Friday, October 11, 2013 Emptying the Truck, Loading the Boat!

Friday, October 11, 2013 Emptying the Truck, Loading the Boat!

After a light breakfast, we unloaded the bed of the pick up truck. It took an hour! Boy do we have a lot of stuff. We hope to cull a lot of things.

I telephoned broker Bill Watson to let him know we're back aboard and to notify him that we are terminating the sales agreement. I also sent him an e-mail to that effect as well.

Stowing all the gear is time consuming. Besides fitting the stuff into unusually shaped compartments, we need to have a record of were the things are stored. Logic doesn't always dictate where things go. Size and shape matter too. Unrelated items may be stored together because they fit together, not because they belong together.

Thursday, October 10, 2013. Arrived!

Arrived at 1530 hours (about 300 miles). Started unpacking the truck right away. Gregg, the marina owner, chastised us for not letting him know we were coming. Seemed upset! Suggested it would have been the courteous thing to do. Too bad, Buddy!

We'll finish unpacking the truck tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 Still on the Way!

It rained all night and it was raining while we packed up. We met the other campers while we were packing up. They asked for advice on getting to Delaware. We suggested the Bay Bridge Tunnel route and gave them contact information. They gave us delicious home grown bananas!

Drove until 1700 hours (about 400+ miles). Camped at Crooked River State Park on GA. A very nice park. It would be nice to visit for a few days. Had a great seafood dinner at Ship2Shore in St Mary's City.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013 SUNSHINE Bound!

Left home at 0800. Not ready for a long drive though.

Said goodbye to our family last evening while enjoying their company at Fove Guys.

Drove until about 1900 hours (about 430 miles). Camped at Medoc Mountain State Park in NC, about 12 miles from I95. Only one other camper in the park. Used the Eureka Equinox tent.

Getting Ready for Another Cruise!

SUNSHINE spent the summer luxuriating at the Stuart Yacht Spa where she received excellent care and new standing rigging. We've been missing her and have been plotting our return since fall has arrived.

After taking care of last minute business with the shacks and the 5er, we have been cleared for takeoff. The truck is packed to the gills with most of the gear we removed last spring. Packing took much longer than expected so we delayed our departure, originally planned for this past weekend to tomorrow.

LADEE Launch from Wallops Island, VA

We had a spectacular view of the launch from our back deck! You can see it here...

The Second Half!

Sunday, July 21, 2013 - Day 17: Visitors from the East!

We drove from Fruita to Mesa Verde today. Along the way we passed by several national parks, forests and a national monument. 

Our arrival time was 1400 hours. When it was time to set up the tent, it started to rain. The showers lasted for several hours. 

Campsite in Morefield Campground in Mesa Verde National Park

Sandi and Matt arrived at 2000 hours. Rose and Josh were beside themselves in anticipation. We walked up to the campground entrance at 1800 hours to wait for them. When the kids got impatient, we headed back to the campground. This procedure repeated itself several times before their parents showed up.

We'll start exploring the area tomorrow. 

Monday, July 22, 2013 - Day 18: the Cliff Palace and the Spruce Tree House

There is quite a bit to do today. We drove the Chapin Mesa loop before meeting our Ranger guide for the Cliff Palace tour. The place is quite amazing and it is interesting to contemplate how the ancients survived from around 400 to 1200 AD. We climbed down to the Cliff Palace on NPS built steps, ladders and paths. Our exit included more of the same. The people who lived here used hand and toe holds carved in the cliff rock. These hand and toe holds who used so frequently, one can see where fingers actually rubbed some of the rock away.

Scenes from the Cliff Palace and the Spruce Tree House in Mesa Verde National Park

The Spruce Tree House is about 90% original and represents the most complete house preserved in Mesa Verde.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - Day 19: The Four Corners and the First Views of the Grand Canyon!

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we stopped by the Four Corners. The kids know the four corners are where Arizona, New Mexico, Colordo and Utah meet. We took obligatory photos and a couple of souvenirs before heading out.

Standing in Four States at one time. Can you name the four states?

The drive through the desert and Navajo Reservation was long and desolate. It was very generous of President Grant to ask the Native Americans to move to this arid land. It seems impossible for anyone to eke out a living on this land. 

Later in the day, we entered the Grand Canyon National Park. We drove through so we could get to Ten-X Campground in the Kaibab National Forest. That will be our base of operation because the campgrounds in the national park are full. Kaibab is in the town of Tusayan, about five miles from the entrance to Grand Canyon NP.

Since Arizona doesn't use Daylight Saving Time, we lost another hour. We're now three hours behind Eastern time.

Our campsite in Ten-X Campground in the Kaibab national Forest a couple of miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park

Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - Day 20: the Rim Trail

The agenda for the day included a 3 mile hike along the Rim Trail. It is the superhighway of trails on the south rim and is very easy to negotiate. The only obstacles we encountered we're the masses of people walking the trail. In places there were traffic jams!

We dined at the iconic El Tovar for lunch. Although not as impressive as Old Faithful, it is none-the-less an fine example of "parkitecture," just after the turn of the 19th century, El Tovar was considered the finest hotel west of the Mississippi.

Break on the Bright Angel Trail

Sporting Canyon "T's"

California Condor making a comeback

Walking the Rim Trail

After lunch, we watched a Native American Dance show after which we got information on the mule rides. They are expensive, but a must do when visiting the Canyon, at least for some people. Rose is too young, and two of the others want to ride the mules while two want to ride the train. No decision has been made.

After lunch, we also talked to someone who has hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim on two separate occasions. He gave us some pointers (hike N to S rims N Rim is 1,000 feet higher than the S Rim; the names of several campgrounds along the way, and the name and location of a waterfall and cool stream that is used by hikers to cool off from the temperatures near the bottom of the Canyon.

Thursday, July 25, 2013 - Day 21: More Hiking!

The hydration packs are filled, lunches, fruits and snacks are packed. We're off the hike a small portion of the Bright Angel trail. At 1000 hours, we started down the trail. We walked down, down, and down some more. By 1100 hours we had not yet reached the first water station and the trail up was daunting. We began to get concerned that it would be too intense for Rose. It might be too intense for Granny and Fodder too!

We turned back at 1110 hours. Matt, Sandy and the kids literally flew back up. Fodder and Granny expected to take two hours for the climb back to the rim. We were surprised to see that we made it by 1200 hours! We were a bit tired but glad to know that we could have gone deeper into the canyon. 

We later learned that a section of the final 3/4 mile of Bright Angel Trail has the steepest, longest rise of the whole trail. They call it Heartbreak Hill.

Friday, July 26, 2013 - Day 22: Goodbye Sandi and Matt!

The day started with swimming in the pool of The Red Feather Lodge, where Sandi and Matt were staying. Don't ask! Let's just say one of them is not an intrepid camper.

They left for the drive to Los Vegas at 1330 hours. We headed into the park to watch the Grand Canyon movie at the visitors' center. It was better that the IMax movie!

The kids had some free lay time at the campground and we went back to the park for a campfire program. The Ranger was most excellent and very entertaining! The kids had a good time.

Saturday, July 27, 2013 - Day 23: The Tusayan Ruins!

Our last full day in Grand Canyon National Park was a busy one. Traffic at the entrance gate was backed up for a mile. It took the better part of a half hour to get I to the park. We planned to go to the less popular parts of the park and visited the Tusayan Ruins. They were impressive, although the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings were more so. We attended a ranger talk on the ruins and his story about meeting a grandmother who was visiting the old sacred places was touching and inspiring. The ranger was soft spoken and respectful and knowledgable. His demeanor was perfect for the topic.

After his presentation, he put the girls through their paces as he quizzed them on Grand Canyon topics to test their knowledge for the Junior Ranger patches. They all passed and were awarded badges and patches. The girls are really into the junior ranger programs. The boys... Not so much!

We also stopped for photographs at Moran Point and Grandview Overlook. These were our final views of the canyon until the next time. Anna Marie and I will have these memories for the rest of our lives, we hope the kids can say the same.

We visited a gift shop were the kids made their final purchases.

Back at our campground, we took pictures of two very large Elk that visited our campsite. We stayed in the car until they move on. In the morning, three more bull Elk were munching on grass when we arose from our slumber. 

Sunday, July 28, 2013 - Day 24: The Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert!

Our first stop of the day was the Metor Crater, a natural landmark. We took the tour, watched the movie and looked around the museum. It was interesting to learn that the site is privately owned. About 1/2 dozen folks in our group were from the Netherlands.

Group shot at Meteor Crater

After setting up camp in the Holbrook, AZ KOA, we drove to the Petrified Forest National Park where we viewed some of the world's finest collection of petrified trees. We also saw a bit of the painted desert and drove on a small section of old Route 66, before heading back to the campground. Everybody got souvenir pieces of petrified wood. The girls even got time to complete the requirements for another Junior Ranger badge!

"Old Faithful"

Painted Desert

Monday, July 29, 2013 - Day 25: Villanueva State Park, Villanueva, NM!

Today's target is 325 miles distant; about 5 hours drive time. We departed the KOA in Holbrook, AZ at 0855, about 5 minutes ahead of schedule, but we lost 15 minutes fueling up! Should have done that last night!

The drive was easy. We got off I40 and onto historic Route 66 for a brief lunch stop. 

We made our destination at about 1600 hours. New Mexico does use Daylight Savings Time, so we're back to being two hours behind eastern time.

The Pecos River runs through this state park. The kids had a ball splashing and sliding in the fast moving, muddy stream. Luckily, the park has shower facilities.

Villanueva Community Well

Splashing in the Pecos River

Splashing in the Pecos River

Villanueva, NM

Splashing in the Pecos River

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - Day 26: Happy Birthday, Sandi!

Our drive today was about 325 miles. The kids are very happy to be headed east, toward home. We stopped at a KOA in Foss, OK. It has a pool, so everyone was happy. We even had Pizza delivered to our campsite.

Fun at Cadillac Ranch!

We crossed back into Central time today. Now we're just one hour behind Eastern time.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - Day 27: Cousins!

Wait! We have cousins in Missouri? Yes you do! We had that discussion with the kids before the trip started, but now that a visit is about to happen, they are awash with excitement. "How many hours until we get there?" asked one. "How many miles to go?" asked another. The questions continued throughout the seven hour drive. We finally arrived at Jeff's and Maureen's home at about1620.

The kids became fast friends right away and played together for the rest of the evening, or at least until bedtime.

Unfortunately, Jeff was away at work, but we had a nice visit with Maureen, Macey and Teagan.

We were so entertained, we didn’t get the cameras out to take pics.

Thursday, August 1, 2013 - Day 28: more Easterly Progress!

Goodbye  Missourians! We departed Ozark, MO a little after 0900 hours, headed east toward Mammoth Cave National Park. The destination was over 400 miles distant, so we set our sights on a KOA Campground about 150 miles short of our goal. We stopped for the day at 0400 and the kids immediately went to the pool. They stayed there the rest of the night, until the pool closed at 2130 with only a dinner break.

Friday, August 2, 2013 - Day 29: Mammoth Cave National Park

There were plenty of sites available when we arrived. We were assigned a great spot. We unhitched the trailer and went off to make arrangements for a tour.

Before doing so, we had lunch at our site. A neighbor came over to admire our trailer. She had something similar with a checkbox built in. It was very clever and dated back to the early 70s, as did her tent and other equipment.

After lunch. We were able to take the Historic Tour, but the Trog Tour and the Caving tours were booked up weeks in advance. The kids will have to go back someday to take those tours.

During the tour, I asked the ranger about the Mummy that used to be on display. She told me that "Lost John" was recurred in the cave in 1976. We saw him on our visit in 1975. We were at Mammoth Cave when we bought our property in Sooy Place. The major part of the purchase was accomplished over the telephone with the help of mu parents and friend and realtor, Walt Zimolong.

Although we signed up for two nights, the kids were anxious to get home and we had accomplished what we could at Mammoth Cave.

Mammoth Cave NP Entrance Sign 

Neighbor's Chuck box

Junior Ranger Test

Saturday, August 3, 2013 - Day 30: Slow Pokes!

It took a long time to rouse the troops today, especially Josh and Claire. We got a late start because they got up 40 minutes after everyone else. We Departed Mammoth Cave National Park at 0940 and drove until 1800 hours. We made it to Kawanah State Park in Charleston, West Virginia. We were only able to make 300 miles, leaving us 500 miles from home. The kids were disappointed with our progress and vowed to cooperate better the next morning. 

Sunday, August 4, 2013 - Dat 31: Home!

The kids were truer to their words. They were up at 0600 and performed their tasks flawlessly! As a result, it only took 46 minutes to pack up and be travel ready! We hit the road at 0646. The kids were excited to be heading home. Geoffrey wasn't feeling very well. He couldn't hear out of his left ear, his jaw  hurt and his stomach didn't feel too good. He reported that he didn't sleep very well. He didn't eat all of his breakfast sandwich? He really must be under the weather. After taking Tylenol, he slept for three and one-half hours.

The other kids took turns napping and the girls watched videos. It was a relatively quiet trip home. With only one breakfast/gas stop in the morning, a two hour lunch bread in Hancock, MD and a quick Milkshake stop outside of Baltimore, we made it home by 1800 hours. Matt and Sandi brought pizza and welcomed us home. We set up the tents and unloaded the gear before sitting down to rest.

NOTE: As it happened, we parked behind a Honda Ridgeline painted to look like a Pennsylvania RR GG1. We saw that car in the K Mart parking lot in Marathon 3 years ago! 

We were seated in Weaver's Restaurant and I noticed a couple in a booth caddi-corner from our table. the gentleman looked familiar. As he exited, we had a short conversation we he confirmed that he was indeed the owner of the GG1 car. We spoke briefly and he invited us to visit him in Marathon in January or February 2014. His place is at the end of 73rd street. Just turn at the Dunkin Donuts, he offered!

The PRR GG1