Wrap Up of 2018 Trip

Here it is December 3 and I am just getting down my thoughts of the trip.  We got back to Lakeland Road at 3:00 p.m. and immediately got busy unpacking.  We met Jason, Kara and the boys at Monical's Pizza in South Shores for supper at 5:00 p.m.  When we got back home, we decided to finish up tomorrow.  There were just a few things left to unpack. 

Up early to finish unpacking clean.  I don't like to close up the camper until I have cleaned it good.  We had an appointment in Moroa to get it winterized on Tuesday.  I got everything done except cleaning the carpet.  I will do that on a warmer day after it comes back.

We were gone 61 days and drove the motorhome 6,000 miles and the towed car 5,500.  It was a wonderful trip.  We saw so much that I can't even put it down into words.  When we left on September 12, I really didn't know if we could be gone that long but we had reservations for every night so I knew we would be gone that long.  The days went so fast,  We were so busy and many days were worn out but it was a good feeling when we thought back over the day and all the things we saw and experienced.  

Here are some random thoughts about the trip.

This trip began in our minds because we wanted to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  The Balloon Fiesta was not a disappointment.  It was fantastic.  We had no idea what we would experience, but it was above and beyond anything we might have imagined.  In reality the trip was a four-week road trip, the Balloon Fiesta, followed by another four-week road trip.  We saw the most beautiful places this country has to offer.  When we can no longer travel, we will have the memories of this trip.

  

We met sooooo many nice people who were positive, kind, and friendly.  In Santa Fe we camped by a couple of newby campers who were on their first camping trip.  They had a Class C motorhome and were just learning the ins and outs of camping.  Every evening we would gather on our patio and talk about our day and try to answer their questions about camping.  I hope we gave them good advise.  They were down home like us despite the fact that they had paid cash for their brand new motorhome.

We met people who were newly retired and trying to make the decision of whether to go full-time RV'er.  We couldn't answer that question because that is something we are not going to do.  

Through photography we met people who took our picture and we in turn took theirs.  One couple from Alabama took our picture in Bryce Canyon and then we met then again in Zion and they took our picture again.  We met another couple in Canyon in the Ancients and again in Hovenweep.  They took our picture and we took theirs in both parks.  They said we were the first people to offer to take their picture after they had taken their picture.   In Canyonlands we met a young woman who was camping alone, driving from a job in Colorado to a new job in Washington.  She was newly divorced and looking for a new start in Washington.  I took a picture of her rig.  I think she is brave to take this big step in her life.

I hope this new start in her life is successful.  She said she has discovered the love of camping and seeing the beauty of this country.  We told her not to settle for a husband because she doesn't want to be alone but to find one that shares her interests like camping and dogs (one was waiting for her in the vehicle.

Not everyone was a pleasure to talk to.  We camped by a lady who had a notebook filled with places you should avoid because of high crime.  One of those places was the campground in Albuquerque in which we were going to camp.  We believe in being aware of your surroundings and being cautious but we also believe that we can't let fear control our decisions.  When we got to the Albuquerque campground, we found it was very safe and we did not at any time feel fearful.  

Meeting these people enhanced the memories of our trip.  We don't listen to the radio (other than XM) or listen to the news when we travel  We are traveling in a cocoon.  Ninety-nine percent of the people we met were so nice, that it made us feel that the evil, rudeness, and negativity of this country didn't exist.  For nine weeks, we felt a peace about our world.  

We visited nearly 25 national parks/monuments.  Some of those we had visited before but there were some new ones like Capulin Volcano, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, Chirrachua, Gila Bend, Aztec, Cabrillo, Florissant Fossil, Canyons of the Ancients,  Hovenweep,  Navajo, and Bisti National Monuments/Parks were new to us.  They are smaller monuments/parks but definitely were worth the visit.  Some we enjoyed so much that we would visit again.  One thing our government does well is the national park system.  They preserve some of the most beautiful places and historic sites in this country.  

We camped mostly in KOA's because we get a 10% discount on camping and earn points which we cashed in for $100 in savings.  The KOA card is a freeby which comes with our motor club so we look at it as a win win.  We also camped in three state and one national park.  We enjoyed them more than the private campgrounds because these parks focus on making the campground a part of the countryside as to opposed to be slotted in spaces set up for a maximum number of campers.  A first for us was camping in a casino campground.  It was a good experience and we would definitely camp in one again.

Getting gas for the motorhome is a biggy for us  You don't just pull a 34-foot vehicle with additional 10 feet attached into a gas station.  Because of the route that was taken, we visited two stations twice, once going west and once going east.  We also traveled over some highways twice, once going east and once going west.

Keeping my travel  journal on line as a blog is a very modern way to do it.  Also new to us was the use of the GPS to get us to and from places.  If we hadn't had GPS, I am not sure we would have made it into San Diego and Las Vegas.  We would probably still be trying to navigate the traffic.  Carol is the driver and I am the navigator.  That has always been the way we take trips.  Carol did a magnificent job of driving and thanks to the GPS, I was able to navigate successfully.

There were some disappointments I want to mention.  I had spent several months planning this trip.  We had planned to go to Sedona in Arizona but the weather didn't allow us to visit.  We had wanted to visit Four Corners but time did not allow that.  As we had been to Four Corners twice before, when time was limited, we chose to visit other places.  We wanted to visit  Torrey Pines State Park in San Diego but heavy traffic and lack of parking did not allow that.  We did drive on the singing highway but only the first two measures of America the Beautiful was played.  It was so brief that we almost missed it.  I would not recommend taking the time to drive that section of road.  We were disappointed in Mesa Verde National Park.  We had visited there several times before but this trip we were not able to physically visit the large pueblo ruins.  Some of the ruins were closed because of the time of year.  They were doing routine maintenance of the ruins.  We chose the wrong time of the year to visit.  Final disappointment was Las Vegas.  Again, we had been there before, but this time we didn't enjoy it at all.  There was so many people who mostly were drinking and using vulgar language.  Not a pleasant atmosphere for an old Christian couple from the Midwest.  

As I look back over the trip, despite the disappointments, it was a wonderful trip.  I would call it a trip of a lifetime.  We have always loved heading west.  This trip we spent nearly nine weeks exploring and experiencing the very best scenery and places of the southwest and Southern California.  If we never go that direction again, we can feel content with the memories we made and the images that remain in our minds.

Dailey and Vincent

The low was 15 degrees.  Brrrr!  This morning there was a slight wind blowing, so it really felt cold.  We are hoping pipes and tanks made it ok.  Today, we are eating lunch at Lamberts and we wanted to visit Wilson Creek National Battlefield.  We had been to the battlefield before when John went to college in Southwest Baptist University but that was 25-30 years ago.  We missed the signs for the battlefield so went to the Lambert area to do some antique shops and then eat.

Got to Lambert's at 11:00 and we still had to wait 10 minutes.  Everyone wants to eat at Lambert's.  The food is plentiful and delicious.  It is just good, downhome cooking.  Carol had gizzards and I had Chicken pot pie.  One of the best thing about Lambert's is the "pass arounds" and "throwed rolls."  As you are eating, huge pans of fried okra, tomatoes and macaroni, black-eyes peas, and fried potatoes are being brought around.  You can have any of all of these things put on your plate in addition to your meal; and, there is the rolls which they throw to you.  Needless to say, everyone takes home food.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

As we driving to the battlefield, we passed this car and Santa was driving!  Driving a car with big dice hanging from the mirror didn't fit my picture of Santa.

This is the Visitor's Center.  I don't usually take a picture of the Visitor's Center but the last time we were here, the Visitor's Center was a small white building.  Since that time a nice center has been built.  We never learned about Wilson's Creek in history but evidently there were several small battles in Missouri during the Civil War.   At the beginning of the war, both sides  wanted Missouri to be on their side.   Missouri's governor was pro slavery and there were slave owners in Missouri but there were also people who were against slavery.   In this battle, the governor sent the state militia to fight with the Confederate soldiers against Union troops.  In this battle, the first Union general of the war was killed.  This battle was fought in August of 1861 just a few months after war was declared and the Confederates won (this time).

This house is original to the site.  A man named Ray lived here with his wife and 10 children, his slave and her 4 children, and the postmaster of the community.   At times, they watched the battle from the front porch.

This is the spring house located down the hill and front yard of the Ray house.  The house was also used as a hospital during the battle, and the kids carried water from the spring house to the big house for wounded soldiers.

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After touring the battlefield, we returned to camp to "nap" off the huge lunch.  The Dailey and Vincent show was at 8:00 p.m. and we had great seats.  We were in third row, center.    Above is Jamie Dailey and below is Darren Vincent..

The madoline and fiddle players were great.

Carol's favorite instrument is the dobro and this young man could really play it.

The bass singer and also guitar players.

Vincent's mother joined them to sing a song or two.  The show was nearly two hours long and unlike the other two shows we saw this weekend, they did not take a break.  

We got back to camp around 11:00 p.m.  Our two month "big adventure is nearly over.  I didn't do my blog; but instead, got up at 5:15 this morning to do it.  I remember what it was like the days I didn't have internet and I didn't want to have to play catch up.  We enjoyed these last three days at Branson and it was a good way to end our trip.  Carol is up now and as soon as it gets light, we will pack up and load the car.  We have 360 miles to drive today and at this point in our trip, we want to get home as quickly as possible.

I will be busy unpacking when we get home so I probably won't post tonight and maybe not tomorrow night, but I want to post a final blog to wrap up the trip.

Oak Ridge Boys

We began the morning on a mission...a mission to get RV antifreeze for the motorhome in anticipation of  a 17 degree low temp tonight.  However, breakfast must be first so we decided to eat out.  I suggested Cracker Barrel but Carol wanted to find something different from what we have at home.  I googled and found a place called "The Breakfast Cafe."  That sounded perfect.  GPS directions took us downtown Springfield.  It was interesting.  Springfield has a current population of around 150,000 but like most towns, the downtown area is dying.  The restaurant was on a downtown corner and by the looks of it, we didn't want to eat there.  In the process of finding someplace else, we found Bass Pro.  

We never come to the Branson/Springfield area without visiting Bass Pro.

The employees were getting the place decorated for Christmas and Christmas music was playing.  Traveling like we have, we haven't seen a lot of Christmas stuff.  We spent about an hour wondering around and ended up not buying anything of importance.  Bass Pro has opened a new aquarium but we didn't visit because it is $30 per person to go inside.

Every Thursday evening, we watch Larry's Country Diner on RFD.  PFI sponsors the show and Carol wanted to visit their store.  It is everything western.  We saw a husband buy a $900 pair of boots because his wife liked them. That didn't happen in this family for one reason...I wouldn't let Carol spend $900 for a pair of boots for either him or me!  By this time it was 11:00 a.m. so we ate lunch at Golden Corral.   After lunch we found a Walmart, bought the antifreeze and went back to camp to relax and spend time with Sandy before we went to see the Oak Ridge Boys in Branson at 8:00 p.m

We had great seats...fifth row center.

Duane Allen does lead vocals.

Wiolliam Lee Golden, baritone

Joe Bonall, tenor.  Joe did a lot of the commentary and seemed the most active of the four.

The guy on right is Richard Sterban, bass.  

They put on a great show, singing all their hits and a few new songs in the first hour.   One of the songs they sang was "A Brand New Star (Up in Heaven Tonight).    This morning we got the new that an old friend, Nancy, died so this song really spoke to me.  The second half of the show,  was Christmas oriented.   We really enjoyed their show.  Tomorrow night we will see Vincent and Daley at the same theater and time.  

We didn't get home until 11:00 so I didn't take time to do my blog.  It will be the same tonight.  

Yesterday, before we left for the show, Carol disconnected our water and sewer, emptied all holding tanks,  and poured antifreeze down all drains in anticipation of the below freezing temps.  It got down to 16.  We are hoping we did enough to protect the water pipes in the motorhome.  It is only going to get down to 30 tonight.   Welcome, Winter.

Six

The day began cold and cloudy and ended cold and rainy.  I did laundry this morning.  I thought it would lessen the amount of laundry I would need to do when we got home.  While the washers were going, I looked thought a display of things to do in Branson and saw a brochure on "Six" the show we were going to see at 8:00 tonight.  I noticed that there was only one show today and it wa at 2:00 p.m.  I finished my laundry as quickly as I could so we could get on the road to Branson.

The leaves were pretty.  If the sun had been shining, it would have been spectacular. 

The sign says "All voices, zero instruments, all music."  They are six brothers who sing a cappella.  We had seen their show the last time we were in Branson (Maybe 10 years ago?).  Not only do they sing harmony as only brothers can do, but they can sound like musical instruments.  It is amazing.

They are singing Beach Boys music.    The audience was filled with bald-headed men and grey haired women so this was a bit hit with them.

After the show we decided to drive the Branson Strip to find someplace to eat supper.  We saw this ferris wheel which we don't think was here the last tie we were here.  We at supper at a HONG KONG buffet.  It was good and we are stuffed.  During the show, it began to rain and the temperature was dropping.  When we got into the car, the temperature read 44 and by the time we got back to camp, the temp was 36.   It is not a nice weekend for Veterans Weekend in Branson.  Tomorrow evening we will be seeing the Oakridge Boys.  The show begins at 8:00 p.m. so it will be a late night for us.

Springfield, Missouri

We woke up this morning to race horses being exercised.  We enjoyed watching the different horses as they ran around the track.  This is 7:00 a.m.

Besides exercising the horses, some of them were put into the starting gates.  Races are run here through November.

There is a small casino located under the grand stand.  It isn't even open 24 hours a day like most of the casinos we have seen owned by Native Americans.

We left our site at 9:30 and crossed the stateline around  11:15  We were, at that point, only an hour from the KOA.  I called them to see if we could check in early and were given permission to do so.

I was happy to see that the leaves were still on the trees and looking very pretty.

We arrived at Springfield KOA at 12:30 p.m.  We took our time setting up.  We will be here four nights, leaving Sunday morning.  The campground is very beautiful because it is filled with tall oak trees which are turning and falling.

Site #69.

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With lots of tall oak trees, come lots of leaves on the ground.  "Buzz Cut" has spent most of the day taking care of those leaves.

I am not sure what the temperature is but even in the sunshine, it is cool.  Carol tried to sit outside for a while but it got too cold.  We have heard that it may get down to 18 degrees Friday night.  We are so glad these cold temperatures have come at the end of our trip.   These last three days should be relaxing.  We will not be hiking.  We will be attending a show each evening in Branson but days are not planned so who knows what we will do.