Running the Roads-Aug18-20

After the tour of the cave the sky got real dark and the TV said we were in for some rain.  We were.  Rained pretty much all night and we'd resigned ourselves to spending the day in the RV in Bowling Green.  Suddenly it pretty much stopped and we packed up in a whirlwind and made use of the window in the rain to go to TN(and the town of my favorite used bookstore!).  Got there with minimal rain, but the streams and rivers we crossed over were swollen and ugly. There were flash flood warnings for many of the counties along the way, and later we saw on TV that it had happened.  All this water drains toward Nashville and the Cumberland River.  I hope they don't get hit again like they did in May.  Set up the RV and went shopping; me to The Book Cellar, he to WalMart. Thursday morning looked iffy.  In fact it was misting as we packed up to head to the Smokies, the last leg of our journey.  Pulled in at Riverside just outside Sierville and set up. Got tickets to the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner Show and enjoyed ribs and chicken along with the musical, a mix of 50s-80s music: song/dance and comedy. Our last fling(at least for a while!). To bed, pack up and back on I-40 home.  Now the real work begins: unpacking, washing and waxing, shampooing the carpet(don't ask), laundry and such.  It was a wonderful trip (just shy 8,000 miles) and this blog has helped me keep a diary because doing so much in so little time kind of gets mixed up in our heads and we need time to sort it out.  However wonderful the trip, it is good to be home because: THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...Love to all who have enjoyed our travels with us.   G.

Running the Roads-Aug.17

Drove through some pretty country today including some Amish farm country.  Saw a couple of buggies and a fellow on a horse.  Made it to Bowling Green  because we wanted to see Lost River Cave.  A neat place.  It is on Ripley's Belive It or Not register as the shortest and deepest river, both in the 400 feet catagory.  The only problem is that the water on the surface looks still, but there is a swift moving channel down below and the rock thrown in to measure the depth got caught in the current and dragged down stream!  It wasn't until the land passed into the local college's hands (many years later) that modern equipment was able to determine we were only looking at a couple of feet.  The cave has a wonderful history with both the Union and Confederacy using it, Jesse James using it as a hideout after robbing a local bank, and a local man using it as a club, complete with a ballroom during the first half of the last century.  It lost popularity with Rock & Roll and indoor airconditioning.  The land is much like WV with karst geology.  The valley was formed by the collapse of the roof of the big cave thousands of years ago.  The big flood in Nashville last May began in this area which had 63 feet of water in the ravine drainage.  The interesting guide took us in a boat into the cavern(which differs from a cave only by the use of the "r" and "n".) This type of cave doesn't have the "usual" formations of columns of minerals because it is all water and the regular flooding that occurs breaks off any formations that try to form.  We also looked into the butterfly habitat, a large greenhouse shaped building of windowscreening and planted with all types of flowers and full of butterflies.  All in all, a very good day of sightseeing.  Unfortunately, it was too dark to get good photos of the cave; our brains will have to keep these memories.

Running the Roads-Aug 15-16

A quiet Sunday staying cool. Monday morn we hit the road.  At Mall of America we decided against the roller coaster ride but had one today on Missouri Rt. 42.  It makes the trip from Rock Camp to Union look and feel straight and level.  We stayed off the Interstates across MO and made use of the state and country roads.  MO uses letters for its country roads, and every county has the same letters.  To say you live on J also means you have to give the county.  What happens after they've used the 26 letters?  They double up! AA, BB, etc.  Anyway, we are heading into KY and looking at stopping for a tour of an underground cave...wait, aren't all caves underground?  Guess the brain is a little overheated altho the temps are dropping a bit and in the 80s daytime today and they promise into the 70s tonight!  Pleasant sleeping weather with no AC on.  Saw a church sign today: Faith makes things possible, not easy.  Think about that one!  Hope all is well wherever you are. 

Running the Roads-adendum

Running the Roads-Aug 12-14th

Thursday sees us at a small campground.  Folks just bought it this year and are working to get it up and running.  The heat has been a drawback but I see only good things for this couple.  They are enthusiastic about their enterprise. We left for the mountains of MO; Osage Beach RV at Lake of the Ozarks.  You’d think we would find a quaint little place, lots of trees, a beach and view of the lake…..you’d be wrong.  See if you can pick out from the attached photos what our view is of.  It took us a lot longer to get here than estimated because of a detour on the Interstate near Ames, Iowa.  Found out last night  what the detour was for.  Did it make the national news?  Ames flooded badly after a storm, really badly and it took out the Interstate. Today(Sat.)we toured a castle ruins right here in the mountains. Back in 1903 Robert Snyder visited the area, fell in love and conceived the idea of a retreat(he was a big man in Kansas City), bought 5000 acres, brought in European stonemasons and began his dream.  Unfortunately, in 1905 he was killed in an auto accident(did you catch the year?)and it wasn’t until 1922 that his sons completed, on a smaller scale, their dad’s dream. Eventually it was turned into a hotel but in 1942 it burned to the ground, the roof having caught fire from a spark from one of the fireplaces.  It was quite a place and the State of MO acquired it and turned it into a state park.  Enjoyed the morning, but due to the heat didn’t spend too much extra time there.  To keep cool I dragged Curt shopping.  This town is a mecca for shopping and it was cool inside.  Enjoy the photos.  

Running the Roads-Aug.11th

"You can't be in Minneapolis without going to the Mall of America."  Don't believe it.  We went and while admittedly not "mall shoppers" didn't see much difference between it and any other mall except for the fact there is a full amusement ride park in the center, a LEGO store, and an aquarium exhibit.  With the heat here lots of moms had their kids at the mall........  Many of the "big" names in mall stores had 2 or more store fronts(Zales, Kay Jewelers, Aeropostele, The Gap, etc.)  The only novel idea I saw was a tailor/seamstress shop that advertised alterations while you shop and the only book store I saw was B&N.  Granted it is a big mall, but the one in Charleston is about the same size, I would estimate for the actual shopping end of it. We watched at the amusement park(wished I had taken the camera), and marveled at the Lego store and skipped the aquarium exhibit.  We did grab lunch at the food court...lots of food with everything that Mercer has (except maybe ChickFilet)plus a lot of others I had never heard of.  Over all, I was disappointed. I expected more variety of store or boutiqes). Laundry was the activity of the afternoon and we will head south tomorrow morning.  We are in the upper 90s, but heard from a friend at home that triple digits happened early this afternoon.  I guess Bluefield has been making up for years without spending any money on lemonade.  Think I will go pour myself some right now....sounds good. 

Running the Roads-Aug. 10

Started the morning out on a high note...the campground has a free Continental Breakfast. So, since nothing is free that means we paid for it in the camp fee, we went to get our $$ worth.  Good juice, cereal, toast and coffeee.  Then back to the camper to close up and get on the road. So far, so good...doing a "walk around" I noticed some water dripping where it should not have been dripping from and determined it was the dew running off a newly closed slide.  However, looking upward we noticed a tear in the rubber roof.  Curt wanted to get it patched before today's rain.  Thank goodness for the drip or we might have missed it on the "walk around".  We passed through a little rain and a couple of detours in getting here today.  There is road work going on all over the state and we've been trying to hit the state roads and not spend all our time on the Interstates.  Here is a question for you?  How deep is your frost line?  Curt was speaking with the campground owner over breakfast and they were discussing the camping season and the types of hydrants.  They cannot use the type that can be left on during the winter like we have at home because the frost line here is TWELVE FEET DEEP! We are in Jordan, MN and will probably stay over another night since the weather is not looking condusive to traveling for another day.  We are sitting under a tornado warning at the moment, altho the TV just showed the "red box" a little north of us.  The TV is all pixilated with the weather disturbance.  The rain has started so I should shut down....until the next time...bye-bye

Running the Roads-Aug. 9

Just a little factoid!

Could walk across here

marker

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from yesterday on Rt. 2 in ND.

Today we found the headwaters of the Mississippi River...that is we and about 100 other folks.  Actually, it was found some time ago and is now the main feature of a Minnesota State Park.  The Muddy Mississippi is not muddy here.  Indian Creek is larger in many areas.  I waded in it and could have walked across here.  No so in Memphis where we stopped coming home from Becky's wedding in April.  We spent some time at the visitor's center, but came back to the the RV fairly soon and got into the AC.  It was 99 and humid here.  Understand it has been that bad at home, too. The campground manager said that 83 was a high temp for last summer with nights in the low 50s.  Inclueded the pix of the north American center from yesterday.

Running the Roads-Aug. 5-8

Am glad I married a mechanic!

If I was a superstitious person, which I am not (altho I do knock on wood now and then), then I would be glad today is over because our “bad luck” has all happened.  “They” say bad luck happens in 3s.  We had #3 today. No, it wasn’t a tire blowing out today; it was a landing jack problem.  No problem retracting when we packed up this morning, but when we got here, only the driver’s side would go down.  Looking for the blessing…..we were here in the middle of the day, it wasn’t raining, we had plenty of room to maneuver on the passenger side in the site.  I suppose I could go on, but you get the point.  After about an hour of twisting, turning, hammering, filing and whatever, he got it to work.  Ask him and he will explain it to you.  I just know it works.  Went out to Pizza Hut for supper.  Seemed like a good thing to do. Not a good enough signal to post tonight.  Maybe in the morning.  Saturday, the 7^th-traveled to Minot, ND.  No signal here, either.  Maybe tomorrow.  At a strictly overnight place…level enough to not have to disconnect.   OK, today is Sunday and still not a good signal.  We’ve moved on to Grand Forks, ND and are just off I-29.  We’ve traveled over US 2 and seen all sorts of crops, some we recognized, some we don’t.  Curt has to adjust the landing leg, but is going to wait until the sun goes down as it is 96 as I type this.  A little later I will go over to the office and hopefully get a signal so I can send this. We passed the geographical center of North America today.  Halfway between the southern boundary of Panama and the “top of the world”.  Took a photo of the monument which I will post another time.

Running the Road-added pix

Running the Roads-August 5

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bakery shop

We are at Havre, MT.  It is where we "are supposed to be" based on our plans although we almost didn't make it here.  Study the blown tire pix from the last post and the one today.....yep, 2 in 2 days.  Always remember: The Most Important Tire on Any Vehicle is the SPARE.  We(that is, Curt)got it changed. Today's was on the passenger side with a guard rail to add to the fun.  Then we moved on to Great Falls to a tire shop and got another new tire. There was still some good drive time so we came north.  Once here we were intrigued by an historical underground tour called: Beneath the Streets of Havre. In 1904 an arsonist planned to burn down a building.  He succeeded in burning out 60 businesses.  Havre existed for the military and the railroad and the loss of several city blocks was devastating.  However, they came up with an ingenious solution.  Since it would take several years to rebuild the town, using brick this time rather than frame structures, they'd simply use their basements as business fronts.  They dug down around the town and one block has been recreated using "props" from the time.  We saw a motor service company, post office and general store, dental office including the drill run by treddle power, a bordello(remember, this was a military outpost and railroad city), saloon, blacksmith(find the bellows in the photos), meat market, bakery, pharmacy, Chinese laundry, an opium den, barber shop and attorney office.  All this is underground and the basements open from one to another.  It was really worth the entry fee and will be a highlight of the trip. Anyone coming this way should take it in.  Two photos I tried to upload didn't take so will end for tonight and upload more tomorrow.  Good night, everyone.  G.

Running the Roads-Aug 3

We are in Helena instead of Great Falls.  Need I say more??????

Running the Roads-Aug. 3

majestic, no?-taken from our lunch point

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Dry Falls(part of)

A travel day, but one that didn't start at the crack of dawn...actually it was almost 9 before we moved on.  Had lunch on the Idaho/Montana line at Exit 0(ZERO)  Ever see one of those?  I didn't.  Lots of dead trees.  Seems there is a blight on the type of pine here.  Between the blight and old fire damage there is lots of tinder out there.  Just north of Grand Coulee the mountains even out to "West Virginia level"  and there was a patchwork of wheat, ripe and ripening and already plowed up.  We came to I-90 in Spokane which is pronouced as spo-can.  Came across Idaho to Missoula. Our reference book said there was a WalMart here, but turns out it was WAY out of the way.  However, they filled our Rx refills so all is well on that score.  Missoula is a city set in the valley with dry hills all around. Tonight we plan the next leg of our trip. Have been keeping an eye on the weather and it appears we can't miss the heat no matter which way we go.  We have several options.....guess that is the next chapter.  Here are the photos from yesterday.

Running the Roads-August 2

We made the 10AM tour at Grand Coulee.  It was interesting, although I didn’t understand all that “Bob” was telling us. hysics wasn't my strong suit in high school so I was depending on a fourth or fifth grade electicity with a potato experiment trying to demonstrate the concept of current.  I did find out that electricity can’t be stored so all the windmills we have seen sitting idle are because either there is no wind blowing or there is no need for electricity to be generated.  Most of the windmills we have seen have been sitting idle. Took our lunch up to an overlook of the dam and enjoyed it there. Afterwards we went to Dry Falls.  This area is larger than Niagara Falls by about 4x and about 2 and a half times as high.  The only difference is that there is no water falling over the cliff.  There was, centuries ago when the glaciers ruled the world. There was a catastrophic flood(sound familiar?) as the glaciers broke up and the water gushed over most of eastern Washington cutting up the ground as the ice and water pushed downhill. The dam was designed primarily for irrigation and has succeeded magnificently.  About 500,000 acres benefit from the irrigation and that allows Washington to be a big agricultural player. A by-product of the dam would be the electricity generated.  Begun in 1933(the New Deal Stimulus Project) the plant provided electricity for war production when it came along in ’41.  By the 1950s the demand for electricity had grown and has grown more in ensuing years so a 3^rd power plant has been added.  Let’s face it, what do we do that doesn’t involve electricity? I am really glad we made the detour up to the dam, and I am glad we saw Hoover Dam first because this is so much bigger that I may well have been disappointed if I’d seen this first and then Hoover.  No photos ready for uploading so will wait until next post.

Running the Roads-addendum(pictures)

don't know why I can't put more than one pix in a write-up entry.....but there is more than one way to get most jobs done!

a fish??

Running the Roads-July 30-Aug. 1

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Enroute along a series of lakes

Friday morning saw us at the tire place almost as early as they opened and they fixed us up right away and we were on our way to Bellevue, a suburb of Seattle.  The theme song from Here Come the Brides(if anyone is old enuf to remember it)is true. The Seattle area has really, really blue sky and really, really green grass. We got to the campground and when we saw the spot winced a bit, but Curt got us in OK and we set up. Feels a little like Green Acres, only we both want the Eddie Albert role of wanting country.  Went out to find the restaurant we were going to meet Bob Sarver at and you'd think it would be easy.  It was on 148th Ave.  Our campground was just off 150th.....the next road up was 146th!  What happened to 148th?  Who knows, maybe it was the Interstate, maybe it was some politico wanting the name changed, but we finally found the place, on East Gate...Had a really nice Reuben sandwich and lots of good conversation.  Bob had been "home" more recently than we had been so he gave us Lindside news. Curt and Bob discussed what next to do on his house and what we should see while we are here. He had given us a good tip about Port Townsend so we listened to him, but since I got up not feeling well on Sunday we continued to our next stop where we had reservations so I could nap(long afternoon naps are good!).  Grand Coulee is interesting.  The scenery is amazing and I am afraid the camera didn't capture it.  We went to the Visitor Center after supper to make sure we would know where to go when we go to do the tour Tuesday morning and it was still open so we took it in and then the lazer show they do against the spillway.  The lazer show is narrated by the Columbia River and how it has lived longer than mankind in the area and how the dam has harnessed the power of the Columbia and benefited mankind.  Unfortunately, our digital camera couldn't capture many of the images. A good night's sleep helped and I am ready to go sightsee!