12-08
Eric and Donna Wells - Eric and Donna live in Hayesville, NC and own a 38' TS Motorhome with 4 slides. They are retired with two grown children and six grandchildren. They are into golf, Kayaking and reading. Best of all they love their RV (this is their 3rd one) and also enjoy cruising. Their dog Killara "Kara" is 4 years old and is a labradoodle.

10-08
John and Romola Laninga – John and Romola own a 40’ Travel Supreme motorhome. They are from Livingston, Texas. They are retired and are full timers.

They lived in the Dallas area until 2001. John had developed and built a specialty computer company, which he sold to a Fortune 500 company. They moved him to North Carolina to run the new organization. Romola, an RN, retired at that time, and John retired in January 2008.

In 2007, they had bought a fifth wheel and diesel pickup. That year, they lived in it for 110 nights. So, when they got a chance to buy a Travel Supreme in January 2008, they jumped at the deal. Sold the fifth-wheel and pickup, and decided to move back to Dallas. They suddenly realized that it didn't make sense to buy a new house, so they got rid of all their "stuff" and hit the road full time.

Bill and Marcia Bestor – Bill and Marcia are from Scottsdale, Arizona and spend the summer in Alto, New Mexico. They own a 45’ Travel Supreme motorhome. They are both retired and between them like to golf, hunt, cook and spend time enjoying foreign travel.

Ray and Sandy Wenig – Ray and Sandy keep their home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. They own a 45’ Travel Supreme motorhome. Ray enjoys Angel Investing, RV touring, boating and biking. Sandy enjoys painting, photography, RV touring, boating and biking. Both have been involved with RV tour management.

8-08
Dea and Yvonne Wiseley - Dea and Yvonne live in Treasure Island, Florida and own a 36' TS 5th-wheel with 3 slides.

Volunteer now and let us get your rally on the books for 2009. All I need at this time is the date, place and host name!

Wagonmaster, Marie Moreau

Connie Butaud

1-4-09 8am. This will be my last update. Connie's Celebration of Life Mass was a beautiful tribute to her life. It was a life filled with strong faith in God, family, friends, beautiful life experiences and a unbelievable love of life. I want to say thanks to all of you for your prayers and support through the last 7+ weeks. Connie knew everyone was praying for her and she took great comfort in that. She is now with our daughter Lisa, her Father, who died before she was born, her grandparents, especially her Grandfather Devillier who she loved as a Father, and her Mother who died several years ago. Although Connie is gone, she will not be forgotten. The memories are very strong and they are beautiful memories. Thanks also for the support you gave me. You provided the lift I needed to get through this experience. For those of you who were able to make the funeral please know that your presence provided special support to me and my family when we needed it most. A special thank you goes to all who sent flowers, called, sent an email, card or left a tribute on the funeral home web site. I'd also like to send a very special "thank you" to Bobbie who has so faithfully kept this web site updated and kept me on track by correcting an occasional fauxpas. You are a special person Bobbie. So, we'll now close this chapter on our life together on this earth. My memories will sustain me as I move forward with the knowledge that I was fortunate to have Connie as a life mate for over 50 years. My faith, my children and grandchildren, great grandchildren, the rest of our family and our friends will give me the strength to make this transition. For ever more, Connie will continue to be a part of my life because she will always be in my mind and heart. Lou

1-01-2009 6:00 A.M. - As Paul Harvey would say, "And, here's the rest of the story." If you are like me, you may be asking - "Why?" And, at first I thought there was no answer. But, as I reflected on the last 40+ days I began to remember some of the things that happen and some of the comments people made to me that helps to explain the "Why?" Connie was always a person of deep faith. She not only practiced it, she led by example. Connie always saw the best in everyone and everything. She lived her life with love and everyone who knew her well could see it. Her beautiful smile, her strength, her focus on the needs of others and her ability to lift people up and her love for God, family and friends made her an exceptional person. I believe she was an instrument of God because her ordeal caused thousands of people to pray for her. God knew this would happen. And, He knew that Connie would bring people back to Him who had abandoned Him - like the man who told me he had not been in a church for years, but was now in church praying for Connie. And, like one of Connie's doctors who said I am doing everything I can for her from a medical standpoint but tonight I will do more because I will pray. I also prayed and prayed and prayed. Was my prayer answered? Yes, because I asked God to heal Connie but if that was not to be I asked him to grant her a peaceful death. And, He did. I really believe he needed Connie as a sign for others. For example, my brother Steve was hunting in south Texas the day Connie died. That evening, as he sat by the fire, he was looking at the quiet night sky as he did on many occasions. Upon impulse, he looked up and said: "Come on Connie I know you are up there, and you are well and happy. Send me a big shooting star." Within minutes, a magnificent shooting star appeared in the sky and went from horizon to horizon. So, as I sit here in my human form and try to make sense of it all, I reflect on all of the people she brought to prayer and realize that she was an instrument of God. He allowed us to enjoy her for sixty-nine years, but now he has work for her. We have not heard the last of Connie or seen the last of the influence she will have on many for a long, long time. And, maybe that is as much sense as my human mind can make of Connie's death. I will miss her terribly, but I know she is not gone, but only moved to her new home! And, I take comfort in knowing that I will see and hear from her again. It may be in magnificent rainbows in the sky, or it may be her voice in the wind or her image in my dreams, but I will see her again. And, eventually in God's good time I will be with her again. Lou

You can read Lou's full account of Connie's illness on the Health Updates page.....

If you would like to leave a message for Lou and his family, you can email me and I will put it out on the website.

12-19-08
Hi there folks, Kay and I are here in Slidell doing just fine. We are at Friends Campground, Betty & Larry’s place. So far this year we have had visits from the Steinberger’s and the Wellock’s with the Sheridan’s due to arrive later this month. We’ll be here until the 27th of December when we leave for our year-end rally.

I have been enjoying another knee replacement. So far everything is progressing very well. I am walking well without pain. All that is left is to continue the PT to build up the muscles in my right leg. That’ll take another six to eight weeks so I’ll be exercising for quite some time. While I’m doing that Kay will be checking out our storage trying to reduce the total mass if possible. I don’t hold out much hope for that activity.

We spend our time here in Slidell taking care of those things that need to be done. Changing oil, greasing, washing, storing all those must have things, putting the coach on a diet, etc. I also spend time building things like a bike rack for the back of the Jeep. Changing tires on the trailer, it’s been almost four years and they started to fail. It’s just one of the pleasures of owning a large fifth wheel.

After spending Thanksgiving with the family, I even had turkey dinner with my husband-in-law; we’ll be spending Christmas with the folks here at the campground. On the 27th four couples will beat feet to Colfax and the year-end rally. After that K and I are heading to Georgetown, TX for an Andrea fix for about a week if we can stand it that long. While there we’ll visit with Sue and Joe Moore and hopefully we’ll get up to Pat and Rusty’s for some catching up. I hope the weather cooperates with us so we can have a fish fry in the campground.

Our destination is Benson, AZ and Cochise Terrace RV Resort. We’re meeting four couples there to do some four wheeling in the local mountains. Our plan is to spend two months in the area. While there we’ll attend the Medium Duty Truck Rally to schmooze with other big truck owners. We’ll probably head to Moab, UT and the slick rock after Benson. There will also be a stop at the Freightliner Haulers Club Rally in Vidalia, LA. We are scheduled to be in Traverse City on the 15th of May. If any of y’all are in the area stop by for a visit, we have the most economical campground in the area.

Travel Safely and Supremely, Henry and Kay Hauffe

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

12-08 Colonel William H. Waters, a native of Starkville, Miss., earned master's and doctoral degrees from LSU in 1967 and 1971, respectively, after receiving a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1954, where he was commissioned. At LSU, he was a member of Alpha Zeta and Gamma Sigma Delta honorary agriculture societies, as well as Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa academic/leadership societies.

Colonel Waters and his wife, Geneva, are the parents of five daughters and a son and have nine grandchildren. They reside in Zachary.

12-13-08 This was in a newletter I get, Ida

...Jayco announced today that it will close its newly opened Entegra Coach subsidiary in February. Just last April Entegra Coach became a member of the Jayco family of companies, the the world's largest privately-held manufacturer of recreational vehicles. More than 100 will lose their jobs because of the plant closure.

11-08
Leaving from New Jersey on the Explorer of the Seas, the Butauds and Fishers enjoyed ten days cruising in the North Atlantic and the St Lawrence Seaway while visiting three Canadian Provinces. The Explorer Of The Seas, our home away from home, is one of the largest ships in the Royal Caribbean line. One of the unusual features of the ship is a skating rink where an ice show is performed. But, more on that later.

The cruise departed from Cape Liberty in New Jersey and headed for the first stop in Sydney, Nova Scotia. While many side trips were available, Connie and I elected to “build our own” day in Sydney. We walked the city and took in the local sights and sounds. The Fishers were off on one of the side trips offered by the ship.

Our next port of call was Prince Edwards Island. We docked at Charlottetown and, once again, elected to do it on our own. All of us walked the town and a delightful town it was. I commented that I could easily spend three or four weeks in the area one summer. We had heard about a couple of good restaurants and set out to track them down. As a result we had some of the best clam chowder I have ever eaten. Following that we set out for the next restaurant which was a seafood place. It was noted for lobster and we found out why. If you have never seen Gene Fisher eat lobster you don’t know what you are missing. Strange sounds normally associated with pure joy kept coming from his side of the table. He does know how to eat lobster - including that “green stuff” which he said was delicious. I would say that Charlottetown is high on our list of favorite places to visit.

Next, we headed for Quebec City. As we proceeded down the St Lawrence Seaway we detoured down the Saguenay River to see if we might spot some whales. Some folks said they saw whales. I did not. But then I had not been drinking.

Quebec City was as impressive as I remember it the first time I was there in the 70s. Chateau Frontenac is still a beautiful place. On this day we split up and headed in different directions. Connie and I, along with our cruise directors, took a ferry to the non-tourist part of Quebec City. We were treated to a beautiful and quaint part of Quebec and got to meet several of the locals. Our mission was to find a famous chocolate manufacturer. After about 1 1/2 miles of walking almost straight up we located the shop. It was well worth the walk. Rather than walk back we cheated and took a taxi back to the ferry.

After leaving Quebec City, we headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once again we all elected to tour on our own. Halifax was especially important to Connie because many of her ancestors on her Mother’s side of the family came from here when thousands of Acadian families were split up and deported. Once again we found (yep, you guessed it) a great place to eat.

Once back on the ship we cruised back to Cape Liberty, New Jersey where we caught our flights back home. This was a great trip. The seas were unbelievably calm. The entertainment on board ship was some of the best I’ve seen. The ice show was absolutely spectacular. The food, I must say, was in my opinion just OK with the exception of two notable evenings. On one evening, our table group elected to go to the ship’s restaurant. The service and the food was stupendous. We dined in a beautiful setting for almost three hours. The ship itself is something to behold. The center of the ship is a huge mall with merchandise shops, eating places and bars of all descriptions. All in all a great cruise in a beautiful ship. Till later, drive supremely and safely.

Lou Butaud

10-16-08
After our Vidalia Balloon Rally was canceled because it didn’t make, Joe & I decided to go on our own. Turns out we had an impromptu, unplanned "Gathering of Traveling Supremes Friends" at the Balloon Festival in Vidalia, LA. The Bayles’s, Moore’s, Wellock’s, Rickles's, and Mary & Bernard Lang all showed up and had a great time. Additionally, other members showed up Saturday afternoon for a nice visit. Those coming Saturday during the day were Betty & Larry Jurisich, Les & Ida Cook, Connie & Lou Butaud, and James & Gail Smith.

There were well over 200 RV's there, all sites full, and several in a "no hookup" overflow area. In addition to the balloons, there was a flea market & carnival on the North end of the park. Since our last rally in Vidalia, the city has added a new Super Wally World and a new Mexican Restaurant, so we were well served with the necessities. Joe and Sue Moore