Final Reflections from the Typist

What a trip!  I mean traveling with PWC, not the vacation.  He is truly the most fun person to hang out with.  We had a really good time, even if we made a lot of U-turns.

A few notes:

1.  I left an unmentionable hanging on the shower rod in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Ugh!  Careless error.

2.  We cannot find a small piece of pottery I purchased in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  It has got to be here someplace.

3.  My garage door opener is among the missing.......I think I removed it from the car to put it in a safe place when we were leaving.  Well, it surely is safe but we cannot find it.

4.  Our magnolia tree is dead as a doornail and we have a weed growing in our planter that is taller than me!

5.  The person I missed the most on this trip was Kathleen who colored my hair at 8:30 this a.m.  Boy do I look better now!

6.  Thank you to all who visited our blog.  We had over 2700 page views!  The three most dedicated followers were Eileen, Paula and Louann.  Thank you, ladies, for your faithful reading and e-mails.  You are the greatest!

The Party's Over!

This has been the most remarkable trip we have ever taken.  While three months may sound like a long time, it really flew as we jumped from place to place and made side trips wherever we wanted.  We visited 20 states and drove a total of 11,077 miles!

We arrived home safe and sound yesterday.  Kudos to our Ford Explorer!  She came through without a warning light illuminating or a tire going flat.  You've got to love those cars made in the USA!

I had purchased quite a few tee shirts on our last road trip two years ago, and I had intended not to buy so many on this trip.  But I lost control because of all the outstanding options available, as you can see.

Sioux Falls, SD
The Quiet Man
Buckstaff Bathhouse
Murphy's Irish Pub
Utah Rocks
Okies in Muskogee
Double Dogs
Rock City
We Take You Higher
Diamond Belle
Get Out of Dodge
Buffalo Bill Museum
Little Big Horn Battlefield
Hot Springs, Arkansas
2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
Big Sky Brewing Company
Air Force Academy
Land Between the Lakes
Lost River Cave
Corvette Heartbeat
National WWI Museum
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Cowboys Wyoming
Monument Valley
BYU Cougars
Yellowstone Park
Jackson Hole Whitewater
John Wayne
Caterpillar
Mark Twain Museum
Mount Rushmore
Anheuser - Busch Brewery
Wichita, Kansas Cowtown City
Moose Drool Brown Ale



Traveling with Joan is a lot of fun because we share so many interests, like rivers, mountains, national parks, battlefields (not so much), mansions, architecture and state capitals.  We also shared our 43rd wedding anniversary along the way and re-upped for another year.  That, despite the fact that she almost killed me in Boulder, Colorado when we took a side trip to Cheyene, Wyoming on my assurance that it would be a quick trip that ended up taking the entire day, rather than relaxing in Boulder.  What can I say?  It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Super Play Day!

For our last day of vacation, we decided to take a break from museums and touring and have a "Play Day" -- this was an easy decision, since there was a water park about a mile from our hotel.

Well, we arrived before they opened and ended up spending the entire day.  We tried everything, with the exception of the kiddy pool.  Our two favorites were the Lazy River that went around almost the entire park and the big waterslide that curled around and around. 

We enjoyed the country music broadcast at a perfect volume throughout the park.  The only thing that could have made this water park better was if they sold beer.  We left when we could no longer climb the 5 flights of stairs to get to the slide!  Our legs were done.....

We ate dinner again at the only restaurant in town that did not have a drive-thru window!  The iced tea was delicious......as we mentioned yesterday, it was a dry restaurant.......We learned today that it is completely a dry town!  (How did a beer lover like me ever pick Williamsburg, KY?)

Tomorrow we plan to drive home and there will be quite a transition in my thinking.  Instead of rivers and mountains, I'll be focused on paper and plastic!

Epilog to follow over the weekend.

Daniel Boone Country

We visited the downtown of Bowling Green to see their famous fountain.  People were arriving with their chairs for an outdoor lunchtime concert.  What a nice surprise!

We headed off through the Daniel Boone National Forest to Cumberland Falls.  Compared to Niagara, it's not even close; but the location in the middle of the forest was very pleasant.

We noticed a raft full of adventurers down below approaching the falls.  They seemed to be having a good time, especially when they were underneath the falls.  And although it was late in the day for us, we may return tomorrow........not sure; we may be running out of steam.

Enjoyed a nice dinner at the only real restaurant in Willliamsburg, Kentucky.  It was on the campus of Cumberland University and was staffed by students.  It was only when I asked what beers they had on tap that we learned it was a Baptist school and they did not serve anything stronger than iced tea!

Cars & Caves in Bowling Green, KY

We went to the GM Corvette Assembly Plant for a tour.  I have never been to such a plant, although Joan had visited the BMW Plant in SC.  I found it fascinating to watch an assembly line in action.  We moved from station to station while at each one workers were installing one or another pieces of the puzzle.  Each car that moved had an attachment on it indicating which specific parts were to be used; in other words, pretty much custom made to the potential owner or dealer.  There were no pictures permitted, so the only photo is of the sign outside.

After the plant, we drove down Corvette Drive to the National Corvette Museum.  I have never ridden in a Corvette, but Joan has 3 times: 

1.  with Victoria, her first boss at MHIA
2.  with Liz from D&B whose husband was a collector and owned several
3.  with a date who drove her to Yale for a football game.  (She admits dating this person only because he had a Corvette.)

Our brother-in-law, Jim, would go crazy in this place.  It had so many Corvettes from 1953 to the present.  We both agreed that the models from the 1950's and early 60's were by far the best looking.....though we wouldn't turn down any one if offered to us as a gift.

There is a photo for Dan-the-man of a Corvette Guitar that we hope he finds interesting.

To wind up the days adventures, we visited the Lost River Cave.  There were several Blue Holes where the underground river rises to ground level and appears blue from the minerals.  Our guide had lots of stories and lore that surrounded Blue Hole #4.

While we have visited caves in the past and again on this 2012 trip, this was our first opportunity to ride in an underground boat inside the cave for 1/2 hour.  The cave had a 56 degree constant temperature and was also the setting for a popular 1930's nightclub.  Actually, you can still rent out the venue for weddings, parties, etc.

The photos from inside the cave were too dark to appreciate.

Back in the Saddle Again

Having travelled through so many western states known for cowboys and cavalry, I find it amazing that I never had an opportunity to ride a horse -- until today.

Touring the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area in Kentucky, we found stables offering trail rides, so I jumped on it.  (Of course, Joan wanted no part of this and opted to wait with some crossword puzzles.)

It has been many, many years since I rode a horse, but it felt great to be sitting on Cherokee.  It was a group of about 11 riders and we went primarily through the woods slowly.  But at one point we came to a clearing and looking to the left, I saw a big open area about the size of a football field.  I immediately got an image of Errol Flynn in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and was itching to gallop off into the field.  But when I asked the guide if it would be okay, she said it wouldn't be fair to the others who might not be as experienced as I was and they would feel left out.

So I patted Cherokee on the head and told him, "Not today, pal.  It's back to the trail for us."  Later when we returned to the stables and I dismounted, I looked Cherokee in the eyes and I think we both saw what could have been had we been allowed to charge the guns. 

Oh, well.  I'll just watch the movie when we return home and Cherokee, I'll always remember you and the time we could have had.

Downtown Paducah

Joan insisted that we enjoy a relaxing morning here in our suite "upgrade" at Hamton Inn.  I got her a local Sunday paper and she was content.

In the afternoon, we visited Whitehaven Mansion built in the 1860's and remodeled in 1903 for Alben Barkley who later became one of FDR's Vice Presidents.  (This building now also houses the Visitors' Center, so there were several people around.)

When we arrived, a nice lady named Adele told us her backup would not be in for about a half hour and she could not leave her post to provide a tour until then.  We had just about settled in on a nice bench under a huge tree to read our tour books while we waited, when Adele came out and said, "Come on in."  So she hustled us in and locked the door behind us.

Adele then proceeded to show us around the beautiful house.  When we were leaving, we passed a group of people who were lined up for a tour.  But Adele told them we were on a special reserved tour and they had to wait until 2 pm.  We have no idea why she took a liking to us, but we appreciated our good luck for the private tour.

We next went to the National Quilt Museum which was very interesting and enjoyable.  The only photo we were permitted was a few quilts hanging in the lobby.   (Now, before you make a comment about why I would be excited to see a quilt museum, bear in mind that my lovely wife, Joan, also pretended to be excited about seeing the Little Big Horn, the site of Custer's Last Stand.)  Joan was blown away by some of the quilts....the designs and workmanship were amazing.  She immediately dialed Aunt Arlene (greatest quilter she knows) when we stepped outside.

We also got a last look at Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea in front of the museum and relaxed on a bench by the river for an hour watching all the comings and goings of the boats.  We also saw several of the 3-wheel motorcycles which seem to be becoming very popular.......Joan is getting the itch to own one.  (Is the world ready for Joan on a trike bike?)

I am also including two pictures from the flood wall; one shows how the city looked during the flood of 1937 and the other shows the following year when the Ohio River froze over.

Reflections From the Typist

Why is every paddlewheeler or riverboat named, "Delta Queen?"

We saw a sign for a racetrack, so I googled it to find out if they were open tonight.  Their website advertises "simulated" racing.  Sounds like OTB with screens to me.

I am amazed at the things I have learned on this adventure.  I am so ready for Who Wants to be a Millionaire!


A few of our blog followers have expressed interest in taking a similar trip.  If  you do so, a few hints are:

1.  Be sure you have a full tank of gas any day your are traveling far.  I may have said this before, but just in case.

2.  Bring several rolls of quarters for laundry  Some hotels have a guest laundry, but not all.  We have found them from free to $2 per load.  No rhyme or reason.

3.  I brought a dozen AA batteries for our camera on this trip......and I purchased at least another dozen along the way.  If you are as camera crazy as my husband, bring more batteries.

4.  If you like Walmarts, you will find them everywhere.  They all seemed the same to us and all sold wine until we got to Kentucky.  State law prohibits it.

5.  Hampton Inns are great.  If you make the most of the hotel free breakfasts, you can eliminate lunches.  The hotels provide coffee, apples and cookies each day.  We take 2 apples for a snack as we head out for the day.

6.  Homewood Suites offer supper Mondays through Thursdays.  Nothing fancy, but all you want.  The month of menus is posted in your suite.

7.  Pack your sense of humor!

From One Confluence to Another

We drove from St. Louis, MO, where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers merge, to Paducah, KY, where the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers do the same.  Pretty exciting, huh?

Highlights of today include the statue of Chief Paduke of the Padouca Indian Nation.  Maybe this had something to do with the fact that General Clark (of Lewis & Clark fame) named the settlement Paducah.

Exploring the downtown area, we found a pool of blue water at the World War II Memorial.  I had to look twice to realize it was really blue water..

Next to the river is a flood wall with great paintings on it.  This was built after the disastrous flood of 1937. 

We went to the River Discovery Center where among other things there was a model of the Delta Queen, a beautiful paddlewheeler stil in service today.  There was also a simulator where I was able to pilot a tugboat pushing about 12 barges.  Everything was going great until, for some unknown reason (maybe a quick shift in the currents or something) I plowed into another set of barges.  An alarm went off and I was kicked out.

Finally, I thought you would all like a peek at the confluence....Ohio River on the left, Tennessee River on the right.

Gateway to the West

The famous Arch is unlike anything we have ever seen.  It is something else.  Joan did not like the tram ride or our time at the top at all.  She hung in there but did not enjoy it one bit.  I, on the other hand, loved it!  We sat 5 in a cable car and it was very tight both in the head room and leg space.  The ride up (inside the arch) took 4 minutes and was very shaky.  The ride down took 3 minutes.  We could stay at the top as long as we liked, but there were so many people, and the windows were small; so we only lasted about 10 minutes.  I would have stayed longer, but Joan was "done."
I was able to get a picture of the city and the St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium.  There is also a picture as the arch was being constructed.  As you will see, construction was started at both the North and South legs at the same time and one can only imagine the number of mathematical calculations that took place to have two towers curving at just the right place that they meet at the top perfectly......WOW!

We spotted the riverboat from the top and figured that would be a good thing to do next.  So we enjoyed being on the Mississippi for an hour.

Since there was still some time left in the day, we stopped at the Budweiser Brewery for a tour and free samples.  The tour conducted by a co-ed from Missouri U was fantastic....and the samples at the end weren't bad!

Happy Anniversary!!!

43 years -- boy that went fast!!! 

Tonight at dinner we agreed to re-up for another year.  Actually, neither one of us hestitated.  We continue to drive each other crazy and love it.

On our way to St. Louis, we stopped at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal  which we missed yesterday.  We wanted to see the original Normal Rockwell paintings.  There was a charcoal sketch next to each one.  We had no idea that artists first sketched what they were going to paint.

Also stopped at a Dam & Lock on the Mississippi River -- one of many and had a nice chat with a member of the Army Corp of Engineers.

Arriving in West St. Louis, we had time to take a quick spin around Forest Park and stretched our legs for a bit.  It seemed almost as large as Central Park with a zoo, art gallery, and municipal theater inside its gates.  Joan always loves to see the leash law signs.

Had a declious dinner "on the hill" at Lorenzo's -- seemed to be the Little Italy of St. Louis.  Even the fire hydrants were red, white and green and the Italian flag was on all the lamp posts.