Carol's Great Adventure

Iwo Jima Statue

2009-10-04T00:17:00.002-04:00

Jamie, with Fisher, left and Hunter, right. It was COLD that day when we explored the Iwo Jima Statue.

Hunter and Fisher were fascinated by the Iwo Jima statue. They were proud of the soldiers raising our flag.

The Netherlands Carillion

The carillion was built using funds raised by residents of The Netherlands to express their gratitude for aid received from America before, during and after World War II. We were there when the bells rang. It was beautiful.

View of some of the gravestones in Arlington National Cemetary.

My first trip to Washington, DC

2009-10-04T00:08:00.000-04:00

We drove from the home of my Virginia Family to DC to stay a couple of days. Certainly not long enough to see the city, but at least a start. The photo below is my first sighting of the Washington Memorial. Had to take that picture through the windshield to record my excitement. What a thrill to see the first of the tributes to heros of our country.

The Iwo Jima Statue was really beautiful and thrilling.

The Jefferson Memorial from near the Iwo Jima statue. Construction all over town.....

Colorado Trip October 2008

2009-10-03T22:23:00.002-04:00

Mountains in the White River National Forest on the road to Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Absolutely beautiful day - even when it was snowing. I want to go back to Aspen and Maroon Bells one day, but have so much to see first.

Snow falling on the mountains.

When the clouds clear....

Jamie and Tracy! Lets go back there!

Super-dooper Mechanics

2009-02-10T22:28:00.000-05:00

Dottie is going to have to help me remember their names!

This young fella was the one who crawled under the RV to try to figure out what was wrong. What a really nice guy!

RVing and racing - great lifestyles where you meet wonderful people!

Some photos from Infineon Raceway, June 2008

2009-02-10T22:19:00.003-05:00

Dale, Jr.'s 88 car

Brian Vickers' car

Jimmie Johnson's car

Jeff Gordon's car.

I dragged my friend Dottie to the races at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County, CA, last summer. The generator in my RV decided to pick that weekend to go south on me - turned out it was a hole in the fuel hose - so her dog got sick while we were trying to figure out what was wrong. Met some really nice guys who checked it out and decided they couldn't fix it so Dottie drove back to Sacramento to take Mitzi to the vet and to pick up her motorhome. We moved my motorhome to a friend's house and moved Dottie's RV to our campsite. It was HOT! 100+ while we were sitting in the stands for qualifying.

Dottie's generator worked when we needed it. But, during the race, she told me she was going to the restroom. Little did I know that SHE got sick, too! She was discovered not feeling well in the restroom and a track employee gave her a ride back to the RV. Thank goodness it wasn't anything serious!

Wonder if I can convince her to try it again this summer. Whaddya think, Dot??

Sharon's Back Yard

2009-02-10T22:05:00.000-05:00

Lovely Iris!

Better pick off the dead flowers.

Kumquats. They look like oranges, but they are only as large as my thumb.

Fantastic lemons! Great for cooking or lemonade.

Winery Trip with my Sisters and a Friend

2009-02-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

This is the view from one of the wineries...William Hill? I think so. Sharon will tell me. ;-)

It is so beautiful in the Napa Valley wine country in the spring.

Sharon and Mary at the entrance to Mario Andretti's winery. Nice setting, but I'm not that impressed by his wines yet.

Spring was busting out all over on this beautiful day!

Catching up on Blogging

2009-02-10T19:25:00.004-05:00

Dogwood blooms. I love dogwood and try to be in areas where the trees are blooming as often as I can. This was up the mountain from Lake of the Springs; Barb and I found it when we took a drive from the campground into the mountains.

The geese were living on a lake - don't remember the name of it right now - that my friend Barb and I visited last Spring from Lake of the Springs. We had a couple of nice drives when I stayed up there.

This is camping on top of a hill at Lake of the Springs in California. From this perch, we watched a forest fire burning and the California Department of Forestry fighting the fire from the air. I'm sure there were some ground crews there, too, but we couldn't see them from three ridges away. I'll post pictures from that experience in the next blog.

Minnesota is still lovely

2008-12-14T20:13:00.006-05:00

I love Lake Superior! This was taken on a rather stormy day on the North Shore. Wouldn't it be nice to have a home on the shore? Guess I need to win the lottery!

Had to post a picture of the moon from Friday, December 12! It was absolutely beautiful and at the perigee, closer to the earth than it will be again for many years. Thanks to my sister, Sharon, for the email about the BIG moon! We took a couple of pictures and hurried inside because it was about 20F and windy! The warmth of the house was calling to us.

It HAS been more than a month since I updated the blog! Blame my sister, Dianne, for keeping me so busy while I was in Minnesota and my son, daughter-in-law and grandgirls for keeping me busy in Indiana?! I did get my driver's license renewed while passing through South Dakota - oh, and picked up my mail to save on the postage once in five years. Drove within a few miles of one of my Jeff Gordon Network friends and didn't know it until I was already in South Dakota and too far from Nebraska to turn back. Next time, Tanya!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my sister Dianne, her husband Bob and tons of his brothers, sisters-in-law, grandkids, nieces and nephews. Thanks to Dianne for the showers and the use of her laundry facilities while I was in MN. It got VERY cold while I was there but now it is VERY VERY cold there and VERY cold here in Indiana. Had propane delivered one time and had to drive to the neighborhood Holiday station to fill it up another time. I'm learning how to keep the pipes from freezing in the RV while using less propane and more electric heat. Need to get some propane here this week. Too bad I can't have it delivered, but no such luck.

One last visit to Maroon Bells

2008-10-26T22:43:00.000-04:00

We went back to Aspen and Maroon Bells for one more time. Of course, we had to have lunch at Little Annie's Eatery again. More good food and great company. The picture below....More mountains I can't name, but aren't they beautiful?

Maroon Bells at sunset. The third picture is Jamie Lee taking pictures. The fourth picture is Jamie Lee and her mom having a good laugh.

Lunch at Little Annie's in Aspen

2008-10-25T00:54:00.000-04:00

While we were shopping in Aspen, we decided we were hungry and asked a nice man who was working in one of the shops where he would go to eat. He suggested Little Annie's Eating House. Wonderful suggestion! I had some great Split Pea Soup and Jamie and Tracey had the Beef Stew. The bread served with the meal was teriffic!

I am trying to use Picassa to post pictures in the blog, but it isn't behaving! I can't put captions on some of the photos below for some reason. It must be operator error. LOL Below the picture of the entrance to Little Annie's is one of the menu and then a photo of Tracey.

Below the picture of Jamie and Tracey with snow in their hair, is a photo I took of an article that was on the wall in the restaurant. The article has a lot of nice things to say about Little Annie's and I agree. Great restaurant, good wait staff and good food. A couple more pictures of downtown Aspen and a photo of the mountains I took as we left town complete today's posts.

We will be going back to Aspen tomorrow and I hope to get some pictures with blue sky above the mountains.

I had to play with my new toy....a macro lens!

Some of the decor in Little Annie's

Out on the street in Aspen - it was snowing when we got done with lunch!

How's your Aspen?

2008-10-22T00:34:00.000-04:00

Colorado has some of the most beautiful scenery in the US!! Tracey, Jamie and I have been exploring the western parts of the state while James and TC have been hunting elk near the town of Rifle, Colorado. The blogs won't be in chronological order, but by the time I'm done, together, we'll have a good look at the wonderful sights. On Tuesday, the 21st, we got up early to go to Aspen because we thought the storm would be gone and we would get some good pictures in Aspen and at Maroon Bells. Hmmmmm.....think we were just a bit off. About 12 hours or so.

Above is Maroon Lake and the Maroon Bells.

This picture is of Mt. Sopris, a 12,953 peak that is between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. I got a lot of good pictures of the mountain as we traveled toward Aspen.

Downtown Aspen. Sure would love to win the lottery so I could live here!

Ski Aspen Mountain from just outside the Starbucks

It snowed almost all the time we were in Aspen that day but it was beautiful all the same.

Maroon Bells from a distance

Looking back on the road enroute to Maroon Bells

Jamie taking pictures of Maroon Bells

More Maroon Bells

Traveling Interstate 70 in Utah

2008-10-13T20:17:00.000-04:00

The first pictures are of the mountains surrounding Springville, UT. It did snow yesterday. My friend Debbie and I were planning to get together for lunch on Sunday, but it was cold and we were both warmly caved up and decided we will see one another when we get t0 Las Vegas in February. I have photos of the signs at some of the vista views in Utah and, since it is difficult to read them, I typed out the narratives next to the photos below.

After leaving Springville this morning, I traveled south on I-15 to US Highway 50. Along Hwy 50 I saw so many beautiful sights with no place to pull off the road to take pictures - again! I need to make that drive one day in the car as there were a few places to pull off that would have worked had I been driving the car. There was snow along the sides of the road when I got up to about 5000 feet elevation and the clouds and snow on the Wasatch Mountains would have made some great pictures.

Along I-70, the roadsides are wide enough to pull off to take pictures and there were several off road view sites for travelers to take photos of the mountains and valleys formed by wind and water.

The mountain to the southeast, San Rafael Knob, is 7,921 feet above sea level, the highest point in the San Rafael Swell. This deep canyon is Devil's Canyon. It cuts throuth the Carmel

Formation, made of limestone and sandstone deposited in a sea that has been gone for 180 million years. The dramatically long and steep slopes below the Carmel are formed of Navajo sandstone, a formation prevelant throughout the Colorado Plateau, forming the spectacular views throughout Utah and Colorado. You are still ascending the west side of the rock dome that is the San Rafael Swell.

An anticline of huge proportions, the Swell was formed when forces below pushed up layers of rock below the earth's crust. Erosion has worn down the overlaying layers, forming the canyons, pinnacles and peaks you see here and as you drive further east. (I cut off the rest when I took the photo. Sorrrryyyyy!)

It takes rocks, water and time to make a landscape like this. Around here, rocks and water make great state parks, too, and there are four of them in San Rafael Country. With a little time, you can explore them all. Weird rock creatures seem to inhabit Goblin Valley State Park, 71 miles southeast of here(take the Hanksville Exit). The strange formations are great for kids to climb and hike around. Green River State park and Golf Course, just 45 miles east, is the put-in point for river trips through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons and is a base for seeing San Rafael County. When Traveling west through the Swell, you might detour to Millsite State Park and Golf Course for a round of golf or an afternoon of fishing. Farther north, you can enjoy a bit of boating, water skiing, and fun at beautiful Huntington State Park. Each park offers modern restrooms, shower facilities, and group use sites. For reservations and information, call 1-800-322-3770 or 1888-564-3600.

Humans have lived among these rocks and cliffs for longer than you can imagine. Archeological investigations conducted as part of the interstate construction across the Swell during the 1970s and 1980s located over a hundred prehistoric sites. The sites show that hundreds of generations of Native American peoples inhabited this rugged land for thousands of years and in all seasons. Archeologists explored sites from the early Archaic period of hunting and gathering about 9,500 years ago, up to historic ranching sites of the early 20th century. People survived by hunting and gathering until about the time of Christ, when small-scale agriculture, dependent on corn, beans and squash, was adopted. Archeological remains of these farmers, whom we call Fremonts, include small settlements of pit dwellings, granaries, outdoor shaded work areas, hearths, storage pits,and trash mounds. The earliest evidence of farming in the Swell dates to about A.D. 500 at the Confluence Site. This site provided important insight into the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture in the region, and predated previously known agricultural sites by 200 years. Bows and arrows and ceramics were the technological innovations of this time. Researchers found Fremont sites in the Ghost Rocks area, a few miles east of here, which is an upland environment and not well suited for growing corn. Study of the sites told archeologists much about the Fremont way of life, which included hunting and gathering year-round and farming at lower elevations along riverbanks.

Nevada through Utah

2008-10-13T00:23:00.000-04:00

The trip from Snowflower to where I stopped for the weekend was so-so. A lot of wonderful pictures that I could have taken had there been a place to pull off the Interstate. I listened to books on CD by Sue Grafton and started to listen to one of Al Franken's books. I'll listen to the rest of that one as I finish the trip to Colorado. Coming over one mountain pass, I saw snow on the tops of the mountains ahead but no place to stop to snap a photo. The first place I could stop for pictures was at the rest stop by the Bonneville Salt Flats. The state has built nice rest stops on both sides of the Interstate with views that are often beautiful.

I spent the weekend parked at the Flying J in Springville, UT waiting for the weather to clear between here and Glenwood Springs, CO where I'll stop for a couple of weeks to spend some time with Jamie Lee, Tracey, James and TJ. Hopefully, there will be turnouts on the roads I'll travel because I'm sure there will be some lovely views.

I did get to watch the races; not too happy with the finish of either of them, since neither Jeff Gordon nor Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Sprint Cup race.

Did I accomplish anything this weekend? Well, the bottom of the drawer where my china was stored broke out so I did rearrange a cupboard so the dishes have a new home. But the measuring cups, hand mixer and food grinder still need a new home. They will probably travel on the couch for now. ;-)

Leaving Snowflower, heading East, Riding with Dale, Jr., Cliffside camping

2008-10-09T00:45:00.000-04:00

For the NASCAR race at Tallladega on October 5, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had a special paint scheme - it inlcuded over 73000 names of fans who were riding with Junior for the race. My name was on the hood and I got to ride with Junior! During the first practice, his right rear tire exploded and a lot of fans were concerned that the backup car didn't have the names on it. They didn't have enough faith in Hendrick Motorsports. Of course, the backup car was exactly the same as the primary car!

The RV and the cliffs above my campsite at Snowflower. This is such a beautiful campground. I hope to get back next year. Note the little blue carbon offset - My Ford Escape Hybrid.

The weather is cooling off quickly - seems there is a cold front coming down from Alaska. It is supposed to snow here on Friday. I wish I could stay a little longer to play in the snow for a little while. I'm sure it will be beautiful here with snow on the ground.

The forecast is for the possibility of snow along my route across Nevada on I-80 as well. Don't worry, if it starts to snow, I'll pull off the road and wait for clear weather. ;-) I will be leaving Snowflower and heading East tomorrow. A week from Saturday, I'll be meeting Jamie Lee, Tracey, James and John in Rifle! Get your suitcases packed, Jamie Lee!! Put the stuff you aren't going to bring to Colorado back in your closet so you don't come home to a mess!

Almost time to head East

2008-10-06T23:00:00.000-04:00

Snowflower and Cabela's

2008-10-02T01:23:00.001-04:00

I'm currently camped at the Snowflower Thousand Trails Preserve near Emigrant Gap, CA at about 4500 feet altitude. So far, it has been cool, actually cold at night. Have had one day of rain and more rain is forecast for this weekend.

This picture is of Snowflower lake, a man-made lake that is just lovely.

My friends Dottie and Cindy came up to tour the campground on October 1. We drove up to the Vista Point and found the same wonderful views I saw the first time I was here with my friend Barbara.

The campground and lake are about 500 feet below an overlook where we found a beautiful view of the mountains toward the West and of the lake and valley below.

Some people would know the name of this mountain. I don't, but it sure is beautiful. This is one of the fantastic views from Interstate 80 looking North.

Donner Lake is beautiful any time of the year.

Cabela's! This is the new store next to Boomtown in Verdi, NV. HUGE! And so much fun. I'll have to go back to take more pictures. There are exhibits of animals from all over the world. I'll be going past there again soon and will take my little camera in to get some pictures of the exhibits. After touring Snowflower, Cindy, Dottie and I went to Cabela's. Had sandwiches and salads in their deli and then wandered the store. I'm surprised that none of us bought out the store!

Wine tasting with my sisters in the Napa Valley

2008-10-02T00:23:00.000-04:00

Olives still on the tree.

Barrels of Cabernet almost ready to be mixed with Merlot to make Cabernet Sauvignon at Groth Family Winery in the Napa Valley.

My sisters and I took a drive to Groth Family Winery on September 19 so Sharon, who is a member of the Groth Wine Club, could pick up her wine. It was the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and oh, my, was it a tasty wine! We got to taste it before she picked up her shipment. It sure tasted like MORE!

Groth has beautiful gardens surrounding the winery. It was nice to wander through them while making certain that one of us could safely drive after drinking the wine. There are a lot of flowers and olive trees in the garden.

While we were there, we got to taste the 2007 Cabernet; Susanne Groth was there to give each of us a taste from the barrel. That wine will be mixed with a certain percentage of Merlot, the percentage determined by the Vintner, and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon will be created - I believe some time next year.

Starting at Snowflower

2008-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

This picture is, of course, not taken at Snowflower, which is a campground in the Sierra Nevada Mountains not far from Truckee, CA. The photo is from the Bodega Headlands, a wildly wonderful spot on the Pacific Ocean that I visited with my friend Dottie in May, 2008.

I'll be here until October 9 when I'll head East, first to Colorado where I will meet up with my friends the Fulchers. Jamie Lee, Tracey and I will go hunting wineries and some super scenery in the Rocky Mountains while the men go hunting 4 legged creatures. I'm looking forward to a great time and to a promised steak dinner.

I will head to South Dakota on October 28 to renew my driver's license and to Minnesota for Thanksgiving with my sister Dianne and her husband Bob. December 3 is a special day to my granddaughters Sara and Hannah - they will be 13! I will travel from Minnesota to Indiana to be there for the party.

There are other plans in the works, but it all depends on the economy.....mine and the economy of the country.