August 9, 2002, Friday- what should have been a 30 minute oil change at John Elway Jeep, turned out to be a less then fun morning. After a quote of $275 for the service, they present me with a bill for almost $350. I question what's on the bill and notice that they rotated the tires. Since I specifically told them not to rotate the tires, they had to un-rotate them (we had put on two new front tires and could rotate them with the 15000 mile worn tires). Next I see that they've done a transmission service and when I asked why they did it at 15,000 miles, I got a song and dance. I told them that I felt it was a bait and switch and didn't want to pay for service that wasn't in the official Jeep service manual. After much to do with the service manager, my bill was reduced to $60.

After that fun, we hooked up the car and headed out of Colorado. Next stop, Ogallala, NE at a little park off the highway. A car ride to Lake Mcconaughy, 9 miles away, uncovered a wonderful 20 mile long lake and a fully developed spillway area with campgrounds and boat ramps.

OUTFLOW OF 20 MILE LONG LAKE MCCONAUGHY

Something strange has happened, the DOW finished up 4 days in a row. I don't understand what happened, but maybe a bottom was reached and we are on the way up.

August 10, 2002, Saturday- an easy day….275 miles east along I-80 to Lincoln, NE. The park, Camp A Way, (strange name), surprisingly has large, well maintained spaces. Fortunately they also have 50 amp service. With temps in the mid 90's we had all electric going with 2 air conditioners, the clothes dryer, micro wave and hot water heater.

A tour of the downtown area of the state's capital yielded some wonderful old state buildings, the governor's mansion, an antique car show and the yuppie Haymarket shopping district. A few blocks away was the University of Nebraska's campus. The Greek system is alive and well here with monster fraternity and sorority houses. New buildings are under construction throughout the campus. The education business must be doing well.

THE STATE CAPITAL	SWEET OLD BUICK

STATE UNIVERSITY STADIUM. DOES THE N STAND FOR KNOWLEDGE?

August 11, 2002, Sunday- today's ride was only 150 miles to Johnston, IA, just north of Des Moines. The company that made the Lexan clear bra for our coach is located just off of I-80. At the last rally in January, in Florida, they ran short of time and daylight and invited us to come to the plant. So, tonight we are in their parking lot, fortunately with their 50 amp electric and a water hose. Since the temps are in the mid 90's, at least we don't have to run the generator for the next 20 hours. With the water hose, I could clean the coach and car, both filthy from 11 weeks in Colorado.

August 12, 2002, Monday- this morning started early, at 5 ish with strong winds. By 6 there was thunder and lightening, and by 6:30 I was watching out the window to make sure that we weren't going to flood away. By 8 the rains subsided and I pulled the coach into the bay at Summit Products for their short buffing of a few scratched areas. By 1 pm they finished, a much bigger job then they thought, and had removed about 80% of the affected area.

THE GUYS AT SUMMIT PRODUCTS BUFFING OUR SHIELD

Down the road we went to the Amana Colonies. It must be an off week here. The theater company is dark this week, and of 400 spaces in the campground, maybe 30 spaces are occupied. We got lucky with 50 amp service, a rarity in this park, and we're in an area that's fully grassed and no neighbors in sight.

The Amana Colonies, 6 colonies in total, were an experiment in religious and communal living that started in the 1850's and terminated, from it's purist form, in 1932. More details to follow tomorrow after we finish the museum tours.

Dinner was at the Brick Haus Restaurant in true family German form. There were so many side dishes on our table, that the four top was crowded with just the two of us. There were some 10 dishes ranging from salads, cheeses, breads, vegetables, and on and on. Add drinks and deserts included, and nobody could walk out without being overstuffed. Good chow!

A THREATENING SKY	OLD STABLES

Walking along the street we located an elderly man who turns out to be a native, having been born in the 30's. The history that he shared with us was priceless.

We received a call this evening from Steve regarding a contract that he has for the sale of his house. Glad to have that burden off of his shoulders.

August 13, 2002, Tuesday- yesterday's 90's were replaced with rain and overcast and temps in the 60's. We toured around several of the Amana Colonies and it's an interesting transformation of social and religious views verses the pressures of modern society. In the 1850's a group split from the Lutheran Church, left Germany, and purchased 26,000 acres in Iowa. Each community of the Amana Colonies, (Amana, Middle Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana and Homestead) were self sufficient communities. Some 1800 people living here with the elders determining who lived where, and who worked in each job. Meals were served in community kitchens, almost 40 of them, each feeding 35 or so residents. Sleeping buildings were small and lacked kitchens and common areas. The experiment ended in 1932 when the youth of the community were experiencing the effects of both the Great Depression and learning about the rest of the US with cars and radios invading the smaller towns throughout the country. After a vote, the Amana Society was formed to provide a free enterprise structure, the kitchens were closed, and everyone had to fend for themselves. A cradle to grave society was gone.

THE CORN IS AS HIGH AS.....	THE SUNFLOWER IS AS HIGH...

We visited community kitchens, coppersmith workshops, blacksmith facilities, community barns, and numerous active shops. We learned how straw brooms (actually called corn brooms) are made, basket weaving techniques, wood workers and knick-knack places. All in all, we gain another invaluable insight to the failed alternatives to capitalism.

SUSAN GETTING A BROOM EDUCATION	WHO SHRUNK LARRY?

August 14, 2002, Wednesday- a great morning (except for my feet). At 10 we went to the Amana Museum and watched a 25 minute film, very well done I might add, about the history of the people and the area. At 10:30 five young actors did a 20 minute presentation of old German folklore, also very well done. Finally, an hour walking tour, (bad feet), about the town learning about the history of the area and the use of native materials.

THE GERMAN FOLKLORE ACTORS

This afternoon we got the air filter changed on the coach engine (needed after 3 years), and the generator serviced with an oil and filter change. A nice young couple run a 3 bay service facility at the edge of the Amana Colony RV Park. Their rates were a third less then those in Denver.

August 15, 2002, Thursday- bad start to the day. As we raised the day/night shades in the living room, a string went pop and it no longer retracts. The good news is that we were headed eastward today from Iowa to Indiana, and Decatur was only an hour out of the way. So here we are in Camp Decatur, 425 miles later, waiting for a drop in appointment tomorrow morning at 6 AM. Naturally as we walked the lot, an acquaintance, Ray, was picking up his 5th American Eagle in a few years. This one, 42' long, tandem axel, 500 horsepower, is a beauty. Now, a 42" drop down plasma tv is an option ($15,000), for the living room. As Aunt Ester used to say "All it takes is money".

August 16, 2002, Friday- another good news bad news day. Last night, just before we turned in, I had a chance to check out the inoperative day/night shade, and lo and behold, in 10 seconds I had it fixed. That was fortunate because at 6 this morning, starting time at the Fleetwood Service Center, the drop in folks (like us), were backed up to next Tuesday for service. No way we'd be here next week. So, instead we picked up a few items that we needed: some grout, caulking, and replacement probes. A few bucks, but everything worked out well.

Down the road, 250 miles to "Geneva on the Lake", north eastern Ohio, along Lake Erie. We got lucky because our space was booked until it was released shortly before our arrival. We are in the middle of a 20 coach mini rally for Fleetwood Bounders. Lots of nice folks.

August 17, 2002, Saturday- after a morning walk with Hobbes, Susan and I got back on our bikes for lovely 15 mile ride through Geneva on the Lake (Lake Erie), ending at the State Park. Miles and miles of a first class park with a marina, campground, golf course and a sandy beach. After returning home, and a second shower of the day, we joined 5 cars of our Bounder friends for a tour of two local Ohio wineries. The first one had an antique car show in one area and the array of vehicles was nothing short of amazing. A 1933 Auburn had to be a show winner at any competition. Purchased in 1963 by the current owners, the car restoration was completed in 1999. Talk about long term project….wow! This boat-tail automobile was gorgeous from any angle, including it's boat-tail rear design.

1933 AUBURN	NICE SET OF WHEELS!

THE MAIL MUST GO THROUGH	1868 COVERED BRIDGE

Returning from the wineries, we stopped at a covered bridge built in 1868. needless to say it had a weight and size limit that took the car, but would not handle the coach.

August 18, 2002, Sunday- the Indian Camp Campground hops on the weekend, packing in between 3 and 5 thousand people. With a midday checkout, by 1 PM it was a lot quieter than the day before, but all in all, the kids and families were very well behaved and the "noise" was the happy activities of kids.

A 15 miles bike ride through the Ashtabula and Saybrook communities uncovered lots of little nooks and crannies filled with homes ranging from cottages to mansions, all along Lake Erie.

August 19, 2002, Monday- our luck held this morning. The local municipal golf course beckoned. It's been 6 months since I held a golf club. At a buck a hole, we walked on at 10 am without anyone in front of us. Weather was a threatening factor so we paid $11 each for the front nine, and by the 8th green sprinkles were proving that gravity still works. After nine, the clouds said, that's enough for today. It was surprising how nice this little course was. All of the greens were lush and grassy (as opposed to many places where the local courses are more sand then grass.