Cadillac Ranch

Limon, CO – Wednesday June 15, 2011

We got off to a slow start this morning. We decided to backtrack a little and visit the Cadillac Ranch which is west of Amarillo. Our camp ground was north of town. Leaving the routing to your GPS can sometimes be exciting as it was this morning. It took us on the main roads right through the middle of downtown, an experience we didn’t want to repeat again. On the way back we determined the route and forced the GPS to go where we wanted to which can sometimes be a chore. GPSs can really be hard headed, but wouldn't want to travel without.

The Cadillac Ranch was installed in 1974 and represents the Cadillac line from 1949 to 1963 tailfins and all. They are all buried nose first into the ground at an angle corresponding to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Over the years, time has not been kind to the Cadillac's and they are now rusted hulks covered by thousands of layers of spray paint.

Then it was time for some serious driving to make some miles. Along the way, in Boise City, we stopped at a city park for a walk around break. EJ being a kid at heart just had to check out the slide.

It was pretty windy, but at least this time it was mostly from the rear so our MPG should have gotten a boost. The route we chose turned out to be popular with the truckers. “I think we got us a convoy!”

Pulled into the KOA in Limon, CO at 7:00PM Mountain Time.

BG Miles Today	355	BG Total Miles	2149
Eat Out $	128.06	BG Total Fuel $	1046.09
Entertainment $	0	Total Camping $	191.87
E Miles Today	0	E Total Miles	263.5

Dry, Hot Texas

Amarillo, Texas – Tuesday June 14, 2011

We had a great visit with Frank’s Dad. As usual we ate too much and will have to really cut back on the amount we eat for the next few days to get back to normal. We celebrated his Dad’s birthday (June 18) with a great steak dinner at Zentner’s Daughter. Dad wanted to organize the apartment a little bit, so we consolidated his 2 computer setups into one and freed up some floor space in the living room. It was good to see Nick and we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon visits. After busy days we took advantage of the great sunset view over San Angelo,TX from Dad’s 10th floor window.

We were reintroduced to Edna, Dads friend, and in fact had several meals with her. This is the restaurant in the apartment building where they live.

We didn’t want to turn into smelly fish, so after three days of visiting it was time to hit the road. (You know, fish and company begin to stink after three days). The temperatures had been in the triple digits every day we were there. It was time to seek cooler weather. So after one more big meal out, a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and toast, we hit the road. But first we had to stop by Walmart to top off with the cheapest diesel fuel we have seen on the whole trip at $3.63 a gallon. I’m afraid that’s the last time we’ll see it at that price.

The invisible cat makes an appearance. Taz finally decides to come out of hiding. It was only temporary. After all she has an image to maintain. Although in her usual mode the image she’s maintaining is invisibility. Her expression conjures many captions.

Mocha, the travel cat, takes going down the road in stride. Doing 60mph or sitting still, naps are not to be missed.

Even though heading north sounded like a good idea, so far the cooling effect is negligible.

The wind is pretty strong as you can see. Here is a dirt storm we had to drive through. Visibility got down to a couple of hundred feet before we got through it.

The fields are tilled, but there is no sign of anything growing. Has nothing been planted, or is it just too dry?

We arrived at the Wonderland RV Park in Amarillo, Texas right at 6PM. We called ahead to make sure they had space for us. This park is right next to the Amarillo Zoo and the Tascosa Drive In Theater. The zoo we visited last time we were here, and the movies didn’t start until about 9:30PM. That’s almost past our bedtime. We could see the screen from the RV Park so we walked to the entrance of the Drive In to see what was playing. X-Men and Bridesmaids. It was about 9PM when we walked there and the movies hadn’t started yet as it wasn’t dark. Surprisingly there was already a pretty good crowd.Too late for us! Back to Big Guy.

BG Miles Today	317	BG Total Miles	1794
Eat Out $	125.13	BG Total Fuel $	892
Entertainment $	0	Total Camping $	153.79
E Miles Today	0	E Total Miles	263.5

San Angelo, TX At Last

San Angelo, TX - Friday June 10,2011

Our longest road day so far. We actually stopped for fuel twice (Ugh). Mostly interstate today. It took us close to an hour and a half to get through Dallas/Ft Worth,TX. Lots of traffic and construction. Pretty crazy, but Frank and BG (Big Guy, our RV) did great. EJ seemed to be more nervous than Frank! Otherwise it has been pretty good except for the wind. This part of Texas is flat, hot, dry and the wind is pretty constant.

We got to Rio Concho Manor(Frank’s Dad’s place) in San Angelo,TX at 7:45pm. They have a spot in the parking lot with power that we can hook up too. Called Frank’s Dad and went up to visit for awhile then back to the RV. Plan on being here for a few days and maybe head out on Tues in search of cooler weather. The temps here for the next 5-7 days will be over 100 everyday.

Miles Today	351.0	Total Miles	1477
Eat Out $	40.35	BG Total Fuel $	713.12
Total Fun $	0	Total Camping $	130.39
E Total Miles	263.5	E Total Fuel $	24.2

Searcy Escape

Sulphur Springs, Tx – Thursday June 9, 2011

Wednesday June 8,2011 was a long day. We got the word early in the morning that the glass people would be expecting us and could temper our windows somewhere between 1PM and 5PM. With our luck it’s never the early time slot, it’s always the later one.

At 10:30AM we left with hopes that if we could get the windows tempered early enough we could get back to Searcy and get the them installed so we could make an early morning departure on Thursday.

We arrived in Memphis,TN at WDG the glass place, at 1:05PM. We immediately went to the receiving dock where everyone went on high alert. We were escorted to the front office where we were met by Gary, who took our glass. Apparently the receiving dock isn’t actually for receiving stuff. Gary told us our glass should be ready in 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Alright, we have time for lunch before we have to get to back WDG.

So off in search of a McDonalds and wifi we go. The closest McDs just couldn’t get it together and so we went a half block to a Burger King where the service was excellent and they had wifi. We’ve been disappointed with most of the McDs we’ve stopped at on this trip. They seem to be terribly mismanaged. Plenty of staff, but only one person taking orders and everyone else standing around.

We waited until 3:30 before we called Gary at WDG. Gary said they were having equipment problems but our stuff should be going in in about an hour. With more time to kill and wanting to go for a walk in some air conditioning, we set in search of the nearest mall. We found one that was almost vacant except for a Sears store and a Laser Tag business. We got our walk in, but it was sad to see a big mall like that doing so poorly.

At 4:45 it dawned on us that WDG probably closes at 5PM and we better find out what’s going on. I call and get the answering machine that says they’re closed for the day. I guess it was 4:30, not 5PM when the office closed. Now what do we do? We decide to head over to WDG to see if we can find anyone in the shop to let us know what’s happening to our glass.

On the way back to WDG we get a call from Gary letting us know that they were processing our glass as we speak and that it should all be done in 30 to 45 minutes. Whew!! We did NOT want to have to spend the night in Memphis.

The foreman of the tempering process was nice enough to give us a quick tour from the cutting to the tempering. The glass is cut by machine based on computer instructions. The only cuts that are done manually are circular shapes and odd cuts. After the glass is cut it is delivered to a tempering oven. Humans put it into the tunnel and and take it out the other end of the tunnel when it’s done. it’s a 3 step process. The first oven heats the glass to 700 degrees, the second oven heats to 1200 degrees and the cooling tunnel cools the glass back to ambient temperature so the humans can handle it again.

With glass in hand at 5:30pm we decided to take a different way back to Searcy . EJ routed us by Graceland and then downtown to Mud Island River Park via Beale Street. Everything was closed at Graceland, but EJ got out and got some pictures from over the fence.

Getting downtown wasn’t too bad, but once we got there we couldn’t get over to Mud Island. We drove around and finally ended up at the visitors center across from Mud Island. We got out and took a walk on the river and inside to see if we could find any information. No one was there , but found two nice bronze statues.

It was already 7pm and we had about a 2 hour drive back, so we hit the road. Arrived at RV at 8:50, tired puppies, but mission accomplished.

We left the glass outside the shop so they could start early Thursday morning and hopefully get us on the road quickly. Around 9am they came and installed the passenger window. This window used to open and had a screen and bar across the middle. We took the opportunity to change this window to a single piece of glass for better visibility. It was not quite to Frank’s satisfaction, so they had to fix the seal. The bigger driver side windows (3 pieces) took a little longer. They finally got everything done and we were on our way at 11:50. We now have a clear view of the road. Time for some road miles. Fairly uneventful day, we made it through Little Rock, AR and into Texas. Got as far as Sulphur Springs, TX (about 60 miles east of Dallas,TX) around 6pm and called it a day.

Stuck in Searcy

Searcy, Arkansas – Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Saturday, June 4, was a zero day.  Since we were in Grenada, Mississippi which is about 200 miles from Searcy, AR (where we have an appointment on Monday to fix the front fogged windows) we decided to take the day off and explore the surrounding area.  Seemed like a good idea at the time, but once again it was over 100 degrees and doing much of anything outside was questionable.

Research uncovered the fact that we were in an area of a number of flood control projects and what was apparently an area of major activity during the Civil war.  We located the visitor center which covered both items and off we went.

In 1927 there was a flood greater than any other flood according to old timers of that period.  Once again the Mighty Mississippi had overflowed her banks.  Over $500,000,000 in private money had been spent building flood control projects to no avail.  The people petitioned the US government and eventually got them to approve a unified flood control program for the Mississippi River in the mid 1940’s.

The dam, part of the Mississippi River flood control program we visited in Grenada, was completed in 1954.  It makes a nice lake for recreation and boating, but it sure is muddy.

We also visited one of the Civil War forts in the area.  It was a fairly simple affair shaped like a triangle with three cannon. 

You would think on this trip that we were only traveling with one cat.  During the day, one cat just disappears and the other is in the middle of everything, and is quick to let us know when something does not meet her approval. Sunday, June 5 was a travel day. We took the interstate to Memphis and spent maybe 15 minutes in Tennessee.  We crossed the Mississippi River and were in Arkansas.  The flooding in Memphis has subsided, but to the west there are still some areas with high water.  We saw several barns and houses that were flooded and one house surrounded by sandbags to keep the water out.

We arrived at the RV Fog Dr at 2PM and were met by the owners wife.  Then the owner showed up and showed us where to park and pointed out the hookups(everything including sewer) for the RV.  The building we’re  parked next to is fairly new and they hadn’t finished grading the parking lot.  This next picture shows that they have more work to do.  And yes, that is daylight under the front tires. Monday, June 6 they moved us inside the building to remove the windows.  We were the first RV to park and their newly finished floor.

That afternoon they gave us the bad news.  Several pieces of glass would need to be replaced because they have become etched and they can not buff them out.  They are tempered glass and the nearest place to get glass tempered is Memphis.  It’ll take a week to get the glass over and back.  But, if we wanted to take the glass to Memphis, the turnaround would be a day. Ok, so we’re going back to Memphis tomorrow, they said to be there around 1PM. This afternoon they will cut the glass  and have it ready for us to take.

Around 4 PM, more bad news.  The place that tempers the glass did not get their shipment from Pittsburg Glass today so they will not be firing up the furnace Tuesday morning. And they will not start the furnace for our 4 little pieces of glass.  So now we’re stuck.  Two big holes in the front of the RV and no new glass.  It’s possible we won’t get out of here until Thursday.  So here we are…”Stuck in Searcy” awaiting for the word on when we can get “Fired Up in Memphis”.

Meanwhile, we have seen all there is to see in Searcy and there are no Malls to go and walk around in. We did take a walk around 8:30 last night, but it was still 96 degrees and humid. No Wifi or TV reception(but we do have the DVD for movies) at site. Will have to go to McDonalds to get internet. Relaxing, working on small projects and reading in the comfort of the RV until we hear more.

Latest news Tues at 3pm. We can take the glass to Memphis tomorrow at noon and the guys here will stay late to install them when we return. We’ll get confirmation in the morning before we make the trek. If all works out, we will be back on the road Thursday morning. Also got the code for the Wifi here and don’t have to go to McDonalds(darn).

Miles Today	0	Total Miles	831
Total Food $	22.38	Total Fuel $	331.1
Total Fun $	0	Total Camping $	101.39

Three hours – three miles

Grenada, Mississippi – June 3, 2011

We were up bright and early this morning eager to get on the road. At 8:30 AM we left the K&K Campground just outside of Montgomery, AL. Well, first we had to stop at McDonalds for coffee, breakfast, and Wifi. Then a stop at Walmart to pick a few things we needed and some things we didn’t know we needed. As we’re ready to leave the Walmart parking lot we checked our watches and realized we’ve gone a whole three miles in three hours.

Last night when we pulled into the K&K Campground, it looked real familiar. This morning EJ checked the log books and discovered we had last been here in May of 2006 in Roadie. And to top it off, the daily rate had not changed. It was still $20.75.

Both Microsoft Streets and Trips and our GPS let us down in the town of Prattville. They routed us onto a road that was closed. We tried to work our way around it and ended up going about 10 miles down an old country that eventually got us back onto US 82. Every turn that we thought would get us back onto the highway was blocked with Road Closed signs.

The cats are doing fine. Mocha bugs us all day long asking for attention. She’s been riding in EJ’s lap. Taz normally hides behind the sofa until we stop. Here’s a picture of both of them relaxing as we go down the road.

US 82 took us through Tuscaloosa, Al where we saw the ravages of the tornado that hit several weeks ago. This shows the remains of a shopping center. Notice the squished silver car in the middle.

The less traveled freeway. US 82 is a great road to travel. It’s generally 4 lanes and the traffic is minimal.

We arrived at Frog Hollow at 6:15 PM. The back end of “Big Guy” and the Element were covered in dust. The owner of the campground wanted to know where we picked all that dust. “Your driveway” I told him. He allowed as how it hadn’t rained in a while so things were a little dry.

Talk about a posed picture. Dueling laptops. Frog Hollow has wifi.

Today's route.

Miles Today	266	Total Miles	636
Total Food $	5.14	Total Fuel $	201.46
Total Fun $	0	Total Camping $	73.57

Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire

Tifton, Georgia 6-1-2011

Crazy or not, we left Orange Park at 5:05 PM.  I wanted to get away from the house because of OTLTA (one thing leads to another).  You know how it goes.  I wanted to water the plants one last time, but I should probably trim them also, but that means digging out the electric hedge trimmer, which means I probably ought to tidy up the shelves because Ron will see them….. Whoa! EJ also had things left undone. Finish cleaning the house/floors so it will be nice for our return, finish the pillows for the RV, etc, etc. Let’s nip that in the bud right now.  Time to go!

We drove US82 along the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and saw the devastation caused by recent fires.  In fact you could still see smoke rising from hotspots here and there. All the underbrush is gone but some of the taller trees still have green leaves/needles at their very tops.

We wanted to make it to Cordele, Georgia, but we started running out of daylight.  As it was, we rolled into The Pines Campground in Tifton at 8:25 PM just as the sun was disappearing over the horizon. The high was 102 in Tifton and only 90 in Orange Park, Fl. Hmmm.  Temperature-wise the Frying Pan wasn’t so bad.