jeanneleez.blog

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIP

2011-12-28T10:40:00.005-06:00

In October we traveled to a Country Coach (the brand of motorhome we own) Rally in Virginia along Chesapeake Bay and just north of Williamsburg. On the way we stopped at the Kentucky Horse Park (see photo) north of Louisville. There is a large stables/farm/museum dedicated to American horse breeds, primarily Thoroughbreds. Most of the famous American race horses are buried here and/or memorialized with statues. It is quite a unique place to see. The nearby RV campground is in an outstanding State Park, which we also enjoyed.

There were 67 coaches, so 135+ people at the 4 day rally/conference. You can see the coaches park all orderly in the campground. Like all conferences, we had our share of meetings, seminars, fun, food, and entertainment.

One of the group outings was a 3 hour cruise in Chesapeake Bay. We had enough free time in the area to spend a day in historic Williamsburg, a town within the city, with the square miles old area sectioned off and preserved as well as possible to show the colonial period.

OUR ANNUAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRIP

2011-12-27T15:28:00.005-06:00

During July-August we did our annual Family and Friends Trip. We began with a stop in St. Louis to see daughter Mary & her family. We followed that with our first visit to the Amana Colonies in Iowa for another CAT RV Club Rally. Jeanne and Lee share a hug during the Rally. We thought you'd like to see a few of our wild and crazy motorhome friends providing some evening 'Magic Eyes' entertainment to the music of Barefoot Becky.

After a visit back in Byron with friends we went on to the Twin Cites to see son Alex, here with Jeanne on the way to Kowalski's Deli. Further north we spent time in Little Falls, MN, with Jeanne’s sister and family.

Soon after, we arrived in Door Country, WI, one of our favorite motorhome destinations. We connected with good friends David and Sue Edwardy, traveling in their beloved and totally renovated 1954 Aljoa trailer . . . which Sue's folks used for camping when she was a youngster!

This trip is never complete without a stopover in Chicago for some very special time with Lee's Mom, Mary.

WE MOTORHOME THROUGH THE SOUTH

2011-12-27T14:13:00.003-06:00

In February we took a motorhome trip to Jacksonville, FL, for a Caterpillar RV Club Rally, then up the coast to Savannah, Charleston and finally west with a visit to New Orleans. On the trip we stopped at a number of State Parks to camp. The photo of Jeanne on the wooden, trail bridge was at Percy Quin State Park in Mississippi, showing the beauty of this kind of park.

The large group picture is of the CAT Rally attendees at an RV campground north of Jacksonville. Jeanne took the picture . . . but that’s her in the front row! A little Photoshop trickery. Music is always a part of motorhome rallies and Lee even tried his 'voice' at Karaoke.

While out east we worked our way up the coast to cities like Savannah (the St. Patrick's Day fountain) and Charleston, even stopping at Paula Deen’s son’s restaurant. Of course, if you pass through Louisiana, a stop in New Orleans is mandatory, as is cafe' au lait, beignets, and the opportunity to people watch at Café Du Monde.

WE LOOK BACK AT 2011

2011-12-27T08:53:00.003-06:00

We both end 2011 in good health. The hilly terrain our house sits upon gets the heart pumping, keeping us in pretty decent condition. The snowy February photo gives you an idea of our up and down terrain. Like many of you, we are concerned about the economy as well as many of the decisions our government has made in recent years. When will rational thinking appear in Washington?

The big home project this past year was a deck just beyond our screened porch (under construction in the photo) - we spend a lot of time outside here! For fun we white-washed it an off-white with watered down latex paint. Lee calls the color ‘bird-poop white,’ a wise choice we think. One of our favorite visitors, a Pileated Woodpecker, stops by periodically for some seed.

We had three motorhome adventures in 2011, which we'll share with you in the following photo reviews. How do we define retirement? Enjoying house and garden, plus motorhome travel to see family, friends, and this great country. We also read (Kindles) a lot, Jeanne continues to quilt (the photo here of one of her works over our bed) & Lee is active in motorhome clubs/publications.

We also went to our share of Branson shows. As 'locals' we get a nice discount, and were treated to Ann Margaret at the Andy Williams Theater as well as the Lennon Sisters.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN, OREGON AND BACK AGAIN

2010-10-10T16:59:00.002-05:00

In the following 9 photo sets we share our motorhome adventures from Branson to Oregon and back, over 5,000 miles during the hot summer of 2010. We made the trip as a clockwise oval, going west from Missouri to Arizona, northwest through Utah into Oregon, east to South Dakota, finally dropping south, back to Missouri and home. It was a thrill to finally see places we'd heard, read and seen pictures of since childhood. As the photos here show; the road can be long and straight, the rest stops amazingly beautiful, small town churches found to meditate, but one thing never changes . . . the roadside signs and billboards . . . from Burma Shave, to Wall Drug, to Blizzards. And the cat slept through it all!

PETRIFIED FOREST AND PAINTED DESERT

2010-10-10T16:45:00.002-05:00

What a treat to see a National Park Ranger on horseback as we entered the Petrified Forest. The ever present souvenir shop before entering the park was there too, with more than a few junker cars out front to make the place look really busy. The Petrified Forest, long ago, was a swampy, tropical forest. After millions of years the submerged dead trees petrified and left what we see today. People, as recently as the early 1900s, were still walking across the petrified 'Agate Bridge' tree. The Painted Desert was not as colorful as memory suggested. Some rain might have brightened the colors. We got a kick out of the Route 66 memorial.

GRAND CANYON RAILROAD

2010-10-10T16:28:00.001-05:00

One way to get to the Grand Canyon (South Rim) is the Grand Canyon Railroad, which is a 2+ hour ride from Williams, AZ. We camped near Williams and spent the day riding the rails out and back, plus 4 hours on the Grand Canyon rim. The railroad originally was to transport tourists out to lodging along the Canyon and some of that continues to this day, but most folks, like us, were day trippers. We were entertained before departure and while on the train by old west characters reliving the wild west. Eventually we, and a few thousand friends, arrived at the Canyon.

GRAND CANYON

2010-10-10T16:07:00.003-05:00

Neither Jeanne nor I had ever been to the Grand Canyon. After visiting I have to admit that our expectations were jaded by a lifetime of viewing world class pictures and films. Yes, it is grand, it is big, and magnificent. But it was hazy and when you turned 180 degrees from viewing the Canyon you were often confronted with crowds of people and assorted food stands. Ah, nature. I suppose the thing to do next time is plan a hike farther out along the rim or down the Canyon. The Hopi House was interesting and the dancing/music a special treat.

BRYCE CANYON

2010-10-10T15:03:00.002-05:00

Bryce Canyon was an interesting contrast to the expansiveness of the Grand Canyon, with large vertical rock formations reminiscent of castles or Asian temples, often close enough that you could see a great deal of detail in the stone. The intense orange and red tones of the rocks and soil made a lasting impression. The various viewing venues were easy to access and you generally were above the rocky vistas. A late afternoon thunderstorm created an interesting contrast of dark rainy sky against bright, sunny rock structures.

SISTERS, OR

2010-10-10T14:58:00.002-05:00

We turned west from southern Idaho into Oregon and enjoyed a beautiful drive across the state to Newport on the coast. A notable 'must stop' along the way for all quilters and embroidery fans, according to Jeanne, was Sisters, home to one of the best know annual quilting events in the US, the 'Sister Outdoors Quilt Show.' We spent the day walking Main Street.

NEWPORT, OR, AND THE CAT RV CLUB RALLY

2010-10-10T14:38:00.002-05:00

We spent 10 days at Pacific Shores RV Resort in Newport, where motorhomes from all over the US converged for the summer Caterpillar RV Club Rally. We had a mix of weather that would keep everyone happy. If you were tired of 100+ degree days it was cool, with temperatures in the 50-75 range. For coastal water buffs, fog in the morning. We might have preferred more afternoon sun . . . but saw essentially no day time rain. We are the Publications Managers for the Club. We enjoyed a great rally with friends, including lots of food and entertainment. The lighthouse was clearly visible though the windshield of our coach . . . when it wasn't foggy.

WEDDING

2010-10-10T13:41:00.001-05:00

On August 14th, grandson Mitchell married Lyndsey in the yard of our daughter Chris and husband Mark in Oregon City. The ceremony was wonderful, setting and decorations beautiful, lots of food, and the weather was ideal. Jeanne took a great picture of Lee with Chris, Mark and granddaughter Devon.

GEM MOUNTAIN

2010-10-10T11:18:00.001-05:00

Heading east through Montana we stopped at a rest area near Anaconda. The Visitor's Center had information about nearby Philipsburg and Gem Mountain, where you can pan for sapphires! Need I say more! We decided to sidetrack for 2 days to Philipsburg, with a day trip up Gem Mountain to pan for precious stones. It was all great fun. Philipsburg is a fine old mining town with many original brick buildings. The town architecture and terrain reminded us of Georgetown, CO. We had prefect weather for our day at Gem Mountain. You buy a bucket of sandy, rocky mountain diggings for $15-$90 dollars, depending on how rich the vein it came from. After getting a 'how to pan for sapphires' lesson we went at it for a few hours. We did come away with a dozen or so small stones for a total of 4.5 carats, not worth anything other than the unique experience. We did see one women's 3+ carat gem quality stone.

THE BADLANDS

2010-10-10T10:34:00.002-05:00

Our last destination of note before getting home was a stop at Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The campground there is one of the camps recommended in Lee's book, "RVers BEST PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS." We were not disappointed. Once the home to a warm sea full of prehistoric marine animals, Badlands National Park is now a sea of rocky buttes, spires and pinnacles. The park is home to one of North America's largest protected mixed-grass prairies, giving campers 244,000 acres of wild beauty to explore. Though 100 degree days continue to follow us across the northern part of the US, the scenery made it all worthwhile.

LEE WRITES AND PUBLISHES A BOOK

2010-06-18T10:47:00.004-05:00

They say you are busier after you retire. Lee thinks they are right!

The new book is about RV camping in public campgrounds and will be available around July 1, 2010. You can learn more as well as order the book at -

https://www.createspace.com/3459109

Public campgrounds are managed by and located on state, city, county or federal agency park lands. Being in a public park environment, campground sites tend to be among woods, spread out, and non-commercial. Because local, state or federal tax funds provide partial support for the parks, you will find that camping fees are often less than $19 a night. In addition, agencies will frequently give discounts (some up to 50%) to campers who are disabled, military, or seniors.

The individual campgrounds selected for this book will accommodate most RVs of all classes and sizes. They are reasonably convenient to an Interstate road. You will also find a list of specific campground features, phone numbers, websites and GPS coordinates. Detailed, turn-by-turn directions from the Interstate, are also included. Granted, not all camps are full service or full hook-up, but the mix of amenities, modest fees, and beautiful location make for a wonderful RVing experience. All the campgrounds have a source of potable water and restrooms. Most have showers and dump stations or sewers. Many have electricity. With very few exceptions, all are pet friendly.

A novel feature of the book is the inclusion of local 'Points of Interest.' If you're traveling in an area of the country new to you, a few suggestions of things to do or see, once your rig is setup, seemed like a good idea and will definitely add to your camping enjoyment.

Lee Zaborowski is a retired educator, both as a classroom teacher, and later an administrator in Adult and Continuing Education programs. Lee has authored before, this is his fourth book. He has also written for and published extensively in professional science and adult education journals. Lee and Jeanne have three children and four grandchildren.

Lee fell in love with the outdoors, as a youth during the 40s and 50s, during the then annual summer trips to a resort in northern Wisconsin. Since those days he's lugged canvas tents around Idaho to fly fish, and progressed to long bicycle touring/camping trips of 1,000 miles or more, all over the United States, carrying clothes, camping gear, tools, etc. in panniers on the bike. Adding up all those tent, bicycle and now RV trips would probably get you around 200,000 miles.

Since retiring, Lee and his wife Jeanne, with the two family cats, are on the road regularly, touring the States in their RV. Lee is a member of four RV clubs, including being the Newsletter Publisher for one of them. In addition he does 'RV Photography' Seminars. Both Lee and Jeanne enjoy photography. All the photographs in the book were take by one or the other of them.

CATERPILLAR RV CLUB RALLY IN AMARILLO, TEXAS

2010-06-18T10:08:00.007-05:00

The first half of March, 2010 we traveled from home in Branson, MO to a motorhome rally in Amarillo, TX. This was a gathering of around 50 coaches, of various brands with Cat engines, which we have. We enjoyed 5 days with friends - some new, some people we have known for most of our RVing years. The rally was a mix of seminars, Club business, local activities, sightseeing, dinners and evening entertainment (cowboy singers, dancing and karaoke).

We are the Publications Editors for the Club (about 1,000 members) with responsibilities for two print Newsletters a year and a monthly eNewsletter. During the rally we both kept busy taking pictures . . . the role of Club photographers sort of fell on our shoulders. As a result we collect articles and edit them, then layout and produce the print and digital newsletters, as well as contribute almost all the photos. During the rally we assembled two daily 'eNews' emails with pictures, which were emailed to all Club members to keep them up-to-date on the rally.

Traveling to and from the rally our stopover was Lake Eufaula State Park in Oklahoma. We prefer staying at public campgrounds as opposed to for-profit camps - more space, non-commercial, less expensive, and really in the woods. At the rally we went to a dinner at a cattle ranch, where we saw horse races and could bet play money. It turns out Lee won the trophy for most play money won - bet on the alpha males. We also went to Palo Duro Canyon, which has some beautiful terrain. On our return home we sidetracked to Wichita Falls, TX to see our good friend and former neighbor Barbara Nemecek, who was the Business Dean at UW-River Falls when Lee was CE Dean.

WE MOTOR NORTH

2009-09-25T17:57:00.004-05:00

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

2009-09-25T17:34:00.003-05:00

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

2009-09-25T17:23:00.001-05:00

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

2009-09-25T17:18:00.003-05:00

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

2009-09-25T16:54:00.004-05:00

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

2009-04-12T21:23:00.010-05:00

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

2009-04-12T15:06:00.009-05:00

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

2009-04-12T14:28:00.010-05:00

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

2009-04-12T13:40:00.004-05:00

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.

MEMPHIS

2008-11-12T17:09:00.002-06:00

We made our first ever visit to Memphis, Tennessee in September to see our motorhome friends Mary and Chuck Boros. Memphis claims to be the Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock and Roll. With such local notables as B. B. King, Elvis and many others it’s hard to doubt that claim. Oh, and did we mention the ribs! Enjoyable weather was with us during our time at Graceland, along Beale Street, and in A. Schwab’s Dry Goods Store - the oldest family-owned and operated general store in the Mid-South.

WORLD CLASS CYCLISTS RIDE BY OUR FRONT DOOR

2008-10-18T09:35:00.002-05:00

The Tour of Missouri (a smaller version of the Tour De France) crisscrossed Missouri in August. The time trial leg passed within ½ mile of our house. There were 115 world class riders. Here are a few shots of riders who have ridden the TDF, some on one of Lance Armstrong's team. We're told that Lance may ride here in next year's Tour of Missouri. Very Cool! Cyclists pictured here are: Christian Vande Velde (white/blue/orange); David Zabriskie (red/white/blue); and George Hincapie (blue/black). Oh yes, that’s Lee mingling with and sharing camera secrets with the Tour Photo Corp!

OUR 2008 TRIP TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST- FIVE SHORT PARTS

2008-10-01T20:59:00.001-05:00

Our trip started July 8 and ended August 21, 2008. Our route, roughly, was Branson, MO > Byron, MN > St. Paul, MN > Little Falls, MN > Red Lodge, MT > Couer d’ Alene, ID > Oregon City, OR > Ft. Stevens, OR > La Push, WA > Sequim, WA > Seattle, WA > Moab, UT > Branson. We covered over 4,000 miles in our motorhomes – yes that’s plural – motorhomes. Little did we know when we left that we’d return home in another coach. But more about that later. This trip did fulfill one of our goals in owning a motorhome and traveling the country – we saw and visited with literally dozens of family members and friends living all over the country. It was an amazing part of the trip, seeing someone dear to us almost every day of our travels. Overall the weather was grand – modest amounts of rain and not too sweltering. The cats survived nicely. The pictures here were taken on the road to the Family Motor Coach Association International Rally at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds – almost 3,000 motorhomes: then near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

PART 2 - MONTANA

2008-10-01T20:42:00.001-05:00

The main layover destination for this trip was Red Lodge Montana. We stayed a few days and were joined by a few thousand motorcyclists in town for a local Sturgis-type “Rally.” Nevertheless, it was all great fun. Red Lodge is north of Yellowstone . . . we had stayed here before and wanted to enjoy the community again - great art, food, and scenery. We took our tow car up the Beartooth Highway, considered one of the most beautiful sections of road in the US. We weren’t disappointed. On another short jaunt we visited the Smith Coal Mine where disaster struck in 1943, killing 73 men and triggering early and new mine safety rules. A great night out for a steak dinner at a local pub and their famous pig races was a highlight of our stay.

PART 3 - THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: OREGON

2008-10-01T20:14:00.001-05:00

Oregon City, Oregon was our westerly target to visit with daughter Chris, husband Mark and grandkids, or should I say grand-adults. We could fit the coach in the big backyard and stayed a week followed by some side-by-side camping at Ft. Stevens State Park. On the drive out from the Midwest we began to get interested in Country Coach Motorhomes. We really got hooked in Red Lodge . . . destiny called . . . the folks across from us had a Country Coach, where we spent hours and were sold on the product. They recommended a dealer and salesman in Junction City, OR (close to Oregon City naturally!). The rest is history. The tight economy on houses also applies to motorhomes, so we got a nice deal.

PART 4 - THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: WASHINGTON

2008-10-01T17:01:00.002-05:00

So much to see! The rocky coasts of Oregon and Washington. The Olympic Peninsula and Hoh Rain Forest. Sequim, WA the lavender capital of the US. Seattle, Puget Sound, Whidbey Island. Our anchor was Seattle, where we spent close to a week, during which Jeanne attended the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest. Then we were off on a dash to Moab, Utah.

PART 5 – MOAB, UTAH

2008-10-01T16:22:00.001-05:00

We camped just outside of Moab and within easy reach of town as well as National and State Parks. The terrain around Moab reminded us of Sedona, Arizona. The development of Sedona versus Moab couldn’t be more different - Sedona is the upscale art, other worldly area while Moab is the rough-and-ready, dirt-bike haven. One of the features of our campground was a church-like building which was used as a location for three John Wayne movies. Arches National Park was phenomenal. We also saw petroglyphs, a number of which we’ve seen in reference books and magazines. Dead Horse Point State Park overlooked a Grand Canyon like area.

MOTORHOME BARN

2008-04-25T13:57:00.007-05:00

One of the many reasons we moved to our new home site was to have a building close by for our 2005 Monaco Diplomat Motorhome. Here are pictures of how we are doing on that project. We bought the home (near Branson, MO) in August, 2007. Part of the sale included the builder constructing a structure to match the house, to our specs, and we’d pay his costs only. The only surprise in the project was the mostly solid rock on-site that had to be jack hammered out. You can see Jeanne inspecting the rock rubble. The barn is now up, in use since November, 2007, and functions as planned. We will paint the barn door to match the house garage doors.

The heavy hand/back labor turned out to be the stone steps and garden sections Lee decided “would be a nice compliment” to the home and barn. Well, a few thousand pounds of limestone later I’m almost done. It was a nice winter project. Aside from the physical challenge, building the steps has been an interesting and fulfilling experience. All the stone was found within 300 feet of the house. I realized I had to become a stonemason - accomplished through purchase and reading of a few books plus less than $100 in tools (no power!). I built a wood sled to haul the 150-250 pound stones with our utility vehicle. Some of the bigger ones (500-600 pounds) I split in place before sledding to the site. You can see some of the pairs in the close-up picture of the steps. At the top of the steps is a 16 foot bridge also under construction as well as a boardwalk to negotiate around the house rather than trudging through Missouri’s frequently wet clay/soil/muck. As completion of construction draws close, Jeanne and her green thumb will take over.

BRANSON AREA FLOODING SPRING 2008

2008-04-12T08:59:00.002-05:00

Jeanne and I have been following the spring, 2008 weather around the country and hope you each are safe and not faced with any major storm related trials and tribulations. I want to report on the Branson area situation, especially impact for RVing. Our Southwest Missouri area received around 25 inches of rain over the last 4-6 weeks. Tornado and wind damage around Branson thankfully was negligible. Three consecutive days of 2-3 inches of rain last week was more than the land and water control systems could manage. The most notable outcome was Table Rock Lake going to an all time high water level and the Army Corp of Engineers opening Table Rock Dam for the first time in over 40 years. The dam was opened on Thursday, April 10 and will remain open until Tuesday, April 15^th.

The dam opening caused flooding along the banks of Lake Taneycomo. Homes and businesses near low shores have been affected. A number of RV campgrounds (Turkey Creek Escapees Park for example) and many businesses have temporally closed. Branson Landing is partially closed, with most businesses on the lake side closed until the waters recede. If your plans are to visit here in the next few weeks I recommend you call your destination to check on conditions.

Jeanne and I are high up near Inspiration Point with the biggest concern being erosion on the hilly terrain and roads around us. We had a small area of damp carpet in a corner of the house lower level and minor seepage in the coach barn. I have posted a couple of pictures of Table Rock Dam at our Blog (see address below, click on individual pictures to see a full screen view). That sight has not been seen in 45 years . . . when will it happen next?

FAREWELL DINNER AND VANCOUVER

2007-09-29T19:43:00.000-05:00

All good things must come to an end and so we eventually arrived in Vancouver, BC. The formal dinners and the Farewell Dinner were memorable highlights. The pictures here capture our dinner partners, servers, and some of the staff during the food parade. Timing is everything and I was fortunate to catch a special view of the Vancouver Convention Center, just before we docked, at sunrise. The last picture was made on our Vancouver Excursion before arriving at the airport. I suppose it is symbolic that it should be the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Logo, based on the Canadian Inuit inukshuk. The inukshuk is a stone marker that has been used by the Inuit to help guides through the northern Arctic terrain for centuries. The Inuit inukshuk has also become a symbol of leadership, cooperation, friendship and the human spirit. Perhaps the inukshuk will bring us together again some day. If you are interested in a CD of around 160 high resolution pictures from the trip, let me know. Lee

GLACIER POINT WILDERNESS EXCURSION

2007-09-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

The Glacier Point Wilderness Excursion out of Haines (Pop. 2400 people, 1897 dogs, 4000 eagles, and 260 species of birds) gave us a chance to see a glacier up really close by canoe. We took the Chilkat Express for a 30 minute 40 MPH+ trip to Glacier Point and then bused and walked to a remote camp, donned wet gear and canoed to within feet of the glacier. The fall flowers along the way were a treat to see up close. Our up close look at the glacier included spotting three climbers going up the face of the ice. Back in Haines we did spot an eagle, up close finally, in a tree along the main road from the pier to downtown. The Tlingits were the first settlers to the area and called Haines ‘Dei-shu’ meaning “The End of the Trail”. The area is still rich with Tlingit culture and history.

INLAND PASSAGE

2007-09-29T18:33:00.000-05:00

Taking a cue from the bears and the tons of blueberries they were eating, we boarded the Ryndam for a week of sights and pampering - what better way to build up the body fat for winter? But first things first – Life Boat Drill. Do you think these ladies thought it was the real thing? The ship’s wake continually presented lovely sunsets and interesting patterns of ice in the water and the sun shinning through arctic fog created some interesting “rainbows.” Sleeping on deck proved to be a prime responsibility to conserve energy. College Fjord gave us a view of seven glaciers named after notable colleges and universities. Seeing our sister ship the Noordam in Glacier Bay was yet again a reminder of the awesome size of the Alaska terrain. We roomed next to our friends the Howard’s. Here Bob and Jeanne share a light moment as the air warms near the end of our cruise.

PORTAGE GLACIER AND ALYESKA

2007-09-29T18:20:00.000-05:00

The “Bear Bus” drive from Anchorage to Girdwood along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet is one of the world's great drives, ranking right up there with Italy's Amalfi Drive and the highway along the Rhine south of Coblenz. The Seward Highway linking Anchorage and Seward is a National Forest Scenic Byway and one of 15 roads in the United States that has been designated as an "All-American Road." You’d have to agree it was great, even though you were getting the first of 2 days of rain. The rain never dampened our spirits. Some of us did get wet though . . . “got to get that picture and see the best view up top on our cruise to Portage Glacier.” Alyeska was a great location to lay over during the rain - with its accommodations, landscaping, and tram ride to the Seven Glacier’s Restaurant. Girdwood was a fun side trip and the Jade Shop a special treat. Yes, that’s a Jade boulder Jeanne is standing next to! Jamie once again did a super job, this time helping pull off another birthday surprise, this one for Bob.

GLACIER LANDING EXCURSION

2007-09-29T18:10:00.001-05:00

Riding a helicopter to land on Davidson Glacier . . . that really tweaked our imagination so we did it while in McKinley Park. It was one of the highlights of the Alaska trip. We rode 4 or 5 per helicopter plus pilot. The 25 minutes out and back provided us with some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain imaginable. Every minute there was a new vista to take in. On the glacier it was rippled ice in all directions. The mix of sun, clouds, blue ski, mountains and ice was truly memorable. You can see Jeanne near one of a number of holes that go down to the bottom of the glacier where the run-off water goes to the face of the glacier to gush out (as we saw many times from the Ryndam). That hole is 100’s of feet deep. Taking off along the length of 2 moraines gave one the feel of being on an airport runway. At the top of one mountain ridge we flew through a “V” gap the pilot said was 3 helicopters wide. Wonder how he knew that???

TUNDRA WILDERNESS TOUR

2007-09-29T17:53:00.000-05:00

The rapidly changing fall colors really became evident that day. Special sights and animals seemed to be around every curve, if you had the courage to always look out, considering the occasionally narrow road and long drop offs! That first bear was sure a long way off, so I added one from the animal park. Distant critters didn’t deter folks from snapping away, me included. STOP . . . 3 O’CLOCK . . . MOOSE, SHEEP, AND BEARS! OH NO! Well, the closest we did get to a bull moose was the antler at the NPS rest stop. We did get that rare special view of Denali, a bit closer this time and with some great clouds to enhance the shot.