlandfellowship.com/

PS CF – This was the first Sunday  of the month. They take up a First Sunday offering every month and give it to some local organization. Last month it went to a Veteran’s Support group. I didn’t hear where todays offering was going. The “regular” offing is taken by  people standing by the doors as you leave the worship center.

Then it was back to the coach. Shore power was out again. I spent at least another hour pulling covers off the campground panels, wiggling breakers and checking voltages. I pulled the cover off the coach automatic transfer switch, it senses where power is coming from and automatically switches. The contactors in it looked okay and the correct set were closed. We have a power reel that winds up the 50 amp cord. The cord winds up on a reel so somewhere there has to be a set of circular conductors that transfer power from the rotating cord to the stationary  line that feeds the ATS. I pulled more of the cord out, wound the full length back up and then pulled it out and plugged it in again. Shore power was functioning when I plugging back in. It is now 10PM and it is still going. It  the circular conductors are corroded accessing the power reel looks to be task. Anyway, we are cool now, the dishwasher has run, the washer has run and the dryer is now running, and all is good.

After lunch we went back down to Tom and Mary Lou's spent more time vising with family. A nephew and one of his sons was here to drop off a dog before they left on vacation. We had not seen him for years so that was and added bonus. His family  is in the process of relocating from the Atlanta area to the Nashville area. 

Sitting out on the porch and watching the wind cause ripple as it blew across the water made for a pleasant afternoon.

We came back to the coach for a nap, which was when I did a bunch of the testing noted above. After nap time we went back down to sit and watch the sunset. The sunset wasn’t spectacular tonight but it was nice sitting on the porch, visiting and looking at the lake.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.