missed pics

As promised, here they are....

savannah smiles

Here we are, better late than never. Thanks to all for your patience. ( even to those of you that have chided us for the delay....)

We're now almost 3 months into the gig here in Georgia, and it's been a good one. The camp-ground is comfortable, friendly, and real handy to town. It's only 6 mi. to the historic district and an easy drive at that. Savannah is great, but more on that in a moment....

Pictured here are just a few of the friends we've made during our stay. The ducks are a hoot, and one of our duties is to feed them daily. The pond is fairly large, and if they're on the other side at feeding time, we'll stand on shore and "call" them over. They all get to quackin' and start pad-dling for all they're worth, almost throwing a wake with their quick pace. They get real vocal 'til they start woofin' down the feed, and are a joy to watch.

The goats pictured with Tom ( he's the one with the shades on.....) are kept in a pen back yonder except for a short stint at a live nativity scene this Christmas. They're pretty cool critters, but very hard to retrieve if they somehow escape the pen. ( which has happened twice since we arrived, and now Tom has added goat herding to his resume' )

Speaking of Christmas, we were very kindly invited to spend both that day and also Thanks- giving with the family that owns this facility. T/giving was about 78 degrees and we ate out on a beautiful deck at a home on Tybee Island. On Christmas, we enjoyed their tradition of steak and champagne back at the Mackey house, a lovely plantation home nestled in groves of live oaks alongside a scenic pond with fountain. The home gets rented out for weddings, receptions, ban-quets, and the like. (we may have gotten re-married there iffen we hadn't already done it twice so far. 3 times may have been overdoing it a bit........ )

We've had many opportunities to explore Savannah, and each time in we learn something new and see different things. It's truly charming, and we never tire of all its' beauty and the sense of "Old South". The architecture and natural landscaping make it a pleasure to meander about the combination of streets and squares that make up the historic sections, each with their own per-sona. There are also so many different places to sample great food, running the gamut from pizza to fine cuisine. Due to this fact, you may notice that there's more of us to love when we next visit.

The winter has been colder than average so far, ( no big surprise since the DiColas are in town ) but they say the 2nd half of the season will be warmer. Of course, there's the consolation that it's probably still warmer that Pa., no offense to ya'll up thayer.

Still no concrete plan for what's to follow post-Ga., but we should know more soon on that note.

In the meantime, we've had a great visit with Joan's cousin Jim and his wife Renee. Time went by quick, but what a joy to share time with folks from home. ( take note, hint-hint ) We've also had Tom's sister Kathy drop by, and hope to see both of Joan's brothers in the near future as well.

Stay well til next time, and we pray that everyone has a great year in 2011!

P.S.- May have to include missed photos on separate post. Look for them!

A belated greeting from Savannah!!

Better late than never, we hope.......We've arrived safely to our new base here in the Peach State. The trip went relatively smoothly, all things considered. We had a chance to rendezvous with some other hosts from Boonsboro, themselves heading south toward Florida. We met up at the NC welcome center, sharing some wine and chow before resting up for the morning trip continuation. The day dawned sunny & bright ( unlike those of us that had the most wine the night before.......) We set out then, anticipating our Savannah arrival.
The park we had lined up turned out to be all that we'd hoped for, and more. Live oaks and Spanish moss everywhere, beautiful landscaping, spacious sites, and many other attractive characteris tics. It'll be a great place to winter, with much to explore & experience. We're just minutes from historic downtown Savannah, yet in a quiet setting.
You'll notice that there's no photo this time. We thought it better to provide the park web-
site, as it has many great pics of the grounds. ( www.redgatecampground.com )
Our duties here are much different than Greenbrier State Park. Joannie will be doing some office work primarily, with both of us greeting arrivals and familiarizing them with the parks' features & amenities. I am involved with many varied tasks related to maintenance and upkeep. The park is family owned, with a rich history going way back. They all have made us feel welcome, and are very laid back, easy-going folk. They're sending us on tours and to various eateries ( on them ) so we may better recommend them to clients.
We've made a few trips into town so far, and it's as charming as we've heard it to be. The many beautiful architechtured homes, the peaceful treed squares, and congenial atmos-
phere combine to make a great place to spend time in. We also went out to Tybee Island, a quiet beach town just east of here. It wasn;t at all crowded, but it's a bit off-season.
There are some pretty fancy rigs coming in, and we've met so many nice people in the process. They've been from near & far, some even from overseas. For them, the exchange rate makes it very economical to vacation in the states, and many rent out rv's and are taking a leisurely pace to see as much as they can. They're great to chat and share info with.
We'll update more later, as we get more familiar with the area in general. I believe it safe to say we'll probably be here til early spring, then who knows what's next? Anyhoo, take care all, and we'll be back at ya soon.........

southern cause

Howdy all...This post is brought to you from the Boonsboro Library again, a frequent and favorite destination of ours. We're really gonna miss this facility when we leave soon. It's a great place to while away some quality time, and learn things in the process.

Speaking of learning things, we now have a change of plan.

( RV'ers often have changes in plans......) The Delaware gig is being put off for this season. In the process of looking to the winter season, an opportunity arose in one of our pre-ferred destinations that we can't pass up. The genteel city of Savannah, Ga. is calling our names. We've always been intrigued by its' many allures, having even previously con-

sidered it as a place to put down stakes sometime in the future. So, we jumped at the chance to work camp there, at a private park called Red Gate Farm. It's close to town, and has many of the amenities that we'll really appreciate.

Among those would be cable TV and internet access. These would verify the fact that the DiCola's don't want to give up

all the aspects of the evryday life that we left behind in Pa.

In a later post, we'll provide further details of the facility, city, and how we'll pass our time. The one thing we're really hopeful of will be the warmer winter months, and shorter cold season. If we're lucky, winter for all of us will not be as bad as '09/'10.

Regarding the above snapshot, you'll be excused if you mistook it for Stonewall Jackson.

( albeit at an advanced age and with the DiCola schnoz ) I got involved with a living history project here in Boonsboro, and they needed another rebel to man a cannon crew. It took place at Fox's Gap, a battlefield at which ole' Bobby Lee wanted to detain the Federals a bit so's he could gather his armies together for the northern invasion. It was a very moving ex-

perience, and didn't take much to get the imagination going. Before long I was drawlin' all over the place and spittin' tabaccy juice over yonder. The organizers seemed to take a likin' to me and invited me to a similar exhibition taking place at the Antietam Battlefield this weekend. Only difference being that this time is I'll hafta be a Yankee. Guess I'll grin and bear it and hope the folks down in Savannah don't ever find out.

Both Joannie & I are getting the itch to hitch and move along to another adventure. The park here in MD has been great, but the time has come to hit the highway yet again. We'll bring ya'll up to date next time around. Take care!!!

A fine howdeedoo from Greenbrier State Park !! As you can see here, we're in our official duds ready & willing to do our duties. They are varied in nature, but quite easily accomplished. Part of the deal, by the way, is the very fine golf cart we're leaning against. Pretty high brow, huh? It is a neat way to get around, though.

Our responsibilities here include greeting the campers, which are primarily weekenders, and assissting with activities here at the park. They do candy bingo for the kids, as well as show Sat. nite movies that we set up for and sell popcorn at. Another popular event is an ice cream social that's usually well attended, especially during these very warm days & nites. Of course, hosts get free ice cream, ( which might very well explain why you may notice the growing roll around Tom's abdomen ). In addition, we give the bath house a spot clean between visits by contract crews that make daily cleanings themselves.

There are so many things to see & do here that there's little chance of boredom setting in. One of our regular routines is visiting a local library in nearby Boonsboro ( where I'm now writing this blog ), a quaint little burg with lots of history and charm. We are doing alot of reading, which Joannie has always done but now I'm having more welcome opportunity to do so as well.

We've made many trips into Hagerstown, itself having many sites worth checking out. The Civil War history that's prevalent here has allowed much investigation, research, and education. The Antietam battlefield is just minutes from the park, and we've also gone up to Gettysburg too, travelling through the old town of Emmitsburg and other neat areas.

Life here is good, with many friendly folks and a high level of relaxation. Nature abounds and it's fairly regular to have deer ambling by our site. The woods keep the temps cooler than in town, and we drift off to sleep to the sounds of all the insects & other critters. We're durn near feeling guilty of how nice the lifestyle is going for us, but will try to get over that aspect!

It's looking like we'll be heading for Delaware for another host gig right after Labor Day, at a park called Killens Pond, which is a little south of Dover along Rt. 13. The setup is similar to here as far as duties and amenities. We hope it's as nice, as this park is spoiling us. After the end of October, we'll probably get up to Lancaster for a short time for a visit and some work time. Then, we will try to follow the sun south in either Georgia or north Florida. Part of the fun in this is the unknown adventures that may lie ahead. We feel lucky & blessed, though we miss our friends & family at home. We've had some fun visits from some of you and look forward to more. Take care, and we'll update again soon. Ta-ta......

We're baaaaaaack!

Well, we're off again. After some regroup time in Pa., the next stage of our adventure is starting. It got pretty intense there for a bit. Besides having to liquidate our former rig and a car, we had to go thru our storage unit and do some SERIOUS paring down. ( It got pretty ugly with me on the whip and Joannie whimpering like a sick puppy with tears in her eyes..) It ended ok and we're now fine once more.

Then, with our newly acquired truck in Dallas, the fiver in Knoxville, and the hitch in Lancaster, there was much coordinating going on to bring all loose ends together. It required some bonzai driving trips and other efforts, but we "got 'er done".

The horse ( GMC diesel Sierra ) pulls strong & quiet, and the coach ( Challenger 5th wheel ) is all we'd hoped and then some. Coming out of the travel trailer into the fiver was akin to leaving a small studio for a 1br apartment that also has a basement! It's great for the lifestye we've chosen to pursue, and look forward to many years' use.

We're now set up at Greenbrier State Park, near Hagerstown, Md. Our site is wooded and the park is beautiful. The surrounding area is peacefully scenic, with many interesting things & places to explore, including many historic sites with Civil War connections.

We mainly put in our work camp hours over the weekend and have all week to ourselves. Duties include administering social programs like ice cream socials, kiddie bingo, and movies. Also, we clean fire rings and sites after campers leave, and greet them as they arrive. It's easy going stuff with lots of rewards.

We're feeling incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to do all this. We'll elaborate more on the whole experience next time around. Ya'll take care now!

winding up?

A stop in Biloxi, MS enabled us to view many of the reconstructed builings that were leveled or damaged by Katrina. This place took a big hit!! Fortunately, one of the survivors was the home that belonged to ole' Jeff Davis, former pres. of the CSA. It sits right on the gulf, very stately and regal. After then touring some casinos (none of which got any DiCola funds..) it was on to Pensacola to visit friends Jeff & Pat Leonard, who hail from Lancaster. While enjoying our time with them, we got to tour the Blue Angels museum. It was an amazing array of aircraft and other related displays. Sadly, the Angels themselves were not due to start their practice sessions til after our departure. We understand that the practice is really quite the show in itself. Bummer! Pensacola is a real nice community with a well restored downtown area including eclectic architecture with a New Orleans touch to its older buildings. The area beaches are pristine and covered with the whitest sand we've ever seen.

We then took off for Sarasota and had a great visit with our friends Bob & Cathy Secker, also transplanted Lancastrians. It was a bit chilly for a dip in their pool, but we had fun any-way. Cathy's mother Cass is undergoing some medical issues tho, so your prayers would help.

Leaving the trailer there, we ventured south to Ft. Myers, where we once resided for a bit. Weather was great, but the area has grown much and experienced many changes . Way too much traffic for us now..... We did get to drive past the old homestead and chat with some former neighbors, which was fun. Also went past the site of our old piano store, which brought back many memories.

We got together with sister Kathy & b-i-l Park, helping them to divest themselves of their excess wine inventory. ( we were happy to assist them in that regard ). Also had a nice couple days with Chet & Cathy Lowe, more lancaster natives and good friends.

After picking up the trailer once again, we headed north to Savannah, Ga., hoping to hang for awhile to check it out for future relocation possibilities. Turned out there was no room at the inn due to Savannah having the nation's 2nd largest St. Paddy's Day celebration. Big dis-appointment, but we re-grouped and proceeded to Charleston, SC, another of our favorite cities. We walked the town, basking in the warmth of sunshine and southern hospitality at its finest. The pic up top here is just one of the elegant ante-bellum mansions around South Bay. Made us wanna go up on the porch with mint julep in hand. Wisely tho, we stifled the urge lest we encounter an irate homeowner with a .357........

We then drove up the coast to our present location in Myrtle Beach to tweak the tan and mentally prepare for our return to Lanc. by the end of March. It's so hard to believe we're at this point so soon, but it's been an amazing ride, both figuratively and literally. We'll look for-ward to the next stage and still feel very blest for the opportunity.

We anticipate seeing our friends & family again, timed with the arrival of springtime. Thanks to all who followed the blog and offered good wishes & prayers. We'll pick this up once more when we hit the road for our next adventure. See ya soon Lancaster!!!

eastward ho

A bit overdue, but the blog is back! After a real good visit with Joan's brother Gerry & wife Maryellen in Phoenix, ( during which we were hit with the worst storm in AZ history ) we headed for the Tuscon area. While there, we met up with good friends Bob, Kathy, Andy & Marge Secker. It's always great to see friends & family from home.

The pic here is from Boot Hill cemetery in Tombstone. It was a neat place to visit , and the nearby town of Bisbee was picturesque and historic. We also got over to Cochise's hideout, an amazingly beautiful and boulder strewn area. From there, we ambled east thru New Mexico and into west Texas. There were many historical markers to study and we marveled at the sheer magnitude of the lands and it was a good trip thru the hill country. Then, we got into San Antonio, land of Missions, the most famous of which was the Alamo. For us, it was very moving to see and think of the events that took place there. We also did the Riverwalk, a beautiful area filled with all sorts of shops, cafes, and other unique stuff placed along a meandering waterway with landscaping and neat lighting. It was quite the experience. From there, we proceeded to Austin and visited the LBJ Library and the state capitol building. Everything caught & held our interest. Weather was not the best, but we kept remembering that we'd missed all the snow up north and immediately felt better! After that, it was up thru Waco and then into Dallas to visit my cousin Larry and his family. He's a prof at UT Dallas, involved in neuroscince and has many interesting projects he's working on. We were amazed at the scope of it all. The whole visit was enjoyable, and included a trip to Dealey Plaza, site of JFK's assassination. A great museum was housed in the old Book Depository, where Oswald fired the shots from. Being there provoked many emotions & thoughts. We explored the downtown areas after that. Dallas got hit with 12" of snow the day before we arrived, but the roads were clear for us.

Upon leaving Texas, we went into La., thru Shreveport to a little town named Gibsland, where Bonnie & Clyde got ambushed by the law. After seeing the actual car while in NV, we felt we had to see where it happened, and it was worth the trip. Turns out that the place we stopped at to confirm directions was the site of an old cafe that the pair had stopped off to get sandwiches just before meeting their maker. Hmm, wonder if they were able to eat them.......

We're now in N'awlins, also known as the Big Easy. What a town!! All of our senses are under assault, what with the great foods, beautiful buildings, and interesting folk. It's pretty wild, and we can't imagine how much wilder it was at Mardi Gras and after the Saints won the Super Bowl. This place knows how to partee'!! We also got to view & tour some of the elegant river plantations and ante-bellum mansions in the area, plus those in the Garden District of New Orleans. That was a wow-a-minute tour.

We soon leave for Biloxi, MS, then to Mobile and Pensacola. Crossing our fingers for the southern warmth, but will not forget ya'll up north as well. You'd probably be happy with the days we consider bad here. We'll check back in later.....

Continued west coast fun

We're now in the quaint village of Carlsbad, Ca., taking a trailer break at a timeshare on the beach. It's sunny & warm, unlike most of the country at this time. We feel incredibly lucky to be here, and wish we could bottle up the atmosphere for ya'll back home. While here, we took a trip down to San Diego area, including a ride over to Coronado, where I had some training before goin' over to 'Nam back in the late 60's. It's an absolutely gorgeous island with beautiful homes & landscaping. No homes under a million, so we've kinda ruled it out as a possible place to someday put down stakes.

San Diego is a great town and we walked the Gaslamp District as well as Seaport Village. Got to see a big cruise ship leave dock, and down a few berths was the Midway, a WW2 aircraft carrier that saw much action. Had an urge to don my old sailor suit, but even if found, could not envision fitting into it now.

Unfortunately, the Snyders had to change plans for their visit with us. We miss them a bunch...

We head back to the desert in a few days, in time for the resort Pickle-ball tournament. I've rested my right arm & knee sufficiently to start the process all over again. Joannie will be competing as well, so please pray we do no more physical harm than possible!

Speaking of Joannie, take notice above of her & our new-found beach buddy. We were on the Oceanside pier and he made no attempt to flee, just lookin' for a handout.

We'll be heading to AZ early next week, first going to Quartzite ( a huge RV get-together and flea market there ) then on to Phoenix where we'll meet up with my cousin Esther, then on the 21st, Gerry ( Joan's brother ) and his wife Mary Ellen will land to spend a week with us. We really are looking forward to their visit. After that, it's on to Tuscon for a bit. We'll revisit the blog a little later, so bye for now!

We are still slumming it in Palm Springs, Ca. Oh, the misery! Since the last posting, we've enjoyed some real nice experiences. The main one was our visit to brother Vince & family for a Turkey Day celebration. They're in the San Fernando valley, specifically, Van Nuys. Sister Donna flew out as well, making it a joyous occasion. While in the LA area, we were hosted by good friend Sue Montague & the DiCola's as well. ( we thought we'd spread out the pleasure of putting us up! ) Another neat deal was attending tv tapings of the Leno show, plus an episode of Bonnie Hunt.

John Travolta was a guest on Leno, and Bonnie had the 2 harlem Globetrotters that'd been on the Amazing Race. ( Bonnie wanted me to come on down, but I didn't want to spoil the thunder of the other guests ) We also got to see the building used as the Tara plantation in the classic "Gone With The Wind" movie. It's now an office building on the Culver Studios lot. Really enjoyed all that. In addition, we went to Gladstone's, a great eatery on the beach at the end of Sunset Blvd. We had the opportunity to get together with a couple we'd met in Nevada ( Joannie & I had whooped their butts in shuffleboard, but they tolerate us anyway...) They're planning to visit us here in the deset for a few days this week, so that'll be nice too. By the way, the wind turbines pictured here are only a few of the approx. thousand or so in the area. They generate much energy, but are quite an imposing visual presence. We're really looking forward to our buds the Snyders coming out in Jan. for a week on the beach at Carlsbad, close to San Diego. After that, we'll start heading east, taking our time and trying to stay in the sunny warmth of the southwest and following it eastward. Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas will be on the itinerary, with much to see in those areas. We're hoping that a good tailwind will help out with the fuel mileage along the route. Anyway, will try to update soon. Merry Christmas to everyone and the best of New Years!!

back to the shaky side

It seems a problem to get text & pics coordinated, so here goes another attempt.....The sunset pic is the one that didn't make it onto the last post, taken at the great resort in Pahrump, NV. The 2nd I will soon explain.
Our Las Vegas segment was a good one. We got together with Lancaster buddy Dave Conner, who flew into town during our time there. It was great catching up on Pa. stuff, as well as having a touch of home. We experienced all the glitz & glitter of Sin City, even coming away with the enormous sum of $23 taken from a nickel slot machine. It seems we didn't profit from things overall as we spent 3 times that amount on a trailer repair. Message received, God..... We did see some cool shows, one a variety type, and one hypnosis show. It was pretty funny, but now I cluck like a chicken whenever a siren goe off!
We headed south from there, stopping at a NV/CAL border casino parking lot for the nite. While there, we spotted a poster announcing a Bonnie & Clyde exhibit, hence the 2nd picture here. It was the "death" car, in which the bank-robbing/murdering duo was surprised by the law and after ignoring the order to halt, were blasted into the next world. There were 167 bullet holes in the car itself, many of which pierced their bodies. That pretty much stopped their crime spree. There were also some add'l photos and memorabilia on display that really enhanced the display On the way back east, we aim ( no pun intended ) to find the Loiusiana road where the actual ambush took place. The subject always fascinated me, and Joan also finds the story interesting.
We then headed for Palm Springs, where we stayed at an excellent RV resort as guests whom they hoped would buy a lot from them. But, we've finally figured out how to say no, after a few timeshare presentations that cost us dearly. Anyway, we're now staying with good friends here in the desert whom we met during the short time we lived here back in '78/79. We'll soon go into LA for a Thanksgiving visit with my brother Vince and his family. Sister Donna will be flying in as well, so we're really looking forward to that get-together.
We're soaking up as much sunshine as we can handle, and don't yet miss any of the east coast weather, especially the oncoming winter stuff. We'll update soon !

nevada to cal.

nevada continues

We've been bouncing between Ca. & NV since our last post. One omission from our last was a tour of the Jelly Belly candy factory near Sacromento. Neither of us knew all that goes into that magical little jellybean. It was very interesting, and we had many samples along the way.
On the way south from Tahoe, the landscape changed much with the lower elevations. The mountains got smaller and balder. Still beautiful, but in a different way.
We went from Carson City ( named for Kit C. ), and headed for Yosemite NP. Sadly, it closed because of an early snow. Those that know me even a bit know my aversion to the white stuff and the accompanying cold temps. So we didn't hang around long. We'll do there & Sequoia on trip B in the future.
On the way again, we promptly got a flat on the van, seemingly out in the middle of nowhere. But, after a short delay, our roadside assistance co. came and changed it out. We got it repaired & remounted in a little mining town called Tonopah. It was still cold & windy there, but we spent my b-day evening in a neat casino from which we left $13.75 richer. But we enjoyed Mn. nite football, some good eats, and warmth! So, all was well with the world again. Therein proves that it doesn't take much to make us happy now...
We got to visit Death Valley and it was amazing. That land , tho mostly desolate, has its own unique asthetic scenes. And again, we both tried to envision trekking thru in a covered wagon for days & days & days. It's a very humbling thought and give us great respect for those
hearty pioneers. And what a change from the forested mountains we'd just left. Wow.....

We're now in the best ever camping resort we've experienced yet. It's in the town of Pahrump, maybe an hour out of Veagas. Amenities are xllent, the people are all nice, and the weather has been near perfect. The photo here is a small example of some of the beauty around us.
This morning, we had a bingo experience that humbled me. I mean, there were 80 yr. old ladies nearby that were keeping up better than I was. The #'s were flying, mentally draining my previously fractured, concussion pounded brain. I guess it was the Big Guy's way of tellin' me to stay away from gambling. Message received ( for now, anyway )
We'll be heading for a weeklong Vegas timeshare stop around the end of the month, so the next message we post should include our Sin City sojurn. We're hoping to hookup with our friend Dave Connor there, so that should be fun. Later !

california dreamin'

This post will be on the brief side. We'll try to make it up soon....... Upon entering Cal., we were carefully checked for gypsy moths, then cleared to proceed. The first visit was to Redwoods Park. Those trees are something else indeed, beautiful and stately. From there, we toured the wine country in Sonoma Valley. The scenery was great, with vineyards everywhere, even on the hillsides. The winery mansions and gardens appealed to all our senses. Of course, the wine itself helped accent those senses.
From there, we proceeded up the mountains towards Tahoe, with a stop at Donner Pass. The land is rugged and primitive, and helped envision the tribulations of that group in trying to get over the range. Very moving...( there was a point that Joannie looked at me with hunger in her eyes which made me move away a bit )
Tahoe is magnificent, though suffered an unusual cold snap upon our arrival. Go figure....
When we got to the condo, we had to park the rig across the road for a time, and on one of my trips over, I encountered 2 rather large bears up front & personal. They were going thru some nearby dumpsters, and I managed to avoid being their buffet. Will expand on that saga at a later date.
We found a great sitter for Conrad at a nearby wildlife shelter. Her name is Connie Stevens, and even tho she had a resemblance, it was not THE C.S.
We had a problem with one of the brakes on the trailer that has since been repaired, so we're thankful for heathy binders for the trip down the mountain & beyond . We leave tomorrow for Yosemite, so we'll check in soon. Take care ya'll !

camping with critters

We're now on the Oregon coast, at a great campground west of Salem. Ya'll can see that the place is silly with rabbits. I feel like the original bunny meister. ( or St. Francis?......) Conrad doesn't seem to be bothered by their presence, or they by his. Nature at it's best !

We visited Portland on the way here, and were very impressed. It's a truly green city, with many parks, and everybody rides a bike, it seems. Washington Park is huge, with a great rose garden that Joannie loved.

During that visit, we stayed at an rv park situated in the Columbia river gorge. The scenery was magnificent, with many waterfalls gracing the area. We had a great view of Mt. Hood and the surrounding Cascades. Each mile covered surpasses the last, it seems.

Our next move will be to a state park on the southern OR coast, then into California. We'll post from there ( Good Lord willing... )

the great northwest

Washington state has welcomed us with cool temps ( now coming around nicely ) and warm people. We went to a shindig called "Pig in the Park" in Spokane, held in a riverfront park and full of craft & food vendors, also live music. It was a fun day. Upon leaving that area, we again encountered those fierce westerly winds that make you feel like a trout trying to swim up-stream. And all that while climbing steadily, but a beautiful drive. We did get a flat trailer tire and also had our gas bottle cover somewhat disintegrate along the way. I'm gonna try to piece it back together til we can locate a replacement. (thanks to duct tape & screws maybe) We keep saying "It's all part of the adventure" and have soldiered on.

We stayed at a great park in the mountains east of Seattle for a few days, then headed for Everett. An old friend, Bev Trauger & her husband Dave, welcomed us to the area and we had a great stay & visit. Dave is retired from Boeing, while Bev 's still with them. We toured the grounds on one day, and the actual factory on the following. Man, do they take care of their people! Every amenity imagined, and a few more you couldn't. If I thought they'd take an old codger like me, my app. would be in like lightning. Anyway, the factory was absolutely amaz-ing. They've built a new tour center & gallery, with great displays like engines and other related components. And the tour itself was phenominal, seeing those big planes being built. The latest, the 787, is really neat and quite the bargain! (172 M as opposed to the 747 @303M) I almost took out the ole' VISA card. Can you picture ToJo Airlines? (and those of you who know me might imagine the quality & attire of the stews....) However, Joannie brought me back to reality in a hurry.

We're now camped near a town called Elma, and rode out to the coast yesterday. Between the mountains & the coast, beauty is all around us. More to come later.....

the beat goes on...

We're now in northern Idaho, having spent the last few weeks in Montana, with side trips into Wyoming. During this time, we got to tour Yellowstone NP, camp & tour in the Grand Tetons and many other sites. Cody, WY was a neat old cowboy town and chow was great. We darn near got boots, a hat, & spurs, but quickly came to our senses. ( It's called NO JOB ! )
We've seen some absolutely breathtaking scenery and a huge assortment of wildlife. Joan was ecstatic when she COULD have reached out and touched a buffalo ( she wisely decided not to ) and there've been elk, antelope, wolf, and some bear. At one camp, they posted a grizzly warning and am happy to report we avoided being a bear buffet.
We've had some fantastic drives, among them a route called the Beartooth Pass, with elevations surpassing 10,000 ft. We actually felt like we were on top of the world. Another road was called the Chief Joseph Highway, taken by the Nez Perz tribe in attemting to escape federal troops that were chasing them. We were in awe of what we were passing thru. Words cannot properly describe the beauty of this land.
One of our most memorable experiences was visiting Little Big Horn battlefield ( Custer's downfall ). To be present at such an historial place was quite moving. We were lucky to get there at a great time with fewer visitors around. Very cool....
Am happy to report that vehicles are behaving, Conrad's trooping along nicely, and we're eating quite well on &5.75/day ! Well, maybe just a bit more. Anyhoo, Joannie has not yet left me, and we're kinda likin' this life on the road thing. Who knows what the future holds?
Our next step will carry us into Washington state. More on that later. Will post again soon !

omissions & more

A few oversights from last post......While in the Catskills, we visited the site of U.S Grant's cottage where he wrote his memoirs shortly before his passing. Very moving for an old Civil War fan like me. Previous to that stop was Bennington Vt., home of Hemmings Motor News (fun place) and their Moose Festival. There must've been 35 life-size moose figures painted in various schemes for the annual competition. Cool!! It was a neat town overall and not too busy.
After the previously mentioned NY, Ohio, and Springfield IL experiences, we got to visit an old DiCola family friend near Chicago ( Ken Thomas ). He's frail in condition with a failing memory, but it was a great visit that we're so glad we made. Many happy past memories were enjoyed.
We're presently in N.Dakota, about 90 miles NE of Fargo, visiting our prairie friends Barry & Janel Getz. Barry's from Lancaster, and Janel's family has been long-settled in this area. They're of Norwegian descent, very musically oriented, and warm & friendly in nature. It's been a great time in this remote but peaceful area. What a pleasant change from urban hubub. ( Nasty winters, tho. Brrrrrr.)
Tomorrow, we'll head west with the 1st stop being T.Roosevelt State Park in western N.D. for a few days, then on down to S.Dakota for the Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands stuff plus whatever other sites we amble across. Part of the fun of this trek is the unknown & the unplanned!
Weather has really come around nicely, and we now hope to beat any snow & cold to the Rockies and Tetons! Y'all know us and cold weather blues.
Conrad's travelling well and both Joan & Tom are adjusting nicely. This is what we hoped for, and we feel exceptionally lucky and blessed to have this opportunity. God has been good to us..
Stay tuned and we'll try to keep u updated........

Continuing........ Just previous to NH, we visited Maine. Neat state, the highlight probably being the Bar Harbor area. Quintessential New England for sure. We ate well and saw the sites. The weather, tho, had been more like fall than summer with more than normal rain. It affected, but certainly not ruined, the whole NE experience. Well woth it !

We then headed south thru the NY mountains, a great drive in itself. We went into Corning for a pleasant day into what turned out to be a very quaint town with a rejuvenated center. It was after that when we managed to hook up with our friends Mel & Robin Rhoades who have a mountain house close to Wellsboro. It worked out neat with their schedule and our close proximity. Other than having no power at the house on arrival, it was a pleasant visit.

After that, our buddies the Snyders came up to join us for 3 days in Allegany State Park. We really appreciated the time together and the park was fantastic. ( the beer was good too).

Our next visit was to Cleveland in hopes of getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but the lines were horrendous and there was no place to park the rig. Bummer ! But the town was nice and we saw some other nice stuff. After that we headed down thru Ohio into Indiana where we got to tour the Indianapolis Speedway, which was an amazing facility. The next highlight was Springfield Ill, where we had a great time touring the area and experiencing all the Lincoln related historic sites. It was so moving, and Springfield is such a neat, clean, and very friendly town. The only thing we didn't get done there was have a "horseshoe", a local delicacy that is a sandwhich made up of your choice of meat, french fries w/cheese on, and a spicy sauce. We strongly considered one, but then thought about our arteries and passed it up.

Which brings us to Wisconsin. We went to the "Dells", which are similar to Watkins Glen's beautiful gorges with water falls and scenic views

Rambling Forward

We're now in Wisconsin and much has happened since last post. Delay is due to less access to WIFI. Guess we'll have to get our fix at Starbucks more often!

We had a great visit with Tom's cousin Jeff up in Colebrook NH, up close to the Canadian border. This area is truly God's country. The mountain vistas are fantastic and the folks are all friendly, even to us "flatlanders".