A Much Needed Vacation

We're flying back to Boston to spend a couple weeks with the Simpson family on Webster Lake in Mass. The constant blogging and picture taking, moving from site to site, and changes in altitude have been exhausting. No further blogging will occur until our return on July 14. See you then.

Higher and Higher

We took an extended tour through and around Rockey Mountain National Park. The weather for the day was shakey, and as we started out on the NE side if the park, visiability was poor. As we continued up, on and westward, we broke out of the clouds and into the highest parts of Rt. 34. Peak altitude on the road is 12,200'. The views became terrific, and we made two or three stops and took walks at points of interest. There is still a good deal of snow up here and the tundra landscape of low growing shrubs, flowers etc is breaking out into bloom. Tundra means "land without trees" in Russian. We had some close encounters with elk, and saw some marmins, which are western ground hogs. We headed south down the western edge and began to see the devastation wreaked by the pine beetles. They are wiping out just about everything in their path above a certain altitude and it looks loke these areas will be barren in a couple of years. Trees grow very slowly up in the mountains and will take generations to reestablish a forest. This beetle is just beginning to make its way over the Continental Divide and onto the eastern slopes.
Stopped for lunch in Winter Park and continued south. No roads cross east to west through the park until we hit I-70. We went east and then back north up to Center City and Blackhawk in the heart of the old gold mining region. There still appears to be some active mines up there, but the towns were allowed to use gambling to try to resurect the area economy. Doesn't appear to have worked, and the casinos look third rate. Once again on the eastern slope, visiability declined. We completed the loop by heading up through Boulder which has a reputation as a hippy enclave even today. We didn't spend much time looking around, but the U of Co. is located in town and probably contributes to the reputation. Took Rts 72 and 7 north back up into Estes Park which completed the loop.

Lovely Loveland, Co.

Had some service done on the truck early yesterday and then took an extensive tour of the area after lunch. It's a really nice town with a lot to offer. We drove through a number of subdivisions on the edges of town, and then went into the downtown to a gallery where Marion has her art work displayed for sale. We then toured the Loveland Museum, which was very interesting.
Marion had us over for dinner. By 9:00 pm everybody was beat and we beat feet for home and bed.

It's picture time again--I hope. Might be too slow and frustrating. This area is gorgeous--You have to be happy when you're in the sun, and the scenery is so spectacular--some photos are good, but can't do justice to the wide open vistas!! Lovely wildflowers, but too busy standing with our mouths open in awe of everything else!!

Easy Does It

We took a slow one yesterday. Did some shopping with Marion and found an RV place to have a few minor repairs and store it while we are gone. Watched some Soprano's last night. Some show.

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

We took a ride up to Rocky mountain National Park just west of Loveland. Mt. Long is the dominant peak in the area and is one of 54 14ers in Colorado, as they say out here. It's just a little over 14,000' and still has snow on top. We hiked up from the parking lot to an elevation of just a little bit over 10,000'. Streams were running full and snow was still on the trail in places. Once up there, the views were magnificent. The rides up and down through the canyons are awesome. The trails run through all sorts of wild flowers. It was a busy day on the mountain as folks from this area really get out and take advantage of the great out doors. Dana and Marion stopped by Dream Lake and painted with water colors while the rest of us went a little higher. Their drawings came out very well.
We all got home and cleaned up and Carl and Marion and Kevin took us out to the Chop House in downtown Loveland for dinner. It was great. We went back to their house and played Apples to Apples. It was good time spent. Amy leaves for her mission tomorrow early am and Jessica the next day. We wish them both the best on their journeys.

Estes Park

We road up to Estes Park with Carl, Marion, Amy and Kevin yesterday and took an aerial tram up to the top which is about 9,000 feet.The ride up is breath taking. The views into the Rockies were beautiful. It's a summer resort area and there are no ski areas around here. In town we shopped and had lunch. Headed home and Dana and I food shopped. Later, everybody came over to our place for dinner. It was a hot day, well into the 90's, and the camp electric went out for a short time. Things in an RV heat up or cool down fast. Fortunately it was not out for long.
We can watch folks rafting and tubing by on the Big Thompson river just out the back of our rig.

The Rockies

The drive from SD to Loveland,Co, was uneventful. We went south through Nebraska into Colorado and then east. Lots of flat and open. We were hoping to get that great view of the mountains on the way in, but later in the day storm clouds rise over the mountains and they completely covered the view. We set up in our RV park and quickly found that our cell phones have no signal here. ( They pick up about 3 miles east) Our site backs up to the Big Thompson River, site of a tragic flash flood in the '70's. Very comforting.
We turned on our GPS tracker, plugged in Carl and Marion's address and took off. Their home is only five minutes east of here. We're just catching their two daughters, Jessica and Amy, who are both leaving for mission work early next week. Jessica is going to the Azores and Amy is going to Uganda. Kevin came over and we all enjoyed a hearty minestrone soup that Marion made. We took a walk up the street to a local sculpture park. Loveland puts 1% of their budget to parks and the arts and you can't believe the place . About 75 bronze sculptures set in a well thought out surrounding. Once again, property taxes are very low, about $1300 for a home that would pay $10,000 in Jefferson, NJ.

Hail

We took a day off yesterday. Dana did some laundry and I did a number of little repairs around the RV which I'd been putting off. Also washed the truck from the day before's trip over a couple of gravel roads. When all that house hold stuff was out of the way, we headed into Hill City,SD, to look around stores. Lots of neat shops around here. We ended up at a DQ for a cone and noticed that the thunder heads were rising high and fast. We hurried back to the RV and some open windows just in time. A thunder and lightening storm hit and hail began to fall. The largest hail was about golf ball size, and fell early in the storm. As things continued, the hail became smaller in size and more plentiful. Inside the RV was almost like being inside a drum. I was sure some damage was occurring, but when the storm passed, everything seemed fine. The hail stones felt light, as if they had air in them. Storms of this nature are apparently fairly common in this area of the Black Hills.
We head for Loveland, Co., today, about a 400 mile ride. Dana's sister Marion and her family and her brother Kevin moved out there from Jersey about two years ago.

Badlands of South Dakota

We drove east yesterday on a trip around Badlands National Park. The scenery was once again spectacular. These areas started at one time as flat layers of varying sediments and with time,wind and water, gradually eroded. The harder materials eroded at slower rates than softer material so that hills were left and gullies created. The colors are amazing and the shapes are all different. We jogged in on a side trip to a place called Sheep Mountain Table. A table is a high section of land, flat at the top, which for some reason eroded slower than surrounding areas. It's an island. Traversable areas between the low Prairie of the bottom sections and the high areas of the high Prairie are called passes. The gravel road through the pass to the top of Sheep Mt. Table was steep and windy, and they were doing some roadwork to fix potholed areas. At one of the work areas we stopped to get out and met a young man from Haddenfield Hts, NJ, who had graduated from Georgetown and was working the summer as the resident Paleo-monitor. Whenever any disturbance of earth occurs in the Badlands, his job is to be there and check to make sure that any fossils run into are properly inspected recorded. The area is loaded with fossils. As the layers continue to erode, fossils are often exposed. The road from where we ran into him and the tip of the table top ran through Indian Reservation land and became rougher and rougher. We dropped into 4-wheel and forged along to the very end. The views were spectacular. It was mid day, so there were few shadows and pictures will probably be bleached out. From there north to the main Badlands Loop. Sensory overload.
We headed home and I started suffering from indigestion of some sort and went down hill until night fall. Had to bail out on Tom and Joyce who were heading over to see the night show at Rushmore. We thought they were staying until Friday, but are leaving tomorrow am. We had a wonderful visit with them.

Crazy Horse

Another huge mountain sculpture in granite. In the '40's, Souix tribal leaders decided that the Red Man needed to know that they had heroes also. An artist named Karsaik(sic) who had experience at Rushmore was contracted for the work and the leaders had to choose a subject. Crazy Horse was selected because he had never signed a treaty or lived on a reservation. The artist began work by himself and had to build laddering all the way up and then rig a system of piping for compressed air to run drills. For the first five years he worked alone, carting all his equipment, dynamite etc. up the ladders to the top. A couple college girls showed up one year to volunteer their time and he married one of them. They had ten children over time, and after the old man died in '82, they carried on the work. It has been financed privately with no state or federal funding, and their goal is to keep it that way. The head, 90' tall, is completed and much of the over burden covering the horse has been removed, but a lot of work remains. After that, we road a number of the scenic byways in the area, including Custer State Park, which has a large buffalo herd. The roads are spectacular with a number of narrow tunnels, two of which exit directly into a view of Mt. Rushmore.
We went to a cowboy dinner with Tom and Joyce Gerlitz followed by a show by the Riders in the Sky, a grammy winning cowboy group who sing old songs with a mix of humor. They were very good. From there to the laser light show at Crazy Horse Monument, which was also quite good. It's light until 10:00 pm and again by before 5;00 AM. Hard to get enough sleep.
Something we started seeing at Devil's Tower, is an Rv that is half RV and half horse trailer. Horse people go to facilities with stables and ride the state and national park trails on horse back. Everybody around here has horses and the trails go forever.

North by Northwest

Or how did those big heads get there? Yesterday we went to the Borgym(sic) museum in downtown Keystone to learn about the artist's life and times and then up to Mt. Rushmore to see the famous granite heads of our Presidents. What a creation. Because of the height of the sculptures, all the views are a good bit away. The trail around the base takes you to many different angles. The scope of the work is staggering. The Roosevelt head is recessed because they had to remove over a hundred feet of granite to get to stone that was crack free and durable. The artist wanted to remove the rubble at the base from all the construction, but that was never done. He actually died before the completion of the last head and his son completed the work. His original plan called for the sculptures to go to the waist and Washington has a waistcoat on. He used a staff of unskilled laborers whom he trained and highly praised for their effort and desire to learn. He used dynamite for the bulk of the removal and then jack hammers and shaping tools to finish. A safety advocate, no one died and only one man was injured badly enough to miss any work during the whole operation. He had to be a genius to figure it all out.
From there we went to Rapid City where Dana shopped for a little bit while I had the oil changed in the truck. It was a nice little town.
Had Tom and Joyce Gerlitz over for dinner last night, then went over to their site for a campfire. The weather here has been a mixture of sun and clouds with wind and a bit cool. It was in the mid forties yesterday about 9:oo am. The wind finally stopped about 8pm last night.
For anyone with comments, the procedure is fairly simple. You need an active e-mail address and when you sign in, follow the prompts to establish a google account if don't already have one. There's no charge for the account.
Our campsite offers all you can eat pancakes every morning from 7-10. It's almost as cheap as my normal Cheerio's with half a banana breakfast.

Now somewhere in the Black mountain hills of Dakota

It was a short trip over to Hill City, SD, from Devil's tower. We were in and set up by about 1:00, and I sat down to watch the experts play Oakmont Country Club. Just as we got tuned in, there was a knock on the door and Dana's cousin Tom and his wife Joyce were here. They are about three RV's away. We had met previously a couple of years ago when they stopped by Bowling Green to play, and then stopped down at the house. They came in and we nibbled on some smoked trout from Lake Superior and chatted while the boys tried to figure out Oakmont. Tom and Joyce have enjoyed RVing for several years, at first in a class C and now in a fifth wheel. They live in Warwick, NY, and spend time in Florida, the Outer Banks, and on the road. They invited us over for dinner, and after the golf we went over. They had terrific marinated spare ribs. Had a real good visit and we'll have them over tonight.
Tiger hasn't been making all the shots and putts that lead to wins in the last two majors, but he's the only one out there who could be in contention with his B or C game. The par saving putts on 15,16 and 17 were as pressure packed as you can get. Real pukers as they say. He knocked all three in dead center. My buddy Jimmy Furyk hit driver off the tee on 17 into what looked like eight inches of extra thick blue grass. He said later that a pea shooter like himself had no chance for the green and that he was didn't think he could hit it far enough to get in trouble. After birdies at 14,15, and 16, the adrenalin must have been pumping. He, Tiger and Angel all bogied the 17th which at 306 yards, was called a "birdie" hole at least 50 times by the commentators. But you have to give credit to Angel for hanging tough and making an easy par on 18 after hitting an absolutely monsterous drive. Last man standing, and great back 9 action for us viewing choppers who love to see the big boys brought to their knees. I heard somewhere that the USGA had to slow the greens down which had gotten to 14.5 on the stimp. Frightenly fast, even for those guys.
Mount Rushmore today.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

We are at the Devil's Tower KOA, where much of the filming for the movie was done. Every night at sundown they show the movie on an outdoor screen. Last night thunder and lightening storms were all over, so I dug our old video copy out and we watched in the rv. We got here early afternoon, set up and went to the National Park. They have a trail at the base which is located at the edge of the boulder field, that goes all the way around the tower. It's quite something and worth a stop if you're in the area. The walk is 1.3 miles and the path is paved, so it's an easy walk. (At Pompey's Pillar, I'd run up quite a few of the stairs to the top for a little exercise, and yesterday had to take Advil to go on the walk.) After that, we took a drive around the local area, which is partly in the Black Hills National Forest, and ended up on a 30 mile gravel road on which we saw one other car and a couple of ranches.
Today is one of my favorite days. It's Father's Day, but just as importantly, it's the final day of the US Open golf tournament. We'll move over to Hill City, SD, and the Mt Rushmore area, where our campground has cable hook up, and I shall sit my butt down and watch to see if Tiger can win another Open before he's a father.
We spoke to Dana's cousin Tom a couple days ago and he and his wife, Joyce, are on a trip including a reenactment of Custer's Last Stand and up to the Callgery Stampede. As fate would have it, they are staying in the same RV park in Hill City that we are. There must be a hundred spots in that area to choose from, so it's quite a coincidence. At any rate, we'll have company for a few days over there.

Pompey's Pillars

After a maintainence morning of truck and trailer cleaning and laundry, we headed north to view a place called Pompey's Pillar, the only known evidence that William Clark left in this area of his exploration. He named it for the child of a french fur trader and Sacagawea, the Indian translator who helped the Expedition of Discovery along. He was quite fond of the boy and had him travel in the same boat when possible. Recent rainfall and continued mountain snow melts have local streams and rivers at near flood stage. It has also led to a very green look everywhere, which I believe is normally more tan or brown. The area receives less than 20" annual rainfall.
To get where we were going, we took a road which was unpaved for about half the way and really out in the middle of nowhere. Beef country. It made us very hungry for steak, so we went into Billings, Mont., and wandered around town. It's quite an industrial looking area with coal and gas produced in the area, but the down town area was quite nice. Jake's claimed to be the steak place to be, so we went. It was very good.
By the way, we have received a number of comments posted back. We really enjoy the feedback, so don't be shy. It can't be hard to do.

The signal is very strong here, so I'm again catching up on pictures. North Dakota was amazing--as we traveled we passed many ponds and wetlands along the road--they were ringed with yellow flowers, and mallards were in each one--never saw so many mallards.The fields are emerald green, and very hilly, or wide and flat, or rocky and barren-- very diverse--
many pheasants just wandering around in the fields--you could ride for miles looking out to nowhere, and then there are cliffs and rocks in front of you.
I wish I had time to enlarge and crop these pictures--someday--ask me

The Little Big Horn Battlefield was so interesting--nothing has changed since it happened, so you could really envision how it all unfolded.Looking at this terrain--hundreds of people could hide just a few hills away.

Enjoy the pix--you'll have to backtrack to get the text-------Dana

How many Indians did you say were over that hill?

We drove about 400 miles yesterday from Beaulah, ND, to Hardin, Mont., and the Little Big Horn Battlefield. The drive was once again beautiful and once again long. We set up in a KOA and headed over to the battlefield. We bought the cd self guided tour and were able to view the progress of events while observing the terrain. Custer split his forces up to try to prevent the Indians from escaping into the hills. The Indians were quite surprised by the attach being launched against them because there were 7,000 people in the camp of which 1500 to 2000 were able bodied warriors. Custer had a total of about 400, but split down into 5 groups. At the end of the day, 260 soldiers were dead. The others survived because the main body of the army which Custer was scouting for arrived on the scene. It is rolling ground with valleys and gullies everywhere. White markers are in the ground where historians think soldiers fell and red markers where indians fell. Not many red markers.
In yesterday's entry, I left out an interesting story. Back in the late '60's, my brother Andy was hitchhiking cross country and was on the road near Fargo, ND, which is on the eastern border of ND. A couple picked him up and headed west going about 90 miles per hour. They drove all the way across ND and were heading into the Theodore Roosevelt NP at the Painted Canyon area when Andy asked to get out. They let him out and went one way and Andy began hitching. A couple ranchers eventually picked him up and were talking about a couple who had robbed a bank in Minneapolis and were last scene heading west. How about that?

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The TRNP is in the far western area of ND and split into a North and South section. The ride over was through rolling praire and we saw lots of Prong Horn Antelope along the way. We first went to the North section which has a 14 mile in and out road to ride. Route 85 going to the park breaks into Badlands terrain just before the entrance and is absolutely spectacular. The day was clear and coolish and recent rains had greened up vegitation and in the case of the abundant Sage, Blued up. The terrain is radical with Buttes and knobs jutting up and ridges running in all directions. The sedimentary rock has layers of different colors with black seams of coal mixed in. The views go on as far as the eye can see. We bought our National Park Pass entering the North area, which is smaller and by what's written, lesser than the South area where TR resided. I would beg to differ. The North has higher, larger meadows and plains while the South sports a slightly more rugged look. You wouldn't want to have to find your way out of either section.
Wild life is plentiful and the Parks are home to just shy of 400 American Bison or Buffalo. Signs warn people and hikers to beware of these beasts which are quicker and more agile than their looks would indicate. The bulls weigh up to 2000 lbs. In the North secton we encountered two bulls at a pull over area that were on what appeared to be a regular commute. They crossed the road next to our truck and Dana got some good pix. They are huge and looked healthy, fit and muscular. As bulls age they tend to become more and more solitary, fraternizing only during mating periods. We saw more out in the high plains areas, but at quite a distance. In the South area we encountered a single bull wanting to cross the bridge we were stopped on. He wouldn't cross with us on it, so I pulled through and over. He dashed past and crossed over. Just after that we saw one laying down on ledge that looked like a spot for mountain goats. The last one we saw was posing on a ridge top just off the road. He held pose as car after car stopped and clicked away.
Wild horses also live there, and we saw two having a pretty good dispute just off the road. They were nipping, snorting and rearing at one another. An amazing site. Prairie dogs were everywhere. Overall, I'd have to say we've never been to a prettier place. TR had gone to the area in the 1880's for health reasons and fell in love with it. He went in as a partner on a cattle ranch and then added a second area which he owned by himself. A Frenchman had also come to the Medora area to establish a beef empire. Both were doing very well until a severe winter in the late 1880's destroyed 80% of the herds. The rivers were clogged by carcases in the Spring, and neither ranch recovered from the disaster. The Frenchman left and TR got into politics.
On the way back, we detoured to go on the Enchanted Highway which is known for the roadside sculptures artists have constructed. It was anti-climactic and we were wearing out by the time we got through it. Capped the day off with a traffic ticket from the local boys in Beulah,ND. Hit 40 leaving a 25 area following some motorcyclists. He didn't get them, but he got me. It's a $15 ticket and according to him, ND only has reciprosity with Montana and SD. A bad end to a great day. As the sun went down at our site, the coyotes were howling in the backround.

The Long Haul

Drove 530 miles yesterday from Minneapolis, Min., to Beulah, ND. It was our first exposure to the Great Plains and the terrain was more rolling than expected. ND looks like the backround of Dancing With Wolves. (We saw wolves twice, once on the UP and once in northern Wisc.) Went past the tallest structure on earth, a TV tower, and saw a number of the huge excavators used in strip mining for coal. They are visible from miles around and all lit up tp work 24 hours a day. Our campground is mainly occupied by fishermen, with a sprinkling of the huge motor coaches. Out here, the horizon is so far off that it looks like the clouds are forming and rising from the edges. The sunset was beautiful.
Joe Riggs called yesterday with the sad news that Jim Egan passed away while on a golfing trip to Atlantic City. He died in his sleep. Jim was quite a character and will be missed greatly.

MOA

That stands for Mall as in Mall of America. Biggest, highest anywhere. There's an amusement park inside with water rides and roller coasters. Karen Lufek was our guide. It's a big attraction, drawing 2.5 million visitors a year. We toured, had lunch and I bought three shirts, the only purchase of the day besides lunch. When we left and got back to Karen's home, she showed us how to hook up to the wireless campsite routers which just about everybody has. It is much faster than the Verizon Broadband Wireless here. A big thanks to Karen.
We hit the road for N Dakoda this am.

Hi again--i just need to add a bit--the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Upper Wisconsin are gorgeous. Tried to convince Bruce that we could run a motel on Madeline Island, Wi. for the summer, and go south in the winter--He's not buying it--too cold, too much snow--(I hate housework, so it's not really for me either), but Lake Superior can seduce you--so beautiful. The area of Bayfield, Wi. is so pretty--lupines covering the banks of the roadways. I really wanted to tell you all that we've seen 2 wolves so far--Bruce missed one--he was driving--very cool--no moose yet though. We've overdosed on smoked trout--fresh from the fishery--can't look at any for a while.
Enough--having fun with friends-------------------------------------------------Dana

Twin Cities Spin

We made it down to Minneapolis-St.Paul and set up in a KOA NW of town. Friends of ours from Oak Ridge, Karen and Jay Lufek, moved out here four years ago when Jay was transferred. He is a native of Minneapolis. They came over and took us for a great tour of the area. About two million people live in the greater metro area. The city has a series of 3 lakes and parks that are all connected by walkways and bike trails, and everything is clean and well kept. The cities have many residential areas that look like our suburbs. The city areas also look the same. In the city, areas are connected by enclosed overhead walkways so that in winter people can park in heated garages and connect anywhere without walking outside. It's really a necessity here with the severe winter temperatures. We visited St. Paul's Cathedral, a structure which reminds one of Europeon churches. They then took us out to dinner at a terrific favorite place of theirs. It was a great day and this is a beautiful area. Jay has to depart today on business, so Karen and us will probably hit the Mall of America.

Lazy Day

We found out the tix for our Aposle's Island boat tour were down stairs only, and after a barely audible moan, they offered to refund our money. We jumped on it and headed up to a neat State Park north of Bayfield where we walked the shore and collected interesting stones just like old folks do. This trip could be the final episode of "Cocoon." Bought some Brown Sugar Smoked Trout and dip, hit a few shops and enjoyed an alfresco lunch overlooking Lake Superior. Back home we cooked local Whitefish for dinner. It was great. Twin Cities next.

Storm Front

We left Munising and drove west through Marquette on our way to the western edge of the Michigan UP. Predictions of violent T-storms, damaging winds and possible tornatic conditions were broadcast on the radio all day. Our destination is River Pines RV park in Ontonagon, Mich. We checked into our site and found that the owner had just baked fresh Pasties for sale. Pasties are big up here. A pastry crust is filled with ground meat, potatoes and anything else left in the frig. We set up and then drove up the Keweenaw Pennisula (don't you love those Indian names) as far as the road went, Copper Harbor. Fueled up out of fear of wide spread power outages, and while doing that, Dana walked across the street to a cafe. By the time I got there, she had established a relationship with the owner. He roasts his own beans, and we enjoyed a great cup of coffee and bought a bag to go. It was almost as good as CozyCabinCoffee, my tour sponsor (Klondike Bars rejected my recent offer of co-sponsorship). Once again, the tour was longer than it looked, and we got back in time to make dinner and wait for the storm. It came through like a wall and for a while it rained White Pine limbs. When it passed, nothing was worse for the wear and things cleared up.

Yesterday we left western Michigan and the Eastern time Zone, and drove along the coast of Lake Superior into Wisconsin. Our stop was in Bayfield near the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Met some real friendly people, then headed downtown to catch the afternoon boat cruise to the islands. Since it is still "off season," there was no tour, so we bought tix for tomorrow morning and started looking around town. Found a fish shop selling fresh Whitefish, Brown Sugar Smoked Trout, and Trout dip. Will stock up tomorrow. Next door was Oley's barbarshop, so I popped in for a trim. Oley turned out to be the head of the local Chamber of Commerce, so it was an informative trim. We stopped in some great craft shops and then headed back into town to catch a ferry to Madeline Island, a little upscale ,off shore enclave. Just about everything was closed, so we took a walk and came back. It was beautiful out, so the boat ride was worth it.

We got home, cooked dinner and then started chatting with the people next door. They're from Ventura County, California, and doing what we're doing, but backwards. It was nice because we could share notes on where we'd stayed and gone. As we spoke, a group of younger campers approached us about participating in a bean-bag toss game. That was a hoot. Then it was over to some other folks spot to compare notes on campgrounds. He was a sports trainer for clients at the Mayo Clinic and she is a young Mom who runs marathons. I was tired talking to them. It was after 10:00, finally dark, and way past my bedtime. Chao

Kitch-iti-ki-pi Springs

That's the Indian name of a very neat place up here in the UP (Upper Pennisula) or Yoopees as they refer to it and themselves. Most of the UP was logged over the years and left to grow back. One man with vision came across this deep spring area when it was full of clearing debris and realized it was a gem in the rough. He acquired the land, began cleanups, and then donated the area to the state. It is now in Palms Book State Park a little NW of the town of Manistique. They have built a passenger powered, cable guided raft with a roof and the centerleft open for viewing down into the water. You can clearly see all 45' down to the bottom and the colors are beautiful. The spring flows at 14.5 million gallons per day, small by Missouri standards, but quite something. Passengers turn a large wheel attached to a cable to propel themselves across and back. A guy from Traverse City back in Mackinac told us about it and it was truly a gem.

We found a place to eat lunch overlooking an inlet from Lake Michigan. I asked the cashier if there were someplace local to buy fresh fish, and she directed us to her family's fish store in town. We bought some fresh Whitefish and a piece of Brook Trout just out of the smoker. We grilled the Whitefish while nibling on the Trout. both were good, but the trout was superb. Wish we'd bought more.

Had an appoitment at a local Chevy dealer to service the truck. Oil and filter, trans fluid and external filter, lube job, and tires rotated and a complementary wash for $102. At a dealership!

Pictured Rocks Boat Tour

We moved west and north from St Ignance to the Port of Munising on Lake Superior. After setting up, we headed into town to check out the well advertised boat tours of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. These sandstone cliffs project as high as 200' above the lake level for fifteen or twenty miles of the coast. We went in to sign up and the girl at the ticket counter made sure we were aware that it was really rough out there today. It had been a cold blustery day up to then. Morning temps were low 40's and the high was about 50, with winds out of the north. We left, but then decided it was so bright and clear that it was worth a shot. We signed up and the boat loaded at about 2:10 pm for the 3 hour ride. The boat had a capacity of about 150, but was less than half full. It was divided between the lower enclosed but not heated level and the open upper. It took about half an hour to clear the well protected harbor and get into Lake Superior, which was running a three foot chop, and another fifteen minutes heading east to get to the cliffs. As we approached the cliffs, we left the lower area and went up top. The cliffs are beautiful. Mineral laden water which seeps out of the rock and comes over the top has colored the stone in a manner to resemble murals. The day was so clear that the views were stunning. The water is deep straight down so that the boat could run very close to the cliffs in some areas. Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake in the world by surface area, about 170 miles wide and 400 miles long, and up to 1300 feet deep. In normal winters, the edges will freeze a couple of hundred feet out, and about every 20 years, will freeze all the way across. In a chat with the captain, he said the busy season was only July 15 to Aug 15, with the shoulders starting at June 15 and wrapping up in Sept. Winter storm activity keeps vegatation from growing on the cliffs up about 25 feet and nothing grows on the real sheer spots. It was a worth while trip and the seas didn't prove to be as punishing as we were lead to believe. One little boy hurled, but fortunately it didn't start a chain reaction from other land lubbers.
Hit the 10,000 mile mark yesterday. An unusual site up here are the massive long haul trucks. The biggest ones are 38 wheelers. Nine dual wheel axles and the front steering tires. Some of the log trucks may even have more.
When we set up camp here, we originally decided on a woods site, but as we tried to set up, the biting bugs changed our minds. We moved out into a wide open site and they were more tolerable. I believe they're known for the density of the insect population at certain times.

apologies and pix(I hope)

Hi All--It's me again--Bruce has kept you posted, but now some "girlie" things. First off, sorry no pictures lately--busy,busy, and we've been in VERY SLOW reception areas. I'll try now, and see what happens--I'll be catching up since Graceland.
It's been fun observing the terrain as we drive. I hate to tell these other states, but sections of a lot of them look like "Joisey" to me. At this point Bruce and I have seen all 5 Great Lakes--not all this trip. The views here have been serene, different, and beautiful--We're in a rain pattern, so this is certainly a different view of the lakes. It's an area known for lilacs--taller than I've seen before. Saw yellow lady slippers, and a bird never seen before--the American Bittern--about the size of a wild turkey hen on long legs.
The marshes and swamps are also beautiful--flowering hummocks in the midst of the water--"ghost forests"--areas where the marsh has overtaken the forest and left dead, bleached trees standing for acres--neat.
Hope the weather clears because we have at least 3-4 more days to explore Michigan--ta-ta-Dana

The Lake Superior Trail

Unsettled weather has followed us from Missouri north to the Upper Pennisula. We had planned on taking the jet ferry to Mackinaw Island but overcast, cloudy weather persuaded us to wait a day. Instead we climbed into the truck and hit the Superior trail. We headed north and west up to the Tahquamenon Falls, the second largest falls east of the Mississippi. It was worth the stop as the views are nice and they also had a nice place to eat lunch. Whitefish is the fish of the day everyday around here, so we shared a smoked cheese and whitefish dip and a lightly fried whitefish sandwhich. We continued north along Lake Superior and stopped at a spot with beach access that was spectacular. The terrain and flora and fauna make up a wilderness. Traffic is extremely light and most places look more like fishing and hunting camps than places for family vacations. From there, north to Whitefish Point. The area off this point is known as the shipwreck capital of the Great Lakes and a little village and museum are found there. We had to travel south and then east on Lake Shore Trail to get over to Sault Ste. Marie where the Soo Locks which connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron are located. Locals say that boat traffic has been increasing the last few years after diminishing over a number years. Michigan is still hurting economically and is considering passing laws to become a "right to work state" to attract businesses which are reluctant to come to a pro union state. A guy next to us at the campground was from Traverse City and said that the resort business down there and up here had been badly hurt by a series of regulations restricting rentals. Everything up here seems empty, but schools are still in session and maybe it will be busier as they get out for summer vacation.
We got home in time to make dinner and get down to the Lake Michigan beach to watch another spectacular sunset. We are at the west edge of the eastern time zone and sunset occurs at about 9:35 PM.

Gateway and Long Drives

From Springfield we drove over to a campground on the SW side of St. Louis, Mo. We set up and ran into town to view the Gateway Arch. It sits right on the Mississippi River and is a remarkable structure. You can take a tram to the top, but the day was so hazy we didn't go up. It's constructed of triangular stainless steel pieces of diminishing size. Quite a site. When we returned, Jeff Meshach (for non family, Jeff is the son of my cousin Marilyn and Ernie Meshach, which is a cousin once removed?) met us and we followed him out to his home. Jeff and Katrina, along with their children, McCoy and Marilyn, live on the top of a ridge on 30 acres in the town of Pacific. It's a long trail off the road to their home. It had been an A frame type home until just recently when, as Katrina says, they added a house to the A frame. It was designed by Katrina and built by a contractor friend of theirs. It came out great and probably tripled the size of the house. They served a dinner of bar-b-q venison, St. Louis style, with asperagus and potato salad, all of which was delicious. McCoy is 10 and Marilyn 8, so Jeff and Katrina are running with activities of the ages, and loving it. Jeff gets his deer right on his own property for the most part. We had a great visit with them and are happy we were able to connect.
Friday, June 1, and we headed out on the longest drive of the voyage. We drove from St. Louis across mid Illinois to Terre Haute, Indiana. The scale of agriculture is amazing. We drove back roads and every ten or fifteen miles there was a small town with a grainery. Large graineries. Miles of farmland, and in this area, little sign of dairy or horses. We crossed into Indiana and jogged north and east all the way up through South Bend, Ind., and into southern Michigan. We stayed at a campground in Niles, Mich. We covered about 470 miles.
Sat., June 2, we headed north up Rt. 31, which follows the east shore of Lake Michigan. We didn't see the lake until we got up to Traverse City. Rt. 31 was another close to vacated highway for most of the way. It's a big orchard and vineyard area. Peaches, apples and cherries galore. Traverse City looks like a huge resort area, similar to shore spots. It must not be their busy season yet. Most of the hotels and motels along the water were only partially filled. North and east of Traverse, the scenery improved with rolling ground and lake views. The Macinaw Bridge is spectacular. It connects the mainland to the upper pennisula and Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet beneath it. We drove just under 400 miles for the day. We are staying right on Lake Michigan at an RV park in the town of St. Ignace. It has a walkway to the shore, from whence was observed a spectacular sunset last night. We chatted with another Bruce who has been on the road for 19 months and was a commercial photographer. At first he allowed the sunset was pretty good, but as time passed, it became prettier and prettier. When we were chased in by mosquitoes, he stayed shooting pictures and slapping mosquitoes away. We also took a bunch of shots and hope to get some posted.

Out of Springfield, Mo.

Yesterday was our last in Springfield. Andy and I played golf and once again got wet on the second nine. The entire stay here was a forecast of scattered showers and boomers. It looks like they still have a few more days of it. A stalled low system is blamed.
On the way to dinner, we stopped by Carol's business and she gave us a tour. She is an Optometrist specializing in vision therapy for children. Her office is very impressive. She really stays on top of things in the field and goes to educational conferences all the time. Lots of kids with learning problems just aren't seeing things and need vision therapy.
We ate at Fishes restaurant which is owned by a friend of Andy's, James. It was a great dinner and a great time. Carol and Andy went way out of their way to show us around and show us a good time. We've really enjoyed it.

The Teeny-Weeny Ranch

Carol and Andy managed to have us included in a Memorial Day celebration at a friend of theirs ranch. The ranch owner, Margie Hazelton, is a character. She is from Arizona where as a young woman she performed in a rodeo, mainly as a calf roper. She has pictures all around of this action. She later married a thoroghbred horse trainer and became very involved in that. Sometime after they separated, she came to the town of Seymour, just east of Springfield, and bought and began operating her Tenny-Weeny Ranch, which is 1,000 acres, small by western standards. Her ranch house is modern in design and beautiful. Everybody brings kites to fly, is encouraged to participate in Karioki, and sings patriotic songs whenever Margie starts one out. Andy and I struggled mightily getting one of the kites assembled and airborne, which some observers took great glee in. Eventually, both kites flew. At the ranch it was very breezey, and looking out over the grass lands we could see what "waves of grain" means. It was a great day and Margie, who is mid '80's, made everybody feel right at home.

The Total Tour

While Carol, Dana and Linda went off to Ozark to antique, Andy took Phil and myself for the unabridged tour of Springfield. Phil has lived here only seven months, so he saw some new things too. We all met back at Carol's home where I learned I had dodged a bullet on a Rosewood jardenaire. It was too large to travel with. We stayed at Carol's and had a terrific filet dinner with a potato dish and asperagus, then strawberries and whipped creme.
The summer season starts today. We'll see if the campgrounds and RV parks become noticably busier.

Around and About

We went out to brunch with Carol, Andy,Carol's dad, Johnny, and Carol's aunt and uncle, Linda and Phil, to a place called Valentines. It was an order off the menu place with an interesting selection of choices. Somebody had come up with buy one get one free coupons so that made it even better. After that the girls went to a flea market and Phil, Andy and myself went over to Bass Pro Shop, the grandaddy of outdoor stores. It's huge. We then went back to Phil and Linda's place to wait for the girls. Phil and Linda moved over here from Memphis about seven months ago. Their home is filled with furniture and many items including Kochina dolls which Phil had made himself. He is a real craftsman. Linda's library is also a marvel.
That evening, we went to a Tapas Bar where Ira, along time friend of Andy's, was playing classical guitar. The food was great as was the music.

Current River Area and Retreat

Andy took us on a guided tour out to the Current River. It is a couple hours east of Springfield. He and Carol and her sister bought 40 acres of property out there over looking the river. On the way out we stopped and saw a couple of the springs which feed and in some cases originate creeks, streams and rivers in the area. The Alley Spring flows out 81 million gallons per day and is the origin of a fast moving creek. It is the 8th largest spring in Missouri. We ate a picnic lunch there. It's a beautiful spot. We then went to the Blue Spring, which is known for vivid blue color of the water running out. It flows at 87 million gal/day down a short creek into the Jackport(?) River which then runs into the Current River. About half way out the walk to the spring it started to pour and we all got wet, but I failed to wear rain gear and got soaked. We then visited their property which is adjacent to property owned by a fellow named Scott and his wife Jodie. They have a cabin up there they live in and have built a second one they rent out to folks as a retreat. The places are very remote and up a narrow road carved through the woods. The views down to the river are just great. Andy, Carol and her sister had a travel trailer out there for several years, but had to remove it because with limited use the local wood residents started to make it their own. They are considering a cabin at some point. It was a terrific tour of the area which as a whole is agricultural with some rafting, canoeing, floating businesses along the rivers and streams. Floating is very popular out here.
Last night Andy took us all out to the Metropolitan Grill for Dana's birthday. We had an excellent meal and a great time. Thanks Andy.

Golfin' In the Rain

Andy and I went out to Riverview Golf Club just south and west of Springfield and teed it up. It's a real nice course, well maintained and layed out. It was $32 per person with cart. The course is part of a real estate project and houses on the course were very large with a lot of detail, and looked nice. We were playing along and the weather started to turn on us. On the way to the 14th tee, a bolt of lightening and a crack of thunder sent us scurreying to the protection of a culvert going under a road. When the rain let up, we headed in. They gave us nine hole rain checks which was very generous. We left and had a Thai lunch.
This whole deal gave Dana a day by herself which she seemed to enjoy. In the evening we went to Andy's friend Carol's for dinner. She has a real nice home and we ate out on the patio on a beautiful evening. Later.

Queen of the Ozarks

That's what Springfield,Mo., is known as in these parts. Got in yesterday and saw Andy in the afternoon. He looks great and we set up plans for this week and the week end. Should be a good time. There is a car show in town that had most camp grounds booked up and we ended up at a lesser place, but not terrible. Today we'll explore the town and see what's up.

Home Day

We just caught up on some things yesterday. Went to an rv store and picked up some light bulbs. Washed the truck and gave the interior a good cleaning. Off to Springfield,Mo., today where my brother Andy lives. Back roads of course.

Branson, Mo.

Well Branson, Mo., is known as Nashville west and the best RV area in the country, but Dana and I drove in yesterday and couldn't wait to get out. It's a real tourist trap with as much neon and glitz as Vegas (almost). We finally got through, going east to west, and headed back down to Blue Eye. Luckily we ran into Jill,s Bar-b-q place , which saved the day. They served St. Louis style ribs, which have a smokier flavor than we've tasted in the past. Caught the end of the golf. Zach Johnson is on the way.

Eureka and the bulls

Springs that is. In NW Arkansas. Hot water comes out of the ground. People soak. Artists work. It's another artists conclave. Shop after shop after shop. We took the trolley to move from place to place. Big biker area. Lots of people riding these three wheel cycles (Tricycles?) and pulling little trailers. It's been a beautiful few days with sunny skies and highs of about 70.


On the way home, listening to a great country station, 94.3, we heard about a Bull Riding Rodeo going on over in Huntsville,Ark. Looks about an hour away, so we rush home, drop off groceries and head out. Lots of windy country mountain roads. Takes an hour 15 to get there. The arena is called Sky Hi and we take a dirt road next to a Conaco station way back and up into the woods. It is sky-high, and there are bulls and cowboys everywhere. If you ever watched any bull riding, you know how violent and jerky they buck to get folks off their backs. They weigh up to 1800 lbs., are all muscle, and mean in disposition. As the guy behind me said as he spit tobacco juice into a cup, "they wasn't made for ridin', they was made for eatin'."They had the last four or five years national champs out there riding these beasts. You have to make it to the bell to get a qualified ride and advance. The first guy up, one of the champs, got tossed and the bull landed on him. The rodeo workers and a mounted cowboy with lariet and bull whip keep the bull away from the downed rider while they remove him. A later rider caught a spur and was held on by one heel as the bull continued to spin, kick and buck. You have to be nuts to get on one. To get mounted, they run the bulls, one behind the other, through narrowing steel fencing until it's so tight that the bull can't turn at all. They put a rope under him and cinch it up, which really irritates the bull. The rider is then loaded and he wraps that rope around his hand and grabs a braided piece of bull mane, which further riles the bull. When the rider says ready, they throw open the gate and out they come. Some rider were thrown before the gate was fully open. After they separate the two, the mounted cowboy tries to herd the bull out, but some of them really have an attitude. The bulls leave when they're good and ready. If they didn't clip and shape the bulls horns, nobody would get near them. The show also included precision riding by twelve cow girls with American flags tearing around. One of them opened the show singing the National Anthem acapella while sitting on an alert and anxious horse. A very good performance. We didn't stay for the last round, but it was an entertaining evening.

Lost in Space

On Tuesday, May 15, we left Memphis and headed for Hot Springs, Ark., Bill Clinton's boyhood home and a black hole in cyberspace. Arkansas has no Verizon, very little Cingular, and lots of Alltel. The interface they provide, RoamAmerica, or something like that didn't work well. After giving them $20 for a pin#, I found that after punching in the pin and the call# twice, that getting connected was about a 1 in 20 shot. And one of the calls, a voice mail to Grant, he never received. I hold Bill and Hill personally responsible for this travisty.
The trip from Memphis on Rt. 79 and 270 was easy with hardly a car on the road. We crossed the Grand Prairie of Arkansas, a vast, flat agricultural area that went on for a long ways. They grow a lot of rice there. We pulled into the Hot Springs area and found our camp ground at Cloud Nine CG just east of town on rt 70. Right on top of a ridge and very nice. Had some boomers and down pours that late afternoon and night.
Wed. am, we headed over to Garvin Gardens, a very pretty spot left to and maintained by the U of Ark. It was about a 3 hour self guided tour. If you get here, don't miss it. We then headed east of town and drove the ten miles to Hot Springs Village, one of the largest planned communities in the country. You've probably seen Eric Estrada pitching it on tv. We stopped in the real eastate office and took the full blown tour. It was started in the '70's and so far about 8,000 of a total of 32,000 homes have been built. It's about 17 miles long and gated, with many services inside the village. It was actually very appealing. The realtor company we dealt with is not associated with the Eastrada outfit. She said that the company he pitches for bought up a bunch of previously sold lots from distressed investors and sells them at inflated prices. They fly folks into Little Rock and house them at the airport. Prospects can't rent cars or do any looking around on their own. They are shown the sight and if they don't buy, it's back to the airport. Anybody know somebody who's done this?
Thursday we did the Hot Springs National Park, the Park within a town. The Springs are amazing, coming out of the ground at about 140 degrees. For years the bathhouses flourished as a health spa. People soak in it and drink it. It also became known first for the resorts and recreational facilities around it and then for gambling and all sorts of deprived behavior. Al Capone had a place there and a casino. All this was overt and winked at by authorities who threatened to shut them down when money was needed. It wasn't until one of the Rockefeller's became governor in the early '70's that they were all shut down. I never remember this being a big story up our way, but it sure was down here. We took a Duck Boat tour of the area and then checked out the National Park area, and drove up to the Park's observation tower overlooking town. That was the most interesting thing about Hot Springs.
Yesterday we drove north on Rt. 7, designated as some sort of scenic byway. It was a great drive with little traffic. We looked over the Grand Canyon of Arkansas and eventually pulled into the town of Blue Eye, Ark. Blue Eye has about 39 people who live on the Ark. side and 129 who live on the Missouri side. We are staying at Ozarks RV Resort, operated by Outdoor resorts of America. The sight is on Table Rock Lake, which is huge. It winds all the way to Branson, Mo. These folks sell luxory camp sites, which they will rent for you when you're not there. Sites here go for a base of $30,000 and up to over $100,000 for lake front. The same company has sites across the country at exclusive spots. Our one neighbor is spending his first summer here, arriving May 1 and leaving Oct. 1. He has a boat and the rights to one of the 20 boat slips being constructed. People really doll up their sites, within guidelines. It's gated and patrolled at all times. Tents, pop-ups, and van conversions and anything with canvas sides are prohibited. Will post some pix soon.
It's great to be back. We missed all of you.

Graceland,Graceland, Memphis Tennessee

We went to Graceland. Not as tacky as we expected. The mansion tour was interesting and well done. The audio program included in the tour was excellent. As John Lennon said, "before Elvis there was nothing." He had quite a career and an amazing number of capes and leather jump suits. They even had the tv he shot a hole in one night. He was on top of the world for quite some time.
Managed to get camp reservations through Aug. 10 in Missoula, Mt. Hope to finish through Labor Day by end of week. After that, we'll go back to week by week.

Memphis--Beale Street is certainly alive--street bands, street "drummer" bands(kids marching down the street beating out rhythms), street tumblers--no mats here, just the hard cobblestone road. I had to go into the "original" B.B. King's Blues Club--had a "shooter" and got the glass as a souveniere--but, the band stopped as soon as we walked in--oh well, the only tiny disappointment in a very fun Mother's Day!!!!

Wouldn't you know it--the International Barbecue Contest is here --starting this coming Thursday, and we leave tomorrow!!!--

Mother's Day in Memphis

Mother's Day morning we took off for a tour of the "Home of the Blues." Our first stop was Mud Island Park located right in the Mississippi River. It's the first time either of us has set eyes on Ol' Man River. The park is known for it's five block long scale model of the River. It's outside on a river walk and really neat. You can walk along the edges or cross back and forth at will. Kids take off their shoes and play in it. ( water runs through it) We were there by 10:30 or so and initially had it to ourselves. After touring the river, we went inside to the Museum, which was very nice but seemed to go on forever. I was desparate for an exit when we left.
We walked up into town looking for a place for a late lunch. In the section we were in, few places were open. As we headed back to The Blue Plate, we noticed an odd bus painted black with knives painted all over it. It was parked in the "valet only" area in front of a hotel. When we went down to check it out, we saw the entrance to the 83 Grill, and decided to give it a try. What a find. Turns out it's the restaurant and bar for The Madison Hotel, described by the bar tender as the only true boutique hotel in Memphis and the place be. We sat down at the bar looking over the street and bus and ordered a great salad, an order of the best calamari dish we've ever had, and a Madison Club sandwich. It was all out of this world. We finished up with a pecan tart topped with a dolop of whipped cream and a thin leaf of dark chocolate, and espressso. During this time the bartender got us up to date on all the celebs who frequent the place and came out on the sidewalk to take photos of us in front of the bus. The bus is for the band Tool, who is one of Grant's favorites. They were staying while they work on a new recording. When we finally finished, the staff insisted we take the elevator to the top observation deck of the hotel which looks over the river and city. A couple women who were up there struck up a conversation with us and took our pix, which we hope to post shortly. Some view.
From there we took the trolley down to Beale Street, where the Blues were invented. Every bar and honky tonk had a live band playing, and we stopped at a public plaza where we watched a guy called Canaan Gage perform. His roady says no white man since Stevie Ray Vaughn has done the blues like that. He was great and I bought a cd which he autographed for me.
We finished up stopping at the Blue City Cafe where a three piece group did Elvis, Ray Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and mostly Johnny Cash. All five started at Sun Records in the '50's. It was great. All in all, it was a terrific Mom's day, and Memphis made a very posative impression on us.

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends celebrating today. Grant called early and started my day off w/ a smile--I'm sure I'll hear from Brad--these guys take good care of their Mom. Just wanted you to know that Grant is the map-man--surprised us, but it's fun to see where we've been already.

Note to Reader

Please note that I have changed several blog settings, most noticeably the template. This was done to accommodate some of the many creative ideas that Bruce has for the future of this blog. He has officially gone Blog Wild.

Also note that Bruce had been posting under Pacific Daylight Time settings. So he has not actually been posting at 4:02 AM or other ungodly hours of the night when normal people sleep.

We believe the changes made will show a marked improvement that will help to allow this living, breathing document to more accurately reflect Bruce's creative vision.

Thank you.

-Ed.

Marching to Memphis

We drove from Atlanta to Memphis yesterday, our longest drive thus far, just shy of 400 miles. We went due north to Chattanoga on an interstate and then took state route 64 all the way across Tennessee. We cruised at 65 with hardly a car on that road, which is alternating two lane-four lane. It is also being expanded to four lane the whole way for some purpose I don't understand. A Senator must have rolled some pork. Crossed into the Central time zone and saw our first road kill armadillos of the trip. An odd animal. We reached our camp ground without taking any wrong turns, a first on the trip, and are set up in the Graceland RV Park, right next to the hallowed ground. A quick call to a local Rib joint brought a pink Cadillac to pick us up and take us to dinner. Today we will visit downtown Memphis and go to the Mudd Island display which is a mock up of the Mississippi River from the confluence of the Ohio River south. Also to check out Sun Records and Beale St., the home of the Blues. This is the first spot in a while where we don't have someone to look up. Anybody know anyone in Memphis?

Scott's Antique & Collectable Show

The Pino's picked us up in the AM and took us to Scott's Show. It's huge and occupies two huge buildings. More stuff than you can believe. Books, jewelry, furniture, rugs, odds and ends, you name it. Mostly very nice stuff. Decorators and home owners shop here to furnish homes. I do believe you could entirely furnish a home in a trip here.
After the show, we went for dinner at Houston's and had a great rack of "fall off the bone" baby-back ribs. Bob and Eloise have been down here about 8 years and really know the places to go. Their hospitality has been wonderful.
There's an Air Force and Reserve Base right across the street from our site and they share the runways with Lockheed-Marietta, the company that won the bid for the next generation fighter for the military. We looked up the first day we were here and saw one. It's called the F-22 Raptor. It was followed by a F-16 chase plane. The new plane was half again as big as the chase plane with a very stealthy look. Awesome.

Marietta,Ga.

Bob and eloise Pino toured us around the city of Marietta. It's grown to a town of over 70,000 and is a major suburb of Atlanta. The tour also included much of Cobb county and parts of Fulton county. It's a bustling area with some very upscale neighborhoods. We stopped at the Kennesaw Mountain Battle Park which comemorates the civil war battle as Sherman approached Atlanta. In Marietta he left only oe house standing, the home of a former West Point classmate. Needless to say, Sherman is not very popular down here.
Today we head toward Atlanta and a huge market where all types of antiques etc are available. The Pino's have acquired many furnishings for their home there.

On To Georgia

We traveled from Seneca, SC, to Marietta, Ga, yesterday. After planning on using interstates, which we try to avoid, I missed a turn and we just jogged our way west and south on smaller roads. It worked just fine. We got to the rv park, backed into our tiny spot and found out that the tailgate wouldn't unlatch. Located a Chevy dealer only two miles away and had to haul the whole trailer down there as we can't disconnect without lowering the gate. I was expecting to get get raked over the coals. They sent their shop foreman out and he repaired it in 5 minutes for no charge. How great is that?
We then set up and Bob and Eloise Pino picked us up. They are previously from Milton and Eloise taught Dana decorative painting. They toured us around the Marietta, took us out to dinner, and then back to their home. They are both students of many types of art and collect porecelains and miniatures, among other things. Their home is beautiful. Dana will have to fill you in more on art subject. Today they are taking us into Atlanta for a tour. They have cetainly shown us what "Southern Hospitality" means.

The Big Lake

Ruth and Joan took us for a boat ride around Lake Keowee yesterday. It was a beautiful day but a little windy. The lake was built in the early '70's to service a nuclear power plant. It's big and very deep. Duke Power Co. built it and over time has developed and built subdivision projects on the shore. They have their own development company for this purpose. The housing is amazing. We lunched on the lake. It was a great tour and some pix are on the blog.
After that Dana and I did a little planning as the summer season approaches and we will be needing to have reservations at many of the places we want to see. We'll be stuck on a schedule which we've tried to avoid, until at least Labor Day.
For dinner we went back over to Ruth and Joan's. They invited their neighbors, Pamela and Bill over for drinks and then for dinner. We had a great meal and a great time. Their hospitality has been wonderful and we'll sure miss them as we get back on the road this am.
Yesterday I forget to mention an NBA tidbit. Did ya'll see the collision between Steve Nash and Tony Parker in the Sun's-Spur's game? They were both going for the ball and collided head to head. Nash's nose was a mess and they both must have had headaches in the morning. Nash had to leave the game because they couldn't stop the bleeding. He needed a cut man from with ring experience.

Hi All--just came off of lovely Lake Keowee--not a cloud in the sky, and views to the mts.--Ruth and Joan are taking such good care of us--they are wonderful hosts!!!

Chore Day

The Crooked Creek RV Park is one of the few that will allow patrons to wash their RV's on the premises, so I scrubbed her down top to bottom on a brisk, breezey day. It came out pretty good but the bugs on the nose are tough to get off. Got some compound and polish and will try a little harder today. Went over to Ruth and Joan's for dinner and had a great time.
They're taking us for a boat ride today which we are looking forward to. Lake Keowee is man made and huge by Jersey measures. Over 400 miles of lake front. The steep ridges and gullies which characterize the mountains down here create a series of coves and peninsulas when dammed and flooded. Lake Norman in NC and the TVA lakes near Knoxville are similar. The many communities we've seen on these lakes take advantage of this by offering many lake front lots and often having cul-de-sac roads lead down onto peninsulas. It's a boater and fisherman's paradise.

Taking it easy

We just hung out at the campground yesterday and had Ruth and Joan over for dinner later in the day. Cooked Salmon and asparagus on the grill with potato salad, garden salad and fruit with yogart for dessert. With a diet like that we may live forever. Tiger wins again. I once dreamt about hitting a 6 iron 200 yards out of deep rough with a little draw onto the green and making the putt, but woke up before the ball dropped over the edge.

Clemson University

Ruth and Joan took us on a driving tour of the town of Clemson and Clemson U. Believe me when I tell you everything down here is orange. The kids wear orange, adults wear orange, there are orange tiger prints on the road, and Ruth and Joan both sported orange rain gear because it was pouring a good part of the day. We had lunch in town then stopped at the student center to acquire some of Clemson's reknowned blue cheese. (the cheese was not orange) Ruth then toured us through the town of Seneca, where they live. It's a very appealing area, and on our list of possible locations. Got home and watched the derby. A horse won.

Seneca

We hauled over from Moonshine Creek, NC, to Crooked Creek in SC, yesterday. It was a very easy drive in comparison to the last move. Crooked Creek is the nicest campground we've been to in terms of facilities. It sits right on Lake Keowee, the same lake that Ruth and Joan live on. After we set up and laid in some provisions, we headed over to Ruth and Joan's home. We had been there in '02 for a visit. It's a great location, lake front, with a terrific view out over the lake, which by Jersey standards is humungus. They have just completed a renovation of their kitchen. It used to be a galley kitchen. They tore down the inside kitchen wall, which opens everything up into the living room and allows views from the kitchen out over the lake. It really came out great. It should be in a magazine. We all headed over to a friend of their's home for a chilli dinner. Other friends were there, so 8 of us were together. The food was wonderful, and the conversation stimulating. It was a delightful evening. Rain possible over the weekend.

Last day in western N.C.

Took a ride over to Hendersonville, a highly publicised area for retirees. Another great town down here. Stopped at the N.C. arboretum on the way and saw some nice gardens and bonzai trees. A thunderstorm hit while we were in town and I mean to say that storm was right on top of us. A real boomer. We hit rain on and off on the way back to Moonshine Creek, but it hadn't rained there. Most areas down here are extremely dry and praying for rain. Leave for Seneca, S.C., today to see Ruth and Joan and look over the area. This is a late post due to poor internet connection. I'll get back on schedule tomorrow and try to drive the few remaining readers of this blog out of cyber whatever it is.

Up and Down Day

We checked out more of western N.C. yesterday. This area of the state is incredibly mountainous. We started in Franklin, the gem capitol of the east. Another neat, friendly little town with lots to offer. After dipping down into Georgia, we went east on Rt 106 to Highlands, a beautiful , very upscale lake area. From there, Rt 64 east took us to Cashiers. We stayed on 64 through Sapphire and Lake Toxaway to Brevard. This stretch of road had one private lake or golf community after the other for mile after mile. There were some resorts scattered in and a few of the courses were open to the public. In Franklin, Brad and Grant bought Dana a bracelet and ear rings for her birthday. Today we head for Hendersonville.

Western N.C.

Road over from Pigeon Forge yesterday looking for a campground just north of the town of Cashiers. A really, really mountainous area. Far and away the most challenging roads we have traveled while pulling the rv. Anyway, we were looking for Singing Waters Campground and followed this winding road off the main road up into the hills. Finally found it, but the owner had sold it to a developer and it won't be opening. Fortunately, after we got turned around, a guy who works for the development company rode by and directed us to another place, Moonshine Creek Campground just off the Blueridge Parkway. It's a gorgeous place and once again we are right on a babbling mountain creek. We're in the gem area where some rubies, emeralds, and opals etc. are mined. Will investigate today.

Dollywood

What an idea. A hillbilly Disneyworld. It was a pretty neat place, very clean, everybody super polite and friendly. No life size model of Dolly though. According to one fella, they used to have one, but it disappeared. Can you imagine? They did have a large picture which I posed beneath. Will post it soon. Today we head back into N.C., between Asheville and Hendersonville. Need to repair a window blind which looks like it will be quite a job.

Our rides through the Smoky Mts. have shown us beautiful scenery for sure---apparently it's a big biker journey also--never have seen so many bikers--(giving the "wave" to other bikers)--going up Mt. Mitchell it was bicyclers--here motorcyclists--I have discovered that I'm not as slow as I thought--w/ my "snakedar" on I can see, leap,pivot, and scream all at once when I'm surprised by a big snake--no more walks by streams for me.!!

Cades Cove

Another mountain drive. Cades Cove is an historic area located within the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The drive out follows mountain creeks and streams with scenic overlooks one after the other. A "cove" is a sheltered valley with deep, rich soils. At several spots we got out and walked along the creeks. At one spot, we walked past a snake which was sunning itself. People in front of us didn't see it, I didn't see it, but Dana did. She jumped a little bit. It looked to be a Garder or Water snake, about 3' long and over an inch in diameter. It finally slithered under a log after we had disturbed it sufficiently .The site when you arrive is beautiful and set up for picnicing, which many people do professionally with multiple coolers, tablecloths etc. We just sat at a table and ate. For the ride back, we took the Rich Mountain Road. The sign entering the road warned that it was a "primative road" which meant unpaved, narrow, and poorly maintained. It was much longer than a look at the map would lead you to believe. Got home and watched a little NBA. Go Nets. After dinner we went to a new, upscale mini golf course. We pushed the front, but I came on strong to win the back and overall, finishing with back to back aces. It was $11 a head which for some reason surprised me.

Iris Dement

Yesterday was a slow one here in Pigeon Forge. Dana did laundry, I had the truck serviced and we watched "High Noon," the old Gary Cooper-Grace Kelly film. They really don't make them like they used to. After that invigorating day, we headed into Knoxville for the Iris Dement concert. We ate at the Bistro, next door to the Bijou Theatre on Gay St. in the downtown area. The meal was great, the desserts better. Irsis had a fellow who is John Prine's lead guitarist, open with a set of his own. He was very entertaining and a terrific guitar player. Iris's music is usually found in the "Folk" gendre section at music stores and we have one of her cds. She's actually way more of a Mountain Music or country singer. She came out in a very unflattering polka dotta dress. About half her songs were played with backup from a bass guitarist and the aforementioned lead guitarist, and half were by herself playing piano or guitar. Most of her songs deal with life situations. Her voice goes right through me and I loved the show. Dana thought all her songs sound alike and the lyrics were very hard to understand. At any rate, it took about 40 minutes to get back to camp, and it was way past my bed time.

For my "flower friends" the road through the Great Smokeys National Park is lovely--carpets of spring beauties on the roadsides, several types of trilliums, and bubbling mountain streams--I can't find my wildflower book--is it with me, or is it in storage in Hackettstown???
Once it's warm I have to remind you all of the beautiful gem in N.J.---the Leonard J. Buck wildflower garden in Far Hills--it's so charming, and many of the flowers I see here are there--GO !

On Top of Old Smokey

Clingman's Dome is 6643 feet above sea level and the high point in the Smokeys and Tn. ( Somewhere in an earlier blog I said Mt. Mitchell in NC was the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6400 feet. It's actually 6684.) We drove Rt. 441 through the National Park and took the 7 mile divertion trip to the Dome. The walk from the parking lot to the top is about a half mile according to the signs, but sure feels longer. They were nice to provide benches to rest on along the way. At the top, a circular concrete ramp leads to an observation platform above the tree tops. It's another 360 degree view of the mountains and spectacular. A very large young man with a fear of heights was struggling to regain his composure for the walk down the ramp. Some of his buddies helped him out and he was able to do it. On the way down we passed a hiker who was nearing the end of hiking the Appalachian Trail. He had started at the north end in Maine. Didn't hear when. He was wearing all the gear and marching like he wanted to win a bet. The balsam species trees in all the upper elevations in the region are being attacked by an adelgid similar to what we've seen in Jersey with a related insect killing hemlocks. We are in a campground right in Pigeon Forge, home of Dollywood and presumably Dolly Parton. We've yet to see Dolly, but the mountains are a constant reminder of her presence. The Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area on the Tennessee side and Cherokee on the N.C. side of the park are immense tourist traps. Smokey Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the country. Wish we had stayed at a more remote site. Will cross the 5000 miles driven point today.

Through the Cumberland Gap

We drove north and west from here yesterday and went to The Cumberland Gap National Area. It was a dismal rainy day so mountain views were blocked. Interesting show about the area and significance of the passage. Indians called it the Warrior's Trail as different tribes used it to acess the rich hunting area of Kentucky and try to prevent others from taking it. Of course D.Boone used it also. Returning home a different route, we saw some neat looking shrouds of clouds draping the hills. If pix come out, will post. When we got back, severe weather warnings were up for the area and we watched the skys for a few hours. You know how those funnel clouds gravitate to trailer areas. According to morning news, a couple may have touched down north and west of here. Over to Pigeon Forge and the cleavage of the Smokies today.

We have been driving around the countryside and it's beautiful--rolling green hills, like Sussex County times two!! Steep hills with the cows and sheep populating them--You could find a little hill and have a home looking into a lovely little valley of your own--If you could find a spot not too steep. The leaves are out on the trees, but we seem to between seasons for the flowers--there are Huge rhododendrons in the mts. but not even close to being out yet.

Downtown Knoxville

We went downtown yesterday. Lady's B-Ball Hall of Fame was ok, but no recognition of Jackie Stiles. Had lunch el fresco on the square in the center of town and noticed a poster for an Iris Dement concert Sat. at the Bijou Theatre. Copped a couple ducats at the box office, 5th row center for the show. Knoxville is a big music area and seems to have 3 or 4 local theatres that have shows. After that, we went to the Knoxville Arts Museum, which AAA had listed as a "Hidden Gem." It was neither. We had a terrific but tortuously slow dinnner at Baker Peters Jazz Club on the west side of town. They still allow smoking in restaurants here which seems primative. For all the forecasts of rain and violent storms, we have not had a drop since we got here. They are currently 6" short of normal for the year. Today up to the Cumberland Gap to see where D. Boone explored.

The Secret City

Toured Oak Ridge, Tennessee yesterday. The city was secretly built by the govment in the early 40's for the Manhattan Project. The site was chosen because of the TVA projects which could provide the massive amounts of electricity required. At one point, a seventh of the power used in the country was consumed in production of U-235 and plutonium. They needed 100 lbs of each. An entire city was built with schools, stores, and housing for the 50,000+ people who worked there. If you've driven around the area you could easily imagine how difficult it would have been for anybody to find this place. At any rate, we took a cd self guided tour of the area and facilities. Unlike similar tours we've taken at Gettysburg and other civil war battle fields, this one was difficult to follow. We must have turned around 10 times. It was very interesting. A good deal of original housing still exists. Homes were built as fast as possible using a concrete-asbestos mix material for walls and flat roofs. They were called "flat-tops." That may ring a bell for a couple of you. The govment didn't actually acknowledge the existence of the town until about 1950. It is still one of two spots where real top secret labs exist. The Y-12 lab is the name, and in following our self guided tour, I took a wrong turn and ended up at the entry gate. The armed guards took my license and after about 20 minutes closed traffic in and out so we could u-turn and exit. Not a smile on a face anywhere. Coincidently, last night on the History Channel, the show was on Oak Ridge and attemps to reconstruct what the facility must have looked like at it's peak. It housed the largest building in the world at one point, and still has contaminated areas. Some of you may not know that my Dad worked on AEC projects from about 1951 through 1954. He said that everybody had to wear badges that would change color if radiation was present. He also said that most people ignored them because if you left everytime the badges changed color, nothing would get done.
After that, we rode down to Tellico Lake, another TVA project where a number of golf and boating real estate projects are selling. We didn't go in because they insist that you register with the sales office and be accompanied by them. They keep tire kickers like me at bay.
Today is Danas's birthday, so we shall head into Knoxville and hit a museum or two, the Ladies Basketball Hall of Fame, and hopefully dinner with music. Later.

Knoxville

We had an easy stroll on I-40 and pulled into camp a little after noon. Our site is in Clinton which is north of town on I-75. After setting up, we took a tour of Lake Norris and dam, a part of the TVA. The area is more mountainous than expected with hills, gullies and hollers everywhere. Not much different than Asheville. Our camp is more commercial than our last one, and being just of the interstate, a lot of folks come in late and leave early. Today we hope to explore west of town in the Oak Ridge area. Oak Ridge is famous for atomic energy, The Oak Ridge Boys, and of course Pat Summit and the newly crowned NCAA champion Lady Vols. Pat was on Letterman last night and that made news down here.

Mighty Mount Mitchell

Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi at about 6400 feet. Carol & Mike's home in Rio Dosa is a thousand feet higher. The views are spectacular and we took a walk on a nature trail through the dense upper elevation vegatation. Still snow and ice in the woods up here. The trail to the very top was closed for repairs and Dana refused to go around the barrier. We stopped at the Southern Craft Guild shop on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, which was very interesting, then into Asheville for a late lunch. Got home and lit our first campfire of the trip. It was a beauty. San Antonio better be careful with this Denver team. They might be able to focus on winning for 5 or 6 games. Off to Knoxville today. Ciao

Hi All--just checking in--I'm still alive, but Bruce promises me another ride up into the mountains!!! I tell you, Blowing Rock N.C. is gorgeous, but once I ever got up there I'd have to stay--these roads--I like the views, just not going around a corner into outer space.
just want to apologize for not posting pictures--I think I got brain lock--couldn't follow my notes, but our system is s-l-o-w a nd perhaps that's part of it--I'll try when we get somewhere else, and I'll try to get them in some order.

The Carolina Gold Rush

Attended a local fair, flee market thing in Marion called the Carolina Gold Rush. This area was apparently populated with people seeking gold. At anyrate, they had animals, exhibits, new gold mining equipment, musicians, and food. Got back to the camper in time to watch some NBA playoff action. Last month was the boys tournament, now it's time for the men to play. Didn't see the Nets, but Detroit looks like they always know what's happening. If I recall correctly, nobody else watches any NBA. We then went back over to Old Fort for dinner at a place called The Fishing Camp. They have live music all evening and more of these old folks who Clog Dance. It's really just foot stompin' with tap shoes. The music was good, but down here they deep fat fry everything except bar b q. The cat fish gave me a belly ache that not even a piece of chocolate creme pie could cure. A Pepto Bismal night for sure. Hope to get Dana to ride back into the mountains today.

Mountain Music

We left yesterday morning heading for Blowing Rock, NC. The road from Lenoir to Blowing Rock, Rt. 321, is being widened. It's a windy, switch-back road and so steep off the edges that you can hardly believe it's possible. They cut from the high side and truck it to the low side. The angle on the construction road looks straight up and down. The Blowing Rock is an outcropping that sits out almost like a pennisula into the Blue Ridge Valley. Almost a 360 degree view. It's privately owned and well kept. We ate a picnic lunch looking over the view. From there about 20 miles south on the Blue Ridge Pkwy to Grandfather Mountain, another privately owned scenic area. The drive to the upper lot put my stomack in my mouth. They've built a suspention bridge over a gourge up there, crossing to an outcropping that lends a full 360 degree view. Spectacular. ( This has to be the bridge that Rich Salmon has early recollections of.) The ride home took awhile. Everything down here is further than I think. We got back and were planning on attending a Navy Band concert in town, but the camp ground owner, Dan, told us that in Old Fort, the town just west of here, there is a little stage and hall where local mucisians play mountain music Friday nights. We got down there and went in. The hall was filled with older folks (aren't we all) of what would be described as an agricultural and back woods crowd. The music was great. Fiddle, bass, mandulin, and guitar. People were dancing what looked like an Irish jig and having a great time. About two hundred people were there. It was a great end to the day.

catching up and local color

Hi--it's the color commentator back again--we're doing very well w/ our adventure so far--cozy in our rv etc. Had a couple of turn-arounds that were challenging, but Bruce is backing this puppy up like a champ!!-----we're in the nicest campground of all--we back up to a trout stream--bubbling away just behind us--Buck Creek--and there are May Apples(wildflowers) going down to the creek--No swimming pools here--just swimming holes--must be fun in the heat of the summer--we took route 80 up into the mts. yesterday--fun for Bruce--white knuckle--again- for me--once up to the Blue Ridge parkway I'm ok. On the way up we passed MORE trailer parks and trout farms and ponds. (another different culture--living in your rv, w/ a roof over it--decks, jungle gyms,patios all set--for the season or forever)
Now there are about 25 rvs in this campground, but only about 4 people here right now--we are ALONE, but we have cable tv!! Last night I was thinking "Deliverance" but I shook it out of my head--I think.-----You could ALMOST get me to stay in a place like this--so beautiful.

O.k.--I'll try pix again-----------------------------------------------------Bye--Dana

The Blue Ridge

We drove from Lake Norman to Mario,NC, using all back roads. It was an easy drive. We are set up in the Buck Creek Campground and Driving Range. It's owned and operated by Dan. It's a great spot. We're backed up to the Buck Creek, a bubbling mountain stream. Instead of a pool, he has Swimming Holes in the creek. The site is on State Route 80, as windy a mountain road as we've been on. After setting up, we continued up 80 to it's intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unfortunately the section where 80 hits is under repairs and is not open, so back down we came. Lots of attractions in the area, so we'll be here at least until Monday.

Catawba County,NC

We had a nice tour of Catawba county yesterday. Ron and Jo Ann Veith from Milton moved down here 5 years ago. They live in the county just outside of the town of Newton. The area is pretty, with rolling terrain and quite rural. Jo Ann says it's like Milton 30 years ago. They found a home in an existing community that is beautiful. She toured us around to Lake Hickory and a golf course community as well as older neighborhoods. It was an interesting tour. The area has a lot to offer, and is one we are interested in. Schools down here are by county, not town. Students are assigned a school, but may choose any school in the district. The county will only provide transportation to the assigned school. Only state roads are plowed in the area. Everybody else is on their own. Got over to a Camping World and bought a new antenna head. It works, but only one over-the-air channel comes in clearly. People in the fishing tournament on Lake Norman are showing up at the campground. We're next to a guy who drove up from Louisana. From the look of his rig, he must be a Pro. On to the mountains.

Lake Norman

We made a windy passage from Asheboro to Denver, NC, about a two and half hour ride. It was very gusty the whole way. Many people in the area have been without power as the heavy rains and wind have knocked down trees all over. After setting up, we grabbed a bar b q lunch and took a tour around the west shore of the lake. Lake Norman is large, man made and has coves and pennisulas everywhere, which means all kinds of lake front. The area is highly developed with some very upscale housing. Fishing and boating everywhere. There's a bass tourney on this week, so motels, hotels, and camp sites are bustling. Hope to see the rest of the lake area and the Newton area today, then leave for the mountains tomorrow.

just for the record--being the "weenie" that I am--I thought we were going to die yesterday--we were driving right into the spot where 2 fronts were colliding--VERY SPOOKY weather!!!!Very dark above and to the left, very light below that, and to the right. --After a while we did see the most beautiful rainbow ever!!
from the "white knuckle " co-pilot

Reversal on the weather

After lambasting the weather media maniacs yesterday am, the weather cleared and then turned worse and worse all day long. By the time we circled around to Lexington, NC, the sky was strange, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain prevalent, and we were looking for funnels. Apologies to the media and to Tom Mac inparticular. I'll try not say unkind things about them again. Tom, I don't have your e with me , so I hope you get this message. The restaurant in Portland, Or., is Jake's Crawfish House. You can't go wrong there. Getting back to Lexington, we just heard on the radio that they were named as NC's best town for food by the state legislature. They wanted to be named for the best bar b q, but neighboring areas blocked the vote for that title. We couldn't find an open place in town and ended up back by our campsite at a little place that was great. We leave for Denver, NC today, which is just south of Newton. The Veith's from Oak Ridge moved down here a few years ago and say it's just like Milton 30 years ago. Hopefully we'll be able to see them. We'll be there a couple of days and then move up west of Asheville to a town named Marion, which has a camp ground-driving range combo.

Storms a fraud perpetuated by Weather channel

As usual, weather media overstated the storm potential for last night. Instead of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds, we had rain and a breeze. We pulled in two of the slide -outs to be safe. This is what happens when folks "sell" weather. ( Michael Creighton's "State of Fear" ) Went into Asheboro yesterday for the first time. Nice little downtown area with shops etc. It's in a "dry" county we found out. Debbie and Rich came over for dinner and to take a look at our rv. We had a nice visit and meal and discussed many important isssues. A large group of bikers were at the campground this weekend, but they weren't like the bikers in the movies. Most of them were tent camping, so with the weather forecast the majority hightailed it before dark. It would have been a nasty night in a tent. Hope you folks up north miss the storm also. Good luck.

Debbie's Home

We went over to Debbies's and picked up Rich and went for a ride around the area. We checked out the Jordan Dam and area as well as some other camp sites. We ended up at the coop store that Melissa got up and running. It's a real nice market place with produce, salad bar, coffee bar, and rows of organic goods. The people working there were polite and engaging. When we walked in the door the guy who was cashiering greeted us. (never had that happen in this type of store before) If you're ever in Pittsboro, be sure and find the Chatham Market. After that, we returned to Debbie's, and we all worked on leveling a basketball hoop that Gretchen had installed on the edge of the driveway. Not sure exactly why it was out, because the first piece of pipe set in concrete was perfectly plum. This is what can happen when labor is not properly supervised. (Tim Salmon was not in the area at the time) Had a nice dinner and dessert and then played a game of HORSE with Debbie, Ava, Tucker and me. North Carolina rules. (if you miss on "E", you get a second chance to make it.) Great fun. Nasty storms possible here tonight. Looks like we're on the southern edge of the path.

Natural Bridge to Raleigh

We crossed back over the Blue Ridge Mountains going SE from Roanoke, Va, t0 Ashboro, NC on Rt 220, a four lane highway almost all the way with close to zero traffic.It was really a scenic ride. Stopped at a Revolutionary War Site in Guilford, NC. Our guys lost the battle, but British loses left them unable to continue, and they had to wander back toward the coast for supplies and reinforcements. It was all down hill for the Brits after that, and Yorktown occurred within a year. Our camp ground in Ashboro is very, very rural. We set up, put $200 worth of fuel in the truck (first since Baltimore), and stopped at a bar-b-que joint on the main road. Pork barb, cole slaw, hush puppies, french fries, baked beans and non-alcoholic beverages. With tip, $20. Drove about 35 miles east on Rt. 64 to Pittsboro and tracked down Debbie Martin, Rich Salmon, Jetur, Melissa, her children Tucker and Marin, and her friend, Joe. Quite a lively group. Followed them back to Debbie's house and chatted for a while. Rich looks great . Hope to see them again today. All for now.

Hi all--Bruce has been blogging his heart out, so I'm doing color---the ride across Va. was beautiful---green hills and baby cows and lambs in the fields. The dogwoods and redbuds are gorgeous--they don't show up well in the pictures--the southern states do so well by their highways--sound walls landscaped, and roadsides planted w/ daffodils and tulips.
I'm going to try my hand at pictures---Montpelier--and the cedar of lebanon tree that perhaps was given by Lafayette, Natural Bridge--although we got there in the early evening--was amazing--wildflowers growing--trillium, duthcman's breeches ,jack in the pulpit, and spring beauties. This place is a treasure--BUT-we stayed for the evening show where the bridge is illuminated and classical music played while the story of the creation is heard---too slow--too cold--we walked out on God--hope no grudges are held there.
As we wandered along o Rt. 11N. I saw "Foamhenge" sitting on top of a hill--You won't see this in a travel brochure!!

0 day

Not much happening today. Rained on and off, hard at times. Went up on the Skyline Drive and drove N to Lexington, home of VMI and Stonewall Jackson. Foggy patches up there. Our site had a cable tv hook up, so we watched for the first time . Say goodbye to the I-man.

Montpelier and Natural Bridge

Had a relaxing and interesting ride south thru Md., across the Potomac to Va. We then drove west to Fredericksburg and then due west on Rt 20 to James Madison's home, Montpelier. His original home had eventually been purchased by members of the duPont family who greatly expanded it and made it into an equestrian center and home. They eventually donated the whole property to a foundation which investigated renovation. They decided to restore it. Madison's father had built the original home in 1760 or so, and Madison added on and elaborated the home in 1797. The duPonts had doubled the size and changed the look considerably. They tore off all the duPont additions, and began an investigation of how the 1797 was configured and decorated. The house exterior is complete, but the interior is still under renovation and they're still finding interesting detail, some going back to the 1760's. Windows to the sides of the front door were discovered to be pocket windows, that is they slid into the wall to be open in warm weather. These windows had 30 some coats of paint. They had no parking for buses or rvs so I had to park across several car spots, and the entry roads were extremely narrow. On the way out, I took a wrong turn and ended up in the working area of the estate where the roads were as narrow as sidewalks and took about half an hour to get turned around. The locals had a good laugh. After that, we hit I64 at Charlotteville, and drove over the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valley, then south on I81 to Natural Bridge, Va. We are staying in a Jellystone camp ground there for two nights. Because the forecast was so bad for the next two days, we got set up and went over to Natural Bridge, which turned out to be a hidden gem. The walk thru the area was beautiful, and it sure is raining this am.

The Road to Manassas

I've been obsessing about the lack of tv and my broken antenna, so yesterday I dragged Dana all the way around DC to Manassis where a CampingWorld store is located. It took about an hour and 10 to get there, and although they had lots of parts for antennas, they didn't have mine. The trip back home on I66 and the beltway took about two 15. Unbelievably bad. Got home just in time to run up to Baltimore and meet Rip, Diane, Jetur, Christopher and his girlfriend Amy and Patricia Hubbert, who unbeknowst to me lives in the area. (She is due around June with twins. )We ate at a nice Mexican place and had great food and flan. On the road to Natural Bridge today. Later

Easter with Rip & Diane

We spent a rather chilly Easter with Rip and Diane at their Linthicum homestead. They had a nice fire going which really felt good. We watched the Masters and discussed just about everything from people (maybe you) to current affairs. Nothing of substance was resolved. They served a delicious meal seen on Rachel Ray, and an equally tasty dessert, a cobbler a la mode. They are truly the hosts with the most. Who's Zach Johnson and what's he doing winning Tiger's tournament? After T eagled 13, everybody was supposed to fold. The one propane tank ran out over night, so we woke up cold. We will most likely leave here tomorrow am, heading toward Natural Bridge,Va. A couple days there and then on to Raleigh,NC. Later

Cherry Blossoms

We thought of sneaking back into DC this am to photo and view cherry blossoms, but the word is that the cold and wind has taken them all off. Gone. Next year.

The Portrait Gallery

Yesterday was the day we finally got inside the National Portait Gallery. It was really quite terrific. Portraits were divided into groups by time periods,some specific category(entertainment) and a Presidential Area. There were also photos by some well known artists etc. Dana may share more about those areas. We drove to a Metro station and had quick trips in and out. That was enough for one day. Called Dick Grant this am. He said c'mon-up, so we drove up to Havre de Grace. He and Doreen watched as we drove by their home while listening to that Garmin Girl bark in my ear. We now call her the Garmin Bitch. At any rate, we pulled around in the cul-de-sac at the end of the road, and by the time we turned I was talking to Dick on the cell. He guided us in from there. Doreen's son Bob was there. He lives up in Blairstown,NJ, and was visiting for the hokiday and helping get a new computer up and running. Dick and Doreen are doing great and look great. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch with them and good conversation. Dick is busy bidding on new work and major renovations all over the place. Stopped and watched a little Masters. Saw Tiger bogey 17 & 18, but left before Applebee tripled 17. It looked like the wind was going to blow people off the greens. How about Oglivey taking 9 on 15 after an eagle on 13? It certainly seems to favor Tiger on a final 18 in more severe conditions. Like he said, "You can hit great shots and get hosed out there." The weather looks pretty much the same up and down the coast. Where we are, just south of Baltimore, it's cold, windy and gusty, just what they need in Augusta. Survival of the fittest. Froze my butt off cooking pork chops out on the grill, but they came out tasty. Enough. More than enough.