Escapade Arrival

Sedalia, Missouri
Missouri State Fairgrounds

Parking for the 58th Escapade staff began today at 8 am.  We were about 20  miles away so there was no need to get up and rush.  Of course, I looked at the clock and started packing up.  I forgot we had gained an hour so we were probably one of the first nine due in today.

Michele greeted us at the gate and called on the radio to say that I was driving and didn't back well.  Lloyd was waiting for me, when I came around the corner.  I pulled right through and was happy to see that our site sloped towards the road.  

Our site number is C-27 and we aren't far from the shower house that is alongside the roadway.  We are in the staff section but the boot camp attendees are also in this area.

I don't know why my newest turtle addition that Shay bought me didn't show up in the above photo.  It has a solar light.  Thanks again, Shay.  Shay also bought me the turtle with bobbing head that rides on the dash a few years ago.

If you are stopping by to visit, you can find our coach by the whirling turtle outside.  I don't usually put it out, but the ground is very soft here.

Some rigs are parked very close as on our other side, but the awning side has plenty of room.  


Back in 2009 we were here for an Escapade and it rained everyday.  This beautiful lush green grass turned into the deepest mud I've ever seen.  The mud was so bad that Jim Dixon got stuck in his truck even with 4 wheel drive.  Bill pulled him out but not before I took a photo.  We got stuck another day and Jim pulled us out.  When the rally was over, there were so many tow trucks it could have been a tow truck convention.  

Anne and Briggs are parked next to us.  They were members of the Loosey Goosey group that went to Alaska too.  

We spent a little time gathering our supplies for the information and volunteer booth.  It looks like instead of being next to registration we'll be next to the coffee.

Bill and I came back to the camping area and decided to go to Steak and Shake for lunch.  Sherry and Dave went with us.  I knew Bill wanted to get the oil changed so stopped to check on it.  I also asked about getting a front end alignment done on the truck.  They could take us right away so we drove Sherry and Dave back to their rig.  Dave was going to pick us up so we didn't have to wait.

When we returned, the guy told us that he couldn't do an alignment with his equipment as we have a long bed truck.  I tried to call and tell Dave we didn't need a ride, but he arrived shortly after I called.  The oil change didn't take long and they also checked the brakes free of charge.  I was happy to hear that they looked fine. 

Donna and Lloyd came by to see how Bill was doing.  It was so good to see them.  It seems like Bill wasn't the only person to have some health issues.  Hopefully, we'll have some time to visit again with them.

At 3 pm we went back across the street to help pack the welcome packets.  Brenda has a system that works well.  Bill was the official counter.  Jim Tidball and I held the bags so they could be zip tied together in groups of 25.  It was amazing how quickly it went this year.

Pizza was served to everyone who helped.  Bill walked a couple of rows in the camping area after the pizza before he tired.  He's really come a long way since Friday.  

It doesn't look like it's crowded now, but this will look different soon.

I'll try and take a photo tomorrow in this spot to show you the difference once more than 500 RV's arrive.

It looked like we might get some rain as heavy storms were occurring in Kansas City.





Looking forward to seeing all of our friends who are arriving tomorrow.  

Turtle Safely.......