Man, am I tired!

I forgot how much these trips wear me out. But it's been an awesome week so far. The internet connection stopped working at the last campground, so I couldn't update for 2 nights - lots to catch up on. And tonight the signal is too weak to work inside my RV so I"m sitting out at a picnic table. Unfortunately it's really chilly and I have no warm sweaters or shirts along - didn't think I"d need any with a trip to St. Louis in June. However, I forgot that northern Illinois - where we are tonight just outside of Rockford - can still get cool at night.

Tonight's campground is perfect for our group - we have a whole tent area to spread out and the group has been playing at the basketball and tetherball courts to burn off their energy from a very long drive today. We have a perfect space for a campfire tonight after none the last three nights (the St. Louis area campground was FAR better on the website.) Here we have the run of the place. It's nice to have room again.

Our St. Louis experience was excellent though - other than too much rain. I have been so impressed with how these kids have handled themselves, but even more so with what they've been learning and absorbing. They have their moments when I wonder how in the world they will ever survive in the real world (can't believe how flaky they can be - leaving purses and bags of purchases behind.... which fortunately Tom & Beth were on the watch for.) But overall, they've been terrific kids - even when suffering through torrential rains.

I'm off to the campfire now.... will have to fill in more later.

Ahhhhhhhh Sweet Silence!

Yes, I knew there was a reason I am using the RV for this youth trip. As a woman who lives alone, and is used to my own space and peace, this is going to help me keep my sanity. Not that the kids have been a problem.... they've been awesome so far. I just get worn out from all the talking.

They really have been excellent travelers. They've been patient as meals have been delayed for various reasons. (I forgot that running the a/c and the microwave at the same time blows a fuse in the Beast....) They've been patient as we've waited for a not-so-bright desk person to get me checked in at the latest RV park. They've been patient as we've had the whole group working together to get through the Lincoln Museum - which is awesome also, by the way. They've just been all around good campers. Tents aren't all that much fun so far - but at least they can stay up now for 3 nights in a row.

We're just outside of St. Louis, and I'm using a free hour of WI-FI. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some guest bloggers as we process our first day in the city. Until then....