August 31, 2014 Sunday A Day to Plan
Lib and I spent some time planning today. Just for the record, we have driven about 2,367 miles. We are getting about 11.7 mpg when towing Creme Puff and that is pretty normal. Elevation makes a huge difference and we have been going "up, up, up" since we left Pensacola. I got about 10 mpg towing Creme Puff straight up this mountain from Boulder to Estes Park. When we went back to Boulder the next day, without Creme Puff attached, I got over 30mpg! Of course, I was going downhill almost all the way.
We leave Estes Park in the am and travel north to Mount Rushmore where we will spend several days. From Rushmore we plan on touring the Bad Lands one day. That will be a lot of driving but everyone says its worth it.
We will leave South Dakota next Saturday and go to the Custer Battlefield where we will spend a day. There is a great new documentary on the battlefield. You may be able to get it through Netflix but Google can probably locate it if you are interested. Once we leave "The Last Stand" which is now incorrect according to the new evidence, we will head to Yellowstone on the 8th. Michelle Steward arrives there on the 12th so we will see what mischief we can get into!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
August 30, 2014 Saturday Estes Park Shops and Football Saturday
We went into town early today as we had been warned the tourist pour into Estes Park on the weekend. The warnings were right. We were lucky to get a parking place at the Visitors Center and then we took a shuttle into town. Lots of tourists.
Cliff Scott, our friend back in Ft. Smith, AR had told us about the prevailing political climate in the area. Cliff went to law school in Boulder. For example, in Boulder, you cannot "own" a pet. This is thought to be akin to being a slave-owner. Rather, you may have principle responsibility for your pet. There are a lot of folk that are "responsibility centers" here in Colorado. In town, we saw this guy on a scooter whose pooch was having a discussion with the Yorkie traveling in an RV.
We came back to the RV Park and got ready for some football games. We watched Bama finally take over West Virginia, Auburn beat Arkansas, and LSU pull out a close one with Wisconsin. Maggie enjoyed the afternoon. She sat outside and was thrilled to watch the kids next door throw a football. She used to run back and forth with each throw but at her age, she just watches the ball go back and forth like tennis match viewers. Its sort of like me, I used to play golf almost every weekend. Now I watch it almost every weekend.
We went into town early today as we had been warned the tourist pour into Estes Park on the weekend. The warnings were right. We were lucky to get a parking place at the Visitors Center and then we took a shuttle into town. Lots of tourists.
Cliff Scott, our friend back in Ft. Smith, AR had told us about the prevailing political climate in the area. Cliff went to law school in Boulder. For example, in Boulder, you cannot "own" a pet. This is thought to be akin to being a slave-owner. Rather, you may have principle responsibility for your pet. There are a lot of folk that are "responsibility centers" here in Colorado. In town, we saw this guy on a scooter whose pooch was having a discussion with the Yorkie traveling in an RV.
A stream from the mountains runs through the edge of Estes Park. There are open-air restaurants along the stream. There is a water wheel that I don't think is operational but does mark the entrance to the "Water Wheel Gift Shop."
The walk through town takes you past specialty shops...taffy, outdoor wear, kids toys, women's clothing, men's hats, restaurants serving Elk and Buffalo burgers, and cookies. Cookies! We had to stop into Grandma's Cookies. (See the sign just ahead of Lib in the photo below). We had a chat with the owner. She had been in the shop for 17 years and said there is no place in the world that is more fun to work! If only everyone had that level of job satisfaction. She made our visit fun and her homemade oatmeal raisin cookie (she heated it for us) was much better than the Safeway version. She took to Libbo and said as we parted (when about 10 customers walked in at once), "Some customers get a hug!" Lib got the hug and we were off.
I didn't realize I got this lady sporting a Nebraska t-shirt in the photo above. We have noticed there are a lot of Nebraska fans here in Colorado. There is even a "Colorado for Nebraska" store on the street. The atmosphere is like many tourist towns. A lot of people and a lot of folk pushing their wares...even horse and buggy rides.
No tourist town is worth its salt without an Arts and Crafts festival on a major holiday. This being Labor Day weekend, Estes Park was no exception. There are many nature painters; bears, elk, eagles, fish, landscapes. They are good! I warned Lib, whatever you buy, we will have to UPS it home as Creme Puff is pretty full.
It was fun walking around the festival. We stopped and talked to one artist who told us she lived for several years as a child in the Stanley Hotel. In the early 80's Stephen King hung out in Estes Park. He got the idea of the book/movie, The Shining, based upon the Stanley Hotel. She said they tried to film the movie here at the hotel but they couldn't get enough snow and they had electrical problems in the old hotel. So, they gave up and filmed the snow scenes in some gorge in California and the rest of the movie on sets in Hollywood. We are planning on going to the hotel tomorrow morning. The traffic was so bad we decided not to try it today. If we do I will come back to this post and append the photo here. OK, I'm back! We learned a little bit about the Stanley Hotel, a major attraction in Estes Park. It was built in the early 1900's and completed in 1909 by F. O. Stanley. Stanley was the inventor of the Stanley steam engine so he was an important character in our history. He and his wife Flora moved to Estes Park upon his Doctor's advice "to seek cleaner air" because he had tuberculosis. He did fine after moving here and, according to legend, still walks around in the hotel lobby and pool room at night! Yes, its supposed to be haunted and even Flora is seen. This haunting business is probably what inspired Stephen King.
One of the famous celebrities staying at the Stanley was Teddy Roosevelt. TR stayed here to visit the Rocky Mountains. If you haven't studied the National Park history, TR was the most influential person in our history to preserve our lands so we can enjoy them today. Teddy was primarily interested in the outdoors for hunting until he ran across a guy named John Muir from California. Muir talked TR into making Yosemite a National Park and changed TR's beliefs about the need for conservation.
Estes Park has beautiful flowers all over. This is just a shot of flowers in a pot located on the main street.
Maggie watching the kids play football
After we watched more football than we had seen in a year, we watched a movie, The Butler, and turned in at 10:30pm. We're slowly adjusting to the time zone change.
Tomorrow, we will start getting ready for a big travel day on Monday. We are headed to South Dakota and its going to be a 350 mile day!
Saturday, August 30, 2014
August 29, 2014 Golf Outing
Today we played golf at the Estes Park Golf Course. This is the only 18 hole course in the area but its a goody. We played with a couple from Estes Park, Don and Karen. They were both good golfers. The greens are fast and everything breaks away from the mountains. The roughs are like glue; very sticky grass that is difficult to hit out of. The scenery is distracting and there are signs saying you get a free drop out of any Elk droppings.
Today we played golf at the Estes Park Golf Course. This is the only 18 hole course in the area but its a goody. We played with a couple from Estes Park, Don and Karen. They were both good golfers. The greens are fast and everything breaks away from the mountains. The roughs are like glue; very sticky grass that is difficult to hit out of. The scenery is distracting and there are signs saying you get a free drop out of any Elk droppings.
Estes Park Golf Course
Number 6, Par 5 Dogleg Right
We kept getting badgered by small rain clouds but they had lightening in them. We stopped once and then quit after 10 holes as it looked like more lightening. We were right and by the time we got back to the RV Park and Creme Puff, we had hail. Fortunately, it was small and didn't hurt anything.
While we were playing I asked Don about the wildlife around and about. He did tell me he was cornered in his garage last year by a bull Elk and thought he was going to be killed. But, the Elk turned and fled. Libbo and I finally saw some Elk and they were not where we thought they would be; in the park grazing in a meadow. Instead they were a block from the heart of town of Estes Park! About 10 cows and two bulls. I didn't get a photo because I was driving and the traffic was heavy.
Our neighbors at the first of the week told us this park fills up on the weekend. When we arrived last Monday there were only a handful of campers. They poured in while we were playing golf. Here's a photo of what it looks like now. There are almost 200 campsites in this RV park and all but a handful are taken.
The couple next to us is in a huge RV. They are from Greeley, CO and have three kids and two large dogs, a Golden Retriever and a German Sheppard.
After the rains and hail, we watched a movie, read and took naps. Lib cooked a great dinner and we stayed up until 9:30pm!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
August 28, 2014 Thursday Back to the National Park
We've been reading about the park and talking to everyone we can. Lib was interested in doing some hikes so we set that as our goal for today. We started early (8:30am) as we were advised. I can't believe how many people are in the park and all the Rangers tell us "this is the least crowded time to come." The timing was part of our planning. We were told to come when school is back in session but before the snows start.
We are also reading the book French and Carolyn gave us, ""Secrets of the National Parks." A must hike is around Bear Lake. We took Fiona to the Park and Ride and took the shuttle to Bear Lake. We enjoyed a nice hike around the lake. There are volunteers all over who can help you and give you advice, directions, etc.
We've been reading about the park and talking to everyone we can. Lib was interested in doing some hikes so we set that as our goal for today. We started early (8:30am) as we were advised. I can't believe how many people are in the park and all the Rangers tell us "this is the least crowded time to come." The timing was part of our planning. We were told to come when school is back in session but before the snows start.
We are also reading the book French and Carolyn gave us, ""Secrets of the National Parks." A must hike is around Bear Lake. We took Fiona to the Park and Ride and took the shuttle to Bear Lake. We enjoyed a nice hike around the lake. There are volunteers all over who can help you and give you advice, directions, etc.
Bear Lake
A friendly volunteer from Texas
We found many of the volunteers are from all over. Billy helped us a great deal. He was from North Carolina just outside of Winston-Salem (near Michelle). He also has a home at Cashiers but volunteers his summers at different national parks. He was very knowledgeable of the walking trails.
On the trail we met a young red-head, Brittany, who had just graduated from Wisconsin. She was camping in a tent by herself. We discussed several things such as altitude sickness. Lib and I realized we've had a touch of it. You are a little less active and you lose your appetite. Like I said, we think we only had a touch of it...the oatmeal raisin cookies here are delicious! We took photos of Brittany and she took one for us.
Brittany's Photo of Us at Bear Lake
Hike 2! We were feeling good so we decided to get in another hike. This time Billy suggested we go to Alberta Falls. So we took off there. The trails themselves are a sight to behold.
Alberta Falls
Once we hiked back to the Park & Ride, that was enough of the hiking for us. Besides, we didn't have the special boots, hiking canes, backpacks, etc. that many of the pro-hikers have. We probably hiked about 2.5 miles which is plenty for old people with severe altitude sickness and who MUST get home in time to watch the start of NCAA football. South Carolina plays Texas A&M at 4pm!
We drove to parts of the park where there are prairies and one Ranger told us we would heighten our chances of seeing Elk, Moose, or Bighorn Sheep. I think they were all home waiting on the ballgame to start. None were on the prairies.
We drove through one of the in-park campgrounds. These are very nice and well-run. There are all kinds of campers ranging from the big bus type RV's (called A-class) to small tents. We didn't want to stay inside the park because it is a long way out to get provisions (i.e. Safeway makes those oatmeal raisin cookies). Also, the camps are for "dry-camping". That means you have no electricity, no sewage, and no water. You have to take everything you need with you. The RV Park we are in has all those things. I like my electric heater, microwave, oven, etc.
A-Class (in background) and an Airstream Bambi 16' in the National Park Campground
A tent Campsite: This is what French II and JJ do with two children! We love it!
And, there is ONE MORE REASON we decided NOT to camp in the Park....
I still haven't bought those AK47s!
August 27, 2014 Wednesday Rocky Mountain National Park
We woke up to rain and did some chores. There is a cold front and it is chilly and we get some rain every now and then but it is a light drizzle for an hour and then its over. By mid day, it was time to hit the National Park.
One of the "must do's" is to take the Trail Ridge road (US 34). This is the highest paved road in North America. At Estes Park we are at an elevation of about 7,500 feet. Trail Ridge takes you up to 12,183 feet which is above the timber line, then above the tundra line, to the glacier line (rock). As you can imagine it is a narrow, winding road. The traffic was a constant flow of cars, trucks and even RV's (can't believe they took their RV's to the top!) going both ways. The views are as you would guess (or have seen), spectacular!
We stopped at several lookouts and took in the views.
We woke up to rain and did some chores. There is a cold front and it is chilly and we get some rain every now and then but it is a light drizzle for an hour and then its over. By mid day, it was time to hit the National Park.
One of the "must do's" is to take the Trail Ridge road (US 34). This is the highest paved road in North America. At Estes Park we are at an elevation of about 7,500 feet. Trail Ridge takes you up to 12,183 feet which is above the timber line, then above the tundra line, to the glacier line (rock). As you can imagine it is a narrow, winding road. The traffic was a constant flow of cars, trucks and even RV's (can't believe they took their RV's to the top!) going both ways. The views are as you would guess (or have seen), spectacular!
One of the Many Views from Trail Ridge Road
What the photo does not show is that, in some places, you have a very small margin of error while driving. You do not want to run off the edge of the road or you may not stop turning over and over until Saturday!
As we climbed in elevation we got in the heavy clouds and photos became difficult. The temperature dropped to 37 degrees and just as we got to the top, it started to sleet, then snow! We didn't stay long at the Visitor Center at the top because we were concerned about the road down.
You can see the snow on Fiona's windshield
As we got to lower elevations we got out of the clouds and the weather was much better. But, the road was still curvy.
Horseshoe Pass
We went into town at Estes Park and got some provisions and back to walk Maggie. Maggie was in the car with us the whole day. We take her bed with us in the back seat. The driving does not disturb her naps at all. Back to the RV Park, chat with the neighbors, cooked dinner, watch tv and off to bed. We stayed up until 9pm so we are working on getting used to the Rocky Mountain Time zone. This will help us when we have to go on Pacific time.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
August 26, 2014 Estes Park and a Trip to Boulder
Great News! We got an email from Michelle Steward and she is going to join us at Yellowstone! Michelle was one of my outstanding students and was my graduate assistant when she was working on her MBA. She went to Arizona State and got her Ph.D. and is an Associate Professor at Wake Forest. She is almost like a daughter to us. We are also good friends with her parents, Peggy and Joe in Pensacola. There is never a dull moment when Michelle is around and we are excited about her upcoming visit in Yellowstone.
Back to Estes Park. We made reservations for a week here to give us time to really see Rocky Mountain National Park. We are at an RV Park at Lake Mary, a small lake, located only 1.5 miles from the park entrance. The park is nearly empty now but my next door neighbors say it fills completely up on Friday and then all the locals pull out on Sunday. So this is a weekend spot for locals. Our neighbors are "full-timers." That means they sold their house, car, etc. and moved on an RV and they travel around the country. We've met several "full timers" on the trip. RVer's often ask when they meet you: "Full-timer?" Its like many of the sail boaters we've met over the years who are "liveaboards." The couple next door to us are originally from Louisiana (they always have something on the grill) but they say when they finally retire from RVing they will buy a home in San Antonio where their son and family live.
Great News! We got an email from Michelle Steward and she is going to join us at Yellowstone! Michelle was one of my outstanding students and was my graduate assistant when she was working on her MBA. She went to Arizona State and got her Ph.D. and is an Associate Professor at Wake Forest. She is almost like a daughter to us. We are also good friends with her parents, Peggy and Joe in Pensacola. There is never a dull moment when Michelle is around and we are excited about her upcoming visit in Yellowstone.
Back to Estes Park. We made reservations for a week here to give us time to really see Rocky Mountain National Park. We are at an RV Park at Lake Mary, a small lake, located only 1.5 miles from the park entrance. The park is nearly empty now but my next door neighbors say it fills completely up on Friday and then all the locals pull out on Sunday. So this is a weekend spot for locals. Our neighbors are "full-timers." That means they sold their house, car, etc. and moved on an RV and they travel around the country. We've met several "full timers" on the trip. RVer's often ask when they meet you: "Full-timer?" Its like many of the sail boaters we've met over the years who are "liveaboards." The couple next door to us are originally from Louisiana (they always have something on the grill) but they say when they finally retire from RVing they will buy a home in San Antonio where their son and family live.
Creme Puff in Estes Park on Lake Mary
Now this next part is sort of unusual. Joe and Dale Hair have been our good friends since we got out of graduate school and took our first job at Ole Miss. We built our houses next door to each other and later, we both moved to LSU where again, Joe and I worked together and we were neighbors. Their son, Joey, is now married and he and Kerri have two boys, Joss and Declan. Joey has a computer consulting business and, for several years, they have lived on Lake Lanier near Atlanta. Joe was visiting us in Pensacola last month and he told us Joey, Kerri and they boys had spent a month in Boulder this summer to check it out and they had decided to move here. So, we called Dale as we drove through Boulder and she told us, "Yes, they did move there two weeks ago and Joe is there now helping them move." So we called Joe and set up a visit on Tuesday. How strange to be meeting up with these old friends from Louisiana when we are all in Colorado! By the way, Joey's clients are MD offices and they are all over the country so it doesn't matter where he lives.
While we were at LSU we hired a young man who had just graduated from South Carolina. Donnie Lichtenstein was a good friend but we hadn't seen him in decades. He left LSU shortly after we did and accepted a job at the University of Colorado where he has been Associate Dean and now is the Department Chair in the College of Business. He is a Provost Professor..the boy has done well! When you look up research on pricing, Donnie's name will show up. So, we had to see Donnie while we were in Boulder. As strange as it seems, he lives a block away from Joey and Kerri's new house!
The plans were for us to pick Joe up at Joey's house, go to UC to visit with Donnie and to see UC and then all return to Joey and Kerri's for dinner. It was great to see everyone again. We had all been close but it was thirty years ago that we were all together. The only difference was Joey was no longer a baby and has a wife and two great boys, ages 7 and 4 and I now have a touch of grey (ok, white) hair. Other than that, it was like we had never been apart.
After touring the new house, I got to spend some quality time with the boys. Joss and Declan killed me in a game of Beysliders. I had never heard of the game but I am glad I don't have to earn a living playing it. After I lost so many games, Joss took pity on me and let me use the blue beyslider (this is the champion slider). I almost tied a game using the undefeated blue slider but still lost.
Joe, Declan,Joey,Joss and Kerri Hair
Donnie was right out of school when we hired him at LSU. He got his B.S. at Alabama and was a big Roll Tide fan. I would often come home late in the afternoon in Baton Rouge and Libbo and Donnie would be sitting in our den drinking wine! Donnie has two black labs, Millie and Lagniappe. He brought them over for a visit while we were there. There is a park right in front of Joey and Kerri's house so it is a great place for dogs and kids.
Lib and Donnie
Donnie with Millie and Lagniappe
Joey and Kerri prepared a great meal of cod, salmon, and vegetables followed by desert. We had a wonderful conversation catching up with each other's lives and talking politics and religion! The only thing missing was Dale. But, not a problem. Joe got out his iPad and used Face Time to bring Dale in the living room with the rest of us!
The grand-kids having a conversation with Granny on Face Time
Catching up with the Hairs and Donnie in Boulder was a lagniappe for us! One last thing, we've mentioned Alabama several times in this blog. Before we struck off for Boulder yesterday morning we stopped by a Safeway (Estes Park's only grocery store) and wouldn't you know it, there was a Colorado car with BAMA and Roll Tide decals! I guess you pick up a lot of fans when you win national championships. Anyway, I happened to be wearing my Alabama golf shirt and Lib wanted a picture of the Roll Tide car. Bob Douglass will like this photo!
Colorado Bama Fan
Now, we've finally caught up to present time on the blog. We've heard from several friends; talked to Missie this am who wondered if we had been eaten by a bear. And we talk to French, Carolyn and Linda regularly. Even though we are in a very remote place, Verizon is beaming in like a champ. Now, after a few errands, we are off to do the "Trail Ridge" in the park. This takes you to the highest peak in the park. We hope to see some wildlife...at a distance!
August 24, 2014 Sunday Colorado Springs, Colorado
Another travel day. We drove 320 miles from Dodge City to Colorado Springs. Big change in elevation and temperature! Finally, we are in the cool climates. The Goldfield RV Park is in a busy part of Colorado Springs, right off of I-25 so it is very convenient for what we needed. A place to stay the night and hit the road again the next day. Also, as a private park, we were packed in..very close quarters. We are neophytes at this travel trailer business so moving around in very tight quarters gets our attention. We had an early dinner, watched a movie, walked Maggie and went to bed.
On Monday, we took off for Estes Park, our destination in Colorado. But, first, we wanted to stop at the Air Force Academy and pay our respects at the grave of an old friend, Jeffrey Baker. Jeff and Shirley lived next door to us when we were in Arizona. Jeff graduated from the Air Force Academy and had just finished duty in Viet Nam when the AF sent him back to school at Arizona State to get a master's in economics. Jeff and Shirley had, at that time, two little children, Christine and Craig. They became dear friends. Jeff would often knock on our door to announce "Shirley has hot cookies!" Lib and I could never turn down Shirl's hot, homemade cookies. We bonded and when the family was on the way to the University of North Carolina, where the Air Force sent Jeff to get a Ph.D., they stopped and stayed with us when we were in Oxford, MS at Ole Miss. They had a new baby, Christopher. Jeff finished a career as an Economics Professor at the Air Force Academy and later became president of a Lutheran university in Iowa. Jeff died young with lung cancer and is buried in the Air Force Academy cemetery. Shirley is doing well and lives in Montana.
The Air Force Academy
After our Air Force Academy stop we were back on I-25 headed North. When we drove through Denver we made a phone call to one of our close friends, Paul Solomon. Paul and Jill live in Tampa and Paul is a Professor at the University of South Florida. Solly was one of the first people to visit us when we bought Creme Puff in Tampa last February. We thought of Solly when we were in Denver because he went to school at the University of Denver. Solly and I were classmates all through the Ph.D. program at Arizona State and we were together almost every day for over three years. We were pleased to learn he and Jill are doing great and enjoying their new home on Davis Island in Tampa.
We drove by Mile High Stadium and thought Peyton Manning would come out to say "hi." But, I guess he is busy practicing for the Bronco's next game. Rhonda, our GPS-lady, did a great job of getting us through the traffic through Denver and soon we were right in the middle of the University of Colorado campus in Boulder and then up the mountain to Estes Park.
Another travel day. We drove 320 miles from Dodge City to Colorado Springs. Big change in elevation and temperature! Finally, we are in the cool climates. The Goldfield RV Park is in a busy part of Colorado Springs, right off of I-25 so it is very convenient for what we needed. A place to stay the night and hit the road again the next day. Also, as a private park, we were packed in..very close quarters. We are neophytes at this travel trailer business so moving around in very tight quarters gets our attention. We had an early dinner, watched a movie, walked Maggie and went to bed.
On Monday, we took off for Estes Park, our destination in Colorado. But, first, we wanted to stop at the Air Force Academy and pay our respects at the grave of an old friend, Jeffrey Baker. Jeff and Shirley lived next door to us when we were in Arizona. Jeff graduated from the Air Force Academy and had just finished duty in Viet Nam when the AF sent him back to school at Arizona State to get a master's in economics. Jeff and Shirley had, at that time, two little children, Christine and Craig. They became dear friends. Jeff would often knock on our door to announce "Shirley has hot cookies!" Lib and I could never turn down Shirl's hot, homemade cookies. We bonded and when the family was on the way to the University of North Carolina, where the Air Force sent Jeff to get a Ph.D., they stopped and stayed with us when we were in Oxford, MS at Ole Miss. They had a new baby, Christopher. Jeff finished a career as an Economics Professor at the Air Force Academy and later became president of a Lutheran university in Iowa. Jeff died young with lung cancer and is buried in the Air Force Academy cemetery. Shirley is doing well and lives in Montana.
After our Air Force Academy stop we were back on I-25 headed North. When we drove through Denver we made a phone call to one of our close friends, Paul Solomon. Paul and Jill live in Tampa and Paul is a Professor at the University of South Florida. Solly was one of the first people to visit us when we bought Creme Puff in Tampa last February. We thought of Solly when we were in Denver because he went to school at the University of Denver. Solly and I were classmates all through the Ph.D. program at Arizona State and we were together almost every day for over three years. We were pleased to learn he and Jill are doing great and enjoying their new home on Davis Island in Tampa.
We drove by Mile High Stadium and thought Peyton Manning would come out to say "hi." But, I guess he is busy practicing for the Bronco's next game. Rhonda, our GPS-lady, did a great job of getting us through the traffic through Denver and soon we were right in the middle of the University of Colorado campus in Boulder and then up the mountain to Estes Park.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Saturday, August 23rd
Today was a travel day. We got up at 6:00 am and took off for Dodge City, Kansas. When you leave Tulsa going northwest the trees immediately become fewer and smaller. We still saw many working oil wells in northern Oklahoma. But the most striking part of the trip for us was the number of wind farms. Many large windmills dot the landscape in Kansas. We were glad to see that and hope they are contributing to the grid. By the time we got to Dodge City, you can tell we are beginning to enter the West. Open prairie and dry and dusty with plenty of wind. We are staying at the Gunsmoke RV park just down the street from the old town of Dodge City and Boot Hill. This is the city the TV show, Gunsmoke, was based on though it was fictional. The Long Branch Saloon is real and is right down the street. The saloon was a favorite watering hole for the cowboys and was frequented by characters like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp.
This RV Park is pretty nice and we have all the amenities; cable, wifi, etc. It looks like they cater primarily to people who are doing what we are doing...passing through. Many RVs have rolled in right behind us.
Tomorrow, we are off again to Colorado Springs, CO.
Today was a travel day. We got up at 6:00 am and took off for Dodge City, Kansas. When you leave Tulsa going northwest the trees immediately become fewer and smaller. We still saw many working oil wells in northern Oklahoma. But the most striking part of the trip for us was the number of wind farms. Many large windmills dot the landscape in Kansas. We were glad to see that and hope they are contributing to the grid. By the time we got to Dodge City, you can tell we are beginning to enter the West. Open prairie and dry and dusty with plenty of wind. We are staying at the Gunsmoke RV park just down the street from the old town of Dodge City and Boot Hill. This is the city the TV show, Gunsmoke, was based on though it was fictional. The Long Branch Saloon is real and is right down the street. The saloon was a favorite watering hole for the cowboys and was frequented by characters like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp.
This RV Park is pretty nice and we have all the amenities; cable, wifi, etc. It looks like they cater primarily to people who are doing what we are doing...passing through. Many RVs have rolled in right behind us.
Tomorrow, we are off again to Colorado Springs, CO.
Friday, August 22, 2014
OOOKKLLAAHOOOMMAA WHERE THE WIND COMES SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN...
August 21st and 22nd
Dennis Hoyer, my fraternity brother of 48 years ago (ouch!) picked us up at 9am and we took off across Tulsa to the University of Tulsa. I went to the University of Tulsa my Freshman and Sophomore years. Why did I go to TU? In those days my parents had an oil wholesaling company in Marshall County, AL (Albertville, Guntersville, etc.) and I assumed I would one day go into that business. Tulsa was known as the "Oil Capitol of the World" in those days (since moved to Houston) and TU offered a degree in petroleum marketing.
Tulsa University Quadrangle
My first week was "Rush Week" and it is going on now at TU. I pledged ATO and had a ball. Fortunately, the ATO's were the nerds of the campus and they really had study hall every night except Friday and Saturday. My first semester dorm mate, Bill Pugh from Racine, Wisconsin, wasn't as lucky. He pledged Sigma Chi which was known for having cock-fights and hazing pledges to the point where few made their grades. The last I saw of Bill, he was packing to go back to Racine.
We walked down fraternity row and by chance got into the building that was once the ATO house. Now it houses the Freshman football players. It was strange for me and Dennis to walk in the house where we were pledges and members of ATO; where we suffered through hazing (Oh, excuse me, "There is no hazing in ATO!").
Old ATO's in front of the old ATO House
We flourished among the nerds. Our chapter lost every intramural game except to the International students who didn't know the rules to any American sport. Thank goodness we didn't play soccer or we would have lost ALL the games. But study hall, only occasionally interrupted by the sounds coming from the Sigma Chi cock fights next door, paid off and our chapter won the President's trophy for highest GPA every year.
TU is a small private school (about 5,000) students but plays NCAA Division 1 football. I spent many hours in the McFarlin Library which is the centerpiece on the quadrangle of the University.
A highlight of the campus tour was going into my first dorm and going into a classroom where I took Economics I and II. I sat where I remembered sitting almost 50 years ago!! Mrs. Scheer was the professor and she was outstanding.
We ended up walking down sorority row and stopped at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Libbo was a Kappa at Alabama. She was immediately greeted by a Sister, Molly. Molly told Libbo "Oh, one of our sisters is from Birmingham!" with a big grin. You could tell she was getting herself ready for Rush and the onslaught of 18 year old freshmen girls.
I am so Haapppyyy that I ammm aaaa Kaaapppa!
After the tour of the university we had a leisurely lunch (I really like retirement) at a Japanese restaurant. Then, Dennis took us to Utica Square, an open-air shopping mall that was one of the first of its kind back in the 1960s. Tulsa is a beautiful city and very clean.
After a short rest and Maggie walk back at Creme Puff, Dennis and his wife, Jan came over for a visit. They took us out to a local fish market and restaurant. We had taken them to Joe Patti's when they visited us this last summer in Pensacola. Dennis told us this was the "Joe Patti's" of Tulsa. The restaurant/fish market opened in 1932 and the food was delicious. Libbo and I got smoked Salmon.
We got home about 8:00pm and both read our books until we went to sleep. Dennis sent me Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" after their visit to Pensacola. Its about walking the Appalachian Trail. It is an entertaining book with a lot of humor but also Bryson goes off into detailed descriptions based on research he's conducted. For example, he discusses bears and, in particular, bear attacks on humans. This is of particular interest to me since we are headed to bear country. I didn't know there are about 3,500 Grizzleys in North America and about 1,000 are in the continental U.S. mostly at Yellowstone National Park. Yikes! We are going to spend a week there!
They key point Bryson quotes about what we know about bear attacks is that they are totally unpredictable. Black bears are not supposed to be as bad or big as the Grizzleys but they have killed people and they can weigh 650 pounds. The scientific name for the Grizzley is Ursus horribilis. We need say no more. I plan on getting some bear spray and though I am against automatic weapons, I may have to break down and buy a couple of AK47's.
Other than being scared out of my wits about bears, the other thing Bryson has taught me is that walking the Appalachian Trail is not for sissies. In fact, it sounds very, very difficult and you stink a lot as bathing is rare on the trail. I am happy I did it when I was younger. Yes, I've done it. Have you? Last year, as we drove through the Smokey Mountains, we came upon the trail. I got out and walked down it. OK, so I only went about 15 feet but I DID walk the AT! And, thank goodness Missie was along with her Nikon. She took a picture of me "walking the trail" and even sent me a coffee mug with that picture on it. I drink out of that mug every morning and marvel at my accomplishment.
Friday, August 22nd
As planned Dennis arrived at 9:30 am and we were off to the Gilcrease Museum. Thomas Gilcrease was a guy who struck it rich in the Oklahoma oil fields in the early 1900's. He started collecting American Art and the Gilcrease Museum now has one of the finest collections. We spent several hours looking at paintings, sculptures and artifacts, and reading about them. Artists such as Remington, Homer, Peale (he was George Washington's portrait artist) are displayed. A highlight was seeing the works of Alexandre Hogue whose wife taught Dennis art when he was in school in Tulsa. He did a lot of the paintings depicting life during the Dust Bowl.
The great part of the day was meeting another fraternity brother from decades past. Larry Gill was one of my good friends in college. Like Dennis, before he came to see us in July, I had not seen Larry in 48 years. Larry being one of those petroleum marketing majors spent his life working in the petro industry and is now retired and grandfather of four.
A story I recall about Larry was that, after our formal dance (ATO's call it "The Black & White), Larry whispered to me that he was going home with the go-go dancer (for anyone under 60, Google it). "Early" the next morning, about 11 a.m., Larry's parents called wanting Larry. When Larry wasn't available they asked for me since they knew we were buds. I told them what any hungover, 18 year old would say: "Oh, Larry is here but a lot of guys are laying around on mattresses still asleep and I shouldn't disturb them." About an hour later, they called back and told me "If you don't put Larry on the phone we are going to call the police." At that point I had to break down and sheepishly tell them "Larry went home with the go-go dancer." In those days this was not done. Or, at least, no one ever admitted to it. Larry forgave me when he wandered in a couple of hours later. Today at lunch at the Gilcrease Museum, we both recalled the story and had a big laugh and then Larry added "Did you know I married that girl after you left!" Wow! What a story!
Larry Gill and Dennis Hoyer; Pledge Brothers (Thomas Gilcrease and daughter in photo)
My TU and Tulsa days ended when I went home to Alabama in the summer and happened to pay a visit to 1563 College Court where I saw my sweetheart, Libbo. Fortunately, she was between boyfriends even though I had to see her between two dates that day (yes, in the same day!). I was "Thunderstruck" and immediately transferred to Alabama to be with Libbo and I've been with her ever since!
In the evening we went to Dennis and Jan's house for dinner. Dennis has caught some trout and we were going to try his new recipe with Almond powder. Both Dennis and Jan love to fish and they are good at it. The trout were delicious. Maggie got to go as they are "dog folk." We had a wonderful dinner and conversation until too late!
Jan and Dennis Hoyer: Thank you both for a walk down memory lane!
We are off for two 300+ mile days. First stop is Marshall Dillion's town, Dodge City, where we are staying in the Gunsmoke RV Park and then off to Colorado Springs. Monday we should arrive at Rocky Mountain National Park for a week. Where can I buy those AK47s?
August 21st and 22nd
Dennis Hoyer, my fraternity brother of 48 years ago (ouch!) picked us up at 9am and we took off across Tulsa to the University of Tulsa. I went to the University of Tulsa my Freshman and Sophomore years. Why did I go to TU? In those days my parents had an oil wholesaling company in Marshall County, AL (Albertville, Guntersville, etc.) and I assumed I would one day go into that business. Tulsa was known as the "Oil Capitol of the World" in those days (since moved to Houston) and TU offered a degree in petroleum marketing.
My first week was "Rush Week" and it is going on now at TU. I pledged ATO and had a ball. Fortunately, the ATO's were the nerds of the campus and they really had study hall every night except Friday and Saturday. My first semester dorm mate, Bill Pugh from Racine, Wisconsin, wasn't as lucky. He pledged Sigma Chi which was known for having cock-fights and hazing pledges to the point where few made their grades. The last I saw of Bill, he was packing to go back to Racine.
We walked down fraternity row and by chance got into the building that was once the ATO house. Now it houses the Freshman football players. It was strange for me and Dennis to walk in the house where we were pledges and members of ATO; where we suffered through hazing (Oh, excuse me, "There is no hazing in ATO!").
We flourished among the nerds. Our chapter lost every intramural game except to the International students who didn't know the rules to any American sport. Thank goodness we didn't play soccer or we would have lost ALL the games. But study hall, only occasionally interrupted by the sounds coming from the Sigma Chi cock fights next door, paid off and our chapter won the President's trophy for highest GPA every year.
TU is a small private school (about 5,000) students but plays NCAA Division 1 football. I spent many hours in the McFarlin Library which is the centerpiece on the quadrangle of the University.
A highlight of the campus tour was going into my first dorm and going into a classroom where I took Economics I and II. I sat where I remembered sitting almost 50 years ago!! Mrs. Scheer was the professor and she was outstanding.
We ended up walking down sorority row and stopped at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Libbo was a Kappa at Alabama. She was immediately greeted by a Sister, Molly. Molly told Libbo "Oh, one of our sisters is from Birmingham!" with a big grin. You could tell she was getting herself ready for Rush and the onslaught of 18 year old freshmen girls.
After the tour of the university we had a leisurely lunch (I really like retirement) at a Japanese restaurant. Then, Dennis took us to Utica Square, an open-air shopping mall that was one of the first of its kind back in the 1960s. Tulsa is a beautiful city and very clean.
After a short rest and Maggie walk back at Creme Puff, Dennis and his wife, Jan came over for a visit. They took us out to a local fish market and restaurant. We had taken them to Joe Patti's when they visited us this last summer in Pensacola. Dennis told us this was the "Joe Patti's" of Tulsa. The restaurant/fish market opened in 1932 and the food was delicious. Libbo and I got smoked Salmon.
We got home about 8:00pm and both read our books until we went to sleep. Dennis sent me Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" after their visit to Pensacola. Its about walking the Appalachian Trail. It is an entertaining book with a lot of humor but also Bryson goes off into detailed descriptions based on research he's conducted. For example, he discusses bears and, in particular, bear attacks on humans. This is of particular interest to me since we are headed to bear country. I didn't know there are about 3,500 Grizzleys in North America and about 1,000 are in the continental U.S. mostly at Yellowstone National Park. Yikes! We are going to spend a week there!
They key point Bryson quotes about what we know about bear attacks is that they are totally unpredictable. Black bears are not supposed to be as bad or big as the Grizzleys but they have killed people and they can weigh 650 pounds. The scientific name for the Grizzley is Ursus horribilis. We need say no more. I plan on getting some bear spray and though I am against automatic weapons, I may have to break down and buy a couple of AK47's.
Other than being scared out of my wits about bears, the other thing Bryson has taught me is that walking the Appalachian Trail is not for sissies. In fact, it sounds very, very difficult and you stink a lot as bathing is rare on the trail. I am happy I did it when I was younger. Yes, I've done it. Have you? Last year, as we drove through the Smokey Mountains, we came upon the trail. I got out and walked down it. OK, so I only went about 15 feet but I DID walk the AT! And, thank goodness Missie was along with her Nikon. She took a picture of me "walking the trail" and even sent me a coffee mug with that picture on it. I drink out of that mug every morning and marvel at my accomplishment.
Friday, August 22nd
As planned Dennis arrived at 9:30 am and we were off to the Gilcrease Museum. Thomas Gilcrease was a guy who struck it rich in the Oklahoma oil fields in the early 1900's. He started collecting American Art and the Gilcrease Museum now has one of the finest collections. We spent several hours looking at paintings, sculptures and artifacts, and reading about them. Artists such as Remington, Homer, Peale (he was George Washington's portrait artist) are displayed. A highlight was seeing the works of Alexandre Hogue whose wife taught Dennis art when he was in school in Tulsa. He did a lot of the paintings depicting life during the Dust Bowl.
The great part of the day was meeting another fraternity brother from decades past. Larry Gill was one of my good friends in college. Like Dennis, before he came to see us in July, I had not seen Larry in 48 years. Larry being one of those petroleum marketing majors spent his life working in the petro industry and is now retired and grandfather of four.
A story I recall about Larry was that, after our formal dance (ATO's call it "The Black & White), Larry whispered to me that he was going home with the go-go dancer (for anyone under 60, Google it). "Early" the next morning, about 11 a.m., Larry's parents called wanting Larry. When Larry wasn't available they asked for me since they knew we were buds. I told them what any hungover, 18 year old would say: "Oh, Larry is here but a lot of guys are laying around on mattresses still asleep and I shouldn't disturb them." About an hour later, they called back and told me "If you don't put Larry on the phone we are going to call the police." At that point I had to break down and sheepishly tell them "Larry went home with the go-go dancer." In those days this was not done. Or, at least, no one ever admitted to it. Larry forgave me when he wandered in a couple of hours later. Today at lunch at the Gilcrease Museum, we both recalled the story and had a big laugh and then Larry added "Did you know I married that girl after you left!" Wow! What a story!
My TU and Tulsa days ended when I went home to Alabama in the summer and happened to pay a visit to 1563 College Court where I saw my sweetheart, Libbo. Fortunately, she was between boyfriends even though I had to see her between two dates that day (yes, in the same day!). I was "Thunderstruck" and immediately transferred to Alabama to be with Libbo and I've been with her ever since!
In the evening we went to Dennis and Jan's house for dinner. Dennis has caught some trout and we were going to try his new recipe with Almond powder. Both Dennis and Jan love to fish and they are good at it. The trout were delicious. Maggie got to go as they are "dog folk." We had a wonderful dinner and conversation until too late!
We are off for two 300+ mile days. First stop is Marshall Dillion's town, Dodge City, where we are staying in the Gunsmoke RV Park and then off to Colorado Springs. Monday we should arrive at Rocky Mountain National Park for a week. Where can I buy those AK47s?
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Fort Smith to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Today we drove the 130 miles from Ft. Smith, AR to Tulsa. We really enjoyed the park we had in Ft. Smith. Yesterday was a lay day. We planned on golfing but just never got "roun-2-it." Instead we ran some errands and we washed Creme Puff and Fiona. I think I already said we named the truck Fiona. Why? I'm not sure even though it starts with an F and so does Ford. But we like the name Fiona. One of my former grad students, Ashley Roberts, has a baby girl she named Fiona (her husband Tim is Irish). Ashley would bring her by to see me and that was a cute baby!
Washing Creme Puff in the Park
On Monday we decided to take Maggie to a local vet in Ft. Smith because it was clear that her allergies were beginning to get the best of her. We have to give her a shot every now and then and she hadn't had one since almost a year ago. One of the RV neighbors came over and volunteered local information and told us of the vet he has used. He had been in the Ft. Smith park a month so he knew some local info. So off to the Eastside Vet Clinic we went at our appointment time of 4pm. Three vets, two from LSU and one from Oklahoma State, local name is OSU. We got Dr. France (the OSU Cowboy, or should I say, Cowgirl). She was excellent at examining Maggie and talking to us about her ailments. Not knowing anything about raising children, we are pretty well versed in raising Scotties. We got the shot, dodged the Irish Setter who was bent on riding Maggie, and we were off.
We decided to spend the night watching some Netflix shows. I watched some of the Ken Burns series on the National Parks while Lib read. Then we both watched a recent episode of Orange is the New Black. Weird show but I guess we are hooked. Gotta see what happens to Piper!
The weather has been warning that our cool weather was leaving today and it did. We awoke to a much more humid morning but still cool in the shade in the am. We put the bridle on Fiona and got her ready to tow Creme Puff to Tulsa. The drive is only a little over a hundred miles so it should be an easy day.
We had an easy trip to Tulsa over some nice highways. The Muskogee Turnpike was smooth, quiet and didn't have a lot of traffic until we got near Tulsa. Tulsa is about 1 million in population so we knew the traffic would pick up and it did.
Arrived at Cherry Hill RV Park located near Cherry Creek just off the Arkansas River and not far from Tulsa shopping. Lib had already warned me that we had been out well over a week and we needed to do the laundry. Cherry Hill has a laundromat so after we got Creme Puff hooked up and got the AC running, took Mags for a short walk and had a quick lunch, we spent a couple of hours in the laundromat.
Laundromats are just part of our traveling experience. For 26 years we traveled on boats with Todd and Joy and we've spent many days doing the laundry. Joy still talks about spending one of her anniversary days in a Clearwater, FL laundromat. Lib says she never goes to one without thinking about Joy and the "Apalachicola Girl." But, don't feel too sorry for us; Lib took her book and I used the laundry wifi to make reservations in Dodge City and Colorado Springs...coming up.
Got any quarters?
Tomorrow, one of my fraternity brothers, Dennis Hoyer, is going to pick us up for a tour of Tulsa. I am really looking forward to walking around the Tulsa University campus that I lived on for two years. About 50 years this month, my parents brought me from Alabama to Tulsa and dropped me off for my freshman year. I remember thinking as I sat in that room in John Mabee Hall Dormitory, "I don't know how to do my laundry!" I know now.
We have a good site here. What is a good site? One where you have shade in the hot afternoon yet an open sky to the southwest where the Directv satellite sits. Yea!! We can watch satellite tonight and I can catch up with my talking head news shows. Other good things are to have water, sewer and, of course, electricity. There are some places you can go and there is nothing in terms of these utilities. We've learned campers call this "dry-camping". You have to use your holding tank and your self-contained water tanks. If you dry camp during the summer you've got to have a generator if you want AC. We have one but haven't opted for dry camping yet. We may do some of that out west but up in the mountains where you don't need AC. We have to thank our buddies, Wynn and Cindy Teasley for giving us lessons on camping. They are pros at it and so is Jackie Drewitt!
Some of my friends have asked me about the cost. If you stay in a State Park the fees are around $14 a night and, if you are over 65, you get half price. Thats right, only $7 a night. A private park like we are in tonight will run you from about $25 to $60 (the higher price is for a real premium site/park). The one we are in tonight is $34. So its a good bit cheaper than motels but then you have to factor in your RV cost. But, we really don't want to do that! Being boat owners for decades we have psychologically adjusted our brains to totally mis-perceiving the cost of boating. I must say, I've gotten pretty good at it.
Today we drove the 130 miles from Ft. Smith, AR to Tulsa. We really enjoyed the park we had in Ft. Smith. Yesterday was a lay day. We planned on golfing but just never got "roun-2-it." Instead we ran some errands and we washed Creme Puff and Fiona. I think I already said we named the truck Fiona. Why? I'm not sure even though it starts with an F and so does Ford. But we like the name Fiona. One of my former grad students, Ashley Roberts, has a baby girl she named Fiona (her husband Tim is Irish). Ashley would bring her by to see me and that was a cute baby!
On Monday we decided to take Maggie to a local vet in Ft. Smith because it was clear that her allergies were beginning to get the best of her. We have to give her a shot every now and then and she hadn't had one since almost a year ago. One of the RV neighbors came over and volunteered local information and told us of the vet he has used. He had been in the Ft. Smith park a month so he knew some local info. So off to the Eastside Vet Clinic we went at our appointment time of 4pm. Three vets, two from LSU and one from Oklahoma State, local name is OSU. We got Dr. France (the OSU Cowboy, or should I say, Cowgirl). She was excellent at examining Maggie and talking to us about her ailments. Not knowing anything about raising children, we are pretty well versed in raising Scotties. We got the shot, dodged the Irish Setter who was bent on riding Maggie, and we were off.
We decided to spend the night watching some Netflix shows. I watched some of the Ken Burns series on the National Parks while Lib read. Then we both watched a recent episode of Orange is the New Black. Weird show but I guess we are hooked. Gotta see what happens to Piper!
The weather has been warning that our cool weather was leaving today and it did. We awoke to a much more humid morning but still cool in the shade in the am. We put the bridle on Fiona and got her ready to tow Creme Puff to Tulsa. The drive is only a little over a hundred miles so it should be an easy day.
We had an easy trip to Tulsa over some nice highways. The Muskogee Turnpike was smooth, quiet and didn't have a lot of traffic until we got near Tulsa. Tulsa is about 1 million in population so we knew the traffic would pick up and it did.
Arrived at Cherry Hill RV Park located near Cherry Creek just off the Arkansas River and not far from Tulsa shopping. Lib had already warned me that we had been out well over a week and we needed to do the laundry. Cherry Hill has a laundromat so after we got Creme Puff hooked up and got the AC running, took Mags for a short walk and had a quick lunch, we spent a couple of hours in the laundromat.
Laundromats are just part of our traveling experience. For 26 years we traveled on boats with Todd and Joy and we've spent many days doing the laundry. Joy still talks about spending one of her anniversary days in a Clearwater, FL laundromat. Lib says she never goes to one without thinking about Joy and the "Apalachicola Girl." But, don't feel too sorry for us; Lib took her book and I used the laundry wifi to make reservations in Dodge City and Colorado Springs...coming up.
Got any quarters?
Tomorrow, one of my fraternity brothers, Dennis Hoyer, is going to pick us up for a tour of Tulsa. I am really looking forward to walking around the Tulsa University campus that I lived on for two years. About 50 years this month, my parents brought me from Alabama to Tulsa and dropped me off for my freshman year. I remember thinking as I sat in that room in John Mabee Hall Dormitory, "I don't know how to do my laundry!" I know now.
We have a good site here. What is a good site? One where you have shade in the hot afternoon yet an open sky to the southwest where the Directv satellite sits. Yea!! We can watch satellite tonight and I can catch up with my talking head news shows. Other good things are to have water, sewer and, of course, electricity. There are some places you can go and there is nothing in terms of these utilities. We've learned campers call this "dry-camping". You have to use your holding tank and your self-contained water tanks. If you dry camp during the summer you've got to have a generator if you want AC. We have one but haven't opted for dry camping yet. We may do some of that out west but up in the mountains where you don't need AC. We have to thank our buddies, Wynn and Cindy Teasley for giving us lessons on camping. They are pros at it and so is Jackie Drewitt!
Some of my friends have asked me about the cost. If you stay in a State Park the fees are around $14 a night and, if you are over 65, you get half price. Thats right, only $7 a night. A private park like we are in tonight will run you from about $25 to $60 (the higher price is for a real premium site/park). The one we are in tonight is $34. So its a good bit cheaper than motels but then you have to factor in your RV cost. But, we really don't want to do that! Being boat owners for decades we have psychologically adjusted our brains to totally mis-perceiving the cost of boating. I must say, I've gotten pretty good at it.
Monday, August 18, 2014
To Fort Smith Sunday, August 17th
We left Hot Springs after a restful four days. We spent most of yesterday just hanging out, reading books, and swimming in the lake. This morning we hooked up Creme Puff and left for a 118 mile journey through the middle of the Quachita National Forest. It was a beautiful drive with tree covered mountains on each side of the road. I would liken it to a drive through the Smokies but with shorter mountains!
We get "off the Interstate" a lot. One sight that caught our eyes was the scene in the photo below. It reminded me of one of those "The Far Side" cartoons. What do you think about my caption? Maybe you have a better one?
Wayne Earl had every intention of getting his Chevy Pick-up running the very next week when it quit running in August, 1953.
I must thank Michelle Steward for helping us to see this. Michelle encourages us to find unusual things for photos. Of course, the above scene could be found in rural Alabama, Florida, Georgia, etc. Greg Martin, one of my academic colleagues is from Arkansas and we used to swap funny tales of Arkansas and Alabama. The stories are interchangeable.
Here in Ft. Smith, we are staying in another state park run by the Army Corps of Engineers. We again have a nice site with a reservoir off the Arkansas River in our back yard. Very pleasant park and plenty of other RVs around. Its also a great location because within minutes you are "in town" in Ft. Smith with 10 minutes to Lowe's, Dillards, Harp's (their grocery chain), Panera Bread and the usual fair of box stores. One thing we've noticed in rural areas is that Dollar Stores are everywhere and, usually either next door or across the street is a Family Dollar store!
Springhill Park is right off the Arkansas River. Libbo is walking Maggie in our backyard.
So we are off to see the people that brought us through Ft. Smith. Cliff Scott was one of my PhD. students at LSU. Cliff was one of the brightest students I ever had. After graduation he taught on the east coast then the west coast and then was off doing hi-tech marketing during the Dot Com boom and traveled all over the world. When the Dot Com boom was over, Cliff decided to go to law school. Having blown the roof off the LSAT he decided to go to the University of Colorado Law School where he got his JD. When he got out he decided he didn't want to practice law but to go back into academics and do research on the legal aspects of marketing. That is exactly what he has been dong and has been turning out A+ research. He met Tina while both were in a Little Theater production and they married last September. Tina is the Living Section editor for the Ft. Smith newspaper, and has been in the media business for years. They just bought a home and are going through renovations.
We visited Cliff and Tina in their new home.
We had a fun evening together reminiscing about old days and hearing new stories about their courtship. Cliff was in 5 Little Theater plays his first year here. We had dinner at Rolando's; great South American food and several vegetarian plates on the menu.
Dinner with Tina and Cliff Scott at Rolando's in Ft. Smith, Arkansas
Monday, August 18th
Today is another pretty day and we've decided to give Creme Puff a bath as well as Maggie. So we are off to do our chores and hopefully work in some golf later on.
We left Hot Springs after a restful four days. We spent most of yesterday just hanging out, reading books, and swimming in the lake. This morning we hooked up Creme Puff and left for a 118 mile journey through the middle of the Quachita National Forest. It was a beautiful drive with tree covered mountains on each side of the road. I would liken it to a drive through the Smokies but with shorter mountains!
We get "off the Interstate" a lot. One sight that caught our eyes was the scene in the photo below. It reminded me of one of those "The Far Side" cartoons. What do you think about my caption? Maybe you have a better one?
I must thank Michelle Steward for helping us to see this. Michelle encourages us to find unusual things for photos. Of course, the above scene could be found in rural Alabama, Florida, Georgia, etc. Greg Martin, one of my academic colleagues is from Arkansas and we used to swap funny tales of Arkansas and Alabama. The stories are interchangeable.
Here in Ft. Smith, we are staying in another state park run by the Army Corps of Engineers. We again have a nice site with a reservoir off the Arkansas River in our back yard. Very pleasant park and plenty of other RVs around. Its also a great location because within minutes you are "in town" in Ft. Smith with 10 minutes to Lowe's, Dillards, Harp's (their grocery chain), Panera Bread and the usual fair of box stores. One thing we've noticed in rural areas is that Dollar Stores are everywhere and, usually either next door or across the street is a Family Dollar store!
So we are off to see the people that brought us through Ft. Smith. Cliff Scott was one of my PhD. students at LSU. Cliff was one of the brightest students I ever had. After graduation he taught on the east coast then the west coast and then was off doing hi-tech marketing during the Dot Com boom and traveled all over the world. When the Dot Com boom was over, Cliff decided to go to law school. Having blown the roof off the LSAT he decided to go to the University of Colorado Law School where he got his JD. When he got out he decided he didn't want to practice law but to go back into academics and do research on the legal aspects of marketing. That is exactly what he has been dong and has been turning out A+ research. He met Tina while both were in a Little Theater production and they married last September. Tina is the Living Section editor for the Ft. Smith newspaper, and has been in the media business for years. They just bought a home and are going through renovations.
We had a fun evening together reminiscing about old days and hearing new stories about their courtship. Cliff was in 5 Little Theater plays his first year here. We had dinner at Rolando's; great South American food and several vegetarian plates on the menu.
Monday, August 18th
Today is another pretty day and we've decided to give Creme Puff a bath as well as Maggie. So we are off to do our chores and hopefully work in some golf later on.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Hot Springs Arkansas
We arrived in Hot Springs on Wednesday, August 13th from Keatchi, LA. We are camped at Brady Mountain State Park. This is a park where you only have electricity at your site so you have to use your own water and holding tank until you get ready to leave. We always seek a site with trees for shade and this one is so shady we can't get any satellite reception. We are in the woods but by the lake.
Creme Puff on Lake Ouachita
John Summey, one of my Arizona State buddies, tells me my paragraphs are too long so I'm going to try and shorten them.
On Thursday we went to the National Park which is very large but includes a part of downtown Hot Springs. We toured the baths and soaked for about an hour and a half. Very relaxing just like a hot tub. The waters are heated in the earth and come out in springs and they are captured by a row of bath houses. The temperature of the water coming out of the earth is about 140 degrees but the bath houses waters are a little over 100 degrees.
Lib enjoying a Hot Springs hot bath!
Today we played golf at a course that was once a horse track in the early 1900s. Essex Park was built a few miles out of town and patrons would come by rail. The word is the local downtown businessmen didn't like it being so far out so they built a track close to town. By coincidence Essex Park burned to the ground the day before the new park was to open. Sounds like House of Cards, eh?
Essex Park is not a golfer's course but it was fun and has a lot of history...and water!
We are off to swim in the lake with Maggie this afternoon. Maggie seems to be enjoying camping but she sleeps a lot. I probably will too if I can make it to my 90s.
Really enjoying reading the new Paul Finebaum book (high literature for Alabamians). Thank you French and Carolyn for the birthday present!
We leave here on Sunday for Ft. Smith to visit my former student, Cliff Scott and his new bride. Then we are off to Tulsa to see Dennis and Jan and hopefully find some of my other old fraternity brothers!
We arrived in Hot Springs on Wednesday, August 13th from Keatchi, LA. We are camped at Brady Mountain State Park. This is a park where you only have electricity at your site so you have to use your own water and holding tank until you get ready to leave. We always seek a site with trees for shade and this one is so shady we can't get any satellite reception. We are in the woods but by the lake.
John Summey, one of my Arizona State buddies, tells me my paragraphs are too long so I'm going to try and shorten them.
On Thursday we went to the National Park which is very large but includes a part of downtown Hot Springs. We toured the baths and soaked for about an hour and a half. Very relaxing just like a hot tub. The waters are heated in the earth and come out in springs and they are captured by a row of bath houses. The temperature of the water coming out of the earth is about 140 degrees but the bath houses waters are a little over 100 degrees.
Today we played golf at a course that was once a horse track in the early 1900s. Essex Park was built a few miles out of town and patrons would come by rail. The word is the local downtown businessmen didn't like it being so far out so they built a track close to town. By coincidence Essex Park burned to the ground the day before the new park was to open. Sounds like House of Cards, eh?
We are off to swim in the lake with Maggie this afternoon. Maggie seems to be enjoying camping but she sleeps a lot. I probably will too if I can make it to my 90s.
Really enjoying reading the new Paul Finebaum book (high literature for Alabamians). Thank you French and Carolyn for the birthday present!
We leave here on Sunday for Ft. Smith to visit my former student, Cliff Scott and his new bride. Then we are off to Tulsa to see Dennis and Jan and hopefully find some of my other old fraternity brothers!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Stonewall and Keatchi Louisiana
Yesterday we drove another 260 miles to Stonewall to Twin Corners RV Park. Had a beautiful day, but just like yesterday, were greeted by a thunderstorm just as we got here. We came here to see our friends, Tom and Mary Nesbitt. Tom has an ALS-type disease and is now bedridden. He and Mary have taught us all a lesson in how to handle debilitating disease. Very similar to the way they taught us how to live life. We met them when we sailed to Isla Mujeres Mexico with Todd and Joy back in the early 90s. They were on the end of a year long sail brought about by the 80's recession in the oil states. They lived in Shreveport. Mary was a realtor and Tom was a HVAC engineer. No houses were selling and there was little need for HVAC so, after reading the book, Passages South, they bought a 50' Gulfstar ketch, having never sailed, learned how to sail, and followed the passage through the Caribbean. Always seeking friends and relationships, Tom and daughter Rebecca, came over to our sailboat the first morning we were there and invited us to dinner on their boat, Carpe Diem. We have been friends since. Tom and Mary actually moved to Pensacola and lived next door to us for a couple of years. Later they settled on Mary's family land in Keatchi. We are excited about seeing them and daughter, Rebecca who is now married and has two children.
Stonewall is a small, rural community. This RV Park, like many businesses around here, was created to support the fracking boom that came to this part of the state. We met the owner, Curtis, who is an old guy..at least he has white hair and is balding. Opps, guess that describes someone else I know! Curtis told us he has lived on this land since he was 11. That probably explains why the road is Curtis Road. His daughter answers the phone when you call Twin Corners and son-in-law, John, comes to give you a site and collect. Its $20.00 a day. Pretty good for electricity, sewer and water. Plus, many of the fracking workers left their satellite dishes behind so I hooked up and we have Direct TV without having to get out our portable dish!
So we arrived at Tom and Mary's house this morning. We spent some time with Tom and I got some private moments to "talk" with Tom. It is hard to write about it. He is someone we both will always admire.
We also had a very busy day with Mary. She first put us in her golf cart and drove us through her woods showing us her new walking/horseriding trails she's had cut through the forest. We drove through the hay fields that have been setback by army worms brought on by the recent rains and cool weather but have since been poisoned. Then she saddled up the pony she and Tom gave their grandaughter, Francesca. The pony is named Lovee Sweetie Prosino. He was a sweet pony who gave us all a ride in the pony cart.
Mary and Libbo whipped up a delicious lunch of spaghetti squash grown in Mary's garden.
In the afternoon Mary came over to see Creme Puff and then we got ready to go to Shreveport to visit with Rebecca, Giovanni, Francesca, and Luca. It was Ron's first time to meet Giovanni and he lived up to all the hype he had been given, and more. Margaret Fontaine, always a lot of fun, came over and we all went out to dinner. Margaret, an octogenarian, told me "These young waitresses always ask "Would you like coffee, tea, milk or, perhaps a little bit of wine? I tell em' No, I'd like a Tanqueray and tonic." Love that Margaret!
Mary, Margaret, Rebecca, Luca, Francesca, Giovanni, and Libbo
We left Tom and Mary's lovely "Homeport" in the early evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
The home that Tom and Mary built...Homeport!
Yesterday we drove another 260 miles to Stonewall to Twin Corners RV Park. Had a beautiful day, but just like yesterday, were greeted by a thunderstorm just as we got here. We came here to see our friends, Tom and Mary Nesbitt. Tom has an ALS-type disease and is now bedridden. He and Mary have taught us all a lesson in how to handle debilitating disease. Very similar to the way they taught us how to live life. We met them when we sailed to Isla Mujeres Mexico with Todd and Joy back in the early 90s. They were on the end of a year long sail brought about by the 80's recession in the oil states. They lived in Shreveport. Mary was a realtor and Tom was a HVAC engineer. No houses were selling and there was little need for HVAC so, after reading the book, Passages South, they bought a 50' Gulfstar ketch, having never sailed, learned how to sail, and followed the passage through the Caribbean. Always seeking friends and relationships, Tom and daughter Rebecca, came over to our sailboat the first morning we were there and invited us to dinner on their boat, Carpe Diem. We have been friends since. Tom and Mary actually moved to Pensacola and lived next door to us for a couple of years. Later they settled on Mary's family land in Keatchi. We are excited about seeing them and daughter, Rebecca who is now married and has two children.
Stonewall is a small, rural community. This RV Park, like many businesses around here, was created to support the fracking boom that came to this part of the state. We met the owner, Curtis, who is an old guy..at least he has white hair and is balding. Opps, guess that describes someone else I know! Curtis told us he has lived on this land since he was 11. That probably explains why the road is Curtis Road. His daughter answers the phone when you call Twin Corners and son-in-law, John, comes to give you a site and collect. Its $20.00 a day. Pretty good for electricity, sewer and water. Plus, many of the fracking workers left their satellite dishes behind so I hooked up and we have Direct TV without having to get out our portable dish!
So we arrived at Tom and Mary's house this morning. We spent some time with Tom and I got some private moments to "talk" with Tom. It is hard to write about it. He is someone we both will always admire.
We also had a very busy day with Mary. She first put us in her golf cart and drove us through her woods showing us her new walking/horseriding trails she's had cut through the forest. We drove through the hay fields that have been setback by army worms brought on by the recent rains and cool weather but have since been poisoned. Then she saddled up the pony she and Tom gave their grandaughter, Francesca. The pony is named Lovee Sweetie Prosino. He was a sweet pony who gave us all a ride in the pony cart.
We left Tom and Mary's lovely "Homeport" in the early evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
The home that Tom and Mary built...Homeport!
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