We left Oklahoma in "Big Blue" day after Thanksgiving and because of late departure, only made it to Denton, TX to a place called Destiny RV Resort, adequate, but construction made it difficult to find having missed the exit and ending up in a housing development. GPS did not know, and did not care but after a couple of calls to the park, we made it, albeit in the dark. Seems like we started and ended several days without the benefit of daytime hours. Drove the next day via I-20, I-49 and I-10 to Biloxi, Mississippi and liked Mazalea RV Park. Maybe it stands for Mississippi Azaleas but we weren't there long enough to find out. Just a good pull through parking spot, in and out. The Newell performed brilliantly.
Traffic was horrendous on both Sat and Sun, the worst days of the year to be on the highways but we had a date with warmer temps and reservations in Key West. Drove the next day from Biloxi, a lot of congestion, construction and accidents to slow travel time but made it to north of Orlando via the FL turnpike. Stayed north in Orange Blossom KOA, very nice and pleasant, helpful owners. Monday we left early, hit the turnpike and headed south toward Miami and Homestead and not much traffic until around Miami and all moving along well. Started down the Keys where it all slows down again as there is a lot of two lane roadway over bridges and islands. There is a Newell approved tech in Marathon and we stopped in, met them as we have an awning sensor issue for the automatic wind retraction. Seem like good folks and knowledgeable. Chuck Clark will send a part down and we'll see if that will fix the issue.
It is now Tuesday morning, December 2, 9 AM Eastern Time and the temp reads 75 with a light breeze coming from I don't know which direction. Regardless, we're glad to be parked here for the month of December, probably migrate north about 10 miles on January 1 for at least a couple more weeks, or more. Couldn't get reservations for Boyds, where we are now, as we were here in March of last year and that was too late. Have to make them a year ahead, at least. We just reserved next year for three months, Jan-Feb-Mar. Good to have plans even if they don't materialize for some reason yet unknown.
Had a flat tire on the toad, also a wiring issue for the tail lights and connection to the coach. And ran the battery down. AAA took care of changing tire and a trickle charge overnight had the battery up and charged by morning. Found diesel at 3.28 in a couple of places en route and that was a plus when compared to most others at 3.53. If y'all are down this way, do let us know. In the meantime, safe travels, happy holidays and follow my guru's saying: "Tell the truth, be kind and remember to say thank you."
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Santa Fe to Miami, OK to Key West
So hard to believe how quickly time passes, especially when busy making changes and trying to get so much done in a few weeks, or months. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so I want to start with that and pausing for a moment to count all the blessings of this past year, so much for which to be truly grateful and so many people for whom we give thanks. I try to take time out at the beginning of every day to meditate on the vicissitudes of our lives and often get help from a variety of sources other than social media. The Daily Good is one subscription that I enjoy, usually positive and uplifting stories of those people who are trying to be the change they want to see. It's a good way to start my day and often leads to other thoughts and experiences some of which get recorded, many that do not.
After our return to Santa Fe, we decided that was "home" (which is has been for 20 years) and so designed and purchased a mobile home/manufactured house, what we used to call a long time ago, a house trailer. It's a Karsten, about 1000 square feet, two bedrooms, two baths, living, dining and kitchen and 12x16 covered deck. It sits on a small lot behind Trailer Ranch where we keep our motor home when not on the road. It's a 55+ community of some 60 homes. Inside is very comfortable and reminds us of a very large RV but for the time being immobile. Great neighbors in the park who all look after each other and it's a great place to be. It's easy to lock the door and leave which is exactly what we did last Friday and headed for the Newell factory and service center in Miami, OK.
Just spent two days here, great service with tweaks and twerks here and there, nothing big or serious, things like awnings not working, (new card and dip switch settings) new teddy heater, (old one leaking and frozen) new serpentine belt, (old one frayed and too narrow) some welding to secure the hitch/receiver for the toad, and a new latch on the refrigerator. When heading out of Santa Fe, we turned left onto I-25 and the refrigerator door flew open and four bottles of beer broke on the kitchen floor. Place smelled like a stale bar for several days. Had to stop and clean it up about 10 miles out of town. Have just over 10,000 miles on the coach since purchase so did not opt for the annual service. Will wait for another 5K miles and then try to minimize the expense. While they were working on the coach, we made our third trip to Cyrstal Bridges as we had seen a story on CBS Sunday morning about a special new exhibit there on newly discovered American artists, well worth the trip. Look it up on their web site!
Tomorrow we celebrate Turkey Day in OKC with family and then on Friday head east and south with
Key West being our destination and location for the next couple of months. Then we'll have to see about February but I don't think we will be ready to head back to cold winter in northern New Mexico. We will make a flying trip to Vermont for Christmas, put Dude in a kennel and leave him behind in a kennel in KW, and spend several days up north in Stowe with family there. Nice to have kids all over the country, east, midwest and west as there are always places to go, people to see, things to do. I am still working part-time, keeping more busy than I would like to be at times and Susie will be taking a writing class while we are in Key West. We will also go back to the Truman Summer White House for another Living Room series, this one honoring Eisenhower, a Republican no less. Stay tuned and we will report an update on Key West later.
After our return to Santa Fe, we decided that was "home" (which is has been for 20 years) and so designed and purchased a mobile home/manufactured house, what we used to call a long time ago, a house trailer. It's a Karsten, about 1000 square feet, two bedrooms, two baths, living, dining and kitchen and 12x16 covered deck. It sits on a small lot behind Trailer Ranch where we keep our motor home when not on the road. It's a 55+ community of some 60 homes. Inside is very comfortable and reminds us of a very large RV but for the time being immobile. Great neighbors in the park who all look after each other and it's a great place to be. It's easy to lock the door and leave which is exactly what we did last Friday and headed for the Newell factory and service center in Miami, OK.
Just spent two days here, great service with tweaks and twerks here and there, nothing big or serious, things like awnings not working, (new card and dip switch settings) new teddy heater, (old one leaking and frozen) new serpentine belt, (old one frayed and too narrow) some welding to secure the hitch/receiver for the toad, and a new latch on the refrigerator. When heading out of Santa Fe, we turned left onto I-25 and the refrigerator door flew open and four bottles of beer broke on the kitchen floor. Place smelled like a stale bar for several days. Had to stop and clean it up about 10 miles out of town. Have just over 10,000 miles on the coach since purchase so did not opt for the annual service. Will wait for another 5K miles and then try to minimize the expense. While they were working on the coach, we made our third trip to Cyrstal Bridges as we had seen a story on CBS Sunday morning about a special new exhibit there on newly discovered American artists, well worth the trip. Look it up on their web site!
Tomorrow we celebrate Turkey Day in OKC with family and then on Friday head east and south with
Key West being our destination and location for the next couple of months. Then we'll have to see about February but I don't think we will be ready to head back to cold winter in northern New Mexico. We will make a flying trip to Vermont for Christmas, put Dude in a kennel and leave him behind in a kennel in KW, and spend several days up north in Stowe with family there. Nice to have kids all over the country, east, midwest and west as there are always places to go, people to see, things to do. I am still working part-time, keeping more busy than I would like to be at times and Susie will be taking a writing class while we are in Key West. We will also go back to the Truman Summer White House for another Living Room series, this one honoring Eisenhower, a Republican no less. Stay tuned and we will report an update on Key West later.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Back in the U.S.A.
Crossing the border at Calais, Maine (St. Stephens, NB) was a breeze. Lovely lady came aboard, asked a couple of questions and said, "Enjoy your trip!" Took all of five minutes. We drove across Maine, abandoning our previously planned trip to the coast (avoiding summer crowds) and headed straight for Stowe, Vermont. Spent one night in Gorham, New Hampshire, a Good Sam campground about a mile east of town and it was fine. Then on to Goldbrook, just south of Stowe. Adjacent to open fields that were getting ready for a BIG antique, classic car show. The guy who runs the campground has a reputation that precedes him of being a grouchy, grumpy grinch. He lived up to it. Regardless, we will stay there again for numerous reasons including a good site plus friends and family nearby. Great beer in Waterbury!
Then the long haul began last Friday. From Stowe we traveled south on I-89, then I-91 to the Mass Pike which is actually I-90 and west to I-81 and thence south to Unadilla, New York for the night, only 363 miles. The next day, Saturday, we pushed on to just north of Columbus, Ohio, 662 miles. And the next day, Sunday, to Eureka, MO to a KOA just west of St. Louis near Six Flags on I-44, 526 miles. Monday, 473 miles to Oklahoma City, across MO and a good part of OK where we put down at Twin Fountains our usual stopping place as we have family in OKC and if we're going to Camp Newell, which we skipped this time, it's convenient. Left there yesterday afternoon and overnighted in Amarillo and decided against our usual stopover at Overnite and opted for the KOA. Hmmm.
Today we will cap off about 300 more miles to Albuquerque for a couple of days and then "home" to Santa Fe for a few months. If anyone wants more info or details let us know. The past five days are a blur of interstates, mostly good roads with several exceptions that fortunately didn't last long.
So this latter part of our summer travels from Nova Scotia back to Santa Fe has covered some 3100 miles and if you add the first part, from Santa Fe to Nova Scotia via Montreal and Quebec, you can add another 3000+ miles since we left Santa Fe back in June and stopped at the Guru Rally in the Ozarks and spent a couple of days at Camp Newell. That's a lot of miles and mucho fuel and many campgrounds. And "Big Blue" has performed admirably. Highlights have to be the rally, the Maritime Provinces, as well as Montreal and Quebec and yes, the Clydesdales plus our meeting Wayne Martin in New Brunswick. Many stories to share later, down the road when we see you.
Then the long haul began last Friday. From Stowe we traveled south on I-89, then I-91 to the Mass Pike which is actually I-90 and west to I-81 and thence south to Unadilla, New York for the night, only 363 miles. The next day, Saturday, we pushed on to just north of Columbus, Ohio, 662 miles. And the next day, Sunday, to Eureka, MO to a KOA just west of St. Louis near Six Flags on I-44, 526 miles. Monday, 473 miles to Oklahoma City, across MO and a good part of OK where we put down at Twin Fountains our usual stopping place as we have family in OKC and if we're going to Camp Newell, which we skipped this time, it's convenient. Left there yesterday afternoon and overnighted in Amarillo and decided against our usual stopover at Overnite and opted for the KOA. Hmmm.
Today we will cap off about 300 more miles to Albuquerque for a couple of days and then "home" to Santa Fe for a few months. If anyone wants more info or details let us know. The past five days are a blur of interstates, mostly good roads with several exceptions that fortunately didn't last long.
So this latter part of our summer travels from Nova Scotia back to Santa Fe has covered some 3100 miles and if you add the first part, from Santa Fe to Nova Scotia via Montreal and Quebec, you can add another 3000+ miles since we left Santa Fe back in June and stopped at the Guru Rally in the Ozarks and spent a couple of days at Camp Newell. That's a lot of miles and mucho fuel and many campgrounds. And "Big Blue" has performed admirably. Highlights have to be the rally, the Maritime Provinces, as well as Montreal and Quebec and yes, the Clydesdales plus our meeting Wayne Martin in New Brunswick. Many stories to share later, down the road when we see you.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
(The new hitch seems to work just fine and it is definitely a heavier duty Blue Ox than the Alpha. If anyone is looking for a new 10,000 lb hitch, the Aventa LX seems like a good choice. I would also recommend an "immobilizer" that reduces, or eliminates, any play in the receiver.)
Truro, NS was indeed a good camping spot, not easy to find via GPS as it is in Hinden, just outside of Truro on another Route 2. Depending on which way you're traveling you can take either exit 15 or exit 12 from the 104 and my suggestion is to call Scotia Pine campground for specific directions. Tall pine trees border each campsite and we got in fairly easily, a shaded spot and did not even need the awnings. From Truro, you can venture forth according to your preferences whether to Cape Breton, Halifax or Digby on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy. Our choices were to Lunenberg on the south shore and Digby, each on different days and an overnight to Digby leaving the big rig in Truro.
Side trips for the scenic routes worked well and those would have been tough with the coach so we left it parked and just took the truck on the back country and bay and ocean routes. The tides and the tidal bore on the Bay of Fundy are among the world's highest tides, as much as 25 feet or more. The small villages have a lot of charm and character as do many of the people who live there. We did not do P.E.I. or Cape Breton this trip but those are both highly recommended and some people camp at the entrance to the Cabot Trail.
We went whale watching from Brier Island at the far end of Digby neck and Digby is one of those picturesque fishing villages so typical of the Nova Scotia coastline. In Digby's case the main feature is scallops. Lobstering season was over in July in most places but still available on the menus.
From Nova Scotia, we traveled back to New Brunswick, rain all day Thursday, July 24, to St. Andrews, NB, off the new Highway 1, south on Route 127. The campground is Kiwanis Ocean Front Campground on Water Street fronting on the bay. Delightful place, great weather and terrific view as we are parked pulled in head first, looking across the street to the bay. It's the middle of the summer and not crowded in a great place.
Truro, NS was indeed a good camping spot, not easy to find via GPS as it is in Hinden, just outside of Truro on another Route 2. Depending on which way you're traveling you can take either exit 15 or exit 12 from the 104 and my suggestion is to call Scotia Pine campground for specific directions. Tall pine trees border each campsite and we got in fairly easily, a shaded spot and did not even need the awnings. From Truro, you can venture forth according to your preferences whether to Cape Breton, Halifax or Digby on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy. Our choices were to Lunenberg on the south shore and Digby, each on different days and an overnight to Digby leaving the big rig in Truro.
Side trips for the scenic routes worked well and those would have been tough with the coach so we left it parked and just took the truck on the back country and bay and ocean routes. The tides and the tidal bore on the Bay of Fundy are among the world's highest tides, as much as 25 feet or more. The small villages have a lot of charm and character as do many of the people who live there. We did not do P.E.I. or Cape Breton this trip but those are both highly recommended and some people camp at the entrance to the Cabot Trail.
We went whale watching from Brier Island at the far end of Digby neck and Digby is one of those picturesque fishing villages so typical of the Nova Scotia coastline. In Digby's case the main feature is scallops. Lobstering season was over in July in most places but still available on the menus.
From Nova Scotia, we traveled back to New Brunswick, rain all day Thursday, July 24, to St. Andrews, NB, off the new Highway 1, south on Route 127. The campground is Kiwanis Ocean Front Campground on Water Street fronting on the bay. Delightful place, great weather and terrific view as we are parked pulled in head first, looking across the street to the bay. It's the middle of the summer and not crowded in a great place.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Cleveland, Montreal, Quebec, New Brunswick
The past couple of weeks have rolled right along. Had a great visit to the Rock n Roll museum and hall of fame in Cleveland. Worth a stop if you get near. Then moved on east. Stayed at KOA's respectively south of Montreal and then Quebec city for a few days so we could visit the cities by simply crossing a bridge over the St. Lawrence River in each place and not have to drive through the city traffic. Much to see and do in both of those areas, the usual tourist stuff and ate our way through both places. Missed a great little place in St. Romuald as it was closed one night and the next night they were holding a private party. Did have a great dinner at Intimiste in Levis, not far from the ferry.
Our French is poor, Susie's better than mine which is mostly non-existent but more and more Quebecois are speaking English.
On south from Quebec into New Brunswick and in looking for a campground, following a new GPS which I don't like much at all (Magellan 5120 LXT), we ended up on a small country road going nowhere. I saw a couple of guys looking at us like we were crazy and when I pulled over by a bridge to make a U-Turn, one of them came up to the window and said, you must be lost. Yep, I said, we are. He said he had a farm there but lived about 6 miles away and we could camp in his driveway where he had a 30 amp plug in. We thanked him and said we had reservations at a campground and he insisted on taking us there so we wouldn't get lost or try to go under too low clearance. So, we took him and his wife out to dinner in Woodstock, NB, and he took us home to show us their new house, two of his three restored tractors (very big International Harvesters) and stories of the past winter and results of the "hurricane" Arthur that flooded his farm and cows. You just never know where you might end up if you don't know where you're going.
We are currently just outside of Moncton and headed for Nova Scotia this week, will be staying at Scotia Pine RV Park near Truro, probably leave the rig parked there to explore Cape Breton and other parts of Nova Scotia including Halifax and other points of interest. Will be close to the tidal bore in the Bay of Fundy and report on all of this and more later.
PS - The U-Turn was too sharp and bent a shaft on the tow bar which necessitated a replacement. Went with a heavier duty version of Blue Ox, Aventa LX. The swivel ball looks cool!
Our French is poor, Susie's better than mine which is mostly non-existent but more and more Quebecois are speaking English.
On south from Quebec into New Brunswick and in looking for a campground, following a new GPS which I don't like much at all (Magellan 5120 LXT), we ended up on a small country road going nowhere. I saw a couple of guys looking at us like we were crazy and when I pulled over by a bridge to make a U-Turn, one of them came up to the window and said, you must be lost. Yep, I said, we are. He said he had a farm there but lived about 6 miles away and we could camp in his driveway where he had a 30 amp plug in. We thanked him and said we had reservations at a campground and he insisted on taking us there so we wouldn't get lost or try to go under too low clearance. So, we took him and his wife out to dinner in Woodstock, NB, and he took us home to show us their new house, two of his three restored tractors (very big International Harvesters) and stories of the past winter and results of the "hurricane" Arthur that flooded his farm and cows. You just never know where you might end up if you don't know where you're going.
We are currently just outside of Moncton and headed for Nova Scotia this week, will be staying at Scotia Pine RV Park near Truro, probably leave the rig parked there to explore Cape Breton and other parts of Nova Scotia including Halifax and other points of interest. Will be close to the tidal bore in the Bay of Fundy and report on all of this and more later.
PS - The U-Turn was too sharp and bent a shaft on the tow bar which necessitated a replacement. Went with a heavier duty version of Blue Ox, Aventa LX. The swivel ball looks cool!
Monday, July 7, 2014
MIAMI, OK and EASTWARD
This is the first leg one of a longer trip as we are headed for Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces but allow me to digress a bit for those interested. We left Camp Newell last Wednesday, before the long 4th of July weekend, got out before Newell shut down on Thursday, a day ahead of Friday the 4th. We headed for St. Louis as it was an easy drive across Missouri on I-44 and we put down north of St. Louis in Illinois at at KOA near Granite City. Not the best place we ever stayed but convenient and OK for us. Here are a few highlights, highly recommended for your consideration.
1 - Grant's Farm and the Budweiser Clydesdales. I won't go into all the details but we definitely found it worth the time. Those beautiful horses are so spoiled but they earn it, either by pulling the wagons or being in commercials or just being there for us tourists. There are three "hitches" in different parts of the United States to take care of different regions of the country. One is housed in St. Louis at the brewery, one in Merrimack, New Hampshire where the training facility is and one is in Ft. Collins, CO. The breeding farm is in Boone, Missouri, west of St. Louis by a hundred miles.
Learned a lot about these gentle giants and Budweiser's investment in them. Also got four small, complimentary bottles of beer!
2- Springfield, Illinois for Abraham Lincoln's home, museum and library and the Dana-Thomas house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. For either you history buffs or friends of architecture and design, including furniture for one of Wright's early prairie houses (1902-04), don't miss a trip to Springfield if it's within your reach.
3- Dayton, Ohio. This is close to my hometown so we stopped here for some more 4th of July celebrations including fireworks and family time. And today, we're off to the Air Force museum at Wright-Patterson near Dayton. Then we're headed to Cleveland and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Good stuff and I will catch you up on these two and more later. Want to keep these posts within a reasonable length.
Note: Miss I-70 through Indiana if you can. The road was so bad that we bounced loose several things including a few drawers and the plug to our front TV and can't find were to put it back in!
1 - Grant's Farm and the Budweiser Clydesdales. I won't go into all the details but we definitely found it worth the time. Those beautiful horses are so spoiled but they earn it, either by pulling the wagons or being in commercials or just being there for us tourists. There are three "hitches" in different parts of the United States to take care of different regions of the country. One is housed in St. Louis at the brewery, one in Merrimack, New Hampshire where the training facility is and one is in Ft. Collins, CO. The breeding farm is in Boone, Missouri, west of St. Louis by a hundred miles.
Learned a lot about these gentle giants and Budweiser's investment in them. Also got four small, complimentary bottles of beer!
2- Springfield, Illinois for Abraham Lincoln's home, museum and library and the Dana-Thomas house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. For either you history buffs or friends of architecture and design, including furniture for one of Wright's early prairie houses (1902-04), don't miss a trip to Springfield if it's within your reach.
3- Dayton, Ohio. This is close to my hometown so we stopped here for some more 4th of July celebrations including fireworks and family time. And today, we're off to the Air Force museum at Wright-Patterson near Dayton. Then we're headed to Cleveland and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Good stuff and I will catch you up on these two and more later. Want to keep these posts within a reasonable length.
Note: Miss I-70 through Indiana if you can. The road was so bad that we bounced loose several things including a few drawers and the plug to our front TV and can't find were to put it back in!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
FULL TIME HERE and THERE
This story began on January 4 when we became "homeless" except for our then RV, a 2006 Allegro Bus with 2 slides, a 400 Cummins and a toad, a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Dude, our loyal and loving Labradoodle. The travels began and the last post here was at the beginning of May. Since it's been awhile, here's an update with more to come. We traded the Allegro Bus for the Newell, # 729, in February in Miami at the factory and set off toward warmer weather in the Southeast. At the beginning of May we were back "home" in Santa Fe where we plunked down at Trailer Ranch for the following six weeks. Since we had lived in Santa Fe and Abiquiu for almost 20 years we still considered it our home base and so it is. It's where we get our mail and where our legal residence is and will remain.
We departed Santa Fe on June 16 and headed for Oklahoma City where we have kids and grandkids and have been "camped" at Twin Fountains this week. Michael Day was here earlier but we missed connecting although will find him next week at Table Rock Lake along with some other Newell gurus. Met Jody Reese from Lawton this morning and saw his gorgeous '95 red and white Newell with Oklahoma Select on the rear. It's a group of 7th grade girls who play basketball at a fairly high level and travel widely to do so. His daughter is on that team and they travel to games in their Newell and are here for a couple of days of games in OKC at Douglas High School.
Looking forward to the Newell guru rally next week and from there we will launch farther east and north and northeast until we can't go any farther and end up in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Seems like a good place to spend a number of weeks this summer lollygagging around, seeing the sights and taking it all in. May go through northern Michigan on the way, parts of Canada and will then stop in Maine and Vermont before heading back to Santa Fe at the end of summer.
If anyone has a don't miss this on your list of travels in those directions, let us know. In the meantime, happy and safe travels to all and to all you happy campers out there, we may see you down the road along the way. Stay tuned for the next update a few weeks from now.
We departed Santa Fe on June 16 and headed for Oklahoma City where we have kids and grandkids and have been "camped" at Twin Fountains this week. Michael Day was here earlier but we missed connecting although will find him next week at Table Rock Lake along with some other Newell gurus. Met Jody Reese from Lawton this morning and saw his gorgeous '95 red and white Newell with Oklahoma Select on the rear. It's a group of 7th grade girls who play basketball at a fairly high level and travel widely to do so. His daughter is on that team and they travel to games in their Newell and are here for a couple of days of games in OKC at Douglas High School.
Looking forward to the Newell guru rally next week and from there we will launch farther east and north and northeast until we can't go any farther and end up in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Seems like a good place to spend a number of weeks this summer lollygagging around, seeing the sights and taking it all in. May go through northern Michigan on the way, parts of Canada and will then stop in Maine and Vermont before heading back to Santa Fe at the end of summer.
If anyone has a don't miss this on your list of travels in those directions, let us know. In the meantime, happy and safe travels to all and to all you happy campers out there, we may see you down the road along the way. Stay tuned for the next update a few weeks from now.
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