BYE BYE :(

When I decided to leave the RT in Kansas I called friend Dorothy and asked if she had room for the RT to stay on their farm.  She said "Yes, but not inside... the barns are full"  I said that that was ok if it could be parked on the north side of a barn so that it wasn't in the sun all day.  She said "OK but HAIL comes from the North.

Sooo, I called Max.  YEAH, MAX.  He said that he could make room inside.  Now that I'm here I realize that he may have moved many pallets of seed grain around to make room for me.  I can't thank you enough, Max.

Saying goodby is such sweet sorrow.  She looked so lonely as we pulled away. :(

What a wonderful home!  Notice the seed pallets on he right side.



What a House!  Better accommodations than at home!  BYE! :(

AND SO... ON TO GREECE AND TURKEY!

Oh... I forgot. My last night in Kansas was spent at Sunnyland, which used to be my Grandmothers home.  The first night in nearly two months that I haven't slept in the Roadtrek.  Whee!  The third floor room has a jacuzzi tub.  WHAT A TREAT.

I will find the pictures later but in the mean time check out the website:    http://www.sunnylandbandb.com/

The next morning Cousin Pat ferried me to the airport and I finally got to sleep in my own bed the next night.  I miss the Roadtrek!

GARDEN CITY AT DOROTHY AND RON'S HOUSE

I have never before tried to get the Roady ready for an extended sleep.  My Gosh!  How did everything get so dirty and cluttered.  I have only been gone seven weeks.

Tring to decide what to take home and what to leave is realy a chore.  I know I wll miss things... just hope it isnt anything crucial.

For those wh don't know, the reason I am leaving the Roadtrek here and flying home is that Laura and I have another adventure planned.  We are leaving on June 31st to go back to Turkey and sail around some of the Greek islands.  If you want a taste of Turkey check out Laura's web-scrapbook at laurasabraw.com.

LINDSBORG to GARDEN CITY, KANSAS

I left Linda's house about 9 am.  I was torn about whether to head straight for Garden but I really wanted to see Cousin Jeannie and Dan down in Mulvane just 1.5 hours south of Lindsborg.  It was great to see them.  Thanks for the brunch, Jeannie.  it was great.

Dan and Jeannie.... my youngest cuz

I have been meaning to add air to my tires for the last week.  George Mack had a portable pump that I wanted to try but I just never got it done.  Dan had a large compressorandnow the tire are precisely at 80 for the rear and 50 for the front.

I finally made it to Garden City and I'm in front of Dorothy's house.  No... she doesn't have any red shoes!... and there's no tornado coming.

and on to LINDSBORG, Ks...I hope

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011

Since I came through St. Louis I hope to be able to see my old college friend, Linda, by this afternoon.  I still have to look at weather between here and there...

On the way I took a detour to see the Stephens College Campus where I went to school... was it really in 1958 and 59?  That's over 50 years ago!

Pillsbury Hall where I spent my first year in College

Was it really 50 years ago.  I have pictures somewhere of me and my roommates sitting on the wall behind me.

 I got to Linda's around 7pm after having to stop for a while just 40 miles away because I was sleepy.

Linda and I attended Stephens College together in what now seems like the dark ages.  I visited her once in about 1989 so this is the second time we have seen each other in 50 years.

She amazed me by remembering almost all of:
I went to the garden to pick a cabbage leaf to make an apple pie.  When I got there an old she bear stuck his head out the window and cried "What, no soap" and they all died.  And there were at the wedding the Ammorites and the Cammorites and the Old Panjammer himself and they all fell to playing a game of Catchy Catchy Can 'till the gunpowder ran out of the heels of their boots.

My mother taught me that and I was really floored that she had remembered it.  I'm not sure if my own kids remember the whole thing.

Linda and Judy.... 50 years later

Lindas wonderful old farm house is filled with music and carpets from Iran.

On NORTH Through ST. LOUIS... not my first choice

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011

Leaving the campground at Lebanon I came across this guy crossing the road.  I had managed to avoid his cousin on a raining road yesterday.

He wasn't very big...

...Glad I saw him!

Lots of States today... Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri.  I talked to Sandy a couple of times.  She was my weather forcaster and river condition analyst.

My choices today were made by that big river, the Mississippi.  I want to cross and we are in the middle of a devestatingly high river.  Land and homes are being flooded.  Today they will open some flood gates and let water run into some of the Bayou Country we visited last month.  I believe it is being done to save flooding Baton Rouge.  Sad.

In any case, I had hoped to cross the river at Cairo and go straight west rather than having to go north to St Louis.  Memphis was never an option because of the water. 

Look how high the water is!

Yes, I took it through the van window... but the traffic was almost stopped.

Obie and Chris called to chat and ended up helping me find a place to stop west of St Louis.  Aren't friends wonderful!

GRAHAM CAVE STATE PARK in MISSOURI

SMOKY MOUNTAINS TO CEDARS OF LEBANON STATE PARK, TENN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

Filtered sunlight, birds and butterflies, river sounds nearby.  It was a lovely morning and I took time to start sorting the items that I would be taking home with me from Kansas.
I am planning to leave the Roadtrek with friends Max and Cathy and fly home from Kansas so that Laura and I can leave on the 31st for Turkey and a sailing cruise to some Greek Islands with our super guide, Sidar.
I'm so afraid i will forget something vital such as camera cards or my Ipod.  Travel to Turkey without my Ipod!  Impossible!

The GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN National Park is beautiful.  What a shame to just drive through.

The Great Smokies ~ North Carolina side

The highest point in the Park

The veiw is fantastic!

I had hoped to get to Paducah, Kyntucky tonight but stopped at Lebanon, Tennessee after dark.  Humm.  I think it was raining too but the campsite was lovely in the morning.

Cedars of Lebanon State Park in Tenn.

GOODBYE & on to GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NP

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Goodby & on to GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NP




What a wonderful time we have had and what a sad parting from new friends. Dave and Sally did a masterful job putting this tour together. You can tell that many years of experience and a love of nature and history went into this Rally.

We had a fine idea for a gift for Sally and Dave.  Actually, after much discussion during happy hour while on Hunting Island Rene suggested a Bike bag since the Seavey's was in shreads.  Lee found the right one at Camping World and picked it up the day we got to Charlston.  Imagine his surprise when he got to the campground and noticed a brand new bike bag covering the Seavey's bikes.  They beat us out by two days.   Now they can do what they want with our gift which came in a handsome monitary form.

After leaving I called Chris for weather report since I had neglected to get one before leaving.  This is what she sent me: Severe thunderstorm threat extends from southeast Minnesota through the Mississippi Valley to southeastern Texas and in Nebraska and northern Kansase: 

My goal was the Great Smoky Mountains NP

I went all the way to hwy 19 just to find a blinking sign saying to turn around and take another route. Big accident. I was just 16 miles from the park and had to make about a 35 mile loop which included a terrific downpout.

But the park is beautiful!

My campsite was right next to the river

Smokemont Campground

CHARLSTON, LYMONS for lunch & BOONE … PLANTATION

Drove into town with Margy and John.  Dave told us about a parking garage with room for RVs.  We were waiting for a trolley when this guy came by on a bike and we crammed in!   I called Betty to take picture since she was already near our destination.  She was trying on clothes at Fresh Produce and came running out to find us.

Place holder :)

OLD SHELDON CHURCH and on to JAMES ISLAND STATE PARK

Yesterday Margy, John and I came up to look at the ruins of Old Sheldon Church built in 1745.

Marg said "Oh look, the annual service is tomorrow"  So.... I decided to go.  I'm so glad I did.  It was a great service with a brass quintet and it is apparently quite the event.   People brought in tables and the smell of food afterwards made me scurry for the van to find sustainence.  Alleluia!!  I found some Low Country Boil left over from a feast we had a couple of days ago.  Little red potatoes, spicy sausage, shrimp and corn  all boiled together.  Even cold it was delicious.  I think that I will have chocolate for desert.

HUNTING ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE ~ A TASTE OF BEAUFORT

Hunting Lighthouse

Going up...and up....and up

At the top, with a sea of pines behind me.

Dave, Jan, Dave, Sally, Sue, Dave, Judy
Yes, there were some men in the group that had other names.

BEAUFORT, SC and HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK

Beaufort is pronounced Bew-fort in South Carolina.

WORMSLOE STATE PARK, HILTON HEAD

Wormsloe was the plantation of Noble Jones who arrived in 1732 from England with James Oglethorpe.  It was fortunate that he died in 1776 as he was loyal to King George and would been disappointed in the outcome of the war.
His son was a Patriot and wupported the new republic.

The entry is Tara like.  These live oak trees were planted in the late 1800's.  Babies compared to some we have seen.

There were fortifications around the house




The bellows were pumped by hand.  Most everything was made on the spot.


HILTON HEAD

 

TYBEE ISLAND

SAVANNAH GHOSTS

Cemeteries and ghosts

SAVANNAH, GA.

Today we are going into Savannah. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. We will then be in a state park for three nights. Maybe time to catch our breath!