5700 Miles
Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut
Bents Old Fort, CO
Santa Fe Trail Ruts, KS
Dodge City, KS
Fort Scott, KS
Cuba, Hicks BBQ, MO
Graftons Amish Village, IN
Airstream Factory, Jackson Center, OH
Sirnas’ Market, OH
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, OH
East Aurora - Roycroft, NY
Watkins Glen, Finger Lakes
Seneca Lake Wineries, NY
West Hartford Mall, CT
Gettysburg Battlefield, PA
PA's Lincoln Highway (50)
Coffee Pot, Bendford, PA
Flight 93 Memorial, PA
Indianapolis 500 Museum, IN
Arrow Rock, MO
Lexington Battlefield, MO
Jesse James Home, MO
Watkins Woolen Mill, MO
Chrysler Home, Ellis KS
Boggsville, Kit Carson Home, CO
Tuesday, Aug. 11
Drove to Bent’s Fort. Camped at John Martin Reservoir. All day drive, 325+ miles
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Kansas - visit to Dodge City, and saw Santa Fe Wagon Ruts. Camped near Wichita at Cheney Reservoir, only ones in huge loop, gigantic oaks. Screaming cicadas. Warm but not killer. Loving the a/c. All day drive.
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| The touristy center of Dodge City, Kansas |
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| Had to see this in Kansas! |
Thursday, Aug. 13
Toured Fort Scott in east Kansas, camped in town at County Park. Neat old park, only ones there in very small campground. Again, glad for a/c.
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| Fort Scott restored officer's quarters. |
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| Gunn County Park in Fort Scott. very old, like 1910... |
Friday, Aug. 14
Drove awful interstates around the south of St. Louis, saw the arch from the Illinois interstate. Horrible roads, camped at Illinois' Eldon Hazlet Park. Huge park, huge lake, very busy. Another long day of driving.
Saturday, Aug. 15
Indiana, drove historic highway 50, old stagecoach road, you can tell… camped at Brown County State Park. Very old park, huge campground that was very busy. Spot given too sloped, had to re-setup in another, better spot. Long day of driving.
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| Actually nice enough to sit outside. At least while grilling. |
Ohio - Jackson Center for Airstream factory visit, camped in the terraport. Got tour. Got some trailer tweaks. Met neighbors with similar trailer and had margs.
Tuesday & Wednesday, Aug. 18 - 19
Ohio, short drive to east of Cleveland to Punderson State Park for two nights. Again had to reset up - original site didn’t have 30 am for a/c. Pretty warm and humid here, no breeze, tried to sit outside, but ugh, went inside. Sarni’s Italian Sausage from local market, very good. Next day: Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Great! Lunch at a trendy Taco place and then to a mall. Pretty area, hilly, country, farms, old houses.
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| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland. |
Thursday, Aug. 20
Pa - NY: Went from Cleveland to Darien Lakes near Clarence in driving rain, on an interstate, pulling the trailer, along barricade walls and construction. Needless to say I think I held my breath the entire way. Darien busy and had to move spots, worthless staff at park office. Ended up moving twice for three days in one place. Got to Andreas Thursday night and met up with Becky and Tim, Maggie and all went out for delicious pizza. Came back and all helped create Barb's birthday menu ...and did laundry.
Friday, Aug. 21
Bec came to trailer at camp then we went to EA in separate cars (girls won GPS race). Bec couldn't check in yet so ran in to Bob and Cindy and went to lunch at Charlie's diner. Then the race was on to buy wine for the first surprise party at Andreas, fight traffic and be back by whenever. We did it, went to Meichenbaum house for staging… By now Vic and Bob in town, along with Mike C and Dave C and Joanna. After a short shocker that Michael H wasn't there yet, we piled into cars and drove over, walked around behind her house and with a singing alert from Vic, rounded the corner—totally caught her by surprise!
Saturday, Aug. 22
The main event, but B woke up very sick. Went to her house to check in, then went to lunch with dad, bec and bob and cindy at Brothers (sat inside on a beautiful day), then Bec drove us in her blue skate out to see the new campground to make sure it was ok. Did a little Main Street shopping , changed at the Hampton to be ready for the 5:30 surprise party at Wallenweins. Earlier I slipped in the shower and jammed my left little toe so limping around.
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| Happy Birthday Aunt B |
Moved from Darien to Coulder Lakes to the south just 9 miles away, with a tour stop on King street so family could see trailer. Went to the Roycoft art show and toured some of the old buildings and antiques like I always have to do. Spaghetti bash, looked around the attic, a hat photo shoot, played banagrams in teams with the kids, loudly. The peristyle was always the main gathering place.
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| Look, found some old hats in the attic. Just add wine... |
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| After spaghetti Team Bananagrams! |
Monday, Aug. 24
Dad came to see camp with Cindy and Bob, then we all went to Bar Bill for lunch, did some Vidler shopping. Dinner with everyone and Sue and Larry at old place in Orchard Park. Got custard on the way back, yum. Picked up knitting at B's and back to camp. Everyone whipped.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Left for Finger Lakes thru back country roads, beautiful drives, gained some elevation. Stayed two nights at Watkins Glen State Park, can't believe he got the trailer into the spot—and a guy walked over and said "well done." But to make it easy when we left we went out the wrong way thru the loop but no problem, no oncoming traffic. Went back into and accidentally drove to the old salt mine, then after cruising around the old town saw the Cannoli Shop! Got four of the best ones I've ever had. They didn't last long.
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Did a morning walk of the park's canyon and waterfalls, very busy, not too warm but humid. Had on jeans but warmed up by the time we were done. Heavy gray skies continue. Later did three wineries, Pompous Ass, Glenora and Lakewood, stocked up with about 7 bottles or so.
Thursday, Aug. 27
Left for Connecticut, driving some country roads at first, then on to the interstate all the way. Harrowing as it was around new york city area… set up iPhone battery replacement for Saturday at Hartford mall. Camped in old neighborhood at Little City Campground in Higganum, very neat old area in a privately owned park. Went to Blue Coyote for dinner but not very hungry after our usual margarita happy hour. Neat old cemetery but never got to get into it.
Friday, Aug. 28
In Connecticut Bill's friend PJ came over about noon and they chatted while I worked, then we all went to a late lunch at a place on the Connecticut River (Canoe Club i think), nice day to be outside.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Drove north to West Hartford to meet up with PJ for lunch at Plan B, great little place and said our goodbyes there and went to the mall. Battery and shopped at the world's slowest Macys. West Farms Mall, and it was packed. PJ mentioned an italian section so we drove more into downtown and found it, Mozzicato Bakery in an iffy neighborhood so we, of course, stocked up. This has to be the last time.
Sunday, Aug. 30
Drove from Hartford south toward coast (never saw it), busy interstate all the way to Gettysburg. 330 miles of HEAVY traffic, shitty roads and construction, and NY NJ drivers! UGH hated it, but made it in one piece thank God. Camped a half mile from Gettysburg visitor center at RV resort called Artillery Ridge. Great location, old place.
Monday, Aug. 31
After a visit to the visitor center for a CD, we did a full toured the battlefield. Monument after monument help tell the story of the Confederates attempt to get a foothold, but it wasn't to be. Dinner at Blue and Gray at the “diamond.”
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| At the Gettysburg National Cemetery |
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| Gettysburg, the "High Water Mark" |
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Drove the Lincoln Highway out of Gettysburg, missed the round barn store, damn. Too late to turn around without a fight... Drove a good portion of the Lincoln Highway seeing some great historic sights, and also stopped to visit the Flight 93 Memorial. Camped south of Pittsburgh at Charleroi at Pine Cove beach club, a private campground place with huge pool off the interstate. Hot out.
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| Pied Piper Roadside attraction of the Lincoln Highway, PA |
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| Flight 93 Memorial wall section, with note of unborn child not in black. |
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| Buck Creek SP |
Wednesday, Sept. 2
More interstate driving, he likes it to gain ground, and fewer curves; I hate it cuz we miss everything, and did miss the Zanesville Pottery, didn’t know it was a big deal. This is why he likes driving the interstates -- truck don't stop… Got a very late start at 11 am cuz I had to work but made it to Springfield Ohio’s Buck Creek State Park, really nice, paved sites, elec $26. Too bad it's too hot to sit outside once again, but we did a short walk to see the lake. Saw some ladies feeding feral cats, some whitetail deer then eating the catfood, and a field full of robins and one bright red cardinal.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Today we toured the Indy Museum in the infield of the tracking Indianapolis. And hurrah the end of the all-day interstate. A small old-style area but packed with probably millions of dollars of winning cars! didn't take long to see but enjoyed it. It is blazing outside so museums are a prefect idea. Kept going west cuz there was time and ended up at Cecil M. Harden Lake and Raccoon State Park. We found a loop for ourselves and took the handicap spot! Far away from the campfires, which stink. People sit around campfires in 88 degree weather. Plenty of room today but they will be filled for the weekend. Tried to get to the lake thru the woods but when a skeeter was on me that was it, ran back up and out. Pretty reservoir with irregular shape, CCC work.
Friday, Sept. 4
Leaving the Raccoon Park area through farm after farm, we saw a covered bridge or two.
Been trying to snap photos out the windows of the towns and homes. Today we toured the Lincoln Museum in Springfield. Didn't get into the library but that would have been interesting too. Upon the advice of a lady in Gettysburg who said this is the best museum she has ever seen, we decided to go, and so glad we did. The exhibits were excellent, it was like being in Disney. So many artifacts.
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| Lincoln's gloves the night of the assassination. |
Pittsfield, IL City Park campground tonight, every other place full, a city campground. Came in the back way, on limestone rock to make a dust storm, panicked at the sight of a full campground, but a gal told us there was another loop further up. So thankfully there was a spot or two left for us. In the middle of nowhere and family-full for Labor Day. Again too hot to be outside so stayed in, cooked and watched a movie. I stayed in but apparently Bill and the trailer were the talk of the camp when he walked outside. Interviews.
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| Tight squeeze at the end of the bridge. Glad they waited, 3 of them. |
Blazing hot by 10am as we were at the dump station… today we head toward Kansas City, and with some research and the help of History Here, I found several interesting sites and commanded a stop! Off the Interstate 70 (yes back on in parts), Arrow Rock, the location of the start of the Santa Fe Trail! And today they were having an ice cream fundraiser so we timed it perfectly: bill had lunch in the trailer and came along at exactly 2pm when the contest began -- and I went to the yarn shop (Three Irish Girls yarns discovery). Wish we had more time but it was a small place and wanted to get on to the confederate place. As it turned out, ran out of time, found a place to camp at Odessa (Country Gardens on the interstate, also a Cheese Shop), private off interstate, but paved and perfect, dinner at Mexican across the highway at the “outlet mall” and tomorrow we do the rest: Lexington Battlefield, Watkins Woolen Mill and Jesse James. Still blazing hot, not sitting outside.
Sunday, Sept. 6
Camped at Watkins Mill Campground after tour of Lexington MO Battleground historic house (didn't want to wait around for the house tour). Again blazing hot, but after camp, drove the short 4 miles to Jesse James house, then Bill went to the lake and I toured the wool mill. I have no idea how anyone survived those 90s temps in a closed up brick mill but somehow we made it out alive, but barely. Insane heat. And they guy next to us had a smoky fire going all day and night in 90s weather. stupid.
Monday, Sept. 7
Camped at Ellis, Kansas, in a small city part, but it was on the water, elec and water AND wifi. Not bad. Very small little old RR town, and home of Chrysler boy. Saw his boyhood home. Went to the one little grocery in town and the flies kept me away from open produce…
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Camped at Martin Reservoir again (mosquito town). Drove over for a tour of Boggsville, an old Santa Fe Trail settle ment as well as Kit Carson's last home. very interesting, preserved as best they can. It was closed so we self-toured.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 - HOME!
Temps were cooling off by Alamosa, so good to be back!! And my cosmos are still just opening.
