South Dakota Stranded Status (Oct. 1, 2011)

Well, if that don’t beat all… about the time I’m getting a bit of a handle on this darned situation, I realize my AAA coverage expired in Aug. 2011… I been out on the road with no road coverage.  Geez.  O.K. now I’ll ask for help… it’s about $100.00 or at least that was what it was in TX.  I’m going to check here in Brookings SD on Monday and see what it costs.

I might have a job here for a jewelry doing Photoshop work.  I will know about that at noon Sunday (Oct. 2, 2011).  It won’t be much, but right now every $ helps. 

I made up a flyer regarding seeking work… but don’t have the ink to print it.  A cartridge is $10… for black and I’m going to risk buying it though I only had $30 in the bank last time I checked.  Flyer below:

Retiree Kayaking America
NOW Stranded in SD

Due to an emergency root canal, I have run out of gasoline funds and am now stranded here in SD. I am trying to raise funds to continue my trip to Arizona. Not seeking donations, just work. I have many skills:

Ø 25 years of administrative/clerical work

Ø Advanced experience with Photoshop and Photo Restoration

Ø I am a portrait artist

Ø I paint walls (just did a stairway in Iowa)

Ø Professional Genealogist for DAR

Ø Professional Webmaster

Willing to accept any honest job and will work by the hour but probably better for you if I work by the task/job. Not as fast as I used to be, but I am very good. Will barter for parking place and electric hookup.

Email me at: Charlene.swankie@gmail.com

See samples of my artwork at: http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2011/09/recent-art-work-sketches-for-gasoline.html

End of Flyer.

I also plan to go to VFW and see if they can help a Navy widow with a parking spot with electric.  That way I can plug in my small heater at night and sleep better.  Maybe even get a shower in the deal? I will offer to do some work in exchange.

My mail package has returned from OH and is waiting down the road for me… but I don’t have the gas to get there yet.  She will send it up here (from Madison SD to Brookings SD) to Gen. Delivery if I want her to and pay for the cost, since it was her error.  My friend in OH had to pay to ship it back, and the Madison mail service who screwed this up in the first place is sending her a check for her postage.  I will need the package soon as my meds are in it.

I have faith that things will work out… but if anyone can help me with the AAA insurance, I’ll pay it back over the winter, or pay it forward as you please.   I am grateful and thank you in advance.

Like Brenda, I am getting a lot of flack for choosing this lifestyle without a huge nest egg… but just know, I had one before I rushed to be with my sister in FL who had cancer and was doing chemo… with a 13-yr. old son giving her fits.  By the time I left there (five months last winter) I was very low on funds… unfortunately, due to the emergency root canal I had to have the day after the Sept. payday… my funds could not get me through to Oct. payday.  So, please, I don’t need any more flack… I’m still hurting from the root canal (no root, no pain, RIGHTTTTTT!!!!) and my face and body(?) are all puffy from it???

Can anyone think of anything else I can try?

Thanks, friends.

10th and 11th State Paddles – South and North Dakota. Both on the same day (July 28, 2010). Yahoo!

7/28/10 - I just paddled across the Missouri River on Lake Oahe, at Mobridge, SD, near the Drive-IN theater where I put in early this morning.  This is just after I launched into the river.  I’m debating if I can paddle all the way over there.

What a challenge.  Here’s the message I posted to the Vandweller’s Yahoo Group:

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I'm so thrilled I could scream, but no one is here to hear me!!!!

SCREAMING NOW. I JUST KAYAKED ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER AT MOBRIDGE, SD.

God, this feels good. And I'm tired but happy. It was almost 4 miles.

Geez.... does it really get any better???

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I’m getting closer.

I started across the lake… and my shoulder was hurting a lot.  About halfway across my shoulder stopped hurting.

    

 

I made it over there, can I get back to the van?  I’ve got to go back over to where that square thing is (a drive-in movie screen).  Getting closer and very tired.

Back to van and loaded by 11am and it was hard to load the kayak… the stuff in Trailer has shifted.  I spent the day by the river and watched a lovely sunset.

Below is a message I sent to Vandweller friend, Mike:

________________________________________________

I just freaking paddled across the Missouri River.  Found prehistoric fossils on the shoreline over there.   I am stoked.

I managed to transfer some funds to my checking account.  So, now if my kinfolk down here have written and want see me, I'll head toward Aberdeen.  If I haven't heard from them yet, I'll head up along the river to ND and find another paddle spot... Will play it by ear... the maps aren't telling me anything. 

I freaking just paddled across the dammed river/lake.

And back again.

Got to be an easier way to load this dammed kayak.  Stuff has shifted way to much in the trailer.  If I can see my family, I'll try to dump some junk on them.  Maybe even some rocks (who said that?)

I paddled across the freaking river!!!!!!

C:)

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7/28/10 – After that paddle I drove north on 1804 and crossed the SD/ND border and stopped at the first place on the Lake.  The guy there, directed me to the boat launch one mile farther north… Langlier’s Bay on Lake Oahe… the same lake/river I just paddled this morning.  I needed a softer paddle and this spot was perfect.

OH, this is so awesome.  I just spend the afternoon paddling ND.   Smooth water, sweet quiet, fossils, petrified wood, agates, etc. in the shallow waters.  Two states in one day!  It did get better.

The water was so clear and calm that I just pulled myself along with one had while I watched for chert, and other goodies.  What a great way to end a wonderful day of paddling.  Can you believe that water?

I had not heard from any relatives regarding a visit to Aberdeen, so I'm on my way north on 1804 to I-94 and MN.  See you all next time around.  I really like the spot I found in North Dakota as I found petrified wood, fossils, agates, etc. so I'll be back to Langlier’s Bay.  I love that spot.  No bugs.  Beautiful water.  Fossils, petrified wood.  Few people.  Great great great, but not if you want to go to town daily.  Fantastic boondocking.  I've made a connection here.   Lewis and Clark camped here way back when.... and there was an Indian encampment across the bay on the north.   I want to go over there next time and look for artifacts.  I really love this place.  Wait til you see my stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30715601&id=1573053507

The drive from there to Bismarck, ND is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken.  My EVER is really big.  I hardly have words to describe the beauty I saw – pheasants, hawks with small birds chasing them, a redtail hawk, dragon flies, etc.   I think it might have been “You would have had to have been there” kinda thing… so judge for yourself.

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When I got to Bismarck, ND tried to do the "bragging' rights" thingy... when I discovered my inverter had bit the dust.  Boy oh boy.  First I checked all connections... nothing.  Then I checked all the outlets from the inverter, nothing.   Oh, shoot.  Just when I'm trying to tighten my belt... this.  Then, then... I realized my laptop was really low on power... not even enough time to ask questions of the tribe.  So I emailed Mike really quick and shut it down.  Now, breakfast for $1.68 (large coke and mcmuffin thingy).... at Subway in Wal-Mart, plugged into their power and charging.

What to do??? Find a Frye's??   Buy a what????   I think I need a bigger inverter.  Mine is 1200 or 1500????   I don't know, it's a number... and it's in the van????

Don't I have a 12v plug-in thingy for the laptop???  Where is it?  Exhausted from the two-state paddle today (boy was it good)... I tore the van up looking for it... nothing like that to be found... and now stuff is all over the place.  Shoot... go to sleep.  And I spotted the most amazing moonscape I’ve every seen… a totally black sky with the moon large and low in the sky and bright ORANGE.  To the left of the moon was a storm front coming in from the West… and the edges of the clouds were lit up by the moon.  A small sliver of the moon was shaded but hardly noticeably so.  Awesome.

So... figure the thing out and get back on the road, but first a shower and do my laundry.   Got back to the van and checked the inverter again... and it is working????  These mysteries drive me nuts (or is that a short putt?)

SD and ND are done so it’s on to MN.