Suppo's RV trips

Day 64- Nov 1, Day-65 Nov 2, Day-66 Nov 3, Day 67- Nov 4 and Day 68 Nov 5

2010-11-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

Day 64- Nov 1- Today we went to Stone's River National Battlefield. It was here that one of the bloodish battles of the Civil War was faught. 23,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were either killed or wounded.

Day-65 Nov 2- Today we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We had visited here before they moved into a new "state of the art" building in downtown Nashville. It is a first class museum spanning all the years of country music. Next we drove by the Parthenon for a picture.

Tonight we went to see the Grand Ole Opry for the 4th time. This was the first time we'd seen it in the Ryman and how much better we found it here. The smaller size of the Ryman made for a more personal experience and having 3rd row center seats was wonderful. Vince Gill along with the "old" generation of Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson and Jack Green were joined by Josh Turner and song writer Jimmy Webb plus a Blue Grass group and another "new" singer. Tuesday night is a great night to see the Opry because there are fewer entertainers and thus each one does 3 or 4 songs rather than the usual 1 or 2.

Day-66 Nov 3- Today it is pouring rain and "freezing" cold so we are just staying in. Nashville has changed with the closing of Opryland and the move of the Country Music Hall of Fame and as a result many of the smaller museums have closed. The great flood last year has closed down the huge mall that replaceed Opryland and it is still closed as is the Opryland Hotel.

Day 67- Nov 4- Today we went to see Judge Overton's house "Traveler's Rest". When we arrived we found there were 104 school children there. We were offered a half price tour joing a group of 25 4th graders. It would have been 2 hours before we could have had a private tour so we joined them. It was a great tour with just the basics and no "over load" of information. Next we went to Belle Meade Plantation. After lunch in the Plantation restaurant we toured the mansion. This was once the home of many race horses including Iriquoise.

Day 68- Nov 5- Today we started heading back to Fresno. We are staying at Tom Sawyer Mississippi RV Park in West Memphis, AR. The park is right on the Mississippi River and we watched several tugs pushing barges up the river.

Day 63- Oct. 31, 2010

2010-11-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Day 63- Oct. 31- Today is "work" day...did laundry in AM and grocery shopped in PM. Weather has been sunny and in the low 70s since arriving in Nashville but forecast early week is rain and colder. We are finding we are running out of steam and not wanting to spend money the closer we get to California.

Day 60- Oct. 28, Day 61- Oct. 29 , Day 62- Oct. 30, 2010

2010-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Day 60- Oct. 28- Today the weather was very cloudy in the morning so we decided to wait until after lunch to drive into Great Smokey Mountain National Park. This was our 4th visit to the park, the first was in 1981 when we took our DS, so we just went to see the fall colors. At the higher elevations most of the leaves had already fallen but on the way up we drove through a golden canopy thatwas beautiful in the sunlight.

We drove past the Titanic Museum so I was able to get this quick shot of it.

Tonight we went to the Smith Family Dinner Theater for a so-so buffet and a good show put on by 3 talented Smith Family men. There were a wide variety of songs and some comedy but both of us would have preferred just the songs.

Day 61- Oct. 29- Today we went to Dollywood for our second visit. This month Southern Gospel was the feature along with fall decore. The price is high to get into the park but if you go to all of the shows it probably isn't soooo bad. The real killer was the $8 for parking. We managed to spend about 7 hours walking around, having lunch, and seeing some shows. There were various craft people selling and demonstrating. It was a fun day but cold...in the 50s.

Day 62- Oct. 30- Today we had about a 4 hour drive to Nashville's Jellystone Park. Check- in wasn't until 2 pm. and we gained an hour, crossing into the Central Time Zone, on the way so left late morning.

Day 58- Oct. 26 and Day 59- Oct. 27, 2010

2010-10-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Day 58- Oct. 26- Today we drove to Max Meadows, VA and the Fort Chiswell RV Park. The colors continue to awe us. It is warm and very humid today with huge storms heading this way and a Tornado Watch for us and much of VA.

Day 59- Oct. 27- Thank goodness we only had a short period of very heavy rain around 4 am and no strong winds. It was raining this morning as we left. It was a half day drive today to River Plantation Campground in Sevierville, TN with more beautiful color the entire way. After lunch we went to the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN. The building is built to look like the Titanic. It is a wonderful museum with lots of information and original objects and letters. Inside there is even the ship's grand staircase that has been reproducted.

Day 57- Oct. 25, 2010

2010-10-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Day 57- Oct. 25- Today we drove to Staunton, VA to visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Manse. The 28th President was born in this house Dec. 28, 1856. His father was a minister and provided this house by the church. They only lived in the house for one year before his father was offered more money by another church and they moved.

There was a small but very nice museum about his family and his Presidency. The 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine he was given when he retired was on display. After being donated to the musuem following his death it was stored for many, many years and deteriorated badly. Finally it was restored to look like the "winter model". Apparently the body could be changed to an open touring car in the summer months.

We took a different route back to the KOA via Shenandoah National Park and enjoyed more of Virigina's fall colors.

Day 56- Oct. 24, 2010

2010-10-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Day 56- Oct. 24- we drove to Charlottesville, VA to visit the home of two Presidents - Jefferson and Monroe.
Our first stop was Monticello which was Thomas Jefferson's home located on 5,000 acres.

It took 40 years to build to point it is today. He had all sorts of gimmicks like a fireplace mantel with a dumb waiter to the wine cellar built on each side, a pully system that closed both doors in a set at the same time, and a book holder that held 5 books open so he could research 5 subjects at a time. The house has skylights and lots of windows to bring the light and beautiful views into all the rooms. There is a family graveyard on the property where he is buried.

We then went to the 1784 Michie Tavern for a great mid-day dinner.

Our last stop was Ash-Lawn Highland- President James and Elizabeth Monroe lived here from 1793 to 1826. After his death the name of their farm was changed from Highland to Ash Lawn and today both names are used. The house is small and more home like than either Madison's or Jefferson's house.

Day 55- Oct. 23, 2010

2010-10-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Day 55- Oct. 23- Today our first stop was at Lowe's to get some plywood to put under the MH wheels because the camping spot is so unlevel.

Then the fun part of the day began with a drive to Orange, VA to visit Pres. James & Dolley Madison's Montpelier (home). They have done a first class job in restoring and presenting the Madison home and property which consists of 225 acres in a beautiful part of VA. We spent 3 1/2 hours touring the house, watching a video, and visiting the family graveyard where both James and Dolley are buried.

From there we drove to Gordonsville, VA to visit the 1860 Exchange Hotel and Civil War Hospital Museum. The hotel was built in 1860 and in 1862 was transferred over to the Confederate Army and used for a hospital. Thousands of Confederate Soldiers were treated there and it also treated many Union Soldiers. We visited rooms on 3 floors and saw some interesting items but the museum is very small.

Back at the campground they are having Halloween and there are a couple of very young children running around in costumes...cute. It seems like everything fall is a "big deal" back in this part of the country.

Day 53- Oct. 21 and Day 54- Oct. 22

2010-10-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

Day 53- Oct. 21- Today we left Normandy Farms Campground after a very slow start. DH decided to put some air in the Motorhome front tires and in the process the core in the valve for one tire got bent. A call to Good Sam roadservice with an ETA of 1 1/2 caused us to look for another alternative. The tow company called and informed us they couldn't do anything for us but the campground called a truck tire man who came out and we were on the road in 1/2 hour. It was a long day traveling from MA to RI, CT, NY, NJ and to the Allentown KOA in PA. Most of the roads were horrible and crossing the Trapenzee Bridge was like riding a bucking bronco. New England drivers are a true experience and all the roads are very crowded. The fall colors were as beautiful, or more so, as we'd seen in NH.
Day 54- Oct. 22- Today started off cold and moist after an early morning rain shower. Today we traveled from PA to MD, WV, and to the Madison/Shanandoah Hills KOA outside of Madison, VA for a 4 night stay. (9 states in 2 days!) The roads were better and the traffic not quite as heavy. We can say that everywhere we've traveled this year there are major road construction projects going on. The last 25 miles were very scenic but on a very narrow road. Fall colors are starting here also and the hill sides will soon be full of color.

Day 51-Oct. 19 and Day 52- Oct. 20

2010-10-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Day 51-Oct. 19- Today we decided to drive back to Concord, MA. Our first stop was at the old Main Street Burying Grounds to look for the graves of DH's Wheeler relations. We could not find the oldest stones and there appeared to be a lot of bare patches in this very old cemetery and no where near the 300 stones for those recorded there. From there it was to the Concord Free Library's Special Collection section which houses so much information on the Wheeler's that after 45 minutes we felt we'd never get through much of it. A picnic up near North Bridge was next followed by a photo stop at DH's cousin Col. Barret's House which the N.P. Service acquired a year ago and is presently doing restoration work on. DH was thrilled that he was able to go inside but avoided several taped off areas where lead paint removal was in the process.

Day 52- Oct. 20- Today is preparation day for tomorrow's departure as we head south to PA and VA and then west back to California.

Day 50- Oct. 18, 2010

2010-10-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Day 50- Oct. 18- Today we first drove to Taunton, MA to visit the Walker-Blake Graveyard located on the gounds of the TMLP Generating Station. We checked in with the guard and got a set of keys to open two gates to the graveyard. Several years ago kids had done a great deal of damage to the headstones, especially those of the Blakes, and funds were obtained to repair some of the stones and protect the graveyard. This was a great stop for us because we were able to find and actually read the headstones of DH's 7th and 8th g.g. fathers and mothers! Amazing in that the oldest stone is 332 years old and is that of DH's 8th g.g.m. Elizabeth Walker who died Aug 14, 1678 at the age of 59 years. These four old stones 1678, 1691, 1718 and 1738 were of slate but unlike most slate stones they appeared to have been crudley deeply carved by hand instead of professionally carved at a shallow dept. Most of the older professionally done slate stones we have found unreadable.

It is a beautiful sunny but cool, 50s, day so we drove to Cape Cod. Our first stop was at the Sandwich Glass Museum which was very interesting. It was the first American glass making plant in the "New World" formed because of the high taxes on imported English glass products which were in great demand.

Next we drove to Chatham, MA (also Cape Cod) and had a wonderful lunch, some of the best seafood we've ever had, at the Impudent Oyster.

We couldn't come all across the U.S. without seeing the Atlantic Ocean so drove another mile to see the views.

Also for a picture of the Chatham Lighthouse.

Day 49- Oct. 17

2010-10-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Day 49- Oct. 17-Today we drove to Providence, RI. Our first stop was the Roger Williams (DH's 8th g.g. father) Memorial where we watched a short film about his life. He was a minister who left England to have religious freedom but was then bannished from MA because of his religous beliefs. He got land from the Indians he had befriended in present day RI. It took 5 trips back to England to establish colony as one where church and government were separate and everyone could worship, or not worship, as they pleased. (This religous freedom later became the bases for our US Constitution's separation of relgion and state.) We then drove to Prospect Park where the Roger Williams statue looks over Providence. It was here that Roger was buried for the third time under the statue.
The next stop was the North Burying Grounds which covers 22 acres. Many of DH's Angell uncles, aunts and cousins are buried there. Luck was on our side finding many of them. Gov. Stephen Hopkins (DH's 5th cousin) is also buried here. He was governor of RI ten times and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. There is a grave marker telling of this. From there we went to his house.

DH's cousin and her husband Esek Hopkins (1718-1802) house was our next stop.

We thought it was a museum, according to the internet, but as it turned out there is a young woman, who the city has living there rent free, that lives there and watches over the house. She came home while we were taking pictures and invited us in to see the house. Esek was the first Commander in Chief of the American Navy. The house had a second story and an addition added by later generations in the next one hundred years.

Our final stop was at the Williams Family Cemetery (1710-1871),located in Roger Williams Park, where descendats of Roger Williams and DH's cousins are buried. There were several unreadable stones and apparently some missing ones because we could not find everyone as listed on the cemetery list.

Day 48- Oct. 16

2010-10-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Day 48- Oct. 16 - The sun is out again but the winds are still with us...looks like winter comes fast to New England! Today is "chore day" did the laundry in the AM and grocery shopping in the PM.

Day 47- Oct. 15

2010-10-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

Day 47- Oct. 15- Today an early Nor'easter has hit this area with heavy rain during the night and winds gusting to 35 mph....a good day to catch up on reading, etc. and not venture out.

Day 44- Oct. 12, Day 45- Oct. 13 and Day 45- Oct. 14

2010-10-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

Day 44- Oct. 12- Today we used the time to do some research as to the location of some of DH's g.grandfather's graves.

Day 45- Oct.13- Today we drove to Beverly, MA ---took the GPS recommended route which was on the freeways, tunnels and bridges in Boston (home we chose our own route) which was a driver's nightmare. Our search today was for the graves of DH's Dodge line. We knew that many were buried in Dodge Row but our information indicated the cemetery was located on Conat street next to the church. We located a cemetery called North Beverly and found some Dodge but none of the graves we were looking for were there. DH asked a grave digger for their location and he told us about a "very old...like Pilgram's cemetery" located behind several houses down the street. We easily found it and there found more Dodge graves but still not the ones we were searching for. He also suggested going to city hall and asking Mary in the Cemetery Dept. for the grave locations. Mary was off but several people tried to help but unfortunately the cemetery information for the old graves burned. When we mentioned Dodge Row a map showing the location, again on a right away down the driveway of several homes, was printed for us. This cemetery was several miles from where we thought it was but there all the Dodge graves we'd been looking for were found. This was a very long and tiring but successful day!

Day 46- Oct. 14- We left early this morning for Watertown, MA to locate the Stone line of graves. We'd hoped to find a grave of DH's 8th g.g.grandfather, Gregory Stone, but only located a memorial plaque in the Old Burial Grounds- AKA Arlington Street Cemetery. The graves we were looking for were also in this same cemetery. We stopped at the near by Cambridge Cemetery to see if it was the "Old Cambridge Cemetery" but they did not know of another old cemetery other than the one we had visited.

It is looking like most to the records for these early generation grandparents have either not been kept or have been destroyed. We are finding most of the old grave stones were made of slate and they have badly deteriorated so present day records for the old cemeteries are incomplete.

Day 42- Oct. 10 and Day 43 Oct. 11

2010-10-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Day 42- Oct. 10- Today we drove back to RI to visit 3 cemeteries. We found the Rev. Samuel Winsor Lot in Johnston and picked up another group of relatives. We tried to find two Angell cemeteries but they weren't where they were described.
Next we went to Lincoln, RI to see "Heartside" which was purchased in 1901 by DH's 4th cousin Frederick C. Sayles.

Next we stopped at the Eleazer Arnold House which was built in 1693. Several generations of Arnolds including DH's 2nd cousin Job Arnold lived in this house. It was open when we arrived so went inside. We stopped to look at the longest continually used Quaker Meeting House where the husband of a cousin married his 2nd wife.
Day 43- Oct. 11- This morning we drove to Quincy, MA to the Adams National Historical Park. We took a 2 hour tour to the Birthplaces of 2nd President John Adams (DH's 5th cousin) and his son 6th President John Quincy Adams (DH's 6th cousin). The two birth homes that of John
and that of John Quincy were small and located on the same plot of land.

The "Old House" where they both had lived and where both John Adams and his wife Abigail died was lived in by 4 generations of Adams and it is fully furnished with original furniture.

Our last stop was back in the center of town at the United First Parish Church which was built in 1828 with money from the sale of land donated to the church by Pres. John Adams. It is know as the "Church of the Presidents'" and in the basement crypt are the tombs of John Adams and Abigal Smith Adams and next to them the tombs of John Quincy Adams and Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams. The tomb of John was draped with a special American flag which had 13 stars for the colonies during his presidency and 15 stripes which included 2 states that were to be admitted.

Day 40- Oct. 8 and Day 41- Oct. 9, 2010

2010-10-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Day 40- Oct. 8- Today we went and visited 2 cemeteries. The first was the small family cemetery "Angell Lot #SM027" in Smithfield, RI. DH has two 5th great-grand aunts and uncles: Job Angell & Lydia Fenner and Ezekiel Angell & Ruth Sprague that were buried here in the late 1700s and early 1800s. There were also about 20 Angell cousins in this cemetery. The grave stones were all in fair to poor condition but we were able to take some photos and confirm information that we have.

Next we drove to Glocester, RI to the large Acotes Hill- AKA Chepachet Cemetery. DH has a 3rd Great-grand uncle Thomas Owen and his wife Martha Arnold buried there along with lots of cousins. We had about 50 names mainly Owen with a few Irons, Paine, and Whipple. Thanks to a man who worked there we were able to locate all except 2 of the names we had but it did take several hours. We also found several other of DH's relatives. Our last stop was at the Peleg Arnold (DH's cousin) Tavern built about 1690 on the Great Road in North Smithfield, RI. It now appears to be an apartment or boarding house.

Day 41- Oct. 9- Today we drove to Warwick, RI to see the Aldrich Mansion which is now rented out for weddings. It was built for Senator Nelson W. Aldrich (DH's 6th cousin) in 1896. His daughter Abby married John D. Rockefeller, JR. who was the father of VP Nelson Rockefeller (DH's 8th & 10th cousin). Unfortunately the estate is large and behind iron gates and a stone wall.

We then drove to Pawtuxet, RI to see the John Waterman Arnold (DH's 4th cousin) House which was built in the late 1700s.

Our next stop was to photograph Col. Ephrain Bowen and his wife Sarah Angell's house (DH 2nd cousin). He was the last surviving member of the band that destroyed the schooner Gaspee in the mid 1700s.

Day 39- Oct. 7

2010-10-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

Day 39- Oct. 7- Today we drove 158 miles back down to Foxboro, MA and the highly rated Normandy Farms Campground for a 2 week stay. Once again the fall colors were spectacular! Here in this area of MA the leaves are just beginning to change but there should be some nice color before we leave. The campground is booked solid for 3 nights because Columbus Day is a "huge" holiday here- school's have both Friday and Monday off. This will be a busy 2 weeks looking at more genealogy sites - graves, homes, etc.

Day 38- Oct. 6, 2010

2010-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Day 38- Oct. 6- Today we drove to Hillsborough, NH in the pouring rain to see 14th President Franklin Pierce's Homestead. He was president from 1853 to 1857. He is DH's 5th cousin. In this house he lived from Infancy 1804 until his marriage in 1834.
Next we drove to Concord, NH which is the state's capital. Our first stop was the Old North Cemetery where Franklin Pierce, his wife Jane Means Appleton and two of his three children- Frank who died at 4 years and Benjamin who died at 11 years -are buried. Their first son Franklin, Jr. died at 3 days of age.

In Concord we also saw the Pierce Manse where he lived from 1842 to 1848.

After a nice lunch at the Olive Garden and a shopping stop at Wal Mart and Camping World we returned to Rumney, NH still in the pouring rain.

Day 37- Oct. 5

2010-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

Day 37- Oct. 5- Today we spent the day driving through the White Mountains of NH to see the beautiful colors. There were waterfalls,

covered bridges, rivers, beautiful vistas, as well as highways lined with color.

Day 36- Oct. 4

2010-10-04T16:13:00.001-07:00

Day 36- Oct. 4- The majority of the day was spent waiting to have the MH toilet fixed. Mid afternoon we drove to Franconia State Park to view some of the beautiful fall colors.

Day 35- Oct. 3

2010-10-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

Day 35- Oct. 3- Today we drove to Rumney, NH and Riverbrook RV Park. We saw more and more beautiful fall colors the closer we got to the campground. Sitting here we have beautiful views of the hills full of color. It is our hope to do some scenic driving in the next 3 days but.....Friday night we developed a bad leak from the toilet and tomorrow morning first thing we will talk to the RV service connected to the campground and see about getting that fixed.

Day 33- Oct. 1 and Day 34- Oct. 2

2010-10-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Day 33- Oct. 1- This morning we went to the Concord Museum to see the rifle barrel made in 1705 by Joseph Merriam. The museum was well done with a short history from the Indians to the 1900s. It started raining heavily before we left so just came back to the Motorhome and stayed for the rest of the day.

Day 34- Oct. 2- Today, as forecast, it is sunny and cool. We drove back to Concord to North Bridge to take a photo of it and the Minute Man Statue. Next it was off to see several of the Wheeler houses. The 1750 house of DH's 3rd cousin Timothy Wheeler was impressive as were those other cousins along Walden Street. We drove to Virginia Rd., one of the oldest in Concord, to see two houses on DH's 8th ggf Thomas Wheelers farm land. The first was built in 1692 for his son Timothy and the second was built by his son John (DH's 7th gg father). In 1730 this "high-style" farmhouse was both large and elegant for its time. We were given a private tour of the house by a local historian. The house has original construction and over the years layers were just added inside. In 2007 the Thoreau Farm Trust purchased the home for $1 and recently preserved and restored it by removing these layers. Henry David Thoreau was born in the house in 1817. John Wheeler had sold the home to his cousin Deacon Samuel Minot who conveyed it to his son Jonas Minot. Jonas's second wife was Mary Dunbar the grandmother of Henry David Thoreau. We learned during the tour that the Wheeler family were and are still like the "royalty" of Concord. We than returned to the Nathan Meriam House to see the inside. After our visit the other day we learned there had actually beend 3 houses built at Meriam's Corner and this is the 3rd one where Nathan (cousin of DH) was living at the time of the April 19, 1775 battle. On our way back to the Motorhome we stopped to photograph the "Wayside" (home of both the Alcotts and Natanial Hawthorne - both DH's cousins) and Orchard House home of Louisa May Alcott (DH's cousin). This afternoon DH has the job of climbing onto the Motorhome roof and sweeping tons of wet leaves and water off of it and the slideout awnings so when we leave tomorrow they aren't all rolled up in the awnings.

Day 31- Sept. 29 and Day 32- Sept. 30

2010-09-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

Day 31- Sept. 29 - Today we drove to Littleton Commons and Concord to visit 3 cemeteries. We found the Old Burying Ground in Littleton after stopping to ask someone. Buried there were DH's 5th great- grandparents Richard and Hannah Goldsmith and also his 5th great-grandfather John Merriam(Meriam) plus some 4th great-grand uncles, a 3rd great-grand aunt and a few cousins. We were lucky and found all of their graves without much trouble. Next we drove to Concord to the Old Hill Burying Ground where DH's 7th great-grandfater Joseph Merriam (Meriam) is the oldest grave. We had been here in 1999 but at our age could not remember where his grave was. This cemetery is on the side of a hill and after walking most of it we located his grave along with about 20 other graves of great-grand uncles, aunts, and cousins in a little over an hour. Our next stop was Sleepy Hollow Cemetery which was just one street away. When we visited in 1999 the only grave we knew to be here was Louisa May Alcotts located on Author's Ridge (another of DH's cousins). We knew this trip that Nathaniel Hawthorne is also a half cousin so we stopped at his grave. The cemetery is huge and we wanted to locate about 25 graves of DH's Wheeler cousins but doubted this could be done. We started walking around the area adjacent to Author's Ridge and found most all of the graves..boy did we luck out! (I am not posting pictures of the headstones.)
Day 32- Sept. 30- There is a huge amount of Tropical rain heading up the east coast right for this area later tonight as a result of Tropical Storm Nichole. We decided tomorrow would be a better day to visit the Concord Museum when the storm is supposed to hit full force. Today between rain drops we drove all around Acton, MA to locate and photograph houses from the 1700 and 1800 that belonged to various relatives of DH. The oldest house belonged to DH's 2nd cousin Samuel Wheeler and dates to 1735. DH's 4th cousin Peter Fletcher's house dates to 1769. and Elbridge Robbins, who had been married to both 5th cousin Mary Hopgood and 5th cousin Charlotte White, lived in this house in the early 1800s.
In all we found 11 houses before returning to the Motorhome for lunch. It was off to grocery shop after lunch.

Day 30- Sept. 28

2010-09-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Day 30- Sept. 28- The day started off with a dead car battery and an hour's delay to the start of our touring. A quick trip to AutoZone to get a battery pack to carry since this is the 3rd time we have had a dead battery since we started towing the Escape.
We then took off to explore Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord and Lexington, MA. First stop was to see the John Merriam House (related to DH) at Merriam's Corner where the Revolutionary War had a major battle against the Red Coats on April 19, 1775. The house has been restored since our last visit in 1999 and will be open this Saturday so we can return and go inside. The house was originally built by Nathan Meriam. Next was a stop at the Visitor's Center for a short movie about the war in this area. We grabbed a quick sandwhich and headed for Lexington.

First stop was the Munroe Tavern. It was closed for the season. The British occupied this tavern for 1 1/2 hours and also President Washington dined here in 1789. Munroe's son in law was a 2nd cousin of DH.

Next a stop at the Battle Green where the first shots were fired.

Next we stopped to look at the Hancock- Clarke House (1698) where DH's 3rd cousin Willaim Dawes, who rode one route to warn that the British were coming, met up with Paul Revere who rode the other route.

We drove back to Lincoln and toured the Hartwell Tavern. DH's 2nd cousin, Ephraim Hartwell, opened part of his home in 1756 as an inn. He and his wife had 9 children. The British passed here both coming and going from Boston.

Day 28- Sept. 26 and Day 29- Sept. 27

2010-09-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Day 28- Sept. 26- Last night we were big winners at the Casino...I won a whole $20 and we came home $1.32 winners for the night...but the Prime Rib Dinner was one of the best meals we have ever had at a casino. The Indian Casino sure puts to shame those out west! It was a beautiful complex with lots of nice restaurants and lots of machines. This morning was laundry day and this afternoon we enjoyed the peaceful RV park because all the children and about 90% of the RVs left before noon.

Day 29- Sept. 27- The NY and MA toll roads ate up $37.00 today! It was a beautiful drive with the hills and roadsides filled with fall color.

We arrived at the Boston Minuteman Campground, for a 6 night stay, in the early afternoon to a cold 59 and light drizzle. We have stayed here twice before and this time have a great long pull through spot.

Day 26- Sept. 24 and Day 27- Sept. 25

2010-09-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Day 26- Sept. 24- Today we drove to Fairview, PA, Hill Family Campground, which is on the outskirts of Erie, PA. Arriving early afternoon we took a short drive to Praque Island State Park, which juts out into Lake Erie, but did not stay.
Day 27- Sept. 25- Our travel today was just on I-90 which meant spending $41.45 on NY Toll Road charges. We arrived at the Villages at Turning Stone in Verona, NY. We have stayed here on two previous occasions but the last time was in 1999 and the trees have all grown up and we didn't recognize that we had been here previously. We have a nice spot over looking a fishing pond. It is Fall here for sure! We saw some beautiful yellows, oranges and even some reds the entire day.
There is a Casino down the road which we have never visited so that is on the agenda for tonight's dinner.

Day 23- Sept. 21, Day 24- Sept. 22 and Day 25 - Sept. 23

2010-09-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

Day 23- Sept 21- In the morning we visited the RV Hall of Fame and Museum. This was the reason we had come to Elkhart and we were not disappointed. They had several new RVs on display none of which impressed us but the old ones did. They had everything from car tents to tent trailers, trailers, motor homes, and mobile homes to the touring car that was given to Mae West to entice her to stay with the studio.
After lunch we drove to see some of the Indiana Amish countryside and several towns where they did their shopping.
There were several buggys on the roads and women traveling on bicycles.
Day 24- Sept. 22- Today we headed south east into Ohio to visit our oldest grand-daughter and our great grandson. We arrived in time for me to get a hair cut. Next we drove from the KOA in Brookville to Moraine, on the southern end of Dayton, where they live. After a quick visit we were all, her boyfriend joined us, off to ToysRUs to get birthday gifts for our great grandson and then to dinner. We returned to their apartment and watched as the gifts were opened and enjoyed.
Day 25- Sept. 23- This morning it was off to get DH a hair cut, have the leak in the front tire of our Escape plugged, and to Wal Mart for groceries. After lunch they came to our Motor Home for a nice visit. The visit was much too short but we were so happy that we'd been able to have a two day visit. It is so hard when so many miles separate us from loved ones.

Day 20- Sept. 18, Day 21 Sept. 19, Day 22 Sept. 20

2010-09-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

Day 20- Sept 18-
Today we drove to Shepherdsville, KY, just south of Louisville, and the Louisville South KOA. We were once again in 4 states: MO,IL,IN and KY. This was a very nice park with lots of trees, cabins, and many young couples and kids there for the weekend. Unfortunately with the big trees there was no Satellite TV.
Day 21- Sept 19-Today we went to Churchill Downs which is the home of the Kentucky Derby.
We took 3 tours and saw everything from the barns which off season housed about 800 horses to "Millionairs' Row" where the Kentucky Derby seats cost $20,000 for a table seating 8 with a $60,000 reservation commitment for 3 years. They had a 360 degree movie and a nice museum which housed everything from ladies derby hats to horse shoes worn by the last derby winner.
Day 22- Sept 20Today we entered Indiana and drove north to Elkhart to spend 2 nights at the Elkhart Campground.

Day 18- Sept. 16 and Day 19 - Sept. 17

2010-09-17T13:22:00.001-07:00

Day 18- Sept. 16- Today we drove to St. Joseph, MO. Our first stop was the Pony Express Museum housed in the original barn where the first rider left from. Several blocks away was a statue of a rider.
From there we stopped at the Jesse James House where he was fatally shot behind the ear by one of his gang members hoping to collect a reward. The actually bullet hole is still in the wall, it had been greatly enlarged by past souvenier hunters, and there were blood stains on the wood floor. He had removed his guns to climb on a chair and straighten a picture. The front door had been open and he did not want the neighbors to see his gun. His skull was on display showing where he had been shot and there were pictures taken of his 2nd grave where in 1995 they exhumed the body to do DNA test which confirmed it was Jesse in the grave. The home has been moved several blocks to its present site.
After a lunch stop at the Cracker Barrel we drove to the Jesse James Farm in Kearny, MO. This was the house he was born in. There was a lot of history about his parents, siblings, and children presented in the small museum. It is interesting that his son, a junior, did not know who his father really was nor his real name until after Jesse's death. He thought their names were Tom Howard. This was the house into which the Pinkertons threw a bomb killing his young half brother and destroying the lower part of his mother's right arm. His original grave was in the yard of this home. He later was removed to a new casket and buried in the town cemetery.
Leaving the farm we drove to Liberty, MO and saw where Jesse's gang commited their first bank robbery which was also the first ever daylight bank robbery.
Day 19- Sept 17. Today we drove across the state of MO on I-70 and experience more traffic than we've ever seen on a interstate that didn't run by a huge city. We got to Sundermier RV in St. Charles, MO (just outside of St. Louis where we have visited in the past)mid afternoon.

Day 17- Sept. 15

2010-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Day 17- Sept. 15 This morning we drove into Independence, MO to the Harry Truman Visitor's Center and obtained the required tickets to tour the Truman Home. We stopped at Independence Square which was the starting point for the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails and now is home of the Jackson County Court House designed after Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
We had several hours before our Home tour so went to the Truman Presidential Museum and also saw his and Bess Truman's graves in the courtyard. There was a duplicate of the President Truman Oval Office. The upper floor was devoted to his Presidential years and the lower floor to his private life.
We toured the home were he and Bess spent their lives when not at the White House. The home is in the same condition as it was when Bess died in 1982.

Day 16- Sept. 14

2010-09-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to the Hallmark Visitor's Center. This was very interesting with cards, etc. back 100 years to the founding of the company here in Kansas City, MO. There was even a painting done by Winston Churchill plus one by Norman Rockwell and another by Grandma Moses. It was interesting to see the cards made over all these years. The employees had made Christmas Trees for Joyce Hall, the founder, over the years and these trees were also on display. There was a man doing die work for a card. They had two machines one which was putting a red foil lettering on a card and the other cutting out card forms and the man operating them was very informatiave. The bow making machine allowed us to make a small bow to keep. Severall display windows held Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments including the entire Frosty Friends set our DD has. A stop at the store yielded our purchase of this years ornaments.

After lunch we drove to the Arabia Steamboat Museum. I wish everyone had the opportunity to see this museum. The steamboat sank in the Missouri River in 1856 with 200 tons of cargo and was excavated in 1988. The collection of pre-Civil War artifacts was mind boggeling. They still have much of the cargo in freezers awaiting preservation and cleaning. Because the cargo was sealed in silt and mud it was preserved in almost perfect condition. In glass bottles there was everything from fruit for pies to pickles and cognac to champagne that still fizzed. The men who did the excavation had originally hoped to find treasures to sell but when they found this wealth of goods decided to keep everything and opened the museum to share with the world.

Day 13- Sept. 11, Day 14- Sept 12 and Day 15 Sept. 13

2010-09-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Day 13- Sept 11- A "very long drive" 343 miles to Kansas City, MO and the World of Fun Villages RV Park which is on a hill next to the amusement parks. The park has nice concerte level pads, small trees and lots of green grass...also a view of the roller coasters and I-435.

Day 14- Sept 12- This morning was a trip to Wal Mart Super Store for groceries and then back to MH for lunch. After lunch we drove into Independence, MO to the National Frontier Trails Museum. We enjoyed this museum which focused on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails from the starting point here in Independence. There were many panels with quotes from those starting off on the journey and more comments about how there ideals changed as they traveled further from Independence. They had several books with one page stories of why a person was heading west. It was interesting that a small area was also devoted to the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Day 15- Sept 13- This morning was laundry day. After lunch we drove to Fort Leavenworth, KS and went through the Frontier Army Museum. Again the Lewis and Clark expedition was displayed. There were many military artifacts from rifles to ammunition and clothing to wagons and sleds. This fort is still an activie military base and has served since the westward expansion.

(Sorry no pictures but museums are not ideal for photographing.)

Day 9- Sept. 7, Day 10- Sept 8, Day 11- Sept 9, and Day 12- Sept. 10

2010-09-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

Day 9- Sept 7- Today we went into Santa Fe, NM and walked around the historic district. We stopped to look at several of the very old churches dating back to the late 1600s. Inside Loretto Chapel we saw the mysterious staircase to the choir loft that we'd see on "Unsolved Mysteries" - it is not attached to the wall and has no support system.
We visited a few of the many gift shops where DH got some T-shirts.

Day 10- Sept. 8- Today we drove to Tucumcari, NM arriving in time for lunch. The KOA was one of the nicer ones but not fancy. A trip into town to get me a watch battery occupied time in the afternoon.

Day 11- Sept. 9- Today was a "long" driving day for us- 293.3 miles to Gunsmoke Trav L RV Park on the outskirts of Dodge City, KS. We were in four states today- NM,TX, OK and KS. A first for us was to stop along the way. We visited the Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade, KS. It was an interesting stop where we were able to go through the tunnel from the barn into the house which was used by the gang. We learned they had robbed a train in Tulare, CA and members lived in Merced, CA...funny at home we never hear of this!

Day 12- Sept. 10- Today was Boot Hill and Dodge City day. First thing in the morning when still cool we walked around the historic district viewing the various sidewalk medallions placed to honor those actors who brought Dodge City to life on TV and on the silver screen. There was a statue of Wyatt Earp who was just one of the famous sherrifs in Dodge. Next we visited the Boot Hill complex which we were not sure would be more than a few commerical store fronts but we were proved wrong. The entire complex was a series of museums and the entire complex was to give one a feel of what life was like in Dodge City in the late 1800s. After lunch we drove west to look at the Santa Fe Trail ruts but had a hard time doing more than imagining where they might have been. Next it was east of town to view a cross placed to mark where Coronado had crossed the Arkansas River in the late 1500s. We stopped at Fort Dodge where a 6th cousin of DH, Maj. Richard I. Dodge, had been commander in the 1870s. He outlawed alcohol on the Fort and thus was responsible for a boom of saloons sprouting up in Dodge City.

Day 7- Sept. 5 and Day 8- Sept. 6

2010-09-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

Day 7- Sept. 5 Today we drove the High Road up to the Taos Pueblo. This road was very scenic, winding, and traversed through the high mountains through several small villages.

The pueblo was much like Acoma in that there was no electricity or running water. Most of the tribe live in the surrounding area and these are "family" homes where they come to gather and sell crafts, pots, jewelry, etc. to the tourists.

We stopped in town for a picnic at Kit Carson Park. Inside the park is a cemetery where Kit Carson is buried and several blocks from there is his home and museum which we also visited.

We returned via the Low Road which ran along the Rio Grande River and was less scenic and much straighter.

Day 8 - Sept. 6 Today was the day to grocery shop and catch up on some rest and relaxation.

Day 5- Sept. 3 and Day 6- Sept. 4

2010-09-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Day 5- Sept 3 -Today we drove east of Gallup to Sky City RV Park , connected with the Indian Casino, for the purpose of touring the Acoma Pueblo. This pueblo is the longest coninually inhabited pueblo dating back to the 1200s. It is located on top of a 360 foot tall mesa and accessible only by tribal tours.

We took about a 3/4 mile walk with the Indian guide which was very interesting. Most of the people either live in Acomita of McCarty where they have water and electricty because there is neither on top of the mesa. They still have family homes and return frequently for family gatherings and festivities.

The church is only used twice a year - Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and for an important festival. It still has dirt floors and hand carved beams. They practice both the Acoma religion and are Catholics.

Day 6- Sept 4- Today we drove to the Santa Fe Skies RV park located about 7 miles from Santa Fe, NM where we will spend 4 nights.

Day 4- Sept 2

2010-09-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to El Morro National Monument. This is a huge sandstone rock where the Indians had a Pueblo on top in the early 1200s. People as early as the Spanish explorers in the early 1600s up until 1906 when the rock was made a National Monument stopped here to camp because of a huge pool of water near the base of the rock. They inscribed their names in the rock.

On the way back we drove through the Zuni Pueblo where many of the homes had the huge outdoor ovens we have seen at ruins in the past.

After lunch we went to two museums in Gallup which had a few interesting things in them including Kachina dolls of all the Zuni Kachina and some beautiful Indian artwork.

Aug 30- Day 1, Aug 31- Day 2 and Sept 1 - Day 3

2010-09-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

Day 1 (Aug 30, 2010) As planned we left Fresno about 7:30 am and arrived around 1:20 at the Barstow/Calico KOA in Yermo, CA. We had stayed here several times previously but never took the 3 mile trip up to Calico Ghost Town so decided to do this. There are about 5 of the original building here and the remainder are reconstructions which were started by Walter Knott, of the Knottsberry Farm fame, in the 1950s when he purchased the property. There were several tour buses and many more people than I'd anticipated. We walked around the town, visited the very small museum and several gift shops.

Day 2 (Aug 31) The next morning leaving Yermo upon exiting a gas station the mud flap on the back of the Motor Home got caught on the power plug where the Escape is plugged in while towing. Taking one side of the mud flap off was more of a job than we'd thought it would be and the bolt would not come loose. DH kept unscrewing to no avail...then an Angel appeared in the form of a trucker driver who offered his assistance and in a few minutes the mud flap was off, unstuck from the power plug, reassembled, and the lights were checked to make sure all was working well. (I'll never again make the comment that the "young" truck drivers sure are not as cutious as the "older" ones are!)

We arrived in Seligman, AZ at the Rte 66 KOA mid afternoon. The small town claims to be the beginning of Route 66 and its main street and major industry revolve around tourism based on Route 66 "the Mother Road". It was fun to take a few pictures, wander around the gift shops, listen to the 50s music, and buy a couple of T-shirts. We were told the majority of the tourists are from France which we found both interesting and surprising.

Day 3 (Sept 1)Today we arrived at the USA RV Park in Gallup, NM in time for lunch and will spend two nights here.

Heading out for New England

2010-08-29T18:15:00.001-07:00

Check in from time to time and I'll try to post and maybe I'll be able to put a picture or two on here.

Day 77- April 3, 2010

2010-04-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

A beautiful drive today from Casa Grande, AZ to Banning, CA with the desert carpeted in wild flowers. The flowers were a dark yellow lining the interstate and into the desert even up the hills. Here and there purple flowers were intermixed with some pale yellow and white adding an additional touch. The winds really picked up once we were near Palm Springs and around the windmills west of there.

This will be my last post for our winter trip as we will arrive back in Fresno, CA tomorrow.

Bye ...until we are on the road again in May.

Day 76- April 2, 2010

2010-04-02T13:43:00.001-07:00

Finally out of Tucson ..here at Palm Creek in Casa Grande, AZ for dinner at Macayo's and the night.

Day 75- April 1, 2010

2010-04-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

At last an answer about the windshield screen we've been waiting for...sadly it won't even be shipped for 6 more days so we are having it shipped to us in Fresno. They did put the other two parts in this morning and fixed a problem we discovered yesterday. We'll spend the night here in Tucson and then go up to Casa Grande, AZ for the night.

Day 74- March 31, 2010

2010-03-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are still here in Tucson, AZ waiting for the front windshield screen or motor for it. We called Monaco and they will call the Vendor to see what the status is. This is disappointing as we had hoped to be back in Fresno Friday for a wedding...such is the RV life.

Day 73- March 30, 2010

2010-03-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what??? Here we are in Tucson, AZ. The part we need to have installed before we can leave did not come in this morning. Yesterday three other parts did come in and the one part we saw was the wrong part!!!
A little shopping this afternoon and some relaxing.

Day 72- March 29, 2010

2010-03-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

After lunch we drove to the "White Dove of the Desert" (Mission San Xavier del Blac) which was founded in 1692 by the Spanish Jesuits. This was our second visit here the first being before 1995 when they did a restoration of the church.
From there we drove to Tubac Presidio State Park. The Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac was founded in June of 1752, following the surrender of the Pimas who had destroyed the small settlement of Tubac, to protect the settlers. The Apache frequently attacked when the presidio was left without military protection in 1776. In 1787 it was reactivated with Pima Indian troops and Spanish officers. Tubac was part of the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, and was soon resettled and developed by the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company. In 1860 it was the largest AZ town but after the Civil War it was drained of troops and left unprotected from the Apache. The people began leaving Tubac never to regain its importance. There was a great museum with artifacts that had been excavated in 1988 revealing the different layers from each of the time periods. There was a one room school house where we even found the same desks we had in the 5th grade!

Day 71- March 28, 2010

2010-03-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

Here in Tucson, AZ..just sitting around...that's what "old" people do. It was a very nice birthday that I had...my son, daughter, two grand-daughters and grandson all called to wish me a "Happy Birthday". I enjoyed talking with them all! My sister came on chat for facebook with birthday wishes.

The weather was windy most of the day but the temperatures are now heading for the 80 degree mark as the sun is thinking of setting.

Day 70- March 27, 2010

2010-03-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Still here in Tucson, AZ. Of the 4 parts ordered 1 has been installed, two have arrived and were the wrong parts, and the fourth has not arrived. Welcome to the world of RV Service! Of the two parts re-ordered one is to be in Monday and the major one, which we can not have sent but have to have installed before we leave, is supposed to be in Tuesday. We hope to leave on Wednesday March 31 but will just have to continue playing it day by day. The only positive note on all of this is that the RV Sales Department has given us 12 nights free at the park to cover our costs of staying waiting for the parts. Today was laundry and grocery shopping day.

Day 69- March 26, 2010

2010-03-26T09:09:00.001-07:00

Still here in Tucson, AZ... waiting for parts.

Day 68- March 25, 2010

2010-03-26T09:08:00.003-07:00

Still here in Tucson, AZ...getting MH service and waiting for parts.

Day 67- March 24, 2010

2010-03-26T09:08:00.001-07:00

Still here in Tucson, AZ...getting MH service and waiting for parts.

Day 66 - March 23, 2006

2010-03-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Still here in Tucson, AZ...getting MH service and waiting for parts.

Day 65- March 22, 2010

2010-03-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

This morning we took the MH to the Beaudry Collison Center to have the paint touch up work done. We had to take the cats with us so decided we'd drive to the Saguaro National Park which is comprised of two units. First we went to the East Unit and stopped at the Visitor's Center and then drove the 8 mile loop road where we saw some very interesting "old" saguaro Next we drove approxiamately 15 miles to the Tucson Mountain West Section of the park where we had a picnic among hundred of cactus. Just as we had decided to return to the MH several hours early we received a phone call saying it would be ready by the time we got there. It appears they did a nice job and we got some touch up paint to take with us.

Day 64- March 21, 2010

2010-03-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today was a sunny warm beautiful day and all we did was relax here in Tucson, AZ

Day 63- March 20, 2010

2010-03-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

It worked! We decided to finally try the convection oven since we were back in Tucson and a baked pie-- glad to say it worked without blowing up! Had to have my nails redone and then it was off to get some groceries. After lunch we went to Camping World to return a propane tank that failed to work. From there we drove the short distance to the Beaudry Collision Center, where we have an appointment Monday morning to get the paint touch up work done, to see exactly where it was. The near by Air Force Base had a Air Show and we were able to watch the jets from the Motor Home.

Day 62- March 19, 2010

2010-03-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Left Las Cruces, NM early this morning and managed to avoid the strong winds that were forecast except for a few miles when we crossed the state line into AZ. We are back in Tucson, AZ at Beaudry RV Resort behind the dealership where we bought the MH. Monday we are to have some paint touch up work done and Tuesday a service appointment.

After lunch DH went to the service department to make sure the parts were in that they were ordering on Feb. 9th....nothing had been ordered! The service advisor we originally had quit a couple of weeks ago, the new one assigned never got the parts ordered despite several emails we'd sent him and phone messages we'd left him requesting that he make sure the parts were in, and now we have another service advisor assigned to us. The new advisor is a female (hope that means action) and is supposedly having parts over-nighted so that they will be here for our Tuesday appointment...that is if the parts are in stock. How long will we be here???that is the question of the day. DH found the sales manager and he is supposed to get us a free stay here for as long as this takes.

Day 61- March 18, 2010

2010-03-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

This morning we relaxed and after lunch we drove up to Fort Selden. The fort was established in 1865 to protect settlers from the Apache. The life of the fort was short lived because the Indians soon were no longer a problem by 1890. In 1863 General Douglas MacArthur's father was commander of the fort. and young Douglas lived here for 3 years. When the fort was abandoned in 1891 all the roofs, doors and windows were removed from the adobe buildings. The moisture from the soil is slowly eroding away at the walls. The Getty Foundation spent a decade here trying to stabilize the fort but finally gave up the fight.

Day 60- March 17, 2010

2010-03-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day here in Las Cruces, NM. We drove to the White Sands Missile Range today. This was a very interesting place which we'd never been to before. They had lots of missiles outside which you could photograph. There was even one that looked like a flying saucer that was tested on the Range. I found it interesting that most of them were first fired in the late 50s and 1960. There was also the Patriot that was used in Desert Storm. The V-2 Rocket which was captured from Germany during WWII and used for its technology as the basis of our missile and space program was housed in its own building to prevent deterioration. A small museum told about the Range which was once ranch country and the site of an Apache vs Calvary Battle. They still test missiles here and it is an active military base. Next we went to White Sands National Monument which we'd visited with the children 35 years ago. Gypsum washes down from the mountains with rain water which drains into lakes. These lakes dry up and the wind blows the gypsum sand into dunes. It is Spring Break and there were lots of family groups enjoying sledding down the dunes.

Day 59- March 16,2010

2010-03-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

The weather improved greatly and we drove to Las Cruces, NM today. These are the Guadalupe Mountains where they were having all the high winds the past few days. There are permanent high wind warnings but things weren't too bad except for a few curves as we headed down the pass.

Day 58- March 15,2010

2010-03-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

We decided to spend another day here at the Carlsbad KOA because of the storm which is passing through NM. It is cold here today! A 35 degree drop down to 44 degrees at 1:30 PM. It has been raining most of the day. Both of us agree that a "down day" is nice to have just to sit and read, compute, and relax.

Last night a beautiful sunset.

Day 57- March 14, 2010

2010-03-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

We decided to stay here at the Carlsbad KOA at least another day. There is another storm heading towards us from the west so thus more winds which we would rather not drive in. The campground is very nice here with the majority of the people here vacationing.

This morning was laundry day and then after lunch we went for a drive. We decided to go to Sitting Bull Falls which was about 35 miles from here. The falls were not huge nor did they have a great deal of water cascading over the rocks but had a delicate look which gave them a special appeal. No one knows how the falls got there name.

I found it interesting that this was the terrain in Lincoln National Forest.

Day 56- March13, 2010

2010-03-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

The weather is warm, high 70s, with windy afternoons. The Carlsbad KOA is about 35 miles from Carlsbad Caverns where we drove today. We took the Big Room tour which is entered and exited both by elevator. The tour is self guided and we enjoyed slowly walking on the paved paths.
The visit brought back many memories of when we last visited 35 years ago with our children.

Day 55- March 12, 2010

2010-03-12T17:31:00.000-08:00

This morning it was cold out but as we drove south to the Carlsbad, NM KOA the weather started warming, the sky turned blue, and the winds began to decrease. The entire day we were on state highways and had little traffic even when passing through several small towns. It was a nice change to get off the interstates. Unfortunately as we went through Clovis, NM there was road work with fresh asphalt that we had to drive over...the car was covered and it was even on the roof. After getting setup at the KOA we drove 15 miles into Carlsbad to a self car wash and sprayed 2 1/2 bottles of Bug and Tar on it getting 99% of the asphalt off. We had a big disappointment...the GPS said there was a DQ but when we got to where we were directed it wasn't there!

Day 54- March 11, 2010

2010-03-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

Under gray sky we left Tulsa, OK and went to Amarillo, TX. Once again more bad roads but the traffic wasn't bad in Oklahoma City. DH battled winds a good part of the day and the temperatures were very cold! When we arrived at Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo the wind chill factor was in the mid 20s and freezing rain was coming down. I thought the MH would never warm up and we kept a small heater running all night with the night time lows in the 20s.

Day 53- March 10, 2010

2010-03-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

The day started out sunny and beautiful but by noon the dark clouds, winds and a sprinkle or two had developed. The weather forecast wasn't great with sever thunderstorms and possible tornadoes with tennis ball size hail and 70 mph winds...thank goodness they went west and east of Tulsa (My OK family thinks I'm crazy even listening to the weather forecasts!) After taking some time to plan our next few days and check the forecasted weather to the west we decided we'd leave in the morning for Amarillo, TX. We then went to Floral Haven Cemetery to visit my mother's niche. A stop at WalMart for groceries and back to the MH for lunch.

After lunch we went to my sister's house where I did some wash and we visited with her and her husband. A dinner was planned and the entire family was there. It had been about 25 years since I'd last seen my nephews. We both really enjoyed ourselves.

In the afternoon I had a surprise phone call, which my sister had been arranging for 6 weeks, from my close high school girlfriend who lives outside of Belfast, Ireland...what a surprise to hear her voice after all these years.

The day and the visit ended all to soon!

Day 52- March 9, 2010

2010-03-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

A nice visit this morning with my sister and her DH. She took me to have my nails done while she had lab work done. We returned to her house for lunch. After lunch it was back to the MH where DH took the spare towels he'd stored in the under coach bins to be washed and dried since they got soaking wet from the storm we'd driven through yesterday. After dinner it was back to my sister's house where we spent the evening visiting.

Day 51- March 8, 2010

2010-03-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

The drive from Arlington, TX to Tulsa, OK started out dry for the first 2 hours but rapidly changed to thunderstorms with unbelievable amounts of rain coming down and flooding the freeways. By the time we reached Oklahoma City the rain was steady but the thunderstorms ceased. Arriving at Mingo RV Park in Tulsa it was once again pouring down rain which soaked the both of us while trying to get parked.

My sister called and will be coming over for dinner once she gets her DH off to school.

Day 50- March 7, 2010

2010-03-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here in Arlington, TX it started raining about 7 am and has not let up all day.

We drove into Dallas to see the 6th Floor Museum which is housed in the former Texas Book Depository from where, on the 6th floor, Lee Harvey Oswald fatally shot President John F. Kennedy in Nov. of 1963. It was a very moving and well done museum with several videos among various exhibit boards. For the price of admission you are given an audio guide which can be stopped and started allowing you to spend more time in any one area. It sure did bring those 4 days from the shots to the final resting of the president, the capture and murder of Oswald, and the arrest of Jack Ruby back in detail as if it was yesterday.

Day 49- March 6, 2010

2010-03-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Today we left San Antonio, TX and traveled on I-35, along with all of Texas, to Arlington, TX (just outside of Dallas). We are staying at the Dallas/Arlington KOA which also appears to have many long time residents staying here. It was a long tiring day complete with 2 dogs that ran out in front of us on the Interstate but thanks to DH laying on the horn we avoided colliding with them. Several more stretches of horrible roadway have apparently loosened the light fixture over our table. An attempt to repair it (looks like it needs replacing)took up our time after getting parked.

We had originally planned on going to Wichita Falls but discovered the friend DH wanted to visit with now lives in Fort Worth so we made a reservation here at the KOA for 2 nights. We later learned his friend had gone to VA....So much for planning ahead!

Day 48- March 5, 2010

2010-03-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

Today under gray sky we drove to the hill country and the LBJ Ranch with a stop at the Visitor's Center first to see some exhibits and a film about the "Texas White House". The first time we were here was about 21 years ago and as with everywhere things had changed. No longer were the gifts received by the President displayed and the exhibits focused on settlement in the area and early life around Johnson City. We were now able to drive our car out for a tour of the house instead of being put on a NP service bus. The house was not open on our last visit because Lady Bird was living there. We passed the school house where Lyndon started his education, then a looked at a guest house he built in 1964 as a recreation of the home he was born in, , a look at the cemetery where he and his ancestors and siblings are buried (Lady Bird still has no headstone), past the original road to the house which gave visitors the impression that they were going to be driven under water, and finally to the house. We first needed to stop at the hanger to get tickets for a ranger guided tour and a look at some of his autos.
The inside of the house tour took us to his office, living room, dining room and thru the kitchen past the laundry. There were no photos allowed in the house and they are still working on a den for public viewing. The house was simple in decor with lots of Mexican influence including paintings and dinner china that was set on the dining room table. Out back we were told this stone addition was done for their retirement and Lyndon designed his bedroom with 3 TVs and Lady Bird designed hers with a sitting room and fireplace. With the addition the house contained 8 bedrooms and the ranch had several guest houses so it was a "mini Camp David". Exiting the road took us past some cattle and the working part of the ranch. Narration was via a CD which they gave us at the V.C. and we placed in a mailbox as we exited the ranch.

Day 47- March 4, 2010

2010-03-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

We got an early start today! The first stop was the grocery store. We then went back to Fort Sam Houston ..with the proper ID. The medical museum was excellent and we both enjoyed it. They even had train cars that were used to transport the wounded. We drove around the fort and visited the Quadrangle which is the oldest building dating back to 1876 and the place where Geronimo was held captive for 44 days.
Our next stop was the Riverwalk for a Mexican lunch and walk. From there it was to Mission Jose, Mission Conception, and the Alamo.

Day 46- March 3, 2010

2010-03-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

This was one of those days you'd rather not mention...the drive from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, TX went well and we did not get lost this time finding Blazing Star RV Park. The site we were assigned was a nightmare and after 4 attempts to get level both automatically and manually DH went and requested we be reassigned the site we had on our previous visit.

After a very late lunch we decided to visit Fort Sam Houston but...I did not have any ID on me so we were turned away. On the trip back to the MH once again we got on a wrong freeway in San Antonio!

Day 45- March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

The winds are still blowing this morning but only around 20 mph. Late morning we drove to the USS Lexington and spent the day touring the ship. There was a lot to see from the bridge, flight deck to the engine room and points in between like the hospital, quarters, and various exhibits in each of the areas.

Day 44- March 1, 2010

2010-03-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

A calm morning under sunny sky for our drive from South Padre Island, TX to Corpus Christi, TX. We are staying at Colonia de Rey RV Park for which we'd made a reservation several days ago and obtain their last premium spot---sure glad we did as it is cement and long with ample space between us and the next RVs.

After lunch we took the car to the car wash and went to WalMart for more oil for the MH. Late in the afternoon the winds started blowing real hard and by bedtime the larger awning over the slides were making so much flapping noise that we brought two of the slides in. Apparently the wind gusts had been up over 50 mph according to the TV.

Day 43- February 28, 2010

2010-02-28T16:54:00.000-08:00

A sunny morning with a light breeze blowing. After lunch we picked up H & L and all drove to Harlingen, TX to see the original working model used for the casting of the bronze Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C. and a small museum with an excellent film on the capture of Iwo Jima.
The winds were really blowing for our trip.

We returned to South Padre Island and took them out for dinner at Tom and Jerry's. What a wonderful visit we had with our friends!

After dinner the winds have diminished some and there is a beautiful view of the sunset from our MH windows.

Day 42- February 27, 2010

2010-02-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful way to start the day....having breakfast burritos served by H & L at their condo. D was also there but H couldn't make it. We stayed and visited for several hours than returned to the MH for lunch.

After lunch we went to a very interesting museum in Port Isabel that was about 3 Spanish ships that sank 30 miles north of here in 1594. Then another stop at Walmart for groceries.

The day was sunny and in the high 60s with light winds which increased after dark. We spent the evening watching the Oympics which we've enjoyed.

Day 41- February 26, 2010

2010-02-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

After doing 8 loads of laundry in a laundry room with only 4 washers and dryers it was almost lunch time. We spent the afternoon doing all those "little" things we'd been wanting to get done. The afternoon was sunny and warm and the wind actually stopped for a while until it got dark and then it started gusting about 35 mph and continued all night.

Day 40- February 25, 2010

2010-02-26T04:45:00.000-08:00

A nice sunny day today with some wind..I read some information on Port Isabel that says the only time the wind stops is when it changes direction...this is not a place that I would choose to return to unless it was once again to see dear friends.

After lunch we drove to Brownsville, TX to see the Heritage Complex but when we got there it was closed for something called Charro Days. DH had always wanted to see Brownsville because he shipped a lot of things out of there while working...it was nothing like he expected it to be. We then drove 5 miles north of there to the Palo Alto National Battlefield the site of the Mexican/American War which eventually lead to TX, NM, AZ, and CA becoming part of the United States. They had a small but interesting museum and short film. The battlefield has some display boards telling about the fight...DH walked out a ways but the winds got the better of me so I sat in the car.

At dinner time we picked up D & H and drove to Louis' Backyard Restaurant where we met H & L for some great ribs. D insisted on treating us which was very nice. It was then back to H & L's condo for another piece of Strawberry-Rhubarb pie that H made...he sure knows how to bake and cook! The 4 of us had a nice evening sitting and talking.

Day 39- February 24, 2010

2010-02-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

The winds slowed down this morning after blowing a gale all night. We kept the two deepest slide in room in most of the afternoon and all night. The sun is shinning but it is cold especially out in the wind. We do have some nice views of the bay.

After lunch we went across the Queen Isabella Causeway Bridge to Port Isabel and visited the lighthouse. with views of the town and South Padre Island

We then visited a museum which was about the town and the Mexican War

Mid afternoon we went to H and L's condo for a nice visit and a delicious dinner followed by a game of Aggravation.

Day 38- February 23, 2010

2010-02-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's breezes rapdily increased to winds by morning. The forecast is for some light rains and lots of winds until mid-day tomorrow. This morning we went to WalMart to pick up a few things and while there H called inviting us to lunch at his condo. We enjoyed his hot sandwhiches and a great pie that he had made. We visited for several hours and H showed us around the island. By mid-afternoon the winds were getting real strong so we felt returning to the MH was in order. Once back we decided to close our 2 larger slides since the topper awnings were really flapping. I'd hoped to take some pictures today but that will wait until the weather improves!

Day 37- February 22, 2010

2010-02-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today's adventure was navigating San Antonio Tx freeway system. We'd spent quite a bit of time last night planning which freeways we wanted to take to avoid downtown and the air force base but...one wrong turn and we ended up in the thick of morning commute going north instead of south! Once we got on the correct freeway heading south we then encountered more poor roads on the overpasses followed by hours of windy driving before reaching South Padre Island, TX KOA. Once we arrived and disconnected the car we discovered it had a dead battery but a fellow camper rushed out with a fast charger that he'd been wanting to try and we got the car started and were off to be parked. We have a nice view of the bay and the Queen Isabella Causeway Bridge.

Before we even made it to our site one of DH's friends, D, came out to greet him which made his day. No sooner had we gotten parked than our dear friend H who we'd come to see drove up. We had a great visit for several hours. After getting hooked up H came back with his wife L and D also came over and we all went to Pier 19 restaurant here at the KOA for a great seafood dinner. We were sorry that D's wife couldn't join us but her fibromyalgia was getting the best of her. After dinner H & L came to our MH and visited for a while.

The day ended with some Olympics before going to bed.

Day 36- February 21, 2010

2010-02-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

An early start today without much wind the first hour but after that a very strong tail wind. Long mostly boring scenery.....

After stopping for lunch we decided to continue another 20 miles to San Antonio, TX to hopefully put some of the Monday morning traffic behind us and to have less wind. We are staying at Blazing Star RV resort where we'd planned on staying in 10 days. The sites are cement and under Oak trees.

Glad tomorrow is our last travel day before stopping for a while...getting to old for these days on the road without a break.

Day 35- February 20, 2010

2010-02-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

A sunny but very windy drive from Las Cruces, NM to Fort Stockton,TX ...but the wind always blows in west TX. It has been many years since we took I-10 and found that El Paso, TX is no longer the sleepy little town it once was but a mass of freeways and cars.

We are here at the Fort Stockton Campground which we visited with friends many years ago when it was a KOA. There used to be a sign in the office saying "Yes, the wind always blows here!" We are seeing signs of the times in some of these campgrounds where it is obvious that people aren't just here to visit for a short time.

Day 34- February 19, 2010

2010-02-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

Today we spent our first full day on the road in the new Motor Home. We left Casa Grande, AZ about 7:30 AM and got to Las Cruces, NM about 2:15 PM. We are staying at Hacienda which is a very nice park complete with treats for the cats, Marquretias for their owners, and continental breakfast in the AM. When we arrived it was sunny and warm and now about 5 PM the winds are picking up and it is getting cool and cloudy.

Day 33- February 18, 2010

2010-02-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful sunny and warm day in Casa Grande, AZ. Today was spent getting things ready for our trip to South Padre Island, TX.

Day 32- February 17, 2010

2010-02-18T05:23:00.000-08:00

Most of today was spent doing little things around MH. After lunch we both got our hair cut and did some grocery shopping.

After dinner we went to see John Tweed, a performer from Branson, and his daughter sing. It was a wonderful show with some great singing voices. Both of us agree that if we ever get back to Branson we would go to see his show.

The weather hit 80 today and DH is really enjoying the sun and warmth. I agree it is so much better when the sun shines and it is warm!

Day 31- February 16, 2010

2010-02-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

Today is "Fat Tuesday" and we were invited to a party across the street at Steve and Anne's. Steve made some great Jambalaya and Seafood Gumbo plus there were appetizers, salads, bread, and desserts. Doug and Mona did most of the Karaoke along with Steve ...there were several others that tried but were just good sports and not good singers. We all got Mardi Gras beads and noise makers to add to the celebrations. It was nice to get to know our neighbors better and meet some new friends. We met Debbie and Craig who had done several years as Wagonmasters for Adventure Caravans and also had taught round dancing for 15 years in the San Jose, CA area so we had lots to talk about.

Day 30- February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

We really enjoyed the Valentine's Dinner-Dance last night. They served an excellent Prime Rib and strawberry cheesecake. The dancing was good and we met several couples at the table we were assigned.

Today started at 5:30 am to prepare for our trip to Beaudry RV service in Tucson. We got there at 8:30 and they had the microwave/convection oven replaced in less than an hour. It took a while longer to leave because we wanted to try preheating the convection oven before leaving...all worked well...here is hoping when we use it things continue that way!!!!

We were back at Palm Creek in Casa Grande, AZ by lunch time. Then a trip to WalMart.
Tonight we are passing on Bingo and opting to watch the Olympics instead.

Day 29, February 14, 2010

2010-02-14T13:08:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's day to all!

Took a couple of pictures of the Motor Home for those that didn't see the ones at the dealer.

Tomorrow it is off to Tucson and hopefully get the Convection/Microwave replace so we can return to Casa Grande for the remainder of our time here.

Tonight we are going to a Dinner- Dance here at Palm Creek.

Day 28, February 13, 2010

2010-02-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

This morning a man who lives here at Palm Creek came to make and install sun screens for the windshield, driver's window, door, and co-pilot windows. He does a great job and charges so much less than we'd paid for other Motor Homes.

After lunch it was off to get my nails done. The rest of the day was spent doing all those little things that still needed doing followed by dinner and the Olympics.

Day 27- February 12, 2010

2010-02-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

Today was laundry day and another trip to Wal Mart. Sunny and warm today with the forecast of mid to high 70s for the rest of our stay here in Casa Grande, AZ.

Well...when there is smoke there is really smoke!!! Turned the convection oven on to preheat and after a few minutes there was a loud pop and smoke started pouring out of it. Several calls to Beaudry service and then a call to Sales Mgr. and they (supposedly) found another one in another RV and we are supposed to be in Tucson 8:30 am Monday to have this one replaced. (He said they will be short 2 techs ...hope that is because he realizes Mon. is a holiday!) At first we were told they'd get a new one for our return the end of March!!! This MH only has a range top and Convection/Microwave oven so no oven to cook.. A quick trip back to WalMart to purchase a counter top microwave, so we can eat until the replacement is put in, and then we had dinner and watched the opening Olympic ceremonies.

Day 26- February 11, 2010

2010-02-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

We finally left Beaudry RV in Tucson and arrived back at Palm Creek in Casa Grande about 2:30. Then off to do some shopping followed by a late dinner at the Olive Garden. It was nice to talk to friends and family and fill them in on the details of our new "home" away from home.

Day 25- February 10, 2010

2010-02-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

Looks like we spend another night in Tucson. They got what they could do on the Motor Home done but we will have to return in March because some parts needed to be ordered. They will have another 4 or 5 hours worth of work tomorrow to finish the tow brackets and wire for the Escape...can't figure that out because they had it all day and the work was only supposed to take 4 or 5 hours....oh, well what can I say except typical RV service department. At least we don't have to pay here so having paid for these nights in Casa Grande doesn't hurt so much.

Lots of rain and a thunderstorm late this afternoon so just as well we are staying here.

Day 24- February 9, 2010

2010-02-10T04:24:00.000-08:00

Got up early and took the 5th wheel, truck and Escape to Tucson. Things never go smoothly at a RV service center...because the Escape is so new they sent the wrong brackets and we have to spend the night waiting for the correct ones to arrive late tomorrow AM. They had not done the majority of items on the MH that we had on our "punch" list. Instead of having the walk-through and getting the MH by noon to transfer our things from the trailer we got it shortly after 4 PM. They have a transfer area with electric where we were parked but when it turned out we had to spend the night the sales mgr. put us in the RV Park with full hook-ups...unfortunately it was after 6 PM when we got parked so only are using the electric.
It was a good thing we stayed because discovered neither the A/C nor heat pump are working and the water heater isn't working on electric. Thank goodness for propane furnace and water heater.

Since we were so rushed to transfer out things any wait time tomorrow assumning they don't have to take the MH to a service bay will be spent trying to organize.

Here is hoping we can get back to our spot at Casa Grande before dusk tomorrow.

Day 23- February 8, 2010

2010-02-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

Today was spent cleaning the 5th wheel, washing the truck, and organizing things for our trip to Tucson to pick up the Motor Home.

Tonight is Bingo...it would be nice to win!

Day 22- February 7, 2001

2010-02-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

The rain started during the night and was heavy at times until about 8 am..windy and cold today.

We drove to Broadway Palms Dinner Theater in Mesa (we used to go there when we lived in Surprise) and enjoy "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and a buffet. Returning to Casa Grande the trip took about 40 minutes longer than normal due to the I-10 having been shut down for hours near Casa Grande because of a stand off with some mentally derranged man who said he was being held hostage by 3 gunmen who had 70 illegals in the back of the U-Haul he was driving (it ended up he was the only one in the U-Haul).

Day 21- February 6, 2010

2010-02-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

A quiet day of reading and computer work in sunny warm AZ.

Tonight we went to a Tom Chestnut dance and found his music much more to our liking. He played a very wide variety including several waltz and even a couple of line dances and that was in the one hour we stayed due to DH not feeling very well.

Day 20- February 5, 2010

2010-02-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

We are now remembering how totally inaccurate AZ weather forecasts can be. Today called for cool rainy weather and low 60s...it was sunny and in the mid 70s! I'm even taking the much needed walks with DH. We took a morning walk looking at Motor Home windshield screens that were made by a man who lives in the park..stopping to visit with several people along the way.

In the afternoon it was reading, computer work, shopping and banking before we went to the Ford dealership to pick up our new 2010 Ford Escape.

Next week I'll try and post some pictures of our new "set up".

Day 19- February 4, 2010

2010-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Another warm and beautiful day in AZ. We spent the morning anxiously waiting for the phone call that let us know that next Tuesday, if all goes well, we should be trading in our Cougar 5th wheel and truck for a 2010 Monaco Caymen 37 PBQ Motor Home.

Then lunch and a trip to PetsMart.

This afternoon we had an appointment at the local Ford Dealer ship where, if all goes well, we will return tomorrow to pick up a 2010 White Suede Ford Escape XLT.

Day 18- February 3, 2010

2010-02-03T16:02:00.000-08:00

Sunny and warm today. Very busy day between paper work and running around but nothing exciting to post on this blog.

Day 17- February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T18:17:00.000-08:00

After several days of negotiations, sole searching, calls to another dealer, looking on the internet etc., etc. we went back down to Tucson to take another look at the Motor Home that had been calling us since Saturday. This took all day long as we filled out thousands of papers with the hope that next Tuesday we will have a new home away from home...stay tuned.

We went to Macayo's our favorite AZ Mexican restaurant for a nice dinner. Now time to catch up with things.

Day 16- Feb 1, 2010

2010-02-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful warm day here in AZ (I know some of you are getting tired of hearing that!)

We walked to the library here in the park and in the evening went to play Bingo...no wins but met some nice people from Canada.