Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A trip to Vicksburg

Stockade Redan, Vicksburg battlefield
Bill had a major CW reenactment this past weekend, doing the 150th Anniv of the Vicksburg campaign 9 months early - too much going on next year and weather generally much better in the fall.  Left at 7 AM on Thursday, 10/18, taking MO-13 south to Springfield, then US-65 almost all the rest of the way there.  We covered much of the route in posts from April 2011 and Jan 2012, so I didn't take any notes while driving.  US-65 is 2-lane w/ climbing lanes from Harrison to Conway, and 2 lane south of Eudora; the rest is 4-lane (some divided, some not) or Interstate in Arkansas.  US-65 is 2-lane in Louisiana.  Total was 592 miles to Raymond, where the reenactment was held, in 10-1/2 hours.

5th Missouri Infantry marker - Bill reenacts this unit
On Friday, 10/19, I had grits for breakfast, toured the Vicksburg battlefield (see pictures) and then went down to a neat little museum at Grand Gulf (grt-grandfather W.L. Truman was there for a guns-vs-gunboats battle in '63).  Then toured part of the Port Gibson battlefield before heading back to camp.



CS side of Missouri monument

Wade's Battery marker - Bill's great-grandfather served in this unit

Chapel at Grand Gulf Military Park

Marker at Ft. Wade, Grand Gulf - W.L. Truman served in this battery

Kudzu - Can't wait too long at the bus stop!

Windsor Plantation ruins near Port Gibson - survived the war, burnt by a careless smoker.

Reenacting conditions were pretty warm and dusty, with lots of marching to get into position.  1st scenario was easily visible to paying public, afternoon event was less so (but of more interest for the reenactors since the unit Bill portrays was actually involved in the action).  Didn't stay for Sunday scenario as had a cold coming on pretty hard.

Trip back was easier - stops at LA and AR welcome centers, an overnight at Pine Bluff (HIE), and a stop at Smith's in Bolivar for a hot beef sandwich.  Did notice the Jehovah Java coffee shop in Laker Providence, and passed the Panola Pepper Sauce factory/farm (see Spring 2011 - we picked up some at Poverty Point).  Gas prices were best in MO & MS.  Best price I saw in AR was at Pine Bluff (where I had a gas stop scheduled - wow!).

Monday, July 16, 2012

A quick trip to Minnesota

I'm running up to Minnesota to take my skeet guns in to the expert for repair/update/etc.  So, here I am in Willmar, MN & here's how I got here (& what I saw along the way):

Left at 6:40 AM via MO-13 north.  At Polo, MO-13 becomes the Zack Wheat Memorial Hiway, and there's a monument to baseball HoF player Zack Wheat.  In town, there's the History House, Cooty Farm Service, and the Red Rooster Cafe.  A bit further north, there was the Won By One Community Bank.    At Hamilton, took US-36 to Cameron, then north on I-35 toward Iowa.  The MO welcome center near Eagleville looks pretty fancy, with a herd of buffalo & a cowboy (all metal, of course) on the hillside behind it. 

Crossed into Iowa at 9:16 and stopped at a welcome center in Lamoni.  It was in a big "Amish Country Store" which also had a Maid-Rite cafe in it.  On its lawn were displayed cattle made from fuel tanks and a historic schoolhouse.  As I proceeded north, I passed New Virginia, IA (could some Southern folk have settled here?).  Exit 52 leads to alot of attractions - Madison County covered bridges and John Wayne's birthplace the most prominent among them. 

Passed Des Moines at 10:30 and picked up IA-141.  Near Granger saw a sign for Jester Park - wonder if it's any fun?   Picked up US-169 at Perry, would be on it for almost 100 miles.  This area is mostly flat, with endless corn & bean fields.  The barns almost all have roofs curving down from a point rather than a constant slope.  Roads good modern 2-lane, with a frustrating 55 mph speed limit.

Lunch & gas at Ft. Dodge from 1147 to 1205, and back on US-169.  Humboldt has the BackSeet diner & drive in.  Roads north of Humboldt aren't as good, but they're straight as they look on the map.  Algona has a railroad overpass painted with an 1870s locomotive & the words "Algona, on the Right Track."  Picked up US-18 here.  Passed Cylinder, IA, and the Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg.  Area is more hilly like NW MO, and some more northern trees start to pop up in plantings.

Took IA-4 to Estherville, and switched to US-71 (a familiar number thru MO, AR & LA).  Saw a Softail Saloon in Superior, IA, and a group of old railway passenger cars deteriorating nearby.  Crossed into MN about 2:05, but saw no welcome sign.  Adopt a Hiway signs featured the Sleepy Eye Garment & Pottery co and the Germantown Livewires 4-H club.  Jackpot Junction Casino  is outside Redwood Falls, MN.  Near Olivia, couldn't initially figure out why there were porta-potties in a corn field - until I saw the stand selling hand-picked sweet corn.  Olivia also has the Sheep Shedde Motel, and not far from there was held up by a TC&W train (look it up). 

Got to Willmar, a town of about 20,000, at 4:19 PM, 537.4 miles, averaging 32.3 mpg & 57 mph.  Temperature pushing 100.  Downtown has a statue of an Indian on the Kandiyohi County courthouse lawn - yep, it's Chief Kandiyohi.  Downtown lightposts have cages on them that I think are the type used in Frisbee golf.  Couldn't find a local cafe, so ended up eating at El Tapatio - which doesn't hold a candle to the one in Sedalia.  Came back to the Comfort Inn, and enjoying a PBR.  Tomorrow, it's on to Spicer to leave off guns, then about 550 miles home!


Friday, May 11, 2012

5-11-12, Home in Warrensburg

Yep, we finally got home.  4433.7 miles over 18 days, covering parts of 8 states.  We hit town about 1:30 PM, topped off the tank, picked up the cats, and pulled in at home at 2.  Another hour to offload, get the laundry going, rearrange the cars, reconnect all the electronic devices.  Then a trip to town for supper and some groceries. After supper, Bill got the books caught up so he can reconcile all the charges, and start downloading pictures so we can get them processed if necessary.  Still have a lot of emails to deal with, not to mention the mail.  May get to the magazines & papers by Monday.

Next step is to redo the trip plan to reflect the actual travel, and Sandra will get started on her trip journal.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

5-10-12, Santa Rosa to Pratt

Mostly a travel day - first stop was Tucumcari to take  a picture of  the Blue Swallow Motel for the NM Centennial contest.  It's an old Rt 66 motel & is set up to look period with some murals & old cars.

Then it was on to Dalhart, where we bought an 18 pack of Lone Star - we'll take it home intact as we finish our Happy Camper IPA from Santa Fe tonight.  Next stop was lunch at Liberal (refer to day 1 for details), and on to visit M.T. Liggett, the folk artist, at Mullinville,  If you've ever driven past Mullinville (about 10 miles west of Greensburg on US-54), you've likely seen his "totem poles" whirling along the fence lines.  This is our third visit with him, a real character.  Here's a story about him.



Stopped at bustling Greensburg for a snack (& more antifreeze), then drove to the new HIE in Pratt.  Dinner at Playa Azul (mediocre) and a dip in the hot tub.  Tomorrow we go home!  Today 403.9 mi /4115.5 for the trip.  30.7 mpg/53 mph.  330 mi to go!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

5-9-12, Las Cruces to Santa Rosa

Never let be said Bill has no flexibility in his travel plans.  The 245 mile trip for today ended up going a very different route for 375 miles.  We did go to Ft. Selden, bought some green chile at Hatch, then headed north to TorC (that's Truth or Consequences), talked to a nice Brit lady at the welcome center, then had a great lunch at Maria's Cafe.  Next it was up I-25 to the El Camino Real memorial - have no idea how they packed so much museum into that space.  Next stop, Ft. Craig, near the Battle of Valverde site; the BLM runs this site and had arrows pointing to the centennial picture site.

By then, Bill was concerned about overheating (again!), so we took a 20 mile detour to Socorro for gas & anti-freeze, and returned to US-380 for a cross-country trip to Carrizozo - forget painted ponies, pigs, cows or hound dogs, this town is full of painted burros, appropriate for a town near an old mining district.  Finally, we drove the last 120 miles to Santa Rosa.


For the day, 375.8 miles, 3711.6 for the trip.  Tomorrow it's Tucumcari for a photo, Dalhart for Lone Star, Liberal for lunch, Mullinville for 'totem poles' and Pratt for the night.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

5-8-12, Tombstone to Las Cruces

No time to post pictures today, but maybe I'll be able to process some & add them tomorrow.  Left Tombstone for Chiricahua National Monument at 7:10, MST, via back roads.    Very scenic, rhyolite pillars & weird formations high above the deserts.  No wonder the cavalry couldn't catch the Apache warriors  in here.

Then, it was on to the interstate to get to Las Cruces.  First stop was Lordsburg, where we had an excellent lunch at a 6 table cafe, Ramona's, recommended by a lady at the welcome center.  On to Deming, for some pictures for the NM Centennial contest.  We got to Las Cruces at 4 PM, called Sandra's Uncle Murray Kugler (Wbg College High, 1949) and picked him up to go to dinner at the famous La Posta in Old Mesilla (hint - Ramona's was better).  Also met his son, Darren, Sandra's 1st cousin, at dinner - Bill talked general politics with him as he's running for judge.

Oddly enough in this desert region in the middle of a drought, a series of heavy thunderstorms blew up and deposited lots of water around the area.  We even drove thru a hail core between Lordsburg & Deming.

Today 's mileage - 346.5, 3335.7 on the trip mpg down to 27.9/48 mph.  Tomorrow we'll jaunt up to Hatch and Ft. Selden, then to Alamogordo, Carizozo & Santa Rosa.

Monday, May 7, 2012

5-7-12, Phoenix to Tombstone

We really felt safe at dinner in Tombstone - about  a dozen guys in period clothes and wearing 6-shooters came in to join other Masons & half-fill the restaurant.  We 'slept in' until 6 AM, and were rolling about 8.  As it turns out, we had only about 200 miles to go, so we took a detour thinking we'd stop at Kartchner Caverns, but found that tours were $22.50 each - as Emily Littela said, "Never Mind."  Had lunch in Sierra Vista and got to Tombstone about noon.

Tombstone sure knows how to be a tourist trap.  It's set in 1881 and at least 4 different groups stage gun fights (including one at the old O.K. Corral location).  They also have tram rides, stagecoach rides, mine tours, bordello/gambling hall tours (with pictures/short bios of the main participants in each activity).  Not to mention an old courthouse with a gallows.  Most of the locals downtown are dressed to period. 


For the day 197.5 mi/2989.2 for the trip; 29.1 mpg/50 mph avg.  Tomorrow we go to Chiricahua National Monument (where Cochise & Geronimo used to hang out).  Then it's on to Willcox, Lordsburg (think "Stagecoach"), Deming & Las Cruces to see Sandra's Uncle Murray.  We're on the way home, at last.

5-6-2012, Las Vegas to Phoenix

Here we are in Phoenix, with the LP convention over & done with.  Pretty much a house-cleaning, but it took forever because the old guard didn't want to let go.  Bill had hoped all would be done by noon, ahead of the 2 PM official end time, but it took til 3, followed by a 300 mile drive in 6 hours (including stops for gas, a traffic jam at Boulder City, and a slight case of overheating).  The area we drove thru between Kingman & Wickenburg, was spectacular in an arid sort of way - lots of saguaros and even a joshua tree forest.  Anyway, here we ar eon the south side of Phoenix, 319 mi on the afternoon, 2791.6 on the trip.  MPG raised to 29.7, speed to 51 mph.

Tomorrow we sleep in a bit, then on to Tombstone for the rest of the day.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

5-4-2012, Las Vegas

What's the plural of Elvis?  While Bill spent the day at the convention, Sandra caught the shuttle to the "Strip".  She saw 4 Elvis impersonators on a street corner, who dutifully posed for the tourist.  She walked thru several casinos, including the Venetian.  Sounded like a fun trip.

While the platform debate at the convention was boring (there's a reasonn these aren't televised), Bill met a lot of folks from across the country & learned a lot of details the typical party member doesn't hear about the current leadership.  Those votes later Saturday will be as important as the nominee.  The televised debate had only the two front runners, so we got a close look at both of them - the vote is Saturday & could be close.  Then the after-debate parties!


Saturday is another day for Bill at the convention, while Sandra basks in the sun by the pool.  Also, getting rady to pack for a Sunday departure.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

5-3-2012 - On to Vegas

Here we are in Las Vegas, on the 18th floor of the Red Rock Resort, with a far away view of downtown Vegas & the strip.  However - the high point of the day was a visit to the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, NV.  This is a neighborhood bar, cafe & tourist trap all rolled into one.  Friendly, good food, souvenirs with an alien/Area 51 theme.  Worth the 80 mi round trip (actually more, since I-15 would have been considerably shorter than the Extraterrestrial Highway.

Got to the hotel at 3 PM local, checked in, and Bill went to register for the LP Convention while Sandra explored.  We had dinner at the buffet, then played a bit - Bill made $2.50, Sandra lost $5. 

Enjoy the pictures.




Today was 338 mi, 2472 for the trip.  Tomorrow Sandra explores the Strip while Bill conventions.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

5-2-2012, Kanab to Cedar City


Zion!  What a fantastic park.  On the drive in, we stopped at many cross-bedded sandstone overlooks - this was a desert at one time, so each shift in prevailing wind gave another direction of the rock.  Then, there's alooong tunnel.  Then a series of switchbacks down into the base of the canyon to the visitor center.  Have to go there anyway, because the only ways up the canyon are their bus or hiking, and we got in enough hiking as it was.

Anyway, this was a fantastic photo opportunity, when not gazing in awe at the cliffs and some crazy free climbers going up them.  There are lots of trails, but we took only the paved trail up the Virgin River and one other short one.  Had lunch at a neat cafe in a little town outside the park (took a picture of a hummingbird nesting on an electrical wire), then drove to the Kolob Canyons road sector of the park - more spectacular scenery.

Finally, headed to Cedar city, where we visited a local museum, stayed at the local HIE (room has a double shower!), ate a good Mexican meal (not SW cuisine) and downloaded pictures.  For the day, only 117.3 miles,2133.7 for the trip.  Mileage down to 28.4 mpg due to mountain roads, 45 mph.  Tomorrow to the Little A-Le-Inn in Rachel, then to Vegas & the LP Convention (Bill works/Sandra plays).

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

5-1-2012, Winslow to Kanab

Time is confusing.  Winslow is on Pacific time, while Utah & the Navajo Rez are on Mountain time.  So we went forward yesterday & back today, all while moving further west/north.  We left Winslow early after a breakfast at the local McD's - you've heard of fast food, this was half-fast at best. A couple of locals appreciated the quip.  I-40 to Flagstaff, then US-89 north.  Stopped at a Navajo museum/info center in Tuba City, which is much larger than we expected.  Big surprise/small world moment - a familiar face said hello.  It was Dr. Terry Simmons, retired professor of tourism at UCM, also touring the SW.

Then, on to Page, via a long climb up the face of Red Mesa. After a break, we headed for Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument, which is administered by the BLM.  BLM wasn't there at any of the ranger stations - maybe they were out on strike as called for by the occupy movement.

Arrived fairly early at Kanab, were upgraded to a 2-room suite, and had a great meal at Escobar's restaurant - we highly recommend it.  Today was 283 miles, 2029.1 on the trip. Avg mpg up to 29.1, mph to 48.   Tomorrow to Zion NP, and Cedar Breaks if it's not still snowed in.


Monday, April 30, 2012

4-30-12, Anniversary Day

Today was our 35th Anniversary, so we revisited some places special to us.  Leaving Gallup, we drove 100 mi to Ship Rock, the Rock with Wings to the Dine'.  Pictures from several directions, including a pass high in the Chuska mountains, and we picked up rocks.


Then, it was on to Lukachukai (read report on our 2005, 2006 & 2007 trips at www.missouridaytrips.com) and a visit to the Totsoh Trading Post.  We visited with the owner/trader, who had a nice rug in our price range, so Bill bought it - Happy Anniversary, Sandra.  We went on to Canyon de Chelly, another magic place, and celebrated the hour of our wedding with a kiss overlooking Spider Rock - here's a picture to prove it:



Next stop was Hubbell Trading Post NHS at Ganado, then back roads to Winslow - yes, we stood on a corner.  Staying at the grand old Harvey House hotel known as La Posada.  Up sometime in the AM & off to Tuba City, Page, Grand Staircase/Escalante and Kanab.  Today we drove 360.6 miles, 1733.2 for the trip.  Upped our mileage to 28.9 mpg, speed to 45 mph.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

4-29-12, Albuquerque to Gallup via Jemez & Pueblo Pintado

We were off at 6:30 in the AM (without breakfast) for places we've never been.  North on I-25 to Bernalillo, then NM-550 to San Ysidro.  Our intent was to get some good pictures in the Jemez valley, along with the ruins of the church Jemez State Monument.  We were early, so we continued up to the entry to the Valles Caldera, took some pictures, then headed back to the state monument.  Sandra couldn't find her Culture Pass, so I she didn't get any pictures - but Bill did.  We also toured the Jemez Pueblo visitor center, which was a very nice interpretation.

After this side  trip, we continued on 550 to  Cuba, where we enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Cuban Cafe - Sandra's green chile soup was special (& a bit hot).  On to the back roads looking for Pueblo Pintado.  This was an outlying site of the Chaco culture, connected to the canyon by a straight road.  It's an unmanned NPS site, so we were able to wander around & take photos.  Interestingly, the main surviving building ruins look a lot like the ruins of some of the churches at the pueblos.

Got into Gallup about 4 PM and found no decent (read SW cuisine) restaurants open.  Had to eat at Denny's, of all places.  At least it was walking distance from the very nice LaQuinta where we're staying.  For the day, 345 mi, for the trip 1372.6 miles.  Avg 27.5 mpg and 44 mph.


Tomorrow is our 35th Anniversary.  We're heading north to Ship Rock, then thru the Chuska Mtns to Lukachukai & Totsoi trading post, then Chinle at Canyon de Chelly, and finally on to Winslow.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

4-28-12, Albuquerque Old Town, Museums and the Pueblo Cultural Center

Slept in this AM & joined the other guests at Adobe Nido for breakfast.  One couple was going to Gathering of Nations today & had just returned from visiting much of Indian Country - we had a lot to converse about.  Breakfast was hot cakes, an unusual sausage, and lots of choices for juice, etc.  Then it was off to Old Town for visits to two of our favorite museums - the NM Museum of Natural History and the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History.  The art museum had a very interesting special exhibit of a series of prints by Goya commenting on conditions around 1800.  Much of the museum was closed for new construction.  At the natural history museum we visited our favorite dinosaurs, the asteroid strike display, the volcano & cave (& snatched a kiss in the dark), and jumped up and down to make the seismograph jump.

Lunch was at the Frontier Cafe, a local institution across from UNM.  Then we went to the Pueblo Cultural Center to see the new displays and watch the Spring Dances.  Then, back ot Old Town to sit on the Plaza and visit the shops - those on our postcard list watch for yours.  Dinner at Little Anitas and on back to Adobe Nido for some conversation.


Tomorrow we're off early for Jemez, Cuba, Pueblo Pintado, and the night at Gallup.

Friday, April 27, 2012

4-27-12, Albuquerque Gathering of Nations

The big event today - the Gathering of Nations Powwow, one of the largest in the country.  We saw license plates from Canada, Mexico and dozens of states.  Lines to enter were long, and the concourses in the "Pit" (UNM arena) were crowded.  We looked for a place to sit where we could get good pictures - where Bill liked, Sandra didn't - possibly because Bill had a telephoto & Sandra didn't.  The event started with the Grand Entry, right on time - no "Indian time" here.  Can you picture 3000 people, all in colorful regalia, trying to dance on a basketball court?

After the entry, the contests began with the senior dancers (55-69) dancing their specialties, followed by younger girls & boys, then the teens - all accompanied by pounding drums, well amplified, and the drum groups singing their traditional dance songs.  The songs mean a lot to the participants.



We saw men's & women's traditional, women's jingle & shawl dances, men's fancy feather and grass dances. Left about 3, went back to the B&B,  cleaned up a bit and went to join Larry Harrah for supper at Garcia's on Juan Tabo St.  Then, back to the B&B and process pictures & rest up for museums and old town tomorrow.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

4-26-12, Las Vegas to Albuquerque

Day 3 of our trip.  We left Las Vegas at 7:30 and went south on I-35 to Pecos. where we stopped to see Pecos National Historic Site.  The displays at the visitor center include the history of Man in the SW, with a special section on the Battle of Glorieta, April 1862.  Took more pictures of the kiva and saw the church ruins, which we missed in '04.

Then, it was on to Santa Fe.  Parking $10 (no feeding meters), 2 Culture Passes for $50, and it was off to see the museums - as usual, the state art museum was between exhibits, but the Museum of Folk Arts had a fabulous exhibit - you'll just have to go see it.  Split a blue taco order at the Shed, per tradition - yum - and sat on the plaza watching people.

After 5 hours in Santa Fe we headed to Albuquerque in a strong wind and blowing dust.  Got in & settled at Adobe Nido B&B, then went with our hosts to Los Cuates, a very good restaurant.  I had blue corn enchiladas and Sandra tried a soft taco.  


Tomorrow is Gathering of Nations Powwow, and seeing our friend Larry Harrah for dinner.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

4-25-12, Guymon to Las Vegas

A good day of travel & sightseeing.  The area is having a record heat wave, rendering the warm clothes we packed "just in case" superfluous.  Left a decent (brand new) HIE in Guymon at 7:05 AM, CDT.  Took a break in Boise City, where we let a Navajo use our phone - his broke & the pay phones were all dead - found out he was from Gallup after we chatted some.

Then it was on to New Mexico, where it's suddenly an hour earlier.  Hit Raton about 9:30, took a picture to enter in the NM Centennial contest, then stopped at the fancy museum & talked with the curator/ramrod, Mr. Sanchez.  We split a green chile cheeseburger at El Matador (really a stuffed sopapilla) and were both stuffed.  Then, drove to to the NRA Whittington Center - I've been a member since 1966 & had never stopped.  Nice gun museum, and drove to see the skeet ranges. Took a picture of Sandra by a statue of Charlton Heston as "The Scout."

On the road again, again to someplace we'd never been - Ft. Union, a NPS site.  It was an adobe fort, and remains in restored ruins.  It was big.  Took more pictures for the contest - hope I got the right one since I haven't figured how to load pics onto the cell phone from the web.

Final stop is Las Vegas (New Mexico), where we're staying at the HIE in a king suite room.  Drove around trying to get pictures for the contest, and had dinner at the El Rialto in old town - green/red chile enchiladas w/ posole.  Stuffed again.  Food good, service indifferent.


Tomorrow, it's on to Santa Fe, hit the museums & art galleries, sit on the plaza, and take pictures.  Then we'll head for Albuquerque and a stay at Adobe Nido B&B.  Today's toll - 331.4 miles (838.2 for the trip), 9:40 total travel time.  Drove fast so mileage is down to 27.4 mpg.



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

500 miles, Warrensburg to Guymon

Got an early start, 0621, and headed for Holden.  Stopped for donuts at Casey's there, and on to Kansas via MO-131, MO-2 & KS-68.  We hit our usual stop outside Ottawa, then on to Cottonwood Falls & Chase County.  They've added a local art gallery and a gift store for the Symphony on the Prairie.  Stopped for lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Walton, KS (east of Newton) and we'd recommend it - good food (I had a hot hamburger sandwich - yum), good service, decent decor and located right on US-54..
We drove thru Greensburg, which continues to rebuild after the tornado several years ago.  It has a new city hall, community center, Family Dollar, school, museum for the hand-dug well, and lots of new houses.

Then, it was on to Liberal for supper at the Cattlemans Cafe, except we had a detour due to a wreck near Plains, KS - they sent us miles out of our way.  Supper, as usual, was excellent - country cooking!

Finally got to Guymon at 6:30 PM, found the hotel, and got to our room - wifi is fine, ready to sleep & take off early tomorrow for Raton, NRA center, Ft. Union & LAs Vegas (NM) .  Today's toll: 506.7 miles, 27.6 mpg (headwind), avg 55 mph.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tomorrow, our travel saga begins

We are ready!  We pull out at 0-dark-30 tomorrow A.M. headed southwest.  Stops planned include Cottonwood Falls, Guymon, Raton, NRA Whittington Center, Ft. Union, Las Vegas (the other one), Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Jemez, Pueblo Pintado, Gallup, Ship Rock, Lukachukai, Chinle, Winslow, Tuba City, Page, Kanab, Zion NP, Cedar City, Rachel, Las Vegas (the shiny one), Phoenix, Tombstone, Chiracahua NM, Las Cruces, Three Rivers Pertroglyphs, Carizozo, Santa Rosa, Dalhart, Mullinville, Pratt & home.

We will travel roads we've been on before, some 'virgin' roads, see sights we've seen before, see sights we've never seen before, and have an all-around good time.  Reports begin tomorrow night from Guymon.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

New trip coming up

Watch this blog starting in about 10 days - we'll be posting from the Santa Fe, the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow, Gallup, Winslow (standing on the corner), Zion NP, the Little Ale-e-Inn bar, the Libertarian Convention in Vegas, Tombstone, and who knows where else.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The return trip from Little Rock

I returned from the conference on Friday, 1/27. On the return, I confirmed that it was Goat Gap, not Goat Cap. Another interesting sign was the Hound Dawg Holler Flea Market north of Clinton, AR.

Little Rock's River Market area has some attractions, but is mostly bar/restaurants of all types. Just to the west of it is the Old State Capitol museum; to the east is the President Clinton library. I did take a short tour of the Library at a Wednesday evening function; it's mostly an exaltation of his presidency, which I guess one should expect. I couldn't believe the extravagance of the gifts from foreign potentates (these belong to the US, not to any president). Guess I'll have to go back to the Truman Library for a comparison.

The return trip was 337 miles, 36 on Thursday and 301 from Conway to home. Best gas prices I saw in Arkansas were at Clinton, about $3.19 (in Warrensburg, it was $2.99; many AR places were $3.39). Smith's Restaurant in Collins still has great food - but bring cash.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Little Rock, 1-22-11

Here I am in Little Rock for an Innkeepers Convention. The trip down took 6:20 for 332 miles, including a 30 minute lunch at the Dixie Cafe in Harrison. Now, I'm on the 11th floor of the Peabody Hotel overlooking the old (& the current) state capitol bldgs, illuminated by occasional lightning. Yes, the Peabody has ducks - 1 mallard drake & 4 hens today.

Watchword of the trip is FOG. Definitely thick, too thick to drive at the speed everyone was driving. Temp in the foggy areas was generally 37-38; much colder and it would have been ice fog. Whew. Since Sandra wasn't with me, I had to watch for signs on my own: The Goat Cap (or was it Goat Gap) cafe is closed in Pindall AR. The Bluegrass Cafe (I didn't catch the town) has Bear Wiz on tap. The Lost Cherokee Nation HQ is north of Clinton, AR.

Now, to read thru what's going on the next few days & pick my workshops!