Latest News for the Month of
July 2008
Hey ya'll. Yes I am still alive and kicking. I am way late on getting this news page updated but I can honestly say I have had few free moments to get July's update done. If you look at our Summer 2008 tour pages, you will see I have been extremely busy getting all the photos and pages loaded. You can see them all by clicking here
Out trip has been going good and despite the many miles and roads covered, everything has went off like clock work. We have stayed on schedule and haven't missed any campground reservations yet. :) The only problem we have experienced is a chipped windshield on the coach. Not once, but three times. Progressive insurance was nice enough to handle having it fixed ( in Santa Fe ) twice from the hellacious storm we encountered in Amarillo, but the third one will be on me. If I call them again for another claim they may think I am out of my mind and cancel me. :)
I am not going to waste your time ( or mine ) on the latest and greatest in my life. You can read about all the places we have visited by clicking on the link above. Health wise I am doing amazingly well. This Oxygen concentrator is amazing. Ally and I bested our record of 10,500 ft ( Sandia Crest in Santa Fe ) and hit 13,000 ft in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Surprisingly I had no ill effects but I admit I juiced myself up big time with Oxygen before heading up to that elevation. I pretty much sleep with it on all night and that in itself is a pain in the neck as the nasal cannula and tubing gets wrapped around me as I turn over in my sleep. I haven't strangled myself yet. :) Ally is trying to talk me into buying one ( I am leasing one at the moment ) because she feels it would help when my red cells take a turn for the worse. I am considering it but will discuss it with Dr. Brockmyre.
Ally's Mum has twice found the elevations a little to much and she became dizzy so we had to descend to lower altitudes. She immediately got better and was fine after that. She has been experiencing a lot of swelling in her ankles but if she elevates them the swelling goes away. Overall, she is doing good, but this trip has been a bit rough on her. She isn't a spring chicken anymore so travel is rough on her. Thankfully she has her friend Rulof traveling with her. He has been a Godsend for her as he is patient and looks after her well. He is also a great companion for her and the two have really enjoyed sharing their trip together. Ally & I have reall enjoyed having Rulof with us. He is a big help setting up at the campgrounds and his attitude keeps us all going. He is a very positive and fun loving person and keeps us in stitches. Some of the sayings he has keeps us laughing. Admittedly I too have enjoyed having him along so I didn't feel out numbered by the women. Its just been a lot of fun to have Mum and Mario ( my nickname for Rulof ) with us. I am so glad they could share this tour with us.
We are currently in South Dakota in the middle of the Black Hills and this is our last stop on this tour before hauling butt for the East side of the States. Mum & Rulof fly out of Knoxville for Budapest, Hungary for a cruise and will later visit Holland to see family and friends. So our time frame is limited once we leave Rapid City. Our trip back across the country will be a quick one with nightly stops only. We wont have the time to visit any sites or see anything except from the windows of the coach.
Words will never describe just how grateful I feel for being able to take this trip. This has been a dream trip for both of us and we were able to see so much of the country we have been wanting to see. If there is anyone reading this who has ever thought of traveling out west for a vacation, please consider doing so. Gas will not get cheaper and God only knows what is around the corner for any of us health wise. Plan it and do it and enjoy.
Despite the gorgeous scenery and all the countryside we have seen, not to mention the wonderful time we have had, we are both really burnt out from all the traveling. Ally helps out with some of the driving of the bus ( a 100 miles here and there so I can rest ) but for the most part I am in the drivers seat and it is starting to wear on me. We left Florida May 31st and its been constant travel since then. I never thought I would find myself saying this, but I will be glad to get back to Florida and park this bus for the winter. :)
We are leaving South Dakota this Thursday, the 17th and will be driving to Natural Bridge to camp with Lindy, Kim & Ella one last time before heading back to Florida. We also need to get Tessa who has been staying with Lindy during our trip. ( I miss that dog terribly. Amazing how we can get so attached to a dog like that ).
We are looking forward to our last family camping trip of the year with them and it will also give us more time with our Granddaughter Ella. It's really tough living so far away from them and I wished we would settle back home. Natalia is driving over from Richmond and will be spending a day or so with us at the campground as well. We haven't seen her since Xmas and we miss the heck out of her too so the trip to Virginia will be great. We also plan on heading out to our property at Otter Creek to check on it and make sure everything is OK.
I just wanted to give everyone a quick update and let ya'll know I was still alive. I plan on having a new set of blood tests done at Dr. Brockmyres and will see Andy one more time before leaving for Florida. I am sure my cell lines ( especially my red cells ) are in horrible condition, but thank God for Oxygen concentrators. I could never have made this trip without it. Once we are back in Florida and settled, I believe it will be chemo time again. My bone marrow is in pretty bad shape and I need another course of that crap to get the bone marrow back into shape again.
I will try and update this page one more time before August but am not making any promises. Until a later time, get right out there and enjoy life and the summer. Smile, laugh and live today like its your last.
Sending my very best wishes to all of you,
Chris
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