No nights in Missouri

The "High Plains" were behind us and the wooded hills were in front of us as we drove through Kansas.  We stayed on US 36 through Missouri, a four lane divided highway, but not an interstate. It was an experience because when they expanded this road to four lanes, they added the new roadbed and left the existing roadbed, so one side of the highway rolls up and down with the hills (the old roadbed) and the traffic going west on the newer side is on a smoothed out road where all the low spots are filled in and the high spots are cut down.

Bridge at Hannibal, MO

We crossed the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri.  It was a grey, cool day. We didn't spend any nights in MO, but drove straight through to Illinois.

Mississippi River

Our campground was a little out of the way (13 or so miles which is a long way at the end of the day) and we were never sure we were on the right road to find it, but Crazy Horse Campground was a beautiful little spot, with only one other RV parked in a site.  We grilled pork chops and baked potatoes.  A great end to a long day.

Bob, doing his grill thing

A great visitt in Dodge City

Driving out of Colorado into eastern Kansas - the "High Plains",  we found this location, just for Holly -

We spent Saturday night and Sunday with Cathy and Don Woodburn, long-time friends, in Dodge City, Kansas. We haven't seen them since 1977, one other time when we crossed the country on a move from Oregon to Ohio and they lived in Colby, Kansas.  Cathy graduated from Alma College in our class of 1969.  We have always kept in touch with them with annual Christmas cards. They have moved as much as we have, and yet we always get a card from Cathy.

Dodge City may have a television and movie reputation but it is really a very nice community, with beautiful parks, comfortable neighborhoods, a pride in their history, and an impressive Community College which is expanding under Don's leadership as President.

Don and Bob did play a little golf on Sunday, until they were driven off the course be the rain and hail.  If we brought the rain to this drought-stricken area of the country, maybe the farmers can hire Bob to come more often to have golf games in Dodge.

Below is a picture of the hail in Don and Cathy's yard.  The first honest-to-goodness golf-ball sized hail stones I've ever seen.

Take my word for it, some hail stones were really big

Water rushing like a river, down the street behind our car in Cathy's driveway.

On the road on Monday, we parked behind this truck.  This picture is for Stephanie and Dylan. Do they have your belongings on this truck?

We drove across Colorado on US 50 today.  We hadn't been on this stretch of US 50 and enjoyed it very much. This first picture is of the Rocky Mountains as we're driving to cross over them. Hmmmmm.....

When we got to the top, it was the highest crossing of the Continental Divide that we've ever experienced - 11,300 ft or so.  In fact it's the highest pass that we've ever driven over.

It was only 33 degrees at the top, with lots of snow left from the winter.

On the other side, we followed the Arkansas River down out of the mountains.  Who knew that the Arkansas River starts near the Continental Divide and empties into the Mississippi.  It was a beautiful drive along a river known for it's fishing and white-water rafting. It's the second longest river in the Mississippi/Missouri system, and the 45th longest river in the world.

One night in Utah

Drive through Utah is always beautiful - as our tee shirts from last year say: "Utah Rocks"

We stayed in a pretty little RV park (Wed night) outside of Provo Utah. It sits on the Provo River, or rather the river runs around the park in a big bend.  You couldn't see the river, however, because it was behind a big berm, protecting the park from flooding.  There have been some ominous looking clouds and storms as we drive along (see picture).  We did lose electricity in the evening and wondered if we'd have to brew the coffee in the morning using the generator (life is really rough), but it was back on before we went to sleep.

Those clouds are over the roads and mountains right where we're going.

Driving through Colorado we were struck by a rock flying up from a truck tire.  That's right, a big chip in the middle of the windshield. A quick call to the insurance company who connected us with a glass company, a little side trip to the "Glass Dr. of Western Colorado" and we were on our way.  We continued to our campground.  It amazes me how many "permanent" residents are in these campgrounds.  You can tell because they have large propane tanks outside their RV's and insulated skirting around their rigs.  Here we were told 40% are permanent.

We're on our way this morning, heading east on US 50, our favorite "lonely" road, dropping south so we can get to Dodge City.

One Night in Nevada

Elko, Nevada was our destination from Lake Tahoe, a rather unexciting trip on I80, following the Humbolt River part of the way.  This stretch of road parallels US 50 that we drove on last year - the road designated as the "Loneliest road in America." Except for a little more traffic, this part of I80 is pretty lonely. We did reflect about the time we ran out of gas along here on one trip. You may remember that Janet. You were with us.

Moving to Utah, now.

Lake Tahoe, CA

We traveled through Klamath Falls, stopping to say "hi"  to Maryanne (another "old" Merrill friend) at the Tater Patch Quilt shop in Merrill as we drove through eastern Oregon on our way south to Lake Tahoe to visit with Linda and Rick Mills. Rick just retired in March and moved from Texas to Lake Tahoe. What a change!  There was lots of snow here just recently, but we were greeted with some beautiful sunny weather. Tomorrow we'll continue moving east.

Be sure to look back at the the last post to see pictures to go with our Rogue River visit.

View off Mills' back deck

First Stop - Galice, OR

We are starting this trip with several stops to visit "old" friends.  Dick and Margie Carleton from Merrill. OR have a beautiful little spot on the Rouge River, nestled in the Rouge River Wild and Scenic Natural Area.  Some day we're going to take a ride in one of the local river trips down the Rouge.  For now we're going to enjoy the view from Carleton's front yard and enjoy their hospitality. 

They have several deer who come to eat regularly from the grain and water that's always available to them.

This is probably Annie who always comes to Margie

Margie coaxes all four does to come and eat

Even Linda can get Annie to eat from the pail

A portrait of Annie - one hand holding pail, one taking picture

We traveled to Standish, CA and spent a quiet night there before moving to Lake Tahoe.
More later...