Tag Archives | Grand Banks

A snow covered mountain side of Oak Creek Canyon

    Four of the circuitous paths that Highway 89A carves into the mountainside to get us to the rim can be seen in the above photo.

             
                              Never did we think we’d ever see snow again in our lives!

                                              At the top of Oak Creek Canyon

      Mark strongly recommended adding Jerome, AZ, to our itinerary. When we arrived in that unusual village, we couldn’t believe our eyes! It was founded in the late 19th century, is more than 5,000 feet above sea level and sits on Cleopatra Hill, overlooking the Verde Valley. It’s known by two descriptive names—American’s Most Vertical City and the Largest Ghost Town in America.

     This tiny old mining town, turned ghost town, is located along a mountainside high above the desert floor, and has become a tourist attraction. A steep hill with switchbacks is the main street through town. Views from the streets and through some of the shop windows, are amazing. Many of the old buildings have been renovated but some still stand as ruins, creating a very interesting dynamic.

     This town is unique to say the least, and has many interesting and quirky sites.

     Jerome is a historic copper mining town and was once known as the most wicked town in the west with a population of 15,000 in the 1920’s. Today it is a thriving tourist and artist community boasting a population of 450. It sits above what was the largest copper mine in AZ and produced an astonishing 3 million pounds of copper a month. Today the mines are silent and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in America. 

It is an enchanting town and a photographer’s paradise making it well worth your time to visit. Externally, it hasn’t changed much in nearly 100 years. Most of the buildings in use today were built after the fires of 1894 and 1899. You’ve just got to see it to believe it. 

        This is what’s left of one of Jerome’s finest hotel but today stands in ruins. 

     The town’s built on a 30 degree incline of the mountainside so gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of the inmates, one of those buildings was the town’s jail.    

     One area not to miss is the “Cribs District” which is across the street from the English Kitchen, in a back alley where all the buildings were part of Jerome’s ill-famed “prostitution row”.

     

     Mark recommended a visit to the Jerome Grand Hotel, a historic landmark, once a hospital and now a hotel. It is a historic Spanish Mission style building that served as a hospital from 1927 until 1950. Then it sat unused for 44 years until it was purchased in 1994 to start its life as the Jerome Grand Hotel.  Steam heat is still used in many areas and the 1926 Otis Elevator services all 5 floors.  In the windowed garage, we saw their 1928 Springfield Phantom 1 Rolls-Royce. We were intrigued by numerous historic pictures and antiques also displayed throughout the building.

    

      Tuzigoot National Monument was conveniently on our route that day, historic Highway 89A, and is an old Indian dwelling.  There are two hiking trails that give visitors an up close look at the culture from long ago. The Sinagua people were agriculturalists and they built and lived in the pueblo that consisted of 110 rooms including second and third story structures. They left the area around 1400. The first buildings were built around A.D. 1000. The ruins still exist on this small mound. The site is currently comprised of 42 acres. 

     There’s a 200,000 ton boulder that fell from the cave ceiling thousands of years ago and is called the Iceberg Rock. Some that we walked beneath didn’t appear to be hanging on too tightly making us want to scurry.

     
     The story of Carlsbad Caverns began 250 million years ago with the creation of a 400 mile long reef in a sea that covered this region. The reef formed from the remains of sponges, algae, seashells, and calcite that precipitated directly from the water. As the reef rose, cracks developed in it. Eventually the sea evaporated and the reef was buried under deposits of salts and gypsum.

                                                          Rock of Ages

     The stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations began over 500,000 years ago after much of the cavern had been carved out.  It happened slowly—drop by drop—at a time when a wetter, cooler climate prevailed.  Creation of each formation depended on water that dripped or seeped down into the limestone bedrock and into the cave. As a raindrop fell to the ground and percolated downward, it absorbed carbon dioxide gas from the air and soil, and a weak acid was formed. As it continued to move down, the drop dissolved a little limestone, absorbing some of the basic ingredients needed to build most cave formations—the mineral, calcite. Once the drop finally emerged in the cave, the carbon dioxide escaped into the cave air. No longer able to hold the dissolved calcite, the drop deposited its tiny mineral load as a crystal of calcite. Billions and billions of drops later, thousands of cave formations had taken shape.

                                             Lavender Pit Mine
                                               Abandoned open copper pit mine

     Bisbee had a reputation of sophisticated élan but it was also a rough and tumble mining camp. Their famed red-light district in Brewery Gulch, boasted nearly 50 saloons and almost as many brothels.  During its hey day it was considered the wildest street in North America. Well-know wild women offered their charms to miners, gamblers, and a string of millionaire investors. This tiny village, once a copper mining town, has the first rural Smithsonian Affiliate museum in the nation that showcases the historical influence of mining. The building that houses the museum is a National Historic Landmark and is the cornerstone of Bisbee’s Historic District.

Paintings on risers of steps near old brothel area

     In 1877, a reconnaissance detail of scouts and cavalrymen were sent to the Mule Mountains, a north-south range running through southern Arizona, in search of renegade Apaches. Instead, they found signs of copper. The first mining claim was staked in what would later become the City of Bisbee. This claim sent prospectors scurrying to the Mule Mountains in hopes of striking it rich.  Today, Bisbee has transformed itself into a quirky, artsy town that offers historic lodging, fine dining, museums, art galleries, and antique shops. There’s nearby hiking, biking, and birding opportunities.

       I found the town’s architecture to be quite interesting. The Sheriff’s Office and Justice Court is a Classical Revival-style building with lovely large columns topped with ionic capitals and dented cornice. In Brewery Gulch, there is a building built by a Serbian immigrant in 1906, with Romanesque Revival with Neo-Classical influence. It makes for an impressive entrance to the Brewery Saloon. Strolling down Brewery Ave you can see an ever-changing assortment of architectural styles once home to residences and businesses. The old city Hall has a cut stone facade and Italiante bell tower. Across from the Brewery is a building with rusticated Italianate influences. Although a “Tiny Town”, everywhere I looked, I saw something to grab my interest. Did you know that St. Elmo is the patron saint of mining?

     Our intentions were to stop in Tombstone but it has kind of become ‘nothing’ and after our experience in Deadwood last year, Tombstone would’ve paled in comparison so we drove right through and on to Tucson.

     Tucson’s Pima Air and Space Museum was also a stop recommended by friends.  In recent years, a conservatory group recognized that the historic World War II and 1950s era aircraft stored on the base were rapidly disappearing into smelters and that the flames were consuming not just metal, but the aviation heritage of our country.

     They began to set aside examples of the many types of aircraft stored in yards. These planes were placed along the base’s fence line so that the public could see them through the fence. The display quickly became very popular with the local community, but viewing the aircraft through the fence was somewhat unsatisfying.

     The first acquisition was a B-24 (not the one above) which is housed in a hanger all by itself aside.   

    


     A swimming friend from decades ago, Ted,  lives in Tucson. We met ever so long ago when we were both active in US Masters Swimming and would participate in Masters Short Course Nationals. Had hoped to get together with them–he’s never met Bill and we’ve never met his wife, Lee, but they were side-lined with a bug. Ted and I were able to enjoy a long phone conversation to re-hash ‘old times’.


     We really liked Tucson and most especially its top attraction, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, with is counted in TripAdvisors Top Ten Museums in the country.  Unlike most museums, about 85% of the experience is outdoors. Its 98 acres is a melding of zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium. 

      The walking paths are laid out through various desert habitats exhibiting 230 animal species, 1200 types of plants, and one of the world’s most comprehensive local mineral collections.

     Our docent was remarkable and fortunately, we were the only 2 in his group. His knowledge was exceptional and there wasn’t a question we asked him (which were legion) that he didn’t know the answer. By the way, their docent program is an intense 15 week training period and is one of the top curriculum in the country.

     This museum is beyond belief and flawlessly choreographed with plantings, paths, aviaries, and sectors for rescued wildlife to live in their natural habitat. It would be easy to spend an entire day there. There is a coffee shop and restaurant for a bite and respite.

     Our Valentine’s Day Dinner was enjoyed atop an eclectic and funky little boutique hotel.

                  Cocktails were memorable over-seen by two glowing pink love birds

                                       Views were spectacular 360 degrees

                                View from the top into the square courtyard

     The AZ Capitol museum serves as a symbol of Arizona’s rich and colorful history, featuring four floors with more than 20 exhibition areas.

     From these stainless sculptures, hangs a plaque of each name of lives lost on the USS Arizona and USS Missouri.

     There are many memorials in the park and some that we visited were of the Korean War, 9/11, and Desert Storm.  Each plaque describes Arizona’s contributions and were either dedicated to the participating units or the individuals who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.


     One of our favorite boating couple friends live in Scottsdale, just outside of Phoenix. Luckily, we were able to spend 2 evenings with them for dinner-one in their lovely new home and the other aboard our rolling home. Time spent with them just never seems long enough.


     We took a side trip to Indio, CA, to spend time with Geoff, our son, who was last on the visit-the-son-tour, but not least. Isn’t it considerate of the 5 of them to live along Interstate 10 from AL, to CA?  They sure made it easier for us than if there were spread out—NY, WA, OK, HI, etc. Just a straight shot and we were able to spend time with each of them although it took 2 ½ months. We’re retired and in no hurry and we relish every moment and every single mile to have had those opportunities. 

     
     Geoff was our chauffeur and the 3 of us went to Joshua Tree National Park in CA which lies along the San Andreas Fault, one of the world’s most active tectonic boundaries.  The park’s premier attractions are forests of giant branching yuccas known as Joshua trees, massive rock formations, and numerous desert fauna and flora.  The tree has spiky, succulent leaves and although it could be mistaken for a cactus, instead, it’s a member of the agave family.

     The park covers 794,000 acres with a plethora of hiking trails for all fitness and skill levels.  There are two desert systems there—the Mojave and the Colorado, both abutted to Joshua Tree National Park on the east and west sides.  The Colorado is the western reach of the  Sonoran Desert that we visited a couple weeks prior and is considered “low desert”  compared to the taller, wetter, and more vegetated Mojave “high desert”.  The Colorado seems sparse and forbidding. This is helpful in understanding that the key to their differences is their elevation.

     We were more ‘taken’ with the geologic landscape of the park than with its namesake trees.  How did the rocks take on such sensational shapes and what forces sculpted them? “They say” that the landscape was born more than 100 million years ago. Molten liquid, heated by the continuous movement of Earth’s crust, oozed upward and cooled while still below the surface. These plutonic intrusions are a granitic rock called monzogranite.  Geology is one of the several things I’d like to’ve pursued if I had more than one life but we didn’t need to know anything about geology to enjoy the views here. After taking some time to learn about the forces that sculpted the landscape, I was able to see the park with a fresh set of eyes.

     As ground water trickled down through the monzogranite’s joint fractures, it began to transform some hard mineral grains along its path into soft clay, while it loosened and freed grains that were resistant to the solution. Rectangular stones slowly weathered to orbs of hard rock surrounded by soft clay containing loose mineral grains. Imagine holding an ice cube under the faucet. The cube rounds away at the corners first, because that is the part most exposed to the force of the water. A similar thing happened here but over millions of years, on a much larger scale, and during a much wetter climate.

     

     At depths where the temps are extremely hot, water helped melt the rock into granite magma. It was hot, liquid, and lightweight so that it could ooze upward along deep-seated cracks in the crust that had been fractured by the fierce crunching of the charging plates. The liquid granite could’t force itself all the way up to the surface, so the granite stalled and formed huge, ball-shaped masses with the ancient rock.Over a long period of time, the mammoth blobs of granite cooled and hardened.

     The boulder shapes are so strange and we’ve never seen the likes before.  They look like blocks stacked by a child. Some boulders appear to have carved faces, animals shapes, and other forms. Reminded me of lying in the grass as a child and seeing shapes the clouds formed. There are sets of parallel and vertical fractures within the rock from horizontal stresses from the tectonic plates colliding. Later, the mountain building pushed the rocks upward to form sets of X-shaped cracks in the granite. All cracks provide avenues for rain to seep downward through the rocks to etch and shape and round the originally angular blocks into the array of forms seen today.

     As the huge eroded boulders were exposed, they began to settle one on top of another, creating those imposing rock piles that caused our jaws to drop. The scenery is unequivically mythical, hallucinatory and paranormal all at once.   Add a couple of melting watches and Salvador Dali would feel right at home here.

    

                                                     Bill and Geoff

    

     

                                                          Bill and Laura

     Keys View “look out”, in the park at 5185 feet was breath-taking. We were able to overlook a sweeping panorama of an arid desert basin, Coachella Valley and Signal Mountain in Mexico. This was such a visual treat!!! 



 To say that Bill’s a car aficionado would indubitably be an understatement. He had a “Bill Day” and bet you can already guess where he headed! When Barrett-Jackson has televised auctions, he’s glued to the goings-on. B-J has entertained enthusiasts from all over the world for 46 years and are widely regarded as a barometer of the collector car industry. There wasn’t an auction in progress but they have a show room of collectables or eye candy for Bill.

                                                            Barrett-Jackson

                                                            Scottsdale, AZ

                                         Martin’s Auto Museum

                                                 Phoenix, AZ

     We’re back in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale for a week, giving us time to relax and enjoy the city. We’ve had a blast riding the Light Rail here and talk about a “cultural experience”. Bike/Hike trails are plentiful so we rode our bikes for miles exploring the cities and enjoying the Salt River activities.   
                   

    
  
     Superstition Mountain, 50 miles east of Phoenix, was calling us. As we drove east the massive and stunningly beautiful Superstition Mountain range was in full view during our entire drive. We needed to go there to the museum to dig up the dirt on a couple of tales surrounding the area.We were curious as to how it got its name and why it’s rumored that more hikers disappear there than anywhere else. I asked one of the docents and he had no idea and said no one had ever asked him that before. Strange, thought I, that he’d never even wondered that himself.


     I digress…next to the Grand Canyon, the Superstition Mountain range is the most photographed and painted landmark in AZ.


     So where does the “superstition” portion of its name come from?? There are several different versions of that answer. in the late 1860’s, local farmers gave the mountain it’s final name.


     Through the Pima Indians, the farmers of the Salt River Vally had heard stories about strange sounds, people who vanished, mysterious deaths, and a inclusive fear of the mountain.


     This influenced the farmers to believe the Pimas were superstitious about this particular mountain so thus the name Superstition Mountain was born.


     On the grounds of the museum is Apacheland Movie Ranch dating back to 1959. The founders envisioned it as becoming the Western Movie Capital of the World but the dream was never realized. It did have a long history of being a shooting site for many Western TV series, movies, and commercials. Many famous celebrities and move stars did grace the grounds of Apacheland Movie Ranch.


    Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel, an iconic landmark on the museum grounds, is so named because it played a prominent role in the Elvis Presley movie, Charro!  in 1968.

    

     Boot Hill is the museum’s own version of an Old West cemetery where gunfighters who died with their boots on would be laid to rest. This plot is funny with epitaphs written for the likes of gunfighter, Lester Moore and Sheriff Jack.

     Please pardon the many photos which don’t do justice to these beautiful mountains and breath taking landscape. I just couldn’t omit any of them.

     Almost time to head east and swap modes of transportation. Stay tuned.


Bill and Laura Bender
Mesa, AZ

     New Year’s Day we said our goodbyes to son, Matt, our grand daughters and great grandson, and drove to Austin where we stayed in McKinney Falls State Park. The location was about 5 miles outside of Austin but we had easy access to the city. The park is beautiful with different kinds of birds and other wild life—but we saw only deer. A little wren became our friend and each morning, would come and perch on top of our coach’s side mirror where he would peck, then fly down to the mirror’s base and he’d fly “in place” admiring himself. He was there every single morning except for the morning that we were leaving.

     


    We enjoyed quite a few of the hiking trails in the park, leading to 2 water falls. Looks like nothing’s been moved for decades—lots of fallen trees and old limestone walls that look ancient. 







Love the firemen’s creativity!




     Youngest son, Stephen, lives in Austin and we spent almost every evening with him. Cycling there is great and the very first day we rode the 11 mile trail around Lady Bird Lake—but better known from days of yore as Town Lake. Stephen took us to an old established restaurant to satisfy Bill’s hankering for real TX BBQ’d brisket. He said that sadly, chains and new eateries are buying the small mom and pop businesses, dozing the building and building “new, bigger, and better.” As a bachelor, Stephen eats out more than he prepares food at home so we had a varied and exciting palette of cuisines to enjoy. The oldest TX restaurant is Scholtz Garten and other than a sullen server, our evening there was a delight. 

A lamplighter in Grapevine

     A very thoughtful gesture was a mid afternoon gathering at another Austin icon of 11 of Stephen’s closest friends for “Meet the Parents”. The opportunity to chat with them, all with varied educational and professional backgrounds, was a great learning experience.

TX Capitol Dome

                                Door hinges in the Texas Capitol

                                        One of the things that makes us smile
                                          Afloat on Town Lake

     LBJ ranch, Stonewall, TX, was on our way west and we don’t want to pass up too many learning opportunities. The ranch is 1600 acres—absolutely enormous and the driveway to the home takes a very long and circuitous route.


     We stopped for one night in Marathon which has the distinction of being a “Class 1 Dark Sky” (as dark as it gets). Its remote geographic location and elevation all contribute to enhancing this resource.

    Terlingua, our next destination, was an 1880’s mining site for cinnabar from which metal mercury was extracted. The only remnants of the mining days are a cost town of the Chisos Mining Company and several capped and abandoned mines. The cinnabar was known to Native Americans who prized its brilliant red color for body pigment.

     Terlingua Ghost Town holds the largest concentration of mining architecture in the area, restored as shops, restaurants, and homes. Favorite stops include the Starlight Theatre and the front porch of the Trading Post.

    We traveled NW to Ft. Davis to visit the McDonald Observatory, a world leader in astronomical research. This is research arm of UT.

A Love Heart Cactus Leaf

     Starting 40 million years ago, a series of volcanic episodes created the Chisos Mountains from lava and igneous formations that metamorphosed limestone and clay and eroded canyons, providing habitats that are countless and diverse.

     The massive cliffs of the Sierra del Carmen appear an unyielding wall. The Rio Grande has carved a gorge 1300 feet deep directly through the escarpment. Boquillas Canyon is so narrow that the entrance is almost invisible from a distance. It looks as if President Trump has already built the wall but I think nature beat him to it.


Between 230 and 280 million years ago, Africa and South America collided with North America creating the Appalachian Mountains.  This rugged mountain chain extended through the Big Bend – Mexican Borderlands region.

While on a hike, this little curley-cue caught my eye.

     This was an unusual tree to see in the middle of a desert. We hiked through the ruins of a resort that closed in the 1940’s and was built with the hot springs as the focal point. The springs are a constant 106 degrees and overflows into the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande was very shallow and dry in places but here beside the hot springs, it’s flowing mightily.

    I’m fascinated by the striations of the rock.

Bill’s dipping his toes into the hot springs with the raging Rio Grande River behind him.

                               Our new president acted very fast to erect a wall!

Unfortunately, we were here on one of the 2 days a week that the border’s closed. Was looking forward to our row boat crossing.

     The austerity of the cliffs is softened by colors which camera nor pen can reproduce. Every other aspect of vegetation, landscape configuration, and rocks is strange and weird and of a type unfamiliar to anything that, in modern civilization, we’re accustomed to seeing.


    

     In addition to defining the curve that forms the Big Bend, the Rio Grande also serves as the International boundary between the US and Mexico

            Rio Grande River separating Mexico and the United States

     Our month of January ends with us in Odessa, TX, having the San Antonio repair repaired.

       Odessa’s Stonehenge Replica on the campus of UT of the Permian Basin. 

Bill and Laura

     
     Our 2nd day in The Villages provided an opportunity to “rest up” so we took our bikes to a local shop to have their periodic checkups. Should be ready Friday which’ll give our ‘sit-upons’ a much needed rest. Also, day 2 of a technician searching for an electrical connect which seems to be elusive. The hourly rate isn’t peanuts, either, so hope it reveals itself soon because it’s gotta be identified.

     We’re still in the RV Infirmary and hope we don’t end up in the Big House before we’re sprung. This place has far too many “Thou shalt nots”. The Villages Mafia wear yellow shirts and they’re everywhere AND seems we’re always transgressing. There are 81 pools here. I’ve not seen them all but the ones I have seen have lane lines, back stoke flags and not a soul in them. I’m so tempted to take advantage of one but I think the Yellow Shirts hide in the trees and I’d be nabbed for sure.

     Those who live there apparently love it but, as our vagrant life style attests, we’re free spirits and don’t want our lives choreographed for us. It’s a beautiful place and extremely well maintained. There’s a definite palatable social strata and you can feel it hanging in the air–from the village you live in to the fanciness of the customization of your golf cart. I don’t want to live and play with a bunch of other old folks but among many ages and varied ethnic groups. I’ll step down off my soap box now.

     We’re en route to an Apple Store in Orlando. Last night I plugged a USB into my Mac and it must’ve driven a spike into its heart. It’s deader than a door nail. Thank goodness for AppleCare!!!! Were it not for that, I’d be forking over $500+ for a new logic board.  It’s being shipped tomorrow to the ER and will be back by Friday and good as new. 

     While in Orlando, we took advantage of a little sight seeing. We strolled the park and around Lake Eola where we found these beautiful swans and fountain.

Fountain in the center of Lake Eola

                                  Lake Eola Swans
   
      Bill cycled 55 miles through The Villages and said he still didn’t see it all. The paved paths are wonderfully maintained—no roots poking up through the asphalt to rattle your teeth, plentiful water and potty stops. This is a superb place for bike riding. 

      A Liv bicycle rep was in The Villages offering trial rides on 2 of their new carbon bikes. I first rode the Avail Advanced Pro 1 weighing 13# and with electronic shifting which was a new experience for me. I LOVED it and it absolutely FLIES!!! Then I rode their Envie Advanced Pro 1 at 16#–shorter wheel base and not as sleek and fast as the Avail. When we moved aboard in ’08, I had to sell my road bike  so I just needed to get on one again to remember how good cycling fast feels. Our Bike Fridays are not machines of extraordinary speed. They are fun and do serve their purpose of being our land transportation when we’re on our boat. I love my BF but Liv is pretty dad gum awesome. 

    
      A trip to Silver Springs was a trip down Memory Lane for both of us. 65 years ago Bill came here with his family and for me, ’twas about 70 years ago when I was here with my family. Almost impossible to fathom the speed of those past years. “Life is but a vapor.”

    
      Our coach is repaired and ready to go but not as much as we’re ready to head out. Two weeks in one place is about our limit for being stationary.

     I’ve heard of Santa Rosa Beach all my life but never ventured in an easterly direction. This is our first visit here and I’m even a native!!! The beach is tucked in a stretch between high-rises. Very desolate in a good way. The only noise is the crashing sounds of the surf. Forgot how much I’ve missed this. I knew Destin to Pensacola in detail like the back of my hand.  I’ve heard of Mexico Beach, Grayton Beach, Rosemary Beach, Blue Mountain Beach but until mid December, never visited any of them. We are staying in a state park preserve so there is a stretch of two or 3 miles along the beach where it remains natural with no high-rises or other signs of civilization. A wonderful place to beach walk and cycle and we loved being there.  

       

     The colored leaves represent a north FL mid-December 






     Bill took a nap and I was planning to paint but the melody of a soundly sleeping man was very enticing so was either give in to a nap or go walk the beach. I chose #2 and loved ever step I took. Totally deserted beach. Perfect temp. Found myself laughing out loud, talking to the sand pipers, encouraging the waves to surge a little harder–if anybody had heard me, I’d be in a straight jacket by now. 

                                                           My footprints.
                               

                                 A funny little design made by a receding wave. 



     Just basking in the glow of a dazzling afternoon of dancing through an incoming tide of the Gulf of Mexico.

A sea slug that emits purple ink

     We cycled the Timpoochee Trail that traces the shoreline of the Gulf and Hwy 30A through forests, marshlands, beach side communities, lakes, shops, and restaurants. We had lunch at a great little dive on 30A—Stinky’s Fish Camp and it was delicious. How could you not want to stop and eat at a place with a name like Stinky’s???? 

A shot of Stinky’s bar

     The name caught my attention and it was also recommended by a 60 year old surfer woman who’s lived there in Blue Mountain all her life. Her husband makes surf and paddle boards. She was a very interesting person. Glad we met her. No photos from our excursion but vivid visual memories.

A mystery boat washed up on the shore on Pensacola Beach

     On to Fort Pickens State Park. I DO know that area and I’m looking forward to seeing it from a motor coach vantage point. This is the whitest sand– overcast day but the brilliance of the sand is still blinding. 

Large prop outside Joe Patti’s

     No trip to Pensacola is complete without at least one trip to Joe Patti’s.This is a prop on display in front of the business at Joe Patti’s. My only aunt, Aunt Annie Ruth, and her daughter, my cousin, beautiful Debby came out for a Christmas visit and steamed shrimp—from Joe Patti’s! 

Debby, Aunt Annie Ruth, and Laura

It’s slim pickins’ for relatives in my family, other than my progeny, so it’s always a huge treat to spend time with them.

    

Two little girls playing in Ft.Pickens National Park’s camping area

     While in Pensacola, we were delighted to reconnect with Andy and Tony at the Grand Marlin, Pensacola Beach. We were too busy talking non-stop to remember to take photos. We had a wonderful holiday visit and look forward to our next shared moments.

      
    Continuing westward to Daphne, AL, we were able to catch up with Pam and Billy who live in a neighboring town of Fairhope, AL. They are long time boating friends but it’s been 5 years since we’ve seen them and what a warm reunion we had!

Bill, Billy, Pam, and Laura      Our eldest son, Chad, and his son, Zac, live in Daphne and we spent the weekend with them.

                                                                  #1 son, Chad




      Every Sunday night, all of their friends know that Chad puts a huge number of chicken quarters on his grill and makes his famous potato salad. Everyone has a standing invitation to come over about 6-ish and chow down. After everyone is quite sated, they all settle down and watch a movie. What a sweet tradition and wonderful way to stay in touch with Zac’s friends and their parents. It was fun to meet their buds in a casual setting like the Sunday night gathering. 


     


     On Monday, Zac had a 16th birthday. He has his wheels and all he needed was a drivers’ license so he and his dad were at the DMV at 7:30 that morning.

Zac and his new truck

     Chad and Zac are back to work and we continue to MS. We stopped at the state’s Welcome Center and found it located in an exquisite Southern home with the most hospitable people working there. Their Christmas decorations were so beautiful!

Biloxi, MS, Light

Biloxi’s Beau Rivage

Judy, Laura, and Sandra Alexandria, LA

     During a refueling stop, these two guys stopped and asked where are we from in FL. They’re en route to San Diego and began their cycling trip in Tampa. Their bikes were clunkers. Their saddles are those big old folks bike seats. Their attire from the waist down was not conducive to cycling. But good for them for getting this far–to central LA, with less than adequate outfitting.

                                                                Jan and Laura
                                                                Shreveport, LA

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After a delightful dinner, they came out for a visit and to see our rolling home. Hopefully we’ll get to spend more time with them this week.

                                                 #2 son, Matt

A beautiful fountain on property of First Baptist Church, Dallas, that occupies 5 city blocks.

 The boarding house where Lee Harvey Oswell lived. We were able to go inside to see his bedroom and living room.  Kinda eerie!

Christmas tree downtown decorated with car parts. Bill wanted to adopt it and take it home.

Our 1 and only great grandson, Tristan

Dinner at the Iron Cactus, downtown Dallas Bill, Laura, Matt, Tristan, Kate, and Lily

Captured this at the risk of looking like a Country Bumpkin and craning my neck!

Old City Hall

Old City Hall

Bronze cattle drive through downtown Dallas 49 bulls and 3 trail riders

Reunion Tower

     New Year’s Eve in Dallas is our last night here before we move on to Austin. We wish each of you a healthy and save New Year!

Bill and Laura

Dallas, TX

                    

                        I LOVE bridges and the Ravenel Bridge is my very favorite.

     This facade is all that remains of the old Bennett Rice Mill standing at the center of the SC State Port Authority’s Union Pier Terminal, downtown Charleston Harbor.

One of Charleston’s architectural gems

A majestic reindeer 

    
                 Our one and only campfire while in Mt. Pleasant’s KOA

This guy’s made of trash that washed ashore

                                                          A Mt. Pleasant Sunset

A Mt. Pleasant/Awendaw icon

We’ve heard about the Sewee Restaurant for a long time so decided it was way past time to check it out.   

      The swimming pool at Mt. Pleasant’s KOA–a terrible waste!!!

St. Mary’s Anchorage for the sumptuous Cruisers’ Thanksgiving Dinner

     I uninstalled FaceBook on my phone and when I attempted to reinstall, I inadvertently created another account. I’m hoping to merge my 2 accounts and will delete Laura Sue Lane and hope it doesn’t take Laura Lane Bender with it so you may or may not see my posts in case I vaporize.

     After eating more Thanksgiving dinner than we should, we drove up to St. Simon’s Island to spend a few hours with my brother, Bob, from ATL. We had an enjoyable afternoon walking the beach and the sweet little town.

My only sibling, my little brother, Bob, on St. Simon’s Beach, Thanksgiving Day

     Trusting each of you had a grateful Thanksgiving. We ALL are so blessed with so much for which to be thankful.

     Onward to Gainesville and Big Wheel RV Park, a tranquil and woodsy respite with a very down-home, comfy warmth. As we were departing, Karen, the owner, came out to thank us for staying there and to say goodbye. We’ve never experienced that before.

     Although I’m a native Floridian, I’d never visited Gainesville. We strolled around the old downtown area and cycled the Gainesville – Hawthorne 37 mile rail trail. We haven’t been on bikes in weeks or months so that was a bunch to bite off for a first time ride. Ouch!

                            A downtown Gainesville sculpture


     Our next destination, Wildwood, FL, for routine maintenance and a few repairs on our coach at Alliance Coach. They put us in a bay in the mornings then back into our site late afternoon. We’re happy to have some down time to tend to things that we let slide so we can go outside and play. Interestingly, The Villages, a development of 157,000 for adults 55 and older, is right here so we’ve spent some time exploring some of those communities. 


     On our first day, we cycled 27 miles through The Villages and our posteriors hadn’t recovered from the Gainesville ride. Had hoped to acquire saddle time gradually…but no.  I needed some saddle time but didn’t want 64 miles in a period of 2 days. 


    




























































     These beautiful birds that looked to me like red-headed herons are actually Sandhill Cranes. They’re so exquisite and stately.


    I’ve never seen SO many golf carts and they are driven by The Villagees and with naked aggression! They’re all over the place like little ants in overdrive.  

      Doubt you’re perched on the edges of your chairs waiting for another blog update (Bill teases me about that) but it’s almost impossible to play all day and feel inspired to write in the evenings.  Better nate than lever!

     Then to the Chocolatiers shop…and to Cabot Cheese. The had at least 20-25 samples of different ‘flavors’, syrup, honey, chips, crackers, spreads…needless to say, not a good day for our waist line. Cold Hollow Cider Mill was next and their story of cider making was intriguing. Nothing’s wasted—cows get some of the residue and dog cookies are made from hand-me-downs from the cows. No sugar or any preservatives in the cider and it was a thirst quencher and chaser from the previously consumed dairy products. Somehow some apple cider donuts followed us home. Certainly not my doings. I’m innocent for a change. Bill remembered a Canadian relative making them for him when he was a little boy. To wind up our day, we went to the Keurig/Green Mountain Coffee Factory and appreciated a much needed caffeine boost before heading home.

     We were pretty much off the grid on Lake Dunmore, VT, although not by choice. Our understanding was that this RV Park/Resort (with 3 swimming pools) had wifi. Methinks that might be a tad trumped-up (no pun intended). We had to walk ½ mile to office to use theirs. Also, no phone service so felt isolated from the world and other than in north NC, that’s the first time Verizon’s ever let us down.

Adirondack Park, Ticonderoga, NY Another perfect day and the landscape, magnificent.

Adirondack Park Crown Point Lighthouse

    

    
     Shortly after beginning our drive, we came upon a REAL farm stand and left with corn and tomatoes, both picked this morning (he said). Wonderful veggies.

     


     Last year’s trip out west felt like a marathon on steroids so this year we are ‘smelling the roses’. We’re in a lovely state park right on the St. Lawrence River for 10 days, taking little side trips, toasting our toes by the camp fire, watching the freighters underway, and just enjoying each others company and the tranquility of nature. We’re retired. No schedule so what’s the hurry? Soon, we’re going to Williamson/Rochester to spend a week visiting family…then more meandering.

           Love old barns and caught this one on the fly in Hampton,NY.

    We saw the only official sanctioned Abba Tribute Group in this Opera House, Clayton, NY. 

                                               Tibbets Point Light House

         A Kodak moment as we were driving home from Tibbets Point

Our pastoral campground in a NY State Park on the gin-clear St. 
                                               Lawrence River

     We’re leaving Williamson and Bill’s huge family en route to Waterloo. Love each one of his family. We are connecting with some boating friends, Sue and Rich, who are great adventurers. Looking forward to some long over-due catching up. We’ll all head in opposite directions in a few days but have the entire weekend to play together.

           Sue and Rich posing by a sculpture of centrifugal pump bodies with 
                                    Gould Pumps sign just across the river.

     Along the shores of Seneca Lake today, we had another delightful hike with Sue and Rich. Leaves are turning vibrant yellows,oranges, and reds and the grounds of Seneca Lake State Park are a deep verdant green. Both of us are heading in different directions in the morning so our “going away dinner” was beer and pizza, a healthy salad, and an Italian chicken dish. Before dark, we were mellowed out and ready to say, “sweet dreams” and head for our toasty rolling homes.

     
     From Waterloo, NY, to Corning, NY! Believe it or not, we’ve reconnected with boating/RV buds, Carl and Debbie, who are in the site just next to us. Today we went to the Rockwell Museum but NOT Norman and strolled the downtown streets. Another quaint little village. Tomorrow we’ve reserved for the Corning Museum and very much looking forward.

     
    Very fascinating but despite all the docent explanations, we walked away with questions. We did get an overview of many things which possibly, may be all they can provide. 

Looks like Chihuly to me but didn’t see a sign attributing credit to him.

     Corning Glass is, of course, the leader in the field of glass — therefore they are always looking over their shoulders for competitors who may be inching forward. This was a full day well spent. We ended the day sharing dinner with tiny little Debbie and Carl. In the morning we’re both headed in opposite directions in search of more adventures.

     This has nothing to do with our travels but I feel the motherly need to brag. The other night while talking to our Dallas son, Matt, he just nonchalantly stated a fact without any fanfare—he got a promotion 3 weeks ago which is 2 levels above his previous position. He was so modest and self effacing as it kinda unintentionally slipped out of his mouth. I was ecstatic, rejoicing in my outdoor voice. He’s been with the same company for 19 years and has seen heads roll so I am so proud of him. Being with the same company for that long is also a rare accomplishment now days.

      Just a stunning steeple that caught my eye, silhouetted against a snow white building framed by a brilliant blue sky.