Wekiwa Springs State Part

Site #2, two nights over Labor Day. Good site, handicapped accessible with paved walk to RR. 1/2 mile bike ride up and down hills to the Springs. Big beautiful spring pool like with concrete walls. Minimal fish life due to large amount of people and few natural underwater hiding places. Would have been nice to rent a paddle boat but it was too busy that weekend. Great weather. Relaxing cool springs but my favorite is still Blue Springs SP for its varied natural features and access at dusk to see the creatures move back in after the people left. This one was a bit too far (maybe more than 1/2 mile) for comfort in the heat. Hung out with Mike and Anne and enjoyed.

Last night on the road

Staying at Fair Harbor RV Park in Perry, GA tonight. Just so so. Last night on the road and last night of this blog until next camping trip - short w/e in August. Ready to be home. Met up with Susan B off the interstate in Nashville for lunch! That was great. Rest of day was just driving. No pics. Good bye, E

Two More Days to home

By now, we're ready to get back to the comfort of our "stick house" as they are known in the RV'ing world. We are in Paducah KY tonight at a nice family owned campground. We drove through rain and modest but never fun wind at times. I drove through St. Louis and saw the Arch up close and personal. We saw bison in fields in Illinois - not the West , surprisingly. The last photo is from Wolf Creek Pass. The others are from a stopover in Burlington CO yesterday to see the Kit Carson County Carousel - a fabulous original hand carved carousel that goes 10 mph - swoosh, fast - it is the pride of the county. I know I would never see this again so we hung around for an hour at a playground that dtr loved then went in the carousel at 11 AM. What a work of art. 95% original paint and parts. Such a treasure in a train/grain town. I took over 100 pictures of the 47 creatures and the beautiful carousel Wurlitzer organ. Video'd it too. Dtr just loved the stop. By the way, lady told us "carousels go counter clockwise, merry go rounds go clockwise". OK, prob not important but is interesting. Good night.

On the way home

We left Durango this AM without difficulty. We got to Pagosa Springs before a different Jack started slipping down, just a little, causing the alarm to ping. We Deployed the Jacks in a safe spot overlooking the Springs - very pretty - and brought them back up with no problem. We continued on, Tim driving, over Wolf Creek Pass and into Eastern Colorado to Limon KOA for the night. WCP was amazing and I was glad NOT to be driving. The countryside is so variable and interesting. Eastern Colorado has its rolling prairie, gulches, livestock and ranches. It's good for June to see all this - when she is conscious that is. She is back to her 15 hour per day sleeping habits in the coach - who wouldn't be? It's like a big comfortable cradle back there. Good night. Tim's and June are already asleep. So is Bandit.

Town Day and Relax and recover!

THIS WAS FUN! Today we slept in, relaxed, painted and crafted, went to town for this picture and dinner. Boiled Alaskan Dungeness crab, shrimp, corn, potato and sausage for two - spread on the table messy style - loads of fun. Tomorrow is July 4th so we'll see the parade tomorrow night and fireworks. Hopefully they won't light the canyon on fire! Most fireworks are banned in the area. We've got one more day to go, then home. We developed a crack in the windshield and a lost headlight that we are going to try to get repaired before we drive. We are not hopeful that will happen and can drive like this if necessary. Good night!

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Jeep Day

OMG, had we known the fear and terror involved, we wouldn't have done. I guess fear and terror are not good things to put in a brochure. Beautiful, majestic scenery accompanied the terror. I can only upload one picture due to size and it doesn't do the road justice. Most of the time on the way down, I was too frozen to take pictures. I can't imagine people do this for fun! LOTS of jeeps going BOTH WAYS, passing when there isn't even room even for two goats. Boulders in the middle, tilting towards the hundreds of foot drop, no guard rails, passing ! WOW, what views though. I will try to add some independently. The name is Poughkeepsie Gulch trail in the San Juan Mtns - You Tube it for some examples of what we experienced - no, not the absolute worst of the YT's but a lot. Oi.

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Durango Train ride

We rode the train yesterday and relaxed in and out of town today. We're enjoying this lovely campground - you can see our RV sits a little up the hill from the train tracks. The trains come through 4 times in the AM and 4 time returning in the evening, not before 8 AM and not after 7: 30 PM, very civilized. We really enjoyed the ride though didn't get to spend much time in Silverton at all b/c we had to sit on the rail line x 45 minutes b/c the train was setting so many fires the fire crew couldn't keep up! I'm going to add some more pics individually.

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OK, here's an amazing pic: This deer actually came after these folks after one dog barked at it, broke leash and it went after it. We think it was protecting a fawn because it first came out of the woods to the dogs, then the dog barked and set off this scene. The deer is actually chasing the people. The close up is out of the RV window looking down at our water spigot which was like an oasis in the middle of a desert for the local animals.

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Spruce house at Mesa Verde. One Kiva that we went down. Dtr loved the walk down, climb down the ladder. Her interest was real.

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Look on the sign post for a blue bird. Other: two grosbeaks fighting. Great camera. Click on the pics individually to see them much larger.

From Mesa Verde NP to Durango CO

Finally back on line. Trouble with high mountain camping: no phone service, no internet, just nature - fabulous! Look what jumped around our campsite - fast little guy, lots of pics of him in motion. I'm going to try to post more pictures separately. We had the second site in the Ute Loop - best one in the loop for sure.

Tuesday From Mesa Verde NP to Durango

Mesa Verde National Park

Well, I'm finally relaxed and truly "on vacation" - lovely hike this AM with far off views. Dtr and husband thoroughly enjoyed too. Great birding up here at 7800 feet. RV working great, full hook up with lovely site to the other side of the canyon. What a treat. One more full day here with a tour tomorrow to see some Native dwellings and learn about the history of this place. So far we haven't cared to move an inch other than bike around (and walk the bike up hills). We are getting lots of rest.

Well, wanted to add pics but 1/2 hour has passed and my small but heavy GB pics are too much for this WiFi system , so, no pics. Gotta go bike back with ice. TTFN.

Day 7 To Pagosa Springs CO

No pics tonight - upload is too slow. We're safe and sound in a campground outside Pagosa Springs CO - a beautiful place. As we came down over the mountains surrounding Santa Fe, the scenery changed from Pinyon tree and desert canyon to lush green valleys that reminded me of that final scene in City Slickers where they "brought the herd in". Interesting going up and down hills but the old RV made it fine. Tomorrow, Mesa Verde where we will wash off the bikes that are now one color - brown. !

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Day 6 Shamrock TX to Santa Fe NM

We're high on a hill overlooking the Santa Fe area. What a windy day! We will never travel across the Western Panhandle of Texas again b/c I think the winds are normal for there. We saw 3 story high "Dirt Devils" all over and dirt from cattle yards fly across the highway. We were swayed but no real scares. We got out to see if we lost an awning - very loud banging noise - but we didn't and when we were stopped, we turned around and saw two large pronghorn antelopes on top of two mounds very close by. I was stunned in disbelief, thinking it was a town prank - a statue of a big one - when Tim told me to run and get the camera. They were real. Unfortunately, I was not fast enough for a good pictures.

We had the best BBQ in Amarillo at Tyler's BBQ. We did some maneuvering to get behind the little shack. It's amazing where you can stow an RV.

Tomorrow Santa Fe for a walking tour of the galleries and Palace of the Governors. I hope the pics upload! They didn't yesterday.

Day 6 Texas

Wow, too tired to post last night. Now we are truly in No Man's Land in Shamrock TX. Interestingly, the Conoco Tower Gas Station in the middle of the town was inspiration for the Pixar Cars movie - and was stylized but used in it. See photo taken hastily from RV while searching for a non pit RV campground. We pulled in one and quickly pulled out of it too - yuck. Found a nice one up the road, spent the evening watching cows, Eastern Meadowlark and Warblers - very nice bird song.

The Western Heritage Museum in OK City was spectacular. We spent 5 hours there and could have spent more. Unbelievable western art with Remingtons, Charles Russel art, and believe it or not, Tom Ryan art ! He was amazing. June LOVED the museum - in the rooms where it was just paintings and small statues, less interesting to her, but Eye Spy Game saved the day - made it more interesting for me too and made you really look at the paintings. I will try to add a couple photos but uploading is taking too long for lots. Today we head to Amarillo in one hour - will get Brisket Brunch at Tyler's BBQ then on to Sante Fe NM. Good day we hope! Everyone is well in health and spirit and the Jack is staying up enough.

Day 4 Arkansas and Oklahoma

Spent the day visiting Melody at her hospital and touring Fort Smith Historic site with her husband Mike. It was wonderful to see her. She looks great but what a job she has. I don't know how she does it - amazing person.

Tonight we're at a very nice RV resort park in OK City. We had time to swim and for dtr to play with some kids. Tomorrow, Cowboy Museum and on to Amarillo, maybe.

Day 3 Fort Smith (well not quite yet)

Well, if my video ever uploads, it's June on an old-fashioned piece of playground equipment at a KOA. I haven't seen something like this since I was a kid. Imagine, not one plastic element in site! Wow.

Our Jack problem continues to cause stress and uncertainty. Stopped a repair shop yesterday and there is no hope of preventive or at this point, non emergency repair. Parts would have to be ordered and that would be days, and Lord, I am not spending my vacation in the hot south. I wouldn't mind being stuck in the hot West - but I don't want to be stuck anywhere. Then we have a mystery water leak on the floor this AM: condensation on an incline? No actual leak we can see. RVs are complicated and System heavy. But AC is fine, we are cool, dtr is building a log cabin with popsicle sticks with much encouragement from me (never did that before??) and we should head out to see a friend this AM at a local hospital here.

Day 2 Where there is smoke, there is fire

Luckily, it was a brush fire, not an RV fire....!

Made it to Tupelo Mississippi tonight. Big driving day for us. We took back highways through small Georgia and Alabama towns to a lovely Interstate corridor in NW Alabama. We saw NO RVs for miles and miles - so they must all be on the big interstates.

We got down to 1/3 tank of gas thinking "there must be a gas station on the the Right side of the road" - sure, on a Sunday afternoon in the South. Got down to 25 gallons of gas (which is low enough in an RV to cut out the generator) and got VERY hot very quickly. Luckily found a heathen gas station that overcharged by 10 Cents/gallon on a late Sunday afternoon - and I was happy to pay it. Tim asked me what I would have down to him if he said "let's go down the road for a cheaper price". I said certain parts of him would go missing...

Dtr enjoyed the playground this AM in Georgia as did Bandit.

Now settled in a campground for the night. Everything working but the propane. At this point, we won't worry about it and not fix it until we return. Tomorrow Fort Smith AR.

Day 1 Colorado Adventure

Drove away from house about 11: 30AM - that's as early as we could manage. House secure. Quick visit to Fred to disengage the beeping warning light about the Jack problem we know we have. All it took was the short ride to the house to lower the jack the original inch and set off the security. All was well until just past Ocala when we smelled the classic propane smell. After accusing Tim of making unpleasant odors, we figured out it was the propane tank. Wonderful. Pulled to a rest stop immediately, heard the leak, turned off the tank and leak stopped. Lost 2/3 propane. I won't calculate that loss yet.

Staying at Eagle's Roost RV park just across the Georgia state line. Nice playground, quick shower, now playing PS3 on the front TV. As dtr said, "this is the life". Tim misses the house already but is enjoying. We'll see what Day 2 brings....

Fort DeSoto Site 123 Again

Another nice weekend at Fort DeSoto. Camper backed up to the playground. Kids loved it. Spent hours on PG Saturday. Easy back in this time, Tim drove. Driver back Jack stuck down one inch from last time we camped and did not fully cycle the Jacks. Had to listen to annoying alarm all the way to Ft D or not go at all since we got out so late Friday night. All went well. New kitchen sink faucet works great. Nothing broken. Brought Keyboard - June practiced and I played a lot, under the awning. What a treat.

Sarasota Folk Festival at Oscar Scherer Park

Stayed Friday and Saturday night at Site 81, a nice site only one neighbor on the driver side. Enjoyed the Folk Festival. Mike and Ann there, Cindy and Emma visited for the day.

Babcock Webb Day

Spent Sunday at BW again, 7 mile bike ride after a nice lunch there. Peace and quiet, knitted for an hour before going home. Perfect weather, no noise, no bugs. One bald eagle. No overnight.

Florida Natural History Museum and Paynes Prairie

We went up to Paynes Prairie State Preserve this weekend with intention to stay at the campground there for two nights. They didn't have Saturday night available but we left for the area on Saturday anyway mainly because I was itching to go. They didn't have a site but would have allowed us to stay in the Overflow lot after 5 PM but we couldn't go in until then. Since we had time to kill, we left, drove up to Gainesville and sought out the Natural History Museum on UF's Campus. We found it easily, asked some nice officers where we could park without a problem and were directed to a nearby parking lot that was 1/2 empty and didn't require a decal on a Saturday. Tim mentioned maybe staying there overnight which I thought was a great idea, so I asked the officers and they said "no problem". Wow! Parked right across from the museum, walked around the museum at a now leisurely pace, went into the Butterfly Rainforest which June and I enjoyed very much. Tim won't pay money to see butterflies but he enjoyed the rest of the museum during that time.

June and I played with bubbles in the now empty parking lot that evening. It got very cold in Gainesville that night and the RV's heating system performed well. We were snug and comfortable. We watched movies, popped popcorn, slept well undisturbed. I was really surprised campus police didn't come by and ask us to leave.

We went to P. Prairie the next morning, attended to the business of clean-out - I am an expert by now - and got into our site #3. We biked to the Prairie as it starts at the end of the road by the Visitor Center and Observation Tower. Its muted Fall colors were pretty but unfortunately none of the bison or Cracker horses or cattle were visible. I was disappointed about not seeing them. We biked back and Tim and June napped while I biked again, Geocached, got Mike and Ann and Geocached some more. We had lovely Bruschetta on toasted bread for appetizers.

By 8 AM the next morning, heavy rains moved in and there went the morning. We decided to pack it in since we would have to leave the next morning anyway and since we were relatively close to home. It is hard to stay camping in the rain when your home is so comfortable and just down the highway (a bit).

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the Prairie but I will borrow one from the internet. I had intended to go back today, bike and hike. Oh well, teaches me to take opportunities when they present themselves and not delay.