WE MOTOR NORTH

During five weeks in August and September of 2009 we ventured north, west, south and east. Our 5,400 mile trip included over 3,000 miles on state highways, which we found more challenging to drive but much more rewarding for the sights and experiences we enjoyed. From Branson we used Hwy 71 for most of the drive up to Grand Rapids, Minnesota for Jeanne’s high school reunion. While in Grand Rapids and Chisholm we visited with numerous family members and friends.
From Grand Rapids it was 1,200 miles due west on HWY 2, across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana to Glacier National Park. HWY 2 is a gem of a road, mostly four lanes, and picturesque in a way you would not see on an Interstate road. Along the way we repeatedly found ourselves in tiny campgrounds in small towns, with narrow sites that barely fit our coach (picture #1), with night time train sounds for musical entertainment, costing around $30 a night. Contrast that with the silent National Forest camp we used later near Flagstaff (picture #2) at $9 (the standard Federal rate!) a night.
As we drove west into the mountains we were reminded of the forest fires of recent years. Teepees became more frequent on the horizon. Picture #6 was our first real look at Glacier National Park, even grand on a cloudy day.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Our time in Glacier NP proved to be a highlight of our trip. We had driven west mostly in rain and serious headwinds but arrived in time for three glorious sunny and warm days of park touring. We camped at St. Mary and drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most scenic roads in North America, in both directions. These pictures give you just a modest idea of the park’s beauty. The oval lake surrounds Goose Island, just one of many scenic views. The park abounds with waterfalls, hiking trails, wonderful bridges, and Red Busses!
Here was an entire fleet of 33 busses built for the Park back in 1936 to 1939. The busses of today are basically the same busses, having been completely renovated and restored. The style and shape was kept the same, to make us feel as if we were riding in the style and grace of the 30s. These wonderful old busses were built by the White Motor Company in Cleveland Ohio. They were painted Mountain Ash Berry Red and are still kept that color today. This company built 500 of these busses, just for the western
National Parks, including Bryce Canyon, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks. Most of the other parks did not renovate or restore their busses and they were retired from service in the 1950s.

TO OREGON AND NEVADA

In Oregon we visited with our daughter’s family, the Higley’s, and enjoyed their always wonderful hospitality; as well as RVer friends, Chuck and Mary Boros, Merrieann and Jeff Martin, Dave and Jan Rudisill. Our coach had a number of service items attended to, most notably a new windshield. The pictures show the rigors of the job to change out a nearly 200 pound piece of glass.
Driving south from Portland and Eugene, through northern California, Mt. Shasta appeared on the horizon - a lovely sight it is. We enjoyed an overnight stay in Mt. Shasta Town before driving on. From Mt. Shasta on down to Reno and Carson City we drove on Highways 89, 44 and 395, three good travel roads, with a chance to see numerous older towns, many with the ubiquitous ‘Rocks, Gold, Nuggets, Stuff’ signs.

VIRGINIA CITY, NV

Once settled in our Carson City Casino camp we connected with long time Internet pen pal Dan Harton and his wife Sue. Their hospitality was first rate with the treat of the visit being a day in Virginia City.
Virginia City has retained its 1800’s true western flavor, right down to the rough wooden boardwalks. The stores hold to the old architecture and motifs with magnificent wood furniture and Tiffany lamps everywhere. The local citizens, armed to the tooth and wandering the streets, are no exception as you can see from the accompanying pictures.
As we discovered, Mark Twain spent some of his formative writing years there in the newspaper business and refining his writing style. It turns out Don Harton is quite an expert on Mark Twain and his stories and historical accounts of Twain’s 6 years out west were revealing to us.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ

From the Reno area we moved on to Las Vegas via Highways 50 and 95, two of the more scenic and smoother roads we have encountered in the US. Crossing over Hoover Dam was a unique experience, especially in a motorhome. The new crossing road and bridge, under construction are modern marvels. The old road is narrow, curvy and slow, though the views, museum and statues on the west side are something not to be missed.
We decided to stay 3 days in a lovely National Park before heading home. The park is contiguous with the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - the name given to an area northeast of Flagstaff containing the results of much volcanic activity – we saw several colorful cinder cones formed by extinct volcanoes, and large expanses of lava and ash, mostly unobscured by vegetation and still pure black in color. Wupatki National Monument is nearby and is one of several sites preserving pueblos of ancient peoples. The pueblos as you can see all have a distinctive deep red color and were made from thin, flat blocks of the local Moenkopi sandstone.
From Flagstaff we headed home with some haste as numerous tropical storms from the Gulf of Mexico were building in intensity in the Texas area.

We did make it home without problem and await our next adventure!

CHARLESTON, S.C., HILTON HEAD ISLAND and EUFAULA, AL in MARCH, 2009

In early March we traveled east and south to a motorhome rally, to see long time friends, meet new friends and enjoy exceptional motorhome campgrounds. We were not disappointed. We also hoped to escape the last vestiges of winter and were rewarded with decent weather. On route, in Nashville we visited Melody and Larry Cassidy. Melody was Jeanne’s key office support while at Southern Illinois University. Our pelican friend seems to symbolize our enjoyment of the ocean, seafood, and southern Cuisine on this trip.

CAT RV CLUB RALLY – CHARLESTON

Our Country Coach has a Caterpillar engine, which qualified us to join the CAT RV Club. We participated in their 4-day rally near Charleston, SC. The rally, attended by close to 70 coaches of assorted brands, was full of RV maintenance and coachkeeping tips, good food, fun, games and great people. The Club was looking for new newsletter editors and all Jeanne and I had to do was remark at dinner that we kinda had experience in newsletters, and so-be-it. Our first issue as editors comes out this April and highlights the Charleston Rally.
There was ample time to see the area - The Battery, antique shops, good restaurants for lunch, and historic buildings. Near the Visitors Center we found a model of the submarine CSS Hunley. The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship. This feat was not duplicated for forty years (World War I). The Hunley sank in the Charleston harbor after sinking a Union ship. After 131 years on the floor, the Hunley was found by a group of marine archeologists led by Clive Cussler. We think the Hunley was Cussler’s inspiration for his book and the movie Sahara.
We took a tour boat out to Fort Sumter. The first shots fired in the American Civil War were fired here towards Fort Moultrie. Located in Charleston harbor, Fort Sumter was the fuse that lit the powder keg known as the Civil War.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND

After the CAT RV Rally, Hilton Head Island was a short 2 hour drive down the coast. We were the guests of good friends Steph and Hal Woods and stayed at The Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort, an absolutely beautiful location. We camped for 4 days and took all the advantage we could to explore the Island, walk the ocean beach, shop and relax. A surprise bonus - a number of Country Coach owners had arranged an impromptu gathering at the Motorcoach Resort, giving us a chance to make new friends and renew acquaintances with others. Every night was a get-together for food and stories of travel adventures and misadventures.

EUFAULA, ALABAMA

The last leg of our southeast trip was to Eufaula to meet motorhome friends Don and Mary Seager. Don and Mary proved to be wonderful hosts and guides of the area sights. A highlight of the visit was a personal tour by the Seagers of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, where the accompanying wildlife pictures were taken. Don and Mary are volunteer staff there during part of the year. That alligator had to be 12-14 feet long.

The site along the Chattahoochee River that is now modern-day Eufaula was occupied by three Creek Indian tribes of the Muscogee Nation. The most dominant of the three, and most open to contact with whites, was named "the Eufaulas" (pronounced "you-fall-uhs.") In 1823, families from Georgia, looking for fertile crop land, established a permanent white settlement on the high bluffs of the area and adopted the Creek village's name. The town became a major shipping and trading point for surrounding counties in Georgia and Alabama. Its many impressive antebellum homes attest to that rich history.

We camped at Lake PointState Park just north of town, on 45,000 acre Lake Eufaula among beautiful trees covered in Spanish moss (actually a flowering plant in the bromeliad family). Lake Eufaula’s claim to fame is some of the best bass fishing in the country.