The Berkshires to Green Mountains

Tuesday, 9/28

More rain!  The dense foliage surrounding our sites is a beautiful orange.  The rains have dropped much to the ground, giving a carpet of orange as well.  With the rain tapering off, we roll through Norman Rockwell last home area and north into Vermont.  Gray skies and warm, i.e., shirtsleeve temps are not autumn-like, but we enjoy a stop in historic Manchester.  Parking in the Orvis Fly Fishing Company's lot, some of us take the tow cars to wander the town while others tour Hildene House, once home of Abraham Lincoln's son.  Magnificent garden vistas over the valleys and mountains, plus an interesting interior that came alive with a very good docent taking through the home, we later had lunch in town, then re-gathered for the short trip to Rutland, my home town and our location for the next four nights.  Thankfully, the rains had stopped and the warm sun made the arrival a pleasant one.

Previously, Doris and I had literally tape measured the lot to be sure everyone would fit in the small space.  With our diagram in hand, we were so pleased to see everyone follow directions by the numbers and fit as well as any super large puzzle could come to completion.  Our smiles and applause to Joleta, Al, Bill and Tom for such precise parking!

Rutland, VT Elks.  Great location; little space.

Intimate parking.  We're so close, you can't see all the coaches.

Evening found us partying in the Lodge.  Happy hour, a $6 prime rib dinner (!), then Bingo.  That's where we paid for our evening ... if you know what I mean.  But, it was fun for all, especially meeting local people who made us feel so welcome.

Daniel & Norman

Rain.  Not the best of times for rain as it washes the foliage off the trees.  And, without the sun, the world renowned foliage appears less vibrant.  Yet, there's something special about the early autumn rains that, with the right attitude, we enjoy the natural fragrance of Nature, and the low hanging fog over the hills. 

Into it, we drove a few miles east into western Massachusetts and the Berkshire Mountains.  Tucked into these rolling hills (that's how we Californians would call them "back home"), we visit our first sightseeing attraction:  Daniel Chester French's summer home, Chesterwood.  Who was Dan?  Well, he designed the seated Lincoln at Washington, DC's Lincoln Memorial.  Also to his credit is sculpting the Concord Minute Man, symbol of our earliest fighters against the British at the beginning of our Revolutionary War.  There are many more credits and it was most educational to learn of them and their influence on our world, plus the special home and vistas of the Berkshires. 

Chesterwood and one of its many views of the Berkshires on a rainy day.

But, there's more.  Off to Stockbridge, Massachusetts village for a bit of immersing ourselves into Norman Rockwell.  Who's Norm?  Google his name or dig out a copy of the old Saturday Evening Post magazine.  Depicting Americana since the early 1920s, Rockwell spent his last years living in Stockbridge while continuing his memorable paintings.  Choosing local residents as his subjects, many of whom are still living, he brought a special touch to memorializing the years and the historic events of the time.  Take a look at his version of the Four Freedoms made famous in words by Franklin Roosevelt, and more famous by his paintings.  Study them closely and you will begin to feel something that few artists knew/know how to convey in their works.

Lunch in the tavern at the Red Lion Inn was a group event taking place in a building filled with history that began in 1773.

California RVers in the historic 1773 Red Lion Tavern.  So predictable, except for the fact that they're still standing ... both the tavern, and our friends.

Rain or shine, this day would have been a special introduction to New England.  And it was with our friends.  We've only begun the journey.

Old Friends to Old Friends

Sunday, 9/26

Saying farewell to classmates continues to be difficult.  We have special ties because we grew up together during our high school years and during a peaceful time for us in the hills of Vermont.  If only all who read this could have the same experience.

But, with emotional goodbyes, we parted as Doris and I had to head south a bit to meet with our California RV friends.  it's tough to make the transition from old to new in a matter of two+ hours.  However, Tom & Sheryl, Bill & Ginny, Tony & Joleta, and Al & Debbie made for a great welcome to our lives together for the next 3 weeks as we travel caravan style throughout the New England states in quest of the best of the foliage season.  As we roll into the leafy, colorful New York state RV park, they're standing ready to hug and help us settle into a new routine.

Drinks, appetizers and dinner around an aromatic fire made for a special evening under the canopy of fall foliage ... a great beginning to our journey together.

Group Birthday Party!

Saturday, 9/25

You'd think we'd be tired of so many fun days, but they just keep coming and we've decided we'll be tired some other time.  Still parked in a dirt lot behind Rutland's Comfort Inn, we pull out  the outdoor carpet, chairs and tables, extend the awning, prepare appetizers, chill the wine and beer, make more ice ... and invite my high school classmates to our open house.  For a few afternoon hours, we shared an abundance of stories and humor while forgetting diets.

Doris and I helped decorate the banquet room with Mardi Gras beads that were overflowing our storage area.  Catching them in midair while attending two such New Orleans events was fun, but it was equally enjoyable to share the bounty and lift the weight from our coach air bag suspension system.

The dinner itself, plus the birthday gift exchange was filled with more silliness and hugs of appreciation for remaining good friends (and making new ones) for the past nearly six decades.  I wish everyone could attend such functions.  I am so lucky to be able to do all this.

The Dave & Ralph show.  One high school classmate of many who remain very special friends.

Tomorrow, we'll leave old friends to join our California RV friends waiting for us to guide them through New England for the next 3 weeks.  It will be a bittersweet departure, followed quickly by a sweet arrival with another great group.  I'm even luckier to experience both groups.

More Friends, Family, and A Private Island

Tuesday, 9/21 - Friday, 9/24

Our time in Vermont has become more and more busy.  Blogging has to fit somewhere.  However, we just don't have the time to blog, nor so many other things on our bucket list (you do know what a bucket list is, don't you??  If not, see the movie.  Funny and educational.)

Tuesday, we left Moe & Bill for Rutland Airport where we met our daughter Lexi.  Visiting relatives in Boston, she zipped up to our metropolis on a twin engined propeller plane.  She enjoyed the rid, unlike one older lady that had the surprise of her life in Boston when she learned at the gate that this was not to be on a Boeing 747 (uh, like who the heck flies to Rutland??  Only 5 this trip, that's who!).  Anyway, off to cousins and parking our coach at the local fire department parking lot for the night.  Handy, safe and arranged because cousin Charlie's mom gave the land to the fire department.  Nice to have connections!

More food and drink and lots of stories ended another great day.

Cousins Charlie + Ralph = Relatively Large Laughs

Wednesday, move over to my sister's for another stay under the maples and more re-connecting.

Thursday, Lexi went with Jack to play golf.  The old duffers surely enjoyed her feminine presence.  Who wouldn't?  Later that day, we boarded a barge (yes, a barge) with 50 others and motored to an island in the middle of nearby Lake Bomoseen.  The island, now owned by a couple was once a special vacation spot for New York actors and writers.  Now privately owned by a delightful couple, we enjoyed their one of their "Full Moon Celebration Party" events.  Bring an appetizer ... all else is provided.  What fun as the sun set over the lake while the rising moon gave us some light.  Owner Jerry gave us a tour and history of the island and buildings and how he renovated all to become a livable and enjoyable island home.  Truly a special event.

Barging to a private island

Party time on the island.

Friday, we got Lexi to the airport for a 7am departure back to Boston and onward to home.  Then it was grocery shopping, debugging the windshield in sister's driveway (surely she must have appreciated another special event), saying good-bye, and on to a parking lot next to the hotel where my high school mates of 52 years ago were gathering to celebrate our collective 70th birthdays.  What fun!  Great kids, even better adults ... all of us happy to see that each of us are together again to have fun and share our gratitude for the gift of having lived our childhoods in a beautiful and safe time of the 50s (1950s that is for those of you too young to know there was a previous century and decade).  We call it the best of times in the best of places.  Lucky us. 

Springs & Mountains

Monday, 9/20

A short drive to Middletown Springs, another 1800s village famed for its spas, we visited Bill & Moe at their new home.  Built on 12 acres with views that would make post card companies envious, Bill had also installed full hookups for an RV like ours.

Middletown Springs Memorial.  Vermont lost the most soldiers per capita than any other state.

Well, not quite like ours.  A few tree branches needed be be removed to allow us to squeeze in between the garage and the encroaching forest.  But, for us it was all worth it and Bill said the "test drive" gave him an opportunity to perfect the parking space for future use.  A marvellous afternoon and evening enjoying getting to know better a fellow classmate and a sweet lady in their special home. 

The View from their home ... and ours.

Bill & Moe hosting us in their mountain side retreat.

Friends, Relatives and a Fair

Wednesday, 9/15 - Sunday, 9/19

Time flies when one is having fun. Maintaining this blog has become more difficult than maintaining my sanity.  Story telling with sister Lynn and brother-in-law Jack; dining at a favorite downtown restaurant, aptly named “Back Home Again Cafe”; visiting friends and old neighbors dating back to the mid-last century(!!!) … what a treat.  And to experience all this in one of Mother Nature’s best times of the year: Autumn in New England. The world renowned changing of the foliage colors has begun in pockets of the surrounding forest, an indication that our next 4 weeks in these six northeastern states should be extra special.

Back home in Vermont, next door to my sister's.

Hay bale decorating.  Somewhere, there are hungry cows, but here we have a symbol of a Vermont moose (the one with the horns).

A parade of prize hogs and little kids makes for a fun fair.

At 1 1/2 tons, this ox is actually larger than I am, but not as friendly.  Doris didn't know that when she found his hide to be very silky to the touch.

Another “special” is the Tunbridge World Fair. Saturday found Lynn, Jack, Doris and me enjoying a drive through the mountains, viewing the unusual creations of decorated hay bales, a recent development expressing the joy of playing in the cool, clear autumn days. What a kick! But, our destination was the tiny town of Tunbridge, VT and its questionably renowned “World Fair”. When I was a kid, this fair celebrated the nearing end of the summer farm labors. The story still is that if you were to attend, you had to have a whiskey bottle in your pocket and another man’s wife on your arm. Whooeee! No wonder I never got to go until I reached my present age of greater maturity… Times have changed and the old requirement is no longer valid. I’m happy about that because the only other “wife” in our group of four was my sister. EEWWWW!!

We had a great time, enjoying the displays of farming equipment and demonstrations of their use; the piggies, cows, goats, sheep; 1 ½ ton oxen; pig races; parades; prize vegetables; carnival junk food; and the zillions of people who found their way down narrow highways to enjoy the fair on a perfectly clear and sunny day. With the so-close-you-could-almost-touch-mountains as a backdrop, there’s no more authentic fair in the country. I wish you could have been there too.

Sunday was a day spent with special friends Steve & Sharon, then home to paperwork and more time with family. Tomorrow, we move.

Childhood friend Steve with his surprise birthday present, a '50 Plymouth, from his wife.  What a woman!

Home Again

Tuesday, 9/14

A 10 minute drive to Gansevoort (there must have been a Dutchman somewhere in the woods who insisted this tiny town be saddled with his name) and “Walt’s” home where we parked in his driveway while the AquaHot system was serviced. Bingo! Home heating and hot water once again … for a price, of course.
In less than an hour, we roll across the border and into my old hometown, Rutland, Vermont. First thing was to drive up to my sister’s door (literally) and fill our 100 gallon water tank with the best water in the nation. Then, backing up the country street, we parked under the leafy maples, almost invisible to the residents of this upscale community. “Setting up house” in the Green Mountain State, it seemed like we’d never left since our last RV journey here 4 years ago.  It was good to be back in one of the prettiest states in the Union.


Some Vermont welcomes were not especially friendly.  These geese must have known that Doris was viewing them as tonight's dinner entree.



Leaving The Lakes For The Spa

Tuesday, 9/14

Our AquaHot (a combination water heater and furnace) has returned to being intermittent ... and a nuisance that we've committed to repairing.  Lucky for us that our saviour/repairman is on the route to Vermont.  Not knowing how long it'll take for him to return us to AquaHot bliss, we leave early, driving through more rolling, green hills, using the interstate and back roads.  Nothing like the quiet of rural New York driving to bring peace to us ... until we roll down a hill and see a warning sign ahead, stating that the bridge we are about to pass under has a clearance of 12'10".  Uh oh.  A long time ago, I measured this buggy and concluded its height was 12'6".  Having made a mistake or two in my life, I couldn't remember if measuring our coach was one of them.  As we slowly roll toward potential disaster, we see a big tractor-trailer on the other side of the overpass, slowly rolling toward his appointment with the potentially roof-shearing overpass.  From our vantage point, we could light between the top of his trailer and the bottom of the overpass and signalled the driver that he was OK.  Wheww!!

Then it was our turn.  With trepidation, we eased down the center of the highway toward the overpass.  Still unsure if the preceding trailer was the regulation maximum height of 13'6", thus proving that we could make the journey with sufficient inches to spare, we eased up to the overpass.  If our TV satellite dome could make it, then we knew the solar panels, air conditioners and fan shrouds would survive.  For a moment, there was near silence ... and then we knew we were safe from our home-on-wheels looking like an open can of sardines.

The RV shop in Amsterdam, NY would have us wait for a day, and then who knows how long it would take to remove the gremlins attacking our heating system.  A reference to an independent repairman closer to our Vermont destination caused us to move on to Saratoga Springs, NY for an overnight at the Elks Lodge.  Good choice!  Friendly people in a pretty town known for its horse racing, spa and natural beauty.  Taking a city bus to downtown, Doris found a sushi restaurant that satisfied us, the first restaurant asian food of the trip.  Yum!  Difficult to equal Doris's cooking, but this meal was a fair substitute.

It's Another Day of Traveling in Bliss

Monday, 9/13

The coach is vacuumed, dusted, laundry done, heating system being scientifically tested by us and found to be OK.  So, what to do?  Ah, more wine country touring.  We head out, traveling northbound along the east side of Seneca Lake before crossing over to the WEST side of Cayuga Lake.  Bright skies with puffy clouds gave us special views of the lakes and an understanding why this area is so popular with vacationing easterners ... at least during the summer/autumn periods.  The winters are severe.  Just ask those who attend nearby Cornell and Syracuse Universities.  How these vineyards survive (much less the human residents) is a question we did not ask. 

A roadside stand provided huge tomatoes and concord grapes at bargain prices.  I grew up being fed both, but Mom overdid the availability of Welch's Concord Grape Jelly.  Even saved the jars while I became very un-fond of the taste.  Peanut butter couldn't kill it in a "Sunbeam" brand white bread sandwich.  Decades later, today's freshly picked grapes brought back strong memories of a great childhood on the farm and a renewal of the original desire for concord grapes.  Trust me, I won't over indulge this time.

A non-resident on her way to a lake shore vineyard.  Will work for concord grapes.

Lunch on the deck of the Ginny Lee Restaurant was most tasty (AKA, we both recommend), complimented by a perfect view.  Halfway through the day and we already call it a great one, leaving ample time to catch up on the blog, so far an enjoyable task.  Thank you again for your continued supportive comments.  And remember, if the picture is too small, click on it and it'll grow in size, just like me.

Decadence at high noon.  I can barely stand it.

Nascar, Salt, and Wine

Sunday, 9/12

Cool temps, overcast with drizzle started the day and made the 30 minute drive to Watkins Glen easy.  No traffic, back roads, tiny villages nestled in the leafy greenery of New York's low rise mountains.  Loved it!

Watkins Glen operates our RV park that overlooks a marina almost in the center of town.  The town is on the southern tip of the very long and narrow Seneca Lake, one of 12 that I count on the Finger Lakes map.  The lakes are separated by these low mountain ranges.  Mountains and lakes were carved by the glaciers that caused the east to enjoy today's much lower mountains than those of the Far West that are still growing.  Watkins Glen is one of the larger towns in the area, and is home to Watkins Glen International, a Nascar race track.  An old town, it also is home to both Cargill and US Salt operations.  Interestingly, there is a major salt dome beneath the area.  To access it, hot water is forced down into the dome.  Salt rises to the surface processing plants.  Product is shipped via truck and rail.  Your next Morton's Salt container may be filled with salt from this area.

With so many inducements to travel the local "wine trails", we had to drive roads parallel to Seneca Lake.  What a treat!  Rolling hills, more corn fields, and verdant grape vines supplying dozens of wineries.  We tasted some of the product, bought a few bottles, learned that a pinot grigio (white, slightly sweet) can be successfully paired with spicy food (What?!!).  OK, I already knew that tossing some sugar into a pasta sauce with too many of my favorite chile peppers does offset some of the heat.  So we ran home and Doris prepared spicy riblets.  Oh boy!  Good cooking with a decent wine.  Experimenting in the kitchen can be so fun ... and so waist-enhancing.  In the heat of dining, I always forget Dad's diet:  Push away from the dinner table halfway through dinner.  Guilt for not adhering to his spoken word doesn't work either.

I'll let you write the caption.  I'm busy with Acid Reflux.

Horseheads, Glass and Spray On TV

Saturday, 9/11

Time flies when one is retired and on vacation at the same time, but not fast enough for us to have forgotten 9/11/01 - 9 years ago.  All too vividly we remembered the moment that Doris' dad called us to say the Twin Towers had been hit by airplanes.  We were still preparing for work while Lexi is readying to be taken to school.  Turning on the TV, we saw the scene of horror.  Holding each other, I remember telling Doris and Lexi that this country and the world would never be the same. 

Our office was in semi-shock.  None of us really knew what to say, nor did we know what we should do if more such incidents occurred.  We did gather together, held hands, had  a minute of silent prayer which became tearful.  The closest to such feelings of fear and helplessness came once before when JFK was assassinated.

Today, 11 years later, the feelings and thoughts are still there.  Too, it seemed a bit wrong in enjoying life as we do, especially when there is so much suffering.  However, we must continue living and providing what we can to others less fortunate.  We do that. 

On this Saturday, we also met Don and Lucy, our Walmart neighbors from Maine.  Fun stories of mutual backgrounds in business:  tour business; truck driver; RV lovers.  3 months on the road from Maine to Yellowstone and returning home for 3 months before heading out again.  When we left them to get our $9.99/day rental car, we promised we see each other again, probably in Maine. 

Maine's Lucy & Don "captured" by Doris

Where was the car?  In nearby Horseheads, NY.  I told you not to ask me how it got its name.  Nobody seems to know, but they sure have a great car rate and a great Walmart Supercenter almost next door.  Surrounded on 2 sides by expansive lawns to view from the front, we were staying a night in a more resorty space than many that cost big $$.  This one only cost the purchase of a 1/2 gallon of milk.  We feel soo guilty.  Yeah, riiight.

Then its off to an awful lunch of what I delicately label "Airport Chinese Food".  Fast, oily, tummy-rumbling stuff, timed to "do its thang" sometime after departure so that you can't return to pay your true respects for a meal gone wrong.  In Doris's case:  Very Wrong.

But, we traveled on to the Corning Glass Company's Museum in (can you believe it?) Corning, NY.  Beautiful location and another incredible museum of glass products dating back to BC times.  Familiar pieces and mind-boggling creations of the last 30 years.  We also enjoyed viewing and being educated by superb glass blowing demos, flameworking, and optical fiber glass demo.  The latter gave us the opportunity to sit down ... and we did, very coincidentally, behind Don & Lucy from Maine.  What a surprise when I extended my hand between the two of them, handing them THEIR business card!  Ha!  They are the second fun couple that we've met more than once on this trip.  It's a great and small community in which we travel.

Corning's classy & glassy wine drinker impressing his female companion 

Back to the coach.  With approaching rain, I super-sprayed our satellite dome with a chemical to keep the TV picture in storms.  Without the spray, rain causes electrostatic buildup on the dome, just the same as precipitation does on airplanes.  (We pilots know that and make sure that the static "wicks" that protrude from the trailing edge of the wings and tail are in good shape before takeoff, thus assuring radio and navigation equipment continued reception/transmission.)  Sure enough, the rains came and the TV picture remained perfect ... while I remained Doris's hero for another day.

Rock & Roll: Ohio & New York Style

Friday, 9/10

Cleveland has been the recipient of questionable superlatives.  We're here to tell you that we found that driving through downtown gave us a positive view of an architecturally diverse city, navigable streets that don't contribute to divorce proceedings between driver and sign-reading spouse, and a Lake Erie waterfront filled with special sites.  Those included the Port of Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Cleveland Science Center, The Great Lakes ore carrier, William Mather (also the name of a fellow Monaco owner friend), and the Rock & Roll Museum ... the latter being our touristy destination for the day.

Downtown Cleveland

Rolling up to the museum, I spotted another coach and told Doris that I would park alongside.  As we turned the corner, one of us (to remain un-named) determined that it would be necessary to drive across the sidewalk and up a few steps to park next to what was Johnny Cash's converted MCI 9 coach, a donation to the museum and parked outside the front door.  After having toured the coach (1982 version costing more than a half-million, with no slide outs, and questionably tasteful decor), I still think we should have parked next to it.  The admission fee to ours and the praise received would have more than paid for the damage to our sidewalk/step ascent to join Mr. Cash's pride & joy.  My navigator still disagrees.

Johnny's home on the road.  Great musician.  But blue velvet seats and no shower?  Eewww!

So ... inside this museum is a sound and sight feast that takes more than the 3 hours recommended.  From before R&R, came gospel, real old (older than me) country music.  Then, debate whether The Beatles or Elvis started this phenomenon, Rock & Roll took roots and we're overwhelmed, literally overwhelmed, by the displays in this museum.  Well worth continuing our delayed schedule, we thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and the education.

Doris and R&R history.  Special.

It must be time to dine; this Great Lakes ore carrier is still larger than I.

Lunch on board our private Rock Star Bus with sidewalk viewers wondering, "Who's in there?", we then departed eastbound on I-90 for fuel, debugging the windshield and somewhere east of Ohio.  No more tolls, a tip of Pennsylvania, and then into the Empire State ... New York.  Relying on the interstates to make up for time lost, Doris took the wheel for an hour, continuing the development of her chauffeuring expertise.  I found myself not ready to lunge for the wheel, "Jake" brake, service brake and emergency brake.  Instead, I'm sitting at the dining table, answering emails, voice mails and singing a tune, "We're no longer seeing corn & beans.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, America is Beautiful Again.  Yeah!  Yeah!  Yeah!"

But, then there's the interstate system.  Wonderful invention.  Terribly torn up.  I'm amazed this second home has survived over 75,000 miles of this abuse.  Poor Doris.  It's either brain pureeing, or it's navigating between orange cones that turn a freeway into a slalom course made for fast, narrow sports cars as the DOT tries to repair age old highways for today's high volume, high speed traffic.  Doris did a great job.  I took over and the road turned smooth ... for awhile, and then it was my turn to vibrate my eye balls while trying to locate the road.  Talk about Rock & Roll! 

Ultimately, we chose another, expensive resort, Horney, NY's Walmart SuperCenter.  Don't ask how this town got its name, because I'll then have to explain the next town's ... and I can't.

Pulling into the lot, we chuckled when we saw our California licensed coach parked next to one from Maine.  Ha!  We're going to Maine. Are they headed to our coast?  The answer will wait until tomorrow.  We're just happy to be here in central northern NY, free of corn & beans ... and in the beautiful, green, low mountains on a clear, evening. 

The Buckeye State

Thursday, 9/09

We're beginning to think that gremlins are silently but effectively entering our coach.  This morning, we moved from our RV park to a shop next door to have a peek at our front slide.  Seems it needs a very slight adjustment (AKA known as "BIG $$$) so that it moves out at the proper vertical angle.  We'll wait 'til we return to our favorite mechanic, but we did have another, smaller gremlin join the dearly departed for a not so dear contribution to the local economy. 

Late leaving The Hoosier State, we joined the easterly flow of traffic into Ohio.  My God, the tolls kept mounting, right along with the miles.  Fortunately for us, raising the third axle on our coach reduced the fees by about 40%.  Still, we're poorer by $45 to make it from the west side of Chicago to Cleveland.  AND, we had to content ourselves with viewing the reason for the heretofore mumbled "... forever waves of grain" part of "America The Beautiful".  Beautiful she is, but can ya' change the words to "...corn and soybeans"??!  We're patriotic to the bone, but the truth is that's what fills the last 76 states we've traveled, and we're gettin' just a bit eye-glazed with the scenery.  Oh, and how about those grain trucks?!  Patriotic men & women certainly drive them, what with all the flags and "God Bless America" or "America, Love It Or Leave It" paint jobs, stickers, etc. on their rigs.  However, they're more numerous than RV drivers at the Walmart parking lot and they're slowing down on our escape to ANYWHERE BUT CORN & BEAN FIELD, AMERICA!

We (that is, I) am calm now because we made it to Elyria, Ohio, just short of Cleveland.  Too pooped to pop both corn AND beans, I parked at another 5-Star RV Parking/Walmart SuperCenter.  Gotta love 'em because they're friendly, convenient, level, and have "something" we absolutely must have.  Great location next to a 2-year old strip mall with only a nail salon, video game store and a DMV office.  10s of thousands square feet remain dirt floors and bare walls.  Delirious Elyria shows the suffering economy.  We felt guilty under the strong parking lot lights & heavy security cameras protecting us from the less fortunate.  Two other coaches like ours park alongside.  Surely one of them has a 50-caliber machine gun to supplement our security.  We're secure and happy after another of Doris's creative dinners and a long walk.  The Buckeye State continues to be a favorite. 

Tomorrow will solidify the affection.

Elkhart Exploration

Wednesday, 9/08

The Elkhart area is known for its hardworking Amish, and for being the capital of the RV manufacturing world.  In good times, thousands of campers, trailers, motorhomes and fifth wheels (house trailers connected to pickups by latching to a "fifth wheel" in the bed of the pickup, similar to how big rigs connect the trailer to the tractor) are produced annually.  All the towns in the area either manufacture, or provide product to the manufacturers.  Dairy and crop farming coexist on nearly flat land with ample water.  Winters can be severe and summers can be hot & humid, while spring can spin an occasional tornado (YIKES!).  Regardless, people are friendly and most helpful to transients like us.

Friendly?  None beat Karen & Tony.  This morning, they picked us up to tour the area.  First stop was the RV Hall of Fame & Library.  What a treat that I believe non-RVers would also enjoy.  From the early 1900s to present day, well restored (or even untouched after being found in barns and dusted off) examples of a comprehensive variety of traveling "homes" are displayed.  And if you've lived more than a decade, you'll be reminded of the progression toward the present state-of-the-art tents to million dollar RVs even during these past ten years.  What fun to wander through the exhibits, artfully arranged.

Of course, we had to have lunch, consumed in an Amish themed restaurant, family style.  How we ate all that food, I can only assume it's because we've been expertly practicing so much during this trip.

The locals also have other methods of extracting visitors' cash.  Nearby Shipshewana (say that 5 times while attempting to learn why anyone would name a town Shipshewana), is home to one of the largest Amish communities.  Reconnoitering the county roads while avoiding the Amish horse-drawn carriages, we found ourselves in the middle of the soybean and corn fields ... except the beans and corn had disappeared!  In their place was the largest outdoor flea market we've seen, and we've seen many in our travels.  Acres and acres of vendors vending on a dusty lot.  Many football fields of STUFF.  Not just T-shirts and deep fried bacon, but somewhere in this largest outdoor flea market in the Midwest, one could actually find something useful.  If one had patience and didn't mind the strong wind and dust.  Whew!  What an experience, sometimes complimented by the fragrance of the adjacent Shipshewana Cattle Auction.  Trust me, there are times when the word "Organic" does not conjure up healthy dining. 

Don't let my description detract from describing the fun we had.  A special day touring Indiana with the natives is one of the best so far.  In the middle of all this, we run into Jerry & Carol, new acquaintances made in Rapid City, SD.  Also fun people, they're heading to New England to see the foliage.  RV parking being at a premium during leaf peeping time, we're doing our best to steer them instead towards the Florida foliage so that we don't have to park in someone's barnyard to see the leaves change color in Vermont.  I'm not sure, but they may be seeing the value of changing their itinerary.  

Karen, Tony & Doris supporting Shipshewana's Flea Market

The Windy City to Hoosier Country

Tuesday, 9/07

Sadly, we leave so many friends in Illinois, but also look forward to sharing time with more in the neighboring state of Indiana.

Leaving the Chicago area is expensive.  We westerners are unused to paying road tolls, but we sure got familiar with it.  Nearly $25 was contributed to maintaining/repairing poor freeways in the Chicago area and across the border into Indiana.  The amount could have been 50% greater, but we had already learned to raise the third axle of our  coach, thereby being charged for being a two axle vehicle.  Let it be known that we'll still leave the savings behind as we continue to feed our home-on-wheels its nourishment of inexplicably expensive diesel fuel. 

Through more corn and soybean fields, we are again eastbound on I-80, entering Hoosier land and continued picturesque, rural beauty.  Elkhart, home to RV industry is our destination.  Obtaining an Enterprise car, we explore the area and ultimately park our home at one of the comfortable RV parks in the area.  

What also makes Elkhart a great location is that it is minutes from Karen & Tony, more friends derived from my business, and both successful in their local careers.  Their gorgeous home on five country acres was the site of of our evening break from the road, a time filled with fine food and shared stories.  It was so gratifying to see Karen so healthy perhaps even 20 years younger than we when we saw her four years ago.  A true inspiration!  

Labor Day

Monday, 9/06

It's Labor Day 2010.  Another ideal weather day, perfect for moving to more and dear old friends in Park Ridge, a northern 'burb of Chicago.  Sandy encouraged us to park in her driveway in this calm and beautiful location for a reuniting with friends who began as clients of my business. 

An idyllic location for celebrating Labor Day with friends

Once established as a transient-in-place under the front yard trees, Scott gave us a grand tour of his remodeled home, known to us as "Scott's Lodge and Aquarium", a magnificent achievement of harmony and beauty, then return to the opposite side of the street where we enjoyed meeting new friends and sharing large portions of grilled salmon and steak.  Just what one needs to expedite the route to obesity, but it sure was fun for both of us.

Sharing Labor Day with Sandy, Doris and Scott.

 

Glen Ellyn 3

Sunday, 9/05

While Doris, the exploress, explored on her own, I got to work on cargo bay latches that had developed an attitude and begun not to latch, sometimes preventing the front slide from sliding outward.  Problem resolved, then there was Doris taking me to her favorite hot dog palace for my first "Chicago Dog".  The definition of this particular dog is that they put "EVERYTHING" on it.  So much stuff, that it took awhile to find the actual hot dog.  Regardless, a meal in itself, it was GOOD! 

More grocery shopping at "VALLI's".  I'm not much of a shopper, but this local store has a remarkable inventory of typical groceries, complimented by a comprehensive selection from nearly every country on the globe.  Doris returned three times before exhausting present and future "must buy" grocery lists.

Tonight?  Back to friends for BBQing and more silliness.  We wish you were all here to enjoy with us.

With friends like Greg, Julie & Wil, a good time was never in doubt

Glen Ellyn 2

Saturday, 9/04

Beautiful weather again.  Cool, dry and breezy.  The heat will return some day, but we're having a great time with friends, plus wandering about with Doris reminiscing about the old days.  I'm having a great time listening to the stories and the reconnection with special people.  The humor you've told me you enjoy has been consumed with them.  I'll just have to create some more for you.  Stay tuned.

Glen Ellyn

Friday, 8/03

After a night of rain, a cold front has passed through and we're enjoying breezy, dry 60s temps.  A great day for a short drive to Doris's old hometown of Glen Ellyn, a western suburb of Chicago.  Since we don't tow a car, a visit to Enterprise and we have a cute little station wagon for only $9.99/day.  Can't beat that!  Parking at the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn Elks, we check out the neighborhood and find the village of Glen Ellyn, population 16,000 to be as pretty now as in 1995 when Doris moved west to Walnt Creek.  Visiting her ex-neighbor/friends Wil, Julie, Kim, and Greg made for a great "welcome back home" and an afternoon that extended late into the night, the time filled with good food, drink, stories and lotsa laughs. 

It's a great day in the Amanas:  No bills!  (The buildings behind Doris were once communal kitchens.  Meals served were enjoyed by women & children dining in one area, men only in another.  15 minutes to dine & talking was frowned upon, probably because communal cooking wasn't that good.  )

Thursday, 9/02

Time to move on.  Rental car returned, we're rolling eastbound on I-80, the first freeway driving since 1,000 miles ago ... and not missed.  With so much to see, good roads and so little traffic, the side roads were a special treat.

First stop was "I-80 Truck Stop", advertised as the largest in the world and part of a History Channel documentary.  Definitely worth seeing, but buy your fuel elsewhere and save money.  Huge museum, and the largest trucker/tourist shop that makes Macy's look wimpy.

Attention shoppers!  We have a special on tractor trailers today!  Macho driver not included.

Driver Doris, the cutest coast-to-coast double clutching, gear jammin', horn blowing momma.  But don't get in her way!

One truck.  One 134' windmill blade.  One challenge in heavy traffic.

The task of the day was to find our second replacement air filter since we filled up the last one with horse sanctuary dust.  Real dust, not horse d'overs. You might think the engine manufacturer (Cummins) dealers would have them.  No.  Mack, who uses them?  No.  Anyone?  Yes, only if we're willing to wait 2 to 4 days for delivery from another planet.  Finally, one dealer referred us to a parts store in Rock Island, IL, around the corner from the truck/engine dealers we contacted.  Sure enough, they had our filter.  Several of them.  Why couldn't the dealers get one from them?  No one knows.

Filter in possession, we drove a few blocks to recommended Ace Muffler where owner "Butch" helped me man-handle the filter into place inches rear of a hot engine.  $15 and 15 minutes later, we're on our way northeastward to a funky lakeside park in Rock Falls.  Tomorrow:  The Chicago 'burbs and dear friends we're excited to visit.

A Day in Amana Country

Wednesday, 9/01

Iowa, and the Midwest in general, is enjoying the rising price of grains as the world needs more while Russia's growers suffer a historic drought.  Unfortunately, their drought is our Midwest's wettest season.  Crops are ready for the harvest, but many fields are too wet for the heavy harvesting equipment.  In many places, there are bumper crops; others are stunted by the summer's wetness.  And the rain continues.

That's the Farm Report for today.  Meanwhile, we city slickers have been enjoying all the Amana communities.  Great food, friendly people, nearly zero traffic, interesting shops and museums dating to the 1800's origins. 

Guess where we are!

Amana has a brewery with free samples.  Doris made me try some.

Amana and a cool brew, a great combination

Another quality product of the Amana Colonies is furniture.  We tested some of the rocking chairs.  Well constructed, they were seemingly built for larger people than us, probably due to their eating more Iowa corn than we do.

If Doris sat in this chair, I'd still be looking for her

Living on a pristine meadow with a few other RVers, we're watching an increasing number of arrivals, complete with show dogs for the weekend's show dog contest to be held here on the field.  Fun.

Home in an Amana Colonies RV park/meadow.