-----------------------------------2011----------------------------------------

Well, the party's over, I guess! George from Birco RV Service in Walsenburg will be here tomorrow to pick up my camper, pull it back to Walsenburg, winterize and store it thru the winter. I'm happy to be going home to my house, family, friends, cat, etc. (not necessarily in that order :)), but a little sad to be leaving this place I have enjoyed so much - the people I've gotten acquainted with too, although they're all leaving too, quite a few have already gone. I definitely plan to do it again next year! Thinking maybe I'll come a little sooner - around the 1st of June, and go home right after Labor Day.  Don't have to decide that now.

After I get the camper all taken care of, I may follow it back to Walsenburg so I can see where he puts it - then on down to Trinidad where I have motel reservations. Will spend the night there and pick up Colleen and Tracey when they arrive on the Amtrak train around 10-11, then head towards home. Probably will spend tomorrow night in Dodge City. By Sun. night, I'll be back in my own bed in Hutchinson, Kansas!

I took a lot of pictures this summer, hopefully will get some of them posted on here one of these days.

Decided today I would 1. Go to Walsenburg and talk to George Birrer the owner/operator of Birco RV Maintenance & Repair about picking up my camper and storing it for the winter, and 2. Drive down to Trinidad and see if I can locate the Amtrak Depot - so if Tracey comes on the train to drive back with me, I'll know where it is.  -  George was busy with another customer when I went by there, and I had one heck of a time finding the depot - AGAIN!  You just can't drive right up to it, only nearby and there is still construction in the area. When I got back to town I went by Birco again and George was gone, so I called his cell and he agreed to come and get it next friday, and pull it over to his campground, winterize it, and store it. I'm still not real comfortable with the situation, but don't know what else to do, so I guess I'll leave it as is.

I counted 14 RVs in the park today - out of a total of 41 sites - besides that, it was cool and rainy! It's starting to feel like fall, and I guess it's almost time. I spent most of the day working on the Sweet Adelines show program, after I went to the post office and picked up my mail. I mentioned to the very nice young lady behind the counter at the P.O. that I had canceled the mail forwarding, as I would be leaving before long. She said "When you make the last pickup, leave us your home address, and if anything else comes for you, we'll just send it on to you there." Wow! A little different from the post office in Hutch (and most other places) where you would have to fill out a form.

The bears seem to have left and the deer are back - saw a small group here in the park today. One lady told me it's because it's Bow & Arrow season, so they hang around town. Mmmmmm - I wonder - How do they know it's hunting season? Maybe they saw a friend get shot! How sad!

I'm ba-a-a-ack!  Went home to Hutch Labor Day weekend and spent the week there - took a break from vacationing. :) Checked on my house and yard (in good shape!), took in the fair - photography and art exhibits w/Kerry (fun!), had lunch with my Sweet Adeline friends, attended "Silver Sneakers" exercise class at the Y with my YMCA friends, went to the movie "The Help" with Pretty Prairie friend, Florene, and saw all my daughters - no sons :(  Drove to Dodge City yesterday (Sunday) after church and spent the night. Visited the casino for a little while, but it was taking my money, so didn't stay long! Got up this morning early and headed for Colorado. Was driving along thinking I should have had the oil changed while in Hutch, when I spotted the Walmart store in Lamar, CO. - zipped in there & got it changed, and was back on the road within an hour! I'm back in my camper now - tired, but happy I had a successful trip home and no trouble getting back. Arrived about 4:30 (KS time)

This is the most exciting thing happening here this evening! And that's not all bad!