2 Apr 2025 - Dinner with High School Classmate Elaine

 

We had a wild night here last night with severe weather moving through Kansas east into Missouri and northeast into Iowa.  We tracked it closely and had our "bug-out" bag packed and ready to go with the essentials should we have to evacuate the RV and take shelter.  I need to formalize this a bit more with a checklist, but we pack medications including dog meds/food; cash and important documents; clothes, water, phones & chargers, and other items.  We had torrential rains in the middle of the night and some small hail but luckily very little wind.  I checked everywhere in the coach but we remained high and dry.  

Red dot is where we are camping near Lawrence KS

After the storm came the sun!  Today was really relaxing and enjoyable.  We took a break today, worked on a few tasks around here and really enjoyed the sunny, warm (67F) weather outside with lunch on our patio.  This evening we drove about 25 minutes up I-70 to Bonner Springs to meet up with one of our classmates from Northern University High School Class of 1973, Elaine Burkhart Dubray.  Elaine and Doreen were friends most if not all of their school years,  I was late to the party arriving after my Freshman year moving from DeWitt IA.  We have stayed in touch with Elaine and many of our classmates all these years and try to get together with Elaine each summer.  Mid-summer we will gather with several of our classmates at Okoboji for a get-together there.   

So we had a great meal and shared a lot of laughs at El Porto Mexican Restaurant tonight.  It is so much fun to get together with Elaine when we are in this area!  

  Tomorrow's plan is yet to be determined.  It is our last day here before heading SW to Wichita and McConnell Air Force Base for a few days.  So that means fueling the truck and making preparations to depart Friday morning.  This is our third stay here in Lawrence so this is more of just a stop-over than a tourist stop.