Merry Christmas

To all of our Dear Friends – Our New Friends and Our Old Friends –

To our families in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and all our family elsewhere –

We are sending our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas, a Safe and Warm Winter and the Happiest of New Years!

Here are a few of our favorite Christmas Pictures that we would like

To share with all of you!  Count these as our Christmas Cards for you!

Just remember:  JESUS is the Reason for this Season!

Ocala National Forest

We’re in the FOREST!    See Previous Florida Blogs for Salt Springs!  Per usual, we are officially “hunting” for bears!  According to the latest National Forest Magazine, black bears are more widespread than their larger brown cousins.  The Ocala is home to Florida’s largest population of black bears; a 2016 statewide estimate noted that the area around the Ocala supports roughly 1,200 bears with the highest density in the Forest itself - - more than a quarter of the state’s bear population!   Then why haven’t we seen any???

What we have seen is rain!  MORE RAIN!  Last week it started during the evening on Thursday and rained for more than 24 hours straight.  Ocala registered 8 inches!   Now it’s Thursday again and it’s RAINING!   I KNEW I should have bought that rain gauge when we were at the flea market last week!   Luckily for us – the warnings and several small tornados passed south of us.  They were aiming for Orlando and not us.  We did end up with about 4 inches on this second batch of precipitation!

Before the rain hit last week, we heard the piercing squawk of what sounded like a very large parrot coming from the next row over.  The parrot and his people moved in right next to us and his

screened room shelter was placed right between the two trailers!   OH NO!!  Thankfully he settled down and with all the rain, he was kept inside alot.  I finally got to meet ZEUS who is 17 years old and has been with his folks since he was 5 months old.  He can do tricks and talks! He loves having his head scratched!  Isn’t he beautiful?!

 

Salt Springs Campground has changed over the years since we’ve been camping here.  It used to have a big old barn for socializing.  It used to have sites where you could stay for months at a time. This year the limit of stay is 2 weeks on all sites - just like all the other National Forest Campgrounds!  Instead of being almost full at Christmas time – only about a third of the sites have campers.   Zeus and his folks have moved on and we’ve met the fun folks who have moved into that site! Two sites down are a couple we met back when we stayed at EG Simmons County Park!   I was showing her my “wares” and she said she had bought some from a lady years ago but she was sure it wasn’t me.  IT WAS!   It was at EG Simmons!   Our friends that we met here last year just arrived and this weekend our other favorite friends from here are due in!  And Bob from Illinois is back at the resort across the road – he is

still swimming in the springs whenever he can!  On one of our rare sunny days we rode our little bikes over to visit him and H ended up with a flat tire.  HA – he fixed it without removing the tire from the bike!

The truck is fixed!   Ford has had a recall out on the power brake vacuum pump but our local dealer at home would not replace it until it acted up.  It has begun to act up!   If anyone is near Palatka or the Forest and need auto assistance – call BECK Ford (or Chevy, or Nissan, or Chrysler!).  We drove up on Saturday and the part was emergency ordered out of Atlanta.  Monday was frustrating but after contacting Mark, the service manager, nerves were settled and after the call from him again on Tuesday morning – we were there within the hour!  And within the next hour – Jeff had the brake vacuum pump replaced and also the throttle body assembly!   Jeff and H even swapped several stories about their respective FORDS!  He was very knowledgeable and easy to chat with!  On Wednesday, all was fine – on Thursday – after all the rain – there were NO power brakes when the truck was started.  Friday was another phone call and another 20-mile drive up to Palatka.  We are so tired of all this truck drama!  But at least on this trip to the dealership, our Good Lord provided us with a beautiful rainbow to let us know all would be ok.  When the pump was installed on Tuesday the clamp on the vacuum hose was not tightened sufficiently and when H started it on Thursday – it blew it right off!  Simple fix!  

 

Corky Bells Seafood Restaurant has been checked off our list of “must do’s! Their Shrimp and Scallop plate was great as usual but they only serve Shrimp and Grits on Mondays so on our second trip I ordered their shrimp and their cheesy grits as a side dish.  I put the dozen broiled shrimp in the good-sized bowl of grits.   It was good but not as great as Safe Harbor’s!!

And H got to go shoot skeet at the Palatka Trap and Skeet Club again!  While I knitted and chatted on my cell phone he was out

shooting a PERFECT score!!  Way to go H!!   You smoked it!

Saturday was the Christmas potluck and thankfully there was no rain.  No warm weather either but the sun was shining brightly and we were almost warm enough!  My Sweet & Sour Green Beans were devoured – just a few were left aimlessly floating in a puddle of its tangy liquid!

 

Christmas is coming!   We’re moving closer to Ocala for the holiday, which will be spent with D&S before we really head south to (hopefully) the warmer parts of Florida.

Fernandina Beach to St Augustine

 

Fernandina Florida was a “hop” from the Georgia line and the Cumberland Island National Seashore (In Georgia!) was right across the river from the tip of Amelia Island, the home of Ft Clinch and the state park that bears it’s name. Fort Clinch was our home for one night before our “skip” down the island and across the mighty St Johns River.  Jacksonville straddles both sides of this extremely busy international import/export terminal lined river!  Ocean freighters of all nationalities and places of origin, carrying all types of cargo were either going up river or exiting out onto the ocean.  We watched as the Jumbo Shipping Freighter “Fairlift” cruised steadily by us carrying 2 mammoth funnel-like looking contraptions on her deck.  The Blount Island Terminal has a crane that will lift a 65-TON container and last year 683,000 vehicles were moved thru just that terminal.  That’s only one of 3 terminals!

Kathryn Abbey Hanna City Park is next to the Mayport Naval Station that presently was home to at least 5 huge gray naval vessels.  The ferry that shuttles cars and trucks across the expanse of the St Johns River, docks in Mayport, near the naval station and right next to all the fishing boat docks where the big ugly fishing vessels with folded up arms of netting, perch to unload their

Lunch at the Docks

valuable cargo.  On previous stays in Hanna Park, our choice of seafood restaurants was always Singletons. Not anymore!  They were closed for remodeling when we stopped so we ventured into Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant.   We entered the “market” and placed our order with the lady just past all the display cases that held the various types of cleaned, pink or white, neatly arranged fish.  We were given a number and we found an empty table in the eating area – out on the back deck – right NEXT to the docks where the catches were being unloaded.  Up north – grits are usually made with water and resemble old gray wallpaper paste.  I make my grits with milk, cheese, butter and a little garlic!  I had Shrimp and Grits for the 1^st time last year in Myrtle Beach and they were good!  The Shrimp and Grits at Safe Harbor were out of this world!  HUGE Crusty Grilled Shrimp were nestled in a bed of cheesy, garlicky grits that were smothered in finely chopped red tomatoes, purple onions and bright green chives.  Dee-lish!

And then there was the rain.  The massive storm that reeked havoc on North Carolina and Tennessee was a deluge of water that threatened to delay our trip farther down A1A.  Once the rain had subsided we hooked up the “train” and climbed in the truck to complete our “hop-skip and jump” down the coast to St Augustine and the Anastasia State Park.

Okay – here it is: SPFB!  St Augustine and her Old Towne decorate for Christmas to the nines!  In past winters it’s been raining or cold but this year as we parked in the parking lot for the San Marcos Fort (free after 5pm!) we had on our winter coats so we were toasty warm!  The narrow streets were busy with other folks also out to enjoy the sites.  Horses bedecked with jingle bells, slowly clomped by, pulling buggies outlined in colorful lights. After our circle thru and around the restored old town we strolled along the river walk on our way back to the fort and our awaiting blue chariot.  A lighted sailboat was under motor power and was heading for the

also bright, glowing bridge.  Reflections rippled outward from the base of the bridge – multiplying the lights.  Too bad – the boat parade was the night BEFORE we arrived!

Yes, H has driven the local beaches!  On Amelia Island he drove out on squishy white sand on the state park beach.  He even got a 20-minute pass to check out the campground at Huguenot Memorial Park and for old times sake he HAD to drive on that beach also!  Of course, if he’s out on St Augustine Beach – he’s gonna have to drive on that beach too!  Other times we used our feet to check out a couple of the beaches.  One day the sky was being torn apart with angry clouds and the equally angry waves were crashing against the staunch sturdy legs of the fishing pier on their way to the beach.  Out past the pier, surfers were bouncing around on their boards, struggling to ride the rolling waves.   The next day the sky was blue and the waves were now happily racing to reach the shore!

 And the drone has been flown!   Finally - no wind and NO rain!!  We hurried out to the kayak launching area on the small lake on the inland side of the dunes here in Anastasia.  In one direction, the drone’s camera did capture the tall black & white spiraled St Augustine lighthouse in the distance and in the opposite, the kayakers floating along on the lake. You can see the camp road to the beach parking area and the slit of blue ocean. Too bad the drone didn’t get high enough to see on the other side of the white dunes and the sparkling white waves that were lining those shores.

 Our “To Do” list for our time in Anastasia is complete.   The day’s forecast is for more rain so we are packed and ready to go.  We’re heading for the Forest!

Heading South Nov. 2018

We finally made it to Florida!  But - so far, the journey has not been stellar.  Truck problems, rain and Tornado Warnings have all threatened to destroy our enthusiasm for this trip.  The sun is shining now and the birds have resumed their incessant singing and chattering - so the tide has turned, so to speak!

Downtown Charleston S.C.

Last Wednesday morning, with our checklist complete, we joined up with dear friends, B&C to head to Florida together.  Our spirits were high but fell flat, really quickly when the truck’s acceleration/power quit before we even reached the expressway.  Coasting to the side of the road and turning off the shuddering vehicle, H then turned it back on again. The engine was running and power was restored but for how long and should we even attempt to keep going?  We did keep going and the truck kept losing power throughout the day without any rhyme or reason as to how long it would last or when it would stumble and then quit.  Coast to the edge of the road, turn off the key, count to 3, restart and then catch up to Bud once more – all the way to Kentucky!  On Thursday we found a Wal-Mart and H purchased some Throttle Body Sensor Cleaner and after spraying it on the affected part – off we went again.  Now it was much easier to keep up with B&C and I could even take the chance and look out over the expanse of Virginia mountains - layered with mist and fog and enjoy their gray beauty.  At our next stop for the night, H took the sensor apart and thoroughly cleaned it!  South Carolina brought US26, which meant heavy traffic, bad roads and . . . rain.

Lake Airy Campground is in Hollywood SC, just outside of Charleston.  We’ve camped at this park before but never when it rained this much. The park is a swamp that has been filled in with dirt and camp roads formed with gravel.  It still needs a bunch more than a few tons of each!  The campsites are lower than the water filled potholes in the “roads” so they are either full of water or are muddy and rutted – as was the one we were assigned.  H was more than a little concerned about pulling out of it if it kept on raining!  

It was only sprinkling when we drove downtown the next morning. We parked at the visitor center and then hopped on the free trolley and rode to the other end of the line to explore the lakeshore, historic old houses and storefronts.  We walked to the old market and strolled thru the vendor filled old buildings and re-boarded the trolley as the rain began AGAIN.  That night it turned to a deluge and continued into the morning.  By now the pond that is called Lake Airy was getting closer and closer to the top and the new 2-unit bathroom on the other side was no longer useable. EUGH!!  B&C finally decided to make a break for it.  Within a half an hour – so did H.

From Charleston SC to Brunswick Georgia it rained! At one point it came down so hard that we exited the 3 lane, semi filled I 95.  It was time for lunch anyway!  The Golden Aisles RV Park was also waterlogged but at least when the rain did let up the blacktop camp road drained fairly quickly. Their rain gauge registered 4 inches!  Then came the tornado warnings that set off our weather radio before the sun even had a chance to come up!

Lanier Bridge

Brunswick is the busiest cargo port in Georgia.  We watched from the base of the double cable spanned, 200 ft high, Lanier bridge as a car carrying freighter - the NOCC Oceanic, came into the river and was greeted by two tug boats that were to guide it to it’s berth at the Colonels Island International Terminal.   We learned that this complex had 500 acres of storage land that was leased or owned by the auto industry.  As of October there had been 630,000 vehicles unloaded in that terminal during 2018!  BMW’s, Audi’s, VW’s, and even KIA’s were lined up row after long row!

Brunswick Marine Terminal

The day after the NOCC arrived, unloaded and departed, there was the Horizon Highway moored there and according to the internet – the Freighter Freedom had arrived too! 

It was too cold and windy to enjoy much of historic Brunswick or St Simon Island but on our 2^nd day in the area we drove over the toll bridge to Jekyll Island the state owned island that used to be the home of the rich and famous. The homes of the Rockefeller’s, the Goodyear’s and others have been restored and are decorated each Christmas Season.  Because we arrived just after 5pm the quaint little shops were closed but the magnificent mansions and the

Jekyll Is. cottage

stately hotel were arrayed with garlands, wreaths and a plethora of lights.  We ooh’d and awe’d all the dazzling displays and then turned around to the west to ooh and awe at the even more dazzling golden color of the magnificent sunset!

From Brunswick to the

Jekyll Is.

Georgia/Florida border is all of 50 miles.  A1A crosses over the Intercoastal Waterway and is the beginning of the off shore islands that protect the Florida mainland.  It’s taken us a full week but we’re here – we’ve made it to Florida.  Let the winter’s journey finally begin!

Go West 2018 Final Chapter

It’s time to head back home – but how do we get out of this cluster of carved canyons?  Without going backwards - up and around the way we came in, the best way was to head south to Arizona before we could head east.  That path led us thru the Glen Canyon

National Park.  Driving thru the desert that early morning, we experienced the mirage of a lake in the middle of that tan & gray pile of sand and rocks!  Lake Powell is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and is one of the largest man made lakes in North America.  We found the sprawling marina sitting high on the hill over looking the valley of blue that was dotted with a

plethora of quietly moored houseboats and fancy yachts.  We had passed and had also been passed by 3 semi trucks pulling triple axel trailers, each with a massive houseboat on board.  We waited and watched as, one at a time, all three boats were slowly driven down the long wide road called the boat ramp and ever so painstakingly turned and then carefully backed into the water below.  With that task accomplished we headed off to find that huge cement block that was holding back all that water!  The lake was formed when the Glen Canyon Dam was built in 1963 on the

Colorado River.  It is a replica of the famed Hoover Dam on Lake Mead but is 16 ft shorter.  We were just in time for the first tour of the day.   We rode 10 stories down from the Carl Hayden Visitor Center, and out onto the curved top of the massive cement structure before entering yet another elevator and going further down to see the massive turbines below.

Rt 98 connected to Rt 160 and we followed along till we reached the 4 corners area of Utah/Arizona/New Mexico and Colorado.  We were driving thru an Indian Reservation but chose not to “donate” $5 each to enter their small fenced in area just to take pictures. We pushed on, up thru Cortez, Colorado for the night and then on to Mesa Verde National Park the next morning.  As we climbed that mountain’s crooked road, the full moon was still hanging in the marshmallow sky at

dawn. We found the ancient Pueblo homes still nestled beneath the huge overhanging cliffs.  Years ago we had joined a tour group to tread those walkways and climb the narrow ladders and walk the ledges of the “Cliff Palace” – but no more!   Not these bones!

In Durango we retraced more steps from previous trips! This time we took time to tour the cluttered but impressive Railroad Museum!  We found the hotel where I took a picture of the busy street and the mountain behind that looked as tho it was right in the next block - just like the picture I took way back then!

Remember CW McCall and his hilarious song “Wolf Creek Pass” – about some truckers who had chickens stacked to 13.9 and the tunnel was only 12 ft high? “ Headin’ on down to Pagosa Springs”!  We ate dinner in a lovely restaurant in Pagosa Springs and then headed up the wiggly, winding stretch of road that led thru TWO tunnels and a myriad of hairpin curves – up 10,000 ft closer to

heaven!  The rocks became granite gray and the trees were now mostly erect spruce with a splattering of golden yellow aspens in the mix. Our ears popped and then popped again with each rise and fall of elevation!

The terrain leveled out the farther east we drove.  We took a chance on checking out another National Park before the day was over but wished we had left the Great Sand Dunes National Park for someone else to explore.  The Silver Lake Dunes and the Sleeping Bear National Park in

Michigan put this pile of sand to shame.  H did get to try out his little gray burro on the narrow 2-track road tho before we left the cold and windy park.

With that disappointing stop behind us, we were now ready to really head for home.  Each day of our journey out and back, we made a point to stop and visit at least one park or town per day.  Dodge City and Boot Hill made the list for that day but it was also a let down.  On across Kansas, our chosen road was not an expressway but rural back roads lined with acres of feed lots full of black cattle and endless fields of sweet smelling fresh cut green hay or tasseled fields of ripening sorghum.  On the way out west we tackled all the big cities we encountered, but on our return trip we sidestepped them all!

In Missouri, we chose to stop in Hannibal to see if Mark Twain was at home.

No, he was not and neither was Becky Thatcher but we did stroll thru the restored Mississippi River town!  The ladies in the Visitor Center were most helpful in directing us to each site!  In the

historic area we found Mark’s whitewashed house and his father’s office building next door.  Attached to the house was the famous white fence that Huck allowed his friends to paint for him.  The bucket of whitewash was right where they had left it!  A mile south of town we found Lover’s Leap – a 200-foot high overlook of the majestic Mississippi River with its barges and picturesque paddlewheel boats and the town of Hannibal perched on its shore.

Two more states lay before us so we pressed on with only stopping each night for rest – first was Illinois, then Indiana.   Lunch in Defiance Ohio with dear NCR friends, and we were finally home!  

Go West 2018 Part 2

Canyonland

On our way out west we stayed in name brand motels but in Green River we noticed a neat and tidy little “ma & pa” motel complete with a neon sign out front that proclaimed Sleepy Hollow Motel!  Flowerpots with overflowing flowers and big planters with brightly colored coleus adorned the walkways and afforded privacy for the little patio area right outside our door.  The lady in the front office was friendly and helpful! Our two-night stay went fast!

Green River sits in a peaceful valley surrounded by rough-hewn red cliffs and deep ragged cracks in the earth.  Nearby are Canyonland National Park and Arches National Park!  To describe these amazing creations of GOD is just about impossible for me!  Even our most colorful photos do not do any of the national parks justice!  Canyonland’s architects are said to be water and gravity - layers of sedimentary rock cut into hundreds of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires.  We toured only the northern section – Island in the Sky.  In the one photo H selected, you can see a

Canyonland

white line wiggling its way thru the canyon. The White Rim Road winds down and around and then snakes its way thru other canyons before it ends up all the way on the other side of the park!  It is strictly for 4x4 vehicles with special permits. I told H – NO!  His little 4x4 Jeep was not going do that today!  So, we headed for Moab to find lunch instead!

We had visited Arches National Park YEARS ago on the big red

bike but this time, the entrance and winding roads were all new to

Road up into Arches Nat. Pk.

us.  The deep red cliffs lined the road to the park and once past the backed up traffic at the entrance booth, the skinny 2 lane did it’s snake dance and we drove up between strange formations and jagged spires.  Red arches, windows and precariously balanced rocks dotted the landscape.  Specific formations had descriptive names like: The Courthouse, The Gossips, Delicate Arch, etc.  We hiked to several and at one scenic turnout we squeezed thru a narrow crack between

Arches Nat. Pk.

2 massive vertical slabs to see yet another arch! 

Our next day’s destination was the small touristy town of Kanab, which involved going farther west on US70 and then south on Rt 89 to find it. Our morning ride took us thru a long flat green valley that was filled with verdant green fields of hay, corn or sorghum. Small towns were stacked up against the sides of the slanted green mountains on either edge or along the Sevier River that divided it.  Bright yellow flowers edged the skinny black line of blacktop that lay out in front of us.  Kanab is the closest town for Zion, Bryce and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Motel prices were exorbitant!  We were referred to a small (8 room!) ”ma & pa” motel called Travelers.  On any other occasion – we would have driven right by!  The owner, Rebecca was friendly and accommodating and we were offered the newly renovated 1^st floor room in the front – instead of the tiny older furnished room up the steep open stairway.  Offering cash also gave us a better price!   Once settled we were off to explore Bryce National Park!

Just past the entrance gate we were greeted by a small group of

delicate deer and several fuzzy fawns!  They stood munching grass and staring at us as we slowly drove by and snapped photos!   Bryce Canyon is an amazing collection of white capped, red, bulbous, statuesque columns called “hoodoos”.  Half way thru our visit, we noticed a thick layer of smoke rising from the canyon in the distance.  Each new stopping place brought us closer and closer.  At the very end of the park road, at “Rainbow Point”, some of the walks and trails were closed

Bryce Canyon

off with signs regarding the “burn” that was taking place below us.  Forest workers were systematically cutting down pine trees and brush in the parking areas.  Their controlled burn prep was called “mechanical fuel reduction”!  Large piles of cut limbs and branches were piled throughout the now slimmed down landscape.

The north rim of the Grand Canyon was our next park to visit! 

Grand Canyon

Much quieter and with fewer tourists, we had room to wander and explore the 1930’s Lodge and cabin area.  From the lodge we could see a tall, narrow, ledge that jutted out over the hazy canyon below. Sturdy metal railings were out at the point but at one section the only thing to hang onto was a scrub tree with a well-worn branch that was now shiny where everyone grabbed onto it to steady oneself as we/they carefully stepped down the flat uneven slabs called “steps”!   Talk about twittering tummies!   Finishing up our “stop and view” of this park we headed back past Kanab to retrace our drive thru Zion N.P.  It’s not the same as before either! The park is now so filled with visitors that to view the main section you must take a shuttle bus!  We entered the park from the east and wound our way along with the stop and go traffic, thru the mile

Zion

long narrow 1920’s tunnel.  Vehicles are now much larger so traffic is on a one-lane basis.  The 3 rough-hewn “windows”, cut out of the tunnel’s wall were just where we remembered them!  Rock formations in Zion resemble waves and “brains” instead of tall jagged columns.  Colors were white and pink instead of

Zion

reds and corals.  Our visit to the visitor center and drive thru the campground was enough for the day and we headed back to Kanab.  BUT – on the way we still managed to find time to locate the Coral Dunes State Park and gather a water bottle full of pretty pink sand!

Sand Dunes

Go West 2018 Part 1

Of course, the night before we’re scheduled to head out on an adventure – neither one of us sleeps well.  Up early and the little “burro” was loaded.  Lights and timers checked, water turned off, house and garage locked – let’s go!  It’s been a bunch of years since we’ve been out west but the route was the same – US24 to Ft Wayne and beyond.  When my sons were small we used to travel the same route each summer when they got to spend time on my sister & brother in law’s farm in western Indiana.  US24 went straight thru Ft Wayne and the boys delighted in watching the traffic lights change from red to green in front of us ALL the way thru town. Then the expressways came on the scene and we circled the town via Rt469 around the south end of town and then a shortcut back to 24.  Now Rt 24 has been switched to around the north end and it threw me for a loop but we regained our bearings and on we went!   US 70 took us from Indiana to Central Illinois with a night in Effingham.

With the sunrise at our backs we continued on and slid into the backed up “go to work” traffic in East St Louis!  We were

catapulted over a bridge and had to fight our way thru one-way streets to find a parking spot near the National Park that sits on the edge of the river. The Gateway Arch is the same but now has an awesome museum and new entrance nestled below the towering shiny metal arch.  It’s still dizzying to stand at the base and attempt to look up to the top!  We waited our turn and then obediently climbed into the “dryer tub” drum and held our breath as it slowly churned its way to the top,

along with the captive folks in the 7 other freshly painted “canisters”.  At 630 feet high, the narrow, curved viewing area was noisy with the excited chatter of visitors jockeying to get a good view of the Mississippi River on the east side or the old courthouse and downtown on the west side.  In the early morning sunlight, the arch cast a long dark shadow over the Park’s campus and buildings below!  On our way back to the “dryer tub” to return to terra firma, I was overheard making a comment about how dark and steep the steps down to the transfer tub was, so we were given #3 to wait for instead of one farther down!  Down and out into the humid and hot downtown weather we quickly found our way back to the patiently waiting Jeep and headed west across Missouri and entered into Kansas.

When we traveled on the big red motorcycle (back in our much younger days) we always said:  It took us 4 days to cross Kansas - one afternoon! This time we stopped in Topeka for the night! 

Abilene was next on our list of places to stop to explore.  The town was founded in 1857 and was named after a Bible verse: Luke 3:1, which described Abilene - a region in Galilee as the City of the Plains.  Wild Bill Hickok with the Chisholm Trail came next!  Now the town’s claim to fame is “the town that raised a president” as this is where Dwight D Eisenhower grew up.  We found his childhood home and his Presidential Library but again, we were too early so we walked the grounds and then continued our westward route.

In Oakley Kansas we found the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center and it’s twice life size bronze sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody on his

horse, Chisholm - pursuing a buffalo!  25 miles south of Oakley we bravely followed the seemingly endless, excessively dusty, gravel road to find Monument Rocks, which were out in the middle of NO WHERE!  Also called the Chalk Pyramids, these 50 ft majestic chalk spires are the eroded remains from sedimentary deposits from melting glaciers and seaway – 80 million years ago!

Eastern Kansas is agricultural. Western Kansas is – WESTERN – dry and tan – as is eastern Colorado.  Limon was as far as we dared travel that day since Denver was the next Mega Town that we would need to endure.   Our bodies were still on Ohio time so we were up at 5am Colorado time – 7am Ohio time.  On the road just as the sun was climbing out of its slumber in the eastern sky – we ended up in “go to work” traffic crawling thru the Mile High City!   On the far side of Denver, the terrain changed from flat and

brownish gray to colorful rock formations and mesas standing high above the winding expressway below.  Imagine taking a beach bucket and standing a brick inside it.  Then fill it with damp sand and turn the bucket over – letting the drying sand gently fall down the sides of the brick.  As we passed one unique formation, yet another would appear on the horizon.  The winding, ever climbing Rt70 followed the valleys and narrow passes thru the Rockies and let us stop at 12000 ft and the ski village of Vail.  Even in 80 plus degree weather the upscale resort area was busy with tourists strolling in and out of small boutiques and up and down the brick walkways.  Our strolling was done and it was time to move on!  One more stop was at a scenic

turnout, complete with a serene little reflection lake and bright yellow Aspens glowing on the mountainside behind it.   UTAH was our destination - Green River the town.

2018 up north week 2

Petoskey area is still stunningly beautiful!  Rolling hills and artistic touristy towns dot the cliffs and shorelines of the sparkling blue Lake Michigan!  We “did” them all – Charlevoix with it’s long

protecting breakwall with the red lighthouse prominently guarding the entrance to the harbor; Petoskey with it’s awesome views and historic old homes and downtown buildings.  And don’t forget Harbor Springs with its ever-changing roster of grand yachts and antique boats moored almost side by side!   We were told the sleek silver creature belongs

to the Vicari family who own the Andiamo Italian Restaurants up in the Detroit area!  And the antique boat is a restored 1934 craft that is now used for tours for the restaurant there in the harbor.  Our Up North Trip would not be complete without a visit to Soo Ste Marie in the Upper Peninsula where we spent time with our former neighbors!  That was the rainy day and the passing freighters were enveloped in a shroud of mist and fog as they churned on towards the mammoth locks ahead.

We now have fish in the freezer!  What an exciting morning – H

hooked a good-sized bass but it straightened out the hook!  Then the scrappy fish spit it back at him when it finally reached the side of the boat.  Next was a pike – it tore a hole in H’s antique fish net.  It was followed by a beautifully designed orange and blue Sunfish that was bigger than most.  I followed with a just slightly smaller Bluegill!  We finished up with a few assorted rock bass!  The rest of the excitement for the day was when B&C finally showed up in their new small motorhome!  They were going to be with us for 4 nights and we were going to make the most of each day!

First it was up the Lake Michigan coast, along Sturgeon Bay to

Mackinaw City to play tourist!   Bud needed more stickers of the great lakes and Carol and I just wanted to shop.  Lunch at Scalawags is always a must and the perfectly done fish and chips hit the hungry spots in our tummies!  Down the road to Cheboygan - the Sunrise Side of the Mitten of Michigan and out to the harbor to refresh our memories and to see if we could still see Bois Blanc Island out in the distance.  A reminiscing stop at the eternal JUNK store confirmed our guess that the mess had piled up higher than on our last visit a year ago!   Our 2^nd day was back to Petoskey to check out the enormous hardware store in downtown and to stroll out on the breakwall with the rest of the tourists who were in town that day.  The Polish Kitchen finished up that trip!  This time H and I split a Pork Cutlet Sandwich and a

plate of 6 Pierogis – perfect!  Carol had to have help but her plate of the Polish Sampler was cleaned up by the time we left.  Our last day was the best – we slid the Tracker back into the clear water of Pickerel Lake and we headed to Crooked Lake to show B&C the beautifully crafted two masted sailboat we had seen on our previous rides.  Thru the locks and on we cruised along the winding river called CROOKED!  Out on

Burt Lake the water was still calm and we headed north to Maple Bay so H could show them the State Forest Launch and Campground where we had put the boat in the week before.  On our way back, Carol even spotted an eagle, soaring majestically overhead!

We waved B&C Goodbye and wished them safe travels and after sitting for a while, H couldn’t sit any longer so off we went!  It was a windy day and he wanted to see if any tiny sailors were bouncing around the harbor in Harbor Springs. SPMB!!!   Instead, we found the 198-foot, MEGA YACHT – “ROCK IT” owned by

the man known as JIMMY JOHN!  This $85 MILLION yacht had been in harbor for almost a week and as we walked out on the pier to join the other gawkers – she was unhooked from her moorings and she powerfully backed out into the bay.  Her mammoth size made the 5 other mega yachts still in harbor look like run abouts!

Now it’s our turn to move on – on down the state to North Higgins Lake State Park - just south of Grayling.  Michigan State Parks are notorious for being very popular and thus – crowded.  While the sites in this park were ample, most were filled to the brim with

assorted RV’s AND pop up shelters AND tents AND boats on trailers.  Of course there was also the assortment of bikes ranging from full size down to tiny ones, still with training wheels!  PLUS -cars AND trucks either parked very near or actually ON the narrow road’s edge – which can make it difficult to maneuver a big tan train back into the assigned site - - IN THE RAIN.  As we backed in, there was just a mild drizzle but it quickly turned to a deluge as soon as we got the cover on the boat!

Our last days out were a mix of rain and clouds so the deep blue of the 100 ft depths of this big lake were not on display very often.  On our boat rides we did cross over the 90 and 100 ft areas and when the sun was peeking thru – the waters were the deep magnificent turquoise that we remembered, and the shallows were the still the opaque light blue shimmering reflections on the sandy bottom – but that was a rare sighting on this visit!

We added one more fish to the freezer and then packed to head home.  Time to tend to the gardens and get the grass mowed.  Tomatoes should be coming on and who knows how big the zucchini are!!