2 for 2

April 7 & 8 & 9/17  Weather good.  No storms.  Time to head North.  Travel temperature was very comfortable high 70's so we did not heat up in the motorhome.  Today there was a Wind Advisory with gusts up to 57 mph. South to South West direction.  We got lucky since it was mostly at our back corner.  It was so strong that if we had been traveling the other way we would have sat out the day.

Texas Flag

 1) We went sideways across Texas heading towards Texarkana.    We thought we would stop before 3 pm at a park that was in our Big Rig RV Guide called Staway Ranch RV Park in Murchison, Texas. (if you look at the link to the park it does not look like the advertising).    Last year I looked at it on my camping map and I thought it meant "Stay Away"'; like stay away from this area.   But "no that can't be"  the people that write the guide have a beautiful big rig so they only pick good places.  HA!!!!   Yes the name says it all.   Needless to say we were the only transient RV, and the park needed a bit of TLC.   

Arkansas Flag

2) Second day we went up towards Little Rock, Arkansas and across almost to West Memphis.   There wasn't a whole lot of parks to choose from so we kind of kept going.  Stopped at a small park in Forrest City called Delta Ridge RV Park. 
Yes the park did look like the advertising it was just the area around it was bad. 
The area was very sketchy, a motel out front of the property was in some stage of dereliction/remodel, police sirens going, heard about muggings in the Walmart parking lot in broad daylight.  Park owner told us to lock everything and no walking around after dark!!!
Thus my title of this posting:   Billy told me I was 2 for 2.  

Illinois Flag

3) Today we took our time and made it just into the Illinois border taking I55N & I57N.  In Benton we found a nice KOA.  Really KOA means no surprises.  You can pretty much count on it being just fine.  Well usually a bit noisy by a freeway and also a train station but hey after the last two nights choices it is great.  No adventures tonight!

redbud trees blooming at Benton KOA

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.

It is Green

April 14 & 15/2015  Weather should be above freezing at night from now on????  Safe to head north.  It is spring right:)   Our journey east and north has begun in earnest now, we have medical insurance till April 20 but we don't want to wait till the last day.   Tuesday we traveled from Branson, Missouri to St. Louis, Missouri via I44.  We stopped short of the city at the KOA St. Louis West .   It was a good location to stop before everyone gets off work for the day - in the morning we will take the bypass south of the city.    The temperature was about 67 today a bit overcast and low of  54.   We can handle that.  

Crossing the Mississippi

Barges are busy on the river

The Arch in St. Louis as seen from the bypass I255 east side

From St. Louis we took I70 to Indianapolis.   Changing states as we go across -  Missouri, Illinois, Indiana.   I70 in Illinois has a lot of construction zones.  Many down to 1 lane but no stopped traffic, it kept moving at 45 mph. 
What time is it?  What zone are we in?  And the last time change back!   When we cross into Indiana we will gain an hour.  Arrival at 2:30 will be 3:30.   Once again time to stop before all that work traffic is on the highway.   Tonight we are on the east side of town, at another KOA.... Indianapolis East.    It can be a bit unimaginative to pull into the KOA's on our way across but we feel it is a lot like McDonalds.  You know what your going to get.  The park is always close to the freeway.  The site will be easy in and out.  50 amp - long pull thru.  No trees to contend with.  Back on the road the next day.   Every KOA stay gives you points and we used $25.00 worth against our one night.    Tomorrow we head to Ohio.  It sure is "green" here.   We laugh at that since it is such a change from being in the desert for the last 3 months!