10/30/2012: Discovery has Landed!
Yup, we made Yuma this afternoon. Have a few pictures to post from our stay at the Meteor Crater, but we need to take them off the camera and share a few. Everything looks as well as expected on the the lot. We will began cleaning it up and getting settled in tomorrow. Today we were a little tired from going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show the night before. The Navahos are building a new casino on I-40 up by Twin Arrows, a relic from the Route 66 days. Stay tuned as we update.

10-29-2012: We made it to Arizona via I-40 across New Mexico. There is the Continental Divide you cross in eastern New Mexico before crossing into Arizona. The northern parts of both states are on the Colorado River Plateau so you are in 'high country'. We stopped at an Indian trading post after crossing into AZ.  We met up with more friends at the Meteor Crater about 20 miles west of Winslow, AZ. We've only been here two days and have already been to the crater, geocaching, and even attended a Halloween party. Today is up for grabs as tomorrow we head to Yuma, AZ and settle in for a while. See you again in a few days!!

New Mexico-The Land of Enchantment

10-26-2012: We left Elk City, OK headed west through Amarillo and into New Mexico. There are some interesting land formations across the upper part of the state. From round flat mesas to higher longer mesas. Interstate 40 was built in the 60's, replacing the Mother Road-Route 66. We had travelled other parts of Route 66 before, so this was an addition to those trips. The first night in eastern New Mexico we stayed at Tucumcari. This was the first city in NM to be on Route 66. There are many of the older buildings and curious sights of the era lining the business route still being used today. From a tepee shaped curios shop to older motels, you feel like you stepped back in time. One old gas station has been restored and houses some older cars and trucks alongs with some interesting creations for travellers to look at and photograph.  The RV park where we stayed had some older buildings out front which appeared to be apartments. Each one had it own carport and the house number was written in tiles in front of each door. They are not being used today, but stand in reflection of a living standard decades ago.
Onward across NM to AZ. We spent a second night in the RV park at the Dancing Eagle Casino located by Casa Blanca, NM. Pretty much uneventful. Get your players card-get a parking site for less. We didn't even unhook, knowing we would leave early the next morning.

 

Ozark Heritage Center in Salem, MO
 

10/25/2012-We departed Missouri Tuesday morning, the 23rd of October. All good things must come to an end, and this was our visit to Independence. Sister Sarah was a gracious hostess and we are most appreciative of her efforts. We were able to take a side trip from Kansas City to Boss, MO and visit Ken Fiebelman, a local historian and antique dealer in Salem, MO. He has written several books about Dent and Crawford Counties (and others) which contain snippets of the Short family, who were ancestors and lived in and around Boss and Dillard some time ago.
The fall colors are still in view but the peak has passed. Heading into Oklahoma from Missouri, was quite the contrast. Oklahoma hasn't changed, at least not in the full sense of reds and yellows. There were some hardwoods that were beginning to show their elegance, but most roadside trees were still green and the roadsides were still being mowed. Wind has been a factor as it continues to blow all across Oklahoma, buffeting the coach. We will continue our journey westward to AZ. Happy trails!!

Oklahoma roadside still green
 

South Missouri showing it's color
 

10/17/2012
Hello all. We made to Kansas City, MO this afternoon. Seems like we have been on the road a long time already, but it has only been ten days. We crossed the Missouri River from the north and continued south. We are staying at the "Square" RV Park. This is a return trip as we stayed here a couple of years ago. The fall colors in Missouri are lovely. Took a few pics and will post some as soon as we get them viewed and selected. It is already late tonight, so most likely later in the week.

From our last post, we have been to Bismarck, ND, Pelican Rapids, MN, Sutherland, IA and now Missouri. We did a big loop Springfield, MO to see friends before they departed to South Dakota. Had a wonderful time and even opened a few persimmons. For those not familiar with persimmons, they are a tree that grows locally in Missouri (and other states as well). The are not real tall but produce a small apple like fruit which has been used for years to predict the winter. Most persimmons are orange in color when ripe and can be eaten, (from what I understand), if you like them. There bark of the tree is rough and looks like tiled wood. When you open the fruit, they contain three (usually) flat seeds. When these seeds are cut open the long way, they reveal inside either a spoon, fork, or knife. A spoon represents a snowy winter, spoon = shovel. A fork indicates a milder winter with less snow. Fork = sieve. Lastly, the knife. A knife indicates an icy, windy winter. Henceforth, knife = cutting. The four seeds we opened all contained a spoon. Therefore, the winter in south Missouri (where the persimmons were picked), should be snowy and needing shoveling if the traditional prediction holds true. Take care family and friends!! Will try to get the pictures posted soon. Look for the reds, yellows and dark green grass contrast and the 'spoon' inside the seed. Later!!

 



10/10/2012-Well, another year, another journey. Left Washington Monday morning Oct. 8th for locations East. Passing through Snoqualmie Pass, the gray mountains and dark green firs were dotted with oranges and reds and yellows of changing leaves. We spent the first night in Haugan, MT. Couldn't beat the price. FREE!! Even with electric. The next morning we again head east and travelled along the Clark Fork River. This is a very pretty river with crystal clear water flowing ever so gently. We were even treated to an air show just outside Missoula. Some sky jumpers were making a practice run and we were fortunate to capture them making their descent. Yup!! Winter is coming to Montana. That is actually new snow on the caps of the mountains in the distance as we leave Bozeman. We didn't run into any on the roads, but we know the hills and roads will covered soon. Hopefully we will be headed south by then. We will continue to post as time allows and we get a few minutes and new pictures. Hopefully you will join us often!!