Today we have made our way to Mercer, PA. The weather is so nice, it was in the low 50s this morning and the high today is in the low 60s. We had a brief shower after getting set-up yesterday afternoon and some through the night. We may have to find a jacket somewhere as we came away from home without packing any jackets or light coats. Now here in the northeast US it might be a bit chilly some mornings.
The worst part of this trip so far is the condition of I-70 through the whole state of Indiana. All of the US-Interstate system is old and worn out having been built in the 60s & 70s. The design parameters did not include the magnitude of heavy truck traffic that this system has seen and it gets heavier every year.
A couple of years before I retired we conducted a study of I-70 and I-44 across Missouri with the recommendation that both need major reconstruction and added lanes for improved capacity. Funds however are not available for any such massive reconstruction.
Tomorrow we make it to Newburgh, NY where we will sit for two nights. Because this trip has a destination so far from home our day trips are longer than what we usually enjoy therefore after these three days pushing the time on the road we will enjoy the one day of rest there.
Thursday, September 07, 2017
Wednesday, September 06, 2017
59 years WOW!
Join us as we begin our 59th honeymoon. 59 years ago this afternoon (2:00 pm central time) we were married in the Broadway Methodist Church, Springfield, MO. It's been a great journey so far and plan for more adventures yet to come.
This morning we headed out on this month's venture. Our goal this trip is the Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine. We have been there once before but just for a brief drive through. This time we will spend a few days discovering the area and just might enjoy a lobster or two.
Our campground tonight is just a little east of Indianapolis, IN. Tomorrow we head toward Columbus, OH and then head northeast into northwestern PA.
This morning we headed out on this month's venture. Our goal this trip is the Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine. We have been there once before but just for a brief drive through. This time we will spend a few days discovering the area and just might enjoy a lobster or two.
Our campground tonight is just a little east of Indianapolis, IN. Tomorrow we head toward Columbus, OH and then head northeast into northwestern PA.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
wet start
I think it rained most of the night and a few things dropped onto the roof with loud bangs so may have been a few hail stones. I'll have to climb up and look at the roof before we go out again. Looking at the weather map for the area online this morning showed the storm system hanging around until about noon time. After we had breakfast it lightened up so we buckled up and got out of there without the need for the rain-suit.
After one stop in Kirksville, MO for fuel we made it home a little past noon. The fuel gauge was showing low as we crossed the state line and so I planned to find a station in this area. What I didn't remember was that MoDOT had built a new, very nice, four lane divided bypass around the town and there weren't any fuel station along the way. After we made it to the last exit without a station we then turned back in toward town to get the necessary fluid.
This outing was short, only a week, but we enjoyed the complete change of pace and some real quiet time.
Our next scheduled outing begins Sept. 6 for a long journey up to the Acadia National Park in Maine. Stay tuned!
After one stop in Kirksville, MO for fuel we made it home a little past noon. The fuel gauge was showing low as we crossed the state line and so I planned to find a station in this area. What I didn't remember was that MoDOT had built a new, very nice, four lane divided bypass around the town and there weren't any fuel station along the way. After we made it to the last exit without a station we then turned back in toward town to get the necessary fluid.
This outing was short, only a week, but we enjoyed the complete change of pace and some real quiet time.
Our next scheduled outing begins Sept. 6 for a long journey up to the Acadia National Park in Maine. Stay tuned!
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Beautiful Day
It's a very beautiful day here in southern Iowa on the banks of Lake Rathbun, yes that is spelled correctly.
We got out this morning for a little walk down to the shoreline. Where our campsite is located used to be a road before the lake was built and then abandoned when the lake filled up. The old roadway makes a nice path to a sandy beach where folks can swim and a few kids from another campsite made that walk this morning early, barefoot. Here are a few pictures taken on that morning walk.
We got out this morning for a little walk down to the shoreline. Where our campsite is located used to be a road before the lake was built and then abandoned when the lake filled up. The old roadway makes a nice path to a sandy beach where folks can swim and a few kids from another campsite made that walk this morning early, barefoot. Here are a few pictures taken on that morning walk.
looking toward the lake
then back toward our campsite
The COE when building this campground placed enough fill material at our site to make it level enough that we didn't need to remove the camper from the truck.
the swimming hole at the end of the trail
along the way a couple of flower shots
Friday, August 18, 2017
Relocated
This afternoon we moved to a different lake area, still in Iowa. Our new site is on the banks of Lake Rathbun which is near the center of the state just above the Missouri state line. Our site doesn't have a view of the lake but we are however fairly secluded from the rest of the campground.
The site is level enough that we didn't have to unload the camper to get a level floor inside. Only being here for two nights we probably will not need to leave the area anyway.
Today's drive brought back memories 18 years ago with our first big RV, a 37' 5th wheel trailer, our first time pulling and camping with that unit was to a campground near Des Moines, IA for a square dance. Our good friends Larche and Marianne stayed with us in the trailer and after the dance we did the tourist things. We visited the "covered bridges of Madison County", we visited John Wayne's birth place home, and we visited the Amana Colonies. That was in July of 1999 just before my retirement in October of the same year. Now we are back in the same general area with a much different camper.
This campsite doesn't have any over-the-air television but we do have both cell phone signal and wifi signal, yea! With a good wifi signal we can watch any of our home satellite programming with this computer.
The site is level enough that we didn't have to unload the camper to get a level floor inside. Only being here for two nights we probably will not need to leave the area anyway.
Today's drive brought back memories 18 years ago with our first big RV, a 37' 5th wheel trailer, our first time pulling and camping with that unit was to a campground near Des Moines, IA for a square dance. Our good friends Larche and Marianne stayed with us in the trailer and after the dance we did the tourist things. We visited the "covered bridges of Madison County", we visited John Wayne's birth place home, and we visited the Amana Colonies. That was in July of 1999 just before my retirement in October of the same year. Now we are back in the same general area with a much different camper.
This campsite doesn't have any over-the-air television but we do have both cell phone signal and wifi signal, yea! With a good wifi signal we can watch any of our home satellite programming with this computer.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Quiet time
For the days we have been here we have been the only campers in our loop of this campground.
The only other folks have been our almost daily visiting gobblers, it's been fun to see them passing through.
About 15 minutes after I took the above picture there was a large motorhome pulled into one of the nearby spaces with a yapping puppy. The quiet has been nice while it lasted. Most of these sites have been reserved (according to the markings on the site-posts) for tomorrow night as this weekend the campground will be mostly full.
This tree in out backyard is the largest Silver Maple that I have seen. I remember we had one in our front yard when I was growing up in Springfield, MO on Battlefield Rd but it was only a large shrub. The problem with silver maple trees is that they are aggressive/invasive and multiply with sprouts all around them. This one has such saplings all around it that have been mostly controlled by mowing.
About 15 minutes after I took the above picture there was a large motorhome pulled into one of the nearby spaces with a yapping puppy. The quiet has been nice while it lasted. Most of these sites have been reserved (according to the markings on the site-posts) for tomorrow night as this weekend the campground will be mostly full.
This tree in out backyard is the largest Silver Maple that I have seen. I remember we had one in our front yard when I was growing up in Springfield, MO on Battlefield Rd but it was only a large shrub. The problem with silver maple trees is that they are aggressive/invasive and multiply with sprouts all around them. This one has such saplings all around it that have been mostly controlled by mowing.
Tomorrow after lunch we hitch back up and move to another lake in southern Iowa.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
nice day
We got out this morning to a Wally world for a few groceries to restock. With our limited pantry and cabinet space we can't stock up for more than a few days. It was good to have a brief change of pace.
I did walk through a hole in the brush around our campsite later this afternoon to get a closer look at the lake. Some other campers in the past had chopped this path but still it isn't a good access to the lake bank as can be seen in this pic.
A part of my leisure time is using my iPad both as an e-book and to play a game or two of sudoku. Yesterday afternoon I laid it down for a bit while I was walking around and when I picked it back up this is the way it had changed its shape. Don't understand why or how but at least it still works.
I did walk through a hole in the brush around our campsite later this afternoon to get a closer look at the lake. Some other campers in the past had chopped this path but still it isn't a good access to the lake bank as can be seen in this pic.
A part of my leisure time is using my iPad both as an e-book and to play a game or two of sudoku. Yesterday afternoon I laid it down for a bit while I was walking around and when I picked it back up this is the way it had changed its shape. Don't understand why or how but at least it still works.
Monday, August 14, 2017
A quiet day
After morning rain showers it has been a quiet day at Lake Coralville. We did have some visitors this morning taking a walk through our yard in the rain. We had seen three earlier but I only got pictures of these two.
This afternoon we just sat out in the shade enjoying the fresh air. The campground, after the weekend visitors have left, is mostly empty but there is a lot of lake boat traffic, mostly water skiing and tubing.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Iowa
We are now sitting in our campsite on Coralville Lake near New Liberty, Iowa. As noted in our previous posting we have sold our sister's house and the closing was last Thursday so we have made this outing to just sit and relax for a few days.
Another story has developed over the past few weeks beside the house sale. We have a nice covered deck on the back of our house that JoAnn has decorated like an outdoor sitting room where we have a metal squirrel proof feeder that we load with black oil sunflower seeds. Jo also has a couple of bird seed suit blocks out for our visiting feathered friends. We have been blessed to have a pair of Pileated woodpeckers visit quit often. They are the largest woodpeckers in North America. Then we noticed that we have had some unwanted night time visitors that cause messes on our deck. I have a live trap that I set and baited it with some of the sunflower seeds. Over the past two weeks I have caught and relocated 5 raccoons. The first one I believe was the mother because the next morning when I checked the trap she was in it with 2 or 3 young ones scampering around not knowing what to do next. Up to now I believe that all three have been relocated along with another large adult. Hopefully we now have relocated the whole family. I take them about 17 miles from our house across both the Missouri River and the Moreau River.
Today we headed northerly to the banks of this lake near Iowa City, Iowa. We have no plans to do much except loaf and relax but who knows. Here are a couple of pics of our campsite.
Another story has developed over the past few weeks beside the house sale. We have a nice covered deck on the back of our house that JoAnn has decorated like an outdoor sitting room where we have a metal squirrel proof feeder that we load with black oil sunflower seeds. Jo also has a couple of bird seed suit blocks out for our visiting feathered friends. We have been blessed to have a pair of Pileated woodpeckers visit quit often. They are the largest woodpeckers in North America. Then we noticed that we have had some unwanted night time visitors that cause messes on our deck. I have a live trap that I set and baited it with some of the sunflower seeds. Over the past two weeks I have caught and relocated 5 raccoons. The first one I believe was the mother because the next morning when I checked the trap she was in it with 2 or 3 young ones scampering around not knowing what to do next. Up to now I believe that all three have been relocated along with another large adult. Hopefully we now have relocated the whole family. I take them about 17 miles from our house across both the Missouri River and the Moreau River.
Today we headed northerly to the banks of this lake near Iowa City, Iowa. We have no plans to do much except loaf and relax but who knows. Here are a couple of pics of our campsite.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
progress
We have been quite lucky in the process of selling Wilma's house. Within a week of the listing we had an offer that was below our asking price. We made a counter offer that was somewhere in between and our counter offer was accepted with earnest money deposited. Closing date has been set for August 10 so fortunately this is moving very fast which is good.
Wilma has adjusted to her new situation and seems quite happy, this helps JoAnn by knowing that her sister is not upset with her new living situation.
After canceling our July camper travel plans our next scheduled trip was going to be in September. Now, since we have a final date for dealing with the house in Springfield we have made reservations for a COE campground on Coralville Lake near Iowa City, IA. This outing is for the week following the closing and will give us a bit of relaxing time after all the stress of the past few weeks.
The trip postings will begin on Sunday August 13 as we make the short drive northward.
Stay tuned!
Wilma has adjusted to her new situation and seems quite happy, this helps JoAnn by knowing that her sister is not upset with her new living situation.
After canceling our July camper travel plans our next scheduled trip was going to be in September. Now, since we have a final date for dealing with the house in Springfield we have made reservations for a COE campground on Coralville Lake near Iowa City, IA. This outing is for the week following the closing and will give us a bit of relaxing time after all the stress of the past few weeks.
The trip postings will begin on Sunday August 13 as we make the short drive northward.
Stay tuned!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Update
We were able to find a very good Alzheimer's care facility near us and our sister/sister-in-law is doing quite well. She seems to be adjusting to her new surroundings.
In the meantime JoAnn and I have been working on clearing out her house in Springfield so it can be put on the market. We were extremely fortunate to find a couple that have cleared out estates in the past and were willing to help us. He is 83 and she is 81 but both with lots of energy. They had some family members help them, a daughter and two grandsons. The things were all sorted so anything that had any value in an auction was taken to a sale barn for a future sale. All else that was definitely trash went straight to the local landfill. He himself was an auctioneer with his own sale barn in Kansas in the past. Jo and I worked with them to collect and load two days worth of sale stuff and the last day of loads to the landfill.
The house is now empty and will soon be on the real estate listing for hopefully a quick sale. The house is old, built in the 1920s on a double corner lot. It has a double detached garage that was built in the mid 70s which adds we hope to the sale ability.
Because of this interruption in plans we had to cancel our camper travel plans for July. That perhaps was a blessing as our trip was heading to the southwest. Since that area is having triple digit temperatures and fires we will have to do that again in hopefully cooler weather. If things calm down a bit we may plan a short trip with the camper next month but if not our next scheduled long trip is in September heading toward Acadia NP in Maine with the return route through Canada.
In the meantime JoAnn and I have been working on clearing out her house in Springfield so it can be put on the market. We were extremely fortunate to find a couple that have cleared out estates in the past and were willing to help us. He is 83 and she is 81 but both with lots of energy. They had some family members help them, a daughter and two grandsons. The things were all sorted so anything that had any value in an auction was taken to a sale barn for a future sale. All else that was definitely trash went straight to the local landfill. He himself was an auctioneer with his own sale barn in Kansas in the past. Jo and I worked with them to collect and load two days worth of sale stuff and the last day of loads to the landfill.
The house is now empty and will soon be on the real estate listing for hopefully a quick sale. The house is old, built in the 1920s on a double corner lot. It has a double detached garage that was built in the mid 70s which adds we hope to the sale ability.
Because of this interruption in plans we had to cancel our camper travel plans for July. That perhaps was a blessing as our trip was heading to the southwest. Since that area is having triple digit temperatures and fires we will have to do that again in hopefully cooler weather. If things calm down a bit we may plan a short trip with the camper next month but if not our next scheduled long trip is in September heading toward Acadia NP in Maine with the return route through Canada.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Major family crisis
After returning from our trip East on Tuesday, we had Wednesday to get things here at home a little bit back to whatever normal is. It was an early bedtime Wed. evening and another good sound sleep in our home bed.
That was until around 1:00 am on Thursday morning. There was a loud knocking at our door, but it took a while for our deep sleep minds to realize what was happening and then to get up and go to the door. I ask through the door "who is there?" and the answer, "it's the police". It was a nice local police officer that ask if we knew a woman named Wilma Purvis. Of course we do, what's wrong? He said that she was in a hospital in Tahlequah, OK. He showed me a sheet of paper with that written down but said he couldn't pronounce the name. 😏 He told me the name of the hospital and took our phone number as someone from there would probably be calling us. She had told them that we were her "to be notified" next of kin.
I made a couple of phone calls and talked with a doctor at the hospital that was attending to her and told him that we would be down the next day as soon as we could get there from central Missouri.
It was back to bed but with a disturbed mind there was little sleep. Fortunately Jo was able to get back to some good sleep but I just caught a few winks while thinking about what we were going to do. I got up at 4:00 am knowing we had a long drive ahead of us but took some time to plot our course on the computer before waking Jo up to get started. Woke Jo up at 5:00 and we were on our way.
It was a 6 hour drive and we got to the hospital a little before lunch time. Found her plugged into a heart monitor with leg pumping boots on. A doctor came in to give us the full details of her condition that was mostly in agreement with my expectations, Alzheimer's and dementia with a UTI. The discharge directions were, no more driving, 24 hour supervision, and to see her doctor for further medication recommendations.
She told us stories about her car that were disturbing but proved false. She thought it would need some repair before driven again. She had apparently driven through two tanks of gas and when she stopped was at 1/4 tank. Her car was at a convenience store on the edge of town where she had apparently passed out which is why the emergency team had been called to take her to the hospital. The hospital helped us find her car and after her discharge I drove her car with her beside me while Jo drove our car and followed us back to Springfield.
Thursday night we trusted her to stay in her house while Jo and I found a Motel as her house's extra bed (sofa fold out) just isn't a bed to sleep on, we tried it once and nevermore. Then today we had her pack up some of her clothes and things so we could bring her up to our house while we found her a permanent place to live with assistance.
She has loved her house and it's location for many years but the 24 hour supervision just couldn't be made with her there. Her lifestyle was going to be totally different wherever we found for her to live be it in Springfield or elsewhere so we decided it was best to bring her near to us so we could visit more often than a 2.5 hour drive would allow.
Again it was me and Wilma in her car with Jo following along behind. Jo doesn't really like to drive but she had to make this long trip from east-central Oklahoma to Springfield and then on to our house.
Now after getting her settled it will be a long bit of taking care of her belongings in Springfield and all of her other affairs so our July trip is being canceled to allow for plenty of time to manage those affairs.
Our next trip on the books is for September but after we get these other details worked out who knows what we may work out to put the camper to use.
I'm just glad that she wasn't seriously injured with this jaunt but I'm also glad that this tragedy made a life changing decision for us.
The details of her Wednesday's journey will never be known even the new dent in her right front fender. We're just totally happy that she wasn't injured in a more serious way.
That was until around 1:00 am on Thursday morning. There was a loud knocking at our door, but it took a while for our deep sleep minds to realize what was happening and then to get up and go to the door. I ask through the door "who is there?" and the answer, "it's the police". It was a nice local police officer that ask if we knew a woman named Wilma Purvis. Of course we do, what's wrong? He said that she was in a hospital in Tahlequah, OK. He showed me a sheet of paper with that written down but said he couldn't pronounce the name. 😏 He told me the name of the hospital and took our phone number as someone from there would probably be calling us. She had told them that we were her "to be notified" next of kin.
I made a couple of phone calls and talked with a doctor at the hospital that was attending to her and told him that we would be down the next day as soon as we could get there from central Missouri.
It was back to bed but with a disturbed mind there was little sleep. Fortunately Jo was able to get back to some good sleep but I just caught a few winks while thinking about what we were going to do. I got up at 4:00 am knowing we had a long drive ahead of us but took some time to plot our course on the computer before waking Jo up to get started. Woke Jo up at 5:00 and we were on our way.
It was a 6 hour drive and we got to the hospital a little before lunch time. Found her plugged into a heart monitor with leg pumping boots on. A doctor came in to give us the full details of her condition that was mostly in agreement with my expectations, Alzheimer's and dementia with a UTI. The discharge directions were, no more driving, 24 hour supervision, and to see her doctor for further medication recommendations.
She told us stories about her car that were disturbing but proved false. She thought it would need some repair before driven again. She had apparently driven through two tanks of gas and when she stopped was at 1/4 tank. Her car was at a convenience store on the edge of town where she had apparently passed out which is why the emergency team had been called to take her to the hospital. The hospital helped us find her car and after her discharge I drove her car with her beside me while Jo drove our car and followed us back to Springfield.
Thursday night we trusted her to stay in her house while Jo and I found a Motel as her house's extra bed (sofa fold out) just isn't a bed to sleep on, we tried it once and nevermore. Then today we had her pack up some of her clothes and things so we could bring her up to our house while we found her a permanent place to live with assistance.
She has loved her house and it's location for many years but the 24 hour supervision just couldn't be made with her there. Her lifestyle was going to be totally different wherever we found for her to live be it in Springfield or elsewhere so we decided it was best to bring her near to us so we could visit more often than a 2.5 hour drive would allow.
Again it was me and Wilma in her car with Jo following along behind. Jo doesn't really like to drive but she had to make this long trip from east-central Oklahoma to Springfield and then on to our house.
Now after getting her settled it will be a long bit of taking care of her belongings in Springfield and all of her other affairs so our July trip is being canceled to allow for plenty of time to manage those affairs.
Our next trip on the books is for September but after we get these other details worked out who knows what we may work out to put the camper to use.
I'm just glad that she wasn't seriously injured with this jaunt but I'm also glad that this tragedy made a life changing decision for us.
The details of her Wednesday's journey will never be known even the new dent in her right front fender. We're just totally happy that she wasn't injured in a more serious way.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
A few comments on the trip
This was the first trip with our new Truck Camper and newer truck. After 17 years of pulling a large 5th wheel trailer, we have now moved a different direction in our camping style.
The smaller size is nice when trying to get around in tight places and not needing 40 acres to turn around in. It is not as comfortable as the larger trailers we have had as there isn't a sofa or recliners to relax in, only the bench seats around the dinette. The bed is difficult for Jo to get around in because she can't get down on her artificial knees. We did manage quite well for several days without electric hookups. With a solar panel to charge our batteries, and the generator to use when needing the microwave we managed. The only drawback to use of the generator is that it uses fuel from the LP tanks so we don't want to use it continuous for AC cooling. It did work to cool the camper down after a days drive in the sun and then open windows and a nice breeze helped to make it livable. I did however change our July trip plans slightly after this experience because we were scheduled for a three day stay in Canyonlands National Park without electric hookups and from the google earth images there aren't any trees for shade. We now have a KOA campground with electricity reserved for those three days.
We also have developed a check-list for closing everything up inside the camper. After one days drive we found one kitchen cabinet doors had come open from the rough road shaking and had broken dishes on the floor. A couple of coffee cups, a cereal bowl, a french press coffee maker, and a wine glass were some of the losses. After clean up, a trip to Walmart took care of replacement pieces. Now a Velcro tie is on the list to secure those doors.
Our first night out campground was a USFS campsite in Indiana which is a good location but the site I had reserved wasn't very level, which we made work, however I looked around for another site that I will reserve for any future trips to visit daughter.
Our second night's campground was a very nice COE campground and reasonably level but it was about 12 miles off of the Interstate on a very twisting mountain highway so another campground will be utilized for future trips. It would be a nice campground for a few days stay to make the drive in worth it but for only an overnight not so much.
Patapsco Valley State Park was a very nice campground and quite convenient for our visit with daughter. I did locate another site number that I will reserve for our next visit.
Our last campground for this trip was a COE park near Wappapello Lake. It was a nice quiet stay but again I walked around to locate another site to reserve for any future trips that might be made in that direction.
The smaller size is nice when trying to get around in tight places and not needing 40 acres to turn around in. It is not as comfortable as the larger trailers we have had as there isn't a sofa or recliners to relax in, only the bench seats around the dinette. The bed is difficult for Jo to get around in because she can't get down on her artificial knees. We did manage quite well for several days without electric hookups. With a solar panel to charge our batteries, and the generator to use when needing the microwave we managed. The only drawback to use of the generator is that it uses fuel from the LP tanks so we don't want to use it continuous for AC cooling. It did work to cool the camper down after a days drive in the sun and then open windows and a nice breeze helped to make it livable. I did however change our July trip plans slightly after this experience because we were scheduled for a three day stay in Canyonlands National Park without electric hookups and from the google earth images there aren't any trees for shade. We now have a KOA campground with electricity reserved for those three days.
We also have developed a check-list for closing everything up inside the camper. After one days drive we found one kitchen cabinet doors had come open from the rough road shaking and had broken dishes on the floor. A couple of coffee cups, a cereal bowl, a french press coffee maker, and a wine glass were some of the losses. After clean up, a trip to Walmart took care of replacement pieces. Now a Velcro tie is on the list to secure those doors.
Our first night out campground was a USFS campsite in Indiana which is a good location but the site I had reserved wasn't very level, which we made work, however I looked around for another site that I will reserve for any future trips to visit daughter.
Our second night's campground was a very nice COE campground and reasonably level but it was about 12 miles off of the Interstate on a very twisting mountain highway so another campground will be utilized for future trips. It would be a nice campground for a few days stay to make the drive in worth it but for only an overnight not so much.
Patapsco Valley State Park was a very nice campground and quite convenient for our visit with daughter. I did locate another site number that I will reserve for our next visit.
Our last campground for this trip was a COE park near Wappapello Lake. It was a nice quiet stay but again I walked around to locate another site to reserve for any future trips that might be made in that direction.
Another picture view along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Thursday to Saturday June 15 - 17
Our drive on Thursday was
totally along the BRP from mile marker 60 to mile marker 316. Again lots of vista views on either side with
wildflowers and wildlife. We saw several
deer, a couple of groundhogs, and a wild turkey. The azaleas were more plentiful and
varied. Most of the ones on Tuesdays
drive were a pale pink color but today we saw some bright pink, one lavender,
and one gold colored bushes. The parkway is lined with millions of rhododendrons per mile and we are about a week or two early for the grand floral showing. I took one picture of one beginning to open.
Our campground for
the nights is the Linville Falls campground on the BRP. Again without an internet connection, no
television, and only enough Verizon signal for texting (no enough for voice). We were here for three nights before we head
westward toward the Martin Manor.
our back yard
our front yard
Then here are some pictures of a few vistas along the way. In most of them we are above looking down on some clouds.
Tuesday-Wednesday June 13 & 14
Tuesday morning we left the
Baltimore area and drove southwest through Maryland and West Virginia into
Virginia. We entered the Shenandoah National Park on the Skyline Drive a little
after 10:00. This is a little over 100
mile drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a speed limit of 35
mph. Most of the drive is less than that
speed as the crooks and turns of 20-25 mph hairpin curves are plentiful. The overlooks off to either side showing the
deep valleys and distant hills are spectacular.
Camera pictures don't really show enough detail to show the beauty.
At the end of the
Skyline Drive we entered the Blue Ridge Parkway. Another National Park following the same
crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The
speed limit here is 45 mph but the views and beauty is the same. There are many wildflowers in bloom, azaleas,
mountain laurel, goat's beard, cow parsnip, and others. We drove about 60 miles on the BRP to our
campground for tonight at Otter Creek.
This is the lowest point in elevation along the BRP where the Otter
Creek enters into the James River.
We spent two nights
here in this quiet campground without electricity, internet connection, cell
phone signal, or television signals.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Back to Martin Manor
A little past noon today we made it back to the Martin Manor. It's been a very nice trip and I will post a few details with pictures in the next couple of days. Right now it is starting the washing machine to get the dirty clothes taken care of and restocked for out next outing.
I must say it has been very nice to have the right tool for the job. Our new truck (The Beast) has performed beyond my expectations. Quite capable of hauling the 2.5 ton load on its back up and down steep grades and around tight hairpin curves in comfort almost like riding in a sedan.
I must say it has been very nice to have the right tool for the job. Our new truck (The Beast) has performed beyond my expectations. Quite capable of hauling the 2.5 ton load on its back up and down steep grades and around tight hairpin curves in comfort almost like riding in a sedan.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
a few no tech days
Tonight we are back in civilization with full connections and technologies. Our campground is a COE site near Nashville, TN.
I will post several updates of our past few days when I get back home and have more time to compose a legible posting.
I will post several updates of our past few days when I get back home and have more time to compose a legible posting.
Monday, June 12, 2017
end of a nice long weekend
We have had a great time with Phyllis from Friday through today. Unfortunately she has to get back to work and we need to head back westward. First we are heading down the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway for a few days before turning toward MO through TN.
We (mostly she) got the bird feeder area finished and here is the finished view.
She has another bag of mulch to put into the bed area and another feeder to hang on the tree.
We (mostly she) got the bird feeder area finished and here is the finished view.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
nice day & nice visit
It was a very nice day for a visit. It started off with some company for breakfast. While I was eating my Cheerios I looked out the window to see a deer grazing on our front yard area between the trees.
Phyllis had a little bit of shopping to do so we took care of that while finding a nice spot for a light lunch. After the shopping trip it was nap time and then it was time for a game of cards, today they let daddy win. 😏
Phyllis has Restless Leg Syndrome and the medication for that is a pill she takes at supper time. Around an hour after taking the pill it puts her to sleep so when she tells us that she took her pill it means that it's time to leave. If she didn't take it at that time of day she wouldn't be able to sleep at night because of twitching legs.
Back in the campground we find that most sites are full because of the weekend. Still the campsites are wide spread so it doesn't feel crowded.
Phyllis had a little bit of shopping to do so we took care of that while finding a nice spot for a light lunch. After the shopping trip it was nap time and then it was time for a game of cards, today they let daddy win. 😏
Phyllis has Restless Leg Syndrome and the medication for that is a pill she takes at supper time. Around an hour after taking the pill it puts her to sleep so when she tells us that she took her pill it means that it's time to leave. If she didn't take it at that time of day she wouldn't be able to sleep at night because of twitching legs.
Back in the campground we find that most sites are full because of the weekend. Still the campsites are wide spread so it doesn't feel crowded.
Friday, June 09, 2017
beautiful day and good times with daughter
It has been a very good day with beautiful weather, thank you GWF.
Had lunch at the Double T diner, which is always good and the servings are sizable so we have leftovers enough for another meal. The Double T is close to Phyllis' house and she is a regular customer known to the whole staff. She doesn't cook in her kitchen so most all of her meals are eat-out and take home leftovers for another meal. She has a little dorm room sized microwave that we gave her when she started college at MU which still works that does the re-heating. She is so much of a regular customer at the TT that she can order whatever she craves whether or not it is on the menu.
Then I took her to Lowe's as she wanted a few more landscape blocks to line a small bed area in the back of her house. I told her that I thought my truck would be able to haul that big heavy load. 😉
This is a picture of her house that I took after she had potted a couple of flowers that she bought with the blocks.
Later as we were just sitting in her living room visiting with the TV on we finally had a glimpse of our two grand-kits. This is Louise or as she calls her Ouisa.
and this is Rozzie her first cat at this location.
She had a small kitten back when she was living near Greenbelt, MD before moving to Catonsville.
Had lunch at the Double T diner, which is always good and the servings are sizable so we have leftovers enough for another meal. The Double T is close to Phyllis' house and she is a regular customer known to the whole staff. She doesn't cook in her kitchen so most all of her meals are eat-out and take home leftovers for another meal. She has a little dorm room sized microwave that we gave her when she started college at MU which still works that does the re-heating. She is so much of a regular customer at the TT that she can order whatever she craves whether or not it is on the menu.
Then I took her to Lowe's as she wanted a few more landscape blocks to line a small bed area in the back of her house. I told her that I thought my truck would be able to haul that big heavy load. 😉
This is a picture of her house that I took after she had potted a couple of flowers that she bought with the blocks.
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