tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38449662000799176152024-03-05T02:37:47.729-05:00Westward BoundRena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-82139407829942540072011-04-16T19:37:00.013-04:002011-04-16T20:52:39.339-04:00Ft. Pickens at the Gulf Shores Nat'l Seashore, Pensacola FL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRUA6mFXT9m6bnELXErd8KiBkhVTauVTKn2Y5hfXebRNZHunt0kuJl9_UWZz_FSbXhLwINOXteod3BIX0sffCgz5eG7wGAC7j7KqzD6Ner53CLfAkn90mfQeYfLQqWZECZ-oVnkg1_6wF/s1600/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%25282%2529.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBZEqwP4zkd7MhSUj2O_RDylvO6ffIVgZrbGAxz_8CgPkF5L7vNBNu3by5sCBTG6ETDQaXv-sAhp7zTyDv2H_5YXF3JNw_qq6aLpic9L-Kiwe0h-pZlLlfFYmwBR289p_K4wq3gyJKwL6/s1600/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%25284%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 155px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 131px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596342605142555762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBZEqwP4zkd7MhSUj2O_RDylvO6ffIVgZrbGAxz_8CgPkF5L7vNBNu3by5sCBTG6ETDQaXv-sAhp7zTyDv2H_5YXF3JNw_qq6aLpic9L-Kiwe0h-pZlLlfFYmwBR289p_K4wq3gyJKwL6/s200/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%25284%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKdkWU1XMz6mdaSvv0OYXuYiKj_qzyd5gbp43p2U7HJeJIAWeW0LMRkV4gMUQB9f2DDAIgGBLbXFvNHbMxzfejzWzFOry67-nx-7t-uC-Yg8AqEejTHOvcmljCDAtwfNOKrRdgXYR9hM0/s1600/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%25283%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596342266398619186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKdkWU1XMz6mdaSvv0OYXuYiKj_qzyd5gbp43p2U7HJeJIAWeW0LMRkV4gMUQB9f2DDAIgGBLbXFvNHbMxzfejzWzFOry67-nx-7t-uC-Yg8AqEejTHOvcmljCDAtwfNOKrRdgXYR9hM0/s200/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a>Our last stop before heading on home was 3 nights at Ft. Pickens in Pensacola, FL. What an awesome place! From Pensacola Beach, it's a nine mile drive down a 2 lane street with awesome white sand on both sides and the bluest, greenest water imaginable! The campground was well kept and quiet...except for the Blue Angels practicing every morning at 8:30...I loved it! Ed slept through it! After we set up, we took a walk along the beach...I don't think I've ever seen such soft, white sand! And the water was amazingly warm! T<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKraaXxof6ca2DHUMnqjxORlZRf0xdL-dHGQS1mZUmxEfmDEzUPHRAYLASRg5A_tnhMoSXQuBUmStZPrGVhyXUE1fAWBPLiOAdnEqI6n4vzyjecOIvVnHkGIzKRPHvvKISAGoGqq73PBvH/s1600/Ft+Pickens+Florida.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596345409965919346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKraaXxof6ca2DHUMnqjxORlZRf0xdL-dHGQS1mZUmxEfmDEzUPHRAYLASRg5A_tnhMoSXQuBUmStZPrGVhyXUE1fAWBPLiOAdnEqI6n4vzyjecOIvVnHkGIzKRPHvvKISAGoGqq73PBvH/s200/Ft+Pickens+Florida.JPG" /></a>he first morning, we woke up to the Blue Angels flying overhead...so of course, I ran outside with the camara. I should mention that photography is not one of my better talents. After several pictures, I gave up and took a few videos...much better! See a sample at the end of this blog! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1H1uSMw-WuNquUvaCMspVpwo84gDKNsjNGLEV4WThNZx3GocgCTxrSeKyq1-MOiMdAZwjLDn7ZqCTVTF_Fe7BA9hTVGazfBnEPilq-5pvGcXJUB26SLR3dcbYjN1Xheomi6a5nJ-ip5F/s1600/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%252826%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596344641813705794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1H1uSMw-WuNquUvaCMspVpwo84gDKNsjNGLEV4WThNZx3GocgCTxrSeKyq1-MOiMdAZwjLDn7ZqCTVTF_Fe7BA9hTVGazfBnEPilq-5pvGcXJUB26SLR3dcbYjN1Xheomi6a5nJ-ip5F/s200/Ft+Pickens+Florida+%252826%2529.JPG" /></a> After breakfast, we hiked over to Ft. Pickens and took a self-guided tour of the fort...very interesting! It's named after the American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use until 1947. Here's a link for a little history of the fort: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pickens">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pickens</a>. After our tour, we walked back to the RV along the bay side. We had a very relaxing day and evening...gearing up for a busy next day! The next morning, we were again serenaded by the Blue Angels...I never tire of watching them!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuzORzMplGpto8nBLZCf6IAOKz4weph0Uk2n4qvdl9FDe7RQkKVvp07BAMO6be2rrmkpout9sc5E11zhvG4v-QM0SewcHjQ_7b-B2x7C7xna95T5LSSFUCyG7R2PY_KHp_RrgSad6yrTk/s1600/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%25283%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596346141090959986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuzORzMplGpto8nBLZCf6IAOKz4weph0Uk2n4qvdl9FDe7RQkKVvp07BAMO6be2rrmkpout9sc5E11zhvG4v-QM0SewcHjQ_7b-B2x7C7xna95T5LSSFUCyG7R2PY_KHp_RrgSad6yrTk/s200/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuaUFcLKtpozHlw4ZUrPKDDFc9kNxJh62qtkIUU0ZYG8_-r9ZOFOEFanGk3gOhoeyydYf7VF6-gHRVtcZwbaMHUzNLZIoKG59J69ifplQlLW002Ku8AT9qVdBvS3ElGEa8f0GI2Wy5e2J/s1600/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%25285%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 162px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596346473616344482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuaUFcLKtpozHlw4ZUrPKDDFc9kNxJh62qtkIUU0ZYG8_-r9ZOFOEFanGk3gOhoeyydYf7VF6-gHRVtcZwbaMHUzNLZIoKG59J69ifplQlLW002Ku8AT9qVdBvS3ElGEa8f0GI2Wy5e2J/s200/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%25285%2529.JPG" /></a>Then we decided to head to the National Naval Aviation Museum, which is located at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. We could've spent 3 days visiting the place, but we had only a few hours so we took a trolley ride around the outside of the museum, with a very knowledgable guide, and then spent the remaining few hours browsing around the displays inside. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TXQze1jCzk2wCRVRx3uBJ5pIbIufFkrnzwmAAb2y0ibBDRgOhEMwZ0RiXFKI9xXIGF0Q3TrmJ67-FyPEB-Lao1I1kKScmz2G0BjEChKBWoyuBdmw5A9e-KnhjH4NnpipQMCI9ILcbRuM/s1600/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%252819%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 129px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596347027208446850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TXQze1jCzk2wCRVRx3uBJ5pIbIufFkrnzwmAAb2y0ibBDRgOhEMwZ0RiXFKI9xXIGF0Q3TrmJ67-FyPEB-Lao1I1kKScmz2G0BjEChKBWoyuBdmw5A9e-KnhjH4NnpipQMCI9ILcbRuM/s200/Pensacola+Naval+Air+Museum+%252819%2529.JPG" /></a> On our way back to the RV we stopped at McGuire's Irish Pub where Ed had the largest Reuben he'd ever seen and I had a steak burger smothered with grilled vidalia onions...yumm! Ft. Pickens is definitely a must-see and we will be adding it to our regular stops to and from Texas!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='205' height='177' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dypQwjRXMqem1J8W7efUlF341c05lvGrQ3RF3XA_W0tridXhUpcuNDGzgek7_hP2HY0dusAv2ncvTIHih-giA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-53570958960605922942011-04-16T18:21:00.010-04:002011-04-16T19:37:23.632-04:00Biloxi, MS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvWL6uZnzJobZ05WTdJu_mF4YblULjN5jLD5blsCK5CcJxnLD1XzJzF6sZwJ-4tOd5BUPHACf9RXI9Pl3ifTgNkBguHA77Vi9hRd39B-JC4CltzZTXDuWlOWLBLQUTxRloB2cescsuhCi/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528261%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596312972923943266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvWL6uZnzJobZ05WTdJu_mF4YblULjN5jLD5blsCK5CcJxnLD1XzJzF6sZwJ-4tOd5BUPHACf9RXI9Pl3ifTgNkBguHA77Vi9hRd39B-JC4CltzZTXDuWlOWLBLQUTxRloB2cescsuhCi/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528261%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3h1eivMvFp2YnXx17ioRObkxqOCyfNcg0mp9Ks_wf5Zxs4WzRilhwfClps3hUND24XarxT-TEAf7kWbFVpNVyR9Ll-W4nGvJvFknGnoP8IgyfsfVFm4OwNgGWrZ8WXHrbZpJDNAOivTx/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528284%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596312836119128786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3h1eivMvFp2YnXx17ioRObkxqOCyfNcg0mp9Ks_wf5Zxs4WzRilhwfClps3hUND24XarxT-TEAf7kWbFVpNVyR9Ll-W4nGvJvFknGnoP8IgyfsfVFm4OwNgGWrZ8WXHrbZpJDNAOivTx/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528284%2529.JPG" /></a>From New Orleans, we headed to Biloxi, Mississippi... only about 80 miles SE of NO. We had to stay over in Mississippi because we had mark this state on our map... :-) so we picked Biloxi because it's right on the Gulf. We stayed at a very nice RV park called the Majestic Oaks RV Park. It was very close to the water so we took a drive along the coast...beautiful beaches! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqOSehNlu_5FH1-MMffD98s9QHWuGBFqMaVQQSrI_2j2Od0idf1lbYKIj9BKG7wo612WGGXKQFqATdoUOdPP-86cU8EJ3BSEkQqh02e3lyvMfElH3F-SpehLCkek67kgfRzModLDkqqRx/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528271%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596313198022857138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqOSehNlu_5FH1-MMffD98s9QHWuGBFqMaVQQSrI_2j2Od0idf1lbYKIj9BKG7wo612WGGXKQFqATdoUOdPP-86cU8EJ3BSEkQqh02e3lyvMfElH3F-SpehLCkek67kgfRzModLDkqqRx/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528271%2529.JPG" /></a>There are several casinos in Biloxi, so we had to stop at the Hard Rock Casino...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xRrWJS8rPwpAvpjA4Ixg0M6WRPFKKiCi5O5d-3dPP_VDSey1gnJkB-5pkqSRUiwBAUdtSXEIn7ab-X9xTjCsiS19XuDRadm0cZmtwoMsDy_O_iAxthjD6xeqrDYDgTF5DOY7EniHJARj/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528273%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 115px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596313519286410194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xRrWJS8rPwpAvpjA4Ixg0M6WRPFKKiCi5O5d-3dPP_VDSey1gnJkB-5pkqSRUiwBAUdtSXEIn7ab-X9xTjCsiS19XuDRadm0cZmtwoMsDy_O_iAxthjD6xeqrDYDgTF5DOY7EniHJARj/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528273%2529.JPG" /></a>I went in with $20 and came out with $40...not bad! Ed won 50 cents! After our splurge at the casino, we took pictures of the sculptures that were carved out of the trees that were ravaged by Katrina...beautiful! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y1R7LqZxrfBXT8WgeewkMMEXt1DWdwd_n4k-aSkKLfaCI3oVHeYX1Dzj9dGHfJwCUrstdvvRiu6VEDzxhAqsYdC1RM5Wf0h1TNqgCErHpOYGLeHMUuqImbzPGuwby3woJprRFYZNRVza/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528287%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596313807462851810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y1R7LqZxrfBXT8WgeewkMMEXt1DWdwd_n4k-aSkKLfaCI3oVHeYX1Dzj9dGHfJwCUrstdvvRiu6VEDzxhAqsYdC1RM5Wf0h1TNqgCErHpOYGLeHMUuqImbzPGuwby3woJprRFYZNRVza/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528287%2529.JPG" /></a>We found a great little restaurant along the coast for dinner and then headed back to the RV for a good night's sleep <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kD3VQgOr5VLw3CDJMr5jHYSHGZYCkwCUyD2WKCbPPHgM6wvVGxqym1BDKzxkzDjOX436DUtHABU1b2sbl-YVXKLErpFQlGTFETN1NzlRiTMrG7AcVOjgBC7guNs3myjaoEpxQLvUm9kB/s1600/Biloxi+MS++%2528295%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 108px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596314184771941154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kD3VQgOr5VLw3CDJMr5jHYSHGZYCkwCUyD2WKCbPPHgM6wvVGxqym1BDKzxkzDjOX436DUtHABU1b2sbl-YVXKLErpFQlGTFETN1NzlRiTMrG7AcVOjgBC7guNs3myjaoEpxQLvUm9kB/s200/Biloxi+MS++%2528295%2529.JPG" /></a>before we headed out again in the morning.Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-24233142491230787422011-04-15T19:14:00.018-04:002011-04-15T20:10:01.538-04:00New Orleans...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkofSiPP5cCYG4eG4yN-2mpLzGxSMxmpax_jh7miecwxd5Q-cry5p1qvwHYR41ogMin258gXEyOKcecIXuU0za2jWFkfYpgYzLxWUEUiEndOsmKZTMAcoW164QceCXstx5XbIFc3Ir2nz_/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252810%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595960092317130418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkofSiPP5cCYG4eG4yN-2mpLzGxSMxmpax_jh7miecwxd5Q-cry5p1qvwHYR41ogMin258gXEyOKcecIXuU0za2jWFkfYpgYzLxWUEUiEndOsmKZTMAcoW164QceCXstx5XbIFc3Ir2nz_/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252810%2529.JPG" /></a>After Palacios, we headed to New Orleans and stayed for 3 nights in Slidell at the New Orleans East Campground. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VKE7rvJn1Nz7rZaOCEtPBT5cpCBYl0VeB5lbatO3amyInyo5i4w5yjQRlYXO6Fo5JO1FtwAxJkVnvVlNkduMhC9_kbQVgfdP1BFBgSAxT01QWOtecCK4XnGsvylshnUh9LXEnNZ2l28W/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252868%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 103px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595961564331463618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VKE7rvJn1Nz7rZaOCEtPBT5cpCBYl0VeB5lbatO3amyInyo5i4w5yjQRlYXO6Fo5JO1FtwAxJkVnvVlNkduMhC9_kbQVgfdP1BFBgSAxT01QWOtecCK4XnGsvylshnUh9LXEnNZ2l28W/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252868%2529.JPG" /></a>We didn't realize it, but we discovered that the NO French Quarter <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI06xyuLTfvj0gWrYpX1VMhiW5lYCwgM_EqrlVxXwa1IXCO_rucz_yH2ol5JQNS-F4qvEhVmbP_hHw6QgtoKtPPkZyus-spc_PlHfyS31KvLfv8Dw0fM9dAVyxN8IBnIJivYGkK0ICqtcG/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252842%2529.JPG"></a>Festival was going on, beginning the Thursday we arrived (we arrived Wed night)...what a stroke of luck! So Thursday we headed down to the French Quarter...first stop was the Cafe du Monde for a taste of their famous beignets and chicory coffee...yumm! I loved it so much that we went back the next day! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVaMfW199zMwjKr73y07TnAoG2je_zlGOwIC3kPZ17vsujodsQvCCPynpgLF1SLhJAczuDAFHGz3HWtNm4DfKnwZv-eE3Pz8Yv68a4JBbaqQL3BBXMM21IB0-rbmpnUunBtX3E9bGEp1G/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252870%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595961804880602130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVaMfW199zMwjKr73y07TnAoG2je_zlGOwIC3kPZ17vsujodsQvCCPynpgLF1SLhJAczuDAFHGz3HWtNm4DfKnwZv-eE3Pz8Yv68a4JBbaqQL3BBXMM21IB0-rbmpnUunBtX3E9bGEp1G/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252870%2529.JPG" /></a>I digress...after our beignets we decided to spend the day walking around the festival, which consisted of various artists with their art lined all along the streets and all kinds of musicians, both singular and bands, performing at stages set up all over the French Quarter. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx23xvmW8wfDprXLqE5PNfdkjAaqOOzzApR41_fLaGujVLK20u2IZ3EmYySYmmCMT3gI9w9k7ZodQkfkfpoKLrikL5eU9VBbPajZqejCySZhxWs3m_5DhksD2GnT_YjJoGhUBBNYNVfssU/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252893%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595962404567183266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx23xvmW8wfDprXLqE5PNfdkjAaqOOzzApR41_fLaGujVLK20u2IZ3EmYySYmmCMT3gI9w9k7ZodQkfkfpoKLrikL5eU9VBbPajZqejCySZhxWs3m_5DhksD2GnT_YjJoGhUBBNYNVfssU/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252893%2529.JPG" /></a>So we listened to amazing jazz all day...for free! The streets were packed with people...what a great way to spend the day! We managed to visit Bourbon Street and people-watch too. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VwrWeMx6wWVTAPipz9PXBwR8rEZv5x4x0WEtlZpP0iNcSUofOe8LcBZgRc3li1B51UvA5ztKPdII26_99qoFwXgDGjXOXyd7Vn8G8CRRKAwMoNnk6vfuL5ZOtQEuxqNopwtNrLOP5mwe/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528111%2529.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93FAuhxptrtqCIlCO8Lcr8xuZtgZgvB_INr2T_NhbhC-lf6zoQp5HqSvz9NII1GfchmLiZAj7AuZObuysQgsxElSvbyJBcGpAHYdbpdWR_r0MrY44LHpV3YZ0CSwKmraWshSazL0HXw2C/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528191%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595965609117043378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93FAuhxptrtqCIlCO8Lcr8xuZtgZgvB_INr2T_NhbhC-lf6zoQp5HqSvz9NII1GfchmLiZAj7AuZObuysQgsxElSvbyJBcGpAHYdbpdWR_r0MrY44LHpV3YZ0CSwKmraWshSazL0HXw2C/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528191%2529.JPG" /></a>One of our stops included a visit to the St. Louis Cathedral...it's origin dates back to 1727. Here's a link for more info on the cathedral: http://www.stlouiscathedral.org/early_history.html. I can't do it justice by giving a history lesson. It's a gorgeous cathedral, which sustained some damage during Hurricane Katrina. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP1gOYL5V0zZ1WD5vSa4euZro_ji374i7zjJYceJbwKW6HYv08SPzDWXn8r20o-dWjF3CTm1XuHpIj1y8AhsL458oSC3B3_twuBF2UVGstT1MJywGjXVmaWZZ4l94YzdMmBZ1RXPrN39C/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528202%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595966021490585474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP1gOYL5V0zZ1WD5vSa4euZro_ji374i7zjJYceJbwKW6HYv08SPzDWXn8r20o-dWjF3CTm1XuHpIj1y8AhsL458oSC3B3_twuBF2UVGstT1MJywGjXVmaWZZ4l94YzdMmBZ1RXPrN39C/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528202%2529.JPG" /></a>The guide in the cathedral told us that the organ, which was originally purchased for 1.5 mil, took 3 years and $750,000 to repair after the hurricane. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xb8zZiP99TRmK42FXVm5qJUU7HJX25zJiBGZA8DvyxFOEjacC45Migh0-896pohzGdwSbfOFs9BcGibup6lHiqWeAZ7HJBr0lAX_qgA406hoM-6OUD5fz8ZpP6TSCGN8PF7lJQ_Gi5hR/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252885%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595964097718767202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xb8zZiP99TRmK42FXVm5qJUU7HJX25zJiBGZA8DvyxFOEjacC45Migh0-896pohzGdwSbfOFs9BcGibup6lHiqWeAZ7HJBr0lAX_qgA406hoM-6OUD5fz8ZpP6TSCGN8PF7lJQ_Gi5hR/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%252885%2529.JPG" /></a>For lunch/dinner we found Dragos at the Hilton and Ed had the best charbroiled oysters he's ever tasted while I had a fabulous shrimp pasta dish. After our late lunch, we finished our day by strolling on the riverwalk, which was also alive with bands and food and art! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01RaVH59kSk75ZLYzq_sFuf5lkE6UhICtMuktNlOXU1wL-48ZR16LTR6SRmG9ck88OTDMKCcdUqZpEAu382mxruGs8kr1C7hc1_NNEpUWKFK-Q7UW-M7pAyIc2tSzmBGl_O2gShh9DTdq/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528110%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595962777650788482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01RaVH59kSk75ZLYzq_sFuf5lkE6UhICtMuktNlOXU1wL-48ZR16LTR6SRmG9ck88OTDMKCcdUqZpEAu382mxruGs8kr1C7hc1_NNEpUWKFK-Q7UW-M7pAyIc2tSzmBGl_O2gShh9DTdq/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528110%2529.JPG" /></a>Our second day was spent mostly taking a buggy ride through the French Quarter as well as the St. Louis Cemetary #1. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_X-i7ttRWeET-WtKE4nJt4E-mC4gKBnAmtN14QRaCfoIpJBwVC8hcsLkeDLqPmbE3m-73RuVOi46KaXrYT9mtIo0CfcRv9p3cJ6wzsQAphYYuEEGXsPqnlx2fS2TW5B1Fd-jwFPmLo1T/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528115%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 151px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595963656008420274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_X-i7ttRWeET-WtKE4nJt4E-mC4gKBnAmtN14QRaCfoIpJBwVC8hcsLkeDLqPmbE3m-73RuVOi46KaXrYT9mtIo0CfcRv9p3cJ6wzsQAphYYuEEGXsPqnlx2fS2TW5B1Fd-jwFPmLo1T/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528115%2529.JPG" /></a>Our guide told us that because NO is built on swamp land, the people discovered that bodies that were buried underground eventually came to the surface. So they decided to bore holes in the coffins to keep them from floating up...but discovered that the odors from the decomposed bodies rose to the surface. Their solution was to bury the bodies in vaults above the ground. Most families were buried in one vault, because the vaults could fit 100s or 1000s of decomposed bodies. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp-vM1mYkdhzdCE1J8fGlLNY-o0LFbyOO5Y7v-XVuDQVcS-SCWXpd1qpbC6eUamXMuHey8tCfMkiFB7QQHUZH7s3xXUQ8j1A_x_nDYrkIsSOVwGH6IO5Wxa3x37jbRymINSgLa2PKTvgd/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528149%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595964602913247906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp-vM1mYkdhzdCE1J8fGlLNY-o0LFbyOO5Y7v-XVuDQVcS-SCWXpd1qpbC6eUamXMuHey8tCfMkiFB7QQHUZH7s3xXUQ8j1A_x_nDYrkIsSOVwGH6IO5Wxa3x37jbRymINSgLa2PKTvgd/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528149%2529.JPG" /></a>After the buggie ride, we stopped at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop on Bourbon Street, which was converted to a pub several decades ago, and is a favorite of the locals.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDcNy1eJPTT2u66V9redo9wWV1IHCe8nhJprlZA3x9ZECAwXZ7jvLs3TvXl2G5LTvGYYLhj3LC5FAqjV74ml61sbNPFRtXp3OJdfp6-EYUp0w3b4JdiA52DMtUO6qB04uhWnPt9LWrlP0/s1600/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528167%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 101px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595965111210221890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDcNy1eJPTT2u66V9redo9wWV1IHCe8nhJprlZA3x9ZECAwXZ7jvLs3TvXl2G5LTvGYYLhj3LC5FAqjV74ml61sbNPFRtXp3OJdfp6-EYUp0w3b4JdiA52DMtUO6qB04uhWnPt9LWrlP0/s200/New+Orleans+French+Qtr+Festival+%2528167%2529.JPG" /></a> From there we had dinner at Sammy's, another restaurant on Bourbon Street...it was delicious!</div><br /><div>We had been very excited about visiting New Orleans and it surpassed our expectations! We will definitely make this a stop on our future treks to Texas.</div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-3632725814045557282011-04-03T20:23:00.014-04:002011-04-03T21:07:27.916-04:00Time to head home from Harlingen, TXWell, today we began our trip home after 5 beautiful months in Harlingen. We had such a great time that we've decided to return in November 2012! <br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYuSIT7iBmxBmVIl8-o6g9NrmL9Zqb0pD34vfNJcjW3jfwInqvKkP5unSCbP39Mx3CoSfiPRp4FImfejBOIt1A1hXMyV9WVyVVYmZyr4EMmYiNGpPjq0I0NVUabUueKdp5XAAHVPx2-H/s1600/last+party+in+harlingen+tx+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591523997034769842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYuSIT7iBmxBmVIl8-o6g9NrmL9Zqb0pD34vfNJcjW3jfwInqvKkP5unSCbP39Mx3CoSfiPRp4FImfejBOIt1A1hXMyV9WVyVVYmZyr4EMmYiNGpPjq0I0NVUabUueKdp5XAAHVPx2-H/s200/last+party+in+harlingen+tx+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittPhTM9Vi_-zr8zz-jd3ETV-v8ltUsPCXoO6NsmgdoG_hzLS0-RFvbqSf7r50Fd4JWCZtC6oUElJm82A5c3xB2gdBNHkcajmp9-XVOhs9ykbpnC0KD92JCZbXvzjeHHyPLuOKVMKc2E-3/s1600/last+party+in+harlingen+tx+%25289%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591524218704235714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittPhTM9Vi_-zr8zz-jd3ETV-v8ltUsPCXoO6NsmgdoG_hzLS0-RFvbqSf7r50Fd4JWCZtC6oUElJm82A5c3xB2gdBNHkcajmp9-XVOhs9ykbpnC0KD92JCZbXvzjeHHyPLuOKVMKc2E-3/s200/last+party+in+harlingen+tx+%25289%2529.JPG" /></a>The first pics are of our last party at Tropic Winds...it was sunny and hot and there was a ton of food and drink! We'll miss all of our new friends, especially Eldon and Betty, and John and Gloria! We'll also miss Dave and Louise, who we met at yoga and spent some very pleasant evenings enjoying dinner with them! Hopefully, we'll see all of them when we return! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI1t4v7Sh6H8QDKwzDI1Y8xgeLfAtStCsPzubsBBV8josGs4LG1IwoeaykTEgycytW0ZwHte12Ms0miD70OzVjIWKopOGLlZvYnTpNlNaYsCoBP3voFxlFRMJ8Q97M3o58iyxczf1xn1s/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252827%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591525692123950178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheI1t4v7Sh6H8QDKwzDI1Y8xgeLfAtStCsPzubsBBV8josGs4LG1IwoeaykTEgycytW0ZwHte12Ms0miD70OzVjIWKopOGLlZvYnTpNlNaYsCoBP3voFxlFRMJ8Q97M3o58iyxczf1xn1s/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252827%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG8ceqq8HZI-uleuBaa56zBG1D5hJLQIbxNNSplfI_u-EFC_cqfNxcnq5pkPcE3uBy9Qp2n2msCOIcJ6laZJ0j3sK3CwW2FbU4mhDG24XrlLjzY4AR3aC_mnz_aLtD1YB1Rh9mk6ZFLti/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252828%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 149px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591525211132480898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG8ceqq8HZI-uleuBaa56zBG1D5hJLQIbxNNSplfI_u-EFC_cqfNxcnq5pkPcE3uBy9Qp2n2msCOIcJ6laZJ0j3sK3CwW2FbU4mhDG24XrlLjzY4AR3aC_mnz_aLtD1YB1Rh9mk6ZFLti/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252828%2529.JPG" /></a>Our first stop on our trek home is in Palacios, TX...a small coastal town about 240 miles north of Harlingen. We picked this place because we had to take back roads to get there, so we could see a little more of the countryside and the RV park had rave reviews. It's called Serendipity and it's nestled in between several shrimping companies. It should be fun watching all of the shrimp boats head out to sea tomorrow morning and return tomorrow night! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxDzgZS6lW6vkUciU-WpfKjggmnk3UkRjtuwXxwqxRGZxQRqlsI1FeUcCk2FjO9W4ge3fRwioRjug9PC0dP3-GlB2QStzOTkRC-75Z1gRaaoYp1BWdQIPkN5If1WD22uSvUtP_GBzVLfG/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252816%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591526100762766674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxDzgZS6lW6vkUciU-WpfKjggmnk3UkRjtuwXxwqxRGZxQRqlsI1FeUcCk2FjO9W4ge3fRwioRjug9PC0dP3-GlB2QStzOTkRC-75Z1gRaaoYp1BWdQIPkN5If1WD22uSvUtP_GBzVLfG/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252816%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rmr8EwDAKavYTZAPXz_fLxEA53A44Klr1NcXMWngNJFWqedK6UOwSpmOGeHVcad1m7JYKCx0UKoB01Krk8AXWekHYKdBkRFehYNwO-JicyXYYFmlYI7GLeiYb2OLpEt5oh-vJSE-ysvx/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252818%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591526376698322978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Rmr8EwDAKavYTZAPXz_fLxEA53A44Klr1NcXMWngNJFWqedK6UOwSpmOGeHVcad1m7JYKCx0UKoB01Krk8AXWekHYKdBkRFehYNwO-JicyXYYFmlYI7GLeiYb2OLpEt5oh-vJSE-ysvx/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252818%2529.JPG" /></a>One of our tasks tomorrow will be to buy some oysters and freeze them so we can have them when we get back to CT...yumm!! Tonight we went to a small Mexican restaurant that had fried shrimp and oysters...they came highly recommended by the managers at Serendipity...and they were right...the oysters and shrimp were delicious! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhJi3FyqRQ4VbATfWOBqVv7vAYnFZcj2inUZ_TUEmpfo8gTf87bex-lkd1IwwN5Lvxl_O0AbLn-pwYJeAyB2OKmK1ATnSTau8sbDs-qrUCLY3fgq0fnExHLeJamkwOnCt4NsFJSvQnpks/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252822%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591527118547235938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhJi3FyqRQ4VbATfWOBqVv7vAYnFZcj2inUZ_TUEmpfo8gTf87bex-lkd1IwwN5Lvxl_O0AbLn-pwYJeAyB2OKmK1ATnSTau8sbDs-qrUCLY3fgq0fnExHLeJamkwOnCt4NsFJSvQnpks/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252822%2529.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZA6Iy1H4SBUGjV6k88TI8dmffvrH7l2Ezb1nqeFxtIMCiXVCJFfo3BpeyEShGByXqWF6XByTqjffoDzvd5rfqrWidekbpr9tDHIpVik3sbHlmHIXM7dGBZMPrV8eMNfF-Znhd_e4fDd/s1600/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252826%2529.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591527383626456194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZA6Iy1H4SBUGjV6k88TI8dmffvrH7l2Ezb1nqeFxtIMCiXVCJFfo3BpeyEShGByXqWF6XByTqjffoDzvd5rfqrWidekbpr9tDHIpVik3sbHlmHIXM7dGBZMPrV8eMNfF-Znhd_e4fDd/s200/serendipity+rv+park+in+Palacios+TX+%252826%2529.JPG" /></a>Palacios is a very quiet little town, which is fine with us because tonight is the women's Final Four basketball game and tomorrow night is the men's Championship game...so we're not planning on going out on the town anyway! Go UConn!! In between games tomorrow, we're going to walk the 3-mile boardwalk along the bay and maybe we'll even take Emma!</div><br /><div>We leave here on Tuesday and will stop at a Flying J for the night. From there we'll head to New Orleans for 3 days...can't wait! </div><br /><div>More later!</div><br /><div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-7669729142354438052011-03-08T11:39:00.011-05:002011-03-08T13:58:16.162-05:00Progresso, Iwo Jima, and BorderfestIt's time to update this blog with our latest excursions...<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>Ever since we arrived in Harlingen, we've been debating whether or not to go into Mexico. Most of the border cities, including Matamoros and Reynosa, are definitely off limits, due to constant extreme violence over drugs. But Progresso is a little town that caters to Winter Texans; it's a town that you park your car on the Texas side and walk over. This relieves alot of the danger, due to the fact that drug cartels seem to be interested in hijacking tourists' cars. We've been hearing pros and cons since we arrived and finally decided to go when we were invited to go with another couple at our RV park. Eldon and Betty have been going to a dentist in Progresso for many years, as did Betty's parents before them...and Eldon was having some dental work done that required several trips to Progresso. Ed had a chipped tooth so we decided to see if this dentist could fix it.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX3EEtZRf11b0jtKjxldIDQFfun63MiHgsFij33QW-lC3kZoUZ_6JRMWUSsIqbVp6Wf930uZLLdQpOBABeCAW1UD4occxObW0rCr5m2Mz-TIc4HCRGfS8mndWhgTO_fQ6yTsVB7vykzvb/s1600/Progresso+Mexico.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581780144202056770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX3EEtZRf11b0jtKjxldIDQFfun63MiHgsFij33QW-lC3kZoUZ_6JRMWUSsIqbVp6Wf930uZLLdQpOBABeCAW1UD4occxObW0rCr5m2Mz-TIc4HCRGfS8mndWhgTO_fQ6yTsVB7vykzvb/s200/Progresso+Mexico.JPG" /></a>Well, we had a great time! First stop was breakfast consisting of a huge cinnamon roll, scrambled eggs, and sausage...yumm! Then we headed over to the dentist office...it was only about 9:00am so Eldon wanted to see if he could get right in instead of waiting for his 1:00 appt. Thankfully, he saw both Eldon and Ed right away so after about an hour we were ready to shop and sightsee! I had brought a prescription with me to get a generic refill, but they only had the brand name and it wasn't any cheaper than in the states. </div><br /><div>By 10:00, the sidewalks were jammed with vendors and winter Texans and it was fun browsing through all of the booths and shops. There is one main road that is connected to the border bridge and tourists do NOT stray off of this road...you're pretty safe if you stick to this. It's a little scary when we crossed over to the Mexican side of the bridge (which is a beautiful bridge, by the way!)...all of the border police are heavily armed and there are two police (one on each side of the road on the Mexican side) who 'hide' behind camaflauge. Coming back into Texas requires a passport, but there was no line and it was a painless procedure.<br /></div><div>I don't think we'll go into Progresso again, but it was well worth the trip!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizEiK25Bu5e8t0Ztldiza6ETFS6TvZtbvjjtZOc19cucqDQN5aW3KlUKR941_JlccJBgJVPAiPN63-Ux8gYT6klpi4fqKoXTvwduMRZ6HNzQs4mEajCTk1Dh_kDCePh2eJlkYrr8XyLdz/s1600/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581780883516284562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizEiK25Bu5e8t0Ztldiza6ETFS6TvZtbvjjtZOc19cucqDQN5aW3KlUKR941_JlccJBgJVPAiPN63-Ux8gYT6klpi4fqKoXTvwduMRZ6HNzQs4mEajCTk1Dh_kDCePh2eJlkYrr8XyLdz/s200/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+007.JPG" /></a>Our next excursion was a local trip to the Iwo Jima monument and the Harlingen Museum. We've been here for 4 months and we're just now getting around to visiting these two very interesting sites.<br /></div><br /><div>The Iwo Jima monument is at the entrance to the Military Marine Academy, which is a private college prep school for 8th through 12th grades. Felix DeWeldon, a sculpter, created the monument after seeing the original photo of the five soldiers raising the flag at the top of Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima. It was used as the cast for the monument that now resides in Washington, DC and was then stored until 1980, when it was sent to Harlingen to be placed at the entrance of the MMA. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CWupHXJhXwm3S08RB0ZITWjaqVEgga8QOuruIx3gRpuswgkTljpjBpdB6qxltCtOL-BuLPHrpGsQTAqh43f4GW2oaLTbEy49yXJp5vxagXFWJ62YA4_SxQ93pCaCa3QYKBnqFsSenwZJ/s1600/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+012.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581781335398252802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CWupHXJhXwm3S08RB0ZITWjaqVEgga8QOuruIx3gRpuswgkTljpjBpdB6qxltCtOL-BuLPHrpGsQTAqh43f4GW2oaLTbEy49yXJp5vxagXFWJ62YA4_SxQ93pCaCa3QYKBnqFsSenwZJ/s200/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+012.JPG" /></a>The man at the front of flag who was placing the pole into the ground was Harlon Block, from Weslaco, TX...not more than 20 miles from Harlingen. Six days after they raised the flag he was killed in action and was buried at Iwo Jima. In 1995, his remains were relocated to Harlingen and he now resides at the Iwo Jima monument.<br /></div><div>While visiting the monument, we toured the adjacent museum, which was chock full of interesting information about Iwo Jima specifically and WWII in general. We viewed a very interesting 30 minute video about the battle at Iwo Jima. This was a great visit!<br /></div></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJrfiAtpbFyuyiYoNgHJHZcK4P3QPin6tdztNohKA53btdKpyfDrXywJ5SeaMBfHFEFMqszE7YSMOzDG71xx0xAMNRe1H1xGhSnkWs6ZqTGP2s9lPIO_n2D56sp2KA5hxQpiIIaNfKILj/s1600/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+020.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581782196785789938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJrfiAtpbFyuyiYoNgHJHZcK4P3QPin6tdztNohKA53btdKpyfDrXywJ5SeaMBfHFEFMqszE7YSMOzDG71xx0xAMNRe1H1xGhSnkWs6ZqTGP2s9lPIO_n2D56sp2KA5hxQpiIIaNfKILj/s200/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+020.JPG" /></a>From there, we headed a mile down the road to the Harlingen Museum and learned a little more about the history of Harlingen. It's founder was Lon C. Hill, who in 1904 built the first house in Harlingen. His house, as well as the first post office (1905), the first hospital (1923), and the Stagecoach Inn are open for visitors to walk through...very interesting! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRoskFnBGwzhxqtUmZScIA9vC4SurfadV-dAyT5mYcDNdMYc7WWT9x35IemjYYZCxnz_RSJf-RsnD7cqWdpQe0XRnfHJWArY5npybu-sHIGK0GJuWPwliMKkTDE9yAJVIz_odtRz8_rN6/s1600/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+022.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581783049485893362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRoskFnBGwzhxqtUmZScIA9vC4SurfadV-dAyT5mYcDNdMYc7WWT9x35IemjYYZCxnz_RSJf-RsnD7cqWdpQe0XRnfHJWArY5npybu-sHIGK0GJuWPwliMKkTDE9yAJVIz_odtRz8_rN6/s200/Iwo+Jima+and+Harlingen+Museum+022.JPG" /></a>The museum currently has a quilt exhibit consisting of award-winning quilts borrowed from the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY. This year's theme is sunflowers and the quilts are amazing!<br /></div><div>It was a great day filled with interesting information about the town of Harlingen and surrounding areas.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIghRJ7aaF_XmrghINitsbLEg4h_CBIwkH35z8D8xMYGhbxf7rw41N5K8hGhVdRM2m8JFdd5AJl1h2dIaqvqnO-v_Wh6-nyazhyl817QymGA1urRFsfo3FLpJDcdzpF1bBc8jUf-Hy7pg/s1600/Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+001.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581783844406514178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIghRJ7aaF_XmrghINitsbLEg4h_CBIwkH35z8D8xMYGhbxf7rw41N5K8hGhVdRM2m8JFdd5AJl1h2dIaqvqnO-v_Wh6-nyazhyl817QymGA1urRFsfo3FLpJDcdzpF1bBc8jUf-Hy7pg/s200/Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+001.JPG" /></a>Our last entry in today's blog is about our trip to Borderfest in Hidalgo, TX last Sunday. It's an annual local festival that lasts from Thursday through Sunday. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcLX50cfGOTFAEvEPDCn4sZuQbZM1a5HxeQMJ-v5W2j2OYkSTYmPKXltB_kDWWorxRigPK9XAIvECK3Ap2ovM6y0P2VQabg3DWwCk-OJqnFiDWjH2XYogReHDLFlWaC_JgwTBU5HnHuMI/s1600/Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+003.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 151px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581784211161617090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcLX50cfGOTFAEvEPDCn4sZuQbZM1a5HxeQMJ-v5W2j2OYkSTYmPKXltB_kDWWorxRigPK9XAIvECK3Ap2ovM6y0P2VQabg3DWwCk-OJqnFiDWjH2XYogReHDLFlWaC_JgwTBU5HnHuMI/s200/Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+003.JPG" /></a>This year's theme was Hawaiian and it was alot of fun! Hidalgo is about 45 miles from Harlingen, but the Borderfest was worth the drive. Events this year included a Janet Jackson concert in the State Farm Arena, a parade every night, and numerous bands and events performing under various tents located throughout the festival. There was also a carnival as well as a large food court and a crafts tent. Our yoga instructor, Sandra, had a booth in the crafts tent and she gave me my first henna tattoo...a beautiful butterfly! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7JQt3NBbVF9_bw8SC8jnIM22DDDax1Orlfc4plo6ycXQgv71WttrF4BzvuWUVu5Zt5EetNi_l6bcgrhd8aPK1mRSyE-pu3_FlSQP1hwIP8jAqU8242CccU4fbsgvIkMv5IueNhKM784W/s1600/Charro+at+Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+039.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581784901892044354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7JQt3NBbVF9_bw8SC8jnIM22DDDax1Orlfc4plo6ycXQgv71WttrF4BzvuWUVu5Zt5EetNi_l6bcgrhd8aPK1mRSyE-pu3_FlSQP1hwIP8jAqU8242CccU4fbsgvIkMv5IueNhKM784W/s200/Charro+at+Boarderfest+Hidalgo+TX+039.JPG" /></a>Our highlight was watching Charo perform! She's a great singer, comedienne and stage performer and we thoroughly enjoyed the performance!<br /></div><div>That's all for now! We'll be leaving here around April 6 and heading to New Orleans for a few days and then on to NC, VA and home...we'll keep ya posted!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-13163673299884349102011-02-05T11:56:00.013-05:002011-02-05T12:47:26.523-05:00Hangin' in Harlingen...continuedThought I'd update our blog with some of the activities we've done since January...<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjDBzV3bTpyLaO8o6MbnsKDoCgNS1cgm1MfW7TMSVVBoYLYXfLRAoPM_RvazJfiqq7SfWiIGOwswts9sB4HteXUXcj3AfnpmUqrgoHDz18dmjA0jrVO5vSBNCPw5Ts5YSz9XxfT3wPub5/s1600/laguna+atascosa+national+wildlife+preserve+rio+hondo+tx+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570257713306083954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjDBzV3bTpyLaO8o6MbnsKDoCgNS1cgm1MfW7TMSVVBoYLYXfLRAoPM_RvazJfiqq7SfWiIGOwswts9sB4HteXUXcj3AfnpmUqrgoHDz18dmjA0jrVO5vSBNCPw5Ts5YSz9XxfT3wPub5/s200/laguna+atascosa+national+wildlife+preserve+rio+hondo+tx+002.jpg" /></a>One of our trips was to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is located on the gulf of Texas, East of Rio Hondo, and is home to 413 species of animals, including 11 federally listed endangered or threatened species<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUDFIuQMu9zCmXB5SWmqhbPLKybDQOWulHOmBMiHwfE6NaWLw8TzZUaMHVVgStrR3zstdt_Gku04W5D98vf57o8IuKNS4UIB7kMKi2UrQUMt2IODK3A9ibsn2v9wrrxm5FCa9a3tpYzqV/s1600/laguna+atascosa+national+wildlife+preserve+rio+hondo+tx+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570257904590055906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUDFIuQMu9zCmXB5SWmqhbPLKybDQOWulHOmBMiHwfE6NaWLw8TzZUaMHVVgStrR3zstdt_Gku04W5D98vf57o8IuKNS4UIB7kMKi2UrQUMt2IODK3A9ibsn2v9wrrxm5FCa9a3tpYzqV/s200/laguna+atascosa+national+wildlife+preserve+rio+hondo+tx+008.jpg" /></a>. These species include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Our plan was to take the tram on the Bayside Drive, but when we got there we discovered that the tram doesn't run on the day we were there. We quickly rebounded and decided to drive Bayside Drive ourselves...a good decision! The drive is a 15 mile loop with numerous pull-outs where you can observe the wildlife and soak in the peace and quiet of the refuge. It took us about 3 hours to finish the loop and it was a thoroughly enjoyable drive!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PyU8KLreFkSPWp0u6pBGcXdqU7d9JdlZGuDhiDrFnPq0rhHiWHVu80yrJz5mWQ3nOgveP_jXpRAvlkLK9CyKau2VufeE4r-hwWXcAqwmkCmBcvJdMy87km4-TjLwLS3LuejMpYts3v-S/s1600/mission+tx+farmers+market+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570259490781560850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PyU8KLreFkSPWp0u6pBGcXdqU7d9JdlZGuDhiDrFnPq0rhHiWHVu80yrJz5mWQ3nOgveP_jXpRAvlkLK9CyKau2VufeE4r-hwWXcAqwmkCmBcvJdMy87km4-TjLwLS3LuejMpYts3v-S/s200/mission+tx+farmers+market+004.jpg" /></a>One day we decided to head to Mission, TX to their Citrus Fiesta...just a way to get out and explore! Well, we discovered that the Citrus Fiesta was mainly for kids...there was a carnival and a parade. We got there at around 12:00 and the parade wasn't going to take place until 4:00. We weren't interested in staying, so we headed back the way we came and stopped at an interesting farmer's market. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFfcb9fpR56SQXBt8-91cWdG0yPoVVqrFt7IzLdCs7IqnrUh-uVtSVe59k4teQY0DXxjQfaGR3UOSQzTEiA8Kp7sHKfTzH-Or7TQx-TDyWJiqJmf1tFAInLxGHLGVMvOJNazLKN3J95Lt/s1600/mission+tx+farmers+market+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570259720585430834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFfcb9fpR56SQXBt8-91cWdG0yPoVVqrFt7IzLdCs7IqnrUh-uVtSVe59k4teQY0DXxjQfaGR3UOSQzTEiA8Kp7sHKfTzH-Or7TQx-TDyWJiqJmf1tFAInLxGHLGVMvOJNazLKN3J95Lt/s200/mission+tx+farmers+market+006.jpg" /></a>We're used to seeing lots of booths with odds and ends, but this market was mainly booths with chickens and goats and dogs and cows for sale, as well as bales of hay and veggies. We didn't stay long...I didn't like seeing the animals packed into cages...but we had to remember that this is a different culture than ours and this is how things are done.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTcX5gM8TkrHuBF16Lsi5LZZ7Fz4c4hdJeSrVf9W3RxQSXbG4_uhYPorCq4ani-d-e4huctmWrAOjnTd2hAb6Bkr_QoVdce81I3PEx_Itg8ioSOv8Y1m6RGVcqsm0mjUPUsL8pWRb-xSs/s1600/south+padre+island+texas+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570260085346429618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTcX5gM8TkrHuBF16Lsi5LZZ7Fz4c4hdJeSrVf9W3RxQSXbG4_uhYPorCq4ani-d-e4huctmWrAOjnTd2hAb6Bkr_QoVdce81I3PEx_Itg8ioSOv8Y1m6RGVcqsm0mjUPUsL8pWRb-xSs/s200/south+padre+island+texas+003.jpg" /></a>As February approached, we decided to take Emma to the beach...she loves running in the sand and she's been very well behaved and deserved a treat! So we headed to South Padre Island, not only to hit the beach but to check out two RV parks on the island.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsBaZM_bUL4JlIUghwPZNIHCLd6aaVIGmIX-YPI227uq0dRwrLCF7w1U-LzzmWzLHl4arJ1Lou9s7SyeI_0eyue-p7fxoC12Q3zfmbC0ekFai6fQ-OcKCf8H0XUa5IWIVBzmdcEerTCa-/s1600/south+padre+island+texas+016.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 124px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570260231270739874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsBaZM_bUL4JlIUghwPZNIHCLd6aaVIGmIX-YPI227uq0dRwrLCF7w1U-LzzmWzLHl4arJ1Lou9s7SyeI_0eyue-p7fxoC12Q3zfmbC0ekFai6fQ-OcKCf8H0XUa5IWIVBzmdcEerTCa-/s200/south+padre+island+texas+016.jpg" /></a> It was a cloudy and foggy day, but that was not a bad thing. The main portion of the island is very touristy, and it was here that we found the KOA RV Park and the Isla Blanca Park...both parks are on the southern tip of the island. After touring both, we decided that we would definitely be interested in staying at the Isla Blanca Park when we return to Texas in a couple of years! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3FQgpMUNMUhpZKeUHR1-XdDAT4eVWDfwwB-v0twKJmerSoIXImtntfOXhnCgV2vRREUQm_OA9Ng8NBOp8JhRIG3b8aZE5Dc1VT61Rhd7fZMYO1rTF56qLnELYe_x2Q6_UYUhPx8ruhH2/s1600/south+padre+island+texas+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 159px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570260463931969954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3FQgpMUNMUhpZKeUHR1-XdDAT4eVWDfwwB-v0twKJmerSoIXImtntfOXhnCgV2vRREUQm_OA9Ng8NBOp8JhRIG3b8aZE5Dc1VT61Rhd7fZMYO1rTF56qLnELYe_x2Q6_UYUhPx8ruhH2/s200/south+padre+island+texas+010.jpg" /></a>From there, we drove north on Rte 100 until we were away from the crowds and found a beach where we could run Emma. Technically, dogs are supposed to be on a leash, but there are so few people in the area that we allowed her to run along the ocean. After she exhausted herself, we drove down to the end of Rte 100...due to the constant high winds, the road gets hammered by the sand dunes, so there are plows constantly moving the sands off of the road.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2euk1sntXqSxMoOE9bAesSv5h8y1cysDxSnmhkFcFGYKak8Na3mz4oByMA078eIR6agWGcAypE2lkVGB22XpatxECk8z00PqPh0ejunR0aD7_VwKRbHk8AbgfEUZ3tBNQlu3gSj7KZ9LA/s1600/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 156px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570261420572656050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2euk1sntXqSxMoOE9bAesSv5h8y1cysDxSnmhkFcFGYKak8Na3mz4oByMA078eIR6agWGcAypE2lkVGB22XpatxECk8z00PqPh0ejunR0aD7_VwKRbHk8AbgfEUZ3tBNQlu3gSj7KZ9LA/s200/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+003.jpg" /></a>This past week was abnormally cold for southern Texas. We've had to keep the water dripping in the faucets to prevent freezing the pipes and the temps have dropped below freezing, into the teens. Two nights ago we even had a major ice storm! If you could get past the freezing cold (the wind is brutal here!), <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qSsYWC8O28BBsSxnjocFJBeFe-LWCuR5WVpI4PToXVF7klI49QIw-NpZVVVQKmOJHbQYCzKrLzDCwA2PtbZdlQkNC1DCYN__ds9nqxS8Y24hotPIQYHTgQEL6MK5lZk30m42Q6PMcVtu/s1600/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+005.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570261260169525954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qSsYWC8O28BBsSxnjocFJBeFe-LWCuR5WVpI4PToXVF7klI49QIw-NpZVVVQKmOJHbQYCzKrLzDCwA2PtbZdlQkNC1DCYN__ds9nqxS8Y24hotPIQYHTgQEL6MK5lZk30m42Q6PMcVtu/s200/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+005.jpg" /></a>the scenery was beautiful! Since southern Texans aren't used to driving in this weather, we decided to hibernate for two days and not venture out on the roads. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwnb3QSo_G42p1fgTT0nK8E76vVlm1VTpMYQqUB229-jbijOjt4pd5HgeiuSy6zgrsqTQAJycFTnvQAyFuXv2UGJMN3Ll8CW5PqIxdjDImRvqp0qNkEYx7II_Wq31mPyOZAhDWdF7pTqJ/s1600/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 109px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570261113129520754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwnb3QSo_G42p1fgTT0nK8E76vVlm1VTpMYQqUB229-jbijOjt4pd5HgeiuSy6zgrsqTQAJycFTnvQAyFuXv2UGJMN3Ll8CW5PqIxdjDImRvqp0qNkEYx7II_Wq31mPyOZAhDWdF7pTqJ/s200/ice+storm+harlingen+tx+007.jpg" /></a>In all fairness to Texans, nobody is good at driving on black ice! And thankfully, today is warming up into the 50s and tomorrow will be back into the 70s! </div><br /><div>We're here for another 2 months, so I'll be updating again!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-56223369789520427262011-01-11T12:53:00.015-05:002011-01-12T22:08:51.804-05:00Harlingen weather....<div>Well, it's been awhile since my last blog, and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfiq3Y1O7M2XJUgCRzI0-6ZKsrNZSYD3sY4I9elxRjxAIU4G7Mr9oBPYpzyfQ94GOG0vEoGygPp7H9Hhb76h39spk0UTlHj4LVgKFVNh0LUwpUOvZqGm0FQx8F09lKdcjq9DNpvZJpIKb/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+023.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 164px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560989446948482210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfiq3Y1O7M2XJUgCRzI0-6ZKsrNZSYD3sY4I9elxRjxAIU4G7Mr9oBPYpzyfQ94GOG0vEoGygPp7H9Hhb76h39spk0UTlHj4LVgKFVNh0LUwpUOvZqGm0FQx8F09lKdcjq9DNpvZJpIKb/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+023.jpg" /></a>we haven't done much but hang out and enjoy the sun and friendly neighbors. So today I thought I'd post a few photos of the changing weather around Harlingen. Usually, the temperature is in the 70s...it's gone as high as about 89 and today it's only going to get into the 50s and very windy and overcast.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3E9MS8F01M4sWMnZzfTZmVBTUwlr4W-wUpCQsX5rz4sxcLccGGOikpS97S9PhVQYhZ02f4lPMMmYWrrsuZja70cffzS4PL_A3kVYc9oWWo2lmZuaBkOJJyyRN2OqP5R5c426VL1ZdR1U/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+027.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 166px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560989603494165794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3E9MS8F01M4sWMnZzfTZmVBTUwlr4W-wUpCQsX5rz4sxcLccGGOikpS97S9PhVQYhZ02f4lPMMmYWrrsuZja70cffzS4PL_A3kVYc9oWWo2lmZuaBkOJJyyRN2OqP5R5c426VL1ZdR1U/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+027.jpg" /></a> We were warned about the wind before we came down here and for the most part it doesn't bother us...but sometimes it gets going pretty good...45 mph at one point! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBc-XgcpwamS__JFC-TPIL9fYti0LEB70B2NXHh6vFHHHURwS80rHTz2pzCkb-rAQToqUqVlyrX7IWNBVMzhTza8hvtgTj4X0OroeJhW7UUIbFOyqzy9jUvSKqVJLSsBtSddmgQz07AxR/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+026.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560989744749972274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBc-XgcpwamS__JFC-TPIL9fYti0LEB70B2NXHh6vFHHHURwS80rHTz2pzCkb-rAQToqUqVlyrX7IWNBVMzhTza8hvtgTj4X0OroeJhW7UUIbFOyqzy9jUvSKqVJLSsBtSddmgQz07AxR/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+026.jpg" /></a>Today is one of those days! Anyway, here are some pics that you might enjoy!<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUYZXRXxE0dhJpEA51tTSsXl885xcqM5bXa7yEUUq1EgeE9J9VXBjO34Xw3t3OMTbnG70YsWUD010v3u_7TnAwBDNS2fzOKvFrgrOSmpMiaEf83chhAnZYIxz7bYNBjt10Dl51V3iEs8g/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+031.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 171px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560989890345813410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUYZXRXxE0dhJpEA51tTSsXl885xcqM5bXa7yEUUq1EgeE9J9VXBjO34Xw3t3OMTbnG70YsWUD010v3u_7TnAwBDNS2fzOKvFrgrOSmpMiaEf83chhAnZYIxz7bYNBjt10Dl51V3iEs8g/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+031.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzknof8F7qHjPza2xxL5XcvLbrZXpkmBMcnqRb6mdQCRL5bz32YQKdPdX_OXM-YuLBHIl6e9uENO8RYCLvniX6UimZuTE0bjH2va8f2xCvtPNLU3ErrQ4nU2N8MNArV701P401y5Knb8So/s1600/Harlingen+TX+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 164px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560990053793727762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzknof8F7qHjPza2xxL5XcvLbrZXpkmBMcnqRb6mdQCRL5bz32YQKdPdX_OXM-YuLBHIl6e9uENO8RYCLvniX6UimZuTE0bjH2va8f2xCvtPNLU3ErrQ4nU2N8MNArV701P401y5Knb8So/s200/Harlingen+TX+004.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL75LH5hDIRX8nCmZogCNFHBbxRqfR8ut-oFehUW99Y3llA_1mtiY_SJG7-PwSegMGyr9pt4kNFqDeIkXUJTPpPvROfDIPh033VLrTNXgeT-0_OjR_T8CIJgD1Lc30zZeqbrz6_7Mcoi43/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+025.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561502045622634322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL75LH5hDIRX8nCmZogCNFHBbxRqfR8ut-oFehUW99Y3llA_1mtiY_SJG7-PwSegMGyr9pt4kNFqDeIkXUJTPpPvROfDIPh033VLrTNXgeT-0_OjR_T8CIJgD1Lc30zZeqbrz6_7Mcoi43/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+025.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-45016743680708619242010-12-13T09:44:00.011-05:002010-12-13T10:53:22.578-05:00Hangin' in Harlingen...Well, we've been in Harlingen for almost 5 weeks now and we're lovin' it! The weather stays between the mid-60s and the mid-80s and is usually in the 70s range. The winds can be pretty brutal...sometimes as much as 40 mph, but we were forewarned about that! As I speak, there's not even a slight breeze...so you never can tell!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5_zKYStDo4AugJTo-lrPB0KYvFAhokjR78NrtIEUfuEQFtbfavBRKrjZkztgmSJ2snrx-iJ-lMXYDQnK_MtvelauStBoNlPHRfnlzMI2trpwIC-KRuA2wppPqp8LmmHHygQhhG3WSRJO/s1600/Harlingen+TX+057.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550191731500271106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5_zKYStDo4AugJTo-lrPB0KYvFAhokjR78NrtIEUfuEQFtbfavBRKrjZkztgmSJ2snrx-iJ-lMXYDQnK_MtvelauStBoNlPHRfnlzMI2trpwIC-KRuA2wppPqp8LmmHHygQhhG3WSRJO/s200/Harlingen+TX+057.jpg" /></a>Since our last blog, we haven't done a whole lot of sight seeing...this trip is definitely a laid-back, relaxing trip. We did head down to Brownsville for an afternoon to see an indoor fleamarket that's advertised on billboards all over the town...not worth it! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPgzr9kPH5scZhFW3puBoEzvXgL1NHwQn2eWKB3ACtOAaTiKlAnILyor7zpI1ZtK7DSci7PdiYmKIwJbSQPp2Di1ZDQ9EE9TlXbXF_9Nu_oKjTZlKQZnKFwCtg2WZY0ef8ZjPaI35rJ6o/s1600/Harlingen+TX+054.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 152px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550195253032011426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPgzr9kPH5scZhFW3puBoEzvXgL1NHwQn2eWKB3ACtOAaTiKlAnILyor7zpI1ZtK7DSci7PdiYmKIwJbSQPp2Di1ZDQ9EE9TlXbXF_9Nu_oKjTZlKQZnKFwCtg2WZY0ef8ZjPaI35rJ6o/s200/Harlingen+TX+054.jpg" /></a>Most of the booths were shut down and the ones that were open consisted of yardsale-type junk. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3j7K7ZwZ1bYT47CsGyc1iD5RpQQAiEwpGO1gnjz_INGOIz7ZEH1f5FxMYLGSQxq1jxJRqHyeNp4oSfR4N73Qap6SoAgLFMvt6ZbZ-2qoEgePm7hALxmFl7WT3Ijaon5hKSk8_tipuh33K/s1600/Harlingen+TX+056.jpg"></a>It took us about 30 minutes to walk the entire flea market! Brownsville is right on the Mexican border so we did see the the crossing into Mexico. This crossing leads into the Mexican city of Matamoros, which is one of the high-crime cities that is constantly in the news....so we're not planning on visiting there! </div><br /><div>I flew to Greensboro, NC three weeks ago to visit my sister and her family for 5 days...and had a great time! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x45pxjDUNpPagvNG8O0AfFoXAr766CyZ7vQUOxQn25YQrysYxtntmCIw1FaiMzJSgpMiLzTBBXdehOFqdg8GQTEmgZfvIen98hWSlWsVmFKaZqF-ynG8WfCbGzySE58H12sXY_1mzyCP/s1600/annabelle+and+katiebug+november+2010+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550192351080752354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x45pxjDUNpPagvNG8O0AfFoXAr766CyZ7vQUOxQn25YQrysYxtntmCIw1FaiMzJSgpMiLzTBBXdehOFqdg8GQTEmgZfvIen98hWSlWsVmFKaZqF-ynG8WfCbGzySE58H12sXY_1mzyCP/s200/annabelle+and+katiebug+november+2010+002.jpg" /></a>While mom and dad spent two nights in Myrtle Beach, Annabelle, Katiebug and Wawa were very busy! We went to the movies and saw 'Tangled' (I love these movies so it's a great excuse to go with the kiddies!); we went to an indoor gym filled with jumping rooms and slides...and of course I had to join in the fun! And we went to a place similar to Chuck E Cheese...lots of arcade games, etc. I'll tell ya, Wawa was exhausted when she got back to TX! It took a week for me to catch up on my sleep! I think I wore out the kiddies too!</div><br /><div>Let's see...what else have we done in and around Harlingen, TX? Oh, yeah! We went to McAllen (about 40 miles west of Harlingen) for a holiday crafts show and had a great time! Of course we had to buy a few things...locally made jellies, jewelry cleaner, and the McAllen Junior League cookbook (the Junior League sponsored the crafts show). I love cookbooks!<br /></div><br /><div>After the holidays, we're going to head over to South Padre Island...supposedly a 'must-see'! I imagine it's alot like Marco Island in Southwest Florida...very touristy and ritzy. And we'll probably head back to McAllen...there's an outdoor fleamarket there that everyone loves...we'll see!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmlBynVVj2KbXhDLAQJhUaOWbujQyNl9AxJiBfqnly1u0PQ9sH7Y4tLjcECNLZRkXvCoHeJn4ZLe-4I67YDeMa6Qu3n4u5PWajzD3f2tYavrbcBMpK9MAIQIwR0MbDTi-x3fDoGSS2uT2/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 112px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550192898022620274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmlBynVVj2KbXhDLAQJhUaOWbujQyNl9AxJiBfqnly1u0PQ9sH7Y4tLjcECNLZRkXvCoHeJn4ZLe-4I67YDeMa6Qu3n4u5PWajzD3f2tYavrbcBMpK9MAIQIwR0MbDTi-x3fDoGSS2uT2/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+003.jpg" /></a>Other than what I've already mentioned, we've pretty much stayed around Harlingen and relaxed...which is what we planned on doing this trip...ahhh! We've found all the local necessary stores...Target, Walmart, H-E-B (the local grocery store), and the mall. Every time we venture out, I take different roads so that we now have a good feel for the town...I love getting lost...Ed not so much! </div><br /><div>We've decorated the RV...a wreath on the front grill and candles and garland in the front window. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioroy6eh0nVUlHPFN2oWx2AJ38cfeY9IdPLrEmCOsAnSDt2fnIVsgoagDWSI6dfKz0VGSn13c_rLJ4bceZdnsBfRCQyV63sc1QFlJvgArfpP890BGXSA9VsOortpLmDu6ntasqoCvPBKzo/s1600/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+016.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 156px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550193170861928626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioroy6eh0nVUlHPFN2oWx2AJ38cfeY9IdPLrEmCOsAnSDt2fnIVsgoagDWSI6dfKz0VGSn13c_rLJ4bceZdnsBfRCQyV63sc1QFlJvgArfpP890BGXSA9VsOortpLmDu6ntasqoCvPBKzo/s200/christmas+in+harlingen+tx+016.jpg" /></a>Many of the RVs and park models in the park really go all out with decorations! One night soon (before Christmas), we'll take a night drive around the neighborhoods to see the lights. </div><br /><div>Well, everyone, we hope y'all have a very merry Christmas! And let's remember what Christmas is really all about....sharing, worshipping, and reaching out to those less fortunate. God bless everyone!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-2343232269592651062010-11-15T10:10:00.020-05:002010-12-13T09:44:03.290-05:00Harlingen, TXHi y'all!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo32WH_tsNy8lVZyuZ9bJ_JMhmY2Rk0pTtId2erA5nXJAopGV8iXqV3XFkDFNHUxsiwaZ-0XgWS9PIAstWfp-C05PGR_NQt2UEoroRVfs5XY6_i06NiBUQl5vmSwWJQXQxSLxIVp5ncHe/s1600/Harlingen+TX+048.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539807064063607250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo32WH_tsNy8lVZyuZ9bJ_JMhmY2Rk0pTtId2erA5nXJAopGV8iXqV3XFkDFNHUxsiwaZ-0XgWS9PIAstWfp-C05PGR_NQt2UEoroRVfs5XY6_i06NiBUQl5vmSwWJQXQxSLxIVp5ncHe/s200/Harlingen+TX+048.jpg" /></a>Well, we've been in Harlingen, TX for a week now and are very happy with the Tropic Winds RV Park. The park is on the outskirts of Harlingen, so it's very peaceful out here. I have to say that we're also very close to the Valley International Airport...but the noise is minimal. The only two major airlines that use this airport are Continental and Southwest and there don't seem to be too many flights daily. And certainly, there don't seem to be any flights overnight. So we can deal with the occasional airplane flying overhead! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpSy-JY_blhUhJuZ1qd-piuWtpjZe17mW7z3bKbV8LcSGWWnuOcQsuo9Z-c113izzMSMT6QvrXMQbPVfFeG26B22U2FmbU-4VfvHuJVPWUQZTrk7GJlcVRipXHFJnSkn34K20RbGkPF1z/s1600/Harlingen+TX+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 173px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 131px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539807515609625906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpSy-JY_blhUhJuZ1qd-piuWtpjZe17mW7z3bKbV8LcSGWWnuOcQsuo9Z-c113izzMSMT6QvrXMQbPVfFeG26B22U2FmbU-4VfvHuJVPWUQZTrk7GJlcVRipXHFJnSkn34K20RbGkPF1z/s200/Harlingen+TX+007.jpg" /></a><br />The trip here from Connecticut was thankfully uneventful! We spent most nights at Flying Js (these are truckstops right off the highways that are RV friendly). Alot of people don't like staying over at Flying Js because they are pretty noisy with trucks coming and going 24/7...but the noise doesn't bother us and we like the busyness...it's a safety issue with us! They also have dumpstations, and easy access to pumps (our gas tank is on the back so it's tough finding a pump that we can use), and a restaraunt if we're hungry. Ed likes their coffee in the morning, too!<br /><br />We met up with some friends of ours on the way down and stayed at a Walmart with them one night. Dinner at an Outback was alot of fun with them, too! The next day we stopped at a rest area and said our goodbyes as they headed to FL and we continued on to TX. Thanks Bonnie and Frank for keeping us company and amused!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcXRuZJAlefVG8v6_guMRf6FI6ItDM3AmsHZCRrOlZxMpiuw8mCx32s4WKIQNP93LyPYxuT_OSs1g81Ju0zom-NAwX2MIjKkj-G8ZB5SeeybkG1UBa4sR91JDuiRNBFOilRyP0jWEdktu/s1600/Harlingen+TX+015.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539807978308844898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcXRuZJAlefVG8v6_guMRf6FI6ItDM3AmsHZCRrOlZxMpiuw8mCx32s4WKIQNP93LyPYxuT_OSs1g81Ju0zom-NAwX2MIjKkj-G8ZB5SeeybkG1UBa4sR91JDuiRNBFOilRyP0jWEdktu/s200/Harlingen+TX+015.jpg" /></a>Harlingen, TX is a city about 35 miles north of the Mexican border and about 40 miles west of South Padre Island. It is the third largest city in the Rio Grande Valley, behind Brownsville to the south and McAllen to the west, covering about 35 square miles. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietnYywfKnpTJVf-0z6bCuWCgXK6z2SeepbyguMM2NqwBpKF76FRz7GNT68eocaaZvx1GJ9IcpfETkwLf25wmwp1fDr68cMX8mAaRxvjCJETMS0HOlftFSRnGk-G_XPYS5xIqaN_hZlvSf/s1600/Harlingen+TX+040.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 176px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539808372384873602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietnYywfKnpTJVf-0z6bCuWCgXK6z2SeepbyguMM2NqwBpKF76FRz7GNT68eocaaZvx1GJ9IcpfETkwLf25wmwp1fDr68cMX8mAaRxvjCJETMS0HOlftFSRnGk-G_XPYS5xIqaN_hZlvSf/s200/Harlingen+TX+040.jpg" /></a>We've been exploring the area during the week we've been here...we've found the Valley Mall, Walmart, Target...all in the same area, and we've found the downtown district, which reminds us alot of State Street and Bank Street in New London, CT (our hometown). In the downtown district, there are several antique/flea market store fronts, along with cafes and restaraunts. There are also many empty storefronts. We found a restaraunt called O'l D's Soda Shop, which w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDhI1w4nBbOpWnJKwMTteURKIzc5Dj4u0vXjQpuBF2BO9dstgBqPYXupkiWsX18sa3jbI0iKmltHccP6MKqBoKuVgzOdlkbD3b2fl9NgZXrO7nG7RSlmf9GzPEL-YOeM5ih93dn93tBY9/s1600/Harlingen+TX+050.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539809366297502098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDhI1w4nBbOpWnJKwMTteURKIzc5Dj4u0vXjQpuBF2BO9dstgBqPYXupkiWsX18sa3jbI0iKmltHccP6MKqBoKuVgzOdlkbD3b2fl9NgZXrO7nG7RSlmf9GzPEL-YOeM5ih93dn93tBY9/s200/Harlingen+TX+050.jpg" /></a>e think is located in an old Woolworth store...complete with the soda fountain and barstools! We talked to the owner, David, for quite a while and he was telling us how he's been open for only 2 months and is trying, along with others, to bring the downtown district back. There's alot of dissension tho...many people would rather have the activity on the outskirts of town, where the mall is. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs4fncMpoPPvnBO7TEdm0NP51HfwNpZVoZFlMcWuWFXzTTTCM4zTplyOlBUZ57hTbl_YvKbiOo6GSDf46MyUo1XplzY9kAhfNW9EBXtAQ-_5XcNk6hWYpjAzAKE4lq2xGG4gEMgieUJ8o/s1600/Harlingen+TX+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 165px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539809831035138562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs4fncMpoPPvnBO7TEdm0NP51HfwNpZVoZFlMcWuWFXzTTTCM4zTplyOlBUZ57hTbl_YvKbiOo6GSDf46MyUo1XplzY9kAhfNW9EBXtAQ-_5XcNk6hWYpjAzAKE4lq2xGG4gEMgieUJ8o/s200/Harlingen+TX+004.jpg" /></a>He invited us to come back on Saturdays, when he has live entertainment consisting of oldies and country music.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we took David up on his offer and on Saturday we found a local Catholic church, went to the 5:30 mass and afterward, headed on down to O'l D's for a hamburger and entertainment. When we walked in, we were very surprised to find the restaraunt jam packed! So we grabbed a couple of barstools at the soda fountain and just watched everything! David came by and told us that they had two parties (one of which was supposed to be 30 people and turned into 70!) and that he only had 2 of his 6 waitresses working! We ordered our meals and just sat amazed, watching the activity. David is a true entertainer and kept the masses entertained and happy while they waited for their meals and I think the night was a huge success for him (if not quite stressful!). We'll definitely go back again!</div><div><br />Today is Monday, so after a week of relaxing and exploring, I'm heading out to the local Kelly Services to see if I can find a part-time job while we're here. I'm having such a nice time relaxing tho..... :-)<br /></div><div>Not sure when we'll post another blog...we're not really travelling far...but we want to head over to South Padre Island and the surrounding cities, like McAllen, Brownsville, and Weslaco. I'll be sure to fill you in on these trips! When we leave here in early April, we'll head up to San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas and then over to New Orleans and home. </div></div><div><div></div><div>These pics are for mom!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwrT44PaG3OZMRRcH6psDBW6WqLUb5vJxD_FsWVYRuSsKCvz7MW0a3SP7aZS9_2N0oddi5Kz555Lc_t4Km58DlHRi7wXmdV7GV8R0QhLM2DEN-JP2Hf2EPeigka53GflS9_VbEbqhhqu7/s1600/Harlingen+TX+017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539810554806719506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwrT44PaG3OZMRRcH6psDBW6WqLUb5vJxD_FsWVYRuSsKCvz7MW0a3SP7aZS9_2N0oddi5Kz555Lc_t4Km58DlHRi7wXmdV7GV8R0QhLM2DEN-JP2Hf2EPeigka53GflS9_VbEbqhhqu7/s200/Harlingen+TX+017.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v7Xd8ft4KEPtqcA57Vg3kdr39oUiJihvnEU5k5p9S7tB4-527A3WD98RHHAIgJXPSuehaOL4TSryC9DMOVT4F8UztkxKdTXjjoBTJxPixt8nkJ33Ez0QhPwxmGz3WXvJl8d_dKrUCKnb/s1600/Harlingen+TX+019.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 168px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539812108261491378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v7Xd8ft4KEPtqcA57Vg3kdr39oUiJihvnEU5k5p9S7tB4-527A3WD98RHHAIgJXPSuehaOL4TSryC9DMOVT4F8UztkxKdTXjjoBTJxPixt8nkJ33Ez0QhPwxmGz3WXvJl8d_dKrUCKnb/s200/Harlingen+TX+019.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HfAb3zdyWhBlq82xdi7NKVAqxmnVYE7kMDtPgOhOqJQBTiHQt29jJRIN46GtY-ZLlGx60JUeAVLgD0_g-DYfXlOwupQ1nHM9wkEROD0TWE-dI4Drd3q1NQvtoDK8H7jndgunW5qkth0U/s1600/Harlingen+TX+021.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539812564712588866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HfAb3zdyWhBlq82xdi7NKVAqxmnVYE7kMDtPgOhOqJQBTiHQt29jJRIN46GtY-ZLlGx60JUeAVLgD0_g-DYfXlOwupQ1nHM9wkEROD0TWE-dI4Drd3q1NQvtoDK8H7jndgunW5qkth0U/s200/Harlingen+TX+021.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9REZX7xI4vIyTxUH_KbxbY9aqq52CDo4tRu_Z5btuBU49QHksmcBkKMzco6x3yBvh5c0CeaDZwOsnsyDhe9ABOgJ7NoUOxiSGsM48sPuw3s3Y3YoYMvO502YIjKZjJ3Y6VmfhFePH-UK/s1600/Harlingen+TX+018.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 115px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539813467859282194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9REZX7xI4vIyTxUH_KbxbY9aqq52CDo4tRu_Z5btuBU49QHksmcBkKMzco6x3yBvh5c0CeaDZwOsnsyDhe9ABOgJ7NoUOxiSGsM48sPuw3s3Y3YoYMvO502YIjKZjJ3Y6VmfhFePH-UK/s200/Harlingen+TX+018.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>More later! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-87373304205780644952010-11-01T20:45:00.002-04:002010-11-01T20:59:50.536-04:00Texas Here We Come!Well, it's been 5 months since our last blog, but it's time to start up again! Tomorrow we begin our trek to Harlingen, TX. Don't ask me why we chose Harlingen to spend the next 5 months...actually, we were planning on returning to FL this winter, but just couldn't decide where we wanted to stay...sooooo....since we have never stayed in TX, we decided to keep our wanderlust going and head to TX! Harlingen is about 40 miles west of South Padre Island and about 35 miles north of the Mexican border...no we don't plan on crossing into Mexico...too much violence for us snowbirds. It was in the 80s today in Harlingen...and since winter is fast approaching in CT, we're excited to be heading to warmer weather. I was glad to be able to watch autumn pass through here this year...last year we were already in AZ by the time Autumn made its entrance. I think the fall is the most beautiful season of the year, especially in New England!<br /><br />Anyway, we should be in Harlingen next Sunday (not even a week away...yeah!). We're staying at the Tropic Winds RV Park...it had excellent reviews, so hopefully we made the right choice! While we're there we plan on taking a week or two and heading up to San Antonio to see the Alamo and the River Walk, and then on to Dallas. My dad was born in Dallas and I'd love to see where my grandparents are buried and the house (if it's still standing!) where we used to visit them when we were kids. Ed also wants to tour the Dallas Cowboys stadium while we're there. And I'd love to stop in Austin to visit my nephew Jeremy and his beautiful wife, Ana! <br /><br />After our stay in Harlingen, we'll be heading home in April, making several stops along the way. I can't wait to see my sister's new house in VA and visit with my sweet nieces in NC! We also have to stay in a few states so we can add them to our map! <br /><br />Stay tuned!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-86776936822247289592010-05-25T19:09:00.012-04:002010-05-25T20:02:03.945-04:00Visiting Drew and the girls in Wabash, IN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV5mbYNMstoTgtNwbatKNlKkZC26ndsoW6FjFjcE-bMOAj3fbqDu8ba7NuNBQuhopKzRkd3hrJuHEHwwWpJ_3qHH8mPuZuY-Pa0Os50R8FhpFiRxdbfXSgyrniC8vu7Un4ulnUJAsTnQ0/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 111px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475358059426181234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV5mbYNMstoTgtNwbatKNlKkZC26ndsoW6FjFjcE-bMOAj3fbqDu8ba7NuNBQuhopKzRkd3hrJuHEHwwWpJ_3qHH8mPuZuY-Pa0Os50R8FhpFiRxdbfXSgyrniC8vu7Un4ulnUJAsTnQ0/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+011.jpg" /></a>Our final destination on our 8 month journey was a stop in Wabash IN to visit my brother Drew and his two daughters, Melissa and Alicia. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCv8Ozy8D0My2dVEAx48Shzp1I78GMvmM2L_oInW5IDoejpFFI00KcLcf1vm732mx2ZeLMnU_80zlkoSF7nkTkj3P2CzcUdVHLlQXasJ7u-1SDrNEBA_ao7yGL1DcyGA0vFjbzTQVGj72/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+030.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475358336992701810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCv8Ozy8D0My2dVEAx48Shzp1I78GMvmM2L_oInW5IDoejpFFI00KcLcf1vm732mx2ZeLMnU_80zlkoSF7nkTkj3P2CzcUdVHLlQXasJ7u-1SDrNEBA_ao7yGL1DcyGA0vFjbzTQVGj72/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+030.jpg" /></a>We also wanted to see the newest little addition to the family... our 15 month old grand-niece, Lylly!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We arrived at the Honey Bear Hollow Campground in Peru, IN late Thursday afternoon, which is about 20 miles west of Wabash. It was the closest campground in the area and it was very pleasant. Their claim to fame is a disc golfcourse, which was very busy the whole time we were there. </div><div> </div><div>I first met little miss Lylly on Friday, and fell immediately and totally in love with her! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc9UgvErNi7y8_w3RGke2rFOh2zyfar2RLuHhD2r23mtcjEs4iwVtriz0e8NrztFuLuodShUqqOEdtJHvUHjOwbqHQ50vmKoZhI1Z-KjiaP1Omx3hTQpHmdZzeEGMsc9Ti3aaWVEgXFfb/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 111px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475357730462591970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc9UgvErNi7y8_w3RGke2rFOh2zyfar2RLuHhD2r23mtcjEs4iwVtriz0e8NrztFuLuodShUqqOEdtJHvUHjOwbqHQ50vmKoZhI1Z-KjiaP1Omx3hTQpHmdZzeEGMsc9Ti3aaWVEgXFfb/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+003.jpg" /></a>Not only is she a real cutie, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EOgA6GUF2keCdTPmLqFgdHLTjMvPgIhP72Uoluy7Dz2h0MIBbfbrAaPzphnWfdj6jUF3-vaiiFTe0qBUF9qywSpkL3E3d80M8h7qz_b1gXqMCxqcOgpgk1QPPrRpl6uNj4-jWqdeZa1Q/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+089.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475359079253854850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EOgA6GUF2keCdTPmLqFgdHLTjMvPgIhP72Uoluy7Dz2h0MIBbfbrAaPzphnWfdj6jUF3-vaiiFTe0qBUF9qywSpkL3E3d80M8h7qz_b1gXqMCxqcOgpgk1QPPrRpl6uNj4-jWqdeZa1Q/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+089.jpg" /></a>but she's smart to boot! Always on the go and very inquisitive! When Mel and Alicia got home from school, we all went out for a great Mexican meal... thanks, Mom! Our nieces, Melissa and Alicia, are both gorgeous and fun and very smart. Both are on their respective cheerleading squads too... very talented young ladies! It was so nice to see them after a 3 year absence. </div><br /><div>On Saturday, Ed came with me to visit and he fell in love with Lylly too! We spent the afternoon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7Ds3aJV-BTWnCjdl6h4vk7nzoCwHbuqFGnoFnZuNpmuVfbPkRq0V-gg_8yTzuf-GKUffcE7HFw81qH9JLLRMD-TH4Ey4vi55s98YW7V3X8nek9yaIA7rmOJMXjV4_TIV3ipaFG9lKvJ/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+132.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475360109524664066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7Ds3aJV-BTWnCjdl6h4vk7nzoCwHbuqFGnoFnZuNpmuVfbPkRq0V-gg_8yTzuf-GKUffcE7HFw81qH9JLLRMD-TH4Ey4vi55s98YW7V3X8nek9yaIA7rmOJMXjV4_TIV3ipaFG9lKvJ/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+132.jpg" /></a> at Drew's and then everyone went back to the RV for steaks on the grill... yum! We <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK67m_HF0B8cJFOevAWEWZXnycYHXszh6b8v1Rc8lxgvnuYWtKbpLqirJSkbS0G2xl7x2ZjamP0qBgPq6yYP_V5dsEd2ujiFi_wj7TL26Js6cR_4GTEiKsFPyFuDdgLrqNNO_szb3f35n/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+103.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475359292718955922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK67m_HF0B8cJFOevAWEWZXnycYHXszh6b8v1Rc8lxgvnuYWtKbpLqirJSkbS0G2xl7x2ZjamP0qBgPq6yYP_V5dsEd2ujiFi_wj7TL26Js6cR_4GTEiKsFPyFuDdgLrqNNO_szb3f35n/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+103.jpg" /></a>topped off the meal with an ice cream at DQ.</div><br /><div>We met at Drew's house on Sunday, where Ed walked down the street to the Catholic Church and I joined Drew, Alicia, and Lylly for the service at the Friends Church, the church they've been attending for years. Afterwards we played with Lylly at Drew's house and then I drove Ed back to the RV because Emma was home alone and went back to Drew's for another great meal... Chinese this time!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yGNPeTB7FA3-m6Lf35DtCVWi9nBl_CSsoVezh7VxbwVIXpFGcNiZQl0rB2nNFgTm6cxqSyPtwiOs1l3Afx66gglEjemnqNWAAUaN-SBtSs6JHzofapTsGNq_ejT5GFOIDGoKwejBdt4J/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+114.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 107px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475359672721290082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yGNPeTB7FA3-m6Lf35DtCVWi9nBl_CSsoVezh7VxbwVIXpFGcNiZQl0rB2nNFgTm6cxqSyPtwiOs1l3Afx66gglEjemnqNWAAUaN-SBtSs6JHzofapTsGNq_ejT5GFOIDGoKwejBdt4J/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+114.jpg" /></a>Monday was our last day in Wabash, so Ed stayed behind at the RV with Emma and did laundry and cleaned... what a sweetie! I spent our last day playing with Lylly while Drew did some grocery shopping and we had lunch with Sally, a good friend of Drew's. I met Sally years ago and she's a real sweetie. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPSiyIWgb3gYWHVDkgjimb-LS4uD1UenkSXxjDGSBD9rdy6gf4K4OKkKjSw-k0ecfhvAicz1yJptBd8udaAEbYkg0-ERMDEZnFIHWe1vp_293Nx8P-druuTWMIGijcr-2PrGx5GovqX8t/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+177.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475360785126808946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPSiyIWgb3gYWHVDkgjimb-LS4uD1UenkSXxjDGSBD9rdy6gf4K4OKkKjSw-k0ecfhvAicz1yJptBd8udaAEbYkg0-ERMDEZnFIHWe1vp_293Nx8P-druuTWMIGijcr-2PrGx5GovqX8t/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+177.jpg" /></a>Two months ago she had a double lung transplant and has had a few scary moments since, but she looks and feels great now and is well on the way to a full recovery!</div><br /><div>We packed up and headed out this morning and went alot further than expected. After driving 450 miles, we're staying overnite at a Super Walmart in Clearfield, PA. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDdDquFykfBD-V2dGkhd5_r9b8C4330C46BI-fFGJOF7gVjykJ0ILzCn70oRzpSXfJJ90QoZTEOYcvlBkGSwQY_GlzVap_8g2memFBnQ4_9WfXzlE-GHokunpzIQACh_tWvgDmW22sN6J/s1600/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+137.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 137px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475360395895734466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDdDquFykfBD-V2dGkhd5_r9b8C4330C46BI-fFGJOF7gVjykJ0ILzCn70oRzpSXfJJ90QoZTEOYcvlBkGSwQY_GlzVap_8g2memFBnQ4_9WfXzlE-GHokunpzIQACh_tWvgDmW22sN6J/s200/visiting+drew+in+wabash+in+137.jpg" /></a>We only have 395 miles to home, so we'll be there tomorrow... a day early.</div><br /><div>I can't believe we've been on the road for 8 months... it's been an incredible journey and one we will never forget! We've seen so many places... and several we'd like to return to in the coming years. It'll be hard to transition to the every day life again, but... we only have 5 months before we head down to Florida again! Yeah!! In truth, I'm a little homesick and I'll be glad to see my mom again and Kristin and Anna and Mike... you get the picture... :-)</div><br /><div>Signing off until our next adventure!<br /></div><div>Ed, Rena, and Emma</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-60744751494204061872010-05-20T09:05:00.016-04:002010-05-20T09:52:43.613-04:00Fairmont, MN and Wisconsin Dells, WI<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU3NbVLeh4ILMjFqvyHOr15GiashCxTEs0G5iIJZXQW0M8WJBROgVfxFSgmJBY-0BxwN51kacEyGdOMgHFNHzwkqlIe3IPJErxdTalo5t6XtEHM1ibhXuA0GpgaAABfqq45Jw6d_7zlw7/s1600/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473343337343212370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU3NbVLeh4ILMjFqvyHOr15GiashCxTEs0G5iIJZXQW0M8WJBROgVfxFSgmJBY-0BxwN51kacEyGdOMgHFNHzwkqlIe3IPJErxdTalo5t6XtEHM1ibhXuA0GpgaAABfqq45Jw6d_7zlw7/s200/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+011.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrcXKO1QAj3qrTAI1GzxfeofKg4g1QHgo0Xcb-DfHq1l_8O2i_IhyphenhyphenpfNvITsPXmf0ZPQ0nlCk0jMmvwUz9HVkK9lj4uoR2nvkXY53M-NEJrPYcvsPb4110bZb34vrkl1CXs_bMtnmCy9Z/s1600/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 137px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473342980788119138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrcXKO1QAj3qrTAI1GzxfeofKg4g1QHgo0Xcb-DfHq1l_8O2i_IhyphenhyphenpfNvITsPXmf0ZPQ0nlCk0jMmvwUz9HVkK9lj4uoR2nvkXY53M-NEJrPYcvsPb4110bZb34vrkl1CXs_bMtnmCy9Z/s200/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+008.jpg" /></a>Monday night was spent at the Flying Goose RV Park in Fairmont, MN. This is a beautiful RV park, with lots of land, a lake, trees, barns, and rolling hills. The owners bought this land when it was a farm about 6 years ago and have turned it into one of the nicest RV parks we've stayed at.<br /><br />Emma had a great time running <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76zQ_v3kvaK1L2Vml1WLqjOJ46WrV1aGYWptskkIjM8IYM-bLMmmWrtQwtcx-szmVh56r8iOWpkwekITIvosNPp5mUjFynjBGQa8d_tRCEaTKgI1e5bgkk_msxrEGdCXKIy77MfwDm5ne/s1600/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+018.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 137px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473343555179595570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76zQ_v3kvaK1L2Vml1WLqjOJ46WrV1aGYWptskkIjM8IYM-bLMmmWrtQwtcx-szmVh56r8iOWpkwekITIvosNPp5mUjFynjBGQa8d_tRCEaTKgI1e5bgkk_msxrEGdCXKIy77MfwDm5ne/s200/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+018.jpg" /></a>in the fields and the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5JLCGvl_jEIjhwpPWhZ1b6JXdudZt03Bbl1ppVTShVvxmq1_4VWSkmztlKtybExHtGiO_BPsHEIaW_XIQdj_2V3asDZld0XTB4ThEBZYJCSd6G70CC3T7jJURP2zuepxGbdCv_GOLHu9/s1600/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+015.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473348382170869138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5JLCGvl_jEIjhwpPWhZ1b6JXdudZt03Bbl1ppVTShVvxmq1_4VWSkmztlKtybExHtGiO_BPsHEIaW_XIQdj_2V3asDZld0XTB4ThEBZYJCSd6G70CC3T7jJURP2zuepxGbdCv_GOLHu9/s200/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+015.jpg" /></a>lake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8F3NL3Je7JVOhP-0axE3t1n1BepzYgfrfi-spRJ_ne-NF99w-5kSAI38PPtmt6b2gAvPByqAOzPxNJuk5E-xTT4q8BcoFxVmnBnXQ0V7yMt7qu6XEuiYukTKjS6UwbMzrw0gS2h5eJNP/s1600/carr+valley+cheese+factory+wisconsin+003.jpg"></a> and we enjoyed just walking around the grounds. For dinner we went to the Channel Inn, a rustin little restaurant in town located right on the lake's edge. Fairmont is a quaint, neat little town and our overnight stay was very relaxing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c3dUcaP86R5wLjOw0R0ryyAThWdDs4S2bXNuS7xaWloEG3OrZGXemrcLqIDU8Ay6gKd2ifyTNjmWbGl-mtZcAH0J4imOkeBKrk-ZSM8GI9Y4drJ-OJZJqxPmCSfCDSFyjgQhO53xhcxZ/s1600/wisconsin+dells+wisconsin+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473345129266521570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c3dUcaP86R5wLjOw0R0ryyAThWdDs4S2bXNuS7xaWloEG3OrZGXemrcLqIDU8Ay6gKd2ifyTNjmWbGl-mtZcAH0J4imOkeBKrk-ZSM8GI9Y4drJ-OJZJqxPmCSfCDSFyjgQhO53xhcxZ/s200/wisconsin+dells+wisconsin+004.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgElw2OeDCoX3fLUqBplMFejnQFeG_mk9MMTip994Bz-GWxSmLiaYHufqzVYmASTiSd44_2H5pwYTd7V6-3Dl5MrQBPWJX2AwcR5qV4rw1_UaaY4xjqb98W_XfnjrViHgN8w5APKukU2pa/s1600/wisconsin+dells+wisconsin+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473344701109552930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgElw2OeDCoX3fLUqBplMFejnQFeG_mk9MMTip994Bz-GWxSmLiaYHufqzVYmASTiSd44_2H5pwYTd7V6-3Dl5MrQBPWJX2AwcR5qV4rw1_UaaY4xjqb98W_XfnjrViHgN8w5APKukU2pa/s200/wisconsin+dells+wisconsin+001.jpg" /></a>Tuesday we headed down to Wisconsin Dells, WI and are staying at the Stand Rock RV Park, another nice RV park. After we settled in, we took a ride downtown... little did we know what a tourist town this is! Home of Mt. Olympus Amusement Park, we counted at least 5 waterparks and 5 roller coasters in town! Add to that the duckboat rides, the mini-golf, the gazillion hotels and motels.... it was amazing!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetCOuMqOV7Nap9Ni20YWkSNUVXqbUXj-NuoTPYp_G_I9Ux8VWKnYm4ezVMuQrjmtNYQwgQIolBe2_S6PpIH6W4pf-yBrNWb_VSgl6pUEHHiv9_IkWQDC7lAiY9ATqmrUzn8jKDzk2scxj/s1600/carr+valley+cheese+factory+wisconsin+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473347414871706706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetCOuMqOV7Nap9Ni20YWkSNUVXqbUXj-NuoTPYp_G_I9Ux8VWKnYm4ezVMuQrjmtNYQwgQIolBe2_S6PpIH6W4pf-yBrNWb_VSgl6pUEHHiv9_IkWQDC7lAiY9ATqmrUzn8jKDzk2scxj/s200/carr+valley+cheese+factory+wisconsin+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLBlCThKUr88yHq9rttTrqHlGmTwOv9tOzmkO56_BvZknyTiU_TfGmFn0VZXURjRuN5FwAQ8rBXZt8RevaGv3WNG66VWC0rfDusnR001uNehkHOLnOE6fxhRclysKIlTujrJRh21w0iP-/s1600/carr+valley+cheese+factory+wisconsin+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473345566383470466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLBlCThKUr88yHq9rttTrqHlGmTwOv9tOzmkO56_BvZknyTiU_TfGmFn0VZXURjRuN5FwAQ8rBXZt8RevaGv3WNG66VWC0rfDusnR001uNehkHOLnOE6fxhRclysKIlTujrJRh21w0iP-/s200/carr+valley+cheese+factory+wisconsin+006.jpg" /></a>On Wednesday, we headed to Mauston, WI, about 17 miles north on I-90, to visit the Carr Valley Cheese Factory and store. They have a viewing window and you need to get there between 8:00 and 11:00 when they're making a vat of cheese. It's best to get there as early as possible, so you don't miss any of the process. We also saw a video that explains the whole process. Of course we bought several different cheeses and 2 bags of Wisconsin's favorite snack... Cheese Curds! They had samples of cheese curds... only 3 hours old... the fresher the better! They're not fresh unless they squeak when you chew them!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xAAVjdzGygMdoFSRevdaISy0-3WZdH0UFUmX7hXqRKrix1tZ5Eusy0QSX7xGoPB1Bx9STNAAKlmO56I6cyfNB4-xAZpsAeuZ-QVQ4KZglQHEA4BgCcjyZJ6oxdyl3dnjzJp9RitsBs0R/s1600/mini+golf+wisconsin+dells+wi+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473346555768598018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xAAVjdzGygMdoFSRevdaISy0-3WZdH0UFUmX7hXqRKrix1tZ5Eusy0QSX7xGoPB1Bx9STNAAKlmO56I6cyfNB4-xAZpsAeuZ-QVQ4KZglQHEA4BgCcjyZJ6oxdyl3dnjzJp9RitsBs0R/s200/mini+golf+wisconsin+dells+wi+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RNGFqrRu9jIA0y2aFn14ngGLUAU0reIP4_TxkJPvYXnmel_RVXa7F1wZRgS58Q_k0ymqpg29FjYKgL1-8eNd1T1O0hSx8Unb0JH5FR8m8_BxWn_-f_sD0HFzbS1XP5rSVtyc_kcERAAg/s1600/flying+goose+rv+park+in+fairmont,+mn+015.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLWzii5Vr6N2VGBI_gxX0pK65o6Ce0tY6Mhyurir8OSGWjuy8ir7eKmKZ_nm3rkxLWhmWMHunzrRO3d0RpbzcYSDEu7RQCO8Lydig5tTR-ELO1uIZqxK0pulrUI734oiFKUzWLxW_liTF/s1600/mini+golf+wisconsin+dells+wi+012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473349508160447378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLWzii5Vr6N2VGBI_gxX0pK65o6Ce0tY6Mhyurir8OSGWjuy8ir7eKmKZ_nm3rkxLWhmWMHunzrRO3d0RpbzcYSDEu7RQCO8Lydig5tTR-ELO1uIZqxK0pulrUI734oiFKUzWLxW_liTF/s200/mini+golf+wisconsin+dells+wi+012.jpg" /></a>Wednesday evening, we decided to play a couple of rounds of miniature golf. I decided to let Ed win both games so as not to bruise his fragile male ego... ;-)</div><br /><div>Today (Thursday) we forge on... stopping about 240 miles south of here off of I-39, at the Hickory Hill Campground in Secor, IL. Tomorrow we should be in Peru, IN, which is about 16 miles west of Wabash IN where my brother lives. We'll stay in Peru for 4 nights to visit and then move on to CT. </div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-21001739969913519572010-05-16T19:48:00.025-04:002010-05-16T23:58:41.903-04:00Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse (and more...)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWU1DsyhgGFFKHsBqEZqKvq_B5rF0M-xvIG3L9z7iuvgjlDR9n6LnMR5ialDAiIXK2xrgNiApdnxOIys-x5jaAKWWKnmIlFOL8MlsjFxKeG8PF5MFrIosQb_903ll4V2E48Me7cTul5Pg/s1600/sturgis+sd+050.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCllqtPjf7IhodOIfcDzOHKbl0xUaikK8VmiRwWAnTVz3_ft3KiAs3uym77Uxf_xjWjG432LWBArz1q33AomWrWck_zW3DXJn_UvpDgtkon9zdTNTj319exI0TD2vYkLgbog9wnZLMdZXd/s1600/sturgis+sd+049.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472060609546912738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCllqtPjf7IhodOIfcDzOHKbl0xUaikK8VmiRwWAnTVz3_ft3KiAs3uym77Uxf_xjWjG432LWBArz1q33AomWrWck_zW3DXJn_UvpDgtkon9zdTNTj319exI0TD2vYkLgbog9wnZLMdZXd/s200/sturgis+sd+049.jpg" /></a>We decided to drive to Sturgis, SD on Friday because there was a farmer's market on Main Street on Fridays and I thought it would be a good way to see Sturgis. Well, there were only 3 booths and none of them were selling vegetables! But since we were there, we decided to walk around and see Main Street. Sturgis is the site of an annual motorcycle rally held in August and this year they celebrate their 70th rally. It began in 1938 and has been held every year except for 2 years during the WWII gas rationing. We saw a few pictures of the rally and I think it's even more crowded than Bike Week in Daytona!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLOKFQ-DdDZEkuVuffVD764p4Czn-u08CtmFaiJuDhuIk5ZsjJwEC8d5zjCPlmJq4fMhLJPdSNP7-nfQZxWMl-znvbM61os1cOfTAyM_b9VjbUDH1OVEjmsoQGFUO2hY5zcD_p6Bhcqmi/s1600/deadwood+sd+036.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472074103728564818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLOKFQ-DdDZEkuVuffVD764p4Czn-u08CtmFaiJuDhuIk5ZsjJwEC8d5zjCPlmJq4fMhLJPdSNP7-nfQZxWMl-znvbM61os1cOfTAyM_b9VjbUDH1OVEjmsoQGFUO2hY5zcD_p6Bhcqmi/s200/deadwood+sd+036.jpg" /></a>On the way to Sturgis, we took a nice scenic route that <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyMnX6WjUuyaWTCSZ3WgWK72yy2JnnYhCzeI7AZ_uwbUDTVe_44Sp0n9j8isV2-oJt6AegyUYJMQbyNtpu3eNyQjQ0vJq7gaWxNSVcHnZUhMWaBS-4FiDmQXNvIRDiWKINfpqiY8plAPb/s1600/deadwood+sd+042.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472061183586964466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyMnX6WjUuyaWTCSZ3WgWK72yy2JnnYhCzeI7AZ_uwbUDTVe_44Sp0n9j8isV2-oJt6AegyUYJMQbyNtpu3eNyQjQ0vJq7gaWxNSVcHnZUhMWaBS-4FiDmQXNvIRDiWKINfpqiY8plAPb/s200/deadwood+sd+042.jpg" /></a>ran through Deadwood, SD, which is a National Historic Landmark. Wild Bill Hickock was shot and buried here. Deadwood also had the first telephone exchange in the state of South Dakota. We discovered as we walked down Main Street that the entire town consists largely of casinos and saloons! Of course I had to try my hand at the slots, and had I left when I was finished with the 1 cent slots, I would've been ahead by $1.20... but alas, I had to try the $1.00 slots and left with $5 less than what I came in with! </div><br /><div>So that was our first day in Rapid City... on to day 2!</div><br /><div>On Saturday, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWgjOKaH8c18J1rPHTBwISIvU_sn3e1f9ugNduxs531sOzevDjVjwR6HaS4XKq88axcDJmWbq6jdao9t3EkgexJ0Lf11n4gpmvkX134iY1dTJQr4bFyke3oCfCTpXDXRU1atb4A_SnSt8/s1600/mt+rushmore+sd+062.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 110px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472062071016048818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWgjOKaH8c18J1rPHTBwISIvU_sn3e1f9ugNduxs531sOzevDjVjwR6HaS4XKq88axcDJmWbq6jdao9t3EkgexJ0Lf11n4gpmvkX134iY1dTJQr4bFyke3oCfCTpXDXRU1atb4A_SnSt8/s200/mt+rushmore+sd+062.jpg" /></a>we headed to Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse... how fascinating they were! Our first stop was Mt. Rushmore and while we were there, we met Nick Clifford, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J2qy2B7oQNIzeRjPF9DxBqLhTi9VzPNpc2EcbB-7JxI7qIxDec5gSEnoARYFD5zZKSzE6xQplcqHIp5EqUIBJfZYl4UqENaaJJI49PTCz0KXDoRFFBG-x46xsyio4pb9RiFBmG-FDP1V/s1600/mt+rushmore+sd+091.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472066189328864354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J2qy2B7oQNIzeRjPF9DxBqLhTi9VzPNpc2EcbB-7JxI7qIxDec5gSEnoARYFD5zZKSzE6xQplcqHIp5EqUIBJfZYl4UqENaaJJI49PTCz0KXDoRFFBG-x46xsyio4pb9RiFBmG-FDP1V/s200/mt+rushmore+sd+091.jpg" /></a>the last living Mt. Rushmore worker. He worked on the statues in 1938, 1939, and 1940 and he's a wealth of information! He's 89 now and we had a lovely chat with him, and also bought his book of questions and answers about Mt. Rushmore. The memorial was created by Gutzon Borglum and consists of the heads of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. Borglum picked this particular location because of the fine grain granite rock that was good for carving and he needed enough of it so that the sculpture w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPi8kyiN8KcUYaJ5-TH1JiyCpgOWxXmhLtwac0PQu0rrZ0OptXnMEfpui1BkMWXTbyikoFLKfTYjitv5FF6GxYufYJ6-LdAPi84sGKFlTxKvfurloaZKdr30BdnCFbi9QmLIeA1TkSwJW/s1600/mt+rushmore+sd+083.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472062745753308610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPi8kyiN8KcUYaJ5-TH1JiyCpgOWxXmhLtwac0PQu0rrZ0OptXnMEfpui1BkMWXTbyikoFLKfTYjitv5FF6GxYufYJ6-LdAPi84sGKFlTxKvfurloaZKdr30BdnCFbi9QmLIeA1TkSwJW/s200/mt+rushmore+sd+083.jpg" /></a>ould face the morning sunrise. The origina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljiW7VCVcWe39fHdJ-Oki0fl84AUmcS1qTwjOp8vbo2tC6XDtLkzlSlxwsXQkb0_PxsBx2awpffWAqqW05yfXAU0Xnc483Azcx1uMhcgv6LJ7fwr4IezaqVjeDVuK2-Oy02GNMsHhMWIk/s1600/mt+rushmore+sd+100.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 136px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472063472290794226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljiW7VCVcWe39fHdJ-Oki0fl84AUmcS1qTwjOp8vbo2tC6XDtLkzlSlxwsXQkb0_PxsBx2awpffWAqqW05yfXAU0Xnc483Azcx1uMhcgv6LJ7fwr4IezaqVjeDVuK2-Oy02GNMsHhMWIk/s200/mt+rushmore+sd+100.jpg" /></a>l idea came from Doane Robinson, the South Dakota State Historian in the early 1900s. He wanted something that would entice people to visit South Dakota... this was obviously a good idea! In his book, Mr. Clifford says that these four presidents were selected for the sculpture for the following reasons: "George Washington was our first president and the Father of our contry. Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of our country with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803. He also drafted the Declaration of Independence. Abraham Lincoln is credited with holding the nation together during the Civil War and he was called the Great Emancipator. Theodore Roosevelt support the completion of the Panama Canal, which would have an effect on world trade. He also set aside some of the National Parks."<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsvmM3CO2czVCsuCilbFbriwd4j8SdhBffAy6An91BMsJubpsmG8fL1PU02qv383qa9M7Be_GNlCW-3zwjUS1seb5wCjKVtvG3Ag6hFJhUHUaydTWGB5OmtLSguFRS7uTKemcwqqcTD2r/s1600/800px-Gutzon_Borglum's_model_of_Mt__Rushmore_memorial.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472066758387632786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsvmM3CO2czVCsuCilbFbriwd4j8SdhBffAy6An91BMsJubpsmG8fL1PU02qv383qa9M7Be_GNlCW-3zwjUS1seb5wCjKVtvG3Ag6hFJhUHUaydTWGB5OmtLSguFRS7uTKemcwqqcTD2r/s200/800px-Gutzon_Borglum's_model_of_Mt__Rushmore_memorial.jpg" /></a>One last interesting tidbit before I move on to Crazyhorse: after Mr. Borglum died in 1941 from an embolism, his son continued his work, but funding ran out before the sculpture could be completed. The original plan for the sculpture was to be of the presidents from head to waist, but that was not to be. </div><br /><div>After we left Mt. Rushmore, we headed to Crazyhorse, which was the Indian's answer to Mt. Rushmore. Native American leaders wanted to create a statue to let the white man<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMJevZgZ0K4Et8cjNnwavbqLrA9QQDfuANKqMqJKl3RV5bDiGdiitpzLFUraFXG5Q_0Jnp6iHscl29BGw_NBp4GLpSMXIs4QhPKnNqYIkeBTWYzplLRSlcjfkVZe427Cu5jC_adqeeObR/s1600/crazyhorse+sd+111.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472067835115895634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMJevZgZ0K4Et8cjNnwavbqLrA9QQDfuANKqMqJKl3RV5bDiGdiitpzLFUraFXG5Q_0Jnp6iHscl29BGw_NBp4GLpSMXIs4QhPKnNqYIkeBTWYzplLRSlcjfkVZe427Cu5jC_adqeeObR/s200/crazyhorse+sd+111.jpg" /></a> know that the red man has great heroes too.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWPILQUDACk8pW1puKK12lmz9VZBdWq_jTgAQVgwX4La5XwWuLlGyhcSZLfsZHXjKwNgnW4pNNOBa103SDaPo1DOys_6l8yLWCO477ncFhIV6XZh9T63zGE47ckFoJgCKml7gf14_zMRN/s1600/crazyhorse+sd+131.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472068928598578242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWPILQUDACk8pW1puKK12lmz9VZBdWq_jTgAQVgwX4La5XwWuLlGyhcSZLfsZHXjKwNgnW4pNNOBa103SDaPo1DOys_6l8yLWCO477ncFhIV6XZh9T63zGE47ckFoJgCKml7gf14_zMRN/s200/crazyhorse+sd+131.jpg" /></a> They chose Crazyhorse because of his values and great spirit. He died young and tragically when he was stabbed in the back under the false pretense of a truce. His statue, when completed, will have him pointing forward in answer to the white man's question 'Where are your lands now?'... his answer is 'My lands are where my dead lie buried'. The sculpture was created and worked on by Korczak Ziolkowski, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1ty1PPADltmn-82Ne7dfHRLrTxHnb3AYY-YuZhklvqVrGTDsXNtUAloSsOeRhMQMLECvbXQ2QWwEScdAcHVJzlz87wINzsdmHcPw_3r5a9Sxeyi7Xg0Ot03WZSIM0_RwWLuPcptFDCpE/s1600/crazyhorse+sd+132.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472069417119748994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1ty1PPADltmn-82Ne7dfHRLrTxHnb3AYY-YuZhklvqVrGTDsXNtUAloSsOeRhMQMLECvbXQ2QWwEScdAcHVJzlz87wINzsdmHcPw_3r5a9Sxeyi7Xg0Ot03WZSIM0_RwWLuPcptFDCpE/s200/crazyhorse+sd+132.jpg" /></a>who was commissioned by the Native American leaders. He won first place at the World's Fair for his sculptures and he was well know in West Hartford, CT. After his death in 1982, his wife and children have continued his work and will not stop until the entire sculpture is complete. The funding for this comes solely from private contributions and admission fees.<br /></div><div>When we left Crazyhorse, we took the scenic route around Custer State Park. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3D9Yb10sYFNdiWSg1ltaTSYr1gpKRkUcY5I95CaEOzzpAqNDxCZdr8m2IyByE8fNLokUf7GrFzTRu_DEWkqw3heo-uFRBC13n4lcN9m039BOF7A6CcrEjR0LvPvk2dqfQ5lZc1zwhrzk/s1600/mt+rushmore+tunnel+154.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472064028837929906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3D9Yb10sYFNdiWSg1ltaTSYr1gpKRkUcY5I95CaEOzzpAqNDxCZdr8m2IyByE8fNLokUf7GrFzTRu_DEWkqw3heo-uFRBC13n4lcN9m039BOF7A6CcrEjR0LvPvk2dqfQ5lZc1zwhrzk/s200/mt+rushmore+tunnel+154.jpg" /></a>The route winds through forest and field, and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8KI3466cdaXht3Xim0NXcvl3dxNMZ59kyG80hDyJ8T01QPU4El2eW1caWMalRszut0l7ApLb8UD-QcsLYuVx4eyFzSq-MEhk1Q7CuEPB3v6NNuqDhnftPI1f5M2rTvGjtSWnXptNLExQ/s1600/mt+rushmore+tunnel+159.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472065216336658946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8KI3466cdaXht3Xim0NXcvl3dxNMZ59kyG80hDyJ8T01QPU4El2eW1caWMalRszut0l7ApLb8UD-QcsLYuVx4eyFzSq-MEhk1Q7CuEPB3v6NNuqDhnftPI1f5M2rTvGjtSWnXptNLExQ/s200/mt+rushmore+tunnel+159.jpg" /></a>we saw several deer and one buffalo. The road itself is very curvy and especially so as we headed back up towards Mt. Rushmore. There were several hairpin turns where we had to slow to 15mph, and there were 4 or 5 single lane tunnels. It was definitely worth the ride... especially as we passed through the tunnels to see Mt. Rushmore in the distance!<br /></div><br /><div>This area was the last 'must see' on our 8 month journey. Now we head home, stopping in Indiana to visit my brother and my nieces and grand-niece! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg44T-_1eVTgZrVgZLRrWEpX__xERIRTPqtgUPf_EK3WkNl_7uBw6t9Xlq2QVvD_O68S469GiL2R2lzvznFdg687Hdhd_yXGQQsrudkoIshr1qHokNomq3CVr2_dkdriqWSiV_on-hBhBU/s1600/corn+palace,+mitchell,+sd+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472070371303363186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg44T-_1eVTgZrVgZLRrWEpX__xERIRTPqtgUPf_EK3WkNl_7uBw6t9Xlq2QVvD_O68S469GiL2R2lzvznFdg687Hdhd_yXGQQsrudkoIshr1qHokNomq3CVr2_dkdriqWSiV_on-hBhBU/s200/corn+palace,+mitchell,+sd+001.jpg" /></a>We left Rapid City today and are spending tonight in Mitchell, SD. It turns out that Mitchell has a na<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9srF1ukoORElTxomTXHM0reDHSaMxl5tlT4JZrlyCSWjtrXL-fb0oWtsD0KLx0Jhh2dSGgtJkkR5waNDvexfoIChIm5crUg262ZPN3PIW1xsy5Spf8pf-qsH6gafEk_Y2_yt8aMEzayrO/s1600/corn+palace,+mitchell,+sd+012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472071004369636530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9srF1ukoORElTxomTXHM0reDHSaMxl5tlT4JZrlyCSWjtrXL-fb0oWtsD0KLx0Jhh2dSGgtJkkR5waNDvexfoIChIm5crUg262ZPN3PIW1xsy5Spf8pf-qsH6gafEk_Y2_yt8aMEzayrO/s200/corn+palace,+mitchell,+sd+012.jpg" /></a>tional landmark... the Corn Palace! It's only 2 miles from the rv park, so we unhooked the car and headed over for a look. The Corn Palace was built in 1892 and serves as a multi-purpose center for the town of Mitchell. Every summer the structure is re-decorated with murals made from corn, grains and native grasses that follow a different theme every year. Inside and out, the walls are covered with bright, intricate murals and is really something to behold! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrf7ZAlpXTpHgfZviBXlf0y5-6GpxNnMLM6dVtHQyEaVAg6sqHZD70CGfP_2qce_5WE6-I5xNYnlZAYQ_X0FD7izPhfslGhh0GUGpwdYeQ3AvVJXnZiqwOPaB5cXxd7HJP5wm-MhdxyCg/s1600/wall+drug,+wall,+sd+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472072718852130898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrf7ZAlpXTpHgfZviBXlf0y5-6GpxNnMLM6dVtHQyEaVAg6sqHZD70CGfP_2qce_5WE6-I5xNYnlZAYQ_X0FD7izPhfslGhh0GUGpwdYeQ3AvVJXnZiqwOPaB5cXxd7HJP5wm-MhdxyCg/s200/wall+drug,+wall,+sd+006.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefl7Ea69g61qFSYE8BUMyNrXJE_isRhvEergsARaVnzcI9GAaqaK_-ZRq3yFRoAXZNg1qaZxhXkOwJMWU215Xese7QzTYTE3-u7VJYFNFV5oK-DFRsqk2nJOapQhtWyiFfkmquayZ-oo9/s1600/wall+drug,+wall,+sd+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472072107516640210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefl7Ea69g61qFSYE8BUMyNrXJE_isRhvEergsARaVnzcI9GAaqaK_-ZRq3yFRoAXZNg1qaZxhXkOwJMWU215Xese7QzTYTE3-u7VJYFNFV5oK-DFRsqk2nJOapQhtWyiFfkmquayZ-oo9/s200/wall+drug,+wall,+sd+014.jpg" /></a>Oh, yeah... on the way to Mitchell, we stopped in Wall, SD to see Wall Drug... the billboards advertizing it reminded us of South of the Border in South Carolina, so we took the bait and detoured down Main Street, Wall, SD! Well, this drugstore is huge, and much more than a drugstore. It began in 1931 when Ted and Dorothy Hustead bought the only drugstore in town and barely made it through the lean years. It has since grown into one of America's roadside attractions!</div><br /><div>Tomorrow we head for Minnesota, only 170 miles... but we have to stop and stay so we can add a state to our map! We'll see what sights we can see there!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-3511283115016951402010-05-16T11:31:00.010-04:002010-05-16T19:52:41.614-04:00From Gardiner, MT to Rapid City, SD<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYTQl0vWlXDhNp3FYylHXQDxgHS4apAY8-rAqj4X8spSjfg6LLjjT4wCNww4r3u__JYswuIiWGPq3ep9q1UMqEl4f8yDjZe5UUbRG1sa947JhsXGVsIn_bXbs0x4lMH2ZBz22V74cv_5E/s1600/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472013677291188658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYTQl0vWlXDhNp3FYylHXQDxgHS4apAY8-rAqj4X8spSjfg6LLjjT4wCNww4r3u__JYswuIiWGPq3ep9q1UMqEl4f8yDjZe5UUbRG1sa947JhsXGVsIn_bXbs0x4lMH2ZBz22V74cv_5E/s200/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+007.jpg" /></a>We left Gardiner, MT on Wednesday, May 12, heading to Mt. Rushmore near Rapid City, SD. On our way we stopped overnight in Sheridan, WY... partly because the ride was too long to go straight <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_U6o8IiiJDSlIWUdTeIBa4yYQ-dtrHYTQ8KWD5ik-29ZUtHH2t10l7oDAPj7NFtLIwGWA1XR2_aC1r0Y4AFLjWp21wPlvU4pdSBs2KbLh-V-Evpxwm0tmgVGmxftBBY-bATPliueZSKt/s1600/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472014106342739986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_U6o8IiiJDSlIWUdTeIBa4yYQ-dtrHYTQ8KWD5ik-29ZUtHH2t10l7oDAPj7NFtLIwGWA1XR2_aC1r0Y4AFLjWp21wPlvU4pdSBs2KbLh-V-Evpxwm0tmgVGmxftBBY-bATPliueZSKt/s200/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+010.jpg" /></a>through, and partly because we needed to color in the state of WY on our map as a state we've slept in! The park, Peter D's RV Park, was right off the highway and very nice... small, but nice, and the owners were very friendly. As a matter of fact, I don't think we've met any unfriendly rv park owners/managers. Our ride from Gardiner to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8Hj5vcBQlvm2neEYx-QVdjaqgIk2FRuzAWRu5VBY3eiHkeFWo-DdFpbWL8SyVQ6Y3XzuA5UeknEBfOr8QgcDOvCPnfzVBcEL71JpnKS8DrRWUktvxURB9mk5ldRScpdHdNZzquyTeH1o/s1600/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+015.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472014603524032178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8Hj5vcBQlvm2neEYx-QVdjaqgIk2FRuzAWRu5VBY3eiHkeFWo-DdFpbWL8SyVQ6Y3XzuA5UeknEBfOr8QgcDOvCPnfzVBcEL71JpnKS8DrRWUktvxURB9mk5ldRScpdHdNZzquyTeH1o/s200/from+gardiner+mt+to+rapid+city+sd+via+sheridan+wy+015.jpg" /></a>Rapid City, SD was interesting... most of the ride was through snow country... it's May for heaven sakes!<br /><br />W<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruLhjYVDIGVtIgHN0ziDusVhODVWwjAJYdEUo3WeD9K_uoAyBMhT7ZCgV9VbP9ZjshFPQQpER1WGzZeoOOpIO1nVG6oVnYnDUgFTnb7FuBfyJyKiXnfOEV9k7fIKPR9WbcvxBBszkzSa0/s1600/lazy+j+rv+park+in+rapid+city+sd+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472015491827553522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruLhjYVDIGVtIgHN0ziDusVhODVWwjAJYdEUo3WeD9K_uoAyBMhT7ZCgV9VbP9ZjshFPQQpER1WGzZeoOOpIO1nVG6oVnYnDUgFTnb7FuBfyJyKiXnfOEV9k7fIKPR9WbcvxBBszkzSa0/s200/lazy+j+rv+park+in+rapid+city+sd+007.jpg" /></a>e arrived in Rapid City, SD on Thursday, May 13, and stayed at the Lazy J RV Park... it was situated high above the town and we had a great view of the town at night with the lights on. Again, the owners were very friendly and helpful... they told us where to go for a good meal... the Firehouse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA_yggFthQrQzlA7yaPgPiDYHYu2munmSc3VDT0nYWaP-XDhbkpN0G3wop-V93NxxtUPyuhWjd_mXgCtcrkn7cy85632-igZz4pSsWOs6lRdCiWysphV40_134NZuQKZAOFJD8iMWh8-v/s1600/rapid+city+sd+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472016179712876498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA_yggFthQrQzlA7yaPgPiDYHYu2munmSc3VDT0nYWaP-XDhbkpN0G3wop-V93NxxtUPyuhWjd_mXgCtcrkn7cy85632-igZz4pSsWOs6lRdCiWysphV40_134NZuQKZAOFJD8iMWh8-v/s200/rapid+city+sd+008.jpg" /></a>Our 'things to do' while in Rapid City include visiting Deadwood, Sturgis, Custer State Park, and of course, Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse. These will all be discussed in the next blog... stay tuned!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-80400645212291616772010-05-11T23:22:00.014-04:002010-05-12T00:21:46.846-04:00Yellowstone Nat'l Park Part III<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp8H6ukrSDGxPbG218IF9BlFAnqZS0kWd7gKJCuB66ryAyyulglBapI2qXpLj9nXEq6eeKlsLHUH_pA1OkOp7Xe8RBk-ZhT2Ikxth5HJSC_W7rXESgt9b1f8QY__8e7ESZmUxIMUtieeE/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+021.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470226442287105346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp8H6ukrSDGxPbG218IF9BlFAnqZS0kWd7gKJCuB66ryAyyulglBapI2qXpLj9nXEq6eeKlsLHUH_pA1OkOp7Xe8RBk-ZhT2Ikxth5HJSC_W7rXESgt9b1f8QY__8e7ESZmUxIMUtieeE/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+021.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9CAKyMUi73k0ScepYhrizBfEWpMqU-_FuAJ5b9MhnS8ctkfOsJFQGMfMnaAQeMULRzzU35AELhlNaN19N0Wbxd_7MZuS_oFWLVK0p5HeWymXVW4T2D7MEta3Vd9SIrA8zNRZa_SjdUb0/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+022.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470227204129423458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9CAKyMUi73k0ScepYhrizBfEWpMqU-_FuAJ5b9MhnS8ctkfOsJFQGMfMnaAQeMULRzzU35AELhlNaN19N0Wbxd_7MZuS_oFWLVK0p5HeWymXVW4T2D7MEta3Vd9SIrA8zNRZa_SjdUb0/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+022.jpg" /></a>Today was our last day in Yellowstone Nat'l Park... and it was a fabulous day! We drove along the eastern section of the Grand Loop Road because we were told that we would find alot of wildlife on that route... and we did!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHjpJMMfQV_QyN1VJfS2onY_znXapkh2yrnk2TJYXufEEZ6xJlrKv6-3Z-d3fW6zqIs9NAklu9UXg1TUvjv6imFHZ5w8T8YJIhphKUYYow_1WKqdX95JWQJlx-loJsyx_TvwWXIQlR0OT/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+042.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470227723507371954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHjpJMMfQV_QyN1VJfS2onY_znXapkh2yrnk2TJYXufEEZ6xJlrKv6-3Z-d3fW6zqIs9NAklu9UXg1TUvjv6imFHZ5w8T8YJIhphKUYYow_1WKqdX95JWQJlx-loJsyx_TvwWXIQlR0OT/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+042.jpg" /></a>We had three different bear sightings! The first was of two black bears, one which climbed a tree while we watched; the second was of a lone grizzly bear feeding in a field; and the third was the most exciting... a grizzley bear walking on the road towards us... not more than 10 feet from our car! Although there were probably 15 cars parked along the road, this bear couldn't care less! He rambled along the road past all of us until he found a spot to head down to and cross the river... he was truly beautiful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk6WQB7Jdg5G3GlXMaY6o65_yTNGRpMOdIXac13xrZ__xc6UjPEHnv2nqqp5zIuzVlm4fRLMdQQ9onqgkBq1_c77C_3lVVMuC8vXMMAup8u9kCHo4bYwM4GYsTVe3xVPDUk4I4DjiC_Pv/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+058.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470228727453560418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk6WQB7Jdg5G3GlXMaY6o65_yTNGRpMOdIXac13xrZ__xc6UjPEHnv2nqqp5zIuzVlm4fRLMdQQ9onqgkBq1_c77C_3lVVMuC8vXMMAup8u9kCHo4bYwM4GYsTVe3xVPDUk4I4DjiC_Pv/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+058.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF0qQaKocLgJZYhXzkCPyln2Y1WwXtI7LifTU5MiuRLaKrjD4UCS-9SSHMORhbQ4FFdiNa7AWA7SFp9nC63sOnldRe3l2PSW8djtYnxdRd3PdkGYo6RvQjh_JI03YT_jTpMnNCIdP1m2L/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+055.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470228208754892706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF0qQaKocLgJZYhXzkCPyln2Y1WwXtI7LifTU5MiuRLaKrjD4UCS-9SSHMORhbQ4FFdiNa7AWA7SFp9nC63sOnldRe3l2PSW8djtYnxdRd3PdkGYo6RvQjh_JI03YT_jTpMnNCIdP1m2L/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+055.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMkWNZavXOIJmSsd3b9AgkbouQf5xYD08Lu-vQ9r-t5IkXRRshk1Nz3KXe7opNmvs4Gu55eAsn5tjE5sjWQxZ8Euw8rBDe-glybg1o9tQVr1ch6LXGZFBSIM-7WLu7QoYg2r819GX6S7t/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+075.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 108px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470230582844498466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMkWNZavXOIJmSsd3b9AgkbouQf5xYD08Lu-vQ9r-t5IkXRRshk1Nz3KXe7opNmvs4Gu55eAsn5tjE5sjWQxZ8Euw8rBDe-glybg1o9tQVr1ch6LXGZFBSIM-7WLu7QoYg2r819GX6S7t/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+075.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOK5ov9vkTiB2c_ozh8YGqUJIX8fhxk-jC9Lb0_7vztw2NpkqsEIaWy2AFkCTHXDxYRWf8SQM-H8s0EnHpEtk1e_hQwmRa4tgh8NAAmY3maAUQQvr3YuIz6OewbnYVlKEEs4wIXj_IAhj/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+074.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470230029572044946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOK5ov9vkTiB2c_ozh8YGqUJIX8fhxk-jC9Lb0_7vztw2NpkqsEIaWy2AFkCTHXDxYRWf8SQM-H8s0EnHpEtk1e_hQwmRa4tgh8NAAmY3maAUQQvr3YuIz6OewbnYVlKEEs4wIXj_IAhj/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+074.jpg" /></a>We also had our first and only sighting of a moose... completely by accident! We had decided to take a detour to find the petrified tree and saw several cars parked on the side of the road, with camaras aimed down over the side. So of course we had to stop the car and see what was going on (visitors do alot of that in Yellowstone!). And there was a lone moose munching on grass! Amazing!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gP1DhiLAQVC46Mt7_y2EjppbwR57xx12A04zJ9EI5XPKA8NGJ0xvTi_u1-PQ0UfBkuGk-nrVqi5DtCn0uoENL1OqI5DU6dI5rAw-AeCK0f8TikqozurODPdsi9Hz-n9zflBQdpPP-Zx8/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470231977110253218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gP1DhiLAQVC46Mt7_y2EjppbwR57xx12A04zJ9EI5XPKA8NGJ0xvTi_u1-PQ0UfBkuGk-nrVqi5DtCn0uoENL1OqI5DU6dI5rAw-AeCK0f8TikqozurODPdsi9Hz-n9zflBQdpPP-Zx8/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+010.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrGfgW2z6pXdRCjatTbXcWu6F3TYIg31R_HafTBh8VTd_a7BP8OKV8eXLJ6yQSdCDl-9jne9ymX9s-9YExzEZaZnNmMc-9n8teUZNON-HDJtIdALPSTfqvnpqu4VuMKrjYXzAEyxj3grM/s1600/yellowstone+park+part+III+070.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470231408669661458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrGfgW2z6pXdRCjatTbXcWu6F3TYIg31R_HafTBh8VTd_a7BP8OKV8eXLJ6yQSdCDl-9jne9ymX9s-9YExzEZaZnNmMc-9n8teUZNON-HDJtIdALPSTfqvnpqu4VuMKrjYXzAEyxj3grM/s200/yellowstone+park+part+III+070.jpg" /></a>We also saw several antelope, which we hadn't seen before, as well as a zillion buffalo and a million elk... but three of these elk had antlers... another first!<br /><br /><br />Halfway through our drive, we ended up at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone. About 4 miles east of the entrance is a small town called Cooke City, consisting of a block of rustic buildings... and that was it! It was really cute, and really snowy and not someplace we'd choose to live!<br /><br />So as we leave Yellowstone and continue home, we'd like to share Ed's theories about the park:<br /><br />1. The geysers consist of hoses that the park employees have planted throughout the park, and hot water is run through these hoses and out manmade holes in the ground.<br /><br />2. The Indians left the area because of the rotten egg sulphur smell created by the geysers.<br /><br />3. The animals in the park are all union employees and are paid on a hierarchy of fees. The elk, deer and buffalo are lowest on the totempole because there are so many of them and they are easy to find. The moose is the highest paid because they're so rare to find. The bear is paid pretty well too because they're almost as rare and beautiful. And the wolves are on strike and are not making an appearance until they are offered better wages.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiXL_uLu-z7_FwmbAa5VZWMrfuvQ8AWOkevbTL0GeOIdj1V6c3xgDZHExmtgTBPMfSCpoLz5L-HLsPc_HQCviC0hPcv8vUuZq111ro-SmapJwq3E-fjZJ-1QKxD3Xdi3OIaJ4An3Nj9RL/s1600/moose+drool+big+sky+brewery+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 112px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470232803061029298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiXL_uLu-z7_FwmbAa5VZWMrfuvQ8AWOkevbTL0GeOIdj1V6c3xgDZHExmtgTBPMfSCpoLz5L-HLsPc_HQCviC0hPcv8vUuZq111ro-SmapJwq3E-fjZJ-1QKxD3Xdi3OIaJ4An3Nj9RL/s200/moose+drool+big+sky+brewery+002.jpg" /></a>Ed has also decided that he cannot live in Montana because there are too many excellent microbrews and he would never leave the bars! As it is, we have a couple of cases of Moose Drool in the car, and several different brands in the fridge!<br /><br />Tomorrow we continue our journey home, with our next stop Mt. Rushmore and Crazyhorse... we'll miss Yellowstone!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-2867413166565480052010-05-11T11:52:00.012-04:002010-05-26T19:34:49.009-04:00Yellowstone, Part II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdzrSh4ftPbzZ5lIKzi1yNEZU3E0Ukk7c-7Nl7Lfu5dHljLnrYAno9qpN9sf0xWpfl_Iooxi5K_WMGwFqbYC3tmhZ20WKmnlICiVk_2MYkWutyaD_NhXgF57Qyu0lnLQ3B896Zq1_Uu76/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470044966644223314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdzrSh4ftPbzZ5lIKzi1yNEZU3E0Ukk7c-7Nl7Lfu5dHljLnrYAno9qpN9sf0xWpfl_Iooxi5K_WMGwFqbYC3tmhZ20WKmnlICiVk_2MYkWutyaD_NhXgF57Qyu0lnLQ3B896Zq1_Uu76/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+002.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdyoMA7yCgv0lOd8r_OX8x74jadg1Be1HaFfWRE4zkgCcPmz8J2q5Viwx7ju7VsiKf8lKpHoZ1-mebc5iYDMr7alFaOmna09vsteoUvHDobC5YWtRUrUj3DZ14VVoQKDuuSEjXDqVYGyR/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470045347891160018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdyoMA7yCgv0lOd8r_OX8x74jadg1Be1HaFfWRE4zkgCcPmz8J2q5Viwx7ju7VsiKf8lKpHoZ1-mebc5iYDMr7alFaOmna09vsteoUvHDobC5YWtRUrUj3DZ14VVoQKDuuSEjXDqVYGyR/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+003.jpg" /></a>Yesterday our plans changed, as usual. Instead of going the eastern portion of the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone, we took advantage of the nice weather and headed down to Old Faithful... just in case the weather was bad today and they closed park roads. Well, we encountered every type of weather on this drive...rain, sleet, hail, snow... and sun! We also saw an amazing sight... a mamma bear and her two cubs! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaOXbIKcUlY9aoKm00PhyxZe_nnv9RiNoobaarXWTIMEHltiYMOM8exNQvNN4aJVKHy6tcOIvIVA1wipavwOfsW5-3cEbZR63vrbPXXIxJHh2FutiinJZSHSLPNfEB5gnZTFetR73c0fG/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470045723510482178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaOXbIKcUlY9aoKm00PhyxZe_nnv9RiNoobaarXWTIMEHltiYMOM8exNQvNN4aJVKHy6tcOIvIVA1wipavwOfsW5-3cEbZR63vrbPXXIxJHh2FutiinJZSHSLPNfEB5gnZTFetR73c0fG/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrMi3JiZzDMUQfF8LypXG-WoWdosHy_viZoVz8HeqI0OceKqFbx6sPop4uIELmzxVXMUFB5xqre_QcoouglFKR8QI86QdyymEYfAAFuGrXh3wFkUcPZ2Vafb2w9aP_A9KkTnJHKt9VXhZ/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+038.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470046253686859778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrMi3JiZzDMUQfF8LypXG-WoWdosHy_viZoVz8HeqI0OceKqFbx6sPop4uIELmzxVXMUFB5xqre_QcoouglFKR8QI86QdyymEYfAAFuGrXh3wFkUcPZ2Vafb2w9aP_A9KkTnJHKt9VXhZ/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+038.jpg" /></a>We stopped a couple of times at different geysers, but nothing was like Old Faithful. When we arrived, it was snowing pretty heavily, but it was wet and too warm to stick. We had to wait about an hour before the next geyser, so we walked through the stores and the Old Faithful Inn. The inn was built over 100 years ago and is amazing! The ceiling in the lodge area are over 70 feet high<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgy_dQfI1aFgwuqmqiGsHR77H_18mBiVzQTxp6cWzeJFaHm7FEhEd3VNAUMZXflDz4ZmkCCxvP21Upsgs-1nLsp23cfEEOBY1FHvldUEWzA2Ntzv8_913oVrazmlDl_XfvuP8k3weWWzs/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+074.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470047282256470626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgy_dQfI1aFgwuqmqiGsHR77H_18mBiVzQTxp6cWzeJFaHm7FEhEd3VNAUMZXflDz4ZmkCCxvP21Upsgs-1nLsp23cfEEOBY1FHvldUEWzA2Ntzv8_913oVrazmlDl_XfvuP8k3weWWzs/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+074.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n2R3-93eG09bTeQYjjIeMRPKy9DJVkYExhxXmxFmTKvJeox0t-gUqTFiYrYZdcuPy_2S1PmblgSi-3rtPHjO2fCHsXHbdyVhwUo2udGB0_pOj6XQUvj7Byn5m3kzFtoUlHrnyOulauch/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+065.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470046666000220258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n2R3-93eG09bTeQYjjIeMRPKy9DJVkYExhxXmxFmTKvJeox0t-gUqTFiYrYZdcuPy_2S1PmblgSi-3rtPHjO2fCHsXHbdyVhwUo2udGB0_pOj6XQUvj7Byn5m3kzFtoUlHrnyOulauch/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+065.jpg" /></a>and it's all timber with thick beams everywhere!<br /><br />Old Faithful is something everyone should see if they visit Yellowstone. It's not the highest geyser in the park, but it's the most reliable... spouting every 90 minutes or so. It doesn't spout as high as it used to, but it's pretty impressive nevertheless. Thankfully, the snow had stopped <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMEsnyZlOAutsiLcBEIhU5y2_2NsHnzLv-vTJLsp88fW5dPX7zDIBhygHoVoqgwlQYzwGwhPPacbEUMCoHRbsiqagdVtlp2RRUeisTTBPybR5rlszlWfovmmD63XBdX0rkk6mzz2hNTPF/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+097.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470047869349644290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMEsnyZlOAutsiLcBEIhU5y2_2NsHnzLv-vTJLsp88fW5dPX7zDIBhygHoVoqgwlQYzwGwhPPacbEUMCoHRbsiqagdVtlp2RRUeisTTBPybR5rlszlWfovmmD63XBdX0rkk6mzz2hNTPF/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+097.jpg" /></a>and the sun had come out by the time it let loose, so we saw a great show!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2GgsRJLlLfDW4vaXa8QV5hCaH_nkSWOGn509IVlT0H63swwNLELrOkPlJI8pF5enRAGrtgjyhs5KkJTPpRobRyHuSVgKVx_NA_6ncF1AcT1WuqVGutbEeiBHPrO73WRjoX-lcsw6Av3V/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+continued+103.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 102px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470048554628450130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2GgsRJLlLfDW4vaXa8QV5hCaH_nkSWOGn509IVlT0H63swwNLELrOkPlJI8pF5enRAGrtgjyhs5KkJTPpRobRyHuSVgKVx_NA_6ncF1AcT1WuqVGutbEeiBHPrO73WRjoX-lcsw6Av3V/s200/yellowstone+national+park+continued+103.jpg" /></a>On the way back to Gardiner, it started snowing and sleeting again... fun!<br /><br />Today, we're heading to the eastern section of the Grand Loop Road to Cooke City. Supposedly between the northern entrance (where we enter the park) and the northeastern entrance in Cooke City, we'll see an amazing amount of wildlife... we'll let you know when we get back!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-77258777538962692742010-05-09T21:35:00.069-04:002010-05-10T11:43:04.970-04:00Yellowstone National Park, WYYesterday we drove from Columbia Falls MT (near Glacier) to Boseman, MT... a long day of traveling. We stayed just one night at the Sunrise RV Park... a very nice park with the cutest, most rustic lounge I've seen! Very friendly staff and a nice RV spot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H6Z4pjMuv5tnBGjbqU3RuNQ52qs5gE5m6lITjDqxeFn2qDYA3yEjgWtdv4vTdPRXY7or0zMvFpvDfUSYtedQJyUzBh5UGLbuvXyCgtEjQzUAP1x7XsB6C5gLjPkW3tALOvR7X5rb8TPA/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469474736612994130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H6Z4pjMuv5tnBGjbqU3RuNQ52qs5gE5m6lITjDqxeFn2qDYA3yEjgWtdv4vTdPRXY7or0zMvFpvDfUSYtedQJyUzBh5UGLbuvXyCgtEjQzUAP1x7XsB6C5gLjPkW3tALOvR7X5rb8TPA/s200/yellowstone+national+park+017.jpg" /></a>Today we drove about 75 miles from Boseman to Gardiner, MT... about 4 blocks from the northern entrance (the oldest entrance) to Yellowstone National Park. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-GoeemFT1Rx9_P1DKbvGrHGEyo1AX4AFIoqObe4wdB02gyoPqek6x2CuaNywJPfV_yXffk2HtX43sexLyWLsiTv6MVT_D_ecaQ0VQ5nBzcBAHymnha09RcrcwM-0FKrjUHihBdjgx7c/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+024.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469475124196518002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-GoeemFT1Rx9_P1DKbvGrHGEyo1AX4AFIoqObe4wdB02gyoPqek6x2CuaNywJPfV_yXffk2HtX43sexLyWLsiTv6MVT_D_ecaQ0VQ5nBzcBAHymnha09RcrcwM-0FKrjUHihBdjgx7c/s200/yellowstone+national+park+024.jpg" /></a>The Rocky Mountain RV park is located on a hill, so we can look down on the town of Gardiner as well as the surrounding mountains... beautiful! Apparently, there are deer and elk that come into the park occasionally... obvious by all of the deer and elk poop on the rv sites. In all fairness to the owners, it's a lost cause to try and keep the park clear of poop. The owners are very friendly and they are going to dog sit for us tomorrow and Tuesday while we explore Yellowstone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIOTf5ggfsTDDDTlHsSQQnoFZc4jg5RKKGWfoWw9XXpO_MG1eYrdoEaa3ioaPy4H1AGVkotwN6FFNQbb-ACEMeM9QAjew5sh-ko3SjOIAcViCqh_Jo_O0hxk-oUf1C_vqyOln8bJxxqiJ/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+267.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469475906101004018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIOTf5ggfsTDDDTlHsSQQnoFZc4jg5RKKGWfoWw9XXpO_MG1eYrdoEaa3ioaPy4H1AGVkotwN6FFNQbb-ACEMeM9QAjew5sh-ko3SjOIAcViCqh_Jo_O0hxk-oUf1C_vqyOln8bJxxqiJ/s200/yellowstone+national+park+267.jpg" /></a>After we set up, we decided to see the town of Gardiner... that took all of 10 minutes! It's a cute little town that looks kind of like the old west. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLVHHP2tEeL-xQar5ZldKLwPqslX_704n1Ay4rcR9mYan5RYP8HpzC3CIZWlYBgELJN8DbjBbz-FlZ4jzGYZL4PtMfsYcbE9XIKVsPnnG-FcQ8EKWLRJrsk42Z4B2jRcr8SZgI8ahyLqG/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469476757697077778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLVHHP2tEeL-xQar5ZldKLwPqslX_704n1Ay4rcR9mYan5RYP8HpzC3CIZWlYBgELJN8DbjBbz-FlZ4jzGYZL4PtMfsYcbE9XIKVsPnnG-FcQ8EKWLRJrsk42Z4B2jRcr8SZgI8ahyLqG/s200/yellowstone+national+park+028.jpg" /></a>We stopped in the visitor's center and the woman gave us a map of Yellowstone and showed us which roads were open and which were closed. So, since it was only 1:00, we decided to take a short drive into the park. Just an aside... for those of you who can get a Senior Pass, get it! It allows you (and everyone in your car) free entrance into national parks. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sHI6B8jhSk1xJql0kBvW__oojkzF4TSFlOiFMGCXy9KbNVsPn4Z62mSMDVvC6BJL_cgq26bJ_vLFf6pwunCKGeIb0pYTE15tY-DBBvzyTBn6uU9SoiIC2bnI4h_0EFteOuEP3pe5-umt/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+217.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469483689260800722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sHI6B8jhSk1xJql0kBvW__oojkzF4TSFlOiFMGCXy9KbNVsPn4Z62mSMDVvC6BJL_cgq26bJ_vLFf6pwunCKGeIb0pYTE15tY-DBBvzyTBn6uU9SoiIC2bnI4h_0EFteOuEP3pe5-umt/s200/yellowstone+national+park+217.jpg" /></a>Yellowstone has a $25 fee per car... so we saved $75 for 3 days! We've saved literally hundreds of dollars on this trip because of Ed's senior pass! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD70iv6pxcxmQwL6QDESLu7vh0iFthEU_mj7X_fN8MsCXiFpbxLaB9PyQLzmD809m1s8Jnc28CyCP2Mv-Q0v7CNIueDLU_ONRBNx0ngtIJJ2vgdk-COezhnm_wNeyyPCC-hxFJ_qN5j76n/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+220.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469484879082938530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD70iv6pxcxmQwL6QDESLu7vh0iFthEU_mj7X_fN8MsCXiFpbxLaB9PyQLzmD809m1s8Jnc28CyCP2Mv-Q0v7CNIueDLU_ONRBNx0ngtIJJ2vgdk-COezhnm_wNeyyPCC-hxFJ_qN5j76n/s200/yellowstone+national+park+220.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, the short drive through Yellowstone produced great results! Aside from the gorgeous natural scenery, we saw several types of wildlife: deer, elk, big horned sheep, buffalo, and a grizzly bear!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeASSw4Pw-jqFvTJurS3bTxcPH8iza8Q2I_UUbIMeVbCBUBlb3udh877rFu8jK3piDVMv-xeiXKz-Cl7gHmeiUjGgoliuzDFuf4FgACccNmnU96AR5LBCT53gEoNaaWriXN4c6pKj2SfJ/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+229.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469505208288282242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeASSw4Pw-jqFvTJurS3bTxcPH8iza8Q2I_UUbIMeVbCBUBlb3udh877rFu8jK3piDVMv-xeiXKz-Cl7gHmeiUjGgoliuzDFuf4FgACccNmnU96AR5LBCT53gEoNaaWriXN4c6pKj2SfJ/s200/yellowstone+national+park+229.jpg" /></a>And that was just during a 40 mile round trip! It was almost as much fun watching the people watching the animals!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1xUjdOQVYE4L6Aunz50P1ZjbId9cOHaqQh0d2Hg_-jSdzh8g-Y0fqWcdm1vQ1XE4r_rgC_z2-qHfa3UsUx6aPoQS1pP-i3bo6kZ_rp5Tkd06W6q9S_TCepwV_tS5jN6GrwEg8iuwaB1E/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+253.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469489924018812738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1xUjdOQVYE4L6Aunz50P1ZjbId9cOHaqQh0d2Hg_-jSdzh8g-Y0fqWcdm1vQ1XE4r_rgC_z2-qHfa3UsUx6aPoQS1pP-i3bo6kZ_rp5Tkd06W6q9S_TCepwV_tS5jN6GrwEg8iuwaB1E/s200/yellowstone+national+park+253.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHLBTzhVz3aYsRDOizdfIevYlLgh2x5_6OT1BnWL8o6EesT0AEseU8fn6Fo5Tt5yWSpz7nxFwUdgarVwNyUXM3bOD2ZkE9OhyzAYqWrQh5B6eF1WP41UOuLdJIS57q_snkmJTbWx24WfS/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+264.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469488069762045890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHLBTzhVz3aYsRDOizdfIevYlLgh2x5_6OT1BnWL8o6EesT0AEseU8fn6Fo5Tt5yWSpz7nxFwUdgarVwNyUXM3bOD2ZkE9OhyzAYqWrQh5B6eF1WP41UOuLdJIS57q_snkmJTbWx24WfS/s200/yellowstone+national+park+264.jpg" /></a>Can you find the Big Horn Sheep in the picture on the right??<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALN-ePsIg92oLAOfw5JNVRkyDFzy6_wfpC-odF-uGYNtIr8NlKGy6iyIWRJ5zSajJWsTOWysZ1f0xFhTGwOzqo-DSQZEOKwKo54z4iAfbPVLcpjMlah0WYaY6C9j9CD4IwS1aeSEhuK-X/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+090.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469480416069212098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALN-ePsIg92oLAOfw5JNVRkyDFzy6_wfpC-odF-uGYNtIr8NlKGy6iyIWRJ5zSajJWsTOWysZ1f0xFhTGwOzqo-DSQZEOKwKo54z4iAfbPVLcpjMlah0WYaY6C9j9CD4IwS1aeSEhuK-X/s200/yellowstone+national+park+090.jpg" /></a>We also spent about 2 hours walking around the Mammoth Hot Springs...incredible! Basically, "several key ingredients combine to make the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsk1nILQBvNKolYtGGdQgRsBNMX3n9OwGdA4evkHlkslDtkBQuxeXdGoO-kmCGEh5J3eDWpqvVMGdYX7XxG-ZgkIOy10SrRwoQuhxsx3fToCotZDJ57Y7rrKnRFMMX2mUajpLpi_oGaeb4/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+044.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469478356433353858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsk1nILQBvNKolYtGGdQgRsBNMX3n9OwGdA4evkHlkslDtkBQuxeXdGoO-kmCGEh5J3eDWpqvVMGdYX7XxG-ZgkIOy10SrRwoQuhxsx3fToCotZDJ57Y7rrKnRFMMX2mUajpLpi_oGaeb4/s200/yellowstone+national+park+044.jpg" /></a>heat, water, limestone, and a rock fracture system through which hot water can reach the earth's surface." Steam rises from the streams and ponds that are created and the area smells like sulphur. Visitors have to stay on the boardwalks, due to the extreme heat of the waters and the fragile state of the surrounding areas. A lot of the pictures we took look like snow, but it's actually travertine deposits. Here's a good link that explains the process:<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://mms.nps.gov/yell/features/mammothtour/index.htm">http://</a><a href="http://mms.nps.gov/yell/features/mammothtour/index.htm">mms.nps.gov/yell/features/mammothtour/index.htm</a> </div><div><br /> </div></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE817AMEbwLmOXdg0-kfwRsHxRyYjgiqNRw3l3Halo2Z_u-64xKlhS6g7tCOYFInATUHFp9UHoZ4dnKCjASV9WXLufBu1Zh_8XaG4RA4Kw3HD5sPVLfD4ZIBuX5fua2M-oHSaiU-kCno5V/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+210.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469482891818892290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE817AMEbwLmOXdg0-kfwRsHxRyYjgiqNRw3l3Halo2Z_u-64xKlhS6g7tCOYFInATUHFp9UHoZ4dnKCjASV9WXLufBu1Zh_8XaG4RA4Kw3HD5sPVLfD4ZIBuX5fua2M-oHSaiU-kCno5V/s200/yellowstone+national+park+210.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4N6aIq5hOcdmtCpgxq7S3mJwd2XA5L20v9iX8RwCWLGHEVS-iJzBuUBG_z_K_1_QGzYZOwDN4x39pdpdCVNSYZhhSwJCmlUQMv_qePf3g_zJhlUxh3tBJJZhfRLmcmM7h0iZh6Tq0jfP/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+239.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469485826073202450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4N6aIq5hOcdmtCpgxq7S3mJwd2XA5L20v9iX8RwCWLGHEVS-iJzBuUBG_z_K_1_QGzYZOwDN4x39pdpdCVNSYZhhSwJCmlUQMv_qePf3g_zJhlUxh3tBJJZhfRLmcmM7h0iZh6Tq0jfP/s200/yellowstone+national+park+239.jpg" /></a>Tomorrow, we'll take the road that ends up at the northeast entrance in Cooke City. Supposedly, we should be able t o see lots of wolves along that drive. Then on Tuesday we'll travel down to Old Faithful and hopefully see more wildlife on the way. </div><br /><div><br /> </div></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3yjUGtGw74Zr3W7LH3DTetTBtDGH0EmTS4fqFavUBlAwma-KXW7sNYRIuer0uAoeqcNWVgBPje_O2knA2o2VR96V04Ru9l4lofp7BcaZ67QVxpHL4J_p-QE7p6k4jiFgAhOLDWJ6GIcw/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+039.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469477783838814770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3yjUGtGw74Zr3W7LH3DTetTBtDGH0EmTS4fqFavUBlAwma-KXW7sNYRIuer0uAoeqcNWVgBPje_O2knA2o2VR96V04Ru9l4lofp7BcaZ67QVxpHL4J_p-QE7p6k4jiFgAhOLDWJ6GIcw/s200/yellowstone+national+park+039.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnmJ9YxLZ8M1s_I8TAVmlOlqYfbMsgQIbVKdMObET_Bp8j9bikpiTxtQ9lSHU0epAZOKvQyzNGXbPdVyVZbw_l3Y1-LukS_o421FsMGmu6n9tZJpD2u-MBEza3L46YMYvDb7zpArDtrzh/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+073.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469666826066017346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnmJ9YxLZ8M1s_I8TAVmlOlqYfbMsgQIbVKdMObET_Bp8j9bikpiTxtQ9lSHU0epAZOKvQyzNGXbPdVyVZbw_l3Y1-LukS_o421FsMGmu6n9tZJpD2u-MBEza3L46YMYvDb7zpArDtrzh/s200/yellowstone+national+park+073.jpg" /></a>Personally, the grizzly bear sighting was worth the entire trip!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjONabpMcXFRqlYMn_x5WggFJOV5siQKYwolsYyvaiMjvLsSY8HM-G-SEBFUYUBBRR1rKHkUcB74Av1IT3RWfQygwc-0fx7NPNc_bs5ha_5Z9FH82SnEZlgfUX3SJnRzsNYjnp-fqfHZu0/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+168.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469481773861434754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjONabpMcXFRqlYMn_x5WggFJOV5siQKYwolsYyvaiMjvLsSY8HM-G-SEBFUYUBBRR1rKHkUcB74Av1IT3RWfQygwc-0fx7NPNc_bs5ha_5Z9FH82SnEZlgfUX3SJnRzsNYjnp-fqfHZu0/s200/yellowstone+national+park+168.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuuLXBTPyyNHfSwyXz0u_yP8xYOZ0JQ4Q_GZgBrcN1yOXCufF6WnRCohmVZgHM1mqGWtsUDAch2w_0EO8INcrEKVWj11kPjKUbfYDRaF62Htk9s1qKUNObTeVeDqxmpR35j2coqQEmBW2/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+133.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469480903050888098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuuLXBTPyyNHfSwyXz0u_yP8xYOZ0JQ4Q_GZgBrcN1yOXCufF6WnRCohmVZgHM1mqGWtsUDAch2w_0EO8INcrEKVWj11kPjKUbfYDRaF62Htk9s1qKUNObTeVeDqxmpR35j2coqQEmBW2/s200/yellowstone+national+park+133.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuuLXBTPyyNHfSwyXz0u_yP8xYOZ0JQ4Q_GZgBrcN1yOXCufF6WnRCohmVZgHM1mqGWtsUDAch2w_0EO8INcrEKVWj11kPjKUbfYDRaF62Htk9s1qKUNObTeVeDqxmpR35j2coqQEmBW2/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+133.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><div><div><br /> </div></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjONabpMcXFRqlYMn_x5WggFJOV5siQKYwolsYyvaiMjvLsSY8HM-G-SEBFUYUBBRR1rKHkUcB74Av1IT3RWfQygwc-0fx7NPNc_bs5ha_5Z9FH82SnEZlgfUX3SJnRzsNYjnp-fqfHZu0/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+168.jpg"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvWbbcAjrcBUJrDx6jE7wciVyM8da7aFxRhOLKSk86mDIseejDhrjxXoAUFcAAr_O-xkPl4nSc2SC5zQVhZI3iKX3UXXm1cfD4TJOk0d_B63iM5bTyqDH8AJ22GuR7ZaO4HIJcAP1q0dI/s1600/yellowstone+national+park+058.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469504266901786082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvWbbcAjrcBUJrDx6jE7wciVyM8da7aFxRhOLKSk86mDIseejDhrjxXoAUFcAAr_O-xkPl4nSc2SC5zQVhZI3iKX3UXXm1cfD4TJOk0d_B63iM5bTyqDH8AJ22GuR7ZaO4HIJcAP1q0dI/s200/yellowstone+national+park+058.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-2296740151992189362010-05-07T18:22:00.002-04:002010-05-07T19:00:24.448-04:00Glacier National Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU5qOrFTUum02P5tZ6u2U_vRGBzSk0Pi9YIRLGEzKLyErom4xtRxNqFGfrH2YQiAUNullf5i25nV5r8kPTh7WARzkMgOuxACE63T8ztRyi8_4uO_ctYreZaf6zeBYuXzytB1Wury36-5T/s1600/glacier+natl+park+069.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468661719392038834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU5qOrFTUum02P5tZ6u2U_vRGBzSk0Pi9YIRLGEzKLyErom4xtRxNqFGfrH2YQiAUNullf5i25nV5r8kPTh7WARzkMgOuxACE63T8ztRyi8_4uO_ctYreZaf6zeBYuXzytB1Wury36-5T/s200/glacier+natl+park+069.jpg" /></a>We made it to Columbia Falls, MT yesterday, which is about 15 miles west of Glacier Nat'l Park. We're staying at a very nice little RV park called the Columbia Falls RV Park... the owners just bought the park last June and have done a fabulous job renovating it! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXcnha-noR0pMBnn6jRCX8kYmKdmw8CsX0_XlEPLFXSRVMdmzJwfomGVT_g5qCjAdd7CToq5JvX6GlPVsdjvVU20OTJFjpJWjDB_ca49AT-VJ9JraLM5hahbX4bFfp8G14_jrGpmRjyYV/s1600/glacier+natl+park+071.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662112163916210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXcnha-noR0pMBnn6jRCX8kYmKdmw8CsX0_XlEPLFXSRVMdmzJwfomGVT_g5qCjAdd7CToq5JvX6GlPVsdjvVU20OTJFjpJWjDB_ca49AT-VJ9JraLM5hahbX4bFfp8G14_jrGpmRjyYV/s200/glacier+natl+park+071.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Once we settled in, it was only about 2:00 so we decided to head to Glacier and take the Going To The Sun road as far as we could. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPb_B1dHEcTr-HZ2CnNNfm09X-VIUbMRG5WNCwoG6_8ki5neYSfi3mb6gFXitUaGVGphhAx1h8bcEvOXlS0QVOEJhXsZ2vG-9vAbKg3mXLNXy4mlbLNWCroAk8Ic61POT9lYQAJlk1Kj4/s1600/glacier+natl+park+097.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662614667441298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqPb_B1dHEcTr-HZ2CnNNfm09X-VIUbMRG5WNCwoG6_8ki5neYSfi3mb6gFXitUaGVGphhAx1h8bcEvOXlS0QVOEJhXsZ2vG-9vAbKg3mXLNXy4mlbLNWCroAk8Ic61POT9lYQAJlk1Kj4/s200/glacier+natl+park+097.jpg" /></a>This road goes from the west entrance to the east entrance and goes over Logan's Pass, which is as high as you can go by car. Unfortunately for us, we're here too early and most of it is closed due to snow. But we were able to drive in about 16 miles and managed to see some incredible scenery! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOWlqB-vaPvpjjpLEYzjwPNP6e7Tse3veFhBFZvoqiKCWqIZK33ZzLhcHLLtw6YvAYj9LNTc2g1cRrVtcRaKmOi9gwND6MIUSDtG1Xug024KF26KbjQ8VQLD7zYB0rmMlMrBd0MJ70YB/s1600/glacier+natl+park+110.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468663076636256370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOWlqB-vaPvpjjpLEYzjwPNP6e7Tse3veFhBFZvoqiKCWqIZK33ZzLhcHLLtw6YvAYj9LNTc2g1cRrVtcRaKmOi9gwND6MIUSDtG1Xug024KF26KbjQ8VQLD7zYB0rmMlMrBd0MJ70YB/s200/glacier+natl+park+110.jpg" /></a>The road follows Lake McDonald, which is absolutely gorgeous. When we couldn't go any farther, we got out and walked down to the river in the snow! So we started our trek surrounded by a crystal blue lake, with green pines everywhere, and lush green... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1me9cXFb2ZNoeEYnF14y2CPp7Rio9A10lHxvaPE-svMEeps4tlJQjel9sJkUlryJuKfmlafn5hjKa3jt1vmTdY6IQu_uFQFp3SNvaql4G6IJEbhBsBS2dT7BfiUjwY3JKVsSWjzBvB6A/s1600/glacier+natl+park+116.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468663562934505954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1me9cXFb2ZNoeEYnF14y2CPp7Rio9A10lHxvaPE-svMEeps4tlJQjel9sJkUlryJuKfmlafn5hjKa3jt1vmTdY6IQu_uFQFp3SNvaql4G6IJEbhBsBS2dT7BfiUjwY3JKVsSWjzBvB6A/s200/glacier+natl+park+116.jpg" /></a>and ended up in a foot of snow!<br /><br />Today we decided to head back to Glacier and take US-2 around the southern perimeter of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlLL_xRSAKuEP1uNZRGNmc2Atnm6EGGQoyoo9vuxcxQNDOe_BO0eBQE4kPpSIWnA2jFo5_fJVRqs25YLzru4P5Q00utU8ofnCC5oKJv1f4RQ3E-1Z6KxfDhgqXRI_-oNaa37g2R180tG9/s1600/glacier+natl+park+117.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468664137694690418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlLL_xRSAKuEP1uNZRGNmc2Atnm6EGGQoyoo9vuxcxQNDOe_BO0eBQE4kPpSIWnA2jFo5_fJVRqs25YLzru4P5Q00utU8ofnCC5oKJv1f4RQ3E-1Z6KxfDhgqXRI_-oNaa37g2R180tG9/s200/glacier+natl+park+117.jpg" /></a>park to the east entrance... but to tell you the truth, after about 30 miles (it's a 100 mile trip one way!) we decided that US-2 is more of a road to get where you want to go... not to enjoy the scenery. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim__acs72U35zFcALJgA7EjuEWJA7arKTBff0_3vXNn_lOFWfnEgjsrKX8sTVcEVjFPGf-e_vzTcBLm1ofa40qujhPZcILqj3AyURxUfZPckDIZmaX3kYlCsEzYCIOxQGd_pdnjHD-R4zN/s1600/glacier+natl+park+157.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468664767528228994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim__acs72U35zFcALJgA7EjuEWJA7arKTBff0_3vXNn_lOFWfnEgjsrKX8sTVcEVjFPGf-e_vzTcBLm1ofa40qujhPZcILqj3AyURxUfZPckDIZmaX3kYlCsEzYCIOxQGd_pdnjHD-R4zN/s200/glacier+natl+park+157.jpg" /></a>So we turned around and headed back to the west entrance where we took a side road and followed it as it looped back to Columbia Falls. The entire road was about 25 miles long and most of it was gravel, but it was very interesting because it went right through the heart of an area of forest that was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEiy044LoiZrSADBBzORB_bASvAq0XLjewTDPFLKO2ool-Rc2p0K445kNJ41hd6vcg60M0M7lU_zcFUPpgQEwmvfn8MKVM8H9EmnXawEpGFOL8cUMC0QsgJjIiBkrFXiLUJtjAYkRjy9f/s1600/glacier+natl+park+176.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468665226961593618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEiy044LoiZrSADBBzORB_bASvAq0XLjewTDPFLKO2ool-Rc2p0K445kNJ41hd6vcg60M0M7lU_zcFUPpgQEwmvfn8MKVM8H9EmnXawEpGFOL8cUMC0QsgJjIiBkrFXiLUJtjAYkRjy9f/s200/glacier+natl+park+176.jpg" /></a>destroyed by fire in 2003. We managed to see a deer, but there was no other wildlife to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg1MCmnAw5JNPpoj1P8a2MVzksdKo96tkpurVaFx2KAjIUFBNQRcpJjGPtfODtoM0_f5qjZ6SbQuNCz8Y4t2oAN37IvTqc1r_9qNh50OvR-MlE_dGAdD9p9hx0_i8tIeszXjNBf7X8QHp/s1600/glacier+natl+park+178.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468665762441836626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg1MCmnAw5JNPpoj1P8a2MVzksdKo96tkpurVaFx2KAjIUFBNQRcpJjGPtfODtoM0_f5qjZ6SbQuNCz8Y4t2oAN37IvTqc1r_9qNh50OvR-MlE_dGAdD9p9hx0_i8tIeszXjNBf7X8QHp/s200/glacier+natl+park+178.jpg" /></a>Tomorrow we leave for Yellowstone... first stop is a Flying J in Butte, MT and then we'll get to Gardiner, MT on Sunday, which is about 1 mile from Yellowstone.<br /><br />Havin' a ball!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-58050184669002700152010-05-05T10:48:00.004-04:002010-05-05T11:06:33.377-04:00Missoula, MTJust a quick blog update...we're stuck in Missoula, MT! We really want to see Glacier Nat'l Park, but the weather has not been cooperating...:-(. We got here on Sunday and it has been COLD and raining all week! Our plan is to head up to Columbia Falls which has a great RV park about 15 miles from the western entrance to Glacier, and then take the car into the park. According to the Glacier Park website, the main road is open for about 15 miles into the park. So I check the weather every 5 minutes to keep track of any changes. While it's raining here in Missoula, it's snowing in Columbia Falls! We've extended our stay another day (we were supposed to head up today)...and we might have to extend it one more day...Friday is supposed to start a 'heatwave' in the area so it might be the best time to go. We're just playing it by ear!<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoCnOxf_Wm_DKB0xTBTO-_NyK9NXV8sk6IzQoitgRCjHwzhu1JPuyrdBuNvAybHZWBQcHt_Bma7nuNAPlVmZbvqzGAcHcerm98clVhGto0-FNxnqgQTn3BwH-VFw3wn5ORGcGVEQ2bazP/s1600/kettlehouse+and+big+sky+microbreweries+in+missoula+mt+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467802013116055138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoCnOxf_Wm_DKB0xTBTO-_NyK9NXV8sk6IzQoitgRCjHwzhu1JPuyrdBuNvAybHZWBQcHt_Bma7nuNAPlVmZbvqzGAcHcerm98clVhGto0-FNxnqgQTn3BwH-VFw3wn5ORGcGVEQ2bazP/s200/kettlehouse+and+big+sky+microbreweries+in+missoula+mt+001.jpg" /></a>In the meantime, we've been enjoying Missoula. Since the weather hasn't been cooperating, we've stayed close to home and decided to hit a couple of breweries in the area. Ed loves to try new mic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzMAQxrTtZU29im4Ge67FpdD_kDEtmnDsxx6VBn9UVYGG-owMiDP88LDCWZ2bzWe1HN3lFCdXUHL9Baqj-SPTzgL01R9XJPtGTqMjEwvhjkcPFSvvDF8-udzFlNssDGcG1R130wVWFlt/s1600/kettlehouse+and+big+sky+microbreweries+in+missoula+mt+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467802406790513554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzMAQxrTtZU29im4Ge67FpdD_kDEtmnDsxx6VBn9UVYGG-owMiDP88LDCWZ2bzWe1HN3lFCdXUHL9Baqj-SPTzgL01R9XJPtGTqMjEwvhjkcPFSvvDF8-udzFlNssDGcG1R130wVWFlt/s200/kettlehouse+and+big+sky+microbreweries+in+missoula+mt+004.jpg" /></a>robrewery beers so he's really enjoying the visits! Yesterday, we met a friend of ours, Alice, for lunch at the Montana Club and had a great time catching up with her since we left Quartzsite AZ. Today we're heading down to her cattle farm in Corvallis, MT, about 40 miles south of Missoula. She wants to show us around and take us out to dinner at a local steakhouse. </div><br /><div>Gotta go...laundry time! </div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-76294306916205252302010-05-02T22:23:00.014-04:002010-05-02T23:25:07.509-04:00From Osburn, ID to Missoula, MT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsVgrHFrfOSikw29DlVHNbfRMZc5OBoiq0cuJ7gYhX3BWSWNgOVIUns0l0VXzhYGVSD1OO06SKVGvgMlmnf64IJFqkfT3DDcQSB4lI1cWsxsY9eAq353GVAmTDV_x6J72xOnI1Ap4zj6f/s1600/blue+anchor+campground+osburn+mt+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466874391994950466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsVgrHFrfOSikw29DlVHNbfRMZc5OBoiq0cuJ7gYhX3BWSWNgOVIUns0l0VXzhYGVSD1OO06SKVGvgMlmnf64IJFqkfT3DDcQSB4lI1cWsxsY9eAq353GVAmTDV_x6J72xOnI1Ap4zj6f/s200/blue+anchor+campground+osburn+mt+002.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcZP0feW5QeTRSvm8JMDtixFOQ98m8yI1M1UobL2-6EQyXBGME0uxpouXWpR_Ffq9YZEcp8y-ozNduztMAXAe9flM5Lej_dQESxHJEmn64QDitMNS59bYjCCHTnsSJZ5fXZZIrV96t43O/s1600/blue+anchor+campground+osburn+mt++001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466873057416449394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcZP0feW5QeTRSvm8JMDtixFOQ98m8yI1M1UobL2-6EQyXBGME0uxpouXWpR_Ffq9YZEcp8y-ozNduztMAXAe9flM5Lej_dQESxHJEmn64QDitMNS59bYjCCHTnsSJZ5fXZZIrV96t43O/s200/blue+anchor+campground+osburn+mt++001.jpg" /></a>We had a very pleasant stop in Osburn, ID at the Blue Anchor RV Park. I think we'll be seeing alot of small town America on our way home...and we love it! Osburn consists of 2 main roads with little side streets, and from what we could see, most of the population lives in trailers. The town sits in the middle of the snow capped mountains and it's beautiful! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggzYu0NlHxOPAJCN1GoKnz8tV0QYmY-58rimYZO0g2GDEu3qQh00gRX96tZZ2CD1_YmoOP_1cO5q6aL5xoGTGJBo4fdinaoXjm2UIoPQ1kAlCcw82dDRHRvHZPo3jGygpF8uywzNENNGI/s1600/kellogg++id+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466874863705973202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggzYu0NlHxOPAJCN1GoKnz8tV0QYmY-58rimYZO0g2GDEu3qQh00gRX96tZZ2CD1_YmoOP_1cO5q6aL5xoGTGJBo4fdinaoXjm2UIoPQ1kAlCcw82dDRHRvHZPo3jGygpF8uywzNENNGI/s200/kellogg++id+013.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfpAdrQ70qtDW22Ivgu7Lv1iCAJ-AePjD30CG6xCuYF3H0DctBcEpMsTm0gSAkR0UEuPq4g-LI4KzS2IRVgAnsZmAwJ7vYRH8hivAwcXh21qhrbJZlNdDzbSbfRptwUsOZvhO_gCIBH1J/s1600/kellogg++id+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466875242700171442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfpAdrQ70qtDW22Ivgu7Lv1iCAJ-AePjD30CG6xCuYF3H0DctBcEpMsTm0gSAkR0UEuPq4g-LI4KzS2IRVgAnsZmAwJ7vYRH8hivAwcXh21qhrbJZlNdDzbSbfRptwUsOZvhO_gCIBH1J/s200/kellogg++id+014.jpg" /></a>The RV park owner was very friendly and once we were settled in, we went in search of a church. We found one in the neighboring town of Wallace, but discovered that they didn't have a Saturday night mass. So off we went to Kellogg on the other side of Osburn and found another church, and this one did have a Saturday night mass. It turns out that there's one priest for both of these churches, as well as one other one in the small town of Mullan. That's how small these towns are!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcs_IFERiiVTTRqM51_lUv7lAxxlPOHX1iLhPJnwBZ6e2VhoxOqFCcJ-GdUgFpDkHwZg5OwHn3pCfajihL3qyWw1mAa0j0fPGAq4QBkabX6sfYrVW0vmPjtQfrewI1GVURyT5w-zh2Gn4/s1600/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+016.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466876312198649298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcs_IFERiiVTTRqM51_lUv7lAxxlPOHX1iLhPJnwBZ6e2VhoxOqFCcJ-GdUgFpDkHwZg5OwHn3pCfajihL3qyWw1mAa0j0fPGAq4QBkabX6sfYrVW0vmPjtQfrewI1GVURyT5w-zh2Gn4/s200/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+016.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQDTJLBy_MqgxOdN7mzM1k34WVN74lC6025Bu9PVskZsOQJI8W2FFSexZhKreudpUuM9qm8m9d-0EMx_cI0bT2YFv7Y7T9etmNY7UfVMC2F2qKgQgYytYCXDo3i9JRVbH9ZzCMlllRkr3/s1600/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466875762499231906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQDTJLBy_MqgxOdN7mzM1k34WVN74lC6025Bu9PVskZsOQJI8W2FFSexZhKreudpUuM9qm8m9d-0EMx_cI0bT2YFv7Y7T9etmNY7UfVMC2F2qKgQgYytYCXDo3i9JRVbH9ZzCMlllRkr3/s200/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+013.jpg" /></a>This morning we packed up and headed to Missoula, MT, where we're staying at the Missoula KOA. I know in our last blog we said we were headed for Glacier from Osburn, but after looking at the weather forecast, we decided to stay in Missoula for a few days and do what we wanted to do here and see if it'll warm up in Glacier. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGItlkWLuqm040TxzP3KB8FGDHU6IWlF1M5I3uBI4_gBJSnD-xSNwJSuPx6XMlBmBsJX41gmJ3XWQcGI0L9xcNsVXU5UMkhT_sFxwFKXHSUEb7CG9rzXaH4l_sXTnMDK0JxssXPgKn0CQY/s1600/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+043.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466877174849658898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGItlkWLuqm040TxzP3KB8FGDHU6IWlF1M5I3uBI4_gBJSnD-xSNwJSuPx6XMlBmBsJX41gmJ3XWQcGI0L9xcNsVXU5UMkhT_sFxwFKXHSUEb7CG9rzXaH4l_sXTnMDK0JxssXPgKn0CQY/s200/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+043.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TdbTNMP12L-C1cB2ZBsC9zmBTdAcdEBi_zwlxBhJv9LCHUxZn9MOaQYlZy-Zjilv11128ZX8FdmdJJiikZfRg2D2C-rC1FHPNeJkYCCCtw1rqj_wI7TrLxVMo2TH52cDLtl-BjhvCqdh/s1600/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+041.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466876771093859378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TdbTNMP12L-C1cB2ZBsC9zmBTdAcdEBi_zwlxBhJv9LCHUxZn9MOaQYlZy-Zjilv11128ZX8FdmdJJiikZfRg2D2C-rC1FHPNeJkYCCCtw1rqj_wI7TrLxVMo2TH52cDLtl-BjhvCqdh/s200/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+041.jpg" /></a>Worst case scenerio, we take the RV as far as possible before we hit snow, and take the car the rest of the way...we're so close that we can't pass it up! The KOA campground is right in the middle of Missoula, which is a metropolis compared to the towns we've seen so far!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfn7djEy33K5_Kr291J2TXz_AGFrmVsDM2a2xwQmuAgmNpW6FXeH_wfbhUx0oiXrDHAeckkqZBdHth2qgi6YM9CrrD_Mq0Uj2o1eI3BYiXnYmSYpHBjDVM5R-kBWW8BGmon3dbJXGiQ41/s1600/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+044.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466877884584918722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfn7djEy33K5_Kr291J2TXz_AGFrmVsDM2a2xwQmuAgmNpW6FXeH_wfbhUx0oiXrDHAeckkqZBdHth2qgi6YM9CrrD_Mq0Uj2o1eI3BYiXnYmSYpHBjDVM5R-kBWW8BGmon3dbJXGiQ41/s200/from+osburn+id+to+missoula+mt+044.jpg" /></a>One of our first excursions was to find a piece of property...this one's for you, Frank!<br /><br />Tomorrow we're going to spend our day touring around town and then on Tuesday we're having lunch with a friend of ours that we met in Quartzsite AZ. Hopefully by Wednesday we'll be heading to Glacier!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-22757852058491366612010-04-30T23:23:00.013-04:002010-05-01T00:09:50.475-04:00Home again, home again, jiggity jig..We left Seattle today...we begin the final leg of our 8 month journey to the west coast...I can't believe we've been on the road for 7 months already! We have over 5000 pictures...so far!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadvUqNX72esbWVBHgcWUjlOsq8Fcmk6oiSGwDlKxQ2VNWZxpONhCZFFHmZm35D7cTlsBS-_97-8w2L1VKd2UvQuMZZIeiSIkeNJjckUeB-fq9O4BbiVJNIwDTHbD-Rn60bNM_gYP0bg7X/s1600/spending+time+with+eddie+in+silverdale+wa+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466144339894225346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadvUqNX72esbWVBHgcWUjlOsq8Fcmk6oiSGwDlKxQ2VNWZxpONhCZFFHmZm35D7cTlsBS-_97-8w2L1VKd2UvQuMZZIeiSIkeNJjckUeB-fq9O4BbiVJNIwDTHbD-Rn60bNM_gYP0bg7X/s200/spending+time+with+eddie+in+silverdale+wa+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyaTD6C292NMvXiw8dduVoSAqoKYJHmJV51pnWDkv13BtB5ZYWeyDQfpnKaEWSiwWK-DMCOGSjWhU18rS8grULq9nThvM3vr8MAo7VCtq4FAnkrk7oI5sivK3v-dPppHZLyrsA6_KGqFY/s1600/spending+time+with+eddie+in+silverdale+wa+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466143911499152130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyaTD6C292NMvXiw8dduVoSAqoKYJHmJV51pnWDkv13BtB5ZYWeyDQfpnKaEWSiwWK-DMCOGSjWhU18rS8grULq9nThvM3vr8MAo7VCtq4FAnkrk7oI5sivK3v-dPppHZLyrsA6_KGqFY/s200/spending+time+with+eddie+in+silverdale+wa+001.jpg" /></a>Our last 2 days in Poulsbo were spent doing laundry, grocery shopping and dinners with Eddie and Patrick. It rained most of the time, which is typical for Seattle. Wednesday night we had dinner at Eddie's...fried oysters (freshly caught the day before!), broiled salmon, appetizers, and a chocolate cream pie for Eddie's birthday! It was all delicious! Then on Thursday night, we took Eddie and Patrick out to dinner for Eddie's birthday. We went to the Boat Shed in Bremerton and had a fantastic meal...we even split a chocolate lava cake that was to die for!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcGEooCjI9VI3PySn0hR5N-T2sPOQAMbo_nJNtR-N-MzEW3ObgeBo94Q__lsB-oBE2o5TpyjIRUiXlUnVyRzzphlfgywWxiZc7PKKWIAnaYebPG9oIHP0Y-h6N6bw-qqrlrLLk_c_rJKa/s1600/eagle+tree+rv+park+poulsbo+wa+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466145162281068882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcGEooCjI9VI3PySn0hR5N-T2sPOQAMbo_nJNtR-N-MzEW3ObgeBo94Q__lsB-oBE2o5TpyjIRUiXlUnVyRzzphlfgywWxiZc7PKKWIAnaYebPG9oIHP0Y-h6N6bw-qqrlrLLk_c_rJKa/s200/eagle+tree+rv+park+poulsbo+wa+010.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmgCRQjX8xeCF1xpa78QeoA9xQCPRuFchl49FJIkFNyPBn_ZUP97AL7u25zD3ArOUKHFEestqiH3wAxmSd4l4uVY7HXKlLP4wjA15uJqtgNjuJFtE-FkdSKlM1mNrf8rWESVSocWKpY6k/s1600/eagle+tree+rv+park+poulsbo+wa+009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466145580850592066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmgCRQjX8xeCF1xpa78QeoA9xQCPRuFchl49FJIkFNyPBn_ZUP97AL7u25zD3ArOUKHFEestqiH3wAxmSd4l4uVY7HXKlLP4wjA15uJqtgNjuJFtE-FkdSKlM1mNrf8rWESVSocWKpY6k/s200/eagle+tree+rv+park+poulsbo+wa+009.jpg" /></a>During the day on Thursday, Ed and I passed the time by watching old GMCs fill the RV park...they had a rally and we counted 16 GMCs by this morning! There are supposed to be 28 total, but I'm sure some probably had to work yesterday and will arrive today. We met one couple that parked behind us and they gave us a little tour of their GMC...so cute!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25MG0OzbkiUrSb9cIeQLgVqgQzij1fggR8L745DNZhD3kCbsXjNceEWoIESm_Qz9bjZX5cl06Z9zn4md5BQNCyaOBEiW0b_ei8dtAHZRI6Jof9weaCOChjgJRYjrxKXc1RbqmFvY7Xdxg/s1600/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466146039295961922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25MG0OzbkiUrSb9cIeQLgVqgQzij1fggR8L745DNZhD3kCbsXjNceEWoIESm_Qz9bjZX5cl06Z9zn4md5BQNCyaOBEiW0b_ei8dtAHZRI6Jof9weaCOChjgJRYjrxKXc1RbqmFvY7Xdxg/s200/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+001.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7857HGK4huMQ7HcEr2hR4U84RoXDLTJR9GqtQWnaMZaGMPJOjZmu_OpErO2xXgpSCMrF9Zeih28NOpdorWariA9JGLK2tME4IGC1Fgz0LfOthTYFVUVxIcbWoXXDVBXNiHfXtHfxqBHwA/s1600/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466146533621270770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7857HGK4huMQ7HcEr2hR4U84RoXDLTJR9GqtQWnaMZaGMPJOjZmu_OpErO2xXgpSCMrF9Zeih28NOpdorWariA9JGLK2tME4IGC1Fgz0LfOthTYFVUVxIcbWoXXDVBXNiHfXtHfxqBHwA/s200/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+008.jpg" /></a>Today we left the park around 9:15am for a 10:00am oil change appt at the local Ford dealer. We were out of there by 11:00 and headed to Bainbridge Island to catch the ferry to Seattle. One of the ferry employees was impressed with our RV and we chatted with him for quite a while. Before the ferry docked in Seattle, he came back and told us that he asked the guys up front to help up get into the right lane to catch I-90 out of Seattle..what a nice guy! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KjCv04rP_E4j0R5ziBUiwtZz6QpVo2GhHgDznET8sxUgctTCpjsEuPSBH5YVabahTW7jzK9eTaWwWu-Kq_rxwqCzSeTfMvSpjuStEIX4qhxGeWsR4whmwBvUdKqS1teMCmp06A0gcpRt/s1600/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466147012016973490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KjCv04rP_E4j0R5ziBUiwtZz6QpVo2GhHgDznET8sxUgctTCpjsEuPSBH5YVabahTW7jzK9eTaWwWu-Kq_rxwqCzSeTfMvSpjuStEIX4qhxGeWsR4whmwBvUdKqS1teMCmp06A0gcpRt/s200/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+010.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpFIxSEN3hKihkAbQSi9VqgWpA5wTUxVePhdIkiGOLNPP-8UTQjVnYehh8H1Da3uL8pUj25Y0HjFhvAMP-I26ErjmbbWim20-WkWD1wuZwpHYycKSpSj7C2sUOD-axLXHifMoQw1lVLxV/s1600/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 136px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466148078962643826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpFIxSEN3hKihkAbQSi9VqgWpA5wTUxVePhdIkiGOLNPP-8UTQjVnYehh8H1Da3uL8pUj25Y0HjFhvAMP-I26ErjmbbWim20-WkWD1wuZwpHYycKSpSj7C2sUOD-axLXHifMoQw1lVLxV/s200/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+012.jpg" /></a>Getting through Seattle wasn't as bad as I expected...we only had to go about a mile to get onto I-90 and it wasn't long before Seattle was out of sight and we were on our way to Moses Lake, WA for the night. It rained a good part of the day and it was a little windy but the highway was pretty easy and we only went about 150 miles...we got a late start! </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9qUDy-d3du5xIzicW45UJujEscf4ghj6mymk9puh4AfuYD8OSPFjSbVlKCkgTlIY3e07vpBZu7Xp_HUCpTToz_2AeusaV_2wFjgA519WOUUxfJal3Wr1ypu_1n7_xSK-eJQIZubIOK0n/s1600/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+023.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466148667528241170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9qUDy-d3du5xIzicW45UJujEscf4ghj6mymk9puh4AfuYD8OSPFjSbVlKCkgTlIY3e07vpBZu7Xp_HUCpTToz_2AeusaV_2wFjgA519WOUUxfJal3Wr1ypu_1n7_xSK-eJQIZubIOK0n/s200/from+seattle+wa+to+moses+lake+wa+023.jpg" /></a>Tomorrow we'll go as far as Osburn, ID, about 186 miles east of here...and we'll stay over night just so we can fill in our map and say we slept in Idaho! From there, we'll head up to Glacier, if the weather is good...we'll have to call ahead.</div><br /><div>More from Glacier National Park!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-77169179434499917062010-04-26T21:20:00.013-04:002010-04-26T21:55:18.340-04:00Ferry trip from Bainbridge Island to Seattle WA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxirI3Mdmy77D2cMPsJ14UAMMh1xgLJpjX1VvrX13r7Wq0RzQgVn3bqnCkmblD3PMhtFCV5ai8o9lGFm5EFJQdEswW8jP8C5MR8u_Ty-qHwOIjI-x83ng6I-qxMz5Azhi6pPesfz360AT/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464625516809064738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxirI3Mdmy77D2cMPsJ14UAMMh1xgLJpjX1VvrX13r7Wq0RzQgVn3bqnCkmblD3PMhtFCV5ai8o9lGFm5EFJQdEswW8jP8C5MR8u_Ty-qHwOIjI-x83ng6I-qxMz5Azhi6pPesfz360AT/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qioQzjCi21HdxcJBRKF82yrwzVsUCUL8wqQx-Gj3ho0egC_k_-NPoBEmC8ljS8hDf_dsC8jcUKSmdde98-XVhCAryAiYPPWu4uWtXCdcpCaT7UfDYcNKMX9EY6RhhJJ9JqRRM5fdicX7/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464625138442722242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qioQzjCi21HdxcJBRKF82yrwzVsUCUL8wqQx-Gj3ho0egC_k_-NPoBEmC8ljS8hDf_dsC8jcUKSmdde98-XVhCAryAiYPPWu4uWtXCdcpCaT7UfDYcNKMX9EY6RhhJJ9JqRRM5fdicX7/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+001.jpg" /></a>Today we took the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. Bainbridge Island is at the end of SR-305, about 8 miles east of Poulsbo and the rv park. It's a straight shot from the rv park to the ferry and since we were walk-ons, it was easy to park and board. We wanted to see how difficult it would be to take the RV across on the ferry and found out we don't need reservations and it <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nFsMSJZ_-fEz7h5N4sf51xVngiYii6JY8giGgap5muEDKnsmWu6qeifOtjNuLbK7hVFrHYHbdnlkT2jajUih4XILmjOD9N9vyYTawBzazWScWKS_awQ82BKUNKG6boEQTsEejXTeb6cd/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464626112472397826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nFsMSJZ_-fEz7h5N4sf51xVngiYii6JY8giGgap5muEDKnsmWu6qeifOtjNuLbK7hVFrHYHbdnlkT2jajUih4XILmjOD9N9vyYTawBzazWScWKS_awQ82BKUNKG6boEQTsEejXTeb6cd/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+017.jpg" /></a>won't cost much more to tak<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxmwoi7UqWd_ReboB1yqwm_5SScKQd1D_5RzGjeVkoJmbJCe30u3TE40uZUKZBkezeIk5q65PWhfzD4l1ORK2IulmUcn_xS75DiezNu5Sy0Vc9N9Tju96_S3Gu_wm24XFEeSoCpo-Fd9B/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+020.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 108px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464626682791951874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxmwoi7UqWd_ReboB1yqwm_5SScKQd1D_5RzGjeVkoJmbJCe30u3TE40uZUKZBkezeIk5q65PWhfzD4l1ORK2IulmUcn_xS75DiezNu5Sy0Vc9N9Tju96_S3Gu_wm24XFEeSoCpo-Fd9B/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+020.jpg" /></a>e the ferry than driving the extra 60 miles down and around through Tacoma. We've taken the RV on 3 ferries in the past, on the east coast, and it's really kind of fun.<br /><br />Anyway....the ferry ride was very nice, only about 1/2 hour from start to finish. Once in Seattle, we walked around Pike's market w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENTUIJ07OItYz_cHjuiRy_1fw-VaASgV1E2UX7VVUL4JZt1PXFG_s5suV3mnGU5fpL2fWttT6BHb-2__u-_oTz_tOGTp3gZn7vkE8Dsp8WKSx6OfUnf0aTxP60f3_LDZ1wyKOkBAcIh0U/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+035.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464628319568505058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENTUIJ07OItYz_cHjuiRy_1fw-VaASgV1E2UX7VVUL4JZt1PXFG_s5suV3mnGU5fpL2fWttT6BHb-2__u-_oTz_tOGTp3gZn7vkE8Dsp8WKSx6OfUnf0aTxP60f3_LDZ1wyKOkBAcIh0U/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+035.jpg" /></a>hich is known for it's fish market <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYJ-MOqmk95ZRct0FFdoGw6sZU80U_gEcgfpb-KQ1Rn8zMgRcS6rTT3jugx4Cs32vIkJqk8bl8oFo6wVmr-2kVseJK9vs2Ip-Y7eWqgu0H0KNCOLYsQnSS8N_PSATtahcpWhUjRCdHwa1/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+031.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464627705639985026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYJ-MOqmk95ZRct0FFdoGw6sZU80U_gEcgfpb-KQ1Rn8zMgRcS6rTT3jugx4Cs32vIkJqk8bl8oFo6wVmr-2kVseJK9vs2Ip-Y7eWqgu0H0KNCOLYsQnSS8N_PSATtahcpWhUjRCdHwa1/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+031.jpg" /></a>where they throw the fish around and over peoples' heads! It's actually a building with 3 floors of little shops and craft booths. There are several street musicians throughout...Ed loves to stop and listen (and of course contribute to their earnings!). As usual, the only item he purchased was dog treats for Emma!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj7yKk_qEakU2Xe14rU9hwUdnKQyIVJYLkQs9lNH-yn4i8niNpkuIyNALZoZBQtIRHVEP4OnPcgfowOPG3xVaPzaI0jTBHf_QVpMawKH0EELu-k_cucDn1cOLVWH8GuJ5grqRU9e-JuOu/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+036.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464628717027163730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj7yKk_qEakU2Xe14rU9hwUdnKQyIVJYLkQs9lNH-yn4i8niNpkuIyNALZoZBQtIRHVEP4OnPcgfowOPG3xVaPzaI0jTBHf_QVpMawKH0EELu-k_cucDn1cOLVWH8GuJ5grqRU9e-JuOu/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+036.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_37JBQnJarux2vnXCwt80kNR1cJ_2ngeV0T23l5owfIGyFewbo4q8urLGUyZzge2e5UUlNoh0zMrkj7WsCqWZKuoS0LbxbSjhcqprOVEjyW2BdBT4yix1j36jXAkpYMudOYq7iaY9uIS1/s1600/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+029.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464627195019405826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_37JBQnJarux2vnXCwt80kNR1cJ_2ngeV0T23l5owfIGyFewbo4q8urLGUyZzge2e5UUlNoh0zMrkj7WsCqWZKuoS0LbxbSjhcqprOVEjyW2BdBT4yix1j36jXAkpYMudOYq7iaY9uIS1/s200/ferry+trip+to+seattle+wa+029.jpg" /></a>On our way back to the ferry, we stopped for lunch at Ivar's... recommended by Eddie's friend, Patrick. Good recommendation! We had fish and chips and it was delicious!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-12331760383458435972010-04-26T20:22:00.011-04:002010-04-26T21:07:21.543-04:00Historic Poulsbo and oystering<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielbX3QX4N-JsOYj4T32oYBLZ4koWp4Yl3m4MscxJjPSkIe279tslds7A5nz7zk2j49g0cTVd13G-XFXsjnvhOchYUtjEf_zJBEjrCVutJ5OAjxRANLqj8T86R1SpkT367VzBiDJnh38HE/s1600/historic+poulsbo,+wa+005.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464612912853566738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielbX3QX4N-JsOYj4T32oYBLZ4koWp4Yl3m4MscxJjPSkIe279tslds7A5nz7zk2j49g0cTVd13G-XFXsjnvhOchYUtjEf_zJBEjrCVutJ5OAjxRANLqj8T86R1SpkT367VzBiDJnh38HE/s200/historic+poulsbo,+wa+005.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmpmZNT4Qlnb9c2td-r61hrOkfYMNuMpzq7GL0YQhnvz3HU80EZz_Nr3AmWrMNiDYDLqAjhApM2equRV2L11QAFCaJNN5etRKb08HEZDLjtWgLpF7y8QVzqHlN8Y1wZAhXOpcrRSYsy3M/s1600/historic+poulsbo,+wa+006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464613354302737698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmpmZNT4Qlnb9c2td-r61hrOkfYMNuMpzq7GL0YQhnvz3HU80EZz_Nr3AmWrMNiDYDLqAjhApM2equRV2L11QAFCaJNN5etRKb08HEZDLjtWgLpF7y8QVzqHlN8Y1wZAhXOpcrRSYsy3M/s200/historic+poulsbo,+wa+006.jpg" /></a>Yesterday Ed and I took a drive down to historic Poulsbo WA. I had been there many years ago when I came to Bremerton for work and fell in love with it. It's a charming little Norwegian town that consists of one main road with quaint little shops on both sides. It didn't take long to stroll through, so when we were finished, we had lunch at a local restaurant and then stopped at the bakery next door <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xNP1kZyj_icJEoqrtbldy87lT4mPYWaRaSGSrDmz5rZzgDTnq8IlHn4CEQGhNuzzTW6gBSukAXW_go002RB5Pfrqa0tEQRVg8Vy_cFrwr_4O6WlUEKsWURzsTZfJZqchCC2edG_P2Y_n/s1600/historic+poulsbo,+wa+008.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464613739767166722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xNP1kZyj_icJEoqrtbldy87lT4mPYWaRaSGSrDmz5rZzgDTnq8IlHn4CEQGhNuzzTW6gBSukAXW_go002RB5Pfrqa0tEQRVg8Vy_cFrwr_4O6WlUEKsWURzsTZfJZqchCC2edG_P2Y_n/s200/historic+poulsbo,+wa+008.jpg" /></a>that had delicious looking pastries in the window and bought 2 treats for breakfast this morning! </div><br /><div>When Ed's son got off of work, we headed to his house, and from there we drove to a private beach about 1/2 hour down the road to go oystering. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFXkLrAIaB4ns0u-RBHkeNjIEpUX0HvW5Slx2Vi7-Tk_kEn2FRGG-76PhVyqbJAL0Q74rgYXhnglgC9JT465ax75e2sAyDnqa0PDq-PQ3GOozRIPaWlO5GuNTbfSGnwoSma7x9_wETv_D/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+027.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464615333436687346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFXkLrAIaB4ns0u-RBHkeNjIEpUX0HvW5Slx2Vi7-Tk_kEn2FRGG-76PhVyqbJAL0Q74rgYXhnglgC9JT465ax75e2sAyDnqa0PDq-PQ3GOozRIPaWlO5GuNTbfSGnwoSma7x9_wETv_D/s200/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+027.jpg" /></a>A friend of his rents a house that has access to this private beach that has tons of oysters when the tide goes out...it wasn't quite out when we got there so we enjoyed watching the water for about an hour before it was low enough to start collecting the oysters.<br /></div></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS8rlsSds5EG8DT1yMIS33OC78HxrZZD-BAalXgzhVHcedDiaciR83cDrdfaGjYBD0HR5G7bTtJFsGV-PpZPLuGb4YI2K28iSxt9p7NJDrGJQ5r6mItrGWmoqvPf5A-C5iSEpXsRtaeYw/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+037.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464616203393056386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS8rlsSds5EG8DT1yMIS33OC78HxrZZD-BAalXgzhVHcedDiaciR83cDrdfaGjYBD0HR5G7bTtJFsGV-PpZPLuGb4YI2K28iSxt9p7NJDrGJQ5r6mItrGWmoqvPf5A-C5iSEpXsRtaeYw/s200/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+037.jpg" /></a></div>It didn't take long to fill up two buckets and we brought them back to Eddie's condo where he cleaned them and we cooked them on the grill. Yumm!! Poor Eddie...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMvUwWQNKg4QBCSap9oF8eLErCJUw6rcEVqlOfrCd6AgNpZvL0Go5Ph3k5BEj_WWUNdtu7rpeEimUgeC-VLk04xXPdmyJKCi71INvIeuU1VdisFFFKeuIPWCnMBRn5XcbnZaeJpQj3qxl/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+031.jpg"></a>Ed was eating them faster than Eddie could clean them! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx13VpFewxvDMe2l12vg01qWJO2MbiaZ4cC_tu-zkAr4cWX_TVwvwF3gNJ_O5hSU7U8orI7SsWIA3LBIIgB837Cs6IzVTpL2OXxoF1aSBCHjdjj1VElsqoQBb069y1AAFAhldZB5Hjl4v/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+055.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464616993903216594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx13VpFewxvDMe2l12vg01qWJO2MbiaZ4cC_tu-zkAr4cWX_TVwvwF3gNJ_O5hSU7U8orI7SsWIA3LBIIgB837Cs6IzVTpL2OXxoF1aSBCHjdjj1VElsqoQBb069y1AAFAhldZB5Hjl4v/s200/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+055.jpg" /></a>His poor hands were freezing and raw...oh, well! They certainly were delicious!</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS8rlsSds5EG8DT1yMIS33OC78HxrZZD-BAalXgzhVHcedDiaciR83cDrdfaGjYBD0HR5G7bTtJFsGV-PpZPLuGb4YI2K28iSxt9p7NJDrGJQ5r6mItrGWmoqvPf5A-C5iSEpXsRtaeYw/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+037.jpg"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvia5-_3iCUbhfiIM3RWHqiJX4hVfrbnQ4u2yk2XJt9D_29P60LfYcW3BAdc05SdvA6ASDQuxgojBtLI5nj95ArCIvSdj7BMJNsWImdziExOtgaGNHs1-m_oC5gCCqth3KE_PyAkO06wV/s1600/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+056.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464617429110398258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvia5-_3iCUbhfiIM3RWHqiJX4hVfrbnQ4u2yk2XJt9D_29P60LfYcW3BAdc05SdvA6ASDQuxgojBtLI5nj95ArCIvSdj7BMJNsWImdziExOtgaGNHs1-m_oC5gCCqth3KE_PyAkO06wV/s200/oystering+with+eddie+and+patrick+bremerton+wa+056.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-26360043963343994822010-04-26T11:23:00.018-04:002010-04-26T12:44:21.482-04:00Poulsbo, WA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAInCWVFScrxV4r_PABanWMFR1TNi4UkkeWzKzuAOkb4x5OrkaPKW_waYoRPs76CexbGnsWaF03L-bsgSUWCbCXrhIVRSgXGRfjcpDLQStkhLdxU4tij8yqnGQfX2OmKpJigiSDWgj0FTh/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464476128608016722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAInCWVFScrxV4r_PABanWMFR1TNi4UkkeWzKzuAOkb4x5OrkaPKW_waYoRPs76CexbGnsWaF03L-bsgSUWCbCXrhIVRSgXGRfjcpDLQStkhLdxU4tij8yqnGQfX2OmKpJigiSDWgj0FTh/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwxkMqGI4esQnh2uw2aUJcHLue32t27ZIe7Bv_pJjdVvJcXJZhFqh5FMaKBjXpjoQfSK0tY_4QcRjjsVpPSKVECcqt_U2e50YuBQBaafpuEUSXMTAJ5rI2tEw5AHzl4V2outekPC1BYeV/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+006.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wn2xj0h0o9UZY9d00hc0vxyXM9Z-kkPkd5LGiixDjSKUlvFneDm06lzkPmK9ajljs3fwejkdwDv6lAeelcPKyejEEJ4MsElQScwEOAykMdyBwZDvPhm8mSEfwmtR-96rUb7ANbQpv_dW/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+005.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464476503246067074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wn2xj0h0o9UZY9d00hc0vxyXM9Z-kkPkd5LGiixDjSKUlvFneDm06lzkPmK9ajljs3fwejkdwDv6lAeelcPKyejEEJ4MsElQScwEOAykMdyBwZDvPhm8mSEfwmtR-96rUb7ANbQpv_dW/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+005.jpg" /></a>We left Forks, WA for Poulsbo WA on Saturday morning in the rain, but the drive was beautiful and there were spurts of sun (or at least no rain) from time to time. Poulsbo was 140 miles from Forks and this drive would finish our trek around the Olympic Peninsula. We drove several miles through the Hoh Rainforest and saw more logging areas and trees, trees, trees. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2DgIREPJI9vTft9YVIdASnqpOcJK-uylJ1-hqHFSOMl0DigBDLwZzSZQyd7nAbAZUrOJhyaEe2JTvues_0TpkMCJbfW35bLxgW4w8G7b9wrg2s1dYXNvC67VJMehvCejU6_rwqVNQC5i/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464477920758959202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2DgIREPJI9vTft9YVIdASnqpOcJK-uylJ1-hqHFSOMl0DigBDLwZzSZQyd7nAbAZUrOJhyaEe2JTvues_0TpkMCJbfW35bLxgW4w8G7b9wrg2s1dYXNvC67VJMehvCejU6_rwqVNQC5i/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+009.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvPoeJjp9OwPEuXuTDGchywpZfq_8WaqlhSOVuv-9q3_NRH1mUdiSZHwfFkzhtM2G9iMdAQO2y7CoEald95V5Q3WdrAbKJXcgUvmJvxahGxmQiccLuKLMFV2RbWg5tl9_VmgRa2MCr6NW/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+021.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464479330312967010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvPoeJjp9OwPEuXuTDGchywpZfq_8WaqlhSOVuv-9q3_NRH1mUdiSZHwfFkzhtM2G9iMdAQO2y7CoEald95V5Q3WdrAbKJXcgUvmJvxahGxmQiccLuKLMFV2RbWg5tl9_VmgRa2MCr6NW/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+021.jpg" /></a>Then as we headed towards Port Angeles, the road wound around Lake Crescent...and we knew why everyone told us we had to drive the OP. The lake is huge and gorgeous...with the mountains in the background and crystal clear water...it was truly God's country. As hard as I try to take pictures while we drive, we had to stop and Ed, the photographer, took some beautiful pics of the lake. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKryYIWJGBOQsjsePMywIMpQFl2Sn1rEpd1CaupglzAdhyss58nYx9HW4BcXd_rCQlyQP_kjJuPet0gBceYFbIuNIXjWB_bMyCub8Nv6Z5Htzs8-o8RdG8CtH5GOucPYL_jwYlussVuTB/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+027.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 105px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464480651520123314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKryYIWJGBOQsjsePMywIMpQFl2Sn1rEpd1CaupglzAdhyss58nYx9HW4BcXd_rCQlyQP_kjJuPet0gBceYFbIuNIXjWB_bMyCub8Nv6Z5Htzs8-o8RdG8CtH5GOucPYL_jwYlussVuTB/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+027.jpg" /></a>The road around the lake compared to some of the curviest stretches we'd been on up the coast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PCvC-E_9FPbGCx57KaO1wyhvzNgWGy4pNO71kLAc5EtvQY-DVvrhMlbkMpGBribFSjW3cs8WR_RWsvFJOJ8ujI0CiYmqzKq4UhrvepVSGBvhSzr1SKQboMY4CbuyLOodiqoF0ob5K9Sg/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+024.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464480118432842546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PCvC-E_9FPbGCx57KaO1wyhvzNgWGy4pNO71kLAc5EtvQY-DVvrhMlbkMpGBribFSjW3cs8WR_RWsvFJOJ8ujI0CiYmqzKq4UhrvepVSGBvhSzr1SKQboMY4CbuyLOodiqoF0ob5K9Sg/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+024.jpg" /></a>Driving through Port Angeles, we could look across the bay to British Columbia, Canada and the San Juan Islands. My friend Kathryn and her husband live on Orcas Island for at least 6 months of the year. I'm hoping I can get together with her while we're here...but looking at the route to get to Orcas Island from Poulsbo, it's a good 4 hour drive, including 2 ferry rides. Maybe she can meet me 1/2 way for lunch...we'll see!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlQf1ryV29VQVsZ_nGwNZdNWIjv6b8yvWaGsOS3ra21h34GRlsjXPy6aI0uAiC74rzNqmacmAX3-dSQMruwCkKfQiE76uOkBH4erNVnzx4A1mCPLPbpicSadapT0ZtZJRm8A5Oxkrbck2/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+034.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464481165910412082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlQf1ryV29VQVsZ_nGwNZdNWIjv6b8yvWaGsOS3ra21h34GRlsjXPy6aI0uAiC74rzNqmacmAX3-dSQMruwCkKfQiE76uOkBH4erNVnzx4A1mCPLPbpicSadapT0ZtZJRm8A5Oxkrbck2/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+034.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELM-9gKIbpK53vw0-CwbcIK1WM0mlyxYHcysuDnvmqbMrvHS3ucszvMUyASJAFgNXR3_DgfstPP-T1Q4dxBIQfHappSbBubBvC_qVsG0BnJ2ob4nn0kkstSrNOsx3-xCO5h5a9vujjqd-/s1600/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+035.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464482255840839426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELM-9gKIbpK53vw0-CwbcIK1WM0mlyxYHcysuDnvmqbMrvHS3ucszvMUyASJAFgNXR3_DgfstPP-T1Q4dxBIQfHappSbBubBvC_qVsG0BnJ2ob4nn0kkstSrNOsx3-xCO5h5a9vujjqd-/s200/olympic+peninsula+on+the+way+to+poulsbo+wa+035.jpg" /></a>From Port Angeles, it was probably another 1 1/2 hours to Poulsbo and the distance between the two was much more populated than the previous stretch of US-101.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dVRi-vQpDCOI50cvIlOZMb-1TCJ-zaCvaYrdFn92BBrrVcd1VDj0h0h1xobJxbkf4xIaLWENQvp0cew3Y5qTsAfz_gwZ-tRn5Vg4ntEcyKpcRW9iyg8x6HA3SNhrNld9qJ68QHgoj2Y0/s1600/hood+river+floating+bridge+near+poulsbo+wa+040.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464486516616026898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dVRi-vQpDCOI50cvIlOZMb-1TCJ-zaCvaYrdFn92BBrrVcd1VDj0h0h1xobJxbkf4xIaLWENQvp0cew3Y5qTsAfz_gwZ-tRn5Vg4ntEcyKpcRW9iyg8x6HA3SNhrNld9qJ68QHgoj2Y0/s200/hood+river+floating+bridge+near+poulsbo+wa+040.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwWE_YuXeqShD1le3o8ZE8Vl-xlrrXBAPAqo0PAyZ5WvfKbqw8uerZF2h9rexnRIKqgRVoFGN3Vjy1NN4JreiTXCcDawAz4hf5dZx-SkbW11sRT6uithcBiCz8tTRHrqskOLf-PH3qJee/s1600/hood+river+floating+bridge+near+poulsbo+wa+044.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464486989926613538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwWE_YuXeqShD1le3o8ZE8Vl-xlrrXBAPAqo0PAyZ5WvfKbqw8uerZF2h9rexnRIKqgRVoFGN3Vjy1NN4JreiTXCcDawAz4hf5dZx-SkbW11sRT6uithcBiCz8tTRHrqskOLf-PH3qJee/s200/hood+river+floating+bridge+near+poulsbo+wa+044.jpg" /></a>On the way, we drove over the Hood Canal Floating Bridge...the longest floating bridge in the world! Poulsbo is a beautiful area, and the Eagle Tree RV Park is located right past the main town on Rte 305. Rte 305 ends about 8 miles further at the ferry to Seattle, which we plan on taking today (Monday) by foot and then on Friday with the RV. It's either the ferry or drive 65 miles around the bay through Tacoma...we choose the ferry!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9RJH2RlGbkweohfOWzd8-EjLfXg40N4aktfdtErrmPeuRqPwQ6dC_dRn3fMqGz5zbbxTI1DeF3jsQnN6FkkzheVkqGwrLfbwHMMsGACISM14oQdwQkRVpM9oqwBreAhCBY7VRChG0hvK/s1600/Eagle+tree+rv+park+in+poulsbo+wa+001.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464484262555361282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9RJH2RlGbkweohfOWzd8-EjLfXg40N4aktfdtErrmPeuRqPwQ6dC_dRn3fMqGz5zbbxTI1DeF3jsQnN6FkkzheVkqGwrLfbwHMMsGACISM14oQdwQkRVpM9oqwBreAhCBY7VRChG0hvK/s200/Eagle+tree+rv+park+in+poulsbo+wa+001.jpg" /></a>When we settled into the RV park, which by the way, is very nice, it was time to clean (after 2 days of rain and mud!) and do 4 loads of laundry..ughh! But there's nothing like a clean, fresh RV! Ed's son and his friend Patrick joined us for dinner after they got off work. They both work for Electric Boat in Groton, CT (which is where Ed and I both worked) and they are in Bremerton for 5 months on a job. They're staying about 15 miles south of Poulsbo in Silverdale, so it's a short distance for a visit. We had steaks on the grill, with baked sweet potatos and grilled peppers and onion...mmmmm!!! It was so great seeing Eddie...most of this stay will be spent with him...I think he misses his dad!<br /><br />Yesterday's adventures will be in the next blog....I bet you just can't wait!!Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844966200079917615.post-62477062193770380982010-04-25T00:31:00.009-04:002010-04-26T11:23:15.398-04:00Forks, WA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ9tbnSIKyYpt9fKwMxB6_98a0r4EmAs2pY6JLoy3594juXrCB-7ctubdsYf9dK6mZ-520BqX2PN0jxzSHW4Wl7iPjHJKEPuoIErpXwP0amcr3wZcgtULeXoGHPS1T3rAw7JBYDq7159C/s1600/onward+to+forks+WA+087.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463931935276202434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQ9tbnSIKyYpt9fKwMxB6_98a0r4EmAs2pY6JLoy3594juXrCB-7ctubdsYf9dK6mZ-520BqX2PN0jxzSHW4Wl7iPjHJKEPuoIErpXwP0amcr3wZcgtULeXoGHPS1T3rAw7JBYDq7159C/s200/onward+to+forks+WA+087.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwYg57pw3F9vGeVt3bcgc7VRRZLsPnaFW1H4RRMuS_i7PRuSi7QbfkxY0nCJcEtxPO76BWa3KLbeNjccGSLy0iVG8XfAMwIX9S_73cZB7LnU607fw9mrcKzsfEBSeRhhyphenhyphen_ZkJDbinTwCI/s1600/onward+to+forks+WA+077.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463931563259911378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwYg57pw3F9vGeVt3bcgc7VRRZLsPnaFW1H4RRMuS_i7PRuSi7QbfkxY0nCJcEtxPO76BWa3KLbeNjccGSLy0iVG8XfAMwIX9S_73cZB7LnU607fw9mrcKzsfEBSeRhhyphenhyphen_ZkJDbinTwCI/s200/onward+to+forks+WA+077.jpg" /></a>We made it to Forks, WA on Friday and stayed at a small RV park called the Hoh River RV Park, right off of US-101 in the heart of the Olympic National Park. We had been told by someone awhile back that since we were going up the western coastline, we had to take US-101 around the Olympic Pennisula in WA…so that’s what we’re doing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ru-3Fvl_EFuUlAa5UIT8u2iLFq4Nsamw0sNmr2PxsKk5b7000uDV85OMa-a5CotSso5Ca3HXG2_fr13OJzQOh-8hx3jP3xx8ez-1_YN2_QnVD3Nlnyymvc8D_9Ac9O9o6VCW1ekGxRze/s1600/onward+to+forks+WA+094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 109px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463932956448961170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ru-3Fvl_EFuUlAa5UIT8u2iLFq4Nsamw0sNmr2PxsKk5b7000uDV85OMa-a5CotSso5Ca3HXG2_fr13OJzQOh-8hx3jP3xx8ez-1_YN2_QnVD3Nlnyymvc8D_9Ac9O9o6VCW1ekGxRze/s200/onward+to+forks+WA+094.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV-jBVH18I96T0TWxPHOaOCMWIt4sdNPTNY4nhiirV40tiaTCz8iMzgwM_pN9ZHD-lkFNB5wkuX7IVeSezNeqaKzOYKb7UlTeqFdgYfk0NM2lLe5FMrSgRG0ie2K59i8C4ixmB-wv_jmh/s1600/onward+to+forks+WA+092.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463932340500850210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV-jBVH18I96T0TWxPHOaOCMWIt4sdNPTNY4nhiirV40tiaTCz8iMzgwM_pN9ZHD-lkFNB5wkuX7IVeSezNeqaKzOYKb7UlTeqFdgYfk0NM2lLe5FMrSgRG0ie2K59i8C4ixmB-wv_jmh/s200/onward+to+forks+WA+092.jpg" /></a>Most of what we’ve seen since entering WA has been forests…it seems that the main inustry here is logging. We drove for miles without seeing anyone but loggers with their double truckloads of logs. All through the forests we saw huge areas where the loggers had been…some areas completely devoid of life with just dead stumps and branches, while other areas had new trees growing among the stumps. There were signs along the way that would tell the year that the logging was completed, the year that the new growth was planted, as well as the year that that particular area could be logged again. It was nice to see the care that was taken to protect and replace the trees that were being cut.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvP4d1o_Me9b0HKb4tH-3Hh1idTY3LezRbN_G52TSR5LJl5S4Gx6I2sCjrBSMIGqBJnTlBHpXVm7Mmi06zeIGyqG0dDSIFc7rTdcjQsSiEoH3ImOk7PdBdrrmx_iTnam1_-rm5_AomlHj/s1600/hoh+river+rv+park+in+forks+wa+003.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463934051160949586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvP4d1o_Me9b0HKb4tH-3Hh1idTY3LezRbN_G52TSR5LJl5S4Gx6I2sCjrBSMIGqBJnTlBHpXVm7Mmi06zeIGyqG0dDSIFc7rTdcjQsSiEoH3ImOk7PdBdrrmx_iTnam1_-rm5_AomlHj/s200/hoh+river+rv+park+in+forks+wa+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhSNPw9gF9o7qEPr64t6y2LjM7Xh4s_seF9ty-22pABBPaDRGWTxTZkhQ9jFn6GxKhDfHoRHfv_BnVoWkfy9j4yO3lM5sNsBMtnMkLHuCf38zTn3NtEkgE8m0SmcIag8INY4_BHCWpLOM/s1600/onward+to+forks+WA+100.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463933472055838994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhSNPw9gF9o7qEPr64t6y2LjM7Xh4s_seF9ty-22pABBPaDRGWTxTZkhQ9jFn6GxKhDfHoRHfv_BnVoWkfy9j4yO3lM5sNsBMtnMkLHuCf38zTn3NtEkgE8m0SmcIag8INY4_BHCWpLOM/s200/onward+to+forks+WA+100.jpg" /></a>Before we arrived at the RV park, it started to rain and did not stop until today shortly before we arrived in Poulsbo...so needless to say, we holed up in the RV while in Forks and didn't peek out except to walk the dog! The park is in an area between a river and the Hoh Rain Forest, with no wireless internet, no Directtv satellite signal, and no cell phone service! I don't think we've been in a situation like this before...between the rain and the total removal of communication with the outside world, we spent the time playing Wii bowling and watching a movie...a little bit of together time with no distractions...kinda nice!<br /><br />More from Poulsbo later…Rena and Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179095565209866965noreply@blogger.com0