California or Bust

 Remember the old phrase “ California or Bust’?  H and I are resurrecting it and have begun our crusade to follow Rt 66 to the Pacific Coast.  We have been to the beginning of the “Mother Road” in downtown Chicago and a few years ago we followed the “Lincoln Highway”, Rt 33 to Joliet Illinois and then followed Rt 66 to St Louis.   Yep - see previous blogs for that trip.

Monday morning, September 23^rd, we pulled out of our driveway – in our 2006 Chrysler Minivan – with NO trailer and no worries - we had 4 new tires and a fresh oil change!     The day’s goal was to reach St Louis and we came within 45 miles of our goal.  425 miles in one day was way more than what we’ve been used to on our trips to and from Florida – or anywhere!  We fell asleep way too soon and consequently woke up WAY to early so we hit the highway before sun up.  We were just in time to get in line with all the “go to work”- stop and go traffic, trying to squeeze into downtown St Louis from all the various tentacles of roadways that merged on the bridge over the Mississippi River.

The St Louis Zoo opened at 9am and we were there, ready to explore and enjoy.  The zoo and the neighboring beautiful Forest Hill Park were part of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St Louis World’s Fair. The park and zoo covered 1300 acres!  Like our beloved Toledo Zoo, this zoo still embraces the wonderful architecture of the beautiful old buildings and has also designed some fabulous new enrichment enclosures for it’s collection of interesting animals.  Even though they have Asian elephants, they have no African elephants.  NO polar bears (since 2009), but there is an amazing Sea Lion underwater viewing tunnel!  H fell in love with a young seal with big dark sad eyes! The hippo area was amazing and everyone laughed at the display about hippo poop!  Gorillas, chimps and some up close, in your face red orangutans completed our big ape tour.  I could go on and on about all the animals and birds, the train, the flowers and the myriad of fabulous fountains and ponds but the rest of Forest Park and the history of the Worlds Fair that was held there is mind-boggling!  Even though most of the buildings were destroyed, some remain and are now other museums and venues.  Time to head back to the highway and on  west.

Rt 44 has replaced Rt 66 in most motorists need for speed to get from one town to the next but in a lot of areas the multi laned highway is right next to the old 2 lane road that is fondly called “The Mother Road”.  We veered off of the expressway to slow down and experience travel as it used to be.  Once the 2 lane ended in a dirt road but mostly it led thru small towns with kookie old buildings and funky “tourist” gift shops.  We stopped at the Route 66 State Park, which has a museum housed in an old inn that was once a popular stopping place by the side of the original old road.  One of the displays includes a 1988 Yamaha Route 66 motorcycle.  The one in our garage is in better condition than theirs!   We learned that bike was only produced for 2 years and only in 2 colors – black and the pretty tan of H’s bike! 

Rt 44(and 66) crossed the state and went from the hills of St Louis to the rugged terrain on south central Missouri and then the plateau between Springfield and Joplin.  From golden fields of corn and beans being combined in clouds of red dust by mammoth machines to the thick green forests on the edge of the Ozarks.    We’ve made it to Exit 8 in Joplin and are “camped” for the night in a newly renovated Days Inn.  Tomorrow we tackle Oklahoma!   Come with us!

Up North Moving on

 On moving day we ALWAYS have breakfast on the way!   I mean, when you have to go from one side of the state to the other – Up North, it’s a long, long trip – maybe 40 miles.  And then another 30 or so down to East Jordan, which is south of Charlevoix!  Remember – left hand, left side of ring finger?  It was a good ride - past farms and thru deep green forests with no hectic I75 traffic.   On the north side of Petoskey we found a nice family type restaurant that had a parking lot big enough for the truck/trailer and Bud’s motor home with our boat attached behind it.  The added bonus was that the food was good!    On down to Boyne City where we once again found a parking lot big enough for both of us, so we walked the town and explored the two local hardware stores.  Bud led us out of town and his GPS took us along the coast of beautiful Lake Charlevoix and down to the East Jordan Tourist Park.  Instead of SPFB (Florida)  - - - this trip it is SPMB (Michigan)!   Just like Waterways - we’ve been here before!  The facilities are the same and the sewer hookups are still goofy but the scenery is outstanding and the town is still quaint.    The foundry across the bay still has the large American flag painted on it’s huge wall and the night sounds of the men working, still lull us to sleep.

We pushed our luck and guessed at picking the “best” day - weather wise, to put the boat in the water for our 14-mile run up the lake to Charlevoix and the long narrow channel out to Lake Michigan.   We out ran the clumps of heavy gray clouds and by the time we moored at the city docks – the sun was popping thru and shining down on the pretty little tourist town. Before we even finished securing the boat we were met by a group of inquisitive ducks that were cruising the harbor looking for handouts.   C and I tried our best to find another great deal but thankfully for our wallets – nothing caught our eye. 

Out thru the narrow, steel break wall guarded channel, we found the fairly calm sea of clear blue, unsalted and shark free, waters of Lake Michigan!    We cruised up the coast towards the giant dunes farther north  before cutting a large swath in the waves to circle back to the channel.  C and I reclaimed our perches on the back of the boat so we could have a better view of all the magnificent homes that line the harbor.  On each visit to their watery backyards, we still find something new that amazes us.

Up North

 OK, it’s time for your Michigan Geography lesson.  Hold up your left hand so that you are looking at the back of it.   We live at the extreme bottom right  - under the base of your thumb where it connects to your wrist.  Your wrist is the Ohio/Michigan line!   The Mackinac Bridge is at the extreme tip of your second finger.   Cheboygan is at the right side of that fingernail.  Cross Village is on the left side of that same fingernail and Charlevoix is on the left side of your ring fingernail.  Houghton Lake is at the first knuckle just up from your hand on your 2^nd finger.  Got it?    Now, on with our trip.

We NEVER spend my Birthday at home and the last few years we have spent my day and Bud’s day, together – UP NORTH.  We’ve stopped at several different places on the first day out and this time, Houghton Lake was the choice.  The West Houghton Lake Campground is a PA park and was nestled in the woods right across from the public access to Houghton Lake. It was a nicely kept little park, but with old facilities and way too much sulfur in the water!  The 2 rigs were parked facing each other and all else was good with the world!

In the morning we headed for our favorite, Waterways Campground on the Cheboygan River, just outside of Cheboygan at the corner of RT 27 and RT 33.  B&C got their choice spot at the top of the hill at the end of the row with plenty of room and a sprawling apple tree for shade!  We also got our favorite spot at the top of the hill – across from our dear friends! 

The weather for the week was as moody as a house full of teenagers.  One hour it looked like rain and the next was sunny.  Some days were cold and windy and some just had cool gentle breezes.   We made the best of ii!  One day we visited with Mel and Donna at their home on Paradise Lake.  The “boys” visited and D cooked Lake Erie Walleye for us!   One day they visited us and we had brats on the grill for them.  Another day we found a restored 1800’s lighthouse to climb, a stone beach to drive the big blue truck out on and Wilderness State Park to explore.  Back in Mackinaw City we had yummy fish sandwiches for lunch at Scalawags and then C and I went shopping!  We just could not turn down the good deal on the “Lakes of Michigan” sweatshirts we found!

One day we did manage to put the boat in the water and ran her all the way thru Mullett and Burt Lakes to Pickerel Lake on the far end of the Inland Water Route.  Indian River with her shops and under the bridge boat parking is always a treat. The variety of boats, moored in that swift moving, clear water and the assortment of colorful cottages intermingled with magnificent homes are a pleasure to revisit every summer.  The run back to camp was a tad bumpy and we girls were glad we had our rain jackets to put on to keep the cold spray from the waves at bay!  We were thankful it wasn’t rain!

Then there was Cross Village and Leggs Inn!  Talk about eclectic!  The trim across the top front of the building was white legs from old cook stoves – turned upside down.  Built and now run by 3 generations of an obviously hard working Polish family, this log and rock building sits atop a tree covered cliff, overlooking Lake Michigan!  Tree trunks were carved into furniture and knarly limbs and branches form railings. On the walls were artifacts and an assortment of stuffed animals. While folks wait for their names to be called, they are encouraged to stroll thru the wondrous gardens filled with flowers, fountains, seating areas and graceful tall trees.   There was a vegetable garden and carved bears perched on branches in the trees and the most intriguing whirligigs you could imagine!  We were seated in the semi-enclosed patio with only a large clear plastic panel between us and the gorgeous panorama that lay before us!    And the food !!!  Well seasoned and delicious!  Happy Birthday, Bud!

Amish Country

 Excuses, excuses, excuses!   We went, we played, we came home and we got back to “work” again.    Now it’s 2 weeks later and H has fussed that there is no blog – yet.

H invited 2 of our grandsons, Calvin and Levi to camp and kayak with us down at Wally World in Loudonville Ohio.   Grandpa H took them there last year and I forgot to pack the most important ingredient for their morning pancakes but they enjoyed the trip to McDonalds better anyway! This trip was our last chance to use up our “FREE Camping” coupon.   The guys slept in a tent again, but Grandpa H had it easier this time– instead of sleeping in the back of the truck like a German Shephard, he slept on his comfy bed, next to me in the “condo”!    “Wally World Camping Resort” has a very nice swimming pool and a fun little miniature golf course which we all used more than once because with all the rain the week before, the Mohican River was high on its banks and way too raging to let the guys kayak.  The rangers had actually closed the river to everyone.   C&L are excellent at keeping themselves occupied and they each had a big thick book to enjoy reading.  We all slept pretty good that night except for the occasional walnut that fell from the towering tree above us and crashed like a bowling ball on the top of the tent or crash landed on the fiberglass roof above our bed.  KABOOM!  Wednesday afternoon Grandpa H finally managed to wiggle one kayak down a rock embankment and Calvin settled in for a fast ride around the curve and past the campground.   As he approached us, we cheered him on, just like he was in a patriotic parade!   He reversed the little orange craft and attempted to go back upstream but his arms couldn’t take much of that!     I took his picture a bunch of times and then waved him on as he sped by!   H’s daughter Jean drove down to retrieve her sons and joined us for chicken n’ dumplings before they all climbed into their car for the long drive home.   Our dear friends, B&C had come down to spend the rest of the week with us for their first free camping.  They’ve known Jean since she was a little girl!  

Wednesday night was not a good night in either RV.   H and I ended up in Mansfield at the emergency room to make sure his swollen ankle and foot was not another blood clot.  B&C ended up in Berlin at a vet’s office to attend to their ailing kitty, Abby.    I would like to report that both patients are doing well and are feeling much better!

Time to move on.   Our little caravan endured the bumper-to-bumper weekend traffic in Amish Country and we parked them in the teeny tiny little PA campground, behind the IGA store in Sugar Creek Ohio.  We walked the 2 blocks to downtown, thru the tiny pedestrian covered bridge that crossed the small river and carefully stepped over the double set of railroad tracks.   Luckily for us, this small Swiss town had just finished remodeling the town square.   As its clock chimed the hour, we stopped and watched the mechanical Swiss figures came to life!   Saturday morning we meandered thru more Amish neighborhoods and parked for a little side excursion in Kidron to see if Lehman’s Hardware was still as neat as it used to be.  NO, its not!  The quaint little store with its many cubbyholes and non-electric wares has turned commercial and grown in size.   The vast maze of nooks and crannies are now crammed full of all kinds of gadgets and tourist items.   And since it was the weekend, the Amish families were all in town doing their shopping and errands.   Their dark horses and black buggies were tied to various rails and posts around town.  The prime spots under the shade trees were taken first and the curious, big brown-eyed horses all watched H as he strolled up to get a good photo of them.   The caravan was heading towards home and our last night out was at a well-kept campground that in its past life must have been a wooded pasture for dairy cows.  The grass was green, the 2 ponds were really pretty and H even got to play with his remote control boat!   The owners were very nice.   The view of the adjacent dairy farm was so picturque with the stream of black and white cows coming and going from the milking barn!  The place has potential  -  however -  the shower facility was a Haulmark trailer sectioned into 2 shower rooms each having a pay shower.   The rest of the “facilities” were 2 outhouses, set back in a grove of trees.  Oh well, the company was good and the burgers tasted great!   It’s time to go home.

Springtime Adventures

Two months!   It’s been two whole months since we returned home from our winter visit to Florida and the “condo” has not left its nest in the backyard!  Can you imagine how restless H has been?   Not to say we haven’t taken any day trips  - In early spring our good friends Bud and Carol joined us to re-explore the always-changing displays at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan.  This is the deal where we get in free with our Bank America Debit Cards on the first weekend of the month!   The highlight of this visit was the very impressive new display of vintage and classic cars.  In mid May, we all climbed into the van and headed for Dayton Ohio to see the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AF Base.   Bud had been in the Air Force stationed in Maine after he graduated from High School, but had not been to the museum in a big bunch of years.   It was so cool to see him gazing at the very same type of huge jet plane that he used to work on way back then!  C and I were just awe struck at the vast variety displays and to see just how far air flight technology has come.  

H and I did manage to get away one day to go fishing up at one of our favorite lakes – Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale Michigan.   Yep – guess who caught the first, the biggest and the most!   H’s was a keeper as was one of mine but in the end, he chose to release them both because he didn’t want to clean just 2 fish.  Oh well.   Our last day trip was a drive to Central Indiana– just north of Logansport.   H had sold his canoe because it would not fit on top of the new truck and he had finally found a nice used Porta Bote to purchase. 

Which now brings us to our camping trip up north!  We HAD to test the Porta Bote to make sure it would be a good one to take to Florida next winter, yah know!   Our first two nights out were in Mitchell State Park in Cadillac Michigan.  We’ve driven thru the park in the summer but it has always been packed full of campers and boats since it is situated between 2 lakes and divided by a canal - usually lined with boats and fishermen.   H’s PVC pipe trailer worked well in transporting the wobbly looking craft from the campsite to the waters edge and then back when our sea going venture was completed.  H looked like a lanky young kid pulling his wagon behind him!  The next two nights we were in the Manistee National Forest with NO electricity or running water or nearby neighbors.   The little red Honda generator worked just fine each evening to power the TV and charge the batteries!   As did the gas furnace warm the chilly “condo” each very cool morning!   Sand Lake is a deep little lake with clear cold water and we were told by everyone that fishing was great and that we’d see lots of fish.   We didn’t “see” as many as we wanted to but I did manage to catch 2 beautiful –albeit too small to keep – bass.  The highlight tho was a solitary loon – floating out by himself not too far from the tall grasses and the sandy shore.

Our last two nights were in Pentwater at a private Passport America Resort – Whispering Surf.  We had stayed there a year or so ago with Ron and Nancy!   This year we met a great new couple – Ed and Katie from Kalamazoo, Michigan and had a fun time getting to know them and teaching them to play “ Left Right Center” a silly fun dice game that R&N had given us.  Pentwater was having their garage sales weekend and we made it to as many as we could!  And still, we did not find a thing to buy!  Me?  Not finding a thing to buy.   Hard to believe, isn’t it!    Back at the campsite we rested our weary feet and legs before climbing back into the big blue truck and going 10 miles down to the small town of Hart where the National Aspergras Festival was just winding down.    As we arrived, we saw the last of the parade go around the corner!   We jostled thru the heavy street crowds and inspected some of the vendor booths before heading up the street where we stopped at a Mexican Restaurant and had a burrito for supper!    It was SO huge that we split one order and still had plenty to eat! 

Since rain was again in the forecast for Sunday afternoon, we chose to head home and attempt to beat the possible storm.  Back roads took longer but we have now traveled more places that we’ve never been!   Gas prices had sky rocketed into the $4.29 level so we filled up at Walmart at $4.20 (with 10c more off using H’s gift card) before sadly hitting the I94 expressway towards home.  On US23 we ran into road construction, which brought traffic to its knees.  The gas tank was dangerously low by this time.  When we did manage to pull in our driveway, the gas gauge said we had just over 1 mile till empty!  Talk about fumes!

Laundry is done, the grass is mowed and the gas tank is once again on FULL!   Our next adventure is next week and we’re heading south once more!   Won’t you join us?

N. Carolina to home

The last blog of our winter trips is ALWAYS the same - -  We're home.  The laundry is done , blah, blah, blah!   It's true.   The "Home" stuff comes first.  That and H has downloaded the North Carolina pictures so now I can tell you about North Carolina and our quick trip home from there!

 

Myrtle Beach was fun.  It's a busy vibrant tourist town.  Walking the boardwalk was interesting and seeing all those teens on the frigid beach was just plane silly since  the two of us were all bundled up in jackets and long pants!  But we are both getting restless and we were ready to move on.

 

Half way between Fayetteville and Raleigh North Carolina is a speck on the map called Jackson Springs.  The GPS was able to locate and direct us to Sycamore Lodge and RV Resort - the last of the 5 campground/resorts where we had "free" night's parking.  Our stay in DeFuniak Florida was one of these also!  Sycamore Lodge is at the end of a long thin thread of road lined with silver skinned Sycamore Trees.  The Lodge itself  originally was the hunting facility for a wealthy lumberman and the unique dark log building has been preserved impeccably well.

Gracing the yards are red berry covered holly bushes that have been carefully pruned to look like a well decorated Christmas Trees!  Stone and brick walkways were everywhere - weaving in and out between the new camping cabins and leading to the different gardens or terraced RV parking spots.  All of these are situated on the gentle hillside overlooking the pretty little fish stocked lake.  The regular camping sites were placed the top of the hillside and just past the playground areas AND  Putt Putt Golf Course. H was gloating after the first round since he beat me by one point.  The tables got turned quickly after the second round when I got TWO hole in ones and beat him by 3 points!     

 

Our journey north should have continued on Friday but the weather report for West Virginia was not too promising.  Thankfully, H spoke with the office and we were allowed to stay one more day.  However, while we stayed out of the snow, we weren't able to stay out of the cold.  When Saturday came, along  with the rising sun, we hooked up and got a early start.   Across  NC and then Virginia and finally West Virginia with it's lousy rough turnpike and detours we pushed.  Our chosen place for the night was to be near Beckley but since we passed thru there before noon - those plans were quickly changed!   We ended up in Parkersburg at the same run down campground that we had stayed several years ago when we visited Bleinerhasset Island with B&C.   The sad little campground is even more run down.  There was electricity but no restrooms and NO running water.  They pumped several gallons from a large opaque plastic tank into our freshwater tank but I sure wasn't going to trust it to be clean enough to drink.  Luckily with the 1/2 pitcher of water and the water bottles in the refrigerator we had enough for coffee in the morning.  Our teeth even got brushed before we rolled on down the cranky hill and headed for the big bridge that crossed the wide Ohio River.  Up thru Athens, straight north in Columbus to Rt 23 and we fought strong winds all the way to Findlay where we finally returned to I75.  Most of the vehicles that were coming up behind us from Lima, Dayton and Cincinnati had snow packed in their front grills.    While we arrived home without the danger of driving in snow, we did rise Monday morning to a yard full of the white stuff.

 

So, that's it - 4 months and 5000 miles on the truck - another winter in Florida is now history.

Georgia North & South Carolina

Amelia Island is still beautiful and the touristy pirate town of Fernandina is still alive and well. We traveled the length of that barrier island, checked out the town and our favorite "junk" shop. I got to buy something this time! 50% off of course! But now it is time to head north to Georgia and our path leads us to yet another island. Blythe Island doesn't seem like an island because there are no rolling waves, crashing on sandy beaches. Salt marshes and ribbons of waterways wandered thru them. We've been to Brunswick Georgia on past ventures but we've found more to explore. H found the restored old courthouse that was partially hidden by all the palms, magnolia trees and azalea bushes that were in full bloom. Over one of the many tall graceful bridges was St Simon Island. The town square was dotted with eclectic shops,a lovely park with yet another mammoth live oak with outstretched limbs. a fishing pier and lighthouse standing guard like a tall toy soldier.

The further north we head , the colder it gets. Charleston North Carolina was no exception! Our trusty little heater is working harder and longer into each day! H found a PA campground just outside of town and the heater was turned on right away. Lake Aire Campground does have a small U shaped lake/pond. The place also comes with a batch of nosy Muscovy Ducks that make the rounds of the campers at least twice a day. We found out they like bread crusts and crackers but not chopped peanuts from McDonalds!



I can't remember if we've been to Charleston in the last 5 years but there is SO much to see that repeat trips are always welcome. This time we even stopped at the Visitors Welcome Center and took the free trolley downtown to the Historic Old Towne. We walked the waterfront park and pier and then headed back in a few blocks because the wind coming off the open water was COLD! It was so neat to walk the old stone streets and to peer thru the wrought iron gates into the impeccably groomed inner courtyards, full of blooming azaleas and manicured hedges. The houses sat right next to the street with their layers and layers of full length porches that faced the waterfront. All had heavy doors at the street side end of the first floor porch, making the house seem much wider than it actually was! We quietly stepped inside St Michael's Episcopal Church, built in 1761 and is the oldest in the city. We found the Old City Market, a 3 block long collection of low brick buildings that now house various venders and craft folks. It smells like horses because right outside is the lineup of horses and buggies that take folks on tours of the city!

As old and historic as Charleston is - Myrtle Beach is the opposite! The term used for MB is 'The Grand Strand" because it is 60 miles of beautiful beaches and tall grand hotels and fancy resorts. MB claims a boardwalk that wanders over and thru small sand dunes covered with seaoats and other grasses, and passes by an assortment of T-shirt shops and tourist stores. Several blocks over is the line up of seafood buffets - one after the other with their coupons and their fake gaudy sharks and oversized crabs hanging from their brightly painted roofs! A few weeks back it was Bike Week in Daytona - - it is Spring Break in MB! The beaches were full of scantily clad teens trying to have fun in the barely 50 degree weather! H spotted 2 brave (crazy?) girls wading out in the breaking waves in their tiny little attires! What do yah think?

Our home for 2 nights was the Briarcliffe RV Resort - another PA selection. It was gated - but the gate was left open for most of the day. It had a new clubhouse and pool that sat right next to the Intercoastal Waterway. There was cable but no wifi! This park was selected because it was the closest campground to my high school classmate Sue - and she came to spend the day with me! A girls day out - shopping and lunch! Greasy gooey yummy big hamburgers along with monster onion rings and sweet potato fries! We should have ordered just the burgers so the rings and fries came home with me and was our supper that evening. I must admit - they were better fresh!

Time again to move on north - NORTH CAROLINA. Weather reports are showing cold and rain ahead of us. Can't move too far or too fast!