Heading North

We are heading North slowly---very slowly.  When we left Melbourne we drove to Clermont and stayed at Lake Louisa State Park.  We stayed there several years ago.  It is a fairly new park and it was good to see that the foliage has grown a lot since we were there last.  While I checked out the great view out our back window, the humans went to Universal Studios.  It has been about 15 years since they were last there and things had really changed.  They went to see all the new Harry Potter things and they weren't disappointed.  It was a long day, but they finally came home.  (I was really getting concerned--they usually don't leave me that long!).

The next morning we packed up and headed to Wilderness RV in Silver Springs.  It's another campground we have been to many times in the past.  We had a nice spot this time and I had a great view.  The humans went to Nancy's favorite flea-market (Markets of Marion) on Saturday. Shortly before they returned home, a red car I recognized from Wickham Park pulled in.  It was the Teeters and the Ciarlellos.   Apparently they were camping at Salt Springs and called N. while they were at the flea market and made plans to meet at our campsite.  It was good to see them again.  All six of them piled into Teeter's car and the went to Silver Springs State Park to ride the glass bottom boat.  (I can't imagine why anyone would get into anything that floats on the water, let alone a boat with a hole in the bottom that has been repaired with a sheet of glass!) The glass bottom boat ride is Florida's oldest tourist attraction.  The rest of our days there, the humans read a lot of books by the pool and spent time riding their bikes and soaking in the hot tub.

Next, our travels took is to Ft. Clinch in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.  The humans had tried to get in there, but no luck, and then Nancy happened the check the internet again and there was a site available for four days!  We found out after we got there that someone had to leave early and gave up the site.

Ft Clinch

Horses on Cumberland Island

I love Ft Clinch.  Lots of bugs and animals to watch right out of my window.  We were in the river campground and there were lots of trees and shade.  (Ron was not happy-----they trees put lots of yuck on the camper and awning)  The humans were gone a lot of the time and left me to catch up on my naps.  One day they spent the day driving around the island checking out all the beautiful houses and parks.  The last time they were here, they couldn't drive on the beaches because they didn't have 4WD.  Now they do, so they drove on every beach they could find.  They went to the harbor and watched the fishing boats come in and the pelicans beg as the fish were cleaned. They shopped (or at east looked) in some of the many shops downtown.   One day they took a boat tour.  They packed snacks and got to the boat at 10am for an almost three-hour tour of the harbor and Cumberland Island.  It was a fun ride and they learned a lot about the dying shrimping industry and history of the area.  They even got to see some of the wild horses on Cumberland Island.  The last day we were there the humans went to Mayport and took the ferry across to Jacksonville----to meet their friends from Wickham (again).  This time, the were at Hannah Park.  The three couples went out to eat at Singleton's in Atlantic Beach.

Wormsloe ruins

Yesterday we moved again---now we are at Savannah Oaks RV in Savannah GA.  We've never been here before---not a bad place, probably not worth what they are charging us per night, but is fairly near Savannah. Last night R&N went downtown and drove River Street.  It is cobblestone and I'm glad I wasn't along for that bumpy ride. It is lined with old cotton warehouses converted into shops and restaurants.

Today they drove out to see Wormsloe  Historic Site, The home of the oldest standing structure on Savannah. It was the estate of Noble Jones (1702–1775). Jones was a carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first group of settlers from England.  Next, they went to Skidaway Island and checked out the state park there.

On a whim on the way back, they stopped at Pin Point Heritage Museum.  What a great idea!  Nancy says is is probably one of the best historic museum tours they have ever been on.  You have got to watch the little film at the website.  It is a trailer for one they saw there about the village.  You get a great introduction to the Gullah/Gechee people and the crab and oyster industry.  Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a native of Pin Point.

On the way back to the camper they stopped at Bonaventure Cemetery.  It is a beautiful place with unique cemetery sculpture and architecture.  They planned only to drive by, but ended up driving around in it for almost an hour! 

Hard telling where they are going next....I'll keep you posted.....

Okeechobee

Solomon's Castle

We are in Okeechobee right now staying at Silver Palms.  This is what my humans would rate a four star resort....pool, beautifully landscaped, everything clean and neat, lots of amenities.  A feline rating would probably be a 3.  Some birds, no rabbits.  There might be more to see if we were nearer one of the many ponds.  There are also cattle adjacent to the one side of the park, but I'm not sure I want to see them.

Ron went shooting today and they both spent time at the pool the past two days. This evening they went out to eat and then to a boat parade.  I guess the lighted boats were really pretty, but since it involved water, I didn't want to go along.   It has been a lazy few days and tomorrow we are off to Melbourne and all of our friends at Wickham park.

These are pet blocks.  Better than a pet rock because they float.  It's name is Ilene

One of the last days we were in Sebring, my humans went to Ona to tour Solomon's Castle.  The pictures on the website are so much better than Nancy took- you should check it out.  The tour was lots of fun---funny and filled with puns. The art is amazing.  Much of it done out of trash. R&N even got to talk with the owner/artist, an amazing man. There is a more info here at Trip Advisor

Another carving from the gift shop at Solomon's Castle.  They are tacks shelters

I'll add pictures of Okeechobee in the next post.  Had to share the castle pictures this time.

Lion made out of an oil drum.  The thing that looks like a ball bat under it is a lion's club

After 6685 miles we are home!

Ohio River

After leaving Missouri , we drove through Illinois. At Ciro we started following the Ohio River and continued on this scenic route across the state.  Although we didn't make very good time, the scenery was beautiful with all the fall colors.  We drove through a town called Metropolis.   In 1972 the Illinois legislature designated it the home town of Superman.  There is a museum dedicated to and a 15' tall statue of the super hero.  I thought the bronze statue was scary, but there were lots of people there taking pictures of it. That night we drove across the river At Evansville and stayed at John James Audubon State Park in Kentucky.  I sure didn't see many birds at this park---you would think that a park named after JJ Audubon would be filled with birds.

Path to the cave

 

Cave In Rock

The next day we stopped at Cave in Rock State Park IL.  There is a big cave (in a rock) that is visible from the river.  In pioneer times it was a landmark and shelter for travelers.  We spent that night at an Indiana State Recreation area called Hardy Lake.  Our last night on the road was at Shipshewana IN. The humans ate at a chicken restaurant and I got to have a kitty bag with yummy fried chicken and homemade noodles.



Horses at Shipshewana



Well….There you have it: 12 states, at least 8 National Parks, at least 18 campgrounds, and over 6600 miles, We’ve seen mountains, deserts, rocks, the Pacific Ocean, lots of different plants and animals, sand dunes and a 15’ superman. Stay tuned for our next adventure.  I’m guessing it will involve palm trees and warm weather sometime after Christmas.



Spring Trip 2012

We have been traveling again!  It has really been great to be back in the camper ----I didn’t realize how much I missed my naps on the bed and couch and watching all the wildlife at the different campgrounds.

We left home last Thursday and met Harry and Bobbi at a restaurant on 127.  After the humans had a breakfast and I had a nap in the back seat of the truck, we were off to the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners MI.  I got to wait in the camper because the humans were in the museum a long time.  That was ok; I had lunch, while they checked out all the beautiful classic cars.  The Gilmore has one of the best collections around.  There are special collections of Pierce-Arrows, a Tucker, Franklins, Cadillac-LaSalles and more.  Check them out at: http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/.  We spent the night at Woodchip Campground at Byron Center, southwest if Grand Rapids.

We were off again on Friday morning---to Mesick and the Mushroom Festival.  We camped at a place called Northern Exposure, a campground on the Manistee River.  Consumer’s power dammed up part of the river to make a hydro-electric plant and created a lovely lake and the campground was on the edge.  We stayed two nights.  Our campsite was tucked in the woods---so I had a lot to look at.  The people beside up said that they saw a bear while they were out looking for morel mushrooms, so I kept a watchful eye out for one.  The humans took Harry’s 4 wheel drive truck and check out some of the seasonal roads in the area then they stopped at a huge flea market which was part of the festival.

Saturday was the big day---the Mushroom Festival and parade.  They got up and got to town early so they could have pasties (made and served by the Masonic Lodge) and gravy for brunch.  The parade was at noon followed by mud bog races, horse pulling and a craft show.

Sunday we were off again---to Pentwater and the Whispering Surf campground.  On the way we stopped at Kaleva MI to see a house that was made out of 60,000 pop bottles.   As we were leaving Harry saw a sign for breakfast at the Masonic Temple; so we stopped.  While there Nancy found out about a 10’ grasshopper that was made to honor the grasshopper that saved the Finnish wine crop. (It is actually a made up story to compete with St. Patrick’s Day.  Google Saint Urho for more info).  Today (Monday) they went to Silver Lake Sand Dunes to see how Harry’s truck would do on the sand. (It did fine---even went easily up test hill).   I’m glad I didn’t go along---those hills sure look big and in the pictures.  Ron said that some of the hills they went up were a 27 degree angle!

Tomorrow we are heading home----darn.

10' Grasshopper

The Bottle house

Seasonal Road

Top of test hill at Silver Lake Sand Dunes



Hunting Island SC Beach



As you have probably figured out---we are home.  In fact we have been home for over a month!  As usual, I have been a lazy cat and didn’t do a final entry for our 2012 Florida trip.  Let me get you caught up:



Lighthouse at Hunting Island



Our next stop was Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort South Carolina.  Hunting Island State Park is one of the most popular state parks and beach areas in South Carolina. Our campsite was right on the beach, which was beautiful.  It was just sand as far as the eye could see.  The only people using the beach were the people in the campground.  The Hunting Island historic lighthouse is the only lighthouse open to the public to climb in the state. (Which my humans did not do!  They did get some really neat pictures of it, though.)  There was also a  fishing pier which reaches 1120 feet into the Fripp Inlet.   Except for the no-see-ums, it was a beautiful campground.



Drive through Hunting Island State Park



On our way to Beaufort we stopped at the Smallest Church in America.  At South Newport, Georgia: The still active Memory Park Christ Chapel was built in 1950, it measures 10 ft. x 15 ft., has space for 13 people, a shrimpy pulpit, and a stained glass window with just enough space for Jesus. Grocer Agnes Harper built the church, and wrote the deed in the name of Jesus Christ. It is open 24/7 to all denominations.



We spent our last night on the road in Guernsey County Ohio at Salt Fork State Park.  As Ohio's largest state park, Salt Fork boasts 17,229-acres of recreational facilities, including a large reservoir and a lodge.

Wisconsin Dells

Another trip in the truck today to another campground.  Tonight we are in Wisconsin Dells!  On the way we stopped to see a drinking fountain built for both horses and humans.  (Guess they forgot that cats need water too!)  Next we stopped at the Spam Museum in Ausin Minnesota.  I love Spam, but they didn't bring me out any samples :(  Along the way we saw a lot of wind farms.  The windmills are really huge and scary---I wonder what kind of seeds they grow from?  We finally made it to the KOA in Wisconsin Dells.  The humans went to check out the town, while I took a nap.  I hear it is wall to wall tourist traps---sorta a cross between Gatlinburg and Niagra Falls.  A person could go broke just going to all the things here.  They ended up at the Ho Chung casino for buffet supper and to play some slots. 



Storm over Nebraska Farmland



We moved to a new campsite today.  I had to laugh (or at least smile behind my whiskers); the only two times today when is really poured down rain is when Ron had to hook up/put away and unhook/set up the camper.  I helped by staying out of the way, under the bedspread.  The rest of the day it was just cloudy and sprinkling most of the time. 



Fly on flank of statue of horse



We traveled from Smith Center Kansas to Ogallala Nebraska.   Ogallala first gained fame as a terminus for cattle drives that traveled from Texas to the Union Pacific railhead located here.  It was also a stop on the Pony express.



The Trail Boss.  Bronze statue at Boot Hill in Ogallala Nebraska



 “Gomorrah of the cattle trail” That’s how one trail driver, Andy Adams described early Ogallala.  In his book, “Log of a Cowboy” Adams, who first came up the trail in 1875 said: “We finally scaled the last divide and there below in the valley of the South Platte, nestled Ogallala, the Gomorrah of the cattle trail.  From amongst its half hundred buildings, no church spire pointed upward, but instead three-fourths of its business houses were dance halls, gambling houses and saloons.”[1]

After getting settled at the Country View Campground, the humans went to check out the area.  They visited Boot Hill Cemetery and Lake McConaughy. 

The lake is Nebraska’s largest reservoir with more than 35,000 surface acres and 105 miles of shoreline.  The dam, which impounds the North Platte River, is 20 miles long, 4 miles wide and 142’ deep at the dam.  At 3.5 miles long, 162’ high and 1,100 feet thick at the base, it is the largest earthen dam in the United States.  The state’s largest hydro-electric plant is located at the dam.



Dam at Lake McConaughy



Tomorrow we head for the black hills.  Ron and Nancy both put on long pants and sweatshirts------glad I have my fur coat on!  It has been in the 80s and now we have the heater on.

[1] Lake McConaughy, Ogallala 2011 Area Tour and Travel Guide

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Smith Center Kansas



Windfarm



Geezzz---where did all this wind come from?  Not only is it windy, dust is blowing everywhere.  I’m so dusty----I don’t think I have enough spit to get myself clean!   Apparently it is extra windy, because even the locals are complaining.  They are predicting 45 mph wind gusts tomorrow---glad we are not traveling.  We drove from Emporia to Smith Center today.  It was really gusty, but we took it slow and got here safely.

Getting in the crops

On the way we saw a lot of farmland---it seemed to go on forever.  I had hoped to see tumbleweed---and I did-just as it hit our truck!  It was a big one too, but didn’t do any damage.  I can’t figure how it could hit us; we were the only vehicle on the road for a couple miles each way!  I also got to see cowboys working cattle on horses.  Boy am I’m glad I’m not a horse, those saddles look uncomfortable, this stupid collar with the clinking bells is bad enough.



Ron with World's Largest ball of Twine



We stopped at Cawker City and saw the world’s largest ball of twine. Frank Stoeber started the World's Largest Ball of Twine in 1953. In just 4 years the giant ball of twine weighed 5,000 pounds and stood 8 feet high. Stoeber gave the ball of twine to Cawker City, Kansas in 1961. Today the ball weighs almost 9 tons.

After we got set up at the campground in Smith Center, the humans drove over to Kensington to look for a grave and try to find property owned by one of Nancy’s Great Uncles---they found both!  Afterwards they made a grocery run and brought me home eggs and sausage for supper.  Needless to say, they didn’t eat outside---just too windy.  We have great internet here, but no TV reception.  So while I caught up on my napping, they went to a movie (The Help).  Tomorrow they are off to court houses and libraries.








Lake of the Ozarks

View of Lake of the Ozarks from our campsite

(This installment written Monday October 3rd)  Today was a travel day.  We left St. Louis Missouri in the morning after most of the rush hour traffic had cleared downtown and we could get out of the campground easily.  Traveling West on I70 took us to Midway Truck Stop.  Is the half-way point between St. Louis and Kansas City and is also the subject of a documentary on Travel Channel.  We stopped and had a piece of pie and then headed to Lake of the Ozarks.  At the time it was built, in 1931, it was the largest man-made lake in the world and has 1150 miles of shoreline.  We are staying at the state park on the lake shore.  Out campsite overlooks the lake.  I can see fish jumping from the camper window and sure wish one of the humans would get out of their lawn chair and catch me one!  No phone service, internet, or TV here----so I guess I’ll just curl up on the bed and have a nap!



Midway Travel Plaza



St. Louis Missouri

VW made to look like for Corvette for movie 
Death Star 2000

Corvette made for a 70s movie

 Day two of our trip finds us in St. Louis Missouri. The humans ate breakfast at the restaurant at the campground and then we all headed west towards Missouri.  Except for the construction on a lot of I-70, it as a pretty uneventful trip.  We stopped in Effingham Illinois.  I took a nice nap while Ron and Nancy checked out all the corvettes at the Mid-American Corvette museum.  We stopped at Culvers for lunch before getting  back on the road.  The traffic trying to get over the bridge on the Mississippi was stop and go for about six miles.  Construction caused the traffic to narrow down from six lanes to one.  The whole process looked just plain scary to me, so I just hid under the seat.

We finally made it to our stopping place.  I guess it is a campground, but maybe it is a parking lot.  It is right downtown St. Louis and is completely black-top.  No picnic tables, no kitty snacks, but plenty of campers.  We didn’t have any trouble knowing where to park.  The campsites are marked by lines on the pavement, just like a grocery store parking lot.  I can’t see where there is going to be much to see out the windows, so I guess I will just have to watch the lady bug that is walking around on our ceiling.  After we got set-up, the humans went to check out the area.  The drove by the arch, (which they are going back to tomorrow), walked around the train station and then set off to find a restaurant that was featured on “Diners, Drive-ins  and Dives.  They found it, but decided that is might be better to visit it in the daylight.

The internet here is not very good—so I don’t know when I will get this posted----hopefully soon.



Arch at St. Louis Missouri