50th Reunion

There was a time in my life when 50 years seemed like a long time...not any more. This past weekend was the 50th Reunion of my high school class....the 1959 graduating class of Lakeland High School...the home of the mighty Dreadnaughts! First of all, I just couldn't image that 50 years had past since we were all sitting in Miss Haley's English class...or I was writing an article for the Bagpipe...or running laps after basketball practice. It can't be 50 years because I remember all of these things so clearly. However, I did the math and 2009 minus 1959 equals 50! To help ease the pain my best friend, David Amsler, and his lovely wife Susan drove down from their home in Flat Rock, NC and spent some time with us and we all drove over to Lakeland together. The first thing that we noticed was that David and I were the only ones there that hadn't changed. All of the rest seemed to have gotten a lot older than I remembered and some even had grey hair. The major exception was Dr. Bobby Schwartz who didn't look a day over 35. (How did he do that....he is a pediatrician...maybe the kids rubbed off on him) Oh well, it was absolutely wonderful to see everyone again after all of that time. We all looked a little different, but the love and camaraderie had not changed. We all laughed at some of the silly things we did, got all caught up on how we had lived our lives with some of my classmates having experienced some very exciting and adventurous days. Talk of grand kids, retirement, travel and love of life dominated most of the conversations. We celebrated our state champion baseball team (David was the starting pitcher) with the baseball coach in attendance along with most of the starting lineup. It was a wonderful evening and I just hope that everyone reading this has had...or will have the opportunity to experience an evening like David and I had. Class of '59 you are still the best! Go Dreadnaughts!

Home Again!

We arrived safely back home late Sunday afternoon as the Lord's hand of safety was on us for over 9,000 miles in the motorhome and another 3,000 miles driven in the car seeing all of the sights around each place we visited. It was certainly a trip of a lifetime. Most of the places we visited we had never seen before, and even those we had experienced before, seemed new and exciting. As we traveled over these past nine and a half weeks we discovered quite a few things...such as: People in all parts of this country are basically nice, friendly and eager to help a stranger with directions or information... most everyone is very proud of the part of the country they live in and can't imagine living anywhere else...there is a LOT more open space in this country than some would have us believe...corn is the national crop, it is grown everywhere in great abundance...southern Utah is a hidden treasure with both Arches National Park and Zion National Park just a few hundred miles apart separated by lovely mountains and rivers...each of these parks is so different with Arches rock and desert in a beauty found no where else (well, maybe in Sedona, AZ) and Zion is lovely mountains with lush forest and rushing steams and rivers...you can drive for miles on the Interstate highways in the Dakotas and not see another car in either direction...speaking of roads: the best Interstate highways are by far right here in Florida and the worst are in California...horrible and in dire need of repair and everyone who can get behind the wheel of a car or truck in California is, for some strange reason, in a major hurry to get wherever they are going...the 17 Mile Drive around the Monterey Peninsula in the prettiest stretch of roadway anywhere in America...the best food was at the buffet's at the Mirage in Las Vegas and Harrah's in Tunica, MS just south of Memphis...Mt. Rushmore is still the best National Park in America...the buffalo in Custer State Park do not care that you drive on the roads, when they feel like it they will just stand there and stare you down and not get out of the way until the spirit moves them...setting aside the millions of acres in this country for National Parks to keep nature in it's natural state for all to enjoy is probably the best thing that Congress has ever done...gas prices were basically in the same ballpark ($2.40-$2.80) everywhere except California where they were over $3.00 a gallon (do you see a pattern developing here)...Gator Nation is everywhere...the nicest RV Resort we stayed in was Outdoor Resorts Pacific Shores in Newport, Oregon...I, for one, could have stayed a lot longer...wonderfully cool temperatures and the coast of Oregon is the most beautiful and rugged anywhere...we really did not run into any really rude people anywhere...and finally...it was impossible to cover as much territory as we did and see so many different terrains, mountains, deserts, rivers and beaches without wanting to praise God for His handiwork and give thanks that He has made all of this available to everyone at no charge!

Graceland

"I''m going to Graceland, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee...going to Graceland, Graceland."....Paul Simon knew of which he sang. Graceland is special...and not just to old line Elvis fans, but as a part of the American culture. They have done a very good job of tying Elvis into the cultural phenomenon that he became and how he did influence so much of how we behaved back in the 50's. Graceland itself was bought by Elvis in 1957 for just over $100,000. It not only included the house, but over 12 acres which remain very much as it was in 1977 when he died at the very early age of 42. The interior of the house reflects the decorating style of Elvis, which was eclectic, to say the least. I am not quite sure that it is how we might decorate today...but, he liked it and, I guess, that's what counts. As you stroll through the trophy rooms you are overwhelmed by all of the gold records and other awards that he accumulated in just over 20 years of performing. Also included is a tour of his two airplanes and his museum of cars, including the famous pink Cadillac that he bought and eventually gave to his mother. A trip to Graceland is worth the time and money it costs just to see up close and personal all of the parts of this legend's life that all of us have seen in pictures throughout these past 50 years.

Fargo, ND

You gotta love Fargo! It feels like you have entered a time warp. The residential streets are right out of an Andy Hardy movie with beautiful, big tree lined streets and lovely, old two story homes in very clean, well kept neighborhoods. There is a local radio station right downtown with sidewalk studios that is only a block or so from the local theater. I kept expecting to see Rod Serling walk down the street. The local University is North Dakota State University that looks like it could have been used as the setting for a 50's June Allison college movie. The football stadium only has seating on one side of the field, and yet, right across the street is the magnificent Fargodome. I didn't even know there was a Fargodome...especially one as big as this. All in all Fargo, ND looks like a delightful place to live...if you can handle the winters!

Custer State Park & Crazy Horse Memorial

If you have ever longed for a "home where the buffalo roam and the deer and antelope play"...then you need to be in Custer State Park. Not far from Mt. Rushmore is this wonderful and beautiful state park filled with roaming animals that just don't seem bothered by passing autos and picture taking tourists. In our case we got both the buffalo's and antelope's in large quantities. In fact one herd of buffalo we passed through held us up for quite a while as they found the road a much better place to gather than the lovely fields on either side. In the picture of the antelopes notice how the male is standing guard as his "harem" takes a mid-morning rest. The Crazy Horse Memorial is quite interesting. It is totally privately funded. The sculptor did not want any government money as he was a true believer in the free enterprise system. All money to continue the project comes from admissions, gift sales and private donations. The last picture gives you an idea as to how much work is still left to be done. We have thoroughly enjoyed our three days here in the Black Hills of South Dakota which, in my opinion, has some of the most beautiful scenery found anywhere in the United States. Tomorrow we are off to North Dakota with stops in Bismark and Fargo.

Deadwood, SD

Nestled amongst the beautiful mountains and forests of the Black Hills of South Dakota is the infamous little town of Deadwood. Back in 1876 it was a boisterous gold rush boom town that one day welcomed, in the same wagon train, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Now...history records that even though they arrived at the same time that Calamity Jane was only a passing acquaintance of Hickok. It was after his death that see started the legend of how they were very close and several years later when she died she wanted to be buried next to Wild Bill in Deadwood even though she died in Terry, SD. The death of Hickok is much renowned as he was playing cards in the old No 10 Saloon when Jack McCall came up behind him and shot him in the head. Wild Bill's hand was aces and eights which has come to be known as the "dead man's hand." McCall was acquited by a local jury when he claimed that he shot Hickok because old Bill had killed his brother. Later, a real jury convicted Jack and he was hanged. Today on Boot Hill in Deadwood you can see the graves of Hickok and Calamity Jane, whose real name, ironically, was...Martha Burke! They are side by side as requested by Jane. Another irony is that Wild Bill Hickok was killed in 1876...the same year as the Battle of Little Big Horn. And that...is the history lesson for today!

Mt. Rushmore

I love Mt. Rushmore. It is so overwhelming...so tranquil...so beautiful...its just soooo...everything! This is our second visit and I could come back every day. It is hard to explain why this place hold that certain magic...but, it does. There is a "Presidential Trail" that runs under the Faces, through the trees and around the bottom of the mountain for about .6 of a mile that gives you different views of the carvings at every stopping point. The different perspectives give this magnificent panorama entirely different looks. Really amazing. They could explain to me over and over again how they did the carving, but I would probably still not understand how you start with a rock mountain and wind up with exact likenesses of four our outstanding Presidents. They did it...in just fourteen years...and as long as there is an America people from all over the world will come and marvel at what brave, courageous men were able to create.

Little Bighorn Battlefield

Every time I visit an historical site and see with my own eyes where history was made and listen while details of the event are explained my viewpoint takes on a whole new perspective. I guess that is the way it should be...books can only do so much in revealing details that involved real people doing real, and often times dangerous, things. Such was the case this morning when we visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Since I was a child I have heard the story of Custer's Last Stand....not that I really understood what actually happened, but like so many others I formed an opinion. Today that opinion took real shape as we relived the events of June 25th and 26th, 1876. As it turns out the battle that took the lives of Lt. Col. George Custer and all of his men was just a part of a much larger skirmish that could have resulted in the loss of many more lives had it not been for...just like in the movies...the arrival of the Cavalry. The pictures included here show the memorial on Last Stand Hill where Custer actually fought his last battle. The bodies of many of those killed are buried under the memorial which probably marks the spot where Custer himself was killed. The other pictures include a part of the memorial to the Indians who died defending their way of life and the last picture is taken from the location of the last fallback position of the remaining forces just before help arrived. The trees in the distance was the location of the Indian villages that were attacked...and where the army badly underestimated the number of warriors encamped along the Little Bighorn River. The rest...as the say...is history. Try and visit someday and I know you will be as impressed as we were. Tomorrow, we are off to Mt. Rushmore.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is truly one of America's real treasures. The foresight that was used to set aside such a large piece of the most beautiful forest land and geyser beds to be enjoyed by generations to come was amazing. Yellowstone is really two different worlds that weave in and out of each other. One is the grandeur of mountains covered with millions of Christmas trees laced with rushing streams, rivers and waterfalls. The other is the barren geyser fields that are covered with steaming geysers and bubbling hot water springs. They just mix together so well. Old Faithful is probably the best known of the geysers because of its regular eruptions. However, there are many more that erupt whenever the spirit moves them. The beauty of this extremely large public area must be seen to be truly appreciated. I know I say this a lot...but, it is true. In the pictures included is one I really love. As we were driving to Old Faithful we noticed a buffalo just grazing by the side of the road. I had to get a picture of this "living nickle" and you will see that he was quite large. Not included...but will be in the Sunday Facebook album...is a picture of him just sauntering down the middle of the road holding up traffic. I loved it! I could go on "gushing" (pardon the pun) about Yellowstone...but...tomorrow is another day!

Boise and the Blue Football Field

I guess ever since I saw my first game telecast from Bronco's Stadium in Boise...and saw that blue football field...and tried to adjust my TV until I realized that the field really was blue...I have wanted to see it in person. Well...today I did! We are staying just outside Boise on our way to Yellowstone and drove into town this afternoon and made the football stadium our first stop. As you can see the Boise State University Broncos are hard at work for their first game against Oregon. I don't know if I was supposed to be there or not as the sign said "Closed Practice," but nobody said anything and I took a few pictures. I can report that the field is as blue in person as it looks on TV. I also included a picture of the Idaho Capitol building which is undergoing some major renovation. Boise is a lovely town with a good mixture of the old buildings and the modern skyscrapers. The city is located in a valley (which today was very hot...in the 90's) right at the foothills of a mountain range. Tomorrow is a long day of driving as we head to Yellowstone.

Columbia River Gorge

The Portland area is just as magnificent in it's own way as the Oregon coast is magnificent in it's very special way. They are so different...and yet, so very lovely. Portland is surrounded by mountains and lush forrests as the Columbia River runs right through town. Outside of Portland is the Columbia River Gorge and the stunning Historic Columbia River Highway, which we drove yesterday afternoon...or at least we drove the first 22 miles that carried us past a couple of icons on the highway: Vista House and Multnomah Falls. We spent the afternoon just stopping along the way to soak in the views that prevail all along the way. Even though Mustnomah Falls is the most famous of the waterfalls that dot the highway, we also stopped at Latourell Falls and enjoyed the walk back through the woods in the cool mountain air and enjoyed the smells that only originate in deep woods. Loved it! Tomorow we are going to drive the length of the Columbia before heading over to Boise, ID (got to see the blue football field) and on to Yellowstone on Wednesday.

Oregon Coast

I know that it has been a week since my last post, but I wanted to wait until we had completed our journey up the Oregon coast and report on all of it at one time. Last Monday we drove from Red Bluff, CA through the mountains to Eureka, CA. It was the most harrowing 140 miles I have ever driven in the motorhome. The narrow road was just one twisting, turning switchback after another. It was very tedious and the 140 mile trip took four hours. Oh well, we made it and the trip up the coast made it worth every switchback. The Oregon coast is unlike anything we have ever seen. The deep blue water, the mountains that go right down to the seashore, the jagged, rocky coastline with its large rocks and boulders along the edge taking the constant pounding of the cold Pacific, the fog that gives everything a very eerie, surreal feel, to the magnificent late August sun that warmed everything all afternoon today. It has been wonderful. The Outdoor Resort here in Newport is probably the nicest resort in which we have ever stayed. Our site looks directly out onto the Pacific with the Yaquina Lighthouse off to the left. I am looking at the lighthouse as I sit inside the motorhome and type this. Stunning is the only word I can think of to describe this view. This afternoon we drove up to Depoe Bay and watched the whales! Yes, we actually saw two or more that were no more than 200 yards off shore. The street was lined with whale watchers as this place is famous for the whales that just seem to call it home. Once again I have really struggled to choose only five pictures to add to this blog. I will post several more on Facebook over the weekend. The first one I captioned: "Toto, we are not in Destin anymore." And the last one is the view from our morothome here in Newport. We have really enjoyed this week and tomorrow we head inland to Portland for the weekend. Next week we are off to Yellowstone.

Monterey Peninsula

Let me say right up front...I love the Monterey Peninsula and Carmel-By-The-Sea! Today was the third time we have experienced the 17 Mile Drive around the peninsula and each time just seems to get more special and more spectacular...if that's possible. We had absolutely gorgeous weather this morning with clear blue skies and cool, comfortable temperatures. I had a very difficult time selecting only five pictures to include here. I will post more on Facebook over the weekend. Notice in the first picture the deer in the middle of the fairway on one of the holes of the Spanish Bay golf course. The last picture is of the famous 18th hole at Pebble Beach. We drove up the PCH, or California 1, from San Luis Obispo to Carmel. This is perhaps the most spectacular drive anywhere...for a car...not for a 40' motorhome towing a car! I am glad that we did it...but, never again. The twisting, turning and very sharp switchbacks make it a rather stressful, challenging effort in a big rig. Plus, there are so many beautiful vista overlooks that just don't have room for a large motorhome so we missed many wonderful picture opportunities as well as the magnificent scenery. If you have never been to the Monterey Peninsula, you owe it to yourself to come out and experience this most beautiful expression of God's handiwork. If you have been here...it is just as special as you remember!