Ninth USA RV Trip - March 2015

What started out as a quiet going away dinner with Joy and Ret on the night before we fly back to USA each year has turned out to be a nice gathering with as many of her 7 children that can make it on the night. My sister Gemma and her husband Bill also happened to be staying in Brisbane to catch a flight the next day, so their daughter Claire and her son Bill joined in, and we all enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with Joy and the nieces, nephews and families. 

It was an interesting flight from Brisbane to the USA this year - all flights were busy due to Easter, so I could see that Qantas staff travel wasn't an option. There were no economy seats left on Qantas, so I was able to purchase the last seat on Virgin. Murray was booked on Qantas. Thankfully my flight arrived in LA only 30 mins after Murray's Qantas flight. By the time I disembarked, Murray was through Customs and Immigration, and heading to the domestic terminal at LAX. Then it was a smooth 3 hour flight to Kansas City - lovely to see snow on the peaks of the Rockies as we flew over.

RV in the cave waiting for our return

As usual we hit the ground running, picked up our hire car and headed for Kansas City, and our cave where our RV was patiently waiting for our return. She started first turn of the key, and Murray drove it to Ford where she was booked in for a service and tune up ready for another road trip. I followed in the hire car, and after we dropped the RV off, we checked into our hotel. Neither of us had a wink of sleep on our flight, so after a bite to eat and a celebratory drink, we had a hot shower before hitting our pillows.

Gas prices $2.05/gallon

This time last year our fuel prices were $1- $1.50 a gallon higher. But sadly, the conversion from the aussie dollar to the greenback is much lower this year so the saving isn't as good as it could have been - so 'swings and roundabouts' as they say! Petrol is around $2.05/gallon here in Missouri. Convert that from gallons, and 1 litre of unleaded works out at $0.71 AUD. If the USA dollar and AUS dollar were at parity, fuel would be very cheap at 54 cents a litre. 

After a day to catch our breath we caught up with Shelli and Luke, friends we met in Topeka a few years ago. Before we left USA last year they bought a delightful home on a lake about 25 mins from our campground here in Kansas City. In the photo on the left, the cream 3 story home is theirs. We drove out there and spent several hours catching up over dinner, and made arrangements to meet again on Easter Sunday - today. Have a look below at the photo Luke took of us on their balcony - just the tail end of a beautiful sunset. The next photo I take of their home when we return in August will show the trees full of leaves.

Murray, me and Shelli catching the last of the sunset from their balcony

Spring has sprung for many bushes and trees here in Independence, Missouri, but there are still a lot left to get their green leaves. I loved the display of daffodils this Bed and Breakfast (photo below on right) had out the front of their place as we walked 2 miles (3.2 km) to church for Easter service.

Today was Easter Sunday - no sign of the Easter Bunny in our RV (unless you count the chocolates I have stashed in the fridge!). Shellie and Luke picked us up at 2pm and we had a pleasant few hours at their home - Shelli had baked a ham, and Luke made up some baked potato (with bacon, onion and cheese) and we had a huge tray of Mac and Cheese as well. Before dinner Shelli and I played several rounds of Rummicub to keep my hand in!

Tomorrow morning will be Day 1 on the road for this trip: we will drive south and cross the border into Arkansas.

Shelli and me playing Rummicub while Luke looks on