SKP Rallies. OK St. Pks. Liberty Closing. Pacific War. CA St. Pks. Sleeping Bear Dunes. Cat Needs Ride KY to WI. Just Busy.

For Travel Tuesday: One of these rallies may just be along your way!

Escapees Rallies Taking Place In All Directions!
All roads lead to Escapade in Gillette, WY, August 28, 2011. One of these rallies may just be along your way!
For further information about all Escapees events go to http://www.escapees.com/.

September Rallies are Abundant!
September is always a busy month for rallies so the fun continues after Escapade too. There are rallies in all directions! Weather is generally delightful everywhere and all Escapees are welcome. Go to Chapter List and/or BOF Groups for all the website links that provide rally details, locations, and contacts.
Christian Fellowship Afterglow rally in Gillette, 2- 6
Heavy Haulers C-BOF, Black Hills, SD, 5- 8
Okanogan, BC, Canada, 6-9
Dogwood SKPs, Mission, BC, 6-9
Maple Leaf 25th anniversary, Barrie, ON, 6-9
Wash-Pan, Newport, WA, 6-12
Van Islanders, Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Is, 7-10
Ken-Tenn, Granville, TN, 7-11
Great Lakes, Holland, MI, 7-12
Beehivers, Ferron, UT, 8-13
NYSKPs, Cortland, NY, 9-11
Nor-Cal Gypsies, Lewiston, CA, 9-13
Rocky Mtn High SKPs, Buena Vista, CO, 12-15
Columbia River SKPs, Florence, OR, 12-15
Gold Nugget, Orland, CA, 12-16
Evergreen, Bonney Lake, WA, 12-16
Central Coast-ers, San Luis Obispo, CA, 13-16
Wisconsin Badgers, Kewanee, WI, 13-16
Hoosier Neighbor, Straughn, IN, 15-18
Mid-Atlantic, Manheim, PA, 16-18
Lincolnland SKPs, Henry, IL, 19-21
Oregon Trails, Lakeside, OR, 20-23
French Connection, Magog, QB, 20-23
Iowa Wild Roses, Webster City, IA,22-25
Carolina Rovers, (1st rally!), Concord, NC, 22-26
Golden Gate, Casa de Fruta, CA, 22-26
Rogue Valley Rove rs, Prospect, OR, 23-26
Mother Lode, Lodi, CA, 29 to Oct 3

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All seven Oklahoma state parks slated for closure due to budget axing have gained a reprieve. The state reports two tribes and five cities stepped up to the plate to take over operations, saving the state $700,000.
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Planning a trip to see the inside of the Statue of Liberty? Better hurry! The Park Service says it's closing Lady Liberty for a year on October 29 for safety renovations.
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• • 
  WWII Re-enactments in September
  Fredericksburg, TX

• "The popular Living History program brings World War II to life for visitors as re-enactors demonstrate the weapons and discuss the tactics and strategy that won the war. Learn More | View Video | Buy Tickets "
  

"The National Museum of the Pacific War is dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the Pacific Theater of WWII in order that the sacrifices of those who contributed to our victory may never be forgotten. We hope this online visit will make you wish to visit the museum in person."


View Full Calendar   09.03.11   09.04.11
Pacific Combat Living History   See re-enactors demonstrate the weapons and discuss the tactics and strategy that won WWII   09.17.11   09.18.11
2011 Annual Admiral Nimitz Foundation Symposium   Strategic Surprise: Pearl Harbor to 9/11  
More at:  http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/index.asp

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Inland Empire" state parks slate service reductions.    

"Faced with big budget cuts, California State Parks are taking some drastic action to keep afloat. In the latest round, "Inland Empire" region parks announce service reductions. Simply put: Many state parks will close during mid-week days, then reopen on busier weekends. The changes will go into effect on October 1, and continue indefinitely.
Here's the list of affected parks:
· Lake Perris SRA - Park closed to public vehicle entry for day use and camping every Tuesday and Wednesday each week until April 30, 2012. Park will be open for Day Use and Camping Thursday through Monday and any holidays each week until April 30, 2012. Park Day Use hours changed to 7am – 6pm (current hours 6am – 8pm). Starting May 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012 – Park returns to being open 7 days a week with Day Use hours changed to 6am to 10pm. On October 1, 2012 the park will return to the same weekday service reduction cycle for fiscal year 2012/13.
· Silverwood Lake SRA - Park closed to public vehicle entry for day use and camping every Wednesday and Thursday each week until April 30, 2012. Park will be open for Day Use and Camping Friday through Tuesday and any holidays each week until April 30, 2012. Park Day Use hours changed to 7am – 5pm (current hours 7am – 7pm). Starting May 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012 – Park returns to being open 7
days a week with Day Use hours changed to 6am to 9pm. On October 1, 2012 the park will return to the same weekday service reduction cycle for fiscal year 2012/13.
· California Citrus SHP - Park closed to public vehicle entry for day use every Tuesday through Thursday each week until further notice. Park will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week. Summer Day Use hours remain 8am – 5pm weekdays and 8 am – 7pm weekends. Winter Day Use hours will remain 8am- 5pm. Weddings and Sunkist Building Rentals will still be available 7 days a week through the California Citrus Non-Profit Management Corporation. School tours will also still be accommodated by park volunteers on a case by case basis.
· Chino Hills SP - Park closed to public vehicle entry for day use and camping every Tuesday through Thursday each week until further notice. Park will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week. Summer Day Use hours remain 8am – 7pm. Winter hours will remain 8am – 5pm.
· Mount San Jacinto SP - Idyllwild Campground, Day Use and Sector Office will be closed every Wednesday and Thursday each week until April 30, 2012. This facility will be open Friday through Tuesday each week. Starting May 1, 2012 to September 30, 2012 these park facilities we revert back to being open 7 days a week. On October 1, 2012 the park will return to the same weekday service reduction cycle for fiscal year 2012/13. Stone Creek Campground near Idyllwild is normally closed for the winter season and will be open during the summer season. Mount San Jacinto Wilderness Area and Long Valley Ranger Station (Palm Springs Tram area) will remain open year round as usual.
· San Timoteo and Wildwood Canyon - No Service Reductions.
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• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is Most Beautiful Place in America

"Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a relatively unknown national treasure located on the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, earned the title of "Most Beautiful Place in America," according to Good Morning America.
What was once a heap of glaciers that melted over centuries to reveal 64 miles of blue beaches surrounded by colossal sand dunes, now draws visitors with its picturesque landscape and small town charm. The 26 inland lakes and two islands at Sleeping Bear are the cherry on top (and speaking of cherries, the area boasts the title of largest cherry growing region in the world).
GMA's search, which began in June, called for their viewers to nominate the most beautiful places online. Also in the running were Cape Cod; Aspen; Lanikai Beach, Hawaii; Newport, R.I.; Point Reyes, Calif.; Sedona, Ariz.; Destin, Fla.; Asheville, N.C.; and Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. Tens of thousands of GMA viewers were seduced by photos and stories of Sleeping Bear's beauty and took to the polls, voting it the clear winner.

Grand Rapids, Mich., resident Jim Madole nominated Sleeping Bear. In his GMA submission, he wrote: "It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all. Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature."
Even celebrity chef Mario Batali is a fan, spending his summers there to escape the New York hustle.
"I spend my entire summer here on Lake Michigan because it's beautiful, because it has farmers, because it has great food artisans," Batali tells ABC News. "It has great products. It has magnificent fresh water."
All of that fresh water provides a plethora of activities for Lakeshore visitors to choose from, including paddle-boarding, fishing, or simply taking a swim at one of the many beaches. Those who opt to stay dry can climb the colossal sand dunes or hike through the forest.
It looks like Midwesterners finally have something on East Coast and West Coast dwellers."

From: http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/gma-picks-most-beautiful-place-in-america/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl18%7Csec1_lnk3%7C87569
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Tiger, an RVing cat from Wisconsin, was thrown from the family RV in a traffic accident in Berea, Kentucky. Tiger's badly injured owner couldn't find him after the accident but he later turned up. Now the Madison County Humane Society hopes somebody will give Tiger a lift home -- 450 miles worth. If you can help, phone the shelter at 859-626-5600.
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This is one more reason why your pet should be in a buckled up carrier. 
This happened to my daughter, but she never found her cat. It was heartbreaking.

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• Boondocking tips with Bob Difley
•  
  How to stay cool this summer.
  When the heat gets too oppressive, head up -- in elevation that is. The higher you go, the cooler it gets -- one degree for every 100 meters of elevation. Also park your rig so that the breeze--if any--will hit the side with the most windows.

Open all your windows so that circulation is at the maximum. Select a campsite that has afternoon shade when the sun is hottest. Buy a roll of insulation (reflective silver on both sides, core of spun glass) from a hardware store and cut to fit windows on sunny side during hottest part of day. Stores away flat under mattress. 
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Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy:
Get help. Adults and older children should know how to dial 911 or 0, and how to get emergency help on any CB, VHF, or ham radio available. It's crucial to know your location so firefighters can find you. Learn more about Mac and fire safety.
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Yesterday:

Nothing noteworthy going on.  Busy all day, but not much to show for it.  This Live Writer draft wouldn't edit, so had to look for answers about that.  I don't know how I fixed it, but I did.  Spent a lot of time trying to get these bullets on here to go away.   More emails about items that I have for sale on Craigslist had to be answered.
 
Then I was getting ready to switch out sewing machines, as my old faithful just wasn't working.   It wouldn't go forward or back.  I couldn't even get the needle out of some sewing, it was stuck in it, so I had to take the needle out of the machine.  Then I found out the problem, it had broken.  So I inserted a new needle, cleaned up the shuttle and race, and I managed to get the rest of that bedspread done.   It had to be washed before it could be packed away until winter.

Sewing leaves cut threads on the carpet around the sewing machine, so that had to be vacuumed up, and so I vacuumed all the carpet.  One thing leads to another.
The other newer machine is in a cabinet in a corner which had become a catch-all, so I had to put all that stuff away.  I'll give it another try, and see if I like it any better now.

Mindi called, and she is bringing her 3 remaining poodles over here to be groomed today.