Arrived home just after 6 p.m., after a fabulous two month adventure. Had a great time, but we were both ready to come home.
Once we got past Flagstaff, we had wonderful driving weather the rest of the way. The van performed admirably, although it does need a wash!
Now it's time to go through the mail, and the bills, and the other reading material. And, within two hours of arriving home we had fielded two phone calls from P.C. leadership candidates looking for our support. "Big Brother" must have told them we were home! You can "unsubscribe" from emails, but the phone is a tougher cookie to silence.
Now I have to get organized and packed for my golf trip to Florida with the guys, leaving at 4:30 a.m. on Friday. Won't be blogging about my scores on that trip.........self flagellation wears on you.
So, until the next big adventure, we're shutting the blog down. Thanks for riding along with us this time. Hope you enjoyed the trip!
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Monday, February 26, 2018
Day 63 - February 26, 2018 - Ruminations
Before we checked out of the Drury Inn, I thought I would take a couple of pictures.
Our view as we exit our room overlooking the lobby.
And an elevator with a window.
We're still in the old Route 66 corridor. That will end after we pass St. Louis - Route 66 will turn more to the north, toward Chicago, but we're heading more easterly to Indianapolis, Port Huron/Sarnia and home.
When we checked TV channels here, there were many religious ones to choose from. In the car, it seemed that about half were religious...and it's Monday!
Churches and other symbols were plentiful.
Philosophy Item #1:
I'm not sure my diverse family would be welcome in most Missouri locales! And, I'm sure that Mardi and I, living in sin as it were, would not be looked on kindly either.
But, these righteous people seem to be able to accommodate voting for, and cheering on, a President who:
Our view as we exit our room overlooking the lobby.
And an elevator with a window.
We're still in the old Route 66 corridor. That will end after we pass St. Louis - Route 66 will turn more to the north, toward Chicago, but we're heading more easterly to Indianapolis, Port Huron/Sarnia and home.
When we checked TV channels here, there were many religious ones to choose from. In the car, it seemed that about half were religious...and it's Monday!
Churches and other symbols were plentiful.
Philosophy Item #1:
I'm not sure my diverse family would be welcome in most Missouri locales! And, I'm sure that Mardi and I, living in sin as it were, would not be looked on kindly either.
But, these righteous people seem to be able to accommodate voting for, and cheering on, a President who:
- committed (is probably still committing) multiple consensual adulterous affairs
- committed numerous non-consensual sexual assaults
- probably committed criminal money laundering
- is a narcissistic, pathological liar
- may be a white supremacist (his father probably bought his way out of a conviction for marching with the KKK)
- may have committed conspiracy, even treason, with the Russians whom he refuses to sanction.
Interesting people. Interesting times!
Item Two:
Today we heard that the President's re-election committee is using a picture of him visiting a victim of the Parkland massacre to raise money for his campaign. Disgusting!
Item Three:
President Trump wants school teachers to be armed with concealed weapons. Can you imagine what would happen if/when a teacher accidentally shoots an innocent student while trying to shoot an intruder? How about being a black teacher and holding a gun when the police burst in....how long do you think you have to live?
Item Four:
Now that the Mueller probe has a guilty plea from Rick Gates, the pundits think that Paul Manafort will be next, and can't understand why he doesn't also plead guilty to avoid a life sentence. How about maybe he's been promised a pardon by President Trump? If so, he needs to think - when his trial finally winds up (it could take years) will one of the following scenarios have taken place?
- will Trump be impeached?
- will he read the tea leaves and decide to declare his first term a total success and not run again?
- will he run and be defeated?
Think carefully Mr. Manafort!
Item Five:
Kansas is debating a law that would reduce the age to purchase a gun from 21 to 18. Unbelievable!
Item Five:
Kansas is debating a law that would reduce the age to purchase a gun from 21 to 18. Unbelievable!
OK, we move on. We passed the St. Louis Arch.
And the mighty Mississippi....
before heading into corn stubble country in Illinois. No pictures...corn stubble looks the same all over, just bigger fields here.
Tonight we are in another Drury Inn, in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. Potato and bacon soup, chicken tenders and salad, three small glasses of Chardonnay. And a hot breakfast coming up in the morning. How civilized!
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Day 62 - February 25, 2018 - Nothing to report
We crossed Texas and Colorado, ending up in Springfield, Missouri. Nothing special to report except that we had good weather.
Staying in a Drury Hotel again. Great format as previously reported.
Tomorrow we head past St. Louis and eventually into Michigan.
Staying in a Drury Hotel again. Great format as previously reported.
Tomorrow we head past St. Louis and eventually into Michigan.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Day 61 - February 24, 2018 - Standing On The Corner
Our first task after breakfast at the hotel was to find the brick that Roger had purchased to be placed in Standing On The Corner Park. For those young folk who only know rap music, the Eagles made the song "Take It Easy" popular. And, it's lines "Well, I'm standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see. It's a girl my Lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin' down to take a look at me." were seized upon by the city of Winslow as it tried to recover from being bypassed by the interstate I-40.
They created a park on a corner of old Route 66, complete with a flatbed Ford.
Although I had seen it before, finding the brick proved to be a challenge. Part of the problem for me was that they had installed a second statue, this one of Glenn Frey of the Eagles, in 2016, and some bricks had been relocated as a result. The other part was the snow and ice that had arrived overnight. So, Mardi and I spent half an hour taking turns sweeping the bricks.
After twice around checking all the bricks, I was successful in finding the one I wanted.
It had been relocated when they installed the new statue.
For the benefit of those who come after, Mardi is indicating the position of the brick relative to the statue.
We were then free to continue our journey, entering New Mexico later in the morning.
I was quite proud of myself for finding these animals on the rocks...
...until Mardi pointed out that they were fake.
That setback aside, we were both mesmerized by the scenery in New Mexico. And a visit to an information booth cemented our resolve to make a special trip to this state in the (near) future to explore and hike, particularly the west and south quadrant of the state.
At a municipal location called Continental Divide, we exited the Interstate and took an 87 mile scenic drive down Route 66. Also made a couple of purchases of native pottery.
This section of the Mother Road ended at Grants, N.M.
...where they have erected a photo op.
Some towns, such as Grants and Santa Rosa have successfully built a tourist trade around the Route 66 theme. Others, such as Tucumcari (as you will see later) are still dying.
The following business (museum) proved very interesting!
How about a front end loader Edsel?
And we even found 'Mater!
The movie series starting with "Cars" certainly helped to publicize and romanticize Route 66, but, even in the successful towns, failed businesses are still common and, in Tucumcari, even more have failed since Ewen and I passed through three years ago.
They are just left to rot and decay until fire or time will bring them down.
Signs still stand, in silent tribute to a simpler time.
One last stop had to be made...a visit to the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari where Malcolm and I stayed nine years ago. It still stands, looks to have been refurbished, but seems closed at least for now...and what's with the colour? It's the Blue Swallow sir!
It was ahead of its time!
and offered a garage for each motel unit.
We arrived at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Amarillo, Texas well after dark (lost another hour to the time zones) but it was a great day!
Tomorrow looks to be much less interesting, but we will see. No planned destination....we will see how far we get.
They created a park on a corner of old Route 66, complete with a flatbed Ford.
Although I had seen it before, finding the brick proved to be a challenge. Part of the problem for me was that they had installed a second statue, this one of Glenn Frey of the Eagles, in 2016, and some bricks had been relocated as a result. The other part was the snow and ice that had arrived overnight. So, Mardi and I spent half an hour taking turns sweeping the bricks.
After twice around checking all the bricks, I was successful in finding the one I wanted.
It had been relocated when they installed the new statue.
For the benefit of those who come after, Mardi is indicating the position of the brick relative to the statue.
We were then free to continue our journey, entering New Mexico later in the morning.
I was quite proud of myself for finding these animals on the rocks...
That setback aside, we were both mesmerized by the scenery in New Mexico. And a visit to an information booth cemented our resolve to make a special trip to this state in the (near) future to explore and hike, particularly the west and south quadrant of the state.
At a municipal location called Continental Divide, we exited the Interstate and took an 87 mile scenic drive down Route 66. Also made a couple of purchases of native pottery.
This section of the Mother Road ended at Grants, N.M.
...where they have erected a photo op.
Some towns, such as Grants and Santa Rosa have successfully built a tourist trade around the Route 66 theme. Others, such as Tucumcari (as you will see later) are still dying.
The following business (museum) proved very interesting!
How about a front end loader Edsel?
And we even found 'Mater!
The movie series starting with "Cars" certainly helped to publicize and romanticize Route 66, but, even in the successful towns, failed businesses are still common and, in Tucumcari, even more have failed since Ewen and I passed through three years ago.
They are just left to rot and decay until fire or time will bring them down.
Signs still stand, in silent tribute to a simpler time.
One last stop had to be made...a visit to the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari where Malcolm and I stayed nine years ago. It still stands, looks to have been refurbished, but seems closed at least for now...and what's with the colour? It's the Blue Swallow sir!
It was ahead of its time!
We arrived at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Amarillo, Texas well after dark (lost another hour to the time zones) but it was a great day!
Tomorrow looks to be much less interesting, but we will see. No planned destination....we will see how far we get.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Day 60 - February 23, 2018 - Heading home
We took our time getting reorganized for the trip home and checked out at noon.
The weather forecasts are worrisome. The shortest distance would take us through Utah and Colorado and the plains states, but snow worries ruled that out. Second choice was via I-40 (old Route 66) with a winter weather warning for the Flagstaff area - five inches of snow anticipated. Third choice would have been further south and eventually would have taken us through tornado warning country. We chose option two.
Heading east it looked ominous.
...and we did indeed hit snow and near whiteout conditions.
...but we got through before the worst of the storm. Shades of Erie, Pennsylvania!
An hour or so of half speed driving as we drove by Flagstaff, following the ruts, and we eventually arrived at Winslow, Arizona.
Tomorrow, providing we don't have to sweep aside too much snow we will try to find the brick that Roger bought several years ago to honour Fishguts at "Standing On The Corner Park".
The weather forecasts are worrisome. The shortest distance would take us through Utah and Colorado and the plains states, but snow worries ruled that out. Second choice was via I-40 (old Route 66) with a winter weather warning for the Flagstaff area - five inches of snow anticipated. Third choice would have been further south and eventually would have taken us through tornado warning country. We chose option two.
Heading east it looked ominous.
An hour or so of half speed driving as we drove by Flagstaff, following the ruts, and we eventually arrived at Winslow, Arizona.
Tomorrow, providing we don't have to sweep aside too much snow we will try to find the brick that Roger bought several years ago to honour Fishguts at "Standing On The Corner Park".
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Day 59 - February 22, 2018 - Red Rock Canyon
Greetings to our friends in the Great Warm North! It's been warmer up your way the past two days than here in Nevada. This is not climate change - it is climate chaos!
David has sent me a couple of pictures from the greenhouse that do indicate how cold this winter has been.
That wingspan has to be at least six feet! Apparently Jake, the Labrador mouser, has a support staff. Awesome!
Today we headed for Red Rock Canyon. Another day of incredible colour.
We did two hikes today. The first was short, to Red Spring.
Not much of a spring, but in the desert you take what you're given!
Rock climbing is a major activity in the park. There's a guy high on the right hand side of the rock, as well as the one on the front.
Our second hike took us up toward the canyon in the distance.
We turned back after about one mile. The temperature was 5C and the winds were gusting to 50 mph, straight at us as we scrambled up the rocks in the canyon.
Another fine day enjoying nature's desert scenery.
The park has wild horses and wild burros but we were not fortunate enough to see any.
After we returned to the resort we watched the Olympics before heading out to Casa di Amore for dinner, which included entertainment.
Another great day, and our last in Las Vegas. We've completed the bucket list, spent as much as we care to at the slots, and are ready to head home. So we are going to forego the last two nights at the resort and take a more leisurely pace as we head home.
David has sent me a couple of pictures from the greenhouse that do indicate how cold this winter has been.
That wingspan has to be at least six feet! Apparently Jake, the Labrador mouser, has a support staff. Awesome!
Today we headed for Red Rock Canyon. Another day of incredible colour.
We did two hikes today. The first was short, to Red Spring.
Not much of a spring, but in the desert you take what you're given!
Rock climbing is a major activity in the park. There's a guy high on the right hand side of the rock, as well as the one on the front.
Our second hike took us up toward the canyon in the distance.
We turned back after about one mile. The temperature was 5C and the winds were gusting to 50 mph, straight at us as we scrambled up the rocks in the canyon.
Another fine day enjoying nature's desert scenery.
The park has wild horses and wild burros but we were not fortunate enough to see any.
After we returned to the resort we watched the Olympics before heading out to Casa di Amore for dinner, which included entertainment.
Another great day, and our last in Las Vegas. We've completed the bucket list, spent as much as we care to at the slots, and are ready to head home. So we are going to forego the last two nights at the resort and take a more leisurely pace as we head home.
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