On the road again with Ginger

LEAVING DURANGO

2010-06-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful week I had in Durango! As I mentioned previously, my condo was right downtown and I could walk nearly everywhere. I finally got adjusted to the altitude, so walking wasn't as difficult and, besides, it was good exercise! I attended to alot of "duties" this week, including getting the oil changed and tires rotated in the Roadtrek, getting a pedicure, a haircut, and doing some laundry. I think I visited every shop in Durango at least twice, bought a couple pieces of jewelry, had a couple of drinks at the Diamond Belle Saloon and listened to the Ragtime Piano Player. It's a really fun place that we enjoyed during our summer in Durango and we took all our guests there, too. On Wednesday I took a van trip to Silverton which is about an hour and 10 minute drive over some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, but on some very dangerous roads with lots of horseshoe curves, and no shoulder! It is not a drive I would do by myself, especially in the Roadtrek! I had lunch in Silverton at Handlebars, which was always a favorite of ours, did a little shopping, and then took the train back to Durango. The Durango Silverton Railroad is a coal based narrow gauge railroad and takes 3 1/2 hours to return to Durango. It's a beautiful ride through the mountains, close to the snowcapped peaks, past many waterfalls, and rocky canyons. Some of us saw a brown bear which was a real treat! It was a gorgeous day and even at the higher elevations, I only needed a coat for a short period of time. Durango had unusually warm weather at the beginning of the week, but the nights were always pleasantly cool. I left Durango this morning and it was cool all day long. I know this won't last, so I'm enjoying it while I can. I went to the Trimble Hot Springs one day which has a heated Olympic Size Pool and two natural hot springs, one at 110 degrees which is too hot, and one at 104 degrees which is just right. While there I decided to get a massage and what a treat that was! My neck and shoulders were really tense, probably from all the driving I've been doing, and a soak in the hot springs afterwards made me relax even more.

Saturday night I went to a Melodrama called "The Tavern." A melodrama is a Victorian stage melodrama featuring a hero, the villain, the heroine, an aged parent and a comic man. "The Tavern" was exceptionally good, well acted and very entertaining! Rafters and kayakers were everywhere over the weekend for "Animas River Days" and the water is still flowing freely from the melting snow. The water was really brown at the beginning of the week but has started to clear.

On Friday I went to Bayfield, a small town about 20 miles from Durango, to visit my cousin Jackie Hanson and her husband, Ted. I met her through my genealogy research about 10 years ago and she's a third cousin. Ted was a country western singer years ago and Jackie was the vocalist for his band. They traveled all over the western part of the country in a bus for 20 years and then settled in Colorado. They maintain a 300 acre ranch now that belongs to a woman and her family from Chicago. Jackie and Ted have their own house on the ranch and the family owned home has 6 bedrooms and, of course, is much larger. Ted, with the help of some ranch hands, takes care of the property and Jackie takes care of the guest house. They had an elk come to visit them this past winter that stayed in the barn with some of the horses. He still appears regularly, but he was nowhere in the sight the day I was there. I hadn't seen them for six years and we had a really nice visit. Jackie broke her hip about a month ago, but she's doing well, although moving around slowly.

As I begin my trek home, I leave with mixed emotions. The mountains here are so beautiful and look more like a picture than a reality. It was a wonderful trip, but I'm looking forward to going home and spending some time at the beach now that summer is in full swing! I just wish it wasn't so far from the East coast to the rockies! Depending on WiFi service along the way, I will try to send another Blog; otherwise, I will send one after I get home.

DURANGO, CO - MY FINAL DESTINATION

2010-06-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

I ended my last blog in Estes, Park, CO - nearly a week ago. I left on Wednesday, May 26 and I spent that night in Denver with Beverly Winters, a friend I had met while taking ballroom dance lessons in New Bern, NC. She moved to Colorado nearly three years ago, so we had a lot of catching up to do and she treated me to a delicious dinner at the Washington Park Grill, a great restaurant in Denver. I left there the next morning for Buena Vista, CO. It was a relatively short drive but through a very mountainous area which greatly made me appreciate being a North Carolina "Flatlander!" The views were beautiful but mostly 20 to 30 mph curves with steep inclines and 6 to 7% declines so I didn't have much of an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of those mountains! I had intended to spend a couple of nights in Buena Vista but there wasn't much to do there so I spent the one night and headed to Durango a day early. The campground in Buena Vista was very nice and I've attached a picture of my campsite. Some of you reading this may not have seen my Roadtrek, so this will give you a good glimpse of what I've been driving these past three weeks! The picture of the snow on the mountains that I've attached was taking while I was driving (I know!) over Wolf Creek Pass and at the crest there was snow everywhere. There was nowhere to pull over to take a picture but I wanted to show how close I was to the snow!

I arrived in Durango on Friday, 4 June and this is my final destination. I will be heading home on Sunday but will take a week to get back to North Carolina. My husband and I worked in Durango for 4 1/2 months 10 years ago at the Alpen Rose Campground. Durango is my favorite city - and I've been to many - so it holds a special place in my heart. I spent two nights at that same campground and it's one of the nicest campgrounds I've ever been to. I walked through the downtown area and drove around - refamiliarizing myself with the area. The Animas River runs through Durango and right now it is raging with melted snow from the mountains. You can always see a raft or kayak on the water as rafting is a big business here and many places in this part of Colorado.

I'm in a timeshare now for the rest of the week and it's in a great location right downtown. I can walk to shops, restaurants, etc., instead of driving and trying to find a parking place. I drove to the Durango Ski Resort yesterday where they have many summer activities, including an alpine slide and chairlift, but not much is open except on the weekends until the end of June. It was a pretty drive, at least, with spectacular mountain views! I also stopped at Honeyville, a shop that produces their own honey in flavors like Amaretto, Maple Hazelnut, Strawberry, Cinnamon (their best seller) and it's great on toast or bagels. In fact, I think I'll have a bagel after I finish this blog!

Last night I stopped in at the Diamond Belle Saloon and listened to the Ragtime piano player. It was a fun crowd and just a short walk from here.

Tomorrow I'll be taking the train from Durango to Silverton, a 2 1/2 hour train ride on an historic steam train. I'll spend a couple of hours in Silverton, have lunch, and return by bus. We took this same train ride several times during the summer we lived here and the scenery is spectacular.

Durango is at an elevation of about 6500 feet and I'm slowly getting acclimated to the altitude. Days are warm but nights are refreshingly cool. Shops keep their doors open and most restaurants have outdoor seating since there really aren't many bugs here. It's really a delightful place! More later in the week! I hope you are all well.

2010-06-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is my fifth and last night in beautiful Estes Park, CO. Not only are there snow-capped mountains surrounding the town, but around every corner are mountain streams filled with rushing water from the snow that is still melting. Fly fisherman abound and sports enthusiasts from hikers to bicyclists can be seen everywhere. This past weekend was Memorial Weekend and the town was bustling with tourists. The downtown area has many shops catering to the Western lifestyle, interspersed with restaurants, coffee shops, and many stores selling fudge, taffy or ice cream! There was a craft fair on the town square with some high end hand made items. The only thing I bought was a piece of stained glass made to look like an aspen leaf branch with five leaves. It's very pretty and almost looks like crushed leaves are inside the glass but the craftsman assured me it was all glass. This is the elk calving season and because of the close proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park, the elk and other wildlife can be seen almost anywhere in and around town. A sign upon entering the town remindsyou to watch for wildlife on every street in Estes Park. Many homes have wire around their plants and shrubs to prevent the elk from eating them. One day I saw five elk running on an actual running path at the edge of the highway. Yesterday there were four bull elk grazing at the side of the road and I was able to find a place at the side of the road to take some good pictures. That was an awesome sight! There are gophers running all over this campground and today one got inside an empty plastic cup that someone had thrown on the ground. It was so funny! Today I didn't see any elk but did get a picture of two deer in a residential district. It's been fun to drive around in search of wildlife!

Saturday night I attended a Chuckwagon Dinner right here in the campground and it was a delicious meal, followed by entertainment. We were served brisket, baked beans, coleslaw, corn bread and a brownie for dessert. Cowboy poets are popular here in the west and they tell stories and sing songs interspersed with bits of humor. Bill Barwick was the poet Saturday night, although he was more of a comedian than a singer and it was first class entertainment. I met a very nice couple from Nebraska who farm 6,000 acres of wheat in the western part of the State. DiAnna and I are already Facebook friends! If you're reading this, thanks again for your company, DiAnna and Roger!

Tomorrow I'm headed for Denver and will spend the night with a friend and then I'll be in Buena Vista, CO for two nights, followed by a week in Durango. Stay tuned for more Blogs to follow!

2010 SUMMER TRIP TO COLORADO

2010-05-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Friday, 28 May 2010

I've been traveling for 12 days now, and I'm finally finding time to write something on my blog. Many of you know that I left Morehead City on 17 May for a 5 week trip to Colorado, and I arrived in Estes Park, CO today! As I'm typing this I'm looking out my window at some snow- capped mountains and they are breathtakingly beautiful. I fell in love with Colorado at the age of 15 when my family and I came here on vacation. I can't tell you how many times we recalled our excitement at seeing the Rocky Mountains for the very first time! And I feel that same excitement every time I see them even after all these years!

I started my trip with a visit to Gary and Della Foster for two nights in the NC mountains in Maggie Valley. Della and I worked in the Headquarters Building together at MCAS Cherry Point for many years. They have a lovely home and we had fun catching up. Gary loves to cook and made some delicious meals. While he was at home making his own pasta, Della and I went shopping in Waynesville, a great little town with lots of neat shops and galleries. We also made a stop at the Steeplechase Olde English Toffee Shop. They have the best toffee ever!
After leaving Maggie Valley, I spent one night in a campground in Tennessee and then spent two nights at Doug and Patti Workman's in Bartlett, TN, a suburb of Memphis. When we moved to NC in 1978, Patti was a young Navy nurse and Doug was in the Marine Corps. We visited them at some of their duty stations including San Diego, Hawaii, and Bethesda and have made several visits to their Memphis home. Those of you who followed my blog last year may remember that I went to their daughter's wedding in Scranton, PA as part of my trip. Although Doug wasn't home, Patti and I had a good time visiting, and we even went to see a movie.
After another night in a campground, I spent two nights with my sister, Cheryl, in Rowley, IA. She and her husband. Buck, have driven a truck for many years and are only home two days a week, so I planned my visit to coincide with those days. When I left there on Tuesday morning, we were all headed in the same direction, so I met them at a truck stop on the way to Council Bluffs, IA where we had a late breakfast. I'm attaching a picture of them by their truck. Cheryl has a brace on her foot since she broke it several weeks ago. She says it doesn't hurt but it's just awkward to walk and sleep with it on.

Next stop was to visit my other sister, Jeanette and her husband, Joe, in Council Bluffs, IA. She took a day off work and we did a little sightseeing in Omaha which is right across the river. There's a new pedestrian bridge that you can walk across

from Iowa to Nebraska and I've included a couple of those pictures. You can actually stand in both States at the same time! There are some beautiful bronze sculptures in downtown Omaha depicting the pioneer life era. They are incredibly lifelike! One of them was made to look as if they were stuck in the mud and a little boy is behind pushing it. Jeanette insisted she take a picture of me pretending to push it, too, and I can't believe I'm going to attach it here. A rear shot is not my best image, but what the heck! We also went to an upscale Mall in West Omaha, ate at a nice restaurant, and rode the ferris wheel that's inside a sporting goods store called Scheel's.
Last night I was at a campground in Ogallala, NE and it was terribly windy with nothing but open prairie and nothing to break the wind. The speed limit is 75 but I could only go about 62 because this Roadtrek does not handle well in the wind. I got new shocks before I left and that did made a big difference, but the way it's built is not conducive to strong winds. In the midst of I-80 across Nebraska in all that wilderness and wind, a car from Florida passed me with two surfboards on top. I can't imagine where they were going unless it was to California!

This ends my first posting and the next one won't be too far behind! Saying hello to everyone from the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains!

2009-08-23T16:58:00.000-07:00

I had some items in the refrigerator and since I was not plugged into electricity while staying at the Ramada Inn, I turned on the propane to keep everything cool. The frig works on electric, 12 volt or propane. However, when I checked the frig before I took the RT to the repair shop, it was not cool. The RT needs to be level so that the coolant is evenly distributed and will cool thoroughly, but it was on a slight slant and I guess that was the problem. I had more important things to worry about, so I just left everything in the frig and disposed of it later.

When I arrived at the repair shop, the mechanic determined they couldn't work on it because they didn't have a heavy duty lift. However, they called another store in their franchise that could look at it, but I would have to wait about an hour before they could get to it. I didn't care as long as SOMEONE looked at it! It was only about 7 miles away, and the owner was apologetic and wrote out the directions for me. When I arrived at the second shop, the manager assured me they would be happy to evaluate the situation but that there would be a wait. I told him it wasn't a problem - I was desperate! After about an hour, the mechanic asked me to explain the problem I had experienced the day before. He didn't see that anything was wrong with the caliper but did say that the mechanic who did the previous repair didn't clean it up very well, and there was alot of grease and other residue around that area. Twenty minutes later, they told me the RT was ready. The mechanic never did find a problem and could only assume the smoke was from the residue/grease and/or new brake pads. They didn't charge me anything! I was very thankful, but still a little leery of the whole situation. He test drove it and did alot of braking and didn't notice a problem with the steering which would be indicative of a caliper problem. I really did encounter some very nice people in that area with great customer service. Except for the woman in the campground, that is!

My next destination was Bristow, VA to spend a couple of days with my daughter, Lori, her husband, Chris, and 3 year old granddaughter, Hannah. I didn't experience any problems driving, just alot of construction and other traffic delays. At times, though, the RT just didn't feel right, and I will have it checked at the local Dodge dealer before I attempt any more long trips.

I had a nice visit with the kids and took care of Hannah all day on Thursday which was a treat for me! I had never had her for a whole day, and she's a well-behaved child and alot of fun! My son and his family live in that area, too, but their children were at Tae Kwon Do camp and had other things going on, so I will see them on the next visit.

I arrived home Friday afternoon 3,772 miles later, and I drove through 12 States and the province of Ontario, Canada. Gas prices averaged $2.58 per gallon. The lowest price was $2.37 in Kinston, NC and the highest was $2.79 in Leicester, NY. That does not include the $35 I spent for gas in Canada. I never could quite figure out how much it was per gallon since prices are listed in liters, but I believe it was around $3.80 per gallon.

Driving much of the time was not pleasant as I was mostly on Interstates and experienced alot of construction and delays and I had the added worry of mechanical problems on this trip. I think on future long distance trips I will re-think driving on Interstates, allow more time and take secondary routes. I'm getting older and my van is getting older so we need to pamper each other! The visits with family and friends, the wedding and 50th wedding anniversary celebration were all very special. I reunited with old friends at the rallies and made new friends and that's what life is all about! Next year I hope to go West again and will definitely create a blog for that trip as well. This was a new experience for me and a "chore" at times, but it was also fun and a great way to preserve the memories. I keep a daily handwritten journal, but I would not have elaborated as much with that. I hope you've enjoyed traveling along with me. Until next time.................................Ginger

WEDNESDAY, 19 AUG - LEAVING CANADA

2009-08-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Since I was only about 20 miles from the border, I had a leisurely drive and an easy border crossing once again. The agent asked me where I had been and where I was going and also asked for my license plate number. When I told her I had been to a Roadtrek Rally, she was very interested in the Roadtrek, wanted to know if I liked driving it, etc., since she was looking for something similar. She must have spent at least five minutes talking to me while vehicles were lining up behind me! I didn't have much Canadian money left which was lucky because, once again, I didn't see anywhere to exchange it. So I left with a $5 bill, some change which I can use in the States, and a couple of Loonies and a Toonie which I will keep for Show and Tell!

After driving in New York through quite a bit of construction I thought I smelled something again (as in the brakes!) but when I stopped to get gas, the smell has dissipated and I didn't see any smoke so I hoped it had been my imagination. Needless to say, I was a little paranoid after what had happened before and this was the most I had driven since the prior incident.

My plans were to stay at the Highland Campground near Clarks Summit, PA near Scranton and is rated fairly high in the Trailer Life Directory. Trailer Life has been my bible for selecting where to stay. It lists campgrounds by State and city and they are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for: completeness of facilities/cleanliness and physical characteristics of restrooms and showers/visual appearance and environmental quality. I don't like to stay at a campground unless their restroom/showers are rated at least an 8. Even at that, some of them should be rated lower! This campground was rated: 7/8.5/8 which is pretty good ,and it was one of the few that was about midway between Canada and my daughter's in Virginia. I also picked up a nice brochure about the campground at the Pennyslvania Tourist Center. When I got off the Interstate headed for the campground, I was on narrow two lane roads with lots of curves and turns and I felt like I was headed for the middle of nowhere. I could not find the campground even though I was on the right road. I ended up going in a circle since the sign for the campground entrance was so small that I missed it! You would think with the amount of money they spent on advertising they would have spent more money to get a decent sign! I called the campground and gave the woman who answered the phone very specific info and landmarks as to where I was and she didn't have a clue! Well, with all the twists and turns and hills and valleys, the "smell" was returning - big time - and smoke was coming from the left front behind the tire! I went into panic mode since I couldn't find the campground and I knew I was several miles from civilization! Finally, I saw the small sign that led directly to the campground. The "office" was a small trailer and the woman I had spoken to earlier was at the desk. She was suffering from a "low sugar" attack, was very shaky and was drinking orange juice and trying to open a candy bar! (This is all funny to me now but was not at all humorous when it happened!) When I asked if they had a site for one night she asked if I had reservations which I didn't. She rolled her eyes and I thought she was going to tell me they didn't have anything available. More panic! She was unfriendly, disgruntled and trying to recover from her low blood sugar attack but she finally found a site for me for the night. I paid her and then asked if there was WiFi throughout the campground. She pointed to a picnic table OUTSIDE and said that's where the hookup was. Then she informed me that the bathrooms were right across from the site she had assigned me but that the showers were across from the office. I drove a short ways to find my campsite and saw that the sites were way at the bottom of a hill which meant I would have to walk a good distance to the showers and lug my laptop to the top of the hill to use WiFi and it looked like it was going to rain! Add to the fact that I had some kind of van problems! So I made a U-turn, didn't even stop to get a refund and left in pursuit of a motel! You can bet I will be writing a letter to the campground and also to Trailer Life about the false advertising!

My GPS directed me to a Hampton Inn about 6 miles away and the brakes were still hot but not as bad. The Hampton Inn was full but the clerk was nice enough to call the Ramada Inn next door and they had a vacancy. When I explained to the desk clerk that I had planned to stay at a campground but was having van problems and changed my mind, he took $10 off my bill. He also gave me a coupon for 10% off at Damon's restaurant next door. So I ended up with a nice room, cable TV, WiFI, a big bed and a great bathroom! It just cost me alot more than I had planned on!

On the way to the hotel, I noticed a tire/muffler/auto repair shop not too far away. I called them, told them my problem and they said to bring it in first thing in the a.m. In retrospect, I should have taken it directly there before I checked into the hotel, but it was late afternoon, I was afraid they wouldn't be able to fix it then, and I just didn't feel like dealing with it at that time. I had never heard of a caliper until two weeks ago and now it had come back to haunt me! It was the right caliper that had been replaced previously, plus new brake pads on both sides and it was the left side that was now smoking. In my limited technical knowledge, I suspected perhaps the left caliper had suddenly gone bad or that the repairs had not been done properly in Canada.

After a good night's sleep and a great free breakfast at the Ramada, I proceeded to see what was wrong with the van. This is continued on the next post.

MONDAY IN NIAGARA FALLS

2009-08-18T18:38:00.001-07:00

Niagara has a shuttle that leaves from various points around the city, and you can ride it all day for just $6.00. It stops at the campground which is very convenient and I decided to take it in the a.m. since I wanted to see the Falls again. I had visited the tourist attractions when I was in Canada five years ago and did not ride the Maid of the Mist this time. One of the pictures is of passengers boarding the boat in their blue raincoats. It was a very hot, steamy day and I was amazed at the throngs of tourists lining the streets. I heard many different languages being spoken, so I'm assuming there were several different countries represented. I spent a long time watching the amazing Falls, did some shopping, had lunch and then headed for the Niagara Casino. When we registered for the Rally we were given a rebate in Canadian money because of the exchange rate, and what better way to get rid of it! I realize that's not the right mindset, but I'm not a big gambler, don't ever win much and I wanted to see what I could do with $20. I played the 1 cent machines for over an hour and ended up with $22. Not a bad way to spend some time. I ended up spending my Canadian money in a gift shop! I actually had planned to stop at another Casino on the way back to the campground but decided I should quit while I was ahead. The rest of the day was uneventful and I pretty much stayed in the RT in the air conditioning since it was so hot. I enjoyed a walk around the campground once it cooled off a little. I've tried to get some walking in every day and most of the campgrounds have been nice for walking. Tomorrow I will head for home!

SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST - THE RALLY ENDS

2009-08-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

After a quick breakfast and final goodbyes, I left Fergus headed for the town of Orangeville, about 20 miles away. Orangeville has an Art Walk of carved trees on the main street and many of the side streets. In order to preserve trees that have died, Ontario artists have come to Orangeville to make beautiful carvings from the tree stumps. Orangeville is another pretty town with beautiful flowers lining the streets, well-kept lawns and a thriving downtown business section. This was Sunday morning, though, so I easily found a place to park and walked about a mile taking pictures of the various carvings. I've included some of the photos.

Once I left Orangeville, I headed for Niagara Falls, ON and stayed in a nice campground called Campark. Catering to families, there were many tent campers and popups and not many large rigs. They have a waterpark, large pool and many planned activities for campers - old and young alike. Even though I arrived mid-afternoon I decided to "chill out" again and try to get caught up on my blog and due a few other chores inside the Roadtrek. There's a shuttle from the Campground to the Falls and other places of interest and I will take that tomorrow, although I've been here before and done most of the "touristy" things!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15TH AT FERGUS RALLY

2009-08-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

After another continental breakfast, those of us on the Executive Committee gathered for the semi-annual Executive Board (bored!) Meeting. After three hours (yawn!) the major decision was that we have enough money in the Treasury and won't need to raise dues next year. Our dues are only $10 per year and Roadtrek Motorhomes gives us some compensation each year. After the long morning, I "chilled out" during the afternoon while others went to St. Jacobs Market, an upper class farmer's market near here and reputed to be one of the best of its kind. I had been there five years ago when I attended another Canadian Rally, so I decided to skip it this time. I remember mentioning that everyone thought it was hot here a few days ago. Well, today it WAS hot and that's one of the reasons I elected not to go. Thankfully, it still cools off at night.

One of the organizers of the Rally asked if I would help her with table decorations for tonight's dinner, so I gladly accepted. Pictures are attached and I got to keep one of the bags of flowers since I was the member at our table who had been with the organization the longest! After dinner there was a review of what the Executive Committee discussed this morning (another yawn!). Most of us lingered to bid our farewells to old and new friends since many don't make it to breakfast the day of departure. The people I meet are what makes these rallies so special for me. We all have Roadtreks in common, but that's where the similarities exist. Everyone is from somewhere else, and they come from all walks of life. There are millionaires, former teachers, professional dancers, charter bus drivers, retired military, etc. It's difficult to know the age of most of the trekkers, but I think I'm safe in saying that it's at least age 72. I guess I'm one of the younger ones! And I usually meet someone that I feel a special connection with and that happened at this rally. I won't mention any names because someone may feel slighted if they are reading my blog and I didn't mention them. Tomorrow morning we will depart and bid our final farewells until the next rally.

FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST - FERGUS, ON RALLY

2009-08-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

This day was mostly set aside for seminars, meetings and question and answer sessions. I am the primary Vice President for Region 1 which consists of NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, VA, TN, and KY. The organization is divided into nine regions and each region has two Vice Presidents. There were 28 of us from Region 1 and I presided over a short meeting in the morning. There was a Seminar for Women only that I have previously attended, so I skipped that and the technical seminars as well. I feel that I've learned as much about my Roadtrek in the past 8 years that I can personally handle and will leave the rest up to the experts!

I did attend a presentation in the afternoon which was a lighthearted historical review of the Fergus area but it wasn't very interesting and I left early.

Dinner was again catered and we had a delicious casserole of pasta, chicken and pesto, rolls, salad and coconut cream or chocolate pie. We were entertained after dinner by the Grand Celtic Pipe Band and a display of highland dancing by four young ladies. The youngest bagpiper in the Band looked to be about 6 years old and we were told he has only been playing for a year. They had just returned from participating in the Highland Games and were very entertaining!

We had a huge campfire afterwards in an open field, and there must have been at least 100 people who attended. We brought our chairs and were entertained by two of our members who played the accordion and flute and we sang along to some old familiar songs. It was a chilly night and it was after 10 p.m. by the time I left. Perfect ending to a nice day.

THURSDAY, 13 AUGUST, FIRST FULL RALLY DAY

2009-08-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Most rallies have an early morning breakfast call because of the day's events and this one was no exception. I'm usually awake early but like to relax with coffee and watch the news before I actually get dressed. Breakfast was from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. each morning and the shower facilities are limited so unless you shower in your rig (which I don't), it's helpful to get there early and stand in line. At 6 a.m. there were two others ahead of me! After a continental breakfast of fresh fruit, homemade scones and muffins, we boarded buses at 9:15 for an hour long trip to the Home and Park Motorhomes, Inc. - the factory where the Roadtreks are made. Although production is down, they are still producing new ones, and we were able to see the Roadtreks in various stages of being made. It's an interesting concept, especially when they just start from a shell of either a Chevrolet or Sprinter van, and cut out the windows and roof and proceed from there. We weren't able to take any pictures inside the factory, so I can't show you any of that. Afterwards, they treated us to coffee or cold drinks and donuts before our return trip back to the campground,

There were five different bus schedules, and other activities were planned according to the time of each tour. I had the afternoon free and was able to attend the hour and a half line dancing session which was fun. The instructors are also Roadtrek owners and have been line dancing for 30 years. We learned some easy dances and it was good exercise after all the food we've been eating.

Dinner Thursday night was Lasagna, Caesar Salad with Garlic Bread, and hot apple crisp with ice cream for dessert. We were joined by Jeff Hannemayer, CEO of Home and Park, along with other officials from the corporate office. Jeff's father was the creator of the Roadtrek but is now in poor health and Jeff handles all matters. He made a point of coming to our table to talk to the Solos, and we greatly appreciated that.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN CANADA..........

2009-08-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Gayle from IL, me, and Darlene from Ontario

I’ve been without internet access for the past few days and I’ve failed to make daily notes, so let me attempt to reconstruct what I’ve been doing since Wednesday. Today is Saturday and I won’t be able to post this until I’m in another campground tomorrow with WiFi access.
I left Golden Pond RV Resort mid-morning on Wednesday for what I expected to be a leisurely drive since I only had about 70 miles to go for the Rally. I stopped at a local grocery store to pick up a few things, and it’s interesting to see the different products and brands they have in Canada. I also stopped at a Tim Horton’s – Canada’s answer to Dunkin’ Donuts – and they are everywhere!. There’s a rare oasis or little town that doesn’t contain a Tim Horton’s. They do have really good coffee, though, and they are always busy. You can also find their stores in some parts of New England.
When I reached the town of Guelph, which is about 18 miles from Fergus where the rally is being held, I encountered a lot of construction and delays. I noticed that the steering wasn’t quite right on the Roadtrek and then I started noticing a smell - almost like something was burning. I pulled into a shopping center to see if the smell really was coming from my vehicle or from a truck that had been in front of me. It was definitely coming from my vehicle, so I used my GPS to find an auto repair shop. Thankfully, the closest one was only a mile and a half away. They weren’t busy and checked the RT right away. The problem was the caliper on the passenger side which also meant the replacing of both brake pads. This was a small, privately owned business and the owner was most compassionate and helpful. He offered to give me a ride to a mall or elsewhere so I wouldn’t have to wait on the small bench which was the only waiting area they had. I declined, knowing that this was probably going to cost me “big bucks” and I had no business going to a Mall where I might see something I absolutely couldn’t resist! Luckily they had the parts and a capable mechanic who finished the work in about 2 ½ hours. However, after he took it for a test drive, he discovered that the bearings were bad on the driver’s side. So I sat for about another hour and a half, getting more anxious by the minute and hoping it would all be finished so I could get to the rally by the time orientation began at 6 p.m. I left there at 4:30 p.m. very thankful and $738 poorer! I was blessed, though, since I was able to get it repaired without breaking down on the road somewhere and having to be towed, the shop wasn’t busy and they had the parts. It could have been much worse! I arrived at the Rally at 5:30 p.m. – the last registrant to check in. But I was in time for the Orientation and dessert and coffee. The dessert was Pecan Butter Tarts, a delectable pastry with a very buttery rich crust – a specialty in Canada. I saw many familiar faces and lots of unfamiliar ones, too. I always strive to get to know at least 4 or 5 new people at each rally I attend.
There are 139 Roadtreks at this rally and 264 attendees from nearly every State and Ontario, Canada. There are 16 of us Solotrekkers, two men and 14 women. One of the men and a couple of the women are married but their spouses don’t travel with them for one reason or another. We’ve been seated together for dinner all week and had a bag luncheon one day, so we have gotten to know each other pretty well. It’s such a diverse and interesting group and it seems that everyone has a story to tell! One of the gals is from Olympia, WA and is in the 5th week of a nine month trip. Talk about adventurous! She had the passenger seat removed and has installed a computer table with a place for her printer as well, so she is prepared for keeping in touch on the road.
The Rally is being held in Fergus, ON at the Wellington Centre and Arena, a huge complex that houses two hockey rinks, an indoor pool, fitness center, and many large and small meeting rooms. We are parked in a field with electric and water hookups but only 15 amps of power which means we can’t run too many appliances at once – definitely not the air conditioner. Thankfully, the nights have been in the 50’s which makes for great sleeping weather. The days have been warm but tolerable and we spend very little time

in the Roadtreks anyway. It’s been extremely cool in Canada and New England this summer and this is the first weekend they have experienced temps near 90. They think it’s hot – obviously, they’ve never been to North Carolina in August! All for now. More blog later..................

STRUGGLING WITH LOONIES, TOONIES, KILOMETERS AND LITRES

2009-08-11T17:44:00.003-07:00

I crossed the border into Canada yesterday (Monday) at Port Huron, MI. The crossing was easier than I had imagined. I showed my passport, was asked where I was headed and how long I planned to be there and that was it! What a relief! That was my first visit ever to Michigan and, of course, the first time for my Roadtrek. I have a map on the side of my Roadtrek and my rule is if the RT passes through the State I can add the sticker. I've been known to go out of my way just to be able to place a sticker on the map! I have now been to every state except Alaska and once my Roadtrek goes through the New England States, it will have visited most of them, too. Not bad for traveling through all those States in the past seven years!
I am staying in a nice campground near London, Ontario which is about 75 miles from my next destination - the Rally in Fergus, ON that starts tomorrow. Once I crossed the border I "assumed" there would be a Welcome Center where I could get some info on Canada and exchange some money into Canadian money. Wrong again! There was a small building with very little parking and I thought there would be something further along the way. I didn't have to go anywhere today and thought I would just relax and get caught up on my blog, emails, and other computer things. I had a leisurely morning and then went up to the bath house to take a shower. Did I mention that - once again- the staff at the campground office was less than helpful? They didn't give me any brochures, I don't know where to put my trash - and they FORGOT to tell me that the shower takes Canadian money! You need a Loonie (a $1 coin) and, of course, I only had U.S. money. So I came back to the RT - had a sponge bath and luckily my hair didn't look too bad so I didn't wash it. I decided it was important to find a bank and get some Loonies so I can take a shower in the morning. While I was out, I figure it would be a good time to get my nails done. My GPS was very effective in finding a bank in a nice town called Ingersoll, and I strolled through some of the unique shops and had a nice lunch at a little coffee shop. My GPS also led me to a nail shop in Woodstock, another nice town a little further north. I don't know if these two towns have Malls, but the downtown areas were large and seemed to be thriving. The countryside reminds me of the Midwest with farms and crops of all kinds. I even encountered a horse drawn hay wagon with Amish! I wonder if they followed me from Ohio!
I'm coping with kilometers instead of miles per hour, and I think I've figured out that gas averages about $3.65 per gallon! Yikes! The temps are in celsius, too, and it's odd to hear them say that the average temp for this time of year is 23!
Tomorrow I am off to my other Rally and thankfully it won't be a long trip. This is a Chapter Rally and will have close to 300 attendees. Roadtrek is a chapter under the Family Motor Coach Association and we are required to have two rallies a year. We will be visiting the factory in Kitchener, ON where the Roadtreks are made and many other interesting events are planned. I understand we will have limited computer access during the a.m. only so I may not be able to finish this blog until I leave the Rally.

MY COUSIN'S 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

2009-08-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

At the end of my last blog, I was staying overnight in a campground in Portage, IN and headed for Pepin, WI for the Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration of my cousin, Joanne Frank and her husband, Jim. Their anniversary actually isn't until December 31, but they spend winters in AZ and CA, and they wanted to have it this summer when their two daughters were visiting from the San Diego area. Pepin is a small Wisconsin town (population less than 700) on the banks of the Mississippi and is the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. They have Laura Days every September in celebration of her birthday and my friend, Darlene, and I were there last year on our South Dakota trip. Although my family visited that area often when I was a child, I never appreciated the beauty of the area. It almost appears mountainous, although they are just hills and the highways follow the Mississippi for many miles. Their daughter, Jenny, knew I was coming, but it was a surprise to Joanne and Jim and Joanne's other siblings who live in the area. Joanne saw the Roadtrek first, then noticed the NC license plate and when she saw the Mary Kay logo on the back window she knew it was me! She was so surprised and it was so much fun surprising her! I actually left the Mt. Eaton Rally a day early to get there for the party. It was fun seeing my other cousins and their children, spouses, and grandchildren, too. The party was held at the local Lions Club and although 128 people signed the Guest Book, we think there were at least 150 attendees. Not bad for a small town. I haven't yet figured out how to label pictures, but the first one above is of my cousins, Carolyn, Joanne, and Helen. Next picture is the happily still married couple!

The two days driving it took to get to Wisconsin were tiring to say the least. My GPS is a wonderful gadget and has been a lifesaver in some situations but in others it isn't always accurate. It really helped me get around in Scranton for the wedding, but I didn't totally trust it to get me to Wisconsin and around Chicago. So I looked at a map and also printed out directions from Mapquest and FreeTrip.com. I chose to take the route with no tolls -which much to my dismay led me through the heart of Chicago during the late morning rush hour! It actually wasn't too bad since most of the traffic was backed up going in the other direction but it was still a little unnerving. Adding to that, it rained all the way from Milwaukee to Pepin which always makes for tedious driving. On the way, I stopped in Racine, WI at Bentsen's Bakery which claims to have the best Kringle anywhere! This was the third time I had been there and I left with a Cherry and Pecan Kringle to take to my cousin's. What's a Kringle? It's a Danish pastry shaped like an oval and is delectable and delicious!

On my return trip I had to go through the Chicago area again. This time I chose the Toll Road because I thought it would take me away from the Inner Loop. Wrong! I paid over $10 in tolls and went right through downtown again! Here's a picture I took - yes, while driving - of the Chicago Skyline! It was Sunday afternoon so I thought there wouldn't be as much traffic. Wrong again! It was bumper to bumper! The most interesting part of the trip was viewing an accident that had just happened in the lane next to me as I was paying my toll. A car rammed right into the back of a bus stopped at the toll booth. The front end of the car was completely caved in and the hood was up. Imagine trying to explain to your friends how that happened!

I spent Sunday night in a State Campground in Sawyer, Michigan. Again, it was a not so nice campground and the campground hosts checking me in were totally inefficient. I was directly across from the bath house, though, so that was a plus. I think the campground was on Lake Michigan, but I got there late and left early and didn't have time to check it out. This was my first visit, ever, to the State of Michigan! Now I've been to all the States except for Alaska! I can also add the Michigan sticker to the map on my Roadtrek. This Roadtrek has been through all the States now except for the New England States. I've been there but not with the RT. I feel fortunate to have traveled through all those states in a span of a little over 7 years. I'm going to end this blog here and continue with another one for my first two days in Canada.

AMISH RALLY IN MT. EATON, OHIO

2009-08-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

It’s Thursday night (August 7) and I left home a week ago. Time is going by too fast! I’m in a campground with no WiFi and no cable, although I’m able to get a few TV stations with my Converter Box. So I’m composing this in Word and will hopefully transfer it to my Blog somewhere on the road tomorrow. (That didn't happen!)
I arrived in Mt. Eaton, OH on Monday for a Roadtrek Rally. I know some of you are thinking, “What’s a Roadtrek” and “What’s a Rally?” My motorhome is called a Roadtrek and is manufactured by Home and Park in Kitchener, ON. A Rally is a group of Roadtrekkers who get together at planned events all over the U.S. and Canada. This is about the 18th one I’ve attended during the past seven years. I’ve made many wonderful friends, and I always meet several new people at each one. Mt. Eaton is in the heart of Ohio Amish Country and it’s a beautiful area with rolling hills and lush countrysides. And I do mean ROLLING hills! There are many heavily traveled two lane country roads where horses and buggies are a common sight. The speed limit on some of the roads is 55 but you don’t dare go that fast because you never know what you might encounter on the other side of the hill! I saw buggies of all sizes and shapes, Amish on bicycles, Amish on tractors, Amish on horse drawn wagons loaded with hay, etc. There were so many photo opportunities but nowhere to pull off the road to take a picture. The area abounds in Amish furniture shops, food stores, cheese shops, crafts, wooden objects, etc. The Evergreen RV Park where the rally was held is one of the nicest campgrounds I’ve ever stayed in. Quite a difference from the one I’m in tonight. This one is really the pits but at least I’m leaving in the morning!

An Amish lady works at the campground in Ohio and it’s quite a site to see her in Amish dress with her little bonnet driving a golf cart and using a gas blower to clean up the area. She gave a little talk at the potluck dinner the first night which was very informative and she answered many of the questions our group had about the Amish lifestyle.

Before I arrived at the Rally I stopped in N.Canton, OH at the Harry London Candy Factory. I had never heard of that brand but the thought of chocolate always piques my interest! They make Fannie Mae Candies, too, a brand that is definitely familiar to me – and my palate! It’s a huge factory and at the forefront are 4 huge vats that each contain 80,000 pounds of chocolate which translates to 7.8 million pieces of candy! It was an interesting tour and we were able to sample some of the candies.

Tuesday I drove to the Longaberger Basket Factory in Frazeysburg, OH. Longaberger baskets are quite expensive and can only be purchased through a consultant or at parties given in the home – sort of like a Tupperware Party. It’s also in a huge building and it was fascinating to watch all the employees in various stages of basket making. They do have a small store where you can purchase some of their baskets and other products with the Longaberger logo. And there’s also an Outlet Store which was inundated with consultants who were at their annual seminar this week. Some of their carts were overflowing with expensive baskets. I counted at least 40 checkout counters that were all manned, and the line was long but moving fairly fast. Their administrative offices are in a building shaped like a basket and with a handle. the factory but I drove there to take a couple of pictures. Very unique!

Last night at the Rally we drove to an Amish home for a family style meal. It’s not a restaurant, but they have a special building where they can host larger groups by reservation only. What a delicious meal and it was all homemade - bread, homemade jam, Amish peanut butter (a combination of peanut butter, marshmallow crème, honey, and maple flavoring), salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, stewed beef, noodles, green beans with ham, and apple, lemon meringue, and chocolate meringue pie for dessert! Anyone hungry yet? Afterwards the couple who hosted us talked to us outside, and Mr. Weaver proudly showed off his “modernized” buggy with lights and nicely upholstered seats. Family members and neighbor girls helped serve the meal. One of their daughters has left the Amish community but was also helping with the meal. Many Amish shun their children if they leave the community, but Mrs. Weaver apparently has accepted her daughter’s new way of life.
The weather continues to be beautiful with lows in the 50’s and daytime highs around 80. Great sleeping weather with the windows open! I don’t miss the heat and humidity in North Carolina at all!
I guess I broke my promise! I said this blog wouldn’t be as long, but there’s just too much to talk about! I said my goodbyes after breakfast this morning and many of the attendees are also going to the Rally in Canada, so I will see them there as well. There were 5 of us “solo-trekkers” at this rally – from CA, IL, MI, and WI. We’re a very diverse and interesting group. Very nice ladies! I’m signing off in a not-so-nice campground in Portage, IN. I’m about a half block f rom the railroad tracks, so hopefully there won’t be much train traffic tonight!

AUGUST 2009 ROADTREK TRIP-THE FIRST FEW DAYS

2009-08-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

I left Morehead City, NC on 30 July in my Roadtrek for the start of my 3 week road trip. It is now almost a week later and I'm finally finding the time to start my blog! This is something new for me, but I thought it might be easier for friends and family to keep up with my travels this way. My first destination was Swoyersville/Scranton, PA to attend the wedding of Renie Workman and Jon Meyer. I've been friends with Patti and Doug Workman since 1978 when my husband and I moved to NC. Patti was a Navy Nurse and Doug was in the Marine Corps. We visited them at many of their duty stations including San Diego, Hawaii, Virginia and Memphis where they currently reside. They are more like family than friends and we've shared many memorable experiences. We attended Patti's promotion ceremony when she made Captain and then again when she retired from the Navy. Her son, Chad, graduated from high school that same weekend. They attended my retirement ceremony and party and Patti gave a eulogy when my husband died in 2000. Renie (the bride) was born at Naval Hospital Cherry Point, and they also have two other children, Chad (a graduate of Penn State and now a naval aviator) and Amy, currently a junior at Penn State. Renie is also a graduate of Penn State and is currently the weekend reporter for WNEP Fox News in Scranton. She met Jon at WNEP where he is the weekend news anchor. So they are celebrities of sort in the WNEP viewing area!
Patti grew up in Swoyersville, and she and Doug were married in the same church where Renie and Jon's wedding was held. All three children were baptized there as well. Patti comes from a large Polish - fun loving family so naturally it was a Polish wedding,
The rehearsal dinner was held at an Italian restaurant which sits on a high hill overlooking a baseball field. I'm not sure what team plays there but I believe it's a farm team for the Yankees. They were having a game that night that ended with a huge fireworks display. We had a birds eye view from the patio of the restaurant and it was a spectacular ending to a delicious dinner and wonderful evening.
The wedding was on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the reception at the Scranton Cultural Center, a beautiful historical building in downtown Scranton. Did I mention what a gorgeous bride Renie was?! She looked exquisite and she and Jon seem to be so compatible and so happy! They had a great DJ who really got the crowd involved. The dance floor was huge and it was a pleasant surprise to see so many people actually dancing! There were lots of cousins from both families, many of whom were also Penn State grads, so quite frequently the DJ would play some Penn State songs that got the crowd singing and chanting. They played lots of polkas and had the traditional Babushka dance. The bride wears a Babushka (lace scarf) and the Maid of Honor sits in a chair next to her. Everyone gets in line and pays the Maid of Honor to be eligible to dance with the bride. It's usually just one twirl around the dance floor, but rumor has it that $600 was in the kitty after the dancing was done! Not bad!
After a late night I was up early the next morning to be at the Hilton for a brunch hosted by the groom's uncle. We bade farewell to the bride and groom who were departing for the airport and a honeymoon in Greece. Lucky couple! I had stayed in a hotel for two nights and was back in the Roadtrek again for my next destination - a Roadtrek Rally in Mt. Eaton, OH.
I stayed overnight at a campground in Woodland, PA and awoke to a cool temperature of 50 degrees! It felt wonderful after the heat and humidity in NC. While traveling on I-80 I passed a sign that said 2250 feet - the highest elevation on I-80 East of the Mississippi!
I meant to mention earlier that Scranton is a very pretty, old city with hilly, narrow streets which at times made driving the Roadtrek quite challenging! My GPS kept me straight though, and I sometimes wonder how I did all my previous traveling without it!
I'm going to end this blog here and continue later with the next edition. I will send emails to let you know when it's updated. Love, Ginger