Ypsilanti Tuesday

[MelissaD]

Morning from Ypsilanti Michigan. Coffees on and we have an assortment of tea if you want that.

Leftover meatloaf and eggs for breakfast. Up early again today. Have recertification classes for my instructor status of Smith System Defensive Driving. Showed the boss it was cheaper to buy my campsite than to pay a hotel bill so it's a winner for both of us. We are at the Detroit Greenfield RV Resort which means it's an old KOA that they charge extra for everything Parked in a somewhat pretty wooded area looking at a small lake but the trees are so thick it maybe "interesting" to get back out tomorrow.

Hope everyone is well and good day!

[IrishIroamed]

Mornin' Melissa (and I'm guessing Phoenix & the GB too )

Been meaning to say a big THANK YOU Melissa, your knowledge kept me from making what could have been a costly mistake. I did contact CruiserRV, and Colt cannot take the weight on the bumper, so the bike rack went back. Probably not worth the shipping fee to return the hitch adapter since the dang thing weight 10#'s. Ah well, live & learn. But Thanks anyway. I'm just going to follow you around when I retire. Maybe I can learn by osmosis

Loved Tina's post with Mitch & the trail ride. Cracked me up with the comments about Mitch's height and looking for a short horse.

No camping for me until July 17th no way I'd want to be near a campground & the crowds on a holiday weekend. I did my due diligence and search the forums for hauling water (yes, you ladies do it), so I'll fill up the tank as needed when I go someplace without hookups.

Not much else going on here. Have a good day ladies, and if you're going off the grid for the holiday, have a good one and stay safe on the roads.

[Queen]

Just looked up that Smith System, pretty cool stuff. I went through a lot of similar classes for driving emergency vehicles... sure made driving a semi and an Airborne truck easier/safer! Cool that you're and instructor!

Just a quiet morning here, having my second cup of coffee and contemplating the nature of the universe (not really, just thinking about doing laundry ).

[gingerK]

Good morning all,

At last a sunny day! Of course, they have to add that it "might" rain later. We have officially now had the wettest June ever for the state of IL. Congrats to us-NOT!

Cheryl, I hauled with a full water tank last weekend and I swear it actually made Angel ride smoother. At least it seemed like she bounced around less and I heard less noise from things rattling around while driving. Like you, I'm staying away from cg's this weekend, but actually because I have 7 horses, 2 donkeys and a dog that I am caring for. Lots of manure hauling in my future LOL.

I'd like to venture farther than my club so I am looking for cg's in northern IL with the thought of a possible mini gtg with anyone who can make it. Thinking of Rock Cut SP near Rockford, last weekend of July. Plans are still Jell-o but that's what I'm thinking.

Everyone stay safe and have a great day,
Kathy

on edit: Cheryl I might be able to use that hitch adapter; if so, I'd buy it from you. Let me have a look at it and see if I can use it or not.

[avalen]

good morning ladies
up so early I'm going to be tired later on but I've decided to stick with the plan to leave here tomorrow morning. Seems
every one fussed about me leaving a day early so ..... they have me for one last day. Had a great conversation with my
dad last night, he wants me to stay at the house and asked me to cancel my reservations at the motel. It will be a full house
critters exceeding humans My cousin stays there and she has two cats, then of course my dad has a cat and my brother
is coming down with his two little dogs, and then of course me and maggie. Dad says we will make do, one cat will hide, one
will be kissy face with the dog and one will not take any crap. Haven't seen my dad in 38 years and he honestly seemed
like a giddy little kid reminding me about all the car details......make sure the radiator is full cause it will be 95 degrees,
and make sure the tires are good, etc etc. He's 89 but still sharp as a tack. Will leave early tomorrow, brunch at Redding or
Shasta Lake and should be at 7F casino by 1 or 2. Can't check in until 3. Will visit with who ever has arrived by the 1st and
then continue on up to Vancouver the next day. Will spend a couple days with ya'll on the flip flop as I start heading south.
I am SO looking forward to this!
Time to get in the house for a cup of coffee. Ya'll have a great day and be safe.
Melissa, Smith System is who comes in and does our yearly defensive driving dealy. I absolutely hate the simulator, I just
want to run over those little bastards popping up on bicycles!

[chalet05]

Good morning!

Kathy, I think a GTG the last weekend in July might work for me. Ava, I am sure your dad is thrilled. Melissa, I admire your knowledge!!

Also want to report Sophie (16 yo grand) had her 3rd infusion yesterday. She seems to be so much better even with stopping one of her other meds. Now on 8 week schedule for infusions.

Truck repair, groceries then errands, dinner out and concert in the park this evening with daughter and grands.

Have a good day all and safe travels. Looking forward to Oregon Gtg reports.

[Acadianmom]

Cheryl, have you considered a bike rack on your front bumper. Before all the air bags in vehicles I had a hitch on the front of my motorhome to launch a boat with. I couldn't back up that boat to save my life but I could have driven it to town pushing it. I don't know if I could put a hitch on the front now but I would sure find out if I ever decide to haul a boat again. I see vehicles with bikes on the front often.

I was checking the weather channel because I want to go to town. It looks like there is bad weather headed Sarah's way in Alabama. The radar doesn't show any rain here but it sure looks like rain. Storms can pop up fast. I went by the property we are trying to move the trailer to and they had bailed hay on it. It's cheaper to let some one bail hay than pay to have it mowed. I don't know that I would want that hay because it has to be wet. Not my problem. The land is still way too wet to do anything.

Better get moving.

Martha

[Redetotry]

Good Morning, Loud here right now, the electrician is in the kitchen and the dogs are not happy about staying in the back room with me, Toby thinks he could be the kidnapper and is keeping a close watch. Mitzi is afraid so she is sticking close by my side. On our morning walk, I take them one at a time, a doe ran right across the road not 15 feet in front of us, I think she heard one of her babies cry and she was running really fast! there aren't as many as last year but there is always one who has twins down a few houses.
Hard to believe tomorrow it will be July! Feel so bad for those in the path of the fire out west and the people who are fighting it.

Cheryl, I had to laugh when you said " I'm just going to follow you (Melissa) around when I retire. Maybe I can learn by osmosis )" I've had similar thoughts, if I ever go to a GTG when she is coming I'm going to park next to her.

Ava, so glad to hear your visit with your Dad is going well, after all that time I imagine it was quite difficult for you to undertake. How great that you can stop by the GTG!!

[JudyJB]

I worked in Ypsi (pronounced "ip-see" and short for Ypsilanti) for two years in the 80s in the GM Hydra-matic Plant training department--made B-24 bombers in WWII and is where Rosie the Riverter worked. Name brought back good memories of a fascinating two years when I learned to walk in a factory in low heels and a suit and not get run over by fork lifts, bikes, scooters, tractors, and various forms of golf cart "fire trucks" and "ambulances." Key point was that all entrances opened with the door pulled toward you so you could peek out and see what was coming so you would not get run over. You walked on the very edge of the aisle, trying to avoid the dripping oil from the ceiling pipes. 10,000 people worked in that transmission plant in the 80s, but 20,000 worked there during the war years. Liked walking around and watching various tooling operations and the big stamping presses booming as they stamped out transmission housings. Would make the floor shake. Had to throw my shoes out when I left that job for another training job because the soles were soaked in oil and had metal shaving embedded in the soles!

OK, done with memories. Might go to Flower Pot Island today, but also might just spend the day reading. It is already noon so I will see how much energy I can get going today.

[linann]

Mornin' Melissa (and I'm guessing Phoenix & the GB too )

Been meaning to say a big THANK YOU Melissa, your knowledge kept me from making what could have been a costly mistake. I did contact CruiserRV, and Colt cannot take the weight on the bumper, so the bike rack went back.

Cheryl, We have a Fun Finder TT made by Cruiser RV, the same size as your Shadow Cruiser. We had a hitch receiver welded to the TT's back bottom frame. We have two Yakima bike rakes, a light weight 3 bike rack and the heavier 4 bike rack. Both are swing away styles that easily can be moved to the back of the tow vehicle once we are in a campground. The racks work great and there has been no problem with the hitch welded on the TT. The bicycles are locked to the hitch or the TT when traveling or in camp. Bungee cords keep the wheels from spinning and reinforce keeping the bikes in place while driving down the road. We store the bike seats in the vehicle until we are ready to use them. The bikes are covered by a tarp at night to keep off rain and dew. The nice part is we can use the bike racks on the back of our tow vehicle when not pulling the TT.

[IrishIroamed]

Kathy - how fun - the pet sitting I mean not the manure hauling (been there done that too). I love donkeys, they rate right up there with baby goats. If you cant find my original link, just Google Swagman hitch adapter (the 4" one).

Martha - I've seen bikes on the front of vehicles too, but I think I'd need some welding work on that too and the grill, etc is pretty much plastic nowadays, so not sure I'd trust stringing a bike to that either.

Linann - Camping World suggested that I weld a hitch receiver on the frame of the TT, but they quoted 'a couple hundred'. yikes! Or they said find a bike rack that would fit on the frame by the propane, but I don't think there is enough room there.

Somewhere I did see an adapter that would fit over the hitch & hitch receiver (looked like a big V) but darned if I know where I saw it. I don't want to haul the bike in the bed of the truck, although I could, because the cover won't close. There is a truck tailgate bike racke, but the cover wouldn't close with that either. Last resort is stick the bike in the TT and figure out some way so it doesn't slide around. Maybe it's God's way of telling me I don't need to ride my bike (yea...right).

Anita - AWESOME news about Sophie! Am praying & hoping everything keeps getting better for her.

Well back to work - lunch time's over. TTFN

[MelissaD]

Cheryl, you are very welcome and yes Phoneix and Chezza got to tag along.
Here are some other ideas.
http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_and_ ... _Rack.aspx
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessori ... aQodB6IArQ

Ava, we just do it live, we don't use the simulators in our part. We get to dodge real people in downtown Detroit traffic

Anita, I had many years of "Go-fer" training to get where I am these days Mom is happier when I stay local.