Day 2 (Part 1) - Where It All Began

We spent the morning driving back to places that held memories for us the first three years of our marriage.  We found all three places we lived, the hospital John as born in, and drove through Omaha back to the campground.  Nearly 50 years brings many changes.

This was taken Thursday before we got married on Sunday, September 4, 1966.  It was taken in the first place we lived, the trailer below.  This was quite a "mansion."  The living room went from the door to the end of the trailer.   We didn't care.  It was our first home.

This is where the trailer/trailer park was.  Our trailer sat right up against the mound.  The south entrance to the base was nearby.

This is First Baptist Church of Bellevue.  I have a wedding picture of us standing on these steps.

Top is the last place we lived.  John lived his first 3 and a half months here.  Below is the Lindyview Apartments, our second home.  We lived where the white truck is.

The main entrance to Offutt AFB.  On the Thursday, mom and I arrived here nearly 48 years ago, we waited here for Carol to come to take us to the trailer.

This is Erling Berquest Military Hospital where John was born on June 20, 1969.

Boys Town.  When we lived here, you had to drive out of town to visit the town.  Today, we drove through a metropolitan area before and after.

Day 2 (part 2) - Here We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder

After lunch we enter to the Strategic Air and Space Museum.  It used to be located on Offutt Air Force Base when we lived here but SAC (Strategic Air Command) no longer exists.  It is now called Strategic Command.  It has moved from the base to a beautiful building about 20 miles west of Omaha.  We spent about an hour and a half looking at many different aircraft and standing displays.  We enjoyed it.   I had lots of pictures but manged to delete most of them so there are only these few.

The entrance to the Air and Space Museum

Jar Jar Binks lives at this museum!

The B-52 wing span.  It is hard to see how big this airplane really is.

The SR-71 Blackbird.  This is a stealth spy plane.  It was very classified when it first began to fly in the late 1960's.  One time one flew over Offutt during an air show.  It didn't land and could only be seen high in the air.

A closer view of the entrance to the museum.

The SAC emblem.

Day 1 - On the Road Again

We left this morning at 6:15.  I usually start our trips with a beautiful sunrise picture but I will have to settle with a picture of the camper and truck waiting patiently to pull out of the driveway.    We drove west across Illinois and across the top of Missouri on 36.  It is a nice drive through fields of corn and soy beans.  We find beauty in this type of scenery.  We took our time because we had reservations at a KOA west of Omaha and didn't have to rush.

The day began with sunshine but about 10:00 it began to get cloudy and we had no more sunshine.  We didn't plan our arrival in Omaha very well because we hit the city around 3:30...rush hour and on a Friday!  We didn't recognize anything from when we had lived here 45 years ago but plan to get a closer look at Omaha and Bellevue tomorrow.  We are camped at a KOA just west of Omaha.  It is almost full with families from Omaha spending the weekend.  The spots are VERY close together and we are glad we won't be around much tomorrow.  We will definite remember this KOA as a place to never camp in again.  Only a few pictures to post.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.

The final picture shows our spot on the front row of the campground.  When we camp, we like a little more space between campers!  If we had children, this would be more tolerable because the camp has a playground, swimming pool, volleyball/batmitton area, miniature golf, and a small zip line.  They also rent these low-to-the-ground, three-wheel bikes that we have seen all over the camp.  They are like "big wheels."  It is an old KOA because all the trees are big which is one nice thing.

Not only is the truck and camper waiting, so is Sandy.  She is smart enough to know we are leaving so she stays close.  She is a good traveler.  She slept most of the day on the back seat or on the floor on her pillow bed.

This railroad bridge across the Mississippi is nearly covered by the water.  We had a lot of snow and rain this winter and spring.

I love the stone bluffs.

Hiking in Turkey Run - Part I

We wanted to take a hike today before Kara and Jason went to Indianapolis and the Children's museum?  It was a beautiful morning to hike.  Temperature was in the low 70's.  Hunter has made a friend in the campground.  His name is David and his family is from Mt. Pulaski.  Small world, isn't it?  David went with us and he and Hunter had a great time climbing rocks, wading water, and climbing ladders.  This trip was very different because of the season but we enjoyed the scenery.

Sandy loves to wade water when she can.

These are the faces of two happy hikers.

I love their smiles.

Trail end.  The final steps.

Two tired hikers.

Hiking in Turkey Run - Part II

Hunter and David.

Jason being the good husband and carrying Kara so she wouldn't get her feet wet.

What a cute family group.

Kara, Keegan, Hunter,and friend David.

The entire hiking group minus the photographer.

Kara, Jason, Carol

 Hunter, Keegan, David

Sandy

Hiking in Turkey Run - Part III

We enjoyed the lush, green canyons.

Hunter and his friend, David

Kara and Keegan on the suspension bridge that crosses Sugar Creek.

To hike most of the trails, you have to cross this bridge.

Keegan was happy and to our surprise he walked the two-mile trail on his own two feet.

Mini Trip to Turkey Run

June 29 we headed for Turkey Run.  Hunter has been wanting to camp at Turkey Run in the summer so he can swim in the pool at the park.  We were able to get reservations for June 29-July 3.  We will then be at home until July 11 when we head west to Fort Collins.  We are on site 206.  We like it better than the one we are usually in.  Kara, Jason and the boys got here at noon on Monday, June 30.  It was hot and humid the first two days but if you sit under the trees and do nothing, you can be comfortable.  Thank heaven for air conditioning so we are comfortable sleeping.  We had rain Monday morning and again Monday and Tuesday night during sleeping hours.  Kara and Jason had a tent and the first night they ended up in their vehicle during the storm.  Wednesday it cooled down and was very pleasant.  We are in Indianapolis so I am able to get Internet so I am posting three days of pictures in two or three postings.

We left these huge tomato plants behind.

They are taller than Hunter and Keegan.

Should be some good eating!

This is the  first year we planted rhubarb and this plant is also huge.

This is where Sandy stays during thunderstorms.

Hunter managed to get a nap on on the way to Turkey Run.

Site #206.