Chanute living

On Sunday Judy went to church and did some shopping. We spent the afternoon & evening socializing with all the neighbors. The ladies were in the shade on one side of the HitchHiker and the guys on the other side in the shade. In the evening 14 of us went out to dinner downtown at the old hotel. When we returned we packed up and hooked up. We were on the road at 7am for the long 1 mile drive to NuWa service for our annual appointment. After dropping off the trailer we went to the Grain Bin with 15 others then at 9:45 we were on the NuWa factory tour with ~20 RVers. Monday afternoon we checked into the Knight's Inn motel because service was going to take a couple days, one big item was to repair a soft hallway floor. Late in the afternoon we went to dinner with Tall Texan and alittleRnR (their forum names) at the Mexican restaurant. We have met a Canadian couple here checking out HitchHikers & I inspected their 2001 Nuwmar trailer because it had a great custom paint job by Phoenix in western Michigan. I had to return to the factory to compare it to the two full body paint jobs they have in stock. This would be one way to fix our failing decals but an expensive way!

We are not sure if Patches likes moteling it or not.....she does like the king size bed so she can sleep comfortably with us.

We slept in Tuesday morning the stopped at the city campground across the street to chat with friends before stopping at service to get some stuff we wanted. The basement ceiling was torn out so a new floor can be installed in the above hallway. It looks and sounds like we'll be here at least until Wednesday afternoon. We then went to a light lunch and stopped to get more stuff we wanted. We'll now have to investigate a king size bed for the HitchHiker! We'll be going out to the downtown Italian restaurant late this afternoon with Tall Texan, Fred A, and a new couple here to trade their old HitchHiker for a new one.

Our HitchHiker is home

Chanute, KS above & Ozark, MO behind Lamberts below.

Friday we traveled through Missouri on US60. It's a very nice 4 lane divided road, our maps showed that it had over a hundred miles of 2 lane road but obviously the maps are old. We both noticed that the trees down here are turning colors in several areas and some are already red. We must not dilly dally too much in this area as the overnight temps are dropping into the mid 40s. BURRRRR. It was windy & hilly so we only got 8.4 miles per gallon but we did find diesel for only $3.58 a gallon. Friday night we stayed in a gravel parking lot behind Lambert's restaurant for $20 with full hook ups. We have ate in this restaurant before but were not hungry enough for their "throwed rolls" today.
On Saturday we made the 187 mile trip to Chanute, KS arriving at 1pm. We are in the city campground parked next to "Ancient Mariner". I have communicated with him for 3 years on the NuWa Owners Forum and he has helped me resolve a vibration problem with our truck. This was a pleasant surprise. Also here is Harold & Karen who have attended every Michigan lunch & rally we have had. Pulling in shortly after us was Paul & Dottie and then Fred & Mary Lou who were at last weeks rallies. It is impossible to come to Chanute and not meet some RV friends. We went out to ludin (LUnch & DINer) at the local Mexican restaurant with Paul & Dottie, the others had already ate lunch at the proper time. We'll be in Chanute for our annual HitchHiker maintenance early next week and then head down to Oklahoma for the years last RV HitchHiker gathering.

Off to Chanute, KS

We left the International rally a day early so we could make a casual 3 day drive to Chanute for our annual service appointment Monday. We have been at a rally for the last 2 weeks so it's nice to be out alone again. We covered 4 states today, TN, KY, IL & MO. We made the 260 mike trip in 4 1/2 hours and crossed the Tennessee, Ohio & Mississippi Rivers. We are in Sikeston, MO at a CG we stayed at in October 2007e

HitchHikers of America International rally

Well now you know....this is what we do best.....potluck eat'en. These were taken at our chapters potluck and the annual meeting of the Haulin' HitchHikers. Of the 68 couples at the rally 20 of them were Haulin' HitchHikers and are in our group picture. All together we have 57 couples in the Haulin' HitchHikers. We elected a new secretary/treasurer today so after 3 years & 9 months I have been replaced! Out to pasture. Retired again.

Off to Lebanon & another rally

Today we made the 180 mile trip to Lebanon, TN with 4 or 5 other HitchHiker friends for the HitchHiker of America, International rally. We have 15 or 16 sites together saved for the Haulin' HitchHikers. It rained most of the way over but the sun came out in the afternoon so we all had the chance to sit around and do some socializing here at the Wilson County fairgrounds.

Moonshine in Gatlinburg

Today we went with Jeff & Susan and Stan & Connie to Gatlinburg and the Old Smoky Moonshine Holler where they make legal moonshine. Jeff & Susan tasted all the varieties but the rest of us passed, no one bought any either. We stopped at Bubba Gumps for some appetizers but later we are having a potluck

back at the campground.

We visit Bush beans and Duke

Today we went with Mel & Dee to Chestnut Hill, TN about 20 miles from Pigeon Forge. It out in the country on a 2 lane twisty road where you'd not expect to see a big bean plant, like my pun? Anyway, it was an excellent visitor center to check out. I know you are curious about this but.....Judy weighs 189,686 beans & I weight 288,000 beans. After this visit we went to Mel's Dinner for lunch. Judy went to the Hatfield & McCoys Dinner Theater then to a comedy club some of the others while I stayed put resting my bum knee.