After spending a month in Oregon seeing family, trip to Southern California for more family, it is finally time to work my way back east for I am lucky enough to have gotten reservations in Key West for the winter! I'm so excited, I have tried for several years to get reservations and I have finally gotten them.
Leaving Bob at Bryce Canyon National Park, I go east to Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. Although I have been to Arches before, I had not been to Canyonlands so some of this is totally new for me. Turns out that Canyonlands is sectioned into 3. I toured the Island in the Sky portion, and you can see from there the other sections, I had binoculars along and can see the changes in rock formation quite well. So, I decided not to scooter over to the other sections for hiking is the only activity, no roads with viewpoints.
Rather interesting that it takes 20 miles of roadway to reach the park entrance, another 30 miles of roads with multiple viewpoints and this is a pleasurable tour. On top of a large plateau, you are looking down over many canyons radiating away from you. The Colorado River flows on the east side of the plateau and the Green river flows on the west side and their confluence are south of the Canyonlands National Park. Such a large vast area having binoculars helped considerably to make out details of rock formations in the canyons. Taking a picture is difficult for the area is so large and distant from you.
I did not take any pictures of Arches, but you can go to my previous blogs to see them. I rode the scooter 140 miles through both parks and the town of Moab. Made for a full day!
I boondocked at the same place we did last time here, a dry lake next to the airport. Coincidently I discovered that across Hwy 191 at other boondocking places the cell reception was much better. But I did have a very nice surprise, a hot air balloon flew close enough to get a good picture with the RV in it.
Thinking about where to go I realized I could get another batch of roasted peppers before the season ends. Very close but let's try. I pushed over to Pueblo, CO to find a farm selling roasted peppers. Along the way I was going up a Forest Service Road to lay over for the night when a light rain became "SNOW"!!!!!!! Ahhhhh my allergies are kicking in hard; I am so out of here! Down the road and a Walmart allowed 24 hour stays so a short night and moving on, this is too cold for me.
I was watching for Colorado aspens and the color change. The deciduous trees are lightly scattered in these mountains, the majority of trees when there are trees are evergreen.
My freezer is so full, there is only room for 2 small packages of meat. We are ready as can be for the winter!
Chatting with Tanya and figuring out where to go next, I thought that I had enough of high elevation to see Colorado foliage for it is just too cold for me. Research online and Missouri has some smaller mountains and is coming into color now. Decision made! I am off toward Missouri.
I had laid over in Colorado Springs and within 10 miles east you know you are on the plains. Rolling hills grasslands, trees only along the creekbed. 50% color on the trees. Nice road even with the sun directly in front of you.
Old Town Museum, Burlington, CO at the state lien with KS. I am very impressed with this museum, very large, self-guided, small speakers in each building where you press a button, and they tell you a little about it. Brought the buildings in from around the county to this one location. Very small entry fee and free to military.
They currently hold town dances here in the barn
A Soddie, or sod house built of 6" layers of dirt with grass.
School teachers' agreement, whew, though life.
Which style washing machine do you prefer?
The geographic center of the United States
Trying a selfie
Yes now I can truly say I have been all over the US!
Nicodemus, KS where former slaves came after liberation to farm and make a town.
Homestead National Park, Nebraska: Many displays of the Origin of the Homestead Act and how it worked then static displays of the tools that they used to break the soil and begin planting crops.
This first picture is the tool to cut sod, then stack it to create their homes.
Harvest hay
Modern technology to power a washing machine
Look closely, on the right a sheep is walking up a ramp, which turns a belt, which turns the clothes washer.
Makes sense to me that yo go to bedrock for the watr filtration would stop there too.
This is how they cut hay before using horsepower
Double Cider Press
Here is a poster from Kentucky that encouraged former slaves to go to Nicodemus, KS and Homestead. Interesting that we find this tie between Homesteading and the town of Nicodemus.
Interesting that the information placards and displays created a tie between industrial manufacturing company's and support for the Homestead Act (Republicans claimed credit). The Homesteaders needed tools and machinery to plow and harvest with, industrialists build factories to meet that demand, more factories, more jobs! So yes, give away land and create a micro economy!
Buffalo River national Park, good visitor center to explain how it came about. An interesting picture of different crawfish or Mudbugs as locals call them in Louisiana.
Buffalo River national Park, good visitor center to explain how it came about. An interesting picture of different crawfish or Mudbugs as locals call them in Louisiana.
I spent a week visiting grandson Zach and his wife Stormy having a great time together. On the weekend we went to Saint Francisville, LA to tour Rosedow Plantation. This make the third time I have been here so if you want more pictures, look at other blog pages. These pictures are about a young couple truly enjoying touring historical places.
This first pic is the exact spot I stood in twice before.
Our tour guide Shasha is an Anthropologist and added unique information making this an excellent tour.
Lunch then Afton Gardens.
Sunday we go to Baton Rouge for LSU historical village. They collected buildings from around Louisiana to host this park.
Amazing this is a popcorn machine
Roasted peanuts machine
Woohoo, what a great weekend with grandkids! We all wished that Tanya was here to share with us.
The southern US foliage is progressing, so I am enjoying it very much. A few more days with the grandkids and it's time to mosey along towards winter camping. I have 6 weeks before the reservation in Key West and lots to see.
Touring the waterfront, I discussed with a local man the water level of the Mississippi River. He gave me reference marks where the river level normally is and how much it is down. How the barges are taking turns to travel for they must stay in the very center of the channel.
I did not tour the downtown area for this will be more enjoyable when Tanya can be along. I did tour the Melrose Plantation and as I said your memory does not keep everything (imagine the amount of storage you would need!) it was a very good tour, the others touring with me were very engaged and we had a good time.
Another Shofly!
Follow the Natchez Trace and I camped at one of the campgrounds right on the Trace. I met 2 men who were touring on Adventure Motorcycles, formerly US Navy. One of them also has a 2022 LTV Unity similar to my RV. He was particularly interested in the motorcycle trailer so he can set one up for himself. His thoughts were the same as mine, not to reduce the maneuverability of a smaller RV so a short trailer is important. We had a great time telling old Navy stories until late at night.
Continuing up the Natchez Trace, stopping at all the pull offs and displays I reach Tupelo, MS where I cut off to 2 lane roads. There is road construction farther up the Trace and weather front coming in, so I want to get near foliage and hunker down before the rain arrives.
Jack Daniels Distillery is in Lynchburg, TN, city park has camping and a good place to lay over and wait out the storm.
The town square is right next to the city park and is an interesting walk through the shops. I don't buy tourist trinkets for we have a rule of "one item in then one item out" so we take only pictures and remember things from the blog/journal. The courthouse is in the middle of the square and shops circle around the square. Pure small town elegance.
2 blocks away is the Jack Daniels Distillery and tour. There's several different tours to take, all go through the distillery then some go for tastings, similar to brewery or wine tours. I chose the "dry county" tour for I am not a conesouir of whisky.
This is the limestone cave and creek that is what is used in the distilled product. Key item in making whiskey is that there not be any iron in the water, piping, tanks it turns everything black.
All fermented products the process is very similar, changes to enhance or provide a particular flavor is what makes the difference between a manufacturer product. Here the key items are filtration through maple charcoal, store in barrels made on site until the color and flavor match the designed product.
All fermented products the process is very similar, changes to enhance or provide a particular flavor is what makes the difference between a manufacturer product. Here the key items are filtration through maple charcoal, store in barrels made on site until the color and flavor match the designed product.
Barrel making tools
Preferential parking for motorcycle, actually is closer than handicap.
The distillery has their own fire department, this is one of the early fire trucks.
I enjoyed my tour, hometown appeal, back to RV rainy afternoon going to roast a Cornish Hen add some wild rice mix, a little wine and chill out in front of the TV.
I continued slowly touring through Tennessee looking for more vibrant foliage, a north south road near Dayton, TN did a pretty good job. Later in Dalton, GA I took the motorcycle through the mountains to Blue Ridge, GA and a small 2 lane over the mountain where a few spots had great color. for the most part the foliage season is over for this year.
Dalton, GA downtown, numerous flags make a nice setting.
Tanya is finally done with the tasks she had in MD/DC, she is returning to meet me in Atlanta, GA this weekend. WOOHOO my Honey is back!!!!
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