Home in Oregon

I'm posting this entry from my computer at my own desk.  It's a lot easier than on my lap in the RV, and the machine is a lot faster.  :)

Just when I was thinking there wouldn't be much color in Oregon, we were greeted with beautiful trees against the backdrop of the greens.  This is my tribute picture to Oregon fall. It's nice to be home.



Driving north on Interstate 5





One more day in Red Bluff, CA

We stayed an extra day in Red Bluff.  The weather has been beautiful here and Linda has been enjoying the fall colors that are here in the park.  The days are balmy and the nights cool.  We haven't eaten all of our food yet, so an extra day just seemed in order.  Tomorrow we'll head towards home, probably taking two days.  The next post will be from Yachats.

Teradon enjoying the sunshine and the fall colors

Mt Lassen National Park

We've arrived at one of our favorite RV parks in Red Bluff CA,  It's warm here and a very comfortable park.  Because we have a car for the first time, and because the government decided to open for business today, we drove up into Mt Lassen National Park.  It was a beautiful fall day, and while parts of the park we still not open to the public, we enjoyed the Visitors' Center and some fascinating sights. The park has four types of volcanoes and Mt Lassen is one of the world's largest plug dome volcanoes.

Grandma and Teradon at a Lassen Park overlook



Mt Lassen in the background, the largest plug top

Some park land terrain

Bubbling mud pots

Many of the interesting spots reminded me of sites in Yellowstone.  Some day we'll come back when we can drive through the entire park.

Guess Where We Are Tonight?

That's right. This is a picture of Teradon on the pillows of his very own queen bed in a Holiday Inn Express. We had a slowly progressing morning drive.  We chose to come north on Route 99, up the middle of the Sacramento Valley.  There had been an accident involving two semi's earlier in the morning and the road was still closed.  We were detoured around in a vveerrry sloooow moving line of traffic.  About an hour and a half later, we were continuing on our north bound trip.  Then there was another construction slow-down.  Any way, without a planned stop for the night, the motel started looking really good, especially when we approached Sacramento right at the beginning of rush hour. 

We found a perfect pizza place for dinner and are now vegging out with Teradon in the motel room.  Life is good!

California Orange Grove

We've arrived in California and come to Bakersfield.  We know that this valley is unbearably hot in the summer, but October seems to be the time for perfect temperatures.  The orange grove is a lovely setting for an RV park. We posed Teradon in the orange tree at our site to send to Emma, so it's the same pictures I'm putting here in the blog. Too bad the oranges aren't ripe.  It's one of the perks for staying in this park, you can pick as many oranges as you want.



Parked in an orange grove



Teradon loved climbing the orange trees

Tak'n It Easy in Winslow AZ and Parts West

On Saturday we drove into Winslow AZ - made famous by the Eagles' song "Take It Easy."  They have created a "Standin' On the Corner" park in celebration of the fame it has brought the town.  We posed here with Teradon. (Hard to see him on the statue's shoulder in the shadows.) It was morning, quiet, sunny, very peaceful in this little town built by the Santa Fe Railroad along the historic Route 66.

Bob, Linda and Teradon Standing on the Corner

 Just after we had our picture taken, the atmosphere changed with the next influx of visitors to the Standin' on the Corner Park.  We were around the area for a while and several different groups of motor cyclists came to visit the infamous corner.

We left to walk to a restored hotel a couple of blocks away - the La Posada Hotel. It was a railroad hotel in the string of hotels of the Fred Harvey Company on the Santa Fe line.  It was designed by Mary Colter and a delight to see and walk around.  When we got there, Bob decided to go back and get the car and park it in the hotel lot instead of leaving it on the street.  He walked back to the Standin' on the Corner Park and saw there a woman we know from Yachats.  She was visiting the park. Joanne Kittel was in Winslow to visit or study something about the Navaho Nation in the area.  What a huge surprise to meet someone from our little corner of the world.

Signature soup at the Turquoise Room of the LaPosada Hotel.  It was superior - one half black bean and the other half corn chowder. One hot and spicy the other creamy and yummy. We split the bowl just so we could try it.

Back on the road again, we drove out of Arizona, heading to Needles CA.  Approaching the Colorado River that separates the two states, these craggy mountains came into view.

When we finally arrived at the RV park (called a resort this time), it was right on the river.  Lots of "Park Models," as they're called, for sale or rent to the snow birds who winter here, or the Californians who like the summer heat of the Mojave Desert.  We walked down to the river and enjoyed the beautiful weather of an October afternoon.



A shady spot to enjoy the Colorado River





A Relaxing Day and Crater Visit

We just took it easy this morning and then made our way 6 miles down the road to the Visitors' Center at the Meteor Crater.  We were here about 30 years ago, but couldn't remember much about it.  Well the hole in the ground is the same, but everything else is new and very well done. 

The site is privately owned and maintained.  There is a beautiful building housing a museum, theater, and observation windows and gift shop.  They emphasize that you can view the crater from a climate controlled environment.  I'm sure that's a plus in the summer time.  It wasn't a problem for us.  We watched their film "Impact - The Mystery of Meteor Crater,"  walked through the museum (very well presented), went on the guided tour for 1/4 mile along the rim, and walked through the gift shop. Elijah would love the rocks, fossils and minerals in the gift shop. 

The tour guide took our picture on the edge of the crater.

Thirty years ago there was only on observation deck and a parking lot. We were glad that we came back for a new look

 

B and L on the edge of Meteor Crater





Arizona - Meteor Crater

We've driven into AZ. Stopping for lunch at the state line welcome center seemed like such a good idea yesterday. We broke out the lunch stuff and sat back to relax. It was a much needed break. Sunny Arizona had given us three hours of rain and wind and hail. The temperature was at 34 degrees.  ):  Then as we watched other people looking for a rest area break, we realized that the buildings, restrooms and welcome center, were closed because they had lost their power. We considered selling bathroom facilities and making a little money, but changed our minds.

We're now mid-way through the state following I40, observing Route 66 often off to the side with various roadside attractions. We're parked at Meteor Crater RV park, planning to stay a few days. It's been unseasonably cold here. All the cars and the picnic tables were covered with a thick layer of frost this morning, finally gone with the sunshine. Northern AZ had 4 inches of snow, though. A little frost we can live with.

Last Night Texas, Tonight New Mexico

We had a short stay in the Texas Panhandle, a little town call Dalhart.  Neither of us can ever remember the name of the town, but we can remember that they have a good tire shop.  Bob noticed the tire on the Saturn was very soft, as we were getting ready to drive away from the RV park.  The campground host recommended Heizer's Tires.  When we got there, numerous local customers and farmers and their cousins were there with a tire problem.  They took us in order and only charged $12 to get the nail out and fix the tire and we were on our way.


Teradon and Linda posing again, this time on Route 66

After Texas, we drove southwest and picked up I 40 to drive into Albuquerque.  This part of the road goes right along the Old Route 66.  We stopped at this McDonalds for lunch because their parking lot was large enough for the bus and several semis and us.  Terrible food, great sign.  Teradon and Linda got their pictures taken, again.

Camping in Oklahoma

We left Arkansas, the home or more churches, flee markets, and used car lots that we have ever seen.  Oklahoma had similar items in its neighborhoods.  But we had a first at our RV park in Enid, OK.  There was a working oil well right in the parking spaces with the RVs.  This is a picture of Emma's Teradon on the fence around the oil well.

We drove west from Enid and were going to go straight out the pan handle, but the cross winds were really strong.  After more than enough of the pan handle country, we took off in a southerly direction and went into the Texas pan handle.  Same scenery, mostly the same winds, but we're here in Dalhart, TX.  No oil well in our RV park, tonight.

Loop Around Area of Buffalo National River

We had a couple of red-letter occurrences while we were here in Harrison, AR.  One was our purchase of gasoline at $2.99 a gallon, the cheapest gas we've ever bought for the RV.  Bob was smiling all day, because no station we drove by after that was as cheap.  (Those of you who know him well, know what a find this was. We used GasBuddy to find it.)

The second wonder in Harrison was that we got to shop at the local Wall Mart, which is store #2 (I presume the second one built).  Now I know you're all impressed.

On Sunday we drove a loop of roads that went around the area of the Buffalo National River.  The Buffalo River was actually the first river ever designated as a national river.  This means that no dams or other development may be done to the river.  It's really a beautiful part of the Ozarks.  We couldn't get to walk on any of the trails or access the river by road, because the government shut down has the park and it's roads closed.  I copied the picture below from the Internet so you could see what the area looks like.




A borrowed picture of the Buffalo River

  We also drove through Jasper, AR.  We walked around the court house, which was built as a WPA project (as you might be able to see on the plaque by the door).  Can you see Emma's Teradon on the railing next to me?  We made sure he/she went along for the sightseeing. (We'll have to ask Emma if it's a boy or a girl.  We don't know.)



Linda and Teradon at the Newton County Courthouse

   In Jasper there was this funky junk shop (pictured below) that we visited. Bob found absolutely nothing that he wanted, but Linda bought a bell for her collection.  It had come from an amusement park that is now defunct, but was just done the road.  It was themed after the Lil' Abner cartoon and was later called Dogpatch, AR.  This is a bell from Dogpatch.  It will always remind me of the area.


Emma's Junk Museum



A couple of Days on the Mississippi

We stayed two nights at the Lady Luck Casino on the Mississippi River in Caruthersville, MO. This is in the boot heel of Missouri and the casino is a River Boat Casino.  The RV site was cheap, but I'm sure they thought that they would be getting their money in gambling losses.  Too bad.  We ate dinner in their restaurant and enjoyed their spot on the river.  The RV park was between the sea wall and the water's edge.  I'm guessing that the park is closed if the river is high. You can see from the first picture that the river is quite low.



Mississippi River looking south



Emma's Teradon looking at the "River Boat"

The sun set over the Lady Luck building. It was hot and muggy.

On Saturday we drove across the north of Arkansas on US 412.  It rained much of the day and poured when we arrived in Harrison, our destination.  We're staying here a couple of nights and are going to explore a little bit of the Ozark Mountains and the Buffalo National River (if the weather permits and the government shot-down doesn't interfere.)  This park was the first designated National River.  We'll see.  More if I get some good pictures.

Four States

We have a new traveling buddy with us now.  His name is Teradon and he belongs to Emma. Grandma was supposed to repair his smile, it's coming off.  I didn't get a chance to do it before we left, so the plan is to mail it back to her when the smile is fixed.  I decided to take pictures of Teradon as we go along and email them to Sam and Emma to let them know that Teradon is OK and Grandma and Grandpa are taking good care of him and he is seeing a lot of the country. You may, therefore, get to see a lot of Teradon on this blog.  Here he is in the tree at our campground on Old Route 66 near Springfield, IL, making sure we're cooking dinner correctly.





Teradon in tree

At some time during the day on Thursday we decided we should drive straight down the state of Illinois and exit at the bottom - Cairo, the city furthest south in Illinois. And also that we should continue following US 51 into Kentucky and Tennessee and then into Missouri and the Lady Luck Casino RV park in Caruthersville, MO where we had decided to stay.



Crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky



The Ohio River

The Ohio River is pretty big here, very close to where it runs into the Mississippi.  In fact as we drove along, we found a park that sits up on a bluff above the confluence of the two rivers. The next two pictures show the rivers coming together and a huge cross that the people of Wickliffe, KY have erected and can be seen by river travelers for miles on both rivers.  What the pictures don't show you is that we had a "first" at this little "overlook". We drove up the hill and then saw some further parking closer to the cross. We didn't know, but there wasn't a big enough turnaround space to get out.  Sooo...... we had to unhook the car and back up both vehicles and then re-hitch the car to the RV.  The little stop turned into a time consumer.


The Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

 

Wickliffe Cross

We drove on and through the western corner of Tennessee, back across the Mississippi and into the Bootheel of Missouri. The Lady Luck Casino (a River Boat Casino) has a nice RV park.  More pictures tomorrow.  We decided to stay two nights and rest up from traveling through four states on Thursday.

On the Road, Again

We left the Cliffside County Park this morning.  Because of the early snow at high elevations, we've decided to go south to make our way back across the country.  And so we're on another famous route - Route 66.

Actually, we drove most of this day on Interstates, but the campground we chose for tonight is on the Old Route 66. - fun.   

Bob next to the Route 66 marker



And Linda had to pose, too.



Just what ARE we doing?

We've been visiting and camping in some of the most perfect fall weather, ever.  Jenn and Greg came to the Cliffside Campground with their boys' tent and girls' tent and their "cooking" screen room.  We had some wonderful, sunny, warm weather.  It rained during the night Saturday, but Sunday was sunny, again.

We sat around

We walked



We posed for pictures - Grandpa with Emma, Grace and Sam

We went swinging

 It was a good camping weekend, all around.
On Monday, it was back to work and school, as usual

Jenn didn't work on Monday so we came to visit Momma and Grace during the day.  Grace and Grandma played the piano together.


Grandma and Grace (do you recognize Grandma's old piano?)



We'll be leaving Milwaukee on Wednesday to start our way back across the country.  We're not sure of the route, but we're leaning toward a warmer, southern route.  Stay tuned for updates on our progress west, just don't hold your breath if something isn't posted right away.

Catch-up

After northern Missouri, we decided to stop in Pekin, IL where we have previously lived.  We drove through the corner of Iowa and crossed the Mississippi River at Burlington.  Illinois was covered with fields of corn and beans, some ready to harvest, some already cut. 

 



Crossing the Mississippi River - scene from RV

 

 We called several people in Pekin to see if they were going to be around.  This resulted in lunch on Sat with Jim and Linda Moore and supper Sat evening with Glenn and Dee Ioder, including a boat ride around the Pekin Lake where they live and where Nicole and Jennifer have skied with Glenn. They have sold their ski boat but found that they can ski behind the pontoon on which we were riding.  And yes, for those of you who know Glenn, his 90th birthday was in August and he went water skiing with his kids and grand kids on that day. They were on their way to Czechoslovakia  on Monday and were glad we called while they were still in town.



West view of  Pekin High School (for those of you who attended here). A new addition included a pool.  The real entrance is still on the north, where it always was. There is a sign here that says, "This is not an entrance."  :)



We went to church on Sunday and got to see many people, including Gaye Petty, who invited us out for lunch.  In the afternoon, we went to visit Mary Hobson, who is moving soon to a new house in the Chicago area.  Her hushand, Ken died this year and she is going to be living with her daughter. Nice visiting with everyone.

All the while we were in central Illinois, we stayed at the Kentuckiana Kampground, a very nice full hook-up place, where there is a Saturday night country music concert, free with the site.  We missed the concert, but there were several hundred sites filled with attendees.  We never knew this campground existed just east of Pekin, and has since 1970.  It's only about 15 miles southeast of town, out in the corn fields.

From Pekin we traveled to one of our favorite county campgrounds - Cliffside, in Racine, WI, and only 17 miles from Jennifer's.  We had dinner with the family (we brought Kentucky Fried Chicken, which Jennifer says Sam and Emma associate with Grandma and Grandpa.)  We visited on Tuesday and saw Sam and Emma's Big School and played with Grace on Jennifer's day off.  Today we're relaxing - ahhhhhhhhh!

Moving East and North

After staying in La Junta, CO, we traveled following the Santa Fe Trail most of the time.  Earlier this summer we did many miles along the Oregon Trail.  Many people emigrated along the Santa Fe Trail, but it was a really important route for commerce, with the railroad then following a similar track.  All very interesting.

We stayed in Big Bend, Kansas - that would be a big bend in the Arkansas River. Today we crossed the Missouri River into Missouri and are staying near Eagleville, MO in the north of the state.  We're in a really comfortable campground.  Below is a picture of Bob getting ready to cook dinner under a beautiful old oak tree.  We walked down to a little lake on the property, and now we're enjoying the sun set.

Site #16 at Eagle Ridge RV Park

Wednesday in Taos and a travel day

We left Abiquiu Lake and made our way to Taos, NM with John and Jane.  We shopped around the Old Town, near the Plaza.  It was a wonderful place to shop. We took a picture of the yarn shop below to send to Peg, enjoyed lunch and spent lots of time in a minerals shop (Jane's favorite.)  Then we parted ways.  They are going to visit some relatives in Kansas and we're back on the road to Milwaukee.



Taos Yarn Shop



Then we drove another "blue highway," Colorado 10, to get to La Junta, CO, where we had reservations for the night. As we drove in the high desert, we kept seeing very large spiders crossing the road.  They had to be tarantulas.  We could see them at 60 mph.  When we asked at the campground, they said that the spiders are migrating.  Sounded good, since we saw so many.  When I researched a little on the Internet, I found that people say that they are migrating, but they are really looking for a female with whom to mate.  They apparently live quite long, but I'm thinking they should find a mate on their own side of the road, "cause it's really hard on longevity. 



Male tarantula, on the prowl

 

Tuesday - the Last day at Lake Abiquiui

Tuesday was a quiet day, but we did go to see what Georgia O'Keeffe called the "White Place." aka Plaza Blanca.  They are white limestone cliffs and formations unlike the sandstone scenery everywhere else around here.  We couldn't go earlier in the week because all the rain had made it flooded and dangerous. It was beautiful and haunting.  See pictures below.

Plaza Blanca from a distance



A really craggy northern exposure




A look across at a southern exposure



It looks like buildings

Jane took this with a time lapse shot.  We had a great time



Sunday and Monday

This is one of the only pictures we took at LosAlamos.  That's John standing in front of the Museum. Bradbury was one of the LosAlamos directors after WWII, not the author. It was more information than I could take in, more of the level that Elijah would be interested in and will someday understand.



While we have had lots of rain, it's made for some beautiful sunsets at the campground, looking out over the lake.

On Sunday we went to a canyon not far from the campground called Echo Amphitheater. It is a beautiful formation of sandstone and we walked up the trail, into the "echo chamber" where you could hear you own voice echo. Of course, Bob sang a song.

Up the trail, into the semi-circle of sandstone

A view of the edge of the canyon

A view of Echo Amphitheater from the beginning of the trail

On Monday we went to Santa Fe.  We shopped, ate lunch, and visited a few sites.

This is along the edge of the Plaza where Native American vendors are sitting under the portico with their beautiful wares on blankets in front of them.  I bought a beautiful, black pot and Jane bought a necklace. That's her in the crosswalk, taking a picture.

Inside of Loretto Chapel

The spiral staircase has no support except where it fastens to the balcony and where it sits on the floor. Built in 1873, it is a mystery how it has remained suspended and supports a person on their way up to the balcony. 

Another view of Pedernal Mesa, after the sun has disappeared.