Escapades In Motion...

By Sunday afternoon, the awesome parking team had everyone settled in and the registration staff was accounting for all.  Now, our fun job in transportation was about to begin.  Along with our volunteers, we would use

this fleet of golf carts to help transport the attendees from the

Box Elder Campground to the Wyoming Center.  We start our day around 7:00 am and drive to and from and all around picking up folks.  We usually have them all back to the campground by around 9:30 after the evening entertainment.

On Sunday, with everyone gathered, the

 

Opening Ceremonies officially kicked off what promised to be a great week.

There have been great

door prize drawings.  Some of the prizes have been furnished by

outside vendors while others were given by

our indoor vendors.

We have been

entertained and

fed.

There have been

beautiful days to be out and about and there have been

days that were not so good to be out, but we kept on moving.

Today, while I was out with our volunteers, Mark was back at the motor home while

Bill Adams from Internet Anywhere was installing our new

satellite dish.  Now, maybe we can keep a good signal and we will also be able to get the HD channels.

When we have a little free time, we try to work in a little visiting time with

Eddie and Mary Catherine, our friends from Retama.  They are here in the Market representing Bentsen Palms.

The week is moving right along, but by no means is it over, and everyone is having a great time.

Escapades...Moving In

The last couple of days have been full to say the least, and our

Customer Service Team has been busy from early morning to late afternoon.

Yesterday, we were up and ready to greet the

hundreds of RV's that are arriving here in Gillette.

The Parking Team are the first greeters, and our job is to take care of

ones that have an incomplete or incorrect set of registration papers.  Or, maybe, they know they are going to have so much fun, they just wanted to arrive early or stay longer.  In that case, we collect an additional fee and send them on their way.

Now, while Ruthann, Ann, and myself are busy taking care of these folks, our guys are always

solving their own set of problems.

Yesterday, after all the RVs were parked for the day, it was time for us to make our way to the Wyoming Center for staff meeting and

a practice run for the registration team.  They did a great job and will be ready for the general attendees.  Then it was on to the staff dinner where we were served a really great meal.  We also got in lots of visiting.

A good day!

This morning, we were up and back on the job by 7:45.  Bob

Miller, head of parking, stopped by to make sure we were ready, and the RV's lined up were certainly ready for us to get things started.

Again, today, we processed and parked a few hundred rigs.

The early arrivals were able to start the registration process this afternoon and the market venders opened after lunch.

Tomorrow, we will be back on the job as the last of the RVs arrive. Registration will be completed, and by mid afternoon, Escapades 2011, will officially be underway.

Escapade - Day 1

Today was our scheduled arrival day at the Cam-Plex.  Along with Dave, Ann, Harold and Ruthann, we were ready to move across the road by 7:45 this morning.

We were not the first to arrive, so

we waited until it was our turn to

be parked.

Once, we were settled in and set up, the six of us headed off to Spirit Hall for

official hugs and to pick up our staff packets.  Afterwards, the guys were off to pick up the radios and the golf carts before our 10:30 meeting.

Then we needed to work in lunch and a 1:00 meeting.  Afterwards, we took a little tour around the parking lot to check out some plans for tomorrow before we needed to return

for an all staff meeting in the afternoon.

Kiwi is the color this year, so we found these

great shirts for our team to wear.

After the staff meeting, we attended a

Welcome/Happy Hour where we visited with lots of old friends.  A great, but busy first day.

Now, for a good night's sleep, for tomorrow is a real work day, and we will be at our post in the parking lot at 7:45 am.  We will be ready for the first of the early bird attendees that will be as anxious to get here as we were this morning!

Escapades 2011

Yesterday, we were up early so we could wiggle our way out of and around Denver.  Once we were on I-25 heading north things begin to settle down and soon we

were just about the only ones on the road.

We reached the

Wyoming State line and the

scenery changed from the rugged Rockies to this.  And, those cool mountain temps were left behind as well.

By the time we reached the

North Platte River and the turn off to Gillette, the thermometer was reading 95 degrees.

By mid-afternoon, we reached the

High Plains Campground.  This is our

home until we move to the Cam-Plex on Thursday.

Once we were settled, we had a great visit with old friends...there was Keith and Donna, Joe and Marsha, and Rich and MaryAnn.

Later in the evening, we had a  yummy dinner and great visit with Molly and Bob.  When we returned to the campground, we caught up with Roger and Barb and Bob and Barb.  Lots of good hugs and visiting to finish off the day.

This morning Donna and Keith moved over to the

Cam-Plex with the early staff arrivals. 

Today, we met with the rest of our Customer Service team...

Dave and Ann and

Harold and Ruthann.

Always great meeting new folks and we are looking forward to working with them throughout the week.  After a little discussion about ourselves, we were down to working out the plans for the next few days.  Of, course, the planning continued over dinner at the local Mexican food restaurant.  Ann, Ruthann, and I decided we needed to make a stop at Wal-Mart on the way back to the campground.  Then, we all called it a night and headed to our rigs to get things organized for our move in the morning.

We are looking forward to getting set up and organized for what promises to be a fun week at the 2011 Escapades.  We have a beautiful

facility to enjoy where a lot of activity will take place.

  If you are on your way to Gillette, just look for the

welcome sign at the end of the road.  And, if not...know that you will be missed!

A Day to Chill...

After a fast weekend with the boys, we decided it would be a good day to just chill!

Mike had to go back to work this morning and Kyle was coming to spend the day with Mark and I.  After a real leisure morning, of computers, cartoons, snacks, cartoons, computers, and lunch, we decided we might try to accomplish something.  So, I loaded up a couple of loads of laundry and while Mark watched

Kyle play in the pool, I did the laundry.

After a nice afternoon at the pool, the three of us headed back to the motor home for a little more chillin!  A little more computer time, cartoon time, and of course, an afternoon snack, and before we knew it, it was time to think about meeting Mike for dinner.

Kyle choose Buffalo Wild Wings and it was yummy.  A great place to just hang out, eat, and get in a little last minute visiting.

Too soon, it was time to thank the guys for a great weekend.  We are so glad we had the opportunity to be able to spend the last few days here with them.  Kyle wishes we could move to Denver.  I told him he would have to warm up the winters if he wanted me to live here.  He also wishes that next time, I could bring his Grandma and Great MiMi with me so they could watch him ride the roller coaster!  So, girls, you better get your bags packed for the next trip.

After returning to the motor home, it was time for me to do a little packing in preparation for our travel day tomorrow on to Gillette, Wyoming.

Again, thanks Mike and Kyle for a great weekend, it was good to spend time with you both!  Hugs, Aunt DD and Uncle Mark

Breckenridge Here We Come!

Mark, Kyle, and I were up early this morning and ready to go.  By the time Mike arrived at the RV Park, we had the cooler filled with drinks and our snack bags ready.  Today, we were heading up

I-70 into the mountains and through

tunnels to the town of Breckenridge.

When we arrived, we took a quick trip through town and wow, how it has changed since we were last here.  Okay, enough is enough and Kyle was ready to hit the slopes.  We parked, jumped on the

gondola and headed up the mountain.  We arrived at the base of Peak 8, home of the

Fun Park.

  Wow, where to start and what to do.  We decided that we would just watch, take pictures, and let the boys play.  So, Uncle Mark treated them to an "all day pass" and it was well used!

They

rode the chair lift to the top and

came down by way of the alpine slide.  After a couple of trips up and down, Kyle decided it was time

for our picnic.  Once, refreshed from lunch, they were off to

climb the rock wall.  Dad, you better hurry because I think

 

Kyle is about to beat you to the top!

They both were

up and down until I was tired.

From the rock wall, Kyle was ready to head up the hill to take

a ride on Oreo.  And, while we were there, he decided he had better see

if Butterscotch was a better ride.  I think he liked them both.

We then made our way to the other end of the park to try out the

Gold Runner Coaster.  Wow, what a great

 

ride down the mountain and through the trees!  Who, would have ever thought about making a roller coaster on the side of the mountain.  And, it is open year round.  Can one even imagine riding this thing in the winter when those rails are covered in snow and ice...not me!

Well, I have to say this was the hit of the day, as they wore out their passes going

up and

coming down.

By mid afternoon, all that was left to do was

a little panning for jewels and

bungee jumping on the trampoline.

Okay, well, there was one last ride on the roller coaster before it was time to catch the

gondola back to the bottom.

We said goodbye to Breckenridge and headed back to Denver.  Our trip back was a long one in

traffic that looked like this from Dillon to Denver.  But, we didn't let it ruin our

great day in the mountains.