Checking in from the Pacific NW after making across the scorched Midwest during the heatwave.
Got to visit great friends and family along the way but now need to settle down and work for about 6 months, in the Port Angeles area.

If you haven't ever seen Crater Lake Oregon, it is a beautiful, serene place. There were big mounds of snow throughout the campgrounds on July 20th!
Stays cool there and the rim drive is so worth the trip.

Back on the road again

I'll be heading West the end of June after a wonderful time with kids and grandkids in Atlanta and a visit to old friends at Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson, SC.

Now returning to NM and then a visit in Imperial Beach, CA, south of San Diego to see another friend before heading up the coast to SFO, Oakland,and Petaluma to see son, Brett and brothers.

I plan to stay on the Olympic Peninsula, around Port Angeles for 5-6 months to work and get ahead in $$ to travel again....anyone want to join me? I'll post pics.

Hello again dear friends! I've been hunkered down in Silver City, NM since last November; really loved the small town and great campground within walking distance of all the good restaurants and terrific art galleries. It's tucked away in the SW corner of the state which protects it from big tourist crowds and from severe weather. We got about 3 meager snows and only a couple weeks below freezing. It's also cooler in the summer, being up in the Gila Range of mountains. A wonderful place to stay; I hope to come back next winter. Now on to the year's travels.....will keep in touch and will see many of you I hope!!

Wed, Sept 8th; Stayed at the Ottowa Lake SFCG near Eagle, WI, a lovely little town and then the next night at Big Foot Beach SP near lake Geneva, WI...both really nice places; but then all of Wisconsin is beautiful.

Monday, Sept 13th; Lake Kensonsa SP near Madison for a night, but moving South every day now.Did drive into Milwaukee to visit StJoseph's Hospital where I was born and went up to chat with the OB nurses. they said that the oldest part of the hospital was from the 60's but I did meet an old volunteer who also was born there, even before me!

Tuesday, Sept 14th; Illinois Beach SP near Waukegon IL; resting up to get down to Chicago area.

Thursday,Sept 16th; Did drive along Lakeshore drive to see the older suburbs of Glencoe and Evanston and then made it through downtown to head out hwy 55 south toward St Louis. I have to say that Illinois, other then the rich suburbs of Chicago is not a very pretty state at all....tons of industry and urban with no signs that there has been any renovation in outlying towns and the parks are either non-existent of pretty small and meager.

Friday, Sept 17th; I did enjoy following the old Route 66 towns of Springfield and Litchfield. Lots of 50-60s memorabilia, old cars and diners.

Wed, Sept 22; Glad to get back to St Louis for the first time in 5 years and stay with my cousin in Webster Groves. St Louis is still hopping and beautiful. I'm here for my 50th!! HS Reunion.
Thursday, Oct 14-17th: Spent a really fun 3 days with grddtr, CeliaAnne in the Chattanooga area; seeing waterfalls, the city and river. Stayed at Raccoon Mountain CG, a great little place right next to the Raccoon Mtn Caverns and with a pool, go-cart track and playground. We did go to Ruby Falls in Lookout Mtn and it was spectacular but actually the smaller caves near our CG were more fun.

Staying in Atlanta for the next 3 weeks, through Halloween and until Nov 6th with grandkids, then headed West to CO and AZ.

Sunday, Sept 5th; South of Green Bay Wisconsin at the Point Beach SP..a really large campground running along the beach and next to another lighthouse; some good hikes in the sand.

Monday, Sept 6th; Kohler-Anchae SP near Sheboygan; also a wonderful Lake Michigan cg. Dori is liking the sand now and even the wind.

Wed, September 1st; Took the Painted Rocks boat cruise at Munising. The formations and cliffs along the shore are spectacular. Had a "pastie" for the first time...it's a folded crust with meat and potatoes inside, pretty much what many minors and workers have lived on for generatios and similar to other folded pies such as Calzones, chinese dumplings, crepes, swedish pancakes and piroges, I think.

Thursday, Sept2nd; Drove West to the farthest point on Lake Superior at Copper Harbor and stayed in the SP. By this time the weather is changing fast up North and I could not take the ferry to Isle Royale because they were predicting gale force winds and 10-12 foot waves on the lake by Sat. I did head out by saturday in cold, stormy rain.

Sarturday, Sept 4th; Made it to Boulder Lake FSCG near Menominee where it was slightly less stormy but still cloudy and chilly.

Tuesday, August 17th; finally had to say goodbye to friends and great time in Ohio to get up the Michigan, through Kalamazoo and on to Grand Rapids in 2 days.

Wed, August 18th; Arrived at Grand Haven to stay in the SP at the beach there and visit old friends. The town is perfectly designed with parks and walkways along the channel, a lighthouse next to the campground and the most fantastic show each night called the "Musical Fountain". We sat on bleachers at the waters edge and heard all kinds of music set to the movement of the incredible waterfall show across the channel...a unique experience, not to be missed!

Sunday, August 22nd; Had to leave dear friends,and the hottest summer in MI since the 60s to head up farther North to the Upper Peninsula. Got as far as Traverse City to stay in a campground right in town and walking distance to lake Michigan.

Monday, August 23rd; Made it across the Mackinaw Bridge to the UP, had a hamburger and the famous "Clyde's" and camped at the Three Lakes NFCG. The "Yoopers" as they call themselves are a different breed...only as different as so many local peoples all around the USA can manage to keep themselves in their own territory.

Thursday, August26th; Taquamenon Falls SP along Lake Superior and a really great campground, very family friendly with nice hikes to the lower falls and around the woods. Stayed for 3 days to relax and hang around waterfalls and cooler temps.

Monday, August 30th; Stayed in another very quiet, deserted CG at Hurricane River with a path down to the shore of Lake Superior. The greatest of the Great Lakes, it is deeper, colder, bigger, and cleaner than all the others and it looks and feels it!