Finally! Smarty's new BIG Brother!

Monty's (Healthy!!) Diner,Madison

 It's March, 2013. It's been months since the last post, and there's BIG news...Smarty's new, BIG brother, H2! We were at Moose Creek Lodge in Victor, Idaho last summer, when we decided that it was time for a larger "house." We'd been kicking the idea around with our RV'n buddies, Craig and Linda, and after lots of discussions and weighing in on the pros and cons with them, while we were all sitting together at Moose Creek, we pushed the button. The new coach, a 2013 Itasca Suncruiser 37f,  would give us two bathrooms, a much larger galley (with a dishwasher and washer/dryer), a true home theater set up in the lounge area, and lots of other amenities that would make full-time traveling and working on the road more comfortable. In fact, the idea was so compelling that Craig and Linda left us for home in Michigan and ended up placing their order for a Suncruiser soon after us!!



Biking The Mississippi!

 It was going to take about four months to build, so we changed course, headed out of Idaho for Western Montana, Eastern Washington State, then back across Wyoming, and South Dakota. We made it to Forest City, Iowa, where Winnebagos are built, and stayed there until we had absorbed enough info to adjust our ordered rig one last time before it went on the assembly line. Then, we headed across Southern Minnesota and had a chance to visit with long time friend, Sol and his wife, Sue, from Minneapolis. We trekked into Southern Wisconsin and stayed in the Madison area long enough to find a bunch of total foodie places to eat, then turned South through Illinois, following the Mississippi, and ending up in Hannibal, Missouri. It was really educational and fun to hang out in Mark Twain Land for a few days, as we kept a steady course right into my home town, St. Louis. The place has really changed alot over the years...for the better! Downtown St. Louis is buzzing with activity. There are tons of cool restaurants, the two new sports fields, people hanging out in clubs at night, and the food! Italian delicacies on The Hill, Mavrakos Chocolates, fresh pretzles, healthy gourmand delights at Winslows Home on Delmar...too many others to mention. We rode our bikes along a path that heads from the iconic Gateway Arch, north along the river..for miles! We also got a chance to visit with our good friends, Denny and Karen. What a great revisit. Who says, "You can never go home again?"

 

Winlows Home, St.Louis

 

 Next, since we were just killing some time waiting for H2 to arrive at our dealer in Dallas, we kept our southerly track and headed for Tulsa, where Mary Ann got to see her cousin, Jennifer and her husband Doron for a nice visit. Then it was right back to Dallas. We ended up waiting for well over a month, but finally the big day arrived, and we took Harvey up to our dealer, said goodbye and thanked him for almost three years of near perfect sailing! What a great RV! Hope he finds a good home with folks who appreciate him as much as we have. Moving from one rig to another is about as mind boggling as moving into a brick and mortar house. It took almost two full days, but we were finally ready to head out. Next stop..our maiden cruise toward Scottsdale, Arizona in H2!

The new galley