French Quarter November 25, 2008

Believe it or not our journey is about over or should I say just beginning. We had lunch at the Two Sisters at the French Quarter, New Orleans yesterday. What a beautiful setting and with the jazz combo it was a memorable experience. I ate salad then went straight to the desserts. Jim managed to include the entire buffet! Surprise! Later that night we went to Pat O'Briens and enjoyed Hurricanes their special drink. Pats has a piano bar which was fun and made for a fitting end to our wonderful honeymoon trip around this great land of ours visiting National Parks, small towns, big cities, relatives and friends. See you at home. Love Janet and Jim

Houston and the Ice House Bar November 21, 2009

While in Houston we sampled one of their local traditions an Ice House Bar. These bars could be described as a dive by first impression with the garage doors, writing, grafetti all over the walls and the well worn furniture. Their unique in that the beer is in buckets on the bar and you help yourself paying before you leave on the honor system. They had a live bad and we danced yes the Texas two-step which Jim describes as the same as other dancing just more arm pumping! We did have a good time! Our cousins treated us to some more Mexican cuisine and Elaine made chili for supper one night.

We traveled down to New Orleans yesterday and today stopping in Henderson, LA for some cajun cuisine near the levee. The restaurant named Pat's is world famous and is very picturesque. We sat on the porch oveerlooking the bayou and feasted on Gumbo, alligator and blueberry cobbler.

Plan to tour the French Quarter tomorrow and then on to Tampa. We are staying in an RV Park just blocks from the French Quarter which has a wall and high security gates. This is a luxury park with hot tubs, individual toilets with adjoining showers.

More later.

Janet and Jim

Palmetto State Park, Gonzales, TX Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Spent the night and most of the next day in this beautiful park on the Palmetto River. Many of the buildings were built by the CCC during the 1930's and still exist. We built a fire and sat around it til late into the evening. The tempereature was moderate in the low 70's.

For lunch we found a wonderful Mexican Restaurant in Gonzales, TX and treated ourselves once more on this cuisine. The food almost makes me want to move to this area.

Arrived in Houston at my cousin Elaine and her husband Chas's home. After supper we sat around and listened to their stories about their experiences as they not only operate a business manufacturing deer blinds but are hunters themselves. We plan to join Elaine's sister Jackie this evening and you guessed it eat Mexican!

I had my hair re-styled todayand I like it.

Sunday we're off down the Gulf Coast to New Orleans.

Love Janet and Jim

Somewhere in Arizona Lunch time November 15, 2009

Ate lunch today at an authentic Mexican Restaurant--so good. It is historic run by same family since the '40s and the road across America was Route 66. Jim had a kind of stew with chicken and hominy. And I had the Chile Con Corne. Bread was a slightly sweet puff of sorts which we put honey on. I brought home one of the souvenior menus.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico November 16, 2009. Toured the Caverns today and were entertained and informed by an extremely personable Ranger. One story the Ranger told was about a maintenance man who climbed into one of the natural formations called the Kiss and inserted a dollar and stated that money can come in the way of romance. Walking through the caves one can imagine all sorts of shapes of animate and inanimate objects. Jim states that Luray Caverns in Virginia can be described as delicate and Carlsbad as massive. The Carlsbad Caves were accidentally discovered in modern times by a 16 yearold cowboy from Texas who fashioned a ladder out of a piece of fence and a home made lantern to explore the caves. During the Wilson administration the caves were made a National Park. In the 1930's an elevator shaft was built to take visistors to the cave floor at 750 feet underground. The elevator travels the 750 feet in one minute. There are numerous tours available. And the grounds around the Caverns offer hiking, picture taking vistas the surrounding areas. A must see if you're in this area.

Sincerely, Jim and Janet

Painted Desert and Petrified Natural Forest Saturday November 14, 2009

Hello everyone, While touring the Petrified Natural Forest we learned why this Park unique. Petrified wood can be found many places but only here has the wood turned into stone and indeed valuable minerals through a chemical process. One could be convinced they had landed on the moon since the barren landscape resembles that seen of moon shots. The colors of the rock formations in the Painted Desert were beautiful hues of pastels and earth tones. To think that dinosoeurs walked this ground gave us an eerie feeling!

Grand Canyon National Park Friday November 13, 2009

Hi Everyone, Toured the South Rim of the Canyon on a tour bus which stopped for photo shots at several vistas. One stop was at the historical Hermits Rest. Hermits Rest was originally constructed to afford a rest stop for early visitors to the park by a man named Harvey was was a hotelman in the early days of the Park. Hermits Rest has a huge stone fireplace with large rustic rockers. Jim and I had hot cocoa which tasted good on a sunny but crisp day. In fact, we awoke to snow. Jim visited the Park 40 years ago and said few of the amentities we enjoyed were there on his first visit. We stayed the nite at one of the campgrounds which offered most of the usual hookups for RVs. Best of all is the free shuttle bus which runs continuously throught the park from dawn to evening hours.

We did see two Elk last night as we were returning to our campsite. Unfortunately, since it was dark I couldn't get a picture.

I have a Passport for all National Parks and have added many visas while on our tour.

I did get a number of photos. One, I hope, is a good one of the Colorado River 1 mile down in the Canyon. Told by our guide waves from the white water can reach 14 feet or more. The photo I took white water is visible. No wonder the Grand Canyon is considered one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. A suspension bridge can be crossed by foot (one mile high) or driving from the South Rim to the North Rim is 220 miles. We met a young woman who had just finished a hike on one of the trails who said "I went most of the way but did not cross over the bridge." When I later saw it I understood why! Jim states, the Grand Canyon is a truly awesome sight. One no picture can adequately convey!

Murrieta, CA with Jim's Family

Hi folks, Arrived here on Friday evening to visit with Dick and Trudy, Jim's brother and his wife. Have enjoyed meeting some of their children and grandchildren and visited their homes where they all have vast renovation projects underway. As with all of Southern California the architecture is Spanish in style and this being a desert there use desert types plants and trees and instead of the green lawns we have in the East other materials are used to conserve on water such as lava rocks.

Jim's brother Dick built a waterfall in his backyard which is elevated and affords a view of the mountains as a backdrop.

We had supper last night at an unusual restaurant which serves cafeteria style and begins with a vast salad bar including several types of soups, pastas, bread, rolls and cakes. Also offers fresh fruit, yogurt and beverages including milk (unusual) all for the price of $10. per person. Like most of the U.S. this area has seen property values plummet during the recession. By comparison Hampton Roads has fared better that most. This is evident by comparing home market prices here and at home.

As usual we are buying supplies, tending to personal grooming needs, etc while in Port. Today we'll wash the rig inside and out. Tomorrow we'll have some electrical work done and then on to the Grand Canyon on Wednesday. We expect that to be a two day trip from here so we'll be at our next scheduled stop in Houston in about a week and a half.

Love Janet and Jim

These seals have made themselves a home on the piers in San Francisco at Fisherman's Wharf. According to one local they found this haven during an earthquake and have not left.

San Simeon, CA Hearst Castle Thursday November 5. 2009

Visited the home of William Randolph Hearst of publishing fame. Hearst Castle was the culmination of his life-long love of art. As a child he with his mother Phoebe traveled Europe, particularly the Mediterrean, and learned about the work down by the artists and artisans of old, while his father stayed at home in California and accumulated wealth through investments all financed by his discovery of silver in "then there hills of California. With his new found wealth Hearst's father purchased vast acres of land and San Simeon is part of that initial purchase.

San Simeon was completed in the l940's taking 28 years to complete. Hearst worked with a female architect who was highly respected and the first woman to graduate from the Paris School of design. Sam Simeon is fanciful in that it is literally a hodge-podge of art and function.

Hearst was a fun-loving man who enjoyed entertaining having the famous from entertainment, arts, science, sports to his mountain home. While there his guests could play tennis, ride horseback, swim, put on plays--Hearst encouraged his guests to be up early and active.

On the dining room table which was formerly church furnture found in Medival period church institutions are bottles of mustand and ketchup to remind guests that this room with its museum furniture and decor was actually a home to be used and enjoyed.

In the time that Hearst lived at San Simeon the property included a zoo, herds of cattle, winnery and other types of support to those who lived at San Simeon.

If you're in the area be sure to visit.

Love Janet and Jim

More later, we're now in Murrieta, CA where Jim's brother Dick and his wife Trudy live. Today Dick's children and their children are visiting for the day. We will tour the area and have some work down on the RV.

San Francisco - Tuesday

Took a tour of Alcatraz Island today. The weather cooperated a beautiful day with gentle breezes temperature in the low 70's. Sometimes you make all the connections and today was one of those. Arrived at the ferry landing and was able to board for Alcatraz within 2 minutes. Had a very informative visit to the island and, as always, learned that place was home to many over the years and for only a few years of its long existence was it a Federal Prison. Families of the warden and his staff of guards lived on the island and the children rode the ferry to San Francisco daily to school. The tour was not "prettied up" but very realistic and what a dreary end of the line place it must have been. One of the prisoners served 15 years of his sentence without a visitor until one day his kid sister came to call. Evidently his family had said we'll have nothing more to do with you. The prison cell blocks were on the top of the rock which is 13 stories high. Volunteers do much of the gardening on the island and it is in stark contrast to the reality on display in the museum of prison life.

Afterwards we had lunch at Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf. However, no fresh fish for sale there these days. Among all the choices we ate at North Beach restaurant. Reportedly the best Italian Food in the area. We agreed! Our meal was especially tasty since we only paid for our beer. The waiter turned in our order but somehow it got lost.

Leaving tomorrow morning for San Simeon and the Hearst Castle then down to Murrietta, CA and Jim's brothers home.

Think of all of you often. Love Janet and Jim

San Francisco - Monday

Hi, and thanks Aaron for your comments. Today was a rest day, buy groceries and do laundry. Tomorrow we'll do San Francisco. Then on down the Monterey Peninsula to San Simeon and the Hearst Castle. If I didn't say so previously we are camped within the city limits of San Francisco right across the street from Candlestick Park. In fact, this camp ground hosts fans of that ball club in season.

Must check on the laundry. Jim says he'd rather drive the windy narrow roads of Route 1 than the streets around San Francisco.

San Francisco

Spent the night last night at the Redwood River RV Camp on 101S in California. Did a little sight seeing yesterday. Went to the Tree of Mysteries where we took a gondola ride over the canopy of redwood trees. On the hike up to the gondola ride we saw many "special" trees including the Cathedral tree where many weddings have been preformed over the years. A young couple asked us if we wanted to be married and were surprised when we told them we were honeymooners. Of course, they took our picture in front of the tree. One of the many facts we learned about Redwoods is they do not have a single tap route but gain nourishment from the entire root system. Since it was raining we couldn't see much from the top but it was an amazing experience to ride above the trees.

On display on trail was an Indian canoe which had been carved out of a Redwood. The Indians would form a "heart" near the end of the canoe out of the same piece of wood as the canoe.

Today, Sunday, we continued our trip South on Route 1 which was exhilarating and one "not to be missed."

Tonight we are camped across the street from Candlestick Park in an RV park by the same name.

Hopefully, now that Brenda has fixed the comments section you all will be able to let us know what you think.

More Later Janet and Jim

Grants Pass (plus, new Add Comments instructions)

Hi Folks, drove down from Florence, Oregon yesterday. Scenic show continues. Jim asked that he be honored for his ability to start fires with wet firewood. Since the wind was still that night it was very pleasant enjoying the fire even though the temperature was in the low 50's.

Drove down to Grants Pass and after visiting with Susan Vannice and her father, Charles spent the night in an RV park.

Now on to California through the Redwoods and Route 1 all the way to Southern California. Our plans are in flux for now since we have both visited San Francisco before we are unsure if we'll stop this time.

I know some of you have left comments which have not shown up on our blog. I will ask Brenda, our editor, to look into this and post "How to Add Blog Comments" on this web site.
All for now Janet and Jim....Thanks Brenda.

[* Hey folks, this is Brenda. I just checked the default setting and it set to restricted comments so only comments could be made by people who had certain google accounts---and even then, you had to be logged in. I changed the default settings so this is open to anyone.]

1) click on Comment link after the article
2) add your comment in the Post a Comment box and be sure to include your salutation if you want Janet/Jim to know it's from you.
3) click on Comment as:
4) Click on Anonymous (the default for everyone).
5) You will see a Word Verification (just type the word you see in the box, this is to prevent spammers from leaving comments)
6) click on Post Comment

Portland still

Tuesday Morning. Hi folks, Jim and I walked to the neighborhood business district--number of eclectic restaurants and shops--for breakfast. With my eggs I had a vegetable hash which was delicious. Among other veggies and seasonings were beets.

This afternoon Karlin Cross, my niece, will pick Jim and I up for a tour of the town and, of course, lunch. Believe it or not, Jim and I are trying to moderate our intake and not buy a new wardrobe.

Portland has an interesting system for disposing of the abundant leaves falling from all the trees in the fall. Residents are asked to pile them on the curb in the parking strip and prepare them for curbside pickup. Clear leaves and debris from storm drains then city crews will come through for two scheduled leaf removal pickups. First the crew will push leaves into piles at intersections, load leaves into trucks, and haul them away to a recycling facility. Secondly, the crews will again push load and haul leaves plus street sweepers will sweep your street and flush it with water.

It's remarkable how little litter we see on our walks around Alison and Mark's neighborhood--almost none.

Weather here is, we're told, typical for late fall--rainy. Weather doesn't vary much night to day. 50's to 60's in the day and 10 degrees cooler at night.

Tomorrow we're on to Grants Pass. Will post later. Love Jim and Janet

Portland At Last

Like Meriweather Lewis and George Clark we followed the Columbia to the Pacific. As usual, we always eat first so we dined at a wonderful Thai Restaurant near Alison and Mark's home in Portland. Since Mondays are traditionally dark days for museums we will probably do a little sightseeing of this much talked about progressive city.

Jim says to let you all know that our luck holds and Saturday night we lost power at the campground; in fact, the entire area near and around the Columbia River Gorge. So, after waiting several hours on Sunday to resume power, we moved to the other side of the River into Washington and found a beautiful campground.

I'm sure my thesaurus would be inadequate to provide adequate adjectives to describe the Columbia River Gorge. It swallows all within its walls up and at the same time provides an opening to the sky that is limitless.

Everywhere there are trains and I mean long trains with often four engines to carry and push these 100-car trains up the mountains.

On Saturday on our way down from Boise we drove on a switchback road that was six to seven miles in length and thousands of feet high.

We're tried to stay in state parks when possible as the RV parks are like parking lots. Since we are now traveling south we should not have a problem finding a park that's open and it should be warm enough to enjoy an evening campfire.

Will write more later. And, let me have your comments. Love Janet and Jim

Boise, Idaho and Ann McClanahan

Hi Everyone,

Now in Boise after a spectacular drive Northwest through Wyoming across the bottom tip of Utah and into Idaho. Here we are visiting my friend Ann McClanahan whom I have known since the mid-eighties in Norfolk. Ann lives in a charming apartment overlooking a pool and large park. From her patio you see trees dwarfed by the mountain range in the background. The trees are wearing their autumn colors of brilliant yellows and red-oranges. Her apartment is the former home of the manager of the clubhouse and pool of this apartment complex. Her building is a two-story building which stands between two high rises at the bottom of a hill. Our RV is plugged into an outlet in the parking lot. As usual, Ann's home is tastefully decorated in a simple, homey fashion which includes momentos of her family such as her mother's lamps and her father's desk. Ann looks terrific and as usual is involved in many activities.

Last night we ate dinner in an authentic Basque Restaurant in downtown Boise. Today we will tour the city and visit a birds of prey park. Oh! let me not forget the wonderful breakfasts Ann has cooked for us. Tonight Jim will grill salmon Ann has on hand. While I'm at the library updating our blog, paying bills, etc. Ann and Jim are at the AAA getting info on the next leg of our trip. As I've said before I have taken lots of pictures so hopefully I can share them with you on our return. Typical of the West not until we were within the Boise city limits did we see any sign of a community where people live, work and play. Fortunately Boise has kept many of their old, public buildings and business houses. In fact, the library where I am now is a storefront space.

We decided to visit Boise and then return to Salt Lake City when we make the loop going back East since it is near the Grand Canyon. When I say close it is 250 distance apart and when you're traveling 1000's of miles that's a short distance. Jim has worked out most of the kinks in the RV either through paying a mechanic or his knowledge of mechanical things. We visited a mechanic about a kink in the transmission and he made an adjustment added a part and said, "act like you were never here." This morning we took Jim's wedding ring to a jeweler for sizing and she said if she just needs to size in down by 1/2 size no cost. People are unbelievable!

Will try to write more later. Let me have your comments. Janet and Jim

Boise, ID

Brief update. Will be back later and post complete blog. Janet and Jim

Rock Creek, Wyoming Sunday Evening

Left Casper, Wyoming taking Scenic Route West toward Continental Divide passing over Oregon Trail, Pony Express Route with pictorial vistas or, as Jim described it, "Wide open, desolate but beautiful spaces."

While in Casper went to fill LP Tank and noticed antifreeze leak. Put in stop leak an it appears to have worked.

Saw split rock and Independence Rock and we greatly appreciated the courage and tenacity of our forefathers who made it all the way to Oregon--what a Hell of a Journey!

Couldn't find a desirable campground so we are camped for the night in Rock Creek which is a typical RV Park without trees or a fire pit. But they have cable TV, internet access, etc. Hopefully as we continue our journey tomorrow toward Salt Lake City, Utah we will be able to find a campground where we can relax and commune with nature.

Give us Your Comments

Hi family and friends, make this a two-way conversation. Scroll down while reading our posts and at the bottom click on the Comments link (it's right after the time that the post was made). This will open and you can add your thoughts and questions, etc. Thanks Jim and Janet

Wyoming

9AM Mountain time. We're back! Last Thursday while driving south to Lusk, Wyoming (population 1,500) the transmission on the RV went out. We were literally in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone service! Fortunately, men were working on some fencing down the road and Jim was able to hail them and one of them came to our assistance. This man drove Jim 40 miles round trip to nearest town where oil and phone service were available and all Jim could do for him was buy him a soda. This man is an example of the type of person we have encountered as we travel accross this country.

Jim put four quarts of transmission fluid into the engine, it started and Jim said to me "Take your seat we're moving!" We drove on the 40 miles to Lusk where we planned to camp for the night and were 30 feet from the camp site when the RV wouldn't move. Again, fortunate for us the man who owns the campground is a mechanic and after pouring more oil into the RV then he towed us into the site where we sat until yesterday afternoon when we were towed to Torrington, Wyoming (population 4,500) for repairs. The name of the campground is BJ's in Lusk and we would recommend that place of everyone. They even gave us a ride to the grocery, loaned us a heater for our water pump and loaned us DVD's. Jim and I are now staying in a Holiday Inn in town and hope to be on our way West to Boise to spend a few days with Ann McClanahan.

Torrington and the surrounding area is very historic as it was part of the Oregon Trail. We plan to rent a car today and tour the area. We are right next to a truck-stop facility where there is a restaurant which provides good home cooked meals cheap. We've learned that truck plaza's (as their called) are very nice with food of all kinds, showers, supplies, place for RV's to park and overnight if needed--and they're safe. Jim mentioned to me that next to the truck service facility is an art gallery--quite a juxaposition! I'll let you know our impression.

We plan to take the scenic route to Boise hopping over to the interstate if weather is bad.

Mount Rushmore---This national monument is impressive. Imagine hanging hundreds of feet in the air over rock and creating such a masterpiece. I took several pictures and do hope I got a good one to share. We didn't stay in the area as long as we'd like because there was a cold front moving in with snow accumulation predicted. As it turned out, we were smart to get on our way as the next day began a weather pattern bringing unusually cold weather and snow. We were in Lusk for 3 days but safe not stranded on a deserted road.

Now that I've caught you up I'll sign off and try to report again tomorrow after having had a chance to tour the surrounding area. We are having a wonderful time and expect to be on the road for another 4 weeks. Love Jim and Janet

Mt. Rushmore, SD
It snowed last night. We will tour Mt Rushmore this AM and then head south as cold snowy weather is predicted. We will see Ann McClanhan in Boise in 5 or 6 days. Boise is 1,200 miles from here. Drove through the state of South Dakota yesterday to get here at, say, the Missouri River. Herds of cattle grazing on the endless miles of prairie. Sunsets are gorgeous here for this is really Big Sky Country. The muffler went out on the RV yesterday so it's pretty noisy traveling. Plan to have muffler replaced in Billings, Montana (I think).

Learned lots about Meredith Wilson. He was hired by Toscanni as first flautist and played in Sousa's band. His sister Dixie was also creative wrote books and marketed a children's game kit to produce plays.

Jim's hurrying me, so will write more later.

We're here at Library in Mason City and will tour Meredith Wilson site after 1PM opening time. Rained hard last night so put out our camp fire. Jim and I played rhummykub and he beat me two games out of three. Oh well, have to try harder. Back later. Janet and Jim
(In case you don't know who Meredith Wilson is, here's a hint: 76 trombones)

Near Mason City, Iowa. Camped last night in a beautiful park--only 3 other campers there. Had camp fire and Jim grilled steaks--on our spare grill. First one left under camper and met its demise when got in way of 41 FT Pace Arrow RV. We're here at Library in Forest City, Iowa. A charming small 1900ish town. In addition to updating the blog we are getting supplies like groceries, etc. I also will have my hair washed--'bout time!

Don't know when I'll get back to update blog so we'll tour Mason City tomorrow--Meredith Wilson Music Man fame. Then on to Kennebeck, SD for a night near Black Hills. Next to Mount Rushmore where we plan to stay in a motel if too cold. Although the RV does have a furnace and we turn it off at night as it gets too warm. After Mount Rushmore we'll visit Ann McClanahan if she 's home in Boise, ID. Then on to Grants Pass, OR to visit Susan Vannice and after that its Portland, OR where Alison and Marc Dillon live.

Land of Lincoln

Here’s a quick update. We left Virginia and headed up to Toledo, Ohio where we spent time with relatives. A little something we need to remember: turn out the RV lights. A dead battery affects many things, even being able to re-tract the steps. One of the highlights was spending time in Springfield, Illinois, birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. After reading so many good books about him and going to the Smithsonian exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of his birth, it was special to be able to view these historic places in person. For example, his tomb (photo) has a fascinating history---they couldn’t make up their mind where to bury him so he was moved several times and someone even tried to steal his body in 1876. Now it’s time to move westward again. We're at a campground, Jim is out building a fire and we’re in either Iowa or Missouri. (this entry submitted by Brenda Barrera, per call from Janet who hasn't been able to get online).

Getting Started

Jim and I drove to Long Island to pick up the rv on Tuesday, September 22 and drove back on Thursday. Only had one mishap on way South. Jim took out two trees on his approach to runway No. 1 but sans a few limbs the trees will live to shade another season. We plan to drive to Western Virginia today and then on to Toledo on Sunday where we will have the auto airconditioner serviced. I'm sure our future entries will be more scenic if not more exciting! Janet and Jim