Sunday, March 22, 2015

Home at Last

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Yuma and I slept in this morning and had a leisurely breakfast before heading out around 9 am.  Only have a four hour drive till we are home. 

Yuma has been very good.  He just sleeps on the floor between the two seats.  For some reason, he does not want to sit in the passenger seat of either the motorhome or the jeep which is fine with me.

Soon, we were passing through our last big city of St. Louis, Missouri.

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Passing through our capital of Springfield with its huge smokestacks dominating the skies coming into the city from the south.

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The scene outside soon becomes Illinois farms and farmland. 

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Then we are home in Bloomington, Illinois and Yuma meets Dolly and Fergie, his new family.

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I left home on November 24, 2014 and returned home on March 21, 2015 for a total of 118 days.  I traveled 4,011 miles in the motorhome during that time and my total costs for the journey was $4,822.  That averages to $40.86 a day or $1,205.50 a month for four months.

I have enjoyed doing this blog and I hope I have brought some enjoyment to those that read my blog over the past four months.  I will not be doing a daily blog while at home, but I hope to travel to Glacier National Park later this summer and I will again provide a blog of my journey.

Until then, see you later.
           

 

 

28 comments:

  1. Welcome home Doug and Yuma. Bet it feels good. Loved following along with you. We will be in Montana this summer (probably Helena) so maybe we can meet up along your way to Glacier.

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    1. Thank you. It was a fun journey, but you are right it is good to be home. Had some challenges last evening going to bed. Fergie and two of our cats sleep on the bed with Dolly and trying to add Yuma and me caused some friction at first.

      Wasn't too long before Yuma found a safe spot next to me and hopefully things get better as they all become accustomed to each other.

      Maybe we will meet up this summer.

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  2. Thanks for your daily blog. I enjoyed following you and Yuma.

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    1. Thanks Gene. I had a great time. It is trips like this past four months that keep me young. Each year it gets harder, but I hope I can keep going.

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  3. I really enjoyed your blog and adventures. Was thrilled when you got Yuma, and I bet Yuma has never had it so good in his entire life. Enjoy your time at home and looking forward to the next adventure.

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    1. Thank you Ruth. By popular demand I will provide updates on how Yuma is adapting to his new life with a tiny toy poodle and three cats. He thought it was always going to be just him and me. What a surprise.

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  4. Glad you made it home safe and sound. It was nice meeting you at the Blogfest. Looking forward to reading your blog on your next journey

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    1. Thanks, Betty. I hope to make it to Blogfest II.

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  5. I enjoyed your blog and look forward to your updates on how the "new family" is all adapting to each other. Look forward to reading about your summer travels.

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    1. Thank you. The first night with two cats, Dolly, me, Fergie and Yuma in one bed was a real challenge. We made it but Yuma had a tough time squeezing in with those cats and dogs fussing at him. He thought his world was just him and me in the motorhome, so this is an adjustment for him.

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  6. I am "manycats" but I love Yuma, please keep telling us about him.

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    1. Thanks Manycats. Yuma better learn to love cats too. We have three cats. He did okay last night. He learned quickly that he can't just go up and sniff them. Luckily, he is so sweet, all he did when they hissed and slapped at him, was to back off with a confused look.

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  7. We went through Bloomington a few hours ago on OUR way home.. .about 70 miles away now from our home in Wisconsin. Saw some **S*N*O*W** falling around Rockford and into Beloit...ewwwww saw you guys are maybe going to get some tomorrow! ACK!

    KarenInTheWoods and Steveio
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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    1. Glad you're getting home before the weather changes. I'm ready for spring, not winter. Glad you got your Tracker fixed and all is good with the world again. Always good to get those long driving days over with.

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    2. Rockford ended up getting 6 inches of snow!

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  8. Thanks for sharing your very interesting blog and beautiful pictures. We found you thru a mention by Al at the Bayfield Bunch when you got Yuma. Yuma is such a beautiful dog and we've enjoyed seeing his many pictures. Look forward to reading about your future travels. I'm sure all Yuma's fans would love to hear how Yuma is adjusting to life at home and with your other fur kids. He seems to enjoy the company of other dogs and hopefully the cats too, so we hope it's a smooth transition. Stay safe. Linda & Gerry in Buckeye, AZ

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  9. I just posted above but forgot to mention that we are originally from Illinois too, south suburbs of Chicago. Retired to Buckeye almost 8 years ago. We don't RV but sure do enjoy living vicariously thru you bloggers and getting to experience all the beautiful things that you see. Linda & Gerry in Buckeye, AZ

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    1. Thank you. Yuma had some real stress last night trying to get in bed with me. He had to figure out how not to have two cats and that growling Fergie (our 5 lb tea cup poodle) from snapping at him. We finally all found a spot to sleep. Hopefully, tonight things go smoother.

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing your travels thru the desert Southwest - so glad you found your sweet dog, Yuma. Lots of beautiful photos ( my Favorite was the 2 cows with horns coming over the hill in Mojave Preserve - posted on Jan 30th ) Wow ! I saved it to my desktop and look at it often - Glad you are Home safe and your family is reunited again - Will look forward to your trip to Glacier later this summer - Take Care !

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    1. Glad you liked my photos. Never thought those cows would make it to desktop status. My son, Jim has used several of the sunset photos for his desktop at work. I have enjoyed our correspondence and still love the name Moonfly.

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  11. Thanks for an interesting winter! I know you will like Glacier, don't let Yuma loose because them there bears are big and mean and we don't want to lose Yuma, he is the star (nothing against you, of course). Opposite of you, we travel the other 8 months of the year and sit in our condo in Florida for the winter....we head out in ten days for what will be our ultimate trip to Alaska. --Dave (GoingRvWay.com)

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    1. Thanks for following along, Dave. Have fun on a great adventure in Alaska. I will follow along. My wife Dolly Jo is from Ft. Smith, so we follow the Razorbacks too. I used to live at Madeira Beach back in the 50's. Still remember fishing on the old wooden bridge at John's Pass.

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  12. I have enjoyed reading about you and Yuma, and look forward to hearing how he adjusts to the larger family.

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  13. We'll miss your daily posts popping up on our sidebar now. The winter just seemed to go so fast this year. Maybe our paths will cross again next winter & maybe at Bloggerfest 2. Keep us posted on how Yuma's doing. Good job on the writing & the photos:))

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  14. Doug, I'm going to miss you, but I can't wait to see your photos of Glacier. Hubby has never been there and I was there, as a kid, 50 years ago!!! I'm glad you and Yuma are home safely now...time for a well-earned rest! I'm sure he will love everyone in your family.
    ~Cheryl Ann~ (We're heading out to Kingman and then Las Vegas in a couple of weeks!)

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  15. Glad to see you made it home safely. Hope you'll reconsider and do some blog updates on your life at home and your newly expanded family.

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  16. Glad you and Yuma are home safe and sound after all your adventures. I came over from Al's Travel With The Bayfield Bunch around the time you got Yuma so I have to go back and catch up. I have really enjoyed your posts and your pictures. Please continue to post some during the summer. Glacier is awesome - and cold, so go in late July or in August. Hope you have a king-size bed or room for one.

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  17. We are glad to have Doug and Yuma home! We missed Doug and were happy to meet Yuma!!

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