[a/s] Bismarck, ND - July 1, 2000

[HHamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

Well, I haven't written a journal since I arrived here because there wasn't 
much to say.

We are parked in a farmer's field.  A plowed field, full of furrows. Also, 
because of all the rain two weeks ago there is a bumper crop of weeds and 
mosquitos...not cute little east coast mosquitos.... huge, hungry, swarmy 
mosquitos.  Driving the rig across the furrows was a trip.... they parking 
guy kept waving for me to hurry up... yeah right.  Of course, the trailer is 
stationary...but it's like being on a bucking bronco driving the truck in and 
out to the dirt road.  It hasn't rained since we got here so the road is a 
dust bowl.... all the trailers and motorhomes along the road are completely 
covered with "dust".  It's really bad walking the dogs when someone speeds 
by.... they cough and I cough and I worry about their eyes, while I'm chewing 
on grit. I plan to be the last one out of here so I can drive straight along 
the row instead of back across it.

Someone bought a lawn mower the first day (c:  He mowed all the weeds down 
around his spot, then stuck a cup on it (for donations to a charity) and 
everyone can use it for free or a donation. Don grabbed it and mowed around 
my spot and his which makes things more pleasant.    I till am picking ticks 
off the dogs because of all the remaining tall grass.  

The only vendors here at the parking site all left.... Reese Hitches and Zip 
Dee are all I can remember...there were about 5 all together under a now 
empty tent.

Two trailer dealers are here.... One from St. Louis (where Verna got hers) 
and one from California.  Lots of sales.... every day one is gone and an old 
used one is taking its place.  Lots of big motorhomes too, but not sure how 
they are selling. The price of gas being what it is, I wouldn't want one! 

All of the activities are about 3 miles away at the Civic Center.  Personally 
I find this a real pain.  I liked Sarasota where it was all in one place.  
The civic center is also home to the email connections and other vendors.  
Hensley is there... actually Phil and Sean are a few rows behind me right now 
installing a hitch on a new 34'. 

The guy previously had a 1995 31', the first year for the wide bodies...  
they apparently (according to him) built them with the weight distributed to 
accomodate a front kitchen.  The FKs didn't sell well so they were not 
balanced right... too heavy in the rear.  He said they were swaying and 
wrecking like crazy so Airstream recalled them and put extra weights in the 
front to balance them better.  

We are in the dog section, which is fun.  Everyone is quite laid back.  We 
all say nice things about each other's dogs.  Most of the dogs are small, 
Doxies, Corgies, Poodles, Schnauzers, Shitzus.... an adorable pair of Basset 
Hounds..... There are a few larger breeds though.... one guy has a pair of 
Irish Wolfhounds!!  He does have a 34 foot trailer, but it's still like 
having ponies in the house.  My favorites are a pair of Treeing Walkers. I 
had one before the divorce, I love to hear their voices. 

Today is Canada Day, so George Tripp said to come over to a tent for 
breakfast.  We went, breakfast was a donut.  I did see Don and Kathy 
McIlvane, former listies...  Kathy had a bad stroke last year and Don left 
the list.  It was very sad at the time, but she has made a remarkable 
recovery.  She is in a wheelchair, but doing great I'm happy to report.

This town has a Walmart and a Target.... I'm in heaven (c:

As I said yesterday, it's hot.... I mean high 90s.... It's unfortunate, they 
chose North Dakota because they expected it to be too cool to need air 
conditioning... NOT. At least it cools off in the evening, but you can't sit 
outside because of the mosquitos. We are right at the edge of the central 
time zone... no lie, it stays light til 11:00 PM!!

I did go back to the little Wilsonart trailer... will report on that in 
another letter.

Hunter