Gypsy Journal Rally
The rally is over now. We presented 9 seminars on the schedule over the course of the three days, and we added a 10th one to teach people how to use our website. We probably have more Geeks on Tour members at this rally than any other gathering – so we decided to take the opportunity to show them around our new website.
In other words, we were *busy.* We didn’t even take time to snap many pictures. but here are a few: This is the audience in one of our seminars – GPS Navigation and Trip Planning I think. geez, they look like a serious bunch don’t they? Maybe we need to come up with some better jokes?!
Jim and I take turns teaching. One seminar he stands up and talks while I ‘drive’ the computer. Another I’ll stand and talk.
I had to carry my laptop back and forth from the motorhome to to the classroom every day, sometimes more than once. I really like my new computer bag from www.CoolComputerBags.com More about that later, but here’s a picture:
I think my favorite seminar was our new ‘Internet Love Story’ which is just about the history of Geeks on Tour and how the Internet makes it possible to live and work on the road. This was the second time we’d done it and we refined it a bit. Both Jim and I take turns talking, plus we have a complete multi-media presentation to go along, with lots of pictures, videos and slide shows with music.
We talk about Jim’s and my geeky beginnings, then how we sold the house, bought an RV on eBay, and took off with no visible means of support. Accompanied by lots of pictures of our travels along the way, we tell of making our living by supporting Wi-Fi in RV parks, work-camping, giving seminars and selling tutorial videos, and finally by running a subscription website; GeeksOnTour.com: Computer Education for Travelers, from the road. The only thing I don’t really like about it is the title: Internet Love Story. It’s really about Geeks on Tour – I think that may be a sufficient title right there. I think we should try to present this seminar to lots of different audiences. It’s fun to do something other than a computer ‘How-To’ class.
Now we have a week to recuperate, then it’s off to the next rally – the Escapade – at Goshen, Indiana.
Hoosier Honey
I can’t talk because I’m still laughing so hard. If you want to read the story, go to Nick’s Blog.
But … here’s the video:
Odie the Night Owl
Too bad that Odie is 12 years old and fixed … he got an opportunity to sow some wild oats last night.
We took a drive to the drug store and the Dairy Queen (gotta keep our figures up 
and got home about 8 I think. As is customary, when we get home and open the door, Odie jumps up and runs out to greet us. That’s one thing I so love about our RV … open the door and a doggie pops out!
He’s usually right at our heels as we climb up the steps and enter the RV. We just assumed he was. At 1:30 in the morning, when I got up with something on my mind that I need to work out at the computer, I heard a sound that I thought was Odie. When I looked for him, he wasn’t there. I heard the sound again, and again I couldn’t find Odie. I finally opened the door … and a doggie popped IN! OMG – we left him outside half the night! He’s so quiet! You’d think he would have barked to get in at some point in time.
hmmm – or maybe he was having too much fun? He’s not talking.
Rally? or Party?
It was very convenient to arrive at this rally early. It is being held at an RV park, so there are plenty of full hookup spaces. Not like at a fairgrounds where there may be another group reserving the whole facility. Some people have been here for two weeks! One thing they’ve been doing is meeting for a line-dancing class at 10am. I got wind of it and was able to make the last class – Friday morning. What fun. Thanks Carol and Marlene! Hmmm – this is giving me some ideas about a week-long hands-on computer class?!?
And then, of course, there’s the happy hours, and all the great people:
“When the Chips are Down, the Buffalo is Empty”
That was posted somewhere near one of the campgrounds in Montana or N Dakota – thought it was cute.
I don’t think this ‘chip’ had anything to do with a Buffalo but it did happen somewhere on the road through N Dakota. Seven years of driving all over this country, and this is the first time we got a chip in our windshield! Then, we got two. That’s one thing that rallies are really good for – you can find most any kind of RV service/repair people. We’re here at the pre-rally gathering for the Gypsy Journal rally and Jim flagged down this car that was driving by:
A half hour later the chip was fixed and it didn’t cost us anything. On The Spot Windshield repair works directly with our insurance company (GMAC) and it was covered. Sometimes things just fall into place! Quite an interesting contraption he attaches to the windshield to fix the chip:
Driving to Divorce?
Remind me to never take this route again! The cracks in the pavement were teeth-jarring. The traffic was scary, and the construction was everywhere. I’m surprised I didn’t lose a few fillings! Jim, usually a very relaxed driver, had to keep every sense on full alert as he wrestled with the steering wheel. I was really happy that the motorhome stayed in one piece. I was trying to read a book out loud while Jim drove – I had to shout in order to be heard over the road noise.
At one point, I took my life in my hands to get up and get a snack for Jim and me. I set it down in our designated spot on the center console where it promptly jumped up and spilled all over the dog. Jim’s look shot daggers at me and I found a few choice words to shoot back at him. The road demons possessed us for few minutes … as Odie got the snack. I do think that divorce lawyers could probably do a brisk business if they approached RVers at the rest areas around here!
And then, to add insult to injury, these were all toll roads. We spent a total of $37 for the privilege of our experience! Of course, I’m sure our mood was partly due to having traveled from Redmond, Oregon to here in 10 days. Normally we would like to take at least a month for that distance, maybe two. Jim did all the driving.
But, we made it all in one piece – the motorhome is OK, and the marriage is OK But we will find *some* way to avoid that particular drive ever again.
Except for that last day on bad roads, it was kind of fun to move so fast. It gives you a perspective on this vast country of ours as you travel from mountains, thru prairies, and into lake country – passing thru multiple time zones in a period of a few days. We are now at Elkhart Campground in plenty of time to get prepared for the Gypsy Journal rally next week. We’ve reserved our space for 2 whole weeks. Then it’s a whole 40 miles to the next rally at Goshen.
However, when we’re done with Goshen, we have 4 days to make it back to Fort Lauderdale in time to get together with family and catch a flight to Seattle for our Alaska cruise. Geez … life is tough eh?
Wi-Fi Wow
We have good Wi-Fi Internet here in Lake Farm Park in Madison, Wisconsin. That’s not so unusual in itself, but this is the 6th RV park in a row that has good Wi-Fi Internet.
Since some of these areas were not the best Verizon areas, the Wi-Fi was very much appreciated. All of these parks had Wi-Fi that was also Free. The per night rates ranged from $16 to $35. In case you’re traveling along this route and care about Wi-Fi, here are the specific parks:
- #14: Fairmont RV Park – next door to Fairmont Hot Springs!!
- #15: Grandview RV Park – 15 miles from Little Bighorn Batlefield Nat’l Park
- #16: Medora Campground – next door to Theodore Roosevelt Nat’l Park
- #17: Frontier Fort – by the largest Buffalo! and it has a good bar/restaurant right on property.
- #18: St. Cloud/Clearwater RV Park
- #19: Lake Farm Park – in Madison
Oh … and here’s the largest Buffalo:
I’m way behind on my web-work, but this traveling has been fun. It’s been 7 years now of living in a motorhome, and I still get a charge out of stopping at a rest area and making a meal. We are truly at home, wherever we are.
North Dakota on the Map – Bully!
We were actually in North Dakota in 2005, but we flew here – so that doesn’t count! This state has been the one gaping hole in our map for a couple years now, so we made a point to route our travels this way so we could finish the map.
Whenever we spoke to fellow RVers about the missing N Dakota, we normally got sympathy and the acknowledgement that ‘there’s nothing there!.’ We were beginning to wonder if N Dakota actually existed, there were so many fellow RVers who had been everywhere BUT here. Then we started to hear, “Oh – except for Roosevelt Nat’l Park, that’s awesome.” So, we planned a stay at Roosevelt Nat’l Park and made reservations (got the last spot!) at Medora Campground.
We pulled in about 3 pm and took a look at the posters on the wall of the office and noticed ‘Bully!’ a one-man play about Theodore Roosevelt. It only plays on Friday and Monday at 4 pm. This was Friday – let’s go! We parked, plugged in and took off, and we’re so glad we did. It was a wonderful performance that really brought the man to life with all his energy, intelligence, and caring. Jim has often been mistaken for TR – so I couldn’t resist taking his picture with the man himself – actually the actor
How full-of-life that man was. Makes me want to read a book about Teddy Roosevelt. I’ll have to search on the Kindle and see what I can find.
Next we took the drive thru the park … a 36 mile scenic drive with several opportunities for walks and overlooks.
We also saw some wildlife. Both small …
and LARGE …
So, this morning, we could put North Dakota on the map. You must sleep in a state before it can legally be claimed on your travel map! I figure that Jim did all the driving so I let him have the honors.
Now what? Are we done? Or do we just start all over again? Oh yes, I know Alaska still needs to be done. We don’t have any plans for RVing there any time soon. We are going to take the Alaska cruise this Fall. That will probably be enough for us. I lived in Alaska as a kid. My family drove the Alcan highway 5 times. It is extraordinarily wild and beautiful … but I don’t have a burning desire to RV there. I *would* like to recreate my family’s RV trip thru Mexico and Guatemala.
There is NO WAY we’re done. I feel like we’re just getting started. I see so many places on the map that we are going by and I’d like to stay a while. I have a count somewhere – but I think we’re only about halfway thru the National Parks. And, then there are the rails to trails bike rides, and the kayaking places, and the observatories, and the wineries, and the fish hatcheries, and the …
Little Bighorn – Montana
I’m forever browsing the map when we’re driving. Even though we may have made a plan for where to stay the night, it’s rarely a reservation – just a suggestion! So, when we were getting close to our planned stop and I noticed that the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument was only about 30 miles out of our way, Jim agreed to the detour.
The history is important and the scenery is breathtaking. Actually, that’s not quite right. The scenery didn’t take my breath away … it made me breathe deeper. All that open space; all those generations who have come and gone; the sun-gold wheat covering the hillsides, and the warm breezy air all conspired to make me feel very calm.
There was, of course, lots of information about General Custer (actually, he was Lt. Colonel in this war) and the 7th Calvary who lost five companies – about 210 soldiers. They faced Lakota and Cheyenne under the leadership of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse among others with thousands of warriors.
In 2003 an Indian Memorial was dedicated – the Spirit Warriors Sculpture – in an effort to bring a more balanced presentation of the battle of the Little Bighorn. It’s a gorgeous sculpture. I loved how you see the golden grain and blue sky thru the sculpture.
Then we went back to our campsite and watched the Montana sunset.
Travel Mode
Our next stop is Elkhart, Indiana for the Gypsy Journal rally. We have no goals for this trip other than to fill in our map by adding North Dakota. It’s the only state in the lower 48 where we haven’t been in this RV. We’ll be on highway 90 and plan to stay a couple nights at Teddy Roosevelt Nat’l Park.
We considered popping up to Glacier Nat’l Park, but decided against it. It would add to much time to our travels, and we couldn’t do it justice in 2 days anyway. Maybe next summer we’ll be able to make it there. As we pulled back on the highway out of Spokane, WA, I felt a pang of guilt that we would be traveling so close by where my step-brother Tom lives, but we needed to keep traveling. I sent him an email (actually an instant message) and, he responded right back that he could drive the hour from his place to the freeway and meet us for lunch at a truck stop! Perfect! It even happened to be lunchtime!
Here’s ‘Brother’ Tom:
Thanks Tom for being flexible and making that drive – it was great to see you!
The last time we saw Tom … also the first time I met him! … was in 2006 (blog post here.) He was a long-haul truck driver. We’re complaining about having to make the trip from Oregon to Indiana in 12 days – he says he would drive from Oregon to New York … and BACK in that time! He has since quit truck driving – now he’s a geek too! He’s realized he can be a lot more comfortable working from home, and with computers, Internet, and Skype, there’s all sorts of jobs he can do.
After leaving Tom, we continued on Highway 90 towards Butte, Montana. They’re not kidding that this is big sky country!
I studied my Trailer Life catalog, searched for campgrounds on my Streets and Trips program and decided on one park. When we reached there, Jim wasn’t tired enough yet, so we kept going. More computer research, more flipping pages in the book … then I saw a sign that said “Hot Springs” and it had a little campground sign below it on the same post. I said … “Turn Here!” Sometimes you just have to be flexible. What a great spot this was! I had seen the Fairmont Hot Springs in the books, but it was a hotel and resort, I didn’t think you could stay at an RV park and go to the hot springs. I was wrong. It was a delightful little walk from the nice Fairmont RV Park (with good Wi-Fi) to the even Nicer Fairmont Hot Springs resort. $4.75 each admitted us to the hot springs *and water slide*!
What a nice day! And, what a great place this would be for a small rally or conference. Make a note! We had dinner in the comfy bar and lounge after soaking in the hot springs and taking a ride on the water slide. Warm water slide! Most of the water was about 93 degrees, then the hot pool was about 103. Just delightful.
