Truce or Not!

Prairie Band Casino
Mayetta, Kansas
Site 33

Yesterday was the last day of the Montana Owners Club--Central Plains Regional Rally.  Thankfully, there wasn't much to do but sit outside and visit with everyone.  It was nice to relax after being so busy.

The final event for the rally was a potluck.  There was a great variety of food.  Even though the weather was perfect to have the potluck outside, it was held in the dining/bar section of the RV office where they do have a liquor license.  This rally was perfect--13 rigs which included first timers, Dave and Barb Burtrom and Vicki and Mark Allen.  We knew the Allen's but this was the first time we met the Burtrom's.  Just the right size to get to talk with everyone.  It's one rally where everyone really mixes with everyone else.  

The Lichtenberg's and Kelpe's, rally hosts, make it look effortless during the rally, but we know there success is because they work very hard on it all year long.  

After the potluck, Ron Lichtenberg went up to the circle and sprayed the area in case there were any bugs.  Unfortunately, he forgot to remove the bird that was in the tree above me.  Yep, he pooped all down my leg.  

It was late when everyone started to leave, but Paul has a way of maintaining an audience.

It was very late when we finally went to bed, but we thought there was no hurry to leave in the morning, we'd just sleep in.  Wrong, again!  The was a trailer trailer with lots of kids and dogs.  Now I didn't count the kids but there were SIX big dogs.  Around 5 am, they were all outside eating some yogurt and yelling at one another while the dogs found some kind of chipmunk or prairie dog right under our bedroom window. Do you know what six large dogs barking under your bedroom sound like?  I do know they had two doors on that trailer and they slammed the doors constantly.  Thankfully, they pulled out about 5:45.  By this time, we just got up out of bed.  

We said our "see 'ya's" and left before 9.  I was happy to note that our rear view camera worked just fine. Thank you again, Dennis Ward and Ron Ames.  I offered to drive today, but Bill said he'd take the wheel.  

It really started clouding up when we arrived at the Prairie Band Casino, but it didn't rain.  It was rather cool today and didn't even need the air conditioner, but the fireplace is on. 

We received $25 credit each for the player's club and $5.00 discount on the RV park fees.  These sites are huge and there are very few people here.

Bill and I had lunch in the casino and it was very good, but we could have shared a meal.

When I went to get a chair from the basement, you had to remove everything else to get it out.  I mentioned to Bill that it was a real mess, he agreed and admitted he messed it up.  Then he said "like you do to the toothpaste".  We now have a truce that he won't mention the toothpaste and I won't mention the basement.  

I then went to brush my teeth and found this written on the toothpaste.  I don't think that makes a truce, do you?

Turtle Safely.........

    

Another great day with the Montana Owners

Pine Grove RV Park Campground
Greenwood, Nebraska

Dennis Ward wanted to check the voltage on our monitor for the rear view camera.  It didn't take long for him to find the problem.  One of the little black wires came loose.  Ron Ames had a solder iron and in no time at all they got it working.

We bought it thinking it would help with backing up, but the truth is we don't use it to back.  I like it because when you're going down the road, you can see what's behind and beside you.  

The next thing I knew, it was time to carpool to Mahoney State Park.  They have  melodramas and we knew there was going to be a lot of laughter.  Since we've been there before, we selected seats within throwing distance of the stage.  As we entered, we bought popcorn.  Do you know how hard it is to buy popcorn and hold it without eating it?  Sharon Hime, I'll bet you'd have the same problem. Once the melodrama started you booed the villain and cheered the heroes.  You threw (in my case what I didn't eat) popcorn at the actors.  You also threw dollar bills on the stage and they would pick them up without missing their lines.  I must say I didn't have a lot of popcorn left to throw.  The actors at some point threw popcorn back at the audience. At one point they ran through our row of seats.

After the play we went a short distance in the park to the lodge where we had a buffet dinner.  The views at the lodge are awesome.  

A lot of laughter and good food, what more could we want?  Well, we had 20 minutes before the wine tasting party started.  The wine tasting party was fun but we decided to forget the nightly campfire circle and just go back to our fiver and relax. 

  Now you what RVers do at a rally.

This cicada may be the reason we decide to leave Nebraska this week. 

Turtle Safely.........

Testicle Festival--Whimped Out

Pine Grove RV Park
Greenwood, Nebraska

Jim and Linda Collins invited us to join them for a ride to Omaha for a farmer's market.  Naturally, Bill thought it sounded like fun, if he didn't have to drive.

The city of Omaha has revitalized this old area and it's beautiful.  I'd forgotten that we toured it the last time we were in the area with Les and Darlene, but it's a place you could go to every day.  

None of us wanted to buy anything at the market, because we didn't want to carry it.  

We stopped for lunch at Billy Frogs (I think).  It was nice to spent some time visiting with Jim and Linda.  It was a strange and interesting sports bar.  

We toured some antique shops and saw some strange things.

Jim then took us to see the life size statues in a nearby city park.  

We've really enjoyed seeing all those wonderful bronzes.  

Jim then drove us by where the College World Series is being played.  I can see why this could bring 40 million into the local economy.  


By the time we returned to the RV park, it was just about time to leave for the testicle festival. 

Mary's sister came and gave a massage to anyone who wanted one.

Terrie and Ron Ames arrived just before time for the festival.  They have a new Montana  and it still has that new car smell.  

About half of the group were going, and Bill and I decided not to go.  It's held at a steakhouse but during the festival all you can order to eat is mountain oysters or a burger.  Everyone was going to Valentino's at 6 pm and you couldn't eat at both places.  

Larry came back with a testicle t-shirt and Ron came back with some orders of fried testicles.  

I ate some and I think they might have been a tad better than the ones I had before.  One was enough. 

The group went to Valentino's in Lincoln.  Delicious as the last time.  Wish we had a chain like this in Arizona.

Here's some photo's of the happy group.

Turtle Safely.......

Needed Ear Plugs

Pine Grove RV Park Campground
Greenwood, Nebraska

Yesterday was the ladies luncheon in Ashland, Nebraska.  It is always a lot of fun.   Cherio's  has an upstairs room that gives us complete privacy for our group.  Why do we need privacy?  

Here's an example of Vicki checking out the decor.

The lunch was great and the beauty of going there is that we have all the time in the world.  They don't bring you a check, you just pay when you go downstairs.  

Vicki showed us how to show less wrinkles in photos.

There are some cute little gift shops that we all wandered through. Even the drug store was charming.  Ashland is a small town of about 2,500 people but is very quaint.

Some of the ladies tried out the winery but our truckload wanted to go to Baker's Chocolates.   After all, we have a wine tasting coming up, but you can't get these chocolates everywhere.  I bought less than five pounds this year, so it should last a day or two.  I like the option where you can go and mix and match your chocolates.  Each flavor is in a different color wrapper.

Notice the size of my purchases?

Now I know you think with the title "needed ear plugs" was because of all the talking and laughing from the ladies outing but you're wrong it was our next outing.

The I 80 racetrack is right next to the RV park.  Ron Lichtenberg had free tickets for all those who wanted to attend.  Les Atkinson who is recovering from a stroke said he'd go for a little while.  Jan and Paul weren't planning to stay very long so he and I rode with them.  

Notice the scoreboard over Mark's head?

Bill and I have been to our local fairground race track but this was night and day different.  First off, they didn't have a bleacher to sit on, there were actual seats with backs in the stands.  I believe Ron said they had seven different classes of cars.  

During intermission they had a pick up truck drive on the track in front of the grandstands and they had buckets of coins totaling $1,000 that they threw out on the track.  All the kids where given cups and then told to go pick up the coins.  Needless to say, it was a wild scramble.  

Besides all the great racing we saw, there was a go cart racetrack behind us.  I was so interested in the car racing that I just glanced at the kids in the go carts. Everyone said it was also fun to watch.  I really didn't want to walk down the grandstands until it was time to leave because the worst part of my recovery from the shattered heel is going down steps.  

Paul said we were about five stories high and Les walked up there like he was a young kid.  He was really having a good time.  Around 10 pm Jan and Paul asked Les if he was ready to leave.  He said "no". 

Another great day at the Central Plains Regional Rally.  These Montana owners know how to have fun.  

Today is the testicle festival so should be another fun day.

Turtle Safely.......

  

MOC ONE and TWO

Pine Grove RV Park Campground
Greenwood, Nebraska
Site #70

We've been very busy and haven't had time to even catch up on e-mails.

The official kick off of the Central Plains Montana Rally wasn't until yesterday but the fun began before that. 

Our rally hosts, Ron and Mary Lichtenberg and Paul and Jan Kelpe have been doing this for a very long time.  There is no rally fee, we just pay for our RV park fees.  Tuesday, the day before the rally starts, they had dinner for everyone.  I believe there were 7 or 8 couples here for the dinner.  They supplied the pork, corn on the cob, potato salad, cole slaw, beans, rolls and dessert.  

Happy hour lasted until very late.  

Hobo Bob, came dressed for the affair.

This is all we needed to bring.

Last night was another great meal held in the clubhouse.  It was the traditional Meet N Greet.

Every couple was presented with a bag of goodies.  Goodies for the girls and boys.

Now you might think all we do is eat and talk.

This morning we had a caravan to Leach's Camper Sales.

Leach's invited all the rally participants for lunch.  Lunch consisted of a boneless steak so large it covered both edges of the plate.

It was so juicy and tender we cut it with the plastic silverware.

These steaks were boneless.  As big as they were, no one left anything on their plate.

There was also a delicious chocolate cake for dessert.

This company is run by three generations.

Here's the Leach family that did this for everyone attending the rally.  When was the last time your dealer ever did anything like that for you?

They also gave every attendee two very nice gifts and gave four $50 gift certificates for door prizes.

Talk about being generous, they also gave us a 20% discount on any purchases.  It's a shame we love our Montana so well, because if we were in the market for a new one, and it would be another Montana, we would buy it here.  

We all waddled out around 2 pm and headed to Boys Town,  I'm afraid this blog is way too long, so I'll condense this part as much as I can.  I highly recommend if you are anywhere near the Omaha area, to stop for a visit.  We've seen a lot of places across the United States but nothing that compare to this.  

I'd seen this ball of postage stamps on Roadside America which is featured on Ripley's Believe It of Not.  This is a solid ball which is 32 inches in diameter and weighs 600 pounds.  There are 4,655,000 postage stamps on it.  I have no idea who counted them, so don't ask me. 

I believe we were told that there are 70 of these homes.  There was a cut out in the museum to show the floor plans.

The museum was very well done and explained a lot of the history from the point where Father Flannagan bought the first home with a $90.00 payment.

I think they said they started taking girls in 1979.

Our next building to tour was the chapel.

This is Father Flannagan's tomb.

Our next stop.

The tour consisted of all three floors.  

This desk was gorgeous, and I'm sorry there was no way you could capture the details in this desk on a photo.

One thing I didn't realize is that they don't take just orphans.  Bill said he wished he knew about this when he was working as a guidance counselor.  The National hotline   receives over 150,000 calls for assistance.   

There was another gift bag for everyone who took the tour.  

This is where the saying "He's not heavy, he's my brother" originated.  

We had another wonderful day with this fun group.  We haven't had enough energy to even go outside in this perfect weather for happy hour.  

Turtle Safely.......