20040709
July 9, 2004
Friday
Start: Blue Licks State Resort, Carlisle KY
End: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
Miles: 120
Temps: High 93.2, Low 67.3. The high is suspect - probably the result of parking on the asphalt pavement at WPAFB.
We got up late on purpose, since the drive to Dayton was short.
We finally got underway around 10am and wandered up US-68. We crossed the Ohio River and continued to Xenia, then to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Family Campground (FAMCAMP).
The site was waiting for us, but it was far from level. After far too much time, we got the trailer sufficiently level and set up camp. The location is good, near the laundry and shower facility. The water supply gave me fits for a bit, until a neighbor showed me the combination necessary to get water to flow where you want it.
Then we took a trip to the exchange (Dolores bought a couple of tops), the commissary (a few groceries), and the Class Six store (booze, wine, and beer for Wyatt and daughter Susan).
We brought back to the trailer things that belong there and headed for Susan & Wyatt's house with the rest. They were happy to see us and took the presents and put them away. We settled in and chatted for a while. Wyatt & Susan are very happy in their house here. They talk about moving, perhaps to Madison, Wisconsin, after Susan finishes her current degree program. Who knows?
Wyatt drove us all to the Wellington Grill for our part of Wyatt's birthday (actually the 7th of July) dinner. Dolores had mussels and crabcakes, Wyatt had escargot and crabcakes, Susan skipped the appetizer and went straight to the tuna, and I had French Onion soup followed by Horseradish Crusted Beef Tenderloin Tournados. No one complained about the food. Wyatt & I had mousse for desert and all had coffee. The conversation was great and the food very good.
We went back to their house and talked a bit more, until I noticed Dolores fading. We took our leave and agreed to come over tomorrow afternoon with laundry and we'll see what happens from there.
20040710
July 10, 2004
Saturday
Start: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
End: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
Miles: 0
Temps: High 90.9, Low 72
We got up at a leisurely time. I ate and took the truck out to find a place to change oil (didn't want to do it here on base and risk spilling oil).
Found a JiffyLube on Fairfield Road (across from the restaurant where Don & Marily Parkinson hosted the pre-wedding party October 17th last). Changed the oil, oil filter, air filter, and fuel oil filter. I didn't notice it 'till I was a mile away, but now the "Fuel In Water" alarm is lit continuously - probably ruined the sensor changing it. I have a spare sensor which I'll install when it's convenient.
I came back to the trailer. We ate a small lunch, then went to Susan & Wyatt's house.
We all sat around, talking, reading, etc., while Dolores did the laundry and I downloaded some financial status files. We folded the laundry and put it away. We got to talking about restaurants in Panama City Beach and noticed we hadn't had any Mexican food lately. So we went out to Acapulco for some Mexican food; it was very nice.
When we returned to the house, we showed Susan & Wyatt some pictures on the computer of our house, then we played the video of their wedding and giggled at the pictures in it. Wyatt was tired because he arose early and we had chores to do at the trailer, so we left fairly early.
As we approached the trailer on-base, we saw two fawns just to the right of the road. We stopped to try to scare them into returning to mommy, who was hiding. They edged over toward the woods. We went on, and saw another deer in the field behind the K9 training facility.
At the trailer, I got out the printer and printed the files I'd stored on it at Susan's & Wyatt's. Then I looked to see if anything needed doing critically. Found nothing immediate, so I filed stuff away for action on the 16th.
I'm finishing this & Dolores is watching "Coupling".
Tomorrow - church and the great flea market.
20040711
July 11, 2004
Sunday
Start: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
End: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
Miles: 0
Temps: High 87.4, Low 69.4
Up, breakfast in the trailer, church at Base Chapel #1 (same neat priest as last October), then back to the trailer to change.
We called John to see when he and Nancy might be here tomorrow. They're on their way from Holland to Norfolk, Virginia, for a ship's reunion and then to Charleston, SC, to see daughter Erica, husband John, and the two girls. Looks like they may be here around 4:00pm.
Then out to Susan & Wyatt's. We chatted a bit, then left for the Trader's Market outside Lebanon. We found it, a huge affair with much of it under roof and air conditioned; that was good because it was warm and humid. I was sort of looking for a mini-grease-gun, but didn't find one.
Dolores & Susan got into looking for goose clothes to fit our cement decorative goose at home. By the time they finished, we had a couple of outfits for that goose, and a mini-goose for the trailer and a few outfits for the mini-goose. Dolores also found a couple of air-plants (greenery that doesn't require soil) for the trailer.
We came back another way to their house. Susan came up with an obligation tonight, so the three of us went out to dinner.
We went to Momma DiSalvo's in Dayton, but they were closed this Sunday night. Then we went to a place Wyatt knows, but the parking was really wacko because the fairgrounds across the street was having a Black Culture festival. So we went to the Oregon district and Jay's Seafood; we'd been there several times back when. Wyatt had clams casino & salmon en croute, Dolores had crabcake & grilled halibut, and I skipped the appetizer and had monkfish with mango salsa. All of this with a bottle of Viogner made for a very nice dinner.
We wound up back at their house around 8:30, but no Susan. Knowing that she might be late, we decided to return to the trailer and see them tomorrow afternoon. As we rounded the end of the runway approaching the trailer we saw large puddles, so there must have been a good-sized shower. We put most of the goodies away and put up our feet.
20040712
PhotoLinkJuly 12, 2004
Monday
Start: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
End: Wright-Patterson AFB FAMCAMP
Miles: 0
Temps: High 90, Low 71.1
We rose & ate in.
Later, we went to the admin building and reserved a site for our next stay here (Aug 14, 15,16).
We needed a few things, so we went to the Exchange and Commissary for them and returned.
After that, we went to Wyatt & Susan's where we chatted for a while and got e-mail off their high-speed internet hookup.
Then I went into Xenia to the Holiday Inn to find my brother John waiting for me. They'd left Holland earlier than planned this morning. We chatted until Nancy came down, then had a drink and returned to Wyatt & Susan's. We talked till dinnertime, then we out to Mariachi's for Mexican food. Nancy raved about hers, and everyone seemed happy with what they'd chosen.
We returned to Wyatt & Susan's for more talk and some showing of pictures on the laptop (John had brought several CD's of pictures). Finally, everyone was fading, so we all said good night and went to our respective places. John & Nancy will head toward Norfolk in the morning, we'll go to Washington PA on our way to Manassas, and Susan will go into work to get her award for her part in crisis management.
A fine day.
