Joan on the Road...of Life

I always like to watch some kind of special Memorial Day service, usually the ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Today we missed that, then tuned in to the Rolling Thunder demonstration on the Washington Mall. As one of the speakers said, it is a first amendment demonstration, not a Harley Davidson Rally. Thousands of bikers converge on D.C., ride en masse to the Mall and have a program of speakers and performers.

As one of the speakers said, (General Myers I think) we have 10 holidays and Memorial Day is the one that makes the other 9 possible. There were a lot of "politically incorrect" speakers who reminded us that there are still POW's and MIA's and in the opinion of the speakers not enough is being done to find them and bring them home. It was a different slice of life than usually seen on regular cable TV and a reminder that we need to proactively pursue information.

I always like to take a few moments to honor in my mind the men and women, some in my family, who fought and died for our freedom. And then I like to think about what that freedom means to me. In the truest sense of the word, I'm free to do what I want as long as I don't hurt someone else. Granted, there are lots of limitations to that and we get concerned that we are losing our freedom. Still...I'm able to pursue the education I want, marry the person of my choice, pursue the career/job of my choice, live where I want within the limits of my budget, and to me..right now...travel freely across this great country. I do mean GREAT! So I'm proud to be an American and I'm thankful for those who died to give that right to me.

Posted by Joan at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The everchanging scenery is one of the joys of our lifestyle. A cold front brought rain, 45 degree temps and new snow on our mountains. We will surely have this view burned in our brains. We keep all our curtains open all day long to absorb this lovely view.

Lucky us, we had an Angel's ballgame to watch and now movies so we don't mind the cold, wet weather. We are cozy and warm. Pity the tenters and the folks who had large groups here for the holiday weekend. Tonight will be about 35 degrees. Bet some of the campers pack up and head for home.

Posted by Joan at 06:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today our outing was a drive to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain Park. We were here 30 years ago and this was one time when we said, "you can go home again." We walked around both Bear Lake and Sprague Lake which are at about 8500'. It was cool and beautiful! 30 years ago we went on from Bear Lake with the kids on a hike about 10 miles or more to Nymph and Emerald Lakes. Sorry we're not in shape for that now.

There is still a lot of snow at this elevation and we wound up tramping through snow on the trail, getting our feet wet and sinking in the slush. I had fun doing my "pay it forward" picture routine by offering to take a picture of a couple and then a bit later someone offered to do ours. We meet lots of nice people that way.

On the way home we spotted this meadow filled with elk...you may think they're all rocks. When we got out the binoculars we saw hundreds of elk in the distance lying down, munching and playing. We also spotted a couple of huge bucks on the roadside in the trees but couldn't get a good shot.

All in all...a great day!

Posted by Joan at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Trail Ridge Road opened yesterday so we drove to the top. Here I am at 12,000' feet, 50 degrees and blowing. It really looks different with all the snow on mountains as far as the eye can see. Lots of travellers were out on the snow fields playing. Others were trying to coax the little marmots out to get a picture. Bet the marmots were saying...'yippee the tourists are back!'

The road is about 20 miles through the park on wild race track curves and switchbacks. Not a road we want to take the motorhome on. Since we are still feeling the effects of high altitude (and we're a bit out of shape) we just drove and did not get out and do hiking or walks like we have in the past. I think I prefer the park a little later in the year when the wildflowers bloom.

The roadside drifts are 18 feet high in some places.

We did see a few small herds of elk along the way. In fact at our campground, Elk Meadow, we seem to have our own resident elk herd that play, I mean really play, in meadow by the small pond. They nip each other, bump into each other and then race away like a bunch of school kids.

This guy looks a little bedraggled because he's loosing his winter coat and I think his antlers look pretty new and fuzzy.

We've decided to follow our plan: if you like a place, stay. So we reserved through the holiday weekend. Right now it's pretty quiet, only about 10% full. I'm sure that will change over the weekend and we'll have new neighbors. Too bad they're not here now...there's a full moon rising over the mountains.

Posted by Joan at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're back in Estes Park, CO after about 30 years and have a wonderful campsite at Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Resort with an amazing 180 degree view of the Rockies. We are right next to Rocky Mountain National Park and will visit the park several times, I'm sure. We thought that the high road, Trail Ridge, would be open but looks like it will be several days until it is snow free. We may just stay the week and hope to take that drive, the highest paved road in the country if not the world.

I didn't expect to stop here on our IL to CA trek, but Jim had this great idea and it only added a couple of hundred miles to our journey.

We are at 7600' and the mountains still rise up 6000' or so. The first few days at this elevation leave us light headed after little exertion, so we're being really lazy. The weather is really gorgeous but can turn on a dime. Last week they had snow here, today it's 80! At the end of the day...here's a view from my window.

Posted by Joan at 09:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today we walked in Jack Nicholson's footsteps when we stopped at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney, NE. It spans Interstate 80 and commemorates the journeys of travelers along the river. Three pioneer trails follow this route. If you look at a map you'll see the Platte River, Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), Interstate 80 and railroad tracks running side by side through Nebraska. In 1869 the golden spike was driven in to link the coasts by rail and soon after the covered wagon travel stopped...now it only took a week to make the trip. Check out the website link above for more info.

The Archway houses a display/museum of pioneer life and the everchanging travels over this route. In 1956 President Eisenhower launched the Interstate system and I-80 was the first to be completed. It changed the way people and materials moved.

The lifesize scenes depicting pioneer travel are pretty awesome. You listen to recorded letters of pioneers as you walk through the scenes. How strong and brave they were. Can you imagine doing this?...for gold, for land, for freedom?

If you look closely at the picture you may see blotches which are actually bug guts. Once you hit the plains states you need to get out the squeegee every few hours and clean off the splatters so you can see the road ahead. Today it was yellow butterflies. And why did I say Jack Nicholson?....check out the movie, ABOUT SCHMIDT, and you'll see the Archway.

Posted by Joan at 06:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nebraska, at least the eastern portion, is really lovely. Who knew that we'd find a winery here?! James Arthur Winery is in Raymond, Nebraska amidst rolling green hills. We stopped in for a tasting session and bought a couple of bottles although the wine is surely not as good as CA wine. The vines, from New York and France, were planted about 12 years ago and the winery opened in 1996.

We just watched the movie SIDEWAYS so we were nostalgic for the ambience of wine tasting...the nose in the glass, the swirling liquid, the chatter-patter of the vintners. $4 per person for 4 selections and you get to keep the glasses (hopefully we won't break them).

This is a great time to be travelling here for the scenery and so far for the weather. Today was 80 and sunny, a great day for sipping the grape.

Posted by Joan at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've knocked 600 miles off our trip from Illinois to CA and today was a doozy! The whole area from Des Moines across Nebraska and into Kansas had a severe weather wind warning which means sustained winds of 35-40 miles and hour with gusts up to 50! ....and we felt it. High profile vehicles are supposed to use caution but we sure didn't see anyone slowing down or pulling over.

I did my driving early because the wind picks up as the day goes on. Fortunately, everyone managed to stay in their own lanes at least while passing so we weren't bouncing off each other. I get nervous when we are rocking and rolling down the highway but Jim just hangs onto the steering wheel and dares the wind to blow us down.

We crossed the wide Missouri River and I thought about the pioneers crossing in their covered wagons. We have it a lot better with our 350 horses pulling us and our refrigerator and microwave inside our covered wagon, along with our Select Comfort Mattress. How did they do it? Must have been a lot tougher or maybe crazier than us (most people think we are pretty crazy).

We are now parked in a very nice campground that is freeway close but not too noisy in Lincoln, Nebraska. We're going to stop for a couple of days and catch our breath. The wind is dying down and weather should be good for the next couple of days.

Posted by Joan at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After another air bag repair in Rantoul we arrived in Gurnee and were greeted by a cold spell and rain. This weeklong visit set a record for daily activity. I wanted to check in with my endocrinologist on the thyroid cyst so I had blood tests, ultrasound, doctor visit and finally another biopsy which left my neck really sore. Jim had an eye check up with his Skokie ophthmologist (he now has 4 across the county). So we had doc appointments 5 of the days we were there!

Jim spent time trying to upgrade Mom and Harry's IMAC but it proved pretty impossible to do. Every time he upgraded one thing..another problem popped up. So he would up taking them back to square one although he was able to get the game that Harry enjoys, Shanghai, working again.

I had fun visiting with Mom and Harry and also spending a rollicking evening with my girlfriends at Maryann's new home. We missed Peg and Linda but were able to down a few drinks and gobble up a couple of pizza's without them.

My cousin Cathy had a fun Mother's Day cookout (although again too cold, poor Dick froze cooking the burgers and brats). There were 6 mom's there and Cathy had small gifts for each of us. For me it's fun to catch up with cousins.

It was a lovely time to be in Gurnee, parked among all the blooming fruit trees and lilacs. Funny, I used to love the smell of lilacs and now they give me a headache...too overpowering!

We planned to head out on Friday the 13th, so checked on the airbags again...damn, another leak. So the guy who came out this time may have solved the problem...a screw and clamp that protruded into the airbag area causing an abrasion on the bag. He found that by accident. The problem this time was that the previous guy didn't put the hose fittings on correctly. Jeez, I hope that's the last time for that problem.

So now, after a rain delay, we are on the road again. We have about 2300 miles to go to get to CA for June graduations. So Jim's plan is drive 200 miles then stop for a day. That will take about 24 days to get there and allow time for weather delays. So far, in our nearly 2 years of travel we have not had to set up or break down our motorhome/car in the rain. We just sit out the bad weather. Well we are heading into the heart of tornado country during tornado season...so wish us luck!

Posted by Joan at 03:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here we are back at Prairie Pines in Rantoul, IL. This used to be the trailer park for the Rantoul Airbase. This is our third time here and you can see why. The spaces are really large and the ambience is great...lovely big trees in spring blossom and well maintained grass. We're just here overnight and tomorrow take our final leg of the 1300 mile journey from Florida to Gurnee, IL...my hometown. I'll be with my Mom for Mother's Day which doesn't happen often and of course touch base with "The Goils"...my girlfriends from grade school. Lucky me!

Posted by Joan at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another 300 mile day took us from Tennesse, through Kentucky and into Indiana on I-75. While we were packing up to go a neighbor came by and told us how awful the construction was going north on 75. He says everyone coming into the park says they wished they could come another way. So naturally, worry wart that I am, I envisioned us in the ditch, blah blah blah. As it turned out, we have been through MUCH worse. For those of you who know...think of Salt Lake City.

Again it was a day of greenery as we drove through the Appalachians. Looking out our huge window is like being in an IMAX movie. I wished we were not on a schedule so that we could spend a few days in the area of Renfro Valley and Berea where Appalachian music, arts and crafts are enjoyed and displayed. Next time around! Here are a couple of shots from that area...

We started to notice clouds of white flowers in the forests as we drove through Kentucky. When we arrived at Yogi Bear park in Scottsburg, IN I found the trees close enough to get some shots. I think these are dogwood, no one here seems to know! We're back in our same spot at Yogi Bear, facing the field, forest and lake.

If this is not dogwood...let me know. This is a lovely end to the day.

Posted by Joan at 05:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For 360 miles this was our view...kind of mesmerizing! Well there were some cities along the way, like 8 lanes of traffic going 75 mph in Atlanta. Jim has nerves of steel. I'm ok driving the freeways and side roads but the city traffic really is a bit scary. We got through it all just fine including a couple of construction zones. No scrapes or scratches.

This was a long day for us but we're making up for lost time and will do 5 days of driving. Since it stays light until about 8 pm we still have a bit of day left at the end to enjoy things like the bit of scenery below that's at the end of our campground strees.

We are at the Escapees Racoon Valley park in Heiskell, TN. Wish we were able to stay longer as this is only 50 miles from Great Smoky Mt. National Park, Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. Well...next time around.

Posted by Joan at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Finally, we had a great travel day and left Florida after 5 months! Here we are at a lovely KOA in Cordele, GA just south of Macon. Our site is in a pecan (in the South they say PEE can) grove. These are beautiful trees that are blooming now. The nuts are harvested in October. Of course there are lots of roadside stores selling pecans in all forms and mixes. My favorite is pecan clusters and salted pecans.

We're down at the end of the road on the left.

KOA staff says that these long stringy blossoms will become the pecans..amazing.

Posted by Joan at 05:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)