North to Page

Oct 30/16  Weather - winds are going to be severe around Flagstaff by noon today so we will make sure we get to Flagstaff and north early.  Warm though about 77, cloudy and low of 57.  Extremely warm for this time of year in Page, Arizona.   For a few years we have been wanting to get to Page where Lake Powell is, and Antelope Canyon.   People we have met who have been there said it is a 'must' see.  So the weather man is on our side and we have made the journey.  Forecast is good for the next week.

on I 40 west heading to Flagstaff

For miles on Interstate 40 you can see Mount Humphrey at 12,643 in Flagstaff.  The climb reaches about 7000 feet on the highway at Flagstaff; then you head north to Page.  For miles you seem to be dropping into a plateau and you drive beside The Painted Desert.  It seems the colours in the rock formations change as the sun and clouds move over them.

The Painted Desert

The drive up hwy 89 was quite stunning.   Actually we are breaking Rule #1: stay on interstates and main roads.  There is just no other way to get here.... so with some driving caution be prepared as the road must climb about 1600 feet up and over the Kaibito Plateau hugging the cliff face to a spectacular road cut at Antelope Pass.  

climbing up to the Pass on the inside lane

entering Antelope Pass

Once over the Pass both Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam come into view.  Phew.  We made it!  For the next week we will camp out in Lake Powell Wahweap Resort and RV and Marina.

Glen Canyon Dam

entering into Lake Powell Wahweap Resort, RV and Marina

Carnivores Indulge

Oct 27/16  Weather sunny and hot, 82.  low of 53.
Amarillo Texas. 
For miles you see advertised -  The Big Texan Steak Ranch - 72 oz Steak Free.
What is all this about?

The metal Amigos that welcome you to Amarillo KOA

We got a nice campsite in Texas at the Amarillo KOA and found there was a free shuttle limo that would take us to The Big Texan Steak Ranch for dinner.  This is such a treat for us having them pick you up and take you back.  Why not? 

Okay Cowboy, that there is our limo shuttle

Billy is getting his appetite ready to go in

We can always watch someone try to eat the 72 oz of meat in an hour.  That is 4 1/2 pounds plus a roll, baked potato, shrimp cocktail; for $72.  You pay up front and if you eat it all in an hour you get your money back.   Over 9,500 people have done it!  Ah well no takers the night we were there, but the steak was mighty tasty.  That is our little 16 oz. ribeye.
Almost forgot:
Just had to show you what we found in the gift shop....  really a Texan pistol case?  Isn't that what everyone needs!!!

can't think of anything to say about that

Oct 28 & 29/16  Weather still warm 79, night 51


Next day we moved along to Albuquerque and parked at American RV Park  and the following at Holbrook KOA in Arizona.   Both good places to stop along the way west. 

Now What? Week of Gremlins

Last week of October/16
It might be that Halloween is coming and with it are Gremlins or just that crap happens!

No Gremlins Allowed in the Motorhome - Rule #2

Just saying this past week on the road has been one of those weeks where everyday something needs fixing.  It has come to the point where I'm afraid to say "Billy can you look at this?"  The answer is going to be "Now what?"
When your taking you house down the road stuff happens and you need to deal with it.

Fixing in the Flying J Parking lot

First the leaky hose on our bathroom toilet deodorizer, then the Banks Power System decided to malfunction so we had to have a Cummins Service Center disable it, next we had a loose fitting on the coolant reservoir that Billy fixed himself in a truck stop after we fueled up.  Thank goodness he is constantly checking everything and is calm and handy;  and has a whole bunch of tools and spare parts in the front of our cargo trailer.
Next thing the front vent did not want to turn on when I was baking muffins.  You see I bake when I get overwhelmed with Gremlins, haha.  Lastly when we went to bed one night a piece of the wood trim had fallen off the side of the bedroom slide.  No worries; nothing a little two sided tape won't fix.
OK, OK, OK.   Gremlins be gone! 

Tools in tool boxes with spare parts to fix stuff that goes wrong

Where Ever There Is?

Oct 24/16 Weather 80 high, low 58  to North Little Rock, Arkansas KOA
Oct 25/16 Weather 79 high, low 57  to Sallisaw, Oklahoma KOA
Oct 26/16  Weather 80 high, low 51 to Elk City, Oklahoma KOA
Warm all the way across, about 15 F degrees above normal.
On the map this kind of looks just like a straight line from east to west.   KOA campgrounds do take the guess work out of where do we stay tonight?  They are kind of like a McDonalds; you pretty much know what you will get.    Interesting enough the first two were completely full at night.  We aren't ones to make reservations but when you don't see much choice ahead in your route for camping;  you best be calling.  We actually did call for North Little Rock.

nasty looking storm coming from the north just before Oklahoma City

As you can see we are just zipping along the Interstate 40 corridor.....   Ha ha ha.   My brother always says if he ever goes anywhere with us - we will have to leave 2 weeks before he does and that way we will arrive at the same time!   We know we have gone 750 miles and 3 nights so we are averaging 250 miles per day.  We are in no hurry.  We will get there!!!  Where ever there is????
Well you see the thing is that the first day was a longer day (370 miles) so the next two we tried to get back into our groove.  Sometimes it is a matter of finding a good or satisfactory campground along the freeway.  This takes a bit of research and planning with the internet and the camping guides.  The other significant factor is watching out for weather.  Weather can be treacherous in the Plains.  Last night on the Weather Channel there was a forecast of some severe weather so we weren't sure till this morning if we would stay or go.  Predictions were that it wasn't suppose to sweep across the I40 corridor till about noon.   After the 8:30 am TV news forecast this morning (while having a cup of coffee) we decided to leave and get ahead of the storm.

We skirted the edge of the storm and it gained strength and moved on behind and below us to Ardmore, Oklahoma.  Tonight on the evening news we saw where the storm did produce drifts of golf ball size hail!  Phew glad we missed that.

LBL ~ Land Between the Lakes

Oct 23/16  Weather sunny 77, low 51. 
Yesterday Rosey got to go to the Quilt Museum so today Billy got to go to the Harley shop.  Fair is fair!

Four Rivers Harley Davidson Dealership in Paducah, KY

The Four Rivers Harley Davidson dealership has a really cool building in the shape of a riverboat. 

Whitehaven Mansion - Welcome Center for Kentucky

Can't walk by these chairs without a sit and rock!

On our way we saw the Kentucky Welcome Center and pulled in to see what used to be the home of Vice President Alben Barkley who served under President Harry Truman (1949 to 1953).  The 1860's restored Southern Mansion called Whitehaven is the only United States historic home serving as an interstate welcome center.  What a great save of history and such good use for visitors to be able to see this mansion. 

Satelite shot of Land Between the Lakes

about 5 barges being pushed up Kentucky Lake

It was such a warm day we toured on farther to the 170,000 acre National Recreational Area - Land Between the Lakes.  You cross over at the Kentucky Lake Dam and then head south on the scenic byway known as The Buffalo Trace.  The largest inland peninsula in the U.S.A. was originally created when the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers were impounded making Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Oh and for those of you who worried that Rosey only got to the Quilt Museum,,,,,, of course she also stopped at Hancock's of Paducah.  One of the largest quilt fabric shops in the USA.  The cupboard stash is full of quilting supplies for the winter.

Winter stash

Paducah - sounds like Pa Duka

Oct 22/16  Weather  sunny today, 70.  Low at night cool, 35 to 45.

Cool shot of Billy right in front of the biker mural

We left Mishiwaka, Indiana a couple of days ago and traveled due south to Indianapolis then due west to an overnight stay at the KOA Casey, Illinois.   The day was wet and rainy all day.  Not a very nice day for driving.   Yesterday was nice and sunny and dry and we continued on till we reached Fern Lake RV Park in Paducah, Kentucky.  

Historic Downtown Paducah

Several times in the last few years we have criss-crossed by this area and finally we have had the chance to stop for a few days and visit.   UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has designated Paducah the world's 7th city of Folk Art and Crafts in the Creative City Networks

confluence of Tennessee and Ohio rivers

This afternoon we ventured down to the historic center right on the Ohio and Tennessee river.  While watching the barges and tugs floating by we walked along the 50 "Wall to Wall"  floodwall murals.  It is nice that the historic old buildings are refurbished and store fronts preserved in the turn of the century architecture.

2nd storey preserved  says 1883   1999

Billy on our Harley in front of the Wall to Wall floodwall murals

At the heart of the area is the National Quilt Museum.  These are not like the handmade quilts you see on your bed.  These are Works of Art.  The detail was amazing.  Seriously does't it look like a painting in fabric?    There are about 400 quilts on display.

The quilter was from Eureka, California.  Home of the Giant Redwoods.  Which she said was her inspiration for her quilt.

Time Capsule for RV's

Oct 18/16  Weather 74, low 51.  Showers threatened but never materialized. 
Lucky for us as we went out for a ride to a museum we had read about in many of the camping magazines.  The RV/Motorhome Hall of Fame and Museum. 

RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana

Northern Indiana is a mecca for RV assembly plants and spin off suppliers so it is  fitting that there is a museum nearby to show the history.   There are about 60 units housed here from 1913 - 20's, 30's, 50's, 60's, 70's.  It is a walk back in time. Interesting to see some innovations still being used in flashy new RV's today .

The neat thing is that you are welcome to go inside almost every displayed camper or motorhome.  All in their original or restored state.

Before we get back we stopped for a bit of lunch and it turned out to be an all day breakfast place that made incredible stuffed french toast - Billy's favorite. 

stuffed french toast, and lots of whip cream

Do you know what is missing in the photo below,,,, of our coach parked in our campsite?  I will tell you - the slides are all in.   The pine needles are coming down like a snow storm, so instead of trying to clean out all the toppers we are not opening them.  Pretty site, the pine trees are super tall.

really tall pines surround us - look at the ground, it is a carpet of pine needles

Our campground for these couple of days is KOA Southbend/Elkhart.  We have a day off  in between appointments between Elkhart Sales & Service and Cummins Crosspoint. 

Politics Everywhere

Oct 16/16  We have been reminded that it is the countdown to the Presidential election.  Signs are everywhere.  U.S. tv is swamped with politics.

While walking to lunch in Goshen the other day we happened to walked by a Republican headquarters and did a bit of a Trump buster sign in the window!  It was just in fun and we laughed about the Saturday Night Live spoof on Trump and Clinton the other night.  A few more weeks to go........... 
 

Rosey covering up the Trump sign with an X

Baldwin as Trump and McKinnon as Clinton - they are so close to real

Plain might be Better

October 14-16/2016.  Weather - it has been a warm fall in Ontario.  A couple of nights we had close to frost and then last night it was a hard ground covering frost!  Oh boy; that means it's time to hitch up and go.  Remember we are in the 2- 30 club.   We either go 230 miles or are off the road at 2:30 pm.  Today was just a tick under.   Crossed the Ambassador Bridge at Windsor/Detroit and checked in at Shipshewana South Campground about 2:30.   I know we are so comfy with that!  

The Amish farms are so clean and neat. 

Not in a buggy but on their bicycles - The Amish are very Eco Friendly

Last spring we were in Northern Indiana area but were unable to ride the motorcycle as it rained on and off the whole week.  We just had to come back.

Amish farmers at work

It is such a "plainly" beautiful area.  Plain as in a peaceful, simpler way of life.  Saturday in Ontario is a bustling hectic day.  Those that work all week are out shopping and doing their errands.   Not here.    Most merchants we visited today were closed by Saturday noon and will be Sunday as well; in fact we it took us a while to find a place to stop and have a bite to eat this afternoon.  Small town America, we love it!  Northern Indiana knows how to enjoy a weekend.  I think we could learn something from this???

Pumpkin Tree on the Main Street in Wakarusa .  Sign says "No Roundabout"

We found a tourist book that highlighted the "Heritage Trail".   It meanders through the countryside following this route: Shipshewana, Bristol, Middlebury, Elkhart, Wakarusa, Nappanee, Goshen and back to Shipshe, about 90 miles.  You can see the Amish in daily life, explore the markets, view the Quilt Gardens, and step back in time.   Plain might not only be beautiful but actually be better:)

Flowers planted in the pattern of a Quilt.  There are about 30 gardens on the Heritage Trail.

Summertime In Ontario 2016

Weather has been abnormally hot and dry.
 Sometimes we have 3 weeks before a drop of rain.   Too hot and too dry.   We are so glad that we have two huge shade trees on our site at Wildwood RV and Golf Resort in McGregor.  We took a seasonal site this year.  It's beautiful.   We look at the 18th green and 9th green.  A pond with water fountain right out front.  However it comes with some detriment.....Golfers that don't keep the ball in the fairway!   So far we had a broken mirror on our car, a line drive into the side of the coach and many near misses.   But we knew we were parked in an RV park in a Golf Course.   No serious harm done and our coach is not new so we cross our fingers every day there is a tournament and the wind is gusting!!!
Today we are flying to Scotland to see one of our kids and two grandchildren.  Edinburgh weather is 66 and rain.  That will be a change to our system.   Flying right from Windsor via Toronto to Edinburgh.  Staying for a month.  Site see one week, two weeks with the kids then one more week of site seeing.   Stay cool everyone, yes we have our brollies and slickers.