Road Trip 2012: The End, Sunday 10/28

577 miles, and HOME!!!  So, the final road trip tally is 20 States, 53 days, and 9,709 miles.

I don't know if Zoey is happy, or bored now that we are home.  :-)

Not much to report, except that the drive was long, and the weather was messy.  Fog and rain plagued us most of the way home.  I think I was caught in the weather system that was tracking west to east, and is going to merge with Hurricane Sandy on Monday.  We arrived in Gouverneur about 6:00 PM, and I went to Karen and Alfie Bigarel's for dinner.

Kaylin got over being camera shy by the time I left.

A foggy and rainy I-79 in West Virginia.

The leaves are all gone in NNY.

It's Monday morning now, and I'm unpacking the camper and getting ready for the impending storm.  Most of the schools in the area are closing about noon today, because of the High Wind Alert that has been posted by the National Weather Service.  Boy, this is a far cry from those warm, sunny days out west.  I miss them already.  :-))

After I do laundry, restock the refrigerator, and sort through the mail, I think I'll start planning my next trip.  Maybe this winter.  We'll see.............

Road Trip 2012: Saturday 10/27

0 miles and still camped at Matt and Jaime's.

The adventure is winding down.  Sorry, no pictures today. :-((

This morning I was glued to the Weather Channel watching the "Superstorm" Hurricane Sandy reports.  It looks like New York State will be impacted.  I hope to be  home in time Sunday night to batten down the hatches.

Matt went deer hunting this morning.  I guess he's started looking for trophy racks to hang in the man-cave we are building.  Later in the day Jaime took the kids to a birthday party, so Matt and I were free to hammer, saw and make all the noise we wanted.  We got a lot done.  We even snuck in some time to watch a little college football.  I have really enjoyed working on Matt's house over the past five years, watching it grow from a dream to a beautiful reality.

The first and last day's drive is the longest on this trip. Door to door from my house to Matt's is 560 miles, or just about a ten hour drive.   Zoey and I started this road trip with Matt and Jaime as the first stop, and we're ending it with their house as the last stop.

I'll check in again Monday morning after I get home.............

Road Trip 2012: Friday 10/26

0 miles and still camped at Matt and Jaime's.

On the hill looking down on Matt and Jaime's log home.

Today was a gorgeous day with sunny skies and 75 degree temperatures.  This was the second "Indian Summer" day in a row, and probably the last. The combination of a cold front and hurricane Sandy are projected to create weather havoc in a few days.  The Weather Channel is going nuts with warnings and coverage.  It looks like as if I leave for Gouverneur by Sunday morning, I'll get home before the storm.

Jaime had to work today, so Matt and I did babysitting duty.  Like all grandchildren, Chasen and Kaylin are perfect kids.  :-))

Today was a rather laid back day.  Matt and I did a little construction work on the man-cave.  We played with the kids and Zoey.  We watched the Weather Channel.  We cooked dinner.  Good thing there were two of us.

Every home has a porch or deck to hang out on.  :-)

Chasen and Zoey hanging out.

Sunset from Matt and Jaime's deck.

Working on the man-cave.

Tomorrow Matt and I plan to do some serious work on the man-cave project.  The weather is turning for the worse, so a good day for indoor work.....

Road Trip 2012: Thursday 10/25

384 miles, and camped at the home of Matt and Jaime Sipher in Shinnston, West Virginia.

Cicero, Indiana to Matt and Jamie's house, Shinnston, West Virginia.

Zoey and Chasen.  Kaylin was camera shy.

OK, I have another example of the value of a cute dog.  A woman was walking the loops last night and she noticed Zoey and stopped to pet her.  We struck up a conversation and I learned that she had visited the Grand Canyon area last March.  She said I HAD to check out the Vermillion Cliffs area, especially a section called 'The Wave."  I googled it, and WOW.  That hike is now on my bucket list, and all because of Zoey.  :-))

There was a beautiful sunrise over the White River this warm morning.  The forecast is for a near record breaking day for high temperatures.  A true Indian Summer day.

Sunrise over the White River.

We left the campground at 8:30.  It is a seven hour drive to Matt's.  I'm not scheduled to get arrive there until about 4:30, so I can take my time.  Only slightly out of the way is the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park near Chillicothe, Ohio.  I decided to stop and look around.  I'm so glad I did.  The Hopewell Indian Culture goes back about 2,000 years.  They did not have a written language, but they knew astronomy, and they built huge earthen mounds.  The midwest, especially Ohio, is rich in Hopewell culture remnants.   I saw some examples of Hopewell culture along the Mississippi River earlier in my travels.  Most, if not all, of the mounds in the exhibit are not original.  They have been rebuilt based on early photographs and surveys.  They are not original for two reasons; first some were carefully excavated to search for archeological artifacts, many of which are in the museum at the visitor center.  Second, the Army decided to build a WW1 training post on and around the mounds in 1917.  Some were destroyed then.  Fortunately there were some early scientists in the 1800's who were foresighted enough to carefully survey and document the mounds.  I found them fascinating.

These four photos are materials excavated from the mounds.

This interpretive sign shows the layout of the mound complex within about a 20 acre walled mound.

The diagram on the right demonstrates the layout of the mounds.

These photos are how the mounds probably originally looked.

Viewing the mounds from a distance.

The tallest mound.

Unusual shaped elliptical mound.

Standing inside the mound complex.

The wall that completely encircles the mound complex.

The flat lands of western Illinois gradually transitioned to the rolling mountains of eastern Ohio and West Virginia.

These trees were green when I was here in early September.

The temperature was 82 when I pulled into Matt and Jaime's driveway about 5:00.  This could be the last few days of great summer/fall weather.  In fact, snow is in the forecast for Matt about Monday night.  I'll be gone by then, but it will be nice to stay put for a few days and hang out with family.  Friday is supposed to be 76 and sunny, so we'll have at least one more nice day.  Guess that's all for now.....

Road Trip 2012: Wednesday 10/24

331 miles, camped at White River Campground, Cicero, Indiana.  White River Campground is a county owned park.  This is the first I have camped at a County Park.  It is nicer than some State parks I have been in.  It is a beautiful campground on the White River that is at most, 10% full.

Eldridge, Iowa to Cicero, Indiana.

Site 66, White River Campground.

White River running along the campground.

View of the mostly empty campground.

My friend Steve retired just about one year ago from John Deere.  I caught a glimpse of his retirement toy today.  While I bought a tractor to play with, he bought a Harley.  I'm jealous!    He rides quite often, going out for three to five hour rides.  He has discovered roads and places he never knew existed in the 12 years he has lived in Eldridge.

The mandatory photo we take every time, in front of the fireplace.

Steve's Harley Davidson motorcycle.  I'm drooling.  :-))

Zoey and I got on the road about 8:30.  We were just in time.  President Obama was making an appearance in Davenport this morning.  As I was driving through Davenport, the police were starting to shut certain roads.  Had I been an hour later, I'd probably still be sitting in a traffic jam.

After the previous two days of clouds and rain, today was glorious with a sunny sky and temperatures in the high 70's.  A real Indian Summer day.  At some point, I spotted four, small roadside signs, much like the old Burma Shave signs from days past.  In order, they read:

• Urban sprawl
• Ain't very pretty
• Save our farms
• Build in the city

I thought it was quite cute and creative.  Sure beats all the political signs I've been seeing.

I drove Interstate 74 most of the day.  The last 50 miles to the campground were on two lane roads.  Most of the corn has been harvested.  There are some fields left to do, but rain the previous couple of days has grounded the combines.  Wind towers are a common sight out here.  I think they are a beautiful sight, especially when they are turning.  I know some people think they are an eyesore, but I find them fascinating.

Wind towers.

And more wind towers.

Here are a couple of photos from the two lane road.

Harvested fields.

Corn yet to be harvested.

This is the last night that Zoey and I camp alone at a strange campground.  I have enjoyed meeting new people, but it will also be nice to see familiar faces.  Tomorrow, Thursday I catch up with Matt and Jaime in West Virginia again.  I can't wait to see Chasen and Kaylin.

Road Trip 2012: Tuesday 10/23

326 miles, and camped at the home of Steve and Elizabeth Randall in Eldridge, Iowa.  Steve and Elizabeth were in the same high school class with me in Gouverneur.

Omaha, Nebraska to Eldridge, Iowa.

Well, today was the second straight day of fog and drizzle.  I sure got spoiled by the day after day blue skies out west.  We pulled out of the campground at 8:00.  The fog was low, and it was raining mist.  I decided to take Interstate 80 today.  That road would be the quickest way to Steve and Elizabeth's.  The sooner I got there, the more time we had for catching up.

Early morning fog and mist on I-80.

Other than the morning commute traffic on I-80 going through the city of Omaha, the drive was relatively easy.  But after spending the entire day yesterday on the two lane Rt. 6, I can absolutely tell the you that the scenery on the interstate is no where as nice.  On the interstate you see more billboard signs, more hotels and gas stations, and quite often more trees to block your view.  As I said in a previous post, in general the interstate highways are good for getting you from point A to point B in a hurry, and not for the scenery.

More morning fog and mist.

Look close.  A farmer tilled the work "MITT" on his field.

Wind mills in the fog.

About noon, the sky started to brghten.

Iowa farmland.

Typical Iowa view of corn field yet to be harvested.

I arrived in Eldridge just about 2:00.  We spent a bunch of time catching up, went out to dinner, and then more time catching up.  Wednesday we head farther east and hope to camp somewhere in Indiana.

Road Trip 2012: Monday 10/22

295 miles: camped at the KOA in West Omaha, Nebraska.

Swanson Reservoir to West Omaha, Nebraska.

Site 37, West Omaha KOA.

There was a glorious sunset over Swanson Reservoir last night after I finished writing the blog.

Sunset at Swanson Reservoir.

So, after 47 days on the road, I finally had a boring, non adventures one.  :-))  The primary reason is the weather.  For the first time on my trip, I never saw blue sky.  In fact, there was fog and misty rain most of the day.  I managed to avoid the interstate highways the entire day.  I drove US Rt. 6 the entire day, even through the city of Lincoln, Nebraska.  I had the time, and I enjoyed the slower pace and the views.  However, the mist and fog sure "dampened" the day.

Railroad cars waiting to filled at a grain elevator.

Fog and excess grain stored in outdoor piles.

Beef cattle grazing corn stalks.

Thicker fog.

I did learn a lot from the local radio stations, however.  I learned which feed additive to use when you graze your livestock on corn fields after they have been combined, a common practice out here.  I learned which vaccination to use to prevent BRD (bovine respiratory disease) on your livestock.  I even learned that you can get an option for your irrigation system where you can control the timing and amount of water applied from your iPad or smart phone.  What's next?

I drove by at least two ethanol plants.  They were huge, and grain trucks were lined up entering them.  I have to say, I have a problem using a food crop to produce automobile fuel.  It's questionable whether there is even a net energy gain in the production of the fuel.  But I'm sure the corn farmers are benefiting from the increased demand for corn.

Zoey and I plan to spend Tuesday night in Eldridge, Iowa with former high school classmates Steve and Elizabeth Randall.  The weather forecast is calling for mostly cloudy and temps in the mid 70's.