ARE WE THERE YET?

Fri, 5/10/2013.  It's raining.  Leave the campground at 9:15am for all day travel.  I24W in Tennessee, through western Kentucky, I57N, I64W and pull into a gas station. 

"No way Tim!we have enough vehicles"







"But it's a one-of-a-kind, original owner, and has low mileage!"  "Well, I guess there is no place to rig up a snowplow.  Thanks, but no thanks." 

I64W through Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri.

 

I70W across the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, to Rt79 and up the Mississippi in Missouri.  Get that?  Rt47W to Troy, take I61 to Bowling Green and Rt 54E to Cozy C RV Campground.  Hope it's "cozy" because someone is tired...

But not too tired to grill turkey legs for dinner with quinoa and brown rice, beets and a Klondike bar!

Sat, 5/11/2013.   Cozy C is a very friendly, clean and open campground.  Any bakeries around here?  The camp hosts recommend Day Break Donuts in historic downtown Louisiana, Missouri.  To be guilty-free of eating a few donuts, we jog on an interesting back road-- cows, calves, pigs, turkeys, roosters, chickens, dogs, a train passing by, a goat, and a tag sale!  Shower, pack and head for the donuts on Rt54 to Rt79.  Please, we'll have a large cinnamon donut with chocolate icing, one glazed, and two plain for dunking into coffee.  As we park in a lot next to the serene Mississippi River, we notice a farmer's market nearby. 

 

 

Italian bread and pumpkin butter with pecans, homemade by Eileen and Carol.  Yes, we would love to buy some!   While snapping shots, the editor of the Louisiana Press-Journal is snapping shots of us for a story in his newspaper.   Not many New Yorkers stop by to enjoy a farmer's market in Missouri.

 Rt36W to Rt63N towards Iowa.  It is extremely windy and the EBS warning light is flashing.  Huh?  It means to stop driving so fast because the wind is affecting the tire grip.  Slow driving through southern Iowa, exit 29, IA-14 to Newton, to a KOA Campground, arrival 6pm.  Whew!  White Turkey Chili and homemade Italian bread with melted butter and garlic.

 

Sunday, 5/12/2013.  From Newton (near Des Moines), Iowa.... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM and to all other SPECIAL MOMS! It's chilly today..oatmeal for breakfast.

 

 

 

I80W to I35N to historic Lincoln Highway (US30), America's first trans-continental highway.  Love watching the old trains going by.  Love the foot rubs. Since it's Mother's Day, Tim switches the radio station to "country music."  Loving this!  Rt141, diagonal, west to I29N through Sioux City.  Lunch in small town Mapleton.   

 

 

 

MOOSE turns 9 years old today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOOSE! Thinking of you! xoxo

 

 

Cross into South Dakota.  50W to Yankton and the Missouri River KOA. 

 Grilled T-bone steaks, baked potatoes, and creamed spinach.  Thanks for the extra special day Tim!  Thanks to all the family for the Mother's Day wishes. 

 

Monday, 5/13/2013.  Temperature -- 39 degrees.  Sunny, light breeze.  Rt50W to I281N to I90W across South Dakota for six hours. 

 

 

 

We've seen about a hundred Wall Drug signs along the road, so of course we have to stop and see what it's all about.   In 1931, Dorothy and Ted Hustead with their son, Billy, moved into the back of Wall Drug Store located in the middle of nowhere.  With a "FREE ICE WATER" idea, their business succeeded into what it is today.  Wall Drug (expanded) draws up to twenty thousand people on a good summer day.

 

Here is the temperature display (100 degrees) when we arrive in Wall.  Quite a difference from this morning.  Stay at the Sleepy Hollow RV Park and have a light dinner, tuna/carrot salad on toast + soup. 

 

 

Tues, 5/14/2013.  Wind warnings!  This morning we will hang out (and shop) in Wall until the winds die down.  Leave 11:45am I90W heading for Sturgis.  Bypassing wonderful (you'll have to see some day) highlights we have already visited, i.e. Mt. Rushmore, Rapid City, Custer Park, Crazyhorse Memorial, Black Hills, Devil's Tower.  Quite an interesting area!  We stop in downtown Sturgis at The Knuckle Saloon & Grill.   It is also a museum filled with antiques and Sturgis memorabilia.  Voted the best food in the Black Hills!   Have to try it!   The chunk potato chowder with bacon, carrots and lots of  black pepper was delicious.  Breaded steak tips?... so yummy.   

 

 

 

Rt212W, leave South Dakota, enter Wyoming for 20 minutes, then cross into Montana.  From dry plains to green forest in Custer National Park.  Arrive 7pm in Garreyowen, Montana, and settle at 7th Ranch RV Campground.

 

 

Just beautiful!  We are parked atop a hill overlooking Little Big Horn where parts of the 7th Calvary were massacred by combined Indian tribes.  In Tim's words,  "always humbled to be where history and great struggles took place and where men chose to die for cause."

 

Froggie is in love.....



Leave Garryowen 10:15am via I90W through Billings  (hey Matt, where are you?  Left you a message).  Onto Great Falls, Montana, and stay at Dick's RV Park for two nights. 

Have to organize our stuff, catch up on laundry, change our Verizon Wireless plan, purchase a backup system for computer photos and documents...and because food is much more expensive in Canada and Alaska, stock up on dry/canned items. 

 

One last note as we leave the United States and enter into Canada for the 850+ drive to Dawson's Creek (beginning of the Alaskan Highway)....it's a message from Grandpa to the grandkids--  "DON'T FORGET THE SPAGHETTI TRICK" and...

 

 

"OHHH... I HAVE A HEADACHE !!"

 

NASHVILLE LEMONADE

Wed, 5/8/2013.  Early to rise, workouts, breakfast of Tim's famous soft-boiled eggs, english muffins, and coffee.  Pack up and hit the road.  Heading for Nashville, Yee Haw!...NOT!   We spend the next 6 hours, from station to station,  repair shop to repair shop, figuring out why we can't get diesel to pump into the fuel tank.  Using a plastic tube to bypass the ball valve, we were able to pump enough diesel into the RV to get us to a Freightliner dealer in Nashville for a warranty check, diagnosis, part availability, and timeline to repair.    Head for Nashville Country RV Park, have a light dinner, and wonder what the next step will be.

Thurs, 5/9/2013.  Neely Coble Service Co. calls to advise they have a fuel tank in stock and can perform the repair today.  Hooray!

Just so you know, Nashville Lemonade is not a drink (perhaps it is and I could use one).  Know the expression "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade?  That's exactly what we did today.  Goodbye RV, hello motorcycle.

The Grand Ole Opry, launched in Nashville in 1925, is the show that made country music famous.  The show continues, performed several times each week, with a mix of country music styles and artists.  Truth be known, I grew up listening to country music and LOVE IT. 



Tim and Froggie practicing for a country music duet, but the only tune coming out of Tim's mouth is Sinatra?! 

After touring Opryland, we head for downtown Nashville and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

  Did you know that Conway Twitty's real name was Harold Jenkins?  Did you know that Tammy Wynette worked as a beautician before moving to Nashville in 1966, and she kept her license current just in case her records stopped selling?  Did you ever hear of these people?

Special exhibit featuring the life and tragically brief career of Patsy Cline. 

Recognize this guy?  A great exhibit featuring Elvis Presley.

 

Next stop, The District--historic heart of downtown with restaurants and live music playing day and night. 

The Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974, when the show relocated to its present 4,400-seat performance house. 

 

 

Tim is finally getting into the honky-tonk stuff and is mesmerized by this washtub fiddle.  He wants to know what it's made of and how it works.  Uh-oh...another project.  You think he may want to put together his own band?  He could get his "big guys" together and call the band "The Tim Timers."

 

Touring Nashville on our bike today was truly a lot of fun. 

Here's the culprit of our fuel problems (thought you might want to see what an RV fuel tank looks like).

 

Thank you Neely Coble Co/Freightliner for the great repair service and warranty coverage.  To I24 and 46 miles north to Clarksville RV Park and Campground.  It's late, therefore, dinner is what I call the Tennessee Special (leftovers and other stuff thrown in) and wine, of course.    



TRAVELING SOUTH BEFORE NORTH

Sat, 5/4/2013 - It's 6:55am and off we go.  Beginning mileage 28,210.  First roadtrip routine stop is Commack!.. for bagels and coffee.  I495, BQE to Verrazano and Cross Island Bridge, to NJ Tpk.

So long New York.

Very happy with all the RV upgrades and changes... however,

some things never change....

I95S, 695E and across Francis Scott Key Bridge, named after the person who was imprisoned on a British war ship while it was bombarding Ft. McHenry (Baltimore Harbor) in 1812.  Anyone know what song he wrote?  "O say, can you see?..."  The Star Spangled Banner!

Reason for heading south is to connect with the rest of our family before heading to
so-far-away Alaska.    I495- Beltway to St. Barnabas and Temple Hills Road.  Hi Mom and Brenda!  We are all going to the ELKS Club tonight for dinner and some FUN dancing.

 

 

Mom just loves to dance and dance and dance......

 

 

Sun, 5/5/2013

Back to the ELKS Club.  Mom is serving breakfast (is that a hairnet?)

Who's this??  Ms. Itsy!.. could it be Aunt Millie's cousin?  We told her all about Ryan and Megan. 







 

 

Bye Mom!  We love you!  Yes, we'll be careful.

 

I495, cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Virginia.  I95 S to Powhite Hwy to Midlothian-- arriving at our first camping site, the "Tambourine RV Park."

 



Hi Eric and Susan! and also their soon-to-be son#3 !!

We can't wait to hear the announcement and see the photos of our new little grandson.






More RV maintenance and repair is needed and, of course, Nathan and Garrett want to help....fixing the back trailer lights and replacing a bad fuse on the electric step.

 

Have to say goodbye... we'll be in touch.  Nathan and Garrett, enjoy your new baby brother and help your Mommy and Daddy, OK?  Memaw and Grandpa love you xoxoxoxo!

 

Mon, 5/6/2013 .  It's early and we take Old 100 to 360W.  Stop in Burkeville, VA to have oatmeal w/ craisins, walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon (yum) + coffee + read the local newspaper + decide what route to take...familiar 460W to Roanoke? or unfamiliar 360S to Danville?  Unfamiliar 360S!  My quest today is to find photo shoot possibilities.  Tim's quest is to find an assortment pack of fuses.  It is raining so hard--driving is difficult and tiring.  We approach Morganton, North Carolina, and find Steele Creek Family Campground.

  With new fuses, Tim tries to repair the trailer lights.

 



  Trailer lights still not working.  Will have to buy a new set.  Dinner prep-- In a fry pan, cook chopped bacon and green onions.  In a saucepan, boil chicken stock and water and add 2 cups of frozen peas and one chopped carrot.  After 15 min, add to the saucepan 1/2 box whole wheat thin spaghetti, Pensey's Bavarian spice, and garlic salt.  Thaw and remove tails from 1/2 bag precooked shrimp.  Add to fry pan .  Warm up (do not overcook!).  Add the saucepan of stuff to the fry pan.  Mix in a cup 2 spoonfuls of flour with a little milk and worcestershire sauce.  Add to everything in fry pan to thicken.  Serve!  with watermelon.  Read...relax...eat a Klondike bar.

 

Tues, 5/7/2013.  Up at 7am, the sun is shining and the running creek sounds great.

 

 Spend time deciding on what route to take to Alaska.  Get into a workout routine (weights and jogging) hoping to look buff when we return home.  Leave at 9:35am via Rt181 up to the Blue Ridge Parkway which extends 469 miles along the crest of the southern Appalachians.  There is diverse history and culture, many overlooks and facilities along the parkway.  The mountain terrain is just spectacular!

Students in Nathan's 1st grade class have each sponsored a geography pet.  Nathan's pet-- Froggie-- has been traveling with us (along with his passport) since October, 2012.   Here is Froggie,  admiring the parkway.   He sends a postcard to Nathan's class from each state, or country, that he has traveled through. 

 

Off the parkway to Rt226 to Rts 19E to 213, 25 and then I40.   Tim, hardwired with his very own homing device to auto and home supply stores, found a new set of trailer lights.  The lights have been replaced and are now working.  Tired and one hour from Nashville, we decide to stay for the night in Baxter at the Twin Lakes Catfish Farm and Campground and we're glad we did.  Great, clean location and a very friendly staff.  Tonight's special at their restaurant is all-you-can-eat breaded catfish, hushpuppies, french fries and coleslaw.  You bet we'll be there!

 

This family-owned farm (The Pippins) started with selling moon pies, beanie weanies, crackers and R.C. cola.  Then they started cooking catfish.  Many add-ons since.  The paylake keeps 15,000-20,000 lbs. of catfish ready for catching. 

 

 

 

   It's a very quaint and popular site.  TV show Bravo was filming a set the night we were there.

 

 

 

2013 Roadtrip to ALASKA..Getting Ready

Alaska is the biggest state in the Union- it's land is wild, unforgiving and spectacular.  Salmon, bald eagles, moose, totems, glaciers, camping in the wilderness, northern lights, history, bear paw prints as big as your head (huh?!)....the sheer wonder of finding what hides beyond the horizon or over the next ridge.  Alaska is an adventurous RV roadtrip on our bucket list, and it's time to get ready!

RV maintenance and repair was our first priority such as-- drain and flush out the winterizing agents, replace six worn tires with new, replace the broken bathroom skylight, wash and polish the rig inside and out including the roof.  (Tim loves the extension ladder, thank you Mom and Brenda).

Upgrades (with a gold star for Tim) included-- shelving above the dump compartment, s/s hold down straps for the hurricane bag, a bathroom door latch, shelf to hold satellite radio and speaker, Slingbox connection from laptop to TV, and a custom woodbox in outside bin.  Guess who upgraded the mattress by 4"?..much more comfortable!

How many guys does it take to repair an awning?  Tim, Jay and Cory disassembled, cut, glued, and..YES! sewed it back together.  Good job!

Saying goodbye to our family- Kate and Mike and Benjamin, Patrick and Daria, Andy, Cory and Hannah, Erin and Rob and Ryan and Megan.  We'll miss you!  Thanks to all for such a wonderful Memaw birthday celebration and delicious gourmet meal!

Packing checklist:  motorcycle, kayak, fishing poles, food, clothes, personals, wine, tech equip, tools, grill, stuff.....

bicycles, books,  gold panning equip, metal detector, more clothes, more food, more tools, more wine.  Just enough stuff to leave room for stuff to bring back with us.

Timmy stops by to say goodbye.  We are happy and reassured that our home and pets will be in good hands with Timmy and Jess while we are away!   Planned departure is Saturday, 5/4/2013.  We are excited!