Of course you can go home again, but never expect everything to be the same. We arrived in Elkhart, IN on Friday afternoon. We secured a spot at the Elkhart Campground. Bob and Geta are owners / hosts and do a great job of constantly upgrading and taking care of the facilities. The campground sports over 100 spots, many with full hook-up and 50 amp service. A number of travelers come and go here, and most are extremely friendly. Of course, many travel with dogs and cats. So Maci has had lots of friends since we got here. Unfortunately, Bob has not set up a dog run yet, but he tells us there will be one here next year. This campground usually shuts down by the first of Nov. and opens the first of March - providing freezing weather has stopped. If you ever top here, be aware the water in this area is full of iron. In addition to our many filters, we also include a water softener to help.
By Saturday we were on our way to the local botanical garden for "A Taste of the Gardens." Area restaurants had booths set up to sample (for a price of course). In addition, a number or local artist had booths along with small musical groups throughout the gardens. The best part was we ran into a number of friends who we had not see for the past year.
One of our first realizations when driving around was we could drive around town and not use the GPS or map. It's nice to know where you are. As we drove around, we discovered a number of changes - the old armory is being torn down, parking downtown is now diagonal, new buildings are being erected. Life goes on, and the sense of stepping out of your community for a prolonged time and stepping back in tends to make you look through a different lens. Getting reconnected with friends and family in person really makes us appreciate our friends and family!
The purpose of our time in Elkhart is much more than just a visit. Our daughter Sara is getting married on October 12. I'm making her wedding gown, which brought a new challenge. Where to sew? A close friend offered space in her home office overlooking the St. Joe River. What a deal. Dress construction is going slowly, but successfully so far.
Jerry is busy with projects - maintenance, collapsible boat trailer, wine rack, stove top replacement and anything else that comes to mind. We had quite a list by the time we got here. Most will get done. When we are set up for a period of time, we usually grow a large "to do" list.
This time is also valuable for me to catch up with the courses I teach on line. While traveling, we have to be rather discerning where we park in order to have a strong Internet connection with either one of our phones. When we have a good connection, I plan and post ahead. I have been known to do a chat group sitting in the parking lot of McDonalds from time to time.
The time is passing quickly - more to come later.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, and the Badlands... We are "from" South Dakota afterall...
Before we got really serious about making a dash for Elkhart, IN, we knew we had to spend some time in South Dakota. We had to go to Mount Rushmore - it's a national monument - top tourist attraction for Americans and folks from Canada and other countries. Ho hum? We were not prepared to to be awestruck, and we were. Once again we found ourselves immersed in the history of the place - how it came to be, why in that spot, who all were involved. Why those four presidents? We decided to walk the many, many stairs - the presidential walk. Fortunately, we also took the tour, renting the electronic devices that provide historical information at various points along the walk. Let's just say, believe it when the sign says this is a strenuous walk. We put both of our new right knees to the test. It was all worth it at the end as we were literally standing in the "face of history."
After Mount Rushmore, we visited the yet-to-be-finished mountain sculpture of Crazy Horse. When it was decided this sculpture would be created, the Native Americans were the decision makers. According to the documentation, Crazy Horse was the embodiment of the spirituality of of all Native Americans. Some of the most interesting aspects of this monument are the work is all privately funded, and the work is overseen / done by family members of the original sculptor... who was an apprentice of the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. The model of what the finished work will look like shows the head of Crazy Horse in full feathered head dress, on his horse, with his arm / finger pointing out over the land. "My land is where my people are buried." We speculated how long it would take to complete the Crazy Horse monument. Time is not the primary issue. Money is. The family is committed to its completion.
The museum and educational facilities connected with the monument reflect a long range plan to preserve the history of many Native American tribes and to promote education.
Our next venture was to Wind Cave National Park. This park is a fascination blend of the prairies of the Black Hills and the mystery of what lies beneath the prairie. As the story goes a young man named Alvine and his older brother were hunting one day and discovered a hole in the side of a rock hill about the size of a football. As he leaned to look into the hole, a strong wind blew his hat off. Alvine and his brother thought that was great fun and came back the next day to try it again. This time when he looked into the hole, his hat was sucked into the hole. The exploration of this "place" started, and Alvine discovered a cave that has now 144 miles of mapped channels. Scientists estimate that only one tenth of Wind Cave has been discovered. The cave has the largest amount of box formations of any cave. There are no stalactites or stalagmites. Formations that look like short honeycombs and crystals that are called snow crystals fill the cave. I've mentioned my fear of heights, and now I share with you the dark close places don't thrill me either. Mark off spelunking as a future career for me. Our guide reminded us that Alvine explored and mapped a total of ten miles of Wind Cave before he died at the age of 21 - by candle light. She turned off the electric lights that dimly lit our passage way after light one candle. Then she blew the candle out. We literally could not see our hand in front of our face. I've never experienced such darkness, and it was unnerving!
We completed our time in South Dakota as visitors in the Badlands. Years ago, both our children went on distance running camps each summer, and Wall, SD was one of the stops. They loved Wall Drugs. So a stop there was a bit of our family history - plus the purchase of two t-shirts for Chris and Sara - that just had to happen. After that stop for lunch, we traveled into the Badlands National Park and were able to find a camping spot in the park. There are parts of the Badlands that look like we just drove on to another planet.
During our brief stay in the Badlands, the temperature stayed well above 9 degrees. Long range hiking for us was out of the question in that heat, but it didn't stop us exploring this unusual landscape for two days. Time and again during our journey this year, we have been struck by how well the National Park Service has constructed so many of the parks to be user friendly. We also appreciate how well versed the rangers are and how often they emphasize that these are OUR parks.
An interesting note about the sunset picture... I'm really into sunsets and often shoot short time lapsed pictures as the sun appears to rush to sink below the earth's skyline. I never have issues with focus. I tried several shots with both my camera and my phone and could not get one to focus. My untested theory is there is a strange atmospheric disturbance in the Badlands causing this hazy result in photography... The Badlands does look like another planet after all.
Our last stop before heading to Sioux Falls was at the Minuteman Missile Site which is now a National Park. The tour which is a must do includes a tour of the decommissioned D-9 control building and a self guided tour with cell phone recording of the actual site where a training sample of a Minuteman 2 missile is housed. It was at this site I confirmed my belief that no U.S. history should be taught in a classroom. Field studies of one to two years should be taken by all high school students to learn, in the field, about their country. Financial support of this idea is yet to be worked out...
We learned from a young ranger with a degree in history what it is like to be a missilear - working 24 hour shifts on watch. We learned of the incredible protocol connected to missile defense in the U.S. The space provided the missilears below ground was half the size of our motor home. The young ranger challenged us to think about being the persons (it takes two at one site along with a partner site) to launch the missiles. Each missilear knew that in the event of a nuclear strike, their job, and their value to the country was over. This last visit was chilling as well as humbling.
After a brief overnight in Sioux Falls to pick up mail (Alternative Resources), eat at HuHot Mongolian Restaurant and check out our favorite sporting goods store, we are headed back to Elkhart for some much needed time with family and friends. Soon... Pam
After Mount Rushmore, we visited the yet-to-be-finished mountain sculpture of Crazy Horse. When it was decided this sculpture would be created, the Native Americans were the decision makers. According to the documentation, Crazy Horse was the embodiment of the spirituality of of all Native Americans. Some of the most interesting aspects of this monument are the work is all privately funded, and the work is overseen / done by family members of the original sculptor... who was an apprentice of the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. The model of what the finished work will look like shows the head of Crazy Horse in full feathered head dress, on his horse, with his arm / finger pointing out over the land. "My land is where my people are buried." We speculated how long it would take to complete the Crazy Horse monument. Time is not the primary issue. Money is. The family is committed to its completion.
The museum and educational facilities connected with the monument reflect a long range plan to preserve the history of many Native American tribes and to promote education.
Our next venture was to Wind Cave National Park. This park is a fascination blend of the prairies of the Black Hills and the mystery of what lies beneath the prairie. As the story goes a young man named Alvine and his older brother were hunting one day and discovered a hole in the side of a rock hill about the size of a football. As he leaned to look into the hole, a strong wind blew his hat off. Alvine and his brother thought that was great fun and came back the next day to try it again. This time when he looked into the hole, his hat was sucked into the hole. The exploration of this "place" started, and Alvine discovered a cave that has now 144 miles of mapped channels. Scientists estimate that only one tenth of Wind Cave has been discovered. The cave has the largest amount of box formations of any cave. There are no stalactites or stalagmites. Formations that look like short honeycombs and crystals that are called snow crystals fill the cave. I've mentioned my fear of heights, and now I share with you the dark close places don't thrill me either. Mark off spelunking as a future career for me. Our guide reminded us that Alvine explored and mapped a total of ten miles of Wind Cave before he died at the age of 21 - by candle light. She turned off the electric lights that dimly lit our passage way after light one candle. Then she blew the candle out. We literally could not see our hand in front of our face. I've never experienced such darkness, and it was unnerving!
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| Jerry fascinated with the rock formations |
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| Boxwork formations throughout Wind Cave |
We completed our time in South Dakota as visitors in the Badlands. Years ago, both our children went on distance running camps each summer, and Wall, SD was one of the stops. They loved Wall Drugs. So a stop there was a bit of our family history - plus the purchase of two t-shirts for Chris and Sara - that just had to happen. After that stop for lunch, we traveled into the Badlands National Park and were able to find a camping spot in the park. There are parts of the Badlands that look like we just drove on to another planet.
During our brief stay in the Badlands, the temperature stayed well above 9 degrees. Long range hiking for us was out of the question in that heat, but it didn't stop us exploring this unusual landscape for two days. Time and again during our journey this year, we have been struck by how well the National Park Service has constructed so many of the parks to be user friendly. We also appreciate how well versed the rangers are and how often they emphasize that these are OUR parks.
An interesting note about the sunset picture... I'm really into sunsets and often shoot short time lapsed pictures as the sun appears to rush to sink below the earth's skyline. I never have issues with focus. I tried several shots with both my camera and my phone and could not get one to focus. My untested theory is there is a strange atmospheric disturbance in the Badlands causing this hazy result in photography... The Badlands does look like another planet after all.Our last stop before heading to Sioux Falls was at the Minuteman Missile Site which is now a National Park. The tour which is a must do includes a tour of the decommissioned D-9 control building and a self guided tour with cell phone recording of the actual site where a training sample of a Minuteman 2 missile is housed. It was at this site I confirmed my belief that no U.S. history should be taught in a classroom. Field studies of one to two years should be taken by all high school students to learn, in the field, about their country. Financial support of this idea is yet to be worked out...
We learned from a young ranger with a degree in history what it is like to be a missilear - working 24 hour shifts on watch. We learned of the incredible protocol connected to missile defense in the U.S. The space provided the missilears below ground was half the size of our motor home. The young ranger challenged us to think about being the persons (it takes two at one site along with a partner site) to launch the missiles. Each missilear knew that in the event of a nuclear strike, their job, and their value to the country was over. This last visit was chilling as well as humbling.
After a brief overnight in Sioux Falls to pick up mail (Alternative Resources), eat at HuHot Mongolian Restaurant and check out our favorite sporting goods store, we are headed back to Elkhart for some much needed time with family and friends. Soon... Pam
Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore, The Wind Cave, The Badlands
Our trip to Glacier National Park had tremendous value added because our close friends John and Sueann took the train from Elkhart, IN to meet us in Kallispell, MT. We enjoyed 5 days of exploring Glacier from as many different angles as possible. We parked the Whale at the Elks in Kallispell, and John and Sueann stayed a mile away in a villa. Every day was a different adventure starting with a trip to Whitefish Mountain where we took the ski lift to the top. As I've mentioned before, I am deathly afraid of heights, but I wasn't going to stand at the bottom while the other three made the trip up.
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| From the top of Whitefish Mountain |
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| Sueann and the Flathead River |
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| On The Road to the Sun... from the top of the red bus |
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| The Continental Divide from Lake McDonald / Glacier |
Our last day was spent taking a tour of the park and surrounding area in a four seat airplane. Again, I was not about to be left behind. Although the park was somewhat clouded, we had the opportunity to get yet another perspective of this tremendous national treasure! There 's something to be said about having a birds eye view of any location. This view of Glacier National Park and surrounding area was close to spiritual. The loud drone of the single prop air plan muffled by ear phones and the gentle dip of the wings one way or another added to the "other world" sense while we flew. In the picture below, you can see a
Almost a year...
In about one month's time, we will complete our first year on the road full time in our RV - the Whale. I've sporadically posted to our blog stories of our stops along the way. Some places we visited are major stops such as national iconic spots - the North Rim, Zion National Park, Glacier National Park, Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, the Badlands. Some places we have visited have been off the beaten path, maybe not so iconic, but memorable just the same - McMinnville, Fort Worth, Vacaville. We've focused on the places we've seen and the people we've met, and I've written little about "where" we are after this first year. We've certainly learned a few things... about life, about each other, and about living full time in our house on wheels.
Places to stay: We have found the more out of the way, rustic settings are preferable to those locations with cement pads, every day planned by a social director. Army Core of Engineers parks and State Forrest Reserves and State and National Parks are our favorites so far. We look forward to exploring boon docking in the west this next winter after the holidays.
Daily Routines: We've found 200 miles a day, if that, is plenty. We're retired. No sense in rushing from place to place. It's taken us awhile to break bad habits of driving non-stop to get to a location. We both spent years working on tight schedules, few vacations, rushing to the vacation and rushing home, and we're now rarely drive past 3:00 p.m. Early morning starts are still our choice as we are both morning folks and enjoy that start to the day.
Food: We have a residential frig in our RV which means we can stock up on frozen items as well as carry produce etc for longer periods of time. We now love to find farmers' markets and enjoy what is the going fare in a particular region. Recently while in northern Montana we enjoyed huckleberries in many forms. While in Oregon, we ate red raspberries and blueberries every day at reasonable prices. We also discovered Dungeness Crabs, and stocked up on fresh salmon and tuna, which the fishery vacuum bagged for us - now "fresh" out of our freezer. While in Florida, we discovered large green Avocados - much more tasty than the little "black" ones. We buy fewer snacks than ever before, and before we stock up on something, we debate if we have room for the items. In California, the produce overall was excellent. The garlic in Gilroy is huge!
Routes: We have always, and still do, prefer the two lane roads over the Interstaes. Highway 299 in CA, as I posted before is the twistiest ever. Highway101 up the west coast is incredible, revealing a view of the Pacific around almost every curve. In a large RV, I'd suggest planning a trip that you are headed north. If you are the least afraid of heights, taking the inside lane going north is best. We pay close attention to any tunnels on the route and tend to check out height restrictions before we get to the tunnel to avoid unhooking the Jeep and backing up or turning around.
Storage: We still have too much stuff. Periodically, we review contents and discuss what we have not used in a year. Getting rid of things we own is still a struggle, even when we know we don't need it.
Planning: We've still not settled into a routine for planning. Before we left Elkhart, IN last fall, we had major places we wanted to see. As we've made this first lap around the country, we have seen most, and we've seen many unintended, but there's not been a meticulous plan to the journey. Part of the reason for that is we both are hesitant to give up the freedom that spontaneity gives us. Just yesterday we came close to driving 251 miles further south to look at a miniature Australian Shepperd puppy. We have the time after all... We've learned to mull over our moments of impulse before acting. Common sense prevailed on this one. We certainly don't need two dogs right now.
Check list: We don't have a written check list before starting a new leg of the journey. We do have a mental routine check list before we move. We've discovered attention to detail on the front side helps us avoid messes on the back side. I asked my daughter months ago, "When do you think I will remember to secure the refrigerator door?' Her answer: "When you get tired of cleaning up broken glass." Out of the mouths of adult babes... We do have a routine of banding doors shut, velcro straps for the frig and for the wine cabinet door. We question each other before moving. We both have things we are responsible for, but we question the other one about his/her stuff. Although we do have some items of decoration, we've learned less is less mess when moving. Plastic containers over glass are not always available, but are certainly preferable. Plastic doesn't smash, nor does it rattle like glass.
Maintenance: Jerry was in the automotive industry for years. This part is routine for him. He understands the importance of daily maintenance. Tire pressures, fluid levels, changing oil, having the generator and diesel serviced regularly, wash and wax of the Whale, routinely wash the bugs off the front are the biggies. When a more minor issue comes up, we deal with it now rather than later. When you think about it, our house, unlike others, moves almost every day putting all systems in a bind. Maintenance cannot be ignored.
Relationships - ours and others: Jerry and I have always been best friends first. Living in an RV requires a solid sense of humor, less self-centeredness, and higher levels of communication. No we don't talk all the time, but we've fallen into a routine of regular "gut" checks. We discuss our favorite places, if we are both still having fun, and if either of us want to do something else. None of this is good unless we are both happy. To date, we plan to keep on traveling.
Although we are not building long term relationships with those we meet on the road, we are meeting wonderful people. Most are kind and helpful. We learn a lot from other RV'ers and enjoy the time we have to share ideas.
We've learned so much about our country. U.S. history comes alive when you are able to be immersed in the location. A perfect examples is our stay at the Army Core of Engineers Park, Fort Peck. This is the largest hydraulically filled dam in the world. We spent time touring the interactive center and touring the power plant. The history surrounding the Core formation, the time in history when the country was drowning in depression and the incredible things Roosevelt did to put Americans back to work was fascinating. Every place we visit, we walk the history connected to a spot no matter how significant. It's humbling to continue to learn in-depth about those who literally built this country.
Finally, a word from Maci, the dog...
I still don't like parking lots, loud semis, and strangers, but I love my people and love to be with them. My most favorite are the rustic parks where there are thousands of smells. Anyone with a brain can see when I am happy - tail curled high over my back, running and prancing as if I owned the property.
It's been a good year...
Places to stay: We have found the more out of the way, rustic settings are preferable to those locations with cement pads, every day planned by a social director. Army Core of Engineers parks and State Forrest Reserves and State and National Parks are our favorites so far. We look forward to exploring boon docking in the west this next winter after the holidays.
Daily Routines: We've found 200 miles a day, if that, is plenty. We're retired. No sense in rushing from place to place. It's taken us awhile to break bad habits of driving non-stop to get to a location. We both spent years working on tight schedules, few vacations, rushing to the vacation and rushing home, and we're now rarely drive past 3:00 p.m. Early morning starts are still our choice as we are both morning folks and enjoy that start to the day.
Food: We have a residential frig in our RV which means we can stock up on frozen items as well as carry produce etc for longer periods of time. We now love to find farmers' markets and enjoy what is the going fare in a particular region. Recently while in northern Montana we enjoyed huckleberries in many forms. While in Oregon, we ate red raspberries and blueberries every day at reasonable prices. We also discovered Dungeness Crabs, and stocked up on fresh salmon and tuna, which the fishery vacuum bagged for us - now "fresh" out of our freezer. While in Florida, we discovered large green Avocados - much more tasty than the little "black" ones. We buy fewer snacks than ever before, and before we stock up on something, we debate if we have room for the items. In California, the produce overall was excellent. The garlic in Gilroy is huge!
Routes: We have always, and still do, prefer the two lane roads over the Interstaes. Highway 299 in CA, as I posted before is the twistiest ever. Highway101 up the west coast is incredible, revealing a view of the Pacific around almost every curve. In a large RV, I'd suggest planning a trip that you are headed north. If you are the least afraid of heights, taking the inside lane going north is best. We pay close attention to any tunnels on the route and tend to check out height restrictions before we get to the tunnel to avoid unhooking the Jeep and backing up or turning around.
Storage: We still have too much stuff. Periodically, we review contents and discuss what we have not used in a year. Getting rid of things we own is still a struggle, even when we know we don't need it.
Planning: We've still not settled into a routine for planning. Before we left Elkhart, IN last fall, we had major places we wanted to see. As we've made this first lap around the country, we have seen most, and we've seen many unintended, but there's not been a meticulous plan to the journey. Part of the reason for that is we both are hesitant to give up the freedom that spontaneity gives us. Just yesterday we came close to driving 251 miles further south to look at a miniature Australian Shepperd puppy. We have the time after all... We've learned to mull over our moments of impulse before acting. Common sense prevailed on this one. We certainly don't need two dogs right now.
Check list: We don't have a written check list before starting a new leg of the journey. We do have a mental routine check list before we move. We've discovered attention to detail on the front side helps us avoid messes on the back side. I asked my daughter months ago, "When do you think I will remember to secure the refrigerator door?' Her answer: "When you get tired of cleaning up broken glass." Out of the mouths of adult babes... We do have a routine of banding doors shut, velcro straps for the frig and for the wine cabinet door. We question each other before moving. We both have things we are responsible for, but we question the other one about his/her stuff. Although we do have some items of decoration, we've learned less is less mess when moving. Plastic containers over glass are not always available, but are certainly preferable. Plastic doesn't smash, nor does it rattle like glass.
Maintenance: Jerry was in the automotive industry for years. This part is routine for him. He understands the importance of daily maintenance. Tire pressures, fluid levels, changing oil, having the generator and diesel serviced regularly, wash and wax of the Whale, routinely wash the bugs off the front are the biggies. When a more minor issue comes up, we deal with it now rather than later. When you think about it, our house, unlike others, moves almost every day putting all systems in a bind. Maintenance cannot be ignored.
Relationships - ours and others: Jerry and I have always been best friends first. Living in an RV requires a solid sense of humor, less self-centeredness, and higher levels of communication. No we don't talk all the time, but we've fallen into a routine of regular "gut" checks. We discuss our favorite places, if we are both still having fun, and if either of us want to do something else. None of this is good unless we are both happy. To date, we plan to keep on traveling.
Although we are not building long term relationships with those we meet on the road, we are meeting wonderful people. Most are kind and helpful. We learn a lot from other RV'ers and enjoy the time we have to share ideas.
We've learned so much about our country. U.S. history comes alive when you are able to be immersed in the location. A perfect examples is our stay at the Army Core of Engineers Park, Fort Peck. This is the largest hydraulically filled dam in the world. We spent time touring the interactive center and touring the power plant. The history surrounding the Core formation, the time in history when the country was drowning in depression and the incredible things Roosevelt did to put Americans back to work was fascinating. Every place we visit, we walk the history connected to a spot no matter how significant. It's humbling to continue to learn in-depth about those who literally built this country.
Finally, a word from Maci, the dog...
I still don't like parking lots, loud semis, and strangers, but I love my people and love to be with them. My most favorite are the rustic parks where there are thousands of smells. Anyone with a brain can see when I am happy - tail curled high over my back, running and prancing as if I owned the property.
It's been a good year...
Monday, August 12, 2013
McMinnville, OR
From the west coast we headed inland to McMinnville to explore the wineries in the area and to visit the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. This region of Oregon is conducive to growing the Pinot grape. Although other wines are produced, Pinot is the top seller from the region. We were able to enjoy visits to several wineries. Our favorite locations were those where the rolling hills of grapevines are visible from the highest vantage point.
On this clear day, we could see Mount Hood in the distance. Our favorite "story" location was at Maysara http://www.maysara.com. Three sisters, ages 27, 25, and 22, run the winery. The oldest, with a degree in wine making - enology - from the University of Oregon, is the wine maker. The middle daughter oversees international sales, and the youngest, who we talked with, is in charge of Oregon sales.
Another great story was of the young couple with three children under 10 who literally planted their grapevines themselves. The vines are planted in blocks, and often the grapes in that particular block are used for a particular wine named after a child or another person in the family. Our unofficial research indicates that female names are used primarily. Those who are experts in all things wine often use very descriptive, lively adjectives to describe the qualities of the wine. We asked one wine maker if the qualities of the wine were similar to the qualities of the child who the wine was named after. He laughed and said yes!
After a day of exploring the local wineries, we spent the next day at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. Our primary interest was to see the Spruce Goose - the largest wooden airplane ever built. Howard Hughes built and partially financed this giant plane's completion. It was originally intended to haul men and equipment to Europe to aid in the efforts during WWII. Because of it's size, few believed it would ever get off the ground... of course except for Howard Hughes. During an instrument test session Hughes did take off to the surprise of everyone there. The plane flew a very short distance about 60 feet off the ground. That was its only flight. WWII ended, and the plane was never pressed into service. It sat in storage for years. Howard Hughes paid the storage bill which was quite pricey. The plane was finally acquired by the Evergreen group and now takes up a huge amount of space in the museum. It's bigger than a football field!
Given the size of the Spruce Goose, it was impossible to get a picture of the whole air craft. The plane sported eight engines, each with 3,000 hp, to power its flight. This picture of one wing gives an idea of its massive size.
So why was Hughes' plane dubbed the Spruce Goose? The press mocked the construction of the giant wooden bird claiming it would never get off the ground. They dubbed it the Spruce Goose. Hughes hated the name and took every chance to say so. The plane was actually not made of spruce at all. It was constructed of birch. One of many interesting points about the plane's construction is the use of many beach balls to make the plane buoyant as the plane is also a water plane. The original beach balls are on display in the plane.
Another great story was of the young couple with three children under 10 who literally planted their grapevines themselves. The vines are planted in blocks, and often the grapes in that particular block are used for a particular wine named after a child or another person in the family. Our unofficial research indicates that female names are used primarily. Those who are experts in all things wine often use very descriptive, lively adjectives to describe the qualities of the wine. We asked one wine maker if the qualities of the wine were similar to the qualities of the child who the wine was named after. He laughed and said yes!
After a day of exploring the local wineries, we spent the next day at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. Our primary interest was to see the Spruce Goose - the largest wooden airplane ever built. Howard Hughes built and partially financed this giant plane's completion. It was originally intended to haul men and equipment to Europe to aid in the efforts during WWII. Because of it's size, few believed it would ever get off the ground... of course except for Howard Hughes. During an instrument test session Hughes did take off to the surprise of everyone there. The plane flew a very short distance about 60 feet off the ground. That was its only flight. WWII ended, and the plane was never pressed into service. It sat in storage for years. Howard Hughes paid the storage bill which was quite pricey. The plane was finally acquired by the Evergreen group and now takes up a huge amount of space in the museum. It's bigger than a football field!
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| Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose / Evergreen Museum |
So why was Hughes' plane dubbed the Spruce Goose? The press mocked the construction of the giant wooden bird claiming it would never get off the ground. They dubbed it the Spruce Goose. Hughes hated the name and took every chance to say so. The plane was actually not made of spruce at all. It was constructed of birch. One of many interesting points about the plane's construction is the use of many beach balls to make the plane buoyant as the plane is also a water plane. The original beach balls are on display in the plane.
The Evergreen Museum holds one of the best historical displays of aircraft from replicas of the Wright brothers' first airplanes to those utilized in the armed forces. Many of the displays have stories of real people flying the plane which brings a very personal aspect to the importance of flight.
In addition to the air museum another building on the site it dedicated to space exploration. The Evergreen group has secured quite a display of artifacts related to our exploration of space. The third building on the complex houses an OmniMax theater where we were able to view a 3D movie on exploration of space with giant telescopes dubbed VBT's (very bit telescopes) by the scientists who use them. Scientists from all over the world are working collaboratively in the Atacama Desert / Chile, about 17,000 ft elevation, using the VBT's to research the galaxies in deep space. The 3D movie was included in our entrance fee to the museum.
All in all our day at the Evergreen Museum was well worth the trip! After three days in McMinnville, we headed east to Glacier National Park.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Napa, Vacaville and Whiskeytown
After saying good-by to family in San Jose, we traveled to Napa Valley for a three day stay in Calistoga, CA. The heat in the northwest has been extreme, and Calistoga was no exception. We intentionally visited only two wineries. Beaver Creek is a small winery leased by a young family originally from Czechoslovakia. All processes at Beaver Creek are organic. The term "helping mother nature" means no chemical intervention as may be true for other larger wineries. The wine tasting room is rustic and comfortable. We purchased a Chardonnay and Cabernet, both made with grapes from this winery, and we enjoyed talking to the young owner who told us about his love of the California valley.
Sterling Vineyards was the other winery we chose to visit. Sterling is as large as Beaver Creek is small. Sterling has the only tram in the valley. To get to the winery for the tasting, we rode the tram, and the view of the valley was incredible! We were at the Sterling Vineyard for three hours. We were able to walk the winery villa, spending a leisurely time on various levels, enjoying good wine and the company of others.
After our time in Napa, we headed inland to Vacaville, CA. This was a maintenance trip. Our water heater was leaking internally, something water heaters are not supposed to do. The closest possibility for a warranty replacement was Camping World. We arrived on Monday afternoon. The service manager, Terry, was great! Of course they did not have our model in stock, but it was ordered and on the way, with our replacement due to happen on Thursday a.m. Terry invited us to dry camp in the parking lot and had one of the guys make a spot for us out of the way. Since we had just filled with water and dumped the tanks, we were good to go. We always take these types of delays as an opportunity to do the things, like paperwork, we ignore when we are doing other more fun things. We did just that, and by Thursday p.m. we had a new water heater. Friday a.m. we were on our way.
Next stop, Whiskeytown, CA. When I called the State Recreation Area for a reservation, the young person on the phone describe the spot as a parking lot, which it is. She also said, "You know, like WalMart..." which it was not as you can see from the picture below.
Whiskeytown Lake is a popular reservoir in this area for good reason. It's gorgeous! And during the hot, dry summers it provides much needed relief from the heat. During our brief stay, there were any number of boats of all sizes in and out of the water. Point of interest... no jet skis allowed.
Another point of interest... biking and hiking are very popular in this area. We were amazed at the number of bikers riding in 100+ degrees of heat. When it comes to heat, we are both wimps.
The picture to the right is just below the Whiskeytown Lake dam. The cement structure in the picture is called the Glory Hole - given its name because it looks like the blossom of a Morning Glory. The Glory Hole was installed when the dam was built. The structure is attached to a pipe that leads to the river. When waters in the lake get too high, the Glory Hole takes the overflow. The structure is fenced off on land, and you can see the barriers in the water. Warning signs make it very clear there are no safety devices in or around the structure. It drops 200 feet into the hole, and there would be no getting out if a swimmer fell in.
The draw to Whiskey town was twofold. First, it is at the junction of US 5 and CA 299 which would take us to Highway 101 on the west coast. Second, this was the first area where gold was discovered during the Gold Rush. Jerry is a gold panner at heart and just had to give it a try. So we hiked and panned for gold in Whiskeytown. No we did not strike it rich, but we had a ton of fun. I will say this. Panning for gold takes real technique and is hard work. After three days and heat in excess of 100 degrees every day, we took off for the coast on 299.
I will say this, if you are looking for the curviest, skinniest, twistiest road ever, take HIghway 299. Oh my. We were headed west with the intention of hitting Chrystal City in northern CA by early afternoon. We did make it to Chrystal City by evening. The drive on 299 was breathtaking in so many ways. Once again we were overwhelmed my the vast beauty of where our journey takes us... and we were exhausted by the drive itself. All that twisting and turning and braking is hard on the driver. It's also hard on the passenger who of course has to help the driver keep the Whale upright and on the road by leaning and pumping the passenger side brake. I have a love / hate relationship with high places. I am drawn to the beauty and terrified of the sheer drop. Much of Highway 299 also runs with the Trinity River. At times the river was close enough to touch, and at other times we towered far above the river.
We were grateful for a spot at Wal-Mart that night where we ate supper and fell in bed. The next morning we headed north on 101 toward Oregon to enjoy time on the west coast before heading inland.
Sterling Vineyards was the other winery we chose to visit. Sterling is as large as Beaver Creek is small. Sterling has the only tram in the valley. To get to the winery for the tasting, we rode the tram, and the view of the valley was incredible! We were at the Sterling Vineyard for three hours. We were able to walk the winery villa, spending a leisurely time on various levels, enjoying good wine and the company of others.
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| View of Sterling Vineyards from the tram |
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| Sterling multi-tiered villa |
After our time in Napa, we headed inland to Vacaville, CA. This was a maintenance trip. Our water heater was leaking internally, something water heaters are not supposed to do. The closest possibility for a warranty replacement was Camping World. We arrived on Monday afternoon. The service manager, Terry, was great! Of course they did not have our model in stock, but it was ordered and on the way, with our replacement due to happen on Thursday a.m. Terry invited us to dry camp in the parking lot and had one of the guys make a spot for us out of the way. Since we had just filled with water and dumped the tanks, we were good to go. We always take these types of delays as an opportunity to do the things, like paperwork, we ignore when we are doing other more fun things. We did just that, and by Thursday p.m. we had a new water heater. Friday a.m. we were on our way.
Next stop, Whiskeytown, CA. When I called the State Recreation Area for a reservation, the young person on the phone describe the spot as a parking lot, which it is. She also said, "You know, like WalMart..." which it was not as you can see from the picture below.
Another point of interest... biking and hiking are very popular in this area. We were amazed at the number of bikers riding in 100+ degrees of heat. When it comes to heat, we are both wimps.
 |
| Whiskeytown Lake from the visitors' center |
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| The Glory Hole |
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| Jerry perfecting his panning technique |
The draw to Whiskey town was twofold. First, it is at the junction of US 5 and CA 299 which would take us to Highway 101 on the west coast. Second, this was the first area where gold was discovered during the Gold Rush. Jerry is a gold panner at heart and just had to give it a try. So we hiked and panned for gold in Whiskeytown. No we did not strike it rich, but we had a ton of fun. I will say this. Panning for gold takes real technique and is hard work. After three days and heat in excess of 100 degrees every day, we took off for the coast on 299.
 |
| Highway 299 twists and turns with the Trinity River |
I will say this, if you are looking for the curviest, skinniest, twistiest road ever, take HIghway 299. Oh my. We were headed west with the intention of hitting Chrystal City in northern CA by early afternoon. We did make it to Chrystal City by evening. The drive on 299 was breathtaking in so many ways. Once again we were overwhelmed my the vast beauty of where our journey takes us... and we were exhausted by the drive itself. All that twisting and turning and braking is hard on the driver. It's also hard on the passenger who of course has to help the driver keep the Whale upright and on the road by leaning and pumping the passenger side brake. I have a love / hate relationship with high places. I am drawn to the beauty and terrified of the sheer drop. Much of Highway 299 also runs with the Trinity River. At times the river was close enough to touch, and at other times we towered far above the river.
We were grateful for a spot at Wal-Mart that night where we ate supper and fell in bed. The next morning we headed north on 101 toward Oregon to enjoy time on the west coast before heading inland.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
San Jose, CA
To those of you who have checked the blog for up-dates, I apologize for our absence. We arrived in San Jose, CA on June 5 to begin our visit with grandsons, Miles and Donovan, son Chris and daughter-in-law Marisa. We've been off and running ever since with little time for much else. Miles just turned 9 this week. Donovan turns 6 in August. Both boys are involved in swimming, church camp and sports camp. We've been involved in transportation, babysitting and play. What fun!!! Since we've always lived in IN, and the boys have always been in CA, this has been the longest period of time we've been able to spend with them. They are very fine, active young men. Marisa and Chris are doing a great job... not an easy assignment these days.
Even though we've spent most of our time with our grandsons, we have had some opportunity to explore the area and eat at some great restaurants. The Ladera Grill, The Good Fork, and Rosey's At The Beach are our recommendations in Morgan Hill. We've parked the Whale at Uvis RV Camp on Uvis Road in Morgan Hill, CA. The small park is tucked between two foothills. It's quiet, and the owners have been great! We are about 40 minutes from San Jose, but it's interstate all the way, and as long as we don't hit rush hour, it's good.
There are a lot of positives in this area. One is access to farmers' markets. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available in quantity. Of course another positive is access to wineries. Since we do like a good bottle of wine, we've taken some time to taste and buy. The wineries are all sizes and most are beautiful with rustic wine tasting rooms and acres and acres of grapevines.
Sadly, we say good-by to the family on July 5th. We head north to Napa for a few days. Then we will travel to Oregon for a week and west to Glacier National Park for a week.
Soon...
Even though we've spent most of our time with our grandsons, we have had some opportunity to explore the area and eat at some great restaurants. The Ladera Grill, The Good Fork, and Rosey's At The Beach are our recommendations in Morgan Hill. We've parked the Whale at Uvis RV Camp on Uvis Road in Morgan Hill, CA. The small park is tucked between two foothills. It's quiet, and the owners have been great! We are about 40 minutes from San Jose, but it's interstate all the way, and as long as we don't hit rush hour, it's good.
There are a lot of positives in this area. One is access to farmers' markets. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available in quantity. Of course another positive is access to wineries. Since we do like a good bottle of wine, we've taken some time to taste and buy. The wineries are all sizes and most are beautiful with rustic wine tasting rooms and acres and acres of grapevines.
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| Grandpa, Miles, Donovan and Maci watching a movie after a long day of fishing |
Soon...
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