Off the beaten path

If you have been reading our blog we have grown tired of the wonders of the freeways.  We've seen it before. Due to being in a hurry we have avoided sight seeing until we reach our destination. But we have learned to take secondary roads and stop in state parks for relief.  We stopped in the Village Creek State Park, just out of Memphis. It had rained all day, sometimes quite hard, but we stopped here and saw the movie on the place. Very interesting, and had a nice rest.

Next morning we left late, due to laziness and rain. Both got wet running to the showers, but it was relatively warm so it was OK. I even washed the trailer so it looked nice for about 5 miles.

Last night we stayed in the Natchez Trace state park in TN. Very nice, cold last night but warm now as we are leaving. They have had five days of rain but sunny and very nice right now. We drove the Trace a couple of years ago and loved its beauty, we are just a little early this year. But how many can say they have slept in the Natchez Trace?

Things are looking up. The toilet that would not flush has partially healed itself so we no longer have to add water.

More later as things develop.

After a days drive we have learned we all need exercise.

And sometimes we all need to relax.

This is our campsite in Village Creek State Park, Wynne, AR

Even daddy gets exercise duty.

Sometimes we play.

Sometimes we learn to sit.

Mommy likes to play also.










See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Made it to Arkansas

Since the last blog things have gone rather smoothly except we are getting tired. We have seen all this and because we stayed later so Annie could get her shots we have not stopped to see anything new.

We drove uneventfully through the cold country and even passed Santa Rosa to spend the night in Tucumcari, NM. This was OK except we felt the RV park was kinda sleazy. No grass in sight but it had cable TV and WIFI so we managed.

From here we made it to Amarillo, TX and stayed in an older park which was very dog friendly. We arrived early and Shirley did laundry etc. Annie played and it was kind of a day of rest.

We left Texas and drove into Oklahoma. Just outside Oklahoma City where we stayed at a park that included breakfast. This was different for us. Our next door neighbor was a pipe fitter and had just "drug up" (quit his job) this was fun for me 'cause my dad had been a pipeline welder and I kinda know the language of these construction workers.

We awoke to cloudy skies and thunder, and lightening. After a stop at Walmart and the hail stopped we drove all the way to Fort Smith, AR where rain and thunder storms are forecast. If we can survive tonight we will try to make it to Memphis, TN where we should be out of most of the forecast bad weather.

Annie has been wonderful except for tonight; she peed on the rug in our trailer. She had been taken outside four times but just wanted to play, so nature won out. Disappointing, but we have been told they sometimes forget things and revert back to being babies. Hopefully she will remember next time.

Anyway we have had no mishaps other than stuff breaking in the trailer, the shower and toilet not flushing. We have appointments at Airstream in Jackson Center for after our caravan.

Things will be OK.

Which one is Annie?

Couldn't pass these up, saw then at a rest stop.

Part of the decor at the Amarillo RV Park.

Shows the threat of weather.

Annie loves football.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Day three, four and five with Annie

Bakersfield was nice for us, we bought some oranges at a fuel stop and received some for "free" at Orange Grove RV Park after paying $33.00. A nice shower was much appreciated and we parked across from an Airstream from our local unit.

Annie once again proved to be learning and so far there have been no accidents in the trailer or truck. Next morning we drove to Tehachapi where I stopped at a Home Depot to purchase a shutoff valve so we could use our shower and not waste water draining into our holding tank. I left Shirley and Annie to fend for themselves and they did very well, Annie did her business and Shirley visited with passers by.

We hit the road and made it to Needles and stayed at the Elks, we have been there before and it worked out fine. Last time it was in the hundreds, this time it was cold. Annie had to go out at 1 am so we both went out with her to look for coyotes as she did her thing. It seems coyotes will lay under your trailer smelling the dog and as you come out...grab the dog for a nice snack.

We thought it was cold in Needles, our next night was in Winslow. We saw an ad for an RV park and we were tired so we stopped. It was a very nice place, the people were very cordial and accommodating; a great place to take a puppy. We ran the furnace all night as the low was 24 degrees. Annie's trips outside were taken care of by Shirley as I slept. My outside duty came in the early hours. Yes, it was cold.

Weather has been great, if you like cold, highs 54 low tonight here in Grants forecast to be 14 degrees.  Tomorrow we are headed for Santa Rosa, NM then we should start heading to a lower altitude and less freezing weather, but they are having storms in the eastern US. Nevertheless we can do nothing about weather and will survive.

Oh, now I get it, you just look outside.

Shirley & Annie looking at some snow.

Ya' gotta admit, I'm cute.

Shirley and Annie enjoying the morning together.

Annie found a football in Needles.

By the way, Annie just learned how to open her crate.  More to come later.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Annie on the road

We are on the road again. This time well armed with Annie. Getting away was a real effort. Adding a new puppy to our list of things to do was exhausting. The trailer gave us some trouble also, the shower would only issue cold water. So two days before we left I took the trailer to the repair shop for repairs and and now we have a shower leak. Lesson learned is always take it to Airstream in Jackson Center, OH.

As we drove past Stockton traffic began to back up on the northbound side of the freeway. A big-rig truck was on fire and naturally a south-bound looker caused an accident right behind us. Luckily, we got thru OK.

First night was at Atwater, because we got off so late and because it is not crowded. Due to Annie's shots, seeing the vet etc. we did not get away from home until 12:30 but it was worth the effort. Annie got her first exposure to actual play other than at home in her back yard. She loved it! Also, at home she was reluctant to do her bathroom chores outside, but here she was F R E E to do as she pleased. So other than getting up at 2am and 6 am and going outside with her things have been fine. Unfortunately this duty has fallen on Shirley.

Yesterday we arrived in Bakersfield at 3 pm and Annie has seen dogs galore. Things are looking up but we do not know how it will go in rain and bad weather. Wish us luck there.

As we drove toward Fresno, a pick-up truck was on fire again in the north-bound side of the freeway and traffic piled up just before noon. Tough luck for north-bound folks.

My turn to take Annie out before we get ready to leave, so see 'ya later.

Annie's "condo" in the trailer.

Am I to sleep in the crate or look out at the sights?

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Desert Hot Springs

Yesterday I went to March AFB to see the museum. Shirley went to the Living Desert Museum. I had hoped I could do both, but there just is not enough time. Having never been to March it was much better than expected. John, Ray, Dave and I were almost the only people there. The cold must be keeping the tourists away. Shirley said there were not many people at the Living Desert either.

The four of us met a 89 year old man named Ken Wright, who flew for the RAF and later for the US during WWII. We probably spent 1 1/2 hours listening to him. He had a million stories and answered a lot of questions for us. Fascinating! We also managed to look at most of the airplanes.

Our evenings, since Bakersfield have been spent watching the series "Downton Abby" which is on PBS on Sunday nights. We had never seen the series, now in it's third year, but thanks to DVD's we are quickly catching up. I guess you could say we are hooked.

Today, we went to lunch in Palm Springs and then saw the Follies. We almost opted out, but this years show was so much better than last time that we were glad we went. After lunch we had some extra time  so along with Cam and Marcia we toured the Art Museum. It is a beautiful building and has a lot to offer and was well worth the visit.

Evening saw us all gathered in the meeting room where we all ate pizza and visited and the girls played Joker and the guys watched the 49ers whip the Packers. Our two favorite teams because we live near San Francisco and visited the Packers stadium in '09.

No photos 'cause none were taken. It's sure cold here, but Lincoln, is to be 28 tonight. Funny, we left home to find warmer weather and have not found any. Yet!

Tomorrow will be a surprise, 'cause I have not looked at the schedule yet. Need to get propane and go shopping so probably will find time for that as well as finding new stuff to see.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Takes a day or two to remember how to do this. Here are some pictures:

 This is the barn on Shirley's relatives property. The house she remembers is no longer there.

This must be the place.

Lake Williams. The other caravaners were jealous they did not have lake front property.

The Integratron.

A little out of order, but this Shirley also remembers from her childhood.

The "Californians" lay here for their "sound bath."

Inside, its all wood, no metal. The original owner was picked up by people from outer space and is gone!


Still learning how to do this, as you can see. More later.




See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Southwest Caravan

If I ever figure out how to do Blogs again, I will do one a month just to keep in practice. We have no photos because like last year I do not remember how. So hang in there with me.

We are currently on a caravan with the Nor-Cal group of the Airstream group. We have thought of doing this caravan for a long time so signed up. Our first night after leaving home was at Atwater which houses Castle Air-force Base. As with so many bases these days it is now closed but has an interesting museum of aircraft. I have wanted to see a B-36 for years and did so this trip.

We stayed two nights here at a very small RV park on base. It is only 3 hours from Lincoln and makes a nice stop. Shirley had relatives living nearby in Stievenson. We drove out there our first night, Friday the 4th. Next day, 4 other Airstreams arrived and we all visited the museum. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so there are no pictures.

We were to arrive in Bakersfield on the 6th. so we fueled up Sat. night. Good thing, it rained all night. We awoke to being in a lake Sunday morning. Hooking up, I got soaked feet etc, but we made it to Bakersfield in pretty good rainfall but on time. We unhooked and drove to dinner at a buffet, now buffets are not my favorite thing, but it was good and after a difficult day much appreciated.

Next morning we all hitched up and headed over the Tehachapi's where it had snowed the day before. As it turned out it was an easy drive, and we arrived at Joshua Trees Camp Ground just fine.

We had been here the year before and felt a home. Evening found us at a happy hour/soup dinner outside in the cold. Forecast was for 20 degree lows. Early to bed and a great night's sleep. Up at 6:30 showered and fed and ready to go on a ranger led tour of the Keys Ranch. Once again we forgot our camera. Maybe it is good to be on this caravan to get reorganized. Anyway it was interesting, the ranger named Sue, was a great wealth of info. She said she was 69 and I personally think she knew the Keys family.

For lunch we ate at a "Heath Food" restaurant and both of us were ill and did not attend happy hour that evening.

By morning we were fine and went to the Integratron in Landers, CA near Joshua Tree. Now this was a real experience. We have some folks from Delaware and Indiana and whatever they think of Californians has been reinforced. At the Integratron we took a 30 minute "sound bath." We lay on the floor on mats and heard sounds from "pure" quartz crystal bowls. This whole thing was OK'ed by Huell Howser, Rolling Stone, and Anthony Bourdain. We were made younger, given more energy and will now have better health and live forever.

Last night we all shared experiences during happy hour and learned the wind was to come up. Well it did! All night the wind blew and we were shaken and rocked and kept awake by a flapping vent, that we finally awoke enough to close.

Tired but undaunted, we drove the 42 miles to Desert Hot Springs where the wind is still blowing hard!

This is the first place we had cell service so this is our first blog.

More later.

See Ya! Barry and Shirleyl