strawdog

Nope..... However I do find the statement "Time to Buy" to be far from a simple statement of FACT.

Hmmmmmm.... CNN..... A different perspective Incredibly accurate if you look back at the last six or so years of postings there.

Speaking of which -- Don & Fannie -- are you still coming to Yuma for some length of time this winter? We got here a bit late (Dec 13); decided to take in a little winter in the NM mountains first! I also thought Mike & Joann were going to be in Yuma for part of the winter...maybe their plans have changed, too????? Renee

Got back to Yuma yesterday morning -- settling in for the winter (mostly) with a few side trips. Have already touched base with Smokey & Pam, and some ex-HDTers are either here already or heading this way in a few weeks. Anybody passing through or staying for the winter, we'd love to see you! We're in the Foothills again this year... Looking forward to the first Yuma 4x4 run that we'll be here for in a couple weeks... Renee & Dave

Dan -- We're actually about 9 miles east of Bismarck (exit 170 off I-94). Little RV park called A Prairie Breeze. The hosts are super-nice, the place is very clean with approx 85' pull-thrus (we're 81 ft front of Volvo to back of Jeep, and we had room to pull the truck up a few feet after unhooking). Approx 40 total sites, not all have sewer, but I'd guess over half do. We don't mind the extra miles getting into town, and prefer parks "out" a little ways from the nearest population center. $110 for the week for full hook-ups isn't too shabby! Renee

We came THIS CLOSE to being in Thief River Falls (I just LOVE the name!) a couple weeks back. We spent almost 5 weeks total in Minnesota, and needed to head to Montana for a week of camping with the grandkids before school starts, so we skipped the Falls this time. It's on my to-do list for next time we're in the state, though. Currently in Bismarck, ND, seeing some of the Lewis & Clark sites, until Tuesday. Heading towards a great little national forest campground south of Bozeman for the grandkid time. Renee & Dave

We've been at Lake Texoma ~100 mi. north of Dallas for about a week now. We've been reminded why we usually get here in May... April is WAY cooler and windier than when we're usually here. I really don't enjoy putting sweatshirts & long pants on after spending most of the winter in shorts! Dave's brother won't make it up this year, so Dave's relegated to fishing off the docks. NO WAY is he getting me in the canoe unless the weather (and water!) warms up drastically. We'll be here almost 2 more weeks before heading northeast for the oldest granddaughter's high school graduation in St. Louis..with a short visit to Dave's dad in the Missouri Ozarks. Renee

After a wonderful month on our 10 acres in New Mexico (where we got visits from elk, javelina, and deer this time), we are now firmly ensconced in Yuma for the winter across the street from Ron & Sharon Curry. Great weather! The day after we got here it rained approximately 2-1/2". Pretty good downpour for a place where average annual rainfall is about 3-1/2". We'd love to see anyone who happens to be in the area...we're at 13417 S. Onammi Ave. in The Foothills. Smokey & Pam -- Had a great Thanksgiving dinner with John & Doni, but missed you guys! Looking forward to seeing Bob T & Sharon when they make it in. Renee

Larry -- Thanks for the info. We actually stumbled across the listing for that RV park (after I posted here) in RV Park Reviews -- dated Sept 2008! Apparently, between your reply & the park review site, we're MEANT to stay there! Funny, I normally check that site along with all the other campground books, and for some reason didn't this time. See you in a few days! Renee

Currently in Ogalalla, NE; planning to stop en route to Hutchinson in Smith Center to look at Excel's new stuff. Pickin's are getting mighty slim with so many manufacturers going out of business, so figured we may as well take a little detour to see one of the factories that are still in business. Looks like it might be a challenge finding somewhere to park/stay in the vicinity of Smith Center, though! Looking forward to seeing some of the HDTers we've not met before. Renee & Dave

David & Sue -- We actually fell into a camphost position right next door to our daughter & family at Yellow Bay on the east side of Flathead, and will be here for a couple more weeks, so won't be going through Missoula for a while. If you get back up this side of the lake, drop in! Are you heading towards the HDT rally in Kansas? Renee

Carol -- Thanks for the tip on "Norm's News." We were going by there today & stopped for lunch -- you're right, the ice cream cone was HUGE and wonderful. Thanks again! Renee

Circling around Flathead Lake in NW Montana. Were planning to meander towards Hutchinson after the County Fair in Plains this past weekend, but found out that Dave's 85-year-old dad decided to drive up here from Missouri to visit our daughter. So we're in Kalispell waiting for a Thursday appt. to get our Dometic fridge recall problem taken care of, then back to Yellow Bay for another week or so. This will give us a chance for our grandson to tell us ALL about his first day of school, complete with hand & arm gestures... Renee

We're in Gillette at Escapade (Box Elder, D-86). Have met a number of new folks during the Devils Tower/Coal Mine tour yesterday, and motorcycle ride today (another one tomorrow). It's a busy place! We know HDTers topfuel, Ron Curry & crewcab96 are here; anybody else? Renee

After 2 weeks along the Pomme de Terre River just below the PdT Dam visiting family & helping Dave's dad with house projects, we have moved a whopping 120 miles or so to Jefferson City (along the Osage River, about 10 miles east of Jeff City). Will be here through June 15 -- oldest daughter coming for the weekend to visit & pick up her computer (that Dave gets the pleasure of cleaning up everytime we come through MO). Exciting times in MO...we've hunkered down through a number of tornado warnings (even got to spend part of one night huddled in a showerhouse with other campers when one was spotted within 5 miles) and LOTS & LOTS of rain. Apparently the wettest spring ever, from what we're hearing. After this, it's not hard to remember just WHY we moved from the midwest to the southwest... Will head towards Gillette when we leave here. Renee

Arrived at Lake Texoma yesterday afternoon after 6 weeks of horrendous winds & dry dry dry in New Mexico. Dave said we need to re-think springtime in New Mexico. Funny that after living there for 30 years, I don't remember winds staying up THAT high for THAT long a spell -- I think we only had 5-6 days of no wind over the 6 weeks. Grrrr. Hey, Pam, I got to get MY sandals back out. AWAY with the shoes unless we take a motorcycle ride!! But I guess we BOTH should be glad we aren't with the Gehlens -- I heard Rapid City got 24" of snow yesterday! Renee

Left Yuma last Friday (3/21) & made it in to our 10 acres south of Datil, NM (where????) Monday. Quite a change from winter in Yuma -- instead of pulling into a nice lot, we drove 13 miles of dirt/gravel road, then had to cut down trees and relocate a big ol' firepit just to get to our parking "spot." But aahh, the change in scenery from REAL desert to HIGH desert, complete with copious amounts of pinon & juniper trees, and the quiet -- meaning, not a sound out here except for the noise we make. Will be here for about a month going through items we have stored here & setting things up so we don't have to work so darn hard next time! I think we're out of the practice of manual labor after our lazy winter in Yuma! Renee

Just sitting around watching the rain in Yuma AZ and I got the idea that the RDBE crowd might want their own business cards so I came up with this one...... Dave

In Yuma, AZ, for at least a couple months. Smokey & Pam helped find a lot for us (THANKS Smokey & Pam, Ron & Sharon) with great mountain views, across the street from an open dry wash, and with very friendly neighbors thus far. A great place to work on the truck interior & get 'er done! Renee

A VERY BELATED thanks for the birthday wishes. We spent the last month up in the Pioneer Mountains NW of Dillon, MT, and weren't able to get online very much. After 3 separate 6" snowfalls, we figured we were pushing our luck & better get back down to lower elevations. We're already planning to attend next year's HDT rally, especially since we didn't get to come this year. Dave rethought what tags to get, and decided no more elk tags (where would we put it anyway??). So we should be free & clear next Sept/early Oct. Thanks again! Renee

Nashville this week for CMA Music Fest then meandering our way toward Montana for Elk hunting in Sept/Oct. Who Knows

Sitting at Lake Texoma outside Kingston, OK. Having grown up in the Midwest, this is NOT the best place to be this time of year, but (knock on wood), the severe storms & tornados seem to be going around us. We've gotten some pretty good rainfalls, though! Heading to MO for visits shortly, then to Nashville for CMAFest at the beginning of June. Apparently we were the talk of the cafe here when we pulled in...lots of people stopping by to check out the truck. Renee

Boy, and I was hoping for that same light to go off! I took ours out for practice while we were in Texas -- back & forth along the same 15-mile stretch of divided state highway. The "light" started getting brighter when we took it to a fairgrounds outside Athens -- there was enough of a straight-away to get it through most of the gears before I had to stop & get it turned around (why couldn't they just put a loop in?) Anyway, I got to where I could tell from the engine sounds when it was time to shift. Kinda the same as when you have a manual transmission on a passenger car/truck -- you get a little more confident with time, and you feel GREAT when you actually manage to "get it". We talked about it for quite some time, and did decide to invest in a Gearmaster (another thread) -- Dave has used it when in downshifting situations, and I use it not only when downshifting, but also if I get flustered & am not sure which gear I should be trying for. I've been known to forget which gear I'm in, too! Have't driven since we got to the Phoenix area -- just too much traffic for me. Hoping to get some more practice in when we get to NM in a couple weeks. Having driven a manual transmission for 30 years, I figured it wouldn't be a big deal learning how to shift a big truck -- I was certainly wrong on that assumption. And I agree with you on the huge difference from driving a large motor home with automatic transmission; the size of the truck doesn't bother me -- it's that blasted shifting! I get pretty frustrated, but when I finally get good at it, I'm gonna be strutting around like a banty rooster! However, I'm also pretty sure it's always going to take much more thought than the "easy" shifting a car has. BTW, Dave has also been VERY patient during this whole endeavor. Occasionally he'll get annoyed that I'm not driving, but he also understands that I'm not about to hook up to our 38-foot "home" until I'm past the freaking-out stage. Renee

Just west of Phoenix in Buckeye probably until the beginning of April. Don't believe we'll make this a destination again -- too big a city for us country-preferring folks, and it appears to be one of the most kid-UNfriendly places we've been. Took days of researching to find a place big enough to fit in that would allow kids. Guess nobody else likes to have their grandkids visit! Renee

We're at Yellow Bay (just south of Bigfork) Montana for Christmas, then heading to Rapid City to do all those fun things like drivers' licenses, vehicle registrations, etc. We'll be very anxious to then head back to Texas and Leather-&-Lace (the Volvo) -- Larry Herrin should have it ready soon after our return. After that, not sure, but will be in the Phoenix area at the beginning of March to keep the grandkiddies while Mommy & Daddy take a sailing course. Renee