Text Box:   Recovery Time

Text Box: Smith Family Newsletter July 2009 - 1

Text Box: Well, it was the first couple of weeks in July that I spent recovering from surgery.  The people at Truman Medical Center in Lakewood were outstanding and would recommend the hospital to anyone needing medical attention on the road. I literally went to the emergency room on a Sunday, and I had the surgery the following Wednesday, July 1st. Of course I was able to give them all the medical information they needed, as I had copies of everything. Most of the two weeks was spent recovering.    We had been to Independence a couple of times before, but since this was the first time for John & Barbara, they ventured out on their own and used their time productively.  Immediately following this two week time period, we moved to Platte City, which is north of Kansas City, MO , where our HR 400 Pre-Rally was held.  The weather lived up to it’s unpredictable reputation by starting out very humid and hot and then improved greatly!  Through out this period, I did not take many pictures and in fact I did not attend many of the off campus events due to sensitivity to the heat and tiring easily.  John & Barbara did not participate in the rally but were in the campground.  One of the couples running the rally had family nearby on a farm.  That made this rally different from some others.  Flower’s daughter works for NASA in an educational capacity which made things interesting.  She came over to the campground and demonstrated some experiments and showed members how to build  simple rockets, which were shot off at the farm later in the week.  Flower also brought an egg incubator to the club house and we watched chicks hatch through out the week, which was a treat.  They were later brought back to the farm.   Then there was ‘the transfer of responsibility’ from Judy to Bob as chapter president.  The pre-rally is the event where all these changes take place.  Needless to say this kept Bob quite busy.  In addition, he still kept the web page up with the rally goings on and helped people with computer problems.  We inherited reams of chapter paper work with the title, which he is also scanning into the computer.  Apparently the National Headquarters has done so also, which was the incentive to do the same with the chapter.

Text Box: Smith Family Newsletter July 2009 - 2

Text Box: Sedalia, MO

Text Box: This was the site of the HRRVC International Rally.  It was located in the State Fairgrounds.  Wow, what a difference from the last time we were here.  Attendance is way down, with only one dealer, and only a few coaches.  Even for the 400 members there were only a handful.   Bob & I were asked to conduct a ’Full Timer’s Seminar’ at the rally which we did.  Two other couples and ourselves answered questions and covered topics relative to living full time in a recreational vehicle on the road.  We had about 20 people show up plus some of our own members, which was a good showing.  I think it went quite well.  We attended a few other seminars, had some 4 o’clocks and just enjoyed the company of our friends.  John & Barbara camped down the road in another campground and we got together with them, in between.  Towards the end of the rally we were subject to some rain and we were concerned about the mud, but were able to get out ok.   We took some time to search for ‘The Merci Boxcar’ for MO, which was located on the State Fairgrounds.  This is the fourth one we have located.  The picture on the right is of an original French boxcar, referred to as 40 & 8.  This means the boxcars hold 40 men or 8 horses.  The plaques represent the French provinces.  American troops rode these boxcars to and from battle in WWI and WWII, and sometimes spent days in them. Boxcars were sent to each state by the French people in appreciation for the food and clothes donated by the American people following the wars. The French sent the cars loaded with personal items, air looms, hand made items, etc. The items from this particular car could be found at the local Historical Society and Museum.  We did not get to see this, but have seen others. We have found 4 or 5 of these box cars around the country so far.   Following the close of this rally, we joined up with John & Barbara and took up our touring schedule again.  Both Barbara & John were very interested in seeing sites and museums dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.  We had seen some over the years but obviously not all.  In the June newsletter, I have a picture of the site of Lincoln’s birthplace, but didn’t mention it.  I repeated it to the right again.  This was one place Bob & I had never been.  The cabin was found at Sinking Spring, which was land owned by the family.  No one has been able to verify it’s authenticity, but has been adopted as such.  Sinking Spring is a real underground spring and is still there. See picture next to the cabin.  Lincoln lived two years here with his family before moving to the place on Knob Creek, several miles away.  At the right I am standing in the doorway of that cabin.  Lincoln was two years old when they moved here.  Following the rallies, we moved on to Springfield, IL which you can see when you turn to page three.    

Text Box: Smith Family Newsletter July 2009 - 3

Text Box: Springfield, IL

Text Box: First of all, 2009 is the 200th birthday of Lincoln as President.  This meant that there was much going on in many of the historic sites.  One key place was at the Presidential Library and Museum.  For starters see the neat picture of Bob and I at the Museum at the right with the Lincoln family.  This was a great museum, well worth seeing.  Also in Springfield was the only home that Lincoln owned, which we toured.  To the right is the house and a small desk, similar to the one Lincoln used.  The Old Capital is also noteworthy since Lincoln practiced law here and began his political career here. His body was brought back here after the assassination.  The inside is much the way it was back then.  There is much we did not see as there are memories of him preserved all over town.  He practiced law here went to church here and much more. We also visited his burial site as well, which was very impressive.  We also visited the new State Capital, which was beautiful.  The picture is to the right of the old state capital.  On the Capital grounds was a  memorial to the lives lost as a result of 9/11/01.  It was modest, but so nicely done.  There were drawings and inscriptions etched on marble.  It has been so comforting to see these memorials in various states as an expression of unity and support.    Not too long after this we separated from John & Barbara, as they started their trip home.  I think they were bitten by the travel bug as a result of this adventure and will venture out again soon.  See parting picture below-right.