tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74163545270528450382024-03-19T04:17:18.083-05:00Rambling RV RatPoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-7926771637236573592024-02-01T00:05:00.002-06:002024-02-01T18:32:20.655-06:00Desert Parties, Performances, and Meet-ups – Quartzsite, AZ<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">The remainder of January in Quartzsite, AZ was jam-packed
with special activities for us in addition to line dancing and pickleball.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWknfik9yZxc8U6zZJhaHZoU4E4KJMAgEP0g6bQOvuzDADISiU-5CD7q7fsTS_QN4yPOoncq5diqdpgUb4NkqF4C2moTqLSLyGCKOAIVeuwLTtkyyKoAR0Vny_9C2p67O5-ZnMVvJCQ9JNKIbdLx9abxQauaHizGCDmfD2-zW5P_uTfraCN8eb8Buzjr61" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWknfik9yZxc8U6zZJhaHZoU4E4KJMAgEP0g6bQOvuzDADISiU-5CD7q7fsTS_QN4yPOoncq5diqdpgUb4NkqF4C2moTqLSLyGCKOAIVeuwLTtkyyKoAR0Vny_9C2p67O5-ZnMVvJCQ9JNKIbdLx9abxQauaHizGCDmfD2-zW5P_uTfraCN8eb8Buzjr61=w180-h313" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of my desert self-portraits.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Gold Star RV Park hosted a musical variety show that we
enjoyed immensely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friend, Chrissy,
acted as MC, and her comedic bits rivaled those of today’s late night talk show
hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The talented musical artists
played an array of instruments, from guitars to violins to autoharp,
complimenting their beautiful voices.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEhFPqdBESnV7Pt-o_12uTcFqnVDfzozgYYJX4GWIUIObtQR4GQRSzunz3LNWhnSTWIUKzjNs6VJCCZb6QOqA9liV6P6xKNClxxpaBXmKqH1b6bBScFQBROum_i42TAIrPJNiOT0VTe_X-T02xscAzqAwLzyGckX8PuakeCYcjuF1CLd2ZMsGrx0hjX-l/s4000/20240120_191621.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEhFPqdBESnV7Pt-o_12uTcFqnVDfzozgYYJX4GWIUIObtQR4GQRSzunz3LNWhnSTWIUKzjNs6VJCCZb6QOqA9liV6P6xKNClxxpaBXmKqH1b6bBScFQBROum_i42TAIrPJNiOT0VTe_X-T02xscAzqAwLzyGckX8PuakeCYcjuF1CLd2ZMsGrx0hjX-l/w400-h180/20240120_191621.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This fiddler is amazing! And would you believe she is 94 years young!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We
also attended an ukulele performance by 20 of the more than 60 members of the
Greater Quartzsite Area Ukulele Group.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I
am shocked at how many people play this instrument, including about a half
dozen of our friends!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a fun and
enjoyable evening, and we thank Gold Star RV Park for providing their venue.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTeXv5jueAUFKtefYP3ieg5oIjVLEVBlPaQFitRdqjojZGLSERr6N-dIX-TjzQMgE17q_VeEyEbNB-s-Ele0kDyufo_colMHjgaqAqIritGbZGBN8GTdMFqdJzK7j1IRseyJhBWFEHmPoewRj3KiAtzbSiBSyP0ysOV7SwPbKyOfeRd4lEzc59Nv4JrY9/s4000/20240127_200317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTeXv5jueAUFKtefYP3ieg5oIjVLEVBlPaQFitRdqjojZGLSERr6N-dIX-TjzQMgE17q_VeEyEbNB-s-Ele0kDyufo_colMHjgaqAqIritGbZGBN8GTdMFqdJzK7j1IRseyJhBWFEHmPoewRj3KiAtzbSiBSyP0ysOV7SwPbKyOfeRd4lEzc59Nv4JrY9/w400-h225/20240127_200317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These ukulele players were so much fun, Mom may be inspired enough to learn to play the ukulele herself!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had two days of heavy rains, which canceled two group
happy hours/get togethers for us.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But
the forced “relaxation” was probably a good thing, and we were all rewarded
with a lovely rainbow afterwards.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCRcfPDd4CAcZ_bj2uLO2Ery4h6hd9XzrWmq2K_3OGse9m46HjEIPjndoa6F_Uuh7-Lc6BJaIJUIndXZQcWQT2TCaYLtSwKQK1mAUf1umKgraMysV0PbnVBus53JbTePD0a_llmnwHPd6zDyYGjSYL3OHvoqjTxX0TBC04isMNDs9DXvXmfCzbIecExL9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="3602" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCRcfPDd4CAcZ_bj2uLO2Ery4h6hd9XzrWmq2K_3OGse9m46HjEIPjndoa6F_Uuh7-Lc6BJaIJUIndXZQcWQT2TCaYLtSwKQK1mAUf1umKgraMysV0PbnVBus53JbTePD0a_llmnwHPd6zDyYGjSYL3OHvoqjTxX0TBC04isMNDs9DXvXmfCzbIecExL9Q=w400-h175" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The nearby washes began to fill from the rainfall.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWKwmsDH0b_5xVjOK9_l7ZWYAo8GA_SHZMBzEuKAT2s-D947_tQsfB-WqTbpXIVxrQl1d6IECh1cLk9WkqkOTqZMYoXkDJzyHabqdVxcLifGtdVREDS_Z-G56uONL63x_3AnMC8o9gtbK3-Kugf4l1Wlki9jvMa0zaUcNQKdCwH3c_Pm-x8Le53P84Qbg8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWKwmsDH0b_5xVjOK9_l7ZWYAo8GA_SHZMBzEuKAT2s-D947_tQsfB-WqTbpXIVxrQl1d6IECh1cLk9WkqkOTqZMYoXkDJzyHabqdVxcLifGtdVREDS_Z-G56uONL63x_3AnMC8o9gtbK3-Kugf4l1Wlki9jvMa0zaUcNQKdCwH3c_Pm-x8Le53P84Qbg8=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rainbow appears to be coming out the roof of the outhouse!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next day we all made up for lost time at the Escapees RV
Club annual event, Party on Plomosa. Held within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 14-day dispersed camping area, this event is open to the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Status Crowes always provide terrific
musical entertainment, and many of us with dancing feet couldn’t sit in our
seats, including our friend Lisa, known as the Dancing Unicorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free refreshments, games, door prizes, and
an annual visit with RVing friends—what’s not to enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbMVdyTHpkKH5u5Fo2gTZwNLdfbFArDFajTQ1E03VbkRM85pNCMqscO24ll33CEqqMSzUGUIJHwPSX6UoTuAjHDAYzstNxD0m0YYDh9Nnjb1w94njTaADtbVF5DmAgim7lhtrRExzdQieHDqnjudaQ9M-tKq2mm_QCnxQ5eKyjbRJ3oJ3LT9qplKblAXY/s3264/20240124_131219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbMVdyTHpkKH5u5Fo2gTZwNLdfbFArDFajTQ1E03VbkRM85pNCMqscO24ll33CEqqMSzUGUIJHwPSX6UoTuAjHDAYzstNxD0m0YYDh9Nnjb1w94njTaADtbVF5DmAgim7lhtrRExzdQieHDqnjudaQ9M-tKq2mm_QCnxQ5eKyjbRJ3oJ3LT9qplKblAXY/w400-h180/20240124_131219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0WbvXIZNrQmFIDyottB7NWTy3CSopW-hNNCwSAdDdJRJzbCPQJlYCWOzI8M3312ynnnW81_ITGEMpZpu6er4tqOUH-YXQxMJtTnreDF3qKsKGiCgSwc9FVMSSv8z2Wk9zS5u-CBWllaN0-vry6bSHXSUem_D-9GtSunFIumaq7A0cUwAHR0oa8zQNtk6/s4096/20240124_133229.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0WbvXIZNrQmFIDyottB7NWTy3CSopW-hNNCwSAdDdJRJzbCPQJlYCWOzI8M3312ynnnW81_ITGEMpZpu6er4tqOUH-YXQxMJtTnreDF3qKsKGiCgSwc9FVMSSv8z2Wk9zS5u-CBWllaN0-vry6bSHXSUem_D-9GtSunFIumaq7A0cUwAHR0oa8zQNtk6/w400-h300/20240124_133229.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Friends from Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Denis and Vivian.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWApECcqpywNTd9oK323aKyGdNXz-U7JbBqg_LIXjFfc3dHekJ6KrvFbSsRQf2hkaailK3cE1Q7AdCaxm3--CEQRGEkNOPytR7TtY9CBRamaDRBUcmN3F_8ZuaAipxHWuMjmagzcEH_VazYBIh-1rB1EHNoLLd9y5YAdCIi8lTjHt2itg8WWeTKYaCtGfi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWApECcqpywNTd9oK323aKyGdNXz-U7JbBqg_LIXjFfc3dHekJ6KrvFbSsRQf2hkaailK3cE1Q7AdCaxm3--CEQRGEkNOPytR7TtY9CBRamaDRBUcmN3F_8ZuaAipxHWuMjmagzcEH_VazYBIh-1rB1EHNoLLd9y5YAdCIi8lTjHt2itg8WWeTKYaCtGfi=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching up with Kirsty, whom we met initially at Delta Junction, AK in 2016.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIorq81qGkm6_wEzryEnMmACBqPdwQTfuzGmzXrKwefCOEnCDvcPSanBQvMa4aGfOg4kNXX2wssvP45F1B9WQgdCNG1ur9Sc6CXuoifDRhHq6DsqFATBfsSz6pMvXjsxb-PM2f0LWUrPrUDmtoK-MX_zyh5cMLz_mCixB1VgiXWkhf55Cqf1c3F5tIx6Y/w400-h180/20240124_132659.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Friends Jack and Sue (and adogable Teddy), whom we met when we all volunteered for CARE Octoberfest in 2019.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1YN06Bzicsg4J7nkqZvrk9GISWvjingvFcrgpeBcTncr011k89Cng_5i7iOyTPb1s8NsyGoX4dWw6prgxsSBfuMt_leOnKKZ76-wmci5NNCpd4f3inWLakvlo-_PkV_0Pr6ivakHgPyFD4Od7oYRd5WaiBBv-BguYB0alLYYLxcDuYW8ZXPQ8MG3ISBF/s4096/20240124_135058.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1YN06Bzicsg4J7nkqZvrk9GISWvjingvFcrgpeBcTncr011k89Cng_5i7iOyTPb1s8NsyGoX4dWw6prgxsSBfuMt_leOnKKZ76-wmci5NNCpd4f3inWLakvlo-_PkV_0Pr6ivakHgPyFD4Od7oYRd5WaiBBv-BguYB0alLYYLxcDuYW8ZXPQ8MG3ISBF/w400-h300/20240124_135058.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So great to have our annual meet-up with Deb and Randy, friends from our 2016 Amazon Camper Force days. Meeting so many great folks, remaining in touch, and getting together down the road has been such a wonderful perk of full-time RVing.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus_t8fFlEyUodEj0BOz6te13wp7i9xRPbjDfz95sPqE1z_0f0YyJQSWpyCu_cyqlduymZchGYISIjZxWm3Wwi5V2XX8zbrolm9TMc90tfzcAt6LQncTrk5Pi57uDzVTMz_MQGEBOfLe_-vI_SCHXeCFv4okkGmPxmOG8N_Eb9GQgvDGT3X9XpkFiiSjIL/s4096/20240124_151717.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus_t8fFlEyUodEj0BOz6te13wp7i9xRPbjDfz95sPqE1z_0f0YyJQSWpyCu_cyqlduymZchGYISIjZxWm3Wwi5V2XX8zbrolm9TMc90tfzcAt6LQncTrk5Pi57uDzVTMz_MQGEBOfLe_-vI_SCHXeCFv4okkGmPxmOG8N_Eb9GQgvDGT3X9XpkFiiSjIL/w300-h400/20240124_151717.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents with friend Lori, the Dancing Unicorn!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zilCoFiEYvg" width="320" youtube-src-id="zilCoFiEYvg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDwmoXjS_WqN2wKYRvHKVpkdVOrwj8rVm_GwSFoaeWYI1TCRxxkyM10Hy2R03SLAoGfMpwXG-QFxxObaSsRM5QMzao7UprIaApWVJTXdscGq27wAWBYH0fc9Z4Nx73LnRGg_kXHJJ6dIllXQZrWSZU_mDldG3NcpVsWwVFdI-GN8SAsD1QHkbNmdu8TR/s4000/20240124_160830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsDwmoXjS_WqN2wKYRvHKVpkdVOrwj8rVm_GwSFoaeWYI1TCRxxkyM10Hy2R03SLAoGfMpwXG-QFxxObaSsRM5QMzao7UprIaApWVJTXdscGq27wAWBYH0fc9Z4Nx73LnRGg_kXHJJ6dIllXQZrWSZU_mDldG3NcpVsWwVFdI-GN8SAsD1QHkbNmdu8TR/w400-h180/20240124_160830.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Great performance by the Status Crowes.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We attended a happy hour with fellow DRV owners Davie/Nicky,
along with their group of Xscapers who were hanging out for a short time at the
Roadrunner 14-day BLM dispersed camping area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone was very welcoming, and a fun time was had by all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwyW719kxFo6BTg05tlAvnZy87ZNwoYjsyXiIURt7x4vN6FHgs9HZnyZyzkM024mbw9KX9RR2LGyrlU1Ok_bHH4mysWk1u3zDUgH4J7-zXp1uM2KZt5ZI6IpxGi1vHZtTOzEtrOMdAh2UGoM3nROjlLX-De1yekaq1odw1m0fLrG0PtzMJdeOqyiXmKoFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwyW719kxFo6BTg05tlAvnZy87ZNwoYjsyXiIURt7x4vN6FHgs9HZnyZyzkM024mbw9KX9RR2LGyrlU1Ok_bHH4mysWk1u3zDUgH4J7-zXp1uM2KZt5ZI6IpxGi1vHZtTOzEtrOMdAh2UGoM3nROjlLX-De1yekaq1odw1m0fLrG0PtzMJdeOqyiXmKoFg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We popped over one
day to the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation, and RV Show, also known by us “locals”
as “The Big Tent”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents took
advantage of Escapees RV Club’s show discount for membership and renewed for
another 3 years, saving $30 (that translates into more cheez money for
me!)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There were the usual vendors, but
one that caught our eyes and my parents’ wallet:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Geyser System Low Flow Personal
Shower/Wash System.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Designed
specifically for van life and car camping, it utilizes 1 gallon of water for a
15-minute shower through its proprietary tank and sponge system.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are two options:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the tank set-up or the showerhead
conversion.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We are not vanners/car campers; our fifth
wheel has a 100-gallon freshwater tank onboard; and we have an inflatable
150-gallon water bladder for when we boondock for extended periods (like here
in Quartzsite.)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, you are probably
wondering why the heck we purchased the showerhead conversion ($105).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, we loved the entrepreneurial spirit of
the founder/CEO Jonathan and the fact that the product is manufactured in a
small plant in Montrose, CO.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We shower
every day, even when boondocking, so it would extend the life-cycle of our
water supply.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But most importantly,
every drop of water we all can save, especially in these Western states, helps
to sustain our natural resources.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Just
think of the consolidated benefit if every “dwelling”, whether a sticks/bricks
or home-on-wheels, utilized this system!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">And for those whose water bills are exorbitant (like folks in areas of
CA), that translates to a huge monetary savings over the course of a year.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">All I can say is that the product earns one of my Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese awards, and we are considering buying a second conversion set-up (again, sans the tank) for
our kitchen sink.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_qBnP3t34T5Q7AHNDay6jJ3p2T-fJHPb-n-pE4d4ESeQzR1QANk0hF02f28_12REo_zokVhSJZXCJg6rOk2T9_Cn1bzsRxxCGBa4OeOoyaUPwTud9f2Ka_Hv716_jCjnwP5GYXTK81n-KbD5Nmxg-eHMlqYlrVQHp7YwU4OxqUIWK995kRjAfGkuwX-LV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_qBnP3t34T5Q7AHNDay6jJ3p2T-fJHPb-n-pE4d4ESeQzR1QANk0hF02f28_12REo_zokVhSJZXCJg6rOk2T9_Cn1bzsRxxCGBa4OeOoyaUPwTud9f2Ka_Hv716_jCjnwP5GYXTK81n-KbD5Nmxg-eHMlqYlrVQHp7YwU4OxqUIWK995kRjAfGkuwX-LV" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Full system with water tank made specifically for vanners/car campers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMCu4tj75kjrl7rGZx7ohVDc16noZaKuLiwQH_4QN_wvbAQue08iIG0PlBUsdS34m9chwKEFveigt8t9kVCSNf7bv9PfDAGFtCBm35gD2OkgWCdxl2lBsnKuEBncqb_T4hnhMP0lpXDR7F1-6QXGp1Ar5xDK9L7gV6k2d1RnALhgKV15yXTLkD1Y6Taxt3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3067" data-original-width="956" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMCu4tj75kjrl7rGZx7ohVDc16noZaKuLiwQH_4QN_wvbAQue08iIG0PlBUsdS34m9chwKEFveigt8t9kVCSNf7bv9PfDAGFtCBm35gD2OkgWCdxl2lBsnKuEBncqb_T4hnhMP0lpXDR7F1-6QXGp1Ar5xDK9L7gV6k2d1RnALhgKV15yXTLkD1Y6Taxt3=w125-h400" width="125" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<span style="font-family: arial;">his is the shower conversion we purchased.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Speaking of the kitchen sink, did I tell you about the fantastic
job Dad did this fall of making Mom a happy camper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Day 1 of purchasing Suite Retreat in
2019, Mom complained that the sink angles were no conducive to proper
draining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the divided stainless kitchen
sink was too small for her Italian-sized pots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her frustration was so bad, she said she no longer wanted to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>WHAT!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad went into panic mode!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
immediately got quotes for a replacement stainless steel
custom-sized sink, but they were astronomical, the cheapest $3K+ and the
highest $6K+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad, trying to ward off
Mom’s cooking boycott, decided on a do-it-yourself project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made an extra-deep, custom-sized
fiberglass/epoxy resin sink for Mom for a mere $500.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so big, Mom can stack tons of dirty dishes/cookware
in it and still fit the countertop sink covers, forgetting she even has
dishwashing to do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This DIY project was
a winner, giving Mom the sink she desired without breaking the bank.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiEk3H9QfVQqH928a-K38EfpOWcIb0kxDcB1IY3k4Miqr6wUuuWJchQLi6HLnaan5juLYrQKzdiemG9j1K6h9AgtRK5fiJndtMX0HqyOJryVZ3kFScNuiLDfyFhU3T_WqTfi9Mwm9FPIYoxjQOAATml7W4wVhqn9qiJcV7JiQFCt4Qrxyi-z9pr0k8OG8l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="2976" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiEk3H9QfVQqH928a-K38EfpOWcIb0kxDcB1IY3k4Miqr6wUuuWJchQLi6HLnaan5juLYrQKzdiemG9j1K6h9AgtRK5fiJndtMX0HqyOJryVZ3kFScNuiLDfyFhU3T_WqTfi9Mwm9FPIYoxjQOAATml7W4wVhqn9qiJcV7JiQFCt4Qrxyi-z9pr0k8OG8l=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggFGshGcGxTPYFCLe4doMya9UInd4ejnujvXYKOFTHQ5vGSh04yCt40pOUfBx5p4r6wmYhUR8zrD-MMkXrW8arCR_XYraXVByKJOQ4Jeu6lfhnfNuo598P7AyVhxbIzPo-mrmgATFRPqqiiz35AWOkBxTlGXlqxZZQ7-vZT7rjCXw-zNwB7LvTPxtgSs-p" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1894" data-original-width="1404" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggFGshGcGxTPYFCLe4doMya9UInd4ejnujvXYKOFTHQ5vGSh04yCt40pOUfBx5p4r6wmYhUR8zrD-MMkXrW8arCR_XYraXVByKJOQ4Jeu6lfhnfNuo598P7AyVhxbIzPo-mrmgATFRPqqiiz35AWOkBxTlGXlqxZZQ7-vZT7rjCXw-zNwB7LvTPxtgSs-p=w297-h400" width="297" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTEepGChk0tDriaiTxzJ-11nZL6HX8XXps4G1CdHKl2pRI8thWzZLgDe4vnho4dn1Kh_aV1XPY7JVVMjoZxQ8W13-Skm-j3GbyiMVdVPbnhfRMjkS9Atzx5dihFaGwTN4fGOYedpHctUUG0yTkJbvWaOg9LK28UQArduX1ntzG931RwanI-3E28QkQQqiu" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2193" data-original-width="1183" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTEepGChk0tDriaiTxzJ-11nZL6HX8XXps4G1CdHKl2pRI8thWzZLgDe4vnho4dn1Kh_aV1XPY7JVVMjoZxQ8W13-Skm-j3GbyiMVdVPbnhfRMjkS9Atzx5dihFaGwTN4fGOYedpHctUUG0yTkJbvWaOg9LK28UQArduX1ntzG931RwanI-3E28QkQQqiu=w215-h400" width="215" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRHY1N7NcUCDJ5oMA43yg8_v5JQi436zPM8sug6nH3I1JmUA_zmSfkMlitAr1iXKSdie6D5pxRe1mNIRmSowPiFIdC_P_k5ytwTHuMy_uBCjp-pOpmnNMJlaptG5ml1-90J_EOq3SLwpTgRHWZrCph5EGcBHRWDjl8xHcgLjCnrPT0eHgQEzIX1RPQOEVl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2627" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRHY1N7NcUCDJ5oMA43yg8_v5JQi436zPM8sug6nH3I1JmUA_zmSfkMlitAr1iXKSdie6D5pxRe1mNIRmSowPiFIdC_P_k5ytwTHuMy_uBCjp-pOpmnNMJlaptG5ml1-90J_EOq3SLwpTgRHWZrCph5EGcBHRWDjl8xHcgLjCnrPT0eHgQEzIX1RPQOEVl=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took a trip down to Yuma, taking friend Sylvia for lunch
at Bernardo’s, which offers tasty pizza and Italian subs/hoagies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bernardo’s even obliged Dad by using his
plant-based cheese!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom found her
Italian sub/hoagie delicious, and Sylvia and I enjoyed sampling both
options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We three then ventured to
Fortuna Hills for Howling at the Moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We arranged to meet up with Vivian/Denis again, who left Quartzsite and
were spending just a few days in Yuma before returning home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have never been to Howling at the
Moon, it is an awesome party in the desert each month between October and March
when a full moon occurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food and
merchandise vendors, bands, and the star of the show, the full moon, combine for
one howling good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
spectacular weather, good friends, a fun crowd, the chance to line dance to a
half dozen songs, and a gorgeous full moon for us all to howl at like
wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure am looking forward to
attending again in February.</span><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijzy7J5aKED-NjS-1f49KFgwM9M9tZeA2MOCUZ1_rMR37yF9bj9Y5712nwS23LBL9FKM2J7fKFYkTgGWpH7IuX763OMrPwlqFih1hbrrNw2tApib6Q7MMwpTPyrQbe74ndlNPmYu8vFmXzjNz74EHCw1RHBCxilIeVlI0ffdpfBSUVa1c-o86Y7M5jvBqM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijzy7J5aKED-NjS-1f49KFgwM9M9tZeA2MOCUZ1_rMR37yF9bj9Y5712nwS23LBL9FKM2J7fKFYkTgGWpH7IuX763OMrPwlqFih1hbrrNw2tApib6Q7MMwpTPyrQbe74ndlNPmYu8vFmXzjNz74EHCw1RHBCxilIeVlI0ffdpfBSUVa1c-o86Y7M5jvBqM=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Friend Sylvia with whom we volunteered in 2020 in Idaho for the US Army Corps of Engineers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6_yez4WqPKFMvOtYpXM9dLBiTYwWfP9NeuX23jqSgw2qhb-wI3GrOqAI4XXU87dt1TStRF8MUAwBv-NEf-XpjuVQOacj9pg4xBoc5EOCW4Ed_q-Lvr2vlcldEDXfDVzao4EJd7bat3SPpv-28sctGp-l4r7UiF6p5FQEtNbypuGDyB8tvMHyhZEOQMJno" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6_yez4WqPKFMvOtYpXM9dLBiTYwWfP9NeuX23jqSgw2qhb-wI3GrOqAI4XXU87dt1TStRF8MUAwBv-NEf-XpjuVQOacj9pg4xBoc5EOCW4Ed_q-Lvr2vlcldEDXfDVzao4EJd7bat3SPpv-28sctGp-l4r7UiF6p5FQEtNbypuGDyB8tvMHyhZEOQMJno=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Denis was in full wolf mode, practicing his howl for when the moon rise occurred.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_I-8pf0knn4uelG-7dwOhUDOL1GbCAbpf6I2My6NBQ13rWnnM1mXmUa1yvhe71Pwn_1Od3-VwGxWBmrkMz1kG73zB3jMOryEBiYKxTFqD0T2fyfmosjbzrvMIj2d97rrj6QQCmBIk_JlSjHn1La_IfelTra_bgrkezqS3zyEqARQNwncj5mfwy6e-ExCV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_I-8pf0knn4uelG-7dwOhUDOL1GbCAbpf6I2My6NBQ13rWnnM1mXmUa1yvhe71Pwn_1Od3-VwGxWBmrkMz1kG73zB3jMOryEBiYKxTFqD0T2fyfmosjbzrvMIj2d97rrj6QQCmBIk_JlSjHn1La_IfelTra_bgrkezqS3zyEqARQNwncj5mfwy6e-ExCV=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiMTdOC5CfQyU9P4MQUb3Vz_kDUr5bKZ5SwxL8T3A8yleiXekxuZYIJ1IXN5I9i3zviIefQUOQfzIczTtIHbPT1bY-SCM92M9QOd_uBxRC1DVNEO9PU8D6W-O7UatcD__Cp8mWSh3snqJk0pycUevDgR57lVBISAgqCY1k0bNspWYh3C_VKTfSk_cItJiU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiMTdOC5CfQyU9P4MQUb3Vz_kDUr5bKZ5SwxL8T3A8yleiXekxuZYIJ1IXN5I9i3zviIefQUOQfzIczTtIHbPT1bY-SCM92M9QOd_uBxRC1DVNEO9PU8D6W-O7UatcD__Cp8mWSh3snqJk0pycUevDgR57lVBISAgqCY1k0bNspWYh3C_VKTfSk_cItJiU=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing in the desert!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XgOJWImj6ek" width="320" youtube-src-id="XgOJWImj6ek"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />We got together for dinner at Silly Al’s with friends
Debbie/Steve (from the now defunct RV Dreamers group) and their friends
Rick/Angie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have gone to Silly Al’s on
prior occasions when the Big Tent Show was ongoing, but had never seen it
quite this crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family arrived at 5
p.m. to get our party of 6 on the seating list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we didn’t get seated until 6:30 (the host was taking parties of 2
before groups of 4 or more, which seemed weird), and we didn’t get our food
until 7:30!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing we had great
company and lots to talk about, though no easy feat with the unbelievable noise
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Senior Center dance my family
was to attend afterwards started at 7 p.m., but we didn’t arrive until
8:15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we had a chance to join
our classmates for a few line dances.<o:p></o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkXSXMC-G3rLErngbolK_JZH8jH1HiEBaYfM-HwHC14Q2pvZT9zoE6MFvv0fYEL9H8ludidTCicZ4ixbTeUxsZhdidfHpNQ9YsT7rdefZCgUNMpZpLTlpFx-XB9-P4gzDvdjlhera9meO3eP6TFltNjyOeEtMuGmLGh2syf1VxHaZ-FcsiiUUxXW0UQxLh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkXSXMC-G3rLErngbolK_JZH8jH1HiEBaYfM-HwHC14Q2pvZT9zoE6MFvv0fYEL9H8ludidTCicZ4ixbTeUxsZhdidfHpNQ9YsT7rdefZCgUNMpZpLTlpFx-XB9-P4gzDvdjlhera9meO3eP6TFltNjyOeEtMuGmLGh2syf1VxHaZ-FcsiiUUxXW0UQxLh=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We heard from our dance classmate Cheryl that musician Kelly Hughes
was putting on an impromptu concert in the desert on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had seen Kelly perform 2 years ago at a
Howling at the Moon in Yuma, and he put on a great show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad and I hopped on Maximus the Trike and Mom
on her motorcycle, Yellowjacket, and headed about 5 miles down US-95 to La Paz
Valley Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a fantastic time! <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcCiptU4209tlcYOCDgYdjtHC9qKXwExtWaIWBNkUnrs3Dll68ugHMde56cbHgfRWyeyGMP0RxUAIqqmm4cnEduYaSiPJ_Ok3EAZTWm3lYMviP0tW8aiQ2qIEKSLhYNZImUf--NKqns7PoIg2ta-UnuhcHlw9knPQmZ6OOGt8dZoIlsVMrb1HrHZsqqdnV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcCiptU4209tlcYOCDgYdjtHC9qKXwExtWaIWBNkUnrs3Dll68ugHMde56cbHgfRWyeyGMP0RxUAIqqmm4cnEduYaSiPJ_Ok3EAZTWm3lYMviP0tW8aiQ2qIEKSLhYNZImUf--NKqns7PoIg2ta-UnuhcHlw9knPQmZ6OOGt8dZoIlsVMrb1HrHZsqqdnV" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dance buddies Lee and Nikki.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2oit27As5Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="Y2oit27As5Q"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">With a blink of an eye, it is already February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our time in Southwest AZ is flying by
rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bid adieu with some more photos of spectacular sunsets (they never get old).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyxO5ZLMBRoV7Vap2E1YEXEfYkVT3OCBe44NvSOGCabmAUPfoGtk_5FNDHki5sD8yByKujiS60erwo3uo8NToN6R8tBogtWT_6c39bPZUqjRtvedFggO9vHox36vT_SfesQBayZnYhElJwKIGfZPcxpGLMwKuyzlzonr5SLdu9ZyqYe3Fy_ma0Pp6pM8M5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyxO5ZLMBRoV7Vap2E1YEXEfYkVT3OCBe44NvSOGCabmAUPfoGtk_5FNDHki5sD8yByKujiS60erwo3uo8NToN6R8tBogtWT_6c39bPZUqjRtvedFggO9vHox36vT_SfesQBayZnYhElJwKIGfZPcxpGLMwKuyzlzonr5SLdu9ZyqYe3Fy_ma0Pp6pM8M5=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqHAvt6JI6Z9lFUNQCD_xrUhEo5PMamnBs3Gef6isPg75mykkCmdVcpL00vhgPa_bvHwqU0fVw1jQ8eQ0fnBTTgl8DaAwpnZdZ9-0q38fc_38vXtr25iVz09xWmVUf7EVKWSFxeVOgyt85dGwo3hfGrmzvgL8UaM3lcDkqvlmkdYISlUxXq9i7l5LGeKMP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqHAvt6JI6Z9lFUNQCD_xrUhEo5PMamnBs3Gef6isPg75mykkCmdVcpL00vhgPa_bvHwqU0fVw1jQ8eQ0fnBTTgl8DaAwpnZdZ9-0q38fc_38vXtr25iVz09xWmVUf7EVKWSFxeVOgyt85dGwo3hfGrmzvgL8UaM3lcDkqvlmkdYISlUxXq9i7l5LGeKMP=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-72492942906042182952024-01-21T15:00:00.077-06:002024-01-22T12:10:12.640-06:00From Marfa Mystery Lights and Big Boomer’s Plight to Quartzsite Camel Delight<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yipee!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After being
stationary for 14 months at home base in Livingston, TX, we were super excited
to return to our nomadic lifestyle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We began
our trek to our winter “home” – the desert lands of Quartzsite, AZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom was apprehensive that she would forget
all the travel preparation processes, but we departed Livingston without a
hitch (a little play on words there!).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was a damp, overcast day, and as luck would have it, we
hit some rain (Mom was thankful it was not during her driving shift).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took our usual route, utilizing the less
stressful US-90 than I-10 outside of San Antonio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We overnighted for $5 in the boondocking
section of the Alamo Area Lone Star Corral, an Escapee co-op in Hondo, TX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chatted with a friend or two during our
brief stay and headed back down US-90 the next morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio1NmP-bnILTPfxzE7n0rv8WOad4nswDmGBsY0Y-WB882UT0cIoUvW4Ql-gsngEAszvV8nupKsr1y-X3Wv5TDjRPFayvtlEg-99BN42M4jdFj_vPzDzzvlyxMNlzv1lQvWMVOlL4GKvqSLMEtycdPDAD-GSZPcvum0Oixy3ZLzCtxcNimYuyAaWW5WvfZh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio1NmP-bnILTPfxzE7n0rv8WOad4nswDmGBsY0Y-WB882UT0cIoUvW4Ql-gsngEAszvV8nupKsr1y-X3Wv5TDjRPFayvtlEg-99BN42M4jdFj_vPzDzzvlyxMNlzv1lQvWMVOlL4GKvqSLMEtycdPDAD-GSZPcvum0Oixy3ZLzCtxcNimYuyAaWW5WvfZh=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was so glad to see Dominic the Donkey again!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTtxZnOj5j9uq_g1xkkQm1OcC29-CXoTlZm5C-biq2-JUk6ioOnMioPSibFFpntlpRHh2oT4golVBAaaVI1wnRhSyJLa6U4zXf1shJZIjHHPbsZ7sS2xIeRUEBLFQ4iGVeNlVU3HxfUVpYpaMjJbk5ZtJtfRnyrp5TZ57NUGnh6vq7vPwpYH8M3fPIXbwi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTtxZnOj5j9uq_g1xkkQm1OcC29-CXoTlZm5C-biq2-JUk6ioOnMioPSibFFpntlpRHh2oT4golVBAaaVI1wnRhSyJLa6U4zXf1shJZIjHHPbsZ7sS2xIeRUEBLFQ4iGVeNlVU3HxfUVpYpaMjJbk5ZtJtfRnyrp5TZ57NUGnh6vq7vPwpYH8M3fPIXbwi=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob and Nicky popped over to see us.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There are a multitude of big ranches along this route, which
provided me the pleasure of seeing lots of pronghorn deer, sheep, goats, and
cattle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">stopped at Amistad National Recreation Area near Del Rio, TX to purchase our America the Beautiful Pass, peruse the Visitor Center, and enjoy lunch before returning to the road.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimoWUFsJWz9zcssw3tW4DliiwqzqROzscFECD1m_yzsChTj5lcuQ3nMzAceTlm3y4FY2k05WRKHrLkYUu24mj-SmI9GJ09DtqCge5WddD5bGfhwB9cnSDg6lM_ncGjfL_GR5Ej2FBsyLXk9sa1jyVBVAyTRdXViSdh-4oAhDoVvfPU44cJfqPhPuQfMq1F" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimoWUFsJWz9zcssw3tW4DliiwqzqROzscFECD1m_yzsChTj5lcuQ3nMzAceTlm3y4FY2k05WRKHrLkYUu24mj-SmI9GJ09DtqCge5WddD5bGfhwB9cnSDg6lM_ncGjfL_GR5Ej2FBsyLXk9sa1jyVBVAyTRdXViSdh-4oAhDoVvfPU44cJfqPhPuQfMq1F=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMviw9owjlbAvWGsDAbwS7sbS3dtwD-JiLwxKqc0BKoScJTSO8VRkZuYuIA7p2hD0tqDR372NGrKiJHPkHr7gWStOyUqTdaTUb9tLgvlXyNAEP0BFiEzEIoO3LqhHVX44nPqcUvE4YsmSHkVbaNsnXQLc_sh8knQWJxhFl6oNwq2IPSWqJ5YcNt8sb4ZMO/s3264/20240103_114009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMviw9owjlbAvWGsDAbwS7sbS3dtwD-JiLwxKqc0BKoScJTSO8VRkZuYuIA7p2hD0tqDR372NGrKiJHPkHr7gWStOyUqTdaTUb9tLgvlXyNAEP0BFiEzEIoO3LqhHVX44nPqcUvE4YsmSHkVbaNsnXQLc_sh8knQWJxhFl6oNwq2IPSWqJ5YcNt8sb4ZMO/w400-h180/20240103_114009.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I studied this display so intently, I think I am now an expert in animal poop identification!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We reached our destination for our
second night of boondocking, the Mystery Lights Viewing Center in Marfa, TX. The
first recorded sightings of these mystery lights were by Robert Reed Ellison in
the early 1880s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>No one knows for
certain what creates the lights, which can be red, white, or blue, and appear
on the horizon above Mitchell Flats.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span>Some say they are caused by headlights or campfires; others assert that
they are atmospheric reflections; some believe they are extra-terrestrials.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>I’ve
seen the Marfa lights only once on my 3 prior visits, and the conditions then
were similar to this visit:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Very chilly
with below freezing temps, a mid-week evening with very few people at the
Center, and little traffic on US-90.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>So, there were no headlights/artificial lights
to play games with my eyes. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>And lo and
behold, I saw them!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>They were prolific,
much brighter spheres of white than my prior sighting!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Personally, who cares what causes the
phenomenon (heck, the Marfa Chamber of Commerce may be out there in
the Flats tossing lanterns around to drum up tourism).</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>It is just an awesome experience!</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEEMzEUAJHA" width="320" youtube-src-id="hEEMzEUAJHA"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We had a fitful night’s sleep and arose early the next
morning to continue with our journey to Quartzsite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Big Boomer, our medium duty truck, said, “not so fast!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The engine started but conked out and would
not restart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there was an error
light on the dashboard module.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom
wasted no time calling Coach-net, our emergency road service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They called every 20 minutes to give us
status reports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After an hour, they
called to say they could not find any tow trucks that could handle our set-up,
but they were able to reach Skip Wilton, a mobile tech outside of Alpine, TX,
about 25 miles away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
godsend!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skip had the computer and
program needed to diagnose the problem:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>failure of the injection control pressure sensor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only place that had the part was an
International Truck dealer in Midland, TX, more than 2 hours away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skip drove up the next day to purchase the
part and bring it back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big Boomer
started up immediately after Skip installed the sensor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coach-net would only pay for Skip’s attempt
to start Big Boomer, but we didn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was more than fair in his fee, and we were grateful he went above and
beyond for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skip gets a coveted
Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award for excellence!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTj8KnIild5QAmNU0fkh_yA5_BP13Dh7oIQESI5zV6ZkuLP77ZiW-QM8vJisoYbcxw3GXHfFYJJKNk0TIPH2mX3_iPWV4lyQX9cd_oT95-JftbJygDKf3zYqIU026XfIUzU_ir-7Z7uOHw_YvulX43Vgwo3v7oKuEpTbRxBSTlufXlmRL-NWb3pSGAGFBq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTj8KnIild5QAmNU0fkh_yA5_BP13Dh7oIQESI5zV6ZkuLP77ZiW-QM8vJisoYbcxw3GXHfFYJJKNk0TIPH2mX3_iPWV4lyQX9cd_oT95-JftbJygDKf3zYqIU026XfIUzU_ir-7Z7uOHw_YvulX43Vgwo3v7oKuEpTbRxBSTlufXlmRL-NWb3pSGAGFBq=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mobile tech Skip has one bad-ass set-up!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisr9zxoIBDo71espb-CtKKVv8K0DHX8EFZGH7ejSmvusS3D0pKaEUGFzBHmhU7af3A691kqE2h_TL8lyoglxlSxKkPMzy6R5c5XBnIpRYcJE4mdC1hpuW2PneIX_vYDog096WZOphWg1hlnwAd80YYMOP1c3ZyGa3CiipJ2wRBuUOLl6eeNCKYLsOS24Kh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2399" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisr9zxoIBDo71espb-CtKKVv8K0DHX8EFZGH7ejSmvusS3D0pKaEUGFzBHmhU7af3A691kqE2h_TL8lyoglxlSxKkPMzy6R5c5XBnIpRYcJE4mdC1hpuW2PneIX_vYDog096WZOphWg1hlnwAd80YYMOP1c3ZyGa3CiipJ2wRBuUOLl6eeNCKYLsOS24Kh" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This puny (but quite expensive) part was the culprit!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">With it being too late in the day to reach our next
destination, we stayed in Marfa yet again, but we hit the road at daybreak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we traveled along US-90, we viewed the roadside
attractions near Valentine, TX. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5Bv-Y3xUvIQ8GCCWED5CtFUoOpnP9XBJug_heGRxzIvWWDq3h4TNhYtBlSBiwp7jJXsXeyWXaJe5d-_o9zX8kgZ-m9YCdInJxyjguDRnJRBdJJEVB6CHi5ZMVfqF6WfvhGQ4Ze7TMizCBsshz134jElryf4RpJTt-cMIw-jv3amJvBbgVsHFIASLMeKN/s4000/20240106_075013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5Bv-Y3xUvIQ8GCCWED5CtFUoOpnP9XBJug_heGRxzIvWWDq3h4TNhYtBlSBiwp7jJXsXeyWXaJe5d-_o9zX8kgZ-m9YCdInJxyjguDRnJRBdJJEVB6CHi5ZMVfqF6WfvhGQ4Ze7TMizCBsshz134jElryf4RpJTt-cMIw-jv3amJvBbgVsHFIASLMeKN/w400-h180/20240106_075013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A tribute to the movie, Giant, starring Rock Hudson, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor et al, which was filmed in the area.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6123Ib0WZBRpS26O1hTidiDmuG20vaYDi-qSlNpfMGLvGXX2iv0_bsFr0JKT3W-gTqohcDLFk88N-LIzqshs_-qkjQD_LRqFJ_mFT0x45uq040oad6FATZ1P4CWbUwyyKge_6Gny-U5_iPnHcWBx8paxsxYr2VdST3XFGfZTnGR4TOUbqJay7sis-d00I/s4000/20240106_082244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6123Ib0WZBRpS26O1hTidiDmuG20vaYDi-qSlNpfMGLvGXX2iv0_bsFr0JKT3W-gTqohcDLFk88N-LIzqshs_-qkjQD_LRqFJ_mFT0x45uq040oad6FATZ1P4CWbUwyyKge_6Gny-U5_iPnHcWBx8paxsxYr2VdST3XFGfZTnGR4TOUbqJay7sis-d00I/w400-h180/20240106_082244.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Put your wallets away--there's nothing to buy at this Prada Store. It is just an art exhibit. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At Van Horn, TX, we hopped onto I-10, which provided a straight shot to Escapees Dreamcatcher RV Park in Deming, NM, where we would do our laundry, refill our water, dump and tanks and enjoy a stress-free night of sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Dreamcatcher</span> RV Park is reasonably
priced, has spacious sites, and is offers easy access to the Interstate.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By late-afternoon on Sunday, we reached Quartzsite’s Bureau
of Land Management’s (BLM) Tyson Wash Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA), arriving just before the payment booth closed. Though we will be here only through mid-March, we opted for the $180 seasonal pass, which saves us about $20 over the rate of $40 every 2 weeks. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We selected a boondocking spot not far from
where we stayed in 2021 and 2022.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRDKmMWgSxMRUsV2Shv7e7s5lLh8ufc1RakMkopuctWtRbbZMTaXY3mYxhGwXX_fha4xIoeeLr8HNi9hOcVwzNweq8Te-kiVmLgGhhAmMSLYhrUBtyFXNBtiIUm26BhoXw24aATeyORlr1c1ThoTaSp5T6ZlsYTJeIwrhQDPeYMCS3lr4niN_niQEdY9Q/s3264/20240109_091217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRDKmMWgSxMRUsV2Shv7e7s5lLh8ufc1RakMkopuctWtRbbZMTaXY3mYxhGwXX_fha4xIoeeLr8HNi9hOcVwzNweq8Te-kiVmLgGhhAmMSLYhrUBtyFXNBtiIUm26BhoXw24aATeyORlr1c1ThoTaSp5T6ZlsYTJeIwrhQDPeYMCS3lr4niN_niQEdY9Q/w400-h180/20240109_091217.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb51Pf3D0JoppEarnuFK3353MaTgf6eTtcOBsvzTMLP0cozt28C21GsL9Chx55_95GWCVDomChO0XzykdrAOjJ33UHDMrkss919kwOmEcoyW6HEc-KySUGzMCwKIep9VarSDCzplFuM9PD8Mk3oDjLHVhPWpPuep2hjoWb6nBUvkGo4fpKi6srSQFTCv3m/s4000/20240109_091324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb51Pf3D0JoppEarnuFK3353MaTgf6eTtcOBsvzTMLP0cozt28C21GsL9Chx55_95GWCVDomChO0XzykdrAOjJ33UHDMrkss919kwOmEcoyW6HEc-KySUGzMCwKIep9VarSDCzplFuM9PD8Mk3oDjLHVhPWpPuep2hjoWb6nBUvkGo4fpKi6srSQFTCv3m/w400-h180/20240109_091324.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The back yard view.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
LTVA area has changed dramatically since we were here in 2022:</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> BLM</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> has installed dump/pump stations, water
tanks, and stabilization ponds.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">No one
knows for certain when they will be available to utilize since BLM is having
difficulty drilling an abundant water well.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing is for certain:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">it’s
gonna stink over here when the winds start blowing and the body waste (Mom says
that is a more polite thing to say than "caca") in those ponds start to
ferment!</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We all had our chores to keep us busy.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad unloaded the motorcycles and buggy, Mom
was unpacking and cleaning (again), and I had to create yet another rock art
self-portrait to delineate our latest “homestead”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span><span style="font-family: arial;">You will find my self-portraits in several
places within the Quartzsite desert.)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">By
Monday afternoon, we were all settled in and ready to have some fun.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nUXfjMkAhh37j7HL4agD7BWJxKg1YLuXcxMvpputWi_i5XI4vYXf-dr7YBAEzbv0J-9AE15WkxqLamT_ESAPoVeLC-mCnrne_Wh2CWIkuAZ4d9JefW0yhXsZTvZG5Js9wm6kBLRzxQYc-1SvGFy6VQklSuKlPj9ZIDUP6tp2whdBsDp5B6PWwYiHirNU/s2812/20240104_121317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2812" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nUXfjMkAhh37j7HL4agD7BWJxKg1YLuXcxMvpputWi_i5XI4vYXf-dr7YBAEzbv0J-9AE15WkxqLamT_ESAPoVeLC-mCnrne_Wh2CWIkuAZ4d9JefW0yhXsZTvZG5Js9wm6kBLRzxQYc-1SvGFy6VQklSuKlPj9ZIDUP6tp2whdBsDp5B6PWwYiHirNU/w400-h256/20240104_121317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Rambling RV Rat rock art self portrait.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past 2 weeks, we have attended 4 days of dance
lessons at the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) and received a warm welcome back from Vee, our beloved instructor,
and all our dancing buddies.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was SOOO
good to reconnect with everyone!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Like
our dancing cohorts in Livingston, TX, our group in AZ goes to local dances at
various venues to put our lessons to good use.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were happy to join our Quartzsite crew on 4 occasions already.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTfp1C--AiDlEbJ106OFkd7x9i1mL_DaC8V7H6u7PBN-sRpphkTTMywmPQWp3XD0rQOH2tr8X1WNJ5pg_MdxBv_6i58_P8_6JjZylWXZeVgELpm2gD--ihmiQM-7HtMHw7VvFFt7MRM2Kctip_tS5ei4OO5J28s9Npz-Znw1JggjXvYPGykdhxz2Fpf6HN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3041" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTfp1C--AiDlEbJ106OFkd7x9i1mL_DaC8V7H6u7PBN-sRpphkTTMywmPQWp3XD0rQOH2tr8X1WNJ5pg_MdxBv_6i58_P8_6JjZylWXZeVgELpm2gD--ihmiQM-7HtMHw7VvFFt7MRM2Kctip_tS5ei4OO5J28s9Npz-Znw1JggjXvYPGykdhxz2Fpf6HN=w400-h236" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Classmates all listening attentively to instructor Vee.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cg2Ga4E_OeFKSmQK5euvLRMxvhW2YJ8PwZk7wgR75EyHkhNzSkmsfeyLrkcJPyWLC0Fe-L8-DN4yOBUPMDbdCJIx4Tr9WEoO_-C9A3hF_YWiHr-6YJ812ur1TD1AiMym4TgWffFYTuyHusxnTqx4Vh_sN1-9LaNV9mAjQ2Inf_SvrXDeyzS3n_ax55st/s2639/20240119_194742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2639" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cg2Ga4E_OeFKSmQK5euvLRMxvhW2YJ8PwZk7wgR75EyHkhNzSkmsfeyLrkcJPyWLC0Fe-L8-DN4yOBUPMDbdCJIx4Tr9WEoO_-C9A3hF_YWiHr-6YJ812ur1TD1AiMym4TgWffFYTuyHusxnTqx4Vh_sN1-9LaNV9mAjQ2Inf_SvrXDeyzS3n_ax55st/w400-h223/20240119_194742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq6dkMPG87tZrtpOdS-0AGpuV3xC65i12GlSzq-z5AwXGqVKhlzkR7rK6f2NYciDZJHMrBUWKmePHc5wulaKUK2nJZWZAoL3V8XhzZBHX14o__9IpR3dPf0pTExc0wqrPpoz_axGIAzlEjP1bU8_AYmL7M869BUR8zi1JvNWRLnwsPc6WUIoyHYLwIoz5P" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq6dkMPG87tZrtpOdS-0AGpuV3xC65i12GlSzq-z5AwXGqVKhlzkR7rK6f2NYciDZJHMrBUWKmePHc5wulaKUK2nJZWZAoL3V8XhzZBHX14o__9IpR3dPf0pTExc0wqrPpoz_axGIAzlEjP1bU8_AYmL7M869BUR8zi1JvNWRLnwsPc6WUIoyHYLwIoz5P" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiKxelQLctzJPMdLrZEfDIv7SuNICuMNQq9tHqnzppRdO05JcPN3eyOcPxpC6Buc-1Db948FXNqHBOP7HDV1EEXoQeWXT30oeqi5l1RW8g6gPaCUl3gAamDm4RkwRgBN4te6L4Xrytc6uA_Chklm7BcsHLqHoJz9Rkq5je-Fxve3Jr47S3VqeTYMQjP-c-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiKxelQLctzJPMdLrZEfDIv7SuNICuMNQq9tHqnzppRdO05JcPN3eyOcPxpC6Buc-1Db948FXNqHBOP7HDV1EEXoQeWXT30oeqi5l1RW8g6gPaCUl3gAamDm4RkwRgBN4te6L4Xrytc6uA_Chklm7BcsHLqHoJz9Rkq5je-Fxve3Jr47S3VqeTYMQjP-c-=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We joined fellow line
dancer, Charlie, and his group that plays pickleball at the Holiday Palms RV Park on 2
occasions thus far.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Friends Pam/Red, whom we met years
ago through the now defunct RV Dreamers group, came in from Brenda, AZ to join us in
play one day. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(We had so much fun,
though, we forgot to get a photo.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
will be playing with them again soon, so I’ll be sure to get us all to strike a
pose). The Holiday Palms RV Park graciously allows non-guests to utilize its
facilities for a cost of $3/day/person or $30/month/person.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It also offers 6-month seasonal rates.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It sure felt good to be back on the courts.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoabM2l3T08GDKQPTNeMu1pXYjUBpofnd2MtHKbOsZ6rVupp7sjxP6JqUohX61-3yt0im90-o_aLcQehRX98YPrvR6xO_VVYaLXbH2Wz-4MioPvYuukeYIpJolNuAS-irlK1rpF-bxm2DiqmHQlEy9J5PPwauLATIBTmpjvIxEru2q2WZFlt9BRI1sDWB/s4000/20240116_133332.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoabM2l3T08GDKQPTNeMu1pXYjUBpofnd2MtHKbOsZ6rVupp7sjxP6JqUohX61-3yt0im90-o_aLcQehRX98YPrvR6xO_VVYaLXbH2Wz-4MioPvYuukeYIpJolNuAS-irlK1rpF-bxm2DiqmHQlEy9J5PPwauLATIBTmpjvIxEru2q2WZFlt9BRI1sDWB/w400-h180/20240116_133332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of reconnections, we are parked not far from friend
Melana, whom we met in Livingston in 2021 and haven’t seen since we were all in
Quartzsite together in 2022.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we went together to Salome, AZ to view the 9/11 monument, see some petroglyphs,
and shop at the Farmer’s market in Brenda, AZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We enjoyed </span>a delicious lunch at
Buck-a-roos, a quaint eatery within the Country Store in Brenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though small in size, they have a diverse
menu, even a plant-based sandwich option for Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they make all their French Fries from
scratch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just love this little café
and my family is always happy to support a small local business!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after we returned home, friends Denis
and Vivian, whom we met at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in 2022, stopped by
for a visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwYsLLAlINVArHKLH8M8J5ORqRbxsqARYIJclaQYXXwV46Ie_Asmp7xurH2ALLjmciM997NY72kW5GqYBb6IIRp11DudXfr4XYNEu-iMZz9Cd-D_yyJ-d-5gf5qL-19xKo8iZcNIDgVNywgjCGOrP3x880S263pvVQB7dLAp4s6yP_BMIxvEF26GiBthb/s1929/20240111_102452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1929" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwYsLLAlINVArHKLH8M8J5ORqRbxsqARYIJclaQYXXwV46Ie_Asmp7xurH2ALLjmciM997NY72kW5GqYBb6IIRp11DudXfr4XYNEu-iMZz9Cd-D_yyJ-d-5gf5qL-19xKo8iZcNIDgVNywgjCGOrP3x880S263pvVQB7dLAp4s6yP_BMIxvEF26GiBthb/w400-h305/20240111_102452.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">9/11 Memorial in Salome, AZ</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYLeSgJB2qz0jjqX3VsPfl0ocvg8s1NSab5LISw8cyx27OdMvJulXkW49jYf6FccfaRKhuRVUXigklQ3Mqc7FXJ7MtVt_h9EBNjiOeAYhlwn4CLdRosfzhZwaarLXHwK9T1eIcdIWjmURLUxsbx4hQth6orFAOgPUA2XSmxPxodYa5Ajko9V3ONVXQ2Zd/s4000/20240111_103232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYLeSgJB2qz0jjqX3VsPfl0ocvg8s1NSab5LISw8cyx27OdMvJulXkW49jYf6FccfaRKhuRVUXigklQ3Mqc7FXJ7MtVt_h9EBNjiOeAYhlwn4CLdRosfzhZwaarLXHwK9T1eIcdIWjmURLUxsbx4hQth6orFAOgPUA2XSmxPxodYa5Ajko9V3ONVXQ2Zd/w180-h400/20240111_103232.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool petroglyphs near Salome, AZ</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQU3A_-sjaCgKsfdJAYuk21QwOSN5GGBiSnjIjPDQ9siAk8DPqOIpPekoYt8fyyaQ7Uo-am7T57xNnca9BbUF7DEvu8-1Ab-4p2yOxCUyo-aA3Rw7s55YwbxoHjvVuGJosbvXmoXsB8TpnbMjWUANv_S0-BCpTQ1E6MfIb8jIJdzarQcminQdx55qGZa/s4096/20240111_111440.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQU3A_-sjaCgKsfdJAYuk21QwOSN5GGBiSnjIjPDQ9siAk8DPqOIpPekoYt8fyyaQ7Uo-am7T57xNnca9BbUF7DEvu8-1Ab-4p2yOxCUyo-aA3Rw7s55YwbxoHjvVuGJosbvXmoXsB8TpnbMjWUANv_S0-BCpTQ1E6MfIb8jIJdzarQcminQdx55qGZa/w400-h300/20240111_111440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Buck-a-roos in Brenda, AZ</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_eqjnDJdsNXmo0p5WZkYkhqJTVlIkFc5ETUSaoTxojtr9jwriBDmVlMAPZ0rn3_wAWLpO9SZTqlxn5jFoH_t9MMfZo6LawoQnAsVGpltKSq4BM76wOdMkKIdGUz8nlI5iOUoivTJI4TOO0g7yGVGvsPt8z5AuTLBuFcSOUA-tpW3LPUkOLrvvaNL8zhA/s4096/20240111_155734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_eqjnDJdsNXmo0p5WZkYkhqJTVlIkFc5ETUSaoTxojtr9jwriBDmVlMAPZ0rn3_wAWLpO9SZTqlxn5jFoH_t9MMfZo6LawoQnAsVGpltKSq4BM76wOdMkKIdGUz8nlI5iOUoivTJI4TOO0g7yGVGvsPt8z5AuTLBuFcSOUA-tpW3LPUkOLrvvaNL8zhA/w400-h300/20240111_155734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mike, a friend from Q dance who just got to town, came for a visit and to enjoy one of Mom’s plant-based meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We last got together with him in Pahrump, NV in 2022 since we were unsuccessful in having our schedules jive last year when we were all in various parts of TX.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjog_Pieu0uJakxtPTsoqauHqDkkXkOpaMlDaQtCLFAsgM4w-tf4so6HeEZBv_TnDGfesVmTlHfvEGWPCrF_VPCRm4xG4qBhwYWv0gYix5rBcFkZjTcRPnzBfWkfJIsUR-1mH6I2-3hxqJymnqw-rtt7C3wk15Cwfbf91KWywZDy4PioqjRw2oBe5MgHuqz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjog_Pieu0uJakxtPTsoqauHqDkkXkOpaMlDaQtCLFAsgM4w-tf4so6HeEZBv_TnDGfesVmTlHfvEGWPCrF_VPCRm4xG4qBhwYWv0gYix5rBcFkZjTcRPnzBfWkfJIsUR-1mH6I2-3hxqJymnqw-rtt7C3wk15Cwfbf91KWywZDy4PioqjRw2oBe5MgHuqz=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We are so blessed to have met and remained friends with so many wonderful folks who share the full-time RVing lifestyle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We attended a parade and an array of other events over the course of a long weekend collectively
known as “Camelpalooza” to commemorate the life of Hadji Ali (whose name
Americans transformed in pronunciation to “Hi Jolly”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ali was the first camel driver to be hired by
the US Army in 1856 to explore utilizing camels for cargo transport across the Western desert lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
listening to bands, perusing the goods of vendors, and witnessing a
historical re-enactment, I enjoyed every minute of this year’s
Camelpalooza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the highlight of the
event was taking not one, but TWO rides on Freckles the Camel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It certainly made up for the fact that I missed out on a ride in 2022
because the Camel Corps left town earlier than they initially indicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEBurwqrF5LCBtc1QqIgHHuVZAO1WyI-ODQGxA2KeKjEEt4SBsMEMzuSc47ScynqTcbCoT1dPf2MbLByZkxJ256P9ZTjnMmpilmq6LikD58fi-FN5aWzmXK4RomyrfGYQHj1J8QWy2waYrhMpC6CV-_PAlH-h3yIe6JW4Gjctz7Odm1YUREhH4wIJEbgNb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEBurwqrF5LCBtc1QqIgHHuVZAO1WyI-ODQGxA2KeKjEEt4SBsMEMzuSc47ScynqTcbCoT1dPf2MbLByZkxJ256P9ZTjnMmpilmq6LikD58fi-FN5aWzmXK4RomyrfGYQHj1J8QWy2waYrhMpC6CV-_PAlH-h3yIe6JW4Gjctz7Odm1YUREhH4wIJEbgNb=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR-R1Xqy2KHw-Ny5AWwseQwtFqm1RBv08S97_7RCmn56-nIfLz2Xarkh7vDFLBgLHWwjRQ6hEItBhv36rOHk7XM0PMGtx-R5c3KaDExgTNRdvATNa0uLtrOr9jrTympsFt2ybg6t09pShEtFxj1-ye-cSKcSVX8lkSnVmVOmvVUZf22oxyl0lHq5-77jXe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="4000" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR-R1Xqy2KHw-Ny5AWwseQwtFqm1RBv08S97_7RCmn56-nIfLz2Xarkh7vDFLBgLHWwjRQ6hEItBhv36rOHk7XM0PMGtx-R5c3KaDExgTNRdvATNa0uLtrOr9jrTympsFt2ybg6t09pShEtFxj1-ye-cSKcSVX8lkSnVmVOmvVUZf22oxyl0lHq5-77jXe=w400-h158" width="400" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxjztXg1u_dLDgWAJ5uBOgiVhwtE3xM_tA68DJ5UHziI6_PoIUEtNbwUo9IVcZ2zZUWH-K2J1gzlOIPDWetwbhFNj4Eu84wOI8OJb1ltjFDPKy00gaoyOCXGVxXnu5tS0P8bauMg6Ah73a5cpMblaG77TaiVSCscpZO5vuLDasW6nw6VCGsh4ZWeMe3bem" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2414" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxjztXg1u_dLDgWAJ5uBOgiVhwtE3xM_tA68DJ5UHziI6_PoIUEtNbwUo9IVcZ2zZUWH-K2J1gzlOIPDWetwbhFNj4Eu84wOI8OJb1ltjFDPKy00gaoyOCXGVxXnu5tS0P8bauMg6Ah73a5cpMblaG77TaiVSCscpZO5vuLDasW6nw6VCGsh4ZWeMe3bem=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL7dPn7ItnqqjdOZTdeSwkitvciOdNrPxlvGfP8NJeMHlQowLp-HRiR8LhjBO3_NWxFXIHHcSOU6eC3FvnPXypVASWOn3vSorm8Ay-36gB1K-wVh2J2f8mFeBV_0eFokdcMlW-Kc7oFsqF4W_WRE23HcSlwY6fXuVB1RS_eCgZv9pU6KuuqiHhaB3NTzz5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1955" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL7dPn7ItnqqjdOZTdeSwkitvciOdNrPxlvGfP8NJeMHlQowLp-HRiR8LhjBO3_NWxFXIHHcSOU6eC3FvnPXypVASWOn3vSorm8Ay-36gB1K-wVh2J2f8mFeBV_0eFokdcMlW-Kc7oFsqF4W_WRE23HcSlwY6fXuVB1RS_eCgZv9pU6KuuqiHhaB3NTzz5=w400-h368" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Roadrunner Rock and Gem Club won 1st Place in the parade for "Attitude".</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUy9z5ENMz1Yt4l2DgiAZsgXXkM96HSY_xrfUfYmqHAndXWsGO1MjMXZ771zG0GIAx2e4NnuyS63JeJMuKe0kwjzA0Wz9r4heyD3N3dkgQbB8hhztPx1VB2C4-my5ZaycYfZXSdyPD72k8Fq03SBDLurvBY4HFHFkK7_dIMBacMW81I6ecKG8Z8H9JdSH" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWUy9z5ENMz1Yt4l2DgiAZsgXXkM96HSY_xrfUfYmqHAndXWsGO1MjMXZ771zG0GIAx2e4NnuyS63JeJMuKe0kwjzA0Wz9r4heyD3N3dkgQbB8hhztPx1VB2C4-my5ZaycYfZXSdyPD72k8Fq03SBDLurvBY4HFHFkK7_dIMBacMW81I6ecKG8Z8H9JdSH=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi Jolly's tombstone in the background. So fitting it has a camel adorning its peak.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEI2Q_F3L6uur6WMc1NskwLZAyb-EkGYptDhUjPZXb_ygwZiQ_b7Bu_Ws5FoLbOB481-iYosY9Ho4JsdgRwv2s1hTWtsS_knSn5LGaHwpuePUoQmGobz7ylz_dCOU13cmDbF3wJR0zxisdWpUwS9NPSt4LpCHZTINZmZ7e_Az9Rl5G6tsgtWDi4mYG0yC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEI2Q_F3L6uur6WMc1NskwLZAyb-EkGYptDhUjPZXb_ygwZiQ_b7Bu_Ws5FoLbOB481-iYosY9Ho4JsdgRwv2s1hTWtsS_knSn5LGaHwpuePUoQmGobz7ylz_dCOU13cmDbF3wJR0zxisdWpUwS9NPSt4LpCHZTINZmZ7e_Az9Rl5G6tsgtWDi4mYG0yC=w398-h400" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Members of the historical re-enactment.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMeoNId2N-5DJnb_hGUgBmMZLZOJk4ugXSloTRUGNiOzasOBIlRA9vOxnyqTr9vDtrdpFKSUmk5XMXCdPxGQ0XfxoFC7RBUjGP2bJkHFosNyB8B-iuzrlvWTM5FLR2LnjYdXy-TbguTV8PW-_8R6xaFrttJnDb3tFoT82hXzBgsN82ww6MvnO3TKBkCmGp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMeoNId2N-5DJnb_hGUgBmMZLZOJk4ugXSloTRUGNiOzasOBIlRA9vOxnyqTr9vDtrdpFKSUmk5XMXCdPxGQ0XfxoFC7RBUjGP2bJkHFosNyB8B-iuzrlvWTM5FLR2LnjYdXy-TbguTV8PW-_8R6xaFrttJnDb3tFoT82hXzBgsN82ww6MvnO3TKBkCmGp=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Members of the Camel Corps</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrFgMJG-b7W7d73AbW4B6ejqoCnN77aFUPW_XSLDjbc_KWdyHpZ14-T4sVIhChHM8Ov0d0Q5R26EOSxau4xmgSWy_X5tkbRTeesh0vpAUlLw-TxOTWuc7R1h-ROtfB64LKyoBWLpDXxMNegvbO3SLRPUAONETu9roZ04sEA8tUkBDC-5iS2zf2lpmWRTVn" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrFgMJG-b7W7d73AbW4B6ejqoCnN77aFUPW_XSLDjbc_KWdyHpZ14-T4sVIhChHM8Ov0d0Q5R26EOSxau4xmgSWy_X5tkbRTeesh0vpAUlLw-TxOTWuc7R1h-ROtfB64LKyoBWLpDXxMNegvbO3SLRPUAONETu9roZ04sEA8tUkBDC-5iS2zf2lpmWRTVn=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Camelpalooza included music, vendors, food, and Ferris wheel.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqlvQdVOfWIFkb-4JdG4dPmJY9zC3eqjfAFW4L8hCSZhb-opS3CQdqZhpZaUYccCc4xoDlyFUw05DIWeumkDmE9izUpb49vPRpoW1k8sNi5O2PDPZ_Nuph1klCY8R1E8msOYMe6Lz8-hOdaVgvrR5-Q3PnEsaNPspY6zvXK_DyBxgTwfCH2I7u-MHVjsC5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2203" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqlvQdVOfWIFkb-4JdG4dPmJY9zC3eqjfAFW4L8hCSZhb-opS3CQdqZhpZaUYccCc4xoDlyFUw05DIWeumkDmE9izUpb49vPRpoW1k8sNi5O2PDPZ_Nuph1klCY8R1E8msOYMe6Lz8-hOdaVgvrR5-Q3PnEsaNPspY6zvXK_DyBxgTwfCH2I7u-MHVjsC5=w400-h327" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifuC0ApBcr_hn2bmWtwGgKJYOD805q_qKWmdZsW-l49EhgLR8wo1fgADNCJ6c3B8jLyz4nVnXN9qNUVpDbGVGs9AJFuYWJfK3qQMhQioldytpQMSA7K8s2i8MRqDm-m3RlqnGlURg7U7PYXKiErMy1mfO_lYi5BhqlF0dKWyl1Ig_f1WgMh8Kq1Bkb18BC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1926" data-original-width="3047" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifuC0ApBcr_hn2bmWtwGgKJYOD805q_qKWmdZsW-l49EhgLR8wo1fgADNCJ6c3B8jLyz4nVnXN9qNUVpDbGVGs9AJFuYWJfK3qQMhQioldytpQMSA7K8s2i8MRqDm-m3RlqnGlURg7U7PYXKiErMy1mfO_lYi5BhqlF0dKWyl1Ig_f1WgMh8Kq1Bkb18BC=w400-h253" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBkYdo7k0ragXlKR7mAPkyzoe_t28lZrnUp8yYFf33J2cz1XLL8U-dcEpI0huhBsEF3nLxAiXp6G_oPO7C9lsm-0w-ZfvFRTFRDHA_n9eSECruriPSOZNbhSBG-TPQXwTiuPypLxHYVrxovMy7J-xgpkdeMhZzvlRlmINkyYfWkoKyToH7opI5ZWNhcaRb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBkYdo7k0ragXlKR7mAPkyzoe_t28lZrnUp8yYFf33J2cz1XLL8U-dcEpI0huhBsEF3nLxAiXp6G_oPO7C9lsm-0w-ZfvFRTFRDHA_n9eSECruriPSOZNbhSBG-TPQXwTiuPypLxHYVrxovMy7J-xgpkdeMhZzvlRlmINkyYfWkoKyToH7opI5ZWNhcaRb=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our first Silly Al's pizza of the season, made with Dad's faux cheese.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We have attended the Cowboy Church held at the LaPosa South
LTVA pavilion, catching up with folks we’ve met in prior years.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am thrilled to report that we sold our Polaris RZR side by
side a few days ago and have a deposit already in hand from a buyer of our swivel
wheel!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we can start to research
getting a new set of wheels!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We are
hoping to purchase a Jeep that can be for on-road as well as off-road use.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I said good-bye to Rat Patrol II and thanked
it for the wonderful adventures it provided us with the AZ Sun Riders Off-Roading
Group and for the opportunity to discover the hidden treasures within these
desert lands.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDtRVzROT8cNpng1u9cst0NH7HYg4i2tTZpMNB9Jz-JVPEz4fxHdx-USYb2svBLfeEczpBeAH_gva15dM3AvgeqsrFKZrdWwztNwd8I1owqDpvZiC3JJCMKXvk1RUxel-VlMPz4UVGZirjRp0UOlHufkl4089rZENC-WQWvJm8tbTaffNHcRH0Q8A8_q7H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDtRVzROT8cNpng1u9cst0NH7HYg4i2tTZpMNB9Jz-JVPEz4fxHdx-USYb2svBLfeEczpBeAH_gva15dM3AvgeqsrFKZrdWwztNwd8I1owqDpvZiC3JJCMKXvk1RUxel-VlMPz4UVGZirjRp0UOlHufkl4089rZENC-WQWvJm8tbTaffNHcRH0Q8A8_q7H=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was quite chilly during our first few days here, but it
has since warmed up quite nicely during the day, with comfortable temps of
60-70F degrees (sorry, I just had to rub it in, didn’t I!).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One of the things I love most about AZ is the
magnificent sunrises and sunsets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
sure paints a magnificent canvas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mourning doves, sparrows, and humming
birds have graced us with their presence each day at the feeders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrczgMl_S797sxnbjcO23ytgUtLO9IClrKj_l9rBwf11iMZc4c7in5KdVAali6wnNzkBTj_bHsMwpS8yCs-Zrx3HKjF5u9Mrbmdxy7NmhtQ2ETyFMbIIYhMaDsEj-_27nJbG98ASerR7FknobPSrYl9AFH08us-L16D10meA_8rEubTr7LG6Jj-yaS4owU" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrczgMl_S797sxnbjcO23ytgUtLO9IClrKj_l9rBwf11iMZc4c7in5KdVAali6wnNzkBTj_bHsMwpS8yCs-Zrx3HKjF5u9Mrbmdxy7NmhtQ2ETyFMbIIYhMaDsEj-_27nJbG98ASerR7FknobPSrYl9AFH08us-L16D10meA_8rEubTr7LG6Jj-yaS4owU=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunrise</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx0S76lzHSJ0OWBjSJG7aGA6RrnQuAtFycVCKl_l7I0NN7XqzV_gF5q1zio7-DDpydYUNA_hoIN-mUnZmXUBCH43qg-poutXfxFnr2a6BgI-3gArCPUSz2E99yUZ81ZCqgtnH1MYkOQhwhSONZa4EyTLIEIbpoNvK9OMizW-y4MmFu-fE97d9AqDI1HiBS=w400-h180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The stages of...<br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilQ_gJ2JJCd8qQwckB3wsUkxj8kkWPZi1QFKM38tK_KLveZ8HGHwNvEvcVHyBd-yMZOLvY2iKYHqOUOk9gnHsyMH2pfj-f5lRlyJLbwgSXpay6DKqe1NWdf3zCu7RhJnbDLyqv23L-K2VWciAm5FhttXF8d8GV7Y8OJKuBfVYTmdCWeRGpgFr7W7rs7dd0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilQ_gJ2JJCd8qQwckB3wsUkxj8kkWPZi1QFKM38tK_KLveZ8HGHwNvEvcVHyBd-yMZOLvY2iKYHqOUOk9gnHsyMH2pfj-f5lRlyJLbwgSXpay6DKqe1NWdf3zCu7RhJnbDLyqv23L-K2VWciAm5FhttXF8d8GV7Y8OJKuBfVYTmdCWeRGpgFr7W7rs7dd0=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...Sunset.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwGtAXL-85E" width="320" youtube-src-id="wwGtAXL-85E"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These two Hummingbirds were dancing the dance while feeding.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Though we have been here just 2 weeks, we have immersed
ourselves quickly into the happenings within this quirky desert town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are looking forward to more fun times in
the upcoming 2 months.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Talk to you again soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-37686985685618738702024-01-04T20:38:00.303-06:002024-01-07T20:44:20.694-06:00Christmas and The Year 2023 – It’s a Wrap!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We arrived home from our trike trip to Granbury on a Saturday evening and headed right back out early the next morning for the San Jacinto High Rollers Toy Run for Boys and Girls Country in Hockley, TX. Like she does each year we attend this motorcycle event, Mom moved from the back seat of Maximus the Trike to riding solo on her 2009 Honda Rebel named Yellow Jacket. (I like when she does this--then I get to sit in Maximus' passenger seat rather than get strapped to the tour pack!) It was a glorious day for riding, so hundreds of bikes participated. This annual toy run is unique from others we participated in throughout our years of riding because you get to interact with the children who reside here. They greet all the bikes as we parade into the grounds and serve us refreshments in the auditorium. Santa arrived via motorcycle and distributed the gifts that we all purchased. It warmed my heart to see the surprise and gift satisfaction of those children who received the art sets we donated.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSPrHRVlSGhbTlgiWCHQAzE046kzxcUsgdkz_Kby1JfKdLV_kJMvtpqqIMc8wVi0dYOAgMofqYPF1SOFdknL0YFGfxd1arM9m5Nvcs4goiJ_IiS8pskA3HyEXGp7dF2cpueeeuFCdr1-f27khd2TOkRo81PZ5UF57NoKTUQ0tZk4FmoQ_sAo1uqon4gkN/s4000/20231203_112413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSPrHRVlSGhbTlgiWCHQAzE046kzxcUsgdkz_Kby1JfKdLV_kJMvtpqqIMc8wVi0dYOAgMofqYPF1SOFdknL0YFGfxd1arM9m5Nvcs4goiJ_IiS8pskA3HyEXGp7dF2cpueeeuFCdr1-f27khd2TOkRo81PZ5UF57NoKTUQ0tZk4FmoQ_sAo1uqon4gkN/w400-h180/20231203_112413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezvTvNi49u9Afm25KyDUfqNPAf9n_vXlgGZhlAjz0lNtMv2nL3DbFle_t3jnl3gZZdRWRayPmHsj65Uptax5swoKvbVlxTeqtkVaJJg1IaR9KFVFninhoUxC2D5_n_TnMC2giYXZjsAtj3jbd_m7NKmM43DXr_ANjH0zRG3v3IOJC_kFRjrBT4n8Rgovh/s2025/20231203_112710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2025" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezvTvNi49u9Afm25KyDUfqNPAf9n_vXlgGZhlAjz0lNtMv2nL3DbFle_t3jnl3gZZdRWRayPmHsj65Uptax5swoKvbVlxTeqtkVaJJg1IaR9KFVFninhoUxC2D5_n_TnMC2giYXZjsAtj3jbd_m7NKmM43DXr_ANjH0zRG3v3IOJC_kFRjrBT4n8Rgovh/w400-h355/20231203_112710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pNU5B2u2C-tpRkp1IVZXptCnotuO3Ao_IOSU35B8Yk0HY3oTLrQXusMdx_T2FW5KXr8nJWqRorg-v9a1G4UYm3KAtXHzOeffdPbNwA5mL-087NswY5k1fnlnoW5E51hrXf9d5GbFmGA4-FY4iKaBexs9CjP0CQvbB1PVrdHpox6y2z7zi8O9iF5Re-pb/s2691/PoPo%20Ready%20to%20Go.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1768" data-original-width="2691" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pNU5B2u2C-tpRkp1IVZXptCnotuO3Ao_IOSU35B8Yk0HY3oTLrQXusMdx_T2FW5KXr8nJWqRorg-v9a1G4UYm3KAtXHzOeffdPbNwA5mL-087NswY5k1fnlnoW5E51hrXf9d5GbFmGA4-FY4iKaBexs9CjP0CQvbB1PVrdHpox6y2z7zi8O9iF5Re-pb/w400-h263/PoPo%20Ready%20to%20Go.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This belongs to our friend Gerry, but I sure would like one of these myself!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HD1N7OUZNuKypoOcp5qvbNf-EQED_Pi_K5m-UjiXNkhahcH1RuA1mmvQYhQIi3kRZQRS0tNEWcSKqcR8iELdi74OP6RVaXl5w6LdyXWVdAPqi7iznRVn6mwvHZnlh5OEMKjaweCw7YTy0jXM92miaJSP6G6SEjntyBPumFGITEzRhOss9UWhQ9UiB1wN/s3264/20231203_114913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HD1N7OUZNuKypoOcp5qvbNf-EQED_Pi_K5m-UjiXNkhahcH1RuA1mmvQYhQIi3kRZQRS0tNEWcSKqcR8iELdi74OP6RVaXl5w6LdyXWVdAPqi7iznRVn6mwvHZnlh5OEMKjaweCw7YTy0jXM92miaJSP6G6SEjntyBPumFGITEzRhOss9UWhQ9UiB1wN/w400-h180/20231203_114913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpkO6Bbfgj-pMN2eWUtrd2YVwvdvErK2zp9McFPVBvNRrBg_s7fDW4VofcBdWSU96G28DfSMBKvfShKghGxQLA5EzTqQhm6qLXrqg8VJM3R5vWpwixO0YrbYtineq-B4BSwlIl_3fa7yhCCQB4IfRZwR2s8MrK-NLDOSc_-d4oybIM95UHzykWj1p0IyT/s3264/20231203_124804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpkO6Bbfgj-pMN2eWUtrd2YVwvdvErK2zp9McFPVBvNRrBg_s7fDW4VofcBdWSU96G28DfSMBKvfShKghGxQLA5EzTqQhm6qLXrqg8VJM3R5vWpwixO0YrbYtineq-B4BSwlIl_3fa7yhCCQB4IfRZwR2s8MrK-NLDOSc_-d4oybIM95UHzykWj1p0IyT/w400-h180/20231203_124804.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was a long ride for us to participate in the Toy Run (220
miles round trip), and we were pooped from our trip to Granbury. But that didn’t stop us from going out later
that evening to Livingston’s Pedigo Park for the “Bethlehem” reenactment
presented by the First Baptist Church. I
was excited to attend because for the first time since COVID struck,
“Bethlehem” returned to a walk-through interactive presentation rather than
just a 4-scene drive-by. The Church does
a spectacular job of providing a realistic, immersive representation of what
the City of David would be like during the mandated Census. The ”actors” range in age from adults to
youngsters, and include lots of animals, from cows to camels. Attending “Bethlehem” is always a wonderful
reminder for me of the true reason for the season.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxIyGyTEOF1K_sEksSlm52CYMdtaCVJi4NG9XPi2pEw0JOdJGDgOCwYVQ8qgiaeVxdP4LNxGqj98VR8ABjnYF9WpcrFgwjee4qyRVXSfagajjG2VwdcIbm4wwxKh-zNEs5S14PrkixT2ENqwBV92-WFyoI7NUuTGT2lgARiOmiWlgrKbLxiH7CAogR-4j/s2346/20231202_181132.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2346" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxIyGyTEOF1K_sEksSlm52CYMdtaCVJi4NG9XPi2pEw0JOdJGDgOCwYVQ8qgiaeVxdP4LNxGqj98VR8ABjnYF9WpcrFgwjee4qyRVXSfagajjG2VwdcIbm4wwxKh-zNEs5S14PrkixT2ENqwBV92-WFyoI7NUuTGT2lgARiOmiWlgrKbLxiH7CAogR-4j/w400-h250/20231202_181132.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Re-enacting the many vendors of Bethlehem, from wine makers...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9k8Gsp4h1mhts6HH5925oUWHkZ7X8mSXaXErLP6XVJ2KTDR_mLmaU8EDY8RKz8wJfNzWFJVFhwfX9mal0T2fHRapX9YR_uaiKqf1m8vi42D6djzfJdJA23fTS_ECTC0sp9COwOvyJUqe77zhsP4ztP9_6UlAs218NoPV1C78TZr6rGRG714dhnpT-l3K/s3264/20231202_181554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9k8Gsp4h1mhts6HH5925oUWHkZ7X8mSXaXErLP6XVJ2KTDR_mLmaU8EDY8RKz8wJfNzWFJVFhwfX9mal0T2fHRapX9YR_uaiKqf1m8vi42D6djzfJdJA23fTS_ECTC0sp9COwOvyJUqe77zhsP4ztP9_6UlAs218NoPV1C78TZr6rGRG714dhnpT-l3K/w180-h400/20231202_181554.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...to basket weavers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxQCI2SxpWF5007OAdsoG_P93vZZxTRUZNMe2-L9pen5iRA6PPqEX-TjKYahcxU1MiozS0t1nQ88hkD0l5ZWgNi-hruUXtZE8oc9JnrS-o4ZN3HIn7alVTR8ZOmNVZfb27M1Q3nKHZu88SUYE1j3jqZCt7FK-f5cJTVam0Jd090KOCU8l7A3YDHWRSBQf/s3264/20231202_182053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxQCI2SxpWF5007OAdsoG_P93vZZxTRUZNMe2-L9pen5iRA6PPqEX-TjKYahcxU1MiozS0t1nQ88hkD0l5ZWgNi-hruUXtZE8oc9JnrS-o4ZN3HIn7alVTR8ZOmNVZfb27M1Q3nKHZu88SUYE1j3jqZCt7FK-f5cJTVam0Jd090KOCU8l7A3YDHWRSBQf/w400-h180/20231202_182053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mother and child in the manger.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ-PEIvrS1UjYUks0zwMALiifJTTkBdB20KrgNBeKqht7uIF6nDMcpYRCMeYETzXMzgkl7zAUFjpDpL24VbjFaHve83TJ7fHH-h8r0gRRYF1EkBSyS0HVXUD4-5Zs1hreEvZHDlTWVwpEaj85TLwvv_vpSn6ApRyLT4pO-lOZBRy_TXLw1S6OP6yLbRz8/s3264/20231202_182508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ-PEIvrS1UjYUks0zwMALiifJTTkBdB20KrgNBeKqht7uIF6nDMcpYRCMeYETzXMzgkl7zAUFjpDpL24VbjFaHve83TJ7fHH-h8r0gRRYF1EkBSyS0HVXUD4-5Zs1hreEvZHDlTWVwpEaj85TLwvv_vpSn6ApRyLT4pO-lOZBRy_TXLw1S6OP6yLbRz8/w400-h180/20231202_182508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6LeZxjVyXYW9KK1qJHYhmAsdu6GJl5koh2dAf7TxgsaOSxrfDmIxaLC5rreg_4_jRVIH4euPkAmwNA7ZgX7FFeuXZl3yvr32Ge4bsb19mMGTH7XzJsTdJ4cLVWDcJEqVIkiYxfriLWGWAFa57XbPSgm2E7ntpeVusY7mTEERIyYtGtHZ7JidYBYAqL3q/s4000/20231202_182916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6LeZxjVyXYW9KK1qJHYhmAsdu6GJl5koh2dAf7TxgsaOSxrfDmIxaLC5rreg_4_jRVIH4euPkAmwNA7ZgX7FFeuXZl3yvr32Ge4bsb19mMGTH7XzJsTdJ4cLVWDcJEqVIkiYxfriLWGWAFa57XbPSgm2E7ntpeVusY7mTEERIyYtGtHZ7JidYBYAqL3q/w400-h180/20231202_182916.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After walking through "Bethlehem", we enjoyed the spiritual musical entertainment.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8h98TQ_1kmmEGSbianV3BAplshF6rt7OhSNV9GSrg8Bf1hhTym1Viduy2pukfZkg0cdfVrQjjBy3MyQlulW-BiiU6Q8e00-2xJieuPDUlxNw9e6EhQwZpM5K9yVBQdz4pbN8FZQ2k_dhyCRV5RGVfeLRLhvEIywkvNxHv1ZkS6iGyn_NRlsP3w0COhwm/s4000/20231202_183456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8h98TQ_1kmmEGSbianV3BAplshF6rt7OhSNV9GSrg8Bf1hhTym1Viduy2pukfZkg0cdfVrQjjBy3MyQlulW-BiiU6Q8e00-2xJieuPDUlxNw9e6EhQwZpM5K9yVBQdz4pbN8FZQ2k_dhyCRV5RGVfeLRLhvEIywkvNxHv1ZkS6iGyn_NRlsP3w0COhwm/w400-h180/20231202_183456.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Visiting "Bethlehem" comes with the added feature... <br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcmXgRDzr5fFliIlCwmF7_huJZz_DwO09RAqmeFwiJMoeQ2CFdi2KsSx4ifdAS5b0Np8_XFKyujVUSHysrOECUA8XWwLU9lHhxOzqgzVFBXfJ7o1twUuRZ-wxwiloPCaRvgeuMhb__4fDFAVmDvHrJ1JJbVvqFz9JmJp1y47pAPA-mGV3xcq46OAt0IhA/s1598/20231202_173935.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1598" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcmXgRDzr5fFliIlCwmF7_huJZz_DwO09RAqmeFwiJMoeQ2CFdi2KsSx4ifdAS5b0Np8_XFKyujVUSHysrOECUA8XWwLU9lHhxOzqgzVFBXfJ7o1twUuRZ-wxwiloPCaRvgeuMhb__4fDFAVmDvHrJ1JJbVvqFz9JmJp1y47pAPA-mGV3xcq46OAt0IhA/w400-h272/20231202_173935.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...of driving through Pedigo Park to see the lighted holiday decorations!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day, we completed our final 6-hour shift for 2023 at
Mannafest Food Pantry. We were honored
to volunteer with such wonderful people for such a worthy cause.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP95FpbH_uzz3PlSX3t6NDRK5vuAPNJb9-uJxTcqpL0r-DMWHX5Xr1cOOAWmzh1xsbxmGR4XVI1eCFkkD7OKNNAUydQJygX19Qr3vknETMcmIiq5KYKL9C1nQ5HuGbtbfcRtWIJlsqc9hQW5zMjAGh3Y7ap3Q1uDBRXWleUfnbLdI1rBZly-mKFv96YEel" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP95FpbH_uzz3PlSX3t6NDRK5vuAPNJb9-uJxTcqpL0r-DMWHX5Xr1cOOAWmzh1xsbxmGR4XVI1eCFkkD7OKNNAUydQJygX19Qr3vknETMcmIiq5KYKL9C1nQ5HuGbtbfcRtWIJlsqc9hQW5zMjAGh3Y7ap3Q1uDBRXWleUfnbLdI1rBZly-mKFv96YEel" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But with us, when one volunteer opportunity ends, another
begins. We commenced our weekly 2-hour
shifts of bell ringing outside our local Walmart for the Salvation Army Red
Kettle Program. All money raised in
Livingston is used for those in need within our own County, so it is truly
neighbor helping neighbor. And despite
folks feeling economic woes and the pain of inflation, generosity prevailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheKIfJkjoDfJr4wcsmnrm3H5RZsp07iWQqMFeMYhU5KLhw20NVCBLKR9PfWuIywuFIzjj0yswzlqkC-7rtfuWy7ZoXPMPlqnkn3_wq08WqiWngLAnlv4_CvN4RYpmbS-3rU0IhqNdGq6oNDcyp0PMOllg3zewi_un4pY26zO-sFKD8sGlK7zApkvm4dX2R" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheKIfJkjoDfJr4wcsmnrm3H5RZsp07iWQqMFeMYhU5KLhw20NVCBLKR9PfWuIywuFIzjj0yswzlqkC-7rtfuWy7ZoXPMPlqnkn3_wq08WqiWngLAnlv4_CvN4RYpmbS-3rU0IhqNdGq6oNDcyp0PMOllg3zewi_un4pY26zO-sFKD8sGlK7zApkvm4dX2R=w347-h400" width="347" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We attended a handbell concert at the local Presbyterian
Church. My ears enjoyed the sounds that
resonated, and my eyes marveled at the precision and speed exhibited by this
solo bell ringer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gL26t21haCU" width="320" youtube-src-id="gL26t21haCU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our pickleball group hosted a tournament with double
elimination. Names were drawn
randomly. Mom and her partner were out
after game 3, but Dad and his partner took second place! It was a fun time and
everyone brought their A-game. We so
enjoy our pickleball group! Some of them
are fellow Escapees, some live along Lake Livingston, and some live in neighboring
towns. The camaraderie extends beyond
the courts, too! We had a wonderful
luncheon at a local restaurant to celebrate the holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMHuh5SBbICjZVlS92EyYvUd9poDKywMDbxQTGoNLUgDUxoFS5muSlNEm6fIrnpq8euBTiY5wAffeyFxSgehQRlXleFV1TlHzOQNEsOrNyiRRORGZkIKdxXv9SfK3LJHzro70rmdjoYTW8Sz5N607Z4VmhIc8LUd77BljLNeeBhebDZXMSlLh3MBDWXElk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="715" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMHuh5SBbICjZVlS92EyYvUd9poDKywMDbxQTGoNLUgDUxoFS5muSlNEm6fIrnpq8euBTiY5wAffeyFxSgehQRlXleFV1TlHzOQNEsOrNyiRRORGZkIKdxXv9SfK3LJHzro70rmdjoYTW8Sz5N607Z4VmhIc8LUd77BljLNeeBhebDZXMSlLh3MBDWXElk=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicAM13SqUGqTx5A5FuS8a4uJ8KRY4hmPfB4a-uaz6o4LRhuxNt1s8droyNzmqJkRpZOOHfnMDQoY5fNipkeS2LRtEEPYuy3fLOycsbP-RPn75QmvBNHPjvl_qzfeRqkAJb6xDuQtxUqGe09b_M-VsDcmtsiwco-Tr5XAHok9vcrDBOUbyDk8O0Mpri6PFO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicAM13SqUGqTx5A5FuS8a4uJ8KRY4hmPfB4a-uaz6o4LRhuxNt1s8droyNzmqJkRpZOOHfnMDQoY5fNipkeS2LRtEEPYuy3fLOycsbP-RPn75QmvBNHPjvl_qzfeRqkAJb6xDuQtxUqGe09b_M-VsDcmtsiwco-Tr5XAHok9vcrDBOUbyDk8O0Mpri6PFO=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had a birthday girl among us, so she got the full Mexican birthday treatment from the crew at the restaurant.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We popped into Gokey’s Old Town Emporium in Goodrich, TX, which
combines an old-fashioned ice cream fountain (serving Texas’s Blue Bell ice
cream!) with a gift and antique shop. Sugarplums
were dancing in Mom’s head when she saw all the old-school candies, triggering
fond childhood memories. Meanwhile, I
saw stars and fireworks when I laid eyes on Mademoiselle Rochelle Ratatouille,
a most refined, ravishing, and rather petite rodent who resided there. Well, she’s got a new home now—right here
with me! Between my pocket pal Nezumi,
Mouse King, Mademoiselle Rochelle, and my new Christmas buddy, Reggie, my
Rambling RV Rat Pack is growing! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjniXuuoTcM0kcGjS-69yoDKIqJ4oYcJRWRs2YS-eKoDR8N5jSEC9XhP65OD8FgG6v4g_pCgfxyKnJ1Qvhsp7AsJ09c8djWUSQ9KOM8vQoFYZPNvL53RSHbu1lSCwUhxAYIS_xn2_QHrICL_rWijaQb0GU-2HaZwU3eHYrmTu89x35srcWQHswqHW5CJZeV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjniXuuoTcM0kcGjS-69yoDKIqJ4oYcJRWRs2YS-eKoDR8N5jSEC9XhP65OD8FgG6v4g_pCgfxyKnJ1Qvhsp7AsJ09c8djWUSQ9KOM8vQoFYZPNvL53RSHbu1lSCwUhxAYIS_xn2_QHrICL_rWijaQb0GU-2HaZwU3eHYrmTu89x35srcWQHswqHW5CJZeV=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB3n1PpNbEajii9-daazkAJ4rktwxlWLLCy6kPlqxkt1Xi1W6hhNHQTIxqZ2mruvIEWx5x_Eg8yCkxTi-Eg3Xt1BqdInFyoGr4ToYgawB7Xk9P0vlOerf7R8QEUXDlbzm99o_7EPIpXJfFusoz5IGTKTt8a8r2EtY914Yn5f0Hvzf3eumtMRjkNuQCxLUM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB3n1PpNbEajii9-daazkAJ4rktwxlWLLCy6kPlqxkt1Xi1W6hhNHQTIxqZ2mruvIEWx5x_Eg8yCkxTi-Eg3Xt1BqdInFyoGr4ToYgawB7Xk9P0vlOerf7R8QEUXDlbzm99o_7EPIpXJfFusoz5IGTKTt8a8r2EtY914Yn5f0Hvzf3eumtMRjkNuQCxLUM=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu0I-ivOgprUZSNtSM3rdB8CI0icM55rcNZaHlhDJxuI6z8ggQQqJLi4XRYkpFhZcbbP3ppfZzXynVavRrlZCx2Kt8JVxWb5fWgt8YWOqvIN_N3kGqv3bAn5B8Ij97ojkoyt4VHAhCTIT4I5KkkCsea7Rvu4hVrhFwJb-v2yZtbMNlt-AlwAF6xvYeSRxY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu0I-ivOgprUZSNtSM3rdB8CI0icM55rcNZaHlhDJxuI6z8ggQQqJLi4XRYkpFhZcbbP3ppfZzXynVavRrlZCx2Kt8JVxWb5fWgt8YWOqvIN_N3kGqv3bAn5B8Ij97ojkoyt4VHAhCTIT4I5KkkCsea7Rvu4hVrhFwJb-v2yZtbMNlt-AlwAF6xvYeSRxY=w205-h400" width="205" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mademoiselle Rochelle, my new gal pal.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAsyUog_4jJC5WXLi7J41NTAuStbcZZ_DVxyiY303EOO3gaiori1esYmZi-1eLecjiiYgzO8dwowEGTD_nHQe4Lu1NY15hOebg2LDQlZEoD5JIJJGJeBPOHKHZCA2RBUIY0cbc3zCl3376eWlTUi9igJyNi1UwaJPcK-W6rD5oJMXobw1ebX3PcOO5JsTp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAsyUog_4jJC5WXLi7J41NTAuStbcZZ_DVxyiY303EOO3gaiori1esYmZi-1eLecjiiYgzO8dwowEGTD_nHQe4Lu1NY15hOebg2LDQlZEoD5JIJJGJeBPOHKHZCA2RBUIY0cbc3zCl3376eWlTUi9igJyNi1UwaJPcK-W6rD5oJMXobw1ebX3PcOO5JsTp=w327-h400" width="327" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another new friend of mine, Reggie the Rodent. He is as big as I am!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our Hot Steppers dance troupe Christmas routines were well
received when performed at Cold Spring’s Christmas on the Square and at the
Bradford at Brookside Nursing Facility in Livingston. It was a big commitment for my parents to
transition from just taking dance lessons to participating in recitals, and we
had to forego many other activities/events we normally would attend. But the fun they derived from dancing and the
joy the troupe brought to our lives and the lives of others made it well worth the time
investment. We are so blessed to have
met such warm and welcoming fellow dancers and to have such a kind and patient
dance instructor/director. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9EcHeX51Ncon0DzPko0CV2ztfYqt02GmxS61BesL1H7FkmN4LrnIkBXvmzxSXJcfCXGKnC6g8YPHW9A6truILmPhxganurgrAwFnkAPt3SGQ-UKf7vAhYD9siFMyqVlBEeFToFw76lzdWbpb3MIu5n25P1rE-QSINkFqU5rd6Jpl5_k7D-qfgjQjM5UPk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1475" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9EcHeX51Ncon0DzPko0CV2ztfYqt02GmxS61BesL1H7FkmN4LrnIkBXvmzxSXJcfCXGKnC6g8YPHW9A6truILmPhxganurgrAwFnkAPt3SGQ-UKf7vAhYD9siFMyqVlBEeFToFw76lzdWbpb3MIu5n25P1rE-QSINkFqU5rd6Jpl5_k7D-qfgjQjM5UPk=w400-h199" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FtT6TMOwwPs" width="320" youtube-src-id="FtT6TMOwwPs"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the prior 3 years, we decorated Big Boomer, our medium
duty truck, and entered Livingston’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, part of
Livingston’s Hometown Christmas events.
This year, we were only spectators due to time constraints/other
commitments. It was nice to be able to watch
the entire parade, but I sure missed handing out candy to the kiddies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwjqJZqbTfNKufZtbIBjk0qLUKIRqpANVkn5rd2U2Xjm37H9OrdaHbEuaNMG7EBQWbGl7fiIL1oRX8Mpdp-e6mmBu22DpEMhm4sEjQrKicrlmboVOZXUSbg7gOi-1pKewpA6R6ngicxGbhxAdMi82Gs_5z6a3nCj_HXdqjLHlNyCO-5evjYdqBjVw7XNGU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwjqJZqbTfNKufZtbIBjk0qLUKIRqpANVkn5rd2U2Xjm37H9OrdaHbEuaNMG7EBQWbGl7fiIL1oRX8Mpdp-e6mmBu22DpEMhm4sEjQrKicrlmboVOZXUSbg7gOi-1pKewpA6R6ngicxGbhxAdMi82Gs_5z6a3nCj_HXdqjLHlNyCO-5evjYdqBjVw7XNGU=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYjgz-VeMC_7l8iwJtJ4RIvgyRgOrX06uU7dPtXbLwZKldlyvjIxc8PEm1OOp6KYI9YS47HovcNvFHvhoGLTdgsWBy1s2YUMb3BT_A7FNhMSRl3Bbbu7rTtXnRZhk7Nie7HzCtC95Uo3VeCVSTxlRdtB4sjrxVgHfAhjOO43FCP4-q6h7B0famHKEY0Gxs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYjgz-VeMC_7l8iwJtJ4RIvgyRgOrX06uU7dPtXbLwZKldlyvjIxc8PEm1OOp6KYI9YS47HovcNvFHvhoGLTdgsWBy1s2YUMb3BT_A7FNhMSRl3Bbbu7rTtXnRZhk7Nie7HzCtC95Uo3VeCVSTxlRdtB4sjrxVgHfAhjOO43FCP4-q6h7B0famHKEY0Gxs=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We had our annual visit to Good Golly Miss Molly’s Shoppe to
see the Polk County Heritage Society’s train village setup. It gets more difficult every year for me to
complete their treasure hunt. They are
very clever with hiding the figures within the display. When we came outside from the store, it was "snowing", East Texas style.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZK9FcX7BgjW5wEgcjFfe5zrA2YEqNDCpi2W0LGde-qfJP0FYMHt5OGUuiWrvR0S9UthyVbvWUHljtdkWMRvFL8oC7oKiMFHzIznHnx-KG2pMnPdTS9SBf1PlLra1SiE9dg3MvWzJryxqaSp1m8SYY28CDmaQP6ehDSlj1Ym25CewtmyyuOxHmaE3dUsYq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZK9FcX7BgjW5wEgcjFfe5zrA2YEqNDCpi2W0LGde-qfJP0FYMHt5OGUuiWrvR0S9UthyVbvWUHljtdkWMRvFL8oC7oKiMFHzIznHnx-KG2pMnPdTS9SBf1PlLra1SiE9dg3MvWzJryxqaSp1m8SYY28CDmaQP6ehDSlj1Ym25CewtmyyuOxHmaE3dUsYq=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zgb0_NR20mM" width="320" youtube-src-id="Zgb0_NR20mM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1_2Lq5S7Mu6E50CmKwKMs9U2AsCUDlhYqQKKOePXh8VYdiKbIWHoQ3HhHd-tOWgFE3pHfRlj5X02DE0oztjrj9jXsDLtvwjoXCpQtauoKXj_PmUiyWqhM6tyHtVZzKTVUcATLY0W_sigQG2-YBkT4ejfF2B3Nt842mkoe1GH3IiiAHtu7mC_gW3aZX-RW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="3564" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1_2Lq5S7Mu6E50CmKwKMs9U2AsCUDlhYqQKKOePXh8VYdiKbIWHoQ3HhHd-tOWgFE3pHfRlj5X02DE0oztjrj9jXsDLtvwjoXCpQtauoKXj_PmUiyWqhM6tyHtVZzKTVUcATLY0W_sigQG2-YBkT4ejfF2B3Nt842mkoe1GH3IiiAHtu7mC_gW3aZX-RW=w400-h151" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We rode our motorcycles to Memorial Gardens in Lufkin, TX to participate in
Wreaths Across America, a national event focused on remembering the fallen,
honoring those serving, and teaching future generations the true meaning of
freedom. We were thankful it was a
sunny, dry, temperate day, especially since the prior evening was cold with
torrential rain. We laid about 30
wreaths on the gravesites of veterans.
The following day we joined fellow Patriot Guard Riders and the family
of PFC Stuart Moore (our local hero killed in action on Christmas Eve, 2003) in
laying a wreath on his burial site within the family's cemetery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifR6wY6dYZdh-ENbNwhjf3vlOyRL0MVZWICp21zifUiEQ6xzuZ8kRJO8vgo-XgSU9v1HcNj1f6lhdUBTZ8NvBa2wfuZU6DO6T7qNsgvR5tGruWSZ9jYrUVs8xwD0eTeBM0Zr02yrNnWofhTnwR-E_38kyUE7_0ghXEfd5sA8S30YxmHVrVczEkufq98NlQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifR6wY6dYZdh-ENbNwhjf3vlOyRL0MVZWICp21zifUiEQ6xzuZ8kRJO8vgo-XgSU9v1HcNj1f6lhdUBTZ8NvBa2wfuZU6DO6T7qNsgvR5tGruWSZ9jYrUVs8xwD0eTeBM0Zr02yrNnWofhTnwR-E_38kyUE7_0ghXEfd5sA8S30YxmHVrVczEkufq98NlQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPXvoQ72qUi5_l5W6JeZtT9FcTrxMyvq7KcNXkgDi48lF-6bHqusciH1AEkH01NK11T8mq8SLd2lPSxEXQ3sbj3AiwWEmYszLoM0fy8KDHCoeo0cwGCLTAw8VOMphTFp1eFIkYrDPSHnBC1WyDBfuJ7EoWfWHqrRKVlXB47xcf2kIlt6bV1peuuWHHtkkx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2367" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPXvoQ72qUi5_l5W6JeZtT9FcTrxMyvq7KcNXkgDi48lF-6bHqusciH1AEkH01NK11T8mq8SLd2lPSxEXQ3sbj3AiwWEmYszLoM0fy8KDHCoeo0cwGCLTAw8VOMphTFp1eFIkYrDPSHnBC1WyDBfuJ7EoWfWHqrRKVlXB47xcf2kIlt6bV1peuuWHHtkkx=w400-h304" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcTeKoOFoZh3wXqs6QMzfMCT4PJYhEZ_aA6sbConQklOPYRjhYQ028tTC4-vHyZTfOl40rq1IvbhDGEqrnLTYN5zvmFKXtFESfPD_JH1NvWGRF9JTATDTCvAzssxTiNbYfsJ8w1MQJw2VNBfnV_vTndLSKqqnvSRl-foU9ThB91oMMgQ5nQhn92pneccEN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcTeKoOFoZh3wXqs6QMzfMCT4PJYhEZ_aA6sbConQklOPYRjhYQ028tTC4-vHyZTfOl40rq1IvbhDGEqrnLTYN5zvmFKXtFESfPD_JH1NvWGRF9JTATDTCvAzssxTiNbYfsJ8w1MQJw2VNBfnV_vTndLSKqqnvSRl-foU9ThB91oMMgQ5nQhn92pneccEN=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took a ride to The Christmas Ranch in Cleveland, TX to
see the home of Bob and Diane Hanley, who have turned their property here into a
Winter Wonderland for nearly 3 decades.
Regrettably, Bob passed away in September, so this was the final year to
witness the magic of multi-colored lights and unique displays and decorations. Interestingly, the property was featured in
2018 on the show “Great Christmas Light Fight”.
It is amazing how many people have enjoyed the Hanleys' holiday
handiwork over the years. I sure am
grateful I was able to be one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCetLuAj-mcHlqi19X0lxuTWwBendAXbPzf6tgkynghPMCvcmBOLe9fST-kD87pYKnRFe-21RDTAq1ZmtJfqsEN8KsY4Xxju3GZfhflG0ZzQ2Jsk8KQ39fxrIFaRmaAvFkqD38AYz5_RSOFe5aVvQ6NzuyryPhe5ywOens6_NAeH7xL6K3xv7NV6_3-yha" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCetLuAj-mcHlqi19X0lxuTWwBendAXbPzf6tgkynghPMCvcmBOLe9fST-kD87pYKnRFe-21RDTAq1ZmtJfqsEN8KsY4Xxju3GZfhflG0ZzQ2Jsk8KQ39fxrIFaRmaAvFkqD38AYz5_RSOFe5aVvQ6NzuyryPhe5ywOens6_NAeH7xL6K3xv7NV6_3-yha=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5IAmceOO33l3Rjk19eyhSVMnxovLDXzgg6SR0ZMkLWLzicRS57fZfiiFr1VXFOfpTLdz-i5LOQdQk5rGlGC5Jkl4tkAs49iqze9lCuTnbuCWbHBU-aVX59yBpXmwhVuXBsC6xHjmLVnru5D3enlsK3fpTR2dG7v6CT0JzmifvpQdvSkUZ4ISuCPWl7Xw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3593" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5IAmceOO33l3Rjk19eyhSVMnxovLDXzgg6SR0ZMkLWLzicRS57fZfiiFr1VXFOfpTLdz-i5LOQdQk5rGlGC5Jkl4tkAs49iqze9lCuTnbuCWbHBU-aVX59yBpXmwhVuXBsC6xHjmLVnru5D3enlsK3fpTR2dG7v6CT0JzmifvpQdvSkUZ4ISuCPWl7Xw=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8gVaUP2jNufDmlx2lrlRz6UfR1TxrShUQCYDxzDrgkaZrvy4Vb-eo0c3fFrTmntNnn_LN5vZ4D87CiifnMyL8xoT-UVFJD1Gz51seO8pQ_-ox4BnT0MBUS_Wexl9S4SPq4bgVHfOW39RfylrMCuqvw70mPdN5CFs4nrK1YBz8DAdLZOFzA-b7X4DdmlbN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8gVaUP2jNufDmlx2lrlRz6UfR1TxrShUQCYDxzDrgkaZrvy4Vb-eo0c3fFrTmntNnn_LN5vZ4D87CiifnMyL8xoT-UVFJD1Gz51seO8pQ_-ox4BnT0MBUS_Wexl9S4SPq4bgVHfOW39RfylrMCuqvw70mPdN5CFs4nrK1YBz8DAdLZOFzA-b7X4DdmlbN=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYyERM2O0KuOULTLcM1xoP0WxY5T6OYjIco4cBTf7nsE525VUAlKZcH4grBlMWvgnahV0DvA1VEOtjNS4ELGsdAxKMyvKXLGxa-2f7XonmQcMpZKBNseLsNmvyEyN7Cb6frxF_UnXnVBULxZV9FfoCGvu2jvT9xtD2ixqJOrORW0AL5NDX-CEOpQPQstb8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYyERM2O0KuOULTLcM1xoP0WxY5T6OYjIco4cBTf7nsE525VUAlKZcH4grBlMWvgnahV0DvA1VEOtjNS4ELGsdAxKMyvKXLGxa-2f7XonmQcMpZKBNseLsNmvyEyN7Cb6frxF_UnXnVBULxZV9FfoCGvu2jvT9xtD2ixqJOrORW0AL5NDX-CEOpQPQstb8=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We had a blessed Christmas.
It was filled with good eats and sweet treats, abundant decorations new
and old, and spiritual nourishment for our soul.</span></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4xJext1MuPG5gs9yxSn__0QJhsz0C6VgqD-UUoVKuSgfs6KJTU1TbZvM8t0xbVDBJdIiwtiumQJvghjP-pFho0i_Q2ZAg39ZiBjhaG7pj6Glt3CcIgC9rog-aBJxcns3gT-PG2XKDKotkPuDWTTW1STjaDT9EYjcuUnVQhJrm6IYhJMkv0rM34fLuik-H=w400-h180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A modified version of the Italian Feast of the 7 Fishes for Christmas Eve. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4xJext1MuPG5gs9yxSn__0QJhsz0C6VgqD-UUoVKuSgfs6KJTU1TbZvM8t0xbVDBJdIiwtiumQJvghjP-pFho0i_Q2ZAg39ZiBjhaG7pj6Glt3CcIgC9rog-aBJxcns3gT-PG2XKDKotkPuDWTTW1STjaDT9EYjcuUnVQhJrm6IYhJMkv0rM34fLuik-H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieBhxIfbCj78Cku3yGE6655WtpywfMuVmsS1ny_QZhkMvmzWKJAiw8ul5F6IBpEA08ckuAiUd4Fpg_CNwRSH_TualjlV8vZSE1wNh9Lkd2gft7WJ0w4cgoBJRV-ijwkd9w6uOTC6RRqj_gp0Tt-bOhvrbRJjAUrsVhIaEmwx6a6DbAVUWMJObVk65Vn6yq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieBhxIfbCj78Cku3yGE6655WtpywfMuVmsS1ny_QZhkMvmzWKJAiw8ul5F6IBpEA08ckuAiUd4Fpg_CNwRSH_TualjlV8vZSE1wNh9Lkd2gft7WJ0w4cgoBJRV-ijwkd9w6uOTC6RRqj_gp0Tt-bOhvrbRJjAUrsVhIaEmwx6a6DbAVUWMJObVk65Vn6yq=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas Day's entree was a mushroom/spinach/faux cheese stromboli. Not pictured is Mom's faux cheese cake and array of cookies!</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzoIgEWb_LLrcYr0rAdycIOWyianITFVkaFUkRah6DLeX9y3bmU0dRckzjvAIRRaEiyywEPn7LzP6zHBjbROkUSOpwIIzuKhgPfjd5r-NC1oxrzHb1extyI50qWCtCtfbiyBszEa6xmwyIhDeDrWKbydHJq4BVzK4AfgAWfcDeRHtrfap7ZkRoA0rsKhdS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzoIgEWb_LLrcYr0rAdycIOWyianITFVkaFUkRah6DLeX9y3bmU0dRckzjvAIRRaEiyywEPn7LzP6zHBjbROkUSOpwIIzuKhgPfjd5r-NC1oxrzHb1extyI50qWCtCtfbiyBszEa6xmwyIhDeDrWKbydHJq4BVzK4AfgAWfcDeRHtrfap7ZkRoA0rsKhdS=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZLzj4_FFB4FUpGjMCmnTXi44qgnUOY3-19UXFOMvY0zmZgxCGdHbUs78QMYd9dJPjR0gZ4j2j7R47jJ9MlZQkkUxKNHYywYxSrmSMtphQNLsifdi2hIs96rRWg-GeFoQedSmLqp9_g3ju99WPr2oi3A9Ca8Ij8Ta709JuejvlCApoqzwfNV2TU3_oODqI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZLzj4_FFB4FUpGjMCmnTXi44qgnUOY3-19UXFOMvY0zmZgxCGdHbUs78QMYd9dJPjR0gZ4j2j7R47jJ9MlZQkkUxKNHYywYxSrmSMtphQNLsifdi2hIs96rRWg-GeFoQedSmLqp9_g3ju99WPr2oi3A9Ca8Ij8Ta709JuejvlCApoqzwfNV2TU3_oODqI=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguT6QeaYM4uVKl7_I_2E2OfqvsKKGbQ-d_2s7adZv-lpCnQBIT-aCdPhnRPVA_sDwXW6hj4tku8qbQQS83oi8dxBl3UCH_nhHy18Tw7SDeJ9Ud12SYwn4YMwxJr54E-WYZgI4_tMBgC3hY-adolBqxfpj4pP2Q706X-g05TY8RZT1OpkAUVht5hZYkK0yU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguT6QeaYM4uVKl7_I_2E2OfqvsKKGbQ-d_2s7adZv-lpCnQBIT-aCdPhnRPVA_sDwXW6hj4tku8qbQQS83oi8dxBl3UCH_nhHy18Tw7SDeJ9Ud12SYwn4YMwxJr54E-WYZgI4_tMBgC3hY-adolBqxfpj4pP2Q706X-g05TY8RZT1OpkAUVht5hZYkK0yU=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2qMJMdEq2dEbMrmW5XcaveQooTpNU_pYIm59ZZVxk1m8cks1odNDx9TAZ5hbqT9j9WFSpT6azURdC5RH1rnf_2FD-y-JTHbeNux9j_nujge9_3X34kMbwhwswO3Lico-MzyHoa486F-tcTx0kR_ahVCztPE0nTQGBSDXKHQwI2HGpDTCq8SfmLLYXlqDV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2qMJMdEq2dEbMrmW5XcaveQooTpNU_pYIm59ZZVxk1m8cks1odNDx9TAZ5hbqT9j9WFSpT6azURdC5RH1rnf_2FD-y-JTHbeNux9j_nujge9_3X34kMbwhwswO3Lico-MzyHoa486F-tcTx0kR_ahVCztPE0nTQGBSDXKHQwI2HGpDTCq8SfmLLYXlqDV" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We spent the last weekend of the year with good friends
creating fond memories.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW9y0PHyJa5Fl3ixDeGrFADy5Q4CgLZYPwJdgqkjGxJpiUkvDRwZQvXj7z1ifF9ur2ksUO3W4HC5-qkeLGwQrBOQyZGYkw97E_Jry9Xu2PcR7KiaMlpVwxKPzXck7seWDanSbMlCULKhP5EppIada3U9IOKuDYTlSJOcJj52cXViUeqm6WgUF5vA0tnYQ4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW9y0PHyJa5Fl3ixDeGrFADy5Q4CgLZYPwJdgqkjGxJpiUkvDRwZQvXj7z1ifF9ur2ksUO3W4HC5-qkeLGwQrBOQyZGYkw97E_Jry9Xu2PcR7KiaMlpVwxKPzXck7seWDanSbMlCULKhP5EppIada3U9IOKuDYTlSJOcJj52cXViUeqm6WgUF5vA0tnYQ4=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Friday evening pickleball players.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisgZ3xIF1tqy2YHU49vEoAXHhwtZlk-zRbV9oy_Qujo1Vd-Z8p-53j63rH3J9E90bNQI97rzpRnRTENN8FfQQfA79uF-pffj6DfQZjUiSzG3eb_lwSi9gooIYZCdctTgCRexFz6yanVC-3nw4I-NEXG2WovjaWZ649tHBel5nrI15irnG1ubf_eh4syCyH" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisgZ3xIF1tqy2YHU49vEoAXHhwtZlk-zRbV9oy_Qujo1Vd-Z8p-53j63rH3J9E90bNQI97rzpRnRTENN8FfQQfA79uF-pffj6DfQZjUiSzG3eb_lwSi9gooIYZCdctTgCRexFz6yanVC-3nw4I-NEXG2WovjaWZ649tHBel5nrI15irnG1ubf_eh4syCyH=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents with friends Amy/Mike and Rosemary/Jeff.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDvtoLvcC23_m9Vu2z0jUTDXtZAlGMwtcZ8bijnjFFvomSaTpAMDBy7jP-LjOa64G_PhGYv93tkpVUnTxq5mhznjQX9vLgsxHO81RerUuTtN9am_7DyFLrB7oodWCIxgSwdMFGXuDfNBRBNv34YaAmxUQPRPDTSv5qOMYQoc_kx_i_9rffEkN2-UvO4tuF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="2148" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDvtoLvcC23_m9Vu2z0jUTDXtZAlGMwtcZ8bijnjFFvomSaTpAMDBy7jP-LjOa64G_PhGYv93tkpVUnTxq5mhznjQX9vLgsxHO81RerUuTtN9am_7DyFLrB7oodWCIxgSwdMFGXuDfNBRBNv34YaAmxUQPRPDTSv5qOMYQoc_kx_i_9rffEkN2-UvO4tuF=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always fun catching up with Lisa/Jim.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hard to believe it has been a year since Dad’s heart saga! Sometimes it seems so LONG ago,
and other times it feels like yesterday, but we have learned so much from the
ordeal. We know how fragile life can be,
that every day is a gift, that we have one life and we should live it to its
fullest. But most importantly, we know
how fortunate we are--God has bestowed us with a supportive network of family,
friends, and community, for which we are eternally grateful.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We rang in the new year with our tradition: a shot of Patron’s for Dad, shot of Jaegermeister
for Mom, and a pint of root beer for me to make a toast to good health and
happiness!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdA5y5lTzQJjgrcnp-K3j3IXoBKPeZWqZDDCGRqW4785XrUKv7WO0bhaOlM3NdvIxJ0JOAqFNBwc-7KMPsdKOeoepD7LrUZHm2IBi6GENUMB9umuQaWSBeHlMSBzV0npfv9cv9Ay36D9U9YIJzOuSxi7W7wda7eUvRfSAxM6C7XvyG5n_SGSnomCU_DwCF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdA5y5lTzQJjgrcnp-K3j3IXoBKPeZWqZDDCGRqW4785XrUKv7WO0bhaOlM3NdvIxJ0JOAqFNBwc-7KMPsdKOeoepD7LrUZHm2IBi6GENUMB9umuQaWSBeHlMSBzV0npfv9cv9Ay36D9U9YIJzOuSxi7W7wda7eUvRfSAxM6C7XvyG5n_SGSnomCU_DwCF=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8gYrwEeAPtqgqE0Nn3Tyy0zd0J-lWyqqH3r6EFA8B807Sft34fjA_qvwXST9qZfg-fRkDMgDkx_SIMOL6nfQFHmEF-6Uhf3_8TvrroEBR4EEEZ6N95EUuky6GT1zteh0qm9fyNFPSeHiWWqWpiM2ZSKMT-IEA2IzjHEpGH7zkeyCvPl7K1Ub-ZWMcx2I5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8gYrwEeAPtqgqE0Nn3Tyy0zd0J-lWyqqH3r6EFA8B807Sft34fjA_qvwXST9qZfg-fRkDMgDkx_SIMOL6nfQFHmEF-6Uhf3_8TvrroEBR4EEEZ6N95EUuky6GT1zteh0qm9fyNFPSeHiWWqWpiM2ZSKMT-IEA2IzjHEpGH7zkeyCvPl7K1Ub-ZWMcx2I5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIbPhg2Dcog_UlGQOjJgBJHfI05oDuFzpcrIQZ2XfLbjHO0lUWCm3Lh1zoMLMgrOaFWXUVBUbi95m9b966UliUqYDoS4c_Wtck1thG885RVuQemrXGLLWTKZF6UudXdbdwTWheUJF9ZCe0JpW0TpU-ykkyXbovmWoMeBIdOa9nrQLdk6NOzReYaoYcG2Uk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3946" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIbPhg2Dcog_UlGQOjJgBJHfI05oDuFzpcrIQZ2XfLbjHO0lUWCm3Lh1zoMLMgrOaFWXUVBUbi95m9b966UliUqYDoS4c_Wtck1thG885RVuQemrXGLLWTKZF6UudXdbdwTWheUJF9ZCe0JpW0TpU-ykkyXbovmWoMeBIdOa9nrQLdk6NOzReYaoYcG2Uk" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHR0CNBJplNbUVN7YVDWOQiuNfkM62wAgt2Y8SE0-N1HXLsoWZoqVJGtsbYgHIEP8ABv0mB-qpt9Yr2hBLFUgmqBK_BWDmZ7sdnia-cjBI21H8pp5GkNhK7sOgqx1pFIcSZpB2AUm2VJpYXJ2-XPYV6LrrMwLdaDRFCT9NyT9u_reP9AsIM6FBYoQCNVj/s3264/20240101_163912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHR0CNBJplNbUVN7YVDWOQiuNfkM62wAgt2Y8SE0-N1HXLsoWZoqVJGtsbYgHIEP8ABv0mB-qpt9Yr2hBLFUgmqBK_BWDmZ7sdnia-cjBI21H8pp5GkNhK7sOgqx1pFIcSZpB2AUm2VJpYXJ2-XPYV6LrrMwLdaDRFCT9NyT9u_reP9AsIM6FBYoQCNVj/w180-h400/20240101_163912.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOOK'EM! Dad decked out in his "good luck garb". Unfortunately, it didn't help his team during the Sugar Bowl.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My wish has already come true for my family: Dad has remained in sinus heart rhythm! So, we are hitching up to travel again, at least for a
few months! We are so excited to visit Southwest
AZ to dry out our bones!</span></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">All the best to you and yours for 2024! I hope to see ya down the road! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-12144887583539816972023-12-04T22:13:00.003-06:002023-12-19T17:46:44.747-06:00Kickoff to the Holiday Season: Motorcycle Trip to the Granbury, TX Candlelight Christmas House Tour<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. Once again, my family spared a turkey’s life
and opted for a tart as our entrée. It
was filled with garlic, onion, spinach, chick peas, cranberries, and nuts. Dad described its appearance and texture as a
“pate”. But Mom, who is more direct and
to-the-point, called it a “doctored up can of Alpo dog food.” Despite these different culinary
classifications, we all agreed it was quite tasty. And with our faux deviled eggs, rabbit buffet
(A.K.A. salad bar), mashed potato pie, smashed brussel sprouts, and an
assortment of Mom’s sweet treats, it was a mighty fine Thanksgiving feast. We
counted our many blessings, including that Dad continues to be in sinus heart
rhythm.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlbVIMvX97dj7R2D_ROyfok43yYyINrjdt8daxtg5GwxTbAUwEPwbNr-UNDgE4HlQsOpkvXSVQtG9IdGBvDzEczBSAS2OdY1r68FU8PeFXHRsQZdd4GgtwZ-ulUr6dYjHFb-oyyi3stf8GWM20jJOTaMAnr6-ADHEgiaQDToQTUuDCFdHjqrd3yToBLce/s2479/20231123_094735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="2479" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlbVIMvX97dj7R2D_ROyfok43yYyINrjdt8daxtg5GwxTbAUwEPwbNr-UNDgE4HlQsOpkvXSVQtG9IdGBvDzEczBSAS2OdY1r68FU8PeFXHRsQZdd4GgtwZ-ulUr6dYjHFb-oyyi3stf8GWM20jJOTaMAnr6-ADHEgiaQDToQTUuDCFdHjqrd3yToBLce/w400-h225/20231123_094735.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ8SDPAQEvwmyXUX8BrekgYuspH12kIlRUaRHfPCRzBGxIqyYG8071xtSrGwspOTUZMuj_xlk3vGDp49zXuojXaF-g-kHNMqkmYufbymR1H3-giDLvKyfSa2afBE5CJzuH-p7I2P3684kHNsVPKzI-p-MIAUTGSCknrhPL832AcVL9_6LjSUUXcKqmAD2/s983/IMG_6934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="565" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ8SDPAQEvwmyXUX8BrekgYuspH12kIlRUaRHfPCRzBGxIqyYG8071xtSrGwspOTUZMuj_xlk3vGDp49zXuojXaF-g-kHNMqkmYufbymR1H3-giDLvKyfSa2afBE5CJzuH-p7I2P3684kHNsVPKzI-p-MIAUTGSCknrhPL832AcVL9_6LjSUUXcKqmAD2/w230-h400/IMG_6934.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next day, we popped over to Huntsville State Park to
walk off some of those holiday calories and catch a bit of autumn colors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRVJXblw6T_qYUdUTRMRDSScbCXi0Gf76SFrZbxk-pMOxCfY61bvnXO24VPtePQLC6S5_LT5t9syLZs3OQgqqPGL8M2OBewaNcpYNETodDZ74qTuw7gHnlE75U2vfWyzKEDxK789Gf_vPkQ_jXcvl-_wzCJrhVGHMnhbfXvuOZnrUwh6f2sjc2mqNs68X/s4000/20231125_150150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRVJXblw6T_qYUdUTRMRDSScbCXi0Gf76SFrZbxk-pMOxCfY61bvnXO24VPtePQLC6S5_LT5t9syLZs3OQgqqPGL8M2OBewaNcpYNETodDZ74qTuw7gHnlE75U2vfWyzKEDxK789Gf_vPkQ_jXcvl-_wzCJrhVGHMnhbfXvuOZnrUwh6f2sjc2mqNs68X/w400-h180/20231125_150150.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some Autumn hues at Huntsville State Park.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While in Huntsville, we also visited Sam
Houston University Historical Village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hadn't been here since 2015 when we first moved to Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this stuffed rat’s perspective, the
repeat visit was a winning trifecta:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>gorgeous grounds, friendly fowl floating and foraging, and a history
lesson all in one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, Dad picked up
some replacement t-shirts at the Museum store.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-rmRGndtq-sjadLrVOU_6KWV2uzuYwnwgeuIcnWKUGSLiVJSiwRZSsPYhOoXqdgOg3uHyCp0cCJ-FHUs2ceoxCfZeBAAJ1qQw5M_6T4R10twR9vq31JGvX-j_3h9oT2JcEXHrlcYJvMtfcmAKz9zx2Z8DJL5OXK7cYg-Jd4ZDnZ-sNCsjIHiAAnHHg8Z/s4000/20231125_111932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-rmRGndtq-sjadLrVOU_6KWV2uzuYwnwgeuIcnWKUGSLiVJSiwRZSsPYhOoXqdgOg3uHyCp0cCJ-FHUs2ceoxCfZeBAAJ1qQw5M_6T4R10twR9vq31JGvX-j_3h9oT2JcEXHrlcYJvMtfcmAKz9zx2Z8DJL5OXK7cYg-Jd4ZDnZ-sNCsjIHiAAnHHg8Z/w400-h180/20231125_111932.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yl4ScmYO9Um7AFl41arsPkb4l5gn6MVIi1RIKcPJAT3o4wFmz4clYvE80Fne0oUo0IoY6aT-RnHVvwGd0a7p8hoQvJT6zGg9c8Sj8cQvwsW8oGQ_rHfxCJjQOeFsEUJ5CPJ2u2_IIazMZCgHINYJ4ybFdLcQIsz3PULdm9cCRBzIRqNEQDjwPDRam55i/s3264/20231125_114037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yl4ScmYO9Um7AFl41arsPkb4l5gn6MVIi1RIKcPJAT3o4wFmz4clYvE80Fne0oUo0IoY6aT-RnHVvwGd0a7p8hoQvJT6zGg9c8Sj8cQvwsW8oGQ_rHfxCJjQOeFsEUJ5CPJ2u2_IIazMZCgHINYJ4ybFdLcQIsz3PULdm9cCRBzIRqNEQDjwPDRam55i/w400-h180/20231125_114037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA9toopAfPH1vizgbZWVcuP9dHW5rD1kSZurh8oCZ5eK3ga1ZDNXbtoa133BjdGRF83AR1Givo_eSOozxiew5JJCkU9Obq7tnhn__uKJ_noYoP2z030gKeBp_GhcVxsUhSZ_zXWvEfeRcc4lmbFMxFBlNTtEMCMhaKDs9TQixcqmc_MGb_29j7Tnh7PwU/s3264/20231125_114137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA9toopAfPH1vizgbZWVcuP9dHW5rD1kSZurh8oCZ5eK3ga1ZDNXbtoa133BjdGRF83AR1Givo_eSOozxiew5JJCkU9Obq7tnhn__uKJ_noYoP2z030gKeBp_GhcVxsUhSZ_zXWvEfeRcc4lmbFMxFBlNTtEMCMhaKDs9TQixcqmc_MGb_29j7Tnh7PwU/w400-h180/20231125_114137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUJFbMqovVbukAcnXV8ZCxsUjRPPjMz0AUXpvB2kq1tMhDRWsfcvaDRMIEtNQfpIxfVU9lxjHby8SYRWv_RQ3HjaxglKl6xP53qcK-Imp4vHoyHlWA-ciLWgEg-UqoiRYi2kldQ4-_oK1dGZ8OSHBPdBWyTE-zeaYnrgbvXx7Kd2Is_82bnWfBN5qvU-P/s3264/20231125_114314.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUJFbMqovVbukAcnXV8ZCxsUjRPPjMz0AUXpvB2kq1tMhDRWsfcvaDRMIEtNQfpIxfVU9lxjHby8SYRWv_RQ3HjaxglKl6xP53qcK-Imp4vHoyHlWA-ciLWgEg-UqoiRYi2kldQ4-_oK1dGZ8OSHBPdBWyTE-zeaYnrgbvXx7Kd2Is_82bnWfBN5qvU-P/w400-h180/20231125_114314.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The interior of Sam Houston's Law Office</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSeuSPHIBzUv9MkifwOB8Mdij75MvkJ9BlVOcYcId9cKpgDzEA_vWak3XDPdHgownsIOw5PMBjaVzFyn2UlvmVM0KDIvvW7_5QvDfyGi1G_uNf_C4tPW7GjCuNRmY-fVcCFMYxnhZqOgxwZMM8YOHzN5H0HpGEMyFwwBIax5RpLUWAQkR0sRx5xmEpjpS/s4000/20231125_114715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSeuSPHIBzUv9MkifwOB8Mdij75MvkJ9BlVOcYcId9cKpgDzEA_vWak3XDPdHgownsIOw5PMBjaVzFyn2UlvmVM0KDIvvW7_5QvDfyGi1G_uNf_C4tPW7GjCuNRmY-fVcCFMYxnhZqOgxwZMM8YOHzN5H0HpGEMyFwwBIax5RpLUWAQkR0sRx5xmEpjpS/s320/20231125_114715.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2540ob03u4AHXNHySeweCd9bzwY4oA3lE1o0sX3AZYGICGkOn230d7BQ27I8Vx4G9eY_8Xh6BzXWUwGOzFFm3PpP6FJRdxGCTCuMpzvcLrOtAhmEInUfy3jNFWwoqTXVrgomcGnqMKhxXvqwyKvnlQ3hcjYLyCmOCjGq8-MhilSO1x_mD3ntDXhGthJmf/s2334/20231125_115520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2334" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2540ob03u4AHXNHySeweCd9bzwY4oA3lE1o0sX3AZYGICGkOn230d7BQ27I8Vx4G9eY_8Xh6BzXWUwGOzFFm3PpP6FJRdxGCTCuMpzvcLrOtAhmEInUfy3jNFWwoqTXVrgomcGnqMKhxXvqwyKvnlQ3hcjYLyCmOCjGq8-MhilSO1x_mD3ntDXhGthJmf/s320/20231125_115520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One of the best things about being in Livingston this time
of year is reuniting with travel buddies.
We enjoyed breaking bread with several fellow RVing friends and Escapees
RV Club members.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ETpa6cwZGblBzEW3VkslfLIGKtv-W3wAuOIganJSfxdT47VyKXr3f2-YJC7ZfWE4W79bX9_UdZZyglYarlyw32mBRfHJdVUV9aMY0-TCSg9TtAObGZKl2tR4TG1owqdrPOOm1ZZJ4sko3kdP8qWnjzdbVnIw0DuKcBgKGlMI-zGs0Rubin6afjOhcLTV/s3687/20230904_174258.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="3687" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ETpa6cwZGblBzEW3VkslfLIGKtv-W3wAuOIganJSfxdT47VyKXr3f2-YJC7ZfWE4W79bX9_UdZZyglYarlyw32mBRfHJdVUV9aMY0-TCSg9TtAObGZKl2tR4TG1owqdrPOOm1ZZJ4sko3kdP8qWnjzdbVnIw0DuKcBgKGlMI-zGs0Rubin6afjOhcLTV/w400-h176/20230904_174258.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzbegGGW4NJaVbnJHy2PN72PUcmtds2_Po1L_KQz-i4yD8EZZSFN5JaP0vlVHCkrQ0VXGl3fjZwuKDX2Tu7YEPleytCczvNq2DRQDIe_iRUTu414lJige0enyiekNsbRQKoMrusPZUdfEerFIuwOqGBd3dQnJikTvg9BD5ELzGUh92hqJDxikLYT4eniD/s2822/20231119_140440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="2822" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzbegGGW4NJaVbnJHy2PN72PUcmtds2_Po1L_KQz-i4yD8EZZSFN5JaP0vlVHCkrQ0VXGl3fjZwuKDX2Tu7YEPleytCczvNq2DRQDIe_iRUTu414lJige0enyiekNsbRQKoMrusPZUdfEerFIuwOqGBd3dQnJikTvg9BD5ELzGUh92hqJDxikLYT4eniD/w400-h219/20231119_140440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL2DA4Bp44qi4_IT7AARrt1nYq3oPSx60IfNmiO7iffA9BsmNqPFmTjAgqnTqpWn8j8DoDlU8pEdYX-yIpcBWrgwTruAlaq6UIzkxYXr0S-V5Zr3dtvfMeJ6pQLA16cxvM1NWM7_cUZylXIA-03pp3ES4b48pX5HdXro4PlEDqOZfpbBfDL2tSkFiS8oS/s2065/20231126_122419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="2065" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL2DA4Bp44qi4_IT7AARrt1nYq3oPSx60IfNmiO7iffA9BsmNqPFmTjAgqnTqpWn8j8DoDlU8pEdYX-yIpcBWrgwTruAlaq6UIzkxYXr0S-V5Zr3dtvfMeJ6pQLA16cxvM1NWM7_cUZylXIA-03pp3ES4b48pX5HdXro4PlEDqOZfpbBfDL2tSkFiS8oS/w400-h288/20231126_122419.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwenHHN4pgUeaGhTaVXhsv_K03n6fdls9Q2HoQLHp46KyXV5pZe5Ry_YLHaUtvORUtj_3N2xZbR05H9N2XurIR4uoKfOnVcgCNpkcMdU_edOd2iTb7ko_wdbpZnTyevIWk2F6l_8W1fgxTAyKjij3YYvfIJK8IBdsnusy9uKxOMoEt3bEViMbiVW1W8dSM/s4000/20231127_172132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwenHHN4pgUeaGhTaVXhsv_K03n6fdls9Q2HoQLHp46KyXV5pZe5Ry_YLHaUtvORUtj_3N2xZbR05H9N2XurIR4uoKfOnVcgCNpkcMdU_edOd2iTb7ko_wdbpZnTyevIWk2F6l_8W1fgxTAyKjij3YYvfIJK8IBdsnusy9uKxOMoEt3bEViMbiVW1W8dSM/w400-h180/20231127_172132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The motto of the Escapees RV Club, of which we are members,
is “caring and sharing”, and we have tried to live up to that creed. Hence, we were glad to assist friends
Carol/John by towing their fifth wheel back to Livingston after repairs were
completed at their dealership in Katy, TX.
They had the misfortune to have a problem with their own tow vehicle, so
it, too, was undergoing repairs. They
truly appreciated our help and treated us to a delicious lunch. We had so much fun chatting, though, that we neglected
to take a photo! Similarly, friends Sherry/Matt
found themselves in a dire situation just a few days after our last get
together. The support bolt for their 5<sup>th</sup>
wheel hitch head broke off! Thank God,
it was as they were slowly existing an RV Park in Houston and not at highway
speeds on a multi-lane freeway. They
ordered a new hitch and drove the truck up to Livingston so Dad could assist
with the hitch installation using his Spitzlift mini crane. Afterwards we all enjoyed the hearty lunch
Mom prepared for us. Mission
accomplished: they got back on the road
the next day and safely reached their volunteer gig in FL a few days later.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkL_ZgTyhKRkMk0KBvVS-b2OJ-8SIxUfVV15RyCtBD85zaD0K2wVlKXelkm9iBAarhknamt_OpTki7_T9PD0rzqqFbOwC29fkuXO7bZRgFNluQywfBYdFUD-bFy-cdTHrv6Tet1crXHZI0JWBFwR-OhCTy0__dbytFlLreijlPMPNjxnEDShP5pVco5n8j" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkL_ZgTyhKRkMk0KBvVS-b2OJ-8SIxUfVV15RyCtBD85zaD0K2wVlKXelkm9iBAarhknamt_OpTki7_T9PD0rzqqFbOwC29fkuXO7bZRgFNluQywfBYdFUD-bFy-cdTHrv6Tet1crXHZI0JWBFwR-OhCTy0__dbytFlLreijlPMPNjxnEDShP5pVco5n8j=w400-h236" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes! Thank God this did not happen on the freeway at high speed!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUmOjSizZPLfT5q3Kxm-JIfAIxvalz4uFPCCV19mpyB4j6CEVvqgtx6lotTA7DNCQhVcrGU3XqX5b_PMByPaZHrtQnzYDPXvuf8JHj0lV2WN0I18uG9RE5zr9ubXFFYhRLQU0yazDbdPEokrrz7QGusdA44cAQTIV7r9V6a6mEBLHobxMpqXIWuv-Berb8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUmOjSizZPLfT5q3Kxm-JIfAIxvalz4uFPCCV19mpyB4j6CEVvqgtx6lotTA7DNCQhVcrGU3XqX5b_PMByPaZHrtQnzYDPXvuf8JHj0lV2WN0I18uG9RE5zr9ubXFFYhRLQU0yazDbdPEokrrz7QGusdA44cAQTIV7r9V6a6mEBLHobxMpqXIWuv-Berb8=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt/Sherry are all smiles now that their new hitch is installed and they can resume their travels! Although, maybe they are just smiling at how cute I am!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since we have been stationary for so long, we took another
multi-day motorcycle mini getaway. It
was a blustery but scenic and stress-free 5-hour ride via mostly secondary
roads to our destination of Granbury, TX.
We have toured Granbury before, but this time we were coming
specifically for their Candlelight Christmas House Tour. We stopped midway in Buffalo, TX to thaw out
and enjoy a hearty meal at Anthony’s Restaurant. It is always nice to support a small,
independent, non-chain eatery, especially one with good food and good
portions. We arrived at our hotel just
before dark, showered, and snuggled in for the night.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next morning was cold, damp, and wet. So, we popped over to the YMCA. It’s a great facility with every amenity you
could think of, including indoor track and pool. Best of all, the first 3 visits to the
facility are FREE. We went specifically
to play pickleball during their 3-hour open-play session on 4 courts. Holy,
moly, this was some VERY competitive play.
Although my parents were out of their league, they were pleased with
their performance of 3 wins and 3 losses.
But they sure were pooped. So, we
returned to the hotel for showers and siesta time followed by a late
lunch/early dinner.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1hJbLfi0DoPX_VTr2kith9TNvECM0ByiR545lhMtlpX8QCRaRh10Em0Lu4ypU0r_9W32j1EHn19N6XHUn33-p0wjVHHey_QlDblF6YV0peovjxrahcAdsYkjkgpJTgh5ZXS5gFlamsY2Rjq7ytTIS9c-sSIW6r-e1JUNWAe6ibhFpKcCaIaoZ7x3SBOSg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1hJbLfi0DoPX_VTr2kith9TNvECM0ByiR545lhMtlpX8QCRaRh10Em0Lu4ypU0r_9W32j1EHn19N6XHUn33-p0wjVHHey_QlDblF6YV0peovjxrahcAdsYkjkgpJTgh5ZXS5gFlamsY2Rjq7ytTIS9c-sSIW6r-e1JUNWAe6ibhFpKcCaIaoZ7x3SBOSg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM4issgk8xzXjc5u3_e_blzV8QqHyDpIS4uHZC2FdA9MI-F4GrLHpDo45SnqI_Jr9zx_WXHqmaNMueki5MoqTEs7rVTJYYg665nlNE2eDNKYC69xMMIQftrR56I79jPfSygZfk8-IyacXgFdvgAaKXcvCf59vxbPDlfSxm2CUQC53Ffq8BPIRYCodV8sNp" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM4issgk8xzXjc5u3_e_blzV8QqHyDpIS4uHZC2FdA9MI-F4GrLHpDo45SnqI_Jr9zx_WXHqmaNMueki5MoqTEs7rVTJYYg665nlNE2eDNKYC69xMMIQftrR56I79jPfSygZfk8-IyacXgFdvgAaKXcvCf59vxbPDlfSxm2CUQC53Ffq8BPIRYCodV8sNp=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">G</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">ranbury holds the distinction of being the first town in TX
with a square, and it looked spectacular all adorned with colorful lights and gigantic
themed Christmas trees. We did some shopping (Dad got a pair of Texas Longhorn Socks to match his shorts/shirt/hat/sneakers/sweatshirt. I think all he is missing is Hook 'Em Horns underwear!), and enjoyed all the shops' decorations.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk6_kUOiS83yNr7WgRVHhvY5Ue2LW142kvIa4TiGIRz8ImnMnFgseLLTCT7kO2h0o3vGBx1kDQ4qf9xbSOf5jzSGoTgkf-ItTVEOc_iT76_bM6bUKNO0MWamVQKkYaZiKnu1teZ59j-YL4EbjoFSzUWS0mm4yJHlswHhd1ZT1iXcA-vj6iYIRjRKqQGGy/s4000/20231130_160029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk6_kUOiS83yNr7WgRVHhvY5Ue2LW142kvIa4TiGIRz8ImnMnFgseLLTCT7kO2h0o3vGBx1kDQ4qf9xbSOf5jzSGoTgkf-ItTVEOc_iT76_bM6bUKNO0MWamVQKkYaZiKnu1teZ59j-YL4EbjoFSzUWS0mm4yJHlswHhd1ZT1iXcA-vj6iYIRjRKqQGGy/w180-h400/20231130_160029.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just one of several gigantic trees on the Square.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyb8U7ZnfWnU4Hygiahigww3YATbXgIBrLz1dfyHosFPFkPeWqElGajojIFIfMyXdwslkz9tewG_9hm2FeDXT9IIUlHfwqoQdY99Y02l8LVhfXkB5tgCyV1Z_VgAq4V6Ry37ayqhQR7F8VhgoY6_7JQ4oWFFAj33p-4D2l3OuMnoUutz-0bCxCwFsudknO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyb8U7ZnfWnU4Hygiahigww3YATbXgIBrLz1dfyHosFPFkPeWqElGajojIFIfMyXdwslkz9tewG_9hm2FeDXT9IIUlHfwqoQdY99Y02l8LVhfXkB5tgCyV1Z_VgAq4V6Ry37ayqhQR7F8VhgoY6_7JQ4oWFFAj33p-4D2l3OuMnoUutz-0bCxCwFsudknO=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><span><span> </span> </span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmakRZboW52izr_uE97O6UPmywtnWNliJYB07AW5eu5nltrwK7gngZXGmkp-9UEYNYmubVdaxe2QxfxS-Kv3WolTCLGTzEIfb23i0TyaexyIego5-gnXymW1SP9b5rxrTnnWMB3EKRX8CKqS8rL62uycTy54EGwuLR3D674mSoE_3RrkEbvghipU1d6vO/s2721/20231201_205904.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2721" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmakRZboW52izr_uE97O6UPmywtnWNliJYB07AW5eu5nltrwK7gngZXGmkp-9UEYNYmubVdaxe2QxfxS-Kv3WolTCLGTzEIfb23i0TyaexyIego5-gnXymW1SP9b5rxrTnnWMB3EKRX8CKqS8rL62uycTy54EGwuLR3D674mSoE_3RrkEbvghipU1d6vO/w400-h168/20231201_205904.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Opera House all decked out...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghj49zxoPKKbm-OTuownlUgsNw5wAh1FDADMIVvWW0-SwhegXSutOrPftobOrjsPP5k-TaebSOHVkatlbx_A2U1m4cGoeXJF2KSMEDflDSW_jT69qI3ISTZewqpDbalhF2qNg3G1h9YJv1j7Qzlx6ExH7vanLmzKTF3uLMq8s59-lLCnNjG2ZF9bnM7zlq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghj49zxoPKKbm-OTuownlUgsNw5wAh1FDADMIVvWW0-SwhegXSutOrPftobOrjsPP5k-TaebSOHVkatlbx_A2U1m4cGoeXJF2KSMEDflDSW_jT69qI3ISTZewqpDbalhF2qNg3G1h9YJv1j7Qzlx6ExH7vanLmzKTF3uLMq8s59-lLCnNjG2ZF9bnM7zlq=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...inside and outside.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA86ohjflSqIEKGvYSp9ONiJ2hNny4_1UQhLVmZ58WhB8VVALTQHokEdAyIhPTSZsvkG78XVM1L1BAz1SuJO1t2oWZ7NeDGgep-GUSqOjDwxsh7dehG8_SgYZ8HSj69UNHfVjdvq2aVAdsMVi4rUNSoPo7piYJBHiiKmfPYEpyozNB193fnrqruqquvVtj/s4000/20231201_163533.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA86ohjflSqIEKGvYSp9ONiJ2hNny4_1UQhLVmZ58WhB8VVALTQHokEdAyIhPTSZsvkG78XVM1L1BAz1SuJO1t2oWZ7NeDGgep-GUSqOjDwxsh7dehG8_SgYZ8HSj69UNHfVjdvq2aVAdsMVi4rUNSoPo7piYJBHiiKmfPYEpyozNB193fnrqruqquvVtj/w400-h180/20231201_163533.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A lovely mural.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBVgmGnEFPSQ8WaNvHrzcHES-r84KhcjVh9_7XyAQwEFD6l_maigZhWdnho-B8H0U7A0ZnCGJ9q_7bXPQWzS2pOEnp8eAqN_B3595buGzk6n4FhQ8WKqJE3Fo90K39dzhL024xcT5wWI4ZYsWvuG9qrmq4BV2negcJEuiOvTbQcQTzL62YpfGddwJJIrZh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="3575" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBVgmGnEFPSQ8WaNvHrzcHES-r84KhcjVh9_7XyAQwEFD6l_maigZhWdnho-B8H0U7A0ZnCGJ9q_7bXPQWzS2pOEnp8eAqN_B3595buGzk6n4FhQ8WKqJE3Fo90K39dzhL024xcT5wWI4ZYsWvuG9qrmq4BV2negcJEuiOvTbQcQTzL62YpfGddwJJIrZh=w400-h191" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The train station.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span><br /></span></span><br /><span><span></span></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKe20O5KVMJk-4tWtXonHyVVE5OR4LVIL-hrZVzVM8Qfk-cgHptzlbGpRmlMfSlR0_E6zp2hFF7G_1mzIShwapfdCuCkBd8ixZsgZSKiZYHwPJyDGHCnyAofY2pn23msJJWupzjLfmNaqv6VtEFsHZcr-5nJUygB271sc1PyVik0yuhY1MEyhoaXtOnCxY" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKe20O5KVMJk-4tWtXonHyVVE5OR4LVIL-hrZVzVM8Qfk-cgHptzlbGpRmlMfSlR0_E6zp2hFF7G_1mzIShwapfdCuCkBd8ixZsgZSKiZYHwPJyDGHCnyAofY2pn23msJJWupzjLfmNaqv6VtEFsHZcr-5nJUygB271sc1PyVik0yuhY1MEyhoaXtOnCxY=w395-h400" width="395" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Courthouse.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE_BAgh5RhpO5xKSM2PkQRbFN28ger3i7G15rbj7givJ83wYyd-HVxdmihVbn7dyIRQzAfnG1hg9LKb9tU7Hsp4uPJntWAg6G7yUpnQNFE1ZjewywhAPvxioda0fdSxdFOb9zYuMpycpS9BvpPifgdsjn_67kJVDpRq9oSzdn1gWQ18Z-lEfeZfW1e9zuz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE_BAgh5RhpO5xKSM2PkQRbFN28ger3i7G15rbj7givJ83wYyd-HVxdmihVbn7dyIRQzAfnG1hg9LKb9tU7Hsp4uPJntWAg6G7yUpnQNFE1ZjewywhAPvxioda0fdSxdFOb9zYuMpycpS9BvpPifgdsjn_67kJVDpRq9oSzdn1gWQ18Z-lEfeZfW1e9zuz=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSuZFc2pgTIVQHPRgK0y9s-WmzRMr3z7HkUlBx2F9GzQmSxw2ZDDQsR-I24tdZaMH_tiijYY_Cw6Ty2P9lCdAFfiyE4dNf1ecy3LrG2-Z8gyMSXh2snU5aNXHg6zfOwSy1KZNIOuHT0ukXrUcFgSFIjqrxXRLT_Q7a_SdBDuLNcg4PG21ist5lKiJBbW7T" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSuZFc2pgTIVQHPRgK0y9s-WmzRMr3z7HkUlBx2F9GzQmSxw2ZDDQsR-I24tdZaMH_tiijYY_Cw6Ty2P9lCdAFfiyE4dNf1ecy3LrG2-Z8gyMSXh2snU5aNXHg6zfOwSy1KZNIOuHT0ukXrUcFgSFIjqrxXRLT_Q7a_SdBDuLNcg4PG21ist5lKiJBbW7T=w192-h400" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There's a Christmas mouse in this window display.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4QCztymMaetdLrWnWmb9A2JWIhhVZ9DQqPcuFD5NaHCgoHCSspcUfXlaWlpZJJGCrq0vWMn31yrEiy6boLnqGNu77oUrZC3pu-EgVbXnj7B3o1BrSlmIOOzHP4EPR3tJDSlFz_okfzMdyeaaECjI0DWLk4xVqT-3hQ2SfiTYL6b6Cmj8nKXMP10AI5ji/s2929/PoPo%20in%20the%20Kissing%20Booth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2929" data-original-width="1673" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4QCztymMaetdLrWnWmb9A2JWIhhVZ9DQqPcuFD5NaHCgoHCSspcUfXlaWlpZJJGCrq0vWMn31yrEiy6boLnqGNu77oUrZC3pu-EgVbXnj7B3o1BrSlmIOOzHP4EPR3tJDSlFz_okfzMdyeaaECjI0DWLk4xVqT-3hQ2SfiTYL6b6Cmj8nKXMP10AI5ji/w229-h400/PoPo%20in%20the%20Kissing%20Booth.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Chamber of Commerce put me to work!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I had a great chat with Santa in his Granbury quarters, and I snuggled with his Mrs., who smelled just like fresh-baked cookies. I admired all the holiday decorations and lights as we walked leisurely along the trail in Shanley Park.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMBkKwASj1OHM8128dGwE6m0M9YVVq-KvXGh2fp3RE-YT3u2LDFOteEvSgnBIUYPXFl8o6bUJpO4RCICl4M8GJdPxqNh3erccb7fX8CaiXS4UeOt7uGiQ67F6KGxgsk4G4wY-eQslbFNoQuvWZ6vhXJlkIzpOau97ClhJux__KUJsksGghKzqmYNN2WN5/s3969/PoPo%20and%20Santa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1786" data-original-width="3969" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMBkKwASj1OHM8128dGwE6m0M9YVVq-KvXGh2fp3RE-YT3u2LDFOteEvSgnBIUYPXFl8o6bUJpO4RCICl4M8GJdPxqNh3erccb7fX8CaiXS4UeOt7uGiQ67F6KGxgsk4G4wY-eQslbFNoQuvWZ6vhXJlkIzpOau97ClhJux__KUJsksGghKzqmYNN2WN5/w400-h180/PoPo%20and%20Santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZZ-Wvm4-5dDBoqzt7rieHs-fKo8tBcmKVMF8rfs8jcuCLPotYiKErFAQcI5brL-3mnU3GKp9fpHXxpXgGHdU3jYuTdRc7NcId855c5y90j8E2oh6rLc9S-C0Jg9xVhC78Ziec5bFXzazzxfse6CXB9tN8dpjflYZDCDw9NXfnBgXk9SrmaZ6H4Ulkl-D/s4000/20231130_171440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZZ-Wvm4-5dDBoqzt7rieHs-fKo8tBcmKVMF8rfs8jcuCLPotYiKErFAQcI5brL-3mnU3GKp9fpHXxpXgGHdU3jYuTdRc7NcId855c5y90j8E2oh6rLc9S-C0Jg9xVhC78Ziec5bFXzazzxfse6CXB9tN8dpjflYZDCDw9NXfnBgXk9SrmaZ6H4Ulkl-D/w400-h180/20231130_171440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyG51XG77asYYp-D5UI4ULMLnK-Nz92-nXooEHFPEsY_oBBU2NAmYTmf9b-TaEJZuBZpYWz5abMBRh_G8X9rOmTZVwOJ1FIES_gcvPNbD3c21_vOgU5VoKDl32-Fm1ZD-zM-X1o6o4EG0KLisBhHfbXFvcZ4fd0w893CNKfH-E1-VsSAr7tRH-FkgZoc-/s3264/20231130_172617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyG51XG77asYYp-D5UI4ULMLnK-Nz92-nXooEHFPEsY_oBBU2NAmYTmf9b-TaEJZuBZpYWz5abMBRh_G8X9rOmTZVwOJ1FIES_gcvPNbD3c21_vOgU5VoKDl32-Fm1ZD-zM-X1o6o4EG0KLisBhHfbXFvcZ4fd0w893CNKfH-E1-VsSAr7tRH-FkgZoc-/w400-h180/20231130_172617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh2bk5y2dcP1irNDMls5RFrtI-Ik_o4K97a7SlajQR1dmkUPmUhl-UmegM0bqYt_AF1NECXz4M6FNmB4qpuh7ug6nGHS0NTI8atburEO61mfNZytQVj7KD60dOS98OXMEpRXD4GV17eXLNMpK4qCQzGhdjgl42KmJOpLTQsFQ04dFtzokLVudqsLkmk1y/s4000/20231130_172722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh2bk5y2dcP1irNDMls5RFrtI-Ik_o4K97a7SlajQR1dmkUPmUhl-UmegM0bqYt_AF1NECXz4M6FNmB4qpuh7ug6nGHS0NTI8atburEO61mfNZytQVj7KD60dOS98OXMEpRXD4GV17eXLNMpK4qCQzGhdjgl42KmJOpLTQsFQ04dFtzokLVudqsLkmk1y/w400-h180/20231130_172722.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We spent Friday morning at Dinosaur Valley State Park in nearby Glen Rose, TX. What a great little
Park! It is very cool to walk in the
footsteps of prehistoric creatures who roamed here 100+ million years ago. You must cross the Paluxy River via a rock
“bridge” to see the main tracks. Some
of the prints were under water, making it more of a treasure hunt to spot
them. The Park was sparsely populated,
so it was easy to imagine ourselves being back in the time that dinosaurs roamed as
we hiked the trails in solitude.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M1xCURr9SYP3_YzyXtqNoFbXLyxudUrW5cE-4MNRq1RdQhBR7uaFP4Nwb_phyrVKjDfm4ATXL0uHUX4rzd6xAZgLXYdjICWgfUFxyBlbwlbXN_u3SIqkY3kx1nNHfMTlnuF0kQ2s0iOIr4VGKUkWStjgEqr82aa-VmYFs6uAdObk7f-sDynBdEhZ1DjG/s2318/20231201_104043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="2318" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M1xCURr9SYP3_YzyXtqNoFbXLyxudUrW5cE-4MNRq1RdQhBR7uaFP4Nwb_phyrVKjDfm4ATXL0uHUX4rzd6xAZgLXYdjICWgfUFxyBlbwlbXN_u3SIqkY3kx1nNHfMTlnuF0kQ2s0iOIr4VGKUkWStjgEqr82aa-VmYFs6uAdObk7f-sDynBdEhZ1DjG/w400-h219/20231201_104043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeSSGvb-qFiJHCv40bYetz4q5iydg9sEM3RYhtnXBQIVslv2EIbv7HsnVs9MJBI0I4_QhTHugVeQOUBAc6jWIjn0BcKUXWyGyGUrLQTJXzV-Fuf25kSqQP1tVeO4LxVXXflqXazFtdPJrGrKox6lMnUzWEvzO_iDK8PDx94IgOTsEA-MOTEiDu2ozRM66/s4000/20231201_083801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeSSGvb-qFiJHCv40bYetz4q5iydg9sEM3RYhtnXBQIVslv2EIbv7HsnVs9MJBI0I4_QhTHugVeQOUBAc6jWIjn0BcKUXWyGyGUrLQTJXzV-Fuf25kSqQP1tVeO4LxVXXflqXazFtdPJrGrKox6lMnUzWEvzO_iDK8PDx94IgOTsEA-MOTEiDu2ozRM66/w180-h400/20231201_083801.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZmrUlkWXNGU4ojXVHsqsm2oQA9GCK6rkz3Y7z8_-b8j-xj-UeSaIOJv-xllxaOgRNiWbQh9Fu5H2i2Qbdj3ukznTcOHHOCaL1BiYnVGJA7KoIaVDyAy3v9KR0vMah_31-rdOKClHc6-vosv3IDLNAJdA2_8FyGXvRsLaPYdfhlosRgydh5AePh2EfA5U/s3264/20231201_083148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZmrUlkWXNGU4ojXVHsqsm2oQA9GCK6rkz3Y7z8_-b8j-xj-UeSaIOJv-xllxaOgRNiWbQh9Fu5H2i2Qbdj3ukznTcOHHOCaL1BiYnVGJA7KoIaVDyAy3v9KR0vMah_31-rdOKClHc6-vosv3IDLNAJdA2_8FyGXvRsLaPYdfhlosRgydh5AePh2EfA5U/w400-h180/20231201_083148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaDAFpaSV7Qfl1KRbOLCsVdCl69SEKoVt7PTqdOueJ8VP4qmOmPMn5VqW8cl7KVwPJFUc5Jj8cJ9Qpk1107h9Yy2RLA7geubBX2hRO8ZYgMYaCexTV0k8J1hiy8OVSYBabe1T2O8jH9QLVEU4e_b2dY3ALfrLiT4qJPOULyv1ElNLgt3ouUuYesnOU8aR/s4000/20231201_090731.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaDAFpaSV7Qfl1KRbOLCsVdCl69SEKoVt7PTqdOueJ8VP4qmOmPMn5VqW8cl7KVwPJFUc5Jj8cJ9Qpk1107h9Yy2RLA7geubBX2hRO8ZYgMYaCexTV0k8J1hiy8OVSYBabe1T2O8jH9QLVEU4e_b2dY3ALfrLiT4qJPOULyv1ElNLgt3ouUuYesnOU8aR/w400-h180/20231201_090731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rock bridge we crossed to see the footprints.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLYNIMvNv1LQOW8TRuqeoQEFnoblCpd6WfHyOVka0ZJh2_8Z47yMlKwM0VO83zDx_WP0Ny7LgHF6Q9TrAlhf92xbNd3aw13LVjJJ2IK6X97Ir58PSQ8Zr1jvWontCEfbMLFQJeSWHsBC7GU5DDZJucpLmfeJwLIhgWiTF78-_aXrEovkQUIxZtc0-D6se/s4000/20231201_090029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLYNIMvNv1LQOW8TRuqeoQEFnoblCpd6WfHyOVka0ZJh2_8Z47yMlKwM0VO83zDx_WP0Ny7LgHF6Q9TrAlhf92xbNd3aw13LVjJJ2IK6X97Ir58PSQ8Zr1jvWontCEfbMLFQJeSWHsBC7GU5DDZJucpLmfeJwLIhgWiTF78-_aXrEovkQUIxZtc0-D6se/w400-h180/20231201_090029.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Footprints in the riverbed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNqlT9OzskpYiIF28hylIG8NReekRO1uJ3gu14CxnKOIGKLiJwiq3MdRnDPe2W9ar8kpNJm0UHYuUBovIycPeT3n4rAMElosP8cWVtQ6fUhfS9_Afrb2pcJ_S-eF6UCuaC3sSZWfnWHj_Mm5jOvNyFIA0bp5397IJ8f3NhS-WQCrOVMjmY91K4EbzEX1N/s4000/20231201_100028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNqlT9OzskpYiIF28hylIG8NReekRO1uJ3gu14CxnKOIGKLiJwiq3MdRnDPe2W9ar8kpNJm0UHYuUBovIycPeT3n4rAMElosP8cWVtQ6fUhfS9_Afrb2pcJ_S-eF6UCuaC3sSZWfnWHj_Mm5jOvNyFIA0bp5397IJ8f3NhS-WQCrOVMjmY91K4EbzEX1N/w400-h180/20231201_100028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These guys were displayed in the 1964 World's Fair.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyzfcmrCTUAP_3UI3yj3Q1mPVVJuLUTrTDvm1X55opcRYN5AbSgLFywuZk6XFKzNp_eGbHsC2fDGUFOe4LUkdBhA5PI325dtdMK_tET8F1w28pNXXGdPLu_TZMXx7VN6wUzA8vtFSQCZVVu5hCVSxXVAyz1e3BB51yPCfqfTUQuBtfi4qHRM1bmC6_v-j/s4000/20231201_084736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyzfcmrCTUAP_3UI3yj3Q1mPVVJuLUTrTDvm1X55opcRYN5AbSgLFywuZk6XFKzNp_eGbHsC2fDGUFOe4LUkdBhA5PI325dtdMK_tET8F1w28pNXXGdPLu_TZMXx7VN6wUzA8vtFSQCZVVu5hCVSxXVAyz1e3BB51yPCfqfTUQuBtfi4qHRM1bmC6_v-j/w400-h180/20231201_084736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We left the Park to have a late lunch when I spotted
something unusual in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a
bird?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a plane?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it Superman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it was my very first sighting of an
Amazon drone delivery!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
interesting to watch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Soon it was time for our Christmas Candlelight House
Tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though many folks drove directly
to each showcased property, we parked at the Courthouse and walked to and from
all locations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started at the
Presbyterian Church with an entertaining musical performance by the Melody
Belles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKoxQBIa51WvHrg4dElEvA59FpLimnS4XNGFVYKfs7n1wmmcza0HKQT8GoBP0-cd9vxPXBiBgZNtPksHUICNRmT8QwRiDn8FQtFc2sx1F6__-HYOSpChMINhW7MqC5S9fcuY_JKavI-0zc0j6Eu7vRU8V0qJITOUwyeyRIZO3kJGuPIS-liQ3i8n-ZpXg/s2223/20231201_173241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKoxQBIa51WvHrg4dElEvA59FpLimnS4XNGFVYKfs7n1wmmcza0HKQT8GoBP0-cd9vxPXBiBgZNtPksHUICNRmT8QwRiDn8FQtFc2sx1F6__-HYOSpChMINhW7MqC5S9fcuY_JKavI-0zc0j6Eu7vRU8V0qJITOUwyeyRIZO3kJGuPIS-liQ3i8n-ZpXg/w264-h400/20231201_173241.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMFnHOlYQ76gGXCUuQRtW-0WJjMITS9kM9FtKYPQhHr4q7DvEpPn8MGuwBlspVVdd0mAWRtuh_SkjFsqaTOfnLbjSeG0SakYSE8S-w1dMXrpErvIi4GDj2fiFneLF7rzEg_N_jgOhLybwTzfagz-FaiYUgowXfB0e9k2aandWJM0xVU8busiygN1CDB6O/s4000/20231201_175250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMFnHOlYQ76gGXCUuQRtW-0WJjMITS9kM9FtKYPQhHr4q7DvEpPn8MGuwBlspVVdd0mAWRtuh_SkjFsqaTOfnLbjSeG0SakYSE8S-w1dMXrpErvIi4GDj2fiFneLF7rzEg_N_jgOhLybwTzfagz-FaiYUgowXfB0e9k2aandWJM0xVU8busiygN1CDB6O/w400-h180/20231201_175250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Candlelight House Tour was to consist of 5 residences, a historic
filling station, and 8 public buildings.
Friday evening was VIP night, where ticket holders (at a cost of
$50/person) received refreshments (many provided from local vendors) at each
residence for the extra $10 we paid vs tickets for the Saturday and Sunday
tours. Friday's tour took place between 6:30 and 9:30 pm, and we could not pick up our wristbands until 5:30 p.m. We have attended Christmas House
Tours for decades in our historic hometown in NJ as well as in NY, PA and other
locations in TX (You can read about our Jefferson Christmas Candlelight House
Tour here <a href="https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-holiday-season-of-celebration-in.html" target="_blank">https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-holiday-season-of-celebration-in.html</a>). Yet, this was the first time
we were somewhat disappointed. To start with, we received conflicting information on the time to pick up wristbands. Furthermore, none of
the public buildings were open on Friday evening during house tour hours. Our ticket was good all weekend long, but we
had other commitments, so we had to leave on Saturday. (Fortunately, we had toured several of these
public buildings on prior visits to Granbury).
Though all but one of the homes
permitted attendees to take photos, we didn’t take many. One of the homes dating to 1881 wasn’t worth
photographing and should not have even been on the tour. You see, it was merely a construction
site. The entire interior was gutted
except for 2 rooms, and the renovations in those two rooms were not complete. Plus, there were few furnishings or holiday
decorations. The only things original to the property were the fireplaces and
the cobblestone walkway which was a bit hazardous to traverse! Thankfully, this joint had tasty
refreshments! Another home was an
adorable 1930s converted bungalow, all tastefully renovated and decorated. However, the entire home was one huge sales
pitch. It is a vacation rental, so the
owners used the tour as a marketing tool.
Furthermore, most of the artwork adorning the walls had price tags
attached, hawking the wares of local artists.
Other businesses were “promoted” throughout the house as well. By the time we left, we had received so many
brochures and business cards, I felt like I had attended a trade show! Fortunately,
the last 2 houses we visited were real gems, so we ended our tour on a high
note. And we enjoyed walking under the
stars on a clear, crisp evening. Should
anyone plan to attend this Candlelight House Tour in the future, here’s
Rambling RV Rat’s Recommendation: Unless
getting a glass of champagne and treat at each house means that much to you,
save your cheez money and purchase the less expensive Saturday evening or
Sunday tour tickets. This way, all the
public buildings would be open for viewing and you would have more than enough
time to visit them as well as all the private residences.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipb6Tqn34a99dY14f_8FrsWzdQZeK2Jv2yNqajEEg0TEuUe2oqi_lpELm4_OTHaqk2ChNb88Dg-rDXwJ9hbxerHpExEd5fRGvYVLbOPwysoVgMZBWE0_LJkIHtUOGe6nRLfQox2M76s4LDrXVjGZOki3byZaSuwB8xOk8qSHAvXNyr7FGPIBpKulJRxrP/s3264/20231201_184510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipb6Tqn34a99dY14f_8FrsWzdQZeK2Jv2yNqajEEg0TEuUe2oqi_lpELm4_OTHaqk2ChNb88Dg-rDXwJ9hbxerHpExEd5fRGvYVLbOPwysoVgMZBWE0_LJkIHtUOGe6nRLfQox2M76s4LDrXVjGZOki3byZaSuwB8xOk8qSHAvXNyr7FGPIBpKulJRxrP/w400-h180/20231201_184510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_IhGeF1ZWSFkkO6EljHrRp5XHXTZw91eB8tWjtyCKEh55kHTdWIe9Pk3J6J6ZYZjEnt0nlIFdl9hIE9fnMhmDNClT4QYQbWvP5bIKAiGnWb9GX7c6dkMnE3SKKSNpuzPn2uw7ddlWswyPakzUVHU_NX9lkt650d0BTmwdvZl02b5NF0-pJlH4UBvJSlL/s2227/20231201_184706.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="1153" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_IhGeF1ZWSFkkO6EljHrRp5XHXTZw91eB8tWjtyCKEh55kHTdWIe9Pk3J6J6ZYZjEnt0nlIFdl9hIE9fnMhmDNClT4QYQbWvP5bIKAiGnWb9GX7c6dkMnE3SKKSNpuzPn2uw7ddlWswyPakzUVHU_NX9lkt650d0BTmwdvZl02b5NF0-pJlH4UBvJSlL/w208-h400/20231201_184706.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An adorable Christmouse Tree!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15JCZi2arWyV-YuNgqNYSYw5-bHe7v2UVrbL3imcAh42cr0CILrV4k19nkgxOu-rSmvyFHK4m1-raO2WvWPDkaZCuAJnKOmX8-OQh7Wcvqhyi39SHLY9p1KeqZNScS9q1u6iUmgZIByv4hIrGRZ-OPiaWgkx_uOahGUlhMnxswrlBq2aKToUxXLTIwZbk/s3139/20231201_184828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3139" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15JCZi2arWyV-YuNgqNYSYw5-bHe7v2UVrbL3imcAh42cr0CILrV4k19nkgxOu-rSmvyFHK4m1-raO2WvWPDkaZCuAJnKOmX8-OQh7Wcvqhyi39SHLY9p1KeqZNScS9q1u6iUmgZIByv4hIrGRZ-OPiaWgkx_uOahGUlhMnxswrlBq2aKToUxXLTIwZbk/w400-h229/20231201_184828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMpJRjal7WRbpKdYk0OqlSwXK_Dn_l6DuWf0S2t-8EOnbOdM3HldHf_jjogPfysJJMd5za3_pl5mwKt-VH_Qc1rMEVcpWpDU4epmwbqe847dDhLJbH_5hbumbcKmnPQYvG9U__iY9nzTfHaQL1etMcQ8ViOGWBLey9mNrVwKJyMDA3B3_45nlMwbgO5MN/s3264/20231201_194214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMpJRjal7WRbpKdYk0OqlSwXK_Dn_l6DuWf0S2t-8EOnbOdM3HldHf_jjogPfysJJMd5za3_pl5mwKt-VH_Qc1rMEVcpWpDU4epmwbqe847dDhLJbH_5hbumbcKmnPQYvG9U__iY9nzTfHaQL1etMcQ8ViOGWBLey9mNrVwKJyMDA3B3_45nlMwbgO5MN/w400-h180/20231201_194214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J7s9C0Gl5yyYf6wqV-NKFotdlvrYWbJqVKtUdcw4LV5rz_kMbGB8jhkD7zeNAT8Qrs8HGEDRkNH5TZTrKiBWkI3fsxWfSTr8nyekCaMxGpEbksvQ63FdnDPhyphenhypheniUmeRuWpusqjLOQV72xag6-95EFTB3XL9yvioF0Q0O3NtMLdmjaA_Q6aeJWx3ZTWTYF/s3264/20231201_201211.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J7s9C0Gl5yyYf6wqV-NKFotdlvrYWbJqVKtUdcw4LV5rz_kMbGB8jhkD7zeNAT8Qrs8HGEDRkNH5TZTrKiBWkI3fsxWfSTr8nyekCaMxGpEbksvQ63FdnDPhyphenhypheniUmeRuWpusqjLOQV72xag6-95EFTB3XL9yvioF0Q0O3NtMLdmjaA_Q6aeJWx3ZTWTYF/w400-h180/20231201_201211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_ghs90ZFyjXFpUDomdmq90eW5n-U5ZynY56NB3n9Plckkiv-RCrr8QugVnpQjg2qK6003GCFhtX82AQngzZCpEVqGiWIrWm0X8zKN0-xHVnICrTdX5FvE2MzgdSiRxn1yCi8BzbuCi8JBTJJyzLUEj8iskYFfoMmzqQ0a4-w_yUYjgFsXvvAOppM7FfR/s3264/20231201_201246.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_ghs90ZFyjXFpUDomdmq90eW5n-U5ZynY56NB3n9Plckkiv-RCrr8QugVnpQjg2qK6003GCFhtX82AQngzZCpEVqGiWIrWm0X8zKN0-xHVnICrTdX5FvE2MzgdSiRxn1yCi8BzbuCi8JBTJJyzLUEj8iskYFfoMmzqQ0a4-w_yUYjgFsXvvAOppM7FfR/w180-h400/20231201_201246.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<span style="font-family: arial;">his home provided a fiddler as entertainment.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQypDjrZbCgF6mQBFk3gnF0tvjbXa3JiG8O6EH9_oPAK3oUN086Vd_9-wLGML1w_uQXYqTWw3fwCJGPgu9UQvUrZhGNJsRzKoaPWfRZpQkhMawRV8xbbydw6dJznbh86fFidy5oi5frDZDLgrGv_F0wavvDT34WSo7YxJoAEhplU852_cIi65ed9oBs11G/s3264/20231201_201648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQypDjrZbCgF6mQBFk3gnF0tvjbXa3JiG8O6EH9_oPAK3oUN086Vd_9-wLGML1w_uQXYqTWw3fwCJGPgu9UQvUrZhGNJsRzKoaPWfRZpQkhMawRV8xbbydw6dJznbh86fFidy5oi5frDZDLgrGv_F0wavvDT34WSo7YxJoAEhplU852_cIi65ed9oBs11G/s320/20231201_201648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20B76jIu_W0d0jW3Qd6_w4DySRDgiY7q4by19g-X1ZMP9EskJ8TL8svB9GM2By6s7FUEkV6fb6Fo3ozvCUHtWNeMkdsIpjcSeyCPZP9S03wFBeYn_W5qGT-ApgjfdTGIA7AtJLwJTkrPkEZv1FoB10jElHoXEmVOZ9ZgbRV8hY1rPiSKxHprzGFK2_Hjq/s3264/20231201_202136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20B76jIu_W0d0jW3Qd6_w4DySRDgiY7q4by19g-X1ZMP9EskJ8TL8svB9GM2By6s7FUEkV6fb6Fo3ozvCUHtWNeMkdsIpjcSeyCPZP9S03wFBeYn_W5qGT-ApgjfdTGIA7AtJLwJTkrPkEZv1FoB10jElHoXEmVOZ9ZgbRV8hY1rPiSKxHprzGFK2_Hjq/s320/20231201_202136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPTVzmWsRIB19iXYlKETNKApdNWuiz7jXNnRf12VHBmKLos5V5lIs_D69ZbHy_Yv6YrAJSffBWPxPZZq09HC2_ZGU33jHkSgD-LnmPsn0LJ80Ly9vKpCQ9XggjlMLY8z0lTYt32reHDbeWOA7BLQuRiyGO-XUOewwL033Gmibo3AHRDYINI0CKiGocad7/s3264/20231201_203110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPTVzmWsRIB19iXYlKETNKApdNWuiz7jXNnRf12VHBmKLos5V5lIs_D69ZbHy_Yv6YrAJSffBWPxPZZq09HC2_ZGU33jHkSgD-LnmPsn0LJ80Ly9vKpCQ9XggjlMLY8z0lTYt32reHDbeWOA7BLQuRiyGO-XUOewwL033Gmibo3AHRDYINI0CKiGocad7/w180-h400/20231201_203110.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This tree had some unusual decorations, like a glass ornament of Havana cigars.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdpjvxZ9oBdzlu1VTzr24LpxMMua2xHaZcRHbqCWb5KnPQsIbW6Y6DqgaFKPBlSq1GEBhqg_TXdvEcEFp3syTqh5hbZh0a5Ob8SjEb7CmBk8kPBQYVMjAfVb0AV8-qy1RA-X_X_IKQyi-AJh2u1Bgu_hwXXyVJ5MMqq-WAgf9NU07RB2XOAKelkH8PmQt/s3264/20231201_203143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdpjvxZ9oBdzlu1VTzr24LpxMMua2xHaZcRHbqCWb5KnPQsIbW6Y6DqgaFKPBlSq1GEBhqg_TXdvEcEFp3syTqh5hbZh0a5Ob8SjEb7CmBk8kPBQYVMjAfVb0AV8-qy1RA-X_X_IKQyi-AJh2u1Bgu_hwXXyVJ5MMqq-WAgf9NU07RB2XOAKelkH8PmQt/w400-h180/20231201_203143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We headed home on Saturday, stopping in Jewett, TX to view
their sculpture park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we dined
again at Anthony’s Restaurant in Buffalo, TX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hey, when we find somewhere we like, we stick with it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8prxVLWsZfN6sYq9sQnY33nX-mSRyaSt2MdVK_yqu9-sGyNvPr1JWDewawxcJqtHovi7E2qpZuo-CwFO7FCNzOK8DpSEqs0xZaImjA9rGKVMVS3a_Qv8oV284bXainw_kpiy-jlteN7ByDCkfglPNfbaugr_6T-dsZcjR0WK-Wk6rqFoM48c2qaHkr9l/s3264/20231202_123006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8prxVLWsZfN6sYq9sQnY33nX-mSRyaSt2MdVK_yqu9-sGyNvPr1JWDewawxcJqtHovi7E2qpZuo-CwFO7FCNzOK8DpSEqs0xZaImjA9rGKVMVS3a_Qv8oV284bXainw_kpiy-jlteN7ByDCkfglPNfbaugr_6T-dsZcjR0WK-Wk6rqFoM48c2qaHkr9l/w180-h400/20231202_123006.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VXsYVB919CTNeDDiWWhx5j4jFetSBVkK_f5LA0tbzcX6UxwDaiLtJLuCMqk7kAppyfSrKINENgYRE5i9A4l8Mi-uCaT-K5rTDSlo0hiApS7zloG_5o7Tv-UCej32AhemrL57AWiKJJH9HbTPdJGBIevg205FOhbqfPN0kxC7WycvZrjM5-6bsiuYjqhj/s3264/20231202_123013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VXsYVB919CTNeDDiWWhx5j4jFetSBVkK_f5LA0tbzcX6UxwDaiLtJLuCMqk7kAppyfSrKINENgYRE5i9A4l8Mi-uCaT-K5rTDSlo0hiApS7zloG_5o7Tv-UCej32AhemrL57AWiKJJH9HbTPdJGBIevg205FOhbqfPN0kxC7WycvZrjM5-6bsiuYjqhj/w180-h400/20231202_123013.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-3SXQuQjY7cupI60gcsgu_yR7IVMnutgh8hVy3yTPN55df85i9pEuWtSrNtutjbMc0QlY5V-oAVwDc7m4BVp19OJrKrIpNfRWttDyahSX0QLeAvP_bVWbUXcNjUUDFS8fU9WvelN4S4L-5CbRSviags_hOyGupId9aqMt7h6J3VebV35ejG-ei0kC8aO/s3264/20231202_123147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-3SXQuQjY7cupI60gcsgu_yR7IVMnutgh8hVy3yTPN55df85i9pEuWtSrNtutjbMc0QlY5V-oAVwDc7m4BVp19OJrKrIpNfRWttDyahSX0QLeAvP_bVWbUXcNjUUDFS8fU9WvelN4S4L-5CbRSviags_hOyGupId9aqMt7h6J3VebV35ejG-ei0kC8aO/w180-h400/20231202_123147.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvexeB7EKTlYQt1NrP3xGmpVYaaYydnIyXfJcxRvaI0neGL_qHEda5qVG3iDyCu54AIIeAi4NJ3ZecWA9HxP-ezY_SK7nqmwapZNRuyTquZcOy_wPJo5SxO8ExjLgQNPQmLh0rLEjbtUzlM2uBcJInC-fgRjBVXJPMdLtzLCFTgLUS-891U3g4ofjqceL9/s4000/20231202_123355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvexeB7EKTlYQt1NrP3xGmpVYaaYydnIyXfJcxRvaI0neGL_qHEda5qVG3iDyCu54AIIeAi4NJ3ZecWA9HxP-ezY_SK7nqmwapZNRuyTquZcOy_wPJo5SxO8ExjLgQNPQmLh0rLEjbtUzlM2uBcJInC-fgRjBVXJPMdLtzLCFTgLUS-891U3g4ofjqceL9/w400-h180/20231202_123355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvoB7STsHI98R3q-XyslrZLmGIlKCB_5Mx7Wbfc8aiKo2iU0mOJ9UJPTAiPJn5sZJ6_8tk5g9mbM92uVeYVuAfhW2En-h_pjlMT3ReyRqik6PmTudIbrRBtc_uoRtBfIVcF7rNNtkv0vN0lud_7chHMiAw9lpFnS3Mzu3ovjEvYFfpfFUdHHK5Qabagi/s4000/20231202_123441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvoB7STsHI98R3q-XyslrZLmGIlKCB_5Mx7Wbfc8aiKo2iU0mOJ9UJPTAiPJn5sZJ6_8tk5g9mbM92uVeYVuAfhW2En-h_pjlMT3ReyRqik6PmTudIbrRBtc_uoRtBfIVcF7rNNtkv0vN0lud_7chHMiAw9lpFnS3Mzu3ovjEvYFfpfFUdHHK5Qabagi/w180-h400/20231202_123441.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopYlB4m7V8vNVxnUVn-22p-0USjnES8EG3AqW8e2jj8Uqp8Q8oxOb8iB-O3zRMA9GYovHzrJBSj3sxjfX0whJ-8O4Alw3ASA8aij75aNpeDmXWkoL-c2IMrXas7iwHZWTPKOuGO-7Obv4YQgqdSr02Ikjixye-dbrGsokZHjMLqQeHkJbjzwL2JjClBX2/s2464/20231202_124257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="1604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopYlB4m7V8vNVxnUVn-22p-0USjnES8EG3AqW8e2jj8Uqp8Q8oxOb8iB-O3zRMA9GYovHzrJBSj3sxjfX0whJ-8O4Alw3ASA8aij75aNpeDmXWkoL-c2IMrXas7iwHZWTPKOuGO-7Obv4YQgqdSr02Ikjixye-dbrGsokZHjMLqQeHkJbjzwL2JjClBX2/w260-h400/20231202_124257.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We enjoyed our mini getaway, but we still had a busy weekend ahead of us as we kicked off the month of December with more holiday events. I’ll tell you all about them in my next blog. Talk to you again soon!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-52309261230585435462023-11-02T23:38:00.020-05:002024-01-01T20:23:28.088-06:00Fall Fun: Night Skies, Heat Relief, Roses, and Witches<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hey, there. It’s been
a while since my last blog, so I’ll fill ya in on what’s been happening in the
life of this Rambling RV Rat.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Having survived the entire summer in East Texas, we were
thrilled that October brought us more comfortable Autumn temps and relief from
the oppressive heat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much needed rain
showers changed the grass color from desert brown back to emerald green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a period of 30+ <u>consecutive</u> days
of 100+F degrees this summer, we now understand why East Texans wear hats,
gloves, and winter coats when temps get in the mid-60s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can imagine how freaked out we all were (yes, after this summer, we are full-fledged East Texans) when our Piney Woods area experienced a cold snap in late October—temps in the 30s and
40s overnight! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We have witnessed several wonderful celestial events:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from meteor showers to a blue moon so bright
and large, you could see the craters on its surface (though I didn’t observe
any cows jumping over it), from the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting
to the Starlink Satellite Train passing overhead (thank you Elon Musk for
providing us terrific service!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most
magnificently, we experienced the annular eclipse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We were hoping that the excellent results of Dad’s
post-bypass-surgery stress test would see us back on the road by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the atrial fibrillation (a-fib) that
Dad developed AFTER his quad by-pass decided to act up in early August for the
first time since leaving the hospital in January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad has taken his vitals twice a day since
his heart attack/stent insertion in 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And a good thing he has done this religiously, since he noted
immediately that his rate was significantly higher than usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We suspect that eating Chinese food for the
first time in 1.5 years was the culprit since MSG can trigger a-fib, Asian
cooking often contains MSG, and the onset of the a-fib occurred less than 24
hours after consumption). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad had a
cardiologist appointment within a few days of noting the consistently higher
and irregular rates, which resulted in additional medications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ironically, we were paying out-of-pocket for
a home monitoring device to detect his heartrate daily and send reports to his
electro-cardio physicist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We soon
learned that the reports were sent monthly but the doctor’s office was
reviewing them only at 3-month intervals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the time the electro-cardio physicist’s office notified Dad of his
heartrate inconsistencies, the issue had already been addressed by Dad’s
cardiologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (</span>Mom packed up that device
and shipped it back to the manufacturer quicker than you could say “rip-off”!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad’s next appointment in late November was to
determine/discuss whether cardio aversion would be needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God blessed us again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad went back in sinus rhythm on October 30! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say a prayer that he stays this way—we are
anxious to get back on the road!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When Dad went into a-fib, his cardiologist advised him to
continue all his regular activities and exercise regimens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we surely have been following the
doctor’s orders!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still play
pickleball 3 times a week with our growing group (which ranges in age from 12
to 78.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parks and Recreation has
approved the plan to add real pickleball courts, and work is scheduled to
commence within the next 6-8 weeks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In remembrance of the tragedy of 9/11, we attended a
ceremony held at Livingston Municipal Complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also participated in the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Day Run
in Houston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though we had no precipitation
for months on end, it rained torrentially that day, hindering our ability to
ride Maximus the Trike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We needed ample
time after our 1+ hour commute to hunt for parking to accommodate Big Boomer,
our medium duty truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we left at
the ungodly hour of 5:45 a.m. (Mom was in a comatose state).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mercy was shown upon us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we found a spot to park Big Boomer only a few
blocks away from the starting point, and the rain stopped completely by the
time the 5K walk commenced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98JKb5Eotn9r67Z9cUS-SDAyoLgh8B1debODmG8U_Eyg0yEgnC_U_GMNarjqWInvbSlmzji2gOLzvpdMybPyAmAFxxAUfBpE-VBL3zuX2VfdwyBkN8bA4fkjx36Din10NXUS0ruHgqHsXJpk3pEvBZ0oueMEFajKe_-iJ2vgw0c4wFG69QZf1kdGRsOfD/s891/20230909_081902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="891" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98JKb5Eotn9r67Z9cUS-SDAyoLgh8B1debODmG8U_Eyg0yEgnC_U_GMNarjqWInvbSlmzji2gOLzvpdMybPyAmAFxxAUfBpE-VBL3zuX2VfdwyBkN8bA4fkjx36Din10NXUS0ruHgqHsXJpk3pEvBZ0oueMEFajKe_-iJ2vgw0c4wFG69QZf1kdGRsOfD/w400-h154/20230909_081902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRWwRX-Sx0CYrb0od3SKwJMP-MNNVYQR97_U7MG5EeLXf1YO_eiQ8uLF3nXq4hZssKSzp6O5MVvkApBY7JAt2dtTAltuqsB_IiR6ecQ8tyCCMUtJvI3YLEgyG3Qsvnb6BBQLylaU6hCGXyxz3uPikUhkodFH43pqurRvTkzmPkrdObaWcA5cTfzC7T22-/s1242/20230909_091648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1149" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRWwRX-Sx0CYrb0od3SKwJMP-MNNVYQR97_U7MG5EeLXf1YO_eiQ8uLF3nXq4hZssKSzp6O5MVvkApBY7JAt2dtTAltuqsB_IiR6ecQ8tyCCMUtJvI3YLEgyG3Qsvnb6BBQLylaU6hCGXyxz3uPikUhkodFH43pqurRvTkzmPkrdObaWcA5cTfzC7T22-/w370-h400/20230909_091648.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents and fellow VFW Post 8568/Auxiliary at the finish line of the Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run in Houston</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While Dad now attends his Masonic Lodge regularly, Mom has
become more active with the VFW Auxiliary, assisting with their Garage Sale
fundraiser, the Breakfast to honor two local Gold Star Families, and a District
Meeting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continue to volunteer
regularly at Mannafest, one of our local food pantries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, the number of families needing
assistance HAS DOUBLED since we started volunteering in April, a clear
indication that inflation has had a severe impact on the average American
household.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj95KGhsPTfpp6BymEYT16Jo0N-rgkvXwQbTtXLmzOJrEkkeWV-MInVdcN4-JyRjW4RAmJakwDU1WI_slDUlUCtxHIQplEARAqzOjpwHp3I8a7bEr643ESkGiV6JdsM3fkH4HGHNjBc6aaVijgaV07aySacxTyr7afR5iCEfTyH3drojRF_eUeoVWkQLF/s1468/20230924_092125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1468" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj95KGhsPTfpp6BymEYT16Jo0N-rgkvXwQbTtXLmzOJrEkkeWV-MInVdcN4-JyRjW4RAmJakwDU1WI_slDUlUCtxHIQplEARAqzOjpwHp3I8a7bEr643ESkGiV6JdsM3fkH4HGHNjBc6aaVijgaV07aySacxTyr7afR5iCEfTyH3drojRF_eUeoVWkQLF/s320/20230924_092125.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gold Star Family Breakfast</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dVPDl05ohEsnHZuVU-TCsVVet6edl_xUY9Lwwi2AvaKAZRBVOcwNVCF6cf_ZxfoPojDeykx9RZvVVU2O8K_OcQBcVdjuRKQQBrj7jNIyH7iI65rd42thHHpjixVN_McWJdPVl8V5awKxENpoculUtqNN8pq175lv0enXCPCV2kVNegheFee2SuKBXCiF/s1963/20230924_092838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="1963" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dVPDl05ohEsnHZuVU-TCsVVet6edl_xUY9Lwwi2AvaKAZRBVOcwNVCF6cf_ZxfoPojDeykx9RZvVVU2O8K_OcQBcVdjuRKQQBrj7jNIyH7iI65rd42thHHpjixVN_McWJdPVl8V5awKxENpoculUtqNN8pq175lv0enXCPCV2kVNegheFee2SuKBXCiF/s320/20230924_092838.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We attended the World War II B-17 monument dedication at the
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park in Conroe, TX. The new monument
memorializes the Texas Raiders who were killed in Dallas last November during
an air show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lovely ceremony in
a beautiful park that we had wanted to visit on many occasions and never had
the opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwPICImCwNaQukBy6uHGYcoDPmag93sFxDyY1EQ0yyNbbc1IJsVM3wjVjmKDWyDtAYENyHH1tN5vXuhZ7f0K2xML9HBCK3EvrsFwF8enouFMpYqOMStRzNQ0gfYSKOylKomMPiHjO335651Kczc8l1ZgK7JsR4nPE6ugwoY2HC1qhQ5bi4-IkoRXvFdv7/s4000/20231008_143037.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwPICImCwNaQukBy6uHGYcoDPmag93sFxDyY1EQ0yyNbbc1IJsVM3wjVjmKDWyDtAYENyHH1tN5vXuhZ7f0K2xML9HBCK3EvrsFwF8enouFMpYqOMStRzNQ0gfYSKOylKomMPiHjO335651Kczc8l1ZgK7JsR4nPE6ugwoY2HC1qhQ5bi4-IkoRXvFdv7/w180-h400/20231008_143037.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzIDizOU88F8Y2D2a1zy69tCJHI7LrzbSPwi3ZY7AW1hhu6wHHDJw0UHxsoUKX_MykeOjxCvO2Ct8eAxvWXMid8Nzyq4YxppE3NjKGtKlZ_wf8qeWAMkkG9FyOyD1DwYsiKS_2vKAvAVBaaKJQqKaYRgaryHr1TG94dNe4Ib5tU-vVTtDPcyB1vnwja29/s4000/20231008_140749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzIDizOU88F8Y2D2a1zy69tCJHI7LrzbSPwi3ZY7AW1hhu6wHHDJw0UHxsoUKX_MykeOjxCvO2Ct8eAxvWXMid8Nzyq4YxppE3NjKGtKlZ_wf8qeWAMkkG9FyOyD1DwYsiKS_2vKAvAVBaaKJQqKaYRgaryHr1TG94dNe4Ib5tU-vVTtDPcyB1vnwja29/w400-h180/20231008_140749.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitO3hgapOrmUn8_hJjtdUeYpIUrJqM8Sp2k6lIcDW-VsGLOBb97NblfXz8ispPWJq3Z-sU3fZkHf9AyJ_-yvPRZkD1kCqibmmGGq7Gofo_KtkWuCZSzNmBQ6kwIjM2IszbleP7b2RO6CYgR3EMLFHfJCrYYdQISlbkKvfgOCCL5a-OFZI5Jh_6kL0FZwnb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1484" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitO3hgapOrmUn8_hJjtdUeYpIUrJqM8Sp2k6lIcDW-VsGLOBb97NblfXz8ispPWJq3Z-sU3fZkHf9AyJ_-yvPRZkD1kCqibmmGGq7Gofo_KtkWuCZSzNmBQ6kwIjM2IszbleP7b2RO6CYgR3EMLFHfJCrYYdQISlbkKvfgOCCL5a-OFZI5Jh_6kL0FZwnb=w320-h316" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifebDL3pxm5o5lWVGjDUUMuofWMVSIUBALQwpfFy_GCfXWEITdvvc0dV-s1AXEDCZBUtZ_IjAZmXgHIRYA3uANTAuA3kAykm1VWQfhQGd7vzzKTROrzrq0vcXaWWFOGW37JKTOeoGlPTgrv9Zl5ewxGIWSpVygkF_IXI4XR5oifqNkBDIE4WK8a2gGjiW1/s3231/20231008_143432.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3231" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifebDL3pxm5o5lWVGjDUUMuofWMVSIUBALQwpfFy_GCfXWEITdvvc0dV-s1AXEDCZBUtZ_IjAZmXgHIRYA3uANTAuA3kAykm1VWQfhQGd7vzzKTROrzrq0vcXaWWFOGW37JKTOeoGlPTgrv9Zl5ewxGIWSpVygkF_IXI4XR5oifqNkBDIE4WK8a2gGjiW1/w400-h223/20231008_143432.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">War Memorial within the Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Several Escapees friends were back in town for a short
period, so we enjoyed getting together before they hit the road again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have attended several Park pot luck
dinners and ice cream socials, getting to know more of the Escapees homeowners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS-_GeAj7bdjvZ3EeRJda9iWos6xDxzADl0g_V6Ty0Mi-6KqVn0fvJFUj2PiXI_Jmg5VDqptW5a2tQNgZhbC_YslrVkoWy-4MYupV-Xckr_pDjbCTFQl6cSo9QDHMDc9NhMUVH7mxOBT0BYwHf2ox6rrTFNhQyKfLVV3c1SSsK93rh0NQ2qMG4Z61EVmOg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS-_GeAj7bdjvZ3EeRJda9iWos6xDxzADl0g_V6Ty0Mi-6KqVn0fvJFUj2PiXI_Jmg5VDqptW5a2tQNgZhbC_YslrVkoWy-4MYupV-Xckr_pDjbCTFQl6cSo9QDHMDc9NhMUVH7mxOBT0BYwHf2ox6rrTFNhQyKfLVV3c1SSsK93rh0NQ2qMG4Z61EVmOg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But it is our passion for dance that has filled our calendar
the most these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We take 2+ hours of
line dance lessons every Wednesday and attend the weekly Saturday evening
dances at our local VFW, joining several of our classmates and instructor in
showcasing our moves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents are now
performing with our dance troupe at fall festivals, fundraisers, and senior
healthcare facilities, which requires attending practicing two extra days per
week for several hours each day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I can’t
imagine the regimen the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes endure!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is loads of fun for us and quite
heartwarming to watch folks tap their feet, clap their hands, and even get up
to dance along with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dancing provides
a simple but much appreciated pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can watch some of our Hot Steppers’ performances on my Rambling RV
Rat YouTube channel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtTzd95vLYapb6HD3L14sSA"><span style="font-size: large;">PoPo's YouTube Channel</span></a><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3osei8v3pT4mhO37SMnj7Jpb7-8Ey7kVUhfMpM8Aal2s21-3U6cCkQsfTy2Wintv1OEnV6sfzos1TVMWqjk7F9_cCXb-ZLcmHapC3rVzq6sedoZ_qJ9RoQRhpRjr8ChoI7P40IotjYjcwXPiumsJ9Xejdhuw_HrweqB6N-TcjvIoJPC_nlxZDoIwJFVT7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1774" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3osei8v3pT4mhO37SMnj7Jpb7-8Ey7kVUhfMpM8Aal2s21-3U6cCkQsfTy2Wintv1OEnV6sfzos1TVMWqjk7F9_cCXb-ZLcmHapC3rVzq6sedoZ_qJ9RoQRhpRjr8ChoI7P40IotjYjcwXPiumsJ9Xejdhuw_HrweqB6N-TcjvIoJPC_nlxZDoIwJFVT7=w400-h302" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performance at Cold Spring Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFw8RRbbQ4clXVe0WJFZHs7bwNez67rpE6KHqsS9c7Ih-199bT3VD9DpIoCuIhx7Ao94ZnjG9gDT5knQRsqYQ3RiFhVUlF8d2qim8YHiQ76GGZ5nhTt8TUCprLAu-IxEQUpqcIPNa4ZkYsdSl8FSKBs5L-H7KQtG1Dn7qA2JVF64D7L1N4VJc9-jDu0S3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1527" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxFw8RRbbQ4clXVe0WJFZHs7bwNez67rpE6KHqsS9c7Ih-199bT3VD9DpIoCuIhx7Ao94ZnjG9gDT5knQRsqYQ3RiFhVUlF8d2qim8YHiQ76GGZ5nhTt8TUCprLAu-IxEQUpqcIPNa4ZkYsdSl8FSKBs5L-H7KQtG1Dn7qA2JVF64D7L1N4VJc9-jDu0S3=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performance at Agape Love Foundation Fundraiser for Victims of Domestic Violence/Human Trafficking</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC7oGxx5uaSaZeNtyYKjTOYKpNcYG9EJJE7c5a2PtvsELFEIiQc01IUjI3betRzMWbmF9XkjILdnR3QyXT5Vp1_4B8Yn2AUgs_Vspc_K7_idhKE0gFgFiE6xKl7LyhTsNsY4Z6v8tXys1OLmGJGaFX0-5XQQekpjciJJOjtkWFa-GJcsk5lo9pTI4rlaVT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC7oGxx5uaSaZeNtyYKjTOYKpNcYG9EJJE7c5a2PtvsELFEIiQc01IUjI3betRzMWbmF9XkjILdnR3QyXT5Vp1_4B8Yn2AUgs_Vspc_K7_idhKE0gFgFiE6xKl7LyhTsNsY4Z6v8tXys1OLmGJGaFX0-5XQQekpjciJJOjtkWFa-GJcsk5lo9pTI4rlaVT=w400-h180" width="400" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performance at Cleveland Health Care Center<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKccwUjpQzAQemKMlIfs-5DXzVzLouv4zXn0GMN4C4lbzXC3VzFOvYU-iLCy8Tk1_SeMzG35QJPqfoAHvSXsch1nO5Lru9Q90a4psss6y32VTTXTA58sq3YSdo6jeN8hjEqCrWIMYkKqULV6wCoI6T9wJq-1qa7MclBhW3L-3uxqCUumWOfPKTXe-SUVm0" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKccwUjpQzAQemKMlIfs-5DXzVzLouv4zXn0GMN4C4lbzXC3VzFOvYU-iLCy8Tk1_SeMzG35QJPqfoAHvSXsch1nO5Lru9Q90a4psss6y32VTTXTA58sq3YSdo6jeN8hjEqCrWIMYkKqULV6wCoI6T9wJq-1qa7MclBhW3L-3uxqCUumWOfPKTXe-SUVm0=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I look a heck of a lot better in this petticoat than Mom does!<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeKaWBzp2-xxyz_MXuHfdS2u2ZlvYMKHt02n4T2z55Lz3VXq2ODOYn3EzNm7eJqY-5y8h4oPR7J15qRhWX0cyKsh4_VqnPzCuJKFvcbBq93m5CAfdodggdHelQJ24-vWFd9RxQFxq9SIL-IGXIlvDNQVQRIvJJCmqvtHftF-3AqUdFLnTxf4E2BvtvYzbg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeKaWBzp2-xxyz_MXuHfdS2u2ZlvYMKHt02n4T2z55Lz3VXq2ODOYn3EzNm7eJqY-5y8h4oPR7J15qRhWX0cyKsh4_VqnPzCuJKFvcbBq93m5CAfdodggdHelQJ24-vWFd9RxQFxq9SIL-IGXIlvDNQVQRIvJJCmqvtHftF-3AqUdFLnTxf4E2BvtvYzbg=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A well-deserved dinner break after a performance.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9181Pg0eYDMVkbvVgRACXRgQoR_eUYfnKhfm7bLBqgq2eRMIiLpBGGKlmVK4eAgJN5aP2Vd_h-0h3AN4nCi0KbDi0M5Y_ikSDcHuEI98krwsLaBBk1PO3pr-WN-47Xq0HbNQYDjcVLdGdIL5lVfuIs1yJ9-Slee6XNBAFuPX-BdUeM8JKl-vJ0D6Npt5v" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1649" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9181Pg0eYDMVkbvVgRACXRgQoR_eUYfnKhfm7bLBqgq2eRMIiLpBGGKlmVK4eAgJN5aP2Vd_h-0h3AN4nCi0KbDi0M5Y_ikSDcHuEI98krwsLaBBk1PO3pr-WN-47Xq0HbNQYDjcVLdGdIL5lVfuIs1yJ9-Slee6XNBAFuPX-BdUeM8JKl-vJ0D6Npt5v=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the members of our Wednesday night dance class. Between beginners and intermediates, we have 1/2 dozen men, though Dad is the only one who performs currently.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took Maximus the Trike to Tyler, TX for their annual Rose
Festival, held the third weekend in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">brisk 55F degrees when we departed at 5:30 a.m.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped in Nacogdoches for breakfast at
the Fredonia Hotel, where Stephen F. Austin State University (which is now part of University of</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Texas) was celebrating its centennial.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The hotel was hosting the Alumni Association
and was adorned in purple/white, the University colors.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, we departed the area right
before the homecoming parade commenced!</span></span></p><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhewQAzHeMY4KpMHhMID4xOJ3OsRMcxEYTF3UxRK0gmE9qtSzEQsfWJYelFye0ma3mjGkzBqicAD7W_Vvi3zuYcpRyVYpJaGBhH_yQpT4TmPZG_IrIUPVPETTUW2XBe2BU_09lRe30nd48QgmRk7zr2GrLD0N4DDyy72rVC7N6hAQoZY9_yHgWBLm20onX2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhewQAzHeMY4KpMHhMID4xOJ3OsRMcxEYTF3UxRK0gmE9qtSzEQsfWJYelFye0ma3mjGkzBqicAD7W_Vvi3zuYcpRyVYpJaGBhH_yQpT4TmPZG_IrIUPVPETTUW2XBe2BU_09lRe30nd48QgmRk7zr2GrLD0N4DDyy72rVC7N6hAQoZY9_yHgWBLm20onX2=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived in Tyler just in time to park Maximus and walk 4
blocks to view the Rose Parade, which was very well organized considering they
had thousands of participants (significantly more than actual spectators).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The parade lasted 2 hours with a variety of
entrants, from marching bands to gymnastic teams, from classic cars/trucks to
the antics of the Shriners in their go-carts, from floats</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">sponsored by local
businesses to the latest graduates from an obedience training school (Mom asked
if they trained husbands, but alas, their services are limited to dogs).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There were man</span><span style="font-family: arial;">y cultural/heritage groups that
donned their traditional attire, and the gowns worn by young ladies celebrating
quinceanera were exquisite, more elaborate than my low-key Mom’s wedding
gown!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This was the 90</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> Rose Festival
held to honor the local companies that produce 75% of all roses
nationwide.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Festival’s theme this year was
“Story of Film”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, all the float
decorations and the attire of the</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Festival Queen and her Court were
representative of well- known films, from classics like “Wizard of Oz” and “Gone
with the Wind” to contemporary works like “Matrix” and “Hunger Games”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicMqM4DH72KhUwvdukm34E7ngIpnP_0epk097sZnIKGVBD20j0P-C3cfAOiNaXhlB-YFSAqefdygu1yidxupwPdkMR1znks-H7iWY5e5TQxg49MrD5M8jjFStptM9SWj932S9z3ektJ3Mlm19uLQK1PYMKG4BKyBiYmQqXO-8rtbrS5X4xrBZnxQ_JpcxJ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="3613" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicMqM4DH72KhUwvdukm34E7ngIpnP_0epk097sZnIKGVBD20j0P-C3cfAOiNaXhlB-YFSAqefdygu1yidxupwPdkMR1znks-H7iWY5e5TQxg49MrD5M8jjFStptM9SWj932S9z3ektJ3Mlm19uLQK1PYMKG4BKyBiYmQqXO-8rtbrS5X4xrBZnxQ_JpcxJ" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheVzre7oLEA97-9Fb8O5Dx6jWgGJ-qKfg7OUVyi2K4dOGPY2PZ8aO3ulmvafhOw8Wi1mnIvPG3naeupxOf1o7POFQK8NALgGlBoU9s6kd08F5oQ9h8fs69y-hEi8GvTshwKWHct4bDpkmrC4shfeYxTFwIP1Kb3k5KeLu3L1-6GHRGROQRf5b0TG9UJoqI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="720" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheVzre7oLEA97-9Fb8O5Dx6jWgGJ-qKfg7OUVyi2K4dOGPY2PZ8aO3ulmvafhOw8Wi1mnIvPG3naeupxOf1o7POFQK8NALgGlBoU9s6kd08F5oQ9h8fs69y-hEi8GvTshwKWHct4bDpkmrC4shfeYxTFwIP1Kb3k5KeLu3L1-6GHRGROQRf5b0TG9UJoqI=w400-h121" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioh_cWDvH1uSr8YziyCc0xTcDPTVUv42-CHZ2u5dgoXyMtscOj5iB-ldbdY8mYFyAeJaYgRUAq95QDKK8n9aE0N9CD5vehJ_e2CCUj_WWNzC1mDmpf-TQLEeicJuueYOmIy3-qmryHx3FCkxyqztCXA_cE8-I1KYOJZ2p7XMB9w3SCRGOB0UUwCO8MGKsP" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="720" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioh_cWDvH1uSr8YziyCc0xTcDPTVUv42-CHZ2u5dgoXyMtscOj5iB-ldbdY8mYFyAeJaYgRUAq95QDKK8n9aE0N9CD5vehJ_e2CCUj_WWNzC1mDmpf-TQLEeicJuueYOmIy3-qmryHx3FCkxyqztCXA_cE8-I1KYOJZ2p7XMB9w3SCRGOB0UUwCO8MGKsP=w400-h352" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipukXR-DV2rew7724bqGrFjR6UZUzrRjOmNkt-fJATE7-6VM1H5dqOJaTTscUhOjPB5qhTRxyZ9OunxfeMJrtRL5AG5_I_skj--4lVm3Jv1ZPKOSqwrScRHUr2lj-SWqpLqHb0p2w36tZoP0tIm7AJ2nf2l24NSL0kPXp0GwcH_rvtOeh-PxB3wAiibvSx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="720" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipukXR-DV2rew7724bqGrFjR6UZUzrRjOmNkt-fJATE7-6VM1H5dqOJaTTscUhOjPB5qhTRxyZ9OunxfeMJrtRL5AG5_I_skj--4lVm3Jv1ZPKOSqwrScRHUr2lj-SWqpLqHb0p2w36tZoP0tIm7AJ2nf2l24NSL0kPXp0GwcH_rvtOeh-PxB3wAiibvSx=w400-h243" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIXeZRfFy7bClD7c4xZ9L6enQ0eviW1br78tke5PegxKAHZ0eZccYHh7rx5cQry8NQuBu_AH5Vi4xliWpDF8g0AqpktLT877VgGlrsedNUC7WFg-USY9UUNhv3b_XUhSqKRGP0MDYPIAW6NjMWhHbcIn0o39Sae0p9Yoamm3ncytGh_qb5xpeebqOPJmlv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="720" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIXeZRfFy7bClD7c4xZ9L6enQ0eviW1br78tke5PegxKAHZ0eZccYHh7rx5cQry8NQuBu_AH5Vi4xliWpDF8g0AqpktLT877VgGlrsedNUC7WFg-USY9UUNhv3b_XUhSqKRGP0MDYPIAW6NjMWhHbcIn0o39Sae0p9Yoamm3ncytGh_qb5xpeebqOPJmlv=w400-h275" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioktpP_74pd3uggUp8FRIIBnDbGroAthxEaZYTceV9gEgPaQSmYS-jgCJRzOMSSf31-WnOpHA1B5TdQ0FTfUCivS1Uo1YBx_Kxn3HFyJxBDiLH2HeELV6kQOR_ACgCcRwQcyPj1nxnHp7qok-Z-Lgs-y3G3uyWtZupXOrH_QXDBvhfBTpqRXG6YRUPU3lB=w373-h400" width="373" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY0ALBbYt_7r2YJwmRldPM2guh8ppeAjKP5Vvu_yiv5fJ2EiHn22saZLpA3GWOWVSQnEx06uGeOA4qbeUvw8vtRmsX2nikZu_mmhKTNlVqYe3CXWMooPG5B6QXPQdBiTOmKIGY8bqcEIu_9OvnezqB5DLl2kb_1jykNd0pfVz3_rmzprGac3aviFsz_cwO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="720" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY0ALBbYt_7r2YJwmRldPM2guh8ppeAjKP5Vvu_yiv5fJ2EiHn22saZLpA3GWOWVSQnEx06uGeOA4qbeUvw8vtRmsX2nikZu_mmhKTNlVqYe3CXWMooPG5B6QXPQdBiTOmKIGY8bqcEIu_9OvnezqB5DLl2kb_1jykNd0pfVz3_rmzprGac3aviFsz_cwO=w400-h323" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cool is this giant motorized shopping cart! </td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIO2T3uwytg9BYi03IUCXWOS6qrbsNpDtnvV2HBAIHIHUTqCYdlbDCzy02MBJXhLaNgMfoRiaHH8OiNO7bz7WEzNYdw09ZVyOI26lWVKZVqQNoqsLTQX2aDUsr47ce-YfDUtcz-b_QlbHC6IiO9PiE9DKQ7AN4WLobbeUUUZWGVvrKTtseewVm4qWxJQnM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1886" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIO2T3uwytg9BYi03IUCXWOS6qrbsNpDtnvV2HBAIHIHUTqCYdlbDCzy02MBJXhLaNgMfoRiaHH8OiNO7bz7WEzNYdw09ZVyOI26lWVKZVqQNoqsLTQX2aDUsr47ce-YfDUtcz-b_QlbHC6IiO9PiE9DKQ7AN4WLobbeUUUZWGVvrKTtseewVm4qWxJQnM=w400-h205" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This obedience training group only has dogs as clients--no spouses!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLs5mQGoCrXNcxbE2HBvRFBMKhChrVeiiPgB1UwjBxtdxZHY7PW9ugmgtP6zKTrLBiJ_A-E4cjW67bv-bh-YYDgN4zVxNVg_0i9UNSJtM0v_d2fPhi0CUYpBYzA10AglPNSFkB2laQzXgldZhi125gPGZ427rgrMeteDMAemZ3tEOg3gv78vI5ssR7zzcb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLs5mQGoCrXNcxbE2HBvRFBMKhChrVeiiPgB1UwjBxtdxZHY7PW9ugmgtP6zKTrLBiJ_A-E4cjW67bv-bh-YYDgN4zVxNVg_0i9UNSJtM0v_d2fPhi0CUYpBYzA10AglPNSFkB2laQzXgldZhi125gPGZ427rgrMeteDMAemZ3tEOg3gv78vI5ssR7zzcb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbE_xl4kuC7JUqUfUMgCrBf-MooFnVhJBGuZGKrNgS6dMONwGbJF6V3Yicpgzeevh7TD4hvTzU6p5r6h5_fi1p0WrWmTCegbbIKyJQiq0oyTQavAt-3JG8FBmD6NoBNaDEy-4m7CKxghAR9nkgawWLV9PUWi5ue5-XkzUrlDiuxoaFu-P-gcMTZmThC-s1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="720" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbE_xl4kuC7JUqUfUMgCrBf-MooFnVhJBGuZGKrNgS6dMONwGbJF6V3Yicpgzeevh7TD4hvTzU6p5r6h5_fi1p0WrWmTCegbbIKyJQiq0oyTQavAt-3JG8FBmD6NoBNaDEy-4m7CKxghAR9nkgawWLV9PUWi5ue5-XkzUrlDiuxoaFu-P-gcMTZmThC-s1=w400-h155" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /></span></div></span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After the parade, we attended the “Queen’s Tea”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complete with red carpet, this was a full-blown
hob-knobbing-with-the goober-smoochers soiree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those whose attendance at this event is a decades-old family tradition
were all decked out:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>formal gowns for
women and tuxedos for men, light, airy day dresses for young girls and young
boys in their Sunday-best suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were some "commoners" dressed in shorts and sandals, too. However, it was my parents who made
the biggest fashion faux pas—arriving in their “biker duds”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked among the dignitaries, took a few
pics, partook of some refreshments provided by the newly-crowned Rose Queen,
then went to admire the real stars of the show:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the rose gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the
roses were past peak, but considering the sweltering summer they endured, I was
grateful to see rose blooms at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpbKX3D99Dto9BKIFt77sohgjRmH-rLzVLufxGQQnDJ9SrTeBzyQ5L-kCiYmSpUHnRRPZhI963AS9Y409-2k0Mjw63yJzxMNMTxzhbs2pqd3a5JJ9VLkUHjpzBOKtzXB30G4Z9oBuKSN4b_wAJJZyABauGPg4ZQ361BToa-Fyx-Ts_Y_yVC8q_5I9Z4lpy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpbKX3D99Dto9BKIFt77sohgjRmH-rLzVLufxGQQnDJ9SrTeBzyQ5L-kCiYmSpUHnRRPZhI963AS9Y409-2k0Mjw63yJzxMNMTxzhbs2pqd3a5JJ9VLkUHjpzBOKtzXB30G4Z9oBuKSN4b_wAJJZyABauGPg4ZQ361BToa-Fyx-Ts_Y_yVC8q_5I9Z4lpy=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJstgOT4y039As3Tc53Bmbx-vdows__57ZLz0nwqPvjqz5kzRhF25l36iWXD5HVlSByqamo1E9iZPVAMUUTfEiJP6k4OmpJpK_gfDxL2jlsXhReCsLpxh4XN6HVopulDJ5dMhxC6yL_CNGfj2GtejUORVb9hXjYD7tboq4B3_4da_Qoy7ZV9_wHgEEi7XY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJstgOT4y039As3Tc53Bmbx-vdows__57ZLz0nwqPvjqz5kzRhF25l36iWXD5HVlSByqamo1E9iZPVAMUUTfEiJP6k4OmpJpK_gfDxL2jlsXhReCsLpxh4XN6HVopulDJ5dMhxC6yL_CNGfj2GtejUORVb9hXjYD7tboq4B3_4da_Qoy7ZV9_wHgEEi7XY=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDK5sLDVKe_2TLJImsw_kmMcwS5bTTmedBxWzR3061ADiGcMnUBhiNM4kXEQPBk5xvT5h9nu7GtbF3gLmriEQ2s757jiZcVUbre430KgruQXRbNW4mDbAlQrSMs5AOpHZtkbDsp-4Ji5FAlY4qu9-BqS7zGZTpDexvucKovJt-qxCy3hcyGBJKMbLxhgW0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDK5sLDVKe_2TLJImsw_kmMcwS5bTTmedBxWzR3061ADiGcMnUBhiNM4kXEQPBk5xvT5h9nu7GtbF3gLmriEQ2s757jiZcVUbre430KgruQXRbNW4mDbAlQrSMs5AOpHZtkbDsp-4Ji5FAlY4qu9-BqS7zGZTpDexvucKovJt-qxCy3hcyGBJKMbLxhgW0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGGWhEvitbsly3mIDzPhaIwW8CrD839B3QXJagNKXcDBenFGocWU03XuwIS2cmKpm63NkybmFGat2lQunFBR-KToipvwHv2YA8Gjnzra3XLFqCz5ru_yQL9Q6ZT_WE8zpAjHDhFrCRMaDt0nfIj6faG3-bKHuv3yCX-1YAB3f8ep9VnVk-fVKfTKCjJ_kr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGGWhEvitbsly3mIDzPhaIwW8CrD839B3QXJagNKXcDBenFGocWU03XuwIS2cmKpm63NkybmFGat2lQunFBR-KToipvwHv2YA8Gjnzra3XLFqCz5ru_yQL9Q6ZT_WE8zpAjHDhFrCRMaDt0nfIj6faG3-bKHuv3yCX-1YAB3f8ep9VnVk-fVKfTKCjJ_kr=w233-h400" width="233" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKGIelgVnSVAkRsEYOthE9dnie8Jj3qIuO1HC3udUNXajr7tbFFskMcOVvqLbxr0_l29NWrKwefaqlmcjfYFP2m1upfIq2qakxv1CT2krMT1lRQvXzUJNgtRSPw-biT3H-NQB94SxTT0T3icfCUpPP3-9wfjv_iJ0W_jI2IPUCeryk6LNmEAq-ir0ZtrdO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKGIelgVnSVAkRsEYOthE9dnie8Jj3qIuO1HC3udUNXajr7tbFFskMcOVvqLbxr0_l29NWrKwefaqlmcjfYFP2m1upfIq2qakxv1CT2krMT1lRQvXzUJNgtRSPw-biT3H-NQB94SxTT0T3icfCUpPP3-9wfjv_iJ0W_jI2IPUCeryk6LNmEAq-ir0ZtrdO=w250-h400" width="250" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeiZUO2onJr_VlYLtGGPhoF_76cUAtjpBDXlBwR8Z8Og-Si7hT42wRb6RPSUvaOwmFQbHAnehJkyDP5tn6AggF1YtKulXI0kIhq4C03WU-Zn35hQ_yyvbp2atwJoKhlZKFY72sKsCqZRD49-BoZu_DI87UFFWs5Cvvo3S3UcjyAR41o95u5DGSXt7MkLP7" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We then visited the Goodman-LeGrand Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original 1859 home was a one-story, 4
room cabin divided by a breezeway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it was Sallie Goodman-LeGrand (the third generation of family to live in the
house) who transformed it into its current glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first home in Tyler to have
electric (installed in 1898), and indoor plumbing was added in 1923. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remarkably, 90% of all the furnishings on
display are original to the home, including the hand-painted ceiling added in
1880, which has NEVER been retouched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since Sallie and her husband who predeceased her had no heirs, Sallie
donated this 9-acre property to the City of Tyler for use as a museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The docent was terrific, weaving a boatload
of information into a fascinating narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should you ever visit Tyler, I highly recommend you visit the
Goodman-LeGrand Museum. It receives one of my coveted 5-cheese awards!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ_SrlO9iDPELiqWjtrjsXFapwhgAh5Hp3Z9h6aigM0HMqhCcpEgeHcP4n49FgjvYsa6CBet1eZTqB8eqi6fj8SMxPFDCI1lG41DJsEb09cvOKYKXzPNV8PILJyozbtgheZT1MSh0gjiOiPpxWniAaSvaVwBSQ46PJiip3UgxZwGhdzYjDRgWQdNSDA0tF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ_SrlO9iDPELiqWjtrjsXFapwhgAh5Hp3Z9h6aigM0HMqhCcpEgeHcP4n49FgjvYsa6CBet1eZTqB8eqi6fj8SMxPFDCI1lG41DJsEb09cvOKYKXzPNV8PILJyozbtgheZT1MSh0gjiOiPpxWniAaSvaVwBSQ46PJiip3UgxZwGhdzYjDRgWQdNSDA0tF=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnMt6E0E-cPmP0JlCB-i3b7atNFDHBFmgdOB3IYsP7aGMezdYB1iwKDiTQES9IkowhuVAvTylc5AwT9hBn59ivcdlQquNaFY7dG2S3N9PbAZapdgINjCYBzxV4TOG_O_M29CKl974nMrM5b-yOL1YZ8aZrSC7hWFu9AT6jxCPHqjUXHnsEDOW0_dIq6jJ3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnMt6E0E-cPmP0JlCB-i3b7atNFDHBFmgdOB3IYsP7aGMezdYB1iwKDiTQES9IkowhuVAvTylc5AwT9hBn59ivcdlQquNaFY7dG2S3N9PbAZapdgINjCYBzxV4TOG_O_M29CKl974nMrM5b-yOL1YZ8aZrSC7hWFu9AT6jxCPHqjUXHnsEDOW0_dIq6jJ3=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh4-zAqDK4CmVPl9Bz-txaeovi1B9Xm3Ee7D8htCHJ5trYjZnFpfDbOHKNr8fXyGu97O0Qcb3YB14A5hzX8HBKegN9aykcpHTWNjoPTgxou_HyY-cg1F5JoibsPiutshT-CkfRUFGf-R3KJhKlJnVJNl4yi4cUF464cNXvsbHFQJL4o7o-qOrfV3HCg3WQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh4-zAqDK4CmVPl9Bz-txaeovi1B9Xm3Ee7D8htCHJ5trYjZnFpfDbOHKNr8fXyGu97O0Qcb3YB14A5hzX8HBKegN9aykcpHTWNjoPTgxou_HyY-cg1F5JoibsPiutshT-CkfRUFGf-R3KJhKlJnVJNl4yi4cUF464cNXvsbHFQJL4o7o-qOrfV3HCg3WQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9_U0ONe9xKFYx3IWAeg6pmi-W3jMFXRkVOI2yuwx2OyRL-cQG8WYNpJoQL9gD0GQc_pBqYsQVufK-tyn9CU61LQfMI4Ng8B_7MHGG1_ARKs0tXirkkuoTkBbAAi2x2SB_Nuih4Bv29_xwCYAxrn8_CM8riHT6VkYuSjiYuVPjApTi4_d1j3i5vFx4uOvU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9_U0ONe9xKFYx3IWAeg6pmi-W3jMFXRkVOI2yuwx2OyRL-cQG8WYNpJoQL9gD0GQc_pBqYsQVufK-tyn9CU61LQfMI4Ng8B_7MHGG1_ARKs0tXirkkuoTkBbAAi2x2SB_Nuih4Bv29_xwCYAxrn8_CM8riHT6VkYuSjiYuVPjApTi4_d1j3i5vFx4uOvU=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUJWcr8IZuxZHESkUp8kp0v_Q4jm4M-RYJgxBNm5NzuMBSC5ULpVQoFv1sYr3nguGCPQ7osbrD_cGsc62y3A1CG_-9s1mRFjtkeUUZwBAICM5hP1HEiFR28B0PUtVdXi6PnS_TRE2VmWkYlXcDISqfk4Oke_KmnE7_cftkayFHTCorgxw89-dcZ7KdvIoG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUJWcr8IZuxZHESkUp8kp0v_Q4jm4M-RYJgxBNm5NzuMBSC5ULpVQoFv1sYr3nguGCPQ7osbrD_cGsc62y3A1CG_-9s1mRFjtkeUUZwBAICM5hP1HEiFR28B0PUtVdXi6PnS_TRE2VmWkYlXcDISqfk4Oke_KmnE7_cftkayFHTCorgxw89-dcZ7KdvIoG=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand-painted ceiling circa 1880.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We checked into Twelve Oaks, a small non-chain motel that
lived up to the great reviews it receives on-line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are always happy when we can support small
local businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We enjoyed an early dinner, showered, and took a nap before
heading back out for a night of dancing at "Cowboys", a country western club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our Google driving instructions landed
us at a club called "Buck Wild".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were a
bit perplexed--was this the right place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then we learned when ownership changed, the dance club name changed as
well, but no one updated the website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Relieved that we weren’t walking into some pole dancing joint, we
enjoyed doing about a dozen line dances with the other patrons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then about midnight, the gangsta rap and twerking took over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the club was closing at 1 a.m. anyway,
we decided to call it a night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
following day, we had a leisurely, enjoyable trike ride home to Livingston.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBEcNNSBh9kfPXWNi_U5eQlPtrpWvlExxlbXkRMUkvnPpuUTc3ip1RsukOovj4QRfQY4--hZ1RlkdogpTtHQbFgyIZ2IcMfiad-EuJlJBRE0-FsNUPpiZFOFncKRAoBtPTHDGJ5YqD__MakIWsNntDV-Ly162HK8J5J1AoTPVu9tzsDUk0HM7kkrm99idb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBEcNNSBh9kfPXWNi_U5eQlPtrpWvlExxlbXkRMUkvnPpuUTc3ip1RsukOovj4QRfQY4--hZ1RlkdogpTtHQbFgyIZ2IcMfiad-EuJlJBRE0-FsNUPpiZFOFncKRAoBtPTHDGJ5YqD__MakIWsNntDV-Ly162HK8J5J1AoTPVu9tzsDUk0HM7kkrm99idb=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lots of line dancers at this club!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before you could say Ghostbusters, Halloween had arrived!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is a special holiday for my parents.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In their younger days, they entered costume
contests at nightclubs and dance venues, earning themselves more than $10,000
in cash and prizes over a 10-year</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">period.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">In recent years, they don’t worry about creating prize-winning costumes,
but they certainly still enjoy dressing up and attending dance venues.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This stuffed rat thinks Halloween is no
longer for kids and trick-or-treating, but instead is about giving adults a
rare opportunity to act as kids.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1crFy8xbizU_ADxnqsDgLFdEcA035if_KAu5PK5hCbds_3kxWczLsQR73Gkl5i5aSTtwMUSqklaVi97ZYAA1Z7dHdWPXB2SjkEJ_0jBNBjQsN6UVHr5M9qipGh9cmtk0gowWHgieywJXDQRNw6DQdpEV5HZEMcQNUojBSmGijyod-beS5MuFwvq4mYxOj/s2721/20230327_180557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2721" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1crFy8xbizU_ADxnqsDgLFdEcA035if_KAu5PK5hCbds_3kxWczLsQR73Gkl5i5aSTtwMUSqklaVi97ZYAA1Z7dHdWPXB2SjkEJ_0jBNBjQsN6UVHr5M9qipGh9cmtk0gowWHgieywJXDQRNw6DQdpEV5HZEMcQNUojBSmGijyod-beS5MuFwvq4mYxOj/w265-h400/20230327_180557.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the early"\ less elaborate creations...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ-6jEFYbTsk58dbsDgswOYTx_QU4YtuDgxOrkMlKbj8o0XiXLDQlF5WhwD21hn0LdQFaNNHDnCSYxbVSD9yPFNqLGsUXh2B926BeY4a9IJcZzwgHsAlbEZqa6hRKvbzA20Rrs7BtyWiIwnoeD8ENFhRexL3bJfxavPS-HWH1GP82CLrEQj3Q2_Oy7jtc/s2749/20230327_180742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="1776" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ-6jEFYbTsk58dbsDgswOYTx_QU4YtuDgxOrkMlKbj8o0XiXLDQlF5WhwD21hn0LdQFaNNHDnCSYxbVSD9yPFNqLGsUXh2B926BeY4a9IJcZzwgHsAlbEZqa6hRKvbzA20Rrs7BtyWiIwnoeD8ENFhRexL3bJfxavPS-HWH1GP82CLrEQj3Q2_Oy7jtc/w259-h400/20230327_180742.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...a slot machine and roll of quarters.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SwS1E-s3U66G4C4ZLP-Km1LZBTU8ceSKdIz30ZV1GpwlhTTKDRAA75Raymbjo2C5idydwfIWfexVQIJBw-or5S_pScfVhUl1oYwC9O4iDkDARhcMwhcgEDJTduQPFdrTy6O_n5-cagneGGK9djTnkgSktqikyaC41xYp3z4ClDazqg1tv-C-LtL-narX/s1765/20230330_150006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1765" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SwS1E-s3U66G4C4ZLP-Km1LZBTU8ceSKdIz30ZV1GpwlhTTKDRAA75Raymbjo2C5idydwfIWfexVQIJBw-or5S_pScfVhUl1oYwC9O4iDkDARhcMwhcgEDJTduQPFdrTy6O_n5-cagneGGK9djTnkgSktqikyaC41xYp3z4ClDazqg1tv-C-LtL-narX/w400-h346/20230330_150006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad loves costumes involving fake blood. This was the motorcycle victim and emergency room nurse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_d9x3Y6H_HUxQTRQfgpB-nceDG51BEqAVzJXcC0b4yTV3KF0Ern-kxSzLteGYa-U3JB1vjZUZeX5tR1_rIr0NOO3xxsvPEsBwoGwXev_T6AJpFzbQVICfa22zwRCz4uNSqUjyiFDKmisL6ybiiAQUi_-6Qmh3gZE8gFv6ORLfWtVxKy1C73TwT5XouU/s3046/20230327_154304.jpg"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3046" data-original-width="1793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_d9x3Y6H_HUxQTRQfgpB-nceDG51BEqAVzJXcC0b4yTV3KF0Ern-kxSzLteGYa-U3JB1vjZUZeX5tR1_rIr0NOO3xxsvPEsBwoGwXev_T6AJpFzbQVICfa22zwRCz4uNSqUjyiFDKmisL6ybiiAQUi_-6Qmh3gZE8gFv6ORLfWtVxKy1C73TwT5XouU/w235-h400/20230327_154304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="235" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The headless waiter. Dad had tubing installed in Mom's waiter costume so she could still enjoy her cocktails. He, on the other hand, needed drinking assistance as the head on the platter.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_d9x3Y6H_HUxQTRQfgpB-nceDG51BEqAVzJXcC0b4yTV3KF0Ern-kxSzLteGYa-U3JB1vjZUZeX5tR1_rIr0NOO3xxsvPEsBwoGwXev_T6AJpFzbQVICfa22zwRCz4uNSqUjyiFDKmisL6ybiiAQUi_-6Qmh3gZE8gFv6ORLfWtVxKy1C73TwT5XouU/s3046/20230327_154304.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18HJDTEfBb7Vbt4tKHhERqQ5LgP7TXrZ4nuMmsrI2bOP8fECUPOuKFWkA_z9gDnleDHvvwO_hauFq1ZDdqB2UmVOqPxmT1XKEqt14CnlnBL2BacsHngVebtj86r4Vn5kvvvsYfKFjgFPrB1oIJm4LHgOZw9SaE4-S7sayze-PBKl61aFvsOLE-xj41rlb/s1537/20230329_085700.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1537" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18HJDTEfBb7Vbt4tKHhERqQ5LgP7TXrZ4nuMmsrI2bOP8fECUPOuKFWkA_z9gDnleDHvvwO_hauFq1ZDdqB2UmVOqPxmT1XKEqt14CnlnBL2BacsHngVebtj86r4Vn5kvvvsYfKFjgFPrB1oIJm4LHgOZw9SaE4-S7sayze-PBKl61aFvsOLE-xj41rlb/w400-h350/20230329_085700.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">King Neptune, Roman God of the Sea, and his mermaid. Hard to tell in the picture, but there is water and air tubing within 2 layers of tempered glass to give the illusion of being underwater.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn4z6flBBJxAuVPp6-T7D0Ddr8fxL9L633TP-O9Kh97atagczuRy8bglqviNS0uGNpt540QGaJ358d7gYD5J4spSFC9RzjfPoq-s_5shQHxzsM9l3rY3uhKTtXIj-fDdbeP7Ahjit50WCbFP9NWNVFSxdApFndr8TjCeI-L3N_PVaxzwa-bZ9YqYTar00/s2338/20230330_145916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2338" data-original-width="1719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn4z6flBBJxAuVPp6-T7D0Ddr8fxL9L633TP-O9Kh97atagczuRy8bglqviNS0uGNpt540QGaJ358d7gYD5J4spSFC9RzjfPoq-s_5shQHxzsM9l3rY3uhKTtXIj-fDdbeP7Ahjit50WCbFP9NWNVFSxdApFndr8TjCeI-L3N_PVaxzwa-bZ9YqYTar00/w294-h400/20230330_145916.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtbySehYe991SppKCsKgVAhaGlizkjyfJq7_cRABMFfWeoKnXkTyV5JafB6RLtSVy5cYthtUDrEp7HB8rZV7DkSOIAvxs1RMdFGiIXWoDHpWMmCgtzg_L_XzuYCjnPcqZUES0xv3KFv-bLz2sLO-8y0DpjHLIzB7bE89gNK6ey4udBJCE1ICCEMJZ5bl2/s1778/20230330_145927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1778" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtbySehYe991SppKCsKgVAhaGlizkjyfJq7_cRABMFfWeoKnXkTyV5JafB6RLtSVy5cYthtUDrEp7HB8rZV7DkSOIAvxs1RMdFGiIXWoDHpWMmCgtzg_L_XzuYCjnPcqZUES0xv3KFv-bLz2sLO-8y0DpjHLIzB7bE89gNK6ey4udBJCE1ICCEMJZ5bl2/s320/20230330_145927.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We did "reuse, repurpose, recycle" for this costume. Creature from the Black Lagoon with his mermaid "underwater".</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0L_sCBRsJRikZHiAuKSLeuOmHWxRgpaENpxglW6xBD3qLXx2bzWJw3QSLJ3V8nLxVZT_8o_maw7PFroW8jOlrirOnpYalkuDXA3tZ1K9BZOK0ImmEivxFnJbq2QlHX6kO6_bZkyUFtHVqMbrt32LcjPWgh9rwIBGbr0RjwTiCXz2BmkBqcjmOZ09XZ0d/s3255/20231027_210355.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3255" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0L_sCBRsJRikZHiAuKSLeuOmHWxRgpaENpxglW6xBD3qLXx2bzWJw3QSLJ3V8nLxVZT_8o_maw7PFroW8jOlrirOnpYalkuDXA3tZ1K9BZOK0ImmEivxFnJbq2QlHX6kO6_bZkyUFtHVqMbrt32LcjPWgh9rwIBGbr0RjwTiCXz2BmkBqcjmOZ09XZ0d/w400-h221/20231027_210355.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Halloween Party at VFW Post 2849 in Cleveland</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem40w1IIgSFNmvsLLkSIOZCtenDRY-bQjB90PlZjFGzWRnr3wLND90ikESunSlZ9oj8Ykt5qVlquA8hU_oR3p2wdcczBkDgnuKPjb3V-JsWLBPBZI6QJB2GY68eaSnt8fh-s8NbWWqeDvR4n0UfC_c4WiphtGentuyehqs9M36km4TsrqJiIs7Iy5bDJb/s616/FB_IMG_1698770299461.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="616" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem40w1IIgSFNmvsLLkSIOZCtenDRY-bQjB90PlZjFGzWRnr3wLND90ikESunSlZ9oj8Ykt5qVlquA8hU_oR3p2wdcczBkDgnuKPjb3V-JsWLBPBZI6QJB2GY68eaSnt8fh-s8NbWWqeDvR4n0UfC_c4WiphtGentuyehqs9M36km4TsrqJiIs7Iy5bDJb/w400-h351/FB_IMG_1698770299461.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zFNva7KJt2RHylDQCaacqFqX5obL3gtN2TlRZBoDVJMvHHMBTW_4Ox6oBPZzDNvf3jSqMtVn0A7Z9ZN_VGCN4YqaGtUTc8I5nsclck2bhxZ1X9pe3wyHReZEVvKd-RCnNdjpETQ_rH8kwIfw7gczt5P6oMByVnFwBGu1SW9f8nyeaAs9ck4DFE_6WR4E/s2319/20231028_222145.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2319" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zFNva7KJt2RHylDQCaacqFqX5obL3gtN2TlRZBoDVJMvHHMBTW_4Ox6oBPZzDNvf3jSqMtVn0A7Z9ZN_VGCN4YqaGtUTc8I5nsclck2bhxZ1X9pe3wyHReZEVvKd-RCnNdjpETQ_rH8kwIfw7gczt5P6oMByVnFwBGu1SW9f8nyeaAs9ck4DFE_6WR4E/w400-h240/20231028_222145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad made it to the semi-finals in the costume contest at VFW Post 8568 in Livingston...</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOjlc6BcxG2DjxHn7_U2KeeauX60SJGIgE4IhVJ2XhlSVCsZp992sO_ueVWkMr1dPc8jKCERWGoqyUtcQsEO7Zc-KdHN24A1KVyR0xczRjr7JGWxlpw0xmjlC87VFQBnJQ6gcF7f3lDU0rAibv5SGsc_uH-ypfLIcc_4qpJ9G-rcL_mlMNMrCiuu9eovM/s3264/20231028_222846.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOjlc6BcxG2DjxHn7_U2KeeauX60SJGIgE4IhVJ2XhlSVCsZp992sO_ueVWkMr1dPc8jKCERWGoqyUtcQsEO7Zc-KdHN24A1KVyR0xczRjr7JGWxlpw0xmjlC87VFQBnJQ6gcF7f3lDU0rAibv5SGsc_uH-ypfLIcc_4qpJ9G-rcL_mlMNMrCiuu9eovM/w180-h400/20231028_222846.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...and friends Willi and Billy won First Prize there.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, that’s all for now folks!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> Can't believe how time is flying--the holidays are right around the corner. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I promise I’ll talk to you again soon!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-69226375138058661172023-08-30T20:54:00.002-05:002023-09-15T18:20:39.110-05:00Motorcycle Road Trip to Waco, TX<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We have never spent this much time at home base.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, we have found ourselves here in
Livingston longer this stay than the prior 4 years combined, including during
COVID!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we broke up our July routine
with another trip on Maximus the Trike, this time to Waco, TX.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We departed early on a Friday, yet another hot, sticky day
in TX.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But we find if you postpone doing
fun stuff waiting for cooler weather, you will do little here during the
summer.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a nice ride on US-190/30,
then onto TX-6 North.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom and I enjoyed
viewing all the pastural scenery as we went through Aggieland, though Dad was
having nothing to do with it.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As a UT Longhorns fan, we were in “enemy territory”.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped in Calvert, TX to stretch our legs for a second
time.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The town’s main street is on the
National Historic Register for being part of the original Camino de Real los
Tejas.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We parked right by the town’s
Roadside Attraction.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Don’t worry if you
pass this one by—its not much to look at.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">If it weren’t for the fact that TX-6 brings you right through the heart
of Calvert, the town would see little activity.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">But that wasn’t always the case.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1869, the Houston and Texas Central Railway added Calvert as a stop,
making it a major trading center.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPdGuVPA8Xle_ElXNkXUJ6IehsDDjzPIFKfDVDD8EWUhOW48ql9E4SK5nUhNTYgCmUaHkEhbu6iRR_Zlxjnur8CkpaOWwV9cgW0GzBA1JoWhfIt34eslS3I3U2m1972lDp4PK_zdOeft9onDQU0wQuoMqdQBNb4xNYUp91Kqji-j4zIDLVi-1mTOE-jIPO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="2799" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPdGuVPA8Xle_ElXNkXUJ6IehsDDjzPIFKfDVDD8EWUhOW48ql9E4SK5nUhNTYgCmUaHkEhbu6iRR_Zlxjnur8CkpaOWwV9cgW0GzBA1JoWhfIt34eslS3I3U2m1972lDp4PK_zdOeft9onDQU0wQuoMqdQBNb4xNYUp91Kqji-j4zIDLVi-1mTOE-jIPO=w400-h188" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to go into the Wonkey Donkey for some wood-fired pizza, but it wasn't opened yet when we passed through.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN7O0JT1-ofMNAnp0EBXUxoCa8qTk1v0RtT73zBqG1QIfjFIjRQCXcnCxq75i16jbo1lJFD6msplInBboVmiGx5tfus1BHH82QejgF4OVCpMwth4HY2K3DdYYbKvLrA08iRfjkohgYrGy_YlTRRfccuzXKSqhcanvjfVgL6cjrGRecxUomQZp3JKBSsWM8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="3189" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN7O0JT1-ofMNAnp0EBXUxoCa8qTk1v0RtT73zBqG1QIfjFIjRQCXcnCxq75i16jbo1lJFD6msplInBboVmiGx5tfus1BHH82QejgF4OVCpMwth4HY2K3DdYYbKvLrA08iRfjkohgYrGy_YlTRRfccuzXKSqhcanvjfVgL6cjrGRecxUomQZp3JKBSsWM8=w400-h138" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJyOuKILSsrfXhAU3Yv8TZ-6G-hnvVHBH7IpBMPKgkC_GKqyE0DkDrSecXhrQWWRj5Y6Mj5BJEP_3M_YWQFg-uYtw6o-i0ssEALmtkk6Cc4lBPU-mwh6x4S03eWFixElpfDYsBBpczbJI7a_aWJdHpm8-bH-g3x4FZ0AzlPyDRe1f1CtIUmoY9AfhaH5ig" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3437" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJyOuKILSsrfXhAU3Yv8TZ-6G-hnvVHBH7IpBMPKgkC_GKqyE0DkDrSecXhrQWWRj5Y6Mj5BJEP_3M_YWQFg-uYtw6o-i0ssEALmtkk6Cc4lBPU-mwh6x4S03eWFixElpfDYsBBpczbJI7a_aWJdHpm8-bH-g3x4FZ0AzlPyDRe1f1CtIUmoY9AfhaH5ig=w400-h210" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though listed in Roadside America, this attraction lacked the "wow" factor.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We checked into the Quality Inn in Waco, centrally located
to all major attractions and part of our Choice Privileges Rewards program that
we started in Aurora, CO (that’s when Big Boomer, our medium duty truck,
underwent MAJOR repairs and we were required to stay in hotel rooms for 3+
weeks.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a spacious suite for a
bargain rate of $80/night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU1aKXI8zcUYRBw-iS0OFkedz68XbJrKZw050rCBERft_uCNoKm1Y9HNBnSBe5wcxq-c1G1RvUgSfRkM5OgblN5iaEKhVL792J-m5czacr1-37zBMfNxt-_jwDAOnOVOA7SS6iU1ReOMcm__c7aor3Z6O0V_W_3kTQPElH5Cspnj4BdT8JRWQ5sk8O8uI7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2260" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU1aKXI8zcUYRBw-iS0OFkedz68XbJrKZw050rCBERft_uCNoKm1Y9HNBnSBe5wcxq-c1G1RvUgSfRkM5OgblN5iaEKhVL792J-m5czacr1-37zBMfNxt-_jwDAOnOVOA7SS6iU1ReOMcm__c7aor3Z6O0V_W_3kTQPElH5Cspnj4BdT8JRWQ5sk8O8uI7=w400-h211" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Seems like Choice brand hotels in TX are fans of felines. Every hotel at which we stay has a cat as its mascot, and the Waco Quality Inn was no exception.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We started our Waco tour with the Texas Rangers Museum.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Texas Rangers were founded by Stephen F.
Austin in 1823, when he hired 10 men to protect settlers in his colony from
Commanche and other Indian tribe attacks.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">These men came from all walks of life and had no formal training.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, the early Rangers were required to provide
their own horses and weapons.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The
Rangers helped the U.S. during the Mexican War and were annexed to the
Confederacy during the Civil War. They returned from the War to a lawless Texas and were granted police powers in 1875 to deal with desperados and cattle
rustlers.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Later, they were tasked with
enforcing Prohibition, taking down the gambling halls of the Mob/Mafia, and killing
bank robbers like Bonnie and Clyde. As their authority grew through the years, there
was some incidents of excessive force, resulting in a bit of a tarnished
reputation.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Today, the Texas Rangers are
150+ men and women who are more forensic-driven than patrol-oriented.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Their image transitioned from rough, tough
mountain men to highly-trained, professional law enforcement officers. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But one thing has not changed:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">they
still wear their signature white hats.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZjvvYg4AFNyYq0LCi33UveQFQoG6zr1S1Fj8uM8uzsfYokgiBQIaE9EIRR9Xt94X6LusLtkfeJu7izXu3SiU3MPnXUVpugG0vvz-xTelChGXzWB_K6mrn0rEr7uyn51ejqiXBk65TPcKQ6deMkhugvK3DMRo6VAnfUXM7v_p9ryn-OXvarBC4liAi0LjK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2438" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZjvvYg4AFNyYq0LCi33UveQFQoG6zr1S1Fj8uM8uzsfYokgiBQIaE9EIRR9Xt94X6LusLtkfeJu7izXu3SiU3MPnXUVpugG0vvz-xTelChGXzWB_K6mrn0rEr7uyn51ejqiXBk65TPcKQ6deMkhugvK3DMRo6VAnfUXM7v_p9ryn-OXvarBC4liAi0LjK=w243-h400" width="243" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgknx7e1xo6oIhepgeEruxt5M0voxh3Cu3kXmHeKgND_hMymXQA9xP5TOTt2TEnOmBgxPKlmYr6kweiVwexQTlW208K44nX64-lKwJPgJvHabLGckKmlhGcYUod6Z4xc2IEpgkj3PatpWWTDjTeZvy1FmleJjCangBMhbOuFN_JVJSM1eOgb_Wn8rmLLfFK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgknx7e1xo6oIhepgeEruxt5M0voxh3Cu3kXmHeKgND_hMymXQA9xP5TOTt2TEnOmBgxPKlmYr6kweiVwexQTlW208K44nX64-lKwJPgJvHabLGckKmlhGcYUod6Z4xc2IEpgkj3PatpWWTDjTeZvy1FmleJjCangBMhbOuFN_JVJSM1eOgb_Wn8rmLLfFK=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEOVJveUgQ1mX_0Bx4iPgEnTR4SqSVOPHwTvMFeyGbkK3uFf8OotHJYYPEc0wU3PSIjLP3-2uEiVTkPe8-aFJvWRtQU4TfJKX-9SyKciDyiOyjaolmtUiTZUoIe8zj-FB_KzoDhRMR905gzHBmUlj2dlttHRa-3IzEWihUq2B5StgXYP6MR8_SSXwc2Fad" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEOVJveUgQ1mX_0Bx4iPgEnTR4SqSVOPHwTvMFeyGbkK3uFf8OotHJYYPEc0wU3PSIjLP3-2uEiVTkPe8-aFJvWRtQU4TfJKX-9SyKciDyiOyjaolmtUiTZUoIe8zj-FB_KzoDhRMR905gzHBmUlj2dlttHRa-3IzEWihUq2B5StgXYP6MR8_SSXwc2Fad=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGzm9EaBgifBlvaahA7k2jUkdiOnNG8TakWFN17rrroRDNDDOwmPhueyepcxz3kBKeUfz3XhOPGPljWZcqh__XERZjlqO2JQw5PdYNWzikqSKDJLKWGOs3SpY9hvJkV1EvCzn71--Z4O71aGQYWJLhKZqdkQd_rhK8uPuq5vX7qn5GDguqmJfT48YdZSBC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGzm9EaBgifBlvaahA7k2jUkdiOnNG8TakWFN17rrroRDNDDOwmPhueyepcxz3kBKeUfz3XhOPGPljWZcqh__XERZjlqO2JQw5PdYNWzikqSKDJLKWGOs3SpY9hvJkV1EvCzn71--Z4O71aGQYWJLhKZqdkQd_rhK8uPuq5vX7qn5GDguqmJfT48YdZSBC=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT8oKaC6MqGhL7jTLdSH8_jKPcHVSFw1sCCDOZDa38f5mrOZfq3vmckYobuhViZoARPHxVncq0sct9NuRoTFqbvgMAt-c4PFo1GNt9S1YbSIrfYfq6d3unrzHqIClnXYZP44cbmnQRyeVW8sZVk3rbLI9NB9bCEjvHVUsfQ7O955HXA0xyzn-xZd2h93Yk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2898" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT8oKaC6MqGhL7jTLdSH8_jKPcHVSFw1sCCDOZDa38f5mrOZfq3vmckYobuhViZoARPHxVncq0sct9NuRoTFqbvgMAt-c4PFo1GNt9S1YbSIrfYfq6d3unrzHqIClnXYZP44cbmnQRyeVW8sZVk3rbLI9NB9bCEjvHVUsfQ7O955HXA0xyzn-xZd2h93Yk=w400-h203" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No proud Texan can miss out on visiting the Dr Pepper
Museum, dedicated to the oldest major soft drink in the U.S.A.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Museum is within the first structure ever
built specifically to bottle Dr Pepper, circa 1906.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mineral and spring waters were promoted for
medicinal purposes as early as 400 B.C., and spring water has been a key
ingredient in Dr Pepper since it was created by Charles Alderton, a pharmacist
by trade.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, you can view the
underground well which provided the spring water for the production process.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lots of history and memorabilia fill the
Museum’s 3 floors, including an area to view commercials from yesteryear (I had
the jingle, “…Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper, too” stuck in my head for hours
afterwards).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The slogan “Drink a Dr Pepper
for a Jolt” along with the image of a clock highlighting, 10, 2 and 4 was a big
advertising campaign.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Interestingly, it
was based on a study that concluded these hours represents the periods of
lowest glucose levels. I thought the tour was well worth the $10/adult
admission, which included a complimentary small soda.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Don’t bother paying for on-site parking.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There is plenty of free parking in the area.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMBj7XYmIpXRdJCZIKCfvFGw4VlgO6dtfLm9E6wbpXJNzvCwtPx_0qG5Ky48fa0wG7tEWMaD1Ipl-TKvM9efqBOwiLwSIHFrineRFA6OR-3C3SDp46_MqEMixT73Q7_FeW_kHeq86RHPjGEJiQ8I3Q9XqbLhVf4-UI1KS3q4Gmw1WypZZbE95vL6S52W6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="3650" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMBj7XYmIpXRdJCZIKCfvFGw4VlgO6dtfLm9E6wbpXJNzvCwtPx_0qG5Ky48fa0wG7tEWMaD1Ipl-TKvM9efqBOwiLwSIHFrineRFA6OR-3C3SDp46_MqEMixT73Q7_FeW_kHeq86RHPjGEJiQ8I3Q9XqbLhVf4-UI1KS3q4Gmw1WypZZbE95vL6S52W6Q=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5N4dY31BrZ1_n4ELz3yF9iZ5XFTGlqsrQXnbSn3wr_fFvcmLHuAxRWrMvxvYyp670ziNNp-B4ZfzxK1wQ2zynuTWEmkm5C-tDaggNqbIXMgi5Rj84e6fECYbIfu7_pqMgU0F6VK0i-tAY7R8JdT5JsD2IESGkFpiiLQfKJG2S7oGWN7vgiLqER4Omab5k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5N4dY31BrZ1_n4ELz3yF9iZ5XFTGlqsrQXnbSn3wr_fFvcmLHuAxRWrMvxvYyp670ziNNp-B4ZfzxK1wQ2zynuTWEmkm5C-tDaggNqbIXMgi5Rj84e6fECYbIfu7_pqMgU0F6VK0i-tAY7R8JdT5JsD2IESGkFpiiLQfKJG2S7oGWN7vgiLqER4Omab5k=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm8anqkvQz3Fc-o_MH1K40Kb51gFwym1Vq-54Bd3snvkwzmfr4PDGHcvmPTIC3jPu9Ne85_pVTmoMbdVNu-IToibHGcSgsZzU43iyU5WPVeiB6ENCBX3giFoxTWPnjD-kXQrMtXVheaPKYR9rA99ZHPbISbpjnaSZwUD1LB99IN-MD9hY9RIOnaW84qW9b" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjm8anqkvQz3Fc-o_MH1K40Kb51gFwym1Vq-54Bd3snvkwzmfr4PDGHcvmPTIC3jPu9Ne85_pVTmoMbdVNu-IToibHGcSgsZzU43iyU5WPVeiB6ENCBX3giFoxTWPnjD-kXQrMtXVheaPKYR9rA99ZHPbISbpjnaSZwUD1LB99IN-MD9hY9RIOnaW84qW9b" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXx-e6hFPDH2EO9roNoqxGYYNivneJLiuipOQHonD4dg6mRgqI0lZAgDljc62kt5C3vUP9Y9ieO1cWLcvb1c-S-UTXP5CqYjHH6nWIdDmKjrevtaoX0hx2PFw2trVmpEm2jLMPFCXfA2_bkHM23MdJPJ5TBRHbnBunP-T_CXXWnz993StlsHzuLVHlvlyN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXx-e6hFPDH2EO9roNoqxGYYNivneJLiuipOQHonD4dg6mRgqI0lZAgDljc62kt5C3vUP9Y9ieO1cWLcvb1c-S-UTXP5CqYjHH6nWIdDmKjrevtaoX0hx2PFw2trVmpEm2jLMPFCXfA2_bkHM23MdJPJ5TBRHbnBunP-T_CXXWnz993StlsHzuLVHlvlyN=w400-h300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Advertising campaigns sure have changed through the years.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">..</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXx-e6hFPDH2EO9roNoqxGYYNivneJLiuipOQHonD4dg6mRgqI0lZAgDljc62kt5C3vUP9Y9ieO1cWLcvb1c-S-UTXP5CqYjHH6nWIdDmKjrevtaoX0hx2PFw2trVmpEm2jLMPFCXfA2_bkHM23MdJPJ5TBRHbnBunP-T_CXXWnz993StlsHzuLVHlvlyN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYuBWNK089frGyTCbdDd4z9W_b5_bSVzPTgO5ZpGhF4zQqDFCW7Syv0vG0p4iBT-sk7QvqnFJKCr9W5GpcfgFnc5qWrHxuggMD0x1DR0ydXHFn_gXdnhpoT48pR7pmiSqGJk03SGNDufevfmCFzHGB6Z6J8aUZWHcaDtndWr_Xsx3fWMQTGw3AJLBEylwT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYuBWNK089frGyTCbdDd4z9W_b5_bSVzPTgO5ZpGhF4zQqDFCW7Syv0vG0p4iBT-sk7QvqnFJKCr9W5GpcfgFnc5qWrHxuggMD0x1DR0ydXHFn_gXdnhpoT48pR7pmiSqGJk03SGNDufevfmCFzHGB6Z6J8aUZWHcaDtndWr_Xsx3fWMQTGw3AJLBEylwT=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">...as have bottle designs/styles. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpx0BR-ig2f74l53IaqDh2tWqhPZZyQG74hAhXHc1I-hiHauGWOgyJxh7cCznSAN2P59WmAE-4zhoul3Ls3cM3GDHVamTLSZwvxYSUzWYYtmyjBk6JlacVYLWSuFVkmzMM5QlFISlkf1zydjS7DuCNeAvRKXj22PvyYHlB0UJ4CntMiZwRHeA8vFzPTXSi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpx0BR-ig2f74l53IaqDh2tWqhPZZyQG74hAhXHc1I-hiHauGWOgyJxh7cCznSAN2P59WmAE-4zhoul3Ls3cM3GDHVamTLSZwvxYSUzWYYtmyjBk6JlacVYLWSuFVkmzMM5QlFISlkf1zydjS7DuCNeAvRKXj22PvyYHlB0UJ4CntMiZwRHeA8vFzPTXSi=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bottling simulation.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0qhEDPJPv2-acbczniCECGu42cedhIJhCxZmAYFXjoUkVsI154CQMtwDHvDwY4xQbQXix2ShLutjhXWPV6_PoMz3NUwb4Wp4Hhqhro7EVjkPRWQA-RjhUKLkvdM-EvGE_v_t3aEhbrAySzP-t0hr8deeznjsYh17FG4TpEpTxGWgBkEID3CNeuhIIOcNQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0qhEDPJPv2-acbczniCECGu42cedhIJhCxZmAYFXjoUkVsI154CQMtwDHvDwY4xQbQXix2ShLutjhXWPV6_PoMz3NUwb4Wp4Hhqhro7EVjkPRWQA-RjhUKLkvdM-EvGE_v_t3aEhbrAySzP-t0hr8deeznjsYh17FG4TpEpTxGWgBkEID3CNeuhIIOcNQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRsFGlLHLIM54YvPYjUDZHVdzq8_H1c0ke4SVaXT2uHjGah2NiIh3A8O2BU3wIIy2KHflpvY_Ns1g90wpvSdaTNrLCabkKdiogMwFDoMFaMODC6mi6fuX3wsphereht27ge6CVzSthGWj5TAsBfixbiG4hKXuDmB3w1CLWoK_3qz1Z8nOgVRKqLz3xXcr9" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRsFGlLHLIM54YvPYjUDZHVdzq8_H1c0ke4SVaXT2uHjGah2NiIh3A8O2BU3wIIy2KHflpvY_Ns1g90wpvSdaTNrLCabkKdiogMwFDoMFaMODC6mi6fuX3wsphereht27ge6CVzSthGWj5TAsBfixbiG4hKXuDmB3w1CLWoK_3qz1Z8nOgVRKqLz3xXcr9=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A very cool train set-up replicating Waco.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We got our "dance on" Friday night by patronizing Melody
Ranch, which dubs itself a true Texas honkytonk.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Interestingly, 14-17-year-olds are permitted
admission (sans the ability to purchase alcohol), but we saw few that fit
within this age group—the majority were within ages 20-35.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You could determine this just by their style
of couples dancing, which contained flips, bends, and acrobatic moves representative of “Dancing with the Stars” routines.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Their talents did not deter my parents from
line dancing, though.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the first
dance venue we have visited that subscribed to proper dance floor
etiquette:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Line dancers in the center
with couples dancing around them, everyone staying within their “lane”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We had a good time, but, truthfully, I didn’t
care for the D.J.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Something is amiss
when you have hip hop and old school gangsta rap playing in a Texas honkytonk.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxaXC3MWtyFy8dL34L-mGQmZnRXQbgh7KOSgPWvSij4lw_6oWpJhHmfFO1-bFv9uwabWt2_7AWfK1UJfs8WoQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We learned that several places we wished to visit are closed
on Sundays, so we had to rearrange our schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, we found ourselves on Saturday morning
at Magnolia Market at the Silos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is the property that HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines transformed from an old
cotton seed mill to a multi-purpose entertainment venue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It contains upscale shopping, food
concessions, and greenspace where you can play a little baseball, partake of
horseshoes and cornhole, or just relax under a shade tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The property also includes a
non-denominational church, constructed from preserved and repurposed elements
from the Second Presbyterian Church, one of Waco’s oldest structures dating to
1894.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The Gaines’ plan was to relocate
the original 1894 church, but it was structurally unsound from remaining vacant
for over 30 years.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving early gave us the advantage of unobstructed photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kudos to the Gaines for their vision of
preserving the flavor of historic Waco.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioBpZvYqn-VXw0kXhlbpP-kFft0WpdQb-h_Bats6G9JMxqt5QFO6wBBdrCiF8qtJPCFDKP5a9mF-dgjDmSPHHsO_M5y6h7DNFRZUuln4SYtzPl5YesuLmW5fxvkbWE60eQZGLa1ZwQIpu9Q5Hxn5IKcR6VDeB_PsTcXJ3SZumwsyfzm0qLPTN7nxSUkWPm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="3264" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioBpZvYqn-VXw0kXhlbpP-kFft0WpdQb-h_Bats6G9JMxqt5QFO6wBBdrCiF8qtJPCFDKP5a9mF-dgjDmSPHHsO_M5y6h7DNFRZUuln4SYtzPl5YesuLmW5fxvkbWE60eQZGLa1ZwQIpu9Q5Hxn5IKcR6VDeB_PsTcXJ3SZumwsyfzm0qLPTN7nxSUkWPm=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUVacejOUWIVRxk3sPr1DNfJQ47Kk7uF-yo0f0ODjMiQ1LVBH2RNQvQ87LpIl8hLmBrh_T4t02cA_Ak_q1hqkDl8YJwu5mn7PNB_XsyremH6EENtO__SAprSfedekXjj_cxPYfK80kEknHCn81POFdrT9lDbYhjgOqE-qBu1pwUG54jMVvhYhtKtWeFF4D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUVacejOUWIVRxk3sPr1DNfJQ47Kk7uF-yo0f0ODjMiQ1LVBH2RNQvQ87LpIl8hLmBrh_T4t02cA_Ak_q1hqkDl8YJwu5mn7PNB_XsyremH6EENtO__SAprSfedekXjj_cxPYfK80kEknHCn81POFdrT9lDbYhjgOqE-qBu1pwUG54jMVvhYhtKtWeFF4D=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIHJ5vuDmb8b8ihGxpa2bVGMSJ68n6L-JCFelN-tkO4MJyBXtb-j8VAWkxz1AGL3E_zxa5MxOkRTPw6StiRkUi9X1Z6sN7snUF_yjiAUNjoy7yDqInQ5VXC0_twnfOsvBVHw4gF9J-9bKUQCffhM-auf0OQE_yVN3yy34vasvw4fkyq2h12kd7QviJQLTL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2917" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIHJ5vuDmb8b8ihGxpa2bVGMSJ68n6L-JCFelN-tkO4MJyBXtb-j8VAWkxz1AGL3E_zxa5MxOkRTPw6StiRkUi9X1Z6sN7snUF_yjiAUNjoy7yDqInQ5VXC0_twnfOsvBVHw4gF9J-9bKUQCffhM-auf0OQE_yVN3yy34vasvw4fkyq2h12kd7QviJQLTL=w292-h400" width="292" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgai2yrlHflDXubvcRJuC_qUso2Gip_anj-9ypzTjlyCodveP_G84f4Y2j-zUC0NSsIzUZNSoSkZrTY3Psmwhal7Wfziz5Vl1woibrTQcqBjJ_kxlAzuyZc4UHQKrACR545r4Ruxr2FyetZVPhAwSSUgkWfzEChqVkaQ-BZtKQFfJKcIulxLK7x2jw1f4_3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgai2yrlHflDXubvcRJuC_qUso2Gip_anj-9ypzTjlyCodveP_G84f4Y2j-zUC0NSsIzUZNSoSkZrTY3Psmwhal7Wfziz5Vl1woibrTQcqBjJ_kxlAzuyZc4UHQKrACR545r4Ruxr2FyetZVPhAwSSUgkWfzEChqVkaQ-BZtKQFfJKcIulxLK7x2jw1f4_3=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPK8lM2Jj1qqX9dG_yiEBMAHbz-wHZ4YPDXvAVjYjP7kOGXoU5YSiW1ATx8pHii-ibk2puKAOnbcwoB4703G8MMOzQtppEo9NwyfsBwXlDaFXj8DrEhiSH5Xqlz6MVWuUtYiaAKlBGjavOveVTgUIJEonMgUPBCoJ6hMbvL-Qgnw9LMgeXXPn9R0XnhQMW" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslvS6ceQqpoozPVzrxRaxyki1Yjj4UD79Q_-YtHkE8EgTNwxaea-qmBLzDTNpPoWUfcZ44fmxE8umXh5oUSiDdUNfbCM8aceo8L-he0tLhf5e1l3QBpUP99YsMG-Q956Vf-K913Ts4A6oXONxgtqDQqoCnmPTOAZ8F0AdHgqNw0u_M6kc4RA6nWbnlXlL/s3625/PoPo%20Babe%20Lou%20and%20Dad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="3625" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslvS6ceQqpoozPVzrxRaxyki1Yjj4UD79Q_-YtHkE8EgTNwxaea-qmBLzDTNpPoWUfcZ44fmxE8umXh5oUSiDdUNfbCM8aceo8L-he0tLhf5e1l3QBpUP99YsMG-Q956Vf-K913Ts4A6oXONxgtqDQqoCnmPTOAZ8F0AdHgqNw0u_M6kc4RA6nWbnlXlL/w400-h195/PoPo%20Babe%20Lou%20and%20Dad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPK8lM2Jj1qqX9dG_yiEBMAHbz-wHZ4YPDXvAVjYjP7kOGXoU5YSiW1ATx8pHii-ibk2puKAOnbcwoB4703G8MMOzQtppEo9NwyfsBwXlDaFXj8DrEhiSH5Xqlz6MVWuUtYiaAKlBGjavOveVTgUIJEonMgUPBCoJ6hMbvL-Qgnw9LMgeXXPn9R0XnhQMW" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We thought we would dine at Magnolia Table Restaurant that
afternoon, another property restored by Chip and Joanna Gaines.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The restaurant is open only for breakfast and lunch
and is closed on Sundays as well.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
didn’t have reservations, so when we arrived at 1:15, we learned we would have
about an hour’s wait.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This would leave
us little time to eat leisurely since the restaurant closes at 3 p.m.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad stated emphatically that there was no
way, no how he was waiting an hour to eat a stinkin’ avocado sandwich (the
only vegetarian/vegan item on the menu other than a salad).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing about Dad:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">when he gets hungry, he gets hangry.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(He could be a candidate for a Snickers’
commercial!)</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we ended up at Chile’s
where he enjoyed a filling black bean fajita entrée.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After lunch, we walked downtown, popping into some of the
boutiques.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Hey Sugar Candy Store
called to me with all its nostalgic confections.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I sunk my teeth into some caramels, savoring
every gooey chew while Mom and Dad enjoyed locally-sourced Texas Creamery
frozen treats.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Kudos to Hey Sugar for
offering a non-dairy key lime pie option for Dad.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjrmIGlxzLAJxEMp27Xr5HtSvgGfPqZm5AajhKuMQVHH2z6-jVlFpbUZ7-OXyX594sTrCwP1v248OQ-nQFIO6KbiCuPLH3uR588w_OO8SWypm1sUeomnWi_6TPooUOh7lwHz6DC4XERp1xj_Wbz7gqW6nPDB1hYoO_X17a7D0KRhVhQEi153nxcVlLWrR/s2993/PoPo%20and%20Ratfink.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2993" data-original-width="1753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjrmIGlxzLAJxEMp27Xr5HtSvgGfPqZm5AajhKuMQVHH2z6-jVlFpbUZ7-OXyX594sTrCwP1v248OQ-nQFIO6KbiCuPLH3uR588w_OO8SWypm1sUeomnWi_6TPooUOh7lwHz6DC4XERp1xj_Wbz7gqW6nPDB1hYoO_X17a7D0KRhVhQEi153nxcVlLWrR/w234-h400/PoPo%20and%20Ratfink.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Look who I found hanging out at one of the shops--good old Rat Fink!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our final stop of the day was to the Branch Davidians Memorial,
site of the 1993 51-day standoff between David Koresh and his church followers
and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), FBI, and other law
enforcement entities that resulted in the loss of 4 Federal Agents and 82 sect
members, including 18 innocent children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a tragic tale, with plausible explanations presented by both the
Davidians and government entities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ATF obtained a warrant, suspecting weapons violations, and initiated measures
to serve the warrant, but were met by armed Davidians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The FBI then laid siege to the compound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Davidians say there was no need to raid
the Mt. Carmel complex at all—they could have arrested David Koresh numerous
times outside the compound since he was regularly in town and well known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ATF claims the Davidians opened fire
first; The Davidians produced a video documentary (“Waco, a New
Revelation") which provides evidence to refute this claim. (Ironically,
FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi, responsible for killing Vicki Weaver during the Ruby
Ridge standoff a few months earlier, was on site in Waco, too).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ATF claims the devastating fire was
started intentionally by the Branch Davidians, citing 3 separate ignition
points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church members say the cause of
the inferno was the combination of rounds fired by the ATF and the tear gas
cannisters they used on the Davidian women and children who were hiding in a
vault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will never know what really
happened (though fault most likely can be attributed to all parties), but this
Rambling RV Rat does know this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>NOTHING</i>
the U.S. government can say or do will ever justify the killing of innocent
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the Mt. Carmel Church
has been rebuilt on site, the rest of the compound is a grim reminder of this
devastating tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that lessons
were learned and this type of debacle never happens again.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiJAv6o8YsyMpVm3ITP_H0onhJo4q2BJ-fW4TC-5705K9bz2Rp46f_cEGbg1av09rvXw7H0yMeCVwiFG54AAlgxooes2fomqPG1uZrUjSzFqYvEz8gNm6wM22MbDCxlORp5UUZIWlSViKhBLUfppInkMgVV-VyJ21FZotUHhtOXUzAqpMtIosLhdiyzP7/s3264/20230715_153732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiJAv6o8YsyMpVm3ITP_H0onhJo4q2BJ-fW4TC-5705K9bz2Rp46f_cEGbg1av09rvXw7H0yMeCVwiFG54AAlgxooes2fomqPG1uZrUjSzFqYvEz8gNm6wM22MbDCxlORp5UUZIWlSViKhBLUfppInkMgVV-VyJ21FZotUHhtOXUzAqpMtIosLhdiyzP7/w400-h180/20230715_153732.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyEuAi7g_X-A_zKtfsL0bbMq3YodoIg5r15bWCQRLTvAQSDu9a2jxMzhsYQZcAJLK0Cqb7l2UC9dyORTZSalhF6E8MjItYJr7fOUSSgqm8V2klmC8TUIxIrPZNtm4zVjGsJiuSTIonHdEJgmYUeP9NfMuOcCkBnQqG2RzdRGaCQmqOC0mypwMW_LTL47v/s2065/20230715_153742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="2065" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyEuAi7g_X-A_zKtfsL0bbMq3YodoIg5r15bWCQRLTvAQSDu9a2jxMzhsYQZcAJLK0Cqb7l2UC9dyORTZSalhF6E8MjItYJr7fOUSSgqm8V2klmC8TUIxIrPZNtm4zVjGsJiuSTIonHdEJgmYUeP9NfMuOcCkBnQqG2RzdRGaCQmqOC0mypwMW_LTL47v/w400-h329/20230715_153742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U_yDaZ2SJwKpc0pOG2MQWaOQKfbAhmFkht5Q7kAVfAVMeghmzBcSV0G16KS8y923mxUj-Qenm04GWfd2qP6jLjSNM6huVjyZBwxw9irzD2rn0msbaYOQwxuzwkppHp8dn5dwxonxD-SQ_bsUehN9CxDiRketiqb96xcSRcjGiV5AU0EMEbzp3baXS8hm/s2099/20230715_155114.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2099" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U_yDaZ2SJwKpc0pOG2MQWaOQKfbAhmFkht5Q7kAVfAVMeghmzBcSV0G16KS8y923mxUj-Qenm04GWfd2qP6jLjSNM6huVjyZBwxw9irzD2rn0msbaYOQwxuzwkppHp8dn5dwxonxD-SQ_bsUehN9CxDiRketiqb96xcSRcjGiV5AU0EMEbzp3baXS8hm/w400-h248/20230715_155114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYghiaJui7jWiBonbOaDAyiia915e_IH0nVmtKwJsTJ_BhIf7_DV64vXNAFfKQXvdC-Fge7X2ux4EhftxK9sRmFHhu28rc8W-HihQPt7Zq4z97qLWZWphIfF71rtEqhigupIxflcsNQSlk4j2I1-lVw7egzxVCi_KXANokANR1feS5Wf60JYrBEcyzeD5m/s4000/20230715_161036.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYghiaJui7jWiBonbOaDAyiia915e_IH0nVmtKwJsTJ_BhIf7_DV64vXNAFfKQXvdC-Fge7X2ux4EhftxK9sRmFHhu28rc8W-HihQPt7Zq4z97qLWZWphIfF71rtEqhigupIxflcsNQSlk4j2I1-lVw7egzxVCi_KXANokANR1feS5Wf60JYrBEcyzeD5m/w400-h180/20230715_161036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The entrance road offers a serene, pastural view, a stark contrast to the scene near Mt. Carmel Church. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UysssJL1-7gcFeF_tpvYM9jbkIsdHay2gfWaLFO55SNIbGQcnfDOzrIMFruDgY6O56R1J4ueELIsKLiQFDMk9gUx9BlK1tgBaWz86KMJj-egYRwnVIaqz-Ue2rbr8k-TR7z55xjvcNksoutrU507IRTgJ9mjC8n_cuDSNb7B6kX_diWhsqrQZ-qs_Y7-/s4000/20230715_155902.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UysssJL1-7gcFeF_tpvYM9jbkIsdHay2gfWaLFO55SNIbGQcnfDOzrIMFruDgY6O56R1J4ueELIsKLiQFDMk9gUx9BlK1tgBaWz86KMJj-egYRwnVIaqz-Ue2rbr8k-TR7z55xjvcNksoutrU507IRTgJ9mjC8n_cuDSNb7B6kX_diWhsqrQZ-qs_Y7-/w400-h180/20230715_155902.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite the sadness evoked and devastation witnessed, seeing these guys on the grounds brought a smile to my face.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After breakfast at the hotel, Sunday morning found us at the
Waco Mammoth National Monument.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is
home to the fossilized remains of approximately 2 dozen Columbian mammoths who
roamed this area of grasslands some 65,000 years ago.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">These mammoths measured 14 feet tall,
weighted in at 20,000 pounds (equivalent to a school bus!), and ate 400-700
pounds of grass per day! </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is said they
would go through 6 sets of teeth during their lifetimes.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Female mammoths were pregnant for 2 years and
then nursed their offspring for 2 years.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Columbian mammoths lived 60-70 years, on average, with females outliving
the males.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The first bone was found in
1978 in a ravine near the Bosque River by two young men looking for arrowheads
and fossils.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Baylor University
identified it as belonging to a Columbian mammoth and organized an on-site excavation.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">No excavation has taken place since 2009—the focus now is
preservation.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The site is co-managed
now by the City of Waco, Baylor University, and the National Park Service.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Because of this unique arrangement, our
National Park Pass was not accepted for admission.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the visit is well worth the $6/adult fee.
</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfIKO6GixITo-AO3qAdSPyMnDTMgjDkNRdTcCcMaPyTBQzCWr_yFtTkk0Hxy10Ry5wXv8rdf3-prhwmShStPfTcp7REkhyM6ibl7J-zQd2Bd8TUim3bDfkfeC_PzTjTFmtZfoCYFzrjvrBhtZvTtt9JrqBlX6vfToWcC8yVOajIzaNrSL0rjLuHAj4lj3X" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="2460" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfIKO6GixITo-AO3qAdSPyMnDTMgjDkNRdTcCcMaPyTBQzCWr_yFtTkk0Hxy10Ry5wXv8rdf3-prhwmShStPfTcp7REkhyM6ibl7J-zQd2Bd8TUim3bDfkfeC_PzTjTFmtZfoCYFzrjvrBhtZvTtt9JrqBlX6vfToWcC8yVOajIzaNrSL0rjLuHAj4lj3X=w400-h211" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Ranger speaking (left side of photo) gives a good perspective of just how tall these mammoths were!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEs5CWIhFAdhr624jloZTxnXHdGMBwYOJrjwc_-SGO-43exXpecDy9HdeGEwtp7rup0b8ZAJ9YYZAFtATeGM5Hi1Jb9nU6nLb-NJ0doIWACn2bol7D034Lsjvm6esQRiSIHkpozb1ret0eA2WTVS0X6JtJXwp4QWzZQexvqrpdWUrOEcxJeCI0UQLFZ_Se" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEs5CWIhFAdhr624jloZTxnXHdGMBwYOJrjwc_-SGO-43exXpecDy9HdeGEwtp7rup0b8ZAJ9YYZAFtATeGM5Hi1Jb9nU6nLb-NJ0doIWACn2bol7D034Lsjvm6esQRiSIHkpozb1ret0eA2WTVS0X6JtJXwp4QWzZQexvqrpdWUrOEcxJeCI0UQLFZ_Se" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6WQsfYyCDvDOBytWimTorp1ZB456XKmLtAgpoPIiSze3qflktMJzcs-K5FKgXALoEYOb90M_YjXIR5RoNC7I1TF9oZhb4V3u_HKAeZ2abzAyRk1XY0fY7NESe4IM406eLkRdgBdnHumBLCy6Io7HNghenu9BVBv7e-S0TtoYsTwdueQULzsi3vfS2gajE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6WQsfYyCDvDOBytWimTorp1ZB456XKmLtAgpoPIiSze3qflktMJzcs-K5FKgXALoEYOb90M_YjXIR5RoNC7I1TF9oZhb4V3u_HKAeZ2abzAyRk1XY0fY7NESe4IM406eLkRdgBdnHumBLCy6Io7HNghenu9BVBv7e-S0TtoYsTwdueQULzsi3vfS2gajE=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Despite the 100F+ temps, we spent considerable time
traversing along the Brazos Riverwalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We viewed the 1870 suspension bridge, the first bridge to span the
Brazos River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bridge was a crossing
on the historic Chisolm Trail that was used from 1867 to 1884 to move cattle
from the Texas ranches and stockyards to the Kansas railyards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though you don’t see any livestock near the
bridge these days, there are magnificent bronze statues to replicate the days
of cattle drives through Waco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must
say I found it most annoying that people were sitting on the
statues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not playground
equipment—they are art, no different than if they were in a museum!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have no respect and no
boundaries.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dMqAU9Dw36I" width="320" youtube-src-id="dMqAU9Dw36I"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalll25YwUEa3A0DUjaOiw7JmirB814IPoDWqrmBhVxVX-8MzNsSrikaxbwk1R-JClQSEXWuFJXItt_HWDyxyixMaghorSh_5oHcpVJzFJRYKiwRpDPKMoX2HU5lLo3MgPSkzRG7QQz4saX2CK0k_7ZyM2ZNKsDJQHaw6RtcxW0gVg9M9CNFHa-1e2QiRH/s3264/20230716_120247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="3264" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalll25YwUEa3A0DUjaOiw7JmirB814IPoDWqrmBhVxVX-8MzNsSrikaxbwk1R-JClQSEXWuFJXItt_HWDyxyixMaghorSh_5oHcpVJzFJRYKiwRpDPKMoX2HU5lLo3MgPSkzRG7QQz4saX2CK0k_7ZyM2ZNKsDJQHaw6RtcxW0gVg9M9CNFHa-1e2QiRH/w400-h144/20230716_120247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of statues, we walked along the other side of the River to see the animal sculptures, which lead you right to the Cameron Park Zoo. Here are just a sampling:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioNcmrrnN0FtSpjaXRtq-QsxuNJvw4UvxQ73JJ3CGcZIdlbeLE3vxNzUzNzV0cu_zzp5pTjxvGLdj_UkGZXTHgBoPnKWselcbdbaARKkn2io9-GU-WvP8fKQp1AgW111jDIi8YVNVCfYHwqPa50A5HGkQ6mWY5Czmw11GzZ4mnfN4gjW2f4WIuBMDn4Bt/s4000/20230716_122140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioNcmrrnN0FtSpjaXRtq-QsxuNJvw4UvxQ73JJ3CGcZIdlbeLE3vxNzUzNzV0cu_zzp5pTjxvGLdj_UkGZXTHgBoPnKWselcbdbaARKkn2io9-GU-WvP8fKQp1AgW111jDIi8YVNVCfYHwqPa50A5HGkQ6mWY5Czmw11GzZ4mnfN4gjW2f4WIuBMDn4Bt/w400-h180/20230716_122140.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxrgexWhmYlr5tno-3TtK3GJzezpkpwjIVOtMW4v8h1z5Rb6KpgfQPP-kwMucYxgoC_XWbQm7qLm4upK8MBYkOrWapp13XxUQpnmbuKCOw4vH8EJuzO_889fQumBz7LlJXa-sgNTs-b9JUzDTFB_bKyuc7F4NV_zKTsNZ3WTX5Rngyn8dqL71LuOW1HSD/s3937/PoPo%20the%20Thinker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1753" data-original-width="3937" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxrgexWhmYlr5tno-3TtK3GJzezpkpwjIVOtMW4v8h1z5Rb6KpgfQPP-kwMucYxgoC_XWbQm7qLm4upK8MBYkOrWapp13XxUQpnmbuKCOw4vH8EJuzO_889fQumBz7LlJXa-sgNTs-b9JUzDTFB_bKyuc7F4NV_zKTsNZ3WTX5Rngyn8dqL71LuOW1HSD/w400-h178/PoPo%20the%20Thinker.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was compelled to join Mr. Elephant in some deep thinking.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since Mom loves architecture, period furnishings, and
history, she insisted we take the guided museum tours of the McCulloch House and East Terrace House, historic homes built circa 1872.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBmMfAiajNKXoLLaSQ3qdlWoP-8oqafhrHtiAotKFoQQw88H66i-dFlacvqGx2e-goCluV-M2iRoS4oO8-SuWf6gY34cmkIhvGuqw9--xbBVaBCwmdBBh2KE6znG5cyBVjG2Gk6AgpaC_7tibnnBfEzkM_M9D1rJi-W2Ug2JWEYfn0CCNrImuvtPSwuXPu" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBmMfAiajNKXoLLaSQ3qdlWoP-8oqafhrHtiAotKFoQQw88H66i-dFlacvqGx2e-goCluV-M2iRoS4oO8-SuWf6gY34cmkIhvGuqw9--xbBVaBCwmdBBh2KE6znG5cyBVjG2Gk6AgpaC_7tibnnBfEzkM_M9D1rJi-W2Ug2JWEYfn0CCNrImuvtPSwuXPu=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">McCulloch House exterior...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlibP1_Y1ZrlqbPXpzsUrAVCBRRYvhSctXpSIJqJy9xzvMh_ybnllAPMRqeO6hycJfvfw29w18oOC5zy273DZnSnyA0oy4CFNKtHzxYRZDkq4b3Z49dt7Jw5Hfk16Vf9FfAg_gJHzsXG5IT8EkbYWmv43mtOU_RkQ4MSWp_WQ16_-Dr7KODQaRNV7HFrQN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlibP1_Y1ZrlqbPXpzsUrAVCBRRYvhSctXpSIJqJy9xzvMh_ybnllAPMRqeO6hycJfvfw29w18oOC5zy273DZnSnyA0oy4CFNKtHzxYRZDkq4b3Z49dt7Jw5Hfk16Vf9FfAg_gJHzsXG5IT8EkbYWmv43mtOU_RkQ4MSWp_WQ16_-Dr7KODQaRNV7HFrQN=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...and some interior photos.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPIIJLYu0YG35Mc0V5Ab9yw_PLHfxQHVMGdRJ02tXoFdToYVSR3bmlQyJo51kGjUAgHLFEzm4EazsrgVwrIH28rvmS_w2HXEUVdz0K1_9ZE2EmstiAmehG1rLFJz-qOgbxyfizXcy8TPhLk0ZufpbQe8hiVG4qlfVgOVUYKhtepl_qWiVPhLApmMJEeHGc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPIIJLYu0YG35Mc0V5Ab9yw_PLHfxQHVMGdRJ02tXoFdToYVSR3bmlQyJo51kGjUAgHLFEzm4EazsrgVwrIH28rvmS_w2HXEUVdz0K1_9ZE2EmstiAmehG1rLFJz-qOgbxyfizXcy8TPhLk0ZufpbQe8hiVG4qlfVgOVUYKhtepl_qWiVPhLApmMJEeHGc=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5n6-Y0A5B0eFNG3rhHesxDwg6WhGhQUMU8FkIt2Vdqor2LQpBiMtNP33Hge09366RyYyucjUdrkSYUZXTW92-z-t2B7oKEdCVYrPE4gnHWExzbhTiekcALJ1UUMj9M_txrT5JI1BB01jnKWlUSzqCoWihJdwRBPIEZc9Us9aNjoGoBCyZy9pzodVf5Ehg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2482" data-original-width="1387" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5n6-Y0A5B0eFNG3rhHesxDwg6WhGhQUMU8FkIt2Vdqor2LQpBiMtNP33Hge09366RyYyucjUdrkSYUZXTW92-z-t2B7oKEdCVYrPE4gnHWExzbhTiekcALJ1UUMj9M_txrT5JI1BB01jnKWlUSzqCoWihJdwRBPIEZc9Us9aNjoGoBCyZy9pzodVf5Ehg=w224-h400" width="224" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This mobile consists of bisque Kewpie Doll ornaments, circa early 20th century.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmk6saQ7xeG7DH9sEQ6SMEon9AcorZ5WlckxRQLhFLXb7AUMJzbFOhLBYva6nBHjdJ2Lt1ItVZA-dSh2JISh7KlyRGLaaiFinK5mt4NiaM6vKr52vmiOPC37BZ_gF_KYtehJp8LRYvE5TYfDnZLUcTvrQMzlSVAQKQLWGgaGCsqOQEOqd2ljEQYaLoa_fG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2982" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmk6saQ7xeG7DH9sEQ6SMEon9AcorZ5WlckxRQLhFLXb7AUMJzbFOhLBYva6nBHjdJ2Lt1ItVZA-dSh2JISh7KlyRGLaaiFinK5mt4NiaM6vKr52vmiOPC37BZ_gF_KYtehJp8LRYvE5TYfDnZLUcTvrQMzlSVAQKQLWGgaGCsqOQEOqd2ljEQYaLoa_fG=w400-h154" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">East Terrace house</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiogHXrDFjQHoyhAw9we10xLLlAIb0EKEp4Pa2JDci2QeBpNCaS-2wPOVenTX21NTOujipuANHNVioMZPYx_1S2qi6pV66Jxx0IFMlsDlNrOAnRyRPqO43DiYYCIW8YPUplIqXzTmRVxLFm9W_zzDVwrbgPOV5SXCKJlAf0aR-9TGueg59hSJIkM9RlSC40" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiogHXrDFjQHoyhAw9we10xLLlAIb0EKEp4Pa2JDci2QeBpNCaS-2wPOVenTX21NTOujipuANHNVioMZPYx_1S2qi6pV66Jxx0IFMlsDlNrOAnRyRPqO43DiYYCIW8YPUplIqXzTmRVxLFm9W_zzDVwrbgPOV5SXCKJlAf0aR-9TGueg59hSJIkM9RlSC40=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh960mdqVwit2BOI5jpIq6y2_I98ZwqNq30uhnq3IOT6y4rmzWUOdiE4NCBgBUFgk4Qa29ztIxa0X8B5ElfZza2xca81vAWM2RT5vQkdqhCcxl71wN78R92RPtjx26o8EZqIHDE6frwZydpUNscrrBmEvxl4hEJky_yg7h6kxh4HV-vKO-N2hp75aDZ8Ngm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh960mdqVwit2BOI5jpIq6y2_I98ZwqNq30uhnq3IOT6y4rmzWUOdiE4NCBgBUFgk4Qa29ztIxa0X8B5ElfZza2xca81vAWM2RT5vQkdqhCcxl71wN78R92RPtjx26o8EZqIHDE6frwZydpUNscrrBmEvxl4hEJky_yg7h6kxh4HV-vKO-N2hp75aDZ8Ngm=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A very luxurious indoor bathroom was added later on.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS2X3BuLzKoaj6IPHA5e6NoOQLj_ZuCN7zGaB72U4sXANbqtH1-8X61XfgjuCWc-y6PGP5s-A6AY0x3UgYI7D294UHeYah0PohnLYpxthoHdLue-WlFcFxYUD0kX30Rqng-7idLlMFXNjuo3B8KfU06ShB0d5tbTnbQzn2J-pZVaghkKD_wRyFgDFql7UG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS2X3BuLzKoaj6IPHA5e6NoOQLj_ZuCN7zGaB72U4sXANbqtH1-8X61XfgjuCWc-y6PGP5s-A6AY0x3UgYI7D294UHeYah0PohnLYpxthoHdLue-WlFcFxYUD0kX30Rqng-7idLlMFXNjuo3B8KfU06ShB0d5tbTnbQzn2J-pZVaghkKD_wRyFgDFql7UG=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While hoofing around the area, we stumbled
upon the beautiful St. Francis on the Brazos Church.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Built in 1931, it replicates the Spanish
mission style of architecture.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuzc_bObMkDpQGWOguLRn2-JezJETaLroHfqiTIhqWgAcWN4T4gujBe-KwTRCKh_Id2PoTMgJ3OI_o2Hr4MR8Maum_1LvtMWNJJv3tFkS80KSWYMokJWoSqBhVgTS5etU6mhlt48QMuxaTOTX4waaoaU2gs2cXUGSz2Mna4bAqG6kZLa1kcSTbTs0O9ABh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuzc_bObMkDpQGWOguLRn2-JezJETaLroHfqiTIhqWgAcWN4T4gujBe-KwTRCKh_Id2PoTMgJ3OI_o2Hr4MR8Maum_1LvtMWNJJv3tFkS80KSWYMokJWoSqBhVgTS5etU6mhlt48QMuxaTOTX4waaoaU2gs2cXUGSz2Mna4bAqG6kZLa1kcSTbTs0O9ABh=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOcX_cfZg0di-nWHX4h_n__0zJCAbgtGErZEIzf8WfDqFqkKAuDJ2ANul0y4F5lNZk8aGjenHyRPApirJvtIihrqhY0ChTNEP6EawIScJ064ez8V8-LTnYntiR1g20TXVOBKGrLFVO57Z8qM-sbpkr90G1eccYvkc6GPsVt-pnhz9CHYbm1toq2VoIgYe8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOcX_cfZg0di-nWHX4h_n__0zJCAbgtGErZEIzf8WfDqFqkKAuDJ2ANul0y4F5lNZk8aGjenHyRPApirJvtIihrqhY0ChTNEP6EawIScJ064ez8V8-LTnYntiR1g20TXVOBKGrLFVO57Z8qM-sbpkr90G1eccYvkc6GPsVt-pnhz9CHYbm1toq2VoIgYe8=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_RiMBqTT-PxINW3D7KMqZvLcbbi8DvLOykpAFDpG1WucFiQOIuHxX-HwfiO3vHI8BsuIXYF2k9r_3jMTBZ3gjh-xxPwxpiONDhX0aprcLEkt3_w0156lWxH3RLae_eVhNqb0Btd6XSxE8G4SuAZ6HF5jYrwUQePSWuE9LWW9UsJzQ5y3IGcdyOvq1xG7H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_RiMBqTT-PxINW3D7KMqZvLcbbi8DvLOykpAFDpG1WucFiQOIuHxX-HwfiO3vHI8BsuIXYF2k9r_3jMTBZ3gjh-xxPwxpiONDhX0aprcLEkt3_w0156lWxH3RLae_eVhNqb0Btd6XSxE8G4SuAZ6HF5jYrwUQePSWuE9LWW9UsJzQ5y3IGcdyOvq1xG7H=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxd6N-IL8D3RBUfeLgl11-hRBTDU7zSz86FsXwl4bHMyeeIv0N6u-OMahbephRmZgnwg9iAu-IANq03UOU5a01MgP-omI3caW_eUBZtcpCSw4ZO-c7OtDeAqGz35nO001dxLAnElNgDUKSbgOk0CKnGaR4ILYJxgBUKFB6_kdKdo32k9jmtRUW9fZgAuGd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxd6N-IL8D3RBUfeLgl11-hRBTDU7zSz86FsXwl4bHMyeeIv0N6u-OMahbephRmZgnwg9iAu-IANq03UOU5a01MgP-omI3caW_eUBZtcpCSw4ZO-c7OtDeAqGz35nO001dxLAnElNgDUKSbgOk0CKnGaR4ILYJxgBUKFB6_kdKdo32k9jmtRUW9fZgAuGd=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also
took a drive to the Castle Heights section of town to sneak a peek at the
notable Cottonland Castle.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Constructed
from 1890 to 1913, the property was purchased by Chip and Joanna Gaines in 2019 as a “fixer upper” for approximately $425K.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Supposedly, the Gaines completed the renovation
and gave limited tours of their work last fall (for $50/ticket), before airing
their efforts on HGTV thereafter.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">At the
time of our visit this July, the home was for sale at the whopping cost of
$2.9M.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Subsequently, it had a major price reduction to $1.1M.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The
listing is now removed, so either they found a suitable buyer or took the
property off the market.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht9T7Urtepn1TA1UCW-s_L4tBgpW7pPCspuhczDQ5iXQE5Vg56kcOtjRg-Zrm-tum7hlqAzlUImVcldf_fZnuDu06Xe1MvA3uYKUHo2iBOom4GdjrgEOndQZ3nt9NkE9ENSb1np8KN7sY4ETGW3dFhU_VRKtbdfGwbhTBzE9hQrFMrYNiIOb62nMY2OhpL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht9T7Urtepn1TA1UCW-s_L4tBgpW7pPCspuhczDQ5iXQE5Vg56kcOtjRg-Zrm-tum7hlqAzlUImVcldf_fZnuDu06Xe1MvA3uYKUHo2iBOom4GdjrgEOndQZ3nt9NkE9ENSb1np8KN7sY4ETGW3dFhU_VRKtbdfGwbhTBzE9hQrFMrYNiIOb62nMY2OhpL=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOK45QJWhJdzS7TEjpuAS54A90AwEKBAktAiusPVfpDRyQHZXnQtNeQoZFgRyVxJeTyjtjfpYUw3RxGeC2CbokAPY3mGv0BSdCD96Dsn8KusBsJmxOhR6JI9JPCPt_x3qelEvoDiOzDj88N_Jd7qQ6v5b4pbm-f_7GJ7KGBriJS2LD95wt17xVHQHKrzM2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOK45QJWhJdzS7TEjpuAS54A90AwEKBAktAiusPVfpDRyQHZXnQtNeQoZFgRyVxJeTyjtjfpYUw3RxGeC2CbokAPY3mGv0BSdCD96Dsn8KusBsJmxOhR6JI9JPCPt_x3qelEvoDiOzDj88N_Jd7qQ6v5b4pbm-f_7GJ7KGBriJS2LD95wt17xVHQHKrzM2=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How apropos--turkey vultures hanging out in the turret!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">Since Dad is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, we completed our final day in Waco with a tour of the Grand Lodge of
Texas, a massive 140K square foot building that boasts a 3,700 square foot
auditorium.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">The State organization dates
to 1838, when TX was still a Republic.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">In fact, almost all members of the Republic’s Administration—from
President to Vice President to Cabinet—were Masons.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Additionally, 15 Presidents of the U.S.A.
were Masons, the last one being Gerald Ford.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">Interestingly, the 5-point Texas Star is the Masonic symbol for
friendship.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">And did you know that Buzz
Aldrin, himself a Mason, established a Masonic Lodge on the moon?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">What a great tour with interesting exhibits
and a most knowledgeable guide to boot.</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCcOpFsH0SPw6PQO_nfo9d0vvkJhbAxkJpM4IQZs-5bDNLhplcwr0wI0nVFgQBKoHmrfVYLMEjsGjaD-NUSJLc42SSOAQt_Fez85lgJX2S-TKaxLIMf2jgJqandoyIffNaKcF85yI2w7IX9b2eUf_0eJ0zqWPGJ2lzozg2C6gBDspip1wpixSmcNjOgbx7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2897" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCcOpFsH0SPw6PQO_nfo9d0vvkJhbAxkJpM4IQZs-5bDNLhplcwr0wI0nVFgQBKoHmrfVYLMEjsGjaD-NUSJLc42SSOAQt_Fez85lgJX2S-TKaxLIMf2jgJqandoyIffNaKcF85yI2w7IX9b2eUf_0eJ0zqWPGJ2lzozg2C6gBDspip1wpixSmcNjOgbx7=w400-h154" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-SxUdxNxSCjtBGZlTl1A8MH7LITIO6mj3gMaAcdtUy5rigIdnoQh4vyfsB4-VmHH3lDF0ZLbop2FiYFAycJKMwX5TW7XEmYjKbuUzYxYkmAoPCfMLJdR1w-0Qe00zdw4KlcqgVVtikiuYqRn6UzJsgvj1h2VGJl3yniWA77DN77wSDF6C-NBlI5Q_0nYj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-SxUdxNxSCjtBGZlTl1A8MH7LITIO6mj3gMaAcdtUy5rigIdnoQh4vyfsB4-VmHH3lDF0ZLbop2FiYFAycJKMwX5TW7XEmYjKbuUzYxYkmAoPCfMLJdR1w-0Qe00zdw4KlcqgVVtikiuYqRn6UzJsgvj1h2VGJl3yniWA77DN77wSDF6C-NBlI5Q_0nYj=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgElH00wJl5SnsGmwd5ee5H9djBFvE1eQCfnYcjpaSZIrH9szfeZ4OtVPoBNfREzG_quMNf3Ev3ExD2k17KRwLAkqTThabmwI7gn09pUpWH_SzS5JXwvT2s_lMIS8bHj9hWON1iUffxWjxP1Js_C3ykhLqb5CPe1TTdavbZg35DF8lLNpwdH-op6D0uEr7z" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgElH00wJl5SnsGmwd5ee5H9djBFvE1eQCfnYcjpaSZIrH9szfeZ4OtVPoBNfREzG_quMNf3Ev3ExD2k17KRwLAkqTThabmwI7gn09pUpWH_SzS5JXwvT2s_lMIS8bHj9hWON1iUffxWjxP1Js_C3ykhLqb5CPe1TTdavbZg35DF8lLNpwdH-op6D0uEr7z=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This room contained a gorgeous stained glass art piece.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihFSrD7hb4KJViK8Q68MFY72lt5nGtlsr80lhBXZdspu9cVMbdIZCI4zVzKHCKy5UBhyQpHEXffa9zPbruKtiYwSvXJDIGk9aKAg6qF8dgykmE1RgyH3v5Z5u5Mx_ZmTYxe4m78-EdxRjp0OwwTsLdwiLlLGHDLVuKk852giYjGUnnQBgn-bUAB8n4cSBa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihFSrD7hb4KJViK8Q68MFY72lt5nGtlsr80lhBXZdspu9cVMbdIZCI4zVzKHCKy5UBhyQpHEXffa9zPbruKtiYwSvXJDIGk9aKAg6qF8dgykmE1RgyH3v5Z5u5Mx_ZmTYxe4m78-EdxRjp0OwwTsLdwiLlLGHDLVuKk852giYjGUnnQBgn-bUAB8n4cSBa=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwmiszCpqlRQxjH-pAglj6ekCcu28MkMYt3ke1_hIBjVw47WMaoBdRdXjYllQUtTrmvY_KE3uzd5cEv-AzaANpIv0a81HAaWv4nJDOFShOHNgMQ5X4dgmHU2LZW8HoxcfRUaSPwCg3Bzvk0E7GpzhgoKgmEjOWlXegmaSUFZJPeylsIZFW4Qi_KO42hYTH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwmiszCpqlRQxjH-pAglj6ekCcu28MkMYt3ke1_hIBjVw47WMaoBdRdXjYllQUtTrmvY_KE3uzd5cEv-AzaANpIv0a81HAaWv4nJDOFShOHNgMQ5X4dgmHU2LZW8HoxcfRUaSPwCg3Bzvk0E7GpzhgoKgmEjOWlXegmaSUFZJPeylsIZFW4Qi_KO42hYTH=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As you can see, there is a variety of fun stuff to do in
Waco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad we had the opportunity to
explore it in depth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gotta run now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to you again soon!</span><o:p></o:p></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-45936293250614865552023-08-05T23:30:00.002-05:002023-09-06T07:43:07.033-05:00Balls, Bulls, and Bats!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The inferno known as Summer in TX continues.
But I must commend my parents—they haven’t let the heatwave interfere
with their activities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
kicked off the month of July with several celebrations. Rainbow’s End RV Park continued its tradition
of an Independence Day golf cart parade.
I donned my overalls and
patriotic gear to commemorate the founding of the U.S.A. Sure, our Nation has some operational flaws
and must fix <u>many</u> problems, but there is <i>NOWHERE</i> else this Rambling RV
Rat would rather live.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVNEirglOZmQ512RFMbznON_1cFJ0E-q3o-6Gp76i6-zEQOfKSGakPbY5t3REXYyo8vHniSBqI0p2R2qd1GOyjFNzzKAIek2WhzimCtXn3_dYyjSdE23kJSIv8WkUz2P9U2niX6JNR4_6djqy0jze5tJQTDhw5UHjtZPmWS1txK1XUrB_zQW2MhG9uYAQ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1991" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVNEirglOZmQ512RFMbznON_1cFJ0E-q3o-6Gp76i6-zEQOfKSGakPbY5t3REXYyo8vHniSBqI0p2R2qd1GOyjFNzzKAIek2WhzimCtXn3_dYyjSdE23kJSIv8WkUz2P9U2niX6JNR4_6djqy0jze5tJQTDhw5UHjtZPmWS1txK1XUrB_zQW2MhG9uYAQ0=w400-h186" width="400" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVNEirglOZmQ512RFMbznON_1cFJ0E-q3o-6Gp76i6-zEQOfKSGakPbY5t3REXYyo8vHniSBqI0p2R2qd1GOyjFNzzKAIek2WhzimCtXn3_dYyjSdE23kJSIv8WkUz2P9U2niX6JNR4_6djqy0jze5tJQTDhw5UHjtZPmWS1txK1XUrB_zQW2MhG9uYAQ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTjd7OANiUIFWaYLZRXikiG4-emg9uByxzVOz4LhgsLkTewRKsShrmBX_Xhr5pfFZB9dQAyAVE6jKW6tzGL2pR0dUWfHPp1ar2FQi8ZKtTwdfi65w8QriXf8ENTToApxZnqQ0TU22HDN_oOJx_KgIxbe2TWb982MLGOFhdvJb7APwrBn9NPWwAVu7OfSDG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTjd7OANiUIFWaYLZRXikiG4-emg9uByxzVOz4LhgsLkTewRKsShrmBX_Xhr5pfFZB9dQAyAVE6jKW6tzGL2pR0dUWfHPp1ar2FQi8ZKtTwdfi65w8QriXf8ENTToApxZnqQ0TU22HDN_oOJx_KgIxbe2TWb982MLGOFhdvJb7APwrBn9NPWwAVu7OfSDG=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8QzkIF5mZ0N-DE9r7-FCa_Xnz9jWbIvZBvzWbyJnSpPha3tRaQp8sexxzASgWoEmUhYJAes5s7ROMyqwnOQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">July 4th also marked the 45<sup>th</sup> anniversary for Escapees RV Club, so we joined in a potluck dinner with our fellow Park residents/visitors to celebrate the occasion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVlMoyfQC23y2vo1mv2Du9PWCsy4o-UoqrZ1O3SOEAxd0hNcUD-OeX5KFxAR0tgAPpUaWjgWZWy4FqKd3ThXM0kuKZwOAF4qeuD1Tcr-YkUBTCzmMYN07yfUdRzMIWl9hT89Y12tjJxHzvewdc-HenHVfMmdbUuXe6_zmKZxC93qnf-FVXW5yVHAKIVeJZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3945" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVlMoyfQC23y2vo1mv2Du9PWCsy4o-UoqrZ1O3SOEAxd0hNcUD-OeX5KFxAR0tgAPpUaWjgWZWy4FqKd3ThXM0kuKZwOAF4qeuD1Tcr-YkUBTCzmMYN07yfUdRzMIWl9hT89Y12tjJxHzvewdc-HenHVfMmdbUuXe6_zmKZxC93qnf-FVXW5yVHAKIVeJZ=w400-h183" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaiQFt14-WQ9l2sBQznoJA-OEMbyT_Aymbx2qm6kALTUSEq7R144J-tGTjcQoz5FjGgcPlg6n7Wcre-IhpvKZ7l6AG6G3J_SYKzGYzQcjVLO-olTPiyZ7xROvg97Jdy2Fodk91aocrEMXxafElmqcOnVs6SMNT23A2JNiBuhIrqfOiGqFmB1EHntBm301Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaiQFt14-WQ9l2sBQznoJA-OEMbyT_Aymbx2qm6kALTUSEq7R144J-tGTjcQoz5FjGgcPlg6n7Wcre-IhpvKZ7l6AG6G3J_SYKzGYzQcjVLO-olTPiyZ7xROvg97Jdy2Fodk91aocrEMXxafElmqcOnVs6SMNT23A2JNiBuhIrqfOiGqFmB1EHntBm301Z=w180-h400" width="180" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhj99_Zrbh0W-1UCd8kE9f60GBCb3dWA6TkofdNtXtOemA-WQpX7G_hL8EoieLxdGa6Mb6muDmDwDAt0ZjlJu3vcYQGwQkKOXf0MHbH6pNxgDqyb6p0qKmRVZt0oXyfh4YnT7mGB-moC8WFRRBKVtXB8FYYEcwO1QkA0KREjPwz8Ny2UEyxJ9EdVMpETTHK" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9R4pmX_wpqDIQ3YsdFUgrfByrH4aqkoSvh_m0hzU_TUH1oDNpVbPiDZhaYGWOucy_YV_Blcvl9pp4pM1iu6lh8Sd9G8Q4IHSsxKpi8UTL37a8ZJEGttsqN0Cbgt0KiiACmCxTipyV-7SrWWSsSg0o1B-7NjXuZAq7fMlJGLiRAuZhf61d9rEj-dmZ1iv8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9R4pmX_wpqDIQ3YsdFUgrfByrH4aqkoSvh_m0hzU_TUH1oDNpVbPiDZhaYGWOucy_YV_Blcvl9pp4pM1iu6lh8Sd9G8Q4IHSsxKpi8UTL37a8ZJEGttsqN0Cbgt0KiiACmCxTipyV-7SrWWSsSg0o1B-7NjXuZAq7fMlJGLiRAuZhf61d9rEj-dmZ1iv8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguojDNvs5c5s0Zx4v41_W90jg-ciypybQPHUgZ4ZKMFS-XUm0XLFiHDzSFNjQblCDyhzaxeIZ_dEVHg5iVzSPmeFGRMf7Xmma8jPFWEOW_sXtal3iIVGGHrNAgqAjLIgFbvVLlFruYXQL8BGsXFgUk8BVtVTfjwOcQDETT2tld5Xz1XUcSveW6k8cxf3gx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguojDNvs5c5s0Zx4v41_W90jg-ciypybQPHUgZ4ZKMFS-XUm0XLFiHDzSFNjQblCDyhzaxeIZ_dEVHg5iVzSPmeFGRMf7Xmma8jPFWEOW_sXtal3iIVGGHrNAgqAjLIgFbvVLlFruYXQL8BGsXFgUk8BVtVTfjwOcQDETT2tld5Xz1XUcSveW6k8cxf3gx=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
went down to Houston Motorsports Park for the Nascar “Patriots on Pavement” races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We watched a </span>variety of racing vehicles, from
modifieds and trucks to ecos and even Nascarts (think glorified gocarts).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A night filled with excitement, crashes, and
holiday fireworks—who could ask for more!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8xmkAR_1JsvAeEkLUmca20RhPVTzgQWD3cFNhXznGp0USSJujWQGrfdcLaYS1APaJomJwO2n5teoEdepAMnxepy3-ytL4S8RrIsDlmtAP384OYFI9qw0Rqumz-P_gGT0acHWnkYl8djLzRFRU_rOGZ3723o6gbYDT-64PN0rGu4HQEcyjlqhjJtXZByU0" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1859" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8xmkAR_1JsvAeEkLUmca20RhPVTzgQWD3cFNhXznGp0USSJujWQGrfdcLaYS1APaJomJwO2n5teoEdepAMnxepy3-ytL4S8RrIsDlmtAP384OYFI9qw0Rqumz-P_gGT0acHWnkYl8djLzRFRU_rOGZ3723o6gbYDT-64PN0rGu4HQEcyjlqhjJtXZByU0=w400-h210" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Nascarts are the perfect size for Rambling RV Rat!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqW9w_us3xpmFVpGJKP_qshr34vAOMGU5JhwZp3NGH7Beyz_4yHFly7scCv_3wkKQzb79wKsK75P8Yk_TM_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8HuxBPYTTWTK_QYasVzTJ5pV3uuihuvyn5NAqaHxmlWxCujzyhs8iFWTl2mbwtzye0yuciWcVY95HPh99HQWjcOkAFHDOraRaryvR5v0DU8sHCuNUhvyuCXMPqURijusS1a3-CKwUAHGiCnM3Tjcn_3RDcVvylOxgzP21o9W-23CXgwGB-36m00u9XEgC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8HuxBPYTTWTK_QYasVzTJ5pV3uuihuvyn5NAqaHxmlWxCujzyhs8iFWTl2mbwtzye0yuciWcVY95HPh99HQWjcOkAFHDOraRaryvR5v0DU8sHCuNUhvyuCXMPqURijusS1a3-CKwUAHGiCnM3Tjcn_3RDcVvylOxgzP21o9W-23CXgwGB-36m00u9XEgC=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Racing under the supermoon!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMkNHQWRIg09ppVe0RdB4wng0qO3AlcgAmhm34Vd4wHUIGJnRgXl3ugUaHgD070T8Z8M8m0MoftChtVSPZavdEjNXrhXazdbyLBNffbwiJaJ2r8dYyWyrEq9SfxlJwpgmCFeBP3J9KXx5zLntzMO5I4Z7GVY5AN_w5r7QGMuHscT4ZHRMr0kwu_pOavqF_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMkNHQWRIg09ppVe0RdB4wng0qO3AlcgAmhm34Vd4wHUIGJnRgXl3ugUaHgD070T8Z8M8m0MoftChtVSPZavdEjNXrhXazdbyLBNffbwiJaJ2r8dYyWyrEq9SfxlJwpgmCFeBP3J9KXx5zLntzMO5I4Z7GVY5AN_w5r7QGMuHscT4ZHRMr0kwu_pOavqF_=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Holiday fireworks at the track.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
also enjoyed a train robbery re-enactment to celebrate the 97<sup>th</sup>
birthday of a Park resident.
Those scandalous robbers stole my cheese money! But the Sherriff and his Lawmen soon
arrived. Yes, some “gunfire” ensued, but
justice prevailed! It was a great
surprise for the birthday girl and wonderful entertainment for all us
spectators (and unsuspecting “participants”).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZGA4l2GBc0WnFgEBB2fzJmK8fZhFwba4GWrM7DUVqOcOylPZ3RAFiL9kAJCdIgetccjzQr1IW_JKec7Yd3SkJMvpkgbFYYJPi1xisnlCY3N9ln1ziiKj9jkC7lkOUMIgJOnSPTVm7eiEuLfLuhM16Tcu28xW4lR14xYcHvhfkKtK3a-iYpPdezeVajsEq" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1252" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZGA4l2GBc0WnFgEBB2fzJmK8fZhFwba4GWrM7DUVqOcOylPZ3RAFiL9kAJCdIgetccjzQr1IW_JKec7Yd3SkJMvpkgbFYYJPi1xisnlCY3N9ln1ziiKj9jkC7lkOUMIgJOnSPTVm7eiEuLfLuhM16Tcu28xW4lR14xYcHvhfkKtK3a-iYpPdezeVajsEq=w400-h279" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The scoundrels arrived in town and stole my cheese money!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsAVljFut-3tqoccDZKbuDyWmJViLKn3IFY_laAFxffYWXSiktq2RrBrpFvX48uczfn3rUtLcdowkcvWlQ18aISRFl_HnKSjn-LFPPmxoXzmcVKm-4-yrcLZrXPZiYr1427ahPeG4MkEgMiknvxIBtSYiOklr9v03l5KG-_Vj5ejwUqgYfHspb8nbwCm6n" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2416" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsAVljFut-3tqoccDZKbuDyWmJViLKn3IFY_laAFxffYWXSiktq2RrBrpFvX48uczfn3rUtLcdowkcvWlQ18aISRFl_HnKSjn-LFPPmxoXzmcVKm-4-yrcLZrXPZiYr1427ahPeG4MkEgMiknvxIBtSYiOklr9v03l5KG-_Vj5ejwUqgYfHspb8nbwCm6n=w400-h243" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The birthday girl and train robbery entourage.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSBvkxjIAvF_WxVzYKuXJyQBPEU3HNmz-hIkUyAQHQeZWK9CFybYM9Y06y8k87gFcCzf9GDqOs8nHnZ0nRfLUIBh_MzuGGbRLXbCoPSWID49SEDRFpHIXz8EBkdSdUiBxGsmRW2U4DRDDpOkLOSXoo7L6uRaOiu2hniLbH_j7wdWbdIoomd-_vTYZ-4NUt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSBvkxjIAvF_WxVzYKuXJyQBPEU3HNmz-hIkUyAQHQeZWK9CFybYM9Y06y8k87gFcCzf9GDqOs8nHnZ0nRfLUIBh_MzuGGbRLXbCoPSWID49SEDRFpHIXz8EBkdSdUiBxGsmRW2U4DRDDpOkLOSXoo7L6uRaOiu2hniLbH_j7wdWbdIoomd-_vTYZ-4NUt=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb1hRLPk8gRv94hg68x6jGyH2-4tg8dcUscimRprVELKRxPmVwYhEBhY72Wi8JI-TcIMoxWRwuQwcZx9SVuq-3AgI_aWjsqvUFH1rFMt6b57Ok68pIN5pcRqnIhELPD2ZaOILNwE2eGE6OQfYIZcH94ipSpd-QJOyTsEXHsAOSt1tYGmOggfXH7Uh0nbW3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb1hRLPk8gRv94hg68x6jGyH2-4tg8dcUscimRprVELKRxPmVwYhEBhY72Wi8JI-TcIMoxWRwuQwcZx9SVuq-3AgI_aWjsqvUFH1rFMt6b57Ok68pIN5pcRqnIhELPD2ZaOILNwE2eGE6OQfYIZcH94ipSpd-QJOyTsEXHsAOSt1tYGmOggfXH7Uh0nbW3=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LESk-Ln2OhQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="LESk-Ln2OhQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
have increased our pickleball activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our group now plays early morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Matthews
Street Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have been soliciting
venues at which we could play <i>INDOORS</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We approached Escapees to play in the Rainbow's End RV Park Activity Center, but our request
was denied despite us providing all equipment and materials to facilitate play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Polk County Center of Hope Mission is “thinking about” opening their warehouse
for pickleball. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several of the area
churches have areas to play pickleball, but they reserve the space for use by
their own congregants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we hit
the jackpot when Mom (as a member of the Auxiliary) received
permission from VFW Post 8568 on US-190 to play on Friday afternoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we have an <i>INDOOR</i> place to play once
weekly to shelter from the excessive heat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b>THANK YOU VFW Post 8568</b>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you are ever visiting Livingston, come on out and join in the fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTcRVVuN6T93jjmAMsVvbuntjK1GqYDO1dE2wqRZXjDWwhaOX65r3aCHDisQ18t39CGe-A6lCYi05ehDxksPh-6ovk3_n2dV65sOoNVfGFNtcQVislE5lUDhse2DykSj5gWqIdAkIayt3I0qF97E8qEb_VE0X7tSjD5_2VTIviKnHEO_tWxDM3eKJfSaAT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTcRVVuN6T93jjmAMsVvbuntjK1GqYDO1dE2wqRZXjDWwhaOX65r3aCHDisQ18t39CGe-A6lCYi05ehDxksPh-6ovk3_n2dV65sOoNVfGFNtcQVislE5lUDhse2DykSj5gWqIdAkIayt3I0qF97E8qEb_VE0X7tSjD5_2VTIviKnHEO_tWxDM3eKJfSaAT=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our players range in age...</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgovA65CnRqMpHVUdw4ym88wooqOTs2fvLBleFgpiogElxZ-2oLROtaa332F61JaAyV6jbNsp3p3_jMWlhLuPs08KSCt05U_QfVhOzDwUhMvaG9V2p_UMdHULtGBuDDLMwX10z_1hDIlLJHpI1A0tH3TKcHQCn91Sl9mQDoEVQuvJc34gRMz44dLEb2GwU_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgovA65CnRqMpHVUdw4ym88wooqOTs2fvLBleFgpiogElxZ-2oLROtaa332F61JaAyV6jbNsp3p3_jMWlhLuPs08KSCt05U_QfVhOzDwUhMvaG9V2p_UMdHULtGBuDDLMwX10z_1hDIlLJHpI1A0tH3TKcHQCn91Sl9mQDoEVQuvJc34gRMz44dLEb2GwU_=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...from 18 to 75!</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN0wHfwOVmI13EjB4FJrMx_kZfe0GTxnBFmJqhqK1obEwk6iSDkarnzY6Y0DvK7CvKjQEjVH6Ja2vb-6mKESywpGxRvxvszo1MvlRSWRAmKDiZFpX3eJw-wIuc3LEpLl6TXaXA2Ghb0A3PD5KWpbA7VelJMhoHPQ_XFFhheWzA_9VNqZqFKTv1xXzeNFLX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN0wHfwOVmI13EjB4FJrMx_kZfe0GTxnBFmJqhqK1obEwk6iSDkarnzY6Y0DvK7CvKjQEjVH6Ja2vb-6mKESywpGxRvxvszo1MvlRSWRAmKDiZFpX3eJw-wIuc3LEpLl6TXaXA2Ghb0A3PD5KWpbA7VelJMhoHPQ_XFFhheWzA_9VNqZqFKTv1xXzeNFLX=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And we even get some spectators, like this mourning dove perched on our truck's horns while parked at the courts at Matthews Street Park!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzaZhI68_-LtO-BAD2C7q5PeO2XKFOfVfwklNzIfzmYwXI-bqoYb6nerWzjs90yFXr2Ze8syvVkHv94kCtB5TWdfISScsIxi2ppmf9IDdEL5Eaqkvd0yiRw3qqnYCeGAPIUKXoB5VHae-NTLEcihJ0faehahKm441ecCQ86Eo-K89eDb1L53DLU_Hhr-A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzaZhI68_-LtO-BAD2C7q5PeO2XKFOfVfwklNzIfzmYwXI-bqoYb6nerWzjs90yFXr2Ze8syvVkHv94kCtB5TWdfISScsIxi2ppmf9IDdEL5Eaqkvd0yiRw3qqnYCeGAPIUKXoB5VHae-NTLEcihJ0faehahKm441ecCQ86Eo-K89eDb1L53DLU_Hhr-A" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So nice to be playing indoors, too! Thank you VFW Post 8568!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking
of pickleball, we participated in the Livingston First Baptist Church “Picklepalooza”
tournament. Held as a fundraiser for
their youth ministry, the inaugural event was a smashing success! It was well organized with a good turnout. My parents won against their first 2 sets of
competitors before being eliminated after Game 4 with a respectable score of 12
for the winners (who were half the age of my parents) to 10. The tournament grand prize winners won a much-coveted
prize: a jar of pickles! It was great fun and good to play with new
people while enjoying the camaraderie of our regular players. Hoping the First Baptist Church makes this an
annual event!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQxeZoIS7Hq0kRn0c2hW4T3gWg4-0Q3jt-aFpLaT_29k_Eox7Albog7JgtvPjmruDLVF-0CTr3l7ThoqJIE7K1zl91mip3WISky8A-5j9kPCCxKF0d_vlLGrIhEfk0kHTw-h53e-nHQ_vsNPkzglzL-Xc1JjjDK93qrl666JpPAjM6mAgLjvk5_feM-Nfl" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQxeZoIS7Hq0kRn0c2hW4T3gWg4-0Q3jt-aFpLaT_29k_Eox7Albog7JgtvPjmruDLVF-0CTr3l7ThoqJIE7K1zl91mip3WISky8A-5j9kPCCxKF0d_vlLGrIhEfk0kHTw-h53e-nHQ_vsNPkzglzL-Xc1JjjDK93qrl666JpPAjM6mAgLjvk5_feM-Nfl=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Participants getting the scoop and poop on tournament rules.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJFYfppE1eWQBRbm0-XjAhWDyiY381L-hkjzKMa0x_CQvLyarj9SXDVEMfxSrTCiwH8uIl8eVjOozGxiNqYzMtHrUzSukI7IV1sOmCTGj57tzFQKIZnSHOY3i2jWw1hVPMGxOoaMY4vhKv9TuEuTFY4OMmcZkxILsyX4eIVGR_ndiAj-hIsFOsz5jRlASN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="953" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJFYfppE1eWQBRbm0-XjAhWDyiY381L-hkjzKMa0x_CQvLyarj9SXDVEMfxSrTCiwH8uIl8eVjOozGxiNqYzMtHrUzSukI7IV1sOmCTGj57tzFQKIZnSHOY3i2jWw1hVPMGxOoaMY4vhKv9TuEuTFY4OMmcZkxILsyX4eIVGR_ndiAj-hIsFOsz5jRlASN=w285-h400" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tournament champs with their coveted trophy--a jar of pickles!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />We
spent two sizzling Southeast TX afternoons at the Cinemark Theater in Lufkin,
scoring the matinee price of $7.50/ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it is truly annoying that I must pay a fee to be subjected to a half
hour of commercials!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, Tom
Cruise delivered another hit in “Mission Impossible-Dead Reckoning-Part
1.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking forward to the sequel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sound of Freedom” was a powerful and
thought-provoking film, evoking a range of emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was saddened to learn what innocent
children endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was mortified then
downright <b>ANGRY</b> to learn that the U.S. is the leading consumer of human
trafficking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about righting the
wrongs of slavery and abuse—why not start with what is going on <b>NOW</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children are not for sale!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, off my soapbox…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Well,
it finally happened—jury duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the first time in 8+ years of domiciling
in Livingston that we were at home base when the summons arrived for
Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Both Mom and Dad were each called
twice previously but were excused since we were out of State.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, in March my parents called the
County to volunteer for jury duty, since we knew we would be here for several
more months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we were informed
that volunteering is no longer feasible now that the jury pool selection task
has been outsourced to a third-party vendor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe someone made a notation on my parents’ records?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyhow, Dad fulfilled his obligation as a
citizen, earning a whopping $6—paid in cash by the County in a plastic sandwich
bag.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Yee-Haa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We attended the 62<sup>nd</sup> Annual Polk
County Youth Rodeo at the grounds on TX-146 just a few miles from Rainbow's End RV Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hot, sticky,
and stinky from all the animals but tons of fun to see the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls
showcase their impressive skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinqWbnWKLILDteIMYafyCVgIiPfRQqR2hXszNLj727Kv6RmawC38NFlsaqIic5coFObJZtejBy88fDRInhwSX1xfe78JRv8p7e6lzByLrtQD3S3B_3SmkZiz2Fgu023hGUurNNCwtyw44OP6y-nO1_QLa30BiHD5izzBbOxzWtytms1nDCK73ZiRcGoehr" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="2143" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinqWbnWKLILDteIMYafyCVgIiPfRQqR2hXszNLj727Kv6RmawC38NFlsaqIic5coFObJZtejBy88fDRInhwSX1xfe78JRv8p7e6lzByLrtQD3S3B_3SmkZiz2Fgu023hGUurNNCwtyw44OP6y-nO1_QLa30BiHD5izzBbOxzWtytms1nDCK73ZiRcGoehr=w400-h163" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">National Anthem performed by Jade, a young disabled girl with a terrific voice.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzz4ANkmFr52Gou928mupEEyndMK2F-pSqsXNku4VN3wSrlODivmvxL3M2ALZiG7r8rGwXQB9HwcLHAbbMwMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0y24Iuzm-OqGnzGA-mhFU7gZvWHJtqebYIt1GAIRo6LTBo8TXskGGMzpXGGk15Fmt8pEbq2OHh8TcSzlJBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNPnS3rFfgvkdobutB61P9qB10JFtAceXqZJHNy6yiZIYQR5lKaO-ajORvp2q62D93ICjRJJ8fwCS5jIRE7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">RVers
Deb/Dennis, whom we met last year while volunteering at the Albuquerque
Balloon Fiesta, rolled into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we reunited with friends Carol/John who
returned from their 6-week RV trip. I<o:p></o:p>t is always wonderful to catch up and break bread with RV friends. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinSulyD0U_3w5oEpMh9bJrBAYNX8dMEfQx28vjd154D1EcrW4VS2tWCZCk9RNKHtcCqamQwy6cxgdE7bDoPB6Ybwh12vxeOwD7_91p2WBtyNwNg44rMuTlcy_kEmFDKZHdlolsQcwiW6GqMdE6D5WbiGk_Zv5_UaHNOH46wboZ5fazPIeqTXQrbpWDsFpX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2508" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinSulyD0U_3w5oEpMh9bJrBAYNX8dMEfQx28vjd154D1EcrW4VS2tWCZCk9RNKHtcCqamQwy6cxgdE7bDoPB6Ybwh12vxeOwD7_91p2WBtyNwNg44rMuTlcy_kEmFDKZHdlolsQcwiW6GqMdE6D5WbiGk_Zv5_UaHNOH46wboZ5fazPIeqTXQrbpWDsFpX=w400-h288" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEginARm8ppbciWiI-Qj6sTJHvDl0By1zRojabqWsR5iuzBz7uLXsdPNacxT-wWSiUxYgxRKSUN3PeI8zlRKxnQEz49S-EM4II7ssOubNYQOJNqC25suYV4XqQS_jiWyPEsI0lS-ijFD-QxkZzOc9xXXsVqBuaRoeCaJ0WkkIIB0OeTK1KWvCOEcmV2H_IOG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEginARm8ppbciWiI-Qj6sTJHvDl0By1zRojabqWsR5iuzBz7uLXsdPNacxT-wWSiUxYgxRKSUN3PeI8zlRKxnQEz49S-EM4II7ssOubNYQOJNqC25suYV4XqQS_jiWyPEsI0lS-ijFD-QxkZzOc9xXXsVqBuaRoeCaJ0WkkIIB0OeTK1KWvCOEcmV2H_IOG=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I’ve
gone batty again! We visited the nearly
1-million member Mexican free-tailed bat colony that has resided since 1997 in
an abandoned 1930s cotton warehouse within the Criminal Justice Complex in
Huntsville, TX. The Department of
Criminal Justice started to demolish this building in 2022, but their efforts
were halted. You see, these bats are a
protected species, so they cannot be evicted.
The building must stay intact as long as the bats live there. So, in typical government fashion, the
Department of Justice spent $64,000 in materials (and used the prisoners to
provide free labor) to build 8 huge bat houses across the street, hoping to
entice the bats to move into new digs.
Thus far, the bats haven’t budged.
Instead, they continue to make their daily evening food flights from the
abandoned warehouse. Interestingly,
Mississippi kites and other birds of prey perch in nearby trees, surveilling
dutifully, in the hopes of scoring a fresh bat dinner. Very cool stuff!</span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqKYLf9XNFcdT9E5bVKnYU9ERP96OiTTHbEmAymOBlFaoiGIZagcHJkMA1eMGN7ZHpTcx6IFE-fzmk6-b6cbXgTxtj0meJ7gdAsKPuVtGPQXxAkjZiF8EyhTROFd3Y0JcUS3fBiv4aZfLMyC0xf9xIYeDF3IJGcuroxEBH7Sl0KudV0YSLqym0CLbw-6jn" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqKYLf9XNFcdT9E5bVKnYU9ERP96OiTTHbEmAymOBlFaoiGIZagcHJkMA1eMGN7ZHpTcx6IFE-fzmk6-b6cbXgTxtj0meJ7gdAsKPuVtGPQXxAkjZiF8EyhTROFd3Y0JcUS3fBiv4aZfLMyC0xf9xIYeDF3IJGcuroxEBH7Sl0KudV0YSLqym0CLbw-6jn=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The uninhabited bat houses.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDv_bJI8bwwtY-YTsLh1Yyta-R6zZdcdHbpPSQbTfOznizcfCFWR1Gr9HRoB9K6sdYeIvunfyVAwnE-s5ERTXyCrZY01u4VClGNdlH5rLxjlIzzTYlj04JGCgZdIaJnjUgQDBp6f6e4qO313OY1VKNgKxY2VEG2snFlXDYcLXruYFnLn5h9OpK4-bp2-iE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDv_bJI8bwwtY-YTsLh1Yyta-R6zZdcdHbpPSQbTfOznizcfCFWR1Gr9HRoB9K6sdYeIvunfyVAwnE-s5ERTXyCrZY01u4VClGNdlH5rLxjlIzzTYlj04JGCgZdIaJnjUgQDBp6f6e4qO313OY1VKNgKxY2VEG2snFlXDYcLXruYFnLn5h9OpK4-bp2-iE=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A bird of prey in the rooftop tree waiting patiently for the bats to take flight. Nothing like a grab-and-go dinner.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vw9fWnUn9N4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Vw9fWnUn9N4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Flight of the bats!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
encountered some cool creatures this month.
Check out these guys:</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6BRWt5YFjxeB3DzWdlkda55WC_hky3b7wVEbpo3rZU7Z-k7G3M4VR4MpOWAsc26s2irdjc1RVKwDH5c3dGLQWnEvCCnP9gkvxlEZGrEdHAKwT6MNmN9AYItXdeA4Q0c1BjrsBGX1r_LNe0y48Pc0o3T7aUB6lfA7rNJgkPLyFb1-SC9oXB6bGySQT2cGH" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6BRWt5YFjxeB3DzWdlkda55WC_hky3b7wVEbpo3rZU7Z-k7G3M4VR4MpOWAsc26s2irdjc1RVKwDH5c3dGLQWnEvCCnP9gkvxlEZGrEdHAKwT6MNmN9AYItXdeA4Q0c1BjrsBGX1r_LNe0y48Pc0o3T7aUB6lfA7rNJgkPLyFb1-SC9oXB6bGySQT2cGH=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A walking stick.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxh9eKkx0Yrs_JzullzB0pTxxVgqY0UfSz-50G9RvxFGTV3mXRHsunOJntJoZGRIlb7X04PMhlgQPeE8jnOgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzE27DmXDoJSwn3qV0lu7qu8r9z2uVWUmbQWuRUj1EBiwJDjPKaLnwzeJKrVwvPWb3sZYsSJyS0tfATtHBCXxJ0SI-GISbY6zoc_T45bqpISQz_Vok5HhEULUZYMdYI6fpWirWuKN8wFit-RYZX_r3VzW4kS4sTdqCLKCZbURcrm6GwdtfDH2T8eQ2r8JB" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzE27DmXDoJSwn3qV0lu7qu8r9z2uVWUmbQWuRUj1EBiwJDjPKaLnwzeJKrVwvPWb3sZYsSJyS0tfATtHBCXxJ0SI-GISbY6zoc_T45bqpISQz_Vok5HhEULUZYMdYI6fpWirWuKN8wFit-RYZX_r3VzW4kS4sTdqCLKCZbURcrm6GwdtfDH2T8eQ2r8JB=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cicada has shed its skin!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our
monthly motorcycle trip in July was to Waco, TX. I’ll tell you all about that in my next
blog.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Talk
to you again soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-32908341085307114622023-06-30T21:21:00.035-05:002023-07-14T12:55:25.557-05:00Motorcycle Road Trip to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">HOT-CHI-WAH-WAH! It was a 100F degree scorcher when we loaded
Maximus the Trike and embarked on our trip to Fredericksburg. We took mostly secondary roads, seeing lots
of corn fields and pecan groves along TX-30.
Soon we were on TX-21, which follows the original route of Camino Real
de los Tejas. This royal road
connected the governmental epicenter of New Spain (later to become Mexico) with
missions, presidios, and economic centers within Texas. We passed through Bastrop, the heart of the Lost
Pines. The Lost Pines are a bit of an anomaly. You see, they represent 13 miles of an
orphaned loblolly pine tree forest. It
is separated by 100+ miles from the Piney Woods region of Texas where this
species of tree is native. We stayed
south of Austin on US-290, thinking we would avoid traffic—no such luck. US-290
was under major construction, so there was lots of stop-and-go congestion. After a long, hot ride, we checked into the Econo
Lodge in Fredericksburg. Though our room
had new flooring and bedding, it is still an older motor lodge. But it was economically priced as part of our
Choice Privilege Rewards Program, has a local owner/operator, and is within
walking distance for us (less than a mile) from historic downtown
Fredericksburg.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
settled in, showered, and took a quick catnap before RV friends Sherry/Matt
picked us up for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
volunteering at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and gave up their days off to
spend with us and act as our tour guides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We dined at Pasta Bella with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a very popular (hence very noisy) Italian eatery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this Rambling RV Rat’s opinion, it is a
bit overpriced for what I consider average-tasting Italian food--not surprising
for being in a tourist town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But having
the company of good friends and their always stimulating conversation was worth
every penny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We strolled down Main
Street, getting the lay of the land from Sherry/Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, this is our first extensive visit to
Fredericksburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent a day here back
in 2015 enroute to our South Dakota work-camping gig at Crazy Horse Memorial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that only encompassed walking down Main
Street and eating at Hondo’s, a unique burger joint that was featured on the Texas Bucket List show.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjEW-A-c26E7CplNFXLjdnPNYebBkO5qhpAXvk_KUCrZ5jXNIsyQXXdTTXQQm0yi5dVJvsWJFgD4eYKPQLvrWn4_CrMIqQRre5Mp25ZwymptS_NL3TwRAW2grBSF_HcWQMMOP0LllTQJAHw7NN5f629iZGetnVX7isxiRrasfJhZxJStCaYfQiEP9Gd-T-" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="3263" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjEW-A-c26E7CplNFXLjdnPNYebBkO5qhpAXvk_KUCrZ5jXNIsyQXXdTTXQQm0yi5dVJvsWJFgD4eYKPQLvrWn4_CrMIqQRre5Mp25ZwymptS_NL3TwRAW2grBSF_HcWQMMOP0LllTQJAHw7NN5f629iZGetnVX7isxiRrasfJhZxJStCaYfQiEP9Gd-T-=w400-h158" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A view of Main Street.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5fRQPdmryAfqlTG6_qkitIvkK8Z2VYZXwcRUEhu5i64ZwO93UXbDK4GzYBfThp6f1EeiUPpHOfM8p-S9wB24nEKGKUIFB2qfVRhl8BBDXGAPwkujvtmki5xJd1beB8tcSiSucomWX7LWimy4YsvXMM19veMBhnuDBr2N93ZIVfXWszpIS7hlJUYO2c-V/s2209/20230614_143900.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="2209" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5fRQPdmryAfqlTG6_qkitIvkK8Z2VYZXwcRUEhu5i64ZwO93UXbDK4GzYBfThp6f1EeiUPpHOfM8p-S9wB24nEKGKUIFB2qfVRhl8BBDXGAPwkujvtmki5xJd1beB8tcSiSucomWX7LWimy4YsvXMM19veMBhnuDBr2N93ZIVfXWszpIS7hlJUYO2c-V/w400-h233/20230614_143900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some scenes from...</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnPQ_wVM4eNnKAz55h-6FKpRQqOONSljQA4N-Y6P0olmrTpRJBLfnmHt7lSA5ulo5jM4UiHJDofUWDpUKnIcZr6b2gAmkUe3wMti6ugN8jqqJtdyxL_4EEfWUGakitzZZfvBZq3S8Vq12BXRieOmFM7ZPlnYWpGvRQVzbJWy_DN4WcB6ZQJ7hpJn2hX654" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnPQ_wVM4eNnKAz55h-6FKpRQqOONSljQA4N-Y6P0olmrTpRJBLfnmHt7lSA5ulo5jM4UiHJDofUWDpUKnIcZr6b2gAmkUe3wMti6ugN8jqqJtdyxL_4EEfWUGakitzZZfvBZq3S8Vq12BXRieOmFM7ZPlnYWpGvRQVzbJWy_DN4WcB6ZQJ7hpJn2hX654=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXLFDHXAuWtpf5GR1nx2XetSC6lQZvZZI7UinhzvS-whxW8cHdAggrHuwvjRRIIT6768PGIb4oCeMx5DbU6n09hudiPEwxaJ8HUc8v4K-qkYnMijfO_mT-6izARA4juAuetT2C2E0Ph3ZVu4928OAvzNXBlqqVzfANIy4zRrvOx-PMkCniHwbseVC9YoH/s3264/20230614_143955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXLFDHXAuWtpf5GR1nx2XetSC6lQZvZZI7UinhzvS-whxW8cHdAggrHuwvjRRIIT6768PGIb4oCeMx5DbU6n09hudiPEwxaJ8HUc8v4K-qkYnMijfO_mT-6izARA4juAuetT2C2E0Ph3ZVu4928OAvzNXBlqqVzfANIy4zRrvOx-PMkCniHwbseVC9YoH/w400-h180/20230614_143955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">...The Pioneer Museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjcYh7I38oKvGgh7q2X4RoINPlhqR2q-AlfH6TbxklnD4cVGeTcNzrLaPScllnyitnP3u4PXZ5f089ZIgpDYAyeTfLeUYyH8wKNrabScftbGf0rFpSWAEYWgBzQimGBK2DHE44zH3SMmHqDh_Xk1Tu4Zu7bKDsCrI-jvnHEEBS60kH_RoJAX4lqJ19CTv/s3308/20230614_150831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3308" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjcYh7I38oKvGgh7q2X4RoINPlhqR2q-AlfH6TbxklnD4cVGeTcNzrLaPScllnyitnP3u4PXZ5f089ZIgpDYAyeTfLeUYyH8wKNrabScftbGf0rFpSWAEYWgBzQimGBK2DHE44zH3SMmHqDh_Xk1Tu4Zu7bKDsCrI-jvnHEEBS60kH_RoJAX4lqJ19CTv/w400-h217/20230614_150831.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fredericksburg Public Library Building and Grounds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDButdxgmlzUkvTo4wYBr9ZSej7rRbliYyzaQcfWK5-YTslfX0QDQ9NfFgsggaKZVAy3fRpRmcDPL4JOVE_F_DaVuZgAH8-0T0WwmWLJStUmchp4UHFdTUTGbiFgapzjZ1JG3tfYyW6rO1Kj-RaeVIBQt_fHWqru8RdbZNN0U-TKrRB4s4_TNA7M8DNMt2/s4000/20230614_152126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDButdxgmlzUkvTo4wYBr9ZSej7rRbliYyzaQcfWK5-YTslfX0QDQ9NfFgsggaKZVAy3fRpRmcDPL4JOVE_F_DaVuZgAH8-0T0WwmWLJStUmchp4UHFdTUTGbiFgapzjZ1JG3tfYyW6rO1Kj-RaeVIBQt_fHWqru8RdbZNN0U-TKrRB4s4_TNA7M8DNMt2/w400-h180/20230614_152126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A cute store display.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgVOcnkLGc5PSpEwo2_O1bGimuheCNonVKhOVaApU6GuTCeIB36e6f52Hm0WmekISAHvGujLM9QrHLIHAY9opH8Bh1TBltiY2Bq8pPRKvQQrPadBot_U5QR6MTZo-9t8t5t7Ked9wLyoc0sLf7Az58qfrDuH2BwnuEKTRgPaB8yB5clZwfaRwa3ohnGCe/s2601/PoPo%20and%20M%20&%20M.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2601" data-original-width="1777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgVOcnkLGc5PSpEwo2_O1bGimuheCNonVKhOVaApU6GuTCeIB36e6f52Hm0WmekISAHvGujLM9QrHLIHAY9opH8Bh1TBltiY2Bq8pPRKvQQrPadBot_U5QR6MTZo-9t8t5t7Ked9wLyoc0sLf7Az58qfrDuH2BwnuEKTRgPaB8yB5clZwfaRwa3ohnGCe/w274-h400/PoPo%20and%20M%20&%20M.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I stopped to chat with Ms. M&M outside a sweet shoppe.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
got up early the next morning for breakfast at the motel, then walked to the National
Museum of the Pacific War, arriving just as they opened at 9 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Museum spans 6 acres and consists of 3
separate venues to visit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The George H.
W. Bush Gallery, the Admiral Nimitz Museum, and the Pacific Combat Zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admission is $24/adult, but they do offer
discounts for veterans, police, teachers, children, and Seniors 65+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though probably one of the more expensive
museum admissions we have paid, it was money well spent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started our self-guided tour at the Bush
Gallery, which is ginormous, taking up an entire city block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gallery gives a comprehensive history of
the Pacific Theater battles of World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was particularly interested in the battles of New Guinea and Luzon
(Philippines).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s where my beloved
Grumpy Grandpa, who quit high school to enlist in the U.S. Army, served his
Nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Museum recently suffered from hail damage,
so many of the accompanying artifacts were removed from their displays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this setback, the Museum does a
fantastic job depicting the tactical strategies, emotions, and historical
significance of the War in the Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuMn6BObDwCVl6Xyxiwi-mJ3dufetdkNCKafr6gcfgaUSMRQvycideZ7DNNto92zNCav-uQvSpUZdxdKFXSrvEGy7oJTwh7Tz5VEELUSfNW1ZBFpRIsQP8-BIcR5jaJzuvZbWnljn2aL8w159KVZ5vY3obyzcwxmMT2HPwG2MS9c74TQb_Cpyef4nFqnz/s2799/20230614_092056.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2799" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuMn6BObDwCVl6Xyxiwi-mJ3dufetdkNCKafr6gcfgaUSMRQvycideZ7DNNto92zNCav-uQvSpUZdxdKFXSrvEGy7oJTwh7Tz5VEELUSfNW1ZBFpRIsQP8-BIcR5jaJzuvZbWnljn2aL8w159KVZ5vY3obyzcwxmMT2HPwG2MS9c74TQb_Cpyef4nFqnz/w400-h210/20230614_092056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The exterior of the George H. W. Bush Gallery.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca6NIjdwx5TLoHqHa67MQb01GMn4uSBtILMA8iSIbDdSEsRsVoo0Gj4iq9mVqF0zQZncK8j8DaSq4nWKaXbu57mHacm9WoPVnHlyLzfXG85aG-8pSBIu1TObYNTfw-oEicns0_xZkSLxyVpva1znEsFMe1YF2d1tkqtWvRK90lo1Vf4AeMLyULJlc61EY/s3264/20230614_093200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhca6NIjdwx5TLoHqHa67MQb01GMn4uSBtILMA8iSIbDdSEsRsVoo0Gj4iq9mVqF0zQZncK8j8DaSq4nWKaXbu57mHacm9WoPVnHlyLzfXG85aG-8pSBIu1TObYNTfw-oEicns0_xZkSLxyVpva1znEsFMe1YF2d1tkqtWvRK90lo1Vf4AeMLyULJlc61EY/w180-h400/20230614_093200.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Photo of Admiral Chester Nimitz, Fredericksburg's favorite native son.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz6s_5aBy5YYDYgOoAoV-ylFs-Ucv0ReIuQNyHObr6VZUD1bGEVHH-zQ7sSxjh-jTPSF1mCFrVVy8RmUrk2Ks54YsGRZu1PmJYvfqzwRCvGuglIXL2K0vN7XhsAMDq1PuRfCnN78LV1Ews4e61P_KIuEnVYI8hSfCwj1xBevxCBCbFt6EOpOgU06hFSA5/s3264/20230614_094756.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz6s_5aBy5YYDYgOoAoV-ylFs-Ucv0ReIuQNyHObr6VZUD1bGEVHH-zQ7sSxjh-jTPSF1mCFrVVy8RmUrk2Ks54YsGRZu1PmJYvfqzwRCvGuglIXL2K0vN7XhsAMDq1PuRfCnN78LV1Ews4e61P_KIuEnVYI8hSfCwj1xBevxCBCbFt6EOpOgU06hFSA5/w400-h180/20230614_094756.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Japanese submarine used at Pearl Harbor.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAUyEGCr_2d8SiFLbXGhs3eMiKLUQv8bz5ivuSlJ5t_-ieF1ECQEC9rf2A-AcbiZBEoB9ZyAeB5Vb1aZy0IEaezPWouJeWqZUt0xui_npCkVzAbZWNCu_iD1aDAFbiBbJnNBRC_LpEVKruH_aHlkJSgm7BpZughYMwU5opjjZoEUuiIveU891ARqQRQvB/s3264/20230614_100427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAUyEGCr_2d8SiFLbXGhs3eMiKLUQv8bz5ivuSlJ5t_-ieF1ECQEC9rf2A-AcbiZBEoB9ZyAeB5Vb1aZy0IEaezPWouJeWqZUt0xui_npCkVzAbZWNCu_iD1aDAFbiBbJnNBRC_LpEVKruH_aHlkJSgm7BpZughYMwU5opjjZoEUuiIveU891ARqQRQvB/w400-h180/20230614_100427.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of many types of aircraft used during World War II.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8kqqIWRdKYWTlRfmYMBD4M-K7yjediOWp9sxd0Zps5rMd5ot9ShjGtChngorofzClgYwc-joS7sWfkvbqLhYM-4P2i7Kyb1uJ4bvLklabPn5goAHxOnj7_PJAzN-YoWxGoM7sRPkc6iUFrlBaGyFxVULdpJmhIgoosfeqrnzju2IGliRUhyJNVpJB3ek/s3264/20230614_100517.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8kqqIWRdKYWTlRfmYMBD4M-K7yjediOWp9sxd0Zps5rMd5ot9ShjGtChngorofzClgYwc-joS7sWfkvbqLhYM-4P2i7Kyb1uJ4bvLklabPn5goAHxOnj7_PJAzN-YoWxGoM7sRPkc6iUFrlBaGyFxVULdpJmhIgoosfeqrnzju2IGliRUhyJNVpJB3ek/w400-h180/20230614_100517.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I sure would like to drive this beast.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9pmTqx9RS2NbP0YfbP-6OOR1t4DvPh-alVOemM0IWh5_BYsNhLSILwQJYLtOO9Dh-fmxkyOl2CkY1xj0ONjeIg9ZJACVRh9ECBcVF0wjF8cFp2onDAVZuarHvVvtjnP0b6VJAlYQ4orVDzAZ4qv_PogramJa5IMoeoeI0XopM-U6658GvPEeTBL4WCiU/s3264/20230614_103017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9pmTqx9RS2NbP0YfbP-6OOR1t4DvPh-alVOemM0IWh5_BYsNhLSILwQJYLtOO9Dh-fmxkyOl2CkY1xj0ONjeIg9ZJACVRh9ECBcVF0wjF8cFp2onDAVZuarHvVvtjnP0b6VJAlYQ4orVDzAZ4qv_PogramJa5IMoeoeI0XopM-U6658GvPEeTBL4WCiU/w400-h180/20230614_103017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Replica of the atom bomb used at Hiroshima.<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Outside
the Bush Gallery is the Plaza of the Presidents, highlighting the efforts of
the 10 U.S. Presidents who served in World War II and the Garden of Peace,
gifted to the Museum by the Japanese government in 1976.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And, most importantly, there is the Veterans
Walk of Honor and Memorial Wall, paying homage to all those who served in World
War II.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I am saving my cheese money to
purchase a $500 plaque for my very deserving Grumpy Grandpa.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaGUqcBBmQgwyzccmR1H8DLisz3yaUJexvQtgbC4wN1b_q9MbgdhL9DFnfEpHGCp4pBPn5RwyTf0pzkGuXKIum3NhmjfEJUHGeb6rNuQ6DNoiMDOKLXA1Zkwu8cEpkuFcooslAysSWy8IiFUC0dJCs-Kq_zlSFCCeFJoz0RN5ZQIQLfV5F2JqV-cjh1BQ/s3264/20230614_103916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaGUqcBBmQgwyzccmR1H8DLisz3yaUJexvQtgbC4wN1b_q9MbgdhL9DFnfEpHGCp4pBPn5RwyTf0pzkGuXKIum3NhmjfEJUHGeb6rNuQ6DNoiMDOKLXA1Zkwu8cEpkuFcooslAysSWy8IiFUC0dJCs-Kq_zlSFCCeFJoz0RN5ZQIQLfV5F2JqV-cjh1BQ/w400-h180/20230614_103916.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Plaza of the Presidents.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylJ0BjoBpaYjUeHpndW0JGF2Lbdwx-9f0hPFsJJbDBuQMlVVftnNElB8l3_Ojni1XAuozcgWxTkdFILAuAwPjV_kjAObcivDfTBvSj9VRvsNgnzGYn4yCprx02n1KgYkK7YEYK_gI7O-_pAR3jf8RcGMCacuB03b8d0bjT8Z1h6Nx3PZy81g69jmHkO6g/s3264/20230614_104238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylJ0BjoBpaYjUeHpndW0JGF2Lbdwx-9f0hPFsJJbDBuQMlVVftnNElB8l3_Ojni1XAuozcgWxTkdFILAuAwPjV_kjAObcivDfTBvSj9VRvsNgnzGYn4yCprx02n1KgYkK7YEYK_gI7O-_pAR3jf8RcGMCacuB03b8d0bjT8Z1h6Nx3PZy81g69jmHkO6g/w400-h180/20230614_104238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Veterans Walk of Honor and Memorial Wall in background.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjux3yi3CukFDGRLJFpPFZUteIeFi-gVv2VVXQHkncn0S-rOQXoa1_r_4yhFJO-N2ICS2GvdGrNjzRzNJBoIvEyq0PpOpaIiGEDGcOBlTTO9X54CxhWDnjUqvIRrQOm2e2Lc5T1HSh4ptaQD6lE66S_b1ZNdw47qB_kF7F9Pl9bGyKJWLk141HoC-woQugh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="3744" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjux3yi3CukFDGRLJFpPFZUteIeFi-gVv2VVXQHkncn0S-rOQXoa1_r_4yhFJO-N2ICS2GvdGrNjzRzNJBoIvEyq0PpOpaIiGEDGcOBlTTO9X54CxhWDnjUqvIRrQOm2e2Lc5T1HSh4ptaQD6lE66S_b1ZNdw47qB_kF7F9Pl9bGyKJWLk141HoC-woQugh=w400-h190" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Views of ...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtu_-LphJkURvugr8gp0iyfym0LStoJ7oRt58ZUKlshcnKfzVxi0IMncOmeIfUsO0DQRdiHPBKNuqIfaNaAfTo16Izpw_i_W99a928otjIp0a-kl63NZoGht7W2fZmW8S5H4dxQWqRGZFH77F-AMlcFeibkobCUHY_5Mvyi96EPEyibxjZaLnKSDllLXw/s3264/20230614_104317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtu_-LphJkURvugr8gp0iyfym0LStoJ7oRt58ZUKlshcnKfzVxi0IMncOmeIfUsO0DQRdiHPBKNuqIfaNaAfTo16Izpw_i_W99a928otjIp0a-kl63NZoGht7W2fZmW8S5H4dxQWqRGZFH77F-AMlcFeibkobCUHY_5Mvyi96EPEyibxjZaLnKSDllLXw/w400-h180/20230614_104317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">...the Japanese Garden of Peace.<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We
went thereafter to the second venue, the Admiral Nimitz Museum located in the
Nimitz Hotel.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This Museum tells the life
story of Fredericksburg’s favorite native son, Chester Nimitz, the
Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet/Pacific Ocean Areas during World
War II.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Chester’s young father died 6
months before Chester was born, resulting in he and his mother residing with Chester’s
paternal German-born grandfather in the hotel he once owned/operated.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ironically, Chester sought to attend West
Point and become an Army Officer, but upon learning no appointments for Army
officers were available, he applied and was awarded appointment to the U.S.
Naval Academy, where he had an illustrious and distinctive Navy career for over
60 years.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He even has an entire class of
nuclear aircraft carriers named after him!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Z0OdEb2ai0rjmDQi6gjp2oGFJwh5vpnfpmdUT8zOOiz1nO8ftwXoHW8jWa-WzZdTBx2qNbzATYND8a63G0xQEWc7e8_oOKwT5Qn7VtzHI8uqQDYvBbRIyOa70fKGqNnGUrwCC0TPzpq6i8HqSyDqXOoLqCI4o5r23A-Q-gimrav-FepWuKwP_pjdnP2/s1162/20230614_115412.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1162" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Z0OdEb2ai0rjmDQi6gjp2oGFJwh5vpnfpmdUT8zOOiz1nO8ftwXoHW8jWa-WzZdTBx2qNbzATYND8a63G0xQEWc7e8_oOKwT5Qn7VtzHI8uqQDYvBbRIyOa70fKGqNnGUrwCC0TPzpq6i8HqSyDqXOoLqCI4o5r23A-Q-gimrav-FepWuKwP_pjdnP2/w400-h315/20230614_115412.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Exterior of The Nimitz Hotel.<br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-_fF3onL1UllyKfCTNsejqG7W21FfA8C849LnWVxKQEJ9c9Hix5U_TJ-UbzAAG10jPXnNgGbkF1nQa8ZGIYhZxgjhcZnfaE3hU6j3dipHWFkwIybl_zNyN08heODLE02C7O6QO70GpoowBlPLmxPlWmiZgttofYViqt_-Cf1KXGnBRA2xUQOo-mfWZll/s4000/20230614_113358.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-_fF3onL1UllyKfCTNsejqG7W21FfA8C849LnWVxKQEJ9c9Hix5U_TJ-UbzAAG10jPXnNgGbkF1nQa8ZGIYhZxgjhcZnfaE3hU6j3dipHWFkwIybl_zNyN08heODLE02C7O6QO70GpoowBlPLmxPlWmiZgttofYViqt_-Cf1KXGnBRA2xUQOo-mfWZll/w180-h400/20230614_113358.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Statue of Admiral Chester Nimitz.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J9Na3VRoewK45IRUXbTXJDW17N_nzKj6025O1hn3SimxqCEoofmcIHvnRgBlznasSxU17_6QMiVXTmQq1f8biGA98Acw5bo9g4tUp4hy-RilFil-0OU-7r5Ot5mEJkW2oa2gn2ctJNJulYOcxA3XHekn4KLj5jOb84r4ieSc9i8uvVsK0me59f5eqru7/s3264/20230614_114241.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J9Na3VRoewK45IRUXbTXJDW17N_nzKj6025O1hn3SimxqCEoofmcIHvnRgBlznasSxU17_6QMiVXTmQq1f8biGA98Acw5bo9g4tUp4hy-RilFil-0OU-7r5Ot5mEJkW2oa2gn2ctJNJulYOcxA3XHekn4KLj5jOb84r4ieSc9i8uvVsK0me59f5eqru7/w400-h180/20230614_114241.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Displays featuring Nimitz as a young child.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ2zSbqqzR8ruAj8DM6tcOQPCKwOyubblBbxf-QB-Q_tbE2Drzw6FX8tGwmm_5S698k5nxAXORVhX83Fj15FP5deIOc69YI7CbJjmJd5Wktmv2-ugWriFWsOPPcjWPXAlGolrwsIlsNveQPo0dgqXRCZoFIhBtigLihcvk6Op74EbnEACtStrQZ436aVR/s3264/20230614_114322.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ2zSbqqzR8ruAj8DM6tcOQPCKwOyubblBbxf-QB-Q_tbE2Drzw6FX8tGwmm_5S698k5nxAXORVhX83Fj15FP5deIOc69YI7CbJjmJd5Wktmv2-ugWriFWsOPPcjWPXAlGolrwsIlsNveQPo0dgqXRCZoFIhBtigLihcvk6Op74EbnEACtStrQZ436aVR/w400-h180/20230614_114322.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Museum had lots of interactive displays, with which I enjoyed participating.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
arrived at the final Museum venue, the Combat Zone, where actual submarines, PT
boats, and bomber planes are housed.
There is also an amphitheater where reenactments of jungle warfare take
place at specific times of year (unfortunately, there were none offered during
our Fredericksburg visit).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjofdn1gxAsCG3aB0jWiuFg5oseDpWclToZG306iW8Jmgt0b8bYqGFkLYpRLHgVtQ79chyELw6dc-UcP6TzhXe8xY8D3gu7hJHEqk6Lg_F0qEKbFfEMm7E5YEIEP42HnEJ4nECfFn3JSrR8uJRjQRwUjuGEEqriawXOy-1W-UPAnzzNOOYbzDbvBhyHgtOh" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3134" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjofdn1gxAsCG3aB0jWiuFg5oseDpWclToZG306iW8Jmgt0b8bYqGFkLYpRLHgVtQ79chyELw6dc-UcP6TzhXe8xY8D3gu7hJHEqk6Lg_F0qEKbFfEMm7E5YEIEP42HnEJ4nECfFn3JSrR8uJRjQRwUjuGEEqriawXOy-1W-UPAnzzNOOYbzDbvBhyHgtOh=w400-h230" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_Vt4n4QzGE_F2M_EaRVs7zvLhyc9PPMKuUXz1CFvz_CNF1cxMnVsxKNC6jXl58xPD1Q7Rb2gyRZuDN5K3Q72XbUljbXHfucevObfHQd8Y77oPhUTF-xss6ZAA7jWGgaPBQ3mFwJz2jajwEO0lVJg2oDtN-LpeD_JAvnOYkIaKuhjiHVe3LopX-lwgyfcf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_Vt4n4QzGE_F2M_EaRVs7zvLhyc9PPMKuUXz1CFvz_CNF1cxMnVsxKNC6jXl58xPD1Q7Rb2gyRZuDN5K3Q72XbUljbXHfucevObfHQd8Y77oPhUTF-xss6ZAA7jWGgaPBQ3mFwJz2jajwEO0lVJg2oDtN-LpeD_JAvnOYkIaKuhjiHVe3LopX-lwgyfcf=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbWFCnLoIjpJ5VmGF8gvbRTbsFAQY5HjpGMMnJCDh7EOmVwHt2aLkfmKNaDhFvYEzcJXal9jvlkdsFsF3YKv2A8WnZWqyjIPFcscpVniXoUajg2lnI7-yFzP7OGaPVkyq43wrkn0PNIXSTH-0IYLW8RXoFeey_bL5VvHGlvs0o3ImbcIEdKxCUhKMHEhiL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbWFCnLoIjpJ5VmGF8gvbRTbsFAQY5HjpGMMnJCDh7EOmVwHt2aLkfmKNaDhFvYEzcJXal9jvlkdsFsF3YKv2A8WnZWqyjIPFcscpVniXoUajg2lnI7-yFzP7OGaPVkyq43wrkn0PNIXSTH-0IYLW8RXoFeey_bL5VvHGlvs0o3ImbcIEdKxCUhKMHEhiL=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpspVDi_md6rwlC6N8xMe8qJt1aaYgQPiz35gHcxke3uNBMdtCmT8q0d_AC_7HMST0CB6WyT_U5RsZJ-zRsKTauGexPt2GW2jbfcM5BGMmkDaLrboycF-7nlEM6uf3LwzKtpWTEdAZIS-TeFgmM_JwikRmv3mkzKMCqcr2xKxMOsfu-Dz2-S1qAuMk-ns/s3264/20230614_101921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpspVDi_md6rwlC6N8xMe8qJt1aaYgQPiz35gHcxke3uNBMdtCmT8q0d_AC_7HMST0CB6WyT_U5RsZJ-zRsKTauGexPt2GW2jbfcM5BGMmkDaLrboycF-7nlEM6uf3LwzKtpWTEdAZIS-TeFgmM_JwikRmv3mkzKMCqcr2xKxMOsfu-Dz2-S1qAuMk-ns/w400-h180/20230614_101921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidtkBQfseC29gpze3JZ4zZvrHsAV43DKqSFtllXiodj0S7izYd8rTy6d0oYD9wFP-qIZ8P0EFLnSRZZucUy6TyG2iTjh9ZHnO2h2d1ZyzcWGF2GRlSSQaLfyaoYxhg1Wldmv8y2_fZs_RVLt1Xis0zzggL4ajEcvSwxd7pwiuKseAfQ67wk1f7iEgZlbyc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidtkBQfseC29gpze3JZ4zZvrHsAV43DKqSFtllXiodj0S7izYd8rTy6d0oYD9wFP-qIZ8P0EFLnSRZZucUy6TyG2iTjh9ZHnO2h2d1ZyzcWGF2GRlSSQaLfyaoYxhg1Wldmv8y2_fZs_RVLt1Xis0zzggL4ajEcvSwxd7pwiuKseAfQ67wk1f7iEgZlbyc=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amphitheater where re-enactments take place, though none during our visit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsdBTnsHGMan4Fb6rh9e6YuiluE6BildubUzhYVCYNICDp47BdIkTLQj7Cr24EhhCZjuxsjFnMsM-ImqqqUt-X0cGt3Ti_2tej6Vlj2aXDCFnr5DGxiZsC0ofn1y2PDAAa8I8mnk6sxpi1rIIRloWhK_P80f_dj5lyzKTVLuoLX_hVcaZ5COYzXhvRX2pX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2670" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsdBTnsHGMan4Fb6rh9e6YuiluE6BildubUzhYVCYNICDp47BdIkTLQj7Cr24EhhCZjuxsjFnMsM-ImqqqUt-X0cGt3Ti_2tej6Vlj2aXDCFnr5DGxiZsC0ofn1y2PDAAa8I8mnk6sxpi1rIIRloWhK_P80f_dj5lyzKTVLuoLX_hVcaZ5COYzXhvRX2pX=w400-h163" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Educational and Administrative facilities.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before
we knew it, 3 hours had been spent learning about the Pacific Theater of World
War II!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad would have liked even more
time touring, but personally, I was suffering from information overload!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, my belly was telling me it was nearly
time to meet Sherry/Matt for lunch at Woerner Warehouse Cafe.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Located within an old feed store, this
popular café among locals and tourists offers a unique atmosphere for breakfast
and lunch.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Reasonable prices, nice
portions, and a varied menu.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You can
even do some shopping within the connecting warehouse while waiting for a
table.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">From shabby chic furniture to
antique doorknobs to a huge collection of religious artifacts, the warehouse
had everything you could possibly imagine for furnishing a unique home.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We did some more walking through town, including
a visit to another of the famous Texas Hill Country Painted Churches.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The arch above the alter at St. Mary’s says, “Ego
Sum Panis Vitae”—I am the bread of life.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen to that.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We finished up our
afternoon with Sherry/Matt by sampling and purchasing some delectables at
Quintessential Chocolates.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They were a
bit pricy but quite tasty.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtMmn2CigKE1sPTUGzUtDElILKzZKn4YeZiYO1AXCDVBrRiSfTEs0fnejQ34nsm4hXmbgQvDRf72nspQ2mRqBm60PE16eAYp82m4BrWDWiThswuni8vOh49_Eqa35NRDRWVdw32m0leQRya687HQ30T33TUorZm65bdWjjBLkiXZSuF4RjEpu7p7_vbc0f" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtMmn2CigKE1sPTUGzUtDElILKzZKn4YeZiYO1AXCDVBrRiSfTEs0fnejQ34nsm4hXmbgQvDRf72nspQ2mRqBm60PE16eAYp82m4BrWDWiThswuni8vOh49_Eqa35NRDRWVdw32m0leQRya687HQ30T33TUorZm65bdWjjBLkiXZSuF4RjEpu7p7_vbc0f=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Interior of Woerner Warehouse Cafe.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Kx5ApSHt_0oZqsEi-ezidDsQ9vcgEAA-l85BCKHY0sog6xzaACYEP8sENJ_21dx5hiupw3J8M0yo3ENGD9mM81FzvkAqdWV2dibkevYRWHAXNh0RPDhq78E30hsqN2qjmjl6EbmR4qcYIDMSSjJRXEGK32JaFBEVZ-99I_3TPH3ookIbCrDh4J--B02B/s4000/20230614_132457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Kx5ApSHt_0oZqsEi-ezidDsQ9vcgEAA-l85BCKHY0sog6xzaACYEP8sENJ_21dx5hiupw3J8M0yo3ENGD9mM81FzvkAqdWV2dibkevYRWHAXNh0RPDhq78E30hsqN2qjmjl6EbmR4qcYIDMSSjJRXEGK32JaFBEVZ-99I_3TPH3ookIbCrDh4J--B02B/w400-h180/20230614_132457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgUdqG0JO3JHXf-7B-teN_3U5znDgvuR_F-nP2flwHaKV3z0MLxClkFO-j6c4eoNGtifdAsLST-g6URngLo_13ROGvsl0pdfrnHFxkrOnTEhqTCzT-fOoX3f6zT_znVySKACoXCUYcIUyfSwIwMHBS-VBX1DytVPv9DHla2UElFSxXorCU6S94wHaRwb5/s4000/20230614_142632.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgUdqG0JO3JHXf-7B-teN_3U5znDgvuR_F-nP2flwHaKV3z0MLxClkFO-j6c4eoNGtifdAsLST-g6URngLo_13ROGvsl0pdfrnHFxkrOnTEhqTCzT-fOoX3f6zT_znVySKACoXCUYcIUyfSwIwMHBS-VBX1DytVPv9DHla2UElFSxXorCU6S94wHaRwb5/w180-h400/20230614_142632.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Interior of...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWA-OO-uAhYgS6RSQ1wXj_31kO3vpnIfrPa0VtfOZVaB_EQEi1lk0ibg6SHM7x-mFrGovtKwYDaS9Jds_45SMtIS65Sxd_IcmdV8Ez8PwDxqeE8RrDEXDbyhZT6d5O4BCbFiIrjtwjScK-ERTs-Gl8fqDcUsXj0sX1emN-ZFS-Et8Q814MBrli8aDLezXD/s3057/20230614_142740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3057" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWA-OO-uAhYgS6RSQ1wXj_31kO3vpnIfrPa0VtfOZVaB_EQEi1lk0ibg6SHM7x-mFrGovtKwYDaS9Jds_45SMtIS65Sxd_IcmdV8Ez8PwDxqeE8RrDEXDbyhZT6d5O4BCbFiIrjtwjScK-ERTs-Gl8fqDcUsXj0sX1emN-ZFS-Et8Q814MBrli8aDLezXD/w235-h400/20230614_142740.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="235" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">St. Mary's...</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMuLhn1Szq03UFz749K_w9M8nQmQ2unxcHix7tibkq4KIjUqZHWeGRv41G9P2joyyakWWDE1ozjfd0FayRwjXzdtchBFLdnKvSdUFm0YWY3429A9zAdjkojOzl0plN5xtx60DF4BfmfLxoVG0Nv_4r4ieht7bs2AAuqJngzXg5umzLaicPwnIf0MvvH1H/s3264/20230614_142817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMuLhn1Szq03UFz749K_w9M8nQmQ2unxcHix7tibkq4KIjUqZHWeGRv41G9P2joyyakWWDE1ozjfd0FayRwjXzdtchBFLdnKvSdUFm0YWY3429A9zAdjkojOzl0plN5xtx60DF4BfmfLxoVG0Nv_4r4ieht7bs2AAuqJngzXg5umzLaicPwnIf0MvvH1H/w180-h400/20230614_142817.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">...another of the Painted Churches within the Texas Hill Country.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Later
that evening we took a ride on Maximus the Trike down Old San Antonio Road,
which offered beautiful pastural scenery and lots of deer sightings.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our destination was Old Tunnel State Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">At a mere 10 acres, it is the smallest of all
Texas State Parks, operated by only 1 employee and a dedicated group of
volunteers.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But truthfully there isn’t
much to do here.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You see, the sole
purpose of this Park is to protect the bats that make their home in an old tunnel
of the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The volunteers are a wealth of knowledge, and they provided us a
treasure trove of bat facts:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are
more than 1,400 bat species worldwide; bats are the only flying mammal; and the
Mexican freetail bat is the most populous mammal on earth.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bats can fly about 60 miles per hour and as
high as 10,000 feet above sea level!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bats
actually have 20/20 vision, so the adage, “blind as a bat” is a misnomer.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">About 2 million bats reside at this
Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Each adult female has 1 pup per
year.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, during birthing season, the
population can be as much as 3 million.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Each bat eats about 30-40 moths per night.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">At the time of our visit, bats were emerging
from the tunnel for their dinner run at about 9 p.m.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So unfortunately, we could not see much with
our naked eye or our binoculars.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the
Park volunteers passed around night vision goggles, so we were able to catch a
glimpse.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite the disappointment of
not seeing many bats that evening, it was worth the visit for the fantastic
presentation by the volunteers.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYW5cd1GIqzxoDEcyUJtPMQ3eH3BIFGzm6IeOk9rZWRCaCyZIl9LdvpOUhLF14T_O4Qpr47dYsVIzB9d_tHB6D1ojCPb8mM6l_u5g3YULQ-hGP7AYeMyOh7UDYAFwVXU5ihp7En0_KIDW0h5kWM7J1j5HW3ZkZ0z_xD7vTXtT68voRFQCsPP4zl5BBi9ew" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYW5cd1GIqzxoDEcyUJtPMQ3eH3BIFGzm6IeOk9rZWRCaCyZIl9LdvpOUhLF14T_O4Qpr47dYsVIzB9d_tHB6D1ojCPb8mM6l_u5g3YULQ-hGP7AYeMyOh7UDYAFwVXU5ihp7En0_KIDW0h5kWM7J1j5HW3ZkZ0z_xD7vTXtT68voRFQCsPP4zl5BBi9ew=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSCw4lzo-aM43k9DHmWsyXuxpT5cqOxgVhTxFlSZyLq4SuwcG7aIkQbBSzAfKIPoKGoDUvburwRvK0zebjtr4NWbwLL8ooYdzkePYjoK5fRqVg8upIrrQpTM7le_zyne2yzk_RX6ZVjkdfEqH1TxyZhLliW6LYF4l-8Emp1rWd5PEBQpXfUqgnSItvFXFQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="3176" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSCw4lzo-aM43k9DHmWsyXuxpT5cqOxgVhTxFlSZyLq4SuwcG7aIkQbBSzAfKIPoKGoDUvburwRvK0zebjtr4NWbwLL8ooYdzkePYjoK5fRqVg8upIrrQpTM7le_zyne2yzk_RX6ZVjkdfEqH1TxyZhLliW6LYF4l-8Emp1rWd5PEBQpXfUqgnSItvFXFQ=w320-h292" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Though we didn't see any bats with the naked eye, we viewed some beautiful scenery and blooms. And as you will see from the below video, the butterflies were enjoying the wildflowers, too.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwjH_wJXhUgPEgbKVUzez1UP8lG1UYdq0-6vpF_EsUcoADeLPbbyZJtmYZIuSJC8CydG4kzUGP5hHnG12gZkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnbDBpOHhL7LPMpL2hui33OPBAn2Q5M_6uo1GXe0SnRoTBACDfm_Dx0mxETxfO_40-hCQQnCjbL6fNvgYglNEF8WzbFaAlECKMwSM3rJOGvB4lPzY3dE5bVyhEV74OgRNvlbZpArLe9kiaxPRHoI5JFbeyRtDzw1fT2N5gdNERIjyM9sgTNxOiD2IHvxIc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="3996" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnbDBpOHhL7LPMpL2hui33OPBAn2Q5M_6uo1GXe0SnRoTBACDfm_Dx0mxETxfO_40-hCQQnCjbL6fNvgYglNEF8WzbFaAlECKMwSM3rJOGvB4lPzY3dE5bVyhEV74OgRNvlbZpArLe9kiaxPRHoI5JFbeyRtDzw1fT2N5gdNERIjyM9sgTNxOiD2IHvxIc=w400-h248" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The arrow shows the location of the tunnel entrance from which the bats emerge.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOrHi6WPaRx6U8DvjB7CPt1as5Z1fIGKYlkDLHba1yP5Tbz6xoz_-NbL3htdCZ52joE2I8CHvkeCmaQA-WTz3X4mbUFjCTe-rxn_gsUH7-FQ-riTYGmx_kH27vcu5Sw-LnCAye7nZVQMDG6vZas6xn1lcVkI5tA7oCcbUpJidciyf_2LwVa2Biy2rUf6W7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOrHi6WPaRx6U8DvjB7CPt1as5Z1fIGKYlkDLHba1yP5Tbz6xoz_-NbL3htdCZ52joE2I8CHvkeCmaQA-WTz3X4mbUFjCTe-rxn_gsUH7-FQ-riTYGmx_kH27vcu5Sw-LnCAye7nZVQMDG6vZas6xn1lcVkI5tA7oCcbUpJidciyf_2LwVa2Biy2rUf6W7=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This volunteer gave a fantastic presentation!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
following day we ate breakfast early and met up with Sherry/Matt at the Lydon
B. Johnson State Park Visitor Center.
Although we have a TX State Park Pass, we didn’t need it here—admission
to the Park is free for one and all. The
grounds of the Park are lovely, with many areas covered with a spectacular
carpet of wildflowers. We watched the
interesting and informative film then walked over to the Saler-Beckmann Living
History Farm (the area of the Park where Sherry/Matt volunteer). We were welcomed by volunteers dressed in pioneer
period costumes. They demonstrated tasks
like shelling peas, tending the corn field, and making butter. It was all very fun and interesting, but my
favorite part of the visit was meeting all the farm animals--cows, pigs (appropriately-named
Ham and Bacon), chickens, gobblers, sheep, and longhorn steer. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the local
bison herd—they were snubbing picture-takers that day.</span></p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJfhnMLUylxy7ZWedRXQXhIzra2pTnOQUHN6G_uNRwghsu7KLAYl9W5FGQf4eWX-3pK0Qr0pD-187wVK799DMEkeDTFrX08dK4zhVUb1MPDGYxwiFzQtkTCp7zO-ZdpjmMuCuW2xiGopPguhShLe8J0m7jYgcePaV0JbmnnWnWpLhPjcbK7t96ItwYE9QV" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJfhnMLUylxy7ZWedRXQXhIzra2pTnOQUHN6G_uNRwghsu7KLAYl9W5FGQf4eWX-3pK0Qr0pD-187wVK799DMEkeDTFrX08dK4zhVUb1MPDGYxwiFzQtkTCp7zO-ZdpjmMuCuW2xiGopPguhShLe8J0m7jYgcePaV0JbmnnWnWpLhPjcbK7t96ItwYE9QV=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sherry/Matt, wonderful friends and excellent tour guides!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLb7UeFd7z8p3UXzPp4Dndepiq5Of7kqg7IXSqcKRc3baD3BnyYYrEXysvsVdmAWCmBpCTghIvHTJ-kg7TfvhcTwWz5C6h9BB-pzTgK_r0hXDrpSY9Add3TeyQhTByT5YB2DkeiCVQHpQqwU9x3wp7UFkszoXGwwe2RY1DKy0mH1GU7SZSAE6llijdvErE" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLb7UeFd7z8p3UXzPp4Dndepiq5Of7kqg7IXSqcKRc3baD3BnyYYrEXysvsVdmAWCmBpCTghIvHTJ-kg7TfvhcTwWz5C6h9BB-pzTgK_r0hXDrpSY9Add3TeyQhTByT5YB2DkeiCVQHpQqwU9x3wp7UFkszoXGwwe2RY1DKy0mH1GU7SZSAE6llijdvErE=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Interior of Visitor Center.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw5WlB8ReTQt-AisvPN2MjkHeMuX4UYPOkJcSAId-K9pJ8BiET7J4tUq3HOw4qp8Ug4mWRk2eUHY22UyWRm9iYMcM9rDHVsif84S24OqkQ_paStePog5TqXyIDpl-0iAeUraHDHqstFMWlTBrwUe5iOYFidO5HEbtL6vFM4xLMW5At_ZyaHrqwgaR9HFRR" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw5WlB8ReTQt-AisvPN2MjkHeMuX4UYPOkJcSAId-K9pJ8BiET7J4tUq3HOw4qp8Ug4mWRk2eUHY22UyWRm9iYMcM9rDHVsif84S24OqkQ_paStePog5TqXyIDpl-0iAeUraHDHqstFMWlTBrwUe5iOYFidO5HEbtL6vFM4xLMW5At_ZyaHrqwgaR9HFRR=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A gorgeous carpet of wildflowers.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCQyC2rVvoacJLVW9q_Ovqx1v2zBgtLxwXk4UIpD7-n3DfJYAZkjXJiwkS9_cLRg6K-SC1gEU1Xe1BICvZBAUlbNWUhpq09ElWV_-LckJeGx9dOTgSgRor1wttXLumNFYmAKTe8pPljvuJ4KS6aD8jHHwcLFH5HUAJXm3wVMzbPPyTZG9LzlJ-1zQ3hANj" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="4000" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCQyC2rVvoacJLVW9q_Ovqx1v2zBgtLxwXk4UIpD7-n3DfJYAZkjXJiwkS9_cLRg6K-SC1gEU1Xe1BICvZBAUlbNWUhpq09ElWV_-LckJeGx9dOTgSgRor1wttXLumNFYmAKTe8pPljvuJ4KS6aD8jHHwcLFH5HUAJXm3wVMzbPPyTZG9LzlJ-1zQ3hANj" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Saler-Beckmann Living History Farm.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJvGI_W92HBRcz9QPJtC24eq61qhWqd1ni1WaRNg93khFU5PtCUHaQfohAlq8ROTTixqncxDoqtzsmq0vHXYz089PsBCJ0DRnvdchYbVhYtJU9yFborkH0OhbgILEEz9JF42Aq5X3jZvFX0T3qbvnSjDdvhPhfMsfJR5k1GFzFSZnysos1ZJWq4sm6h5Xm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJvGI_W92HBRcz9QPJtC24eq61qhWqd1ni1WaRNg93khFU5PtCUHaQfohAlq8ROTTixqncxDoqtzsmq0vHXYz089PsBCJ0DRnvdchYbVhYtJU9yFborkH0OhbgILEEz9JF42Aq5X3jZvFX0T3qbvnSjDdvhPhfMsfJR5k1GFzFSZnysos1ZJWq4sm6h5Xm=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwc_DSvMA2Jz4H9Cc-CJuEVBAHP4h0kjg6xVy75CgaOMm2f7P9K_V7833OP_932TxCB_EDVSTK3l_12Rm4LN84vGiZn4x9MnlA8hpvInfRhGqZ_Fw4LHVxtq9JlTZD6LgC-JDZsQA_s_P1kpEIRf423W5jYqgi48mHOCiJTsUNeV_GqONMdScWGcZUTesM" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwc_DSvMA2Jz4H9Cc-CJuEVBAHP4h0kjg6xVy75CgaOMm2f7P9K_V7833OP_932TxCB_EDVSTK3l_12Rm4LN84vGiZn4x9MnlA8hpvInfRhGqZ_Fw4LHVxtq9JlTZD6LgC-JDZsQA_s_P1kpEIRf423W5jYqgi48mHOCiJTsUNeV_GqONMdScWGcZUTesM" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZM4fIOmVcpL7DWvsZCNBV1fWBgScT67S8aDN4Rd60dEtSl4jWrTxlMCKRvItqduC5U45Zahk1ls8ys0BsJlOtZoPpcNP-vrvm1Yf4Zc264W-tpfCcyO1RLlHu3bnEEvreK2RziieIlC-dEMr9n8eYEIy90KWR_uhYjYXm_HrziQGCZkYJja9v6HzNVrtI" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZM4fIOmVcpL7DWvsZCNBV1fWBgScT67S8aDN4Rd60dEtSl4jWrTxlMCKRvItqduC5U45Zahk1ls8ys0BsJlOtZoPpcNP-vrvm1Yf4Zc264W-tpfCcyO1RLlHu3bnEEvreK2RziieIlC-dEMr9n8eYEIy90KWR_uhYjYXm_HrziQGCZkYJja9v6HzNVrtI=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNl-vitWpAZ50ylZh4uUzwHruqSoyjA-StOVoITap02SKujtbt9FtN9lJ-7vYzNXrNTtfUJokj7vexyXoqzGbqjkexOansyrigVR22QkcaTwesC_nVkyOI0O6pGwMJXQSsufiNqk-3zXBMB6e16x7-8086ZxIN22nMctBDLphBYUR3av1_aXeT3xQ_qMiS" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNl-vitWpAZ50ylZh4uUzwHruqSoyjA-StOVoITap02SKujtbt9FtN9lJ-7vYzNXrNTtfUJokj7vexyXoqzGbqjkexOansyrigVR22QkcaTwesC_nVkyOI0O6pGwMJXQSsufiNqk-3zXBMB6e16x7-8086ZxIN22nMctBDLphBYUR3av1_aXeT3xQ_qMiS=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Hook 'Em Horns!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaVo5vlO8P7QyC5iStGoXFj1HZkSugZMWLzVT1B7MJysPTFOn6CGa82on6RTO0_lm4yOZ3wV-wfLVCsuTOEnRk4D8bjWLF-cEAzG5e4vPlvlhVfvXIG1RGlRmslB036GD2yJx83-Vn_0cyVNBhje3SeyUsfdGm_ao6QyVSKjmY15TUAMt4klQDWjTQSvQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihaVo5vlO8P7QyC5iStGoXFj1HZkSugZMWLzVT1B7MJysPTFOn6CGa82on6RTO0_lm4yOZ3wV-wfLVCsuTOEnRk4D8bjWLF-cEAzG5e4vPlvlhVfvXIG1RGlRmslB036GD2yJx83-Vn_0cyVNBhje3SeyUsfdGm_ao6QyVSKjmY15TUAMt4klQDWjTQSvQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4eWk2p0-8QGTErwIm8NNgccL2pLgYlv2z2fCf8L-exgwu6AUl931P_Ya0QIldgSibu6OrCrWVV7LZN4id5cWALFeId_mCdssBrmdghfcllA7kcp8vfwI3xZSI9bQP-GQJF5K0iz1UoEzSz-9PPNKoJDSNxVLBRfTx3htC8Rvg8xNqNQ4K5Oex11YhNgzQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4eWk2p0-8QGTErwIm8NNgccL2pLgYlv2z2fCf8L-exgwu6AUl931P_Ya0QIldgSibu6OrCrWVV7LZN4id5cWALFeId_mCdssBrmdghfcllA7kcp8vfwI3xZSI9bQP-GQJF5K0iz1UoEzSz-9PPNKoJDSNxVLBRfTx3htC8Rvg8xNqNQ4K5Oex11YhNgzQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Porter, the 4-month old calf...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEq4MBrfxr6unh3_UQYQ9IvGNPAJOQqWz9-38GQh4C-RRLUL9UFo3cW9U8ABOwsnPFMN5AvL-TJTbcOb7GpnUsvfiNz3oLjhHmlfjCg36tYlyT7eLZ3v_hdX26fjM8E2spAtT7hrD1Gblwn5bNsUAEXYPa1ZbP6gNwb68jzKfA2tpALQtxSEgPcFGCkbub" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEq4MBrfxr6unh3_UQYQ9IvGNPAJOQqWz9-38GQh4C-RRLUL9UFo3cW9U8ABOwsnPFMN5AvL-TJTbcOb7GpnUsvfiNz3oLjhHmlfjCg36tYlyT7eLZ3v_hdX26fjM8E2spAtT7hrD1Gblwn5bNsUAEXYPa1ZbP6gNwb68jzKfA2tpALQtxSEgPcFGCkbub" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">...really liked me!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL5EI-xNEMZI66LtnC1-O15w0i4WBdZXNok8MGE3dTtQz0BI2jfuUVQim1oLqDu9Bt39u7ngng-eyKe0UoaAtIxQk4Iqf5lwYKt68fbwjPC2OcHibGVxMhUkwTy1BYet5_efm4jNOSlePchrfr5VCcqP1bcR-vSeapKvmQFKhDQdwQYVlkn_bcT5jwf7zm" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="2816" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL5EI-xNEMZI66LtnC1-O15w0i4WBdZXNok8MGE3dTtQz0BI2jfuUVQim1oLqDu9Bt39u7ngng-eyKe0UoaAtIxQk4Iqf5lwYKt68fbwjPC2OcHibGVxMhUkwTy1BYet5_efm4jNOSlePchrfr5VCcqP1bcR-vSeapKvmQFKhDQdwQYVlkn_bcT5jwf7zm=w320-h286" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is the only bison I saw while visiting the Farm.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMsB3IZMWouFq9WRCu_TIl2W5nibyomVRIudK-OvMwz-rKKZxNDa5pdW7nYQrwmyMCe-doTbhg5k_I1tyb7WThb83kxTHMe1EXl75vvVotzjXaLrtjNi0YMemLMcRAJ1MHZ6hSBuWZAo2rTrdi1eJFqHR0rK2z737eaV_J6qHykqVpjYeUwe_ZA9LvkeMn" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMsB3IZMWouFq9WRCu_TIl2W5nibyomVRIudK-OvMwz-rKKZxNDa5pdW7nYQrwmyMCe-doTbhg5k_I1tyb7WThb83kxTHMe1EXl75vvVotzjXaLrtjNi0YMemLMcRAJ1MHZ6hSBuWZAo2rTrdi1eJFqHR0rK2z737eaV_J6qHykqVpjYeUwe_ZA9LvkeMn" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIiJX4PnDCAQipUahAJbOexkn2nhi9E4hVCx2FEuxYiKgqfh4fEy8YRlAJCby16LyiQz9c9EBx-cdNR8lFnqnH1i26IgU-xEbs0HaE-oFUwKPjj1_Vh39kjb5iKWb2RwJY3kjwT8DjkBeTBMuOYuhWwyzCKhpGL2L3FGbpfiui1hiTfGmb1_unnuHxYyqq" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="3313" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIiJX4PnDCAQipUahAJbOexkn2nhi9E4hVCx2FEuxYiKgqfh4fEy8YRlAJCby16LyiQz9c9EBx-cdNR8lFnqnH1i26IgU-xEbs0HaE-oFUwKPjj1_Vh39kjb5iKWb2RwJY3kjwT8DjkBeTBMuOYuhWwyzCKhpGL2L3FGbpfiui1hiTfGmb1_unnuHxYyqq=w400-h215" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Group photo!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSDL-G0BjpErbsK-guITfada-SG6jsyHFJJoIk5vDbMfJ0EdY0s_haPlcaFHyfcF53bg1sxR0-ruJOVUaoeYgjs4mJXMaOvIyKsx02fhwO_qHiB8BRbxt8nrSyagisrGHAhEXvUH4Ku83tly23qMbtWEOmIsIMVWy7ZNzjiqyBSnP_d3jrDPYjG8BT8-MH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSDL-G0BjpErbsK-guITfada-SG6jsyHFJJoIk5vDbMfJ0EdY0s_haPlcaFHyfcF53bg1sxR0-ruJOVUaoeYgjs4mJXMaOvIyKsx02fhwO_qHiB8BRbxt8nrSyagisrGHAhEXvUH4Ku83tly23qMbtWEOmIsIMVWy7ZNzjiqyBSnP_d3jrDPYjG8BT8-MH=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIYCNQ4rsC7k4uVOlOsX8Y4ZJbd-m6wVQUlEa-U3BWCyEvT93ktyPx219wV4JhA1XONSR0V9MrAgypy3nmV22isfZT9QdZjuilve7lb6pjbGARyIauvVknLXFwEY9jbg1Q2Dt0onHFfFb-rcUlUu__LYgYpCA_e-vI96ZklPYpju8zmByy0VTC_Yl1JAdV" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIYCNQ4rsC7k4uVOlOsX8Y4ZJbd-m6wVQUlEa-U3BWCyEvT93ktyPx219wV4JhA1XONSR0V9MrAgypy3nmV22isfZT9QdZjuilve7lb6pjbGARyIauvVknLXFwEY9jbg1Q2Dt0onHFfFb-rcUlUu__LYgYpCA_e-vI96ZklPYpju8zmByy0VTC_Yl1JAdV=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
loaded into Sherry/Matt’s truck and went across US-290 to the Lyndon B. Johnson
National Historic Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After watching a
film about Lady Bird Johnson, we drove over to see the reconstructed boyhood
home of our 36<sup>th</sup> President, the schoolhouse he attended, his
grandparents’ log cabin, and the family cemetery where President and Lady Bird
Johnson are buried with earlier generations of family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were able to enter the reconstructed
boyhood home and the schoolhouse, his grandparents’ home was off limits and the
graveyard could only be viewed from afar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIEk2A93XPuvS2kCelvnv09OZZTZQn2DVES41dfaFIeLX0qJGUTlDZRyyURLH7DH6yDBaEsvQAGKgy0XnzNsJn_SPcSD5x93-gndcdGBsK1VrQVEpnpywCPQtQF3jL7HcwIoJBj4GP_qUcDREQZWgsXd8WRluy_ZEi02zGbuhng_omBitVwbuoENbU7go/s4000/20230615_105611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIEk2A93XPuvS2kCelvnv09OZZTZQn2DVES41dfaFIeLX0qJGUTlDZRyyURLH7DH6yDBaEsvQAGKgy0XnzNsJn_SPcSD5x93-gndcdGBsK1VrQVEpnpywCPQtQF3jL7HcwIoJBj4GP_qUcDREQZWgsXd8WRluy_ZEi02zGbuhng_omBitVwbuoENbU7go/w400-h180/20230615_105611.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Exterior of schoolhouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2soGocnbG4NsQlAuG5tM38RVNPkpHC7lJuuCoaI8ti1XwMnfqcENn26xbOoLyPLzmNEQffA2DqqYAfsjpvCWeBIobAkZ4GDraFyFGoZTLhwWORM7YrrcGeEKtgJ6h1F8s4KyaHbe1siB7FHQXH9kl6B7FtZV9nwH53Hs5Tl4Ej6LKou0t9BBrbztC-jUY/s3264/20230615_105142.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2soGocnbG4NsQlAuG5tM38RVNPkpHC7lJuuCoaI8ti1XwMnfqcENn26xbOoLyPLzmNEQffA2DqqYAfsjpvCWeBIobAkZ4GDraFyFGoZTLhwWORM7YrrcGeEKtgJ6h1F8s4KyaHbe1siB7FHQXH9kl6B7FtZV9nwH53Hs5Tl4Ej6LKou0t9BBrbztC-jUY/w400-h180/20230615_105142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Interior of schoolhouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFlLm_aQZDBCWjWtLGkmQl8FnP6j6PrNtSkrzi2c3dUm7JvKH7DtBTXkbsmav54mPnQ5Q1wbzHBEV9AwzbbbeSvIJjbeyIuKFOweJ4hreF8-ITwG1ugkCSmCIWA_GCyP84B38rVkn5i3Idm_R4jKtsMaeTo3PEYSeTtUA38FTevKv-CefXeCmbz5-oXUu/s3264/20230615_110535.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFlLm_aQZDBCWjWtLGkmQl8FnP6j6PrNtSkrzi2c3dUm7JvKH7DtBTXkbsmav54mPnQ5Q1wbzHBEV9AwzbbbeSvIJjbeyIuKFOweJ4hreF8-ITwG1ugkCSmCIWA_GCyP84B38rVkn5i3Idm_R4jKtsMaeTo3PEYSeTtUA38FTevKv-CefXeCmbz5-oXUu/w400-h180/20230615_110535.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Replica of Johnson's boyhood home.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQzOWOvsyrRgWNgixjv4cPHPO4kwPXX_RQVO_AtS7UZ4ana-F1ka3Ygunw3VhfO4XklKCOwOJgAB016gvwSJmFez5SjpJ-I0LmS5ptL6iWAslkknOzh1Me1DfvppOPpjutI4teJuWDdzMrTxF9HTS1d1Ayg53W1gRoKKGMwSBZe4HfbTsHa7sCqIwNOV2/s3264/20230615_110158.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQzOWOvsyrRgWNgixjv4cPHPO4kwPXX_RQVO_AtS7UZ4ana-F1ka3Ygunw3VhfO4XklKCOwOJgAB016gvwSJmFez5SjpJ-I0LmS5ptL6iWAslkknOzh1Me1DfvppOPpjutI4teJuWDdzMrTxF9HTS1d1Ayg53W1gRoKKGMwSBZe4HfbTsHa7sCqIwNOV2/w400-h180/20230615_110158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Interior of boyhood home parlor.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj553BfbwWbDtzKsJaqmZ25bcHURYaEn-IOS-6tovvz9ngBgLse2RdIhZLyGyuoEpGx0-ayAB3mv11Vya_k7p2yce4X0iR71CkSwD1o-oPWje0bLM4NnCFOqb-lzD0lh-TZMlGQ_awZRjBbGDgJgDo093oZPxuvCSRW01O1WCnCosQpK9TKAgN37qCI5TwO/s4000/20230615_111445.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj553BfbwWbDtzKsJaqmZ25bcHURYaEn-IOS-6tovvz9ngBgLse2RdIhZLyGyuoEpGx0-ayAB3mv11Vya_k7p2yce4X0iR71CkSwD1o-oPWje0bLM4NnCFOqb-lzD0lh-TZMlGQ_awZRjBbGDgJgDo093oZPxuvCSRW01O1WCnCosQpK9TKAgN37qCI5TwO/w400-h180/20230615_111445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Johnson's grandparents' farmhouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC-xWgwHK7EV94YM1jCpkB991b3cQgb1kYu2xCimISkNfbxOXNzmBOlIyH43FXPzPDynKpLKzYk-f-PeLSGygCbGWTpnEc3DiAIXu5ehNlRn47bpuvp4MJKH_3qjnqC1enEdaGAU8kLnPC2R5AncKCmSazof--zc5Dbn3KwIsHj3DSRXsTuneVmG_DZ7f/s3987/20230615_110922.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="3987" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC-xWgwHK7EV94YM1jCpkB991b3cQgb1kYu2xCimISkNfbxOXNzmBOlIyH43FXPzPDynKpLKzYk-f-PeLSGygCbGWTpnEc3DiAIXu5ehNlRn47bpuvp4MJKH_3qjnqC1enEdaGAU8kLnPC2R5AncKCmSazof--zc5Dbn3KwIsHj3DSRXsTuneVmG_DZ7f/w400-h169/20230615_110922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Johnson family graveyard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also drove to the Johnsons’ ranch home situated along the Pedernales River.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Because Lyndon spent more than 20% of his time as President here, it was nicknamed the Texas White House.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, the house is considered structurally unsound, so there are no tours offered any longer.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The swimming pool looked quite inviting, though.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Also on the premises is the airfield where the President’s plane would land when he came to the Texas White House.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The hanger, too, is no longer available for interior viewing.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We learned that, as President, Johnson aggressively pursued and prioritized making this Historic Park his legacy (some folks are so narcissistic). </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But I will admit it is a spectacular spread--more than 1,500 acres of God’s Hill Country.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EtdVjplyKoikqKm9ZUhGkHZyDkqnBp9uAC_LN8ZvOy_k044U_4tXzEDAN0MxCXyd589sG2517r89uxdwJGNpeMz9GL8FQ0whKOi1dEhROvlLhr1rnt9EZCDz6eRt_BotIhsKL8auOuyFVtXugI1ju6wuAKO5hZ5_1AJVCG6nBi7RH7PI_XVkVY545LD6/s3871/20230615_121214.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="3871" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EtdVjplyKoikqKm9ZUhGkHZyDkqnBp9uAC_LN8ZvOy_k044U_4tXzEDAN0MxCXyd589sG2517r89uxdwJGNpeMz9GL8FQ0whKOi1dEhROvlLhr1rnt9EZCDz6eRt_BotIhsKL8auOuyFVtXugI1ju6wuAKO5hZ5_1AJVCG6nBi7RH7PI_XVkVY545LD6/w400-h170/20230615_121214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI1HjridFyJ7cZymBMQjDa3V6vQa4ABbGdUnfOg63L5Jdniq788bIiVVfI0VS9UqQOVUfW_arEqGdxkDHad6LM1ughbcOeOIH2RhVQtgQql5oy1pmuE4w4iDC3kP_0gLEmGshNY5h8u0z8-_g9mqjRPwPQTULWZuXkAsQiUFwIP-61ieSPLexJ1V5PAss3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI1HjridFyJ7cZymBMQjDa3V6vQa4ABbGdUnfOg63L5Jdniq788bIiVVfI0VS9UqQOVUfW_arEqGdxkDHad6LM1ughbcOeOIH2RhVQtgQql5oy1pmuE4w4iDC3kP_0gLEmGshNY5h8u0z8-_g9mqjRPwPQTULWZuXkAsQiUFwIP-61ieSPLexJ1V5PAss3" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3pObDtFxppCW2ouoho2rL45nWG15aX3gVcKn8Sb6665cea2lv40rLm_uNdewOdb9VuaT1_hUrUDeLtNwBz328vow35GcuOb6LSV9_KIrsNFME-fjZs-Oqp2AreZVt3fcvNQp-VEp1pqrC6mfEaaUi6JSnVjs5mx0HhbZ9sbs7bQHtIZM8ZMvxoj6WpmL/s2677/20230615_120004.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="2677" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3pObDtFxppCW2ouoho2rL45nWG15aX3gVcKn8Sb6665cea2lv40rLm_uNdewOdb9VuaT1_hUrUDeLtNwBz328vow35GcuOb6LSV9_KIrsNFME-fjZs-Oqp2AreZVt3fcvNQp-VEp1pqrC6mfEaaUi6JSnVjs5mx0HhbZ9sbs7bQHtIZM8ZMvxoj6WpmL/w400-h198/20230615_120004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmagQLzZWHlVxdaWUvXNQsNboaeX2qz_sLauTKrf7AgidGUtFlhzBGVJmRdb8f1yN2j4Q7matjxMYZodyh9gjfTf5cjyEmLrqZenG-rBpyHIFdBbT675q6OG2TWjCnImerwYnSXxCW1xU43JHqdXLKr0MCGgn2JgMar2iAwNEps2LILj1PJ2Sh3RGk7Xvs/s4000/20230615_120038.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmagQLzZWHlVxdaWUvXNQsNboaeX2qz_sLauTKrf7AgidGUtFlhzBGVJmRdb8f1yN2j4Q7matjxMYZodyh9gjfTf5cjyEmLrqZenG-rBpyHIFdBbT675q6OG2TWjCnImerwYnSXxCW1xU43JHqdXLKr0MCGgn2JgMar2iAwNEps2LILj1PJ2Sh3RGk7Xvs/w400-h180/20230615_120038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfM99PdbH1nChFaH23hSnlYsZS8IRch9CAXUTI5fcp0KUT54gX7I2G3a1CP2kPDUVYZyULjoDJW5c90wfkmnkVBXpTk1dQjlgegLiZg5e6ZAOKqpdnrEGtS1_9jl8mM984tPUo3sTxq42ktH92OZEO9kFUf8hsXp-a0zgExJz8_HN4nrt1CpocHFtgMBq0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfM99PdbH1nChFaH23hSnlYsZS8IRch9CAXUTI5fcp0KUT54gX7I2G3a1CP2kPDUVYZyULjoDJW5c90wfkmnkVBXpTk1dQjlgegLiZg5e6ZAOKqpdnrEGtS1_9jl8mM984tPUo3sTxq42ktH92OZEO9kFUf8hsXp-a0zgExJz8_HN4nrt1CpocHFtgMBq0=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy939GZUHp1btLb0HNCwTbk-XSqbXbnA0IipVA9e1fYsLTD3Vi2NpbVy4z4Xl99CyhLqwMtgIA1qxrXg8Y9XQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinRWoeAP64_esVYDG9eysM8_g3vVtWekSeLPntX5xycF4gBwJsWCdullsmd0P2OG3jWfXGlipTZ1dTA-DmUnKXZ66-8OK9bmDY63LkhHD2VKTuET86gnHEuoXfN_KN1xksrNW7O2y7h31KN2lVPqVKCBMU_1ey5hFtNCL7Iu5ZOw5Dy7Pc25mxlh5YBn6r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinRWoeAP64_esVYDG9eysM8_g3vVtWekSeLPntX5xycF4gBwJsWCdullsmd0P2OG3jWfXGlipTZ1dTA-DmUnKXZ66-8OK9bmDY63LkhHD2VKTuET86gnHEuoXfN_KN1xksrNW7O2y7h31KN2lVPqVKCBMU_1ey5hFtNCL7Iu5ZOw5Dy7Pc25mxlh5YBn6r" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While my Dad practiced his roping in the barn at the Ranch home (see above video), this Mom gets a much needed reprieve during her youngster's siesta.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We
all went for a late lunch at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Peach Station in Blanco to meet up with
Linda/Bruce, fellow LBJ State Park volunteers of Sherry/Matt (Bruce does groundskeeping
and Linda volunteers at the gift shop). My family hit it off immediately with
Linda/Bruce and found we had lots in common.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom and Linda shared an Italian heritage, we all had roots in the
Northeast, and Linda/Bruce were interested in learning about volunteer opportunities
at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcel, MN, where we volunteered last
year.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We all had a terrific time—so
good, we all forgot to take a photo!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s what happens when you combine delicious food, attentive service,
and absolutely wonderful company.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We
returned to the hotel to shower and change into our dancing duds—my family was
heading to Luckenbach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckenbach was
established by German immigrants in 1849 as a trading post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its original post office structure, in use
until 1971, still stands under a live oak tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckenbach was always a small town, but with a current population of 3,
it teeters on ghost town status.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
this ghost town has been resurrected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
it lacks in permanent residents, it makes up for in visitors to its Dancehall
and music venue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents participated
in the two-step dance lessons offered at the Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless their hearts, they get an “A” for
effort, but they are a train wreck with couples dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, the lessons were only an hour
long, and the band soon took the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were very entertaining and performed songs to which we could line
dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great time we had!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_KSW3RdABmvaSgqNGwbG0c2Uye9mQlr4ErAeRL8BJsTSGCCcPtZT7uLCUngRPBu8fYqWl_jqLs8dxmRVDCmV_TyJr3UEkah9-feJw9-2zmfH5PjBJV4QDfJxIadeondSaSlwDw_jmO9O3N4vRJp4AiB7KK_bMPKUL6Pm2jWfWoLZ4RsAxT8opuC0h0FUD" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_KSW3RdABmvaSgqNGwbG0c2Uye9mQlr4ErAeRL8BJsTSGCCcPtZT7uLCUngRPBu8fYqWl_jqLs8dxmRVDCmV_TyJr3UEkah9-feJw9-2zmfH5PjBJV4QDfJxIadeondSaSlwDw_jmO9O3N4vRJp4AiB7KK_bMPKUL6Pm2jWfWoLZ4RsAxT8opuC0h0FUD=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8U3DtroPo4_0KWbtE7nbSWbfIfTn13s-FCBVGgKvGvkNTCd02eEn8ZYQOl9oWNFB_aV51ebFrXOfx_2dQl3UWjCElaqbjiglDZp5uMsszDlrJEgveOdlASrFhuC1-gBMRXYDLhUPAy1X4K32joG0SpIysN52ARdfmicpvNQeGp4X4oRtLClyl1uBigRjh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="3178" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8U3DtroPo4_0KWbtE7nbSWbfIfTn13s-FCBVGgKvGvkNTCd02eEn8ZYQOl9oWNFB_aV51ebFrXOfx_2dQl3UWjCElaqbjiglDZp5uMsszDlrJEgveOdlASrFhuC1-gBMRXYDLhUPAy1X4K32joG0SpIysN52ARdfmicpvNQeGp4X4oRtLClyl1uBigRjh=w400-h141" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We parked in the motorcycle VIP section of town.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTXLuQvno7t4BVug82VyXSdl0VSPXdbeKio8vvrXPwZB7ikag1pL1nkzA8sRPq7gQ9AWkkWk7SlcX0fmh0GnfkkkULJ85ThAVG16pTuMogQAZgq0iv5WWm5vytIFUMGqQn_nyWaKyd5QmDuecEwiXAIHFgNYI58WC1fNIIuEYagaF2Dv_C1yv0gVIvhAJG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTXLuQvno7t4BVug82VyXSdl0VSPXdbeKio8vvrXPwZB7ikag1pL1nkzA8sRPq7gQ9AWkkWk7SlcX0fmh0GnfkkkULJ85ThAVG16pTuMogQAZgq0iv5WWm5vytIFUMGqQn_nyWaKyd5QmDuecEwiXAIHFgNYI58WC1fNIIuEYagaF2Dv_C1yv0gVIvhAJG=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Post Office used from 1850-1971.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc8tQ5ah1qSTh0RIZLcorCn9JawfdIqMyYA5do8jaYJB33qELIJDrs1tPaTVgyAQmAid-IhXPYMClbXlljjXbihCEhzYVHq6Y2GLEIle_AHhNKCHI2HmsLdpI9GCd0CQqaGgfsOeBP-9tyr8WaWVRi2EKv-pBjVUcu8f_np0ScsDGalwKrE6m2bdGB0mqj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc8tQ5ah1qSTh0RIZLcorCn9JawfdIqMyYA5do8jaYJB33qELIJDrs1tPaTVgyAQmAid-IhXPYMClbXlljjXbihCEhzYVHq6Y2GLEIle_AHhNKCHI2HmsLdpI9GCd0CQqaGgfsOeBP-9tyr8WaWVRi2EKv-pBjVUcu8f_np0ScsDGalwKrE6m2bdGB0mqj=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxor0pGCGIIMcdoVzVre1b4wUWXUtIsnfgb860KLaZDuPcDwLqLySMHqKlBplX-cvSLv_0mFcbBhl0GHjSxmP_0Nh-viCTnphJi1Y1C0m0uWNiaozwOclEWGKqI0D1e2V6jIGH61d3Pxl2g4vkjixnFeyyYyOA2AB6zdDBEoOuba3vSynydQensj1tSXZ8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxor0pGCGIIMcdoVzVre1b4wUWXUtIsnfgb860KLaZDuPcDwLqLySMHqKlBplX-cvSLv_0mFcbBhl0GHjSxmP_0Nh-viCTnphJi1Y1C0m0uWNiaozwOclEWGKqI0D1e2V6jIGH61d3Pxl2g4vkjixnFeyyYyOA2AB6zdDBEoOuba3vSynydQensj1tSXZ8=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp70kIjpaPqWYNrtQCHsL9qvr4baVe5L1BkG1SzkDkCdDsneDRvcZXd83AgMSB28MUvkUcLpQlPBaa9KpwGE6Wb6akZVB1eDCxuVy4ZiXkBuy8amwzEADhEkahwTbRrrkpMkGxz7zuvRKLeTukrUb9DidlMSbFWexA-JEWEWKIG61eNfJyLvQACPcfoW32" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp70kIjpaPqWYNrtQCHsL9qvr4baVe5L1BkG1SzkDkCdDsneDRvcZXd83AgMSB28MUvkUcLpQlPBaa9KpwGE6Wb6akZVB1eDCxuVy4ZiXkBuy8amwzEADhEkahwTbRrrkpMkGxz7zuvRKLeTukrUb9DidlMSbFWexA-JEWEWKIG61eNfJyLvQACPcfoW32=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjItNRacVcc2L3fJ4LEFYHR74IHX-m_5FbZjojueSu-qEV3aml59I65Sb1sAf87qOr878gaofGBCHG0sdagmk6ww1a7KTh7ocDvwoYdSA7plh4pv6fUj7Vqm-BfLv19kdu4r7h3S2AFT_fUYPRn0fcM9mVntJjhVSCTx0QiH_3leHg0wvkzjBt8kQXR21xw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjItNRacVcc2L3fJ4LEFYHR74IHX-m_5FbZjojueSu-qEV3aml59I65Sb1sAf87qOr878gaofGBCHG0sdagmk6ww1a7KTh7ocDvwoYdSA7plh4pv6fUj7Vqm-BfLv19kdu4r7h3S2AFT_fUYPRn0fcM9mVntJjhVSCTx0QiH_3leHg0wvkzjBt8kQXR21xw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After
several hours of dancing, we worked up quite an appetite. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we headed over to West End Pizza, arriving
with just enough time before closing to enjoy a vegetarian pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>West End provided exemplary service and was
accommodating to our request to substitute their mozzarella with our non-dairy
“cheese”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pizza dough was light, of
perfect thickness, and baked to optimal temperature to achieve “bubbles”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2VcqZcZ9uP4m0gaW0rtWP73dMjoL5xKd28x_lOdTkJ5Jl78K8SVXZ3baguuzw2xoW4zHuhZzUxgNtd1mXuT1I_XTwtN8K0nE_LXmENL2qusFqJfu9NP0jit488SgrvlK8gZFwZw6x8V28r69hHzgrGgfzK3YwRYW7GvfbkqePnMOiVfbb9A0XS3lspOlD" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2VcqZcZ9uP4m0gaW0rtWP73dMjoL5xKd28x_lOdTkJ5Jl78K8SVXZ3baguuzw2xoW4zHuhZzUxgNtd1mXuT1I_XTwtN8K0nE_LXmENL2qusFqJfu9NP0jit488SgrvlK8gZFwZw6x8V28r69hHzgrGgfzK3YwRYW7GvfbkqePnMOiVfbb9A0XS3lspOlD=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a terrific pizza! But I must say I was surprised that West End Pizza charges you for a glass of water as if you order a soft drink. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You
will notice one activity missing from our busy itinerary:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">wine tasting.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are literally dozens of wineries right within Fredericksburg.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">How to select which one to visit?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are several in the area that offer you
a “unique experience” like </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Rhinory </i><span style="font-family: arial;">(where you can taste wine while
visiting a young rhinoceros) or </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Safari</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> (where you sip wine and view
exotic animals simultaneously.)</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We,
however, rarely indulge in spirits and have limited knowledge of wine types and
nomenclature. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we opted to pass on
visiting a winery all together.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We did
want to pick-our-own peaches, which are in season usually from mid-May through
mid-August, based on variety.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But we
couldn’t find any grove open that fit into our timeline.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Nor were any of the fruit stands open when we
passed by.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I read that peaches were
smaller this year due to last year’s drought.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps the horrendous heat we are experiencing negatively impacted the
peach crop as well.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Well,
our wonderful trip to Fredericksburg had come to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We said our farewells and expressed our
thanks to Sherry/Matt and commenced our long, hot, sticky ride home to
Livingston.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 320.3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-78290624856960099242023-06-19T22:52:00.001-05:002023-06-30T15:45:43.946-05:00Starlink to the Rescue!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Big news is our
household—we have purchased Starlink! Previously,
we used Verizon as our provider for cell phone/internet hotspot, but service in
our section of Rainbow’s End RV Park is non-existent, as confirmed by Verizon
themselves when they had us run speed tests and by discussions with neighbors who also suffered from shoddy service.
It could take as much as 2 hours for Mom to just pay the bills and
download all the monthly statements. It
was a major source of aggravation for Mom, which resulted in her unleashing her
NJ attitude, using some colorful language not meant for my delicate stuffed rat
ears, and eventually hauling herself and her laptop to the Livingston Municipal
Library to complete the tasks, where the Verizon signal was stronger. We have been Verizon customers for 19 years
and swore by the service up until 3 years ago.
Things started to dwindle then, but Verizon attributed it to taking down
4G towers to replace with 5G. When Mom
reported reduced service to Verizon last year, they tried to blame our phones,
but they were newer Samsung models and 5G compatible. In January, Verizon’s excuse was that our
plan (which touts being “unlimited”) is obsolete and doesn’t allow the use of
hotspots. This was a total load of horse
poop since our Verizon phone hotspot service works well in other areas. It was Verizon’s third strike out with
Mom. So, as our household CFO (chief
financial officer), she authorized the purchase of the roaming version of
Starlink ($650 equipment purchase, $150 monthly service fee). Amen and hallelujah, what a wonderful
investment! Dad had it up and running
within 20 minutes. The monthly financial
tasks that previously took Mom 2 hours now take only 10 minutes! We have had several intense thunder and rain
storms since we installed Starlink, yet lost the satellite for only a minute or
two. Our only regret with Starlink is
that we waited so long to get it! We are
locked in to our phone contracts with Verizon until November, at which time we
will research other providers and/or reduced plans. But thanks to Starlink,
Mom’s sanity is restored (at least temporarily). We will see if it works as well when we return to the road.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBUCgi8vvk-3jMvcNTWCHnbiNZ0C48OpnMwIm90KO_5i144WmBydtZNCgO71fu7QUHCHwYXV3--eodnZA43lvfAGevszD0yExVicMdQYTSK3rPtkOLKiEgRXTyP6BbQRxBunTIVlhHuhicwVaQugKRhBLumUj_be9lofCh1IcIqYp4rHgBsdN1GG0Ppmkv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBUCgi8vvk-3jMvcNTWCHnbiNZ0C48OpnMwIm90KO_5i144WmBydtZNCgO71fu7QUHCHwYXV3--eodnZA43lvfAGevszD0yExVicMdQYTSK3rPtkOLKiEgRXTyP6BbQRxBunTIVlhHuhicwVaQugKRhBLumUj_be9lofCh1IcIqYp4rHgBsdN1GG0Ppmkv" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Starlink Dishy! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Check out the video of the prequel to a massive storm that put Starlink to the test.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvPgfgSq8DaycLQcdMFKCvcHNVz9979LakBuaZpLsQZUQ86nRjDbTM1k6KMMx2z9tnKbx0YLBAWJaQ01qRtA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We continue to
keep busy here in Livingston, which has made time just fly by for us.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The residents
at Escapees Rainbow’s End are mobilizing to resurrect Park activities, many of
which were canceled during COVID and were never reinstated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they held their first pot luck
dinner since 2019 at the clubhouse in late May<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an enjoyable event and good for everyone to reconnect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hope to make these a monthly feature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC5OXR_cDQ199fFmPZW83dTkEyvxX7SzajCM30Zvo_dbBBzvM5BnNyKtMNc3qv_4Z3qEamIJHHlg_kxg4vyyWwlz_6fzMWm-FBU6Gh9GO-kNnXpgwm7GpGGMFDVCH672RpWF-2cY5wdsuBpYP6vdbAJhLDX4kYyY7LY1P-GP-ZmwaxV6kvJUeDfiv-4VXc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC5OXR_cDQ199fFmPZW83dTkEyvxX7SzajCM30Zvo_dbBBzvM5BnNyKtMNc3qv_4Z3qEamIJHHlg_kxg4vyyWwlz_6fzMWm-FBU6Gh9GO-kNnXpgwm7GpGGMFDVCH672RpWF-2cY5wdsuBpYP6vdbAJhLDX4kYyY7LY1P-GP-ZmwaxV6kvJUeDfiv-4VXc=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Escapees enjoying eats and treats at the first post-COVID pot luck dinner.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYr_PNbszZ7DWTY_Uy_ub0EFrNFT9iX5gL3hMROXZldI8i05NJnlFjUgB9j8APwyIo8z6Cp5EfC2mmUfSB9wHp10avQ2kAyWOJLrIuc4iIQ5H5LkyPopDOr7uzuD7DbXKcwFhXTjsi87tcLexqAWclh2lrOANzYznpCkMxWd294AZwgN-V0V7bHOQasUt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVYr_PNbszZ7DWTY_Uy_ub0EFrNFT9iX5gL3hMROXZldI8i05NJnlFjUgB9j8APwyIo8z6Cp5EfC2mmUfSB9wHp10avQ2kAyWOJLrIuc4iIQ5H5LkyPopDOr7uzuD7DbXKcwFhXTjsi87tcLexqAWclh2lrOANzYznpCkMxWd294AZwgN-V0V7bHOQasUt" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Joining some Escapees dance buddies for some treats at Lemon Tree Bakery. So nice to have a little cafe right in the park!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We attended the
annual garden party hosted by our dance instructor Diane.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">She has the perfect property for
this big gathering of 100+ guests. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
dined on delicious food resulting from a pot luck, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and we socialized with folks from many towns.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And with a DJ and dance floor, we could all
participate in many styles of dance (square, line, and couples two-step).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Heck, some folks even did some karaoke
(thankfully, my parents refrained from that activity—neither one of them can
carry a tune).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a blast we all
had!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were honored to be included and
grateful to have met so many wonderful people through attending dance lessons
since late February.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT-uzjVipIKWvfa1cbFeyQdP29fPXVPkp6VN6wk-IyOQ_yAzFdNhiRp5crJuQ37v1b-LpaQ0yYqXcfeMadhH2EeGUueGDbaRXOAvJDEL0fA621p_e2dY6ISy7na0J6Mz6L-MIrMUbijbm4TSGgujQinqumPdU2yFa7toZhK7dCAL3ml1jjMPMq7Up_BmSA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT-uzjVipIKWvfa1cbFeyQdP29fPXVPkp6VN6wk-IyOQ_yAzFdNhiRp5crJuQ37v1b-LpaQ0yYqXcfeMadhH2EeGUueGDbaRXOAvJDEL0fA621p_e2dY6ISy7na0J6Mz6L-MIrMUbijbm4TSGgujQinqumPdU2yFa7toZhK7dCAL3ml1jjMPMq7Up_BmSA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dance Instructor and host Diane greeted all of us.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9c_NFv30YBnmL9xO9Vliur_wqNMP13NaSPUaf4HI3mObWF0d4WEjKin8isX_-AyMe7uLSit9We7hS6cK2-aLGLzduMU6r9tood_jrG_nnPiq6IdW2z6cBcW0qwbpcca2ti2JARooiYFgk3FBemckLNQB9fUSgnPycWvHwv8MaGZlSlC2tYxMHOrXO7Az8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2719" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9c_NFv30YBnmL9xO9Vliur_wqNMP13NaSPUaf4HI3mObWF0d4WEjKin8isX_-AyMe7uLSit9We7hS6cK2-aLGLzduMU6r9tood_jrG_nnPiq6IdW2z6cBcW0qwbpcca2ti2JARooiYFgk3FBemckLNQB9fUSgnPycWvHwv8MaGZlSlC2tYxMHOrXO7Az8=w400-h169" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMMAH8V6SCeRioK2tJazle2w8OXkYSNDMsCaT_c-fO4awJK4a1rEItoqoV4WMIwB-2fyXmLV6q4KkFgtj_CPsY0oUtrZ4ZX2cp43uvIMDpRXxKAuj6KXqvxhm-jc8YO3nEYN7kLy-RA7SeuxElN73uBBhcsYEpDT4C-SXaYk_r11md0I7yu6IWhOg0p6ZT" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMMAH8V6SCeRioK2tJazle2w8OXkYSNDMsCaT_c-fO4awJK4a1rEItoqoV4WMIwB-2fyXmLV6q4KkFgtj_CPsY0oUtrZ4ZX2cp43uvIMDpRXxKAuj6KXqvxhm-jc8YO3nEYN7kLy-RA7SeuxElN73uBBhcsYEpDT4C-SXaYk_r11md0I7yu6IWhOg0p6ZT=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the guests (including Mom) demonstrating some line dances.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I've noticed God's creatures have been busy these days! I love to watch nature at work!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZnRkcj625DFw2Axhp6c0wtaBRDhv0CA9PCkk7VABA8kZMSiY3nM1prWEHBjgUwU7gtelHYICmSOCSZKNYtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxNF0vsp1I846gYmZZ1pal_KC8IZOUheYKO2ur7WL5lRuw4ra37lQL7he02Wmcl9VnxK3vTvuEl0vJeC6B5Xw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWV72YxXw6z1YVuxiI29YxMiWMTnqw2nV0RCpa-Mv7aj53YsuRZTuRiTnIJPDGFixEFUWH6SOko29LtQ6tcOrevGZyAX53hnSokiPOJ6f6hDF69aIF7WOASCFZohMZfc9lU6Igq5I7juSSyc6CNc0n_-nHLv8Eie4FErZ0oospH3eP1knVbQozsdCUcgF2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWV72YxXw6z1YVuxiI29YxMiWMTnqw2nV0RCpa-Mv7aj53YsuRZTuRiTnIJPDGFixEFUWH6SOko29LtQ6tcOrevGZyAX53hnSokiPOJ6f6hDF69aIF7WOASCFZohMZfc9lU6Igq5I7juSSyc6CNc0n_-nHLv8Eie4FErZ0oospH3eP1knVbQozsdCUcgF2=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This garden guest was Dad's pesticide--he ate all the bugs that could kill Dad's vegetable plants.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We spent Memorial
Day weekend doing several Patriot Guard Rider missions, including placing flags
at Houston National Cemetery on the graves of those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice in service to our Nation.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
also attended ceremonies at Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin and visited the
gravesite of our local heroes, including Army PFC Stuart W. Moore.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly, the meaning and reason for Memorial
Day is lost on so many people.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As a
member of Post 8568 Auxiliary in Livingston, Mom distributed Buddy Poppies,
hoping that participating in this VFW tradition served as an educational tool
to raise awareness.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2R1H_ZKGop52Kg-7zh_Aj0f147I7Gli0bnJpLys0Rt2PcX8V6Y2fho6G7dSXyzWVjPrUpC_iqPsttnSyKv23O1xy9SQBgPpO0nFWk_q8FTGlpC-AGr5jlSh-zbv-0-qLWR2KK4yMYm2HX98PKRxjtNg_UKRemsC2xOQbObwbVBYdJpX69tRApKNNc9gq_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2188" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2R1H_ZKGop52Kg-7zh_Aj0f147I7Gli0bnJpLys0Rt2PcX8V6Y2fho6G7dSXyzWVjPrUpC_iqPsttnSyKv23O1xy9SQBgPpO0nFWk_q8FTGlpC-AGr5jlSh-zbv-0-qLWR2KK4yMYm2HX98PKRxjtNg_UKRemsC2xOQbObwbVBYdJpX69tRApKNNc9gq_=w400-h289" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Houston National Cemetery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5kGD6Bm_CLBUDomaR8wppsNEeU9Ju_4GSvplk_R4x5jCae1d2mcxT2qBCmX_8_XohKH5ljtcBeK_0uiiWMNgBOZKo9G_P0QID0OGMwhO2VpiTbgxiL_a93nwAAkMtXd2HxR_qqEybB75M3ToBEfIhfODPGtB6k5-G_JaCnIPgCus78_QMMkge38uPMzNf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5kGD6Bm_CLBUDomaR8wppsNEeU9Ju_4GSvplk_R4x5jCae1d2mcxT2qBCmX_8_XohKH5ljtcBeK_0uiiWMNgBOZKo9G_P0QID0OGMwhO2VpiTbgxiL_a93nwAAkMtXd2HxR_qqEybB75M3ToBEfIhfODPGtB6k5-G_JaCnIPgCus78_QMMkge38uPMzNf=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv0cbH86Ja-fkhAlLKXW0QMU8dn_IxRZ1o5-39o0VaOM2pZNSW1Yrm4tpDLxL7RaX6XyGwMri18nTX16l5ebKLcRQSFlf_dcqRQJuvAMw6UFAKatm13-_vbcKvtk7p_0dJjPAvE0n6J045EyKlYp5KCHtjLcPSi7bsvkYZaWlSYCZZpZPaYfIS-LFiMzRX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv0cbH86Ja-fkhAlLKXW0QMU8dn_IxRZ1o5-39o0VaOM2pZNSW1Yrm4tpDLxL7RaX6XyGwMri18nTX16l5ebKLcRQSFlf_dcqRQJuvAMw6UFAKatm13-_vbcKvtk7p_0dJjPAvE0n6J045EyKlYp5KCHtjLcPSi7bsvkYZaWlSYCZZpZPaYfIS-LFiMzRX=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial Day Ceremony at Gipson Funeral Home.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihNT1UT1P6PdR-1vKDaYKDnD3-c-qBU_BTZUvX0BvEdX5nn6yzFeX5gb4JRMb4hHqMp4O4nKJ0U8A72Pw47QUIw7MY_sPsOqHnoWdYGnFkcrt5hB3zjIaxaUqana-6PwUgXNiDHXf5od4MVsSrCgQRaOwCXlG8eBRwqDFJB-Toha67IvXRsoN8LLL3vPcZ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihNT1UT1P6PdR-1vKDaYKDnD3-c-qBU_BTZUvX0BvEdX5nn6yzFeX5gb4JRMb4hHqMp4O4nKJ0U8A72Pw47QUIw7MY_sPsOqHnoWdYGnFkcrt5hB3zjIaxaUqana-6PwUgXNiDHXf5od4MVsSrCgQRaOwCXlG8eBRwqDFJB-Toha67IvXRsoN8LLL3vPcZ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloons released in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUO-4h6hbHoG-4emktkNuUGJWzDOuuEn6pb-TLpmNvB63eZyi-U3KFerZBMi60FgYTnFucfv7xM-IHaCqNqObEPhy81znOKgxZT05HAPpfjQy1C97xwduRpQ5XqIvirA0F1wzs_f9o-bCaWMYBOPt34r_J-mASG6jGAab1BWSfOnMtDWK_XBWo8s79vJI7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="2849" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUO-4h6hbHoG-4emktkNuUGJWzDOuuEn6pb-TLpmNvB63eZyi-U3KFerZBMi60FgYTnFucfv7xM-IHaCqNqObEPhy81znOKgxZT05HAPpfjQy1C97xwduRpQ5XqIvirA0F1wzs_f9o-bCaWMYBOPt34r_J-mASG6jGAab1BWSfOnMtDWK_XBWo8s79vJI7=w400-h228" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patriot Guard Riders at the gravesite of our local hero, PFC Stuart Moore.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG0aG9fVM67qKWo8xijzvTqDWaDQyu8fhBoyKwjwBtUjmqffV3tsdTBSYLPTWYVlCak4TtdSqa44G4U0T8s7icnY4RwC7RHF9tmlrMae5H_LlUf4Hlc8PzOzKhxQJ4LTOkGYuTTF0y5T_W1j6Qklr0vmOxHbKQ7pvqztzfshCidc-mkqS3nAIGt4lFRJQZ" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG0aG9fVM67qKWo8xijzvTqDWaDQyu8fhBoyKwjwBtUjmqffV3tsdTBSYLPTWYVlCak4TtdSqa44G4U0T8s7icnY4RwC7RHF9tmlrMae5H_LlUf4Hlc8PzOzKhxQJ4LTOkGYuTTF0y5T_W1j6Qklr0vmOxHbKQ7pvqztzfshCidc-mkqS3nAIGt4lFRJQZ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom distributing Buddy Poppies for VFW Post 8568.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Blueberries are
here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I was thrilled to learn that
we have a pick-your-own blueberry farm right here in Livingston!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C&M Farms on Holly Grove Road has tall bushes,
so no need to bend to reach the berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the fields are manicured, so no worries about snakes hiding in the
grass (although we did encounter a snake along FM-943 while driving to the
farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad tried to swerve but ended up
hitting him with the rear tires). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have made several trips to the farm throughout the season, picking 60+ pounds
of berries!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our freezer is filled to
capacity and we have shared our treasure trove with neighbors and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-_MmyhNi2vfPiOrJBp5pPa_BPjrXkbfCFcruw6KmbGLX5-0uzLVtarrZe2PXVfz5XuUV4okvtMi2HrRUv2An0O8f2ke2InPY-NlzASqj4F8MO6ieU2AHho1dyx74GeGa78lCe5cr-AwFBHB61Ez2U8UiEGF0-EanyujifIiQJiKqHy3zm0SBeNeojW29/s960/FB_IMG_1685636906100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-_MmyhNi2vfPiOrJBp5pPa_BPjrXkbfCFcruw6KmbGLX5-0uzLVtarrZe2PXVfz5XuUV4okvtMi2HrRUv2An0O8f2ke2InPY-NlzASqj4F8MO6ieU2AHho1dyx74GeGa78lCe5cr-AwFBHB61Ez2U8UiEGF0-EanyujifIiQJiKqHy3zm0SBeNeojW29/w300-h400/FB_IMG_1685636906100.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From bush...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO78FYcXIpt2VBkZ_G05qA0rzfFR8mTB06Qv5FnrVFBhwJBxfLEhhUFv1C6BvotzZhOG-80MFNRFIB0fhDd-atqAhvWazTkBwxY8y0ghlJO1537u0iVETl8-eZ_SoKTbs5ejUYUDfz6MQ6IUYlGB-MlFJzFFBRYiiglktT3b25SzjJW64oWFkGr-FIKzg/s3280/20230531_101302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="3280" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO78FYcXIpt2VBkZ_G05qA0rzfFR8mTB06Qv5FnrVFBhwJBxfLEhhUFv1C6BvotzZhOG-80MFNRFIB0fhDd-atqAhvWazTkBwxY8y0ghlJO1537u0iVETl8-eZ_SoKTbs5ejUYUDfz6MQ6IUYlGB-MlFJzFFBRYiiglktT3b25SzjJW64oWFkGr-FIKzg/w400-h196/20230531_101302.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...to bucket...<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iALe3Sq6yViJlqssWjH0uDPIM6gW-0I7_PwIpKM5o4c3s1aKduwtsOjqnyQjupqnc40tUqvwG-_ENsRmZQ893rb1tVwrYUloqT7AYaeqz6jBHoS-FSygbTNdwpPsb5a6JVdB_6IkUfOCy0hyJlDZbAHFQGFE_b_2hWnk4T2Pl0YAijXKHiHnJhPeTkCs/s2370/20230630_153431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2370" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iALe3Sq6yViJlqssWjH0uDPIM6gW-0I7_PwIpKM5o4c3s1aKduwtsOjqnyQjupqnc40tUqvwG-_ENsRmZQ893rb1tVwrYUloqT7AYaeqz6jBHoS-FSygbTNdwpPsb5a6JVdB_6IkUfOCy0hyJlDZbAHFQGFE_b_2hWnk4T2Pl0YAijXKHiHnJhPeTkCs/w304-h400/20230630_153431.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...to my belly! Yummy blueberry crumb cake.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Things have
really heated up here in Southeast Texas!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We have had record-breaking temps, with ridiculously high humidity
levels and dew points—and it is only mid-June!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">This has negatively impacted the crops at Heavenly Fresh Farms, from
whom we purchase produce and fresh eggs (thankfully, Dad’s tomato and zucchini
bushes have held up thus far).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The
intense heat has also affected our activity schedule.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We now play pickleball outdoors at 7:30 a.m.
and do most of our walks/hikes late in the day.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The squirrels and cardinals are still
partaking of the buffet we provide them at our feeders, though, they, too, have
altered their schedules due to the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">weather.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjDSBb1s6CIvXkNSbfn64pply1GgLnUMMgji6JpVtJ8dgFYgyeJnm6OU1AbXfuMeVetonEAJoAphWK-KPQYBvDtB2IdjOzy31s9ny688gGOMKPtJeeAC5l5Y-fpzxZGmUSCf_HPW8Jm0N3fdaip8g4GFD_UcJEssoY9clIRCnZ7Suxi4xMiN-PxhuFsJ6Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjDSBb1s6CIvXkNSbfn64pply1GgLnUMMgji6JpVtJ8dgFYgyeJnm6OU1AbXfuMeVetonEAJoAphWK-KPQYBvDtB2IdjOzy31s9ny688gGOMKPtJeeAC5l5Y-fpzxZGmUSCf_HPW8Jm0N3fdaip8g4GFD_UcJEssoY9clIRCnZ7Suxi4xMiN-PxhuFsJ6Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was so hot, this frog hitched a ride on Dad's water bottle. No one told Dad, but apparently he is an Uber for amphibians!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz4YrYqeRhWlpkrjeU3_EnPNIa2uslWOJxHE6ZMLopy_VN-B7VucZ8l3Uzvxwc4OB-H3zRq7tcPOGAxS3tk4OWEfb4k1Cfoc_8I_Z9nV-xMilE0Pfl3d2i1uj3-87X4gItBUAadbssUgRmlfpwqrAl7W4ZrCpeFnrQe5HiZ4YoQT-Nu5TJjOwkJqKcqH8m" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2915" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz4YrYqeRhWlpkrjeU3_EnPNIa2uslWOJxHE6ZMLopy_VN-B7VucZ8l3Uzvxwc4OB-H3zRq7tcPOGAxS3tk4OWEfb4k1Cfoc_8I_Z9nV-xMilE0Pfl3d2i1uj3-87X4gItBUAadbssUgRmlfpwqrAl7W4ZrCpeFnrQe5HiZ4YoQT-Nu5TJjOwkJqKcqH8m=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A small sampling of Dad's garden bounty.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On a trip into
town one day, we stopped at the small but very interesting Polk County Memorial
Museum.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We attained an understanding of
the lives of early settlers and local tribes within Polk County.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Plus the Museum had a wonderful special
exhibit on the works of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) here in
Texas.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As we travel the Country visiting
various State and National Parks, we see the magnificent projects of the CCC, and
are so appreciative of their efforts.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
wish the government would reinstate the program.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It would provide a paycheck, purpose, and opportunity to acquire new skills to those
who are suffering financial hardship, a true hand up instead of a hand out. And, their
efforts would add amenities to our public spaces which would benefit us all. That's a win-win situation in my book!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V-FLBSH-Uhc_gcWuBkDen4YaeBxjPpli3w-6DGynRo_Sep443qVtg3yRAhFz02YtRAqaD6xFUHeOi6F1O3uCDYxANY7YhI02rv8TxV8Wx5Z05rSfuUBCObyYkt1zlPhjR28_zSgaLDLsTtznwk0pfu2jhugi96g_HoEI7P-nCk6omyfxiMl_XkhlzemT/s4000/20230411_152316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3V-FLBSH-Uhc_gcWuBkDen4YaeBxjPpli3w-6DGynRo_Sep443qVtg3yRAhFz02YtRAqaD6xFUHeOi6F1O3uCDYxANY7YhI02rv8TxV8Wx5Z05rSfuUBCObyYkt1zlPhjR28_zSgaLDLsTtznwk0pfu2jhugi96g_HoEI7P-nCk6omyfxiMl_XkhlzemT/w400-h180/20230411_152316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqOdn5507Ka3wBmfmcABN0p1C3DABXF_qVCAmZ6OWQlG4y5YzXGLo50PwOAJfre4DRFRHX0FLYxHSdqtAywPVXtOiSsqbORY_gggHWlLdvtxrK28vHV0-pCWVA4Qxn2lzCC9Ilc9VYz3r3FWhztsS-FucBG5L6WHVhtxGqrdkafD0MQ9s_hbPUF7t2RBJ/s4000/20230411_161012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqOdn5507Ka3wBmfmcABN0p1C3DABXF_qVCAmZ6OWQlG4y5YzXGLo50PwOAJfre4DRFRHX0FLYxHSdqtAywPVXtOiSsqbORY_gggHWlLdvtxrK28vHV0-pCWVA4Qxn2lzCC9Ilc9VYz3r3FWhztsS-FucBG5L6WHVhtxGqrdkafD0MQ9s_hbPUF7t2RBJ/w400-h180/20230411_161012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYHS4usRuUm6EEG98_HqNwGHu3aahPXrHZP9aDeipsSBsKDxbt0BXvx-mED5XW7Arm1ebz6n5EDec88YEfBKlxJIsvq_BIcrYn8E3s807uED57buDCpcp3KzTIo_weVZedD64X3rzNIRYC_2OS8-BwPakbdLozX2lGdZoddFsPQ7U6-E7aTDTlblGleu6/s4000/20230411_152535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYHS4usRuUm6EEG98_HqNwGHu3aahPXrHZP9aDeipsSBsKDxbt0BXvx-mED5XW7Arm1ebz6n5EDec88YEfBKlxJIsvq_BIcrYn8E3s807uED57buDCpcp3KzTIo_weVZedD64X3rzNIRYC_2OS8-BwPakbdLozX2lGdZoddFsPQ7U6-E7aTDTlblGleu6/w400-h180/20230411_152535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP-yjqbE0yUb27BRHm0FjoCserwj8CC2L9hGDbQ80a9V4BjoNjaETE_dtIB_eKTXUPagieORXplU8h1cvQEWWW0rC0kmHn0r0HI_UyPiKd5LHl0DrDCLcwemWvZiPF1F6QnoK8BNtxVIVjYaeeEvqPbySms3e6qs4sCQoYW4_bhEAQbn0Dio7VfTtoi_o/s4000/20230411_152905.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP-yjqbE0yUb27BRHm0FjoCserwj8CC2L9hGDbQ80a9V4BjoNjaETE_dtIB_eKTXUPagieORXplU8h1cvQEWWW0rC0kmHn0r0HI_UyPiKd5LHl0DrDCLcwemWvZiPF1F6QnoK8BNtxVIVjYaeeEvqPbySms3e6qs4sCQoYW4_bhEAQbn0Dio7VfTtoi_o/w400-h180/20230411_152905.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gorgeous baskets made with the long leaf pine needle by members of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSV99Hr7YX1u0elaSSjec7xmlYLYs3gna7asDbmeKTGDqJD4Q3cCT1oc_FuU_PUEjtta2eDgphm1KBPw0ii446rzY9S_--lLwm-GQXm_jAhe-m8nf-jnHhJ4UED1Zea39ULKtutovztjlX_7qb3ZAULKILofp4p9vQbGhY5JnPp-SLcs2uINnkJe8_hnn/s4000/20230411_152656.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSV99Hr7YX1u0elaSSjec7xmlYLYs3gna7asDbmeKTGDqJD4Q3cCT1oc_FuU_PUEjtta2eDgphm1KBPw0ii446rzY9S_--lLwm-GQXm_jAhe-m8nf-jnHhJ4UED1Zea39ULKtutovztjlX_7qb3ZAULKILofp4p9vQbGhY5JnPp-SLcs2uINnkJe8_hnn/w400-h180/20230411_152656.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Natural materials and the talents of the women of our local tribe are a winning combination.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTYAM933pUQge3hWxOWBZf8eIEoSCKzxRJBT7_NOw8iQK875ZBoM3HoONiGTefu-JOxy9mlcK6UPqUSKqbONPKVl9uv9UZPtEtvdhTnAKOA37jYnio5JCJ0APL6vQY0dvg0_eaN0xXQSsjH0IAU8K-hoZk4iQeEENbPjSzrj2khyToxhNHdIMqLr4RG4D/s4000/20230411_153518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTYAM933pUQge3hWxOWBZf8eIEoSCKzxRJBT7_NOw8iQK875ZBoM3HoONiGTefu-JOxy9mlcK6UPqUSKqbONPKVl9uv9UZPtEtvdhTnAKOA37jYnio5JCJ0APL6vQY0dvg0_eaN0xXQSsjH0IAU8K-hoZk4iQeEENbPjSzrj2khyToxhNHdIMqLr4RG4D/w180-h400/20230411_153518.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEK0qnx5HxxKyy-SzTV4QhuqYUz3Ngrb1IeKa8Ds7FyhWdhUPT2DiKBQflz_gXJbmYn7W7sdI5J8V-KRra1QoQHTNiQvX1WzBl3RIxfUH1LCj5ghnp0NuIMuMSV84g2ijogNKtGQadAsNlzA7JluwTtKdIlFfDWB37hibaXhSa52sDjD8z9QMBy8iftGs/s2961/PoPo%20at%20Heritage%20Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2961" data-original-width="1769" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEK0qnx5HxxKyy-SzTV4QhuqYUz3Ngrb1IeKa8Ds7FyhWdhUPT2DiKBQflz_gXJbmYn7W7sdI5J8V-KRra1QoQHTNiQvX1WzBl3RIxfUH1LCj5ghnp0NuIMuMSV84g2ijogNKtGQadAsNlzA7JluwTtKdIlFfDWB37hibaXhSa52sDjD8z9QMBy8iftGs/w239-h400/PoPo%20at%20Heritage%20Museum.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I made a new friend!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> </span><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSapkkZCWB6YeYaxH-EGxvnhiEZSDEZY-1-T7EmCvOWzpgtglk1QTXTxBukiCIcf4o5zZshTIZoUmihTLVP3ouCEE9Et6BW73bjKsNpqqIjykAQUzjox_6KwrHfW-8Uu5bxUplrR8EgaqXW2FepdmNAmRRaZ1labEO4LuDDkHcdQ7hfbBVEiD8WbyeveU9/s3264/20230411_154858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSapkkZCWB6YeYaxH-EGxvnhiEZSDEZY-1-T7EmCvOWzpgtglk1QTXTxBukiCIcf4o5zZshTIZoUmihTLVP3ouCEE9Et6BW73bjKsNpqqIjykAQUzjox_6KwrHfW-8Uu5bxUplrR8EgaqXW2FepdmNAmRRaZ1labEO4LuDDkHcdQ7hfbBVEiD8WbyeveU9/w400-h180/20230411_154858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YKIG1km0QX2KzU7wYzeQvXnsivJYKgS1wiaNyeahi583f8XREm6i-qzGbLiHln9vp5Ut2VwTIaIVNa0EBgy_zU9irRaYyE9M00zcJtN7HQ_boxSI6RwNC99Sxpuv817TnJk9jZWtlUouEB1EGz1kjfmiGW7KVFTuCyK06qJ6qaGiaCTaipOHsy9NlI3X/s4000/20230411_155515.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YKIG1km0QX2KzU7wYzeQvXnsivJYKgS1wiaNyeahi583f8XREm6i-qzGbLiHln9vp5Ut2VwTIaIVNa0EBgy_zU9irRaYyE9M00zcJtN7HQ_boxSI6RwNC99Sxpuv817TnJk9jZWtlUouEB1EGz1kjfmiGW7KVFTuCyK06qJ6qaGiaCTaipOHsy9NlI3X/w400-h180/20230411_155515.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">CCC Company 840 of Livingston, TX in 1934. Thanks for all your efforts!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ivsb-vW_tVxY4ey-6AcJ3pHxIpJsj8oSizSSkhO2FDe0LWbEfDC5ID1E0n7HHbASJmWYi2ReUh20QXp5ZZrRzZkBhPkyAV07GLD9AaPIre7SP3Jph89H4suIylXWAD4fTMKl3fc5fDdbIk9RUt_SggFMfMq8MtSNRYzJNp4frD8KZBzWAkSgZwWu5UUw/s4000/20230411_155712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ivsb-vW_tVxY4ey-6AcJ3pHxIpJsj8oSizSSkhO2FDe0LWbEfDC5ID1E0n7HHbASJmWYi2ReUh20QXp5ZZrRzZkBhPkyAV07GLD9AaPIre7SP3Jph89H4suIylXWAD4fTMKl3fc5fDdbIk9RUt_SggFMfMq8MtSNRYzJNp4frD8KZBzWAkSgZwWu5UUw/w180-h400/20230411_155712.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The many places within TX to view the completed projects by the CCC.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXma8LCK-Pfp5weNZgRfIcspBVYMdJ0DsLB_lxOSCsVlcwzGrzhnw68jlrsh1DC6e5w8-r4k9TvnT4ZS96SvJ2sQ9r_GwJCaSstmQz-yZsqYkfa6kz_jfw92SBsm96KIewhFp9uxUbeEWLRqToCKX5BdRZEsrTRl06bBp947F_8to0WJcQI1LdFxzmRcc/s3264/20230411_160716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXma8LCK-Pfp5weNZgRfIcspBVYMdJ0DsLB_lxOSCsVlcwzGrzhnw68jlrsh1DC6e5w8-r4k9TvnT4ZS96SvJ2sQ9r_GwJCaSstmQz-yZsqYkfa6kz_jfw92SBsm96KIewhFp9uxUbeEWLRqToCKX5BdRZEsrTRl06bBp947F_8to0WJcQI1LdFxzmRcc/w400-h180/20230411_160716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Jo4BZF9ZkGu78H6JyyZfTmqC4QdTGTgIjGoSELCAUoq5s3XB0YIJx3veYQd8ljElIlVK_sfL1-vDTf3QAifQG9JEUlTG5T0JCc6yWaUHrpggIYPjSkc7PnsqpEA47VwcPeg7ezxV0FEPY_ea8jJgtFIzBzYNlaRu732thQxlSv_2OCIQk9ijMgJ0eZD/s3264/20230411_161252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Jo4BZF9ZkGu78H6JyyZfTmqC4QdTGTgIjGoSELCAUoq5s3XB0YIJx3veYQd8ljElIlVK_sfL1-vDTf3QAifQG9JEUlTG5T0JCc6yWaUHrpggIYPjSkc7PnsqpEA47VwcPeg7ezxV0FEPY_ea8jJgtFIzBzYNlaRu732thQxlSv_2OCIQk9ijMgJ0eZD/w400-h180/20230411_161252.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Locomotive No. 5, which now resides in Heritage Park, is a steam-powered engine used in yesteryear to haul timber.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWEb0MYWBkOsOFm9ZLc6nrjEltkRON7jJ0gznU-nQFXjTtOJovX0kUdN-PisNZyTQHyFCKjc6M3nM2Z_03TmZM5TV9CoWUUFcQru2LWJ8PEoMqX2mPU5EeLBlK0lKrkBP6j_M6CCcs8g7ZnAoaamXa1Jud_-Jiy_wb7G3AZKfIxYOxyFCZDUvwrP9e7PCM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2865" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWEb0MYWBkOsOFm9ZLc6nrjEltkRON7jJ0gznU-nQFXjTtOJovX0kUdN-PisNZyTQHyFCKjc6M3nM2Z_03TmZM5TV9CoWUUFcQru2LWJ8PEoMqX2mPU5EeLBlK0lKrkBP6j_M6CCcs8g7ZnAoaamXa1Jud_-Jiy_wb7G3AZKfIxYOxyFCZDUvwrP9e7PCM=w400-h186" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jonas Davis Log Cabin in Heritage Park, circa 1933.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also took a
motorcycle ride to the Heritage Village Museum in Woodville, TX.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It has a collection of period buildings and
furnishings that depict pioneer life in East Texas.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked along the property’s mile or so of
shaded nature trails.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though it gets
good reviews, we passed on dining at its Picket House Restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It has a set menu of comfort, down home
foods (so nothing that Dad can eat) and caters to large groups, so you end up
sitting with folks you don’t know (which earned a “pass” vote from my
anti-social Mom).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8Tbd6XprhioueejjgeYVvCOBE3E0dNcc3IzS-C7hh9C-K49xOXox7mpLMwCtYaH9-3umDubW1lH92_GIEYR6m0B4id5RDBPOf1ac-2tp4uEDFynxWbPGUHXtmUz-dT_HXluqPzJxfJVsyNf4yFwVil20QqvFy_5-u414lyFTY6FGET52r30e2epl1VLW/s4000/20230506_121501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8Tbd6XprhioueejjgeYVvCOBE3E0dNcc3IzS-C7hh9C-K49xOXox7mpLMwCtYaH9-3umDubW1lH92_GIEYR6m0B4id5RDBPOf1ac-2tp4uEDFynxWbPGUHXtmUz-dT_HXluqPzJxfJVsyNf4yFwVil20QqvFy_5-u414lyFTY6FGET52r30e2epl1VLW/w400-h180/20230506_121501.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLkn3e1sgt3QSjTOqbUKPfZ1McP-drOR-LFuVc9PkFWBtfYduoWh61GJKA9IIIamY2lCdx3uQedZRq1FLl1B1EJzXxBcBgjtJW2gcZP3fh7btnQTAVL2Tey_Ap5jGv-DbHjiFyRwwrNwaAhkVjMQ6KXS_f97zvi22g00crUpeQYm17BT8j240Wq6Ep4Ew/s3264/20230506_122224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On the way
home, we ran into a bit of a traffic situation on TX-146.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems a young calf busted out of his
pasture, leaving his worried Mom behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took 4 pick-up trucks and our own Big Boomer to box him in before a wrangler lassoed him on
the first attempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yee ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s some cowboy action!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, I’ve got
to go pack.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We are heading out on
another mini motorcycle getaway, this time to Fredericksburg, TX in Hill
Country.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll tell ya all about it in my
next blog.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><br /></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-49737911692999002912023-05-16T19:56:00.463-05:002023-06-12T23:56:10.429-05:00Completing our Texas Revolution History Lessons via Motorcycle Road Trip to Goliad, TX<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first week
of May was comprised of the Three Hs of weather:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">hazy, hot, and HUMID!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The 90F degree temps were tough enough, but add
in a dew point of 70 and humidity at 55%, and you’ve got a sticky mess!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We are
still playing pickleball, though our group has altered playing time to 7 p.m.
rather than 10 a.m. now that the dog days of summer are approaching (though if
you talk to Mom, summer has been here since April!).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of pickleball, the City has approved
the creation of 2 permanent courts!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Since no one is saying exactly when those courts will be completed, my
parents purchased their own package of chalk and pickleball net to accommodate
our growing group.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We find the
longer we remain here in Livingston, the more we get involved in community
service and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now volunteer
once weekly for Mannafest, one of the local food pantries in town. Our duties
as stockers include picking up donations at Walmart and Dollar General,
packaging meat based on family size, and keeping the assembly line stocked with
packaged and can goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a
rewarding experience, and we have met some wonderful folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only downside is we must arrive by 6:45 a.m.,
no easy feat!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnJP756vG6iEBvxPmKFDsq-xcmz7i4b3HsSIUJfmj97U07W7QVGNIrfeNOIIBvffCwJUnBWmfhstAYm_1dZiRIY-KT1obh4EnxzH9_iEpX9aKTuJs76-otqFGDLHGkwg0rBlcVnVy82LgMyT5Q_ujUi1g8XnpPg6hncSzKEuXFjDJMiVHo-6vxGv0ZqA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnJP756vG6iEBvxPmKFDsq-xcmz7i4b3HsSIUJfmj97U07W7QVGNIrfeNOIIBvffCwJUnBWmfhstAYm_1dZiRIY-KT1obh4EnxzH9_iEpX9aKTuJs76-otqFGDLHGkwg0rBlcVnVy82LgMyT5Q_ujUi1g8XnpPg6hncSzKEuXFjDJMiVHo-6vxGv0ZqA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom stocking the "assembly line" at the Mannafest Food Pantry.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We attended an
entertaining performance of the East Texas Swing Band at Livingston’s First
Baptist Church, and we continue dancing lessons and going to dances at VFW Post
8658 and other area clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are steady
customers at the Heavenly Fresh booth at a local farmer’s market, where we
purchase farm-fresh eggs and fresh-picked veggies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, of course, we continue to enjoy the
company of fellow RVers and Escapees.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZaHIHw6owz9y3cIzfzfp97tQvmBqY3YX2TuTeqdCp5owQI5HbAacWoWTF6yOgbGUnB6u-ch7D7MXAa0b0MvBliNSGmJGAI2ei4KvOLhhgD80TSJOVaQdz57MynZB_8UcByH_pVEuBxn7KpjDpjC3KxcOV6xRDQ4tIJMErawhxhLgBNBU0B3iEHwIPgw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1468" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZaHIHw6owz9y3cIzfzfp97tQvmBqY3YX2TuTeqdCp5owQI5HbAacWoWTF6yOgbGUnB6u-ch7D7MXAa0b0MvBliNSGmJGAI2ei4KvOLhhgD80TSJOVaQdz57MynZB_8UcByH_pVEuBxn7KpjDpjC3KxcOV6xRDQ4tIJMErawhxhLgBNBU0B3iEHwIPgw=w320-h314" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hanging with Escapees Peeps Lisa/Jim, Larry/Robyn/Caleb.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNmzYqkWBJIiQKxNR8_F_yBKbucxJn-9vpacpJYICODeErhlgWgKzyUZPi5615339mD6pNEP3KZYhR09W2Gpqb2yXYoAgLiefmCJ7LUunGuqzLh-AN4yZwJHpRrAtMbPa-yToLjdD-PNGk8VUF0XWjaHFRNItekO8Og4X7DqNxj1nBCUbq1RDt2Aov0Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNmzYqkWBJIiQKxNR8_F_yBKbucxJn-9vpacpJYICODeErhlgWgKzyUZPi5615339mD6pNEP3KZYhR09W2Gpqb2yXYoAgLiefmCJ7LUunGuqzLh-AN4yZwJHpRrAtMbPa-yToLjdD-PNGk8VUF0XWjaHFRNItekO8Og4X7DqNxj1nBCUbq1RDt2Aov0Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly with John/Carol.</td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgURYFTTOiIOm2_hn2qk4C3uRB00Ndr7aZ3PUeNCO6KQesoiNT9UDPyeC6RLFCMTUcEYmtwg0Wwr9rRrs4IFLP9uUjG5Yfpgh1-4fSzf5-ww721I-dcRsDbRVPkF5ste7GXxwPRTtuR5NSvflZtEW4_cm_YzHTeiMr7DArr24kPk0XHFpjkf1M4NDkfzQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="3421" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgURYFTTOiIOm2_hn2qk4C3uRB00Ndr7aZ3PUeNCO6KQesoiNT9UDPyeC6RLFCMTUcEYmtwg0Wwr9rRrs4IFLP9uUjG5Yfpgh1-4fSzf5-ww721I-dcRsDbRVPkF5ste7GXxwPRTtuR5NSvflZtEW4_cm_YzHTeiMr7DArr24kPk0XHFpjkf1M4NDkfzQ=w400-h201" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan/Paula and The Parents.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite
remaining active, being stationary too long gets me a bit antsy.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we boarded Maximus the Trike for another
multi-day motorcycle trip.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Wanting to
complete our history lessons on the battles of the Texas Revolution, our
destination was Goliad, TX.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">To avoid
Houston traffic, we took the scenic back roads.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We traversed through Sam Houston National Forest and on to TX-90.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped to refuel in Anderson, a town of
less than 200 residents but rich in history.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Named for a vice-president of the
Republic of Texas, the town dubs itself, “Where the Republic Lives On”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">A nearby field of wildflowers showcases
several structures built during the 1830s and 1840s, giving Anderson a listing
on the National register of Historic Places.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicCxpxRcynkxKrjGL2cu6JGJD6tcY_vwu_LEekkwwXkV8vuViJOxCNTCLjPU_jh2kcB8Zik1Antq7DhaNHXsoZ_ZXuz5Iei8pm5dn4jrNcLvr5Ck8QHnyf3fII1Fvfg7P7v00KPDDPjcNjPLOma3Ixx_afiuQ4OVWdHloKZiSjCa40bzXYdw1GrgVbNg"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicCxpxRcynkxKrjGL2cu6JGJD6tcY_vwu_LEekkwwXkV8vuViJOxCNTCLjPU_jh2kcB8Zik1Antq7DhaNHXsoZ_ZXuz5Iei8pm5dn4jrNcLvr5Ck8QHnyf3fII1Fvfg7P7v00KPDDPjcNjPLOma3Ixx_afiuQ4OVWdHloKZiSjCa40bzXYdw1GrgVbNg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As we traveled
along TX-237 we passed through LaGrange, opting instead to do an in-depth visit
to this Texas town on our return trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, we did make a pitstop shortly thereafter in Hostyn to see Queen
of the Holy Rosary, a beautiful replica of the grotto in France of Our Lady of
Lourdes. This replica grotto was created in 1925 by Czech families who settled in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though only a small, unincorporated area in
Fayette County, the elevated location of Hostyn’s grotto, Catholic Church, and
cemetery offers some lovely views of the Colorado River valley. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMbof5-y6HwUKFlsTea2QQsDzv3auZw5QETTuZxrDNbMnrZY1WMKNLeCTgJSDIDBER4skIfwjSENif7Yr55vVlNf8T8XCJRt5GCRBKPc_QcRa5nMOq2GNQqFnRCdvajW1isLI3SAn0qgJ8RTX4IsfXSfGLjI05PwPwrwTDR-2oZoMuQ_JupN4D3vqA_A" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMbof5-y6HwUKFlsTea2QQsDzv3auZw5QETTuZxrDNbMnrZY1WMKNLeCTgJSDIDBER4skIfwjSENif7Yr55vVlNf8T8XCJRt5GCRBKPc_QcRa5nMOq2GNQqFnRCdvajW1isLI3SAn0qgJ8RTX4IsfXSfGLjI05PwPwrwTDR-2oZoMuQ_JupN4D3vqA_A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_mU02TA-DNvL2drhi86nNRr_rIoLJoPZUvRGLWkOpCp_CHgq7FsOUfqQPTUGiulITGDtW2Y8RoY_XLkNRiCCgDAtGthnbtRn3ETnkdwmg7Hw-ho6EreGqY2X6iCIXhbO0XazhfT7KC5DvVb6b-VsyOF7B_U6fEd2EJ7nED_WVu627m4OATixNqKaFdQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_mU02TA-DNvL2drhi86nNRr_rIoLJoPZUvRGLWkOpCp_CHgq7FsOUfqQPTUGiulITGDtW2Y8RoY_XLkNRiCCgDAtGthnbtRn3ETnkdwmg7Hw-ho6EreGqY2X6iCIXhbO0XazhfT7KC5DvVb6b-VsyOF7B_U6fEd2EJ7nED_WVu627m4OATixNqKaFdQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We made a short
detour as well to bucolic High Hill, TX, to visit St. Mary’s Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Built by German and Czech immigrants in 1906,
it is considered to be the “Queen” of the 20 “painted churches” remaining
within the Texas Hill Country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These structures
may look mundane from the exterior, but the term “painted churches” refers to
the elaborate interiors that include vibrant colors, faux marble columns that
look like the real deal, elegant chandeliers, and beautifully-crafted stained
glass windows.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8xI2cwLCOH6Ch1oSNxyfB9TkoQ8gI0J6UfMpEXjHxnwnv1q2kkA29MfFaY6cZqDXk8v5JgyJvaJKSIwLIaZrx5Sx8Hup3gSHkZuESrgWYf6blp734Ba-KcLOtOtRbyIkVlhqu33RJY-BtJ9O1Dn0Oq9tRfwdK374HfhiotP0Wvtcyrmrr_elU6Y-KhA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8xI2cwLCOH6Ch1oSNxyfB9TkoQ8gI0J6UfMpEXjHxnwnv1q2kkA29MfFaY6cZqDXk8v5JgyJvaJKSIwLIaZrx5Sx8Hup3gSHkZuESrgWYf6blp734Ba-KcLOtOtRbyIkVlhqu33RJY-BtJ9O1Dn0Oq9tRfwdK374HfhiotP0Wvtcyrmrr_elU6Y-KhA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin-aZQgpTq6MYuNe90GHaVU_JY3d32wDtjOjbYozQTx58q7QPBxa758I23JgAnFMwZDl8x_1kjNsHlcMHDCrTjunbdjl3rCnKoX9jYikqKwlDP_rfJHED4msJzrYlnPDxA2zIj9yDS5JlEdPBpThg_CvkBeXdveqWIkxXZUSwiH_uT0UwN4KHAS1_lsg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin-aZQgpTq6MYuNe90GHaVU_JY3d32wDtjOjbYozQTx58q7QPBxa758I23JgAnFMwZDl8x_1kjNsHlcMHDCrTjunbdjl3rCnKoX9jYikqKwlDP_rfJHED4msJzrYlnPDxA2zIj9yDS5JlEdPBpThg_CvkBeXdveqWIkxXZUSwiH_uT0UwN4KHAS1_lsg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3V0yMokSc63fjySNg4hMJcWFBFFDJUpbvcquHaHRS5UJhCEJNpePnZLsacbGHQYoTZX4PM3p_F-dF1eyDnaIVDehLCxFrISd8ohd-IGRILRN2NfFsVmDzYZfOMFnTqzBK75TlWIhSwcdpZ24mgjSv9l6d6g_nR2ghAeITichoqH4HpssFS0Phx1dFkw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3V0yMokSc63fjySNg4hMJcWFBFFDJUpbvcquHaHRS5UJhCEJNpePnZLsacbGHQYoTZX4PM3p_F-dF1eyDnaIVDehLCxFrISd8ohd-IGRILRN2NfFsVmDzYZfOMFnTqzBK75TlWIhSwcdpZ24mgjSv9l6d6g_nR2ghAeITichoqH4HpssFS0Phx1dFkw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpB8tAXlpp5Oi2z52BCl99nJpEyqlUADXmK0SCbj1YIsaI8TF_JDy4HFZyvzKVW7qoFBvwT0Iaw5n27Mn3XclN7Ol_CiX5UZ31p0TbxD7tLW8pEe54C13FjS7gHOIn6bk-DW1SRKUXAKfWUN7HsOvbIsNEupMunwXaji5KfygarFO10qcJTWqpzqaV2Q" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpB8tAXlpp5Oi2z52BCl99nJpEyqlUADXmK0SCbj1YIsaI8TF_JDy4HFZyvzKVW7qoFBvwT0Iaw5n27Mn3XclN7Ol_CiX5UZ31p0TbxD7tLW8pEe54C13FjS7gHOIn6bk-DW1SRKUXAKfWUN7HsOvbIsNEupMunwXaji5KfygarFO10qcJTWqpzqaV2Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We continued
our journey, passing through Round Top, known for its antique fairs.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">It is mind-boggling what you can buy
there—from vintage gas station signs to carousal horses, from hand-crafted wood
furnishings to bronze statues.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">It is a
treasure hunter’s utopia.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifOtlSVuIFn1a18N-cOWWNpfsdDphfi0jTHJbMIZs5LdJhicHBAa5XGFnGDSoTH2s3ClRCoawWEcljm_2EFHoqj_mFaqguFI7OtHkELPSXIklbtTEGFMWHa9EHavGar38K5f37gYQ4hjlFkfUx6NUv_s2LX0bHa35XdiYkgkmrLRN1ToNCct5N21QIHg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1612" data-original-width="759" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifOtlSVuIFn1a18N-cOWWNpfsdDphfi0jTHJbMIZs5LdJhicHBAa5XGFnGDSoTH2s3ClRCoawWEcljm_2EFHoqj_mFaqguFI7OtHkELPSXIklbtTEGFMWHa9EHavGar38K5f37gYQ4hjlFkfUx6NUv_s2LX0bHa35XdiYkgkmrLRN1ToNCct5N21QIHg=w188-h400" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a find in Round Top! Who doesn't want a giant jackalope for their front yard!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After a long
and sometimes wet ride, we arrived in Victoria, TX, where we ate a late lunch and checked
in to the Comfort Inn.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is a fairly
new facility near the shopping mall with nicely-appointed rooms, complimentary
breakfast, and very pleasant staff.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Its
elevators malfunctioned during our stay, which was no problem to us since we
always take the stairs anyway.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But it
was rather scary being awakened from a deep sleep in the middle of the night
when one completely rude and irresponsible patron set off the smoke detectors
when lighting up a cigarette in his/her “no smoking” room.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Management was quite apologetic and kindly
added some rewards points to our account for the inconvenience.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After breakfast
the next morning, we traveled the ½ hour to Goliad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started our tour at Goliad State Park and
Historic Site, utilizing our Texas State Parks Pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Park contains the Mission Nuestra Senora del
Espiritu Santo de Zuniga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Established in
1722, it was moved to its present location in 1749.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After its secularization in 1830, the Mission
structure deteriorated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to reconstruct the Mission from the mid-1930s
until 1941, when its work was halted due to US involvement in World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
explored the Mission and its grounds, imagining the daily lives of the
Franciscan Friars and native Indian cultures who resided within its walls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0MEp_T3MKsapUK2062NQCH_OEA7wvKulpah7jgTfyErgMX3FAA0TVSfzqWMH1gkgLKB_k6XXvbUverX1GTeY4dynItcDEIfYzDQ1VSC4ggsExTti73bPV8OZ5l_8E6KSS_jWD-Oi04HB0hY-nRnAfL-fWkWvObwzflgs3-DPUHI9-pxw3jLqpDpCG-A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0MEp_T3MKsapUK2062NQCH_OEA7wvKulpah7jgTfyErgMX3FAA0TVSfzqWMH1gkgLKB_k6XXvbUverX1GTeY4dynItcDEIfYzDQ1VSC4ggsExTti73bPV8OZ5l_8E6KSS_jWD-Oi04HB0hY-nRnAfL-fWkWvObwzflgs3-DPUHI9-pxw3jLqpDpCG-A=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is left of the The Mission today.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRsC6b8Mw_yySVOn7AMRFRXQ-vfzQgINMvOfqu-dm04RJw1_kWQ0QwaOkMktJqA43X6PtWPF5mFc-Gpk4Afl_YCXDn_U28UnVljqmgFVYyZvFepDV_-OUnxrR3KA18XQnjtCf4jWwIWPsUgscj_uPWhYbMy-ei306ZJcZLcLyi2oT_LOqqXfjeBaEs9g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRsC6b8Mw_yySVOn7AMRFRXQ-vfzQgINMvOfqu-dm04RJw1_kWQ0QwaOkMktJqA43X6PtWPF5mFc-Gpk4Afl_YCXDn_U28UnVljqmgFVYyZvFepDV_-OUnxrR3KA18XQnjtCf4jWwIWPsUgscj_uPWhYbMy-ei306ZJcZLcLyi2oT_LOqqXfjeBaEs9g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone wall original to the property.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMHb2zKgpDe9kfGYfX8FcL235uRtuoKUjXPXOU-3dN40Rp9-yjQIkzVeyICuNS4PVJ_-WgaFkYNlk7_pp-AWaGAcNJCzwZQzp4v7z0CVOug3Dbt3xVoNi_QidBIBqBv_sO4cbgD8w4cHCoAOqa2THDAYR_OaizmD_EthNTOPXwjaNa8BsvBRyt5DdAA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMHb2zKgpDe9kfGYfX8FcL235uRtuoKUjXPXOU-3dN40Rp9-yjQIkzVeyICuNS4PVJ_-WgaFkYNlk7_pp-AWaGAcNJCzwZQzp4v7z0CVOug3Dbt3xVoNi_QidBIBqBv_sO4cbgD8w4cHCoAOqa2THDAYR_OaizmD_EthNTOPXwjaNa8BsvBRyt5DdAA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Replica of the original Mission.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWpxXTAJ11wbXRc7W4CeAttzWUcO6p745JpCEzflyYXcybY2ZkHHu-vLH7L4SSc6KRxFzS0paBjxxc3as16XvPJvAIoMvQ47b3HnqZeXWaW12eD7c6bl6f9CF6dVTNEmOOiC5Z2WQDoYsSONPli5a94vCMPRo6F_8AA6rzchcm-aKTMxnb77m_pMUxxw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWpxXTAJ11wbXRc7W4CeAttzWUcO6p745JpCEzflyYXcybY2ZkHHu-vLH7L4SSc6KRxFzS0paBjxxc3as16XvPJvAIoMvQ47b3HnqZeXWaW12eD7c6bl6f9CF6dVTNEmOOiC5Z2WQDoYsSONPli5a94vCMPRo6F_8AA6rzchcm-aKTMxnb77m_pMUxxw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The only room within the Mission with original walls.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlF9BYsR6PuAVmdsHZKs_98qJcRiCwu6LxYb87RC9O3vkUFI908TyRS3PmoYYVcki2MyFoYrXYaZA-Kb4gfV75HrX9tTNfduSbb5luXXcXmvAfrmpYuqqywcQSfgZX9OJH-H7UlHb6deJGV1w9o1XIZIYQfjkJLxPSrGDUxFEKu1VqdpTkKQ-wHTMUxg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlF9BYsR6PuAVmdsHZKs_98qJcRiCwu6LxYb87RC9O3vkUFI908TyRS3PmoYYVcki2MyFoYrXYaZA-Kb4gfV75HrX9tTNfduSbb5luXXcXmvAfrmpYuqqywcQSfgZX9OJH-H7UlHb6deJGV1w9o1XIZIYQfjkJLxPSrGDUxFEKu1VqdpTkKQ-wHTMUxg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mission Chapel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIherFlyx-4SNvXkotGY4rdN4wp2WGVK1wvEnc8pfEcXMhUvVn1KASYEJth4SwsDqwaAAUO1Q9G8xan2kJYOikm1BoJSAY9wn7HCTl1TWuYc7R6aT8xRAu8dJqAJW73wyWw_wLp8u1zhexdvctR66tZFZoZDsmOliwGO0DL1L0zIXZjVpAtDQDWd0QzQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIherFlyx-4SNvXkotGY4rdN4wp2WGVK1wvEnc8pfEcXMhUvVn1KASYEJth4SwsDqwaAAUO1Q9G8xan2kJYOikm1BoJSAY9wn7HCTl1TWuYc7R6aT8xRAu8dJqAJW73wyWw_wLp8u1zhexdvctR66tZFZoZDsmOliwGO0DL1L0zIXZjVpAtDQDWd0QzQ=w345-h400" width="345" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chapel alter.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />We checked out
the camping area of the Park and chatted with one of the volunteer hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were only 2 sites with hookups on which we could fit our set-up
comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then hiked along Camino
Real de los Tejas, a National Historic Trail, noting how swiftly the San
Antonio River was flowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHaa17wj8cSKQg5nY0lzHyWaupfYQTGU-GJZ8HVq8z-sGzCx84GZl3VYUtth99Yz_fWPU84Eqq1sMwfNscQZVIBVWJV1Ksp9m-4uOszHzkr5Ww2lJftSiz4_afyzbWZQdCq6PfhQ27N8H0zOtDvTxLdPE2VZBxu1WdF-7TrhLu7zb4N8SmbEBTICbqvA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHaa17wj8cSKQg5nY0lzHyWaupfYQTGU-GJZ8HVq8z-sGzCx84GZl3VYUtth99Yz_fWPU84Eqq1sMwfNscQZVIBVWJV1Ksp9m-4uOszHzkr5Ww2lJftSiz4_afyzbWZQdCq6PfhQ27N8H0zOtDvTxLdPE2VZBxu1WdF-7TrhLu7zb4N8SmbEBTICbqvA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful wildflower blooms along the Camino Real de los Tejas.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We visited the
birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza at another section of the Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Who the heck is he?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, he is the reason for the celebration of
Cinco de Mayo.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was through Zaragoza’s
leadership that his underdog group of soldiers were successful in defeating
Napoleon’s Army from taking over Puebla, Mexico for France on May 5, 1862.</span></span></div><div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhgi-NO9bO-xL7tUOkcecpUMbQITnZjJtOXGWP72qXGlnl4fmmxHjzQ9C2breXyHH5OURWg35Cx2tGnFk2KZ4MJgmZoq4JMb4C3nqmx4IZzgfrcn0dwcNTNtb8MzJloqpcJbfWZd46TsOl9cSr58w278SNgmdLfFH-Cu0IWBudG1FQPLokMK3znHF7vA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhgi-NO9bO-xL7tUOkcecpUMbQITnZjJtOXGWP72qXGlnl4fmmxHjzQ9C2breXyHH5OURWg35Cx2tGnFk2KZ4MJgmZoq4JMb4C3nqmx4IZzgfrcn0dwcNTNtb8MzJloqpcJbfWZd46TsOl9cSr58w278SNgmdLfFH-Cu0IWBudG1FQPLokMK3znHF7vA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Zaragoza--the real reason for Cinco de Mayo.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We then stopped
at the Presidio la Bahia ($7/adult), where we were greeted by a feline mascot.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8nA1hhTJub8XWMd3k13PofrZ_vi6fOvBbLmqvLmrXB63Oy66-T3Ubmp36VCvYJBZYi_MpIvY0fddmA7ebRbk2W7oxHqNpot2aDIjCHdX9p9LEeAF40wbxbevVJldbpAmIeq6rPUniSakngxz9rsauUpGGNR1RyuBIXDMf1on8xAcrSB_x8z6KRCNSJg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2431" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8nA1hhTJub8XWMd3k13PofrZ_vi6fOvBbLmqvLmrXB63Oy66-T3Ubmp36VCvYJBZYi_MpIvY0fddmA7ebRbk2W7oxHqNpot2aDIjCHdX9p9LEeAF40wbxbevVJldbpAmIeq6rPUniSakngxz9rsauUpGGNR1RyuBIXDMf1on8xAcrSB_x8z6KRCNSJg=w400-h281" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Established
at its current location along the San Antonio River in 1749, Presidio la Bahia is considered
one of the finest examples of a Spanish military fort within the U.S. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">More importantly, it is where a major battle
of the Revolution for Texas’s independence from Mexico occurred. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Attacking the fort by surprise during the
pre-dawn hours of October 10, 1835, was a good plan:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">it resulted in the surrender of the Mexican
troops to the Texans.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The fort was now
under the command of Colonel James Fannin, who renamed it “Fort Defiance”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObhmzcnIUeNksrUrWphBr6WSU3HIWBUaqRFobNLgtIvxI-84_57lsSDqyJMSAm7UWUd87mwwrdUb2RJJnoMgpP1B8L43sduVr1-wiDtAEFeJv1mzvqFIXwIJlzb7WI9So6lVt-RvKE6D-xTHi-Hy7IyBdZWGmA1w6csSmp4ggFRB7RlF5u-ZFIHgukg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="3557" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgObhmzcnIUeNksrUrWphBr6WSU3HIWBUaqRFobNLgtIvxI-84_57lsSDqyJMSAm7UWUd87mwwrdUb2RJJnoMgpP1B8L43sduVr1-wiDtAEFeJv1mzvqFIXwIJlzb7WI9So6lVt-RvKE6D-xTHi-Hy7IyBdZWGmA1w6csSmp4ggFRB7RlF5u-ZFIHgukg=w400-h193" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ7cnTMwaxM4F2Q6aJayjAOE_q31tqX-7aG6Y9J0htW8nl97HZNSuMt_Oz5VjA5MYorOD3qHoO4b4BvW814fuUAphuIlwr94KI1sJbGL0IbXSPI-HJhern-Ar6dpaAWEIBoJtsRoZvy89K-k76w0RI-upJ0HC2-QNZRHNz8a5CdcRjPyK1Tngu3o89iA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ7cnTMwaxM4F2Q6aJayjAOE_q31tqX-7aG6Y9J0htW8nl97HZNSuMt_Oz5VjA5MYorOD3qHoO4b4BvW814fuUAphuIlwr94KI1sJbGL0IbXSPI-HJhern-Ar6dpaAWEIBoJtsRoZvy89K-k76w0RI-upJ0HC2-QNZRHNz8a5CdcRjPyK1Tngu3o89iA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2JQclO5PSLXUrIdE8cZJ0lxS_wjK0kwgtqxBbDUeV4MMwDeVWLD7-aHgv5p9kocfeWX0SJ32TrPBV3XfCBwr501m7i4uqlXJMzMB8WUYRkB-9nlLZ0BOqkQBaAXO9Dz4whn3zrkz-wPn_VMvjPvAE1dR2Npv5O7cno9F2txtmTi-11Zy6WJeX25itVA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2JQclO5PSLXUrIdE8cZJ0lxS_wjK0kwgtqxBbDUeV4MMwDeVWLD7-aHgv5p9kocfeWX0SJ32TrPBV3XfCBwr501m7i4uqlXJMzMB8WUYRkB-9nlLZ0BOqkQBaAXO9Dz4whn3zrkz-wPn_VMvjPvAE1dR2Npv5O7cno9F2txtmTi-11Zy6WJeX25itVA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colonel Fannin and his troops were not as successful at the Battle of Coleto Creek in Goliad on March 19-20, 1836.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They were outnumbered by Santa Ana’s Mexican troops 2 to 1 on this prairie battlefield.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fannin reasoned that by surrendering, he could minimize loss of life. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He presumed he and his troops would be treated as prisoners of war.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But Santa Ana exhibited his brutality once again.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, he ordered the massacre of every member of Fannin’s troop.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This resulted in more loss of lives at Goliad than at the Alamo and San Jacinto combined</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRsxnMLQK05aTD4awZUD49dw3kBlLE2WgAdmrvJoFOxcOY_QyJRCdhiT0K-Q38HZkCk1faGE8c7fJZVp6p5oSVlfgH0F23KlNPwBfqDqmNoihpeuw780eCJugIFCBrZUqbSsSbGEfxhIwx-VOn53bE6tTTKlpQ6obrIQQYQ5Ow_VgAzuHzInou46AWig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="3063" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRsxnMLQK05aTD4awZUD49dw3kBlLE2WgAdmrvJoFOxcOY_QyJRCdhiT0K-Q38HZkCk1faGE8c7fJZVp6p5oSVlfgH0F23KlNPwBfqDqmNoihpeuw780eCJugIFCBrZUqbSsSbGEfxhIwx-VOn53bE6tTTKlpQ6obrIQQYQ5Ow_VgAzuHzInou46AWig=w400-h244" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4E5llsfDk6fbBpuBgCUaT4BErO42Zt1uZZ6HeNKDZk6FwNTVszMyvIJ2hVcgZYokxGrkheaX30YPfYlraHgpjsfceJ3ko423EBQ0KsLCyHsY2Oa-BkLdoiHTIWti599qQKYuhSUWrp7IcpXhLv2_GvnuIqwSTRLfjoO4sv7k9aAQr-xZirbIfiZS6kQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4E5llsfDk6fbBpuBgCUaT4BErO42Zt1uZZ6HeNKDZk6FwNTVszMyvIJ2hVcgZYokxGrkheaX30YPfYlraHgpjsfceJ3ko423EBQ0KsLCyHsY2Oa-BkLdoiHTIWti599qQKYuhSUWrp7IcpXhLv2_GvnuIqwSTRLfjoO4sv7k9aAQr-xZirbIfiZS6kQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNMAODgdTcM9WxsV0H1lFHLDvux82-IJcYmWaid0jriduXDmXESs8bYnhhqMyTvXQksdHFohzl1h-V7gzf6sbGP0WxmvMLH1jqDNNE8svI6iAIOxEcTWgcGUsstbrcb9T9XfR3jsG3PMEmL9H75hYPErLctTYUZdbh_KnnhZfRdWyeyRZ4hhvjVBk7lA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2884" data-original-width="1320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNMAODgdTcM9WxsV0H1lFHLDvux82-IJcYmWaid0jriduXDmXESs8bYnhhqMyTvXQksdHFohzl1h-V7gzf6sbGP0WxmvMLH1jqDNNE8svI6iAIOxEcTWgcGUsstbrcb9T9XfR3jsG3PMEmL9H75hYPErLctTYUZdbh_KnnhZfRdWyeyRZ4hhvjVBk7lA=w183-h400" width="183" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those that perished at Coleto Creek, including Colonel Fannin, are now interred about ¼ mile away from the Presidio, with a monument commemorating their valor and sacrifice.</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGyNZZuchyNFGu9StsTabYCMfd2fV9_yp_OwJocXG6LmcOiRtQcZ_akTLwx5yUrBBaCcpHvedMPTyHXwfL9tueVvOnvxLR0Mw95vPEXBc11WEe_4jKzPHPIKCWzbrm5jIaiWuVwfjea43LvA9ZxcT1p01u9nArEFHLukBHj6dSxTku3YgEMejNWDaDZw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGyNZZuchyNFGu9StsTabYCMfd2fV9_yp_OwJocXG6LmcOiRtQcZ_akTLwx5yUrBBaCcpHvedMPTyHXwfL9tueVvOnvxLR0Mw95vPEXBc11WEe_4jKzPHPIKCWzbrm5jIaiWuVwfjea43LvA9ZxcT1p01u9nArEFHLukBHj6dSxTku3YgEMejNWDaDZw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While Fannin is
revered by many, others may view him differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a young West Point dropout who
contributed directly to loss of lives in the Texas Revolution, not just at the
Battle of Coleto Creek but also at the Alamo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sam Houston had ordered Fannin to lead his troops to the Alamo as
reinforcements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Fannin waited 3 days
to implement those orders and consequently never made it there to lend any
assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We toured our
Lady of Loreto Chapel at the Presidio, which nearly 3 centuries later, continues
to serve the Catholic community.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lincoln
Borglum, son of famed Mt. Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum, carved the statue
inside of Mother Mary with the Christ Child.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju2WblMXtghK9tBaF-q5AASeNGZlddXCK39Pqy61BSI6kH4bgEJ628tqnLs-2jpCdxmvDChKfPqV_xfQmPoORtXCGlF46SpMQl1PdfAantXmUKWh0txm-eJw8lTN_xoahq_bSimyJMHOFiB1j5ANnI05jEGml0Io8BROnltxNKBxPH38TtvXo8bPq0oQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju2WblMXtghK9tBaF-q5AASeNGZlddXCK39Pqy61BSI6kH4bgEJ628tqnLs-2jpCdxmvDChKfPqV_xfQmPoORtXCGlF46SpMQl1PdfAantXmUKWh0txm-eJw8lTN_xoahq_bSimyJMHOFiB1j5ANnI05jEGml0Io8BROnltxNKBxPH38TtvXo8bPq0oQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHsyoQceQxRlMvGx70jR8sibVzu5mqOAPpVRSyQBYXeiFGzleei6oSRQOsdb9ykHs9ER-zpWvoLddNd9ndGVoopPA8NWk3-wZHeSU8lM5UWehklAAzSUUjlF9Ze4st2y-9Jiw1IhrquonBmhxyf28Om5PjwgDoB8ewqiNwqYyoumuQmbBungakqbsbqw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHsyoQceQxRlMvGx70jR8sibVzu5mqOAPpVRSyQBYXeiFGzleei6oSRQOsdb9ykHs9ER-zpWvoLddNd9ndGVoopPA8NWk3-wZHeSU8lM5UWehklAAzSUUjlF9Ze4st2y-9Jiw1IhrquonBmhxyf28Om5PjwgDoB8ewqiNwqYyoumuQmbBungakqbsbqw=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We finished our
visit to Goliad with a walking tour of the town, the highlight being the
“Hanging Tree”, where judicial sentencing occurred “Wild West Style”.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFIIUnna8OJG71LZ82CrsWFsgYL7Bs16zM1QdAcgV4hxr0laSyxXJ4IS9FZvSfq0REp0ACTZFQ5oQw_ZHcOrBhyTHRgQxGM8nAPYgamjdcEMDB2amAzhFplG0mapyuItacwJVUll9_1kcnZgWHnfIqJNnv19coEaFPvN3sMUpFXBBzquTzfyHnfIEwjw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFIIUnna8OJG71LZ82CrsWFsgYL7Bs16zM1QdAcgV4hxr0laSyxXJ4IS9FZvSfq0REp0ACTZFQ5oQw_ZHcOrBhyTHRgQxGM8nAPYgamjdcEMDB2amAzhFplG0mapyuItacwJVUll9_1kcnZgWHnfIqJNnv19coEaFPvN3sMUpFXBBzquTzfyHnfIEwjw=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maximus parked by the "Hanging Tree" outside the Courthouse.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSWKWfKrPGHURDUSg9PvIcdVVRrGOKtjkEZiaKbRsXeTOMm9V24T0CeYqtMqGttH7EURbpN-Tef8mpfRl6710pST-caA0Dvoggb2vIM9rVUSiPP3vZLCIKVd8tnxntjaguE2EgkEo0VyTtk-NTPGrbtWWriTLD3TrwOooDJlhYLO2jNPQCj9w7q0vY2g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1402" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSWKWfKrPGHURDUSg9PvIcdVVRrGOKtjkEZiaKbRsXeTOMm9V24T0CeYqtMqGttH7EURbpN-Tef8mpfRl6710pST-caA0Dvoggb2vIM9rVUSiPP3vZLCIKVd8tnxntjaguE2EgkEo0VyTtk-NTPGrbtWWriTLD3TrwOooDJlhYLO2jNPQCj9w7q0vY2g=w378-h400" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We spent the
next day within Victoria.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We visited the
County Courthouse.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Built in 1892, it is
considered one of the top 10 in Texas.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">(While the exterior is quite grand, I thought the interior was rather
mundane).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwr-gmZKyuQ1TA3-DIkwUxV8ekuCe9ziDBqHfYETJR-EEvA9_GSqKpu85FW9nh1ajwI3K-Kdg-wgbpbSUK-PLKj4Vh3XaskrB6AImQop0E4dYSeqHB6esZDc3E5I5TOU27zfcKQrQzyLhR7MXlrfTemiXAiLc2jg0doexuTQqyaeiBnUGKUFbQ060wJw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1724" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwr-gmZKyuQ1TA3-DIkwUxV8ekuCe9ziDBqHfYETJR-EEvA9_GSqKpu85FW9nh1ajwI3K-Kdg-wgbpbSUK-PLKj4Vh3XaskrB6AImQop0E4dYSeqHB6esZDc3E5I5TOU27zfcKQrQzyLhR7MXlrfTemiXAiLc2jg0doexuTQqyaeiBnUGKUFbQ060wJw=w400-h312" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also completed a tour of Old Victoria, opting to walk it rather than drive to admire the beautifully restored historic homes. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Here is a small sampling of 80+ historic structures within Victoria that we viewed.</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6UGXq5Xcqt6nnQ_dJZ-LSNrdobvpWVh_aphbP3amtCa9zlZDVplXX1bZrSkiinzaPcTqDgsBcGeTRr8TadWahtoe36el8tuwjc5Do6hW2FjPzWunB6p1ncsz81eQDFPUwz1JyrLPLDyFmgCJcaX_5F0vOuddF2so6492WEUh4ETOlSGiW8XwaEcTnfw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6UGXq5Xcqt6nnQ_dJZ-LSNrdobvpWVh_aphbP3amtCa9zlZDVplXX1bZrSkiinzaPcTqDgsBcGeTRr8TadWahtoe36el8tuwjc5Do6hW2FjPzWunB6p1ncsz81eQDFPUwz1JyrLPLDyFmgCJcaX_5F0vOuddF2so6492WEUh4ETOlSGiW8XwaEcTnfw=w314-h320" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The photo tells the story...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtEJQNwtJx4PTGHyA3BdscDL66-xI0nt323_lJ_g3MNrf1WGF-4UW2yWvdvl84yqDSwN6cZPZ_E8pCCof1DmaaTQFVPdLF6KXNzJrjiVxrU5c0kGo2Qe8y1myHcexBN1ge0_f4kmHE4t52QZJHAsDzbjiig_ksl2gkguxvhH67fgSxMT89mjFA7kI25Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtEJQNwtJx4PTGHyA3BdscDL66-xI0nt323_lJ_g3MNrf1WGF-4UW2yWvdvl84yqDSwN6cZPZ_E8pCCof1DmaaTQFVPdLF6KXNzJrjiVxrU5c0kGo2Qe8y1myHcexBN1ge0_f4kmHE4t52QZJHAsDzbjiig_ksl2gkguxvhH67fgSxMT89mjFA7kI25Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Venable Bland Proctor House, circa 1900.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEharXLYljBDfa6-Hkg3lj_YtxigbGaA8WV6GQZD7GdQHrUIbHIdZq_SQbxIr-D14E-CDtrWgE1JOljEUM0Bz5-PKYUfXazNVlPpquo92OStKs3efdeTJoiv4k5BrEbPrDX3uGZ8tufbq1o7shS0Zl0sgzNw5BHxI5toFPwWIwAMHrRYynsAlYyqhu9IRg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEharXLYljBDfa6-Hkg3lj_YtxigbGaA8WV6GQZD7GdQHrUIbHIdZq_SQbxIr-D14E-CDtrWgE1JOljEUM0Bz5-PKYUfXazNVlPpquo92OStKs3efdeTJoiv4k5BrEbPrDX3uGZ8tufbq1o7shS0Zl0sgzNw5BHxI5toFPwWIwAMHrRYynsAlYyqhu9IRg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hill-O'Connor-Howard House, Victorian style, built 1899.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzX6JFJyBp9HjSRDy2S_cHCD3esJB0uOS6VlI8-XNEoYR5638Pp_I1Y-BVG_kvUGOMWGPvZVLwLFRuDmDxQvhmtP6aZJsI_aPKgz2aJP0GleyMBABe3TWBV38Lroi3e0OnZ0vUo0pks8kwl8AvTIKNZI2twHEx9HGv3q6LYRPtU1SiVUv561zDafgdmg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="3307" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzX6JFJyBp9HjSRDy2S_cHCD3esJB0uOS6VlI8-XNEoYR5638Pp_I1Y-BVG_kvUGOMWGPvZVLwLFRuDmDxQvhmtP6aZJsI_aPKgz2aJP0GleyMBABe3TWBV38Lroi3e0OnZ0vUo0pks8kwl8AvTIKNZI2twHEx9HGv3q6LYRPtU1SiVUv561zDafgdmg=w400-h209" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Lowery Stoner House, Craftsman style, built 1920.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Before we knew
it, it was 2 p.m., and we worked up quite an appetite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chile’s was just 2 miles from our hotel, and
with the skies turning grey with rain clouds, we thought it best to minimize
our driving distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, we knew
Chile’s had options for Dad’s plant-based diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sat down, ordered, and were just chillin’ when disaster struck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was removing his eating utensils from
their sleeve when his fork fell towards the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his effort to catch it, he got stabbed by
the steak knife, creating a deep cut right at his knuckle on his index
finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And being on blood thinners
caused it to bleed profusely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long story
short:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our sit-down d</span>inner became take-out and Dad
received 5 stitches at a nearby Urgent Care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thankfully, it was not his predominant hand and and he was able to drive the trike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mom now wants to learn
to ride Dad’s trike, but it requires some training since there are differences
between trikes and motorcycles regarding steering, leaning, and
clutching.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We returned to the hotel
just when it started to rain, and we called it a night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU-Nt9CIxklyDnopGMJePklJzP5nSmCsy78QtdEhtvuhKKJXtk24zj3Sxprkyii4efGTg3-e75DmdxMWQQZKolYD3qlY1JXK15dsXXNwUmRtz5Dsvad5G7p3gBzvLZqvGosSMYKJvh0ekyOsj0NEQ0rbvj67Ylz-MKSIOjNzj6rQGbYgdduTU6l2f-lQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2582" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU-Nt9CIxklyDnopGMJePklJzP5nSmCsy78QtdEhtvuhKKJXtk24zj3Sxprkyii4efGTg3-e75DmdxMWQQZKolYD3qlY1JXK15dsXXNwUmRtz5Dsvad5G7p3gBzvLZqvGosSMYKJvh0ekyOsj0NEQ0rbvj67Ylz-MKSIOjNzj6rQGbYgdduTU6l2f-lQ=w400-h279" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad all stitched up.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately,
rain was on the menu the next day as we departed Victoria to head home—and it
stayed with us for most of our 4+ hour trek.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Even m</span><span style="font-family: arial;">y parents’ Duluth Trading Company raingear could not keep them dry.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As for me, by the end of the day, I
had to invest in new raingear—another 3-mil trash bag.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite this horrible weather, we were
determined to visit Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery Historic Sites
($4/adult) in LaGrange, TX, and it was well worth the stop.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The grounds are simply gorgeous, offering
terrific views of the Colorado River. And it sure was nice meeting the Sam the Cat, who was more concerned about staying dry than investigating a stuffed rat.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRbDXIO05q0e0P8UO5-V6tPfiHt1GKV-rS1M9zzxa11Y3nJ0DIQADMw7VPcRJ_Scm70C1bRwymcM3JrRBlHdLl8byOPp93ycdoLKDHyw4ETEBxboV9HFzcO5wBV64TmNAbYg991_wsLyV_QSiFP4xf8Qi1CcbWhMIXigF9jOBXUicLpkVGsP1YvlJphA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRbDXIO05q0e0P8UO5-V6tPfiHt1GKV-rS1M9zzxa11Y3nJ0DIQADMw7VPcRJ_Scm70C1bRwymcM3JrRBlHdLl8byOPp93ycdoLKDHyw4ETEBxboV9HFzcO5wBV64TmNAbYg991_wsLyV_QSiFP4xf8Qi1CcbWhMIXigF9jOBXUicLpkVGsP1YvlJphA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbxZUX3qc44mOZbmtt9lit4qXeFUxPdnpxIenCST5tg-KqbycSvfNYjMojQlSkMKbGOjxPjPX04ltFnpKfRAdZ2CeSNsKRm6Dim1X0jh2zNapG-sLqYPA3U18mRStmBoOPVBXmepVZjWsxWObk9lSjGdqAFOj9wGub2ddiFLZFMXP2TPVOZc2-ocEYgg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbxZUX3qc44mOZbmtt9lit4qXeFUxPdnpxIenCST5tg-KqbycSvfNYjMojQlSkMKbGOjxPjPX04ltFnpKfRAdZ2CeSNsKRm6Dim1X0jh2zNapG-sLqYPA3U18mRStmBoOPVBXmepVZjWsxWObk9lSjGdqAFOj9wGub2ddiFLZFMXP2TPVOZc2-ocEYgg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On
these lands in 1836, Henry Ludwig Kreische, a German immigrant, built his
3-story home.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1860 he added what
became the third largest brewing operation in Texas. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But, unfortunately, his legacy did not
continue after his death in 1882.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though
he and the Mrs. had 6 children, none of them married nor produced any
offspring, and 1 of the 3 sons died at age 36.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Hence, there are only ruins left
of the actual brewery.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">However, the
family home is in decent condition.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8hu9a0SZDYrVxv0_X1ceACQbsH8rwbVhwDvxUPnIIRtrW00ZJmmpRRgQPog4tiMccBRXOHyY-JN0cRLxuimj8SZg9CokGVD1XKsfFMdKV7GwwdFOGtlXXOz30pZcJHe_7So3ZqQeU9bq1L-PbNGmvjfiILKo5nElmrWOMgSb62zHyVM-AbL6c4FsXaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8hu9a0SZDYrVxv0_X1ceACQbsH8rwbVhwDvxUPnIIRtrW00ZJmmpRRgQPog4tiMccBRXOHyY-JN0cRLxuimj8SZg9CokGVD1XKsfFMdKV7GwwdFOGtlXXOz30pZcJHe_7So3ZqQeU9bq1L-PbNGmvjfiILKo5nElmrWOMgSb62zHyVM-AbL6c4FsXaA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmPJKM-CeCQ8HT6Btf2n16Ozr9KYA6iNJuJvuv8bNg2Pl2PFCoAGrgX6l3qyYhoQ8R9TkgDCAFTlXTOe3v1iNb7V2wZTqMLfkpIxrH9WXn6zNRRJYL45mpuFiBHa9N8dqmPBbok1duHtj4Q1cyteE2hWWO5RKSY5lEmc2Gm5DtfW_HoHf-3XjSzcfMFQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmPJKM-CeCQ8HT6Btf2n16Ozr9KYA6iNJuJvuv8bNg2Pl2PFCoAGrgX6l3qyYhoQ8R9TkgDCAFTlXTOe3v1iNb7V2wZTqMLfkpIxrH9WXn6zNRRJYL45mpuFiBHa9N8dqmPBbok1duHtj4Q1cyteE2hWWO5RKSY5lEmc2Gm5DtfW_HoHf-3XjSzcfMFQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVniy4957bPYm9OZzX0J_BXDNxCmTlQPjiHomVFzhXb99J5oyNjASYLp4yTYtYDal7SreXvhzwf_rRrX39ZEjeJnJgNxDTbsX0ML5JfgubIGJsMVJFF79a7FXUDrr80aOAiHbEP1DlCJ28lAT8FgD43Zw9ZoRUZcPwy9ArkkjtRS35jLemypLjFCRxOA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVniy4957bPYm9OZzX0J_BXDNxCmTlQPjiHomVFzhXb99J5oyNjASYLp4yTYtYDal7SreXvhzwf_rRrX39ZEjeJnJgNxDTbsX0ML5JfgubIGJsMVJFF79a7FXUDrr80aOAiHbEP1DlCJ28lAT8FgD43Zw9ZoRUZcPwy9ArkkjtRS35jLemypLjFCRxOA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85YtacrAyh-fY15ZpipPNAv6SKBE6Vz01HmhvRuSnxHMx4RTYwFDP3YUtNJuWIaUrsMJRS_XQSB7vwb2wgGus_aMcSYo0xUTY06oErPJrYlSSMaGxtzEJH-J-F6Oe55puU6oFh2prqXIfwj7DxB1x2R6xWzB3SmYlJ5x1gBJVBeILImFTUdOzeGKpXw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2986" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85YtacrAyh-fY15ZpipPNAv6SKBE6Vz01HmhvRuSnxHMx4RTYwFDP3YUtNJuWIaUrsMJRS_XQSB7vwb2wgGus_aMcSYo0xUTY06oErPJrYlSSMaGxtzEJH-J-F6Oe55puU6oFh2prqXIfwj7DxB1x2R6xWzB3SmYlJ5x1gBJVBeILImFTUdOzeGKpXw=w400-h176" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The property also
contains the crypt of the victims of the Dawson Massacre and Mier Expedition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Texas won its independence from Mexico
in 1836, Santa Ana continued his efforts to control land between the Rio Grande
and the Nueces Rivers, and the Salado Creek and Mier military conflicts ensued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The expedition under Nicholas Dawson at
Salado Creek (1842) left 36 Texans dead and 15 Texans captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, Texan forces were overcome at Ciudad
Mier (1843), resulting in Texan loss of life and 176 prisoners of war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
both conflicts, Santa Ana did not act honorably in the rules of warfare. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he ordered all prisoners be killed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His orders were followed at Salado Creek,
but the end result for the Mier prisoners was the killing of 1 out of every 10,
with a bean lottery used to determine which prisoners would perish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So interesting learning the history of Texas!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh25cgPeHNr62em_64xOpGlmE7BlCPRJOGTGKLtvgTCjIfk2FcE9vXYHVUaootNguWUsd-IpyEaDBJBKFUKj9PoYJX-_WePkOB-fSiuQ82XvY4Zs8Ef8fOqTrXL2-_1W8N2kc1vdoXF_UAt6kwy67AfNeLMI-fZnwcbPWp9g--RmFgOAPLr9IT9sfM-5Q" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh25cgPeHNr62em_64xOpGlmE7BlCPRJOGTGKLtvgTCjIfk2FcE9vXYHVUaootNguWUsd-IpyEaDBJBKFUKj9PoYJX-_WePkOB-fSiuQ82XvY4Zs8Ef8fOqTrXL2-_1W8N2kc1vdoXF_UAt6kwy67AfNeLMI-fZnwcbPWp9g--RmFgOAPLr9IT9sfM-5Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took a quick
tour of downtown La Grange and returned to the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were wet and tired when we arrived home at
7 p.m., but were grateful to return safely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLvN9CtrM79xIKayDPgSVtJnPBMnxqdTk6gl1mCm8tzRou_MEWPhv6Dp37ZhlDn5UwFJ5Q4FMrI-ae-t8YoRBoKkVOI1bsxZCT4jtMmKnOHjXAODk1ZLv-dNiGlICTYZJknQ1gyt17rgxVN-DUhF5BuO6hg7BD7qFt1B6dhBIivNeyquYE_QlGVAF7Xg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLvN9CtrM79xIKayDPgSVtJnPBMnxqdTk6gl1mCm8tzRou_MEWPhv6Dp37ZhlDn5UwFJ5Q4FMrI-ae-t8YoRBoKkVOI1bsxZCT4jtMmKnOHjXAODk1ZLv-dNiGlICTYZJknQ1gyt17rgxVN-DUhF5BuO6hg7BD7qFt1B6dhBIivNeyquYE_QlGVAF7Xg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The gardens at the Quilt Museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv7MxuUeaV8A_1844Q4hSiwUZbphaB8ilLVC9A0B1BBkJtocaGYp5TBLRU7JRyyWhLVg0CeBVbTTtkaVJHMjsm9JAY8xUjjauXNLAdpcSw_Ahlc3EpLfjEcpxMPCRC52Yx64VKu1crVre6VnXZ7LggUba0h66ahyY5pwto0dGg99qRn5jYF3WiaQHtJQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv7MxuUeaV8A_1844Q4hSiwUZbphaB8ilLVC9A0B1BBkJtocaGYp5TBLRU7JRyyWhLVg0CeBVbTTtkaVJHMjsm9JAY8xUjjauXNLAdpcSw_Ahlc3EpLfjEcpxMPCRC52Yx64VKu1crVre6VnXZ7LggUba0h66ahyY5pwto0dGg99qRn5jYF3WiaQHtJQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdkZLd3uiz8gAKggotmBKJLsWEH4MEhKSkS9H_BTyf0209Sa0XLa5c2-HWeI3D5G9ByLqLUlS4jEuOV2DXq5pQWZQzcPHXp2UXtLxyvKEbNN98GRLD_EWYr3kZS7vH5qmNRCmaNfxrsLcR0DfxR2JwdaIF4whwdxYjUgXX8fVFpqJXUBepwGDJJOZdAw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdkZLd3uiz8gAKggotmBKJLsWEH4MEhKSkS9H_BTyf0209Sa0XLa5c2-HWeI3D5G9ByLqLUlS4jEuOV2DXq5pQWZQzcPHXp2UXtLxyvKEbNN98GRLD_EWYr3kZS7vH5qmNRCmaNfxrsLcR0DfxR2JwdaIF4whwdxYjUgXX8fVFpqJXUBepwGDJJOZdAw" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIWx87J35jSSu4Dx8Ar0ntn3E8jDgNpfuS1YNVVK_WrREMZZj8MBYn_rqJNocNUQjln8s8Hg68-Q9PE5n-s-ENm-j3FRXQOUlSTxbIaihkDtpxMPZwzHroKIFXS6T_FItLTTeA8oAVGiicOt15oA_Ix5sUhxmtHMfoDwkSEWpIgdMFaoAqKoi_EYvFuA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIWx87J35jSSu4Dx8Ar0ntn3E8jDgNpfuS1YNVVK_WrREMZZj8MBYn_rqJNocNUQjln8s8Hg68-Q9PE5n-s-ENm-j3FRXQOUlSTxbIaihkDtpxMPZwzHroKIFXS6T_FItLTTeA8oAVGiicOt15oA_Ix5sUhxmtHMfoDwkSEWpIgdMFaoAqKoi_EYvFuA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPALymS88tC_Y2TIEiSHW8e-4tvdwf1AP1kRHj11Y999qKqyglQD4KLUR0K9SEWqvWbKYbE2l4aS79x7Cknz2qE2EZV-xQTjT5voVoxB3_miTM0B1YBVwnUNXArs8ZmqfERJQfy4BsfHZo8F0KSv2pFa9QgcEkozbwX7IZsbkEz8QNvqrLDSi3TBAHw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2733" data-original-width="1798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPALymS88tC_Y2TIEiSHW8e-4tvdwf1AP1kRHj11Y999qKqyglQD4KLUR0K9SEWqvWbKYbE2l4aS79x7Cknz2qE2EZV-xQTjT5voVoxB3_miTM0B1YBVwnUNXArs8ZmqfERJQfy4BsfHZo8F0KSv2pFa9QgcEkozbwX7IZsbkEz8QNvqrLDSi3TBAHw=w263-h400" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIWx87J35jSSu4Dx8Ar0ntn3E8jDgNpfuS1YNVVK_WrREMZZj8MBYn_rqJNocNUQjln8s8Hg68-Q9PE5n-s-ENm-j3FRXQOUlSTxbIaihkDtpxMPZwzHroKIFXS6T_FItLTTeA8oAVGiicOt15oA_Ix5sUhxmtHMfoDwkSEWpIgdMFaoAqKoi_EYvFuA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIWx87J35jSSu4Dx8Ar0ntn3E8jDgNpfuS1YNVVK_WrREMZZj8MBYn_rqJNocNUQjln8s8Hg68-Q9PE5n-s-ENm-j3FRXQOUlSTxbIaihkDtpxMPZwzHroKIFXS6T_FItLTTeA8oAVGiicOt15oA_Ix5sUhxmtHMfoDwkSEWpIgdMFaoAqKoi_EYvFuA" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeKK7CtqIDUY669cEkpw_DfyEnGzRIZzZTGG2h7HIwT5LrfnKW1kfetHb3Unl_kU2Ux5e0IWttLbfYr-6TTMwcCl6bPmy-L7LBYauQwH-BB9VAl8GfEly-pDAcY13aYDA1ScZM80i9ucg0-HqPssVwnqgk9YfJhmzW3bYzYMRZ5H2MtyQHTH2aHiYHmA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="1970" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeKK7CtqIDUY669cEkpw_DfyEnGzRIZzZTGG2h7HIwT5LrfnKW1kfetHb3Unl_kU2Ux5e0IWttLbfYr-6TTMwcCl6bPmy-L7LBYauQwH-BB9VAl8GfEly-pDAcY13aYDA1ScZM80i9ucg0-HqPssVwnqgk9YfJhmzW3bYzYMRZ5H2MtyQHTH2aHiYHmA=w400-h369" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Built in 1881
by German immigrants, the Casino served as a social venue rather than as a gaming hall.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have lots more to tell you, but I’ve got to run.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">I prefer to spend my time <i>having fun</i> instead of <i>writing </i>about it!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> But I promise to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">talk to you again soon.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-73298290415942256992023-04-29T14:59:00.364-05:002023-05-09T10:21:59.904-05:00Motorcycle Road Trip to Ennis/Waxahachie/Mexia TX (Blue Bonnet Festival/Munster Mansion/Old Fort Parker and Confederate Reunion Grounds) <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We enjoyed our
usual activities during April including dancing, playing pickleball, hiking,
and spending time with friends. Despite
having fun, I am suffering from “hitch itch”, the desire to be back on the open
road with Big Boomer towing Suite Retreat.
But until Dad gets off the monthly merry-go-round of healthcare
appointments, I must be content with just multi-day motorcycle road trips. Hence, we loaded Maximus the Trike on a brisk
but sunny Sunday morning, heading to Ennis, TX for their annual 3-day Bluebonnet
Festival. We traversed US-287 for most
of the time, which offers lovely, pastural scenery: grazing cows, horses,
goats, and fields of wildflowers. My
nose was filled with the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle, followed by the stench
of rotting animal carcasses and the acrid smoke from trash burns—not a winning
combination.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibxDgixjBW4uXvzrBm9pJFwWQ3jbkRhy4NYgbirAupEbckobaO_25ysdLeA6TglaGa7qt4L_G5f-VK-ypeznTkeHmVtFQpZnXIzFBO-DJsvRb8nB_bE7ITZxUPEft0xNX5yXmfV4ujKsakHYG65DeVWH0hQP5iQZtUZPeLXKCVGu1nUbxm6tmgVujt_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="3742" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibxDgixjBW4uXvzrBm9pJFwWQ3jbkRhy4NYgbirAupEbckobaO_25ysdLeA6TglaGa7qt4L_G5f-VK-ypeznTkeHmVtFQpZnXIzFBO-DJsvRb8nB_bE7ITZxUPEft0xNX5yXmfV4ujKsakHYG65DeVWH0hQP5iQZtUZPeLXKCVGu1nUbxm6tmgVujt_g=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We had Choice
Privileges Rewards Points accumulated from our 3+weeks of hoteling it when Big
Boomer underwent repairs last May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
we decided to apply the Rewards points to our stay at the Quality Inn in
Ennis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>located right off I-45 and within walking
distance (less than 1 mile) from the Festival activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom immediately loved the place when she
learned it was family owned and operated by 3 generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It scored extra points for employing locals who are like extended
family, having worked for this establishment for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motel is older, but clean and well
maintained, and its grounds are quite lovely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With its outdoor pool, jacuzzi, and lighted courtyard snuggled under
live oak trees, you forget momentarily you are in downtown Ennis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1wb1sIXY-SuIxH5T8e5RL0QlMumilLYmh8GWMCo4o8HkUqI3uRkhhYX4c2O3V61Ia8XjhglYlTBlcCt3jd-pD_nGwWRvrRrCypHUo3TCFAFFY-EUpuWluCg4QHZ9JzQ2dRN6eGedOTsYw4bFl7aWH4n2agVnLO6G_GbhTNJRP8tx-_1A3Gc3jn_vOag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1wb1sIXY-SuIxH5T8e5RL0QlMumilLYmh8GWMCo4o8HkUqI3uRkhhYX4c2O3V61Ia8XjhglYlTBlcCt3jd-pD_nGwWRvrRrCypHUo3TCFAFFY-EUpuWluCg4QHZ9JzQ2dRN6eGedOTsYw4bFl7aWH4n2agVnLO6G_GbhTNJRP8tx-_1A3Gc3jn_vOag=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4HgGofipmrFHTPLRVUefNXZ2zaZe18McSYSO16fhb2oBs8RxAH425XBQ93i4LkLavXxfpKTQIdEPLTvLwFmSeaphOg9fNZ42TN_oLICD2Et7fXz22gVRC-hZWAvlHWIjSePLecIlwOhuoLJKZq3mZh56MCHJF9Joqy0oK-k6KEonnFIFClYSbGnMgOA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4HgGofipmrFHTPLRVUefNXZ2zaZe18McSYSO16fhb2oBs8RxAH425XBQ93i4LkLavXxfpKTQIdEPLTvLwFmSeaphOg9fNZ42TN_oLICD2Et7fXz22gVRC-hZWAvlHWIjSePLecIlwOhuoLJKZq3mZh56MCHJF9Joqy0oK-k6KEonnFIFClYSbGnMgOA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The staff and family were efficient and friendly--</span><span style="font-family: arial;">well all except for one, who was quite standoffish and a bit of a goof-off.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj58NMilrP6FcZMXQAgsEhrs5SIcxO9WXZXSRVYpn8cpSElKb-_RhtFb-X1R4ijezJie9wJJPSb_CXkcPU_SgEA23wlx8_jmrqjRW6NYEl2SWr6Jv19c4wrIW6jQBmKUHax15Qa7fayoeKbOB8spzTcfV6dXFIZwZeQ7YReyodQ90k_jDOX-RvBoqTtaw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj58NMilrP6FcZMXQAgsEhrs5SIcxO9WXZXSRVYpn8cpSElKb-_RhtFb-X1R4ijezJie9wJJPSb_CXkcPU_SgEA23wlx8_jmrqjRW6NYEl2SWr6Jv19c4wrIW6jQBmKUHax15Qa7fayoeKbOB8spzTcfV6dXFIZwZeQ7YReyodQ90k_jDOX-RvBoqTtaw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1XfREJvYzpi4FB0MzEw7Hfhk6WxVCsxCzITZ0TQYgs8_23sgXUj5-qhihsA4wRej6-DO6LY0ih6hfcEcUMeK7DDhG7EqMdVJPNinsZOM59w2u6TjXa99IoajRT8pucJmwHIlP1F57dUTNHXhQnDZApD7Gcp07SUTYphF43luFGr029zWsdRMzlvryng" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1XfREJvYzpi4FB0MzEw7Hfhk6WxVCsxCzITZ0TQYgs8_23sgXUj5-qhihsA4wRej6-DO6LY0ih6hfcEcUMeK7DDhG7EqMdVJPNinsZOM59w2u6TjXa99IoajRT8pucJmwHIlP1F57dUTNHXhQnDZApD7Gcp07SUTYphF43luFGr029zWsdRMzlvryng=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure Shadow will not be nominated as Outstanding Employee of the Month.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked to
the Bluebonnet Welcome Center, arriving about 1 p.m. on the final day of the 3-day
Festival.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We had ample time to peruse
all the vendors, check out the midway, and enjoy the entertainment, well
worth the $5/adult admission.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We chilled
and relaxed to the musical performance by the Windbreakers, who label
themselves as “yacht rock”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What the
heck is that?</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">To me, the songs all fit
the soft rock category:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Eagles, Hall and
Oates, Bread, America.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the band
members were all dressed in nautical attire, so I guess they created their own
genre.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Regardless of categorization,
this Rambling RV Rat, along with all the spectators, enjoyed their sound
immensely.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a perfect musical
finale for the Festival.</span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTo0ayPcijL1snTxTZ9SnXmtsBG90Te0UggXT4XU-x-541WqpSXEGn_HCUk0ZhDXiWiYz_iffDzJBySdoWtNnZIvpZh2vmihqFwWU_147fPoXrw-w8OjI6c41E_-4bXDjyPqC0IyZSGftpoEVGHS1VZPcL0ZIOqhTYQ5NIsUhlUF07IvMwRB8NAVqxsA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTo0ayPcijL1snTxTZ9SnXmtsBG90Te0UggXT4XU-x-541WqpSXEGn_HCUk0ZhDXiWiYz_iffDzJBySdoWtNnZIvpZh2vmihqFwWU_147fPoXrw-w8OjI6c41E_-4bXDjyPqC0IyZSGftpoEVGHS1VZPcL0ZIOqhTYQ5NIsUhlUF07IvMwRB8NAVqxsA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHTS1bHaN5FGCBIWLt-XnmQgMNPLU8vpQyTx97ptxYY48NpGLHdabkuBC_7nufpJZUHmqKWXVqDIWEMbHRjJR59N3nvOfRgsbkG7Y8o_lzhc7n30Ao1HeAvQUPTXkeDKdhcxnFhUr90uzcJeQBFz1UszXO1gJkVL8nH7STkSylH9DE9je0BZETnjhAEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHTS1bHaN5FGCBIWLt-XnmQgMNPLU8vpQyTx97ptxYY48NpGLHdabkuBC_7nufpJZUHmqKWXVqDIWEMbHRjJR59N3nvOfRgsbkG7Y8o_lzhc7n30Ao1HeAvQUPTXkeDKdhcxnFhUr90uzcJeQBFz1UszXO1gJkVL8nH7STkSylH9DE9je0BZETnjhAEw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition to
the Festival activities, this was peak season for viewing the blooming bluebonnets,
a member of the lupine flora species and the Texas State Flower.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ennis and surrounding areas boast more than
40 miles of roads, parks, and natural areas from which to view the sea of
wildflowers. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We presumed that the
viewing trails would be less populated AFTER the Festival ended, so we planned our
multi-day trip accordingly.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sure glad we
did:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We heard folks complaining about
the weekend traffic jams, lack of parking, and crowded trails. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We encountered none of this when we started
our viewing venture on Monday morning at Bluebonnet and Veterans Parks.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were able to stop, park, walk along the paths
and trails, and, most importantly, take unobstructed photos.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">While the bluebonnets themselves were
exquisite, I so loved seeing the vibrant Indian paintbrush, pink evening
primrose, and assorted yellow wildflowers that were interspersed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped at every designated area,
traversed every one of the 40+ miles of blooms, including Lake Baldwell,
Kachina Prairie, and even those areas the Festival categorizes as “off the
beaten path”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were enthralled with
the simplicity of nature and basked in its beauty.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">No need for
expensive or exotic landscaping here.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Master has created a colorful and fragrant mosaic of natural carpet
that stimulates our eyes and tickles our noses simultaneously!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8to9dj8GlSD5pkbzg8Vsi8nS36kk-mPW3uHxUU1zNXX4bvpTdA2uKc5z6oDoP_aZ4VNX2kANEwpP9RzQeuA20pYrtPHKC37Io3yYWyeRu2SU9GkXFizh9yGU8_KVsy8CQ7OF6j-QZpmtehMKbw4kkO2NZhKbU4d3wMNFhpeDV-bc4WeKhJQfL2PD2Lw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8to9dj8GlSD5pkbzg8Vsi8nS36kk-mPW3uHxUU1zNXX4bvpTdA2uKc5z6oDoP_aZ4VNX2kANEwpP9RzQeuA20pYrtPHKC37Io3yYWyeRu2SU9GkXFizh9yGU8_KVsy8CQ7OF6j-QZpmtehMKbw4kkO2NZhKbU4d3wMNFhpeDV-bc4WeKhJQfL2PD2Lw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg8HXwVlptZjhdeltnl9UQJ2c4vXZMO4pKYbQf8_BYRX4byYYVHdO4MOuXTgJomzOGtAzGHvkmxipu-MKuT5WIiUTOfPjRipoBtjX0XCTh5dOK2sCh0HIErO-nQvuSAzU48fWfQUB3Kbippd-9eXxk1-VF_78P7CS3SZSWiP1LBOtVjeJa7JlJikc78w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="2513" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg8HXwVlptZjhdeltnl9UQJ2c4vXZMO4pKYbQf8_BYRX4byYYVHdO4MOuXTgJomzOGtAzGHvkmxipu-MKuT5WIiUTOfPjRipoBtjX0XCTh5dOK2sCh0HIErO-nQvuSAzU48fWfQUB3Kbippd-9eXxk1-VF_78P7CS3SZSWiP1LBOtVjeJa7JlJikc78w=w400-h229" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6OoJQMWxyg9QeYlX1LY1LiENFyEBYoeV8W63kyPPGrkiu5lcPv8dtVP2QiKy2BiInu74nzIgLptKdzJfjAPMQt36J3hcGfpCb3u-owHAL4HssfGP_ceV8pNOYL9lAcd757GdIwPgA6CjdxbhEn6xXIPjt3qNc9UWw7tBND_lB2hpCIXm5ixbZdbzhFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="3856" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6OoJQMWxyg9QeYlX1LY1LiENFyEBYoeV8W63kyPPGrkiu5lcPv8dtVP2QiKy2BiInu74nzIgLptKdzJfjAPMQt36J3hcGfpCb3u-owHAL4HssfGP_ceV8pNOYL9lAcd757GdIwPgA6CjdxbhEn6xXIPjt3qNc9UWw7tBND_lB2hpCIXm5ixbZdbzhFw=w400-h119" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZjOJmRjThvXDzVdDsDw8hbgYcgUa3Pyqx3PEPFPq0gkqXGFzs9Pt7L7ZVeUUyyfREwWeQe3aQjmr53gG6g0B3C9_D8GHsikMF8OPZtUfwgM5yXi7DrMy3ad3R0r0rNyVqKckqoJFbFXgQO-Pa--2UgCh31IyMxuojbYIbn2ltssrElyMa5DXql4dFw/s4000/20230417_113211.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZjOJmRjThvXDzVdDsDw8hbgYcgUa3Pyqx3PEPFPq0gkqXGFzs9Pt7L7ZVeUUyyfREwWeQe3aQjmr53gG6g0B3C9_D8GHsikMF8OPZtUfwgM5yXi7DrMy3ad3R0r0rNyVqKckqoJFbFXgQO-Pa--2UgCh31IyMxuojbYIbn2ltssrElyMa5DXql4dFw/w400-h180/20230417_113211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm45oDBc5dTM2ndn58Ogz4P40GBoIkvRUytjHio3xRtB5MjAdcE0CJdMd4bFMxBpHKjYjts9MHJLSZHoD2Vp-xNwiRiZJ_D6BMkEdBNhoocbvJj4hw9T2Ft2A6_G6H4Pq8B1XGBX5Dm-VwlDRFNLN1n9tPuxh-2hC6yYg214S2r1V_2hWhLtdByEk2Q/s4000/20230417_113327.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSm45oDBc5dTM2ndn58Ogz4P40GBoIkvRUytjHio3xRtB5MjAdcE0CJdMd4bFMxBpHKjYjts9MHJLSZHoD2Vp-xNwiRiZJ_D6BMkEdBNhoocbvJj4hw9T2Ft2A6_G6H4Pq8B1XGBX5Dm-VwlDRFNLN1n9tPuxh-2hC6yYg214S2r1V_2hWhLtdByEk2Q/w400-h300/20230417_113327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLd5s2AaXc3yO81BqokVv3xzzmvGRPhE8kt6kcink3gWPrbEH_G-8Ai51fvHTJu-CalkLhh1bYKYK3lNiUC8P4ICCdpL1CuWYSOUGNm5OvleyghA6QYw-S-Y2GTxxODneBD7ZV5NT5U4bIx3tyvBhv2yhd4PhXg1TGsyqTCLC4kkCC_F_gJnMvi5mFQ/s4000/20230417_113655.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="4000" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLd5s2AaXc3yO81BqokVv3xzzmvGRPhE8kt6kcink3gWPrbEH_G-8Ai51fvHTJu-CalkLhh1bYKYK3lNiUC8P4ICCdpL1CuWYSOUGNm5OvleyghA6QYw-S-Y2GTxxODneBD7ZV5NT5U4bIx3tyvBhv2yhd4PhXg1TGsyqTCLC4kkCC_F_gJnMvi5mFQ/w400-h195/20230417_113655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fg_SRksRFl2Iwg316JnStSeoLPuCV4J7MOe03QjifoYuRdXl9jEwtz3wTA7FRvFptS4JrjH29R-2-Gx2cqJzK9JpqYMaRU0pPAPTUnGNtBVZy40mYhHgh9afUhV26CUlfuMahp0i4o5G9wNou9QYLvRVvfRoN3i3Pf4geJ6Lm86GjA0jJf5Tk_ab3A/s4000/20230417_123253.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2761" data-original-width="4000" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fg_SRksRFl2Iwg316JnStSeoLPuCV4J7MOe03QjifoYuRdXl9jEwtz3wTA7FRvFptS4JrjH29R-2-Gx2cqJzK9JpqYMaRU0pPAPTUnGNtBVZy40mYhHgh9afUhV26CUlfuMahp0i4o5G9wNou9QYLvRVvfRoN3i3Pf4geJ6Lm86GjA0jJf5Tk_ab3A/w400-h276/20230417_123253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDGgY6j6CkC8hqdiGzvgBiO9zRC5zQSpWQCy3tVaeTJNIsl9fioN3-ILHVXDAN0EkUMMW3dn62MofdqXUMBYfhWsNxA7GBtyHpg4fXp-A8i-JrV5i5qzM1ziK4AuZMJMtLmZyRBto2PNQgdSvUqGzQj1uZ5JvCuLkfMtAKwG29EES2hQCzahf_u2LBg/s3835/20230417_123214.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2999" data-original-width="3835" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDGgY6j6CkC8hqdiGzvgBiO9zRC5zQSpWQCy3tVaeTJNIsl9fioN3-ILHVXDAN0EkUMMW3dn62MofdqXUMBYfhWsNxA7GBtyHpg4fXp-A8i-JrV5i5qzM1ziK4AuZMJMtLmZyRBto2PNQgdSvUqGzQj1uZ5JvCuLkfMtAKwG29EES2hQCzahf_u2LBg/w400-h313/20230417_123214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkgLbHahxqUU_jcQZagslyYcpsm4cwoICdcTE-2PuhI1PDz-CDXGKD5txt-0QsVoElLHwrLn4MnEdEFrZ6ibe0he6Hp2YeAncVruh7FOHpsyrGoDNX1CL5EYrH0ZUNqhwnC96ZbMfsH92HCmdCNmwqMA8ZWxYV1iH5lLZyCdADhUQ8Exct3BUwz5x5A/s4000/20230417_143850.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkgLbHahxqUU_jcQZagslyYcpsm4cwoICdcTE-2PuhI1PDz-CDXGKD5txt-0QsVoElLHwrLn4MnEdEFrZ6ibe0he6Hp2YeAncVruh7FOHpsyrGoDNX1CL5EYrH0ZUNqhwnC96ZbMfsH92HCmdCNmwqMA8ZWxYV1iH5lLZyCdADhUQ8Exct3BUwz5x5A/w400-h180/20230417_143850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepAMogIjAY88SV0pLVzk2DSuggZuefxV4_Dv9mHK8E8D562hqmi0vTW3QF6IloF4mShf5avDBg07yE8cCEpz6XZtWWwxqwSYXbPfvkM4afoKSgloU0BKCd0IacTCLLf_fw0nRxEGogeNOqu8fgriiyAZ_CMi-_o_ddSWTedwb2NtEAFJo_F8dAQfhkg/s4000/20230417_152217.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepAMogIjAY88SV0pLVzk2DSuggZuefxV4_Dv9mHK8E8D562hqmi0vTW3QF6IloF4mShf5avDBg07yE8cCEpz6XZtWWwxqwSYXbPfvkM4afoKSgloU0BKCd0IacTCLLf_fw0nRxEGogeNOqu8fgriiyAZ_CMi-_o_ddSWTedwb2NtEAFJo_F8dAQfhkg/w400-h300/20230417_152217.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwtDhnS6PxX8rLydRan_vAdv-JJ8Jp3UDeLCzVruMC83mknzl37bKTJRojOwR3BjKNw9VIIIxF07PXcAtzPlg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_yTbOnSoI1CxpdYOhM0NjLruMcVLZXoVziGQoum9riItmKQroKkdgYqC3Kw2bugx3wIdejyspD58pwNs3Wv951jatkWV_KdfyXkDRMKFAspee2VC1San1Gka__EBoxFWMLGdYzw4vRTcFq3KsjzzScEMSoiTtBrhbwPp6Q1KuGPMqoT_1EVCxqah-g/s4000/20230417_135220.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_yTbOnSoI1CxpdYOhM0NjLruMcVLZXoVziGQoum9riItmKQroKkdgYqC3Kw2bugx3wIdejyspD58pwNs3Wv951jatkWV_KdfyXkDRMKFAspee2VC1San1Gka__EBoxFWMLGdYzw4vRTcFq3KsjzzScEMSoiTtBrhbwPp6Q1KuGPMqoT_1EVCxqah-g/w400-h300/20230417_135220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The curving country roads were perfect for motorcycling, too. Along the way we viewed lots of hogs, cattle, donkeys, and horses,
including meeting Big Jake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the
tallest horse in all of Texas, measuring 20 hands! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8Aewm3-87CgR-SgzGjkzIP7yJnKVh7Z8cokVHz-VjBjt2U9T-nTMEgXC5WR1WXcVlDNIhhaZ_Hx4tDCYX4beBC5O3ZQj8pX3_S0g7eO9A6FVn_ow-PMnpBRpl6ufQfqWU-1RGmnmF6MrNEKDsrqWQdkvnMPy96H2l7gihqpoVANFPflVPIVEwkdm8g/s4000/20230417_125005.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8Aewm3-87CgR-SgzGjkzIP7yJnKVh7Z8cokVHz-VjBjt2U9T-nTMEgXC5WR1WXcVlDNIhhaZ_Hx4tDCYX4beBC5O3ZQj8pX3_S0g7eO9A6FVn_ow-PMnpBRpl6ufQfqWU-1RGmnmF6MrNEKDsrqWQdkvnMPy96H2l7gihqpoVANFPflVPIVEwkdm8g/w400-h300/20230417_125005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One problem with
the Ennis area for us was the limited restaurant options to adhere to Dad’s
plant-based diet, especially since our visit included a Sunday and Monday, when
many non-chain restaurants are closed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thankfully, we found that Chile’s now offers a black bean veggie fajita
in addition to black bean burgers.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So,
Chile’s became our go-to place.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And it
was within the same complex as the Quality Inn at which we were staying, so we
just walked over each evening.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We dedicated
Tuesday to visiting Waxahachie, TX, specifically to visit the Munster
Mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friend Lisa, who is a guru
on all fun things to do in TX, told us about this replica of the home from the
1960s TV show, The Munsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owners
of the Mansion are friendly and welcoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have worked diligently to replicate The Munsters’ residence at 1313
Mockingbird Lane, both inside and outside. I was fascinated by their painstaking research on room dimensions. And their attention to detail is evidenced by the placement of cobwebs and "food" on the dining table (which included baked “bat” cookies).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the furnishings are reproductions,
but you will see Eddie’s original Teddy Bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was a bit leery to enter the Mansion, especially when Spot emerged
from beneath the stairwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was
quite hospitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t even use his fiery dragon breath on
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to sneak a peek at Grandpa’s
book of spells, but I worried Igor would fink on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I was on good behavior (quiet as a mouse)
in Eddie’s Room, especially when I saw that giant rat trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoyed this tour immensely, but we do
recommend you go with a minimum of 4 adults to get the best value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, they charge the same admission ($120)
whether you go alone, as a couple, or with a group of 4.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijIRoW2aNIrbzcNay-2dNNEEQbz6_JTwIIh9MDZTiSNHFpoitbz53QYOqofUmTgtmhy9Jg4tZt6oxLLPjA_8_njCQ0sK0HwXVp5HGU7gNumX9saTskxPktBvcHLE4DTVLmllqItzCINjAZ2OL_wfdEWH04s-M1rrWXCN2Rvb-TV7N6SMVH1ku5Us2v0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="2271" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijIRoW2aNIrbzcNay-2dNNEEQbz6_JTwIIh9MDZTiSNHFpoitbz53QYOqofUmTgtmhy9Jg4tZt6oxLLPjA_8_njCQ0sK0HwXVp5HGU7gNumX9saTskxPktBvcHLE4DTVLmllqItzCINjAZ2OL_wfdEWH04s-M1rrWXCN2Rvb-TV7N6SMVH1ku5Us2v0Q" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBziRc667hXVEJNRA7EeKj8Hw6TbzQhEyCTtd9HN9wWYS_vwl86i2EpCXDOls0Vu3OvD6vcIJRD09fdxbkRu_3eryev5JeDOioXfx4neXryDiisp9jaS2k725HFnjOLZ1YelLYleeheeZlVRGWZwyu5YPtoZ-54GFaHHVNmc1JVlx8zds-bufgHZ-zGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBziRc667hXVEJNRA7EeKj8Hw6TbzQhEyCTtd9HN9wWYS_vwl86i2EpCXDOls0Vu3OvD6vcIJRD09fdxbkRu_3eryev5JeDOioXfx4neXryDiisp9jaS2k725HFnjOLZ1YelLYleeheeZlVRGWZwyu5YPtoZ-54GFaHHVNmc1JVlx8zds-bufgHZ-zGg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf71F85ITLCTGSOIzzc4Serb86zzFEyxSPqThDhc6-sjxRsVfqRxxIauMXUNpf7grish5xfrKHwtNd0J3amdSkFcJs7qcPWb9MQWsnnSzZ9N5ZLWu913cVDBShQlOw1TWVJkqY5PfB8by3JB2ybNqdSBS4qYLolKs9jC1sssaOAYySu8IgFAU3pW4J8g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf71F85ITLCTGSOIzzc4Serb86zzFEyxSPqThDhc6-sjxRsVfqRxxIauMXUNpf7grish5xfrKHwtNd0J3amdSkFcJs7qcPWb9MQWsnnSzZ9N5ZLWu913cVDBShQlOw1TWVJkqY5PfB8by3JB2ybNqdSBS4qYLolKs9jC1sssaOAYySu8IgFAU3pW4J8g" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot welcomed us (somewhat) as we entered the Mansion.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilS6v-Imc5W4s1TVEzSbXkj47KlcVa2TM32JZPNoUD1RAVRIYkqNW1kE5SW1flH5OlKnw0NSVJ4ADR6QdZFQHpot37O3BjUPfdSfjzMIp4ZM8PivWOB51zP3mq_Kljl6AfeRLwUt0Iwp1uOV0hWC6UXoQlV3y7oeXLDwK_F9_b8u_jnmOMJ-z4pAo15A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilS6v-Imc5W4s1TVEzSbXkj47KlcVa2TM32JZPNoUD1RAVRIYkqNW1kE5SW1flH5OlKnw0NSVJ4ADR6QdZFQHpot37O3BjUPfdSfjzMIp4ZM8PivWOB51zP3mq_Kljl6AfeRLwUt0Iwp1uOV0hWC6UXoQlV3y7oeXLDwK_F9_b8u_jnmOMJ-z4pAo15A" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYjM_uv65v786x2Nhzkvy6tkK03xyE0NWYjC7w-o3Cfp8FhAuy31HczUzG4VM4s5Hbx-Zf-eApUACpQ14BVR3inleAlQOUc1NiCqO_uZr56dosERS_pMoJjm2i0qrrGFlaRCpiCFstWA18EhM2yGOg3M7SOZkqtQsR8zoB38I-bdoYg-3vwTGMLMvBhA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="2786" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYjM_uv65v786x2Nhzkvy6tkK03xyE0NWYjC7w-o3Cfp8FhAuy31HczUzG4VM4s5Hbx-Zf-eApUACpQ14BVR3inleAlQOUc1NiCqO_uZr56dosERS_pMoJjm2i0qrrGFlaRCpiCFstWA18EhM2yGOg3M7SOZkqtQsR8zoB38I-bdoYg-3vwTGMLMvBhA=w400-h169" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie's original teddy bear sitting in the electric chair!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx-X5A57_90t3YD7TsfF6o4ssNFRX1-6Qid1ai4RnFieAikgjx67RwTpxB40O1dx2BEXS9iG0BNiXcX00_F5GpzVNxjXyiWhlliH4Pes6VyObCb3G6lpw0IFED6ei_3h0ghKpdq375LsTGHINTbia-19ElYQJQrXGBzopk87AAWmp72KViOWXmhcQRZg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx-X5A57_90t3YD7TsfF6o4ssNFRX1-6Qid1ai4RnFieAikgjx67RwTpxB40O1dx2BEXS9iG0BNiXcX00_F5GpzVNxjXyiWhlliH4Pes6VyObCb3G6lpw0IFED6ei_3h0ghKpdq375LsTGHINTbia-19ElYQJQrXGBzopk87AAWmp72KViOWXmhcQRZg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stayed clear of the giant rat trap in Eddie's room!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPiYyzzHcxNjK6_HnSGQ6whFOk3s2jcDNUVntFiPCGuRmBQyUxSviozgkb7OU54BFux2-Q1c0CmHRbbKM7tPDO-Db-kNAz7zwemMSd5dOfXL6ADMgGLjZmWUlunOEfb9aa4hVIcwCYyHcyeDD5eDUvYt4FLFh32uGRkwuwURxyRVXyZHVgBiZWkMd-xQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPiYyzzHcxNjK6_HnSGQ6whFOk3s2jcDNUVntFiPCGuRmBQyUxSviozgkb7OU54BFux2-Q1c0CmHRbbKM7tPDO-Db-kNAz7zwemMSd5dOfXL6ADMgGLjZmWUlunOEfb9aa4hVIcwCYyHcyeDD5eDUvYt4FLFh32uGRkwuwURxyRVXyZHVgBiZWkMd-xQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiig7ZcdYrO4nXpXLx1v4kxPh85prNEJFPFrh40C4sr_kVaV39tWzYseTeUk_hyk4b0XVsLQVxs3JpNGgPpDy0JsSl-hf1igE9EqnF3XpkwnkynPD7Roe9I7BFlws2mnKrZHXk4w3HHOu88OopxzwTKGdAcLag-tgC7JGDvW9Hv7TLQiuoRcyddpHOMSA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiig7ZcdYrO4nXpXLx1v4kxPh85prNEJFPFrh40C4sr_kVaV39tWzYseTeUk_hyk4b0XVsLQVxs3JpNGgPpDy0JsSl-hf1igE9EqnF3XpkwnkynPD7Roe9I7BFlws2mnKrZHXk4w3HHOu88OopxzwTKGdAcLag-tgC7JGDvW9Hv7TLQiuoRcyddpHOMSA=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Igor waiting for Grandpa to retire for the evening!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg-x7VaUESx5rYuGnszgjGOczmazbdoDrxqyUDw3s6bes7YaWkd-H5bOw_qdO6PPg3DMMPLko591kcDw8LBRYsZHv6X_iFhc2jzNMtt_SF12RPzII-HohGoaho2xhykkIHxNteIAizDgmnmrcw6RKHeEtzJS-sUot8TKFmJbKpiP1lZBD43M2Obf8PFg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg-x7VaUESx5rYuGnszgjGOczmazbdoDrxqyUDw3s6bes7YaWkd-H5bOw_qdO6PPg3DMMPLko591kcDw8LBRYsZHv6X_iFhc2jzNMtt_SF12RPzII-HohGoaho2xhykkIHxNteIAizDgmnmrcw6RKHeEtzJS-sUot8TKFmJbKpiP1lZBD43M2Obf8PFg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marilyn's room. It even has a hidden door.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbSv8c67xN9uGDoUXoL5XkygOVFUaBT1cTBSXw3LWnsiyAqDQ01vnz3AP2P3Zu5hBvdIZX-Xo4bjhBx9dwXgkezEDvwThp531VaMb2kfj4qteOXzFkn6NXGNY9T05lkZZLzuO8dcdCn-cdRSSiFWDk0TyJ91NU0myUTJLvVvzTsQoEw3mPzr6gfEyqZw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbSv8c67xN9uGDoUXoL5XkygOVFUaBT1cTBSXw3LWnsiyAqDQ01vnz3AP2P3Zu5hBvdIZX-Xo4bjhBx9dwXgkezEDvwThp531VaMb2kfj4qteOXzFkn6NXGNY9T05lkZZLzuO8dcdCn-cdRSSiFWDk0TyJ91NU0myUTJLvVvzTsQoEw3mPzr6gfEyqZw=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi75_Tm0TJVCVTde4boJxfo0OcLJYGkHHgb3acrQOYFtrJt4LC_7t_8N98ILxhOavXbOXDPt4eQ6nxWFza1yJ6vG94O454z18sX20Ri0HpMfpmpxs9G88O18D4PUeX6wEvhmtwaEL_tR98x_Pnfk-aFh-ENd20Cv_CYz5F_9x6v_BFQ4JfMiocMsZQjNg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi75_Tm0TJVCVTde4boJxfo0OcLJYGkHHgb3acrQOYFtrJt4LC_7t_8N98ILxhOavXbOXDPt4eQ6nxWFza1yJ6vG94O454z18sX20Ri0HpMfpmpxs9G88O18D4PUeX6wEvhmtwaEL_tR98x_Pnfk-aFh-ENd20Cv_CYz5F_9x6v_BFQ4JfMiocMsZQjNg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boudoir of Herman and Lily.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5XvpOQyGacj8WqPxjaYi9fptYkOe7pAhylaDKpfIOXCUiak96KDzrkSg7q_nw9iF7fX3zVanVem5gH_gJnFvkvMcfcoQIZQJwNHQsTlRlz37D4uKQCZBkaPmDco5T2G0-_45tHjq3fPpnqGuMGWCiJwi0B4jKIgiWPsS95b3VVXKLSiT9yCgHusiSOg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5XvpOQyGacj8WqPxjaYi9fptYkOe7pAhylaDKpfIOXCUiak96KDzrkSg7q_nw9iF7fX3zVanVem5gH_gJnFvkvMcfcoQIZQJwNHQsTlRlz37D4uKQCZBkaPmDco5T2G0-_45tHjq3fPpnqGuMGWCiJwi0B4jKIgiWPsS95b3VVXKLSiT9yCgHusiSOg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herman greeted us in the living room, where every cobweb is strategically placed to replicate the TV home.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdPvnurtY2hj7Ryir2SrmhVpbgPRJKwga-ApjSqhmkiU8dZCuCwhTaWuxHXFH5NmHs_nGMDNtopLQYxphRJ_YEytRI9bMMjlK-PFNLfw0f-P9XXiuDMrq2gBTwbYXkQn8g3iATujVF5OSsq2D52mTOXl-aw7JIBrSwDvbtwzlcxTbKLqHiJ2d-aWCO4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdPvnurtY2hj7Ryir2SrmhVpbgPRJKwga-ApjSqhmkiU8dZCuCwhTaWuxHXFH5NmHs_nGMDNtopLQYxphRJ_YEytRI9bMMjlK-PFNLfw0f-P9XXiuDMrq2gBTwbYXkQn8g3iATujVF5OSsq2D52mTOXl-aw7JIBrSwDvbtwzlcxTbKLqHiJ2d-aWCO4A=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh24XyK2gpALzsKyDJF4dBMhWakJKj5siUsy2d2O_bGaOq6RTesx_jXD7uWch2GoD7k_RXT4e0E0gbtCpmE8UuC2irR1TIzoOn2h8Pp_RrO-vrk8VLXwmhgBH-zMB0CLR2V3ukYv1ZADvhwcUJDqo-e6IAySttUtu38fZPgBOdccSKQT9KC7ccXZ9a2Hw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh24XyK2gpALzsKyDJF4dBMhWakJKj5siUsy2d2O_bGaOq6RTesx_jXD7uWch2GoD7k_RXT4e0E0gbtCpmE8UuC2irR1TIzoOn2h8Pp_RrO-vrk8VLXwmhgBH-zMB0CLR2V3ukYv1ZADvhwcUJDqo-e6IAySttUtu38fZPgBOdccSKQT9KC7ccXZ9a2Hw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the right, you can see the entrance to Grandpa's basement laboratory.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We hopped back
on the trike and went to downtown Waxahachie.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
walked around the historic district to view the</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">cute gingerbread-style homes dating from the 1890s to early 1900s.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We also strolled along the business district,
stopping at Farm Luck for a beverage at their nostalgic soda fountain and cafe.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Afterwards, we did a 3-mile hike along the
Waxahachie Creek Trail.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Another
fun-filled day exploring another great Texas town.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPHawu29FznWSaDUMkz7ny2PHex3STOgOezb46M8wDDdHfpWRL6KLNZPiSmvFQAyZI02C7TA0XfjsxOJ450i3p3liS0WdVCB9qJ8dCeYXPcMDhvMTh_NK4m7hgllHhUWaTu-bEP8u8cTwipDD3i9f_vp-aJswG_nQahCsgHITyM4SQdqrlhRnlK_t96w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1875" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPHawu29FznWSaDUMkz7ny2PHex3STOgOezb46M8wDDdHfpWRL6KLNZPiSmvFQAyZI02C7TA0XfjsxOJ450i3p3liS0WdVCB9qJ8dCeYXPcMDhvMTh_NK4m7hgllHhUWaTu-bEP8u8cTwipDD3i9f_vp-aJswG_nQahCsgHITyM4SQdqrlhRnlK_t96w=w400-h279" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhezKDimRT8nLy06csC4ISuJq3eTfz06CAYm7S7A-hzMZ_jGeZ777m7FS-inpjPvD7cbEO0TEqL5yJMqwXLRbMa824kybdSJHNEQRsdIcG6XU-7y836xbBbMzX-pZh4FmtE6pxUY9XfgyrGXEsThUemm2_jQFYq1pYKKlwOe2kXCB241Q3gGKT9vH57Og" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhezKDimRT8nLy06csC4ISuJq3eTfz06CAYm7S7A-hzMZ_jGeZ777m7FS-inpjPvD7cbEO0TEqL5yJMqwXLRbMa824kybdSJHNEQRsdIcG6XU-7y836xbBbMzX-pZh4FmtE6pxUY9XfgyrGXEsThUemm2_jQFYq1pYKKlwOe2kXCB241Q3gGKT9vH57Og=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrBni-ukLKyfBJ1JHdfDkWfI0A9WnJmHTD13qWxUn1LwVrHMLshdmq8VamIJy_H4DSWPE_g2wwYWPqrIluaWxKnjlx1joSYwCEfPS0wTQHAJxHL32uF6IifBbBYOWkl_WGh3z9jiyazrV393CwlxpUyV69P0v_aAvI77c3A2mwOqMpaRLK3ByjTLiBlw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="2086" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrBni-ukLKyfBJ1JHdfDkWfI0A9WnJmHTD13qWxUn1LwVrHMLshdmq8VamIJy_H4DSWPE_g2wwYWPqrIluaWxKnjlx1joSYwCEfPS0wTQHAJxHL32uF6IifBbBYOWkl_WGh3z9jiyazrV393CwlxpUyV69P0v_aAvI77c3A2mwOqMpaRLK3ByjTLiBlw=w400-h236" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN6wJyQDD5Z0xpI9zxZQ6b5TvJ0dVr5Tawr8AAImP6BFLnaPHZ9IU5Ga6_5jbyQ3CEcKANz6EIkcx2cSPPDzjs861n8DYBYswirYimFvTSPyi0-fnUKZ2W_WFLbSvRaTvPKNcvPKPytqf0l4HOJ2Q6P-7PGRJX8X42nusvk6k5DGNBUZ77WAAeDIztwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgN6wJyQDD5Z0xpI9zxZQ6b5TvJ0dVr5Tawr8AAImP6BFLnaPHZ9IU5Ga6_5jbyQ3CEcKANz6EIkcx2cSPPDzjs861n8DYBYswirYimFvTSPyi0-fnUKZ2W_WFLbSvRaTvPKNcvPKPytqf0l4HOJ2Q6P-7PGRJX8X42nusvk6k5DGNBUZ77WAAeDIztwA" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg09WBhx-TKBg31iZpfZe-HchQFTHy2uzWioS-XhkRBSTsKY1dipbQSVqz7YLyVx4fMShz8_oMhPnnhVx3QvPMFy7DIAjZuqeBeb_QQ9WVdsbeZshFOXMeL3dewDHJoEH7ZZXO5zE8TWQtIYXPQYPvh434D3-UN70CcaPxI1EHMadOyrnxhRLmVA5Lrcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg09WBhx-TKBg31iZpfZe-HchQFTHy2uzWioS-XhkRBSTsKY1dipbQSVqz7YLyVx4fMShz8_oMhPnnhVx3QvPMFy7DIAjZuqeBeb_QQ9WVdsbeZshFOXMeL3dewDHJoEH7ZZXO5zE8TWQtIYXPQYPvh434D3-UN70CcaPxI1EHMadOyrnxhRLmVA5Lrcg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsmpyK4Ol80O5yrykONpA2MAoZeofyPZntywtt_D06GZO9vY195UyOV58fwAPwk_lKhQJbmYLjjhoq7VQvO7_DjtUPsPax2GOgekdSuT2_yGrPSlI2v5PNzrpdvrW01oK01DdSrP4OVtMf44PUdFWgkRDlc1fuxI-V9_Dh3BrBsCD221fO6TAKCZt8Sg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="3830" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsmpyK4Ol80O5yrykONpA2MAoZeofyPZntywtt_D06GZO9vY195UyOV58fwAPwk_lKhQJbmYLjjhoq7VQvO7_DjtUPsPax2GOgekdSuT2_yGrPSlI2v5PNzrpdvrW01oK01DdSrP4OVtMf44PUdFWgkRDlc1fuxI-V9_Dh3BrBsCD221fO6TAKCZt8Sg=w400-h141" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found it apropos that an attorney's office was next door to a pest control company.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKc_iPVRLopR_LkWWLOKBDZTisT6sSxRDYQf9LV_HgguKLuWoIb07nb8ZSYSE8xfpnJtbD7HV38m9jc9d-TYck-WrXwpvQBrha0nZol0nP5Ahh78E7zde6wbHDWz1m5A2WW4bRb_LtErBsInpKL6BkJpBBAx6-fgzfiPG_p6UF_fY44XzlhtOMQkln2w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKc_iPVRLopR_LkWWLOKBDZTisT6sSxRDYQf9LV_HgguKLuWoIb07nb8ZSYSE8xfpnJtbD7HV38m9jc9d-TYck-WrXwpvQBrha0nZol0nP5Ahh78E7zde6wbHDWz1m5A2WW4bRb_LtErBsInpKL6BkJpBBAx6-fgzfiPG_p6UF_fY44XzlhtOMQkln2w" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP5Cbx-W6dgjTBMmnT_bovDhBgX1hQJT0jTdN6FxtHYMCROW2y_Hr7uGZi6vZfoeI0oNygkUqlaw5Ecw3MMV5shZMXtzVI0QYcL-DOKDT87vayeQIdVovl3s_NxHfnilYwayae874QyXbk3lQzBeLA29bHmbYquBqo1dlMGa6ApNTzSWunmbSTzFQx9w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP5Cbx-W6dgjTBMmnT_bovDhBgX1hQJT0jTdN6FxtHYMCROW2y_Hr7uGZi6vZfoeI0oNygkUqlaw5Ecw3MMV5shZMXtzVI0QYcL-DOKDT87vayeQIdVovl3s_NxHfnilYwayae874QyXbk3lQzBeLA29bHmbYquBqo1dlMGa6ApNTzSWunmbSTzFQx9w" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxahachie Creek Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After our final
complimentary breakfast on Wednesday at the Quality Inn, we expressed our
gratitude for the hospitality to the staff and said farewell to Shadow the Cat.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were heading back to Livingston, but
planned several tourist stops along the way.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">First up was the Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site in
Mexia, TX ($4/adult admission). </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">For 50+
years after the Civil War, Confederacy veterans and their families gathered
here annually for fellowship, food, and commemoration.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the lands were used thousands of years
previously for hunting and gathering by several Indian groups like the
Caddo and Comanche.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">During the oil boom
in Limestone County, TX in the 1920s, the Grounds became part of a retreat for
oil rig employees.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2yi5dI0V0vEtcG3pPfoOBOdrmhKiuMK6XaPsr20N-RlDFuDlDXojqEFego8npymkWGsWOOsGuMPO-eDZ-mEhSqvDctcHiBCFKS9cOSaysTmWW2LlhOzBi4VBtEa_c4ebFr8gZmA0uGv66_KCKiukyIsny5IMDmCr0TPDzhMcbbOL9BRdz7l7YjC5j9w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2yi5dI0V0vEtcG3pPfoOBOdrmhKiuMK6XaPsr20N-RlDFuDlDXojqEFego8npymkWGsWOOsGuMPO-eDZ-mEhSqvDctcHiBCFKS9cOSaysTmWW2LlhOzBi4VBtEa_c4ebFr8gZmA0uGv66_KCKiukyIsny5IMDmCr0TPDzhMcbbOL9BRdz7l7YjC5j9w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8CrN6s5bhjTVkOXRJx3HWyYY8iiPAyxdtVaKUTfB9PCK-bNYq94xVXd3JHfvgcV6QOsrf3YIzgpRF7y3flEmXALpXuskfpvPI2iV2vvMYLMifFojJGnEgZbJTtum39Hb4GXR0Sn6qAvz60_AUAW9gHRNlq-fX7QoTjHwkDVrXx9qHaGrFjKivI3S1Cg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8CrN6s5bhjTVkOXRJx3HWyYY8iiPAyxdtVaKUTfB9PCK-bNYq94xVXd3JHfvgcV6QOsrf3YIzgpRF7y3flEmXALpXuskfpvPI2iV2vvMYLMifFojJGnEgZbJTtum39Hb4GXR0Sn6qAvz60_AUAW9gHRNlq-fX7QoTjHwkDVrXx9qHaGrFjKivI3S1Cg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibckoSsUkw14k3Seho1s1EA_ZO7_LDPgwLHiMwFyPRAJW7BRKwJrncxF7VOmwVcXt2ozeOWzvrB-G1TXfz7NhtikNQC3s4xuzJaQzFtD12fiqtQ9H311YiufMK7jqktnGGKjriAkhqtdYX8zZkwy_bcaSr7vRC6D0cXV37IKFxuqVAa5KTbint7ye6Hg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibckoSsUkw14k3Seho1s1EA_ZO7_LDPgwLHiMwFyPRAJW7BRKwJrncxF7VOmwVcXt2ozeOWzvrB-G1TXfz7NhtikNQC3s4xuzJaQzFtD12fiqtQ9H311YiufMK7jqktnGGKjriAkhqtdYX8zZkwy_bcaSr7vRC6D0cXV37IKFxuqVAa5KTbint7ye6Hg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqzPx5KmNeWz5e5wKs-7p7m0tOF0rUPALcyEbLI8-sQH7gRjekq9h7L0qJP87K5t9otZjp6pxzUiM0UxQJoLaRHScFBFWiRTGAZ_ypXaSrCyU-q8pvVToUXlR-eCj5es3WvDl5QHvt-uCSTIUhFK1s2sp0lNEMGAIH_splzgU5r455YIgEkZoMNAw-cA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2597" data-original-width="3417" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqzPx5KmNeWz5e5wKs-7p7m0tOF0rUPALcyEbLI8-sQH7gRjekq9h7L0qJP87K5t9otZjp6pxzUiM0UxQJoLaRHScFBFWiRTGAZ_ypXaSrCyU-q8pvVToUXlR-eCj5es3WvDl5QHvt-uCSTIUhFK1s2sp0lNEMGAIH_splzgU5r455YIgEkZoMNAw-cA=w400-h304" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtuWFKHbVAR-vpEO9qDIlPTfiVXxDzHrfzd8qYcZ2UCPt6Vjo1vM7-WGMIZc9BkSprxM5iwVkVxrDwOAyObidQr2HmXDkM3qQiBsnPfU88ykR0pWSa0x2kaIQ9EsVjobbkIkGNJqVZ4v_w-N4tM0uYyUzDoz2niBmn0cuJdjeqiwtwQpkj747u2nGvPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtuWFKHbVAR-vpEO9qDIlPTfiVXxDzHrfzd8qYcZ2UCPt6Vjo1vM7-WGMIZc9BkSprxM5iwVkVxrDwOAyObidQr2HmXDkM3qQiBsnPfU88ykR0pWSa0x2kaIQ9EsVjobbkIkGNJqVZ4v_w-N4tM0uYyUzDoz2niBmn0cuJdjeqiwtwQpkj747u2nGvPg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped next in Groesbeck, TX to visit the Old Fort Parker Historic Site ($4/adult admission).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a reconstruction of a civilian fort established by the pioneering Parker Family.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Comanche Indians attacked the fort in 1836, killed several occupants, and abducted 9-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Cynthia was adopted by a Comanche family, married a Comanche warrior, and gave birth to Quanah Parker, who became the last great Comanche chief.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is an interesting tale of a young girl who integrated so well into a new way of life that she never wished to return to her family.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We drove a few miles down the road to visit the Memorial Site dedicated to the Parker family and victims of the massacre.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p></span></div></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNmkScclUkwaYG7zHQas7-XE764eMxTZWe9E1hriEutDEMAmHMgZVNdGqJ-QO76FDl3L07STu_u3wBMGJ546yQWhcgD5-iay8apm-ra1p4GAJixJH2Vx3qEIFBycjvmf1h3VHulmVpG04Lxk1I3ZxxssAabNUnedLT7vaiim6CeSIRlaiX-sbGvGBMMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2818" data-original-width="3982" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNmkScclUkwaYG7zHQas7-XE764eMxTZWe9E1hriEutDEMAmHMgZVNdGqJ-QO76FDl3L07STu_u3wBMGJ546yQWhcgD5-iay8apm-ra1p4GAJixJH2Vx3qEIFBycjvmf1h3VHulmVpG04Lxk1I3ZxxssAabNUnedLT7vaiim6CeSIRlaiX-sbGvGBMMg=w400-h283" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhImbPBPuOG5TK0Smb1EyGbyNYlaUQR3GLmpkW3CR7sD2mJ2dklOVZ0usXXiEyOkrNSsjbCboDreUUPNRp-zt9r23xxbO4iNqg8_xGzyEtzGews142br5xDv-Ijc-vwq0vW1vWMdcSEste91b7SlM3sQJKTawI5cLXAxUtVB4Gr_cxNA2urzyuoo_gMLg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhImbPBPuOG5TK0Smb1EyGbyNYlaUQR3GLmpkW3CR7sD2mJ2dklOVZ0usXXiEyOkrNSsjbCboDreUUPNRp-zt9r23xxbO4iNqg8_xGzyEtzGews142br5xDv-Ijc-vwq0vW1vWMdcSEste91b7SlM3sQJKTawI5cLXAxUtVB4Gr_cxNA2urzyuoo_gMLg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKMju_aX2Kf_3ybkBDyOQmYuLeEEMCmXZ_6atE2tbGXlTWHCQW6J4cyEQ7A0-Zbsub9K7xp-UPte7bZ7qhwlW-iLxoxWqYL7A6MigNM4TJfZJe-7-hVX5VRhk-50p5_raXobwl5J7dZ4pn2BHwZO597IUP49oodmuxD93x81QIHK_juKGCO5u83mD3yw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKMju_aX2Kf_3ybkBDyOQmYuLeEEMCmXZ_6atE2tbGXlTWHCQW6J4cyEQ7A0-Zbsub9K7xp-UPte7bZ7qhwlW-iLxoxWqYL7A6MigNM4TJfZJe-7-hVX5VRhk-50p5_raXobwl5J7dZ4pn2BHwZO597IUP49oodmuxD93x81QIHK_juKGCO5u83mD3yw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1euaOEp0KJpWMkdC0ARKd28B-I3AVMUnXHtGsjK_pT0l2OTYzQLi4FTbTVQmjlgTeUkim9WIST2dGkIMVBALBIQBgb8rol8lgIdNRMbQ348dzevlucKcepQxuKvstRbd6vVsofuxfe6LM6ogL30VqGyfsD5Fo7CUlVY26W8CECFz-epFuK341OMwrVQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1euaOEp0KJpWMkdC0ARKd28B-I3AVMUnXHtGsjK_pT0l2OTYzQLi4FTbTVQmjlgTeUkim9WIST2dGkIMVBALBIQBgb8rol8lgIdNRMbQ348dzevlucKcepQxuKvstRbd6vVsofuxfe6LM6ogL30VqGyfsD5Fo7CUlVY26W8CECFz-epFuK341OMwrVQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlsbew4lAMrYbTS9Vzf-cmFbUPVMQHINnrY8W2XOHkVNhBElfpZA2DnZz1nzjdZk4H-8_od3vOxP_mydQe8NRwusSI1Y4tgsZPvv576ZsIFaMuRe_OCNL-YuDb-bC4wdVDMyyilsIa6QivVXY9jt76o40NsDs0G4DycL-6k90lJ1Hj5pNtk4j7PkF93w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlsbew4lAMrYbTS9Vzf-cmFbUPVMQHINnrY8W2XOHkVNhBElfpZA2DnZz1nzjdZk4H-8_od3vOxP_mydQe8NRwusSI1Y4tgsZPvv576ZsIFaMuRe_OCNL-YuDb-bC4wdVDMyyilsIa6QivVXY9jt76o40NsDs0G4DycL-6k90lJ1Hj5pNtk4j7PkF93w=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDjZxMm-6tuB5TyGO26tQOIGenon0VYxFojHd4uminV6LB-E8Kk23_XGloyDBofkfBhyhXJ2kvgkG--7EzwCue0F-RYpMtZeRqGg4sZA5lvN7DDOYXN1n3sje4R-a-v1iEtLgQWEFHXQFDU4h5O0YybmPyUUULC2FNhigeDocG9qWDnnGR-DlwMwbYdA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDjZxMm-6tuB5TyGO26tQOIGenon0VYxFojHd4uminV6LB-E8Kk23_XGloyDBofkfBhyhXJ2kvgkG--7EzwCue0F-RYpMtZeRqGg4sZA5lvN7DDOYXN1n3sje4R-a-v1iEtLgQWEFHXQFDU4h5O0YybmPyUUULC2FNhigeDocG9qWDnnGR-DlwMwbYdA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV9VtkXkSZ3qE7pApiIqp6D4gtfDbooI_THcrM6OWPlTtYrO8sLglBq7pvYARprtOqBEdS8yrP8_LtKvabMbr-AOlf484WMfPg0LhAGDgOqQH4nTMtfXjgUshz8vO3s2VgtPLzUBlKEyG_35ZZ_zFVDJdUV87aKrk7OLm2khariSSegvipMmVQdPeMzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV9VtkXkSZ3qE7pApiIqp6D4gtfDbooI_THcrM6OWPlTtYrO8sLglBq7pvYARprtOqBEdS8yrP8_LtKvabMbr-AOlf484WMfPg0LhAGDgOqQH4nTMtfXjgUshz8vO3s2VgtPLzUBlKEyG_35ZZ_zFVDJdUV87aKrk7OLm2khariSSegvipMmVQdPeMzw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGK-WkOOJTqxGyh7sJiMD026RaDpV6VIk-gr1C_SgKU_2kdsSrvtQvwhZgFB7aDjXYi__PZMlxB7JvI9jGjZ6L5EkJ17o7-yVpXGmJl5BDFdVo5eHBcUFgeStoN-OMAK4PBeZ80VmsDJxNAMJ8A-LiqUnqikM2yp7S9rVaPBVrnvyxCqVsbMfGYDfs6Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGK-WkOOJTqxGyh7sJiMD026RaDpV6VIk-gr1C_SgKU_2kdsSrvtQvwhZgFB7aDjXYi__PZMlxB7JvI9jGjZ6L5EkJ17o7-yVpXGmJl5BDFdVo5eHBcUFgeStoN-OMAK4PBeZ80VmsDJxNAMJ8A-LiqUnqikM2yp7S9rVaPBVrnvyxCqVsbMfGYDfs6Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vultures on the chimney freaked me out a bit.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGK-WkOOJTqxGyh7sJiMD026RaDpV6VIk-gr1C_SgKU_2kdsSrvtQvwhZgFB7aDjXYi__PZMlxB7JvI9jGjZ6L5EkJ17o7-yVpXGmJl5BDFdVo5eHBcUFgeStoN-OMAK4PBeZ80VmsDJxNAMJ8A-LiqUnqikM2yp7S9rVaPBVrnvyxCqVsbMfGYDfs6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8hj_JdAS0ENEsRu4sJcmAuZ9qKim1yGijZhZxB7Athjs45lytuq4DVQhfHVC4bytUTCiyjhQGF3wXC3QrrR0Fj4gscol6KpGtPm0bFVJMRdNEQnomyHUxiM1C8WgZTAA5FpQdp3ACl2S9R57CPhujc0RLk3Ay0B5GMW2xvJ4eHFd4FSHdYr0cX8dt9g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8hj_JdAS0ENEsRu4sJcmAuZ9qKim1yGijZhZxB7Athjs45lytuq4DVQhfHVC4bytUTCiyjhQGF3wXC3QrrR0Fj4gscol6KpGtPm0bFVJMRdNEQnomyHUxiM1C8WgZTAA5FpQdp3ACl2S9R57CPhujc0RLk3Ay0B5GMW2xvJ4eHFd4FSHdYr0cX8dt9g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Parker Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGK-WkOOJTqxGyh7sJiMD026RaDpV6VIk-gr1C_SgKU_2kdsSrvtQvwhZgFB7aDjXYi__PZMlxB7JvI9jGjZ6L5EkJ17o7-yVpXGmJl5BDFdVo5eHBcUFgeStoN-OMAK4PBeZ80VmsDJxNAMJ8A-LiqUnqikM2yp7S9rVaPBVrnvyxCqVsbMfGYDfs6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were trying to avoid rainstorms, so we opted to take I-45 home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were passing through Huntsville, TX, so stopped for dinner at Joe’s Italian Grill before going straight to the VFW for dance lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sure were tuckered out by the end of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">April was a
month of celebrations for us.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We had a
wonderful Easter week, including viewing the film </span><i style="font-family: arial;">His Only Son</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> at the
Lufkin Cinemark Theater, attending the Good Friday Cantata at Livingston’s
First Methodist Church, and fulfilling our traditions of watching </span><i style="font-family: arial;">10
Commandments</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> and </span><i style="font-family: arial;">King of Kings</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> while coloring eggs and enjoying our
plant-based Easter feast.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We joined
Dave/Debbie for cocktails to toast their 1-year nomadic RVersary.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZAMXwpwrguWDChyWpXKGyVl60MKUNWNKQ8aSFLmmkV0AbGNns-CQtO7nysL36ZqlUV4nCMMXzGZVgxKAgSnT18gkW4iKyQi5Wc5gDRoGjM1pvwsZBlHLZ4MdQRgU7Z3iX3spUzj9wxLEt744JiznsgxR6Y6sJJS74uYtWfZEqkH0l2395duPgaibAhA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1962" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZAMXwpwrguWDChyWpXKGyVl60MKUNWNKQ8aSFLmmkV0AbGNns-CQtO7nysL36ZqlUV4nCMMXzGZVgxKAgSnT18gkW4iKyQi5Wc5gDRoGjM1pvwsZBlHLZ4MdQRgU7Z3iX3spUzj9wxLEt744JiznsgxR6Y6sJJS74uYtWfZEqkH0l2395duPgaibAhA=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our plant-based Easter Dinner included a honey sweet bread shaped like yours truly!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-xfFT57Ck47Da1aM6wkCIqcydcDi-zgPg2tInuIB7qGfFmLPLUSFqoElMQiQwIJwvyQ7GxdsQ08aIMr2y1pbpfnv297SRjkVAo0h0slmueR6dR-AGwhefW6_yp9Kfa8B9tduZJeMNinwBOE6N195xhS5k6HnHhOAZBHZY4w0LCxyLfjSQ0B5sbX2IEg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-xfFT57Ck47Da1aM6wkCIqcydcDi-zgPg2tInuIB7qGfFmLPLUSFqoElMQiQwIJwvyQ7GxdsQ08aIMr2y1pbpfnv297SRjkVAo0h0slmueR6dR-AGwhefW6_yp9Kfa8B9tduZJeMNinwBOE6N195xhS5k6HnHhOAZBHZY4w0LCxyLfjSQ0B5sbX2IEg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV2kAr-3Y78AGIajevkA4ver3-NWv9ECdlJXdC0F1KD8I8vYP5cv_E98AWuvmZaqPz9PK9MetCFXzoXotibibiiNlVgz_kPsEAZ2RKpA-e8AHG1Ic14fX1THLhqm0aoVu4PbmFl2d23_BTUdQziNdn8NplmjO0GAwDN5Fqhgq0h1USGvOBAGgfVlei4g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV2kAr-3Y78AGIajevkA4ver3-NWv9ECdlJXdC0F1KD8I8vYP5cv_E98AWuvmZaqPz9PK9MetCFXzoXotibibiiNlVgz_kPsEAZ2RKpA-e8AHG1Ic14fX1THLhqm0aoVu4PbmFl2d23_BTUdQziNdn8NplmjO0GAwDN5Fqhgq0h1USGvOBAGgfVlei4g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating Dave/Debbie's 1-year RVersary with Dan/Paula.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">And the biggest day of commemoration in April:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the anniversary of my rescue from the toy store so many years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If you don’t know how I became the Rambling RV Rat, you can read my story here <a href="https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2017/04/happy-easter-and-happy-birthday-to-me.html">Happy Birthday to Me!</a> ).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom baked me a special “cheez cake”, named for its shape (cheese wheel) rather than for its ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyaPr1jJefxWR-mGSHIjg5NxZKE587S4ruc1TaI-CyBHwRzFjLcZVhdKymJ4vso5jxy0_pCWjk28OEmcn2mPfKEEdVCp4RW2AjlwMEEH-QsrYkiqIEcGb7eQ6VXoHFscjJ82MsD4yOameTsS9OpE-4RK3mQR-MjD9qEpPsox2q33Kw1PAzuLAf6EoSA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2705" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihyaPr1jJefxWR-mGSHIjg5NxZKE587S4ruc1TaI-CyBHwRzFjLcZVhdKymJ4vso5jxy0_pCWjk28OEmcn2mPfKEEdVCp4RW2AjlwMEEH-QsrYkiqIEcGb7eQ6VXoHFscjJ82MsD4yOameTsS9OpE-4RK3mQR-MjD9qEpPsox2q33Kw1PAzuLAf6EoSA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My delicious cake and the Mini Me's my parents made for me!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Now that I am a maturing stuffed rat, I decided it was time to sell my 2019 Polaris 570 side-by-side. Want to buy my buggy? It is trail rated, has all required safety equipment, and only 244 riding hours. I'm even throwing in a pair of helmets with headsets, all for $9,999 OBO. It is in great shape, and I love every minute with it. But I am looking now to score a more legitimate set of wheels like a Jeep, which can be used on highway or off-road.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkfUE2EJOPRYorhzfqeWH3Pl6tYvCDQ_UO28fBemeKNioJdJezKbTGK24Z42wXhj1RqJTiQV_EbxRJZuIynlX2CsoREC3fwI0Du6qFiPmIpJy4AvL-83gEJMzgRBZlahmxjJGzkimvi2vYBtxQIxxtGf-4B1pTAWLygKJ8_rR3Eeag0Bfh64UkzW5rSg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="960" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkfUE2EJOPRYorhzfqeWH3Pl6tYvCDQ_UO28fBemeKNioJdJezKbTGK24Z42wXhj1RqJTiQV_EbxRJZuIynlX2CsoREC3fwI0Du6qFiPmIpJy4AvL-83gEJMzgRBZlahmxjJGzkimvi2vYBtxQIxxtGf-4B1pTAWLygKJ8_rR3Eeag0Bfh64UkzW5rSg=w400-h344" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This great little machine can be YOURS!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Well, time to
kick the dust up at another VFW dance, so I’ll sign off now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll talk to you again soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-71517704414728325802023-03-31T18:02:00.647-05:002023-04-07T23:31:23.665-05:00Finding Fun Stuff to Do in Livingston and Huntsville, TX<div class="separator"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And in the blink of an eye, another month has
transpired!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We rejoice in the glory of each new day and in GOD’s Grace that Dad has recovered fully from his heart surgery.</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Determined to keep busy, we continue to attend dancing
lessons, play pickleball, hike, bike, and ride motorcycles.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwLiI0ynCx0VYCjsv5QOx47nhZlmLsLcqKXGcgU_3IKLOT5D7aRwSE_AyHQJzsNIc53DyRBJCdlF1pCd1_8ySbCFcnuG7IC8iZmy4UPiSWIAE2xawsksUdT_5Vt1ssD_Ve0yGqhUR7Pti4rg841Z3710R0lezQE5L5n-R3hQsGsRdZ8Ro5II8MF8CIw/s3264/20230329_192752.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwLiI0ynCx0VYCjsv5QOx47nhZlmLsLcqKXGcgU_3IKLOT5D7aRwSE_AyHQJzsNIc53DyRBJCdlF1pCd1_8ySbCFcnuG7IC8iZmy4UPiSWIAE2xawsksUdT_5Vt1ssD_Ve0yGqhUR7Pti4rg841Z3710R0lezQE5L5n-R3hQsGsRdZ8Ro5II8MF8CIw/w400-h225/20230329_192752.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of our fellow dancers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyYLpPCfFrJDc-Mye2wK4Y1IHMQ1-xRk2SmNUC1WE2K2joWxzztERkVM0oIcmXhN9E8HDGBN68TbIorp8wffpnNIIYW8egWOuRKF9xTZSmBSoJ-Ci86gOwhAoTQl3OQoVsTdk8rchkb1F1dzOcc124xAwKEqhKWmKT6nt4EyQc77TYJspZ8d55AeaEA/s3976/20230315_185000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3976" data-original-width="1893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyYLpPCfFrJDc-Mye2wK4Y1IHMQ1-xRk2SmNUC1WE2K2joWxzztERkVM0oIcmXhN9E8HDGBN68TbIorp8wffpnNIIYW8egWOuRKF9xTZSmBSoJ-Ci86gOwhAoTQl3OQoVsTdk8rchkb1F1dzOcc124xAwKEqhKWmKT6nt4EyQc77TYJspZ8d55AeaEA/w190-h400/20230315_185000.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Like our beloved Vernine (Vee) in Quartzsite, our current dance instructor Diane always make our lessons fun!<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lvwaHXmIry3eZ_TK0oXHNDPmwpC_Iwpj3YEzU_HMMvjj88OeAB_PgyGb2dokNGYj2QYApHNo-LMBzfVvTksIDhCz6xVEwUYG-vs-cnHAmAYDOAXNotMBdkxeHGhqecsjWprhzCZlWwREAEXgs1ufvY_3y1_XOyTJkVE44EskcJdM8Fg7oZVM7g5WYA/s4000/20230401_172141.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lvwaHXmIry3eZ_TK0oXHNDPmwpC_Iwpj3YEzU_HMMvjj88OeAB_PgyGb2dokNGYj2QYApHNo-LMBzfVvTksIDhCz6xVEwUYG-vs-cnHAmAYDOAXNotMBdkxeHGhqecsjWprhzCZlWwREAEXgs1ufvY_3y1_XOyTJkVE44EskcJdM8Fg7oZVM7g5WYA/w180-h400/20230401_172141.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While motorcycling, we spotted the Christ of East Texas statue...<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDipHQHkueT_VY3cnq05LYyb3RR3KkEW6FDF5GR1yNpB1KrKwbu-bt97ByBCGH0AtI6Nkb4a_ABSOh1H_lTOGp6jyMnnXsYSjcTmWr4-7790z2eIad0hAvssSuhdkQUoegH_jhBZEwIjmS1KQJYJFyrWdhpd5buvXYttbfB3SszeXpIubl85yVSEqpw/s4000/20230329_153124.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDipHQHkueT_VY3cnq05LYyb3RR3KkEW6FDF5GR1yNpB1KrKwbu-bt97ByBCGH0AtI6Nkb4a_ABSOh1H_lTOGp6jyMnnXsYSjcTmWr4-7790z2eIad0hAvssSuhdkQUoegH_jhBZEwIjmS1KQJYJFyrWdhpd5buvXYttbfB3SszeXpIubl85yVSEqpw/w400-h300/20230329_153124.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...along with this group of free-range poultry who seemed to enjoy their neighbor's property better than their own. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Additionally, we volunteered to assist with the Escapees
CARE Health Fair in March, a 5-day fund-raising event that included a Soup
Fest, seminars, dessert auction, silent auction, vendor market place, luncheon,
and catfish dinner with musical entertainment.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span>This year’s theme was “Hat’s Off to a Healthy Heart”.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>In addition to donating baked goods to the dessert auction and providing Mom’s 50</span><sup>th</sup><span> Anniversary Albuquerque
Balloon Fiesta Jacket as a Silent Auction item, we helped set-up for each day’s
activities.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>And my parents each
completed their course for Texas Food Handlers Certification.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>By doing so, they served food at both the luncheon and dinner, saving CARE the cost of paying staff members to perform
the tasks. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>It was a long, tiring week
that seemed a bit disorganized for the 27</span><sup>th</sup><span> annual Health Fair, but it somehow
all pulled together.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>We so enjoyed
working with Jackie/Rod, Carol/John, Sandra/Lloyd, Tom/Patricia, and the other
volunteers. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>And we were happy to play a
role in the fundraiser’s success to assist in the organization’s mission of
offering assisted living to aging and retired Escapees.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLZiPLP_IXDMpLJAyH4U07_o0rFlU_T4PS7PSszs-a8EuKvk-bR9DCxtQgw0z2mIaBG6mOXNN0kowSbgNN9oaBGyM7-e8fjfhyLTvoa07TcMox9942jVmbWB29U3h5V8UNUcG62p-SFiXhniC7EUWK-Us_hhtCybERurzXqVxwKUPM74fYpP8hgs7Sw/s3625/PoPo%20and%20Chick%20Fil%20A.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3625" data-original-width="2489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLZiPLP_IXDMpLJAyH4U07_o0rFlU_T4PS7PSszs-a8EuKvk-bR9DCxtQgw0z2mIaBG6mOXNN0kowSbgNN9oaBGyM7-e8fjfhyLTvoa07TcMox9942jVmbWB29U3h5V8UNUcG62p-SFiXhniC7EUWK-Us_hhtCybERurzXqVxwKUPM74fYpP8hgs7Sw/s320/PoPo%20and%20Chick%20Fil%20A.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chick-Fil-A's cow was one of the venders at the Health Fair market place. He gave me a coupon for a free salad at our Livingston location (how did he know Dad was plant-based?)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpJZaUIAQyBKFyfRRpGUfDGLUnF3FRO1a8NqgHqQynl7yQtli1BG1l5O_M4YXtojgCG0jMdJ5c0XpFCBSLZndrpBIepnyJlmXPX4uCqK1rymPqVzAUX-VUNCbdQ91nRY2tG3xb3wqZ7ZFdJ5hxybgPXPV-3r_7qM6IpTUlhB0Pw-vYqVyKOKm9B7JOA/s4000/20230305_141759.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpJZaUIAQyBKFyfRRpGUfDGLUnF3FRO1a8NqgHqQynl7yQtli1BG1l5O_M4YXtojgCG0jMdJ5c0XpFCBSLZndrpBIepnyJlmXPX4uCqK1rymPqVzAUX-VUNCbdQ91nRY2tG3xb3wqZ7ZFdJ5hxybgPXPV-3r_7qM6IpTUlhB0Pw-vYqVyKOKm9B7JOA/w400-h300/20230305_141759.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Crystal, the CARE fundraising manager, created some down home country western ambiance on the stage.<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymy_uzKv2CgIvPMtq474zHRTtuF3lKlSK3qn_F6pUBNwpn8TxV1huoHmhDV9gyYPNAYmUIVTvJHVhaPEqo5ard147f_99SUHbeLESgYrTnVXz4QSFxCHp-JkqTxBbn7va1DVgbuY5cb8YgoDnUwTaoLfv-ADLFM3nHyigyscOxx2TGOecub-7RjP_Xw/s4000/20230309_164833.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymy_uzKv2CgIvPMtq474zHRTtuF3lKlSK3qn_F6pUBNwpn8TxV1huoHmhDV9gyYPNAYmUIVTvJHVhaPEqo5ard147f_99SUHbeLESgYrTnVXz4QSFxCHp-JkqTxBbn7va1DVgbuY5cb8YgoDnUwTaoLfv-ADLFM3nHyigyscOxx2TGOecub-7RjP_Xw/w400-h300/20230309_164833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad mugging it with fellow volunteers Carol, Shirley, and Sandra.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58v5GgA0bXJxD-NBpgFDC8UDB_tSYFeG6IL83iWQNZvccK52QT6dWd7Fr5Bp74jTd2TQOfyesjpY9nhvwS2SJbttYjwFPZxlimObWVGniMB_EBFFx6D5m9tvLm6FgcgBuN_6ZFA-jFy0OKWBmFsDTB3RsRu5jQuqORYZF1ZgyFwnRom_YFeKy7l3tvg/s3549/20230305_142123.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2930" data-original-width="3549" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58v5GgA0bXJxD-NBpgFDC8UDB_tSYFeG6IL83iWQNZvccK52QT6dWd7Fr5Bp74jTd2TQOfyesjpY9nhvwS2SJbttYjwFPZxlimObWVGniMB_EBFFx6D5m9tvLm6FgcgBuN_6ZFA-jFy0OKWBmFsDTB3RsRu5jQuqORYZF1ZgyFwnRom_YFeKy7l3tvg/w400-h330/20230305_142123.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Volunteers Tom and Patricia were bartenders at the luncheon and dinner.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpDljznsoaI895UParwvlrwGOPsXO2FmxYfY9DzTSGwNQyAUFnogHeXslIG35YqSLxbzjpyhCEU3i2arXOpncaPe0E28f-qwL3z4H_CcZgvV6jONwDP07WEU3PrOFNtxY4KTHLFafl7hAxSeVdSsKf_RLExw_sWKyHa13zE3Xemby6JaNvQBzC7uaXw/s4096/20230308_094517.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpDljznsoaI895UParwvlrwGOPsXO2FmxYfY9DzTSGwNQyAUFnogHeXslIG35YqSLxbzjpyhCEU3i2arXOpncaPe0E28f-qwL3z4H_CcZgvV6jONwDP07WEU3PrOFNtxY4KTHLFafl7hAxSeVdSsKf_RLExw_sWKyHa13zE3Xemby6JaNvQBzC7uaXw/w400-h300/20230308_094517.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With my parents now certified as "Food Handlers", this stuffed rat and my pocket pal Nezumi were forbidden from entering the Activity Center kitchen while they prepped and serve lunch.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbZ6y6l3aNJn2dH-MNbeYd50RMHJjUgR9A0uG0pQPk4aYYkxYTHvD-lF1SFFhQv8h18CWFbT3kPLC9jrQq6EVTrZ2BjV1RjyQgr-VBOs_LmSEr1hGhmyNgAQS-zu2YrytkkLqjwYAcyQklO2KiZJA7mQeN1Nq_tcD3Fo1YZHeaZrq20TIXcnnZJjgSg/s3264/20230309_160437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbZ6y6l3aNJn2dH-MNbeYd50RMHJjUgR9A0uG0pQPk4aYYkxYTHvD-lF1SFFhQv8h18CWFbT3kPLC9jrQq6EVTrZ2BjV1RjyQgr-VBOs_LmSEr1hGhmyNgAQS-zu2YrytkkLqjwYAcyQklO2KiZJA7mQeN1Nq_tcD3Fo1YZHeaZrq20TIXcnnZJjgSg/w400-h180/20230309_160437.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All decked out in our country western duds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G9Jr4ze__gH0pWts8N7VeTxQ_qFDFzU6uWzKiNFnKAt8Iljmbe8_ydNFhbTOLGGim1Lu_rSk4P1qMGkCRu25FvK-1IAA4SaN9-icrn1YueqYQAfELXGwK-oiErxraBSCsKbPnmBMXjIIuxLLjNibnJv_koYmh3I6HPlNT_V8_tP0RW0Auj8txZZCVQ/s640/FB_IMG_1680554810024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="640" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G9Jr4ze__gH0pWts8N7VeTxQ_qFDFzU6uWzKiNFnKAt8Iljmbe8_ydNFhbTOLGGim1Lu_rSk4P1qMGkCRu25FvK-1IAA4SaN9-icrn1YueqYQAfELXGwK-oiErxraBSCsKbPnmBMXjIIuxLLjNibnJv_koYmh3I6HPlNT_V8_tP0RW0Auj8txZZCVQ/w400-h158/FB_IMG_1680554810024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Hats off to a Healthy Heart" and a great group of volunteers/CARE staff.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We learned from new RV friends Dave/Debbie about Chazers, a
bar/club along Lake Livingston.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We all
attended its 80s Dance Party.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents
were looking forward to a night of new wave music—Billy Idol, B-52s, Devo,
Depeche Mode.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though none of those
artists’ tunes were played, we were content with the pop classics of Lauper,
Madonna, Wham, and Culture Club.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But
then the rap music started.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad made his
best attempt to go gangsta, but it just didn’t cut it.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, after 6 rap songs in a row, we all called
it a night.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8fRKkkkbmxY5b1TgJOjpApAJOjnsRMDOIgEmn3gHVXxrclRx6qdsM8uaQyWs7JqD_QNj1k7ooIL06icAn70xxTuUXGO33kJmycz7Y7sJ25Yq1DlwyvqlNt_ZE8WqJk2iNFf8qeFflc7c7lyj2F9jgntgPxwA7qzEnyNQeNMRAcKhyZjTCUOxnarfsA/s4000/20230303_212354.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8fRKkkkbmxY5b1TgJOjpApAJOjnsRMDOIgEmn3gHVXxrclRx6qdsM8uaQyWs7JqD_QNj1k7ooIL06icAn70xxTuUXGO33kJmycz7Y7sJ25Yq1DlwyvqlNt_ZE8WqJk2iNFf8qeFflc7c7lyj2F9jgntgPxwA7qzEnyNQeNMRAcKhyZjTCUOxnarfsA/w400-h180/20230303_212354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEAttNIP_tEJJu72x3Lu985aNDpzYKoQ-Ye-mwIz2bGx_uOThI3JFqiBKS9KPcyy9np4wse0H-GukKsD92v1ZJNoym3Wrg_43RJ41dYgvmyuCpSHep8ehv4GMQwjjV1sdfYzi2ktZx2tYeHfDOsHiTUzJEy8L-yGFqDNnBAOZZ8aOgUuDAz6MO5BNqg/s4000/20230303_213026.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEAttNIP_tEJJu72x3Lu985aNDpzYKoQ-Ye-mwIz2bGx_uOThI3JFqiBKS9KPcyy9np4wse0H-GukKsD92v1ZJNoym3Wrg_43RJ41dYgvmyuCpSHep8ehv4GMQwjjV1sdfYzi2ktZx2tYeHfDOsHiTUzJEy8L-yGFqDNnBAOZZ8aOgUuDAz6MO5BNqg/w400-h300/20230303_213026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We joined fellow Escapees Carol/John at a Livingston VFW Post 8568
afternoon dance, enjoying a fun-filled evening thereafter of good food, great
laughs, and wonderful company.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzo0zekEz2i_zwtV7P-i62FM4bMqxZDaf8Yz9oNSCxe3O5DbCACxOOmB9uy9VaGYhIt08JMt9wr2iPqJzmhjA9nRg7KuLPMQa3ZKskraJDp_2n__wSS09yr9C1so7kV7NY7gntbaohXPamrZjqIGwoJD2BylYO_nnpZ4c6yvw0W2fM1LWUrP7twl15Ow/s4000/20230218_191532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzo0zekEz2i_zwtV7P-i62FM4bMqxZDaf8Yz9oNSCxe3O5DbCACxOOmB9uy9VaGYhIt08JMt9wr2iPqJzmhjA9nRg7KuLPMQa3ZKskraJDp_2n__wSS09yr9C1so7kV7NY7gntbaohXPamrZjqIGwoJD2BylYO_nnpZ4c6yvw0W2fM1LWUrP7twl15Ow/w400-h180/20230218_191532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51QpAoslDRQdFKRYbDIulvvIbR6BS2567ra0sZtK5eo34lPjw388TM2hflB9VaDaWM4UlpFD70CifsTZEKPV6LyIb32qRYWYVjlyDRVBIymRUTzzO_hCbpkoRQGR9iC5tAC7q3zHvB3PPxLXzJXbGPn5Z8bPnfK640vX1UgsRRBlrtJrG2YCJgteYQw/s4000/20230304_162142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51QpAoslDRQdFKRYbDIulvvIbR6BS2567ra0sZtK5eo34lPjw388TM2hflB9VaDaWM4UlpFD70CifsTZEKPV6LyIb32qRYWYVjlyDRVBIymRUTzzO_hCbpkoRQGR9iC5tAC7q3zHvB3PPxLXzJXbGPn5Z8bPnfK640vX1UgsRRBlrtJrG2YCJgteYQw/w400-h180/20230304_162142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We celebrated the birthdays of Jeff/Rosemary one Friday with
dinner and Mom’s carrot cake at the Pit Stop.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">This was our first time at this cute 50s-style dinner in Livingston.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We continued the birthday celebration the
next evening at another VFW dance.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was
our last get-together before Jeff/Rosemary continued their travels.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We said our farewells to Debbie/Dave the
following week when we joined them and their friends Dan/Paula for dinner at
Patrons, Livingston's most popular Mexican restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We enjoyed spending time with
all these folks, and we look forward to seeing them again down the road.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUd7pAKTNg5Qhc6S1TfnaLuLOE2L3I56mTHDTiHgrM3IFcfDK60DVky4GxQgTQ9MRM1gikhC-rcyskNhdKVzulnBc2HQttVCfFYOIF0Fa0WodinzogFJIvKuEJTmoshi9g7S0B0EDUxIELzlLKBO_-D4PeCFcgYwKiWJWvNMHGhpPwVXWBmizGB_gaA/s3264/20230310_165451.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUd7pAKTNg5Qhc6S1TfnaLuLOE2L3I56mTHDTiHgrM3IFcfDK60DVky4GxQgTQ9MRM1gikhC-rcyskNhdKVzulnBc2HQttVCfFYOIF0Fa0WodinzogFJIvKuEJTmoshi9g7S0B0EDUxIELzlLKBO_-D4PeCFcgYwKiWJWvNMHGhpPwVXWBmizGB_gaA/w400-h180/20230310_165451.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents and Dave/Deb helped Rosemary/Jeff (center) celebrate their birthdays at the Pit Stop.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI2pW5yzAOrfswfWQh9FWBXb0BcAUS3jQ_t6ymiKsXMyOqsej-OSrRjvVkpeabN8P6QgHhJiRKPJ_EOCRTrGvVLPKysM7qvxSFfBow1Pgf6iVK1mZIBu5wHKpGiSnJ0jyG6AmdyfEu0W8-tSL76yqSQSiTVgse-5_qveErGELVcQyZO7EluowWJkz4g/s4000/20230310_154648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI2pW5yzAOrfswfWQh9FWBXb0BcAUS3jQ_t6ymiKsXMyOqsej-OSrRjvVkpeabN8P6QgHhJiRKPJ_EOCRTrGvVLPKysM7qvxSFfBow1Pgf6iVK1mZIBu5wHKpGiSnJ0jyG6AmdyfEu0W8-tSL76yqSQSiTVgse-5_qveErGELVcQyZO7EluowWJkz4g/w400-h180/20230310_154648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Pit Stop is a cute 50s style burger joint.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYfgWwolcOueoxJnDcfucPRsbEWO_BybJE0fGRd08tLpQclbMy06nTYhqDQOYkPOnsGs_4ntneGsRVQfQNpjwElMy0VDR1fP6pej6_mDr0f3dO7ZV1CSHeTDaFv28EJVO_Brxf-FhkFxblFz0cLdi_nAIQJ5rhX031_D-XcqhcFB-FiLK3OqY9Z-5bg/s4000/20230310_154549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYfgWwolcOueoxJnDcfucPRsbEWO_BybJE0fGRd08tLpQclbMy06nTYhqDQOYkPOnsGs_4ntneGsRVQfQNpjwElMy0VDR1fP6pej6_mDr0f3dO7ZV1CSHeTDaFv28EJVO_Brxf-FhkFxblFz0cLdi_nAIQJ5rhX031_D-XcqhcFB-FiLK3OqY9Z-5bg/w400-h180/20230310_154549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB8EJZFNOZDp9304dHye2nFTHBh86mPTUVrmOkNB6sisNGYgbIpWSGFtMekHEKG714g0VTwjRK37sB-pAyrbjF2FReRHXsTEChb_cAQVK02I21J0OHPacjeUapUGAwHupdHydT0YhiVV5ZoZ-CANTzgpNp8Mt07hN49L8fFFKy24YoLsLux6bI6L2Gw/s3264/20230313_173110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB8EJZFNOZDp9304dHye2nFTHBh86mPTUVrmOkNB6sisNGYgbIpWSGFtMekHEKG714g0VTwjRK37sB-pAyrbjF2FReRHXsTEChb_cAQVK02I21J0OHPacjeUapUGAwHupdHydT0YhiVV5ZoZ-CANTzgpNp8Mt07hN49L8fFFKy24YoLsLux6bI6L2Gw/w400-h180/20230313_173110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dave/Deb, my parents, and Dan/Paula.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>We hopped on the motorcycles to spend a day in Lufkin. We
started with hiking at Kit McConnico Park then went to lunch.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>My parents generally don’t relish buffets, but
they make an exception for Golden Corral because it has a good selection of
vegan options for Dad while satisfying Mom’s carnivore tastes.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Afterwards, we went to the Cinemark Theater to see the film, </span><i>Jesus
Revolution</i><span>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>This stuffed rat is too
young and innocent to know fully of the happenings of the 60s, but I found the
movie uplifting.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Weird thing, though: every time we go to the movies in Lufkin, there are very few seats
available from which to select at the payment booth, leading us to think the
theater will be packed when we enter.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span>Then we find we are among only a dozen viewers.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>What gives?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We just renewed our Texas State Park Pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At $70 for a 12-month period, it is a
bargain, and we will offset the cost with a total of 6 day-use visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have applied it already to 2 visits to Huntsville State Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoy this Park immensely, as it offers a
variety of trails that make it easy to get our minimum 5-mile hikes
completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had lots of reptilian
company on the trails during our hikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad was excited to spot a juvenile garter snake, but Mom upped the ante
considerably when she detected a cottonmouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad insisted it was dead, but the snake proved Dad wrong when he nudged
it with a stick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for this Rambling RV
Rat, I have an aversion to snakes—I worry they might make a meal outta me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I amuse myself with more docile objects,
like a group of gnomes hiding inside a tree stump.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SF28tpTLY6EzaPIuHKMOaBbZ7Tzg5J5ZiPvdd4B2YbWIT824YKHqcIiNDla83PPNZn-xmz_j6EFcGSYiRvA0VqzHeGqChZMlDGVqAeqwQLeJ1f5YckAfD6oHZyPQLHgqrLzwisIC_fPklXJlkI4vl1wf8Cf9kBjG_JCbZieRIc7XH0kVGhQZJjsKQA/s4000/20230325_120015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SF28tpTLY6EzaPIuHKMOaBbZ7Tzg5J5ZiPvdd4B2YbWIT824YKHqcIiNDla83PPNZn-xmz_j6EFcGSYiRvA0VqzHeGqChZMlDGVqAeqwQLeJ1f5YckAfD6oHZyPQLHgqrLzwisIC_fPklXJlkI4vl1wf8Cf9kBjG_JCbZieRIc7XH0kVGhQZJjsKQA/w400-h180/20230325_120015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ej9viiUw8hPRTdWKN7oS9psffxaCLkF1ctM5IQeWCv_bPucDufRvoWUYVmfsbnNRvQUrEQafb23P37DNRF361BPKVj-l3epxkVMD9HbiSzGz72zxU707RNJzsrHRxeZCdRNaC62we7n4-X-08pNAYTglXw2-EXGq1Sy4O-dxjpoQLAgMg_UKVemLmg/s4000/20230325_122831.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ej9viiUw8hPRTdWKN7oS9psffxaCLkF1ctM5IQeWCv_bPucDufRvoWUYVmfsbnNRvQUrEQafb23P37DNRF361BPKVj-l3epxkVMD9HbiSzGz72zxU707RNJzsrHRxeZCdRNaC62we7n4-X-08pNAYTglXw2-EXGq1Sy4O-dxjpoQLAgMg_UKVemLmg/w400-h180/20230325_122831.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgG_cgPhv47gCVz0U_LkFJoKgwUS979dtEGIOHNfEbDHCrqLHYABeQy_hZDpK4ykWf__zKSIse-5AP-dk6NW7bARsesu7IdzCPRs-U5tfgolFBo53fnXeFBPHwO359UCcdiVYQdUvEO7BwpWVIi1bkmKUmcCFl2U0tVXUwrku6Yuj4K84jdnKEwpavA/s4000/20230325_113600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgG_cgPhv47gCVz0U_LkFJoKgwUS979dtEGIOHNfEbDHCrqLHYABeQy_hZDpK4ykWf__zKSIse-5AP-dk6NW7bARsesu7IdzCPRs-U5tfgolFBo53fnXeFBPHwO359UCcdiVYQdUvEO7BwpWVIi1bkmKUmcCFl2U0tVXUwrku6Yuj4K84jdnKEwpavA/w400-h300/20230325_113600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLG6o1-Dyjg6R9Tc-AQTFhONhukaeS92dOSQniJ1aVj7Mt2eko7bSmrYsQMnDlxyTJUIilpTsDc5UM6bC8qYa6wfIYPnpgH6dvSi3IsM4ZoROuJ12YgKrny_nEw302JxTzg4MrJozXWSzbZlfn6KBJDf5CHwo-K9R0ySIi9SxPvPrx9wgBhl259D8gQ/s4096/20230325_125018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLG6o1-Dyjg6R9Tc-AQTFhONhukaeS92dOSQniJ1aVj7Mt2eko7bSmrYsQMnDlxyTJUIilpTsDc5UM6bC8qYa6wfIYPnpgH6dvSi3IsM4ZoROuJ12YgKrny_nEw302JxTzg4MrJozXWSzbZlfn6KBJDf5CHwo-K9R0ySIi9SxPvPrx9wgBhl259D8gQ/w400-h300/20230325_125018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oT07UQASlQaoLmX9GfrlpLDKbB_WagpC96HT_gAAB6apjOsqoYNBi6O-FEMrhVdsZEqvEkXz4eZfNkHdAREQTGIE_8-T0ig1UgkCAlC5dto19Z3mSz4J3CZnddfm1oi34QTYXsZM4D-TWQUCm5QWOQvNrl8vG4W7V6SlIm64dcjh2Mlxm6Jw1EuvYg/s4000/20230401_162122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oT07UQASlQaoLmX9GfrlpLDKbB_WagpC96HT_gAAB6apjOsqoYNBi6O-FEMrhVdsZEqvEkXz4eZfNkHdAREQTGIE_8-T0ig1UgkCAlC5dto19Z3mSz4J3CZnddfm1oi34QTYXsZM4D-TWQUCm5QWOQvNrl8vG4W7V6SlIm64dcjh2Mlxm6Jw1EuvYg/w400-h180/20230401_162122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">In addition to the State Park, we have toured Huntsville many a time, usually visiting all things Sam Houston: the National Forest bearing his name, his grave site, and of course, the towering statue of the great statesman. For something different on our latest visit to Huntsville, we opted to tour </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Texas Prison Museum.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a small but very interesting place.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The establishment of a central state prison occurred in 1848 with the construction in Huntsville of the Walls Unit State Penitentiary.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Texas Prison System has housed some well-known perps including singer/songwriter David Crosby. Many offenders served time, got paroled, committed more crimes, and subsequently returned to the penal system.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So very sad, particularly when you see the talents displayed by the inmates:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">intricate carvings made from bars of soap, musical instruments made from newspapers, keepsake boxes made of matchsticks, beautiful wood furnishings, and hand-crafted leather accessories.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Some even performed and held records within the Texas Prison Rodeo, which operated from 1931-1986.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Too bad these criminals didn’t parlay their talents into respectable livelihoods and instead resorted to lives of crime. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiebzu7GCBgCL3Q6PXRnNn_htjjVvtpEjUCQLvXyVdn41fvqj7zRhedx7NsBaNETpVuXCSSlRWhHo-usz0kzV69HanW_uvaAi44GTMmSvCBS4VWkms9L41P5ZiDUzLgPqbkuHsjXE7YA-7NpY-bpyCVN_r7LoPlpmKD0-_xxPnLWI9xlCeqKaQdps9TWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiebzu7GCBgCL3Q6PXRnNn_htjjVvtpEjUCQLvXyVdn41fvqj7zRhedx7NsBaNETpVuXCSSlRWhHo-usz0kzV69HanW_uvaAi44GTMmSvCBS4VWkms9L41P5ZiDUzLgPqbkuHsjXE7YA-7NpY-bpyCVN_r7LoPlpmKD0-_xxPnLWI9xlCeqKaQdps9TWQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUEFE7f9fIjOs6wJV5TaLAL_9pbw8b08JlW__5-sb7QWUJ9tiUKQVXrtNqKtHHCTC1kIaOCx13j7nCbO-TitzZfuVq5Gr-vy35wYc1NQY2113PRa7R07g3yF0fyfL1YNacdWrRUO7QXAMmt6-3FUZZdpfBeyKEk21bB67B4CVra00GpgmmqZrJhGejw/s4000/20230401_130835.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUEFE7f9fIjOs6wJV5TaLAL_9pbw8b08JlW__5-sb7QWUJ9tiUKQVXrtNqKtHHCTC1kIaOCx13j7nCbO-TitzZfuVq5Gr-vy35wYc1NQY2113PRa7R07g3yF0fyfL1YNacdWrRUO7QXAMmt6-3FUZZdpfBeyKEk21bB67B4CVra00GpgmmqZrJhGejw/w400-h300/20230401_130835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUop3iLQ4BmRKhbrk2LxF4gHG-JIMhoXepp7mrmrZxX4uVD5UEpMMi7enLXr5w9wMXn0Lg1sllcVItz3rAptbDiXbE1dRSi5LrTpWdvRlPGTwnodZwVyT_qMCuPHR3FHwL5ngBkY45U00_nCWqeAcZPBj37E3BzbSuT_617py3RUWuS-5Ce0LJKOgwg/s4000/20230401_121528.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUop3iLQ4BmRKhbrk2LxF4gHG-JIMhoXepp7mrmrZxX4uVD5UEpMMi7enLXr5w9wMXn0Lg1sllcVItz3rAptbDiXbE1dRSi5LrTpWdvRlPGTwnodZwVyT_qMCuPHR3FHwL5ngBkY45U00_nCWqeAcZPBj37E3BzbSuT_617py3RUWuS-5Ce0LJKOgwg/w180-h400/20230401_121528.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvYyO0s4Xc6ZvzW_g1WANcS9bKnCUflBQyd1UysDSdE_xGPtSXgh9v8dUgqVz1QOcECSlS2tmkIibrtEzT6rmXyUJzka_47giPBpzoINLSVn1B9vGrWxUMpCwra92hnGbnnTBZrS6pHqcdQDk5zjf-OAxUqB4LvffO0tHinaQun-ysUJ-pmyPSgH7sA/s3264/20230401_124935.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvYyO0s4Xc6ZvzW_g1WANcS9bKnCUflBQyd1UysDSdE_xGPtSXgh9v8dUgqVz1QOcECSlS2tmkIibrtEzT6rmXyUJzka_47giPBpzoINLSVn1B9vGrWxUMpCwra92hnGbnnTBZrS6pHqcdQDk5zjf-OAxUqB4LvffO0tHinaQun-ysUJ-pmyPSgH7sA/w400-h300/20230401_124935.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This chess set was carved from bars of soap!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TGAIDZPS-cRbbHEqfEs_gzE5ok_W8IFHizWDVaBFZTWr_JDw8GvQOFkmKShtvV-UrrZtR-vuZkJGq8FAYAjEs9QTsYCjBRUUJbv8RDRIJQGL2ECvX0P92gCy1tyc8nb6GipTPCx_05jRprrL9EnyOMm_tIXx6JZVz8y3cICCNwkCQPLFbEkpZUzfLg/s3264/20230401_125045.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TGAIDZPS-cRbbHEqfEs_gzE5ok_W8IFHizWDVaBFZTWr_JDw8GvQOFkmKShtvV-UrrZtR-vuZkJGq8FAYAjEs9QTsYCjBRUUJbv8RDRIJQGL2ECvX0P92gCy1tyc8nb6GipTPCx_05jRprrL9EnyOMm_tIXx6JZVz8y3cICCNwkCQPLFbEkpZUzfLg/w400-h300/20230401_125045.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All of these were made by inmates from matchsticks!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoEVP8pVip2MHLNnzPk7Db2OZYbS1_0TGr9cgI-unjIwKChLUQz7M2nlk63xuXs685elCfThRjSZbZjIgdSAMtJ0-3bqYVsRjqBgSnRREV5AVcawaRKGxT8eduEw4nSaliYySgM6wsY3nDy08oTUpbo0ufx3Fy9qGtzJy_w9G8usyUs_jiF_IdWdgVA/s4000/20230401_125745.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoEVP8pVip2MHLNnzPk7Db2OZYbS1_0TGr9cgI-unjIwKChLUQz7M2nlk63xuXs685elCfThRjSZbZjIgdSAMtJ0-3bqYVsRjqBgSnRREV5AVcawaRKGxT8eduEw4nSaliYySgM6wsY3nDy08oTUpbo0ufx3Fy9qGtzJy_w9G8usyUs_jiF_IdWdgVA/w400-h300/20230401_125745.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guitar, banjo, and dumb bell weights--all constructed from newspaper!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavZF3YyvZxxIZtXY2i0sh1r_YsDy9D2I5gvbqK2lp886gfty96KJxMkziEvhiEsw3e1w9rPJMjD1zJW8jDBXghvhd6kuybrFm0jNrZ4OGu8wK5Bl4cTeTdkd7OPq8mhPOK73rpV5auOg-uwlS7nk2Y0pcBYqegvi-Iwo_JgB_0E8ymlbmNt7E5EpZUA/s4000/20230401_124838.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavZF3YyvZxxIZtXY2i0sh1r_YsDy9D2I5gvbqK2lp886gfty96KJxMkziEvhiEsw3e1w9rPJMjD1zJW8jDBXghvhd6kuybrFm0jNrZ4OGu8wK5Bl4cTeTdkd7OPq8mhPOK73rpV5auOg-uwlS7nk2Y0pcBYqegvi-Iwo_JgB_0E8ymlbmNt7E5EpZUA/w400-h300/20230401_124838.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Look at these examples of... </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ZHBO7S7xd3DvNucLNB-1DCK9S2wgwjHtWxrMfFhfLpVZUxNjJ1yNSPdqQf-sPt43uq5QLfobsMQH9FeXcaLQoUQOXNuylIsaSC9r08ZOtKXQ99LG5nPR3oHmX9s1ZTjrmqZH4SlO0ehFW9c-u75U_7Pcyzg99E8F_HV1Elm50pyNPaIZ5JadKHnrQ/s4000/20230401_113923.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ZHBO7S7xd3DvNucLNB-1DCK9S2wgwjHtWxrMfFhfLpVZUxNjJ1yNSPdqQf-sPt43uq5QLfobsMQH9FeXcaLQoUQOXNuylIsaSC9r08ZOtKXQ99LG5nPR3oHmX9s1ZTjrmqZH4SlO0ehFW9c-u75U_7Pcyzg99E8F_HV1Elm50pyNPaIZ5JadKHnrQ/w400-h180/20230401_113923.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...wood craftsmanship!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ZHBO7S7xd3DvNucLNB-1DCK9S2wgwjHtWxrMfFhfLpVZUxNjJ1yNSPdqQf-sPt43uq5QLfobsMQH9FeXcaLQoUQOXNuylIsaSC9r08ZOtKXQ99LG5nPR3oHmX9s1ZTjrmqZH4SlO0ehFW9c-u75U_7Pcyzg99E8F_HV1Elm50pyNPaIZ5JadKHnrQ/s4000/20230401_113923.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSkwbXjhsks7SKQ8x5i_T_TCbo93Nj-HSbXFj0Xe-3fz1PYOl4u1EtrmsPBOtPR1ZPlkSt0lsBgojKq7MydBR8U0AEL_zpWMv0NrqhymGN2y7xR-G7HYadsyrgpMeFzj9lQIFDN-yx7nVExeUyhX2cVH2x96SzUmPyNZ51DBIL2SYV56Er2Rq1Yr2uQ/s4000/20230401_121422.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSkwbXjhsks7SKQ8x5i_T_TCbo93Nj-HSbXFj0Xe-3fz1PYOl4u1EtrmsPBOtPR1ZPlkSt0lsBgojKq7MydBR8U0AEL_zpWMv0NrqhymGN2y7xR-G7HYadsyrgpMeFzj9lQIFDN-yx7nVExeUyhX2cVH2x96SzUmPyNZ51DBIL2SYV56Er2Rq1Yr2uQ/w400-h300/20230401_121422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLqe_xAvkxVfNHQv7IdwtRsy44OVkpfe1sy2OOJRAWX5tQNatE3uqJRi-NuG2Y6JzfXrfk-xtXCRoLs19RXj-i3WCRkfAhu6ra1UJ9xkBLAGjOu4Hd4VXQi4edWJZemMaQ-z-O8qZkrxdJMyhzVDmPqAsnOSlbe4U5RCrz05YOdJaTojnmZLepa2oVA/s3945/PoPo%20in%20Chair.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2737" data-original-width="3945" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLqe_xAvkxVfNHQv7IdwtRsy44OVkpfe1sy2OOJRAWX5tQNatE3uqJRi-NuG2Y6JzfXrfk-xtXCRoLs19RXj-i3WCRkfAhu6ra1UJ9xkBLAGjOu4Hd4VXQi4edWJZemMaQ-z-O8qZkrxdJMyhzVDmPqAsnOSlbe4U5RCrz05YOdJaTojnmZLepa2oVA/w400-h278/PoPo%20in%20Chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom says I will end up here if I ever have another pop-up party for my rodentia pals!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Right next door to the Texas Prison Museum is the H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Every American Remember through Serving) Veterans Complex. It has a replica of the D.C. Vietnam Memorial Wall. It breaks my heart to think of the number of men and women, most just starting adulthood, who lost their lives in this pointless war. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk4fAY4G7mlI21v-y76LW0XGAK_kO-N0BZEvoCG4YUh7PSVqZ2Oy4fbniaQqhFxOYxT1rotCNJc3Gy-aeDjlDs5RfmlmZZ9LFNse0js1o5oCY0bGo8okktXMzLYQwDJGdWToqyVR6reMReFp3e7SccNhJJ6JXd5Ng8209cZw4dVsH2mVTJ_S8qMQAeQ/s4821/20230401_131625.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="4821" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk4fAY4G7mlI21v-y76LW0XGAK_kO-N0BZEvoCG4YUh7PSVqZ2Oy4fbniaQqhFxOYxT1rotCNJc3Gy-aeDjlDs5RfmlmZZ9LFNse0js1o5oCY0bGo8okktXMzLYQwDJGdWToqyVR6reMReFp3e7SccNhJJ6JXd5Ng8209cZw4dVsH2mVTJ_S8qMQAeQ/w400-h139/20230401_131625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8MS1C9u0zUNJ--jHEeGrBzjfEZPUwh9kA15Sa-rpL7azg9VQt6Ur58Co1q_brrGY85xhdLxvMLYCN8L94hSVUWKvMeK_shsERV9m5bIMouRtfm7bZYszaNjrftLwBWIRj_fOuOKdAFj8EBBUlFybQJz_GCe5aKLrA9Vxn8bbtqfSpzug8tDeVmNGhQ/s4000/20230401_132404.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8MS1C9u0zUNJ--jHEeGrBzjfEZPUwh9kA15Sa-rpL7azg9VQt6Ur58Co1q_brrGY85xhdLxvMLYCN8L94hSVUWKvMeK_shsERV9m5bIMouRtfm7bZYszaNjrftLwBWIRj_fOuOKdAFj8EBBUlFybQJz_GCe5aKLrA9Vxn8bbtqfSpzug8tDeVmNGhQ/w400-h300/20230401_132404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our visits to Huntsville always include a late lunch/early dinner, which we typically spend at 7 Leguas Mexican Restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But now that Livingston Restaurateur Joe Ilir is expanding his Italian Grill empire, we dined one afternoon at his new location in Huntsville.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were privy to the same great food, attentive service, and reasonable prices to which we are accustomed at his Livingston restaurant. Joe's pizza and 7 Leguas always score a Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese rating.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX3IQ_OzfNPU4-KNcV0K0Xh-bd5VC_7rGRNdWAF6BLBrLggS0EDgq5hAaNbOw-NbpQwksyRigYP_nkJRh1gKzccnAYX243k5qZpJam55x8HoVc0JQNdRl2MdfwKK32uhvKH9ZCahf82tuFSORal-wJiQ33JlJRU0pzoHaiRx_R-MTYEUW0R16Scth6Q/s3095/20230401_144538.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2981" data-original-width="3095" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX3IQ_OzfNPU4-KNcV0K0Xh-bd5VC_7rGRNdWAF6BLBrLggS0EDgq5hAaNbOw-NbpQwksyRigYP_nkJRh1gKzccnAYX243k5qZpJam55x8HoVc0JQNdRl2MdfwKK32uhvKH9ZCahf82tuFSORal-wJiQ33JlJRU0pzoHaiRx_R-MTYEUW0R16Scth6Q/w400-h385/20230401_144538.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My buddies at 7 Leguas.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is a pretty time of year here in Texas:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Spring flowers are abloom.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The squirrels are back to their antics now that we hung up our backyard bird feeders.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We have planted some vegetables in food-grade buckets with auto-watering system, so we hope to get a bumper crop of tomatoes and zucchini.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We found a local farm from which to purchase eggs (especially for me to color with Easter fast approaching).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDIJO1HHlUqvXEPenjrxIXm7ohLTc68EyHKpx_6phm1sf0MSGdzJ-GnL1r0gMUHs0GZhhIMNbVUbvOPrHsGW57UiDgavG0wbbiOgBiAdp_jE9K5Sgs6Im6ZOfosdq9t2m9rVXvxGbJDaWm1goRIbHpyXtW8GuAreNm8f-_x6qwVgsl_QjHyONbHC0sg/s4000/20230320_095051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDIJO1HHlUqvXEPenjrxIXm7ohLTc68EyHKpx_6phm1sf0MSGdzJ-GnL1r0gMUHs0GZhhIMNbVUbvOPrHsGW57UiDgavG0wbbiOgBiAdp_jE9K5Sgs6Im6ZOfosdq9t2m9rVXvxGbJDaWm1goRIbHpyXtW8GuAreNm8f-_x6qwVgsl_QjHyONbHC0sg/w400-h300/20230320_095051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkgci0yWdlHmTfrpKeNjalp_OPNQKxOK8otWMb9nuMrx_dEWXCE1z7MTP8JyHOBP3APrzP3a2EDkwbPZ5cKeadef_PRSXjcynrQ1XwxIFvPT9TA3JehCLW_hQfi4RpzYEZO43nc-V29wVCBkKDWSfVD3N_A9iREhuIw0SvsZ3Th81qbamZwQsbdfrDA/s4000/20230309_162347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkgci0yWdlHmTfrpKeNjalp_OPNQKxOK8otWMb9nuMrx_dEWXCE1z7MTP8JyHOBP3APrzP3a2EDkwbPZ5cKeadef_PRSXjcynrQ1XwxIFvPT9TA3JehCLW_hQfi4RpzYEZO43nc-V29wVCBkKDWSfVD3N_A9iREhuIw0SvsZ3Th81qbamZwQsbdfrDA/w400-h300/20230309_162347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTgIPtbapyWlUx6b-irVElc4AtFjF3MRHThDS2OfEGAj1m58EVD50dq-HIWXv0BdbIA-MdJQSMHnn6w9mm7lN0IoRFdnH5oiObg5n8oU3JOK-tgBlYRd9cL6FFNq24Nq7aO9PG-tnsjcfDsHTG016CiEFpY-V_u7QEpQ846ejg_Qkp1e1nVfqZTiCeQ/s4000/20230307_163017.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTgIPtbapyWlUx6b-irVElc4AtFjF3MRHThDS2OfEGAj1m58EVD50dq-HIWXv0BdbIA-MdJQSMHnn6w9mm7lN0IoRFdnH5oiObg5n8oU3JOK-tgBlYRd9cL6FFNq24Nq7aO9PG-tnsjcfDsHTG016CiEFpY-V_u7QEpQ846ejg_Qkp1e1nVfqZTiCeQ/w400-h300/20230307_163017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPu6DmeG-oJ-02iHYRfK3RJwc9YtQwbemeaOUf7lGA3lk3xkH18ZvSvNY2c_DDeETzxoVN5IS1ZhzW5oXLXqcV0PyxJoakQe8ntaRsYhtpNDVCZl8TU5SAKcjlJ-zKyW366MeZCkvkeRi7t9aoWztp3zfZK-4tOqwE-UwXj5AKpqrGhizMZNsqkOuIg/s4000/20230321_082634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPu6DmeG-oJ-02iHYRfK3RJwc9YtQwbemeaOUf7lGA3lk3xkH18ZvSvNY2c_DDeETzxoVN5IS1ZhzW5oXLXqcV0PyxJoakQe8ntaRsYhtpNDVCZl8TU5SAKcjlJ-zKyW366MeZCkvkeRi7t9aoWztp3zfZK-4tOqwE-UwXj5AKpqrGhizMZNsqkOuIg/w300-h400/20230321_082634.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QaW-Hlg0Ma4-ZMdKpfBRW03nUIzYp9tyx2wXZ0gtyXobHkrPJR8zYFAP0zwGy9WNvm63DOqJIn6rA-aUnglqZPuZn5bAK2pNInP8nB25NiGF6wPzO5sPqXogQ97f0iYI_vYLtUdqnd5VxTRp_Vuu_FHYpVaSwIUw2CejOrrREbTNTAIc-PsxymKXXQ/s4000/20230320_134640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QaW-Hlg0Ma4-ZMdKpfBRW03nUIzYp9tyx2wXZ0gtyXobHkrPJR8zYFAP0zwGy9WNvm63DOqJIn6rA-aUnglqZPuZn5bAK2pNInP8nB25NiGF6wPzO5sPqXogQ97f0iYI_vYLtUdqnd5VxTRp_Vuu_FHYpVaSwIUw2CejOrrREbTNTAIc-PsxymKXXQ/w400-h300/20230320_134640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhirju50o_jB88484xLMlQEVWJt7Ud0l78gh5lP0KPBdT_oJwVDl8q2InkYkOAW_03wYBkV0c7V08R2veRB06_S2ADts7qNw6eh-l3Oyi2AckoMIkAuRijE879n-1UuZejD28tdHcXcHc1Mo2rX__6iSuXdPXGz798oBMl_Z0ND_mWB-xo8YOa_ung2A/s4000/20230322_105903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhirju50o_jB88484xLMlQEVWJt7Ud0l78gh5lP0KPBdT_oJwVDl8q2InkYkOAW_03wYBkV0c7V08R2veRB06_S2ADts7qNw6eh-l3Oyi2AckoMIkAuRijE879n-1UuZejD28tdHcXcHc1Mo2rX__6iSuXdPXGz798oBMl_Z0ND_mWB-xo8YOa_ung2A/w180-h400/20230322_105903.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We concluded the month of March with breaking bread with good friends Lisa/Jim, who made a quick stopover in Livingston after Escapade and before heading East to host HOPS and Boot Camps.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Always an enjoyable evening filled with stimulating conversation and hysterical laughter.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPxi1SSdUJkdPnnIqc0eM_BVf_CLJ1Y_fc_dBo6l0kp9UGUZ_kJYKfB9LS5tro4aQXpXEjqMy-jWKm8Z78KeHENUUYxpwRqwX4ftXoPaXM-eRo_C_0JGXfeWwrEtiSJUBjYQAeOBBDFO8df09Mkvsiv0xKkiy3AM5290TyvZxq2o4B9IcAjWRE6rD8_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1468" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPxi1SSdUJkdPnnIqc0eM_BVf_CLJ1Y_fc_dBo6l0kp9UGUZ_kJYKfB9LS5tro4aQXpXEjqMy-jWKm8Z78KeHENUUYxpwRqwX4ftXoPaXM-eRo_C_0JGXfeWwrEtiSJUBjYQAeOBBDFO8df09Mkvsiv0xKkiy3AM5290TyvZxq2o4B9IcAjWRE6rD8_Q=w400-h353" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, I’ve gotta run.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I hear Mom and Dad whispering about my upcoming birthday, so I need to do some eavesdropping to see what they have planned.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll tell ya all about it in my next blog.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Talk to you again soon!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span><o:p></o:p><p></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-22968747910508144002023-02-27T17:17:00.020-06:002023-03-14T19:00:04.287-05:00Dad's Perceived "Blip on the Radar" Turns into a Major Medical Issue <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The past 2 months have been wild and scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>We were happy and carefree, ready to leave
for Quartzsite, AZ right after Christmas.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Then Dad suffered chest pains,
resulting in an ER visit that, thankfully, ruled out another heart attack.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We breathed a sigh of relief and were hopeful that a heart
catheterization scheduled for December 29 would reveal that a new stent or
rotor-rooter of an existing one would fix Dad’s problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was confident that the incident would be
just a “blip on the radar”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would be
fixed in a jiff, and we would be in AZ just a few days later than planned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Dad’s “blip” turned into the need for QUADRUPLE coronary
artery bypass surgery!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then midway
through the bypass procedure, Mom was summoned for a consult:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad also had a leaky mitral valve for which
she had to provide authorization for surgical repair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But we ain't done there! </span> After the bypass surgery, Dad developed tachy-brady
syndrome, a fluctuation between atrial fibrillation
and bradycardia, too low a heart rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This resulted in the need for a pacemaker a week later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrF0bN09t0l3yQBi7dFk9fRusP3pzlKb17PXdZbvHJkUYQCOVBcunp4XMIYyhrFP6u5rjMrOqDqcGYipjO_hA7r2zoekfIcEqdVYYKql_jz9XtSDOIrnIhX0dh60KvNGGFT__edkJb9kW7mmBIXGBZvAlRtJ0n5gREbJthVczjHwwHxzxIprhX7C5Nig/s2929/20230103_070419.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2929" data-original-width="1917" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrF0bN09t0l3yQBi7dFk9fRusP3pzlKb17PXdZbvHJkUYQCOVBcunp4XMIYyhrFP6u5rjMrOqDqcGYipjO_hA7r2zoekfIcEqdVYYKql_jz9XtSDOIrnIhX0dh60KvNGGFT__edkJb9kW7mmBIXGBZvAlRtJ0n5gREbJthVczjHwwHxzxIprhX7C5Nig/w261-h400/20230103_070419.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prepped for bypass.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OwD9REfZdaqJmylGvxBMqQkOd7zOlPe9hi3qGVX4YTiX4L-F6BDbcc0E-GyMI8OwLFUwdqNxSO5iXNiZPJnogR0BKWVYVpfgxlQH2F3IqduHIU3l5b7MjGTtz_R3oJFmZz7N-Q0Bm7t1NmzvXU3BHOSPHEksqSCZq2LoDvGiUq3fX5pbNSWPX9Q5EA/s4000/20230104_081436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OwD9REfZdaqJmylGvxBMqQkOd7zOlPe9hi3qGVX4YTiX4L-F6BDbcc0E-GyMI8OwLFUwdqNxSO5iXNiZPJnogR0BKWVYVpfgxlQH2F3IqduHIU3l5b7MjGTtz_R3oJFmZz7N-Q0Bm7t1NmzvXU3BHOSPHEksqSCZq2LoDvGiUq3fX5pbNSWPX9Q5EA/w300-h400/20230104_081436.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Post procedure, Dad looks a bit chunkier from all the fluids.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_H75qVbO2tvsOILH_tSe6Tou6rSvCYbRp1GjpdEZIaDkVoXHVqv6ARUM5Tft5Uw5B11tZbHgVqSW8jx3MNBlMFxE-rYCArR2JASIq2XpGl0cPjHvHkHcBHnycDtAnxfyPastZprF0CmnMNv3qhVAf8m7r57vAt4dwXbrjU5W8BGxXHOFi35xmj4NHw/s4000/20230109_093231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_H75qVbO2tvsOILH_tSe6Tou6rSvCYbRp1GjpdEZIaDkVoXHVqv6ARUM5Tft5Uw5B11tZbHgVqSW8jx3MNBlMFxE-rYCArR2JASIq2XpGl0cPjHvHkHcBHnycDtAnxfyPastZprF0CmnMNv3qhVAf8m7r57vAt4dwXbrjU5W8BGxXHOFi35xmj4NHw/w300-h400/20230109_093231.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the pacemaker insertion.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HP3hO6RtLp-Yc6273OCj-xL6neKsjbgWd31gcNY9dnXf2Pvi_XrOt3w255nrnE3-l1sArF4tWXT1m3Tow-2pa_bDMH37J54ML4nWNe1zq8DbKS1-lL4GrWdrUT5aHehJNHzT6FmuKqh-yRG94YcWuSBmTg3mexIoVfq8BI2MVwRHXJVpFMgmRB6nOA/s4000/20230111_114903.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HP3hO6RtLp-Yc6273OCj-xL6neKsjbgWd31gcNY9dnXf2Pvi_XrOt3w255nrnE3-l1sArF4tWXT1m3Tow-2pa_bDMH37J54ML4nWNe1zq8DbKS1-lL4GrWdrUT5aHehJNHzT6FmuKqh-yRG94YcWuSBmTg3mexIoVfq8BI2MVwRHXJVpFMgmRB6nOA/w300-h400/20230111_114903.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming home, with more hair stubble than Dad has seen in many years!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />It boggles this stuffed rat’s cotton brain how things
turned so bad so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Dad’s
heart attack 5 years ago, he made major life changes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>adhering to a plant-based diet, giving up
all the foods he loved (<i>Dad shared my passion for cheese!)</i>; losing 40 pounds; exercising
regularly and even doing yoga on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He doesn’t drink, smoke, or take pharmaceuticals—legal or illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He aced his last nuclear stress test in
November 2021. And his blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and other lab
measurements were all good after his bloodwork in October 2022.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet his worst fear came to fruition in early
January 2023—being cracked open like a coconut and required to take prescription
drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a tough pill for us all to
swallow <i>(pun intended)</i>, and it certainly portrays the evils of heredity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes nothing you can do will make you
healthier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Dad’s DNA, we are always
grateful Dad didn’t follow his own father’s destiny:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dying in his 40s from a heart attack. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I don’t know which was tougher to bear: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Dad with his chest cracked to physically repair
his heart function or Mom emotionally brokenhearted, dealing with the possibility
of losing her partner in life.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They both
seemed to have aged considerably from the ordeal.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thankfully, the Texas hospital where surgery
was performed operated like the good old pre-COVID days.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Masks were not required. Mom was able to stay
at the hospital for the full 2 weeks of Dad’s admittance, sleeping and
showering at the ICU visitor waiting area or staying right with Dad when he was within
a regular room.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">She left the grounds
only twice.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Once was to visit the local
Walmart to purchase clothing and toiletries for both her and Dad.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">(</span><i>This hospital provides NOTHING to
patients, not even a tissue. Waiting
rooms have no complimentary coffee for visitors. Vending machines, if operational at all,
require payment by apps or credit card.
The cafeteria has very limited hours of operation. One might think these changes were
implemented for COVID. However, the
staff informed Mom they were all enacted for budgetary purposes long before
COVID reared its ugly head.</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">)</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
second time she left the hospital was to pick up the car rental she booked to
transport Dad home, since there was no way Dad was getting into Big Boomer, our
medium duty truck.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meanwhile, my pocket pal Nezumi and yours
truly, the Rambling RV Rat, remained home.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> We were highly concerned about our human Dad, so w</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">e were well behaved stuffed rodents, especially since </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Aunt Laurie (<i>whom I refer to as Wicked Witch of the East or W.W.T.E. for short</i>) checked up on us
each evening.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">But God has been good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Although we are members of SkyMed to deal with on-road medical situations, Dad's issues transpired while we were still at home base. So, we were fortunate to have his usual healthcare providers involved in his treatment. </span>Dad’s surgical procedures all went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite his requirement to be in a sling for his pacemaker for the first
4 weeks post-op, Dad has had a speedy and full recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Effective February 24, h</span>e has resumed driving and was given the
green light to return to “normal” activities (t<i>hough I’m sure the docs wouldn’t share Dad’s
personal definition of “normal”</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
importantly, God has blessed us with the gift of friendship and caring people
in our lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collectively, we felt like
George Bailey in <i>“It’s a Wonderful Life”.</i> The outpouring of support and
prayers has been so heartwarming, particularly from those in the RV Community,
who understand the added hardships of dealing with medical issues within a
traveling lifestyle. Trixie, a former full-time RVer who is back in a
sticks/bricks nearby because of her own husband’s major medical problems, arrived
at the hospital to sit with Mom during the bypass surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends Janice/Rick and Nancy/Jerry <i>(all of whom we
met while working at Amazon 7 years ago)</i> and Mom’s BFF Aunt Maureen/Uncle Ted,
checked in EVERY SINGLE DAY, offering Mom emotional support. So many who
previously went through this surgical ordeal reached out to give Dad
encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t name you all individually, but please
know my family is eternally grateful to each and every person who phoned,
e-mailed, texted, messaged, and most importantly, prayed for a positive
outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We canceled all our travel plans and our summer volunteer gig in Oregon because Dad’s litany of follow-up
medical appointments, from PCP to thoracic surgeon, from cardiologist to cardio
electrophysicist <i>(say that 3 times fast!)</i> are booked right through
August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, our ERPU leased lot
here in Escapees Rainbow Park provides us a place to park
with no worries about reservations or needing to change spots. <i>To learn more about Escapees ERPU long-term leased lots,
here’s my blogpost about it:</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><a href="https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2018/?m=0" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;" target="_blank">https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2018/?m=0</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">This is the longest stretch of time we have stayed in
Livingston.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Furthermore, we typically are here only during the last quarter of the year. So, we ain’t looking forward to a Southeast
Texas summer!</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Mom’s already dripping
from the humidity despite the cooler weather we experienced in January and
February.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We also had several torrential
rainstorms which created wetlands and flooded fields along Highway 146.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">There was enough standing water that the
occasional heron, egret, or ibis would fly in for a stopover, which was very cool to see. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">One of the advantages of being at home base is catching up
with friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we have enjoyed socializing numerous times
with Park residents Lisa/Jim and friends Rosemary/Jeff who are here in
Livingston for a month or so before continuing on their journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We were happy to see Bob/Ruth from Hondo while they were on the Park grounds for a short time one day giving their lovable pooch Nicky some play time. </span>James/Cindy, whom we met last year in
Quartzsite through mutual friends Guy/Sue, were passing through the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They recognized our truck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That led to several long chats during their
stay and an evening of dinner and fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hope to see them again soon down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have enjoyed the company of new RV
friends Dave/Debbie, who share our passion for dance and have joined us at the VFW many times. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8D9RR54UmGy2ub5kGyFi15qGjUFR6SdoxDkEAXw27V4tDCQL5Ni3IE1PoC2-arOeh1idF8z0jRL4ejD4UheklMrlai676gtHiSwjtdcleJKFofjbMET38YrOEMuV_s_s7PHfIY2VCL7tu8UAbq40eMlrjSaZIi2HSpejIrUb3OJKDsE7ulAM9vqgow/s1968/20230211_124630.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1968" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8D9RR54UmGy2ub5kGyFi15qGjUFR6SdoxDkEAXw27V4tDCQL5Ni3IE1PoC2-arOeh1idF8z0jRL4ejD4UheklMrlai676gtHiSwjtdcleJKFofjbMET38YrOEMuV_s_s7PHfIY2VCL7tu8UAbq40eMlrjSaZIi2HSpejIrUb3OJKDsE7ulAM9vqgow/w400-h275/20230211_124630.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of several dinners my parents spent with Jim/Lisa as a foursome...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6HIkpmCyRUTH0wjN_osFKMXQnxi1YLWO_EpRUQDFosQqyViXh-EN4sPeiBLy14p6v8xFe7iCok_Bw39w06cPbN7HYcQqwGHfj31U7UzeaG6ZeWPifIciLImu-UCjDQUDTAamj6SjFmtf7hfrxdlVV16tJTgmwlZK3-e1hKtmrwz3sooH8g0JFt6vdDw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2467" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6HIkpmCyRUTH0wjN_osFKMXQnxi1YLWO_EpRUQDFosQqyViXh-EN4sPeiBLy14p6v8xFe7iCok_Bw39w06cPbN7HYcQqwGHfj31U7UzeaG6ZeWPifIciLImu-UCjDQUDTAamj6SjFmtf7hfrxdlVV16tJTgmwlZK3-e1hKtmrwz3sooH8g0JFt6vdDw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The foursome expanded to include Escapees Larry/Robyn.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2133" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmIjAGbFFzXwm0K6mGuX19XHved8ojpN2Ppt-isRM52r6kNbQHMoVmJTylx_h4zam4Lkpu-bvLGlgOu0BW4ngwjRJgWUgERqIcyPxeD8COn0WAaw0bMYA3qETlvwgcsqZ6DkYbHVbFL-aDXeIgKkxAdEE5qDyNPL3LR1b6VJUduZllv9kmfJeDbDOtFg=w400-h300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of several evenings of fellowship with Rosemary/Jeff. Our server at Pueblo Vieja was terrific and provided great laughs.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmIjAGbFFzXwm0K6mGuX19XHved8ojpN2Ppt-isRM52r6kNbQHMoVmJTylx_h4zam4Lkpu-bvLGlgOu0BW4ngwjRJgWUgERqIcyPxeD8COn0WAaw0bMYA3qETlvwgcsqZ6DkYbHVbFL-aDXeIgKkxAdEE5qDyNPL3LR1b6VJUduZllv9kmfJeDbDOtFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt75tcSqvTyTvJgh6IhnXt2OztT0er0LUciJlZawU6T8iBEihQq4nc7FhwPWR6hoWGH0JjjckjePF_GainCF_lA_spd7whk5Pme6MdbLT4fXwqZMGnjZ0-i-gFhWXyQkvxbyjk6kzJiJUyNJFLxDC631iED7TmSGf74UgqDplQUawNOW0syw_9NiGxA/s4000/20230206_174233.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt75tcSqvTyTvJgh6IhnXt2OztT0er0LUciJlZawU6T8iBEihQq4nc7FhwPWR6hoWGH0JjjckjePF_GainCF_lA_spd7whk5Pme6MdbLT4fXwqZMGnjZ0-i-gFhWXyQkvxbyjk6kzJiJUyNJFLxDC631iED7TmSGf74UgqDplQUawNOW0syw_9NiGxA/w400-h300/20230206_174233.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So good to see Ruth/Bob and Nicky. We usually catch up with them in Hondo on our way to Quartzsite.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs0XaL7BehWYT_dy4vysS5CUdVuzDRvnQLdkcL2upCMiInYacb3BxHQRBd4osNv5LgCjE6eYEQzWu3-n7z0WSHMyHLdVK1_Nq2Zv-z6L55qFX1E1B7Mm2judbI_yDlftBYBxPnzuxlaLoKjJO-WXotWLFK06LByl91sXYJeYKAiGjsyOXzhYniruQWOg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="2410" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs0XaL7BehWYT_dy4vysS5CUdVuzDRvnQLdkcL2upCMiInYacb3BxHQRBd4osNv5LgCjE6eYEQzWu3-n7z0WSHMyHLdVK1_Nq2Zv-z6L55qFX1E1B7Mm2judbI_yDlftBYBxPnzuxlaLoKjJO-WXotWLFK06LByl91sXYJeYKAiGjsyOXzhYniruQWOg=w400-h175" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun times with James/Cindy.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcd7ilJTITllByb0Iz2N7a47TEfUS3Xl9ZQ00tV3Lt-WczCWrZ3jbQncku7Dv-v1fO4uOjXatGrolKae0d6fbpPIQs8v8I5FtkVTlEx4v1HzId7CWD1Pev-zPwAAy1cv2zrdcXqHhra0MfpnAlhkoNfmbRHwwpXwdpezLv2t2VFLsUlFesQmgbDt89wQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="2239" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcd7ilJTITllByb0Iz2N7a47TEfUS3Xl9ZQ00tV3Lt-WczCWrZ3jbQncku7Dv-v1fO4uOjXatGrolKae0d6fbpPIQs8v8I5FtkVTlEx4v1HzId7CWD1Pev-zPwAAy1cv2zrdcXqHhra0MfpnAlhkoNfmbRHwwpXwdpezLv2t2VFLsUlFesQmgbDt89wQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">James is a big fan of mine, so I bestowed him with this photo op!<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1563" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZhe15LRSRdMV5TVlIpnrmC_DWGmDlWAsA-jOoKnhNz02zTOlC7F_1UWLBPHvxVJhETEDexHgAqNu0lrQUV7QKS1UhP4E4PefHxfxfAc-1fmhUffdcARieZEhcKeM4fQZQ4GUT2czKXGtWKwfR3ccIkaLRrt0fXPY-zivxbWEjKUPEFPt9uVlrmxsqWw=w400-h300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends Dave/Deb, who share my family's love of dance. They have helped my parents with their two-step!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZhe15LRSRdMV5TVlIpnrmC_DWGmDlWAsA-jOoKnhNz02zTOlC7F_1UWLBPHvxVJhETEDexHgAqNu0lrQUV7QKS1UhP4E4PefHxfxfAc-1fmhUffdcARieZEhcKeM4fQZQ4GUT2czKXGtWKwfR3ccIkaLRrt0fXPY-zivxbWEjKUPEFPt9uVlrmxsqWw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mom keeps us all motivated to stay active and engaged,
insisting we must make the most of our time here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, we participate in the limited number of activities the Park offers like the Sunday ice cream socials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom assisted Park residents with reorganizing the Clubhouse library, and
she has returned to daily line dancing lessons offered at the Park. Dad started walking with us daily--he is now joining Mom and me for our full 5-mile jaunt!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Furthermore, we have become auxiliary members of our local
VFW, which has lots of fun events like dance lessons as well as live bands
every Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The VFW has provided us
a venue to dance and to expand our friends and acquaintances beyond the RVing
community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Through folks from the VFW we learned that some Livingston
residents are trying to organize pickleball games using the tennis courts at a
local park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom created a petition to
the Mayor requesting at least 1 tennis court be lined permanently for
pickleball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>(Right now, we have to chalk
out the court once/week.)</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i> </span>Despite the
less-than-stellar current court conditions, my parents are enjoying meeting new
people and re-honing their limited pickleball skillset.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Into each life, some rain must fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, by the greatness of God, have withstood
this storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we know that EVERY day
is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no guarantee of tomorrow,
or next week, or next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being back
on the road soon is our hope, but for right now, we are content just to enjoy
“being”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-78244492596927858252022-12-30T15:20:00.657-06:002023-01-01T23:23:29.378-06:00A Holiday Season of Celebration in Texas Ends with Tribulation <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Upon returning
home to TX, we immersed ourselves into maintenance projects, business appointments,
and holiday activities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Getting
together several times with friends Lisa/Jim and Romalee/Tim is always a highlight of
returning to Rainbow’s End each Fall. We
also spent time with Kate/John during their 2-night stay in Livingston. We saw them last in June while we were all in
CO. Sue/Jack, who we haven’t seen since
January 2021, stopped by to chat. We
enjoyed catching up so much, we neglected to get a photo. And we enjoyed the hospitality of fellow
Escapees member “Movie Man” Joe on 2 occasions as he invites all Park residents
to join him on his lot in viewing a film, enjoying treats, and even winning
prizes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8QixjbsRvL2nHBHZpD6KKZ7zGJIegex0aDBQ1yuk1vfX9_ZELsMJEf4E679GYMtpJLz6IPJeD25l22kktt0JM_RFegqafd2gkk3GJ5ldyk7f3pmfpx4e9gvYFY9L4DJqyXDm_HIdNievPdhRvN5lIgobg7kAzwIkZg2MG-4fg-XlQINNkWjD9Qc-YA/s4000/20221106_172238.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8QixjbsRvL2nHBHZpD6KKZ7zGJIegex0aDBQ1yuk1vfX9_ZELsMJEf4E679GYMtpJLz6IPJeD25l22kktt0JM_RFegqafd2gkk3GJ5ldyk7f3pmfpx4e9gvYFY9L4DJqyXDm_HIdNievPdhRvN5lIgobg7kAzwIkZg2MG-4fg-XlQINNkWjD9Qc-YA/w400-h180/20221106_172238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf29jttxuUu9IWwPuGL0aD-0ywiTLrF2hZdr_GttnRjSdxmZXT4JBTE91ug4KlslWz-hxSgKHTAimsaOqdwFERow0jaH4fS8wkP0785o-GS6k62-ljjn6AZXHRVulFWbSXbmF7Y5i6OPmbaKQhWw0dym7dLVg77X8rSpJpoaoCOFFiyc5-cO5_fEh5YQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf29jttxuUu9IWwPuGL0aD-0ywiTLrF2hZdr_GttnRjSdxmZXT4JBTE91ug4KlslWz-hxSgKHTAimsaOqdwFERow0jaH4fS8wkP0785o-GS6k62-ljjn6AZXHRVulFWbSXbmF7Y5i6OPmbaKQhWw0dym7dLVg77X8rSpJpoaoCOFFiyc5-cO5_fEh5YQ" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The best
reunion, however, was Mom with Yellow Jacket, her 2009 Honda Rebel.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You see, when Dad converted his 2010 Road
King Classic into Maximus the Trike, Yellow Jacket got evicted from the truck
garage for transport and was confined to a storage unit.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom
was relegated to riding shotgun with Dad on Maximus for the last 10 months.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Worse yet, my only way to ride was strapped
to the cargo tour pack!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom is thrilled
that Dad has now devised a new way to transport her motorcycle with us.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no better
way to celebrate the reuniting of a motorcyclist with his/her beloved bike than
to take a ride. So, we set out for Martin
Dies State Park in Jasper, TX. We all
froze our buns off, but the cold was accompanied by some lovely fall foliage. Though this Park gets crowded during the
summer, it is underutilized in the Fall.
So, it is always an enjoyable,
serene experience hiking at Martin Dies State Park this time of year. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhK7qm3DrZ0Wd2pZow6gJtRh6731NBtzeQpzeuA2pOj6mcD99Ol9--ptunQQQSNy4Eq8315j59MJnf59RQhK2srnv3d7xRn_8JtORYBk3weE6OH4pXaHLCBLn0d-yms_XYABrFk_1GXDeklWkM0BpVCGmKij6B4VqvFTxXWiqWeSKGHbnrufzjO1tAg/s4000/20221113_142224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhK7qm3DrZ0Wd2pZow6gJtRh6731NBtzeQpzeuA2pOj6mcD99Ol9--ptunQQQSNy4Eq8315j59MJnf59RQhK2srnv3d7xRn_8JtORYBk3weE6OH4pXaHLCBLn0d-yms_XYABrFk_1GXDeklWkM0BpVCGmKij6B4VqvFTxXWiqWeSKGHbnrufzjO1tAg/w400-h180/20221113_142224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qYtQPAW0A6sEuRnO5JClWtoDqQ1xU4JCCxTAZcO4EmnU1fCXHVVDpb9Q_Bn-sG15wxsGjnAGeulZtECkerFFK0i5XDnW5-mV4y3BCnrDNQXOHs8NpDvNkVmKdNct1j_BPQ914TZvIpah7HJbgJdm8fY40SYnCOOFzvbtML4hqBk3CVFh42lT-ovQ0Q/s4000/20221113_151931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qYtQPAW0A6sEuRnO5JClWtoDqQ1xU4JCCxTAZcO4EmnU1fCXHVVDpb9Q_Bn-sG15wxsGjnAGeulZtECkerFFK0i5XDnW5-mV4y3BCnrDNQXOHs8NpDvNkVmKdNct1j_BPQ914TZvIpah7HJbgJdm8fY40SYnCOOFzvbtML4hqBk3CVFh42lT-ovQ0Q/w400-h180/20221113_151931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our
motorcycling travels also brought us to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in
Carthage, TX.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So many great talents
hailed from the Lone Star State, including Tex Ritter, Willie Nelson, and the
Oak Ridge Boys.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Texas-born Gene Autry
was considered by many (including himself) to be the first singing cowboy.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But John Wayne beat him to it in 1933 as
Singing Sandy in “Riders of Destiny”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, the Duke’s singing voice was less than stellar.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s just say that he would not be chosen as
a contestant on “The Voice” and that his decision to stick with acting was a
wise one.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Museum has a replica of an
old-fashioned soda pop shoppe and includes a working juke box.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I selected “Elvira” to play and watched my
crazy parents do some line dancing in the Hall corridors.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXFMBEUQdhOMhW8098z_omhXvWW-xwJfzpBBsrjEw3vBZt893D3A7MDGqO-v6Wl5lAWrB-9wUIEr5mNhPrKRgrh-n1UgXuTnyC-AeZqI0y3NJK2nXqexa1bkP9FyArSL6yEfqnr6ZpANY7D_6tDwrfqT7N3YoaIvzaJ6-7KpJwtg0i7aTUTXWMqFyXnw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXFMBEUQdhOMhW8098z_omhXvWW-xwJfzpBBsrjEw3vBZt893D3A7MDGqO-v6Wl5lAWrB-9wUIEr5mNhPrKRgrh-n1UgXuTnyC-AeZqI0y3NJK2nXqexa1bkP9FyArSL6yEfqnr6ZpANY7D_6tDwrfqT7N3YoaIvzaJ6-7KpJwtg0i7aTUTXWMqFyXnw" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_Bq8Dk8joGOCCX1ekYBXzR1guV_eYJ3cmDW4seP4RgLY-nXNBeNTmBDDvzQ58aO5r6UQzbNXD_HYrWaV6oX66cjqBHdKePb4LbnuSa74c_D-Txt3Iofz2x8Qg3bX_0qJTVXJPeHTnpcTvrTkp637wuMyIALPY1au1v7fRmJ28YNSwtj2pNBmjq4lL0A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_Bq8Dk8joGOCCX1ekYBXzR1guV_eYJ3cmDW4seP4RgLY-nXNBeNTmBDDvzQ58aO5r6UQzbNXD_HYrWaV6oX66cjqBHdKePb4LbnuSa74c_D-Txt3Iofz2x8Qg3bX_0qJTVXJPeHTnpcTvrTkp637wuMyIALPY1au1v7fRmJ28YNSwtj2pNBmjq4lL0A" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi07qK1y1RDEJkfbT3x47izYInxzQOsAX2rI4bMeteQI38dqpY_RiaxYVcZ2sQJFxt_a6ZaW8Cr43LSjRg3ERw2YuwHX1d8U2GTcNgak7wzhv49vHx-1v6FD14nJ7fjjsoEpYgdWHq3ICEDFyLGjVeOq9hlplbDObB4TzxDno2BzV2hNJgaCIkxXO_Z7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi07qK1y1RDEJkfbT3x47izYInxzQOsAX2rI4bMeteQI38dqpY_RiaxYVcZ2sQJFxt_a6ZaW8Cr43LSjRg3ERw2YuwHX1d8U2GTcNgak7wzhv49vHx-1v6FD14nJ7fjjsoEpYgdWHq3ICEDFyLGjVeOq9hlplbDObB4TzxDno2BzV2hNJgaCIkxXO_Z7A" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOQDav4UZQ3US1K2xvK-IUzXE8IrlrSSimFXo4JLZuRrvK8gs3klmv9oLwcModQ_Y2nqpG3I_L0mzFPVgLno8ri1gDFdGYoj9O_kIIwFYDPTnE4pQ3AvV-cARuq6gPhPHP6JAK6n4Z-j-Tg9Y-_bxP8kad8dFGwaatmeG1QaC2e1QMrg0c2_WjelVIqw" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOQDav4UZQ3US1K2xvK-IUzXE8IrlrSSimFXo4JLZuRrvK8gs3klmv9oLwcModQ_Y2nqpG3I_L0mzFPVgLno8ri1gDFdGYoj9O_kIIwFYDPTnE4pQ3AvV-cARuq6gPhPHP6JAK6n4Z-j-Tg9Y-_bxP8kad8dFGwaatmeG1QaC2e1QMrg0c2_WjelVIqw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom doesn’t
care where our travels take us, but she mandates that we are somewhere
stationary from mid-November to year-end.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s because she always treats us to a plant-based Thanksgiving feast,
making another Tom a happy Turkey.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">She
begins her collaboration with the Keebler Elves for cookie baking, and we all decorate
“the house” inside and out for Christmas.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanksgiving marks the commencement of our binge-watching
holiday shows and movies.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">From classics
like “Miracle on 34</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> Street” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”, to must-see
films like “Christmas Vacation”, “Elf”, and “Home Alone”, from animated
specials dating to the 1960s/1970s, to cheesy Hallmark and Lifetime movies, my
family reaches maximum consumption level.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Cultured people can perform Shakespearean soliloquys or recite the words
of great poets like Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, or Langston Hughes.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Not my parents!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead, they quote Clarence A.S.C., Clark
Griswold, Cousin Eddie, and Burgermeister Meisterburger.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Not to mention they know all the lyrics to
the Snow Miser/Heat Miser songs and the opening tune from “Santa Clause
Conquers the Martians”. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time
Christmas day actually arrives, I am ready for holiday detox!</span></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifdPYHA6gMRqk0zhg_rkS-MHedHjWHqElwPo9BHMM2L-T0OdpW9DUTUrraZ44q1C0i2G3NmdvYgBPZ2nqH5-eDqeMvrZDUbe8Ed7eA18smKvzjSy0yQbb7tq-7e1JmPC1fUtEgRzHIFlhSA3Sf7zDLkzVhOAtZEw2rDD3h2RqStRVHC0KQBXxRjO3zwg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifdPYHA6gMRqk0zhg_rkS-MHedHjWHqElwPo9BHMM2L-T0OdpW9DUTUrraZ44q1C0i2G3NmdvYgBPZ2nqH5-eDqeMvrZDUbe8Ed7eA18smKvzjSy0yQbb7tq-7e1JmPC1fUtEgRzHIFlhSA3Sf7zDLkzVhOAtZEw2rDD3h2RqStRVHC0KQBXxRjO3zwg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Thanksgiving meal--no Tom Turkey here.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibF1OgcLyteGOoDnrBb-0jSmkMd8LVNfAMbqv3v64ZT9-iHBrdRMKLs8GbNGRGogGyJKNcEFg5avAkHgDSxId4Uy1eweZ5z91melAa2DQVY9r8cMb8v6878Qx_32vqLYH9dLc7RWZGOqiGMA6X2V6fvv7cJfmewhBu8D4TdUt7GFkFEvkS5l2K-7tnXg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1786" data-original-width="3311" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibF1OgcLyteGOoDnrBb-0jSmkMd8LVNfAMbqv3v64ZT9-iHBrdRMKLs8GbNGRGogGyJKNcEFg5avAkHgDSxId4Uy1eweZ5z91melAa2DQVY9r8cMb8v6878Qx_32vqLYH9dLc7RWZGOqiGMA6X2V6fvv7cJfmewhBu8D4TdUt7GFkFEvkS5l2K-7tnXg=w400-h216" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We spend Thanksgiving weekend decorating outside...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbyNunXH5nTtAyDTJPqzGcX874DKKzfp0YvtzdOmFjWwzsLoyX1fYUIHy-Nuh2SWPwUCO0wtfrC5Ly9NMvC2XWKWip705aiBzzUHYrPebyefnHeLc1Gu3Q5H4JzhGxTbiQQx8JLZ7qu7FH37FmLinFknr-tvcep6iDRB3wnMHSycL5cP6J5wJqD9UTxw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbyNunXH5nTtAyDTJPqzGcX874DKKzfp0YvtzdOmFjWwzsLoyX1fYUIHy-Nuh2SWPwUCO0wtfrC5Ly9NMvC2XWKWip705aiBzzUHYrPebyefnHeLc1Gu3Q5H4JzhGxTbiQQx8JLZ7qu7FH37FmLinFknr-tvcep6iDRB3wnMHSycL5cP6J5wJqD9UTxw" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...and inside for Christmas.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTXpXci4zm1daaDQGdI4CUeN99dwkus-jM5T1bNhpKv6HW8L9JUKTNSaHWYjcPQ_W2vCKUA-nXyNeR5rg_z9wzdrFfwYMz7JyIE_8fyH3iuLJZm3nXpymqBJASMnSWB3C4z-nMOQePaR95np4TYwzalCDSKCfSyXQGikxZa42DqDa5olNhErrfC3blKg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTXpXci4zm1daaDQGdI4CUeN99dwkus-jM5T1bNhpKv6HW8L9JUKTNSaHWYjcPQ_W2vCKUA-nXyNeR5rg_z9wzdrFfwYMz7JyIE_8fyH3iuLJZm3nXpymqBJASMnSWB3C4z-nMOQePaR95np4TYwzalCDSKCfSyXQGikxZa42DqDa5olNhErrfC3blKg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye test! There are at least 3 rodents in this section of our ornaments. Can you spot them?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLL3o7cthI0MBbBmI76fLFwtGHbqUYZ8LKGCHDInAPQ0QIvq32fZNLESA-f7YNcqnEnIwAfxHRZfwk1RebngLH5AUZqpRhJwHApzBK9F7FAdbOL-t0PjiTt4kQ7tJG6JQf9J6wS49FQ0QHCeSBhQXZKbdRetQTatP5x6Jp0_dGCvSxvd3prhxwfWm-g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLL3o7cthI0MBbBmI76fLFwtGHbqUYZ8LKGCHDInAPQ0QIvq32fZNLESA-f7YNcqnEnIwAfxHRZfwk1RebngLH5AUZqpRhJwHApzBK9F7FAdbOL-t0PjiTt4kQ7tJG6JQf9J6wS49FQ0QHCeSBhQXZKbdRetQTatP5x6Jp0_dGCvSxvd3prhxwfWm-g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal">We were told it
was a dry summer here in the Piney Woods of TX.
But we had several deluges these last 2 months that more than
compensated for it, including rainfall associated with Hurricane Nicole. Weather ran the gamut, from hot, humid 90F-degree scorchers,
to cool, crisp Autumn days, to the “polar freeze” that, sans the snow, made it
feel like a holiday winter wonderland!</p><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas is a
magical time here in Texas. Every town
and city, regardless of size, offers holiday lights and activities, and
Livingston is no exception. This year we
attended the Lighting at Municipal Hall, where the holiday season was kicked
off with caroling by a children’s choir, sipping of hot cocoa, photo-taking with
our favorite characters, and the illumination of all the Christmas lights at
Pedigo, Penguin, and Heritage Parks.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb709S20GpjirL8gdBdhhYs9Fn10Ci4YlikFT0rKQeYCdQvhUfeezlqKo0eAfHk0L6tkdzmNFDCx-jvbsIlTqks2dAzyh-mca92YJ4dZXgaoCWXRKZHk6z22IIm0KtEbWwb5sjnke2bhoqmXhDI8vM2anemMm5QPaBn107ib2z_65X43zyR3WESLktEg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1368" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb709S20GpjirL8gdBdhhYs9Fn10Ci4YlikFT0rKQeYCdQvhUfeezlqKo0eAfHk0L6tkdzmNFDCx-jvbsIlTqks2dAzyh-mca92YJ4dZXgaoCWXRKZHk6z22IIm0KtEbWwb5sjnke2bhoqmXhDI8vM2anemMm5QPaBn107ib2z_65X43zyR3WESLktEg=w400-h279" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsEnxMy-VtsdvOcafsPVKUs6MbHwKx0J6ZKorzWFXT1BrsP6aDRQspkHPvgRMi72JJqbMTL0Eed7TruLzqhG90PCvYgQXYOZJDI_SJ7xmPxdMr0iWZn0Huhhsz0FANq_Okik2Rx4H4j5ybCic3pLJT3vKDYUTsfxKk2vNd2zJxu86X9-y_o_ue6LwonA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1869" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsEnxMy-VtsdvOcafsPVKUs6MbHwKx0J6ZKorzWFXT1BrsP6aDRQspkHPvgRMi72JJqbMTL0Eed7TruLzqhG90PCvYgQXYOZJDI_SJ7xmPxdMr0iWZn0Huhhsz0FANq_Okik2Rx4H4j5ybCic3pLJT3vKDYUTsfxKk2vNd2zJxu86X9-y_o_ue6LwonA=w400-h254" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A sampling of the holiday lights at Pedigo Park...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSFCLYVu8TRZ24oUyTezhULh5hN9Iez19D9_qSa_uDM1lHR_I4JaVP1OBo-q_BeEti7uYR6SbKkoggUwqIqkMbrNXzMbjzdHMqPF5Vg4puJBAKssuvqhYpkvgS_7-ROXpRW-nCHQrcy1vBf70iOHN6R_bwvyC_zn7tJPoP5zUMSVKU1lpz6M1T2cJg7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="2632" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSFCLYVu8TRZ24oUyTezhULh5hN9Iez19D9_qSa_uDM1lHR_I4JaVP1OBo-q_BeEti7uYR6SbKkoggUwqIqkMbrNXzMbjzdHMqPF5Vg4puJBAKssuvqhYpkvgS_7-ROXpRW-nCHQrcy1vBf70iOHN6R_bwvyC_zn7tJPoP5zUMSVKU1lpz6M1T2cJg7A=w400-h178" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was the
first year we participated in the Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk, held on the second
Saturday in December in conjunction with the Hometown Christmas Fair. There were hundreds and hundreds of entrants. Since we were among the first 100 to sign up,
we received official t-shirts and jingle bells with our entry fees. We opted for the 2-mile walk rather than the
5K run—Mom said she didn’t want to register on the Richter Scale as an
earthquake with her heavy pavement pounding when she runs. The route took us right through the Hometown
Christmas Fair, so we got to peruse all the arts, crafts, and food vendors at
the same time. It was a hot, humid day,
but the rain that was initially forecast hadn’t materialized--yet. Instead, the downpour occurred in the early
evening, right before the commencement of the Lighted Christmas Parade in which
we registered Big Boomer! It was
torrential for a solid hour, with thunder and lightning to boot. The
storm subsided just long enough for all of the parade floats and participants
to high-tail it along Washington Avenue for the 1.5 mile route. I sure was disappointed the precipitation
precluded me from sitting front and center upon a fully decked-out Big
Boomer. Instead, Dad let me honk the
horn as he drove. Though Mom’s feet got
wet, she insisted she still walk the route to hand out the candy we bought for
the spectators—a good decision based on the smiles on the kiddies’ faces as
they held out their pillowcases, stockings, and Walmart bags to collect edible offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTEl_ybwUmZTUNYhEBeaYRNl3mVXP1bzffmovHI4hFSvhMhqU8tAzRWMhRTeSzYHSnZfyOqyTtUomGfzaFW4NpsLCEDQKIeV_viT2lhJTuPpWVGjDzgbRWUKzI0qqXc5MgiLHchZPEmBWyhpfOtrOJjQTdApdJe6t_BAouKhmRQ_2LCTJYoGmoJ1DDpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="2987" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTEl_ybwUmZTUNYhEBeaYRNl3mVXP1bzffmovHI4hFSvhMhqU8tAzRWMhRTeSzYHSnZfyOqyTtUomGfzaFW4NpsLCEDQKIeV_viT2lhJTuPpWVGjDzgbRWUKzI0qqXc5MgiLHchZPEmBWyhpfOtrOJjQTdApdJe6t_BAouKhmRQ_2LCTJYoGmoJ1DDpg=w400-h371" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0Grq-XU29YeGByPCb6ZhmV13ylJuGAgQaFqO3bGinL0zCadK1h4SOhtAqoryMEek0dxbocqANWkPYZeFI3icPlWhaOxh42cjCa1KL1jfzT0aHpnkgAlh2_7BQjht1AQAW9p-UrmXP9G6qSoTObwCKhkDk-myiSa2NHNkkzhDqRn_TXIkuAnZ8EWFroA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0Grq-XU29YeGByPCb6ZhmV13ylJuGAgQaFqO3bGinL0zCadK1h4SOhtAqoryMEek0dxbocqANWkPYZeFI3icPlWhaOxh42cjCa1KL1jfzT0aHpnkgAlh2_7BQjht1AQAW9p-UrmXP9G6qSoTObwCKhkDk-myiSa2NHNkkzhDqRn_TXIkuAnZ8EWFroA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me front and center for the Hometown Christmas Parade before the downpour began and I was relegated to sitting inside the truck.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuJUeLTGrGgtMGRJzWlcPkFO8FqNlLkRTDQzx_ztvzPnuuMpGteLStJ9Jo__-reD_tBSO4GA-0oKxbPxp2x2A0f_PGcrfW27sY5hd1MfueoPD_FXrGE95YYmGZOMsqoHFvWcVtJjOKvJ2aG0i7EFFKl9FWA9RnI7Y2RnKptp2AuyPJOnvtbe1vW9D20Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuJUeLTGrGgtMGRJzWlcPkFO8FqNlLkRTDQzx_ztvzPnuuMpGteLStJ9Jo__-reD_tBSO4GA-0oKxbPxp2x2A0f_PGcrfW27sY5hd1MfueoPD_FXrGE95YYmGZOMsqoHFvWcVtJjOKvJ2aG0i7EFFKl9FWA9RnI7Y2RnKptp2AuyPJOnvtbe1vW9D20Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buc-ee riding along with Big Boomer.<br /></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJnEH9nUy0idW1Emmrw_2Peb3C3zjvMimilhXaPPFs0740HeDlrmulKghrr3rwa_4kaL_L06uhPEQ-BTyHqE8eGgjaFcIq3A9IRBOgF4IXgA9h5ThXzX9w2H05yJZ2r9HrKF3R2eWiWuHOMZZB5ZkSmchb6z-MBdfjVlI4AovyPQuaaAeXZWD9J0BLsQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJnEH9nUy0idW1Emmrw_2Peb3C3zjvMimilhXaPPFs0740HeDlrmulKghrr3rwa_4kaL_L06uhPEQ-BTyHqE8eGgjaFcIq3A9IRBOgF4IXgA9h5ThXzX9w2H05yJZ2r9HrKF3R2eWiWuHOMZZB5ZkSmchb6z-MBdfjVlI4AovyPQuaaAeXZWD9J0BLsQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another Parade entrant.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Once again, we
rang bells for Salvation Army for 2 hours each week starting on Black Friday. Folks were very generous, despite their own economic
struggles. Perhaps knowing all the
monies raised locally assist folks right within our own County’s community
played a part. We viewed the Polk County Heritage Society
Train Village display, drove through The First Baptist Church’s “Bethlehem”, attended
the annual Christmas play at First United Methodist Church, and spread holiday
cheer with the Caroling Caravan at Escapees Rainbow’s End RV Park. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZV45laLp916n77mHUGq3L1iUckSEO7LmXh0ttXVHcHcFRfCjiXAtRrNAuKqPeO7dPfjrs342NTgxq2V-BJaGWuU-Gg21sbW71cGwEqhojwCyPWJvpK_3vr7u9NKh3a9qzyQau2I-MzBhURmXoE0URfT1b-yLb4Bwp9MhHXdaIP3TPDkPJmH-3PTyXcQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2031" data-original-width="1487" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZV45laLp916n77mHUGq3L1iUckSEO7LmXh0ttXVHcHcFRfCjiXAtRrNAuKqPeO7dPfjrs342NTgxq2V-BJaGWuU-Gg21sbW71cGwEqhojwCyPWJvpK_3vr7u9NKh3a9qzyQau2I-MzBhURmXoE0URfT1b-yLb4Bwp9MhHXdaIP3TPDkPJmH-3PTyXcQ=w293-h400" width="293" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsL7ugTFqsibKSLVvOOORR1Vy0jS1-ewL1K3DqDkIRdtarmL0SBafenJqcjKzqJAs4-DTU1rmXoMTzqWR2AFBP8O46xBWoYaGAMlIk-gTMwGpGqFgCztD0mgMlYPaqbpFm0KjN6x3FmIFmkLwD4c_cifCaWkX7qGw0Xm7_1tQvH_yc3DvdT23cz6CldA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsL7ugTFqsibKSLVvOOORR1Vy0jS1-ewL1K3DqDkIRdtarmL0SBafenJqcjKzqJAs4-DTU1rmXoMTzqWR2AFBP8O46xBWoYaGAMlIk-gTMwGpGqFgCztD0mgMlYPaqbpFm0KjN6x3FmIFmkLwD4c_cifCaWkX7qGw0Xm7_1tQvH_yc3DvdT23cz6CldA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Polk County Heritage Society's Train Village.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv9IQCiE814B8TEY65L4mq5pCZIyD8AszcONW7AZJAYdT9-3k08bzRISCa19gbS4rdcEUumIMtOpKzVO73kIktsmLUH5S5l1GITmmZY2iWzDcdPzCHq2tyb_JzGnjPf6yYP0WZQ3-vV_p9ETrtaP9Jmdrrd_EYgtZekp12MPO7D7x3BvJolP44wZEvNw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2406" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv9IQCiE814B8TEY65L4mq5pCZIyD8AszcONW7AZJAYdT9-3k08bzRISCa19gbS4rdcEUumIMtOpKzVO73kIktsmLUH5S5l1GITmmZY2iWzDcdPzCHq2tyb_JzGnjPf6yYP0WZQ3-vV_p9ETrtaP9Jmdrrd_EYgtZekp12MPO7D7x3BvJolP44wZEvNw=w400-h191" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">We always appreciate the reminder from First Baptist Church of the true reason for the season.</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipqPUHn_xwoKO1FF6LlyM2nntKl7Z2V0tyvnxNNmwajUqL_HBV8Sw-fW1VxdozaCgOQq3EWAZlb44wraX2iKdYgapHZ5a6gchYbq2C_NMloeVICsjm_OEjz9fc3dzfKhvMJi-OAesc051zYJDUxqNugcefYR4Ge9CuUkC1J--CGja2xNK3wqj4c1G6fQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="3182" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipqPUHn_xwoKO1FF6LlyM2nntKl7Z2V0tyvnxNNmwajUqL_HBV8Sw-fW1VxdozaCgOQq3EWAZlb44wraX2iKdYgapHZ5a6gchYbq2C_NMloeVICsjm_OEjz9fc3dzfKhvMJi-OAesc051zYJDUxqNugcefYR4Ge9CuUkC1J--CGja2xNK3wqj4c1G6fQ=w400-h173" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scene from the First United Methodist Church's play, "A TX Christmas Carol".</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgM2eL5CwbmUPgfXmtZtEXeEuQuiL9-3E270CoUhUE-PMOdYXSDn3VtGG7V-L3d-r6ZZGg_rktz9vysJFqrgaxPVFZvypJTsXSZcJYhCF3uY2XeiMYtPQsdFiVcuYCx7FvjvWmAW6Q8j6TvYCFUdVDMy6hEwwpOu964DZJT05Ifp6ubBL1eOCoIyO45A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="3670" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgM2eL5CwbmUPgfXmtZtEXeEuQuiL9-3E270CoUhUE-PMOdYXSDn3VtGG7V-L3d-r6ZZGg_rktz9vysJFqrgaxPVFZvypJTsXSZcJYhCF3uY2XeiMYtPQsdFiVcuYCx7FvjvWmAW6Q8j6TvYCFUdVDMy6hEwwpOu964DZJT05Ifp6ubBL1eOCoIyO45A=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carolers at Escapees Rainbow's End RV Park.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrZs-7WtklGbeJqlDAI4alI05ssRFbHENlWy3uFfQLn0Fu6ggWUwaLnpGrHKEh4rIr7iJUtQvQwuif-a87j2CPRFjVEdcLtcDtaiq8sJVq3Gpt6sMFJRSDy2e1QcYaWXZybyWWOVp0D_O3rYlEM-1y1rS1uRy7ATFxAgP1deT6p-EjBMAqhcJeGLAb_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrZs-7WtklGbeJqlDAI4alI05ssRFbHENlWy3uFfQLn0Fu6ggWUwaLnpGrHKEh4rIr7iJUtQvQwuif-a87j2CPRFjVEdcLtcDtaiq8sJVq3Gpt6sMFJRSDy2e1QcYaWXZybyWWOVp0D_O3rYlEM-1y1rS1uRy7ATFxAgP1deT6p-EjBMAqhcJeGLAb_Q=w400-h180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were the tail end of the Caroling Caravan.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrZs-7WtklGbeJqlDAI4alI05ssRFbHENlWy3uFfQLn0Fu6ggWUwaLnpGrHKEh4rIr7iJUtQvQwuif-a87j2CPRFjVEdcLtcDtaiq8sJVq3Gpt6sMFJRSDy2e1QcYaWXZybyWWOVp0D_O3rYlEM-1y1rS1uRy7ATFxAgP1deT6p-EjBMAqhcJeGLAb_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In addition to
all the holiday activities we did in Livingston, we had a 3-day stay in
Jefferson, TX for their Candlelight Tour of Homes. Of course, it was a blustery 40F degree day
when we embarked upon Maximus the Trike for this 3-hour ride. So, we stopped to thaw out and enjoy a late
breakfast at the retro 1st City Café within the Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We started our Jefferson
adventures by learning about the city’s past and perusing Marion County
artifacts at the Jefferson Historical Museum, whose structure was once a Federal C</span><span style="font-family: arial;">ourthouse and later a post office. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Jefferson
was founded circa 1840 and named for our 4</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> Prez.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">A 100-mile log jam on the Red River proved
beneficial to Jefferson—the jam acted as </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a dam and made water levels optimal to
accommodate commercial river travel.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Boats from New Orleans unloaded cargo and tourists in Jefferson.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1870, Jefferson was second only to
Galveston as a port.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dubbed as The Queen
City, it was the 6</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> largest city in all of TX at that time, boasting
a population of 30,000.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then the US Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) came in to wreak havoc.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They used nitroglycerin to unclog the Great
Red River Raft in 1873, thereby lowering the water levels and killing the
riverboat industry.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Jefferson’s population
dwindled rapidly.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Jefferson is now home
to less than 2,000.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkEWhth9MVb3SUDJy8fazxHnPxCcpnekxPjWo9r5khVLlru92RT9qzyLs1Optlwyu6PnNX7xLVZ17wcp05g88HG9jR-P6HWnGrJDIK79xAiWpE3lWrrydMQpoX9zJZqmpW_U11s5CD_5HRyoW9Lc48Bsb9YKKTEfNAjifRykL53Jz69bPLTAqacgISBA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkEWhth9MVb3SUDJy8fazxHnPxCcpnekxPjWo9r5khVLlru92RT9qzyLs1Optlwyu6PnNX7xLVZ17wcp05g88HG9jR-P6HWnGrJDIK79xAiWpE3lWrrydMQpoX9zJZqmpW_U11s5CD_5HRyoW9Lc48Bsb9YKKTEfNAjifRykL53Jz69bPLTAqacgISBA=w272-h400" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exterior of the Jefferson Historical Museum...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DFfKMmp7ZUBzuPw_GpRuj4-R-09TwI07lVvgVvNF0Up8I-uW8wcAZEvRC6ua5bPwYNp6F3F2Tbh6v1WDe53XwJm0YO1kaEzJ5uv3MnNVG6pSiB9rSed7fVUAiezNGLvZjM6DGPZnTUbyYl5hWldaIqU4QU9ku42lOeWc5gs5u0QgIRPf2bpjt_r2tQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DFfKMmp7ZUBzuPw_GpRuj4-R-09TwI07lVvgVvNF0Up8I-uW8wcAZEvRC6ua5bPwYNp6F3F2Tbh6v1WDe53XwJm0YO1kaEzJ5uv3MnNVG6pSiB9rSed7fVUAiezNGLvZjM6DGPZnTUbyYl5hWldaIqU4QU9ku42lOeWc5gs5u0QgIRPf2bpjt_r2tQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A sampling of exhibits... </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrX_oKtNGmL44B4fvC6Ow2h1uxDwE4_OGtIr49tevOfmVu2x0z25pxMW0cupbX5mWeoV16WsELDg4c4gspRJo2F5wHdaUgZlC10FZ4A4XLg6UR4sThsbifajE5gB-lvir3Ghr1O1Yuyht3WoDMpFGey8h2dOuN9j3cd2S81H6zKqIMbDgb4a6C_NXjYg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrX_oKtNGmL44B4fvC6Ow2h1uxDwE4_OGtIr49tevOfmVu2x0z25pxMW0cupbX5mWeoV16WsELDg4c4gspRJo2F5wHdaUgZlC10FZ4A4XLg6UR4sThsbifajE5gB-lvir3Ghr1O1Yuyht3WoDMpFGey8h2dOuN9j3cd2S81H6zKqIMbDgb4a6C_NXjYg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...within the Museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But the
townsfolk have done a terrific job of preserving and repurposing structures
like converting an 1865 saloon/brothel into the Kahn Hotel, where we reserved second
floor accommodations. We had a lovely
room with period furnishings, reclaimed wood floors, and warm, earthy tones on the walls. What we didn’t have was a visit from any
spirits. Considering the Kahn Hotel is
ranked as #7 among the most haunted buildings within the Lone Star State, I can
only presume the ghosts were afraid to rumble with this Rambling RV Rat!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbZg8BM9O5ME4JqcG9JWt8W6WaoHd5aWSMFL0vAMg_pd8RA0w6QP8Iz3uht-im9qjNPo_YqS6hFLpYw0Dq8Q8CAN09hFTkEOKWsvWzRNf-IHE9FIUU8YMtzx2bXn8xIEIvUk0v_BWY7_uhJ3F85Rg5BQSpKc_yXqwZWHXQMjE-k6yS7MiBAHClXHdXgw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbZg8BM9O5ME4JqcG9JWt8W6WaoHd5aWSMFL0vAMg_pd8RA0w6QP8Iz3uht-im9qjNPo_YqS6hFLpYw0Dq8Q8CAN09hFTkEOKWsvWzRNf-IHE9FIUU8YMtzx2bXn8xIEIvUk0v_BWY7_uhJ3F85Rg5BQSpKc_yXqwZWHXQMjE-k6yS7MiBAHClXHdXgw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvaEPNxXfhIA2juPo9SK_rhh0fyZL5K56ahLeMszia442CHMZNBhIuan_6b-Ab6ChZsAh7w-PZewt2Z9X6BZfZYxgodBCClXi7IXDDtNuXswttaBJCTiA2lZEUZnIwg4-euwP5JCnTgzIaggrHgQPA145qxkevUOTrvHrMb4JKuMObH-Rey-zVvyQeLA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvaEPNxXfhIA2juPo9SK_rhh0fyZL5K56ahLeMszia442CHMZNBhIuan_6b-Ab6ChZsAh7w-PZewt2Z9X6BZfZYxgodBCClXi7IXDDtNuXswttaBJCTiA2lZEUZnIwg4-euwP5JCnTgzIaggrHgQPA145qxkevUOTrvHrMb4JKuMObH-Rey-zVvyQeLA" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-DPSKzXfRSZf6iVVg4AwcgoQ0TROkLQbanKfFPHACrEJMIbMs8qvl-rlxUEhFSpkBAsXibJkaHtOyqgoITX5jRM4MNRXbf1WZgkwbwcDcm0QmR3AUBqR0vkcHRlXdHDTv84zZweBSufY8zRr7mbo13cSqa0vaUETVbHl6BkszlDlxz7MG-aJrjitWdw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-DPSKzXfRSZf6iVVg4AwcgoQ0TROkLQbanKfFPHACrEJMIbMs8qvl-rlxUEhFSpkBAsXibJkaHtOyqgoITX5jRM4MNRXbf1WZgkwbwcDcm0QmR3AUBqR0vkcHRlXdHDTv84zZweBSufY8zRr7mbo13cSqa0vaUETVbHl6BkszlDlxz7MG-aJrjitWdw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee shop within the Kahn Hotel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have
attended holiday house tours throughout the years in NJ, NY, PA, in our
hometown of Livingston, TX. They were
always enjoyable, truly festive, fine examples of creativity, and a labor of love by the homeowners to make
it a magical experience for guests. The
properties on display in Jefferson, TX were no exception. Though they varied in architecture, age, and
decorations/ornamentation, all truly captured the spirit of the season. We took tons of photos, but I am only including a small sampling. We had a blast. And walking the route rather than riding
Maximus provided us with added ambience, including seeing the Enchanted Forest with themed trees decorated by area businesses and families.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNwgCAwmyj2TWQGw2y17YUzWaSe1c5e17UAbocFKhystwxOZCqvaBqJeHW0_fHew3N2aadp9BK1vaJ-OvGxS3sFZ2lhYUGoC27QBTFeBpeJppKlXtSW17kIiTfMwsKHIKeUXWfZHSQzei2kVt-z59ta6_QYyvd1ifVwkOnb9J9fl6DD-f76NqbXa9XIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNwgCAwmyj2TWQGw2y17YUzWaSe1c5e17UAbocFKhystwxOZCqvaBqJeHW0_fHew3N2aadp9BK1vaJ-OvGxS3sFZ2lhYUGoC27QBTFeBpeJppKlXtSW17kIiTfMwsKHIKeUXWfZHSQzei2kVt-z59ta6_QYyvd1ifVwkOnb9J9fl6DD-f76NqbXa9XIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Jz5iyqCgDZfxNxHda0WaQ9aMv1AwDjlYEzCj3l5lGSuJ7XPgt6c8HO-YHURSk1WHUytfb-gzTkueQnhgfMbRJWJa5QQIhwPhE2GvOVjkS-WE82m2C4kSY8OONVwqbiST5kUaZf1E7NJOnGoOsHNDDlOjB_tEKoPgShi7JCZ9x1XHGgfeK9jbAS1Oug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Jz5iyqCgDZfxNxHda0WaQ9aMv1AwDjlYEzCj3l5lGSuJ7XPgt6c8HO-YHURSk1WHUytfb-gzTkueQnhgfMbRJWJa5QQIhwPhE2GvOVjkS-WE82m2C4kSY8OONVwqbiST5kUaZf1E7NJOnGoOsHNDDlOjB_tEKoPgShi7JCZ9x1XHGgfeK9jbAS1Oug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Jz5iyqCgDZfxNxHda0WaQ9aMv1AwDjlYEzCj3l5lGSuJ7XPgt6c8HO-YHURSk1WHUytfb-gzTkueQnhgfMbRJWJa5QQIhwPhE2GvOVjkS-WE82m2C4kSY8OONVwqbiST5kUaZf1E7NJOnGoOsHNDDlOjB_tEKoPgShi7JCZ9x1XHGgfeK9jbAS1Oug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Jz5iyqCgDZfxNxHda0WaQ9aMv1AwDjlYEzCj3l5lGSuJ7XPgt6c8HO-YHURSk1WHUytfb-gzTkueQnhgfMbRJWJa5QQIhwPhE2GvOVjkS-WE82m2C4kSY8OONVwqbiST5kUaZf1E7NJOnGoOsHNDDlOjB_tEKoPgShi7JCZ9x1XHGgfeK9jbAS1Oug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTw9u83oFQxo705fhNOqEs-tUIW2HHRbXCLySZO_7eg_7PaAJbImvDeYhr50oxM00K3KtTxy6HtDZ60yQxBzabKHwA2fC6Mhb0S53Pe_Br2AfsRoulKTUBB8yMKbEf-Wmu4hfWJopczCPLd3HGPZQkkJbLz519fstpU5YYW5nz6nOSm9WG9pmNYenBGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTw9u83oFQxo705fhNOqEs-tUIW2HHRbXCLySZO_7eg_7PaAJbImvDeYhr50oxM00K3KtTxy6HtDZ60yQxBzabKHwA2fC6Mhb0S53Pe_Br2AfsRoulKTUBB8yMKbEf-Wmu4hfWJopczCPLd3HGPZQkkJbLz519fstpU5YYW5nz6nOSm9WG9pmNYenBGg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFSIiYjmE39IR5nIINJzgnXVNeNqD71HVJsw8iPqJuTOq-bEZd-isKz11nr9N5QBjyb-5ilIYNusGK3LgYMiWL_7miLW8q-TS6IM5Ib5ltjSfGHInN-Zt7C7NzS6KzYEaqu1aKq2e7Bprjla6Wxv4aKqRDDH8pWgQ_axJezGtk7mWu_TkIBwnZUP--yg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFSIiYjmE39IR5nIINJzgnXVNeNqD71HVJsw8iPqJuTOq-bEZd-isKz11nr9N5QBjyb-5ilIYNusGK3LgYMiWL_7miLW8q-TS6IM5Ib5ltjSfGHInN-Zt7C7NzS6KzYEaqu1aKq2e7Bprjla6Wxv4aKqRDDH8pWgQ_axJezGtk7mWu_TkIBwnZUP--yg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas tree shaped by stacked books!</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3Jz5iyqCgDZfxNxHda0WaQ9aMv1AwDjlYEzCj3l5lGSuJ7XPgt6c8HO-YHURSk1WHUytfb-gzTkueQnhgfMbRJWJa5QQIhwPhE2GvOVjkS-WE82m2C4kSY8OONVwqbiST5kUaZf1E7NJOnGoOsHNDDlOjB_tEKoPgShi7JCZ9x1XHGgfeK9jbAS1Oug=w400-h180" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMdTJiKe0pOv-7bKz0VYrJnvhrmjdj28WS8uvdkYfTKiZDKaBi-OwDnxvw8RrTbUbvcvhXvrIbSJQnfyw7OL3mJRsm9mrRTiTu_wBtePXyboiTSwGrHHptuYnEmgQBgs-heWou2k56zkCAzInyEN3WwVBCjA6clPbTs8kfSrGTRgThn98zmFMECrzAQg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMdTJiKe0pOv-7bKz0VYrJnvhrmjdj28WS8uvdkYfTKiZDKaBi-OwDnxvw8RrTbUbvcvhXvrIbSJQnfyw7OL3mJRsm9mrRTiTu_wBtePXyboiTSwGrHHptuYnEmgQBgs-heWou2k56zkCAzInyEN3WwVBCjA6clPbTs8kfSrGTRgThn98zmFMECrzAQg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7KGhw-lccuRUJastzVGNaf2vnPpxfA1kHVfM6NtNFyHnj-2lF1QQ8pCdqqRqcx-acIIEU6MGVxcnC-bKdhudek_ouWFxNsR66ij_7o0i5aR_RBpJkCKMKcbKvUcrHc4QmwHTUFmpwUMFpz2OBpJ-wwImCxketdc6gk2OmVgJMyf_smeIsvgLfKfA0_A" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7KGhw-lccuRUJastzVGNaf2vnPpxfA1kHVfM6NtNFyHnj-2lF1QQ8pCdqqRqcx-acIIEU6MGVxcnC-bKdhudek_ouWFxNsR66ij_7o0i5aR_RBpJkCKMKcbKvUcrHc4QmwHTUFmpwUMFpz2OBpJ-wwImCxketdc6gk2OmVgJMyf_smeIsvgLfKfA0_A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO_E_uk8MRgO9WJPespVPAx1MXfhSANoHPte-JtoThk_OaR2fsqZklHL4mqNzanA__ssMRe8TVFFb0lWVh3XfGewLxDNRmqBEvwngT0732osIpsp9X8cDYHHNRNVsZWwQvp15xLZgm6OhTfkD9OQ5O0lVMEJB9r-C0r_RSELR99xnkmsZncoNhdNGnhg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO_E_uk8MRgO9WJPespVPAx1MXfhSANoHPte-JtoThk_OaR2fsqZklHL4mqNzanA__ssMRe8TVFFb0lWVh3XfGewLxDNRmqBEvwngT0732osIpsp9X8cDYHHNRNVsZWwQvp15xLZgm6OhTfkD9OQ5O0lVMEJB9r-C0r_RSELR99xnkmsZncoNhdNGnhg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBhYDzF_Ul_nFtda7I5IeqgXiSw5iNLf4PeYDs0ReHmWOv8wWZvDBhlIlXMZin1fqqulvpJrJnyi8m44HaOcq9-4gN4VnNT5mDlL236GKhG9BkHr7MlIoXmtq6HFCohR8U00dKzawR9fAP35mzGt8UP6w3BKlCkJx2lvAiqi7vW_haK3py1Q_V4Tw_ZQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBhYDzF_Ul_nFtda7I5IeqgXiSw5iNLf4PeYDs0ReHmWOv8wWZvDBhlIlXMZin1fqqulvpJrJnyi8m44HaOcq9-4gN4VnNT5mDlL236GKhG9BkHr7MlIoXmtq6HFCohR8U00dKzawR9fAP35mzGt8UP6w3BKlCkJx2lvAiqi7vW_haK3py1Q_V4Tw_ZQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolers entertaining the guests.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzN_zjHs-xs7-kjcR9lBjMZaeoqGA-jqC5LahS489AM2XduAktRZUQSVD_LGGbTJnD9uJy0xWa9sDftKnyV7rHCDh8otzoUb5Du4nirOnPTmpO_Qw-LYR4wxL0OFv0fSyQl1oGQfl0Zr1DmVExPZ7xfymesiEB18DjMaj-1Y-h5cNeV9Hz90ajItD3ng" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzN_zjHs-xs7-kjcR9lBjMZaeoqGA-jqC5LahS489AM2XduAktRZUQSVD_LGGbTJnD9uJy0xWa9sDftKnyV7rHCDh8otzoUb5Du4nirOnPTmpO_Qw-LYR4wxL0OFv0fSyQl1oGQfl0Zr1DmVExPZ7xfymesiEB18DjMaj-1Y-h5cNeV9Hz90ajItD3ng=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHuR2ff3pVgvKVCqQHVoYWiDY9Vg14ealo7P_Ry-r4lZ-qg_F3k9Bf-aYiUvsR6JX0Gtsiuslvz3OCSErP_SgnnYICFDiGf16PqR0btNkgSr-bf9624qpkh682XyC80wWK90pKWyPdiNX74qftrLk193TUC7HRHSBeI-kY---avROHPMh982Y9CgRBQQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHuR2ff3pVgvKVCqQHVoYWiDY9Vg14ealo7P_Ry-r4lZ-qg_F3k9Bf-aYiUvsR6JX0Gtsiuslvz3OCSErP_SgnnYICFDiGf16PqR0btNkgSr-bf9624qpkh682XyC80wWK90pKWyPdiNX74qftrLk193TUC7HRHSBeI-kY---avROHPMh982Y9CgRBQQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioa-MspDR3nELEf12RNSi66OUnaAx6g2CF79itTAD4eIiE-r1c68U2_LY4GbqTjTFD7jU36H3SureBm8BPWr4b8XwlRfyRokRDIOCsx2u3pJzw07Xdk0qORydYKGxy-mk1B03D-VAKUsULytvWPey7qvI07TfQ0eNfXaZGhTLaZC0Zfud6Bn2AOglihw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioa-MspDR3nELEf12RNSi66OUnaAx6g2CF79itTAD4eIiE-r1c68U2_LY4GbqTjTFD7jU36H3SureBm8BPWr4b8XwlRfyRokRDIOCsx2u3pJzw07Xdk0qORydYKGxy-mk1B03D-VAKUsULytvWPey7qvI07TfQ0eNfXaZGhTLaZC0Zfud6Bn2AOglihw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surprisingly,
Jefferson has some excellent restaurants.
This Rambling RV Rat highly recommends McGarity Restaurant and
Saloon. It has terrific atmosphere and
service. Plus, it offers a selection of
plant-based options for Dad along with Irish favorites and American fare for
carnivores. It was our go-to
eatery. We also enjoyed the small but
varied menu at Austin Street Bistro. And though not nearly as good as Italian
cuisine from back East, Roma’s Italian Restaurant sufficed in a pinch.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ-QDt5fLHBulxtxxro1LblOrgNAtMLL3H6BFLEBC951sOe_YrD_oQ5x5vN7_MDrve4AZGSdViASk2QMHHatzWzxeQtxQqKNOktvyJYm6-v-CZNhHmCO1qiCkIvG1hw6kTM8uBNR3URnlsoYTRgp6TpXP7hMQqZkG3qd-alxaAT0a4omHaCNr3abMMbg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ-QDt5fLHBulxtxxro1LblOrgNAtMLL3H6BFLEBC951sOe_YrD_oQ5x5vN7_MDrve4AZGSdViASk2QMHHatzWzxeQtxQqKNOktvyJYm6-v-CZNhHmCO1qiCkIvG1hw6kTM8uBNR3URnlsoYTRgp6TpXP7hMQqZkG3qd-alxaAT0a4omHaCNr3abMMbg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Interior of McGarity Restaurant and Saloon.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We walked around downtown, and browsed around the small shops including the General Store/Mercantile. Their vintage and varied merchandise and
retro decors brought back many fond memories, compelling me to add a mouse
ornament to my collection, Dad to buy a University of TX Longhorns ornament,
and Mom to purchase C&C (cute AND comfortable) ankle boots. We walked along the History and Nature Center
Trail, enjoying the artist-in-residency’s creations that were mingled within
the wooded setting. I even spotted Big
Foot! It was a terrific mini getaway and
added immensely to our holiday cheer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSrjeQp1tbGMuAoC9dI5Zl2XPjsxsfZMJ64T2qUb_EQkehIJCPq-1LcqchJ6iFv3UjmGQ5vXNOU9WQRTN1ns1NadyCBuxapIRyZ5wXD990QcfaeY1bvyBxbAscE5vNSHPX58n3XUttqGsvLnX-TyEwV_Sym9AIu3ECPPbsMoU_9DSjZtHGEZ0DBwLERg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSrjeQp1tbGMuAoC9dI5Zl2XPjsxsfZMJ64T2qUb_EQkehIJCPq-1LcqchJ6iFv3UjmGQ5vXNOU9WQRTN1ns1NadyCBuxapIRyZ5wXD990QcfaeY1bvyBxbAscE5vNSHPX58n3XUttqGsvLnX-TyEwV_Sym9AIu3ECPPbsMoU_9DSjZtHGEZ0DBwLERg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzo1DA2EXaOUY2ogQ-ROqvRydHWyvavw57-wpYZApk5SX_dH5r6I2BYSX9L8w3988Vhp7WQV3Gw33j2bZ8B_NGnWcDtMHapSznpIkHJrhdbYuiQPyytLZ9JXJTqQR-H4Jc-c-0qbUKWxfOjLZY5F0K3LWXH4g0AOLwgRoHvolVhKfkHp9GcBEcRGczw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMzo1DA2EXaOUY2ogQ-ROqvRydHWyvavw57-wpYZApk5SX_dH5r6I2BYSX9L8w3988Vhp7WQV3Gw33j2bZ8B_NGnWcDtMHapSznpIkHJrhdbYuiQPyytLZ9JXJTqQR-H4Jc-c-0qbUKWxfOjLZY5F0K3LWXH4g0AOLwgRoHvolVhKfkHp9GcBEcRGczw" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiOZC5KWjhuyABcymp9-XEuEqSXnbOIw6g7BUG8y1A_Xj-r92fdCGX5DU4PYhTcHfYbwkG6tE-jNABr246WIfpTryDy9ITqg98uKAutI4rbcwJEHe6jysOogv0TQNZ7ARF-e9RlP70FrcxHg5qguYCe8RPZazXWsnIbLUJl3eHvM7W7Wna091hDmVsw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiOZC5KWjhuyABcymp9-XEuEqSXnbOIw6g7BUG8y1A_Xj-r92fdCGX5DU4PYhTcHfYbwkG6tE-jNABr246WIfpTryDy9ITqg98uKAutI4rbcwJEHe6jysOogv0TQNZ7ARF-e9RlP70FrcxHg5qguYCe8RPZazXWsnIbLUJl3eHvM7W7Wna091hDmVsw" width="135" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDNoUMjnBFjGWkT1u3OrLnd46f-uPNjfhSJEh3ftxxpkDgUPhoKk6_AX7RF6OG6SFRyzkmIbSxm3p5D-wDHVR_zI0qyPv5J5oL5FwA1l4AJcvNdmaJlk9qpksElu8T_h2ic0gtg2mwY0TshRSZ6hdznOzfQVG8GZHN0BDIxDcsV0fTZ5TMsNZm1v2yfA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDNoUMjnBFjGWkT1u3OrLnd46f-uPNjfhSJEh3ftxxpkDgUPhoKk6_AX7RF6OG6SFRyzkmIbSxm3p5D-wDHVR_zI0qyPv5J5oL5FwA1l4AJcvNdmaJlk9qpksElu8T_h2ic0gtg2mwY0TshRSZ6hdznOzfQVG8GZHN0BDIxDcsV0fTZ5TMsNZm1v2yfA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNwgCAwmyj2TWQGw2y17YUzWaSe1c5e17UAbocFKhystwxOZCqvaBqJeHW0_fHew3N2aadp9BK1vaJ-OvGxS3sFZ2lhYUGoC27QBTFeBpeJppKlXtSW17kIiTfMwsKHIKeUXWfZHSQzei2kVt-z59ta6_QYyvd1ifVwkOnb9J9fl6DD-f76NqbXa9XIw=w400-h180" width="400" /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2kTujI48fJPzgMzT0Ja5WX1q_S7ylzmrPF-hGxDaYagcFCEVY38wdCAjAzv0liTsv17GQGsFlNBArwNhGquVd0GiQvMXBOvVB5zSlfrLjZbZKF5Fuy14DYN-6pOYtBJCNCO6O4YfygDE8nnvjxodzNgjvO2hyGlBwwjXfVcZTrz2Kbugn1hK1jmUB0w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2861" data-original-width="1671" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2kTujI48fJPzgMzT0Ja5WX1q_S7ylzmrPF-hGxDaYagcFCEVY38wdCAjAzv0liTsv17GQGsFlNBArwNhGquVd0GiQvMXBOvVB5zSlfrLjZbZKF5Fuy14DYN-6pOYtBJCNCO6O4YfygDE8nnvjxodzNgjvO2hyGlBwwjXfVcZTrz2Kbugn1hK1jmUB0w=w233-h400" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm in luv!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3gyhCqGjAROcXzbvTvVXp3rniMqU76AZPoGUL7EGbmdD2f6SJHQiNg6tnZUgvIQ2Ggoh7qgKmpp4O0mcjRe0zoXR9hcBXPmiPIs51O1l1jkUSHUUln-N2rwI_OmRhN7pE8JGLUO_ywH8VqyqobpY8zgGOcN0wsT2fWFnwTdide4DK8kZZP71Dql-3qg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3gyhCqGjAROcXzbvTvVXp3rniMqU76AZPoGUL7EGbmdD2f6SJHQiNg6tnZUgvIQ2Ggoh7qgKmpp4O0mcjRe0zoXR9hcBXPmiPIs51O1l1jkUSHUUln-N2rwI_OmRhN7pE8JGLUO_ywH8VqyqobpY8zgGOcN0wsT2fWFnwTdide4DK8kZZP71Dql-3qg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3-6ftLBqD2VyxX-yT8z7LSW_KyLaiOCUFFDKNquBANPVBlxlQcVSZlWXV6W2RKhYfTiIL8SmxDXVTS0oNZVhHEzw7db37reFuMS7Bqo1338B43jgkdghFvmWzO5dksK5qpOB8Mx6BIPV76hderopqUr27R_009KGh8pfaaGAKIWsgiGmoiPahFGvuUA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3-6ftLBqD2VyxX-yT8z7LSW_KyLaiOCUFFDKNquBANPVBlxlQcVSZlWXV6W2RKhYfTiIL8SmxDXVTS0oNZVhHEzw7db37reFuMS7Bqo1338B43jgkdghFvmWzO5dksK5qpOB8Mx6BIPV76hderopqUr27R_009KGh8pfaaGAKIWsgiGmoiPahFGvuUA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Foot likes to hike this trail, too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We contributed
to several food, gift, and toy drives this holiday season including one
sponsored by Gateway Classics in Houston, TX, where we got to see some terrific
sets of wheels. But, by far, our hearts
were warmed most by joining the San Jacinto High Rollers on their motorcycle
charity run to benefit Boys and Girls Country in Hockley, TX. For us, it encompassed 200 miles, so it was a
LONG day of riding. But it was an
uplifting and gratifying experience to be together with the youngsters and
teens for the first time since COVID reared its ugly head and to watch their
excitement when they received gifts from Santa.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwop3_M5DYIvGkKiacXdcA7Mih84iMKGMA328Yr1b-04XPny501K7vlkLNy69V1UcfyFAoSCOwno_83PJGKu7MYbWvTPVcmiLOYhSSMGfovPzxtdVHqEFt51FEIasXw4qe6pS_T6HlQ8AvgSSkwy_Rpm6RHflMawyFCSYOq-l9KBl8QmNEwSzPyaPbKA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwop3_M5DYIvGkKiacXdcA7Mih84iMKGMA328Yr1b-04XPny501K7vlkLNy69V1UcfyFAoSCOwno_83PJGKu7MYbWvTPVcmiLOYhSSMGfovPzxtdVHqEFt51FEIasXw4qe6pS_T6HlQ8AvgSSkwy_Rpm6RHflMawyFCSYOq-l9KBl8QmNEwSzPyaPbKA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhejBHx-03MTLHsj8qhhe8vk10dNU-a1qKAWXpf5cnahaATDGnTOyDGqg76rD0OhYX3buWeEGA3EmVMGdyKQdEMAS0FTmEBR_gGqnYEj9W6NvP_rIabzu7cJHNNoXh2AeEaqb-wDKGy-ZI64H1I2eKBWlzDAp584Sx9ELYpV3sl1RKLSwHZrR0qESRgRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhejBHx-03MTLHsj8qhhe8vk10dNU-a1qKAWXpf5cnahaATDGnTOyDGqg76rD0OhYX3buWeEGA3EmVMGdyKQdEMAS0FTmEBR_gGqnYEj9W6NvP_rIabzu7cJHNNoXh2AeEaqb-wDKGy-ZI64H1I2eKBWlzDAp584Sx9ELYpV3sl1RKLSwHZrR0qESRgRQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL0mWCYnaZylA0isJz3q7xmqH2S0GSG9JcOORKMD6jANGntD91Wi8MkDOvHrQznWigCgZkG5hWAcB5kZaXLKBw9yC9HEtg8FsMpRNQl09yUdA-yIMHAwyM7ceE0mOQdlXEp_aPsDz-Taa26tC341mLCnZMO90Nln84trzwZLF6HHhInOlZMRN0-C2J-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL0mWCYnaZylA0isJz3q7xmqH2S0GSG9JcOORKMD6jANGntD91Wi8MkDOvHrQznWigCgZkG5hWAcB5kZaXLKBw9yC9HEtg8FsMpRNQl09yUdA-yIMHAwyM7ceE0mOQdlXEp_aPsDz-Taa26tC341mLCnZMO90Nln84trzwZLF6HHhInOlZMRN0-C2J-w=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPNbsq5UfdocLbGaiSLwk8VmRowlGGcUZk4Kz7Y_v_akB942oTlw0i6n1sPnCkBj2PkNxh3ezNWyMVEHWROaPSY8VmNw6gnJOYbjGisf_Uy6tQTb0FOfr5q-2_4Nf-u1-ZoWqT9eh1DnwtSDhropbtHOS9DxT-msKWfKSH5OfZLuIuBlNJvZM3pai5_w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPNbsq5UfdocLbGaiSLwk8VmRowlGGcUZk4Kz7Y_v_akB942oTlw0i6n1sPnCkBj2PkNxh3ezNWyMVEHWROaPSY8VmNw6gnJOYbjGisf_Uy6tQTb0FOfr5q-2_4Nf-u1-ZoWqT9eh1DnwtSDhropbtHOS9DxT-msKWfKSH5OfZLuIuBlNJvZM3pai5_w=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEMG-oEjUEN9967Hq1DQcrOpeznHXpFot2YDaPe8OG8X2NN4Hy3HyFk0XekM2-Jd7hjs5rJeFOaFSNreAqsGVAjAzxw4jJDdiRlgQIDS5t0XeceQpt5bMIdy2Ong0aEvA_6fVRO47a4RHT09uNzng7ZsT694iBxO8bZJ4_xmCV_m-5DDbaiK0A1Nw2Dg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="3243" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEMG-oEjUEN9967Hq1DQcrOpeznHXpFot2YDaPe8OG8X2NN4Hy3HyFk0XekM2-Jd7hjs5rJeFOaFSNreAqsGVAjAzxw4jJDdiRlgQIDS5t0XeceQpt5bMIdy2Ong0aEvA_6fVRO47a4RHT09uNzng7ZsT694iBxO8bZJ4_xmCV_m-5DDbaiK0A1Nw2Dg=w400-h171" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='333' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx-EttN0sljXpCroGi65hfNSvgY0CzHrmB97Q_O-KvlP9OtiExZEZ8lG8nPxN32GGNiqBr9BiklsN9GxkzLmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Speaking of
motorcycling, we participated in 2 wreath-laying missions with the East and
Southeast Chapters of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). Both missions offered
drier and warmer weather than in prior years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVNct4CbwUgBguxakvGyJ79tipSXZdIUuyypOE4ecriQZeO_7P_saOEEwshbbP3a7DPhHJHlTbdxYk8eEEcqzqEnKDWGYRm9jD_HXAm5fso7VFV0T4XegrDduhgdXbJxEsYLOu0dvSUU-NPEROMMJBfSPrqe0DDDpucFBS1P7gY7N2yVdu5HTsKx4ylA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1631" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVNct4CbwUgBguxakvGyJ79tipSXZdIUuyypOE4ecriQZeO_7P_saOEEwshbbP3a7DPhHJHlTbdxYk8eEEcqzqEnKDWGYRm9jD_HXAm5fso7VFV0T4XegrDduhgdXbJxEsYLOu0dvSUU-NPEROMMJBfSPrqe0DDDpucFBS1P7gY7N2yVdu5HTsKx4ylA=w400-h255" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fellow Patriot Guard Riders.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicb3VeMZo1lnz8Crg7N3UXsoR4YD8ULf1vQyCtYPpo1il-c4FONEYUJ57c0742ShgemFJMxDQe-9hHOefQQ-ggHAAMTsGfWPlI_-wDmYzXWmZgr-ZyrqkhPPXxDyh5OH7qbPmU9a0zVxvzgGOqOA1vzbh1xzilbxb4-kfnZetgoGnH0IaW040LIks3tg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicb3VeMZo1lnz8Crg7N3UXsoR4YD8ULf1vQyCtYPpo1il-c4FONEYUJ57c0742ShgemFJMxDQe-9hHOefQQ-ggHAAMTsGfWPlI_-wDmYzXWmZgr-ZyrqkhPPXxDyh5OH7qbPmU9a0zVxvzgGOqOA1vzbh1xzilbxb4-kfnZetgoGnH0IaW040LIks3tg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wreaths Across America at Memorial Gardens, Lufkin.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdEASJkWUeYFWGsXjVQ0Cx92y1MUFV9aFS4k7KZuF6wT_vvbHd4JAeg3xWGrM2JXK7tXml8RWBaZen4W81qCMrg71yRbSFgy_AeO-4wdE_hKq39n-NdwGeb4hjWcS7y-mjjEy3LkTcQ0h73Ehg_b0kIh0_y6oCsv1AUtJfWuIUnWRUmzFIMs4fIpFHYQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdEASJkWUeYFWGsXjVQ0Cx92y1MUFV9aFS4k7KZuF6wT_vvbHd4JAeg3xWGrM2JXK7tXml8RWBaZen4W81qCMrg71yRbSFgy_AeO-4wdE_hKq39n-NdwGeb4hjWcS7y-mjjEy3LkTcQ0h73Ehg_b0kIh0_y6oCsv1AUtJfWuIUnWRUmzFIMs4fIpFHYQ" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wreath-laying for Livingston's own PFC Stuart Moore.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lanette, whom
we met in MN this summer, invited us to get together in Crystal Beach, TX, an
enclave on the Bollivar Peninsula at which she secured a work-camping gig. The fog was as thick as pea soup that
day. But the less-than-ideal visibility
conditions didn’t damper our spirits. We sat on the beach along the Gulf of
Mexico. You can drive your vehicle or
even park your RV beachfront down here.
Very cool. We enjoyed great
conversation and a tasty meal at Mamma Mia’s Woodfire Pizzeria which overlooks
the Bay. We then parted ways, and we put
Maximus the Trike onboard the Ferry over to Galveston. We walked along Sea Wall Boulevard and the
beach a bit before heading home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyxiOS9j7tyy4dO1YjCw6zkX-wFyE_dDjcrd_bop-SUBsb1nwZGj7ktpVsqBaB0DwaGoIDK58482FOLqxbVWZmO7FLW_g1ntVd-sEOzyUrv-ORSHKJs24mS9kLrMC1Iqoo0yAw8OQUGisTXpOx8BeAkFIYS5eQCRw_5tOGfr_ivlZ51BzCTHRe3jYt6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4027" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyxiOS9j7tyy4dO1YjCw6zkX-wFyE_dDjcrd_bop-SUBsb1nwZGj7ktpVsqBaB0DwaGoIDK58482FOLqxbVWZmO7FLW_g1ntVd-sEOzyUrv-ORSHKJs24mS9kLrMC1Iqoo0yAw8OQUGisTXpOx8BeAkFIYS5eQCRw_5tOGfr_ivlZ51BzCTHRe3jYt6w" width="395" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1_NQpsXy2EyUCh_tPHwY68xAOqBa_tRIzl1EgCJWk-D1F9DV71Sa-qViNTMMru2wJ8yTPIpdaiIpUvLTexVI0N6rOjFYhmMVeBOtKMSnvwb3ZOL1HZoW43W-2jKyrJlIdeQEPfc7vYVKs3zTV10owb7Dld0cSisdOFzcEHflW70n1wRUr38tPIwAl6A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2823" data-original-width="2080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1_NQpsXy2EyUCh_tPHwY68xAOqBa_tRIzl1EgCJWk-D1F9DV71Sa-qViNTMMru2wJ8yTPIpdaiIpUvLTexVI0N6rOjFYhmMVeBOtKMSnvwb3ZOL1HZoW43W-2jKyrJlIdeQEPfc7vYVKs3zTV10owb7Dld0cSisdOFzcEHflW70n1wRUr38tPIwAl6A" width="221" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who cares about being unable to see the waters of the Gulf of Mexico when I got to see Miss Maddie! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLU423SKlKpmhC3WgHI9qNyNB4mUFKRO0TTxYnTNrTTNpw7QOVLMndt3UsqFZcV45X23CpTPL-CuPfbMLO7PvA73sYMHbC7OwCNhWHmaMoy4Bv9PofqzkR06XTZVbHHg1xtfEJPPTmC-lUzTZXfDaLsZ65qRrFdjzRy-89OEw9H8-lwn2PObdcGxuNWw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLU423SKlKpmhC3WgHI9qNyNB4mUFKRO0TTxYnTNrTTNpw7QOVLMndt3UsqFZcV45X23CpTPL-CuPfbMLO7PvA73sYMHbC7OwCNhWHmaMoy4Bv9PofqzkR06XTZVbHHg1xtfEJPPTmC-lUzTZXfDaLsZ65qRrFdjzRy-89OEw9H8-lwn2PObdcGxuNWw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View of the bay from the outdoor eating area of Momma Mia's.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXoQueJK9Xe2VLhvpGYuG50hgE6bmJNMMZIlSCwoR5OhI0AlaZEHL6kQ4Zp0M2O9TE2NqRcmXQRp66NRboPc3RLryN0SmeSktXea9CbmqLSG4cSVM8ROGxZ7pu14SVD5G8scyKZuIziXFlQOfRbIYBw8K_jxIiubO5jwxVPfG8LuGCcoMxxMpk1XuoeA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXoQueJK9Xe2VLhvpGYuG50hgE6bmJNMMZIlSCwoR5OhI0AlaZEHL6kQ4Zp0M2O9TE2NqRcmXQRp66NRboPc3RLryN0SmeSktXea9CbmqLSG4cSVM8ROGxZ7pu14SVD5G8scyKZuIziXFlQOfRbIYBw8K_jxIiubO5jwxVPfG8LuGCcoMxxMpk1XuoeA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Aboard the Ferry from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLU423SKlKpmhC3WgHI9qNyNB4mUFKRO0TTxYnTNrTTNpw7QOVLMndt3UsqFZcV45X23CpTPL-CuPfbMLO7PvA73sYMHbC7OwCNhWHmaMoy4Bv9PofqzkR06XTZVbHHg1xtfEJPPTmC-lUzTZXfDaLsZ65qRrFdjzRy-89OEw9H8-lwn2PObdcGxuNWw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMweBanPT-GXfOItu-ZVkY78fRvTZPjvmkE2J4KoakcpfuOEWHG-a5gjOydAv85SXbg_0BoMsdY8nrJihNVvGI_wKnxg7v2bRtbOC8iVARTf_zR3-NPPAlMzfnx-2byziDz_J6OxBTMgP_bCvP6W53S_YNgz0q8_7ULg68PXwq0WtOwxiJ-aalfAjHXw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMweBanPT-GXfOItu-ZVkY78fRvTZPjvmkE2J4KoakcpfuOEWHG-a5gjOydAv85SXbg_0BoMsdY8nrJihNVvGI_wKnxg7v2bRtbOC8iVARTf_zR3-NPPAlMzfnx-2byziDz_J6OxBTMgP_bCvP6W53S_YNgz0q8_7ULg68PXwq0WtOwxiJ-aalfAjHXw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These gulls hitched a ride.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcNvotpPW4sCuRK_DreSbhG9GEzm_T9zIv5WmGF5tcrr_0ahiiuIvVCrx_-AZSggPtF6AMLZl1DmJSPt6obU7PfrFdaAWSVZ1RMMzbL5h7FMa_F_uNS7K1ltW3rzhts1-HvmBDvz0XFQ_g8OaSKxZj8CTRnF5stpzWN2Ssc9IFPqHy8xR61d0qKhJiSQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="720" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcNvotpPW4sCuRK_DreSbhG9GEzm_T9zIv5WmGF5tcrr_0ahiiuIvVCrx_-AZSggPtF6AMLZl1DmJSPt6obU7PfrFdaAWSVZ1RMMzbL5h7FMa_F_uNS7K1ltW3rzhts1-HvmBDvz0XFQ_g8OaSKxZj8CTRnF5stpzWN2Ssc9IFPqHy8xR61d0qKhJiSQ=w400-h327" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art along Seawall Boulevard.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCHeqKD6HuNBfvfVpzxiQXamEHiLRWJCGgOAE_cKW96Gy0ebV1g9qx3wXBnufomus2of7h_SNqCzJoIPF-OwZIYVI79ttMyjHsr-QAxorAyxEvCC0RiqQxveBsqanMq5RZbHTHNQZKbyPwxZR-dLdYH383h4VvxMszi9oHTN6uygtvUjWus7dstXLv4w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="720" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCHeqKD6HuNBfvfVpzxiQXamEHiLRWJCGgOAE_cKW96Gy0ebV1g9qx3wXBnufomus2of7h_SNqCzJoIPF-OwZIYVI79ttMyjHsr-QAxorAyxEvCC0RiqQxveBsqanMq5RZbHTHNQZKbyPwxZR-dLdYH383h4VvxMszi9oHTN6uygtvUjWus7dstXLv4w=w400-h255" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maximus at Galveston Beach.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The week before
Christmas brought sub-freezing temperatures, registering as low as 10F degrees with the wind chill factor. Our Christmas was a quiet one at home. We enjoyed our traditional meals, watched
religious services on TV, and just focused on the blessings we have received
this year, despite some setbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpqLzIuD-THWhhQXKOLmofLMmPc5F2pZ-THePWJFY5n4uYcfQrHaRpPOvMKYuqGRPpBri37WTFRqi9zBTELyGaN9WxiDP9Jkai7KcvKde6H9CSTbsbj0wyX8nmJvcuCtw2988QooVX_skXmeV8NqYioy0sX9Y641g__GR3a1sqVP7TtOKmptTcIa2M-w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2123" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpqLzIuD-THWhhQXKOLmofLMmPc5F2pZ-THePWJFY5n4uYcfQrHaRpPOvMKYuqGRPpBri37WTFRqi9zBTELyGaN9WxiDP9Jkai7KcvKde6H9CSTbsbj0wyX8nmJvcuCtw2988QooVX_skXmeV8NqYioy0sX9Y641g__GR3a1sqVP7TtOKmptTcIa2M-w=w400-h329" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yours truly with his special gift from Uncle Kevin and Aunt Ellen. It's a Mouse King Nutcracker!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I extend my
family’s best wishes to each of you for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2023,
I ask for prayers for my Dad.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Chest
pains resulted in Mom taking him to the ER.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Heart attack was ruled out, thankfully.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">But a follow-up with his cardiologist and the scheduling of a heart
catheterization resulted in learning he has multiple major blockages that cannot be repaired by stents/rotor-rooter.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite his active and healthy lifestyle and
adherence to a plant-based diet since his 2017 heart attack/insertion of stents,
he must undergo quadruple bypass surgery, scheduled for the first week of January.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> We are grateful this happened at home base with medical professionals we trust and facilities we know rather than while on the road. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, our travel plans have been canceled. But this, too, shall pass. Wi</span><span style="font-family: arial;">th the loving care of Mom, the outpouring of support
from friends and family, and, most importantly, our faith in God above, Dad will have a positive outcome.</span></span></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-5357489024851783912022-11-03T22:21:00.094-05:002022-12-25T18:53:40.552-06:00Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Monihans Sandhills Texas State Park, Seminole Canyon Texas State Park<div class="separator" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We stayed a fifth and final night at the Sunset Reef
Campground outside Carlsbad, NM to facilitate a visit to Guadalupe Mountains
National Park in Salt Flat, TX, a 45-minute drive traversing along US-62.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Guadalupe Mountain National Park was established in 1972.
The area within the Park was once an ancient reef below what is called the Permian
Sea. Guadalupe Mountains are the sacred lands of
the Mescalero Apache Indians, whose ancestors hunted and gathered in this
area. At an elevation of 8,751 feet, Guadalupe
Peak within the Range is the highest point within <u>all</u> of TX.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We hiked along the Pinery Trail, which led to the ruins of
a station along the Butterfield Stage Overland Route.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">By following the Manzanita Spring Trail, we
saw the Frijole Ranch, which was in operation from the late 1800s to the
1960s.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Unfortunately, we could not enter
the ranch house or school—they were under restoration, but I peeked in the windows.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We continued to Smith Spring Trail, which
lead us to refreshing spring waters.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Overall, we clocked 6.5 miles, and I earned yet another Junior Ranger
badge.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGo0FpOJYyx0nqP6EsyzVSJdW3fcrPFBFnv8caUDiOKpVXAabjwvDE-q_Gj1aWqJrESA-OrJXckNx_64hsXPp0IhaW7t55WLTz_IwlxWN4qaQ6hhazOJwxux-MMv85_pHLwHoiVzPz9qzZO9CxuiF11L1aP4_yzw1ooxJoqSXlj12hIA8t04vWxk1AA/s3264/20221020_115038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGo0FpOJYyx0nqP6EsyzVSJdW3fcrPFBFnv8caUDiOKpVXAabjwvDE-q_Gj1aWqJrESA-OrJXckNx_64hsXPp0IhaW7t55WLTz_IwlxWN4qaQ6hhazOJwxux-MMv85_pHLwHoiVzPz9qzZO9CxuiF11L1aP4_yzw1ooxJoqSXlj12hIA8t04vWxk1AA/w400-h180/20221020_115038.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Capitan and Guadalupe Peak on the left.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWjoWJzySIx4cuu3vEBeQwIx_ncz0YuS9phD0leUceQn14XVyYO8BfDNJ4P4B2RRNck8I6bKsPx11ck2oW_JJncv9h_OTkZ-bmZc6Fsll5_GlwJ1dsB7Xr2PzKE85lg6dFwcvIIB1neMojdXaM5jahJ3irWJBS_CSzqnPKCwPG04zT4V08ltJ5Vlk0g/s4000/20221020_101834.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWjoWJzySIx4cuu3vEBeQwIx_ncz0YuS9phD0leUceQn14XVyYO8BfDNJ4P4B2RRNck8I6bKsPx11ck2oW_JJncv9h_OTkZ-bmZc6Fsll5_GlwJ1dsB7Xr2PzKE85lg6dFwcvIIB1neMojdXaM5jahJ3irWJBS_CSzqnPKCwPG04zT4V08ltJ5Vlk0g/w400-h180/20221020_101834.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The remains of Pinery Station along the Butterfield Stage Overland Route. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVRu1cvkgDRJkiFt6acEeVfxilaN3RotkXu0cJ_IHTCdwyrwErHeIBZ90S1V-vucutMmbJ6ML245z6Z1yX1OScHQXq_YUvcpOPXXmWqr2Bh_iNN2hMAau5S9AWkRcJr9Sb1yUUdCZIdbrrtT0_y-6L5b7EyKnHUT2J9u8DwOB_QAgU4Lty410VYIPZQ/s4000/20221020_101909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVRu1cvkgDRJkiFt6acEeVfxilaN3RotkXu0cJ_IHTCdwyrwErHeIBZ90S1V-vucutMmbJ6ML245z6Z1yX1OScHQXq_YUvcpOPXXmWqr2Bh_iNN2hMAau5S9AWkRcJr9Sb1yUUdCZIdbrrtT0_y-6L5b7EyKnHUT2J9u8DwOB_QAgU4Lty410VYIPZQ/w400-h180/20221020_101909.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiB6IK4IOph3Z4NJblYhdrGOnupFWJ6iUFTF_aNuq3gqOnC_kuoLOdv5Txq0MpruAhWGIi9xvfKQqLHEH0bM1LndZD4oxdELI-mqCg0fvWExcnQcvpvpuxTpZt4XJ_yBjMxVWHQ271U7VdNYY8W58yUPy-zavEkwIgdCtgN9wI4XnKHwlpyErdeSZDw/s3264/20221020_123348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiB6IK4IOph3Z4NJblYhdrGOnupFWJ6iUFTF_aNuq3gqOnC_kuoLOdv5Txq0MpruAhWGIi9xvfKQqLHEH0bM1LndZD4oxdELI-mqCg0fvWExcnQcvpvpuxTpZt4XJ_yBjMxVWHQ271U7VdNYY8W58yUPy-zavEkwIgdCtgN9wI4XnKHwlpyErdeSZDw/w400-h180/20221020_123348.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Frijole Ranch<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFaDwVGpBwwnXBQPb6u1JMy31g6rFvHW0bKnQ0d3DVNlDxfOhPYdo8Qac-g81QvCgCaWAbZ9fwkJW230koz7SHMzUh_ncZdTxYv0YTM20eekDJthT8VYaWW2jmntFQLTUyR2_oCtgCH13Qtwcbx8JgakUYsw-YsNQjktqGubsFBRfdeZX9i0jYKlpBQ/s3264/20221020_125027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFaDwVGpBwwnXBQPb6u1JMy31g6rFvHW0bKnQ0d3DVNlDxfOhPYdo8Qac-g81QvCgCaWAbZ9fwkJW230koz7SHMzUh_ncZdTxYv0YTM20eekDJthT8VYaWW2jmntFQLTUyR2_oCtgCH13Qtwcbx8JgakUYsw-YsNQjktqGubsFBRfdeZX9i0jYKlpBQ/w400-h180/20221020_125027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Views along Smith Spring Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajTY5M7GEmJ8PTn4-V2ERokxhIAw10JUJaJsSeTeHft_gG-sv5NRtUBUl0hycSCbe8SRfZeNzh170hr9E8Eux8lN3A1DltMrLKJc_8fW73L2gMxTt1TOWSXlWhU81NMvh9lVHJsdPJo00dlBjIUOA1kr_bD_n3qMG-9V5n4QlnbNHLQJ6aAuRtHfZJA/s666/20221020_143456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="666" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajTY5M7GEmJ8PTn4-V2ERokxhIAw10JUJaJsSeTeHft_gG-sv5NRtUBUl0hycSCbe8SRfZeNzh170hr9E8Eux8lN3A1DltMrLKJc_8fW73L2gMxTt1TOWSXlWhU81NMvh9lVHJsdPJo00dlBjIUOA1kr_bD_n3qMG-9V5n4QlnbNHLQJ6aAuRtHfZJA/s320/20221020_143456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...including some creepy crawlers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZRz-v2mT72e0qccMUSje7ehKR5nIsjoj0OuD7DatABIH8HRVnOQ_NomhC4Eb_s1_9TgVNbO4bfxoHmOcZ-A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWlur_I35S9Ut-Vl24bTpOMRk5MEkgh7rb06DaKQi1iAnvpbU1LpXCWGlXNU_QGfCcxUGWcSZDgfCncgxo1_6dsuyyJ8rrVfZwT-TKk6V-3wNU_4QcGCsMTlloX4WoiooT0JQFBANPZ4XJXKzMb3KJHl96vN5XTuNqqGe32nWOvZ8Srl4ynf9cYn4w/s1322/20221020_124241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="1292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWlur_I35S9Ut-Vl24bTpOMRk5MEkgh7rb06DaKQi1iAnvpbU1LpXCWGlXNU_QGfCcxUGWcSZDgfCncgxo1_6dsuyyJ8rrVfZwT-TKk6V-3wNU_4QcGCsMTlloX4WoiooT0JQFBANPZ4XJXKzMb3KJHl96vN5XTuNqqGe32nWOvZ8Srl4ynf9cYn4w/s320/20221020_124241.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSrn6_ybhorYebU8AU6iNSxe4hD62B7xVbv2F-0u-7l3plK0y4grRKY1M5Mwozfbv2lorpqh4enDwu_23J8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmvpK7byKQSDkMUMQWnIUH_mJCnyVthw_7SpwBel-WcK5BjAH64FOU9wMNDUIffMD4UQEv8ORpafhIFU2TIqwm7eCHW37aEFueHN83XxY15-LtKRV3DIS2x7SCDS-doZIeFDj1HL4d9NZwpzrcCZP4NuHw8JFRqB7FerMP3d8xjt5FfNsePuGLMOO1Q/s4000/20221020_134425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmvpK7byKQSDkMUMQWnIUH_mJCnyVthw_7SpwBel-WcK5BjAH64FOU9wMNDUIffMD4UQEv8ORpafhIFU2TIqwm7eCHW37aEFueHN83XxY15-LtKRV3DIS2x7SCDS-doZIeFDj1HL4d9NZwpzrcCZP4NuHw8JFRqB7FerMP3d8xjt5FfNsePuGLMOO1Q/w400-h180/20221020_134425.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoaZjUvV0c82qsMs_woRC476D3zepJZ9YAQc0u7P_qe6oSlJvlw6G4pHbgIm6FJvWAdE7TBkD-mPnI6gVNEcrWZ27yzNxbeIFIunqKd28hwU-8ocgZvU4XmLceIFUT-89__gQ4PTltU6EG13uw9DkCExdmqStzJd3F5X0A0XPLcoJ5LFd0NSi6VakxQ/s4000/20221020_134840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoaZjUvV0c82qsMs_woRC476D3zepJZ9YAQc0u7P_qe6oSlJvlw6G4pHbgIm6FJvWAdE7TBkD-mPnI6gVNEcrWZ27yzNxbeIFIunqKd28hwU-8ocgZvU4XmLceIFUT-89__gQ4PTltU6EG13uw9DkCExdmqStzJd3F5X0A0XPLcoJ5LFd0NSi6VakxQ/w400-h180/20221020_134840.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">A campfire was the perfect way to enjoy our final evening
at Sunset Reef. </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Mom completed a paper
purge, finding it more efficient to burn rather than shred personal documents.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnnwR9T_stMAivRySKHOSQhLqIghTxHV0WHO3_KvkbLYNtomxfDWAA0CPT-WYf0OqcCTJydUlZyoECfIcrZUFmGzDa4sj0uvYyVEqGvBZNeQl_wSFEiImXMsNj-Sjlzguw1GR0snOCaJ6upEaEHqZg_j-4wEsfID3b2HQFSkqhXez-TpnBLUIwYeK6w/s4000/20221020_180301.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnnwR9T_stMAivRySKHOSQhLqIghTxHV0WHO3_KvkbLYNtomxfDWAA0CPT-WYf0OqcCTJydUlZyoECfIcrZUFmGzDa4sj0uvYyVEqGvBZNeQl_wSFEiImXMsNj-Sjlzguw1GR0snOCaJ6upEaEHqZg_j-4wEsfID3b2HQFSkqhXez-TpnBLUIwYeK6w/w400-h180/20221020_180301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The following day we said goodbye to Sunset Reef Campground,
now working our way home to Livingston, TX.
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We spent 2 nights at Monahans Sandhills State Park in Monahans, TX.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It was challenging getting into our 55’ X 40’
site, mainly because there was an RV directly in front of ours and the sites
are all surrounded by soft sand.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Most of
the land within the Park consists of sand dunes.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> But Dad is an expert at parking this behemoth (unlike Mom--if she were parking, we'd still be there!) W</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">ith no designated trails within the
Park, you have unlimited possibilities for fun.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We climbed up and down the hills of sand.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And as a stuffed rat with a soft, plush butt,
I didn’t even need to rent a board to sand surf.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Several dune areas have flora growing on
them, so removing pesky goathead spurs became a ritual each time we ventured
outdoors. But dealing with goatheads was a small price to pay to witness some glorious sunsets.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Texas is in the process of
building a new Visitor Center at the Park.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Apparently, it has been a work-in-progress for 4 years!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> We enjoyed this park immensely and found it</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> a great value:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Only $12/night with our Texas State Park Pass.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Without the Texas State Park Pass, it is
still reasonable:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">$15/night, but you are
also required to pay $4/person/day as a facility-use fee.</span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo3Gr417dTsIMxIpptgNaAO2EFSIP16Zlg-gY5jBonfs4PvBd91YmdoFfdEG9nDk7g7RJ0sXx6xKj8QhYYkrEBrwnk5mQyK4i29u_stidnHNMWpwsE-tb3slNPdiY-T7HYP8eUAjB4-8kqOGy9ZKtbdZCmERbycgXsPRDME4ZWVbeqEXcIgqUob1qtg/s4000/20221022_190007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo3Gr417dTsIMxIpptgNaAO2EFSIP16Zlg-gY5jBonfs4PvBd91YmdoFfdEG9nDk7g7RJ0sXx6xKj8QhYYkrEBrwnk5mQyK4i29u_stidnHNMWpwsE-tb3slNPdiY-T7HYP8eUAjB4-8kqOGy9ZKtbdZCmERbycgXsPRDME4ZWVbeqEXcIgqUob1qtg/w400-h180/20221022_190007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxdaKpL12BkuEHP-PLlJx_NqaaDAOrzh13tZEXsXqZphFm3fACEAWDqD6X5tY1sqKCBcO5r6JJ4rL2zJAZ344geCoZ2mmqJRw-ffLYUR6BaXPqRKea_7c-KFKgYr8AlZAgKjk9UZ0KmsZf8l75N-diFJGfuNyP6S8vqYhYJ733J9fvowSiEpH5wCjpw/s3264/20221022_190240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxdaKpL12BkuEHP-PLlJx_NqaaDAOrzh13tZEXsXqZphFm3fACEAWDqD6X5tY1sqKCBcO5r6JJ4rL2zJAZ344geCoZ2mmqJRw-ffLYUR6BaXPqRKea_7c-KFKgYr8AlZAgKjk9UZ0KmsZf8l75N-diFJGfuNyP6S8vqYhYJ733J9fvowSiEpH5wCjpw/w400-h180/20221022_190240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0g1Z1VVGJYo-AmKPJAyQgWrhBlnAvscCfW5fRqBu0W6FH6RijmybujCChKeh0eKbEE6YD85C51nl_nDprLKaKcA9XQM3WniwVd1TudxNKfCso5EgRHlVZ7mZuXfr5bAlCRpAshvYB2xVZY8e7Pbq3BmO7XKdQliYzsVwisrOvXy2L1SRv0hetEnDBw/s4000/20221022_190449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0g1Z1VVGJYo-AmKPJAyQgWrhBlnAvscCfW5fRqBu0W6FH6RijmybujCChKeh0eKbEE6YD85C51nl_nDprLKaKcA9XQM3WniwVd1TudxNKfCso5EgRHlVZ7mZuXfr5bAlCRpAshvYB2xVZY8e7Pbq3BmO7XKdQliYzsVwisrOvXy2L1SRv0hetEnDBw/w400-h180/20221022_190449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jy6IMlMDUlWKgSGvQmpw5GsBSh4XBdajdogamHSX1OKZDpEXi4mPCwjrbnCrET3JQqvp9MQg_-0zHdJ_fkiWHd5tOFPpWAG5j-g-A_w-IkMMiAbS0FDM8Q2Z24CMxwi83NDg37yvKnyFoPkE1-mZDXjIjkeCBR-OblyMQrVN0cJjRGzq8R7BrlOz1Q/s4000/20221022_191637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jy6IMlMDUlWKgSGvQmpw5GsBSh4XBdajdogamHSX1OKZDpEXi4mPCwjrbnCrET3JQqvp9MQg_-0zHdJ_fkiWHd5tOFPpWAG5j-g-A_w-IkMMiAbS0FDM8Q2Z24CMxwi83NDg37yvKnyFoPkE1-mZDXjIjkeCBR-OblyMQrVN0cJjRGzq8R7BrlOz1Q/w400-h180/20221022_191637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikwkMCC0B91lqtW2TpwySfxrF9_PUBhfgJvxCEfn6nFsebz1q1W7HqJgzJeHfkFBSt3ETNJ98uPdVxUIGTFzeZ4ZokSKx8jlTm8uRIYmvsZ05-FXuMT4ieAFeqQ2qJz_vU6osHuKZ5uJqawR-RWxEXs_sKuthgwehpyF31ADcMvlkA4YGZC1d02sI9Q/s4000/20221023_172247.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikwkMCC0B91lqtW2TpwySfxrF9_PUBhfgJvxCEfn6nFsebz1q1W7HqJgzJeHfkFBSt3ETNJ98uPdVxUIGTFzeZ4ZokSKx8jlTm8uRIYmvsZ05-FXuMT4ieAFeqQ2qJz_vU6osHuKZ5uJqawR-RWxEXs_sKuthgwehpyF31ADcMvlkA4YGZC1d02sI9Q/w180-h400/20221023_172247.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nasty goathead spurs really liked clinging to my parents.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa1xvjzRLk9wY4KQtXq5y8La0z0balFZDTJOM7El1Q3ZJ52NxfFQvGDPgK-ObteIZZ4HNCvb9xgY7NN0_lFMvobtR1reLfjCiFM8Ks_JCQ0pr816aQCrVZ-PcJCUKZa49ofqRAVcXS_nYzSSDlMC5IJtOyu7CeU1ZO9rCfWVXJE9s9nJIr1cwS4M_-Q/s3264/20221023_173457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa1xvjzRLk9wY4KQtXq5y8La0z0balFZDTJOM7El1Q3ZJ52NxfFQvGDPgK-ObteIZZ4HNCvb9xgY7NN0_lFMvobtR1reLfjCiFM8Ks_JCQ0pr816aQCrVZ-PcJCUKZa49ofqRAVcXS_nYzSSDlMC5IJtOyu7CeU1ZO9rCfWVXJE9s9nJIr1cwS4M_-Q/w400-h180/20221023_173457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox3hitxhekNpz_BIkrVRLiiyrsOxHDvdeKbVplOfEWhT6ymni63L_UCDc-LSFxkL-ztF716yQCZSgICoWPrzA5WawVK3VZVYswpjfzo6-Dl-o2h-31qugo6tno_OMMq7tIScr6CMMULLsjGLa-Or-2g5S5gw8tBJ9ueBhdrehRXQnvhMK-HJz-ee-mA/s3463/20221024_083517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="3463" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox3hitxhekNpz_BIkrVRLiiyrsOxHDvdeKbVplOfEWhT6ymni63L_UCDc-LSFxkL-ztF716yQCZSgICoWPrzA5WawVK3VZVYswpjfzo6-Dl-o2h-31qugo6tno_OMMq7tIScr6CMMULLsjGLa-Or-2g5S5gw8tBJ9ueBhdrehRXQnvhMK-HJz-ee-mA/w400-h194/20221024_083517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht-mMVuGupQXSzFlSrrZhq69GCvkik7fIOtLLlmZWTWmUMbfEOF-L8EeEXtKGovfazQPNGpdVnXKaBd27HPckVl5OZha-BR5VNM2cZWmLQY6pceCMcGanbDVCCcKASCbtym2KhwKJp0p1UnfUO_M9j3ufxXHj0896WGOwJekuZ6iPTtCh02DGi8XvPSA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="715" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht-mMVuGupQXSzFlSrrZhq69GCvkik7fIOtLLlmZWTWmUMbfEOF-L8EeEXtKGovfazQPNGpdVnXKaBd27HPckVl5OZha-BR5VNM2cZWmLQY6pceCMcGanbDVCCcKASCbtym2KhwKJp0p1UnfUO_M9j3ufxXHj0896WGOwJekuZ6iPTtCh02DGi8XvPSA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxN80q2p61FH2le8h5ua5YkjgDSfHdr7YGzsWFknEhWFxGsyV57mni2Mm7a3x8worVk9OOGAYLGSQgOCO2OGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">We traveled along US-90 to our next stopover, Seminole Canyon
State Park and Historic Site in Comstock, TX.
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">We booked a 2-night stay specifically to watch the Monarch butterflies
migrate South.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">But apparently most of
the Monarchs changed flight schedules in anticipation of the cold front.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">Or perhaps they just put their wings on
“cruise control” to have the accompanying West Texas windstorms blow them to
Mexico. Though we missed the mass exodus, we did catch some stragglers.</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzh2nZcKwMlP4Cb6vxzDfKiqEmikmgJFdNbY99pIVu9f_6iKHFH8UZk_YEuEj9AU5BAJiSFa5vwYQ0EIlzSlw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFlnVp5SMj0la4IQeN3LuruoOzp8_LfTtrsvqx4YpdiI01r4Wht6JXCplqg7hWUbFeA9_s8WvVUpCa_RhxZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXXTQt2BpnFaeKQXzWvF4XVImNvTpwXP8ILzkCwX5eJvAo2qcvlPvM8rlEDWijshaB7IT-jMUzp4gaN2w3EQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Seminole Canyon State Park is fascinating archeologically
and culturally.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Its rock paintings/cave
art date back some 7,000-10,000 years.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We hiked the birding trail one evening as the sun was setting.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked the Nature Trail until it
intersected with the trail leading to Fate Bell Shelter.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Accessing Fate Bell Shelter requires guests
be accompanied by a Ranger.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately,
no Ranger-led tours were offered of Fate Bell Shelter during our visit.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We hiked along the Rio Grande Trail, greeting
Mexico across the River with “hola”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
then transferred to the Canyon Rim Trail to see the rock art at Panther
Cave.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Glimpsing the pictographs from
this Trail is the only access other than boarding privately-operated
vessels.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndG10l_Zo6MiE1a_Dy1W4Sn73sEStmMkNYwMGAhXw5LWzLyn4zVhmB4T2L0_NpER6TBR7jDTFe-Ix6iHZSLc0Q9MuX8xBU-OpJmwKIiJa8O_uxK5dJ26dnD4_FgTAdeRIzTtmgMODKMzNcRUE-p2cxaeQIz0a57urJavKWbxowoM57RzsSWYQ-Tlpiw/s4000/20221024_162908.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndG10l_Zo6MiE1a_Dy1W4Sn73sEStmMkNYwMGAhXw5LWzLyn4zVhmB4T2L0_NpER6TBR7jDTFe-Ix6iHZSLc0Q9MuX8xBU-OpJmwKIiJa8O_uxK5dJ26dnD4_FgTAdeRIzTtmgMODKMzNcRUE-p2cxaeQIz0a57urJavKWbxowoM57RzsSWYQ-Tlpiw/w180-h400/20221024_162908.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This huge spider was hanging on to its web for dear life as the winds picked up.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMyBiZB-QB_H95ikCz1TBtVZyGjhXiOW5MO-LgbQqb4AwFsxA7PDRwE0p0MdzjgpOKoUK3MWy_oSUXu9eu9bvP0wOwI9_sXeujKkyg-226HN-6zepgO6FlerRD_Lcdss5RzdwG2K4hH7VtLsWC7XiB7BiegcBVS3fhCuZbT7-x7eBAfAH2gxevCo60g/s3551/20221024_185823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="3551" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMyBiZB-QB_H95ikCz1TBtVZyGjhXiOW5MO-LgbQqb4AwFsxA7PDRwE0p0MdzjgpOKoUK3MWy_oSUXu9eu9bvP0wOwI9_sXeujKkyg-226HN-6zepgO6FlerRD_Lcdss5RzdwG2K4hH7VtLsWC7XiB7BiegcBVS3fhCuZbT7-x7eBAfAH2gxevCo60g/w400-h163/20221024_185823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Nx5WG0qUSmXhGxSX0jMHFFNQOCKLeZz2g1wEn_2Hq9_W8hR8KRdhLzpstc0f6cNVVSQ1oqPQfyChW_kbZwwQCFblFDBOkhB0JueE65Z4cJw2eypMtjaIzLQdjhlDytisVZrqPpIpUItWC--rVTcx31YvbHl_M5nmfDV6MUrM99rDCcKasaMWvIXTg/s4000/20221025_192235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Nx5WG0qUSmXhGxSX0jMHFFNQOCKLeZz2g1wEn_2Hq9_W8hR8KRdhLzpstc0f6cNVVSQ1oqPQfyChW_kbZwwQCFblFDBOkhB0JueE65Z4cJw2eypMtjaIzLQdjhlDytisVZrqPpIpUItWC--rVTcx31YvbHl_M5nmfDV6MUrM99rDCcKasaMWvIXTg/w400-h180/20221025_192235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OiGsGVDS4PbJvWrZXcdqBYl9PL5Qjk-Zmi9RELwjsJoHWJGgwo978gAacvzSS4kTfuQQOzKJ1W3IRVp0wtE8BGmxeLrD9ASTdbo6sQabbgBkfxRK-IUaNDR_2jdVLv644gPGTn-0BOeUeE1lffftUn0c-mtfVwRlTESvg00_fmkiJh9JsxTxPjIjvg/s4000/20221024_161259.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OiGsGVDS4PbJvWrZXcdqBYl9PL5Qjk-Zmi9RELwjsJoHWJGgwo978gAacvzSS4kTfuQQOzKJ1W3IRVp0wtE8BGmxeLrD9ASTdbo6sQabbgBkfxRK-IUaNDR_2jdVLv644gPGTn-0BOeUeE1lffftUn0c-mtfVwRlTESvg00_fmkiJh9JsxTxPjIjvg/w180-h400/20221024_161259.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hiking the Nature Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjPRGWenOj92zFm8sLcNgcdEh7tVLtf96NB_ut-MNGlzEkgBnlBGa5X1-2Wjo_Hb7V7irh_xv_bM8aSVUM2WIzB-SmX4dNvPIDcSLth_4LzILtHS5em-acBDgB27OmKJctxVu5MsR8iWKE-AK0HPZkl9vqMc_pm5eyZItIuSIBebHssRztuaajyv-Fg/s4000/20221024_161718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjPRGWenOj92zFm8sLcNgcdEh7tVLtf96NB_ut-MNGlzEkgBnlBGa5X1-2Wjo_Hb7V7irh_xv_bM8aSVUM2WIzB-SmX4dNvPIDcSLth_4LzILtHS5em-acBDgB27OmKJctxVu5MsR8iWKE-AK0HPZkl9vqMc_pm5eyZItIuSIBebHssRztuaajyv-Fg/w400-h180/20221024_161718.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...You can see Fate Bell Shelter in the distance.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j4snurOe86Qvt6eIkeqRQabVA5Vp8nr6K7tFJPtCbO__LOhGHsUuP1dxH2kGeaz3qMyBhpO_D47ZoCZbvwMFGkTqZtZhIP7QkAv7ZrKPv0JW1domtMRShq_dGx-VMqLR31YJAhj0cdTvplK-7FQGrgHy9wM-8zGW1yjNmmWUM7jSlFNd13lBScNNcg/s4000/20221025_133238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j4snurOe86Qvt6eIkeqRQabVA5Vp8nr6K7tFJPtCbO__LOhGHsUuP1dxH2kGeaz3qMyBhpO_D47ZoCZbvwMFGkTqZtZhIP7QkAv7ZrKPv0JW1domtMRShq_dGx-VMqLR31YJAhj0cdTvplK-7FQGrgHy9wM-8zGW1yjNmmWUM7jSlFNd13lBScNNcg/w400-h180/20221025_133238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hiking the Rio Grande Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM16byXkH0KUaAMXgiZY-1KOAe7n1ElHWmkmwfwiMoPmy4th09SGVpjJJESBpLNa1GFr8lzL5dF-oVUURLWnjUwMS2GWtYPQVyyK6u3Z7kd-l35oXkBKkzMq6BAHTB5sspvCgIv7C12XCdf8JjVIl2pU3ozwYkIIbt63KxLfGNIvk-qwLTgw38apZjvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM16byXkH0KUaAMXgiZY-1KOAe7n1ElHWmkmwfwiMoPmy4th09SGVpjJJESBpLNa1GFr8lzL5dF-oVUURLWnjUwMS2GWtYPQVyyK6u3Z7kd-l35oXkBKkzMq6BAHTB5sspvCgIv7C12XCdf8JjVIl2pU3ozwYkIIbt63KxLfGNIvk-qwLTgw38apZjvw" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH59zk_8GyW0y5Dytqllmx2l3s8IaGD4Qj0heI7jcleSxcEgBJN8JvC4oC34slx1_ccvS8LmG3HAFy6BQv2DkvEx0H1keE8NkZHjhbzdNauQM2-MgIFn4ksRMDl3QbcmKMN4SxCgroeBT25K4MBHgLmm5nuZmxosdeEzjn7irP8CvhKKaBxJRExVsrA/s4000/20221025_133538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH59zk_8GyW0y5Dytqllmx2l3s8IaGD4Qj0heI7jcleSxcEgBJN8JvC4oC34slx1_ccvS8LmG3HAFy6BQv2DkvEx0H1keE8NkZHjhbzdNauQM2-MgIFn4ksRMDl3QbcmKMN4SxCgroeBT25K4MBHgLmm5nuZmxosdeEzjn7irP8CvhKKaBxJRExVsrA/w400-h180/20221025_133538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8k_qtAZQI5Jl8BrTAvIH1NETdJzY_Ju3FjMmumb_eu-aYogvNE-wqxshvf5zrlN5cKKa5OWliUW1nLrv4mcIWle3qyE67p8lLYzKiDwnLuj1i7KYuAcRtQbk9PVf2waSjILGRz1O8m_WRLAZ7iT6TPSczr8jO7MxkBCiBiVfZdGea8NMwG80bO6QXw/s4000/20221024_161311.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8k_qtAZQI5Jl8BrTAvIH1NETdJzY_Ju3FjMmumb_eu-aYogvNE-wqxshvf5zrlN5cKKa5OWliUW1nLrv4mcIWle3qyE67p8lLYzKiDwnLuj1i7KYuAcRtQbk9PVf2waSjILGRz1O8m_WRLAZ7iT6TPSczr8jO7MxkBCiBiVfZdGea8NMwG80bO6QXw/w400-h180/20221024_161311.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hiking the Canyon Rim Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK2yl9tIBDpoEwiTO9J4w2-HDuTvn_9UQc8eqFrQavSVJKXe9XcsMbP2CcKZe9_iwpC-yZJBtp66nw-K2XBqy_ZSecIxmwIMY__CeKC4fN9GQYJpbgfc3XRHtZv38nrfibcx-rwkMvVUzo6r_XRq5_VvZ0Dis9-zPRfAYyGT6qT162cjPSFyW3ix1aQ/s4000/20221025_141839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK2yl9tIBDpoEwiTO9J4w2-HDuTvn_9UQc8eqFrQavSVJKXe9XcsMbP2CcKZe9_iwpC-yZJBtp66nw-K2XBqy_ZSecIxmwIMY__CeKC4fN9GQYJpbgfc3XRHtZv38nrfibcx-rwkMvVUzo6r_XRq5_VvZ0Dis9-zPRfAYyGT6qT162cjPSFyW3ix1aQ/w400-h180/20221025_141839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGF1tARAegaCBJ0reNjVKM819qrG6cpmA8hH8gCaofWbwRfQVM73XYkSzaqMmbpNFvrDNlG386e-svdm-xhz9Rkyum0SzT3pqhOWN62mZZAy1ozBtBlHZppv3oRkztqTbPRCjTWi4zId-Fy-qoMfGr1PtS8cuLMe6mvEq827TuZh8JxZ0deuDvug-THQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGF1tARAegaCBJ0reNjVKM819qrG6cpmA8hH8gCaofWbwRfQVM73XYkSzaqMmbpNFvrDNlG386e-svdm-xhz9Rkyum0SzT3pqhOWN62mZZAy1ozBtBlHZppv3oRkztqTbPRCjTWi4zId-Fy-qoMfGr1PtS8cuLMe6mvEq827TuZh8JxZ0deuDvug-THQ" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8TxVdBr5RbxjkhRTLdAyMljATRztmvLZW0LVOrXRBbHCkBDMIXS4o5qxza9AhiGYUdy8TxLv-z3zeHuhUtgxhYRb_-oK7Ix6-WW-FZpeuDQv0_CByaDOCDGW6hSnfUkNmd4AEX0wbiY3RT7uUnVniocxp7pzVlIV_pcy4uv1Tu7AQmEJA2TOw2Y-yg/s2589/20221025_140757.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2589" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8TxVdBr5RbxjkhRTLdAyMljATRztmvLZW0LVOrXRBbHCkBDMIXS4o5qxza9AhiGYUdy8TxLv-z3zeHuhUtgxhYRb_-oK7Ix6-WW-FZpeuDQv0_CByaDOCDGW6hSnfUkNmd4AEX0wbiY3RT7uUnVniocxp7pzVlIV_pcy4uv1Tu7AQmEJA2TOw2Y-yg/s320/20221025_140757.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What one of the pictographs at Panther Cave should look like...<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKMhU6RJCeLfMLNHY19daAxHJCKxdCOyHVA0W6QBFAGyd2geD_219p_e5-961oUEDub-S0BkMFnPWBDAmKPWPCaEdDS9-W0SZKoMuqqJlZmDL2YcEGY2S_XlFpkOS7aKcgL9KO2leJUlzELMwagVso3hn5LwIBjtEbHNXdnvHB_HpUCW1iuv2xa9jcw/s3961/Panther%20Cave.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1737" data-original-width="3961" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKMhU6RJCeLfMLNHY19daAxHJCKxdCOyHVA0W6QBFAGyd2geD_219p_e5-961oUEDub-S0BkMFnPWBDAmKPWPCaEdDS9-W0SZKoMuqqJlZmDL2YcEGY2S_XlFpkOS7aKcgL9KO2leJUlzELMwagVso3hn5LwIBjtEbHNXdnvHB_HpUCW1iuv2xa9jcw/w640-h280/Panther%20Cave.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...and what we saw from the trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Park has dry-camping areas as well as sites with water and electric.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">There is a dump station on premises, and the Park even has Wi-Fi.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We paid $15/night for water/electric with our Texas State Parks Pass.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Without the pass, the cost is $20/night plus a $4/person/day facility use fee.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While staying at Seminole Canyon, we visited the Judge
Roy Bean Museum in Langtry, TX. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Escapee
and RVing friend Lisa recommended this place to us years ago.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Roy Bean was a colorful character, though
legends and folklore paint him larger than life.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Born in Kentucky in 1825, Bean was a scoundrel,
often finding himself in trouble.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He worked
loading railroad cars and thereafter had several failed attempts at
entrepreneurship.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He gained success when
he established his saloon the Jersey Lilly (named after singer Lilly Langtry).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1882 he was appointed Justice of the Peace
within Pecos County.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And the shenanigans
ensued when he combined his </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">“businesses”:
practicing law, holding court and selling booze—all accomplished from within
his saloon.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He proclaimed himself “the
only law West of the Pecos”, and he relied on a single law book.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Jurors for his cases were selected based on
their saloon patronage.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fines for guilty
parties usually including purchasing rounds of drinks at his saloon.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He was known as “the Hanging Judge”, yet no
criminal was ever hung during his tenure.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">He organized and profited from “the fight of the century” held on the
Mexican side of the River because boxing was illegal in the U.S.A. at the
time.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My favorite story was when a
patron presented Bean with a $20 gold piece for a 5-cent beer.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bean refused to give change.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When the patron protested, Bean fined him
$19.95 for contempt of court.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a
bamboozler!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bean’s home and saloon are on the premises, along with
lovely cacti and butterfly gardens.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Free
admission, free wi-fi, entertaining and informative film, warm and welcoming
staff, cool dioramas/exhibits, and ample parking even for larger RV
set-ups.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Who could ask for more! A Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award goes to the Judge Roy Bean Museum.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRkFpYRPp-PdRwji5gqw-ainjBittsxYR4i7Rd7C3prDjjaXvEQS4H2GjAGeEysX2ESc1UwsJlaDXnGlaCzasJlpH7OokIgRkUwjMOsbjythUqB0wVl0QAItXcl0nEZIHIXZCw7gSMXC-1wOx7UZ1uFsPxhbsZUuLMAzJfAOK_xbASfROSiA_TbPYEqQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRkFpYRPp-PdRwji5gqw-ainjBittsxYR4i7Rd7C3prDjjaXvEQS4H2GjAGeEysX2ESc1UwsJlaDXnGlaCzasJlpH7OokIgRkUwjMOsbjythUqB0wVl0QAItXcl0nEZIHIXZCw7gSMXC-1wOx7UZ1uFsPxhbsZUuLMAzJfAOK_xbASfROSiA_TbPYEqQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Judge Bean's Saloon, the Jersey Lilly.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jUkdmCfQ7gRcXxj8wW7uF9sZ5lePqiBwOMVKjHXwP0iuKBsK4yOSNAlMoACLXe-ergrLKDVXmisi7Mvr_O-gqnupXuSUtcTbxUddEPN4LQuaoQ0R-3HUqugtLtXHfyQP_znIBjGqh79r-WNiy6RkurXcyEQ7lKj1ChplYlC6JtdcPCbZBbWWJ67fVg/s3241/PoPo%20at%20the%20Bar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="3241" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jUkdmCfQ7gRcXxj8wW7uF9sZ5lePqiBwOMVKjHXwP0iuKBsK4yOSNAlMoACLXe-ergrLKDVXmisi7Mvr_O-gqnupXuSUtcTbxUddEPN4LQuaoQ0R-3HUqugtLtXHfyQP_znIBjGqh79r-WNiy6RkurXcyEQ7lKj1ChplYlC6JtdcPCbZBbWWJ67fVg/w400-h176/PoPo%20at%20the%20Bar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can I get y'all a beer?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWYv1hCpyFHWGrtaR_hovP73GW-a2Rv8PR7KOD8zDkgsqDVHJeF4EhPVIaDzeTt1eaOysyXUYZoYNuCYgF9-iAUIPN0sulCkPIP5M5wUqCPYxW1LAZ7JOpkIr_D_jtKwpV_ANy6ZczxmRNFOWqROvcpz7YHLjnEnwh8gjTu6qGxzvuvQ-6jwMQweOeg/s4000/20221025_093339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWYv1hCpyFHWGrtaR_hovP73GW-a2Rv8PR7KOD8zDkgsqDVHJeF4EhPVIaDzeTt1eaOysyXUYZoYNuCYgF9-iAUIPN0sulCkPIP5M5wUqCPYxW1LAZ7JOpkIr_D_jtKwpV_ANy6ZczxmRNFOWqROvcpz7YHLjnEnwh8gjTu6qGxzvuvQ-6jwMQweOeg/w400-h180/20221025_093339.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The living quarters for Judge Bean known as the Opera House. He had hopes Lilly Langtry would visit and perform here.<br /><br /><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRRwGHNge54HxocT6cLfjX1Fw_-LJSuVIhxabl1KV3oez0Q5N3VUeERn4nNq_7XOkHUZhEpcALkUD_tVUyCg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">They had some cool exhibits at the Museum, including holograms within dioramas.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqBCCY6IRM1VOpQHZ3pu5akKORKi8hO_N5SdsIKyY6ZuKbFoQZFPI6fg55mQ8h3JXK1ZwW4TtIasi7dJs7EdYGFJsGgvd3F9kkRpVG0TcpZL25-3kNHqq-0vxYDfF9hOGlSErlJHcyrSRyyH3CS7ETdUgPnAp4sRewHRLfWPG7gUlh0nmaOygEcea8Ew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqBCCY6IRM1VOpQHZ3pu5akKORKi8hO_N5SdsIKyY6ZuKbFoQZFPI6fg55mQ8h3JXK1ZwW4TtIasi7dJs7EdYGFJsGgvd3F9kkRpVG0TcpZL25-3kNHqq-0vxYDfF9hOGlSErlJHcyrSRyyH3CS7ETdUgPnAp4sRewHRLfWPG7gUlh0nmaOygEcea8Ew=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKsJnXtvw3-CLg1lGfIV2n_7UeF8K53a1UDMBbvZXJIKv3MgCmVlMJfu_BV3Qbwf41krhUheN_8UNLSUyj3HaO1a3VhTHSFyNkjWJxuJSF4s3CubHXKe-avTFa_HdsIdNMdDTQz8Jn5jHfFmYjkAo4Bfxi6pQuTcsaFYuZlcp_AqN7dZnDqX15CYOZg/s4000/20221025_093726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKsJnXtvw3-CLg1lGfIV2n_7UeF8K53a1UDMBbvZXJIKv3MgCmVlMJfu_BV3Qbwf41krhUheN_8UNLSUyj3HaO1a3VhTHSFyNkjWJxuJSF4s3CubHXKe-avTFa_HdsIdNMdDTQz8Jn5jHfFmYjkAo4Bfxi6pQuTcsaFYuZlcp_AqN7dZnDqX15CYOZg/w400-h225/20221025_093726.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A swallowtail enjoying some nectar.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMTjq0pbEPltok3kOcMCxAj3lhoZtJGkdZ_TOFmAdcPW13aY2VphtI9Krw7kI51V8JqMfW8LayjKLk2OtVD9I7ZdqBJ_RC1r1LG7UOCEzkrZ4ysXdt18gtC5dsydG1h1GikpHwr_Wybyjlk5rNp7MPrNTxvqhA6Y882slpDEc7OGS8WIw3gaYdvOf1w/s4000/20221025_103821.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMTjq0pbEPltok3kOcMCxAj3lhoZtJGkdZ_TOFmAdcPW13aY2VphtI9Krw7kI51V8JqMfW8LayjKLk2OtVD9I7ZdqBJ_RC1r1LG7UOCEzkrZ4ysXdt18gtC5dsydG1h1GikpHwr_Wybyjlk5rNp7MPrNTxvqhA6Y882slpDEc7OGS8WIw3gaYdvOf1w/w400-h180/20221025_103821.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pecos River Bridge, tallest bridge in all of Texas.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivJ6TOVhGctFBCt7-othXeqKERqkmdjcR66CeyQNPcf9xdRuzv-XsnpvljsWS_M-BPTLinG7t8mPxSk_0kUa9ZJ6mr-CjWFARetn2uq3mJWRrZN18a3ETmL9O9Z4XsVHnVnwFoWA6OrPtM3lPWCvnL0r8ev5EzUHj5odLLHioQgXKaY7l7nJpjWlDKnA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivJ6TOVhGctFBCt7-othXeqKERqkmdjcR66CeyQNPcf9xdRuzv-XsnpvljsWS_M-BPTLinG7t8mPxSk_0kUa9ZJ6mr-CjWFARetn2uq3mJWRrZN18a3ETmL9O9Z4XsVHnVnwFoWA6OrPtM3lPWCvnL0r8ev5EzUHj5odLLHioQgXKaY7l7nJpjWlDKnA=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our last stopover was boondocking at the Escapees
Lone Star Coral Co-op in Hondo, TX. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
enjoyed munching on a delicious lunch and conversing for hours with RV friends
Sherry/Matt who own a lot there.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We also
had an opportunity to chat with Bob/Ruth with whom we work-camped in 2018.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLAqgaF2MvQ5QgW_Mmg6Oa5JpqvhNsSk468kQqEe27XOejc7Ag4LKHv8xoA3IdVku6jxTN1Nn-rESiEbtVWszyaYu6n-CEP6Xm8xUADzzN6POHroQ21C3jM7vXRh1HJuRRhad_fVVnIm56h_C-p4K75RGfUjsaXXvS7aQH0lFZ4gg_JzdLspzyxAiURw" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="715" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLAqgaF2MvQ5QgW_Mmg6Oa5JpqvhNsSk468kQqEe27XOejc7Ag4LKHv8xoA3IdVku6jxTN1Nn-rESiEbtVWszyaYu6n-CEP6Xm8xUADzzN6POHroQ21C3jM7vXRh1HJuRRhad_fVVnIm56h_C-p4K75RGfUjsaXXvS7aQH0lFZ4gg_JzdLspzyxAiURw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ83n6jq-Hxs3KQ_gDZwCY0fMwp37HGUonrXUZGmRFXcWHbLGExY_0tZaAsRwgYYnV7_HojNMwQ2zfu6dqKGOXi6f-OA4dZDbUj_S14lPATnpBbkgyPUG_L_jOy5m3P_Pz8UaDtSP7MC4vq9aNqLRjHhnr6Dl8CD7wtBUAAcxEhvIp1JRrKhRYd9n-rQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3710" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ83n6jq-Hxs3KQ_gDZwCY0fMwp37HGUonrXUZGmRFXcWHbLGExY_0tZaAsRwgYYnV7_HojNMwQ2zfu6dqKGOXi6f-OA4dZDbUj_S14lPATnpBbkgyPUG_L_jOy5m3P_Pz8UaDtSP7MC4vq9aNqLRjHhnr6Dl8CD7wtBUAAcxEhvIp1JRrKhRYd9n-rQ=w193-h400" width="193" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived to our ERPU long-term leased lot in Livingston,
TX for the first time in 10 months.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though
we incurred stress and unplanned expenses from Big Boomer’s breakdown, overall
our 2022 travel season offered us exploration of new areas, the experience of
unique adventures, establishment of new friendships, and the creation of many
wonderful memories.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But the fun doesn’t stop yet.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">With the holidays approaching, we will be
involved with lots of celebrations and activities.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll tell ya all about them in an upcoming
post!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Talk to you again soon! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-87306336646195217922022-10-25T15:54:00.053-05:002022-12-19T22:00:56.130-06:00More Touring in NM (San Antonio/Hatch/Alamogordo/Capitan/Lincoln/Carlsbad)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We departed Albuquerque to visit a few more places within
NM, including Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We were hoping to see the migratory sandhill
cranes.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We stopped first at the Visitor
Center.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Not only was the Center open, it
had a terrific interactive display that was both entertaining and
informative.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I learned cranes are the oldest bird species
on record, with a fossil found in Nebraska dating back 10 million years.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And the sandhill cranes are the most abundant
subspecies.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Rocky Mountain variety
are most prevalent in this region.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They
are monogamous but may take a new mate if their original partner dies.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">While both parents share incubation of the
typical 2 eggs laid, the Mamma does it 70% of the time.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Once hatched, the youngsters stay with their
parents for a year, learning the ropes.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Then large extended families unite for migration.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They can travel 500 miles in 9-10 hours at
elevations of 3,000-12,000 feet.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">So, armed
with all this knowledge and the fact that several were reported to be in the area, we
hiked to the viewing blind to glimpse these fascinating creatures.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We heard them in the distance.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But we were looking for them in the wrong places.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They weren’t at ground level in the wetlands
or ponds;</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">they were miles above us in
the atmosphere flying to their next stopover!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">So, I didn’t get a good photo, but I enjoyed watching them fly in
formation.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It always amazes me that they
never seem to crash into one another.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They should give humans some safe "driving" lessons.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_abXA4Ai3OYbUqfXeYW4zQ0NPnn_q4d8-Y1ZOAh9DkJxqNiIQS845uGoFoOzdoXTdJfhGXmxcz_t1vq5Pk9VaOr5QIW-bQ2I3Cvjh-KDjwBBh5Gz9ex_9z8oIS2pe2JW8QrPF2XUHYn9OXcZde_raa-VeLsLhtlVyYigM7ut6eC1SYv1eDjxs0Ur0g/s3264/20221014_122237.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_abXA4Ai3OYbUqfXeYW4zQ0NPnn_q4d8-Y1ZOAh9DkJxqNiIQS845uGoFoOzdoXTdJfhGXmxcz_t1vq5Pk9VaOr5QIW-bQ2I3Cvjh-KDjwBBh5Gz9ex_9z8oIS2pe2JW8QrPF2XUHYn9OXcZde_raa-VeLsLhtlVyYigM7ut6eC1SYv1eDjxs0Ur0g/w400-h180/20221014_122237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Great interactive display. Hit some buttons and the sandhills fly, the coyotes howl, and the deer roam.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aJm2G_NrwInBqBhHIuMmy8H2n2KNmKSRn183WMr_PL1Tv_q2Pwvgy_BoQM2FAZw5NypNdgOCEhRayN2Bo7EfpmvyfKLO5IIEEOo0TGOb78Egin8hA27_XkoZNPajfmKvkhnIlQ8K-zmm-vn5yuIiahHNzpqEXdOByWvyRxW1PbRcWemQvxnnC3pHQ/s4000/20221014_122641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_aJm2G_NrwInBqBhHIuMmy8H2n2KNmKSRn183WMr_PL1Tv_q2Pwvgy_BoQM2FAZw5NypNdgOCEhRayN2Bo7EfpmvyfKLO5IIEEOo0TGOb78Egin8hA27_XkoZNPajfmKvkhnIlQ8K-zmm-vn5yuIiahHNzpqEXdOByWvyRxW1PbRcWemQvxnnC3pHQ/w400-h180/20221014_122641.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1WskOOU8Fh23LMghpYGqrnZeeeVKRpM_7TYBfHFuDNPvNmN7hJYncZL3X2wSzIT2l_r-TLRHCLTP88qhstS6d5jCwi0Ldfqy5miHkZN1ojjyQ7wtqq-pnijiSuDfaFssoe-IYpjRzJThYBRC8T7yLcBTkOf-rf5sTDLag9sSQ5hDu5r3-C2eP4ohCA/s4000/20221014_123110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1WskOOU8Fh23LMghpYGqrnZeeeVKRpM_7TYBfHFuDNPvNmN7hJYncZL3X2wSzIT2l_r-TLRHCLTP88qhstS6d5jCwi0Ldfqy5miHkZN1ojjyQ7wtqq-pnijiSuDfaFssoe-IYpjRzJThYBRC8T7yLcBTkOf-rf5sTDLag9sSQ5hDu5r3-C2eP4ohCA/w400-h180/20221014_123110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can you spot the hawk in the tree?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T_mg5an5XgAWXiCMx4pU53jWbMXoanEPu-ausXg3Jaty3wk5S4Z8l2wkR8eXMG6fKuDlVi9HjmZdvqahb0KaRY29rOWnIxKOzLni2Yo-K2myTzsvzxVYRVJim60-_Q10ZgP4zY_dqtIhYcfBctHZlB-sL_XzrK2nw9p88yx39F9I8_obm0fxi0po-A/s4000/20221014_123352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T_mg5an5XgAWXiCMx4pU53jWbMXoanEPu-ausXg3Jaty3wk5S4Z8l2wkR8eXMG6fKuDlVi9HjmZdvqahb0KaRY29rOWnIxKOzLni2Yo-K2myTzsvzxVYRVJim60-_Q10ZgP4zY_dqtIhYcfBctHZlB-sL_XzrK2nw9p88yx39F9I8_obm0fxi0po-A/w180-h400/20221014_123352.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At least THESE sandhill cranes posed for a photo.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazsBB5HtxzpBsI9mX8jMjUWVj5l_A0H0RSfaK9IyqNUaE-f3xrNpFvxFlTXCscgR3ec81ivWchxlkcAUa8tH35Jy1mpHZHP6WhatWEUYEUK3L074Ylio1fsFTZqvue47bXa9ivAgUFSdkEYTv6YdYpQl2d3qoKQSgJ1bugyp89G9Ziq3zvtXq8Atv9Q/s2269/20221014_123443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="2269" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazsBB5HtxzpBsI9mX8jMjUWVj5l_A0H0RSfaK9IyqNUaE-f3xrNpFvxFlTXCscgR3ec81ivWchxlkcAUa8tH35Jy1mpHZHP6WhatWEUYEUK3L074Ylio1fsFTZqvue47bXa9ivAgUFSdkEYTv6YdYpQl2d3qoKQSgJ1bugyp89G9Ziq3zvtXq8Atv9Q/w400-h223/20221014_123443.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_K9Fzc9rIQm7J7SfdACil_uogNX29HenXbWARedo24xHU-eQX8kbyBANXfp1MI4WhdVI3v2BuJ_ku3tcv-vrhO4q4DqnJlcuEDm-u5O5EfRGmaJ3CFDW26dfiSHILdNxSYSYdLyqEj8lINNdWycWbqMDCtJhxcfdMbFX8sHmX4ZTSdmEWbxBC7ylGw/s4000/20221014_124702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_K9Fzc9rIQm7J7SfdACil_uogNX29HenXbWARedo24xHU-eQX8kbyBANXfp1MI4WhdVI3v2BuJ_ku3tcv-vrhO4q4DqnJlcuEDm-u5O5EfRGmaJ3CFDW26dfiSHILdNxSYSYdLyqEj8lINNdWycWbqMDCtJhxcfdMbFX8sHmX4ZTSdmEWbxBC7ylGw/w400-h180/20221014_124702.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSFidH96yqxWEKJtDJ19Gq66-91S3iVtdRwl2SBdR9xMPysbWsoqXLeZimOFr2U_7Q_7n1_MLb3Vczn4vzxYZwSdQXNJibm9dtxXFX_314IRSRZqIzPyl_YQKcJ2IwAR6G7YDle4KT9F0OPBlCyobTOPLQ9gyFu_jvynGm0_X9i9rXcjyqY2a8hF08w/s4000/20221014_125801.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSFidH96yqxWEKJtDJ19Gq66-91S3iVtdRwl2SBdR9xMPysbWsoqXLeZimOFr2U_7Q_7n1_MLb3Vczn4vzxYZwSdQXNJibm9dtxXFX_314IRSRZqIzPyl_YQKcJ2IwAR6G7YDle4KT9F0OPBlCyobTOPLQ9gyFu_jvynGm0_X9i9rXcjyqY2a8hF08w/w400-h180/20221014_125801.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Big Boomer and Suite Retreat parked in the distance.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We continued to Hatch, NM, where we stayed overnight at
Hatch RV Park.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The village of Hatch hosts
a chili pepper festival each September that purportedly attracts 30,000 guests,
earning this small enclave the “Hatch Chile Pepper Capital of the World”.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We walked through the center of town and
stopped in all the shops.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Couldn’t leave
without making some fresh roasted and dried Hatch chili pepper purchases.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We stopped at the Hatch Museum only to find
it closed.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> So, w</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">e went to the
renowned Sparky’s for lunch (surprisingly, they had a veggie burger for Dad).</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Sparky’s has a retro interior and exterior
with great photo opportunities.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And I
got some fun, unobstructed pics since we arrived at 11:15 a.m., before the
place got crowded. We stayed for the first set of the musical entertainment provided
by locals Bonnie and Clyde, whose varied repertoire ranged from calypso, to
rock, to pop.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Interestingly, Sparky’s
obtained a liquor license recently.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yet,
it is only open till 5:30 p.m.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yes, this
is one quiet, sleepy town in the evenings.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41kZ3O529sv0olfDqDCiUuH0hySyhWl8wVXGOeLwJhrg7uqXaFZcaWe49okhs0enI65F29EQg5rbNjaKxYeTL5rsz0vuQZwhOJWBNTvTo9YKfukt00smCjnBBHKh2TuudPkbelsdXkAbQEbEex_5dPOSI1TVeufloqktHSAV2X3tIT8IHwMrRN2MLIw/s2402/20221015_104048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2402" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41kZ3O529sv0olfDqDCiUuH0hySyhWl8wVXGOeLwJhrg7uqXaFZcaWe49okhs0enI65F29EQg5rbNjaKxYeTL5rsz0vuQZwhOJWBNTvTo9YKfukt00smCjnBBHKh2TuudPkbelsdXkAbQEbEex_5dPOSI1TVeufloqktHSAV2X3tIT8IHwMrRN2MLIw/w400-h245/20221015_104048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r7rRIP5sf5CbidLb0hyAYDSjVoKACQTfkY-KjThjXyqlMXtRm4WodmgkG6SkBUUuXDu-gmQPlq6QvNfkWLAcCmxnERA-q51fW0vJYFVJkTe6WnrxrpShjBqKMCFIpJl4S1uGVUB_6TxKjWSkVnzrqg7i0FCVuZ8d13tx0IYORuk-lRyio_Bp3eNwhA/s2962/20221015_111643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="2962" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r7rRIP5sf5CbidLb0hyAYDSjVoKACQTfkY-KjThjXyqlMXtRm4WodmgkG6SkBUUuXDu-gmQPlq6QvNfkWLAcCmxnERA-q51fW0vJYFVJkTe6WnrxrpShjBqKMCFIpJl4S1uGVUB_6TxKjWSkVnzrqg7i0FCVuZ8d13tx0IYORuk-lRyio_Bp3eNwhA/w400-h190/20221015_111643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfLllKWAyZ0CtzViV4a1Pd16F5Yx8hMOJinzRx4QSOnKmBgeXlB8QCRe1377yuou9nU_rPhW-7J8PuIGMjr-KClBjQSTNSrqvZfZuJ23ofgyQYLWnQq_Uhrpi-X2IPtI-wXLkaf4a_OxZWXlLWNz1BhS_idPy3YjpTP1CXac0fxrEpigc2kAjBA4a0w/s2805/20221015_104450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2805" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfLllKWAyZ0CtzViV4a1Pd16F5Yx8hMOJinzRx4QSOnKmBgeXlB8QCRe1377yuou9nU_rPhW-7J8PuIGMjr-KClBjQSTNSrqvZfZuJ23ofgyQYLWnQq_Uhrpi-X2IPtI-wXLkaf4a_OxZWXlLWNz1BhS_idPy3YjpTP1CXac0fxrEpigc2kAjBA4a0w/w400-h209/20221015_104450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXKhynuTPr6s1NvWs3RAegOitA5v6bSZ9d84HbEudDA9DrXvgfGWGa76mjtfAV8a90JbFXhGFq_xTrS0Ipa_AEh1G6prWjfTRXGKybeQtrqoIuzt7FlzrJ9rDwvTu63XVYq28zj3wzQzQUEgOPyiYgcFPnjljCc0TmdfZrFVUq8DDQWVhi0X-wtV6B4g"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXKhynuTPr6s1NvWs3RAegOitA5v6bSZ9d84HbEudDA9DrXvgfGWGa76mjtfAV8a90JbFXhGFq_xTrS0Ipa_AEh1G6prWjfTRXGKybeQtrqoIuzt7FlzrJ9rDwvTu63XVYq28zj3wzQzQUEgOPyiYgcFPnjljCc0TmdfZrFVUq8DDQWVhi0X-wtV6B4g" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzLtBBLU89N8FyoaJh9upFMJLZiqaKwCdLnZrEebQ_nOOeY-2SBNLVQiEZKRYmqYMkWysySUSl-nzvtU8EVZ4Vgv0durkEGAKbDIpfIO7UVcBiT5Cr3sp3LTt137RBZ5VCaySlzM-cMSoMllxPebJDclCCXXzndsh-TbZkI8B2hmAdp_Ta15Ncbmyew/s3264/20221015_104526.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzLtBBLU89N8FyoaJh9upFMJLZiqaKwCdLnZrEebQ_nOOeY-2SBNLVQiEZKRYmqYMkWysySUSl-nzvtU8EVZ4Vgv0durkEGAKbDIpfIO7UVcBiT5Cr3sp3LTt137RBZ5VCaySlzM-cMSoMllxPebJDclCCXXzndsh-TbZkI8B2hmAdp_Ta15Ncbmyew/w400-h180/20221015_104526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxSUfNqty0hVSm2kx8RY_a9_xeEUlX96-R5HqjMl2ShpuDu2lHMi_AmyII70QuIJULW5JlSw5BE5gSzWDklFhonkAzdJOSX6AC4EOpnTfX0jYvalVBMQsVmGct23Yrm3Xa_xKPNosYPIeQ71hGF_0Us_1jW0D4KLIKouWcbQTGYAgTVvnwnumUUqVzA/s3782/20221015_1044082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="3782" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxSUfNqty0hVSm2kx8RY_a9_xeEUlX96-R5HqjMl2ShpuDu2lHMi_AmyII70QuIJULW5JlSw5BE5gSzWDklFhonkAzdJOSX6AC4EOpnTfX0jYvalVBMQsVmGct23Yrm3Xa_xKPNosYPIeQ71hGF_0Us_1jW0D4KLIKouWcbQTGYAgTVvnwnumUUqVzA/w400-h135/20221015_1044082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The next morning we traveled I-25 to US-70, destination
Boot Hill RV Resort in Alamogordo, NM.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This is a lovely, gated Park with easy access, spacious, level pull-thru
sites, clean laundry facilities, and friendly and helpful managers who came to
greet us even on their day off.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Even
better, it is right across the highway from Pistachioland and its roadside
attraction:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">the world’s largest
pistachio, standing 30 feet tall.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">After
making our pistachio purchases, we took the pistachio grove tour, well worth
the nominal $3/person fee.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I learned
that pistachio trees originated in the Middle East, which makes sense since
they require little water.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Male trees
are taller and less colorful than females.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">There is a ratio of 1 male tree for every 20 females among the 14,000
trees on premises. While most people associate pollination with bees, it is the
winds here that pollinate the pistachios.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And it takes only 20 days to pollinate each year (those boy trees sure
have an easy gig).</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A female tree does
not begin producing nuts until it is 7 years old, but thereafter yields 25-30
pounds each year.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Fascinating!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxECz07VY6C4917_pgctVVQV0sTsD7-V1FjhL-DZTr4YM2juxJRUI6LKdWm3blXOCrlwSieNW2V8N-Y4SKyy6VdQA5HoXZAtP_40cV1kEIWELiVs6qbi7x1ltGQvzSHnVCs9pfXxYiKQsOss5rPZNFmRXJYLGXkLF-FHJGDFqNM2pfEb8aiaZuD31frw/s3230/20221016_115734.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="3230" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxECz07VY6C4917_pgctVVQV0sTsD7-V1FjhL-DZTr4YM2juxJRUI6LKdWm3blXOCrlwSieNW2V8N-Y4SKyy6VdQA5HoXZAtP_40cV1kEIWELiVs6qbi7x1ltGQvzSHnVCs9pfXxYiKQsOss5rPZNFmRXJYLGXkLF-FHJGDFqNM2pfEb8aiaZuD31frw/w400-h217/20221016_115734.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Boot Hill RV Resort--great gated Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqaQpPJM_76SoEgLNrJujwlA84Iirwc1L9ML2_DZpUkwdIMLiSPJ4qNlRXi1M7bxI-WV_88GnNezeuig_s8nbKOr4Ed-hZuk4nO86tZarC_M36GJBt9IyqbppMxB0jnq_GNBvYOZjNXLzDeuSdDa1G-j0LwV_3qlM6eS2RKWEZFRjv2JRaAAU4dWdfg/s3264/20221016_115956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqaQpPJM_76SoEgLNrJujwlA84Iirwc1L9ML2_DZpUkwdIMLiSPJ4qNlRXi1M7bxI-WV_88GnNezeuig_s8nbKOr4Ed-hZuk4nO86tZarC_M36GJBt9IyqbppMxB0jnq_GNBvYOZjNXLzDeuSdDa1G-j0LwV_3qlM6eS2RKWEZFRjv2JRaAAU4dWdfg/w400-h180/20221016_115956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvUfh9cIAjOI5YJRyHm3pnzGZeC1X4YREHP4giylmVwIn1RWcAVW6NM0wRgObLjWM6d3MhLo-zoKuHbCgUVuH9d1CZH1E6bXt0qqtJimCY2mzDLttgOZrFqHhyCzM-_Nj7Hsqo4rL-ip9G0wePaco17XQ1kLG--EK8kC8kBPFODksh6KQ0rA5kW08w/s1510/20221016_154046.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1510" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvUfh9cIAjOI5YJRyHm3pnzGZeC1X4YREHP4giylmVwIn1RWcAVW6NM0wRgObLjWM6d3MhLo-zoKuHbCgUVuH9d1CZH1E6bXt0qqtJimCY2mzDLttgOZrFqHhyCzM-_Nj7Hsqo4rL-ip9G0wePaco17XQ1kLG--EK8kC8kBPFODksh6KQ0rA5kW08w/s320/20221016_154046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This guy got planted on Boot Hill.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil93Zy5jnQpMdSnTeo-2yXLsfcocy__5peVUSLJXyMg5dlnUHkI3R3Xb6yUUoh0hoaqMdsEYUjc2vN3OeNiTk960RYrXHEamxAYvG1JItdSI8tDVGnlT2Kf7YVkJUWItIqVMLHfhCKmUqsPO6QSo52b9f8-s_sgpaW0KTGCUBRBIxaLjzs6QIoOS5bg/s1342/20221016_141430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1342" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil93Zy5jnQpMdSnTeo-2yXLsfcocy__5peVUSLJXyMg5dlnUHkI3R3Xb6yUUoh0hoaqMdsEYUjc2vN3OeNiTk960RYrXHEamxAYvG1JItdSI8tDVGnlT2Kf7YVkJUWItIqVMLHfhCKmUqsPO6QSo52b9f8-s_sgpaW0KTGCUBRBIxaLjzs6QIoOS5bg/s320/20221016_141430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZEcJ08yrvguuTztH2RKaT0-tSCEmPKomMcklRe09H3daDxzkhSxxE7ghVOcKq3Y9Cnoii3Ph8lghWc90q9Hz2_FfP9RoYmIUBM6TLVlpULP-HBI4jKnDQLJ42NovAqvk1IDhXuP3kpE7GeEa2Sj-mTshFXUgPLLG140mlPhAjCTiecr3dbk5_tJiAA/s2166/20221016_142218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2166" data-original-width="1639" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZEcJ08yrvguuTztH2RKaT0-tSCEmPKomMcklRe09H3daDxzkhSxxE7ghVOcKq3Y9Cnoii3Ph8lghWc90q9Hz2_FfP9RoYmIUBM6TLVlpULP-HBI4jKnDQLJ42NovAqvk1IDhXuP3kpE7GeEa2Sj-mTshFXUgPLLG140mlPhAjCTiecr3dbk5_tJiAA/w303-h400/20221016_142218.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wholeheartedly agree with this statement!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODKT1ICR-0Gc3jo_2E0RrBC4cqXTtjRrp2Bzu1hFm0V-2ng6KHRBFSNSFHUOn3uQLpyYdjR9BukW1lqTDn1bL55O4JzVel5lr1InG6pXlayzZlQO0SKx2Zd1Ru2mjHB4p8NcDIWhZTdMmd407uia15ugNKzSuJ-drm3PJohM1j87sXzUhZZBUeamXQg/s3246/Popo%20and%20Friends%20in%20car.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="3246" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODKT1ICR-0Gc3jo_2E0RrBC4cqXTtjRrp2Bzu1hFm0V-2ng6KHRBFSNSFHUOn3uQLpyYdjR9BukW1lqTDn1bL55O4JzVel5lr1InG6pXlayzZlQO0SKx2Zd1Ru2mjHB4p8NcDIWhZTdMmd407uia15ugNKzSuJ-drm3PJohM1j87sXzUhZZBUeamXQg/w400-h179/Popo%20and%20Friends%20in%20car.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I hitched a ride with some friends in this restored Studebaker.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSba_uxc9aQ01594kOpLYj7YwXZpZJFjU6GxL6AqyD1_yiH8JDJVglffehiFQK0nz_lj6GuaJ7GEPQNL5l2FRimLIOelr5fr-vhxmtI52uoyODkC89ZYcg2zZmkuR3FkGahvLR_uRnYSnAxcs2Bu1QzZXP8tZrLPVSyi3jDM_o1H5xoyiFocX8YcpZQ/s2560/Resized_20221016_150346.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSba_uxc9aQ01594kOpLYj7YwXZpZJFjU6GxL6AqyD1_yiH8JDJVglffehiFQK0nz_lj6GuaJ7GEPQNL5l2FRimLIOelr5fr-vhxmtI52uoyODkC89ZYcg2zZmkuR3FkGahvLR_uRnYSnAxcs2Bu1QzZXP8tZrLPVSyi3jDM_o1H5xoyiFocX8YcpZQ/w400-h180/Resized_20221016_150346.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLfwZ9wacc0U3exjgiBjnIniVTPBC6z8SxCzYwjw97GIvXVB7rmCdFIJX1R_fU-doTocaEQK9EyViHbA2T5SFjGE2xuXAqIlXz-_iv-gY489tgKUXuSeS6aIsLNxYpkzhWVhWwsWgo0MJxTlOorJxXwEOUNyTxrEkCLWMa3Oln5iDnRxpEMPc05Q8Gw/s4000/20221016_151835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLfwZ9wacc0U3exjgiBjnIniVTPBC6z8SxCzYwjw97GIvXVB7rmCdFIJX1R_fU-doTocaEQK9EyViHbA2T5SFjGE2xuXAqIlXz-_iv-gY489tgKUXuSeS6aIsLNxYpkzhWVhWwsWgo0MJxTlOorJxXwEOUNyTxrEkCLWMa3Oln5iDnRxpEMPc05Q8Gw/w400-h180/20221016_151835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since we had visited Alamogordo previously, we didn’t do
any other touring there. Instead, we
departed Boot Hill RV Resort on a crisp, Autumn morning heading toward Lincoln,
NM. To avoid mountain passes, we opted
to travel along NM-54. The town of Carrizozo
on this route looked like a movie set or even a ghost town. There were structures, but all the businesses
were shuttered. This undoubtedly is
attributable to MAJOR road construction which cut off access to most
enterprises. Very sad to see a small
town of under 1,000 residents (and the Lincoln County seat to boot) just die.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We arrived at Smokey Bear Historical Park near Capitan,
NM.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We couldn’t fit in its parking lot
with our set-up, but it had curbside parking as well.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">One would almost think they reserved that
area for us, ‘cause no one else was parked there and we fit perfectly taking up
the entire section. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Forest Service
first used the fictional character “Smokey Bear” in forest fire prevention ad
campaigns in 1944.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Little did they know
then that the fictional character would be brought to life in 1950.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">That is when a </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">REAL</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> 3-month-old orphaned
bear cub who suffered burn wounds would be rescued from a tree he climbed trying
to escape an actual forest fire.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">That
cub became an icon, and he received millions of visitors at the National Zoo in
Washington, DC until his death in 1976.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">He was brought back to be interred right here in Capitan, not far from where he was
rescued 26 years earlier.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhWDFm9BONQM3HO1dM1tJzwtvKSjJaJLLUANGFzicxTsE2WH6o4y6UrJfGCHi2mPqGPg4mHdooo6us8MHyHhZY2AJaY9Yl0_azpK1qID0uPprOqvt7mldH6g3w535Ue8nY0zWm0eLKkmQihilOw2oNdMqVMHxqDe9aHWeEt32K9N73sQJSWFz7dXe8g/s2560/Resized_20221017_102324.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhWDFm9BONQM3HO1dM1tJzwtvKSjJaJLLUANGFzicxTsE2WH6o4y6UrJfGCHi2mPqGPg4mHdooo6us8MHyHhZY2AJaY9Yl0_azpK1qID0uPprOqvt7mldH6g3w535Ue8nY0zWm0eLKkmQihilOw2oNdMqVMHxqDe9aHWeEt32K9N73sQJSWFz7dXe8g/w400-h180/Resized_20221017_102324.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUVBtJyX5TP7mgB5H9ZqR_1oAwaNr3tNKuVIQW_oxq8L9LPzACKOSsEWOa4lT8JuXz4S5LCwughfOOEI01rxs1DSh418hTbXFe81dZ7ViKs4pjxO3Dx8t55cR6gSp2NOgEbZ7TZn5JdpNh_Ai229AsbxfB_6SChKXcpwnOEwqFCNqNZmFCfLQP8_pZg/s2513/20221017_101620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="2513" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUVBtJyX5TP7mgB5H9ZqR_1oAwaNr3tNKuVIQW_oxq8L9LPzACKOSsEWOa4lT8JuXz4S5LCwughfOOEI01rxs1DSh418hTbXFe81dZ7ViKs4pjxO3Dx8t55cR6gSp2NOgEbZ7TZn5JdpNh_Ai229AsbxfB_6SChKXcpwnOEwqFCNqNZmFCfLQP8_pZg/w400-h214/20221017_101620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2oMccm3ElY1-y2-oInaT6SovjH2GjVoVzrsYyp-dc_JymCQVEgYoHtj9oQcUB8pwar4AVkpmK4esQ_b3Svhi9_nikHtjGPUSa4NGL8SdzWGBiLrP1-BhgRV3xq_AphZPAETbIpANQ8R9_YfRFvq0xTSh_sYxfXZ_ZmhBy6cg_zJRw_2PX-3Nc8TQEg/s3264/20221017_101738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2oMccm3ElY1-y2-oInaT6SovjH2GjVoVzrsYyp-dc_JymCQVEgYoHtj9oQcUB8pwar4AVkpmK4esQ_b3Svhi9_nikHtjGPUSa4NGL8SdzWGBiLrP1-BhgRV3xq_AphZPAETbIpANQ8R9_YfRFvq0xTSh_sYxfXZ_ZmhBy6cg_zJRw_2PX-3Nc8TQEg/w400-h180/20221017_101738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21k_WSCaY6NXrdI_QakOOOuMrdZTd4-QlR7vwl1JQd8kk4uopCNMTniVdxIzpD8ylCo95WKCkhN8ffevCOiVnlqfcKroSG-29PW7aOpOBcU2FjgJzZWM6m980SfmB_NBAbyp3rUluYT2oLxOs7hNcFe-5i53PaUS7hoCKTcGtSrfl__EKS0EQ7WYbuw/s4000/20221017_102828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21k_WSCaY6NXrdI_QakOOOuMrdZTd4-QlR7vwl1JQd8kk4uopCNMTniVdxIzpD8ylCo95WKCkhN8ffevCOiVnlqfcKroSG-29PW7aOpOBcU2FjgJzZWM6m980SfmB_NBAbyp3rUluYT2oLxOs7hNcFe-5i53PaUS7hoCKTcGtSrfl__EKS0EQ7WYbuw/w400-h180/20221017_102828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz73MSD2XUWoerpxTGlvu3vB6A2lF60vn2h0Pz-ZwN9ygL3RetqYkoKvvwm3d9vvKMJn-saidFmps8UWu12bxz7sSkyt62HhhLIhOUmATEQtNZurIiAu0oeP6TASherJrvCaiho3RkYuFg34qrXFSJF04KSLUb4zIFEeZRhDdnNlsNxCNZ3HEx_hUqA/s960/FB_IMG_1666138164439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz73MSD2XUWoerpxTGlvu3vB6A2lF60vn2h0Pz-ZwN9ygL3RetqYkoKvvwm3d9vvKMJn-saidFmps8UWu12bxz7sSkyt62HhhLIhOUmATEQtNZurIiAu0oeP6TASherJrvCaiho3RkYuFg34qrXFSJF04KSLUb4zIFEeZRhDdnNlsNxCNZ3HEx_hUqA/w300-h400/FB_IMG_1666138164439.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR9LDkBJ4OPS8x6C7sVcC3Gm2eiLpdcbS0Rn0OKtgbK6weanAzCOYaOxwkJicry8RGS-QNsTcF_g6svpdXgEYPTH5Jt4Nazfclkk9pN1tEudxXr_DHc7DnKUDUl-BqbOqYuwgaUCfn9fEXzYTCyLdLtnI4Cz45BVDw03_-5ihXdTEgvlxYqqE61B8Og/s720/FB_IMG_1666138191262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="720" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLR9LDkBJ4OPS8x6C7sVcC3Gm2eiLpdcbS0Rn0OKtgbK6weanAzCOYaOxwkJicry8RGS-QNsTcF_g6svpdXgEYPTH5Jt4Nazfclkk9pN1tEudxXr_DHc7DnKUDUl-BqbOqYuwgaUCfn9fEXzYTCyLdLtnI4Cz45BVDw03_-5ihXdTEgvlxYqqE61B8Og/w400-h226/FB_IMG_1666138191262.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The REAL Smokey Bear Cub.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvcPmb8DkD788a8yv3v98fvJP8zpx5424CSrwOZUQyNkF9FaV5te-b7J0rDgNAuY1vP-m219VoYftbu2Y0BGMrD_OWVlfGOoJD6KojA4BfJUVDyvDxxyy-T2e3Dp-EfDRh1clmyEJq8Rl-Ntxd3xqnFbWrr2rR6vh93-3bZBrzlcM8pMU3wlugxUfYg/s474/th-357613322.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="474" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvcPmb8DkD788a8yv3v98fvJP8zpx5424CSrwOZUQyNkF9FaV5te-b7J0rDgNAuY1vP-m219VoYftbu2Y0BGMrD_OWVlfGOoJD6KojA4BfJUVDyvDxxyy-T2e3Dp-EfDRh1clmyEJq8Rl-Ntxd3xqnFbWrr2rR6vh93-3bZBrzlcM8pMU3wlugxUfYg/w400-h194/th-357613322.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Smokey's final resting place.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We continued along US-380 to Lincoln, NM, which hasn’t
changed much since its founding in the mid-1800s.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is known for its Lincoln County War, a
feud between 2 rival land/cattle/mercantile owners vying for “territory”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This was serious business in this Wild West
town, and gunslingers like Billy the Kid were recruited to “resolve” the
matter.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though we enjoyed learning about
its colorful history and viewing many structures that date back to the 1880s,
what drew us to Lincoln was an opportunity to visit with our dear friend
Sylvia, with whom we volunteered in 2020 at Dworshak Dam in Idaho.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We savored lattes during great conversation and
exchanged hugs that warmed our hearts (and our bodies on this damp, chilly day)
until we meet again in AZ next year.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUgmZu3j3ZRDNcDOKcjw1HYmcR9s7ZzSaO6aJGVMq3W5Tmn3Fr1vKKVHMeqsrD2xNNvAmba_92wcC1oqsnc8tDAxPSAZNVEP55UUXfglr_bs-k6mXgh5tdwFQWbkLKpIAEelV5HP81ZUWva2fxPD1eGUyi3WzQVye_bRJyPzdXnPBcChFJlLgaDOWdA/s4000/20221017_104125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUgmZu3j3ZRDNcDOKcjw1HYmcR9s7ZzSaO6aJGVMq3W5Tmn3Fr1vKKVHMeqsrD2xNNvAmba_92wcC1oqsnc8tDAxPSAZNVEP55UUXfglr_bs-k6mXgh5tdwFQWbkLKpIAEelV5HP81ZUWva2fxPD1eGUyi3WzQVye_bRJyPzdXnPBcChFJlLgaDOWdA/w400-h180/20221017_104125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9ojCISJssWwmfzi4AYCP2brWNXyio88qEhOx1Rpd3sUzZZ-rdYm3gSQ5NRGOKQ51CZh5wvO8RMCPxlg46aNw1Sy03KAP-NIb05bhwAvefIjcXJAExl2hLZTkAeHN9K1rMJTQMmX9XzgFAvwA1Ug777UMYMIUAJcXw-bSm0DvYRiePgUNqXsUun9g5g/s3292/20221017_130617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="3292" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9ojCISJssWwmfzi4AYCP2brWNXyio88qEhOx1Rpd3sUzZZ-rdYm3gSQ5NRGOKQ51CZh5wvO8RMCPxlg46aNw1Sy03KAP-NIb05bhwAvefIjcXJAExl2hLZTkAeHN9K1rMJTQMmX9XzgFAvwA1Ug777UMYMIUAJcXw-bSm0DvYRiePgUNqXsUun9g5g/w400-h143/20221017_130617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRBoiR-sCVSMdaiNmzkXyHpGvvmPLhz2lRci7EU6QGK_Ka9Mr7QZqjyg16ti1RoUk8iqM2gjiTUmuw75mwgmLU8S3aYgxgjjgPEiOd-78vJSqpB0c20-oMWgo78SVacJWP_o9Ovt1-QnCqh5VdrQTx-pQE8XuvTsycUq2I7w4ivA40_R48ZRibrXS8Q/w400-h180/Resized_20221017_110559.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Structures from the 1880s...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRBoiR-sCVSMdaiNmzkXyHpGvvmPLhz2lRci7EU6QGK_Ka9Mr7QZqjyg16ti1RoUk8iqM2gjiTUmuw75mwgmLU8S3aYgxgjjgPEiOd-78vJSqpB0c20-oMWgo78SVacJWP_o9Ovt1-QnCqh5VdrQTx-pQE8XuvTsycUq2I7w4ivA40_R48ZRibrXS8Q/s2560/Resized_20221017_110559.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL2sU5ZplfCXp91Ybs22aUMdMTx_pRGWEVGEHZr1k_MT9BmlzSp_tOIC8tIPEFoPS4U7igctayFjasn5nn-a9nYvKxzph8OPmX6oDSQj9LzWFBxSxRLdEvkfoSlOZRSjY0_8ePV2jDBc5Ou-LFM4ThjGD_NY0MZ1ionoNwlZ0Bug68ThS9DMPaBoYlA/s2560/Resized_20221017_110848.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL2sU5ZplfCXp91Ybs22aUMdMTx_pRGWEVGEHZr1k_MT9BmlzSp_tOIC8tIPEFoPS4U7igctayFjasn5nn-a9nYvKxzph8OPmX6oDSQj9LzWFBxSxRLdEvkfoSlOZRSjY0_8ePV2jDBc5Ou-LFM4ThjGD_NY0MZ1ionoNwlZ0Bug68ThS9DMPaBoYlA/w400-h200/Resized_20221017_110848.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDG0-S5yZwDQsnqk9li8GRJDuOYgcoViYsdG1KYOq6uvJJBE3TzEPoEZJwDtAHSy5rVrqWuZXZZBDSQVizeEtulegKH3dMWI8rqNFeIS0p7RCVjNlwRqsN9IBHvgqHqQE9hrfTsOX-NEzyeWCpGSxqUefZksUcnLz0k18olJAxgFVxHnROGS43I63dQ/s2560/Resized_20221017_110931.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="2560" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDG0-S5yZwDQsnqk9li8GRJDuOYgcoViYsdG1KYOq6uvJJBE3TzEPoEZJwDtAHSy5rVrqWuZXZZBDSQVizeEtulegKH3dMWI8rqNFeIS0p7RCVjNlwRqsN9IBHvgqHqQE9hrfTsOX-NEzyeWCpGSxqUefZksUcnLz0k18olJAxgFVxHnROGS43I63dQ/w400-h226/Resized_20221017_110931.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqNhwPmA-DOFQeMs7NPKMh5ntiRzRaz7n6-GquLWQ_e5kBVpC4GFtOtI-I0PTfOu4pEEuJEnSC2_xXcyThTQ3oWJHMm9ge9BCe1vNdUN8Z_KjrlQJ51b9keOOLzmj71Cm_YFunYAPCV_c-wzoKTWg1iFG4CALaszOLq41O_1QaB47QubPzZ10-k6Tnw/s4128/20221017_115445.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqNhwPmA-DOFQeMs7NPKMh5ntiRzRaz7n6-GquLWQ_e5kBVpC4GFtOtI-I0PTfOu4pEEuJEnSC2_xXcyThTQ3oWJHMm9ge9BCe1vNdUN8Z_KjrlQJ51b9keOOLzmj71Cm_YFunYAPCV_c-wzoKTWg1iFG4CALaszOLq41O_1QaB47QubPzZ10-k6Tnw/w400-h300/20221017_115445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reunion with Sylvia.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We returned to the road, destination Sunset Reef
Camp-ground.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Operated by the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), this is a terrific boondocking site within 10 miles of
Carlsbad Caverns National Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">With
fire pits, grills, sheltered picnic tables, trash receptacles, pit toilet if
you need it and 5 level, big-rig friendly pull-through sites (and equal number
of tent sites), this small camping area is a gem.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We had an excellent Verizon cell signal as
well, earning this place a coveted Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, stays are limited to 5 days.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7pYit0fbdzPQZYJEmTCQx7k-QYKHEKyb1qo3RMrlfKoJil-zgTXP11xKtr-lCvvneVFEgUPetualzxl186FK22prpiDygNAIqWLFPNYPQMV2xpf92ERpcTte60e4GKYTKoRbJ0FAESdIn9YoBhGSNjVt9Nlr5ITo3LS9PclUyIZPDIhxTBqF3P68yw/s4000/20221019_153936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7pYit0fbdzPQZYJEmTCQx7k-QYKHEKyb1qo3RMrlfKoJil-zgTXP11xKtr-lCvvneVFEgUPetualzxl186FK22prpiDygNAIqWLFPNYPQMV2xpf92ERpcTte60e4GKYTKoRbJ0FAESdIn9YoBhGSNjVt9Nlr5ITo3LS9PclUyIZPDIhxTBqF3P68yw/w400-h180/20221019_153936.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHdR2KyWe4hBsMT8R73bnto1eKCUUUhA2L2pBeSinOYxJxafp54nP0m885stsrdayDRVe1jwooDP1LYyefduNDLlCn_PmZJM5QHtA6H5WrQfnyZt9V7gDC-eWLS_nfIrOrx0eTvAV2_EzxRNVgo1ph6atk4jrsBimM2xhifC3kr_3BCk-62zUiPz_wg/s3873/20221019_164249.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="3873" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHdR2KyWe4hBsMT8R73bnto1eKCUUUhA2L2pBeSinOYxJxafp54nP0m885stsrdayDRVe1jwooDP1LYyefduNDLlCn_PmZJM5QHtA6H5WrQfnyZt9V7gDC-eWLS_nfIrOrx0eTvAV2_EzxRNVgo1ph6atk4jrsBimM2xhifC3kr_3BCk-62zUiPz_wg/w400-h185/20221019_164249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We headed the next day to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we drove Big Boomer along the entrance road, we were treated to a group of big horn sheep out for their morning stroll.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXlKGAsBbWhb-vTOzQBSj92OBbVbWeN8er4gI-KXGSh6U4zGWVC8Np9KBDkqWJeo9FUyzPYKVJJTOu3-RK1ivRCLSfNRnOcuRmfW1RvSUILGiWqqt0kCKOnAs3WgdKKqucK2Lj372iaLexjznABf5ilTkBrhATX_r88kWb8ruUYgiLJ1cYYZr4VSMrg/s2862/20221020_082932%20(2).jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2862" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXlKGAsBbWhb-vTOzQBSj92OBbVbWeN8er4gI-KXGSh6U4zGWVC8Np9KBDkqWJeo9FUyzPYKVJJTOu3-RK1ivRCLSfNRnOcuRmfW1RvSUILGiWqqt0kCKOnAs3WgdKKqucK2Lj372iaLexjznABf5ilTkBrhATX_r88kWb8ruUYgiLJ1cYYZr4VSMrg/w400-h244/20221020_082932%20(2).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mural in White's City outside Carlsbad Caverns National Park.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfZ0dpEZdsaMVtcGqVG7U9RaTyYHTufpzQkeceO4NsiTvzPGhXm3KNIxqUIEot7qTa4AAsrrmrA-dP1gpneK6dSCxiOKf2zJaOovlh79CHLw1zZr-zoYHH4lsO0P2jLr-rMQkBx2I3uwXuorSNrOypFSB45DnPURZHc4G9XKIVFqTmNvw1mbR7_xPZQ/s2988/20221018_095711.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2988" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfZ0dpEZdsaMVtcGqVG7U9RaTyYHTufpzQkeceO4NsiTvzPGhXm3KNIxqUIEot7qTa4AAsrrmrA-dP1gpneK6dSCxiOKf2zJaOovlh79CHLw1zZr-zoYHH4lsO0P2jLr-rMQkBx2I3uwXuorSNrOypFSB45DnPURZHc4G9XKIVFqTmNvw1mbR7_xPZQ/w400-h211/20221018_095711.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ1r-WDL6KQU3msLwpT7z94gYXmzdOBny9jfP8esDOUBt5ocin41eqnYhaKZJcvmYWrBnOBSMr1zlbpkd3_hGhbNc8pQm7IdRC5R_sIZW0-XW_I9XoCT2R8Uz7gMMSHwsAtEZdGdp-CKDLdCdbPtG4Tz_eLn_pWTCz0GQ-C7C7ug06BmXhXVOEUKHEw/s4000/20221018_100147.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ1r-WDL6KQU3msLwpT7z94gYXmzdOBny9jfP8esDOUBt5ocin41eqnYhaKZJcvmYWrBnOBSMr1zlbpkd3_hGhbNc8pQm7IdRC5R_sIZW0-XW_I9XoCT2R8Uz7gMMSHwsAtEZdGdp-CKDLdCdbPtG4Tz_eLn_pWTCz0GQ-C7C7ug06BmXhXVOEUKHEw/w400-h180/20221018_100147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyU9ybnurNwc6zZoE2FBpgJvkikjW_DHu9Q38p7YwYNA3UVCg2ph_Sd5cW7T6T1nwOfWa35q19-iwYbXW7qQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVL5PvccNdRRDO7FJNncDun7yy9WlY9Au9SU9YbreLe1k8k20IkYI-ov3hZV8OgaXSHs5mGSM92_GLOsG-RzA0ejIL_HwZu23IIA0Ta1LqcXG3oytIkJJ7YhkMF25CNQi5sMkk7-hdIBYiJn1s2F_7B6zs4Ci2MCjWocTNSjW_LQfO_5-i5Pb9jkmAA/s3264/20221018_101253.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVL5PvccNdRRDO7FJNncDun7yy9WlY9Au9SU9YbreLe1k8k20IkYI-ov3hZV8OgaXSHs5mGSM92_GLOsG-RzA0ejIL_HwZu23IIA0Ta1LqcXG3oytIkJJ7YhkMF25CNQi5sMkk7-hdIBYiJn1s2F_7B6zs4Ci2MCjWocTNSjW_LQfO_5-i5Pb9jkmAA/w400-h180/20221018_101253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMROduVhpTtr1Lc9Q38GghD0LTwUHxIcIABElo-VU-aiQY6L1wNIJYfIOpx0NtAjtZMXxFj3cP8Uwarfy5aABYIvEpqO1MFL2tgC4hnY3eDlPsYwVTX2iKPIzvGS2NiVOtEx_-mR7wJcrKe8Jg8uXGWwf6daa-nzHXnxQvbV_WExoup4XSrRQ49PBAA/s3264/20221018_101409.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMROduVhpTtr1Lc9Q38GghD0LTwUHxIcIABElo-VU-aiQY6L1wNIJYfIOpx0NtAjtZMXxFj3cP8Uwarfy5aABYIvEpqO1MFL2tgC4hnY3eDlPsYwVTX2iKPIzvGS2NiVOtEx_-mR7wJcrKe8Jg8uXGWwf6daa-nzHXnxQvbV_WExoup4XSrRQ49PBAA/w400-h180/20221018_101409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We made our on-line timed-entry reservation for 10:30 a.m. to
hike into Carlsbad Caverns.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This self-guided tour takes you along the Big
Room Trail and the Natural Entrance Trail.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Along the trail down, we enjoyed chatting with Cheryl who was leading
her Escapees Hangout group in a volunteer clean up activity there.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Caverns have fine examples of stalactites,
stalagmites, and speleothems like popcorn and soda straws, though my photos
don’t do the Caverns justice.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz11HR1oLsktyKgzKYGAtGEvbP_KMAyJeTBB3al-hHXng8KQ6gcldgTVYCS_24m3v3C6XKveWfPuCUHMRlweqG-VnxFfzrAXQ7kMYcyiodK3PO00KvLSgGOg3wvz5ZEiwx7AJu1orky_wx1rfqplqBChF1d2mQwXlpjjCsNEu93dLo5xOPaUCionhqVg/s4000/20221018_112500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz11HR1oLsktyKgzKYGAtGEvbP_KMAyJeTBB3al-hHXng8KQ6gcldgTVYCS_24m3v3C6XKveWfPuCUHMRlweqG-VnxFfzrAXQ7kMYcyiodK3PO00KvLSgGOg3wvz5ZEiwx7AJu1orky_wx1rfqplqBChF1d2mQwXlpjjCsNEu93dLo5xOPaUCionhqVg/w400-h180/20221018_112500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Entering the caverns...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HdptyurIr3j4sGJH7G186jzNX1CVPxKiY_z_SRJQZN7k3pBsSFAhX5Fd9yK05AyrPUXsp9JLZlItkqeGo_qnfibcsg0Ow-N1M1tHIXXF4a4e3NJJwOjAg68fH74dXeFz-uAm8ro-2E-fKr2ZorNYLVEFt-7fuiTr0_lmit841zwJyFhd08do0k_EQQ/s3264/20221018_113005.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HdptyurIr3j4sGJH7G186jzNX1CVPxKiY_z_SRJQZN7k3pBsSFAhX5Fd9yK05AyrPUXsp9JLZlItkqeGo_qnfibcsg0Ow-N1M1tHIXXF4a4e3NJJwOjAg68fH74dXeFz-uAm8ro-2E-fKr2ZorNYLVEFt-7fuiTr0_lmit841zwJyFhd08do0k_EQQ/w400-h180/20221018_113005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-g6oRe1QJjtYUyIG_IahdYV6PcVspf0YPCVJBZ7IP5lZ5MfcbVL6Da1yjSNoem_TAaFHUONaOtPXoZk4z64q7PkT_jx4vXLWxNDhQmx4xlzusEddw0KzTAkZfoG-OU7fpGLUJqNtV7wOCqMuDFT99JlH6ke50ugjWhkfIVgbKtefQniBFk1LwCPwhQ/s3264/20221018_114638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-g6oRe1QJjtYUyIG_IahdYV6PcVspf0YPCVJBZ7IP5lZ5MfcbVL6Da1yjSNoem_TAaFHUONaOtPXoZk4z64q7PkT_jx4vXLWxNDhQmx4xlzusEddw0KzTAkZfoG-OU7fpGLUJqNtV7wOCqMuDFT99JlH6ke50ugjWhkfIVgbKtefQniBFk1LwCPwhQ/w400-h180/20221018_114638.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQRxxCn1xioG1syGtzQHVdeNi_eJ1YGvm61uFFdh7Y1_RnYckxvkLAmUjEtafitmSfRdY9LIi6ieyJlfk1LwCUHeIsmMOSiAl5Rgn_hF0NEe761V9_B7eShG3PurH42L_d2LlD_ppVcyCLD32kXZZT8EVxxKrBAWa_Q-GN7J_Xl6jyLZVx1NM5jF-FA/s4000/20221018_115429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQRxxCn1xioG1syGtzQHVdeNi_eJ1YGvm61uFFdh7Y1_RnYckxvkLAmUjEtafitmSfRdY9LIi6ieyJlfk1LwCUHeIsmMOSiAl5Rgn_hF0NEe761V9_B7eShG3PurH42L_d2LlD_ppVcyCLD32kXZZT8EVxxKrBAWa_Q-GN7J_Xl6jyLZVx1NM5jF-FA/w180-h400/20221018_115429.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K0wHkY2TVAaXaWXKnxMRAyWweQ1HYBe8oIpD34fWJHDX2iCQj_GgqiNRYbrHPMMlqVn1Mwf6KGzBVhW1OJdNj8wayqohAY9JFFsb9lgsxeUEWmmFbbE58SOVhujd75HWW3Xpqbs7NFw7r-inxZi2aLsv6cnLIK77j85nZOlxyvc2jrwBCtApYPOqRw/s4000/20221018_121000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K0wHkY2TVAaXaWXKnxMRAyWweQ1HYBe8oIpD34fWJHDX2iCQj_GgqiNRYbrHPMMlqVn1Mwf6KGzBVhW1OJdNj8wayqohAY9JFFsb9lgsxeUEWmmFbbE58SOVhujd75HWW3Xpqbs7NFw7r-inxZi2aLsv6cnLIK77j85nZOlxyvc2jrwBCtApYPOqRw/w400-h180/20221018_121000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4w8HLHQNtrlZYyfhVXQ9cAc5LaDYmF1bY7Kch2TcqlIV5K63TPLopDbERCgTcfofh3LlV2_ct0KPa0VTvlWqf6hE9_VXrtAGrz4_7fA8QzCl86B8FCmw_AMBqR4v-vIG5d22fW7CW4CclcwMy0wc-phYRlJyB4rR6C5THVxvOvhibd9p8oiG-jFa_A/s4000/20221018_124444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4w8HLHQNtrlZYyfhVXQ9cAc5LaDYmF1bY7Kch2TcqlIV5K63TPLopDbERCgTcfofh3LlV2_ct0KPa0VTvlWqf6hE9_VXrtAGrz4_7fA8QzCl86B8FCmw_AMBqR4v-vIG5d22fW7CW4CclcwMy0wc-phYRlJyB4rR6C5THVxvOvhibd9p8oiG-jFa_A/w180-h400/20221018_124444.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m9hp8XglIlFuv4tDNK8o7pmI85xTpcVI8K-UBf_OXWJ1jOMa1GDmK01Syu5Tf5dS6_8h0S28Vs9ip2lqbPK4sm6uEp8KDwvVkdZGzEE7sWOF-Poo9Kok9DTvM6TAvhn9BB23Tv_vnmpwvwoWg4_O0HnhssANXEGfxT6XkkcPcezZxmefJFFQsuMroQ/s3264/20221018_125206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj6ibXA0BZDa65Cnaqg-VBKWoBb8kOrHBZSx3zWYTqzYqCvTT-gw9OKispMfWMeUiCGAmXE2G8r1UlMjh2ccGXzo7JyLTeNiAS6tdg2fTrbM5TRXxB2SPkp9_ZiX6W7CpYkfxDHedLvxODqivmZq0xSzaXv_mTHwdhnUfANgmX8a_1YMg9nJxuUiONg/s4000/20221018_131938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj6ibXA0BZDa65Cnaqg-VBKWoBb8kOrHBZSx3zWYTqzYqCvTT-gw9OKispMfWMeUiCGAmXE2G8r1UlMjh2ccGXzo7JyLTeNiAS6tdg2fTrbM5TRXxB2SPkp9_ZiX6W7CpYkfxDHedLvxODqivmZq0xSzaXv_mTHwdhnUfANgmX8a_1YMg9nJxuUiONg/w400-h180/20221018_131938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time we finished hiking, Dad was hungry.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the “restaurant” at the Park had nothing
for his plant-based diet other than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the
insane cost of $6.50 per sandwich.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thankfully, Mom’s purse is like Mary Poppins’ bag—she pulled out a few
protein bars and bags of nuts to satisfy his belly until we got back to the campground.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We tried to get tickets on-line for the King’s Palace
Guided Tour at the Caverns.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But there are only 2 tours
daily, and all on-line tickets were sold out for our 2-day visit.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I got my hopes up when we learned from the
Ranger upon arrival for our timed-entry reservation that only half of the 24
tickets for each King’s Palace Guided Tour are sold on-line in advance.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Caverns hold back 12 tickets for each
tour for walk-ups.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived early the second
day of our visit to score those walk-up tickets.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Alas, it was not meant to be.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Rangers eliminated 1 of the 2 tours
entirely.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So those with reserved tickets
for the second tour were moved into the first tour, thereby eliminating any
walk-up ticket availability.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly, of
the Caverns’ half million visitors annually, less than 5% get to view the
King’s Palace.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We perused the Visitor Center so I could finish my booklet and
get sworn in as a Junior Ranger.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I
received a patch in addition to the standard issue pin.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY7xPQHqkjdFr9UCY-dMdolfUOCwUHM7KVAaaj-87CXpnAhyEPc5t7dWNuqEyvlDhL0JtYsQUtYjSkPIX4JxWxImg9smMqVzKzGSZKjQaU8xxx9PsFjZD_m2D9QdPViohuw9W8wTLyyx8_D3acVTd1yADoN0xMzZ-pSAYBjkkkZ-LOrGfdb3_mnHyyw/s1921/PoPo%20at%20Ranger%20Desk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1921" data-original-width="1795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY7xPQHqkjdFr9UCY-dMdolfUOCwUHM7KVAaaj-87CXpnAhyEPc5t7dWNuqEyvlDhL0JtYsQUtYjSkPIX4JxWxImg9smMqVzKzGSZKjQaU8xxx9PsFjZD_m2D9QdPViohuw9W8wTLyyx8_D3acVTd1yADoN0xMzZ-pSAYBjkkkZ-LOrGfdb3_mnHyyw/s320/PoPo%20at%20Ranger%20Desk.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me taking a breather after earning my Junior Ranger pin AND patch!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the early evening, we watched the swallows
return to the Cavern from their daily activities.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And then the bats emerged—hundreds of
thousands of them!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We left after an hour
of watching, and they were still pouring out!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Park Service prohibits taking any photos of the phenomenon, and we
were instructed to turn off ALL electronics, including phones, Apple watches,
etc., since these supposedly interfere with bat flight and their sonar.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Meanwhile, the Ranger was using a blue tooth sound
system and had on her walkie-talkie.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">A
fine example of “do as I say, not as I do.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyu3ZLU3z3MBHRlcOTYZOeYOBxF89xe_PJ45Ph1NWbwrBcreqhwijU2UFFGlgQhfHlrhSVkB4zUwT8Xf0cO_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">he next day our kitchen faucet bit the dust.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, it happened while we were inside
the rig, so minimal leakage occurred.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Off to Lowes we went.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course,
it took 2 trips back and forth since the connections on the residential faucet are not the same as those in the RV.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Thankfully, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad got the faucet installed properly and quickly once he had all the correct parts.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I think his handyman talents is one of the
reasons Mom keeps him around.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Well, time for me to sign off. I’ll talk to you again soon!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-86000007302377736612022-10-15T14:57:00.007-05:002022-12-11T23:15:09.564-06:00Touring Albuquerque, NM<div class="separator"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We toured Albuquerque and surrounding areas on weekends </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">before the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta </span><span style="font-family: arial;">commenced and again after
our volunteer commitment </span><span style="font-family: arial;">concluded.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our first order of business was to schedule a ride on the
Sandia Peak Tramway.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tickets are sold
only 1 day in advance and are contingent on anticipated weather
conditions.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, it took us 2 tries
before we scored ourselves a ride up the Sandia Mountains.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We selected a late afternoon departure.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom insisted we stand right to the side of the tram
door so she could hold on tightly to the railings. But thanks to her acrophobia, she scored us an optimal viewing point.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Up we went, landing at a 10,000+ foot elevation outside the Ten-3 Restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The menu at Ten-3 is very limited and service
isn’t quite as attentive as one would hope.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the views make it worthwhile.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">And since Dad was able to get an entrée that met his plant-based diet,
we partook of a late lunch/early dinner.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then we
burned off some of our caloric intake by hiking to Kiwanis Cabin.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a magnificent panorama of Albuquerque
and the valley.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We re-boarded the Tram in
time for sunset.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, heavy
rain clouds obscured some of its brilliance.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8fEUXwb72LYP1dHXBmOUVLWQXVf7CPAs0YBaVB2gn7RGCbauLzBdQJBQWe0tWiwljrKQA3hUGGoWvUtxrKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEyu3X8n9G-Fe64KYBrlhadYDbnWnnnfTE_Q9c0dDORdZDHnM6meBdsLp6jbDL0ncHAAoh6ucIogaoU_CAmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpoebB7pNN_wjNQnaZp8RMunrNQqmche0m730pd3y4xjVSdutuPS87fyD099cVYgf2YNtbP7vBEWqCyor9eXzOHgXyknKY6tLUmomEAaLIVI_w-GHbB4icnIWxHsRRJDXTQgQlKT04zGQ7f4K5gsMCXeD2rPm9M5VBvKvBunysguaPudwUs2Rl0A-kQ/s4000/20220918_185213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpoebB7pNN_wjNQnaZp8RMunrNQqmche0m730pd3y4xjVSdutuPS87fyD099cVYgf2YNtbP7vBEWqCyor9eXzOHgXyknKY6tLUmomEAaLIVI_w-GHbB4icnIWxHsRRJDXTQgQlKT04zGQ7f4K5gsMCXeD2rPm9M5VBvKvBunysguaPudwUs2Rl0A-kQ/w400-h180/20220918_185213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOMR8bQeoYZTBAhIndbDZYFn-DUDSBu9yE1jilyn-_8gcFu2a49C4ZDkfiwOeXHplB58TeaSqiVwSV4EA-U4NdXdlnJ5B0XgtLHwx-P-wlnAQTrd2XLTDTnlHKq1Op18PRmcrLZZxRLAfR4J-tj5BfvYkLxWBW-X1t1nN9KFPC5J5mQWIWRVAOvK_kA/s4000/20220918_171219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOMR8bQeoYZTBAhIndbDZYFn-DUDSBu9yE1jilyn-_8gcFu2a49C4ZDkfiwOeXHplB58TeaSqiVwSV4EA-U4NdXdlnJ5B0XgtLHwx-P-wlnAQTrd2XLTDTnlHKq1Op18PRmcrLZZxRLAfR4J-tj5BfvYkLxWBW-X1t1nN9KFPC5J5mQWIWRVAOvK_kA/w400-h180/20220918_171219.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from the Ten-3 Restaurant window.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb28Ef9VeRxLXH8TVzEV8R505nZpZ6FmVM4JUibhzg1pztOExYa0FuEAdwbzHIfTGK7vS_TOUWfbh3A-d-NV7rEHILRKWky0P6me3cwJJxeGd4M5Zm6jGMM1AWrlFOPQMfOY1AkmtyPd1SgooXybyfN8SbB0_IDcL89dmdcsPOxHmvaOSL-QiYLSjTjQ/s4000/20220918_153856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb28Ef9VeRxLXH8TVzEV8R505nZpZ6FmVM4JUibhzg1pztOExYa0FuEAdwbzHIfTGK7vS_TOUWfbh3A-d-NV7rEHILRKWky0P6me3cwJJxeGd4M5Zm6jGMM1AWrlFOPQMfOY1AkmtyPd1SgooXybyfN8SbB0_IDcL89dmdcsPOxHmvaOSL-QiYLSjTjQ/w400-h180/20220918_153856.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can see Kiwanis Cabin, our hiking destination, at the tip of the mountain.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpeDNC7OOazbKnqP4MClN5zq3MGozXn0TQw1ett7ouMR6LlJ1uGlfeoFifbOTMbnS33ta8NzNnzPmA7Xyf41l7kopq6Z-3YmT65wvd8eG1wgR5bj17WPkEoXO9iQgIAHvl8EEfjJ_TI9JliJ6AhO5OGmxSVC3Q2tPstRVLOFh4L8lmRH4sW9jL14QcQ/s3264/20220918_162105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpeDNC7OOazbKnqP4MClN5zq3MGozXn0TQw1ett7ouMR6LlJ1uGlfeoFifbOTMbnS33ta8NzNnzPmA7Xyf41l7kopq6Z-3YmT65wvd8eG1wgR5bj17WPkEoXO9iQgIAHvl8EEfjJ_TI9JliJ6AhO5OGmxSVC3Q2tPstRVLOFh4L8lmRH4sW9jL14QcQ/w400-h180/20220918_162105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfyfLVI8-YsKVXc7whsp3WNCB_NeNPv4aJ2QqblcxWP-FxgMuOJufm419XwGo8Jfambgr1z3RDFUez3KGOAf6HKjQ9iG2TKy0J-7FT_gNXekTRFkw24ctoqzANUvdW3AVR8hxsfrduvmZ9yXzZ1rKVsivCnbWvcTmIp4yua3V65IlsaCHcr-8lT6TEw/s3264/20220918_160119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfyfLVI8-YsKVXc7whsp3WNCB_NeNPv4aJ2QqblcxWP-FxgMuOJufm419XwGo8Jfambgr1z3RDFUez3KGOAf6HKjQ9iG2TKy0J-7FT_gNXekTRFkw24ctoqzANUvdW3AVR8hxsfrduvmZ9yXzZ1rKVsivCnbWvcTmIp4yua3V65IlsaCHcr-8lT6TEw/w400-h180/20220918_160119.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The views from Kiwanis Cabin...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vu4niHsn_G7DqoIrCxJlmWls-ZGE6rlWvynO3mIowSA_XiWFTfuuQ9vvdlFkl-9pS1ZXlDEfMwm9IpvxLoNrhe_H0nQgR2ACri49cifiJgQJHzP-G8QpJDFZnsWDsYgMfG_dp8hkJslylvCJ9Ay35BRmHFiNxqNZiLoaofsvBOh3n0uaqQJfsxmwvw/s3264/20220918_151841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vu4niHsn_G7DqoIrCxJlmWls-ZGE6rlWvynO3mIowSA_XiWFTfuuQ9vvdlFkl-9pS1ZXlDEfMwm9IpvxLoNrhe_H0nQgR2ACri49cifiJgQJHzP-G8QpJDFZnsWDsYgMfG_dp8hkJslylvCJ9Ay35BRmHFiNxqNZiLoaofsvBOh3n0uaqQJfsxmwvw/w400-h180/20220918_151841.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATEqrQV81ok-Lr6RTdnHCnFyJnkaQCXPr6DSU9eFKS3cQON452YGd_fRicAFCHmDRUegLNz_Jl_CT7fbq1DTjGvNU1DlBmBeL9fU7_Ad5DDlWiBR599o7INr8pkxejG7UQ676bB_jH2vvESNAimdj6zzWTQoIKVBrxeAOidv21Qt3TEQhYMsz41AMaw/s4000/20220918_185135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATEqrQV81ok-Lr6RTdnHCnFyJnkaQCXPr6DSU9eFKS3cQON452YGd_fRicAFCHmDRUegLNz_Jl_CT7fbq1DTjGvNU1DlBmBeL9fU7_Ad5DDlWiBR599o7INr8pkxejG7UQ676bB_jH2vvESNAimdj6zzWTQoIKVBrxeAOidv21Qt3TEQhYMsz41AMaw/w400-h180/20220918_185135.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset views...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-wUpnyGyHHHrJRlPqTN0P6o0A_UP1DSMWgGvch0uBiFkUUs-i5yoP7VanJzTOq1lh4yL-DRuKaQsIeCs6BEsjt5uvAfRpKr3nALiwmKuVN3NmNQdlLCoqmezgNQxydP7IIhprKgT4TmaTH-2rCp1t1W5y7PcFwkxwDMe3s0ONV_pXNSYNseu4QQeSg/s4000/20220918_191429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-wUpnyGyHHHrJRlPqTN0P6o0A_UP1DSMWgGvch0uBiFkUUs-i5yoP7VanJzTOq1lh4yL-DRuKaQsIeCs6BEsjt5uvAfRpKr3nALiwmKuVN3NmNQdlLCoqmezgNQxydP7IIhprKgT4TmaTH-2rCp1t1W5y7PcFwkxwDMe3s0ONV_pXNSYNseu4QQeSg/w400-h225/20220918_191429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were invited by some members of our Balloon F</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">iesta </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">North </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lot RV Parking Team to join them for "Dollar Day" </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">at the </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">NM </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">State Fair. </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hey, with admission reduced from $15/person
to </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">$1/person, we were all in!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Although,
we all were still hit up for parking at $10/vehicle.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">At least taking Dad’s trike Maximus (and presenting
the parking attendance with a “thank you” tip) earned us “priority”
parking.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We all enjoyed viewing the art
and craft exhibits.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is amazing how
talented some folks are.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I personally wanted to see the monkey exhibit,
but that would have required a $5 withdrawal from my cheese bank, something I
wasn’t inclined to do.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead, I viewed
the sea lion performance and watched the duck races. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFvAmyXg7wMnAW90vcqZpmUpoqLX6rB2HLXke5IABB_HJfdi1zt-QAZ8R7dEGF3NqlHkHFc1C1i5vWJ9xi8boFRoBuemGtI5PJACzefGlim4XMY2Pe9lsTFoJ-jU0WW_axtkZgCSMNCB02B6NPWg8Kn7EP2QM3asWFLQdhZ2UO_GE1clkjruzFgbcPQ/s1674/20220914_135544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFvAmyXg7wMnAW90vcqZpmUpoqLX6rB2HLXke5IABB_HJfdi1zt-QAZ8R7dEGF3NqlHkHFc1C1i5vWJ9xi8boFRoBuemGtI5PJACzefGlim4XMY2Pe9lsTFoJ-jU0WW_axtkZgCSMNCB02B6NPWg8Kn7EP2QM3asWFLQdhZ2UO_GE1clkjruzFgbcPQ/w242-h400/20220914_135544.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Award-winning quilt.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGLMwmPcFg2nVetdMHosEzv3aW5z2nvIMG7WPV_Vti7BFht3i5i57ObPBtvglFLg1488hN6iRebnK3juWC3tCSzeQ_C1ZZ9UP8z5J2WDwftGhtXzm8Q8o5QmZTAJhHcYQFsXxFIIVxAHvizlmc_RSQi-cOmlxi7masjN7E-aaCkDUW--V0TT2dO5-pA/s3264/20220914_143513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGLMwmPcFg2nVetdMHosEzv3aW5z2nvIMG7WPV_Vti7BFht3i5i57ObPBtvglFLg1488hN6iRebnK3juWC3tCSzeQ_C1ZZ9UP8z5J2WDwftGhtXzm8Q8o5QmZTAJhHcYQFsXxFIIVxAHvizlmc_RSQi-cOmlxi7masjN7E-aaCkDUW--V0TT2dO5-pA/w400-h180/20220914_143513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cool train set-up.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbCY10vbjWRpntwbFLuSWTrCeFdAoaL5v0Lqs8YImMHmgingxKJRVZrfO7kyZVd2LWlBv1PCF9iEQCu_5NHVjktVc9-O3OPWj68emzkipCUh3TCzCnJygEbyCy4xaWlA47CnoisQ_LZ-R7pPChQgvBgMjs2_PjIbKfQe9Kp9Aa4AHLmbZW3DYNzaVQQ/s2017/20220914_142009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="2017" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbCY10vbjWRpntwbFLuSWTrCeFdAoaL5v0Lqs8YImMHmgingxKJRVZrfO7kyZVd2LWlBv1PCF9iEQCu_5NHVjktVc9-O3OPWj68emzkipCUh3TCzCnJygEbyCy4xaWlA47CnoisQ_LZ-R7pPChQgvBgMjs2_PjIbKfQe9Kp9Aa4AHLmbZW3DYNzaVQQ/w400-h211/20220914_142009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The sea lion performance and duck races...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyry2dlDvHHGQ0K43khVfj77b72re1mhRx9yFW267Muf6NWY54baupCrod87KVQE9jJxZFicX-VrMYSo2bvIw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My family discussed taking a pre-Fiesta balloon ride. We had the pleasure of taking one many years
ago in a rural area of NJ. It was a
spiritual experience, seeing deer in the fields, being among the clouds, and
landing in pastureland. (We also were
the volunteer chase team for that balloon company for a few trips thereafter). Mom is a bit frightened of heights; she
asserted she would not enjoy floating above a city-scape and would worry about
where we would land (not an entirely crazy notion since we did witness balloons
crash into cars within parking lots, knock folks down, and land in fields with
tons of goathead spurs). So, the verdict was
in—no balloon ride.</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We spent an afternoon in the Old Town section of
Albuquerque.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We walked around the Plaza
admiring several classic cars parked nearby, and we perused the various shops.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We toured Albuquerque’s Mother Church, the
San Felipe de Neri.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Parish was
started by Franciscan priests in 1706, and the original church building which
was located across the Plaza was completed circa 1719.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That building collapsed in 1792, replaced
with the current structure in 1796.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
said a prayer, thanking God for all his wonders and asking him to bring peace
and love to his children here on Earth.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC00pJHmWSgduvzGUG79gVZPV-0KGzsfoympmz0Ba7m5iPeetHClAoKvQD8KAr4YTFCTJLsHTdKlqMLHhnKs7mDKDIaPu_YDS2gFjhl7PKQRVJzm-OCXIeOs9D4b5G9YUfJmIqMZlG5cMJINOAXWdGIq5iYEfegMCdUVtxBKI-U-weZrpmVjTq9I3daA/s4000/20220907_141548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC00pJHmWSgduvzGUG79gVZPV-0KGzsfoympmz0Ba7m5iPeetHClAoKvQD8KAr4YTFCTJLsHTdKlqMLHhnKs7mDKDIaPu_YDS2gFjhl7PKQRVJzm-OCXIeOs9D4b5G9YUfJmIqMZlG5cMJINOAXWdGIq5iYEfegMCdUVtxBKI-U-weZrpmVjTq9I3daA/w180-h400/20220907_141548.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Residents outside the American International Rattlesnake Museum. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVvxJHGbH9JMet4eXbW1vXo7-dec0Jdw2ZgBZEzlkjjlOVJawbCHnqBIcoHakpdVrc-_Udo8hKydvR4P-Z8tfGjn1bSBONCa35iFlLGORy2TP64nvPOc_g5j6K_0-2goxTcphktdQUeAore6nPzEYppOj1BzhWaonwVkc9MriNjIKtTfO_6rdCA1Xkg/s4000/20221013_090825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVvxJHGbH9JMet4eXbW1vXo7-dec0Jdw2ZgBZEzlkjjlOVJawbCHnqBIcoHakpdVrc-_Udo8hKydvR4P-Z8tfGjn1bSBONCa35iFlLGORy2TP64nvPOc_g5j6K_0-2goxTcphktdQUeAore6nPzEYppOj1BzhWaonwVkc9MriNjIKtTfO_6rdCA1Xkg/w400-h180/20221013_090825.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We enjoyed a beverage while watching the birds at this beautiful outdoor cafe.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQRM0Gauar5Hm87hRyIeytmPD_Dyi90WTF063_GSEd4f6rfI2ubVPg6lIZrMuWw_Q6N_3EqAHOnXvWjgtgiyTAubFdP0SaB_7jvSsUPkD8a1tMhZI1ux3qT4Z3yP0xqEDQ6YePR36qEMGxRY0Ij9cP5fZbfFDAxTH-HMZL_C-jSosgiCj_0hkZXsmag/s2085/20220907_143751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="2085" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQRM0Gauar5Hm87hRyIeytmPD_Dyi90WTF063_GSEd4f6rfI2ubVPg6lIZrMuWw_Q6N_3EqAHOnXvWjgtgiyTAubFdP0SaB_7jvSsUPkD8a1tMhZI1ux3qT4Z3yP0xqEDQ6YePR36qEMGxRY0Ij9cP5fZbfFDAxTH-HMZL_C-jSosgiCj_0hkZXsmag/w400-h206/20220907_143751.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Classic cars parked around the Plaza.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp44IIzYbQYgGxFaxu2VcIkyXFD5c9KzSJMbKBpLN0wZYPjCsbc2dzXH3_btf7FLL6nYXMK3qBeDbEmRzC_OJEuNPvgLsvjk9RPfM7-t1rL2_9Yzi0krVVqsCvNZlWE_BijyYqZ8gNQnseG9CSy-Hk2qILyOaFh3-T0HzBdkPeHBRglrFdjrtYqUCn_A/s3190/20220907_150524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="3190" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp44IIzYbQYgGxFaxu2VcIkyXFD5c9KzSJMbKBpLN0wZYPjCsbc2dzXH3_btf7FLL6nYXMK3qBeDbEmRzC_OJEuNPvgLsvjk9RPfM7-t1rL2_9Yzi0krVVqsCvNZlWE_BijyYqZ8gNQnseG9CSy-Hk2qILyOaFh3-T0HzBdkPeHBRglrFdjrtYqUCn_A/w400-h163/20220907_150524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This church dates back to 1796...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5C6jAyuY6V2dvOUzrO_bwNIM7S6I7s-n8cKYF-q8DJ7SVTtF3D5lXU-pMUP8CmlPxH_1PowP9q0KLd-dlriWnVu5ZzgIzDjgCsZT1HdsSLdT_R9uzBK5ohSoG51YSNNJLXtJajp4cvWnwBtwHazCxaRQJl8Kub9yJb7fOcQMT4LYWS9bDBodbvMO_g/s4000/20220907_144512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5C6jAyuY6V2dvOUzrO_bwNIM7S6I7s-n8cKYF-q8DJ7SVTtF3D5lXU-pMUP8CmlPxH_1PowP9q0KLd-dlriWnVu5ZzgIzDjgCsZT1HdsSLdT_R9uzBK5ohSoG51YSNNJLXtJajp4cvWnwBtwHazCxaRQJl8Kub9yJb7fOcQMT4LYWS9bDBodbvMO_g/w400-h180/20220907_144512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We couldn’t volunteer at the Balloon Fiesta without touring
the Anderson- Abruzzo International Balloon Museum.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Admission is waived on Sundays until 1 p.m.
before Fiesta begins.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Museum is
chockful of history, memorabilia, even actual balloons.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is quite impressive and worthy of a visit
even if a paid admission ($6/adult) is required.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSo5DOJutumBhcNZNuconcE1r7i2AgG1SGP0YCkhNZtxU96js11BLK-Z6c3VHHdgGYYlbz32KVhxgKJl4ZBToK_aw0PfYZPP_6n2eZAcgYCCBhmxZhoz7JHc-YcymSJD-R0ed8pxUU661L7op8gpkolq0swDICNT_WZPMqcTELavSq8sTqUM_m5QEHQ/s3264/20220904_121204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSo5DOJutumBhcNZNuconcE1r7i2AgG1SGP0YCkhNZtxU96js11BLK-Z6c3VHHdgGYYlbz32KVhxgKJl4ZBToK_aw0PfYZPP_6n2eZAcgYCCBhmxZhoz7JHc-YcymSJD-R0ed8pxUU661L7op8gpkolq0swDICNT_WZPMqcTELavSq8sTqUM_m5QEHQ/w400-h180/20220904_121204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl748TQHG5eKXn1XTEMZCu-WcuEX8zx8sFxmkEe9xPUGo-spiFos_-sT53ncqa3kPWlMYdsNFPuwbsAfHrwG91qdnuD1y16RhXRWSKYC_TfX68qE2XRXWb6GOYfhi1l4Q2xC2FQ_Nbr2e7WaG8tBKxk-eOqE5oWuDM2zhriBce2VqbZ7Y-XGzvoRr31w/s3264/20220904_122143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl748TQHG5eKXn1XTEMZCu-WcuEX8zx8sFxmkEe9xPUGo-spiFos_-sT53ncqa3kPWlMYdsNFPuwbsAfHrwG91qdnuD1y16RhXRWSKYC_TfX68qE2XRXWb6GOYfhi1l4Q2xC2FQ_Nbr2e7WaG8tBKxk-eOqE5oWuDM2zhriBce2VqbZ7Y-XGzvoRr31w/w400-h180/20220904_122143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96wjtihit_mycm6dVAdFGaqyyta5MsdyLeXjbceqIGnkRcwpoxk5HHvet1sBHXsk96u4g3xBjpKtT_1hEinsA7CQPUuJnjRNA22nMNi86lk1WZgEQTdLojagIkYnQft_VPCRntSUobTBj3oMSw3ghOia2glPFt24xpH_ZdWKenzXUXJPYZcLJlOxV6g/s3264/20220904_131638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96wjtihit_mycm6dVAdFGaqyyta5MsdyLeXjbceqIGnkRcwpoxk5HHvet1sBHXsk96u4g3xBjpKtT_1hEinsA7CQPUuJnjRNA22nMNi86lk1WZgEQTdLojagIkYnQft_VPCRntSUobTBj3oMSw3ghOia2glPFt24xpH_ZdWKenzXUXJPYZcLJlOxV6g/w400-h180/20220904_131638.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2tNiQl7itfCg7DtAUdaVC9mA8Mbm_yLlN4QiUhs5odvrNPprgLb5W4AMJIxUvxMzrHeK_mql-3AxW28CXPBoZj_kS56gmk3WR6xlwV8l-CDb1ONLzmMm8eDHQXADSB1aTZ8Qk2MIc5ve33qaJi-zBlTJUZQLQznAJ4TclE0SqV89jJyQbPTovpyIWw/s4000/20220925_112827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2tNiQl7itfCg7DtAUdaVC9mA8Mbm_yLlN4QiUhs5odvrNPprgLb5W4AMJIxUvxMzrHeK_mql-3AxW28CXPBoZj_kS56gmk3WR6xlwV8l-CDb1ONLzmMm8eDHQXADSB1aTZ8Qk2MIc5ve33qaJi-zBlTJUZQLQznAJ4TclE0SqV89jJyQbPTovpyIWw/w400-h180/20220925_112827.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This "50" display is comprised of an extensive collection of Balloon Fiesta pins.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhRBg0IdgQ2FZf55kBYJe5XYAvmba7Ijbeuro6Xae7zecmfET1tqF469Zk8XnrSOvVdRKBH_3eYhlOwfGUkyiKnYBLzArqGZbhYuq6dmRg7W3kg7trRoIyL0x-_nTOZb-AvqVZJjFved8aCb2PkdDTghvxsgf7ji2KBszhVTMVGldNOkion6FDFSgKw/s2509/Popo%20in%20Balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2509" data-original-width="1437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhRBg0IdgQ2FZf55kBYJe5XYAvmba7Ijbeuro6Xae7zecmfET1tqF469Zk8XnrSOvVdRKBH_3eYhlOwfGUkyiKnYBLzArqGZbhYuq6dmRg7W3kg7trRoIyL0x-_nTOZb-AvqVZJjFved8aCb2PkdDTghvxsgf7ji2KBszhVTMVGldNOkion6FDFSgKw/w229-h400/Popo%20in%20Balloon.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Up, up, and away in my beautiful balloon!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We were compelled to cruise along Historic Route 66 (which
is Central Boulevard) within Albuquerque and add it to the list of areas on
which we traversed the Mother Road.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Not
a good idea! </i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Nearly every business
dons iron bars on windows/doors to protect against theft and property
damage.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was saddened to witness so
much homelessness, mental illness, and drug sales/usage, and quite honestly, a
bit scared when we had to stop at traffic lights.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But munching on lunch at the Route 66 Diner,
with its retro décor and extensive collection of Pez dispensers, was the
perfect antidote to calm me down.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYq4YcIzbg1ZXisDvKOHn3VP50cmxScz8y1HqMh9EcIOLmoUb4OG-p3zWdEWKsNgyuuOmdJzesc5og1gvwCdagLLNIOiPcW28o4TZ6lDMSt1TOO7TTsQAeNNOcw_UUprh-5nFdSWEQJ5g5rGQ3lSb9PHbREgFh0jZx15pB3yxDB1ThqWTQ98qpEWJ-w/s3264/20220907_130820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYq4YcIzbg1ZXisDvKOHn3VP50cmxScz8y1HqMh9EcIOLmoUb4OG-p3zWdEWKsNgyuuOmdJzesc5og1gvwCdagLLNIOiPcW28o4TZ6lDMSt1TOO7TTsQAeNNOcw_UUprh-5nFdSWEQJ5g5rGQ3lSb9PHbREgFh0jZx15pB3yxDB1ThqWTQ98qpEWJ-w/w400-h180/20220907_130820.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_mm_QcSiRiNO2xE0zEb5i3HK_80SpiUtthqzvusskzSoD3G42vyAzl4Gap2thtLZPHcn9CwIr-zIaDYUf4vQAlBR8RJj-aMDCDeRIIX0yG60j4_TBM6EZ5C1xjKs14jdiye4gFF5IfpX_OGUzBgEdxw4ifb4FzcrQsiVablT26bZom7evcskgxwfaA/s2405/20220907_130849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="2405" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_mm_QcSiRiNO2xE0zEb5i3HK_80SpiUtthqzvusskzSoD3G42vyAzl4Gap2thtLZPHcn9CwIr-zIaDYUf4vQAlBR8RJj-aMDCDeRIIX0yG60j4_TBM6EZ5C1xjKs14jdiye4gFF5IfpX_OGUzBgEdxw4ifb4FzcrQsiVablT26bZom7evcskgxwfaA/w400-h244/20220907_130849.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We took a trike ride along NM-14, also known as the
Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, which offers views of the Sandia
Mountains and its unusual rock formations.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We visited Madrid, a coal mining town in the mid-1800s that supplied the
Santa Fe Railroad.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Once coal use
diminished, the townspeople vanished, and Madrid achieved ghost town
status.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then the 1970s arrived, along
with the hippie-dippies and squatters.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Now the area has an eclectic assortment of art galleries, boutiques,
bars, and marijuana dispensaries.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
continued to Cerrillos, known for its gold and turquoise mines. Walking through
this small town, it is difficult to fathom that it was once considered the
Capitol of NM. The fact that it provided the filming location for Young Guns is
more apropos.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We turned around at this
point, stopping at Trail Riders Café in the village of Tijeras.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It has an extensive vegan menu, so Dad was
thrilled. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn8dBbAqgslgxqGXIcu_BzoNvtLb08S8HaqLXLSeFIGtXoryxQ-LbEIg6I-S457K5uXcG5VgPWWP1yJSaEm6GFjr_L7SpfeNQCg0Qq38d6ikXJ5f-xS2uVUfCK6H5yHGcRIu1SitaeJJqHEw1e6Pya-qm4hN9jlvYICk9oAeem4EqJrcSDP-9f_bclg/s2278/20220911_163315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2278" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn8dBbAqgslgxqGXIcu_BzoNvtLb08S8HaqLXLSeFIGtXoryxQ-LbEIg6I-S457K5uXcG5VgPWWP1yJSaEm6GFjr_L7SpfeNQCg0Qq38d6ikXJ5f-xS2uVUfCK6H5yHGcRIu1SitaeJJqHEw1e6Pya-qm4hN9jlvYICk9oAeem4EqJrcSDP-9f_bclg/w400-h246/20220911_163315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A church along the Turquoise Trail in Antonito.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoExEmSTh3Q2PhwPHw_ojzMlPx4xe2Vt10xvXWchcL6bWCJdO6KYwFRaYxJ1ge01bG5GjNckN2OwCATUgFiAqK_r-O91WG-GquyRVSWIHCD6Ir9Pol9sulLGwmu8ysQuxlyIlg4nuLCJmKTkUxWrV2GikuFsdtb249EVYgLgkpq-MPayWQWQvQtJllw/s2186/20220911_150308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2186" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoExEmSTh3Q2PhwPHw_ojzMlPx4xe2Vt10xvXWchcL6bWCJdO6KYwFRaYxJ1ge01bG5GjNckN2OwCATUgFiAqK_r-O91WG-GquyRVSWIHCD6Ir9Pol9sulLGwmu8ysQuxlyIlg4nuLCJmKTkUxWrV2GikuFsdtb249EVYgLgkpq-MPayWQWQvQtJllw/w400-h221/20220911_150308.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the unusual rock formations along the Turquoise Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XrZEZn9tPQObW-fiLSfqBbn85MqnSoQGoXQin0CYqzHllPAoutNsyy45DeBH_ctqIR047CH0Hy2JARGnu_rejt5SFkFjLbwpqRrmiBYENZ7pENjhf38iMnF_Bfut5wIED6MaUf8mauYKq1L5pmU6E1LiPJMh_UO7_s1cwhnKTE8hTo_1ThPtxNGBMg/s4000/20220911_150706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XrZEZn9tPQObW-fiLSfqBbn85MqnSoQGoXQin0CYqzHllPAoutNsyy45DeBH_ctqIR047CH0Hy2JARGnu_rejt5SFkFjLbwpqRrmiBYENZ7pENjhf38iMnF_Bfut5wIED6MaUf8mauYKq1L5pmU6E1LiPJMh_UO7_s1cwhnKTE8hTo_1ThPtxNGBMg/w400-h180/20220911_150706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIaLa4ih90xq_FggjxCtPpAZiqdn5qT4PZlyfaFFD8kA60949iGoqXD29aYwxTs_iLR79EapxXreC8NM3OvSqNDNslFbIWYgpgbEfsXocO9_lrKBroW_2bnZguZ1YGuTn7npUYaTJzO3ZNoRHN_NhfReHTIah02MUa6n-UEOL1sWeZsVWdioxssyRhQ/s4000/20220911_150913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="4000" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIaLa4ih90xq_FggjxCtPpAZiqdn5qT4PZlyfaFFD8kA60949iGoqXD29aYwxTs_iLR79EapxXreC8NM3OvSqNDNslFbIWYgpgbEfsXocO9_lrKBroW_2bnZguZ1YGuTn7npUYaTJzO3ZNoRHN_NhfReHTIah02MUa6n-UEOL1sWeZsVWdioxssyRhQ/w400-h156/20220911_150913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q0VY9H6Dz1aZRpEbtjven6XhrccPCfWU-Unh-TGJMyGeNlCgQoFMbNv14PvBGMNUK4l_fkWTKkbvaJ49EfOttzFlD436YECHohnP0MySxwXpK4LdaaBznrw9QIVkYx2CnmLGdAGkhTTgZkNYQgp6ym9lRAVioyrzblVyY9DIvICli4HdTO-dJZ95jA/s4000/20220911_135235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q0VY9H6Dz1aZRpEbtjven6XhrccPCfWU-Unh-TGJMyGeNlCgQoFMbNv14PvBGMNUK4l_fkWTKkbvaJ49EfOttzFlD436YECHohnP0MySxwXpK4LdaaBznrw9QIVkYx2CnmLGdAGkhTTgZkNYQgp6ym9lRAVioyrzblVyY9DIvICli4HdTO-dJZ95jA/w400-h180/20220911_135235.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The set for the film, "Wild Hogs" in Madrid.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1546" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCquVct78MNcAMzf0qfcSZBrVbY_Mtqh6Y8hZsmkXdk-knrJghjsQmYaWtTq6-fORkS7wlWw67ENI8t8FRsk236RaqsnnUFGihWGH09eif4MiiJBMqn646yZPZA186XeH1DlnjD5vPTEC8QNQ9WcDzsXGYN93Zlp8cJz3iBwEeZZ7YJyE9hKs5DTNpxg/w400-h321/20220911_135519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some unique art creations in Madrid.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCquVct78MNcAMzf0qfcSZBrVbY_Mtqh6Y8hZsmkXdk-knrJghjsQmYaWtTq6-fORkS7wlWw67ENI8t8FRsk236RaqsnnUFGihWGH09eif4MiiJBMqn646yZPZA186XeH1DlnjD5vPTEC8QNQ9WcDzsXGYN93Zlp8cJz3iBwEeZZ7YJyE9hKs5DTNpxg/s1546/20220911_135519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWIwlz-6MwuksjPYgKYjIBIBASIRIO4XR79YGZK_FpmCQ6st7akNtnxY_vzb6vNX7AN16_BgtcyfCjz7ap7wZOntuilXPugsnhhS6dKyqn9jjMsNL27GIF9EIcbpk7SMkuElrzNvHARnh9ahZw9R_PnDkVyhEJN8rbsP7q31nvLdznZ3S7NkNC6RzDg/s3264/20220911_141113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWIwlz-6MwuksjPYgKYjIBIBASIRIO4XR79YGZK_FpmCQ6st7akNtnxY_vzb6vNX7AN16_BgtcyfCjz7ap7wZOntuilXPugsnhhS6dKyqn9jjMsNL27GIF9EIcbpk7SMkuElrzNvHARnh9ahZw9R_PnDkVyhEJN8rbsP7q31nvLdznZ3S7NkNC6RzDg/w400-h180/20220911_141113.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A wonderful cafe within an art gallery in Madrid.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW-G2vrvCEUrPD5XE7o7ZHCItfpabSjHbI8D6Ao0DGNawPNmCPpWCSipkyc_MaclNLogREy40j9lJn_V2zvFdSFjjyZZim6HLVftIZ2ldb5WNMJDtJFs9ZGNBEm8dFtNfomUsvnXrQH-hlXJHJfPccrrTUAvFXyHwEnadAN9LtD4yDM1D9VNSm62osw/s3501/20220911_151949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="3501" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW-G2vrvCEUrPD5XE7o7ZHCItfpabSjHbI8D6Ao0DGNawPNmCPpWCSipkyc_MaclNLogREy40j9lJn_V2zvFdSFjjyZZim6HLVftIZ2ldb5WNMJDtJFs9ZGNBEm8dFtNfomUsvnXrQH-hlXJHJfPccrrTUAvFXyHwEnadAN9LtD4yDM1D9VNSm62osw/w400-h195/20220911_151949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Views within Cerrillos...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONZgdf94YrbZVH9_8v0Vg_N1qvVO_DAwnX4yRQreRGUYTuMqUMb2mVjxD-ufaqKJEKbkU7wdttK9AsqytBUPUG8qTK9iu62qyhiDKXiRPBbYi0NhuBgn_8Ef-DQbeFkQplmAfM3sgnk0UHsqLC3kpdZQFc3Fsrx7nB_t3S57OBg73HPRZB_TvNta3kQ/s1639/20220911_152137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONZgdf94YrbZVH9_8v0Vg_N1qvVO_DAwnX4yRQreRGUYTuMqUMb2mVjxD-ufaqKJEKbkU7wdttK9AsqytBUPUG8qTK9iu62qyhiDKXiRPBbYi0NhuBgn_8Ef-DQbeFkQplmAfM3sgnk0UHsqLC3kpdZQFc3Fsrx7nB_t3S57OBg73HPRZB_TvNta3kQ/s320/20220911_152137.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On another day, we ventured via NM-165 to visit Sandia
Crest—or at least we tried to.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
stopped about 2 miles along this unpaved road to take a ½ mile hike up to a
cave on the side of the mountain.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Super
cool!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But upon the return hike, we
noticed heavy clouds moving in, so we scrapped continuing up to the Crest.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, we still got caught in rain
and hail.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My parents put their Duluth
Trading Company raingear to good use.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, my raingear (e.g., a 3-millimeter trash bag) didn’t offer
the same level of protection, especially from the hail.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Now I need to invest in a new trash bag!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We made a second attempt to reach Sandia
Crest a few days later.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This time we
took the fully-paved NM-536, which provided great motorcycling and lovely
scenery through Cibola National Forest.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The air was cool and crisp.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
the fall foliage was fully underway, with the aspen leaves changing from green
to gold.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was a terrific day of
riding.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHUuYQxoXtfTznjBSdTjBdCoiyWNQCuwK1f9x63hAmnE_8G9dfF5nuHeFUF7hmpy8LbUFBv9HyT0GHeWP-9YIML3N6OhtjRTcWS2Hv5F2ZvqdtHg-v19marEjRfOdsh5l_hS3PZB5sCjJiSwKKukZ6WlXwfvHE9wtH_mTkI8V0BKJhpowaQOeQmoYjg/s4000/20220911_131344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHUuYQxoXtfTznjBSdTjBdCoiyWNQCuwK1f9x63hAmnE_8G9dfF5nuHeFUF7hmpy8LbUFBv9HyT0GHeWP-9YIML3N6OhtjRTcWS2Hv5F2ZvqdtHg-v19marEjRfOdsh5l_hS3PZB5sCjJiSwKKukZ6WlXwfvHE9wtH_mTkI8V0BKJhpowaQOeQmoYjg/w400-h180/20220911_131344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSTEv1Ivyi6ytf8IGr4FPaO1cVJoHLGWJ8unGurcvXYG8xjAuksE5lxuopEXla-ukzACzarafA9he6EAKa_V-nXv07NDbxW-8P18npyrbw6-HAIP7kxPAtmDsbT1bgQOXc844vIpKztQuRg7ETCzgCREB4g5vpBc3cCqS0ONzuuhb0NvcD_nVLI_5Aw/s3890/20220922_144519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3890" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSTEv1Ivyi6ytf8IGr4FPaO1cVJoHLGWJ8unGurcvXYG8xjAuksE5lxuopEXla-ukzACzarafA9he6EAKa_V-nXv07NDbxW-8P18npyrbw6-HAIP7kxPAtmDsbT1bgQOXc844vIpKztQuRg7ETCzgCREB4g5vpBc3cCqS0ONzuuhb0NvcD_nVLI_5Aw/w400-h185/20220922_144519.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1LHqlaA2LGp0A3V6jqsYkQSfJSsfQ0CeL3v3sM-6t5gOAVr4sytfjZaFbiG0rFYZSvtj5KqcfV7_EhISIb52gN9BhjimbOVjui3w0K1Jm0L4fZbHSeHW4RZKunipgBHdYaoQnlMVw1qFK3bIcqJ0CcSKCfVZm6ah5Riaa8hfpoRAX4FrbHm58okn9w/s4000/20220922_141119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1LHqlaA2LGp0A3V6jqsYkQSfJSsfQ0CeL3v3sM-6t5gOAVr4sytfjZaFbiG0rFYZSvtj5KqcfV7_EhISIb52gN9BhjimbOVjui3w0K1Jm0L4fZbHSeHW4RZKunipgBHdYaoQnlMVw1qFK3bIcqJ0CcSKCfVZm6ah5Riaa8hfpoRAX4FrbHm58okn9w/w400-h180/20220922_141119.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can see the stairwell that leads to the cave we explored. This cave was deeper than we would have thought, as you can see from this video:</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykOONqGge9O821rllfX_1y4IuDj5PXbyZo1iH35CgAWrktu6HiF3pQssa4F5tVPepxPCLUAUWeCwyyMU0ugg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuhGHFY5VSfB724SzxdKQ8INvCLC6rCKoGd_3QARBXTraiXzsD60F8zBOsK1FbcvKWju9gSjwct82zONm0CiUYMqVK16Ms3sFr9Fx67S2LcG_bCbupXGuJjBsvrEiDmmRimvIsBsjLS8aQtLEDqT51qMRghM9jXY8cKIPLw81XMtbOEqLCGzLoLasFw/s3264/20220924_141554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuhGHFY5VSfB724SzxdKQ8INvCLC6rCKoGd_3QARBXTraiXzsD60F8zBOsK1FbcvKWju9gSjwct82zONm0CiUYMqVK16Ms3sFr9Fx67S2LcG_bCbupXGuJjBsvrEiDmmRimvIsBsjLS8aQtLEDqT51qMRghM9jXY8cKIPLw81XMtbOEqLCGzLoLasFw/w400-h180/20220924_141554.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvkxJGudYh2pZ_GHAAMUWuPEKw-7NGSsIcRSQm2JUIzQEj7Uf36klVslzq_w3e5oDCWYtj8hgedpYvfknTAJ0mvRdWbZW_UEStfr5_bE3-R8JSj_wI-ixrwheBGF6XN6rYo1hYYqjDOzx8-CiehBEkdD8y_2CQIK-XnpjtXUNaM8-WFpi8eTgtyKipw/s3264/20220924_135942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvkxJGudYh2pZ_GHAAMUWuPEKw-7NGSsIcRSQm2JUIzQEj7Uf36klVslzq_w3e5oDCWYtj8hgedpYvfknTAJ0mvRdWbZW_UEStfr5_bE3-R8JSj_wI-ixrwheBGF6XN6rYo1hYYqjDOzx8-CiehBEkdD8y_2CQIK-XnpjtXUNaM8-WFpi8eTgtyKipw/w400-h180/20220924_135942.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The aspen leaves turning from green to gold.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwmzik3b9oOJqFZY_C05uZ9zY1cAmrgT6GnDR3lHCUgojpUdMqdiqvphRbga-QxfjmCH6XipQtVWTHGEPRiyhDvuoydpYAMJpvMNbGeyC3R8tyJZ_sFvkXoy-Zw591KGt6fGLrp0nSOp8cdm8FwbPL2p9rrsbr_qhfxC4_WSFVTFo-XsU_lAhjYxzGg/s3264/20220922_134344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwmzik3b9oOJqFZY_C05uZ9zY1cAmrgT6GnDR3lHCUgojpUdMqdiqvphRbga-QxfjmCH6XipQtVWTHGEPRiyhDvuoydpYAMJpvMNbGeyC3R8tyJZ_sFvkXoy-Zw591KGt6fGLrp0nSOp8cdm8FwbPL2p9rrsbr_qhfxC4_WSFVTFo-XsU_lAhjYxzGg/w400-h180/20220922_134344.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57QvJHoor8KIHq26uOvWiQLXkAKhXY9qPC1Y3cyx2dLGex-q2D0uYOm304MKbhuhzgE4pApYRwZbABdY8H9mpyx4TzPw2qLFyziEohPrIyE1QG4HaQ8bEkCDHKbDxn1H4qJage5qcuEaAIJkcc6aBpf9wyUke7MYqlI3UHz9_6juNQBCXlHCKhkc1hw/s4000/20220924_134137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57QvJHoor8KIHq26uOvWiQLXkAKhXY9qPC1Y3cyx2dLGex-q2D0uYOm304MKbhuhzgE4pApYRwZbABdY8H9mpyx4TzPw2qLFyziEohPrIyE1QG4HaQ8bEkCDHKbDxn1H4qJage5qcuEaAIJkcc6aBpf9wyUke7MYqlI3UHz9_6juNQBCXlHCKhkc1hw/w400-h180/20220924_134137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8AGZLc5llmHuqHEb45QeuW3J6bFQs9pkdwlB3a8NUZ8Eu7fnQiKa2WBUFWJVdKGeV47YIGIqvwZFYx5GCilwuJuhiQ93592WzM2NVhlmnQ-p1oAqGhRUhPNkpt9ixQhpCi6j2XDbojIACUQuFmY1xq0UaNFXiN6zE2EJaMJrAbNe_GR7oCx-P8ISaA/s4000/20220924_134441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8AGZLc5llmHuqHEb45QeuW3J6bFQs9pkdwlB3a8NUZ8Eu7fnQiKa2WBUFWJVdKGeV47YIGIqvwZFYx5GCilwuJuhiQ93592WzM2NVhlmnQ-p1oAqGhRUhPNkpt9ixQhpCi6j2XDbojIACUQuFmY1xq0UaNFXiN6zE2EJaMJrAbNe_GR7oCx-P8ISaA/w400-h180/20220924_134441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjGpSRr-8CKu_qgN8l0bMpSD3YFxHQzEtTd_UaR3UKprZ-P-hzasWzMG3esggp_29gloW2_CKO2tV2f7iYMlsAkRmL1dwUx3wFHvEQ_zveeNMeVBKHMQHEIDx5Au202fRJ4Zi6Flj5f9RE3I7v5Ex6UV5oFAj3ksowNnEuvCH7Lnhkl1H9qeOR_kLfQ/s4000/20220924_134255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjGpSRr-8CKu_qgN8l0bMpSD3YFxHQzEtTd_UaR3UKprZ-P-hzasWzMG3esggp_29gloW2_CKO2tV2f7iYMlsAkRmL1dwUx3wFHvEQ_zveeNMeVBKHMQHEIDx5Au202fRJ4Zi6Flj5f9RE3I7v5Ex6UV5oFAj3ksowNnEuvCH7Lnhkl1H9qeOR_kLfQ/w400-h180/20220924_134255.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One wonderful thing about our nomadic lifestyle is you meet
up with friends no matter where you are.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hence, we had a great time at Steel Bender Brew Yard with Jim/Mary Beth,
fellow DRV Mobile Suites owners whom we met in 2021 while in NJ.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And we had the wonderful opportunity to catch
up with Hank/Shirleen in Tijeras (which gave us a second opportunity to dine at
Trail Riders Café), folks we met in 2016 while we all were camping outside
Whittier, AK.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk5FtdSMC2E9-_28ebI-y3kyO25guhK-p5CdXfYQfSCtiVGhNT9ACGg11bcmJgXr3CL5igySZ5PLCeu15ABq7FIUtX6HUodQD_BSp3ll9xVPFiOHrGzqYSEH-YPEZ-o3fUZXqnfP6XhHM3rtUmNoPli6ASUes1acOnZ7gg2MXbGWXR4Ohz4mooUWyvA/s4000/20220903_153546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk5FtdSMC2E9-_28ebI-y3kyO25guhK-p5CdXfYQfSCtiVGhNT9ACGg11bcmJgXr3CL5igySZ5PLCeu15ABq7FIUtX6HUodQD_BSp3ll9xVPFiOHrGzqYSEH-YPEZ-o3fUZXqnfP6XhHM3rtUmNoPli6ASUes1acOnZ7gg2MXbGWXR4Ohz4mooUWyvA/w400-h180/20220903_153546.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl8w-j_u_b1wB0p21hd-iMZ6L40vc1TgsGVrxr_709fftPIuDZBZy67u1aMvFUvP8EJq2YbmMbBxPZwBGU36n2De3kFg0A6gRQltmYdzEy_36lMruf6v-Oo_YtOH31kDU6W-uIKIy9UiXdso8Z5kLWZDgP01iGS6UpAnYhCin4bO658hWymCQR6rnjg/s3264/20220917_170306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl8w-j_u_b1wB0p21hd-iMZ6L40vc1TgsGVrxr_709fftPIuDZBZy67u1aMvFUvP8EJq2YbmMbBxPZwBGU36n2De3kFg0A6gRQltmYdzEy_36lMruf6v-Oo_YtOH31kDU6W-uIKIy9UiXdso8Z5kLWZDgP01iGS6UpAnYhCin4bO658hWymCQR6rnjg/w400-h180/20220917_170306.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After we completed our volunteer commitment at the Balloon
Fiesta, we relocated for a few days to Enchanted Trails RV Park. Since it was
only 15 miles from Balloon Fiesta Park, we decided Dad would ride the trike
while Mom hauled Suite Retreat.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(Though
Mom does her fair share of trailering, this was the first time she didn’t have
Dad with her.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So, this was a monumental
occasion.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">No worries, this Rambling RV
Rat rode shotgun for her.)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Enchanted
Trails is a small, older park, but well maintained.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It has huge pull through sites, clean
facilities, and friendly, helpful employees.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Propane sales, windshield chip repairs, and a small parts store are all
on-site (and if this store doesn’t have what is needed, Camping World is within
walking distance).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But what makes this
park unique is its vintage RVs restored to their glory days for guests to tour (prior to Covid, they were vacation rentals).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The RV decors and accessories add to the
authenticity.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So awesome!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is when RVs were built like tanks, with
high quality and true craftsmanship.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvf54iCQIfPg9WMpReCu6s0tA6YvqSNY_Br7lmGetqo-zYZ72V48pMct3PeZKHuLIEFfUKD--sWCC71snIMj-TCBV6Q4I9JLfSjLlH9CoxikM5UsyaQ5MP1qUq-J1OGEJjwv3mHuhD6mSqLqsanitgienZFVxJ_8yJ2HsKvpxwsauUba87qJ8U3-aKrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvf54iCQIfPg9WMpReCu6s0tA6YvqSNY_Br7lmGetqo-zYZ72V48pMct3PeZKHuLIEFfUKD--sWCC71snIMj-TCBV6Q4I9JLfSjLlH9CoxikM5UsyaQ5MP1qUq-J1OGEJjwv3mHuhD6mSqLqsanitgienZFVxJ_8yJ2HsKvpxwsauUba87qJ8U3-aKrQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqJ3c0qnu218d3uew1ezGH2DXje4n175GE4ke_JU_zDCEBj6Izr3crMcO_ZhkUO0Gjyj0Iovn2HCD2XsB4cAaIBmOqQgG6y23ZQa9sThIH25bXi6TbpxKIneumVnG7vBeEK4Lb5oH01LMh20QDV_z9tq93N7drjzaFXBW6muMkbdApb9ul2ULtua8O3A" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2760" data-original-width="1505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqJ3c0qnu218d3uew1ezGH2DXje4n175GE4ke_JU_zDCEBj6Izr3crMcO_ZhkUO0Gjyj0Iovn2HCD2XsB4cAaIBmOqQgG6y23ZQa9sThIH25bXi6TbpxKIneumVnG7vBeEK4Lb5oH01LMh20QDV_z9tq93N7drjzaFXBW6muMkbdApb9ul2ULtua8O3A=w218-h400" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0m_I1HUD3K3DjxYK8mF8ZiZ3ZAEQYuCGgtXStmtaplsM5A7NYbgmTyjhj-F4aDNVZArBeiu9t5oeUxgvQf-1daQFWOO4MoUVZ1jjl3fZLcDR8rf4h-yN7Jlsp6cx29ZYoBYfYVKve9aVDmqrM84rFkAWGz7SCNgYHhlOMcxkRPmJTY2xdkX1N4IbW2Q" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0m_I1HUD3K3DjxYK8mF8ZiZ3ZAEQYuCGgtXStmtaplsM5A7NYbgmTyjhj-F4aDNVZArBeiu9t5oeUxgvQf-1daQFWOO4MoUVZ1jjl3fZLcDR8rf4h-yN7Jlsp6cx29ZYoBYfYVKve9aVDmqrM84rFkAWGz7SCNgYHhlOMcxkRPmJTY2xdkX1N4IbW2Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5nvV9qCNK6AUdecDhAKm9xVqsmXLUXcSavZBVOd8GsdzXQSYiUE4A0AP5M0Y1wsF_02PY60q6-ag85GRC3c8XdccSnTkLqXuPGiewleJmKp-lqm77URDOT6L71XaIH2XPeXEANyW1ZBZ_yYWiPwlCIHHW3eNy-8dHIoVwvWA0oQD1TAiFF3ZVm5gSxw" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2678" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5nvV9qCNK6AUdecDhAKm9xVqsmXLUXcSavZBVOd8GsdzXQSYiUE4A0AP5M0Y1wsF_02PY60q6-ag85GRC3c8XdccSnTkLqXuPGiewleJmKp-lqm77URDOT6L71XaIH2XPeXEANyW1ZBZ_yYWiPwlCIHHW3eNy-8dHIoVwvWA0oQD1TAiFF3ZVm5gSxw=w400-h269" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maximus with the Vintage RVs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhda0N10RkKs7mGYza3ppVSm5f0Mc7R7Nw4aqlcNzjFazez35OI7wYutdr7s5YXFj9pEsqElFHSEYTFeTVF6i6-v1jVoiy9WNSstn6Rju4iv3ZE-E18_MgYsPzLVC94vvqbQuYyLETWh1RtfOAYuXdWwSOcH-pDh26S5ZfkeqijJ4Br3WgJYXkaFdPFwQ" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhda0N10RkKs7mGYza3ppVSm5f0Mc7R7Nw4aqlcNzjFazez35OI7wYutdr7s5YXFj9pEsqElFHSEYTFeTVF6i6-v1jVoiy9WNSstn6Rju4iv3ZE-E18_MgYsPzLVC94vvqbQuYyLETWh1RtfOAYuXdWwSOcH-pDh26S5ZfkeqijJ4Br3WgJYXkaFdPFwQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Love the retro interiors...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK17ZKJJtGj4n6fRSmznSyB8PNxPS85gqZ_8hSd1V0zbgSU-2HB1rDYVZddrEynbL1xzHeThprlGOYKlQJxRnkirZCKb0Fkrx_-ucUucYtHKc6Dg_PplFuprJ8R_H9rT-P__HO0BsSEF0qm7DjbK5LbZSNCs9iD-IO5jSEr06pRfu-9h1F4pW73-c_Aw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK17ZKJJtGj4n6fRSmznSyB8PNxPS85gqZ_8hSd1V0zbgSU-2HB1rDYVZddrEynbL1xzHeThprlGOYKlQJxRnkirZCKb0Fkrx_-ucUucYtHKc6Dg_PplFuprJ8R_H9rT-P__HO0BsSEF0qm7DjbK5LbZSNCs9iD-IO5jSEr06pRfu-9h1F4pW73-c_Aw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBCjfnGI3PBLq6edVXHjMK72x0iYG5A6zwjEMQRfvcuUaR843RcotCCEqzYjjPKPbLfLT5ctYrD028-gEK18wZth3VKIT0EU1LzrkkPv7gxRq-HRbbNyrmhx0XBLpuKuz-DxnpUTT7oC8ICOVZEsUSGFl-pTZ57N8T3W_GGnJLZ-tgkgp33En5G9fNQg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBCjfnGI3PBLq6edVXHjMK72x0iYG5A6zwjEMQRfvcuUaR843RcotCCEqzYjjPKPbLfLT5ctYrD028-gEK18wZth3VKIT0EU1LzrkkPv7gxRq-HRbbNyrmhx0XBLpuKuz-DxnpUTT7oC8ICOVZEsUSGFl-pTZ57N8T3W_GGnJLZ-tgkgp33En5G9fNQg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After catching up on laundry and purchasing a new exterior
waste valve for our RV, we decided to do some hiking at Petroglyph National
Monument.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We stopped at the Visitor
Center.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I noticed all the Federal government employees were still behind plexiglass, wearing masks, with minimal
interaction with guests--2+ years since the start of the pandemic.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, the Volunteers
were front and center, maskless, dealing with the public.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We watched the film (which was no longer
offered indoors but instead set-up outside the Visitor Center and handled by
the Volunteers), and I earned another Junior Ranger badge.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We stopped briefly at the Monument when we passed through Albuquerque in 2017. But since we had our full RV set-up and our tabby cat with us at that time, we only visited the Boca Negra section of the Monument. This time we explored Rinconada Canyon by hiking its 2+ mile loop. It is said there are more than 300 petroglyphs along this trail. But truthfully, the strong sunlight, the distance the trail is from the rocks, and the erosion of the rocks through the years made it difficult for me to see them let alone snap decent photos of them. Later we hiked the 3.5 mile round-trip Volcanoes Trail which provided some up-close and personal views of Vulcan Volcano and the city-scape of Albuquerque. While the area volcanoes look innocuous now, their eruptions many moons ago left us with the geology and topography we see today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpzT9UljRga8SoxBQgqz0z_6gYG6bFDyHrnVjZeBnI4296tu3eDT2uWJYAC2hdOpL7zj3jqfj6WL80I4YZ-7TTRpHOCzUdQ_s1gwTC7KI6jE6PGncaMvyoRfLFKutdPv7ZOyfs-UM0MVi006EKuzy1J_7ca2LQWfCQomyZgMjxtdbbXnLW0ioG19Hlg/s4000/20221012_131609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpzT9UljRga8SoxBQgqz0z_6gYG6bFDyHrnVjZeBnI4296tu3eDT2uWJYAC2hdOpL7zj3jqfj6WL80I4YZ-7TTRpHOCzUdQ_s1gwTC7KI6jE6PGncaMvyoRfLFKutdPv7ZOyfs-UM0MVi006EKuzy1J_7ca2LQWfCQomyZgMjxtdbbXnLW0ioG19Hlg/w400-h180/20221012_131609.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the petroglyphs from Rinconada Canyon Trail...<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY3XtO-XPjH-oCI3rMx8uq0TdNZ8sc4RpGKBvUiBCWeTmQVhUoI4JRAAvmnAF1XsoYHh8XHV6fd49LBs569_iRqf03wJcfOWN-068J9QfPDcdtyFtjHyCCq_LnyhV-qq5_u8tUKYr5ekewz8p0vr0pq1x4RtCmb5p0uHxM9uwFAOm4-x9ohpj0cEHcg/s2731/20221012_132421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2731" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY3XtO-XPjH-oCI3rMx8uq0TdNZ8sc4RpGKBvUiBCWeTmQVhUoI4JRAAvmnAF1XsoYHh8XHV6fd49LBs569_iRqf03wJcfOWN-068J9QfPDcdtyFtjHyCCq_LnyhV-qq5_u8tUKYr5ekewz8p0vr0pq1x4RtCmb5p0uHxM9uwFAOm4-x9ohpj0cEHcg/w400-h264/20221012_132421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8Q1tcuB91SoezT2hYyInXBNXcasYWv8HGEaUp6IvTiKGAxUsAS-9NaED9bA4unOTd_pDEoPgIDUbipAisJK2baxggHWIU1eGxcdeP8XAnlKcCLNszUTgYxf0v854cNxxkJxU5IYyOeO7jEZWW_yoFYL8Muxv_U25tNZcBX47voyUmE7gpGhLYl3vBQ/s3264/20221012_095105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8Q1tcuB91SoezT2hYyInXBNXcasYWv8HGEaUp6IvTiKGAxUsAS-9NaED9bA4unOTd_pDEoPgIDUbipAisJK2baxggHWIU1eGxcdeP8XAnlKcCLNszUTgYxf0v854cNxxkJxU5IYyOeO7jEZWW_yoFYL8Muxv_U25tNZcBX47voyUmE7gpGhLYl3vBQ/w400-h180/20221012_095105.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Views from the Volcanoes Trail...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDrb9gwSyHh7MLAcJLRDceCEo7zQLWa8y5i-eB8h9T46VP1jDHp34GJBJXEs7bDW3LEEMwT2enKtM5W9dQCA0llVCs1fDNKnTayeOPvLPhsvkdhXuKydGwnB9P7lPJNnHWVn1ltaNrN1kGmJ5CYcEfmzKiskz4vPcPFf_0VIS4jzOeIZUbNm3ABrhzg/s3264/20221012_102806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDrb9gwSyHh7MLAcJLRDceCEo7zQLWa8y5i-eB8h9T46VP1jDHp34GJBJXEs7bDW3LEEMwT2enKtM5W9dQCA0llVCs1fDNKnTayeOPvLPhsvkdhXuKydGwnB9P7lPJNnHWVn1ltaNrN1kGmJ5CYcEfmzKiskz4vPcPFf_0VIS4jzOeIZUbNm3ABrhzg/w400-h180/20221012_102806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxB9M4HzvFPhxyG3IiU-MIbawhKHncOsvN03upFREP7gqAWGdRnrvKJO4wZGMTnhPUTpgBYP0_1q5cuIvEHZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am so blessed to witness so much history, geology,
beauty, and culture. In the language of the Ancestral Puebloans who migrated
through these lands, I say "wantah", which means "I am very much thankful."</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">We did lots of fun stuff while in Albuqu</span>erque. But the highlight had to be taking the <i>Breaking
Bad</i> Tour, a recipient of my Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award. (For
those not familiar, <i>Breaking Bad</i> was an AMC series from 2008-2013 that
showcased Bryan Cranston as Walter White, AKA Heisenberg. Walter was a meek and mild, average-Joe
chemistry teacher in Albuquerque who morphed into an egotistical, fanatical Top
Chef of the most potent, most pure methamphetamine—cooked initially from within
a Winnebago Bounder RV. It is a
well-written drama that hooks ya from the very first episode). The
Tour sells out quickly and we tried for several dates before we were able to
secure tickets. Luigi, our driver and
tour guide, was terrific. He was
informative, entertaining, and, having been involved with the show’s production,
was well versed on <i>Breaking Bad</i>.
He took us to the various locations within Albuquerque where filming
occurred, including the <i>Dog House</i> frankfurter joint, the
junkyard, and the car wash that Walter purchased to launder money, to name a
few. The final tour stop is the Breaking Bad Museum in Old Town Albuquerque (which we visited previously during our aforementioned day of touring Old Town). Dad received magnets as prizes for knowing the
answers to several <i>Breaking Bad</i> trivia questions. (Mom wishes he would clear his noggin of
useless knowledge and remember important things instead). We met and bonded with Greg/Maryann who hail
from NJ, especially since Greg looked a bit like the character Hank and Dad is
often told he looks like Walter. Although, since he trimmed his beard, he seems to resemble the Breaking Bad character
Mike. What do you think?</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgaLPj83GlVGctZfKJTgyYx5PUAlxOuQDOR7XP9StKSNsRSadRtA3Q0zvM3OI9jXO4htgTZpoDmUZakBTvhu2OQ7hPw5pWOTAabK_wulqOZJZI-SffXkcY6HdXeGHada90mnG8xXa1CE0mB-IIHyPYR41AgaSMrblfQlh1H0JOy23DrzcPkrZzaNzNA/s3407/20221013_093700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3407" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgaLPj83GlVGctZfKJTgyYx5PUAlxOuQDOR7XP9StKSNsRSadRtA3Q0zvM3OI9jXO4htgTZpoDmUZakBTvhu2OQ7hPw5pWOTAabK_wulqOZJZI-SffXkcY6HdXeGHada90mnG8xXa1CE0mB-IIHyPYR41AgaSMrblfQlh1H0JOy23DrzcPkrZzaNzNA/w400-h211/20221013_093700.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rolling meth lab of Walter White, AKA Heisenberg...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ikD4XTntSno1RWpbMWYRrm0DFsMi0XdT4y87smL5cNfbSZdz8FOkDlHNBBiTonswtfldLm9RAGaEGZ_7uv2N5HkeO0FCjXpy6alyq-8Gos_Ivz6pQbR99jBFmSCLh63RpDNCK7h8Zrb7QymEQeLJNVpw895G5uQiqQZGpvQ6wHcOQckneArql1X4w/s2657/20221013_122436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2657" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ikD4XTntSno1RWpbMWYRrm0DFsMi0XdT4y87smL5cNfbSZdz8FOkDlHNBBiTonswtfldLm9RAGaEGZ_7uv2N5HkeO0FCjXpy6alyq-8Gos_Ivz6pQbR99jBFmSCLh63RpDNCK7h8Zrb7QymEQeLJNVpw895G5uQiqQZGpvQ6wHcOQckneArql1X4w/w400-h221/20221013_122436.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5D2tucXVeqKUrS083tINvhusfRIwcU8GpfIXQbQfwkRgXNZZ_lnZLi_AmiNQ3p3EHfQtD-D9EsMDYbcyNVClteVYeYZJIOPor3Bl9jUW0AeEtlGsoD1TuEiEQusqxH7s4NYcwaQnUVhiPHBPiH4QNIWuqEojECDRljofRkSDoDIfEQwAMVNpEj04nw/s4000/20221013_094155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5D2tucXVeqKUrS083tINvhusfRIwcU8GpfIXQbQfwkRgXNZZ_lnZLi_AmiNQ3p3EHfQtD-D9EsMDYbcyNVClteVYeYZJIOPor3Bl9jUW0AeEtlGsoD1TuEiEQusqxH7s4NYcwaQnUVhiPHBPiH4QNIWuqEojECDRljofRkSDoDIfEQwAMVNpEj04nw/w400-h180/20221013_094155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesse Pinkman's infamous response to Hank and the DEA.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQVqwBPrG_LMwfDwwzPcOqTX2vZ4MciDrhzCwrRbuhKx9CD2ZGscAm8BJvDXyIO8bEbjd49niCUqsI4mvp-Wm0ThM1pd-PLy8IWqLRelEb4fL7JoJSXat5VN6fQwyF6L2D0eqW1oOrXi8nN7LkkKQYw3Zbvu3jXOI1CJHB3kNiJfShidXbK0ZQjzUGA/s656/FB_IMG_1665788887497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="656" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQVqwBPrG_LMwfDwwzPcOqTX2vZ4MciDrhzCwrRbuhKx9CD2ZGscAm8BJvDXyIO8bEbjd49niCUqsI4mvp-Wm0ThM1pd-PLy8IWqLRelEb4fL7JoJSXat5VN6fQwyF6L2D0eqW1oOrXi8nN7LkkKQYw3Zbvu3jXOI1CJHB3kNiJfShidXbK0ZQjzUGA/w400-h260/FB_IMG_1665788887497.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twisters is the location known as "Los Pollos Hermanos" in the series...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoLm3Z_QUqtzEDJh7772dQibT2u8JiK0Cbj5wNNm_wNnbBFo6TNQYPRJspvEZV1xk7gX3MQJl0SgDYwpeOM5MM7J4qDKJXmfdrgSdhxkXA4oAb3BYr4j-UlMqdl1rlVaL8woYLr8TZbQomBs3JdeCnmP8mTRgFZyaGA3kT3Kh7A2QQhZbwthQ891FdA/s3264/20221013_105842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoLm3Z_QUqtzEDJh7772dQibT2u8JiK0Cbj5wNNm_wNnbBFo6TNQYPRJspvEZV1xk7gX3MQJl0SgDYwpeOM5MM7J4qDKJXmfdrgSdhxkXA4oAb3BYr4j-UlMqdl1rlVaL8woYLr8TZbQomBs3JdeCnmP8mTRgFZyaGA3kT3Kh7A2QQhZbwthQ891FdA/w400-h180/20221013_105842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27MCMOj0d3MV3FahynvzEdTp5a5DdPA7N92bMCDOIXOoS6r6pfPb9USi18K6-ycLdr6cJkFgJPdrNh9hvwZHkCZmkWrQCs9gjx4LK3qTQvlXXiji4rw-rxP6IJICPTUOm0mAOa8uePTZtp_0TvJeD0l6FIbQo3-IFAQ0cu-ZLPaGvnb8KZUv2VU-41Q/s3105/Popo%20and%20Dad%20Cooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1737" data-original-width="3105" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27MCMOj0d3MV3FahynvzEdTp5a5DdPA7N92bMCDOIXOoS6r6pfPb9USi18K6-ycLdr6cJkFgJPdrNh9hvwZHkCZmkWrQCs9gjx4LK3qTQvlXXiji4rw-rxP6IJICPTUOm0mAOa8uePTZtp_0TvJeD0l6FIbQo3-IFAQ0cu-ZLPaGvnb8KZUv2VU-41Q/w400-h224/Popo%20and%20Dad%20Cooking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me as Jessie and Dad as Walter taking a lunch break at "Los Pollos Hermanos".</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6uqeaaHKc1xNciDNFINi0BNiQKyD8lvH1J_zA0bzY7n09pQtTIn2GFoVAUpa1ixKuAEBUd5q5V9yD2S0S-KaFD1NPFPnoPg1yvsYNimXwxSkZfZ10n0CMtSPWvuN7RV6G32JSAGdW_RE072vk-ps7_Uj7BIK69dUzWrqMre3iBH_FhC-s5lXg-NR6Q/s1630/20221013_101537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1630" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6uqeaaHKc1xNciDNFINi0BNiQKyD8lvH1J_zA0bzY7n09pQtTIn2GFoVAUpa1ixKuAEBUd5q5V9yD2S0S-KaFD1NPFPnoPg1yvsYNimXwxSkZfZ10n0CMtSPWvuN7RV6G32JSAGdW_RE072vk-ps7_Uj7BIK69dUzWrqMre3iBH_FhC-s5lXg-NR6Q/w400-h189/20221013_101537.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Various filming locations...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzLvkzzRWbL6Df5JBHZ1q6ft4tHWiLEix8-rcvr0j0fVs7OSDRWL6QgMwMP8LCdqXGXZQBiu6VCKnnTwFcYF7VaTto8Ou76DFnFqvSaNgOG_c3t64ilRndJX0gm7j-RKXfowoJSVdgyjWrVebxJAKN7-xC6CJAyOMh0juoMR695_00uZozncljVKKjTw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="627" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzLvkzzRWbL6Df5JBHZ1q6ft4tHWiLEix8-rcvr0j0fVs7OSDRWL6QgMwMP8LCdqXGXZQBiu6VCKnnTwFcYF7VaTto8Ou76DFnFqvSaNgOG_c3t64ilRndJX0gm7j-RKXfowoJSVdgyjWrVebxJAKN7-xC6CJAyOMh0juoMR695_00uZozncljVKKjTw=w400-h244" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqTg_K7LQR1q7WA7XYGFzXGg0qXmLSeiJ1rHsg3s7xwmpfg9gGCkMh7ePDyP5yG1u0dP7p644aODuudnMki-eOwFHyyYDb5s02l6Ac76VcekPmKYFLsje16ns_q2YLZdxr-kXwQXMDKXlHOSVbpg7BR07sdkqJQycrgssUxvI36i57Nqa8YoXwNvg2w/s4128/20221013_103528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqTg_K7LQR1q7WA7XYGFzXGg0qXmLSeiJ1rHsg3s7xwmpfg9gGCkMh7ePDyP5yG1u0dP7p644aODuudnMki-eOwFHyyYDb5s02l6Ac76VcekPmKYFLsje16ns_q2YLZdxr-kXwQXMDKXlHOSVbpg7BR07sdkqJQycrgssUxvI36i57Nqa8YoXwNvg2w/w300-h400/20221013_103528.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">W<span style="font-family: arial;">e all received some "crystal blue" that was "cooked" at a local confectionary shop.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIMohphpsTGzRjqoBtvA7UmWoLdb9a-XAi2YKw-PDlyoF7kpuNnu7iOwNguAbPB5Uxm0ICY1GqREC43PC56fcJZc5HR_hfZFr9UTz5CO6340lfeTUhdhO5qeWXcNdv0_0e0F7tMcNHgoS65pZdEaPNeTFJT2OozLNEBUnTY_vFGH4wj7m6R4zBLesHw/s4000/20220907_143011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIMohphpsTGzRjqoBtvA7UmWoLdb9a-XAi2YKw-PDlyoF7kpuNnu7iOwNguAbPB5Uxm0ICY1GqREC43PC56fcJZc5HR_hfZFr9UTz5CO6340lfeTUhdhO5qeWXcNdv0_0e0F7tMcNHgoS65pZdEaPNeTFJT2OozLNEBUnTY_vFGH4wj7m6R4zBLesHw/w400-h180/20220907_143011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scenes from within the Breaking Bad Museum...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIMohphpsTGzRjqoBtvA7UmWoLdb9a-XAi2YKw-PDlyoF7kpuNnu7iOwNguAbPB5Uxm0ICY1GqREC43PC56fcJZc5HR_hfZFr9UTz5CO6340lfeTUhdhO5qeWXcNdv0_0e0F7tMcNHgoS65pZdEaPNeTFJT2OozLNEBUnTY_vFGH4wj7m6R4zBLesHw/s4000/20220907_143011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7txhK9XPEotApM5OcEe27XoCM42AYmisRb6Owe_DToc53gUitzHgZWwYbOVUPFZMawUArqUw9hPYQ9rJcXA_GG5vpFL3U01oTHVsFieoV5jzx7ZkfaITRxGJJd77688_WsDtZS6NrTlWDBapWUG8wGw5FFMjHOUO1ve44gJ1I_Ul7A_y_tmlP2nyIRw/s4000/20220907_143205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7txhK9XPEotApM5OcEe27XoCM42AYmisRb6Owe_DToc53gUitzHgZWwYbOVUPFZMawUArqUw9hPYQ9rJcXA_GG5vpFL3U01oTHVsFieoV5jzx7ZkfaITRxGJJd77688_WsDtZS6NrTlWDBapWUG8wGw5FFMjHOUO1ve44gJ1I_Ul7A_y_tmlP2nyIRw/w400-h180/20220907_143205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevakhYfXgDT3SJpZHHY0I90kLhRPGkGTPLC6C7EGmaMJkDqBlHf2i5_UfsZ9EY2lSWhyx-ea4Obo0c3b12rgGSmh6ifeSbApQnerzP_2xszB7034clw5CdTYzUc-7OeNxafglLb7LhsepReBffimVYfVX_QcRV3jz8RXh1nh2b7Ycu5WU0alNJ-C9YQ/s3777/Popo%20Salamanca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3777" data-original-width="1745" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevakhYfXgDT3SJpZHHY0I90kLhRPGkGTPLC6C7EGmaMJkDqBlHf2i5_UfsZ9EY2lSWhyx-ea4Obo0c3b12rgGSmh6ifeSbApQnerzP_2xszB7034clw5CdTYzUc-7OeNxafglLb7LhsepReBffimVYfVX_QcRV3jz8RXh1nh2b7Ycu5WU0alNJ-C9YQ/s320/Popo%20Salamanca.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9qEqDs0g5-IGqzzT65SLZwUjHKsNmJ4YCIHaObo50ac_QdR0GSEqEaNCxddbW1_h4ok0KktFJzN7gtq1Su9MI7WE_gh_ByLoOLGEVqRVTrfEbbMoJfV8zdlmHqefEvy44ePdTcb3Np7Buvk2koY3A-3MoVlHBOh6EBh2L5_0vN9Zwex2DP5he01uWA/s1586/20221013_094050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1586" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9qEqDs0g5-IGqzzT65SLZwUjHKsNmJ4YCIHaObo50ac_QdR0GSEqEaNCxddbW1_h4ok0KktFJzN7gtq1Su9MI7WE_gh_ByLoOLGEVqRVTrfEbbMoJfV8zdlmHqefEvy44ePdTcb3Np7Buvk2koY3A-3MoVlHBOh6EBh2L5_0vN9Zwex2DP5he01uWA/w400-h378/20221013_094050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad and Greg, cast look-a-likes.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, that wraps up our touring of Albuquerque.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We hit the road tomorrow morning.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Talk to you again soon!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-54043396284355908322022-10-11T20:07:00.037-05:002022-11-28T02:09:22.273-06:00Volunteering at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We left Santa Fe and had a short 1-hour drive to Albuquerque,
where we were volunteering for RV Parking at the Albuquerque International
Balloon Fiesta (AIBF).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We signed up initially as RV Parking volunteers in 2020,
but the Fiesta took a siesta that year due to COVID. Then we withdrew our application for 2021
after we made the decision to go East in May to help my Aunt Maureen with
chores at Misty Lee Farms when Uncle Ted was so gravely ill. Volunteering in 2022 fit well with our travel
plans. And the gig was even more
enticing since it was the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Balloon Fiesta.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Though we didn’t know it initially, AIBF has many different
positions for their 1,200 “Navigators”, the nomenclature AIBF uses for
volunteers (yes, with a staff of less than 2 dozen, they rely <i><u>HEAVILY</u></i> on
volunteers) But the RV Parking position
is the only one that we ever learned about from fellow RVing friends. Ironically, it is the only Navigator position
<u>not</u> listed on the AIBF website.
So, it appears that word-of-mouth is AIBF’s preferred mode for
recruitment. Therefore, yours truly,
Rambling RV Rat, is going to give you the lowdown on RV Parking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">RV Parking entails the longest time commitment of all
Navigator positions (5 weeks). As a result, it comes with the biggest perk: a complimentary RV site with generator-provided
electric and free tank dumps/pumps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Starting the Tuesday after Labor Day, 4 hours each weekday
morning were spent preparing the various RV parking lots (South, North, West,
Presidential, and the lot affectionately known as the Pig Pen, dedicated to the
various groups of law enforcement.) The South Lot is the largest and requires
the most work. Tasks include removing
trash, rocks, and TONS of goathead weeds (those nasty, prickly spurs that stick
to your shoelaces, pants, and socks); laying out the hundreds of 55’ X 20’ RV
sites; liming/painting lines, etc.
Additionally, we assisted other Navigator groups with assembling bags for
sponsors, guests, pilots, and volunteers that included entry tickets, coupons,
and assorted freebies like calendars, fanny packs, and rain ponchos. Treasured AIBF commemorative jackets are
provided to specific groups, including Navigators who fulfill the required
number of shifts and complete the task of watching mandatory videos (RV Parking
Navigators are among the jacket recipients).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">For the first 2 weeks, all the RV Parking Navigators were
stationed in the Presidential Lot. But
once we were given our lot designations, we all had to relocate. We were assigned to North
Lot, a lot that had just been added in 2021. But most of the information that was provided to us during our daily
“happy hours” at the Presidential Lot </span>was relevant only to the South Lot RV Parking Navigators. (I put "happy hours" in quotes because we thought they were for socializing/team
building prior to Fiesta but instead became monotonous and redundant lectures that several Navigators just stopped attending). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj05rQV6Kz8Hiv13NLApCzpVdHXtJncU-fAWb2Lb3S8eNYpMDtKELjmW9BbGwJgrgxKaavFIrF3AYifB6KYPnxqFV_be9DHP9dAaleBzVo8U6xvHeWXt8pojEE9yQCMpsp_k_IkpypDxeU8XY6tXsrfgNrRG1QtxCpc37vhAWBPW1XH3hIpzgeGHq7kzQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj05rQV6Kz8Hiv13NLApCzpVdHXtJncU-fAWb2Lb3S8eNYpMDtKELjmW9BbGwJgrgxKaavFIrF3AYifB6KYPnxqFV_be9DHP9dAaleBzVo8U6xvHeWXt8pojEE9yQCMpsp_k_IkpypDxeU8XY6tXsrfgNrRG1QtxCpc37vhAWBPW1XH3hIpzgeGHq7kzQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A beautiful sunset from the Presidential Lot in the weeks prior to commencement of Fiesta.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlT5KJ0F0-5BXb9d1lDwE6sbaKuHl_QDP16y6JqyByLe2zUWjKUNJnNaDi6gKTxITiN5pAOhHK4sqsACLfhF37LptsFCtLQVXPy18kuzp2Y4tETIK-NkKgvh7gy7pshA5D8gdD08J3C5HloIeC3hfJQEvCrHMqXHJf5mDGdAR_kxWjtrYDc66z51lvCg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlT5KJ0F0-5BXb9d1lDwE6sbaKuHl_QDP16y6JqyByLe2zUWjKUNJnNaDi6gKTxITiN5pAOhHK4sqsACLfhF37LptsFCtLQVXPy18kuzp2Y4tETIK-NkKgvh7gy7pshA5D8gdD08J3C5HloIeC3hfJQEvCrHMqXHJf5mDGdAR_kxWjtrYDc66z51lvCg=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A storm is brewing--as seen from the Presidential Lot.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We were warned repeatedly by the evening lecturer that “everything is held together with Velcro here”, a statement that proved to
be 100% accurate. Things changed quickly
and often, with communication and organization often lacking. (Apparently, this was not unique to this year, but rather is a systemic issue based on reports from several sets of friends who worked at a prior Fiesta). Sometimes it was hard to believe that this
was the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of this event. (It reminded us of working with Amazon CamperForce
several years ago. Things were so
screwy-louie there, we workcampers joked that it was nothing short of a miracle that customers received their correct order and in a timely fashion to boot.) </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Because it was a milestone anniversary (50th), 2022 had many veteran Navigators return from prior years, thereby forming their own cliques. While remaining quiet as a church, I observed the behavior of others. And from my "newbie" standpoint, there were
way too many “Chiefs” and not enough “Indians” among <i><u>ALL</u></i> the Navigator
categories. Many were busy schmoozing to
position themselves for more prestigious roles in future Fiestas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">On Monday before the Fiesta started (9/26), guests began
to arrive. From that point until cleanup commenced after Fiesta ended (10/10), North Lot RV Parking Navigators worked every day but 1 (something we were not expecting based on the experiences of several sets of friends who worked at Fiesta in 2017). Our shifts ranged from as little as 4 hours
to as many as 11 hours daily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The RV Parking crew checked guests in via a new computer
software, distributed their goody bags and parking permits, reviewed rules with
them, responded to inquiries, and escorted RVs to their respective parking
spots. We also sold parking passes and ice
that could be purchased via cash or credit card. Additionally, AIBF North Lot volunteers were required to perform
administrative tasks and handle cash-only payments for the third-party dump/pump
service company. (Why AIBF does not require the dump/pump service company be responsible for its own cash business transactions is beyond my comprehension).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Oh, but seeing the magnificent balloons made us forget all
the craziness! Though Mother Nature was
very uncooperative and forced the cancelation of many events, it was simply
magical watching the mass ascensions! What an assortment of balloon sizes, colors,
and special shapes! I told my parents they
should have a balloon manufactured to replicate ME, but then I learned it will
cost more than $150K! Yikes, ballooning
is an expensive hobby!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Here's a time lapsed video of Day 1: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJumNTdlYOpGTuerxmfvvHh1UWiAZJwtHRh9lG1oxqCuYz0im8LX_P52odPQLTjdmwToV7f7K_o3Xi4NSwAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6JEc_QOdhosLyt23zMc4JeyDi0meXMAECu2BRmUbQ2ZYpHbFU2LEkW0EXEGgPgT9FbppY70taEa6DZQm4RiYiE5YPpVEGrC5GvGmGw4i6-yFPvdULYahFIHVXL0u4uRY-8irwY5yU7RIG1F7d_yVJ-D-bDBZQIcA4fTSfEfuZRsff9vS0_2M0dSH6EA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6JEc_QOdhosLyt23zMc4JeyDi0meXMAECu2BRmUbQ2ZYpHbFU2LEkW0EXEGgPgT9FbppY70taEa6DZQm4RiYiE5YPpVEGrC5GvGmGw4i6-yFPvdULYahFIHVXL0u4uRY-8irwY5yU7RIG1F7d_yVJ-D-bDBZQIcA4fTSfEfuZRsff9vS0_2M0dSH6EA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Glow - 6 a.m.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguX3NpZ5W2hSp2Oi27uL8c3F_oRQ9EO53Q79Erft1xzUAkewh0-3qMyZ9f8j-TlhLCwFtnns68_GPwZBZJvxYMskpaWPYulUzQFbNkX2Rs1jHfxbYcPlokbgX6iDXkHQ_H67gX-jVze606q088hgTQH3wS5rsdNu_Q5_RmHuZ5-NoL9N_hDyjXqGE-Yw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguX3NpZ5W2hSp2Oi27uL8c3F_oRQ9EO53Q79Erft1xzUAkewh0-3qMyZ9f8j-TlhLCwFtnns68_GPwZBZJvxYMskpaWPYulUzQFbNkX2Rs1jHfxbYcPlokbgX6iDXkHQ_H67gX-jVze606q088hgTQH3wS5rsdNu_Q5_RmHuZ5-NoL9N_hDyjXqGE-Yw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fighter Plane Fly-over<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXdLE_rUj_YPQPSQTAQOyzJkDyHWHC86lMi_aMwU3n_NfgR985PJ17In074WpfhRyt1qOOzhyaZNVBkbBcAOkRD9hapFRqe1qSgoVQNorOcm6pWNVhNP3fCeflzC9gYrKL1yDwd4-7Y28DgIlamungcuRAWQWcEpjs4JjOYg0wPuhBe9Qk0iDMw_urBw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXdLE_rUj_YPQPSQTAQOyzJkDyHWHC86lMi_aMwU3n_NfgR985PJ17In074WpfhRyt1qOOzhyaZNVBkbBcAOkRD9hapFRqe1qSgoVQNorOcm6pWNVhNP3fCeflzC9gYrKL1yDwd4-7Y28DgIlamungcuRAWQWcEpjs4JjOYg0wPuhBe9Qk0iDMw_urBw" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0kjLSOyo5hlN0q7yiFPMp8yNzsP4Us6Yy3Vs5iz0roiyoN9Fh6M155M87fJJ56M3YUc9nmWjS32dhjBsSeOHQPtQpaeRYuZ0do_f5Zj3tQKd_NkiS4krDsqAEs26r-OxcyjfhzUSGk2qbnI0gs_UFtHLZeC7lgSknR3N41kbfGVS4Plmnr0Q4CSemyA" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0kjLSOyo5hlN0q7yiFPMp8yNzsP4Us6Yy3Vs5iz0roiyoN9Fh6M155M87fJJ56M3YUc9nmWjS32dhjBsSeOHQPtQpaeRYuZ0do_f5Zj3tQKd_NkiS4krDsqAEs26r-OxcyjfhzUSGk2qbnI0gs_UFtHLZeC7lgSknR3N41kbfGVS4Plmnr0Q4CSemyA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwT8nguwCbgWeB-HISNqm3bXH21Fv5iQBNmRNBZiq3hlTdTcw8CBcCEFN-iM0ZIci-SVJQ683NgEGfDntsxkV3vl7BUJyVq_rCUb2skMdxiun0YknHiAdJTC7OpBlfJ0FUcYcwnEYV6-6FPoIIzPhiys4T_dGrngDwsat-eAiKkExt8Qyc4uyIZpk27Q" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwT8nguwCbgWeB-HISNqm3bXH21Fv5iQBNmRNBZiq3hlTdTcw8CBcCEFN-iM0ZIci-SVJQ683NgEGfDntsxkV3vl7BUJyVq_rCUb2skMdxiun0YknHiAdJTC7OpBlfJ0FUcYcwnEYV6-6FPoIIzPhiys4T_dGrngDwsat-eAiKkExt8Qyc4uyIZpk27Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjZuhKiEoz99Z5Falrb1X1BLTTCN0YGVSfn7ZGdBwNmzwjkYoGdwNs7h0luFaZjqBbrK8EtiGfFMgrG1Sd0aOIgD7U2Rhr4sHaaVn-oSDbS5-cDTTurTIi77HfhoSBDREFY7VS0jC_Ai8A2ogkyhrKuIUJkFW6aeo5VeCnnp9oCSTHfXPkAna0Uo6hSA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2423" data-original-width="1582" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjZuhKiEoz99Z5Falrb1X1BLTTCN0YGVSfn7ZGdBwNmzwjkYoGdwNs7h0luFaZjqBbrK8EtiGfFMgrG1Sd0aOIgD7U2Rhr4sHaaVn-oSDbS5-cDTTurTIi77HfhoSBDREFY7VS0jC_Ai8A2ogkyhrKuIUJkFW6aeo5VeCnnp9oCSTHfXPkAna0Uo6hSA=w262-h400" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The hooves of the team of rescue horses were clad in lights at night!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTHCkCw8nbD6BoTCq7S9pLQPnwhf5X2lqyieAuCgnNXtxzCSWEVdEnhedEyN2HcYUOgXhq0LILBXRtn9X8td1AJPuWCR9oBUrTFK2uO1jtfwkkCeQqBMtZ_UaGHKFVRIesauGKqxGeroJnNPUB4lMdkUyokxrlaGOspmtqnXR7TkkStTW71bgdX4cCGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTHCkCw8nbD6BoTCq7S9pLQPnwhf5X2lqyieAuCgnNXtxzCSWEVdEnhedEyN2HcYUOgXhq0LILBXRtn9X8td1AJPuWCR9oBUrTFK2uO1jtfwkkCeQqBMtZ_UaGHKFVRIesauGKqxGeroJnNPUB4lMdkUyokxrlaGOspmtqnXR7TkkStTW71bgdX4cCGg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The AIBF offers guests the rare opportunity to go onto the
field and walk among the balloons, speak to the pilots, and watch the crews in
action. As a vertically-challenged
stuffed rat, it was a bit scary for me to be among the massive sea of human
legs on the field, and I got separated from my parents. But one of the Zebras on the field reunited
us. What’s a Zebra, you ask? Zebras, who dress in black/white stripes
(hence their name), are the officials that give each balloon the lift-off
cue. I thought it was funny that Zebras
in training are called ZITS. The field's "Main Street" includes food vendors, artisans, and even some kiddie amusement rides.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8vCrESzQlbsu3BLeu1aDH5Z5Py73c7jwUU5yktPEP7No7asUsWSUymHgboCy5nbqPW14dAdigLG3whPlyAq6aUGGynwntvBl8WffpAX6ufbZxMDklY3S3YhFkeUpCMsjrFp_FP5WEVLEkf2zPS1P3dkTOZ7YpurPQkydXjBdAL-nRJQJPActKjFBwYg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8vCrESzQlbsu3BLeu1aDH5Z5Py73c7jwUU5yktPEP7No7asUsWSUymHgboCy5nbqPW14dAdigLG3whPlyAq6aUGGynwntvBl8WffpAX6ufbZxMDklY3S3YhFkeUpCMsjrFp_FP5WEVLEkf2zPS1P3dkTOZ7YpurPQkydXjBdAL-nRJQJPActKjFBwYg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaEpsipxMZH3CqX2fKrYRcyWLch4MtTMJjGiYhML6Nq9C8TpOnWzwS1WU-08eOzL1rIUMSRKjyOsnxvDvuXFEcfSbmnCangAuayZ20-LLbXVvzaPB5JpC5hv4ss-Az4z0_-f4EazRD_eLYGg090N8hOkxO1BMtbjOv6Ru7g8TVQn2oPI6lzVIuNdKBbQ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="729" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWQgoJE_byaHysJa8R5FnuIqHRfoocKjNTS-cWx736x6dcNMobWUZpzLrGA-HAy-AaQX6sUCOgc7JY9xZ8zfJCtIyHF0D4CdUw1DODfn3AzxIXhAAndwem_bak1oOfpCOO4Fj91ATAfPgJF44dVPhjlMVsHa2jUs8Q9GLQypaHIdcQvVAZxJJGvOklsQ=w303-h400" width="303" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9cWiNT9luRXR7YuHqEkSodv1ONTd6EE5R0Lng9fZK-JcWCt0srzkrGJ-TCOuWZMsUbED42Zbm5mqIoW3ksoXHyCIWjctpzOzpIuqd64hhtO1i-qViUqYKyYSDJHrcT6JlCo2Jb3v_KHH1gC1iBUTEeLZ3VR_yQgZ5ruprIAfyKtlwMZqYNA6kWKDlLQ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9cWiNT9luRXR7YuHqEkSodv1ONTd6EE5R0Lng9fZK-JcWCt0srzkrGJ-TCOuWZMsUbED42Zbm5mqIoW3ksoXHyCIWjctpzOzpIuqd64hhtO1i-qViUqYKyYSDJHrcT6JlCo2Jb3v_KHH1gC1iBUTEeLZ3VR_yQgZ5ruprIAfyKtlwMZqYNA6kWKDlLQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJK1Bedz45doM9UgYy3iuwCZIxpobuf1XrAF77H3a4zWuFGqzmdacH15HU4r-KXo6SJOelbi30epUBS_s8OHHWRH7r49Ik_q1v0vY733NR3g7APqBVJnGlswELoDij1YxPBM7K21FQvtbNTgCtlGGV2zy39Wqeq9aDEr1UGyPHy8GMf8PqsztzbksGA/s2300/PoPo%20in%20Ferris%20wheel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="2300" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJK1Bedz45doM9UgYy3iuwCZIxpobuf1XrAF77H3a4zWuFGqzmdacH15HU4r-KXo6SJOelbi30epUBS_s8OHHWRH7r49Ik_q1v0vY733NR3g7APqBVJnGlswELoDij1YxPBM7K21FQvtbNTgCtlGGV2zy39Wqeq9aDEr1UGyPHy8GMf8PqsztzbksGA/w400-h310/PoPo%20in%20Ferris%20wheel.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The only ballooning experience yours truly, Rambling RV Rat, could afford on my allowance was this amusement ride for $10/person. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The festivities included awesome fireworks, which happened
to go off right behind the North Lot. The
booms were so loud, our whole RV reverberated!
And the drone light show was spectacular! I was amazed at the synchronization involved
to make each image. The North Lot provided
easy access to the field, with many balloons flying right over our rig. How awesome is that!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwh3sNZ68UIgLUuXG6_feEpqHpbKX8pza3zGwqfmuRXSvNSlcLLgj13G2Wi2ABPOc6rog7o0Pcu3D9wkqgq9ZhZSTgkPdYA0MfS_vxlAleX60TQuwniXZgQbbhY9miigwY0PrpEt_-ssTtOgj3zRyjffIfJNRrrARs82izJFqek5vHyMy_vHsIoMXqWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwh3sNZ68UIgLUuXG6_feEpqHpbKX8pza3zGwqfmuRXSvNSlcLLgj13G2Wi2ABPOc6rog7o0Pcu3D9wkqgq9ZhZSTgkPdYA0MfS_vxlAleX60TQuwniXZgQbbhY9miigwY0PrpEt_-ssTtOgj3zRyjffIfJNRrrARs82izJFqek5vHyMy_vHsIoMXqWQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7xA35OE6vfqKiBEcO-zkn0CkIKdpGRC8kL_UCpD6hb3St7MWXVYLIhc81ig4vsDVLutpmzBJ1vIQ43XhHqs_K1OyeuY0FUjwYrCYQ9RPZUNB3QXIEAjwvX4srdii-laQ6ZpV9uSdxLV7VQjAQi_jQYFnGDEYBelEJBSyrHpm0q0KP2YSsEKYVZLgrkQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7xA35OE6vfqKiBEcO-zkn0CkIKdpGRC8kL_UCpD6hb3St7MWXVYLIhc81ig4vsDVLutpmzBJ1vIQ43XhHqs_K1OyeuY0FUjwYrCYQ9RPZUNB3QXIEAjwvX4srdii-laQ6ZpV9uSdxLV7VQjAQi_jQYFnGDEYBelEJBSyrHpm0q0KP2YSsEKYVZLgrkQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxvTmdL_rgNYBMuVEG_pBYCMIO6IZbbp2Y22w9EZDGOS0WvIThjQE8dgTJRSU4OntiiNLpa9iw-hRuv3TicHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixKmB6cVAyoRyexcGl9CD3EgwzUKBypko7W2uIJ2EMZJVA5aFVlkNxt0zRQGCs4JUfJrcyAZ_jFRISg53C9JyAiQj8xZJSo4kzpjHKXSmlNJffPTWB78eJ5DWJLFBDNnGYlZSdL2RqSN7qlS51il1lVX-ObiHKe-bAnc54S9eh3VuHyAyuVCC7Jrw77w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixKmB6cVAyoRyexcGl9CD3EgwzUKBypko7W2uIJ2EMZJVA5aFVlkNxt0zRQGCs4JUfJrcyAZ_jFRISg53C9JyAiQj8xZJSo4kzpjHKXSmlNJffPTWB78eJ5DWJLFBDNnGYlZSdL2RqSN7qlS51il1lVX-ObiHKe-bAnc54S9eh3VuHyAyuVCC7Jrw77w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijcDn2711OzpKZx5Vddpwo4CVwDQlu1XCKI3h4HFgiSf4-xt0ZtcSY7Tc2c1A6vPE4mNur5JbM6fheKpr3v3v7GVEO3yVKXI_Gvkj9PwHP0e3aYqP9le1Ai-Li-OdlUvfwDlsEB2ET5vZOWi9dzHx8Tmmtg1LmbPmO8cSd5x_ZbUmkw5WuoXWSG7YTEg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijcDn2711OzpKZx5Vddpwo4CVwDQlu1XCKI3h4HFgiSf4-xt0ZtcSY7Tc2c1A6vPE4mNur5JbM6fheKpr3v3v7GVEO3yVKXI_Gvkj9PwHP0e3aYqP9le1Ai-Li-OdlUvfwDlsEB2ET5vZOWi9dzHx8Tmmtg1LmbPmO8cSd5x_ZbUmkw5WuoXWSG7YTEg=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2-JdhPEVOqVaJzU5HCCaTT-znLhrYH-vYYhz-mBcQn57w3-UuMxm-vy68A2zW2V9S4LMWCaCwM_CwJ3V4j6l_IICAJ24y9l4hhXvfYSkkR9iv64BbwatF2CqglTTHV-IrTRACXNZR3bo465HmeW_e7ga4wXnz8veHoVusxoRClI6kkDsc-RmhkI3r_w" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2-JdhPEVOqVaJzU5HCCaTT-znLhrYH-vYYhz-mBcQn57w3-UuMxm-vy68A2zW2V9S4LMWCaCwM_CwJ3V4j6l_IICAJ24y9l4hhXvfYSkkR9iv64BbwatF2CqglTTHV-IrTRACXNZR3bo465HmeW_e7ga4wXnz8veHoVusxoRClI6kkDsc-RmhkI3r_w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9MCOri5GmGH7a-cC1Apf_0mzKL6LyUP_FIIeQXv2xRIFi11vILV6WYKm6hv5RWbVDE5KqjCuobQQdkyShdaXuH20fstPUR5f5W8oFIy42gJ6hdZJJH05x9tiyiqOAm7wOnukrKe7V04uLK2_dOh8KI-GCMwi-yfrNQirteJ4QfIYZu0F-LWKZljK7rg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9MCOri5GmGH7a-cC1Apf_0mzKL6LyUP_FIIeQXv2xRIFi11vILV6WYKm6hv5RWbVDE5KqjCuobQQdkyShdaXuH20fstPUR5f5W8oFIy42gJ6hdZJJH05x9tiyiqOAm7wOnukrKe7V04uLK2_dOh8KI-GCMwi-yfrNQirteJ4QfIYZu0F-LWKZljK7rg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We enjoyed meeting many Fiesta guests who traveled from
near and far to attend the Fiesta and chatting with members of various Navigator
groups about the other volunteer opportunities here at AIBF. Friends Pierre/Lesa stopped by for a visit (based
on their experience as RV Parking Navigators in 2021, they switched this year to
volunteering with Escapees Boomers as balloon crew members). And we had a
chance to catch up with fellow Escapee Mark and give hugs to two of our
Quartzsite dance buddies, Kathy and Terri.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjAEnJIb4VDrmPJxoh6HhBdTvO6NWIo0UktWXhcgMoXQ6nwT75YgdhCf7RRCNbQbKqnn213GTKCG2lyDHGKUPBAevnGbnS-I59854bLxgoW4CWHINudQvNGY0ZdppenXPQZHDII5Dt98cjhg166F8zHd4J26y6yCgyFyZRVHCZjsoMhPQMs2EfqnCOhw"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2671" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjAEnJIb4VDrmPJxoh6HhBdTvO6NWIo0UktWXhcgMoXQ6nwT75YgdhCf7RRCNbQbKqnn213GTKCG2lyDHGKUPBAevnGbnS-I59854bLxgoW4CWHINudQvNGY0ZdppenXPQZHDII5Dt98cjhg166F8zHd4J26y6yCgyFyZRVHCZjsoMhPQMs2EfqnCOhw" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvVMiWMrcANLd8BcP_DPmnXr6Ez-Knfqx2_zRbiJJfx_iIDKtEtif4gw1P6kHbTbJQGIJVTic5CqTcZKPQe9t8xpsbXqRUGZ90xXaf48HWPEGZJIQDXXbmfuYtTievRYFsQCINp90E3F07wTcK7n3foVAeRtplpwhI7RSOLAW7PfUo-P6lmHmmLgdB0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="3974" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvVMiWMrcANLd8BcP_DPmnXr6Ez-Knfqx2_zRbiJJfx_iIDKtEtif4gw1P6kHbTbJQGIJVTic5CqTcZKPQe9t8xpsbXqRUGZ90xXaf48HWPEGZJIQDXXbmfuYtTievRYFsQCINp90E3F07wTcK7n3foVAeRtplpwhI7RSOLAW7PfUo-P6lmHmmLgdB0Q=w400-h160" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In summary, it was cool to be a part of a milestone event like the 50th anniversary Fiesta, but we would not return for a repeat performance. </span>So there you have it, the scoop and the poop from this Rambling RV Rat. </span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">We did lots of exploring of Albuquerque before Fiesta
started and after our commitment ended, which I’ll tell you about in my next
post. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Talk to you again
soon!</span></span></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-65502573196078698182022-09-04T23:51:00.030-05:002022-11-20T02:08:25.373-06:00Touring Santa Fe, NM<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We left the San Luis Valley and traveled along US-285,
crossing the Rio Grande River.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We said
goodbye to CO and were welcomed to NM.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We pulled into a wildlife crossing/viewing area.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Though </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">nearby Carson National Forest</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> boasts </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">an elk herd of about 2,500, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">none of them were out and about that day. But I could just
imagine the scene during migration season:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">hundreds and hundreds of elk crossing the range of the San Antonio
Mountains.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIlvecwfdAz6B4Pkty5QYpF9hvNbtMn4fKVhGq_8WvNkSlMJUX9zNRiY39igUnQ2VsHg-Ln1-pY3YJ8syqVq1lCxr4InVzf5v84SBTzC_dKAom2brQ1UOgNt9Cp8Em6n4TWaJQTclPNwUZ3-DE1YD8dphUU-Ab1C2LfdJwZ4Qtbc4OmTFNhhGJf-7vg/s3807/20220831_090501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="3807" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIlvecwfdAz6B4Pkty5QYpF9hvNbtMn4fKVhGq_8WvNkSlMJUX9zNRiY39igUnQ2VsHg-Ln1-pY3YJ8syqVq1lCxr4InVzf5v84SBTzC_dKAom2brQ1UOgNt9Cp8Em6n4TWaJQTclPNwUZ3-DE1YD8dphUU-Ab1C2LfdJwZ4Qtbc4OmTFNhhGJf-7vg/w400-h134/20220831_090501.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcwJbizEFhbc9prEGmCnMKrY2ElEqgpZ3xYFXhf-hRnXPTEofUtBO4VcEJxOkIrbchgTwcf0HsHrEHoF4CzHWWhya5rAnaB_neg4zV_OPmG2RxaLI-KmOMilN1Y5JtYw6SI-qZ2xz0Bh-I4UqvOfqB3FD7WK9oUiWYBjk3ghr6mHMqiEeDz9PTWAmHQ/s4000/20220831_091245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcwJbizEFhbc9prEGmCnMKrY2ElEqgpZ3xYFXhf-hRnXPTEofUtBO4VcEJxOkIrbchgTwcf0HsHrEHoF4CzHWWhya5rAnaB_neg4zV_OPmG2RxaLI-KmOMilN1Y5JtYw6SI-qZ2xz0Bh-I4UqvOfqB3FD7WK9oUiWYBjk3ghr6mHMqiEeDz9PTWAmHQ/w400-h180/20220831_091245.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We made a reservation in advance at Trailer Ranch RV Resort
in Santa Fe because we would need a dump/pump coming off boondocking for
several days--or so we thought.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">But as I
mentioned in my prior post, we did not boondock in San Luis Valley and went
into a full-service RV Park instead.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Alas, sometimes the best laid plans go awry.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Hence, we ended up paying $70/night for a
back-in site at Trailer Ranch.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Ironically, they had a sewer line backup (which they failed to mention
until payment was made and we were parked in our spot.) </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">So, it was fortuitous that we didn’t boondock
in San Luis Valley ‘cause it alleviated the need to dump upon arrival at
Trailer Ranch.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Funny how things work
out, ain’t it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Trailer Ranch RV Resort is on a main drag in Santa Fe, so it
is a bit noisy.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">But with a bus stop just
a block away, it is extremely convenient to access Downtown.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">And the bus costs only $2/adults ($1/seniors)
to ride all day long.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So, over the next 2 days we hopped on and off the bus to
explore Santa Fe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We visited the
historic rail yard district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What once
was a transportation hub is now a hotbed for the art community, consisting of
unique shoppes and galleries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Objets d'art still catch Mom’s eye, but her spending money on them no longer occurs
(trading from a sticks/bricks with ½-acre property to the nomadic, minimalistic
RVing lifestyle sure protects my cheese inheritance money).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We did enjoy walking through the open space gardens. </span>Because it also is an art district, we nixed
going to Canyon Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we
focused on touring religious and cultural sites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnznM9P69QYnafTDnaJFStqaFraPVLVcZCiERBoimm5MepD12XBOpkv_3wMF9I93IIdlXGBOJLem4dgwD6DLxhpbno33pIDt7olvbPlXpS0j__aHXHAs8Q-LD066dd8s8hCreX6K8HBalhqiDwj65Yy2L4SsswZZRX03OcRtY2riHVFcwGTrehsUllRg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnznM9P69QYnafTDnaJFStqaFraPVLVcZCiERBoimm5MepD12XBOpkv_3wMF9I93IIdlXGBOJLem4dgwD6DLxhpbno33pIDt7olvbPlXpS0j__aHXHAs8Q-LD066dd8s8hCreX6K8HBalhqiDwj65Yy2L4SsswZZRX03OcRtY2riHVFcwGTrehsUllRg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiOtwOVgw_5K60q5MIVWCvBSEWmAKWxg-VG9DIH-Oc3LfrI7gY4msZ3tGxJcJthsXWNTs_XaNTstZvaIZBP0yZmxYgv5lbD7o4DjuCkGeXFo2ESJnGg4bJhZdJwjo1k0c3SxJ4Q724E5g6QW0r_uKG4cfi32_2lci9mET2kVefG3ffe7HOrTGZnQzZg/s1664/20220831_151524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="784" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiOtwOVgw_5K60q5MIVWCvBSEWmAKWxg-VG9DIH-Oc3LfrI7gY4msZ3tGxJcJthsXWNTs_XaNTstZvaIZBP0yZmxYgv5lbD7o4DjuCkGeXFo2ESJnGg4bJhZdJwjo1k0c3SxJ4Q724E5g6QW0r_uKG4cfi32_2lci9mET2kVefG3ffe7HOrTGZnQzZg/w189-h400/20220831_151524.jpg" width="189" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDalyHrSD5q5KU6VIePrMOzXlyWFLDNjncBkEukt1ic9xjRWFRaEdxoKfNeuUqi2p1eHPcc_bJJOnUbNSZwxjDe56t_I8W7ctCRT56dVaTgQ_WdoVBQcjsHUZPPuZYKEMX8nihxFJFhM5Qe6a93eZL8SYAoJg93BtWHmUUYuSOiz4ty4EykuIWX1JSGA/s4000/20220831_155832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDalyHrSD5q5KU6VIePrMOzXlyWFLDNjncBkEukt1ic9xjRWFRaEdxoKfNeuUqi2p1eHPcc_bJJOnUbNSZwxjDe56t_I8W7ctCRT56dVaTgQ_WdoVBQcjsHUZPPuZYKEMX8nihxFJFhM5Qe6a93eZL8SYAoJg93BtWHmUUYuSOiz4ty4EykuIWX1JSGA/w180-h400/20220831_155832.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Since it wasn’t far from the rail yard, we walked over to
the Santuario de Guadalupe, a shrine dedicated to the vision of the Blessed
Mother seen by Aztecan Juan Diego in 1531. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Though the Chapel itself was closed, we
perused the lovely grounds. Mom was enthralled with the gorgeous roses that adorned the Church property.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmkzAYmscKwsI1y_Btjhqo4Tv9MYEuCbmrzxuvus3GdDsDYXQDGBGlZFTLv1L-LrMLvFea6QB4R-nnhJynmIz-VRT1MBbdm-q7w-W8fv2qkeHMk-8FuakouSjFZ3BvvWrmCL6nOX0m59TrrJtS0eINJsb8waUD-uyzVKdZS_B9hPo7Iq13PGrwhXGGww" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmkzAYmscKwsI1y_Btjhqo4Tv9MYEuCbmrzxuvus3GdDsDYXQDGBGlZFTLv1L-LrMLvFea6QB4R-nnhJynmIz-VRT1MBbdm-q7w-W8fv2qkeHMk-8FuakouSjFZ3BvvWrmCL6nOX0m59TrrJtS0eINJsb8waUD-uyzVKdZS_B9hPo7Iq13PGrwhXGGww=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0FTHHKGHZXhjlWWgzVJeiqLLwM4MKfMbSecRQRIYkZlK8kz2Vz9wUv1HKvv_G1cdLkJ6dHglMJejj679N_KhYSZsU2icb04ul8fBOo_kP6wtjeN3fnq8bGtdN01Vn0cSVlA15UKVjWKJIXrtCKxDZakU-eiSIicLpVPETczA-bTk4o2-95x9Qjj22dQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0FTHHKGHZXhjlWWgzVJeiqLLwM4MKfMbSecRQRIYkZlK8kz2Vz9wUv1HKvv_G1cdLkJ6dHglMJejj679N_KhYSZsU2icb04ul8fBOo_kP6wtjeN3fnq8bGtdN01Vn0cSVlA15UKVjWKJIXrtCKxDZakU-eiSIicLpVPETczA-bTk4o2-95x9Qjj22dQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shrine to Our Lady of Guadelupe.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4Vx4cXnQK6fRfpa4DO6399DlAMLW3wrki3K3Y4aa3qGDcmvBOTySD85x0wA7QVZufZrxASaD0UeOjkTTBgfofKIpAuKEUkpIJ6rHkIOqnuJ84tUrlgXSx693C4zapCQQJg1ljnxtkBwb267B8ZSQkRTbAfWxnaAj0-LN5Sx3Jb_F6iwAq4IjN7rM83g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="1790" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4Vx4cXnQK6fRfpa4DO6399DlAMLW3wrki3K3Y4aa3qGDcmvBOTySD85x0wA7QVZufZrxASaD0UeOjkTTBgfofKIpAuKEUkpIJ6rHkIOqnuJ84tUrlgXSx693C4zapCQQJg1ljnxtkBwb267B8ZSQkRTbAfWxnaAj0-LN5Sx3Jb_F6iwAq4IjN7rM83g" width="228" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAumxza0Gr070Kecvppja7Qqyfdc3a7UDTb6J9LF5rdtrGSMYDCmdblg1XuFro3gWduUJO5fdWcc6_En6HVmh0_XAy6y4-3Az0lzqNGSE2zMF2nUuNPKceYbm7lUBeLcXyJLVtzD0P2Adi-4vfmNidgD2g8f68i7cRx9yo6FOvPpu37QFcM5zDJi5mmQ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3507" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAumxza0Gr070Kecvppja7Qqyfdc3a7UDTb6J9LF5rdtrGSMYDCmdblg1XuFro3gWduUJO5fdWcc6_En6HVmh0_XAy6y4-3Az0lzqNGSE2zMF2nUuNPKceYbm7lUBeLcXyJLVtzD0P2Adi-4vfmNidgD2g8f68i7cRx9yo6FOvPpu37QFcM5zDJi5mmQ=w400-h205" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz5gOLqDWx99kodgCOJ268ZhnmsiZwpj8LLs0z12TItGz0ETk5fNDGxiuv4bhSiX-1t8R7xsk67MBOBXXIC1rYW_tIRSrzl8MinYDh8jMQF1OfGkuz7dLOWNnhzHgKEbC6I-ZnKLg7Yzgli-jn37DxQVbL8_yqBLMZ2zX-GLZKBSU5yTnK-Pj2WNPew/s4000/20220831_153821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqz5gOLqDWx99kodgCOJ268ZhnmsiZwpj8LLs0z12TItGz0ETk5fNDGxiuv4bhSiX-1t8R7xsk67MBOBXXIC1rYW_tIRSrzl8MinYDh8jMQF1OfGkuz7dLOWNnhzHgKEbC6I-ZnKLg7Yzgli-jn37DxQVbL8_yqBLMZ2zX-GLZKBSU5yTnK-Pj2WNPew/w180-h400/20220831_153821.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow roses--Mom's favorite flower after daisies.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Historic Plaza was quiet when we arrived at 8:30 a.m.,
but before long merchants were hawking their wares outside the Palace of the
Governors, the adobe structure that housed ruling parties since 1610.</p><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKagG2SOrlvimhd11O0fKY8-B77-gqHlGAN93SzAiQWuAkE12A3uy7D6oZ9xO_iCLvrFR4W7II3c4f7uhtnQV4MvkzzAGWHldLT9NaToXrH8ioyCqwqJBGJ-uQAk02LJDb7eTABXlsPgYY0UXItBgQ7IociKs8ofrFCUaiOm-zShZwW_PIfdGIJCLTMg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="2906" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKagG2SOrlvimhd11O0fKY8-B77-gqHlGAN93SzAiQWuAkE12A3uy7D6oZ9xO_iCLvrFR4W7II3c4f7uhtnQV4MvkzzAGWHldLT9NaToXrH8ioyCqwqJBGJ-uQAk02LJDb7eTABXlsPgYY0UXItBgQ7IociKs8ofrFCUaiOm-zShZwW_PIfdGIJCLTMg=w400-h125" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Palace of the Governors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZNv_2eWxcI4WGF1AmIufY_wI_Ameyt4YsBFGDHCfqvfrAtRFEyCMaVaOZdv49CQ0iKZOTa5Y0_KVi-oihlOupAr7RktxznlcXBfJ3bzMNghJuJpZihCyaAJyjfMWBvUO5N2q0sVbhuYsRlo9nKHR9yXWKnVOB44ohwFNl4aJL0ImvtfpR34j_NzZdTw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="3866" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZNv_2eWxcI4WGF1AmIufY_wI_Ameyt4YsBFGDHCfqvfrAtRFEyCMaVaOZdv49CQ0iKZOTa5Y0_KVi-oihlOupAr7RktxznlcXBfJ3bzMNghJuJpZihCyaAJyjfMWBvUO5N2q0sVbhuYsRlo9nKHR9yXWKnVOB44ohwFNl4aJL0ImvtfpR34j_NzZdTw=w400-h185" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtAVved0RJucvovv0mlc1EBb4QKinGmh70d0dgoXyD1JNZXRN5yzfRAV1rfw5qfx6LeMGtMx9-VYMHqE1qgUCJd-UnJ9OjVO--dp2mTbssL0M9JFU1-bBGrs1u16Z74kGhI20LwosLhWD75TEjK_UL3mKjXp3Z-Lc1fURMmjDtDtWKu5ZUfnwqLUBQRw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtAVved0RJucvovv0mlc1EBb4QKinGmh70d0dgoXyD1JNZXRN5yzfRAV1rfw5qfx6LeMGtMx9-VYMHqE1qgUCJd-UnJ9OjVO--dp2mTbssL0M9JFU1-bBGrs1u16Z74kGhI20LwosLhWD75TEjK_UL3mKjXp3Z-Lc1fURMmjDtDtWKu5ZUfnwqLUBQRw=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ray72H9rfZfkiNDJJBRVs3ibcJ5PNQYUaLQ3PX4q8RV2xHUKcGB6sK7jazZ4imuJbvkhd65IXUBndvuuyTyGentaObje3USHZohgduOyogvy6GVDNxtnuT87v9hzm3IJCMk32L_X1DDaV4CWvZ46OQX668DCFERwgffgL4jJQnABJZK2qkjNVgoZKQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1811" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ray72H9rfZfkiNDJJBRVs3ibcJ5PNQYUaLQ3PX4q8RV2xHUKcGB6sK7jazZ4imuJbvkhd65IXUBndvuuyTyGentaObje3USHZohgduOyogvy6GVDNxtnuT87v9hzm3IJCMk32L_X1DDaV4CWvZ46OQX668DCFERwgffgL4jJQnABJZK2qkjNVgoZKQ" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An interesting architectural design.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-rTF1E0qbbRJ_3br5_6CWGCAk3cz96DDZmNOeQfAmxUeV7RRS2ePa-E73xF4O3FzwPVRnn_L7WFX-1u9yuelzuublMFfDdQpwXcSE9ehixrVWbo8o7xlWbmGipgbbSIOYa79f-QSxENnESZWF7jt6pF6g4f2kVCnQbpBEP_nst7Kck3DLgxTxZPz5g/s3264/20220901_104806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-rTF1E0qbbRJ_3br5_6CWGCAk3cz96DDZmNOeQfAmxUeV7RRS2ePa-E73xF4O3FzwPVRnn_L7WFX-1u9yuelzuublMFfDdQpwXcSE9ehixrVWbo8o7xlWbmGipgbbSIOYa79f-QSxENnESZWF7jt6pF6g4f2kVCnQbpBEP_nst7Kck3DLgxTxZPz5g/w400-h180/20220901_104806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad, a UT fan, was enamored with this longhorn statue...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4pNzK6Dl0xBU0VW89Pg0L9-4n3SeaNrXFycNXWJWh2IObI8m4A7QXAb4TrMaJ1M-D6FXU9FH4OYerdqJfCrApHUpP6z8lKhCAM6fVdoHA7VxFypxE-ZWYLRF1nIAII6SCcCJyFpccMI1dV7BCLODyIK-QD6pE8fdxNGKsVFvdqlyMhGZA4_AFQQLBA/s4000/20220901_121433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4pNzK6Dl0xBU0VW89Pg0L9-4n3SeaNrXFycNXWJWh2IObI8m4A7QXAb4TrMaJ1M-D6FXU9FH4OYerdqJfCrApHUpP6z8lKhCAM6fVdoHA7VxFypxE-ZWYLRF1nIAII6SCcCJyFpccMI1dV7BCLODyIK-QD6pE8fdxNGKsVFvdqlyMhGZA4_AFQQLBA/w180-h400/20220901_121433.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...while Mom preferred this piece of art.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We entered the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of
Assisi.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">While the current structure was
built between 1869 and 1887, it sits on the site of the original adobe church
built in 1610.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">While much less ornate
than most Cathedrals, there was beauty in its simplicity.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Perhaps this is because St. Francis, though
born to a wealthy family, took a vow of poverty.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">St. Francis believed that God was manifested
in nature, which is why he loved all creatures, great and small.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">No wonder he is considered the patron saint
of animals.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As I learned about St.
Francis, I thought lovingly of my deceased Grandma and my Aunt Maureen and Uncle Ted.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">They both offered love and care to stray/unwanted
animals.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">I was a little freaked out by some of the “relics” kept in the small side chapel of the Cathedral: strands of
hair and bone fragments of various saints.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Basilica
grounds contain a prayer garden with bronze sculptures of the Stations of the
Cross created by Gib Singleton, a Santa Fe resident.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">What a perfect place to say (or sing, if you
can carry a tune) the Prayer of St. Francis:</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Lord, make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred, let me
bring love…”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhy67zOG8SKRlxXFfzyHx56Nq-rDMTyx7YotFA4b9d5JkocyVPvcShmEUIKqNAl79c9QqsP1qtye2AyeNO4i_kVNrc4_hDPvs8lQWP2rFFgwet7nAAgg9nNFBv1qmonZz2qu2rsbW-38Ilzdjo6BpMoOnDfH-Igdrq7np6Py4D1xi6Q27YBp5RoW7dw/s3264/20220901_093914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhy67zOG8SKRlxXFfzyHx56Nq-rDMTyx7YotFA4b9d5JkocyVPvcShmEUIKqNAl79c9QqsP1qtye2AyeNO4i_kVNrc4_hDPvs8lQWP2rFFgwet7nAAgg9nNFBv1qmonZz2qu2rsbW-38Ilzdjo6BpMoOnDfH-Igdrq7np6Py4D1xi6Q27YBp5RoW7dw/w400-h180/20220901_093914.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Statue of the Cathedral's namesake was erected in 1967.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y_ntHviKP-iM-R9bOk77BHvDQfWFr1bmMCbK0azlRzlnhTcZdXebwibu7wHzoeRQYA_tOoX1zW4lodm2PQ7k4CE6mGppYHXAKNg3NbD_JtLh0E-U59UbhezpiZ_y0L6nb6xm5WZyXiEpqYp20BzcJNIF4kPmogIUGrOvT5dFgK78GYNODDRo1w7VhA/s4000/20220901_094008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y_ntHviKP-iM-R9bOk77BHvDQfWFr1bmMCbK0azlRzlnhTcZdXebwibu7wHzoeRQYA_tOoX1zW4lodm2PQ7k4CE6mGppYHXAKNg3NbD_JtLh0E-U59UbhezpiZ_y0L6nb6xm5WZyXiEpqYp20BzcJNIF4kPmogIUGrOvT5dFgK78GYNODDRo1w7VhA/w400-h180/20220901_094008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The main sanctuary...</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfuD1rMTkvpr1BNUDL8eDeOOm7qCjPzIaPizdy692SsYEuLnD-zwtvLb_qstFUKhTSO5QUi-QGxfqMVTdKIv1Bbb94CS4rpmRyUIzikNIVpDMQ3iKwg-TW-m5kqwT4oZ2EJlQbFWZ-Mzh1nF_1rYU0FA4bRfZgHlvoKKb_xBX-2x3oViuZiRuHQ6NDg/w180-h400/20220901_094302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A close-up of the alter.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYAERbHZsWNkm0oVFsekgpt8mxnClWdbi_GU5XwrldOoTOoyTioxI-cwAxebXj_rigg0weZMh8rSJCCVqU5CzLRJpxcJtpOCFnJUzwAGUmCQ1NSYvAoy0TZ5B6LFp-kJsUF87rqiIUqrkjbfdA4_ejll2Wjd1dyjiMTowJpJCHiEhc95isDJFZi2Ryw/s4000/20220901_095307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYAERbHZsWNkm0oVFsekgpt8mxnClWdbi_GU5XwrldOoTOoyTioxI-cwAxebXj_rigg0weZMh8rSJCCVqU5CzLRJpxcJtpOCFnJUzwAGUmCQ1NSYvAoy0TZ5B6LFp-kJsUF87rqiIUqrkjbfdA4_ejll2Wjd1dyjiMTowJpJCHiEhc95isDJFZi2Ryw/w400-h180/20220901_095307.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The small side chapel where the relics are displayed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWy6UxwNc6UvpqPxAiQevDfxJuGVusvQxGEaR_jeb4AxexRuD-zFB_ErIiH2qU8VnCqtlU_mbgq1-d-ereTPZaqJihkXLQv1BF5fmDtwwvi2HcAr72SLgyix-KJl8xFcQL12mRSs8tFExnArzQN3hQ0UFuSIVx3uo2yoO0TYQBUYjozMl0IqXQBHYDQ/s4000/20220901_094639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWy6UxwNc6UvpqPxAiQevDfxJuGVusvQxGEaR_jeb4AxexRuD-zFB_ErIiH2qU8VnCqtlU_mbgq1-d-ereTPZaqJihkXLQv1BF5fmDtwwvi2HcAr72SLgyix-KJl8xFcQL12mRSs8tFExnArzQN3hQ0UFuSIVx3uo2yoO0TYQBUYjozMl0IqXQBHYDQ/w400-h180/20220901_094639.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beautiful stained glass windows and statues depicting the crucifixion reside near the ever-dreaded confessional booths.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QjIGVodGlIVnvHNl3laVWUXKj9MZSjZKQxOT0GcVEnZS2uHR6riIMMdA6TEjIIGMjfYXjswGy0sSbvy4kGor0iGXcqkBW_zaiby98GKg9iSs9SwmUMRcHrTYNtXab1K3I_u3U9kbuWoImAHe44HAHWSb2f9lR7McXSv420-aFsSgjXMYZdBhDSR38Q/s4000/20220901_100926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QjIGVodGlIVnvHNl3laVWUXKj9MZSjZKQxOT0GcVEnZS2uHR6riIMMdA6TEjIIGMjfYXjswGy0sSbvy4kGor0iGXcqkBW_zaiby98GKg9iSs9SwmUMRcHrTYNtXab1K3I_u3U9kbuWoImAHe44HAHWSb2f9lR7McXSv420-aFsSgjXMYZdBhDSR38Q/w400-h180/20220901_100926.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Prayer Garden with bronze statues of the Stations of the Cross.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbdxsozTUzlAvILiCEXLElZd_OmWPQ-K4sgd7Zj2f38jxUxcpu_iPa54950rQvlgHEe2ZDIZF_0bof9RoI54D8fNCC6ENpqSOirXjBj0-luUD6KD4xAMSrSV5f3XxJpQG1izV54Yq8pKATKcafW7MMA_tN8U4zXponnLR5K5MSdRyzU7-fSdd78LyRA/s4000/20220901_101015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbdxsozTUzlAvILiCEXLElZd_OmWPQ-K4sgd7Zj2f38jxUxcpu_iPa54950rQvlgHEe2ZDIZF_0bof9RoI54D8fNCC6ENpqSOirXjBj0-luUD6KD4xAMSrSV5f3XxJpQG1izV54Yq8pKATKcafW7MMA_tN8U4zXponnLR5K5MSdRyzU7-fSdd78LyRA/w400-h180/20220901_101015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 11th Station - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-UcCX47Zo162hN3ZgtqxfCk6SiSWwVEs7R2X_B3GVIfKf_ZLnR53xBv2zkWZiEm8jqAONYEgtA8_GDBdRlesqSkPZph-RTjsMR6fADDnFNjtoVQy5jdxsDtwV4-gN9xHkMQ9-9kPEUyFo9oUK-Gezkvl_xIKR8yHaBEvddn7qWViAq0LKcx4-o2AuA/s1835/20220901_104216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-UcCX47Zo162hN3ZgtqxfCk6SiSWwVEs7R2X_B3GVIfKf_ZLnR53xBv2zkWZiEm8jqAONYEgtA8_GDBdRlesqSkPZph-RTjsMR6fADDnFNjtoVQy5jdxsDtwV4-gN9xHkMQ9-9kPEUyFo9oUK-Gezkvl_xIKR8yHaBEvddn7qWViAq0LKcx4-o2AuA/w320-h400/20220901_104216.jpg" width="320" /></a>.</div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We popped into La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza, built by the
Santa Fe Railroad.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Mary Coulter, who
designed masterfully many of the buildings at the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon, had a hand in La Fonda Hotel’s design.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">You could see her influence and style, particularly with the lobby
hearth and the hand-painted interior windows within La Plazuela, one of the
hotel’s restaurants. We browsed some of the shops, and I even made some friends.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteO45IThthS94wGktHiDg2knWfksDCzaeE-76LkDkJMJQic7xTfclNkVPrtgjcl6hxZxlv9QXcyf7LAoXvMoD9LP9jBzkaEEmpPThYWH6_8DVLKyFfFM8g2XNTDEqXJKKSVYcf1eQuWmD4CFqtsMp5LiO0hsdHpFAXlQMkmc7fSHNy-6r9nAE_O-ELQ/s3264/20220901_103231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteO45IThthS94wGktHiDg2knWfksDCzaeE-76LkDkJMJQic7xTfclNkVPrtgjcl6hxZxlv9QXcyf7LAoXvMoD9LP9jBzkaEEmpPThYWH6_8DVLKyFfFM8g2XNTDEqXJKKSVYcf1eQuWmD4CFqtsMp5LiO0hsdHpFAXlQMkmc7fSHNy-6r9nAE_O-ELQ/w400-h180/20220901_103231.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkQPetxp_ulM3Cb_ye1KmOCvnKKCDwTw523OZiSGCJSjCzZJncHozqWMdVuuheT-vRUbKMbnSJm2dbiQWl65u3Y9m8zq_kV1tEVE1WdZCv6bivlx6fN3qn2dtDP8lY1DXamCz6AGxhVHn9MLrLgga4FxH-_AuBzMSxxBk7U2T8bT1-AYgY2cAtqUqfw/s2163/20220901_103215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="2163" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkQPetxp_ulM3Cb_ye1KmOCvnKKCDwTw523OZiSGCJSjCzZJncHozqWMdVuuheT-vRUbKMbnSJm2dbiQWl65u3Y9m8zq_kV1tEVE1WdZCv6bivlx6fN3qn2dtDP8lY1DXamCz6AGxhVHn9MLrLgga4FxH-_AuBzMSxxBk7U2T8bT1-AYgY2cAtqUqfw/w400-h268/20220901_103215.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWX5ErZD0qkgFfuOxm0Udw7eBlBz-IS02LcRDK30jVcMvMua8NfRq3TciAYYkDzfxETw37emmCQWjzqKZ837g7-it16KaGBdSa7Ih8ueK5O09xALVF96Jp_TCKLhnz5uY-iOjT1XT709Xg4_AAO2tVNkNiyXuv0BJJfRSwCggFsNZ21PtuCK79-5ZWQ/s4000/20220901_103648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWX5ErZD0qkgFfuOxm0Udw7eBlBz-IS02LcRDK30jVcMvMua8NfRq3TciAYYkDzfxETw37emmCQWjzqKZ837g7-it16KaGBdSa7Ih8ueK5O09xALVF96Jp_TCKLhnz5uY-iOjT1XT709Xg4_AAO2tVNkNiyXuv0BJJfRSwCggFsNZ21PtuCK79-5ZWQ/w400-h180/20220901_103648.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzeLovUcgy8_dYdNfCddDfPjosaNwZgIV-_4rrpCgwEeOQyiWl7bfp_LlEPCHebjOM0YdB9cF3_Zmd2fqnJig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EtfOiLQl0DbBnAq5cXAbCxMrNCVyihzgyck3kXdvB8lpFAlZxgWOQU2EzEE0_PZesy2b7K91q5U48CKSK9Wf59rj_RXtbwitAK1FLYb042u8jBHFsrjXyrrd-1lu_xOPO4-_5u4HKzp5LCnHtTL9qPpBSixTboMq6CnZ3s-IXFeowfkI5A7z7F88Yg/s2817/Popo%20and%20friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2817" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EtfOiLQl0DbBnAq5cXAbCxMrNCVyihzgyck3kXdvB8lpFAlZxgWOQU2EzEE0_PZesy2b7K91q5U48CKSK9Wf59rj_RXtbwitAK1FLYb042u8jBHFsrjXyrrd-1lu_xOPO4-_5u4HKzp5LCnHtTL9qPpBSixTboMq6CnZ3s-IXFeowfkI5A7z7F88Yg/w400-h239/Popo%20and%20friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Another stop on our travels was Loretto Chapel, also known
as the Chapel of Our Lady of Light.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Chapel was the sanctuary for Loretto Academy, a parochial school
operated by the Sisters of Loretto from Kentucky for 100+ years (1853-1968).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The
Chapel construction was completed in 1878 and is said to be the first
Gothic-style structure built west of the Mississippi River.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Its unique feature is its spiral staircase,
which comes with a tale of mystery and miraculous divinity.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As the story goes, the Chapel was built
initially with no access to the choir balcony.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The limited size of the Chapel prohibited the inclusion of a
stairwell.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">And since the Academy was an
all-female establishment, the traditional use of ladders for male singers was
not an option, for it would not be lady-like for girls and nuns to climb.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">So, the Sisters of Loretto performed a
novena, praying 9 days to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">On the final day of the novena, an unknown
carpenter showed up.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Within 6 months and
using only simple tools (a saw, a square, and a hammer) and water to soak the
wood, the nameless craftsman created a masterpiece.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Consisting of 33 steps and towering 23.5 feet
high, the circular stairway makes 2 complete 360 degree turns, all without any
center or side supports (the ballister was added much later to assist the nuns
with daily use).</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">And as mysteriously as
he arrived, the carpenter disappeared, neither asking for nor receiving any monetary
payment.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">When the Loretto Academy closed
in 1968, the nuns asked the Archdiocese to purchase the Chapel.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">I was shocked and a bit perturbed to learn
that the Archdiocese declined the request.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Fortunately, the Chapel was purchased instead by a private family in
1971. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">They operate it as a museum ($5/person
donation) and wedding center, preserving the Chapel’s “legend of the miraculous
staircase”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wF6ed-Sg2rmAICHQGdGQmtdFSEBbiOdf8ljjRcwL-nRjpnQdHket2VgZmxlfp4NqrqBBANoIpU74ykg_F59wNJa_gwXoksL0YC-Lg5xBqzaqfCpyq9eQiPfTBatZd98KomMfqUktWVhG43bnC_zcf2U24HcQSZC1_chqgspCwvFlbQrA8Q3wT99SEQ/s3264/20220901_104704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wF6ed-Sg2rmAICHQGdGQmtdFSEBbiOdf8ljjRcwL-nRjpnQdHket2VgZmxlfp4NqrqBBANoIpU74ykg_F59wNJa_gwXoksL0YC-Lg5xBqzaqfCpyq9eQiPfTBatZd98KomMfqUktWVhG43bnC_zcf2U24HcQSZC1_chqgspCwvFlbQrA8Q3wT99SEQ/w180-h400/20220901_104704.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja2X3rj9fZaKRarhIDPOqLS-57cMcSejpUJGUeUQ5e54GecWsD7ykWa4BDu2w0UFIlZPmLwYFvxWsc2RDznv9OpYJRLzIFQr_OnFTT4Nom74IIfhoe5UST5_mg93H5iu6hQkB1ZXsConDs9fZM7u0VUW-jts1j7QsoU-yYQCDmWz9NoHZDMY6lTOkGQ/s4000/20220901_110849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja2X3rj9fZaKRarhIDPOqLS-57cMcSejpUJGUeUQ5e54GecWsD7ykWa4BDu2w0UFIlZPmLwYFvxWsc2RDznv9OpYJRLzIFQr_OnFTT4Nom74IIfhoe5UST5_mg93H5iu6hQkB1ZXsConDs9fZM7u0VUW-jts1j7QsoU-yYQCDmWz9NoHZDMY6lTOkGQ/w400-h180/20220901_110849.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphaqR1iOsMLjboj0p0cSuZMlk5LxZdzQnRNfJSwNgKgs0g2o78ARuAQ8vVfBFbRindxpAjyud50ZeVdfiVpJpXCJrbPRLEvo8W5uOJQ94j9jV80K757pjss2CuzCg6pNGV1ucWkNUR8ffGOtb1-uI3GZRQ53GvNC_8RCqjKxEC8dsJwO2XKx5iZmYtA/s3264/20220901_110420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphaqR1iOsMLjboj0p0cSuZMlk5LxZdzQnRNfJSwNgKgs0g2o78ARuAQ8vVfBFbRindxpAjyud50ZeVdfiVpJpXCJrbPRLEvo8W5uOJQ94j9jV80K757pjss2CuzCg6pNGV1ucWkNUR8ffGOtb1-uI3GZRQ53GvNC_8RCqjKxEC8dsJwO2XKx5iZmYtA/w400-h180/20220901_110420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAN4i7CP5YDIdiNDTeJ7qyWL3ZZG_WFrE_Sul_dArATpXzKk0oJYq-Mdz9GkjP5Cs28x19t5r_OOQpFa1HOmyxGRvqZaRT9z6Uai7Er-pL-amIKbrU_Edyqw0HO0K39iyNNctJFRyj3dUQ9dQXr7pd8pn24YjXucEA4nUJSZBiqz58PlVoF79kLLX-w/s3264/20220901_105730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAN4i7CP5YDIdiNDTeJ7qyWL3ZZG_WFrE_Sul_dArATpXzKk0oJYq-Mdz9GkjP5Cs28x19t5r_OOQpFa1HOmyxGRvqZaRT9z6Uai7Er-pL-amIKbrU_Edyqw0HO0K39iyNNctJFRyj3dUQ9dQXr7pd8pn24YjXucEA4nUJSZBiqz58PlVoF79kLLX-w/w180-h400/20220901_105730.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuj_wiuBla-vuY8qzHTGDWeJxaJNcITJ05JEL1jvoR868IPRDmwcBZdDx1CYQwVwZEo92ZT-GCCmzm00oZLeTiBgiiiSwMRm606Jdc67YCDdwR0EFewIsSIuUZOkTmF7zGNy_f8KTa-l7XE-valoQrc6gxc7tz6V7ZLIuIQnmIggeC_dNO7dgtAS4Wg/s3264/20220901_105442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuj_wiuBla-vuY8qzHTGDWeJxaJNcITJ05JEL1jvoR868IPRDmwcBZdDx1CYQwVwZEo92ZT-GCCmzm00oZLeTiBgiiiSwMRm606Jdc67YCDdwR0EFewIsSIuUZOkTmF7zGNy_f8KTa-l7XE-valoQrc6gxc7tz6V7ZLIuIQnmIggeC_dNO7dgtAS4Wg/w180-h400/20220901_105442.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">San Miguel Church near the Santa Fe River is the oldest
church in the USA.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">It was built circa
1610 by Tlaxcalan Indians for Franciscan friars to conduct religious
services.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The docent said guests could
strike the 1856 bell that now sits inside the sanctuary rather than in the bell
tower.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">You know I took advantage of that
opportunity!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdpJlZTe9N5SEGsSc4TjHCpc1tvEB4nTLrquo_okQvg-45Le9ef0NKPDD2cEU2bIp_kSdhpsM4x7UL0LG7gkpDhb-ZFTofUc6kMBnPWKNMLw7iLg21WB_2TUXZeZVmSDrK1naeVdfenyEILOBYyyoaV6IIFcD_Hw9Qt6ULEQsf8cwI7gozshVUYVYcg/s4000/20220901_112743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdpJlZTe9N5SEGsSc4TjHCpc1tvEB4nTLrquo_okQvg-45Le9ef0NKPDD2cEU2bIp_kSdhpsM4x7UL0LG7gkpDhb-ZFTofUc6kMBnPWKNMLw7iLg21WB_2TUXZeZVmSDrK1naeVdfenyEILOBYyyoaV6IIFcD_Hw9Qt6ULEQsf8cwI7gozshVUYVYcg/w400-h180/20220901_112743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqYZ-jPSkqc5_x9VhR3mQfhIsmi9tVOikzzfdyjmO-8ZX_TykyGnpbX2nwTcxEYbp3iQVn0Lu1mVKTgam4ASU4Lkwc5q4vw2PxxvikTRI2z80fmKPEvISwbWhY4Z9elzvGyt6Aj7FyhSeD442wX-s8TI-d7BSnsTVzL_-iYjqDUiFIZv3ERfQXUV-hQ/s4000/20220901_113008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqYZ-jPSkqc5_x9VhR3mQfhIsmi9tVOikzzfdyjmO-8ZX_TykyGnpbX2nwTcxEYbp3iQVn0Lu1mVKTgam4ASU4Lkwc5q4vw2PxxvikTRI2z80fmKPEvISwbWhY4Z9elzvGyt6Aj7FyhSeD442wX-s8TI-d7BSnsTVzL_-iYjqDUiFIZv3ERfQXUV-hQ/w180-h400/20220901_113008.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzrqYZk7r-s6eddLPFt816crw9sZ0rFu-VGTQWaKRCzumFyIZARll3FmWS04nL7YhgaPfTNJIxkMoE0wAT2Ux9Ni0xEwpQvN3x3xrPQibvRI3IGadSQrFXhm0cWdxOR4nwoUv8UESi2tSb-uLkYjZUhhsRQIVbt7JXCwMXp2Hk2DjgFrurhxOHpzS4g/s4000/20220901_113143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzrqYZk7r-s6eddLPFt816crw9sZ0rFu-VGTQWaKRCzumFyIZARll3FmWS04nL7YhgaPfTNJIxkMoE0wAT2Ux9Ni0xEwpQvN3x3xrPQibvRI3IGadSQrFXhm0cWdxOR4nwoUv8UESi2tSb-uLkYjZUhhsRQIVbt7JXCwMXp2Hk2DjgFrurhxOHpzS4g/w400-h180/20220901_113143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqsBtyAJYQuDeH78wWMziVVQv7bY3ETbVfsEki0-T3RPrKKzFYuMkhJOFkrnIbWSSlANKfeGCgrxmb0Ui7aN2W1oN0qwi1pQDxV-KHM3quOixBZp6P2IJloASLUpl_dCMrJkJwtUccfZgVaDgsr0OdK9p20q319_3beIXYlSOK2-UiwtsBb3-Shg7Gw/s4000/20220901_113001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqsBtyAJYQuDeH78wWMziVVQv7bY3ETbVfsEki0-T3RPrKKzFYuMkhJOFkrnIbWSSlANKfeGCgrxmb0Ui7aN2W1oN0qwi1pQDxV-KHM3quOixBZp6P2IJloASLUpl_dCMrJkJwtUccfZgVaDgsr0OdK9p20q319_3beIXYlSOK2-UiwtsBb3-Shg7Gw/w180-h400/20220901_113001.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It only seems to reason that Santa Fe’s “Oldest House” would
be found near the aforementioned San Miguel’s Church within the El Barrio de
Analco Historic District.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Said to date
back to 1200 a.d., the adobe house located at 215 De Vargas Street was built on
the foundation of an ancient Indian Pueblo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And De Vargas Street supposedly has the
specter of one Juan Espinoza roaming the area, looking for his head that was
severed during a bruhaha with some area witches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santa Fe is full of legendary tales!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTuGHhyO2PuBeIl5IfqK-fLznvg13UnR9mF4kps3o-y95Xg03eP2PEJjOIuNEu3D3s6J-drwDmx3b39KVtd-wEOULc9ZQ5UHP1FDTjcjGP2OpD1nUJEnzBsNdmystDGkwswdUsKZk1NoRdrHj0etMsimriWa2goUpyEJPYFCbIT7y8FlZgYtprxvIsA/s4000/20220901_120230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTuGHhyO2PuBeIl5IfqK-fLznvg13UnR9mF4kps3o-y95Xg03eP2PEJjOIuNEu3D3s6J-drwDmx3b39KVtd-wEOULc9ZQ5UHP1FDTjcjGP2OpD1nUJEnzBsNdmystDGkwswdUsKZk1NoRdrHj0etMsimriWa2goUpyEJPYFCbIT7y8FlZgYtprxvIsA/w400-h180/20220901_120230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw2_ylXy1b77wZCBMo0BnUDCAPFnSdjIB6gWQRoYHbFOisXJR4j-cZKCjwsTEmz4E3pq7G8H5JaQPUyX8lWdUiGFYhVMgzXhVyG5vYe7yIdOKtVJ_0NWUW3ZonWB-vxCpk4HZCZY9UNIMo0EO_eFd-yRHxTFCppg9Wz8CC1llz40UIeo3UKllosjXkA/s3096/20220901_120921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="3096" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw2_ylXy1b77wZCBMo0BnUDCAPFnSdjIB6gWQRoYHbFOisXJR4j-cZKCjwsTEmz4E3pq7G8H5JaQPUyX8lWdUiGFYhVMgzXhVyG5vYe7yIdOKtVJ_0NWUW3ZonWB-vxCpk4HZCZY9UNIMo0EO_eFd-yRHxTFCppg9Wz8CC1llz40UIeo3UKllosjXkA/w400-h189/20220901_120921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnV_SNBV7tIMnWuVsrodKUyjfCVC83wgjKPejGhK0eyKUenkt83ChJQeIDeH0cdldvWKISVz7hj5kZPwc5qxWT6qkxjpqJzRC91w0quoPQF_aUfC1Am8QM9TnQjNUnf1cOgQiX9ThEjgeLsVL2KgF1nTguYMrbiOd-jTbaPD2RuY9lfvP_YeGCGbzEQ/s3264/20220901_120508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnV_SNBV7tIMnWuVsrodKUyjfCVC83wgjKPejGhK0eyKUenkt83ChJQeIDeH0cdldvWKISVz7hj5kZPwc5qxWT6qkxjpqJzRC91w0quoPQF_aUfC1Am8QM9TnQjNUnf1cOgQiX9ThEjgeLsVL2KgF1nTguYMrbiOd-jTbaPD2RuY9lfvP_YeGCGbzEQ/w400-h180/20220901_120508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Though we took the bus Downtown, we toured most of the area
by foot.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We trekked along portions of
the Santa Fe Trail, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, and Historic Route 66.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">By the end of our visit, our dogs were
barking up a storm!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">There was so much more to see and do in Santa Fe, I wish we
had a few more days to explore.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">But we
are due for our volunteer commitment at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Talk to you again soon!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-17573379033295297822022-09-01T10:48:00.001-05:002022-11-12T16:54:54.604-06:00Visiting San Luis Valley, CO (Great Sand Dunes National Park, Zapata Falls National Recreation Area, Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge)<div class="separator"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We said our farewells to the wonderful folks we met and
worked with in Marcell, MN, hitched up, and traveled along MN-6.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> We were heading to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, utilizing our Harvest Hosts (HH) membership for a series of overnight stays. We stayed our first evening at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Farm of MN in Hutchinson, MN.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were given a tour of this third-generation family farm operation whose produce (from shitake mushrooms to tomatoes, from squash to beans, and a
multitude of other veggies and fruits) is all certified organic.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad was so excited, you’d think he won the
lottery!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We spent $75 easily, packing
Suite Retreat, our 5</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> wheel, with lots of nature’s bounty.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We enjoyed chatting with our hosts and
discussing a variety of topics including work-campers, which they may consider
recruiting in the future as the farm expands.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We accepted their offer to walk along the rest of their gorgeous 160-acre property, where we made the acquaintance of a deer, a hawk, a wild turkey, and
the resident alpine goat, Jack.</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfPVlKChrHh5-VG8peKTqSCwLHD_-5E1G0C39-rjqOw6aVesDdxc5CURAyVlG0seA-BirYemHNCgP5s9X-ZY7Ko-VQR0XUMK_RMH5_lyP2j2vgDk4IY5e3Oykf7y3O9uo6rifosGNbB3VI8d2_gRQPPd8lBeR5xqMBohBrOt0ouIePPNcKO2wd90VPA/s3264/20220823_200208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfPVlKChrHh5-VG8peKTqSCwLHD_-5E1G0C39-rjqOw6aVesDdxc5CURAyVlG0seA-BirYemHNCgP5s9X-ZY7Ko-VQR0XUMK_RMH5_lyP2j2vgDk4IY5e3Oykf7y3O9uo6rifosGNbB3VI8d2_gRQPPd8lBeR5xqMBohBrOt0ouIePPNcKO2wd90VPA/w400-h180/20220823_200208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rMf44RcvUHCD-fSSCjO2Brkg3CiKiI5H1LoRpWxu_IYW6PGqsv9oR0DxHgkUKNB8exwRkczxkC7oEj0FuFrQ3UXdo_EScc-Dib8seSlfI0-DCbw4iMNO8CtstdrDeSrmavJQl96yPHNCysIg37s-LZ4f-MuPz1tEG6n0He6UubWPZO2NC7jG3iZyQw/s4000/20220824_153139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rMf44RcvUHCD-fSSCjO2Brkg3CiKiI5H1LoRpWxu_IYW6PGqsv9oR0DxHgkUKNB8exwRkczxkC7oEj0FuFrQ3UXdo_EScc-Dib8seSlfI0-DCbw4iMNO8CtstdrDeSrmavJQl96yPHNCysIg37s-LZ4f-MuPz1tEG6n0He6UubWPZO2NC7jG3iZyQw/w400-h180/20220824_153139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN2ppfBud-vCF_y6Cv6dC8e5nP5QW0meBmCtmsT5uUMPEOoilgPfFcAos8CuJQEX06cuwywe08kuuEhrrFiTtUL9gQEhRwBsTtdXSiqR3truMhFY0PyC92cNkFlk0uccOg4lCh20QlsADi-Wp0r7QiF_SBAhKYEW1ux_sbCf1CTIbQ4Xk5pa8YyAe_A/s4000/20220824_085036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN2ppfBud-vCF_y6Cv6dC8e5nP5QW0meBmCtmsT5uUMPEOoilgPfFcAos8CuJQEX06cuwywe08kuuEhrrFiTtUL9gQEhRwBsTtdXSiqR3truMhFY0PyC92cNkFlk0uccOg4lCh20QlsADi-Wp0r7QiF_SBAhKYEW1ux_sbCf1CTIbQ4Xk5pa8YyAe_A/w400-h180/20220824_085036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spied a hawk on lookout for his next meal.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQexpELx4qeLkpzcuYkZZz3ZNu7703rZTAicN2Q4xgznHfEILUfZCZeBkoqqtWjDUjYXkEMUBdF-8RLdOeLm3T39S1xy3gLnEC7xGaoDAM8Vx4Bvt-G5WBHHf0IDWRq8Efj55iwl34NeCcgD5CCqsHoktbSeJRW7oAplqVFxM84W31YWMqtrBBDeqGzw/s4000/20220824_085110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQexpELx4qeLkpzcuYkZZz3ZNu7703rZTAicN2Q4xgznHfEILUfZCZeBkoqqtWjDUjYXkEMUBdF-8RLdOeLm3T39S1xy3gLnEC7xGaoDAM8Vx4Bvt-G5WBHHf0IDWRq8Efj55iwl34NeCcgD5CCqsHoktbSeJRW7oAplqVFxM84W31YWMqtrBBDeqGzw/w400-h180/20220824_085110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bambi was deciding whether I was friend or foe.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo0-kbMWfyXV_mSlErqwa_aCh4uj46rSlDLGMPEUS3k7RKKmfUORT4s6hz66BV1cw9emzT5ysqOFyCTDTrk7I3ok5iirHepYlqwBFsczr3ieWjxe9a3SnbphjCewjycM1HgDc4nE1BgDWhajY0iTAqxIf0MIOdYz-vg8oIO9NhV1MEORPvWlq5yIUWw/s4000/20220823_173559.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo0-kbMWfyXV_mSlErqwa_aCh4uj46rSlDLGMPEUS3k7RKKmfUORT4s6hz66BV1cw9emzT5ysqOFyCTDTrk7I3ok5iirHepYlqwBFsczr3ieWjxe9a3SnbphjCewjycM1HgDc4nE1BgDWhajY0iTAqxIf0MIOdYz-vg8oIO9NhV1MEORPvWlq5yIUWw/w180-h400/20220823_173559.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jack the Alpine Goat.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We departed the next morning, traversing along US-71 and the
MN River Valley Scenic Byway.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> We reached </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Wolf Creek Trail Ranch, in
Anthon, IA, where the neighbor’s border collie had taken on the role of welcoming
committee. This HH site has 3-4 nicely-sized RV spaces and offers electric,
which we didn’t need.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They sell lots of
local products:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">jams, wines, meats, and
poultry.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom replenished her stock of
farm-fresh eggs and purchased some long-horn beef (Dad, being a University of Texas and Bevo
fan, was mortified by the latter).</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
watched the resident horses get re-shoed and played with some of the dogs who
actually <i>are</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> owned by the Hosts.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguder-fXvuDZN2roFcG_bhXBZmQaizHDXhsPF5o8X_fBbnyqS9mBE8eftxLTeJUw0zZMdqqNa3LvpVHd0ts93TTBjtxKyBBujBnzLsGUFloE7VaUuuQiQC3kwfLxpuqXEUB2tq5-qXhAUsARUClNhLJtcXfhPXot_znIpks8IM8Kp_VEz_txdKROsflw/s4000/20220824_161557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguder-fXvuDZN2roFcG_bhXBZmQaizHDXhsPF5o8X_fBbnyqS9mBE8eftxLTeJUw0zZMdqqNa3LvpVHd0ts93TTBjtxKyBBujBnzLsGUFloE7VaUuuQiQC3kwfLxpuqXEUB2tq5-qXhAUsARUClNhLJtcXfhPXot_znIpks8IM8Kp_VEz_txdKROsflw/w400-h180/20220824_161557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgIFY2mAoTw_0FExmQogfv7Jjf-V0sCAdy_nZk4CHMsqAKG64YTkY4Cyvs7TBO-1WWYs6fx8CgM8VkGofU8g7UW9L_wDJAslHOUQEvtAEs5CpAPttp7AP32mBuRAR-xEHL-sHORqIDBjxOs2stdQ-sWJ5_nxeXeAyc9FA9UwktyXuO-C6zUWaaDEWDA/s1969/20220824_154810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1969" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgIFY2mAoTw_0FExmQogfv7Jjf-V0sCAdy_nZk4CHMsqAKG64YTkY4Cyvs7TBO-1WWYs6fx8CgM8VkGofU8g7UW9L_wDJAslHOUQEvtAEs5CpAPttp7AP32mBuRAR-xEHL-sHORqIDBjxOs2stdQ-sWJ5_nxeXeAyc9FA9UwktyXuO-C6zUWaaDEWDA/s320/20220824_154810.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The neighbor's dog is keeping a watchful eye on the equines as they wait to get some new shoes (though they won't be Jimmy Choo stilettos). </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrqlayfqX47kRE14XvLfQ6US_k5B-zHIua45WX8PPfM9ofbYViHsb1r1l5gOgEthZu0vaq53dcAB8QLxi3NMFNqeoXUjq9ktHpyniQxXZc5C35ks_ivyzx-DSpqtbw6XIRacQpMUVGjo9uDyDctfRbpqjL5rd7sUf4Yqzpm6m_xE11-OmvRkFJArrnA/s3297/Popo%20and%20Dad%20at%20Longhorn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="3297" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrqlayfqX47kRE14XvLfQ6US_k5B-zHIua45WX8PPfM9ofbYViHsb1r1l5gOgEthZu0vaq53dcAB8QLxi3NMFNqeoXUjq9ktHpyniQxXZc5C35ks_ivyzx-DSpqtbw6XIRacQpMUVGjo9uDyDctfRbpqjL5rd7sUf4Yqzpm6m_xE11-OmvRkFJArrnA/w400-h204/Popo%20and%20Dad%20at%20Longhorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me and Dad in the Long-horn Garden.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdifRaSJ5GZ_nnwLLBigvzc517vfigqaG1849k4RCgAbx-ps6bdfTBGS_PK2eWDdmcgfvhzIuwIMA1NR_GZiBOCM31Ggx0zM_I18sZITMyhg8ce6f-Znb7b1IuySE08vpXodGZPSDJoj9f1Xp7O9aLGZkrTMHFj11WEDTTlj0uAkByvJhzKnh8SXD6HQ/s2882/20220824_192819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2882" data-original-width="1786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdifRaSJ5GZ_nnwLLBigvzc517vfigqaG1849k4RCgAbx-ps6bdfTBGS_PK2eWDdmcgfvhzIuwIMA1NR_GZiBOCM31Ggx0zM_I18sZITMyhg8ce6f-Znb7b1IuySE08vpXodGZPSDJoj9f1Xp7O9aLGZkrTMHFj11WEDTTlj0uAkByvJhzKnh8SXD6HQ/w248-h400/20220824_192819.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were back on the
road the next morning.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">IA-31 South
beyond Oto is a terrible stretch of roadway in desperate need of repair with views of corn and soybean fields as far as the eye could see.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As we crossed the Missouri River, we were in
NE.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our overnight accommodations were
provided by Diamond B Ranch, a HH horse motel. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though no horses were checked in for the
night, I visited with several barn cats who made the Ranch their personal bed
and breakfast.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This Host provides water
AND electric at its site, so we topped off our freshwater tank with 25
gals.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Host also invited us to take
some peaches from her small grove.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As
we picked about ½ dozen tasty peaches, I noticed we were not the only ones
looking for a delicious treat:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a bull
snake was eating one of my brethren for lunch!</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We presented our Host with a
monetary donation for the hospitality, then caught a lovely sunset as we walked
along the nearby rural roads.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXMzac2f71J2N8I3izWRemcVc01c7YDwH-KX6ZrJY5ejA-yeGJAqCDR8EB4vkoGMrlUwM1-niA1SStYtybIQmhi51M4Y_Mg0rPcoRqw-RLtAMKT5GSIdZM6UuUelunBco8dNNuKsmnUlIfva5NVSJwCUvpxW4gmpvYigwgxDOn7lTKqK8UepuR2XK1HQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXMzac2f71J2N8I3izWRemcVc01c7YDwH-KX6ZrJY5ejA-yeGJAqCDR8EB4vkoGMrlUwM1-niA1SStYtybIQmhi51M4Y_Mg0rPcoRqw-RLtAMKT5GSIdZM6UuUelunBco8dNNuKsmnUlIfva5NVSJwCUvpxW4gmpvYigwgxDOn7lTKqK8UepuR2XK1HQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3ioMRagQIePIjyBuoPeLNw6Dt-m3XBlAi7QVDzH_2VMf1mJMRGe_WrKrnj56wnAeu4NZRnD6sJT1KeY83Oe8XXFuQIQa18177uebTKxkXcs5zwjBvDPC-b5h9v5IxYbuSIOiOg9mpDn_mCWBMNqimI3WNoRUSQwXgwplqz9BXzjark6vkue-Rg25Bfg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3ioMRagQIePIjyBuoPeLNw6Dt-m3XBlAi7QVDzH_2VMf1mJMRGe_WrKrnj56wnAeu4NZRnD6sJT1KeY83Oe8XXFuQIQa18177uebTKxkXcs5zwjBvDPC-b5h9v5IxYbuSIOiOg9mpDn_mCWBMNqimI3WNoRUSQwXgwplqz9BXzjark6vkue-Rg25Bfg=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the many resident cats</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwUNh0DTmxxBU1Fd5796JIm8cEuUhNRfbT6Qp9XosLTTXjEclJytdC5LpVCH_rSaufoGfCYgw_fw_tAd8BCbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMRZJ9836MRwSldopqejUcckYOjubv9l_e6PRHpzls4KKPhntIcpdedwTo9p7lSdkYyjGn7-BrgR-LxabSanfW7QU4P6vB9wTsf78YWVi1oZlvVYrq9bXMGqlFe_raUA_cwEBkpkO3J7QUS3iFCXeiJRsbmim_XDvCTsBkwt-u-i6PUixtBn9NaZZ9sQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMRZJ9836MRwSldopqejUcckYOjubv9l_e6PRHpzls4KKPhntIcpdedwTo9p7lSdkYyjGn7-BrgR-LxabSanfW7QU4P6vB9wTsf78YWVi1oZlvVYrq9bXMGqlFe_raUA_cwEBkpkO3J7QUS3iFCXeiJRsbmim_XDvCTsBkwt-u-i6PUixtBn9NaZZ9sQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxoNjxusCcvClWTNwl-BMq_k5L5Kp1vVVuoDDUH_3gkXap1-s58lyYx4p1GxoSSMDVPWZri1pVptNhak1VgJRiEwer9V-w8QLaMlmKuT99TYKJiSbDiSXuZFOXA-JroViM72AcglfkUTTem-OUMZHf4pGgMkPlvjcC_WxvGfnT1tg-9rLQHgz4yIxYQ/s4000/20220825_200051.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxoNjxusCcvClWTNwl-BMq_k5L5Kp1vVVuoDDUH_3gkXap1-s58lyYx4p1GxoSSMDVPWZri1pVptNhak1VgJRiEwer9V-w8QLaMlmKuT99TYKJiSbDiSXuZFOXA-JroViM72AcglfkUTTem-OUMZHf4pGgMkPlvjcC_WxvGfnT1tg-9rLQHgz4yIxYQ/w400-h180/20220825_200051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a glorious, sunny day as we traveled along I-80 and
US-34.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We pulled over briefly at the
Massacre Canyon Historical Monument in Trenton, NE.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This is where the last major battle between
Sioux and Pawnee tribes occurred.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">About
1,500 Sioux warriors attacked a group of Pawnees out hunting for buffalo. The result was 150 Pawnees dead, mostly women and children.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">History shows that the White Man was not the
only one to commit atrocities against Indians.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, the conflicts between tribes occurred for centuries.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">After all, every person is a part of humankind and
shares the same character traits: the good ones, the bad ones, and even the ugly ones. </span></span></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived at Nel’s Cabins and RV Park, and we were greeted by Nel herself with warm hugs and fresh home-baked
cookies.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">MMM, soooo good!</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Though we stayed as members of Harvest Hosts, anyone can stay at Nel's RV Park. Nel and her hubby Johnny have</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> several horses on the property with which we visited, including Mamma and
her new colt.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though they proceeded
cautiously to the fence, they became my bosom buddies when they saw I had treats
for them.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
shared interesting conversation and fellowship with Nel and Johnny along
with </span><span style="font-family: arial;">another guest Diane.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXcyksb5dbkGShNne9fKDttMkylGCI-GFSIsfBIwz9Kb-2DDpx33re3p5G3CWi_DAJMzxJ99QKKhmgXjcSBc8_Lhw53ERgcttykHauSYxZ3UEe7qAdLWxT_7p8Wfyxvfa2_sL-LN2ZnAJbDghLzs6Kfdds_Qc6glQm7B0BLcgzwtAw3JMQCCfrmoiTA/s2396/20220826_153809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="2396" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXcyksb5dbkGShNne9fKDttMkylGCI-GFSIsfBIwz9Kb-2DDpx33re3p5G3CWi_DAJMzxJ99QKKhmgXjcSBc8_Lhw53ERgcttykHauSYxZ3UEe7qAdLWxT_7p8Wfyxvfa2_sL-LN2ZnAJbDghLzs6Kfdds_Qc6glQm7B0BLcgzwtAw3JMQCCfrmoiTA/w400-h300/20220826_153809.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlqLiInSAYOdcTSRMO5wsjB9NGlmJJE9BDNO8Mbp8NVPgBLnM9cwg4TQfAIqaNv7nDvHxa1Y_kaAZaRPiuNiIgI2z4kLP4sPsLI4Bo_Q7azMkQ6S-y-4XWe_lRmzQnL-c4SdL1KsLt06RNJaRtz_DhBCGvSBVqpL9WrASuFuNrSXuVwzDy51U80nTqg/s3264/20220826_172152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlqLiInSAYOdcTSRMO5wsjB9NGlmJJE9BDNO8Mbp8NVPgBLnM9cwg4TQfAIqaNv7nDvHxa1Y_kaAZaRPiuNiIgI2z4kLP4sPsLI4Bo_Q7azMkQ6S-y-4XWe_lRmzQnL-c4SdL1KsLt06RNJaRtz_DhBCGvSBVqpL9WrASuFuNrSXuVwzDy51U80nTqg/w180-h400/20220826_172152.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mamma and her colt.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVrzTfmopOpMsrT13Kg5528PRb9g9iHe0Q4eK0WfTbhHBeELou4z-ROkz-trOwjkeMT963uf9Zy09Vdm_fl2M65UFWA4zLlWWUe6fwywMCbmtSlc2EzoDayKag08jftjgMd-lTQDlI2RpJq1NriVpyy6YwzSbX-pJ3UAkpZL2p83o0vZEoeIElz9kYA/s1369/20220826_170935.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1369" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVrzTfmopOpMsrT13Kg5528PRb9g9iHe0Q4eK0WfTbhHBeELou4z-ROkz-trOwjkeMT963uf9Zy09Vdm_fl2M65UFWA4zLlWWUe6fwywMCbmtSlc2EzoDayKag08jftjgMd-lTQDlI2RpJq1NriVpyy6YwzSbX-pJ3UAkpZL2p83o0vZEoeIElz9kYA/s320/20220826_170935.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Diane's doggie, Hooch.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The next morning we returned to the Ancient Indian Traders
Trail, US-34/KS-161.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">These parts of KS
start out as rolling hills, but quickly transition to flat, fertile farmlands
filled with fields of sorghum <i>(say that 3 times fast!).</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We
connected to the Land and Sky Scenic Byway, where the tallest buildings found
are grain silos.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to Colorado,
where we did a dump/pump at the Visitor Center.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then we arrived at Buffalo Ridge, our final HH overnighter in Lymon,
CO.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were invited to participate at 6
p.m. in a 25-person tour followed by a cookout consisting of bison burgers,
beans, chips, and cookie for $35/person.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">I sure am glad that Mom is antisocial and nixed this option, ‘cause I
would have been famished waiting for the 1.25 hour tour to conclude and the
cookout to commence at 7:30 p.m.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Not to
mention, Dad couldn’t eat a blessed thing on the menu.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we opted instead to purchase several mouth-watering bison steaks and
farm-fresh eggs for Mom and me to enjoy.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then we checked out the property.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We kept getting the stink-eye from the bison who reside at the ranch--I
am certain they knew we just stuck their friends in our freezer.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lots of annoying flies and mosquitoes feasted
on us as we walked, but witnessing the magnificent sunset and meeting a rogue llama
made up for the annoyance. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HKRd3MuuicRrMH0PGPluZ631XmlhUBsSg75nDnwaLGTeDLmyF-z49JGiI1ZW3nugTFJ69XGYQisQeBSKO78VT0NiCdkcSD_rqaHYifWzNWm5SGR73TC3PcqpgA-hAuNmPz4nE0TSOTAbJgbGjZKWpuLrRaIiSItLpcRJvONuJxCneTpN6p-9QfBpwA/s2596/20220827_171844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="2596" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HKRd3MuuicRrMH0PGPluZ631XmlhUBsSg75nDnwaLGTeDLmyF-z49JGiI1ZW3nugTFJ69XGYQisQeBSKO78VT0NiCdkcSD_rqaHYifWzNWm5SGR73TC3PcqpgA-hAuNmPz4nE0TSOTAbJgbGjZKWpuLrRaIiSItLpcRJvONuJxCneTpN6p-9QfBpwA/w400-h249/20220827_171844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYOiBC5ZZfxNsPannI5w-0dbVJngQlgpajVBkgYvDXZUZMBFPXX8TWb_pH9zJ5TnRYz_-Op5J3EQY9i7vQRo6pcV7sj2NnrvKHi4MBj_HKt8stV_1Ge9owRARbysw8CoYjB--mqiuiv_u-kzBG8_cGuCLvds4-aucvEUM-6w19pklKLKuZM_Aw62iKw/s2715/20220827_183228.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2715" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYOiBC5ZZfxNsPannI5w-0dbVJngQlgpajVBkgYvDXZUZMBFPXX8TWb_pH9zJ5TnRYz_-Op5J3EQY9i7vQRo6pcV7sj2NnrvKHi4MBj_HKt8stV_1Ge9owRARbysw8CoYjB--mqiuiv_u-kzBG8_cGuCLvds4-aucvEUM-6w19pklKLKuZM_Aw62iKw/w400-h169/20220827_183228.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I really didn't appreciate the way these bison glared at me. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOZZ-VL7i6944V7FwQSo-g-RJbdW-eb3xhWDackdAUrPrkA-7DXV0JwcyTS1nP-AFGi6j8WmR0dEVN4TxB_C-495rJ5GcAIAbGgmk4EHInUJOpd1-8x9-rEkJ-Iv9gep9Bl-VaA9cdcuCmK9dNrAJV3iNlrGRisIhl0kMyyEySWfRtVwlXJaXt-W1Kg/s1317/20220827_192404.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1173" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOZZ-VL7i6944V7FwQSo-g-RJbdW-eb3xhWDackdAUrPrkA-7DXV0JwcyTS1nP-AFGi6j8WmR0dEVN4TxB_C-495rJ5GcAIAbGgmk4EHInUJOpd1-8x9-rEkJ-Iv9gep9Bl-VaA9cdcuCmK9dNrAJV3iNlrGRisIhl0kMyyEySWfRtVwlXJaXt-W1Kg/s320/20220827_192404.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Larry the Llama out on the lam.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirEWNyz6XUhIu1AcA46gv8rSXCRjyk0M2grLm3CaAOoqo7AfjjVjS6KKege8ucq_p-4AFEZWcFUNu-QPPb7b7__CGrwhBU1ez70JjfWLv-2JTc1Wz98B8ooLdsdx1QPjITpiIfSK8oBE5GCPKbrtVVufYR2SMQ6NKBRHk7BfpT3UL2I3Vl3wYjnm9rWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirEWNyz6XUhIu1AcA46gv8rSXCRjyk0M2grLm3CaAOoqo7AfjjVjS6KKege8ucq_p-4AFEZWcFUNu-QPPb7b7__CGrwhBU1ez70JjfWLv-2JTc1Wz98B8ooLdsdx1QPjITpiIfSK8oBE5GCPKbrtVVufYR2SMQ6NKBRHk7BfpT3UL2I3Vl3wYjnm9rWQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Such an idyllic place. We are so blessed to witness God's Country.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We arose the next morning to sunshine and comfortable temps
of the high 60sF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took US-71 through
miles and miles of pasturelands, and I found it necessary to moo at the inhabitants as we passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spanish Peaks, which once were in our
distant view were now front and center as we traveled along US-160.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_gTvVrwTdFqcBT0Oi6nb-sC92CEKwzcObJ929n3nscfsmjdoNpB6CbLKpm496iYTOG52ycTgW6CvdIEY4IyJEGozexYYND9_ceGEMtHg2GAiVeoSjTGPpAMXPUN75nGZR5PLCKteoh80qnQhxCjdb96SEK7gQaAM5Ihh313uX3pl8Zq0F3srKe7_s4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="2928" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_gTvVrwTdFqcBT0Oi6nb-sC92CEKwzcObJ929n3nscfsmjdoNpB6CbLKpm496iYTOG52ycTgW6CvdIEY4IyJEGozexYYND9_ceGEMtHg2GAiVeoSjTGPpAMXPUN75nGZR5PLCKteoh80qnQhxCjdb96SEK7gQaAM5Ihh313uX3pl8Zq0F3srKe7_s4A=w640-h187" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We entered the San Luis Valley of Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was settled by Mexicans who received land
grants by their government to create homesteads in unchartered
territories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very pretty area,
though you wouldn’t know it from the photos I took because the windshield was splattered with dead bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
roads were so rough, I thought those eggs Mom purchased would surely be
scrambled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were trying to reach our
boondocking site, Mosca Campground in the San Luis Lake Wildlife Area along
CO-6N.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We specifically tried to access
CO-6N from US-160 because we knew from our research (websites, Facebook pages,
phone calls) that 6N was closed for construction off US-150.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, apparently the powers-that-be never
bothered to post updates anywhere and the construction from the
US-150 entrance finished recently. But now construction had commenced along the US-160 entrance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Then</span> Gretchen, our GPS, provided an "alternate route" which took us on
a wild goose chase down dirt roads that led to nowhere. So, we decided to forego
our boondocking plans and checked in at the Alamosa Great Sand Dunes KOA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At $69/night, it is a bit pricey compared to
boondocking, but we were given a spacious, easy-access pull-through site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we investigated the Mosca Campground
the next day enroute to Great Sand Dunes National Park, we realized we dodged a
bullet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Though the views are phenomenal, t</span>he turns within the campground are way too tight. There is no way a set-up of our size could ever maneuver.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcuNRZBPTH4iDgVVsy497KLrLFPflkCEbw1XymGDeauP98Jy3aR8TWQDBlc0Rota8CzTPsKAHppPbbYY7jONqWo_AVU1itnmv-EEkySfoTW6mT9jyuvfY04qOkdGY0zXSJIDsuwqC8WmcWAdxjBCQsHcjU5KG8IDOk8-syxs4RhYPcb-SegKoQDR7vQ/s4000/20220829_095350.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcuNRZBPTH4iDgVVsy497KLrLFPflkCEbw1XymGDeauP98Jy3aR8TWQDBlc0Rota8CzTPsKAHppPbbYY7jONqWo_AVU1itnmv-EEkySfoTW6mT9jyuvfY04qOkdGY0zXSJIDsuwqC8WmcWAdxjBCQsHcjU5KG8IDOk8-syxs4RhYPcb-SegKoQDR7vQ/w400-h180/20220829_095350.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Driving to Mosca Campground, the roadway was bordered by beautiful sunflowers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim23VANHCsVUsHmBV8XoTgwOEnrJ1Ko-jmfdGODG3RcEtTwG1mafQvj4wOfq6WQ_2lCZfJOLZUXKx33qzIFzSIsbsEuo0AqpaqXtJbsbkmqajEcqZf20qc7VxlHsI-wObh8pP9UaJfxwNaE85vZe_g7oeOtY_Zs1BD3oSoWJOYzJm0RW5FPJ73SsS-_A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim23VANHCsVUsHmBV8XoTgwOEnrJ1Ko-jmfdGODG3RcEtTwG1mafQvj4wOfq6WQ_2lCZfJOLZUXKx33qzIFzSIsbsEuo0AqpaqXtJbsbkmqajEcqZf20qc7VxlHsI-wObh8pP9UaJfxwNaE85vZe_g7oeOtY_Zs1BD3oSoWJOYzJm0RW5FPJ73SsS-_A=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spectacular views from the Mosca Campground in the San Luis Wildlife Area...<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQsljY_waG-Pk6PxEg7Y6w_sDV_cbIaLdCSEzhuF-AabbIsaUGqwjE_dET0GPUK_khNJFbqdp2gTjaFqYQK7HsMqIi_6UM-ovuB20gBF79kWGRMM--vvKAPzf8VUyGg7ZRe87bYYHMwutdo6XSC3VFSOoMBFS_RABL3omSfggax02_7J0KIiDWu4fBw/s3795/20220828_194256.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="3795" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQsljY_waG-Pk6PxEg7Y6w_sDV_cbIaLdCSEzhuF-AabbIsaUGqwjE_dET0GPUK_khNJFbqdp2gTjaFqYQK7HsMqIi_6UM-ovuB20gBF79kWGRMM--vvKAPzf8VUyGg7ZRe87bYYHMwutdo6XSC3VFSOoMBFS_RABL3omSfggax02_7J0KIiDWu4fBw/w400-h189/20220828_194256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...But the Alamosa Great Sand Dunes KOA offered some nice scenes, too.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Great Sand Dunes National Park contains the tallest dunes in
North America. We stopped at the Visitor
Center, which seemed to be still in 2020 COVID-mode. Rangers continued to hide behind plexiglass while wearing masks, and the Park still prohibited anyone into the
auditorium to view the film. Though I
would have loved to s</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">cale Star Dune, we all agreed that it just wasn’t happening at a 7-mile round trip hike in the heat of the day.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead, we climbed several smaller dunes.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The sand here is quite different than what we have experienced at ocean beaches or even at White Sands National Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Here the sand is very course and multi-colored.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">That is because it represents sediment carried via water and wind from the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I couldn’t resist leaving my mark in the sand. Don't worry, I didn't deface anything. In fact, Mother Nature's wisps of wind swept my artwork away quickly. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked across Medano Creek.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday’s monsoon shower left water flowing through the sand base.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I watched a pinecone as it traveled down the faux river.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We then hiked the Montville Nature Trail along Mosca Creek.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is a short ½ mile loop that gives a glimpse of the area’s past.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There is evidence that humans lived here more than 11,000 years ago.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We checked out Pinon Flats Campground—not an option for large set-ups.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then we strolled along the Sand Sheet Loop Interpretive Trail, viewing the plants and grasslands that thrive along the dunes.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We returned to the Visitor Center for me to be sworn in as Junior Ranger.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerUK6jhR1QukKcXBvjXqLyI6_Juee84NzteIJeWoaIygY_RlrO8QBXtnDjgM8aXPpiHv5Hm6lXBNC056b-9pO5DgMGa-TEzCtfc6Ef5YbsWJkJsNJBQyQg81gyjJWhKrzCblp3NEMp3uL4oJm1DRfhzRPryNs213qlx_KEpbkTdM5zTcLBP1dL_WQFQ/s4000/20220829_100933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerUK6jhR1QukKcXBvjXqLyI6_Juee84NzteIJeWoaIygY_RlrO8QBXtnDjgM8aXPpiHv5Hm6lXBNC056b-9pO5DgMGa-TEzCtfc6Ef5YbsWJkJsNJBQyQg81gyjJWhKrzCblp3NEMp3uL4oJm1DRfhzRPryNs213qlx_KEpbkTdM5zTcLBP1dL_WQFQ/w400-h180/20220829_100933.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzF7z8-R7o3vg1rttXrJgiFDip0CgaG5esXt25goRHFu8B9hPbKClx0YVUXn-hfFfRd-RV_lCTxQz4yeJ5Y7h1r94hNoEbHzLnsVDQxhVrCkE9wDEI80DmcmEsVxBcoygNgdgD35zUBDiA51JuHZ4lOVg2RfeNGcMAlAXdZr30yKqLrmxUvCbDqYdEA/s4000/20220829_145013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzF7z8-R7o3vg1rttXrJgiFDip0CgaG5esXt25goRHFu8B9hPbKClx0YVUXn-hfFfRd-RV_lCTxQz4yeJ5Y7h1r94hNoEbHzLnsVDQxhVrCkE9wDEI80DmcmEsVxBcoygNgdgD35zUBDiA51JuHZ4lOVg2RfeNGcMAlAXdZr30yKqLrmxUvCbDqYdEA/w400-h180/20220829_145013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7cgUOxhPeWwnS1Y1yPB6YWV9H7p-S9JCk4EURjRZTgSJWq3D5rFYKavS78n19NsxzECyYGTedZg2rQU0QK6rEkfltyk7F7bSnMEhFOJORoPTqI1MCeZqKX1BkVNTSS26LjjiqgfscCWOIwfvAfAc-u-z8n21pNHql2_1-dFeBoxP86EmWhPU9uerFw/s4000/20220829_132826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7cgUOxhPeWwnS1Y1yPB6YWV9H7p-S9JCk4EURjRZTgSJWq3D5rFYKavS78n19NsxzECyYGTedZg2rQU0QK6rEkfltyk7F7bSnMEhFOJORoPTqI1MCeZqKX1BkVNTSS26LjjiqgfscCWOIwfvAfAc-u-z8n21pNHql2_1-dFeBoxP86EmWhPU9uerFw/w400-h180/20220829_132826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxl_gkGdKj_54oQ3elgbJ8AMZ5GrOZwu2EjkBXI2B4CeR_jXJALvw_ubL_LGXYEWDx8m-NG_7xBJmZmMMiq7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0okh-8X1-vKXDT3h2B-YmavUt3vHyea3vPUCKQa8gEUEte8sefKYv45O3S7WmLkSjipxiV6CVXgYpYSAtsk-17bqjiFpG5qpZof6VDHf5F1wJybC5pnC_f6tFAVIVgFj9bFFWxwwOmCTEU2lgo90xUoPcs0nL33-mdp0xTUSF-0wEOhl6K-45z7Y_g/s4000/20220829_105743.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0okh-8X1-vKXDT3h2B-YmavUt3vHyea3vPUCKQa8gEUEte8sefKYv45O3S7WmLkSjipxiV6CVXgYpYSAtsk-17bqjiFpG5qpZof6VDHf5F1wJybC5pnC_f6tFAVIVgFj9bFFWxwwOmCTEU2lgo90xUoPcs0nL33-mdp0xTUSF-0wEOhl6K-45z7Y_g/w400-h180/20220829_105743.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medano Creek</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimoODaii3159c8NUoAQLglDT8Z6svowlxtacfe6gSH-hNMZONz5VB9ljGflsDFcat01iQXPHXpCIP79YwMd5Sx7lW_jObPUpmA5XVgzkVx3wTqJRTXAIg-roJKVyOSpfMTbiD1mu0J196apryUwlC9hMPlTD3VGOLcNpkENLNrs0hMs91y6rrT13dOMg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimoODaii3159c8NUoAQLglDT8Z6svowlxtacfe6gSH-hNMZONz5VB9ljGflsDFcat01iQXPHXpCIP79YwMd5Sx7lW_jObPUpmA5XVgzkVx3wTqJRTXAIg-roJKVyOSpfMTbiD1mu0J196apryUwlC9hMPlTD3VGOLcNpkENLNrs0hMs91y6rrT13dOMg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsZcBB1Ik-c_VPSaqPXaLQa7ZjUA4cUPSneIWphzqDTKEf4wpzvjupO6mJ5vnN4l3rFfbXtpzP3LciMnA7B47XYhTI5LcuNFIvuUhRKKVwR0XJWEHq4unbvsoosXDBNLIXhyk06-GYDLVxB3-BkWPBMAghoejwENAU-FdO5AsFetj41zriT8YARafNw/s4000/20220829_111346.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsZcBB1Ik-c_VPSaqPXaLQa7ZjUA4cUPSneIWphzqDTKEf4wpzvjupO6mJ5vnN4l3rFfbXtpzP3LciMnA7B47XYhTI5LcuNFIvuUhRKKVwR0XJWEHq4unbvsoosXDBNLIXhyk06-GYDLVxB3-BkWPBMAghoejwENAU-FdO5AsFetj41zriT8YARafNw/w400-h180/20220829_111346.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRtGtNxvPp8ZUTn6TlWUiH9J4M1KJ7Bf4w02Jb5AVMvMObalH9I8scmC9Pcx-FXjerLB1q-GfCbZsH8gUFIMzWgyNuoeDY95PV3mIz4hAueyPmDOApD1da9cRozuQBUOmoIBhSJf_OdVc6kKH8wYFlLXTujXAS_HKiZSA3d1qKcPRN9LXv83oQCJNWA/s4000/20220829_110240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRtGtNxvPp8ZUTn6TlWUiH9J4M1KJ7Bf4w02Jb5AVMvMObalH9I8scmC9Pcx-FXjerLB1q-GfCbZsH8gUFIMzWgyNuoeDY95PV3mIz4hAueyPmDOApD1da9cRozuQBUOmoIBhSJf_OdVc6kKH8wYFlLXTujXAS_HKiZSA3d1qKcPRN9LXv83oQCJNWA/w400-h180/20220829_110240.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rambling RV Rat sand art, a self-portrait. <br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PdtjrTaS6EKiIKuvnYSFvDy2WrKj4UfwVb1I7s6UyZ_WQX-6wcKyy9ND5_dsGrZFwti0b-nwWRqfuZgx6osFdcZSg14lUATMYFlAWaKYSLCgLVgN46yvflqIfVeVKziETHky0X2kyAdmHFhNC1MJAjiQXchnC8ZpJNjoc3HU6WrT0td5Fe-furt5YQ/s4000/20220829_143003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PdtjrTaS6EKiIKuvnYSFvDy2WrKj4UfwVb1I7s6UyZ_WQX-6wcKyy9ND5_dsGrZFwti0b-nwWRqfuZgx6osFdcZSg14lUATMYFlAWaKYSLCgLVgN46yvflqIfVeVKziETHky0X2kyAdmHFhNC1MJAjiQXchnC8ZpJNjoc3HU6WrT0td5Fe-furt5YQ/s320/20220829_143003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="144" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montville Nature Trail...</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfgVwBOrLH2IIhegzpGkpgxtCYIggmjCVgwe-QlmC3Kyo2F_HBoH9Cexa6K-yUWHZ5qoS3Nl5QqQKrr4hp4tKKcdGZwRIaz5kFoUiMQ-iQa935tukLqa6Z1MQLVCjiQBRJeBIBDKBoxKMKPz4N3HQH62axP2-VatsoxjlhfxYQVop-UBd2eaLk_k8Iw/s4000/20220829_141610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfgVwBOrLH2IIhegzpGkpgxtCYIggmjCVgwe-QlmC3Kyo2F_HBoH9Cexa6K-yUWHZ5qoS3Nl5QqQKrr4hp4tKKcdGZwRIaz5kFoUiMQ-iQa935tukLqa6Z1MQLVCjiQBRJeBIBDKBoxKMKPz4N3HQH62axP2-VatsoxjlhfxYQVop-UBd2eaLk_k8Iw/w400-h180/20220829_141610.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Q1f_6kcLptAe2grnafkL1zGf8vlnANcH9I5bu3-Hw3aNMT55aG0WJKd2q4LnfvbnBmqiSVKgWrXRQVJudkVDNYVCMckFMyY4FRMRKmL0NjdCqxLpn__DIHzlYAKccUJMKKo6nf4mPHSX0c6VuoSHqH3arsmJqYUZbMYF2UodPuDrkblpbH-NPJmPw/s4000/20220829_141913.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Q1f_6kcLptAe2grnafkL1zGf8vlnANcH9I5bu3-Hw3aNMT55aG0WJKd2q4LnfvbnBmqiSVKgWrXRQVJudkVDNYVCMckFMyY4FRMRKmL0NjdCqxLpn__DIHzlYAKccUJMKKo6nf4mPHSX0c6VuoSHqH3arsmJqYUZbMYF2UodPuDrkblpbH-NPJmPw/w400-h180/20220829_141913.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plateau fence lizard, one rather large reptile.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5wEYXxiSb8h_QT6vM6y8Gm6Pr0nOBf09xp-FN4SDPGhfSJD7zurJ91jF_SY2Z1nwTeW4wy-OIo80FYeCx3OQutFlDC0IEQAjDPWaKQsRwPhgTHVmVrtq6KTlzmQBQkuFLAcFWoQbHADbE9uLDEQ-Gx3MZ70PwMMNmajjkODR0z7nmA_B7kRj_bdyBw/s4000/20220829_132554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5wEYXxiSb8h_QT6vM6y8Gm6Pr0nOBf09xp-FN4SDPGhfSJD7zurJ91jF_SY2Z1nwTeW4wy-OIo80FYeCx3OQutFlDC0IEQAjDPWaKQsRwPhgTHVmVrtq6KTlzmQBQkuFLAcFWoQbHADbE9uLDEQ-Gx3MZ70PwMMNmajjkODR0z7nmA_B7kRj_bdyBw/w400-h180/20220829_132554.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flora along the Interpretative Trail.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kIYqd-lQpZ2gtdoT4ivnm0UIjqHWupiuLy-1yyDsGdAF4eF1_vrt35J2I1TnsFxbsqRZ6ahN2y4gxOb2o-UIgav4t0zt2nWgdItI7gOPDZJHSOXjgiq2MzS4V5NE68wH4BYxWHDHIP2MS48vb1CtSEldLqi1_stu2KqB_IHph3K85hRJlpJiM7Z_Jw/s4000/20220830_160950.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kIYqd-lQpZ2gtdoT4ivnm0UIjqHWupiuLy-1yyDsGdAF4eF1_vrt35J2I1TnsFxbsqRZ6ahN2y4gxOb2o-UIgav4t0zt2nWgdItI7gOPDZJHSOXjgiq2MzS4V5NE68wH4BYxWHDHIP2MS48vb1CtSEldLqi1_stu2KqB_IHph3K85hRJlpJiM7Z_Jw/w180-h400/20220830_160950.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest Junior Ranger achievement.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We spent our final day at Zapata Falls
Recreation Area.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">The sign that warns the
“2.8-mile road ahead is rough and rocky” must be outdated because Big Boomer
was greeted by newer chip seal and wide roads.</span><span style="text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">This roadway to the Falls parking area offers spectacular vistas and is
well worth the ride up even if you don’t plan to hike to the falls.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">There is a lovely picnic area, where we
enjoyed lunch before heading to the falls.</span><span style="text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">It is a short ½ mile trek to the falls, but it comes with a 400-foot
elevation gain on a rough, rocky trail.</span><span style="text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">Then you must maneuver across the running waters of Zapata Creek
several times, with water levels reaching calf-height (knee-height for
vertically-challenged folks like me and Mom.)</span><span style="text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">Fortunately, the rocks beneath our feet were not slick.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">But even on an 80F degree day, the water was
chilly.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Surprisingly, Mom participated
until the final Creek crossing, when she called it quits and just filmed Dad as
he reached the finish line.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Then we all
had to backtrack, crossing the Creek several more times.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqyttkFDp4HFcX55J7v5ozr8lZDzLXMGav0k1sK0JR2S5KRVOBtfzRK8m1m-x6z2KlBVZASDvXXu9f-bc9qs-TKYKBtLm9GPDGlcY0qxWHTTEzoxOkNmQI-d7AwmshH6PN1CDPsdICe_yv5CPYgYEMF28pGEo18xaq7MG70s7A8rAXyD0DOuZWxMPA/s3081/20220830_110932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3081" data-original-width="1699" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqqyttkFDp4HFcX55J7v5ozr8lZDzLXMGav0k1sK0JR2S5KRVOBtfzRK8m1m-x6z2KlBVZASDvXXu9f-bc9qs-TKYKBtLm9GPDGlcY0qxWHTTEzoxOkNmQI-d7AwmshH6PN1CDPsdICe_yv5CPYgYEMF28pGEo18xaq7MG70s7A8rAXyD0DOuZWxMPA/w220-h400/20220830_110932.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-SqEpxeePJhl3vxunTwzw0cv5A0g9_h0QypaRyxjIhWCDBBI9KQomckabOqTpdS-WN-4zrmJ82gktXGUF-BE5H3hJRqp3ftrxAKvHOG8GloHPW1-IVhgnKB9E34tfRpKSF0CPQyLCrS8iV-05rgR3MI3tL1CDPBo5FF1aRbgfGSM2fHCkDSGeCVlMA/s4000/20220830_135103.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-SqEpxeePJhl3vxunTwzw0cv5A0g9_h0QypaRyxjIhWCDBBI9KQomckabOqTpdS-WN-4zrmJ82gktXGUF-BE5H3hJRqp3ftrxAKvHOG8GloHPW1-IVhgnKB9E34tfRpKSF0CPQyLCrS8iV-05rgR3MI3tL1CDPBo5FF1aRbgfGSM2fHCkDSGeCVlMA/w400-h180/20220830_135103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking downhill along the road to the Falls Parking Area.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpr56cOEXeN744lvBNBMiidWWtmBTgqvSpv9Umc1KH9ZfFtuKQL8DvpLbxqw9pjCGxwVuCBwS5_ex4WwFRkiD2GNKMiuKvx0s7KNW02nxRVCbCLDhNnsXkPru-f1ZnwOHQ3AdMbXjrPA4xUtIhLcUt7ovjolTd5ZME1pWvSA0fPOBCFRJs7TVxdhWaw/s4000/20220830_134016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpr56cOEXeN744lvBNBMiidWWtmBTgqvSpv9Umc1KH9ZfFtuKQL8DvpLbxqw9pjCGxwVuCBwS5_ex4WwFRkiD2GNKMiuKvx0s7KNW02nxRVCbCLDhNnsXkPru-f1ZnwOHQ3AdMbXjrPA4xUtIhLcUt7ovjolTd5ZME1pWvSA0fPOBCFRJs7TVxdhWaw/w400-h180/20220830_134016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from the Zapata Falls Parking Area.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk16jWeSS_ryIzHicxLA9pgRNoO9m007eUBcWqmZskOBOhtuD96ROH1V68Jdft9jBdkJbu5cTtQs_7Ut14VBSes8-ZAogeVLZqi1DxuZyO6JhDDJye1WjzCjFEwOtu9VgJCzgxEChls8Ygra8TGJ7sVHC1iiO0wMEsZXchouXgvOUqYTzSBew3FrnDQ/s4000/20220830_112707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk16jWeSS_ryIzHicxLA9pgRNoO9m007eUBcWqmZskOBOhtuD96ROH1V68Jdft9jBdkJbu5cTtQs_7Ut14VBSes8-ZAogeVLZqi1DxuZyO6JhDDJye1WjzCjFEwOtu9VgJCzgxEChls8Ygra8TGJ7sVHC1iiO0wMEsZXchouXgvOUqYTzSBew3FrnDQ/w400-h180/20220830_112707.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A butterfly went airborne in the middle of my photo from the parking area for Zapata Falls.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4ttePrMO7FwVeh6pfIiqybGtbhA1c4YntZHBH-R3QQFtI1-dzmFZZZ-Kt6XdCy_cwLWlUOIVc35zKZGFcne7nNTkUqVB7E4GNt23DeGFRj6ytZXao5IF-5DoLm6AgFS3Hhi_1nOq5fqLyxi9_23g6lkB2-4IlwCiygvYE0J0tNRkAAmhhJTwBkGiTQ/s3993/PoPo%20at%20Pic%20Nic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="3993" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4ttePrMO7FwVeh6pfIiqybGtbhA1c4YntZHBH-R3QQFtI1-dzmFZZZ-Kt6XdCy_cwLWlUOIVc35zKZGFcne7nNTkUqVB7E4GNt23DeGFRj6ytZXao5IF-5DoLm6AgFS3Hhi_1nOq5fqLyxi9_23g6lkB2-4IlwCiygvYE0J0tNRkAAmhhJTwBkGiTQ/w400-h179/PoPo%20at%20Pic%20Nic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our secluded picnic spot before our hike.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1roDcYB6-TSWUne9IKrls8aiYQboauflhhOA66m9L94MPnoPXntxaTrDHkUIoOhDCTTsCokx1hLQ9YYvzZSS3YKr3wEz1ajeVxLo2zHJNKcTUO0H5HduFzVOv2TLRcyxLGGXlWVMieyhMw0zmE5HPMS67If9xeJrZu9j3RCVu9BgsNlEzHY3_BusKA/s4000/20220830_131910.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1roDcYB6-TSWUne9IKrls8aiYQboauflhhOA66m9L94MPnoPXntxaTrDHkUIoOhDCTTsCokx1hLQ9YYvzZSS3YKr3wEz1ajeVxLo2zHJNKcTUO0H5HduFzVOv2TLRcyxLGGXlWVMieyhMw0zmE5HPMS67If9xeJrZu9j3RCVu9BgsNlEzHY3_BusKA/w400-h180/20220830_131910.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from the Picnic area.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8a3Rh93JkDvfYmOdMhpYQ6JdXDoJ8AjTE8HxNNjZap4capHT1wMrGxBThRVzzMXmD1Zq45v_qoKqtx1B0PDrDKY--jQ6_SsLOkU6eQlWMWdkLhACyN2e9aBmu74-iUaTqKiAISJzuobu4XUILrbu3Fdx-bbWdrG19N72YCyACxEVAzmf8Y6z5NGdJA/s4000/20220830_131958.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8a3Rh93JkDvfYmOdMhpYQ6JdXDoJ8AjTE8HxNNjZap4capHT1wMrGxBThRVzzMXmD1Zq45v_qoKqtx1B0PDrDKY--jQ6_SsLOkU6eQlWMWdkLhACyN2e9aBmu74-iUaTqKiAISJzuobu4XUILrbu3Fdx-bbWdrG19N72YCyACxEVAzmf8Y6z5NGdJA/w400-h180/20220830_131958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the size of the burl!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0Cc3TElv3qZfD8ARHo37UvxCyIuiGgGgun06l-iQAz9SerIMMXOVhXLL-YiT_i2X4cPlTLa_yqObDj1L0TA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzY2zLqeOul1WXrw25ucnmLG6IVnFInT7-tf3Tyk2Rld7t-2saC6dmK8OxDSmSY1zQRsjKnkSjVUS9_-BCT6A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We returned to the parking area and decided
to check out Zapata Campground, which is run by Bureau of Land Management (BLM).</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">What a
boondocking gem!</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">We found at least 3 huge level sites that
could accommodate our set-up easily.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Oh
well, live and learn.</span></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before going back to the KOA, we stopped at Alamosa National
Wildlife Refuge to see if any migrating birds were on premises.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Other than a duck or two, there wasn't much going on bird-wise nor human-wise for that matter. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was 2:25 p.m., well beyond lunch time and too early for quitting time.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And yet, the Visitor Center was closed.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The sign says it is only “open when adequate
staffing is met.”</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial;">(Can you imagine if
a real business operated like this?)</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> All right, we will stroll along the
Rio Grande Nature Trail instead.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Alas,
this too is closed for the season “for protection of the endangered Southwest Willow Flycatcher”.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We decided to take the Auto Tour, but we soon
determined that most of the signs and numbers were missing, though we</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> did enjoy breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We intersected with another
road and wondered, “what’s down there?”</span><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the common theme of “closed” prevailed for this road as well.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It really gets my tail in a tangle to see all
the land the government controls that we can never use or access.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzcnd-C0TZrBQoyfUM6xHIICP7uxxCED2-iRBbX7MZF6WdnK_gbNqYRwFZSKfyjU7XOK-2E5YyaJX_dS6A4SaHww0eI4tcLiTLIsDDMV787QV7BoL9ImhHmqO1sak_u4VNE6c5ZqJ9YoDCjohGA5y3bF7zXtkSHzQK5OlC3Bqkvx9-d1VZFt19fpaVA/s4000/20220830_144326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzcnd-C0TZrBQoyfUM6xHIICP7uxxCED2-iRBbX7MZF6WdnK_gbNqYRwFZSKfyjU7XOK-2E5YyaJX_dS6A4SaHww0eI4tcLiTLIsDDMV787QV7BoL9ImhHmqO1sak_u4VNE6c5ZqJ9YoDCjohGA5y3bF7zXtkSHzQK5OlC3Bqkvx9-d1VZFt19fpaVA/w400-h180/20220830_144326.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Not even the swallows were around.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGJZTbWlzb_E1iyD2QL36tOm9-_FT_qtp9s63p3obAYuy3cXZIE094dWrdXvyXwzGIfEytDHt73PXNLJMioJ-RDo1FMHsepoFN5PFLGr-3Hu7ZRBlbwXy50lYoyFt-dEVKdj6Ffdq0h_HOanyl__1zT-F4eISTQpB3oISE3fdCWxPX5VJTd7xbH1kUQ/s4000/20220830_144508.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGJZTbWlzb_E1iyD2QL36tOm9-_FT_qtp9s63p3obAYuy3cXZIE094dWrdXvyXwzGIfEytDHt73PXNLJMioJ-RDo1FMHsepoFN5PFLGr-3Hu7ZRBlbwXy50lYoyFt-dEVKdj6Ffdq0h_HOanyl__1zT-F4eISTQpB3oISE3fdCWxPX5VJTd7xbH1kUQ/w400-h180/20220830_144508.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We went to hike the Rio Grande Nature Trail, but found it closed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC3hzuNuhdWutWy0WGQs8hsFMbmUPsyMcBmuwfmovHQFMarnvibParivFNcC31Bb00KjKLdho669nFM_mkG8ZPo6g7tI0lY1a-XONkXrH4MV_C-2zudMkTPOHTpxwyys4h-ohrB1lJAhtVIbDCmp5xRNR1IpznOHoLBp99WSyqiILaRV1QTb8cZToSdQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC3hzuNuhdWutWy0WGQs8hsFMbmUPsyMcBmuwfmovHQFMarnvibParivFNcC31Bb00KjKLdho669nFM_mkG8ZPo6g7tI0lY1a-XONkXrH4MV_C-2zudMkTPOHTpxwyys4h-ohrB1lJAhtVIbDCmp5xRNR1IpznOHoLBp99WSyqiILaRV1QTb8cZToSdQ" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hFTkeff-4sWD6ENJ1iQUOGIJ_nTLjlHQoc7ZCEFfDBfaWm77urPSaV-QSEMT-LC3ckZeOSgkZ2BrOxy2RYVNRrFY3e2P0WOEdIVrTsI_t2uvSu8h0Po6im7zyyuxNmYx4tcam6LZ8zyJ1bhGqbYpWiGxutoKwKmrMc2eufhGQPpqfXqcG0VBnoTO6Q/s4000/20220830_151001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hFTkeff-4sWD6ENJ1iQUOGIJ_nTLjlHQoc7ZCEFfDBfaWm77urPSaV-QSEMT-LC3ckZeOSgkZ2BrOxy2RYVNRrFY3e2P0WOEdIVrTsI_t2uvSu8h0Po6im7zyyuxNmYx4tcam6LZ8zyJ1bhGqbYpWiGxutoKwKmrMc2eufhGQPpqfXqcG0VBnoTO6Q/w400-h180/20220830_151001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Refuge did provide a nice photo op of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, we are on our way to Santa Fe tomorrow, so I'll sign off now.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll talk to you again soon!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-45236677645520388122022-08-24T15:13:00.037-05:002022-10-31T16:02:55.620-05:00Touring Minnesota State Parks, Lake Superior’s North Shore and Festival of Sails<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had so much to see and do on our days off
from volunteering at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell,
Minnesota.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Visiting Itasca State Park was a top priority.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span><span style="font-family: arial;">t is Minnesota’s oldest
State Park, established in 1891.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">That same year, after much
discussion and disagreement throughout the ages, it was declared officially
that the headwaters of the Mississippi River are formed at Lake Itasca within
the Park borders.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we just had to
visit the humble beginnings of the Mighty Miss.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The River goes North a short distance, then curves Easterly before
flowing South to its destination:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the
Gulf of Mexico.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is said that a
raindrop takes 90 days from the time it falls to reach the Gulf.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’d love to follow that raindrop on its
journey!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We perused the outdoor exhibits
at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center, then hiked along the less
populated Sawmill and Schoolcraft Trails, the latter of which was adorned with
lovely lady slipper blooms.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked
solemnly through the ancient Indian burial mounds, respectful of these sacred
lands.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We enjoyed an early lunch at the
Headwaters Café to refortify for the rest of our exploration.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRayVytIPEY5sTVT1Kz4eTS2Gttn_1wIM_mh3gDuG2aKseOlaEoiawkT1KQjrRutzWYjG-i07FEGOLFJ7TSOrRo5JO9giHtYDK-6I9crTkYdnTroVq0c8EgAGVu_I95at1KIxWrLfSM4jqcWhPHgPQlyw5gs3g30Sr2eCBZHAXH6aqYg6ScL_5gYseQ/s4000/20220701_114253.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRayVytIPEY5sTVT1Kz4eTS2Gttn_1wIM_mh3gDuG2aKseOlaEoiawkT1KQjrRutzWYjG-i07FEGOLFJ7TSOrRo5JO9giHtYDK-6I9crTkYdnTroVq0c8EgAGVu_I95at1KIxWrLfSM4jqcWhPHgPQlyw5gs3g30Sr2eCBZHAXH6aqYg6ScL_5gYseQ/w400-h180/20220701_114253.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "official" headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EgDSKw93ZkJ8YBY9MR0N_UqUFiDKQgZmgyIZ1TbLszXZSvu_S9QHB26pONLwTTkhXrJGCuUtndO_GfIz0XUA3Wt-JImMao_eyZp49H4T3kZl1-ix2AR81fk3Ru1VT_EJp3RTv7FhTzfYBSJA_AvHvLc_0toSP0VKnK_1WnlbZHtbN_MmLLad6b0z6A/s4000/20220701_113856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EgDSKw93ZkJ8YBY9MR0N_UqUFiDKQgZmgyIZ1TbLszXZSvu_S9QHB26pONLwTTkhXrJGCuUtndO_GfIz0XUA3Wt-JImMao_eyZp49H4T3kZl1-ix2AR81fk3Ru1VT_EJp3RTv7FhTzfYBSJA_AvHvLc_0toSP0VKnK_1WnlbZHtbN_MmLLad6b0z6A/w180-h400/20220701_113856.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54PvtHRT5R7n98WXtzO7w3c2s2ckdXtJRdV1AKZQNSo3KkpoXCsmIP_8jNiY2lhT6vKKb2BRnMJoFYvaXQKww5004xnUJtkKuD8NtaTdhRQtHG8DPwDIWQRw6dJAovcBA3rpiZvMFpfTNAn40-lEq_yuuS9SLiqojCMtVz2nBKT8mE-QDrOAvxoMk3w/s4000/20220701_130125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54PvtHRT5R7n98WXtzO7w3c2s2ckdXtJRdV1AKZQNSo3KkpoXCsmIP_8jNiY2lhT6vKKb2BRnMJoFYvaXQKww5004xnUJtkKuD8NtaTdhRQtHG8DPwDIWQRw6dJAovcBA3rpiZvMFpfTNAn40-lEq_yuuS9SLiqojCMtVz2nBKT8mE-QDrOAvxoMk3w/w400-h180/20220701_130125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The lady slipper blooms.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">hen we visited the replica of the Wegmann family cabin built by the skilled hands of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Wegmanns’ original log structure is next door, slowly returning itself to nature.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Wegmanns lived and operated a general store here, and they are buried in the nearby pioneer cemetery.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We went to the cemetery to pay our respects, but we weren’t the only ones there to do so—a mamma bear and her cub decided to join us.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We stopped at Preacher’s Grove, which contains some of Minnesota’s oldest red and white pine forests.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">These 3-century-old specimens are ginormous.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly, though, many had fallen from recent storms. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though we explored the Park in reverse order, we still stopped at the Jacob Brower Visitor Center before leaving.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They had no film for me to watch, but I did enjoy the warm, welcoming setting.</span><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHATOtG-H0Wh1Vgp7UperKlxbk_ly7_G4s47OsuK45lW2Jonndw6pD6Wj8kw8waBrrw35MYRb9lW1wMmk2MfgrZnJ5HoJmStP9aHEyzM9aJrT3S8bB7FAD0k2BkurfLknadXGz8q_tS5cUHmU-AMYBJ440AR9vlTPPbmerieErIiWXkLWse0qtiZeY-w/s4000/20220701_144935.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHATOtG-H0Wh1Vgp7UperKlxbk_ly7_G4s47OsuK45lW2Jonndw6pD6Wj8kw8waBrrw35MYRb9lW1wMmk2MfgrZnJ5HoJmStP9aHEyzM9aJrT3S8bB7FAD0k2BkurfLknadXGz8q_tS5cUHmU-AMYBJ440AR9vlTPPbmerieErIiWXkLWse0qtiZeY-w/w400-h180/20220701_144935.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wegmanns' recreated cabin, compliments of the CCC.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0irFmKa9iwI7ZOHhRjT_6eZrm02-U8p-TEY17uKeelJSKVjvtyS78MKJKrmAGIN67m61dTAwq8WB3mYTIFHzCKe1ryWD3ZpH4pote3QvAy7h8wJgT-v0KdOp-bFLs4k-Ymk2QbYXwqpg-ff-cTSIN36dAOc9xNWKxLu6gf0k5erCf_nyVxPsnBIJvbg/s4000/20220701_150020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0irFmKa9iwI7ZOHhRjT_6eZrm02-U8p-TEY17uKeelJSKVjvtyS78MKJKrmAGIN67m61dTAwq8WB3mYTIFHzCKe1ryWD3ZpH4pote3QvAy7h8wJgT-v0KdOp-bFLs4k-Ymk2QbYXwqpg-ff-cTSIN36dAOc9xNWKxLu6gf0k5erCf_nyVxPsnBIJvbg/w400-h180/20220701_150020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wegmann gravesite in the Pioneer Cemetery<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwpOHraYgLs33PHdS0CywIgGumWqHqS0IeoHr-S9LINdBbgdfFChZkQpyyDD3Xm1f6FRxSr4IHd478s2hW22Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX8Piql6ucxMVCaVz69l6zheduydH0w-TF1-sqeaumxysxL2Y0alfNpqRDz5ctaTEC3zYXF8WttCCB7foB9wBM8riVDHG5ROOSijMCNXnU4IoR7lK9jiAqSvrQf62bqev59QBGDJ8mIi3uDMFuQLZjv8N-IaOYGNknKrLpA5K78PsD8vT7KqXb7i8Pg/s3264/20220701_152725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX8Piql6ucxMVCaVz69l6zheduydH0w-TF1-sqeaumxysxL2Y0alfNpqRDz5ctaTEC3zYXF8WttCCB7foB9wBM8riVDHG5ROOSijMCNXnU4IoR7lK9jiAqSvrQf62bqev59QBGDJ8mIi3uDMFuQLZjv8N-IaOYGNknKrLpA5K78PsD8vT7KqXb7i8Pg/w400-h180/20220701_152725.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Preacher's Grove</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5mfAP2PnPXoXx0ZCfpkL7eTBm41uJbIKad923zUPvHjv-jOtWdM-SJpzEdq3G6ub-15t6Yg6OGPD-sI8ya_tkdO5p5YIWF1WnQSomOYUBzni1OEQGgA_9aiSLJ1VnFDhQaQpVdkIcmlInj9E85TE7lo8CroOb2h2uyQFBWjivuTBAyc1rNX9DeOExA/s4000/20220701_155611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5mfAP2PnPXoXx0ZCfpkL7eTBm41uJbIKad923zUPvHjv-jOtWdM-SJpzEdq3G6ub-15t6Yg6OGPD-sI8ya_tkdO5p5YIWF1WnQSomOYUBzni1OEQGgA_9aiSLJ1VnFDhQaQpVdkIcmlInj9E85TE7lo8CroOb2h2uyQFBWjivuTBAyc1rNX9DeOExA/w400-h180/20220701_155611.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Warm and welcoming Visitor Center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Our visit to Scenic State Park wasn’t quite as scenic as we
had hoped—there are several road construction and campsite improvement projects
in the works.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But we came specifically
to hike on the eskers on Chase Point Trail.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What’s an esker, you ask?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I didn’t
know either, so I’ll share what I learned.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">An esker is a long, narrow, winding ridge of sand and sediment deposited
by a stream that ran beneath a glacier many moons ago.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Cooler temperatures and a brisk breeze m</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">ade
it feel like early Autumn—my kind of weather for a day in nature.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGJonR0Jkadc2YfiwhTUT_9E-Z3qXX6ImrKveVCN_r2Xn2wAGGHQfsnXkGYD-jf_XkLSmp1Tp1bIvZtRcnxOmx5mpcgfZWLpXBsYGc_t1xeUhqnXXZtQFwRUZkUBrk8AmFPqVpFkTWgDGff9Iqyan-xwYZO1iyi1pnAk3opQUdP-rfU_geUJjvgpZwg/s3264/20220724_152206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGJonR0Jkadc2YfiwhTUT_9E-Z3qXX6ImrKveVCN_r2Xn2wAGGHQfsnXkGYD-jf_XkLSmp1Tp1bIvZtRcnxOmx5mpcgfZWLpXBsYGc_t1xeUhqnXXZtQFwRUZkUBrk8AmFPqVpFkTWgDGff9Iqyan-xwYZO1iyi1pnAk3opQUdP-rfU_geUJjvgpZwg/w400-h180/20220724_152206.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The trail along the esker.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalpDikQrfTh802r82lrEZkJqaXq9fBzerFJfKuGBV_cGFmE1rqHw0WBmOBq5JgTmjeRC_Xfn9PV2XJR2vBOu3KlhNDSKLl9l_QJz4HD6mbISK1oSxOI-y1T3MvptmqiB-_o8byMwSVGUdgDMvUyx5bpv_4QtrizVfE9n1QxfPeLDFXQKThAXj9jRhhQ/s3264/20220724_153012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalpDikQrfTh802r82lrEZkJqaXq9fBzerFJfKuGBV_cGFmE1rqHw0WBmOBq5JgTmjeRC_Xfn9PV2XJR2vBOu3KlhNDSKLl9l_QJz4HD6mbISK1oSxOI-y1T3MvptmqiB-_o8byMwSVGUdgDMvUyx5bpv_4QtrizVfE9n1QxfPeLDFXQKThAXj9jRhhQ/w400-h180/20220724_153012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The hike took us to a viewpoint of Coon Lake.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We took a daytrip to the Boundary Waters area.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a LONG ride on Maximus the Trike—we incurred construction
delays on each and every road we traversed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Northern Minnesota is very much like Alaska.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It has only 2 seasons:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Winter and road construction.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were disappointed that we could not take the US Postal Service boat at Lake Vermilion, wherein you
join the postman as he travels by vessel to deliver mail to areas along the
Lake that are not accessible by road.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s a 3-hour daily ride covering 65 miles.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But what was once a well-kept secret has received
national media attention, so we learned that the boat now books up swiftly.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead, we visited the International Wolf
Center, which prides itself on being a leading source on wolf behavior.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> Not calling this place </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a "zoo" is semantics to me.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Like the
Lakota Wolf Preserve we visited many moons ago in New Jersey, the International
Wolf Center claims it does not breed, train, or influence the behavior of the
pack that live on premises.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They simply
research, monitor, and record.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But conditioning the wolves with “enhancement
techniques” pretty much turns them into Pavlov’s dogs in my view.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I did, however, enjoy watching the film
immensely.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It focused on the Ojibwe tale
of Anishinaabe the human and Ma’iingan the wolf and their close relationship.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As the tale goes, the Creator made the human Anishinaabe.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But Anishinaabe was lonely and asked for a
companion.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Creator gave him the wolf
Ma’iingan, and the two became as close as brothers, going everywhere together.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the
Creator warned that at some point in time, the two would need to part
ways.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was said that though separated,
whatever happened to one of them, would happen to the other.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Hence, both the Ojibwe Anishinaabe and the
wolf Ma’iingan suffered a loss of land and a loss of identity, almost to
the point of extinction.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But as time
went on, both survived, strived, and thrived.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">An interesting and inspiring tale.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3XZnDp7L11xLXxoixvVm7shNIxfDuFkk9OiBHr3pnOBhkiA3R6xcvIFag0NN2EagTaJxYz1SiYCgBSUIgiM2iaMXPyWW4Rd2paopFCM6AeYT61wmPDKTJw5xGXd5z7KEw_THxavicUdMxdTVS6QoVw59amrvl0J7MmbFffEi9DJWoNa_ocvXUrQGXQ/s4000/20220811_160444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3XZnDp7L11xLXxoixvVm7shNIxfDuFkk9OiBHr3pnOBhkiA3R6xcvIFag0NN2EagTaJxYz1SiYCgBSUIgiM2iaMXPyWW4Rd2paopFCM6AeYT61wmPDKTJw5xGXd5z7KEw_THxavicUdMxdTVS6QoVw59amrvl0J7MmbFffEi9DJWoNa_ocvXUrQGXQ/w400-h180/20220811_160444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2ogJ-7BjCSJp_rc6lNulrjTed2CPA_YSXchGYZaOdxvGes9HM6rv6Ug2OZHLqVOT4a1rRaHdczwcD6MlkzklkYLMBWorD9ZvfW4IYIM4MUAx3D0oWAWNqlawLO17TlwIykiM_yv4lVlVMorlbYvhDP9uwUGA9j-TYh4xFbiTE5X6xgP7mKHWIrd-RA/s2161/20220811_142932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="2161" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2ogJ-7BjCSJp_rc6lNulrjTed2CPA_YSXchGYZaOdxvGes9HM6rv6Ug2OZHLqVOT4a1rRaHdczwcD6MlkzklkYLMBWorD9ZvfW4IYIM4MUAx3D0oWAWNqlawLO17TlwIykiM_yv4lVlVMorlbYvhDP9uwUGA9j-TYh4xFbiTE5X6xgP7mKHWIrd-RA/w400-h236/20220811_142932.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8L_YCniBHi08PcNGwqRCkb08RJsekuSDz5QVeHsBR1TVTxv5EvZCRjYKfkE-2aQtvmdHHP3tQRYPLdFI7BQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents made the mistake of leaving me home one evening
when they went a few miles down the road to Hayslip’s Corner, Minnesota’s
oldest bar.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, with them away, you
know the rodentia will play.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, my
pocket pal, Nezumi, and I threw a pop-up party.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Everyone had a fabulous time.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But
I had 1 poop head, Marvin the Mouse, who just overstayed his welcome.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He turned into a squatter.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, I am in HUGE trouble with Mom, who has no
love of rodentia in our home other than stuffed toy versions like me and
Nezumi.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And, of course, Dad has turned
into Elmer Fudd trying to evict Marvin.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Trust me, it won’t end well for Marvin.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">And I suspect that I won’t be left home unsupervised again for a while.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had another 4-day mini getaway, this time to Duluth and Lake
Superior’s North Shore.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We traversed
along MN-2 East, stopping to view the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Engine
225.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Commissioned in 1941, it hauled 44
million tons of ore from the Mesabi and Vermilion Ranges and traveled nearly
700,000 miles during its 20 years of service.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw3Aw8Teg6ZFU8XsM2WzGGjmFVlnDQQ6sFySZ4HMOIZET2Ro1yy2cQiZeMs5ZQnqg2Ch4TWktsWjXRSL4pDDHJBoMci2n4FdZJ7UeuLbHlkkqoIXLJYuBStjuVdSLonHQJRRltyLbAcXELpXZi1DJJvszg3sPttsx8kgt8cqIl3S9-LbASLjRWUmUj4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw3Aw8Teg6ZFU8XsM2WzGGjmFVlnDQQ6sFySZ4HMOIZET2Ro1yy2cQiZeMs5ZQnqg2Ch4TWktsWjXRSL4pDDHJBoMci2n4FdZJ7UeuLbHlkkqoIXLJYuBStjuVdSLonHQJRRltyLbAcXELpXZi1DJJvszg3sPttsx8kgt8cqIl3S9-LbASLjRWUmUj4A=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Soon we arrived on the shores of Lake Superior.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">While early August should be the “dog days of
summer”, the thermometer was not indicative of it.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It registered a comfortable 74F degrees, but it felt
considerably cooler with the crisp air blowing off the Lake.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our first stop was to tour the S.S. William
A. Irvin, one of the first class of Great Lakes iron ore vessels (A.K.A.
“Lakers”) with electric steering.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Built
by U.S. Steel in 1938 at a length of 610 feet, she was retired in 1978 because
she was considered too small compared to newer vessels like the Edmund
Fitzgerald, which registered over 725 feet.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">(Of course, the S.S. Irvin fared much better than the ill-fated Edmund
Fitzgerald, which sunk in Lake Superior in 1975).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQNXVOn_LKPaD2gs23DBOOGMbAQkz_8AdlYLeQ-GUzTmZ5cj_Hxwvy1xwhyKHK33zzA7YfBpaSn0IB8LQlYdG5uQCn9K0D7JtlPm5YVhncX7_AAELDuRF-ukST_IDIVpfz7Nz5RgGxZidDks_IxOkNXL1pVbbztuhbK-gF45REW-m5VUBHDx4OybOuLQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="2242" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQNXVOn_LKPaD2gs23DBOOGMbAQkz_8AdlYLeQ-GUzTmZ5cj_Hxwvy1xwhyKHK33zzA7YfBpaSn0IB8LQlYdG5uQCn9K0D7JtlPm5YVhncX7_AAELDuRF-ukST_IDIVpfz7Nz5RgGxZidDks_IxOkNXL1pVbbztuhbK-gF45REW-m5VUBHDx4OybOuLQ=w400-h176" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK3-wSfIFGroCKFi765hfZ_hEfrH3FPyJQN_LuyHX9AOhc-4qBx0j3FQYGvAgMPJjkUX-UIkasfGOqKHhLWegB84jkPlUZ4FCpUvFhw8TQBkl4cP5JeWMsRmXQHKLoTxyhZmKYve4dav2LGxDFm2QpATisO4OULS9WFqHRmWA6P6Nw2L1hJOnuIxARw/s3264/20220802_112725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK3-wSfIFGroCKFi765hfZ_hEfrH3FPyJQN_LuyHX9AOhc-4qBx0j3FQYGvAgMPJjkUX-UIkasfGOqKHhLWegB84jkPlUZ4FCpUvFhw8TQBkl4cP5JeWMsRmXQHKLoTxyhZmKYve4dav2LGxDFm2QpATisO4OULS9WFqHRmWA6P6Nw2L1hJOnuIxARw/w400-h180/20220802_112725.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfiJZg7ErpeUheFmtnK26rewOthTdWa4ThkG_5hMeY4Vpr-DYU6rNN3fC0Nx1MJAwS_aZ_7Q5vOBd2LcxvupKKI0ceuBlyPJWRTmy6sVq9hu71nyABJJmaRxaKxamMdjWoSWDEvHTt4CbIhK6oeB1tnyyBFTPz7Jv0vRl35s-vBbhvRPzyvCi0jAxjw/s3264/20220802_114433.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfiJZg7ErpeUheFmtnK26rewOthTdWa4ThkG_5hMeY4Vpr-DYU6rNN3fC0Nx1MJAwS_aZ_7Q5vOBd2LcxvupKKI0ceuBlyPJWRTmy6sVq9hu71nyABJJmaRxaKxamMdjWoSWDEvHTt4CbIhK6oeB1tnyyBFTPz7Jv0vRl35s-vBbhvRPzyvCi0jAxjw/w400-h180/20220802_114433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Area for VIP guests.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ILmzrhlklSpDlBsinR2niYk_lUHOgDNNhlcJ96iSejH_Ax3QiHojKNq_-tN8MfEoRpGWprkZIQ2ecQFNbpAdrvm3HXR3YepPfgCwDQ9LkfBi8m5GM4hium8N0iyWGHcCkj_-FqCII31rSUoh6KgdsX6VtkTn5g0fPo3CxeAS1JXfMhQHUee3a4KuPg/s3264/20220802_121203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ILmzrhlklSpDlBsinR2niYk_lUHOgDNNhlcJ96iSejH_Ax3QiHojKNq_-tN8MfEoRpGWprkZIQ2ecQFNbpAdrvm3HXR3YepPfgCwDQ9LkfBi8m5GM4hium8N0iyWGHcCkj_-FqCII31rSUoh6KgdsX6VtkTn5g0fPo3CxeAS1JXfMhQHUee3a4KuPg/w400-h180/20220802_121203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This display is in the hull of the ship!<br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxf9SXTgFJ1LzLngjuxV1Osf5_XsCttvbB2FG9WgllYKGZEvgQiwGiPXnUME8uG_OvsPxMfRoSiWcPoOdi9hvNBm8-9KvKaT7XwltAEuy5_1mPQuSgRoF6jhGk5M0v_MeLSCPAd844bBoQBKAJvo22ZUrJpc8OFcrN6Cv1KEa5KAS7Z6It-Mt93Wqn9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="3249" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxf9SXTgFJ1LzLngjuxV1Osf5_XsCttvbB2FG9WgllYKGZEvgQiwGiPXnUME8uG_OvsPxMfRoSiWcPoOdi9hvNBm8-9KvKaT7XwltAEuy5_1mPQuSgRoF6jhGk5M0v_MeLSCPAd844bBoQBKAJvo22ZUrJpc8OFcrN6Cv1KEa5KAS7Z6It-Mt93Wqn9Q=w400-h175" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is your Captain speaking!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were traversing through Canal Park and along the Lakeway
Trail in search of an eatery when we stumbled upon Va Bene.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Who would have thought we would find good
Italian food in Minnesota?</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were
willing to give it a try since it had options for Dad and some lovely views of
the Lake.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And we were pleasantly
surprised.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We all had tasty pasta
primavera with San Marzano tomatoes.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom
awarded Va Bene extra points because they served bread with the meal.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though it wasn’t a Brooklyn-baked Italian
loaf, it was homemade, delicious, and much appreciated.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortified with full bellies, we walked over
to Duluth Trading Company.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though this
visit was a BIG DEAL for Dad, he said he could live without the $22 no pinch,
no sweat, no stink boxer shorts.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead,
he and Mom spent over $200 on matching raingear.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though it looks like it will be of good use
with the weather forecasted here, I think they just should have adopted my
thrifty raingear choice—a 3-millimeter trash bag.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUqtnn9gSTnl55RemKeCP7xUbJ0MXSZ0gCAqXKPrVCJpann5af0Jwb-nKn9mN3uRo1VhgOBvwepchkDJbXo-VeUm_WZRJwwk_fbRbdhZ46Fd8rJiEMMCmOgYdzN2TX4S6mmqPUDMXLIUBS5e4FjvMlqu_4wISV1O5fdc6OCH4zkXuJYSpj_2Am4EbZg/s4000/20220802_152415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUqtnn9gSTnl55RemKeCP7xUbJ0MXSZ0gCAqXKPrVCJpann5af0Jwb-nKn9mN3uRo1VhgOBvwepchkDJbXo-VeUm_WZRJwwk_fbRbdhZ46Fd8rJiEMMCmOgYdzN2TX4S6mmqPUDMXLIUBS5e4FjvMlqu_4wISV1O5fdc6OCH4zkXuJYSpj_2Am4EbZg/w400-h180/20220802_152415.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some views from Lakeview Trail and Canal Park...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKpBEdfPGfkwdCgXhX-2Y2X4tsdT3c4MLK5CAc63Tz8xN27loqyilxZBDnDZ_4s0vYfu1LFh7yAC8c1947KYPKtVxXenD_7JPfOnapZ-I8exmw5sExLD-E8yrn8mBHjz74L19IsGWekF7Q66OK8Sq7Slif6RHv9onr5RBnmyCWzPxMS6P0SCxkBbz-w/s3264/20220802_125845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKpBEdfPGfkwdCgXhX-2Y2X4tsdT3c4MLK5CAc63Tz8xN27loqyilxZBDnDZ_4s0vYfu1LFh7yAC8c1947KYPKtVxXenD_7JPfOnapZ-I8exmw5sExLD-E8yrn8mBHjz74L19IsGWekF7Q66OK8Sq7Slif6RHv9onr5RBnmyCWzPxMS6P0SCxkBbz-w/w400-h180/20220802_125845.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FTy2Lu1a6AYdxivcaRZoaezEeqwqwBEcu-ryP08_vp2fb-4FUfXFhb4-zsKxQXQl16-zsNt_cR8sYy3waqHmQoQiCS_TTwoWC7A2YrpgWtcv5Nu7j9ZQzKJYUXcaNwiX7D127ni-0MDZhx5VFv5zXgRExaBz8RThabLjHyKFb_UPaIjlwDe2rrn15w/s4000/20220802_124515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FTy2Lu1a6AYdxivcaRZoaezEeqwqwBEcu-ryP08_vp2fb-4FUfXFhb4-zsKxQXQl16-zsNt_cR8sYy3waqHmQoQiCS_TTwoWC7A2YrpgWtcv5Nu7j9ZQzKJYUXcaNwiX7D127ni-0MDZhx5VFv5zXgRExaBz8RThabLjHyKFb_UPaIjlwDe2rrn15w/w400-h180/20220802_124515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As we walked along the streets of Duluth, I loved the way the City repurposed outdated buildings.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Warehouses were converted to retail spaces, and a telephone substation smaller than a tiny house is
now an ice cream shop.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Even chain
restaurants like Red Lobster that usually have a distinct exterior style/floorplan are
housed in converted buildings.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;">We checked into the Historic Willard Munger Inn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Willard Munger holds the distinction of being
Minnesota’s longest serving representative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He served for a total of 42 years, 7 months, before dying in 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 88 years old, he was also Minnesota’s
oldest legislator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He established the
Inn in 1954, and it is now run by his grandson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The “inn” is more like an old-school motor lodge, though management has
been working diligently to enhance the amenities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For $100/night, it offered everything we
needed since we were only in it for sleeping, and it had some pretty
grounds/outdoor seating areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Obviously, others felt the same way since the place was booked solid. </span>Furthermore, a nice
biking/hiking trail runs right behind the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trail is named in honor of Munger, an
avid environmentalist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We boarded Maximus the Trike early the next morning and
traveled along North Shore Drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
stopped at several scenic lookouts along the way, though tree growth now
blocks what once was a pristine view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
passed through Beaver Bay, population 120, which was once part of the trade
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if any beavers still
reside there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc5S5tWzVV1uPL-owE1yddR1YtcS16TXJElJQBn0B9yh_LWI68B0hua4lrtX2TAFtI6sWfNo7QvnXo3JLX3SMyvUkcp8CwfnPKVuSB2dxlVsZQRJpNoahmvSwGIqx465erzsEI4zsIQYhwCJPWxGCCePbq-fKg_ZFvKK1BAXTARb9wG51L6dwn2zQLQ/s3264/20220803_080658.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc5S5tWzVV1uPL-owE1yddR1YtcS16TXJElJQBn0B9yh_LWI68B0hua4lrtX2TAFtI6sWfNo7QvnXo3JLX3SMyvUkcp8CwfnPKVuSB2dxlVsZQRJpNoahmvSwGIqx465erzsEI4zsIQYhwCJPWxGCCePbq-fKg_ZFvKK1BAXTARb9wG51L6dwn2zQLQ/w400-h180/20220803_080658.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w5XnHuneiHgUrnqaKyI5GZ7cNMVm3_2igTNxI3lebjmNKrn28NM_pBCrzu-fo00apjfGnrFDMxu3Sm8uVE1hWTuCwgr73Oems6MLqvV9gbgnjdB0JMhc_OjJQIM-9nYZEmNNWRhrQdb62x2_vyhyZJywSbmNScRC1dJDoW5YB9PBvsnFPImulurXiw/s1922/20220803_081748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="1665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w5XnHuneiHgUrnqaKyI5GZ7cNMVm3_2igTNxI3lebjmNKrn28NM_pBCrzu-fo00apjfGnrFDMxu3Sm8uVE1hWTuCwgr73Oems6MLqvV9gbgnjdB0JMhc_OjJQIM-9nYZEmNNWRhrQdb62x2_vyhyZJywSbmNScRC1dJDoW5YB9PBvsnFPImulurXiw/w346-h400/20220803_081748.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Silver Creek Cliffs and Tunnel as viewed from the Gitchi-Gami State Trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrCGos6yFKuSkvxrA8JwUKR8LW5r8cCROJbKaJClSEh8HTyhrgOeQFVjs2fnZ-LdlyLGYIoZsA6iR929Sx2kHcLmLgtvXEtUHuDzkQj-Z2eVXa9aKSR1M1hrAc91iKCFFQI6418kO_NFzihTthRtVDY7RdRJbdusAejz3pelhS09pSlFnIX4K6vZXLA/s4000/20220803_152339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrCGos6yFKuSkvxrA8JwUKR8LW5r8cCROJbKaJClSEh8HTyhrgOeQFVjs2fnZ-LdlyLGYIoZsA6iR929Sx2kHcLmLgtvXEtUHuDzkQj-Z2eVXa9aKSR1M1hrAc91iKCFFQI6418kO_NFzihTthRtVDY7RdRJbdusAejz3pelhS09pSlFnIX4K6vZXLA/w180-h400/20220803_152339.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">The Cross of Father Frederic Baraga, a Missionary devoted to the Ojibwe Indians.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">It replaced the wooden cross Father Baraga built in1846 in thanks to God for his safe passage across Lake Superior during a horrific storm. We also stopped at the Cross River Waterfalls.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><br /> </span></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzIJNbgA8BJBlG-YgkU-vGaUhsyGV2ixJCStgq4RX40OhtPIueyHZ6tbYyL6BAFtpkpaKL8SQEbjxDGlNa0qA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWbvGDVsLQ2WIyU8l-mUd4z4yBU1qoTRNkb75eJOhDagQmCtEdxW7sAcq1pFjKpk_gS-L4_ee-KwIBskSPCeu5PEQABHN83bse2eNQdWiqoZLOQ5cPhkFFGm7m-8XZ2875mqyXguL2tq94sH8E-YijUCKdzxkf05o1n623Y77wtKx2vYgT90gVAs6bg/s4000/20220804_183114.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWbvGDVsLQ2WIyU8l-mUd4z4yBU1qoTRNkb75eJOhDagQmCtEdxW7sAcq1pFjKpk_gS-L4_ee-KwIBskSPCeu5PEQABHN83bse2eNQdWiqoZLOQ5cPhkFFGm7m-8XZ2875mqyXguL2tq94sH8E-YijUCKdzxkf05o1n623Y77wtKx2vYgT90gVAs6bg/w400-h180/20220804_183114.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rocky, the mascot of Silver Bay and its taconite mining industry.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We passed a couple of cute residential properties.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Then we did a double take—holy horse
poop!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What the heck?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">At first it looked like a pile of rubbish,
remnants of a fire or even an old garage sale.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But the more closely we examined, we realized it was a piece of
art.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Utilizing animal statues, mirrors,
and an assortment of natural and manmade materials, it was a unique recreation
of wildlife residing in natural habitat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrYlCrIy-vNetL9GV1hkb6AOi0n3WkuOoaeP14vV5Rwb3wuQ5WMhmyWcGyI6W0k3EtBwVy_o8VcI-lzogdyuuT7YVeqzIzjZkvdOt5gMZ3AWfy9qrGDuwffKHGFE6ibYNpMF-rCSZYRXKRgCCPSs-wViy4PA5HqHXnj68ZgZsI8xU83ZNp07yQRMONaw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="2313" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrYlCrIy-vNetL9GV1hkb6AOi0n3WkuOoaeP14vV5Rwb3wuQ5WMhmyWcGyI6W0k3EtBwVy_o8VcI-lzogdyuuT7YVeqzIzjZkvdOt5gMZ3AWfy9qrGDuwffKHGFE6ibYNpMF-rCSZYRXKRgCCPSs-wViy4PA5HqHXnj68ZgZsI8xU83ZNp07yQRMONaw=w400-h244" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Once I figured out this artistic creation, I was intrigued. It was like finding hidden images in Highlights Magazine!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We reached our late-morning destination:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Naniboujou Lodge and Restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were super excited to come here, having
heard wonderful things about it.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And
they all proved true!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is a gorgeous
property along the shores of Lake Superior.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Built in the 1920s by high-profile investors like sports figures Babe
Ruth and Jack Demsey, it was a wealthy man’s getaway.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Today it is a welcome retreat from
electronics--no cell service, no TVs, no Wi-Fi, just the peace and serenity of
nature. The dining area is spectacular! Painted in vibrant, Southwestern
motifs, a hand-masonry stone hearth stands front and center.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We planned to eat lunch here, but we learned quickly
that this was not to be.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The restaurant,
like so many other businesses, was suffering a staffing shortage.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, only breakfast and dinner service was
offered now.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Meals were all buffet
style, no open menu offerings.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The real
kicker, though:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the restaurant was only
accommodating its lodging guests—it was no longer available to the general
public.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was totally bummed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents appeased me by letting me take a
dip in the cold waters of Lake Superior, the 4</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> of the Great Lakes
we have visited.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeSaC37IZZrGO6UKhJ0R2yZ8Vxa8YzA7K4ZUX3yG2CSUHsLVlL6dC4_UR0qZ11na4rZQkz77iua-9jz2gxzu11WiYg1ZALwz_65qNa3ZOkK9J1XqohLEoSCvPjdalUugwj4LzncXkT7Do2RCEAXaZMk__8aqNRi7bU_HQLnpl7WO97_poLi6KAI_ihA/s4000/20220803_115007.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeSaC37IZZrGO6UKhJ0R2yZ8Vxa8YzA7K4ZUX3yG2CSUHsLVlL6dC4_UR0qZ11na4rZQkz77iua-9jz2gxzu11WiYg1ZALwz_65qNa3ZOkK9J1XqohLEoSCvPjdalUugwj4LzncXkT7Do2RCEAXaZMk__8aqNRi7bU_HQLnpl7WO97_poLi6KAI_ihA/w400-h180/20220803_115007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoju3mqc_tDg9grp7dcytOJek2sBd-5qCSziVPRnPXmc6pt2fXXt8S8qL1kyKpqm8ySUbbKLuppIBQq-Ck4ADKfNPZzR2lqb9pM7OANqFy5FHXkEYtMIzs3tRiUgddCTJX3FTvTGIgg55yOapXmsANj5XHg8pGogF6EgpPTSvYjtcYbXEdoZPIcWvPBQ/s4000/20220803_112030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoju3mqc_tDg9grp7dcytOJek2sBd-5qCSziVPRnPXmc6pt2fXXt8S8qL1kyKpqm8ySUbbKLuppIBQq-Ck4ADKfNPZzR2lqb9pM7OANqFy5FHXkEYtMIzs3tRiUgddCTJX3FTvTGIgg55yOapXmsANj5XHg8pGogF6EgpPTSvYjtcYbXEdoZPIcWvPBQ/w400-h180/20220803_112030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qnq1c7FDi_X21zi3HvYWi5h2tG7af1DevtD4KI97mf7Frz3B9cTV-fVpjVcX2bn6648jS2xtSatYEV3N22jjQhQin43vwu5_ssVISwvg-lDNj20DDzDoCo9itKdsbHsjKAFQ2cqrvmpLO_2QWz7N-0PZMD093UwvgK_6xUJWEaUQTunjZFhvyWMaiA/s3264/20220803_112636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qnq1c7FDi_X21zi3HvYWi5h2tG7af1DevtD4KI97mf7Frz3B9cTV-fVpjVcX2bn6648jS2xtSatYEV3N22jjQhQin43vwu5_ssVISwvg-lDNj20DDzDoCo9itKdsbHsjKAFQ2cqrvmpLO_2QWz7N-0PZMD093UwvgK_6xUJWEaUQTunjZFhvyWMaiA/w400-h180/20220803_112636.jpg" width="400" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb4D8fiMXsY2j-x0vchuUDaXIKRfYspoHsEVtn27IBKURvQsUoiksr7PXW91c8m_gr0LO5whXg2Mr_sGdC4YBE9pQZDEOGKOFKUSk_w8VUHb2Xhtkpoqc6yldQ_gYK5o_R-qUSqPiQeqZqCxNIn-oF8JBIfNblI4WM1PA373i4M5Ape6o_ujOwlKgU7Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="3977" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb4D8fiMXsY2j-x0vchuUDaXIKRfYspoHsEVtn27IBKURvQsUoiksr7PXW91c8m_gr0LO5whXg2Mr_sGdC4YBE9pQZDEOGKOFKUSk_w8VUHb2Xhtkpoqc6yldQ_gYK5o_R-qUSqPiQeqZqCxNIn-oF8JBIfNblI4WM1PA373i4M5Ape6o_ujOwlKgU7Q=w400-h171" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me and Dad along the shores of Lake Superior.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We returned to Grand Marais to
seek an alternate eatery.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We
settled on The Gun Flint Saloon, which had several options for Dad.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I won’t bore you with all the issues that
transpired (including, but not limited to, having 2 tables that were seated AFTER us receive their entrees and
be halfway through their meals before Dad even got his soup appetizer.) </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Let’s just say that the food was tasty, but the
service was ABYSMAL!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg67Rt097AX_ekgp7t9DcWbxLbOjyhiA3Vm67PFNOAr4ZFoSgzLjrN9HZXC6H7GPrdTgtGLyDpHWxg-POUUne2veXzVPuGB-JMM0acv29UK2pdwfLmRgA3S4dlu1REa0CXwR4qMlJjFmcO1TWCdVkL2XNlcHIjoy3sc5KpEldoCza5UBt0TeHnoJUFEg/s3805/20220803_142919.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="3805" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg67Rt097AX_ekgp7t9DcWbxLbOjyhiA3Vm67PFNOAr4ZFoSgzLjrN9HZXC6H7GPrdTgtGLyDpHWxg-POUUne2veXzVPuGB-JMM0acv29UK2pdwfLmRgA3S4dlu1REa0CXwR4qMlJjFmcO1TWCdVkL2XNlcHIjoy3sc5KpEldoCza5UBt0TeHnoJUFEg/w400-h189/20220803_142919.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A lovely rose garden in Grand Marais.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">After lunch, we went to Split Rock State Park to view the
Lighthouse.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We learned the Lighthouse is
operated by the Minnesota Historical Society and is a separate entity from the
State Park. So, we were not required to pay the State Park fee, only the
$12/adult entrance fee for the Lighthouse. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Prior to US-61 opening to tourism in 1924,
this area was only accessible via boat.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Every
year, boats would continue to make journeys later and later into the fall
season.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Pushing the envelope proved
disastrous on November 27, 1905.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A
12-hour storm from the South Dakota Plains came through, causing 33 fatalities and
damaging 38 vessels at Split Rock Point.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">In 1910, the government completed building this taxpayer-funded
lighthouse.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Building supplies were
shipped and hoisted up the cliff through a tramway system, of which we saw
remnants when we hiked the Boardwalk Trail.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1969 after being under the diligent
care of 38 keepers and their families over its 59 years of service.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dS6-1QalD3MwTS3g3PYFcdlRccE16MJ3vcMAf3BM9mOZ8YgGHkKZqjQNyteTWH5RfYLYCHLKKl5OgxuOWazByTcSOfn6kDIZ2udL9qi1UeDEkF1z2s5a-MSoEW6LPjPqK-XGMrYMPOLFB4ILTLzzD0sZbc3x0TIbNEaf47BsItC0jYqQe4XEp89Zsw/s3264/20220803_164704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dS6-1QalD3MwTS3g3PYFcdlRccE16MJ3vcMAf3BM9mOZ8YgGHkKZqjQNyteTWH5RfYLYCHLKKl5OgxuOWazByTcSOfn6kDIZ2udL9qi1UeDEkF1z2s5a-MSoEW6LPjPqK-XGMrYMPOLFB4ILTLzzD0sZbc3x0TIbNEaf47BsItC0jYqQe4XEp89Zsw/w180-h400/20220803_164704.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAm3SSLeBzVPd4Yiu6kF8J7Hf78cXCyvHmHlSi_KWHe1Szy52qw1pX0oVUBuemDayNCzG11bUHLwUll1CyN64RZNdGR9tDZ8LOgRcFOecpugNBcMX2Dqcj9YR2pq8j0_JFbjD14l9BT4KwF1a3_hB2ezhmWj4QWzsP9-wMBeIUSCD__pGR490sjkTJw/s3264/20220803_170918.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAm3SSLeBzVPd4Yiu6kF8J7Hf78cXCyvHmHlSi_KWHe1Szy52qw1pX0oVUBuemDayNCzG11bUHLwUll1CyN64RZNdGR9tDZ8LOgRcFOecpugNBcMX2Dqcj9YR2pq8j0_JFbjD14l9BT4KwF1a3_hB2ezhmWj4QWzsP9-wMBeIUSCD__pGR490sjkTJw/w400-h178/20220803_170918.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking up the stairs inside the lighthouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyt89AGCB8-xVoicRa8zr-_p_3HapK0aFuvMIgSgHUBzmyBtiJ32eB0ebiTd2fkz9X_OvSePRAP7i8I0W6h4A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC7jXwbJeOSl1-L6Ksl9IDLb6BsAMDdCf5iCsKTUI76aAhTLDg_QhyzEr5mrHuoW5qqyrnmdFBotcFffCcar3q3k4m-t9jYGd6rjRKfpu_ScRUgIdcd7Q0pWmjsiqQSF3VJdVup5QoCqEX6ahj7AmJcUJXUgi9LUik2Uaqbu5e6dewIoehcZU14dP9Q/s4000/20220803_173349.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC7jXwbJeOSl1-L6Ksl9IDLb6BsAMDdCf5iCsKTUI76aAhTLDg_QhyzEr5mrHuoW5qqyrnmdFBotcFffCcar3q3k4m-t9jYGd6rjRKfpu_ScRUgIdcd7Q0pWmjsiqQSF3VJdVup5QoCqEX6ahj7AmJcUJXUgi9LUik2Uaqbu5e6dewIoehcZU14dP9Q/w180-h400/20220803_173349.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Photo taken from the shoreline below the Boardwalk Trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOKvgu_-9fQe3VQU3lktNXehPvtWbZOwUDtZqzRh6rIikeShsh-6z7QfsXCO44tP4kU39fiZQLs9TYW1fHTjsxD0odxMJSx4Idmd0MOAoarbAdS3r44L6WmkCpLTKMBUWeVloYhD9IsVvqjCxAodUf4UZp1RGG9LTzD_f_ZWOrIo70a2Y6PAyMCEEaA/s4000/20220803_173632.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOKvgu_-9fQe3VQU3lktNXehPvtWbZOwUDtZqzRh6rIikeShsh-6z7QfsXCO44tP4kU39fiZQLs9TYW1fHTjsxD0odxMJSx4Idmd0MOAoarbAdS3r44L6WmkCpLTKMBUWeVloYhD9IsVvqjCxAodUf4UZp1RGG9LTzD_f_ZWOrIo70a2Y6PAyMCEEaA/w180-h400/20220803_173632.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We traversed up and down the Boardwalk Trail, which ran parallel to the once-used tramway.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNDFqY7G5kVoZLY7HewiSxLwX6H4-TZkL0zXxPCIzkYtRR052_3j6DJC-iB2eAMz6rqF5UTmRJWdShbvI1O06aP5HwZdZ1m1rcHg4Ht5ohVT0E-05PHDhrC90efX6XVNmauPB0D_lPQ2A9XNdC3kwN9JIissp6j__rhmG6lt_IolszSgE3_apG6PWiw/s3264/20220803_171610.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNDFqY7G5kVoZLY7HewiSxLwX6H4-TZkL0zXxPCIzkYtRR052_3j6DJC-iB2eAMz6rqF5UTmRJWdShbvI1O06aP5HwZdZ1m1rcHg4Ht5ohVT0E-05PHDhrC90efX6XVNmauPB0D_lPQ2A9XNdC3kwN9JIissp6j__rhmG6lt_IolszSgE3_apG6PWiw/w400-h180/20220803_171610.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lightkeepers' housing from back in the day.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UCXhKlIzxBK2C-N3pWIgOAmlpFXa0JcxQxBevrxoI5nsd-a7NHa3ps6f0W2tM6qWGy4FN00WIYh8KqKvPqIKzOYtfwR-3mF9E4YB0vsD9BC4lk6tV5Usb_2LZR0ArJYJDSyWjwymfw3VKz1D0u-HLxxhcaJOPS3J5WTxTD6eSdw5_NEPcsKDMYsOWg/s3264/20220803_164135.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UCXhKlIzxBK2C-N3pWIgOAmlpFXa0JcxQxBevrxoI5nsd-a7NHa3ps6f0W2tM6qWGy4FN00WIYh8KqKvPqIKzOYtfwR-3mF9E4YB0vsD9BC4lk6tV5Usb_2LZR0ArJYJDSyWjwymfw3VKz1D0u-HLxxhcaJOPS3J5WTxTD6eSdw5_NEPcsKDMYsOWg/w400-h180/20220803_164135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The next itinerary item was hiking in Gooseberry Falls State
Park.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Falls here are multi-tiered
and quite lovely.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Decades ago, A
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp existed on the grounds behind Upper Gooseberry
Falls.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It’s hard to imagine with all the
tree growth now.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMQJnaFgkgIODVcjMNXPBkx5dwoY4cBKTtUxLRGJxUwpkuQGK84JXj_5ewcollnqfLZKQroN33brMxLihy4WT0f0yW1t2LkJDQZowdh_2dYinuik5Jn45Eq7vsqLBAP8stq37bkvqpWPulWRlYdp-3cYdtKnt9cC7T8iisoTt8S_Lc5NZaksAjlg5Hg/s4000/20220803_181037.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMQJnaFgkgIODVcjMNXPBkx5dwoY4cBKTtUxLRGJxUwpkuQGK84JXj_5ewcollnqfLZKQroN33brMxLihy4WT0f0yW1t2LkJDQZowdh_2dYinuik5Jn45Eq7vsqLBAP8stq37bkvqpWPulWRlYdp-3cYdtKnt9cC7T8iisoTt8S_Lc5NZaksAjlg5Hg/w400-h180/20220803_181037.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Upper Gooseberry Falls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR7SzndSgAGcMe5aDBu1kDJHugdAkgJRsWMuFHNAgzMdd4jd4cK6o3-1Bf-Nlbg0ksFYVMBQhQQkt2SwJ-OXhCN7wo-krGfYsMnpFahfilz4DeCtC2MCPgsOoSULkv9XGbmfA5QnrYnLoS-gqqYNaNw-Da1zKTmVsyVZz4Ppq-amvBo3X3SwVnNUUZA/s4000/20220803_182138.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyR7SzndSgAGcMe5aDBu1kDJHugdAkgJRsWMuFHNAgzMdd4jd4cK6o3-1Bf-Nlbg0ksFYVMBQhQQkt2SwJ-OXhCN7wo-krGfYsMnpFahfilz4DeCtC2MCPgsOoSULkv9XGbmfA5QnrYnLoS-gqqYNaNw-Da1zKTmVsyVZz4Ppq-amvBo3X3SwVnNUUZA/w400-h180/20220803_182138.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lower Gooseberry Falls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Lastly, we visited Tettegouche State Park to hike to the Baptism River Falls, the
tallest water falls entirely within Minnesota. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWpE6BnrOaFuYUPACSJlMdUgRtWVHF1PMo2lKiWXZmrTXTGAU-gINp3PGDclhdcDqiqiAqDraywzbdRNMbaQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">As we hiked, I was fascinated watching this centipede take down a worm! Look for yourself!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwB6b8Wxd02IG0WhOUBCU5J2bUi5y_jWM1-7tai188mXJrR4mnok9LA8-7SexfYT9Cg-XdUCH4ReJr0dkCxkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">With the cold air coming off Lake Superior and the sprinkling of rain, I froze my buns off on the ride back to the motel after sundown. (This is where my trash bag cannot compare to my parents' new Duluth Trading Company raingear).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my discomfort was a small price to pay for the fun-filled,
productive day of touring I enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We scheduled our trip to the North Shore to coincide with
the biennial 4-day Festival of Sails.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">This is when the historic tall ships come to the Lake Superior
harbor.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Typically, the Festival is held
within Duluth, which has all the infrastructure (parking, eateries, lodging,
etc.) needed to pull off an event that attracts more than 100,000 visitors.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">However, due to waterfront construction in
Duluth, the 2022 event was held in Two Harbors.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Consisting of only 3.28 square miles and a mere 3,600 residents, hosting
the Festival proved to be too ambitious an undertaking for tiny Two Harbors.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">It was the proverbial “who’s on first?”
cluster of confusion. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">They had tons of
volunteers, but most were embarrassed and frustrated by the disorganization and
lack of basic information/direction they received.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The chaos started with the directional signage for the
various off-site parking lots from which guests were required to take shuttles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would turn following the arrow on a sign on the main road, then would never find another sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out the powers-that-be had not
finished putting up all the signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was at 7:30 a.m., and the first shuttles were due to leave parking lots at 8
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing like waiting until the last
minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we weren’t the only
folks confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kept meeting up with
another couple that was searching for the same parking lot we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We finally found the parking area and boarded the shuttle. But the shuttle driver didn’t know where to discharge his passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dropped us off and told
everyone to go into a building to show our tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside, the volunteers said we need to walk
about 1/4 mile down the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked over to the specified area and were told that the area is only for vendors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were instructed to walk back almost to
where we started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeesh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Though we did not opt for the ticket to board the ships, we
did pay to get on the dock to watch the vessels sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, several volunteers denied us entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally found one gentleman who granted us
access, acknowledging that we should get what we paid for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fun watching the tall ships leave the harbor,
though most did not use their sails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
stayed on the dock awaiting the return of the ships, only to learn that 2 of
the 4 vessels were not coming back into the harbor at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had paying customers on board and were
taking them on a tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_CZQArNJ8WttFFV6ZKzcOq18z70VCEC3JhkFr6zOZDHp_YgHv9drIF5XuaMdqoCRELayAAvAkX1g85Cz0qoTRY7Yzo6p4O3UuXYzibiV-qmfk2vp2M9cJ8VexvhFuWr82MEOh7rf-oyrGLYMvXVH11chfHDFLMTk1CoFckhHB5gP5CeHjV2VwVMUzA/s4000/20220804_104157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_CZQArNJ8WttFFV6ZKzcOq18z70VCEC3JhkFr6zOZDHp_YgHv9drIF5XuaMdqoCRELayAAvAkX1g85Cz0qoTRY7Yzo6p4O3UuXYzibiV-qmfk2vp2M9cJ8VexvhFuWr82MEOh7rf-oyrGLYMvXVH11chfHDFLMTk1CoFckhHB5gP5CeHjV2VwVMUzA/w400-h180/20220804_104157.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxorRf3Mb35QDdJOOqvekjRcck4VeOHhmVx30G_YKi3dkl-e2plpPkgiNdGfVAMUpstJVU34vWXuVMIHYzBsQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But the real kicker was when Customs and Border Patrol came down the dock and instructed all spectators to leave. They had a Spanish flag ship they had to board and inspect. What the heck! Why didn’t they do that out at sea or at least wait for the other ships to return to the dock! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the culprit:</span></div></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxLTbGC-MkvpEIWCu0fI35unhFLT9KcPrthdpg1Ki70VR1xwxOR6HQq7MmrIFXudkt2QIftMdpRuro-iMnACw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My favorite example of confusion, however, was a woman who
claimed to “be in charge”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She provided the
response, “that’s a really good question” to a man who asked what time the
shuttles would begin on subsequent days of the Festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she never answered his query. Instead,
she just turned and walked away, never to return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who’s on first?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only was no one on first, these
volunteers weren’t even in a ballpark!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We did have one unexpected highlight:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we watched a 1,000-foot Laker dock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Captain parked that sucker quicker than
Mom can park Big Boomer, our medium duty truck!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVQFmLpOrUvgV35bZgfMKre0hs9eJbhZ-5jqqRQ-Bk6JpI2UCupCH5w3-7-JDkOdj48R_LiCe54gX6eOmOqQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Before departing Duluth, we drove over the Lake Avenue
Bridge, which was just about to rise slightly to let a small boat through.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">We stopped at the Minnesota Point Public
Beach to dip our feet into Lake Superior.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">With a surface area of 31,700
square miles, the Lake is comprised of 3 QUADTRILLION gallons of water.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">The water temp registered a chilly 56F
degrees, not as frigid as the Polar Bear Plunges at NJ beaches each January
(typically mid-40F degrees), but cold for early August.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">I was amazed at how the Lake created waves
just like an ocean!</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">In fact, one local
told us he has witnessed waves 35 feet in height!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMr0iqdObs3lvQ2UG5NYD4FftrQ5NOAK9YVXbnTtDtVBCLfHh8azuk59yTq_IPnRLPdjBl3rS9RwQv3o-WTA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">We returned to Maximus the Trike and crossed over the state
line, arriving at Wisconsin Point in Superior, Wisconsin.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">The St. Louis River feeds Lake Superior in
this area.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">We parked by the
lighthouse.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">It is privately owned by a
tech billionaire.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">He apparently knows
not what to do with his money, since the lighthouse remains abandoned.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">We stopped at the Chippewa burial grounds.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Some of the bodies interred here
initially were exhumed and moved.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">However, based on artifacts left in the area, members of the Chippewa
tribe still consider the area sacred.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">So,
out of respect, we refrained from taking photos.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Before we hit the road for our return to
Marcell, we enjoyed an excellent veggie pizza at Toppers, a veteran-owned
business in Superior.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">How ironic to find
a pizzeria within the proclaimed Cheese State that offers non-dairy cheese
alternatives!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRf10o39NkLb9oTTpQMdP7V-XpCoQC5STst_BlPXgVyfJWeyMmF5yE3Iw9to6BrTsGmxi4Od48jJBlLqtyXX6AhPtKwPkMuEF1-R7wYl31NZH4rBzkHBmavN-Rnbk0k-gBlz9_tiVO26qCguyfQgQt4tyS33DL14vl8xfzpVluBXw3YALqoklct1MBdA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRf10o39NkLb9oTTpQMdP7V-XpCoQC5STst_BlPXgVyfJWeyMmF5yE3Iw9to6BrTsGmxi4Od48jJBlLqtyXX6AhPtKwPkMuEF1-R7wYl31NZH4rBzkHBmavN-Rnbk0k-gBlz9_tiVO26qCguyfQgQt4tyS33DL14vl8xfzpVluBXw3YALqoklct1MBdA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The break wall across from the lighthouse is Minnesota Point, the beach area that we visited just an hour earlier.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiDSXU0nejLZ7XqGQbtuv1KDGwVJ384Ej0CV-2H3h2qEnGkelUgC8ahbpRef-bbAbOpn1YnaDuT7v4oGzKii77YQRscsRwUB7XyKqKWZNYdI4CRvF0lsbVxnS7Iq2OqPwD5klIKuDBPrvma6Q0RC4kqmIM9qmRldC5xp17ma79x_AzZ8i4okOWcRoNdg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiDSXU0nejLZ7XqGQbtuv1KDGwVJ384Ej0CV-2H3h2qEnGkelUgC8ahbpRef-bbAbOpn1YnaDuT7v4oGzKii77YQRscsRwUB7XyKqKWZNYdI4CRvF0lsbVxnS7Iq2OqPwD5klIKuDBPrvma6Q0RC4kqmIM9qmRldC5xp17ma79x_AzZ8i4okOWcRoNdg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Out of respect, we did not take photos within the burial grounds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6e1fBFsNe5EfLJUBwq0-RVL0UHzyuJ8hVFjJPI7MlIh2QuqDX8FSI61nbkKMBRcyanOdqxFYT_HvVHqG85ZSE0TYrbbFaRbUC8lJWBtG0oAGG8krlZ9gdL8PQJ7IVz86SdnSqOPfhl5w8ivNf0_zQsfX8L2_CZdHu04Da6JYrAicvqvDFqxT57GZGaA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="2647" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6e1fBFsNe5EfLJUBwq0-RVL0UHzyuJ8hVFjJPI7MlIh2QuqDX8FSI61nbkKMBRcyanOdqxFYT_HvVHqG85ZSE0TYrbbFaRbUC8lJWBtG0oAGG8krlZ9gdL8PQJ7IVz86SdnSqOPfhl5w8ivNf0_zQsfX8L2_CZdHu04Da6JYrAicvqvDFqxT57GZGaA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lovely house museum, which unfortunately was not open to take a tour.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2a6uQrj78uTt-sxwaNT0G9vVhzKQ0x68W05eJlfBxkr6CDHRxV4IyXEJ_HtrIqhlqLQ6QpBU8l5VVbJft3iEXkn4p2Svj-C_2PhnafsqVoG5czVE_Te-cZq-AcEPdn3WC5vFgvXWcG-az-yS4h13ryvTo8_4ZIK-v-yK8jLwB48jUfQf1yL1AXmmKPw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="1456" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2a6uQrj78uTt-sxwaNT0G9vVhzKQ0x68W05eJlfBxkr6CDHRxV4IyXEJ_HtrIqhlqLQ6QpBU8l5VVbJft3iEXkn4p2Svj-C_2PhnafsqVoG5czVE_Te-cZq-AcEPdn3WC5vFgvXWcG-az-yS4h13ryvTo8_4ZIK-v-yK8jLwB48jUfQf1yL1AXmmKPw=w199-h200" width="199" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio9rdrvsKCtBLO8nv3zmr4-X4SWKGvlQKcWFr5JG_5ZqDGD1NVcRNJyUy3G17yeF6ny1JBJ-2mqdvAVcH7fYs3HT9uaKdrRg1WqN8olmKTQDC-tIvSzEzwq6eElyJAQbZ4AX_50Gs2Mq6G8uX38JayLmrO9wzXPp5Sy_JnR-AvezZyWvS1zacViY9XOQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1624" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEio9rdrvsKCtBLO8nv3zmr4-X4SWKGvlQKcWFr5JG_5ZqDGD1NVcRNJyUy3G17yeF6ny1JBJ-2mqdvAVcH7fYs3HT9uaKdrRg1WqN8olmKTQDC-tIvSzEzwq6eElyJAQbZ4AX_50Gs2Mq6G8uX38JayLmrO9wzXPp5Sy_JnR-AvezZyWvS1zacViY9XOQ=w200-h190" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Well, that concludes my final blogpost on our summer in
Minnesota.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Our volunteer commitment at
the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center had come to an end. Though we
weren’t fortunate enough to witness the Aurora Borealis, we loved volunteering in and touring the Great North State.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">I
may never have seen a beaver here that wasn’t stuffed by a taxidermist or viewed
a porcupine that wasn’t roadkill, but I was privy to many wonderful wildlife
sightings.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">This truly has been a
Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Tomorrow we </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">hit the road to tour the San Luis Valley of Colorado.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-13554527371483829922022-08-23T23:13:00.001-05:002022-09-25T18:55:49.468-05:00Touring Voyageurs National Park (VNP), International Falls, Minnesota<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were excited to implement our plan to visit
International Falls, home to Voyageurs National Park (VNP), during our days
off from volunteering at the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell, Minnesota.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We headed out by 8 a.m. on Maximus the Trike, traversing on MN-6.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It was a lonely
drive for the first 45-minutes—only a half dozen other cars were traveling on
either side of this roadway.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Then we
reached Big Falls and the intersection with US-71.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">While Dad fueled up Maximus, Mom and I read
the interpretive signs.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Big Falls’ first
European settler arrived from Scotland in 1877.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The town was originally named Ripple, but its name changed to Big Falls
in 1904 when the town incorporated.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Its
tagline is </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>In the Heart of the Wilderness</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We visited the County Park in Big Falls,
which is a hidden gem.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A beautiful
setting overlooking small waterfalls, the Park contains 32 RV sites that have
electric and water hookups.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A dump
station is available as well.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Several of
the sites are big-rig friendly, i.e., they could fit our Big Boomer/Suite
Retreat set-up easily.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">All for just
$30/night.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Even better, you can book for
a week ($180) or even a month at a time ($540).</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Furthermore, I did a full inspection of their facilities and can report
that the Park has ultra clean restrooms and showers if you need/want to use
them.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEO5k58szfGsy2Zz81DYyKaD8BdHqwl78fHa_1ywENAnSmZ1vcoricZD4FJtmWtAhWwXi-6mVf_-3z2wOoPG9K3l2V_8cHRpto6AyegiNxVsroe-9YxMm6-TVikxUnRpL-AEAHzVERbI4SAYnppvqlSJNpPjh_dpjgTAeTTWuwO2-Yt0JK1KD5OTzblg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="3967" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEO5k58szfGsy2Zz81DYyKaD8BdHqwl78fHa_1ywENAnSmZ1vcoricZD4FJtmWtAhWwXi-6mVf_-3z2wOoPG9K3l2V_8cHRpto6AyegiNxVsroe-9YxMm6-TVikxUnRpL-AEAHzVERbI4SAYnppvqlSJNpPjh_dpjgTAeTTWuwO2-Yt0JK1KD5OTzblg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjic9rLx0i9k4kuNZMGrSMFMVaeWFGftxuVstaaMrWZnKb18hR3wbmAMhJ8MDFwJF2Jgfb64YAzWd9z1eHgctc07vQJUIgIg3_tVqU3k9d4eet5st4K4X_jKcDZVD_6xmwj2UB3N4XOYmov1q8QNgjk11DiqhYRTVPgApMkyHQctc-FTcK0SRm5CYj55w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnj2T4oC8kesfpoAktdhCf9KM-cf5U85rpgyFVuOvQF7zeCrdS1qJKnWjC1sHkBf-Hn4uzbpVIGbjAKRjfSuuOhBU9EWWuCyWv5ooGCfWJP7DoSnGQx4No0P6xctIloHG0ImFtKELU2Oz0Y78O4LW6ugdOLbMPInsFX3nYfZcDOga_UjhqRE9tUxJLbA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="474" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnj2T4oC8kesfpoAktdhCf9KM-cf5U85rpgyFVuOvQF7zeCrdS1qJKnWjC1sHkBf-Hn4uzbpVIGbjAKRjfSuuOhBU9EWWuCyWv5ooGCfWJP7DoSnGQx4No0P6xctIloHG0ImFtKELU2Oz0Y78O4LW6ugdOLbMPInsFX3nYfZcDOga_UjhqRE9tUxJLbA=w400-h230" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "Falls" at Big Falls.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjic9rLx0i9k4kuNZMGrSMFMVaeWFGftxuVstaaMrWZnKb18hR3wbmAMhJ8MDFwJF2Jgfb64YAzWd9z1eHgctc07vQJUIgIg3_tVqU3k9d4eet5st4K4X_jKcDZVD_6xmwj2UB3N4XOYmov1q8QNgjk11DiqhYRTVPgApMkyHQctc-FTcK0SRm5CYj55w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvGk0PP89Y2DIH78C2ZQ_sZejNfvtXuDldHoJzGdVkUEyntcXor0QWGxdV7nwHjpWi2O5Y60xfCU78-VPG1JZPUgHDdxOJGLe_SgWeektkAt5G_O4l30RoYyuJOhSzmugEWdriQ8vsowagjpjBRIm1nMNyFVTUnwQwQVX8Cv6OS5jvajB5T1assQU05g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="474" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvGk0PP89Y2DIH78C2ZQ_sZejNfvtXuDldHoJzGdVkUEyntcXor0QWGxdV7nwHjpWi2O5Y60xfCU78-VPG1JZPUgHDdxOJGLe_SgWeektkAt5G_O4l30RoYyuJOhSzmugEWdriQ8vsowagjpjBRIm1nMNyFVTUnwQwQVX8Cv6OS5jvajB5T1assQU05g=w400-h254" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We drove the other hour to International Falls, arriving
just as a storm was brewing.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This neck
of the woods has suffered from an inordinate amount of rain and subsequent
flooding this year, so much so that VNP has pushed back the commencement of
Park boat rides from July 9 to July 17.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Bummer!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Our 3-day getaway here is
over on July 14!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Oh well, we will do as
much as we can on this visit.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We sought
out a place for lunch, consulting Trip Advisor.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Unfortunately, 3 among the list of “best” eateries in International
Falls are all shuttered and/or for sale. Seemingly, COVID lockdowns in 2020 and
a drought in 2021 have severely impacted this tourist town of approximately
6,000 residents.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We settled on a small
café, The Chocolate Moose, at which I suffered Disappointment #2:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They do not offer chocolate mousse on their dessert
menu!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It was while eating a rather
mundane meal that I learned another disturbing fact: There are NO falls to be
seen in International Falls!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><i>What! How can that be?</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Apparently, the local paper mill dammed the
Rainy River in 1905, which caused the falls to submerge into the
reservoir.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And to top it off, up until
1903 the town was known as Koochiching (the Ojibwe Indian word for </span><i>mist over
water</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">). This Rat feels it should be a criminal offense to call the town
International Falls, knowing full well there are no falls here.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Talk about false advertisement!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, my tirade subsided when my parents brought me
to Smokey Bear Park.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I took my photo
with the towering 26-foot statue of my favorite forest firefighting hero, with
his timeless message, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We walked along the business district, with
my parents stopping to support a local shop.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom just couldn’t resist purchasing matching hoodies for her and Dad on
a clearance rack BOGO (buy 1, get 1 free) sale.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Plus,
Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing. Thanks, Mom, for saving some money and
protecting my cheese inheritance!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp6gFu8muGDYEXKNEUWN4kc2mGPzf7yDBsIiQ9sFICsBSfd7VFi9grVuf9TCYpnlg9FZGsS2y_10oiTcVuW1H7drlpSKQqOAkccRm1BL1dh9vFq4cgFPmaAF6U97vwDtEUlkFKDa173vrSKk9NxvDQoEe76CPz45GWTSyY7qA_0ixL-Ba2Nf8076gvw/s3693/20220712_132201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="3693" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp6gFu8muGDYEXKNEUWN4kc2mGPzf7yDBsIiQ9sFICsBSfd7VFi9grVuf9TCYpnlg9FZGsS2y_10oiTcVuW1H7drlpSKQqOAkccRm1BL1dh9vFq4cgFPmaAF6U97vwDtEUlkFKDa173vrSKk9NxvDQoEe76CPz45GWTSyY7qA_0ixL-Ba2Nf8076gvw/w400-h193/20220712_132201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me with my fav forest firefighting hero and his pals.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj50YCNLbDBdAzdxQUb6W5HEhVDvzA2Pf3uqahbVl7D5cpkJtN7hiCKESbecHii13TL1SIcJopgeeYFXdy_iWj2dF5J9SwbiFRM6JwC4mpjHoPT_Rt5OkvmTe5YBxtpYsA-Ymtzm8TaIyTqvCo_DvaOYh8QO5mu43P4ILZs-Qe-UJ-8e8B_1KkR1yUOog" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1739" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj50YCNLbDBdAzdxQUb6W5HEhVDvzA2Pf3uqahbVl7D5cpkJtN7hiCKESbecHii13TL1SIcJopgeeYFXdy_iWj2dF5J9SwbiFRM6JwC4mpjHoPT_Rt5OkvmTe5YBxtpYsA-Ymtzm8TaIyTqvCo_DvaOYh8QO5mu43P4ILZs-Qe-UJ-8e8B_1KkR1yUOog=w320-h290" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_6YYPvDZIxgxHkTSvN54-wRFsfsT8tiYmPSdE9HbwOrrjM2BSsokUvfTU0q1AFNiUITL2KDzBZu7frZ6rWuVsrHxkwrdikM9dDyPcPVgTpExMGN_ZvYCuo4cqceN6doryuN9sJcjil49xRWjHi2qmIZJBBaD9LesvjbSn6juji6gM_-bWVhgCC5bCQQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="2095" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_6YYPvDZIxgxHkTSvN54-wRFsfsT8tiYmPSdE9HbwOrrjM2BSsokUvfTU0q1AFNiUITL2KDzBZu7frZ6rWuVsrHxkwrdikM9dDyPcPVgTpExMGN_ZvYCuo4cqceN6doryuN9sJcjil49xRWjHi2qmIZJBBaD9LesvjbSn6juji6gM_-bWVhgCC5bCQQ=w400-h217" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRG6hh6cbRQd8bTeYuojN22g49tex4FGrHcZqIN6vrmvGVQNcwKRQ-hSn9HM1WIzXJGy5l8TVqvzS_rNz-GTS9ISqOS74JfPBQp7kshnzqzmuEwmZR35dCAsgJ22iByJXQTwj6dyVNqvzhVY8JiaV4dV-0jR57E7uSRhC6BNM_z12ynjHyvxrjDRuxMA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="3554" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRG6hh6cbRQd8bTeYuojN22g49tex4FGrHcZqIN6vrmvGVQNcwKRQ-hSn9HM1WIzXJGy5l8TVqvzS_rNz-GTS9ISqOS74JfPBQp7kshnzqzmuEwmZR35dCAsgJ22iByJXQTwj6dyVNqvzhVY8JiaV4dV-0jR57E7uSRhC6BNM_z12ynjHyvxrjDRuxMA=w400-h201" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last shop before crossing into Canada.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We got to the Hilltop Lodge and Cabins for check-in just as
the downpour began.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We were welcomed
by Ryan and Amanda, a young couple who left Corporate hospitality jobs in 2019
to operate their own lodging outfit.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are no employees here—Ryan and Amanda do it all—from cleaning to
reservations.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And a great job they do on
all tasks.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It is so nice to see people
realize their American Dream.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I loved
our rustic cabin!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It might look small,
but it had every amenity we could want or need:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">fridge, microwave, dinette, cable TV, and Wi-Fi.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our $99/night rate even included a
continental breakfast.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We ate dinner
that evening at The Library, an eatery surrounded by literary works.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was lighter fare, but Dad had vegan
options, and all our selections were tasty and reasonably priced.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I slept fitfully, with a full belly and a
happy heart.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk0A2y_d6VgtldXENT_m94H9Zk3-eFZ0-kJou12tAhs9vL0w2u7gsbzbxuDqEwMi91hbE2NzeWtQPztbksH1R-zBohpp9XBYikZxkbXWrLqM97KTlajibeTFYuqa34-dKdOllWmrslum5xckEaW2W0Upq6nxHczZrOcwmzcKSlqlBVjOHpqbpjgJoP5A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk0A2y_d6VgtldXENT_m94H9Zk3-eFZ0-kJou12tAhs9vL0w2u7gsbzbxuDqEwMi91hbE2NzeWtQPztbksH1R-zBohpp9XBYikZxkbXWrLqM97KTlajibeTFYuqa34-dKdOllWmrslum5xckEaW2W0Upq6nxHczZrOcwmzcKSlqlBVjOHpqbpjgJoP5A" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our little cabin--so cute!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvNnF_bMHT8GKPCRiQspqmIJ-uvPtL1SAAoIEBQdk-ZZh2aefkAkxgv1SkDuHJzXw63cPw6yQIBDMPxQW4OfzPNlkjjtAhdr6s2QqTE9XYQdvHiPvl951197lH27OdUYSlehcLhLS2vuClhpAhi7tz9m2LxmvYxgw5Nbq2e1JNv0rsWzIt9BGtUANGFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvNnF_bMHT8GKPCRiQspqmIJ-uvPtL1SAAoIEBQdk-ZZh2aefkAkxgv1SkDuHJzXw63cPw6yQIBDMPxQW4OfzPNlkjjtAhdr6s2QqTE9XYQdvHiPvl951197lH27OdUYSlehcLhLS2vuClhpAhi7tz9m2LxmvYxgw5Nbq2e1JNv0rsWzIt9BGtUANGFw" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An outdoor seating area for the cabins.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibU04_dYgRa_NaP0Yj4tHjPRQLLmpbnMqbKPqIa_mdJPAiRP_bMx_i0KHjC4pAmJQt0YMhs8P-9QyVDUumoCBeSP9RDQP7ZRjS-Fq-AQR-gMdvFNQD4FSZHG_RzSLnrCN27Oe_InxsNpst4qYCRYgXa_UrB8pN4C6gE17F--mFUOeV3YlBJ5NWc9aDRw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibU04_dYgRa_NaP0Yj4tHjPRQLLmpbnMqbKPqIa_mdJPAiRP_bMx_i0KHjC4pAmJQt0YMhs8P-9QyVDUumoCBeSP9RDQP7ZRjS-Fq-AQR-gMdvFNQD4FSZHG_RzSLnrCN27Oe_InxsNpst4qYCRYgXa_UrB8pN4C6gE17F--mFUOeV3YlBJ5NWc9aDRw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A very inviting setting at "The Library" eatery.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Early the next morning, we headed towards VNP, stopping
along the way to visit the statue of Big Vic in the Village of Ranier.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big Vic is a symbol of protest that stems
from the National Park Service (NPS) using eminent domain to confiscate
people’s private property to create VNP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those property owners who did not wish to sell their property to the NPS
were subjected suddenly to condemnation or limitations on the use of their
lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vic Davis, along with others,
believed this was government overreach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, he sued the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the powers-that-be just printed more money, giving them unlimited resources to
countersue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Davis then came up with
a way to inconvenience the NPS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he
purchased the island of Little Cranberry and sold small parcels to others for a
mere $20/parcel, inundating the NPS with paperwork and additional landowners with
whom to negotiate purchases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, he commissioned the creation of the Big Vic statue, which
once stood proudly on Cranberry Island as a big middle finger to the NPS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, the NPS won the land acquisition
war, but not without a good fight from Vic Davis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked a bit around the rest of the
historic village, but the place was a ghost town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the businesses were sandbagged and
the docks underwater from recent flooding.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghi5-bLtagjXUADjT6QimtDALR0fVky-hTnIW6fG0arCGS55uCmpTbuBPzW4FJyA2RW013GMTSY24Xc4WF--U78VZsgkq8Fp0ZUuOzIpD81OiX6_YHE286Ubi5OIfSbmVkRvx0ZVxDd7hL7T7bJDltl-iQg_v4Dp1yWMaY9xC9wPDuQnzy6lJPo3SdKA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghi5-bLtagjXUADjT6QimtDALR0fVky-hTnIW6fG0arCGS55uCmpTbuBPzW4FJyA2RW013GMTSY24Xc4WF--U78VZsgkq8Fp0ZUuOzIpD81OiX6_YHE286Ubi5OIfSbmVkRvx0ZVxDd7hL7T7bJDltl-iQg_v4Dp1yWMaY9xC9wPDuQnzy6lJPo3SdKA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Statue of Big Vic.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC8ZhEioYSYTbu7PI-SouYmsiWtQoMw3pVsqqxj_w2sBSdL7LPnTZWhI1VJJ-Ml-6DsCDT4xR-agMRQjJRQb2FHBiCRi60IO8CnGKyW8ZOJ2k-sSXNvgQ6gLEsk57QOFpFc5zaROAOY8ErWmUZoAgrDm5E8jqRzIzL4wQn9K9rdUcncxrKkSYUmRNUrw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3444" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC8ZhEioYSYTbu7PI-SouYmsiWtQoMw3pVsqqxj_w2sBSdL7LPnTZWhI1VJJ-Ml-6DsCDT4xR-agMRQjJRQb2FHBiCRi60IO8CnGKyW8ZOJ2k-sSXNvgQ6gLEsk57QOFpFc5zaROAOY8ErWmUZoAgrDm5E8jqRzIzL4wQn9K9rdUcncxrKkSYUmRNUrw=w400-h209" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A quaint country chapel...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikVT0nlL_Z4cy1CTdJJJRzW5Dx1Kgl69PLYBo2yrwsj_OG_rQYfVXchq3m9g-W1f8wVh-Tnh3BCyKBowtkDBhlCF00rgEIl15aIhVKAMbqpMJfi8_pClpU2QW38dSryoCCDJAgL9UlA-uTddwwZ0_rLdBaxpKKurUjHL-WqXvZC-46LQy2CNshgR1EAg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikVT0nlL_Z4cy1CTdJJJRzW5Dx1Kgl69PLYBo2yrwsj_OG_rQYfVXchq3m9g-W1f8wVh-Tnh3BCyKBowtkDBhlCF00rgEIl15aIhVKAMbqpMJfi8_pClpU2QW38dSryoCCDJAgL9UlA-uTddwwZ0_rLdBaxpKKurUjHL-WqXvZC-46LQy2CNshgR1EAg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGY1IPsWumvTRyxh2oi91s6gMhKTsfhD9Or3CB24mdEkXid09Y8RQA6BBMl3MOgOekQAuIZELb11n95zUW4Mxq9sZHZgZfVdceMAJS3T4jC13HTAiIC-ODyGlZsGTLnI96DTjY7S9tiYx9ZmgFmMmdWq1naPtzhElvO_mPVipzrIqcaH5JZ_0Xq83qRQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGY1IPsWumvTRyxh2oi91s6gMhKTsfhD9Or3CB24mdEkXid09Y8RQA6BBMl3MOgOekQAuIZELb11n95zUW4Mxq9sZHZgZfVdceMAJS3T4jC13HTAiIC-ODyGlZsGTLnI96DTjY7S9tiYx9ZmgFmMmdWq1naPtzhElvO_mPVipzrIqcaH5JZ_0Xq83qRQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Village of Ranier was still underwater in mid-July.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi_ebB3Z6oqXvmkU_i4RBOUKDVm_ujg23Lb_VQTJFRzb33Wwplm_27Ne9R0NaPVuYcmX1wEs57-Syt1bqX3cGEDyZrBtN4IisJjlST0_NNOZE6Moltp71dVt4hrLiZlNrbfAgB3rV9MVkvSlYzDVhEfmR6pyk4DIfDHtSq0a3NyBa8OtnSNJG7HRxoPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi_ebB3Z6oqXvmkU_i4RBOUKDVm_ujg23Lb_VQTJFRzb33Wwplm_27Ne9R0NaPVuYcmX1wEs57-Syt1bqX3cGEDyZrBtN4IisJjlST0_NNOZE6Moltp71dVt4hrLiZlNrbfAgB3rV9MVkvSlYzDVhEfmR6pyk4DIfDHtSq0a3NyBa8OtnSNJG7HRxoPg=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Water cisterns sit on top of Ranier docks to keep them from floating away!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We arrived at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center within
VNP.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I collected my Junior Ranger
booklet, watched not 1, but 2 very interesting films, and enjoyed chatting with
the Park volunteers.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">VNP consists of
218,000 acres, the majority of which are waterways.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Ojibwe Indians frequented this area,
building birch canoes for their semi-nomadic lifestyle.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They hunted, fished, gathered, and traded
here.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Furthermore, for nearly 200 years,
employees of the Northwest and Hudson Bay Company traveled 3,000 miles each
summer to trade goods for furs.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They
rowed 16 hours a day, 50 minutes each hour.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">That is one major workout!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Then
when they encountered waterfalls, they had to portage over land, each carrying
a 90-pound bag for several miles over primitive terrain—and they still had to
return for the canoe!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">These voyageurs
had plenty of strength, endurance, and good spirits (both in attitude and
alcoholic beverages).</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXntl2E2yv44oLckMXbgO2LvzMQ84TrbauW3t9gFX3LAJXqPNvAjbxDHQBVNVVlZ3LwcFGRN-6lwY0jyeqvbERHa8iIjVMuP6RFFHzPkQV74-p5RGMvyzVtbtUK3Y_hfsKvFGn-nDugzaJiBvZApIAJov2-NXfbiiBwo2y6LtbVVy87XRWp5-rRCBfgQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXntl2E2yv44oLckMXbgO2LvzMQ84TrbauW3t9gFX3LAJXqPNvAjbxDHQBVNVVlZ3LwcFGRN-6lwY0jyeqvbERHa8iIjVMuP6RFFHzPkQV74-p5RGMvyzVtbtUK3Y_hfsKvFGn-nDugzaJiBvZApIAJov2-NXfbiiBwo2y6LtbVVy87XRWp5-rRCBfgQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj6HvsFGMVTinmXEDTQSACyISqvhzzXG3t9MltmqC85FUxhwjx1OtQAKDvxdohfm5rSTmz_VCPebDxgFpFO_Ectc4odsLVq7utoesPRsIJluxFGLn8aAyVLfpwIqdJVnLMGGfobrr5ncusC6_w7uCswsJivagPMfy16-rbXLb3PI_EvjgJEUZIXqxqA/s4128/Popo%20mom%20dad%20and%20monty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKj6HvsFGMVTinmXEDTQSACyISqvhzzXG3t9MltmqC85FUxhwjx1OtQAKDvxdohfm5rSTmz_VCPebDxgFpFO_Ectc4odsLVq7utoesPRsIJluxFGLn8aAyVLfpwIqdJVnLMGGfobrr5ncusC6_w7uCswsJivagPMfy16-rbXLb3PI_EvjgJEUZIXqxqA/w400-h300/Popo%20mom%20dad%20and%20monty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Family photo with Monte the Moose!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf4gfAEvWNEUs2ykFfJFyNw7-NcGuu5ULEM7eS5pVw8dRvh2IF9ZYCCxGFqHSmZsVCYZorVHJPvo1ANuYv0WnB81aWV1-3YiKxhHFNr_nYCk7EFiSrhgzgx1IsFtHkyWqaJz-BT8twjFFA3x_TClDFfqbN6SC1MAQm_aW5bgSB5gETKf5gf0ZxWU5IdQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf4gfAEvWNEUs2ykFfJFyNw7-NcGuu5ULEM7eS5pVw8dRvh2IF9ZYCCxGFqHSmZsVCYZorVHJPvo1ANuYv0WnB81aWV1-3YiKxhHFNr_nYCk7EFiSrhgzgx1IsFtHkyWqaJz-BT8twjFFA3x_TClDFfqbN6SC1MAQm_aW5bgSB5gETKf5gf0ZxWU5IdQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Visitor Center's interesting exhibits.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">VNP is open year-round, offering a completely different
experience in winter, with its trees glistening in a blanket of white and
frozen waterways that become the “roads” for snowmobiles. I sure would like to see that someday!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We departed the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and walked along
the paved Recreational Trail under ominous clouds.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But the sun won its battle to shine. So, we
continued to trek, this time along the Oberholtzer Loop Trail, sampling a wild
raspberry or two along the way.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, we could not complete this hike because part of the trail
was submerged and other sections were impassible due to downed trees.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, we did some backtracking.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We saw a little wildlife:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a red squirrel, a gull, a few tiny tree
frogs, and one Super Ant who singlehandedly moved a dead worm.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We also caught a glimpse of a blue heron and
eagle as they flew overhead.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2M34EQjhYoIZ_iwpQV5R9dGsKAMxDFPXKiy7d5-7rIdugurCuVMwjKQH-BLaAc9s5cI8Zm6KRmz0YOr7vmqCeKW_EjGGEPTtnXt6_RMxu7IW4kcbR2RmgjbFUhXASMo2BdkForK02FRM0z94OtDaYrK2GX5yAhXkX1EDX7jBFO_iYMhNXH1uzH5nY-A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2M34EQjhYoIZ_iwpQV5R9dGsKAMxDFPXKiy7d5-7rIdugurCuVMwjKQH-BLaAc9s5cI8Zm6KRmz0YOr7vmqCeKW_EjGGEPTtnXt6_RMxu7IW4kcbR2RmgjbFUhXASMo2BdkForK02FRM0z94OtDaYrK2GX5yAhXkX1EDX7jBFO_iYMhNXH1uzH5nY-A" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKjdg5sTxJ5Qzpg7R-kdcVCovTGTESXpGluW0G-GvVHUicj0ZpMrZ0Ffkci_zkoSeWypAEpROSyBh5uocGk1gphHKrik1D6XXfNFORD1hxDmP6OxhxWxyEDR6nGSv6USa4e0L7gPCFQKjQsB27Y4l_1xOgE0EvvzZ2T8XZr9pW_uTg8GmSuDWMAmADA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMKjdg5sTxJ5Qzpg7R-kdcVCovTGTESXpGluW0G-GvVHUicj0ZpMrZ0Ffkci_zkoSeWypAEpROSyBh5uocGk1gphHKrik1D6XXfNFORD1hxDmP6OxhxWxyEDR6nGSv6USa4e0L7gPCFQKjQsB27Y4l_1xOgE0EvvzZ2T8XZr9pW_uTg8GmSuDWMAmADA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was gonna sit at this viewing bench along the trail--but it was completely submerged.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTOGKpWOvCCFdcm8UTUY7VHdkk7Nb2OTmst3GYHVjhtJ-5wBQ4eiwyeZZ2Ov9o993OCgg45LBZ4d0mK08rBRG0eMDg8DsYeCA1a4S0_jr5dNngoazdlU40x4gebDefIE_w1Rtjcx9J85BH9cRUTZJ_VNxM06nxhAX-CheGUSTx8WD6eccyO73JHWthhQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTOGKpWOvCCFdcm8UTUY7VHdkk7Nb2OTmst3GYHVjhtJ-5wBQ4eiwyeZZ2Ov9o993OCgg45LBZ4d0mK08rBRG0eMDg8DsYeCA1a4S0_jr5dNngoazdlU40x4gebDefIE_w1Rtjcx9J85BH9cRUTZJ_VNxM06nxhAX-CheGUSTx8WD6eccyO73JHWthhQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Downed trees made the rest of the Oberholtzer Loop Trail impassible. Time to back-track.</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT4NSlDnz5LC4rLWh9wlMjKOp3ARSB3DllV2yvHEAz28WFkppxRWG4GOaEmLnuUlBI0Fcs4AnHSwfliUnNv5897qFM9wCTQ3s5RwvQ9lBycMCJvYk-ied0M9w_iulpNhlxGO3Pjl9GovpNyoZi_PC7xVa38yZXCo9stE4HrySJuMQFNqfsGOM9Erpm9g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT4NSlDnz5LC4rLWh9wlMjKOp3ARSB3DllV2yvHEAz28WFkppxRWG4GOaEmLnuUlBI0Fcs4AnHSwfliUnNv5897qFM9wCTQ3s5RwvQ9lBycMCJvYk-ied0M9w_iulpNhlxGO3Pjl9GovpNyoZi_PC7xVa38yZXCo9stE4HrySJuMQFNqfsGOM9Erpm9g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Butterfly enjoying some nectar.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><object class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="" height="266" id="BLOG_video-" width="320"></object></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The next day we visited the Ash River Visitor Center,
hiking along its Blind Ash Bay Trail and a portion of its Kab-Ash Trail.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We visited the Beaver Pond Overlook.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was told the beaver population in VNP is
prolific.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though I saw many fine
examples of their handiwork and lodge craftsmanship, I spotted not 1 busy
beaver.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bummer!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbBKebsze2GRV5_k4lrkLQI0PSm9pbYE3zQbG1Aiap6_6HPhp8UD3-ZrvpV3sZPjXIG41HqyngmtWhmB5NSXFl5ZGv79DkZfjYAcVvJLwZBM8GhNA6CnTp_0IxSBDLeMTmCDaw8eWh_aauTABINv-M6FkXNz1zsNri6LFIKXPDpCfFFMKYK2egJchGaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="3508" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbBKebsze2GRV5_k4lrkLQI0PSm9pbYE3zQbG1Aiap6_6HPhp8UD3-ZrvpV3sZPjXIG41HqyngmtWhmB5NSXFl5ZGv79DkZfjYAcVvJLwZBM8GhNA6CnTp_0IxSBDLeMTmCDaw8eWh_aauTABINv-M6FkXNz1zsNri6LFIKXPDpCfFFMKYK2egJchGaA=w400-h175" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1QZbe5ef5-P2G_RU9JK6RlEvTCRZYi_GtjCWHKd6bRNHRIINgKnIikFH2ULoeALQoXICPQIMceT3ZTNmiZXSayGNlTG8BCMB4rVxBB-L_LKpKI0meY-8wfvYQm3gYsuHyqv9tN8Vw7cA4igdrW0lNZG5y1Z13Zk69QUd_nuC-KNug_grFFop5F0G0CA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1QZbe5ef5-P2G_RU9JK6RlEvTCRZYi_GtjCWHKd6bRNHRIINgKnIikFH2ULoeALQoXICPQIMceT3ZTNmiZXSayGNlTG8BCMB4rVxBB-L_LKpKI0meY-8wfvYQm3gYsuHyqv9tN8Vw7cA4igdrW0lNZG5y1Z13Zk69QUd_nuC-KNug_grFFop5F0G0CA" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq1udFgKmUnEIypdzUtowntoGAqd4LNBpbTPA47gbDoh10hONRjjI_Oj1EjwUvukLfd8G9N05o1Pd6OLUYyg9VA3J5hI173JO6916Y-WJcaOAjrmp0fD8V1GtopjkKBijGjAPTdqDBkPxHF0hTVJ6dBxZMrTwGAtYC3vieyxz3ATNF3Nk89iNdb68OGQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq1udFgKmUnEIypdzUtowntoGAqd4LNBpbTPA47gbDoh10hONRjjI_Oj1EjwUvukLfd8G9N05o1Pd6OLUYyg9VA3J5hI173JO6916Y-WJcaOAjrmp0fD8V1GtopjkKBijGjAPTdqDBkPxHF0hTVJ6dBxZMrTwGAtYC3vieyxz3ATNF3Nk89iNdb68OGQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Inside the Ash River Visitor Center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh81t7pyP4jX_2lhiVpqwlKYDOKOVZVcecLYdKCOCdPlyl_onWCAlPmnfwtZEdeJaX_exMwoLs2YdKXqvUX3kEDekFb2GR4aafQc69L1XG2j2xNx7kFpK4XzQKW9aC3AYW4mAFqWmIET_qg5Irs0nd-lMKMDCNYwTf5VS5idXD_IklPuKLHlmJh5yoBiw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh81t7pyP4jX_2lhiVpqwlKYDOKOVZVcecLYdKCOCdPlyl_onWCAlPmnfwtZEdeJaX_exMwoLs2YdKXqvUX3kEDekFb2GR4aafQc69L1XG2j2xNx7kFpK4XzQKW9aC3AYW4mAFqWmIET_qg5Irs0nd-lMKMDCNYwTf5VS5idXD_IklPuKLHlmJh5yoBiw" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A rustic cabin on the property.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2nln0O5BrpDzI0SR_3-Qjw1eTjnhQsKK2JiXHsctFJSllZsRL0WI2ZNv2D3XKifsLnMm2jnkehUgPWCyHwuJDB50AJbAagVg5RnHAFJQ-CZb2CqJDcM4QRNsXfOdnj39159RWUrMn2aQ7-_k8pGkRLSV9jFjbXKNF0x9R6WJjQJyjzaiWBLP-F_E56w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2nln0O5BrpDzI0SR_3-Qjw1eTjnhQsKK2JiXHsctFJSllZsRL0WI2ZNv2D3XKifsLnMm2jnkehUgPWCyHwuJDB50AJbAagVg5RnHAFJQ-CZb2CqJDcM4QRNsXfOdnj39159RWUrMn2aQ7-_k8pGkRLSV9jFjbXKNF0x9R6WJjQJyjzaiWBLP-F_E56w" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I searched for beavers...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdqLq9545mkzpix2VRTQA-2apbve0B4vjbtK8IXjaoXdpVEDt9JMd7B5Q3Q2ABl2NJae9eW6hDfzI-3POSgtQ5OZArOMlkbQ47aAfJ8RpokJLKXUYUDZpTjxb94U65jVgp7blpevrTfS25uxCk-Ld0UwC36qFykmKY4DX_bUROVE4B4MwXpxMh-DdahA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdqLq9545mkzpix2VRTQA-2apbve0B4vjbtK8IXjaoXdpVEDt9JMd7B5Q3Q2ABl2NJae9eW6hDfzI-3POSgtQ5OZArOMlkbQ47aAfJ8RpokJLKXUYUDZpTjxb94U65jVgp7blpevrTfS25uxCk-Ld0UwC36qFykmKY4DX_bUROVE4B4MwXpxMh-DdahA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...but only saw their handiwork.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKPXLqKDg3KsGh5OUbVP_mNrqF3CPzuflDqzADc4msAxhNUF-hLT971zF_CvNPnchTCmlKzSqb8ufkMCLi4JDqtBiJfu2ZAj9VfY6JQfK1kCZzwWwqOISdtkRonr_MGmdE1D4KMZlFyrpuIziOdNdxmfzOhvhrYvKXDy6tFZgXcTRf5liqaBp1HUraUg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKPXLqKDg3KsGh5OUbVP_mNrqF3CPzuflDqzADc4msAxhNUF-hLT971zF_CvNPnchTCmlKzSqb8ufkMCLi4JDqtBiJfu2ZAj9VfY6JQfK1kCZzwWwqOISdtkRonr_MGmdE1D4KMZlFyrpuIziOdNdxmfzOhvhrYvKXDy6tFZgXcTRf5liqaBp1HUraUg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom's favorite: daisies!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFICAZbDiLJdSa2AIYWLYWvP6ze57zGynyTjW9tnR7-BromMi7pAq5NmtAJMhrO_LJZsQa4ftCJXk74i4-i95-rVHdl42c777q1Jj7LarN9zPSNuIrsUFXi57fBMoJxPvATGhwg_JdbSj097vOZW7RaQFLF5_3sJGlILXaQx94MH2238P3Sa8WjBt8Yw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1795" data-original-width="3141" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFICAZbDiLJdSa2AIYWLYWvP6ze57zGynyTjW9tnR7-BromMi7pAq5NmtAJMhrO_LJZsQa4ftCJXk74i4-i95-rVHdl42c777q1Jj7LarN9zPSNuIrsUFXi57fBMoJxPvATGhwg_JdbSj097vOZW7RaQFLF5_3sJGlILXaQx94MH2238P3Sa8WjBt8Yw" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad wished he could trailer the boat and put it in the water for us to take a tour!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We also stopped at the Kabetogama Visitor Center,
but there was nothing much to do/see that was different from the offerings at
the other 2 Centers, though we enjoyed chatting with Ann/Paul, folks from the
Twin Cities that we kept intersecting with over the course of our 3-day visit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO-cHoBObFooaiFjFL3zWbgFMlK3dSvCMbZAbJ9ZJqpio6w7LxUd7XppXZWe5zOSmGgBI5U1PXKIB3p-2meoNHzcrpvCdE5jJS8rbQqX0IdjO9Ji14ok6UdU_zeqiu2dP0B4Eef4HOzqj7TGUG9sFuTIPj_nENSixZ9lcL0jJLHXdbj8xyVgGMEkYHw/s3428/Popo%20on%20Fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="3428" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO-cHoBObFooaiFjFL3zWbgFMlK3dSvCMbZAbJ9ZJqpio6w7LxUd7XppXZWe5zOSmGgBI5U1PXKIB3p-2meoNHzcrpvCdE5jJS8rbQqX0IdjO9Ji14ok6UdU_zeqiu2dP0B4Eef4HOzqj7TGUG9sFuTIPj_nENSixZ9lcL0jJLHXdbj8xyVgGMEkYHw/w400-h201/Popo%20on%20Fish.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yours truly with the walleye.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglJJe19wAT_xtCGqO9Xs_TB--1L0SktlQzinU7KmSCI_7wls-hijqqvnU_fjtOxuaC2lS8COIXXTeME3niXhodNtH4DSML9z7PBqx1WHtGXIXhvWqP1UlY1ZNX6uLUwZ2HWVvsgUGZI_zkKOepQ3h_YrsI_aT-rguxQqIW9Jx__ZLt9L19WrYcLUHN2g"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglJJe19wAT_xtCGqO9Xs_TB--1L0SktlQzinU7KmSCI_7wls-hijqqvnU_fjtOxuaC2lS8COIXXTeME3niXhodNtH4DSML9z7PBqx1WHtGXIXhvWqP1UlY1ZNX6uLUwZ2HWVvsgUGZI_zkKOepQ3h_YrsI_aT-rguxQqIW9Jx__ZLt9L19WrYcLUHN2g" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We dined each day at Thunderbird Lodge, which was just
starting to remove flood-protection sandbags from its property.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The outdoor patio of the restaurant had been
7 feet underwater just a week earlier.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Furthermore, a section of MN-11 right near the Lodge had been washed out
and a temporary road installed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">With
limited options, this became our go-to eatery for the rest of this trip and our
subsequent visit to VNP in August. Yes, water levels receded finally, so we got
to return for a Grand Tour boat ride just days before leaving Minnesota.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And it was terrific!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Ranger gave a wonderful narrative over
the 2.5-hour ride, touching on all aspects of the Park:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">its wildlife, mining history, Ojibwe
inhabitants, botany, and the Voyageurs for whom the Park is named.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Here’s a sampling of what I learned:
American Island was the only profitable gold mine in all of Northern Minnesota;
There are about 18 varieties of trees in the Park; The Tamarac is the only tree
that belongs to both the conifer and deciduous groups because it drops all its pine
needles once a year; Due to conservation efforts, the Park increased its mated
pairs of bald eagles from 6 to 42;</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Maple
sugar and wild rice were valuable commodities with which the Ojibwe traded.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Taking this boat tour helped me complete my
Junior Ranger requirements, scoring yours truly another badge!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9Y6UHZgDIVKGaYNxPab0OSXveJsd8mA8IWwe-K5CaPQiXaVAddFekFcljWT-2c-yG4ooFtenJzMk5bQuSKlncMQsTGOtDS7fLGWhgg_KR1jq1-BMS3tQBwr-Ccyx6uq8x-v3P7zoJLincJiM2s1IEO6rygMnw1QE8gP3mHkgEx93KaQ33RtazBerog" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9Y6UHZgDIVKGaYNxPab0OSXveJsd8mA8IWwe-K5CaPQiXaVAddFekFcljWT-2c-yG4ooFtenJzMk5bQuSKlncMQsTGOtDS7fLGWhgg_KR1jq1-BMS3tQBwr-Ccyx6uq8x-v3P7zoJLincJiM2s1IEO6rygMnw1QE8gP3mHkgEx93KaQ33RtazBerog" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-QzoxlUdFpDLxkN3-PGR4BgImEJgnsYFHdnnwnj0JZb0ykfqWXTnAT9IgRLbLYdORNiB3WBWA-sTieyVjSGUhZf6fsxqvi-W4NIy9GtZSMNNo2dCif_8t-HohHOYEEHqAJ0x8KodmcWJg4Uorlqofs7U5RzgjbeUo9ATeUbCkWzvXMWxeyonAujy8rg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-QzoxlUdFpDLxkN3-PGR4BgImEJgnsYFHdnnwnj0JZb0ykfqWXTnAT9IgRLbLYdORNiB3WBWA-sTieyVjSGUhZf6fsxqvi-W4NIy9GtZSMNNo2dCif_8t-HohHOYEEHqAJ0x8KodmcWJg4Uorlqofs7U5RzgjbeUo9ATeUbCkWzvXMWxeyonAujy8rg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the other guests at Thunderbird Lodge.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3hcff9QvYxXtMjccbza8__6ZZaMja7eb_Hq1VbWdIbafRWFb_jGGW6sDu0byyVxUWzuB9ypR0Clsn59FvP79RuO8YfZ6iAyDuoU1a_FU0KzAMjTA9LG7WdJIN4IqT65YkL2Wc-bbE5HrLs9KHV1RarUYLXpO6srV1-s_Uy0-wOsIPpehkH-w5l-0hsA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="2330" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3hcff9QvYxXtMjccbza8__6ZZaMja7eb_Hq1VbWdIbafRWFb_jGGW6sDu0byyVxUWzuB9ypR0Clsn59FvP79RuO8YfZ6iAyDuoU1a_FU0KzAMjTA9LG7WdJIN4IqT65YkL2Wc-bbE5HrLs9KHV1RarUYLXpO6srV1-s_Uy0-wOsIPpehkH-w5l-0hsA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rainy is a regular at the Thunderbird Lodge.<br /></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivzLpJ1WZ0XceUFeLduuZmazLFZg1GtrpDrlYQLuzA0Uk5bt_Ovlqb8c3NlDV5Mu_13_t9jwz8ye_dednWfi_aMhaWI0CEw8ssdjWDqdK075P4KLEuuk0sTf6-icQOotP76_tGMhTp-rN_A3gxS1OWtKl3EedgCNtmeCqMChOSdh5LOBGpVQ0GG5f1Mg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivzLpJ1WZ0XceUFeLduuZmazLFZg1GtrpDrlYQLuzA0Uk5bt_Ovlqb8c3NlDV5Mu_13_t9jwz8ye_dednWfi_aMhaWI0CEw8ssdjWDqdK075P4KLEuuk0sTf6-icQOotP76_tGMhTp-rN_A3gxS1OWtKl3EedgCNtmeCqMChOSdh5LOBGpVQ0GG5f1Mg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ready to sail!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7d6-clRDg0Fsg0jf5QGM5L1EfCvl76DI4RQo0pK_ybZPzLW9WHuG4c4amjwDMbLl8eZJ0zZbuK7EhBcYBCOFxl3OsE_RO1w4a97Xic0bUvcRtjq4UzKpX9Qlcy9W79B7Ha0nwhV7tC-Mu95mqnYFzXXUFgKXg2lf3mzynNIIQ7NH_HV2AmArszzAYIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7d6-clRDg0Fsg0jf5QGM5L1EfCvl76DI4RQo0pK_ybZPzLW9WHuG4c4amjwDMbLl8eZJ0zZbuK7EhBcYBCOFxl3OsE_RO1w4a97Xic0bUvcRtjq4UzKpX9Qlcy9W79B7Ha0nwhV7tC-Mu95mqnYFzXXUFgKXg2lf3mzynNIIQ7NH_HV2AmArszzAYIw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYr8hAvQlJu4B5gZoNnpbqV-qsKMdiAadjNB1CeagpznAZXw-oeOLBdvxbMQ47BzNWw25Jvasopdh2fTNLXA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwUtKGzNb5TrHDotYCvmssKoZGW__rIF7g6P-WYzM2hB7sXIt6QmVUkB0pe94_KFaJpJ-fAY1uuXulykmHQwnpBaDUBqWAC4P3geF6R9qEGh2hcGDa3IwQQrWLyX1u8ZJ5WhGc7pVTqsHHYnPrMvUFrLdwr9C65VnyMQVpcLZxbBarF_5NKVdydbZ5g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwUtKGzNb5TrHDotYCvmssKoZGW__rIF7g6P-WYzM2hB7sXIt6QmVUkB0pe94_KFaJpJ-fAY1uuXulykmHQwnpBaDUBqWAC4P3geF6R9qEGh2hcGDa3IwQQrWLyX1u8ZJ5WhGc7pVTqsHHYnPrMvUFrLdwr9C65VnyMQVpcLZxbBarF_5NKVdydbZ5g" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">VNP has native, invasive, and hybrid cattails.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWfap6-1dfp0TAtd-ApheuHyF2GfB_VEdPOjlwB47uBdXEKpBjCNipOM82yubG2vjw49ZpdiSmjVYvBM4y9DAHlSD8-9_JTKVmEibV5O2RmRwIidYXw3qZ9D1fpbMIUi9gxED7CEGO0qE2aemI8O5Yu57jgNVGHsvKehZa-Sl4JIY55xGgz2yfe-d9Sw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWfap6-1dfp0TAtd-ApheuHyF2GfB_VEdPOjlwB47uBdXEKpBjCNipOM82yubG2vjw49ZpdiSmjVYvBM4y9DAHlSD8-9_JTKVmEibV5O2RmRwIidYXw3qZ9D1fpbMIUi9gxED7CEGO0qE2aemI8O5Yu57jgNVGHsvKehZa-Sl4JIY55xGgz2yfe-d9Sw" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The smallest island within Voyageurs National Park.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo129AY3O9y6JH9HfZMrZ6rwMGg2Fvy7fv_p17QWYCt-EpAFeDwwtv8DC3XL0VKJvsxBZhWILStZQHIYJWLZ2hKil8JPbZ3BVfE3gPsfwXzd-nDk0vnl2GYHG0Uz1jV-WgZ_JnI_sxAySv85FcP32icIlWWVIMgG1os51Qpe3fQyzHdTYY0N6DtWxhhQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjo129AY3O9y6JH9HfZMrZ6rwMGg2Fvy7fv_p17QWYCt-EpAFeDwwtv8DC3XL0VKJvsxBZhWILStZQHIYJWLZ2hKil8JPbZ3BVfE3gPsfwXzd-nDk0vnl2GYHG0Uz1jV-WgZ_JnI_sxAySv85FcP32icIlWWVIMgG1os51Qpe3fQyzHdTYY0N6DtWxhhQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What was once a commercial fish camp operated by Harry Oveson.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBNdpjKlYctlDnMsHWC6lcDKbeWQMPPB2Gcj7E-Bd2p_YODKY8_dHdYN7OrVty3KQHWiV73yzdDNJWgWveuzwVQFoFZ3zevuXDw67ewY_-zsxMT-stZkoSOVB3bt7vn8H5eCcvOvJreWbT1g1Wl4F25YyObEPKMw0Qu9BeUcXGmPeOhLd6Lal3jWl4iQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBNdpjKlYctlDnMsHWC6lcDKbeWQMPPB2Gcj7E-Bd2p_YODKY8_dHdYN7OrVty3KQHWiV73yzdDNJWgWveuzwVQFoFZ3zevuXDw67ewY_-zsxMT-stZkoSOVB3bt7vn8H5eCcvOvJreWbT1g1Wl4F25YyObEPKMw0Qu9BeUcXGmPeOhLd6Lal3jWl4iQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We docked at American Island, a mining site.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiEkqFyro4diBn4e5-jqf-lMAtNpX2iWB5mG7LCi2FAEOwrt9bQZR4DQcIYK3MclH3wQQJtKr6aWsg4jZtkqZ9ZBzjvzGT9XQ5gbeW7lEcQxfBByRkb5pyl6_rNnxyIactouT_qV_w81mMpZOGug0fEOem3plpoolOc2wnpiDRkG5ztjmkWJbD0esrhA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="1397" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiEkqFyro4diBn4e5-jqf-lMAtNpX2iWB5mG7LCi2FAEOwrt9bQZR4DQcIYK3MclH3wQQJtKr6aWsg4jZtkqZ9ZBzjvzGT9XQ5gbeW7lEcQxfBByRkb5pyl6_rNnxyIactouT_qV_w81mMpZOGug0fEOem3plpoolOc2wnpiDRkG5ztjmkWJbD0esrhA=w207-h400" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What was once the mine shaft on American Island. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbd-4U4QGaEDhPYNkPMCRrfobJBIg2ydWYSK68ueGObhKT1qy97rSVbiLJ4MGQYa94trpZXeisEAdax8ZNxs5h0TBQ4lSePJwYVuarFscGV6VLhnp09-PpIJiZP2b88FIo9cj6MwedV89S2ys3QLeTNiLqsUhZee0VqABDrj6cRl3PblRE7Q_Ifra8FA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbd-4U4QGaEDhPYNkPMCRrfobJBIg2ydWYSK68ueGObhKT1qy97rSVbiLJ4MGQYa94trpZXeisEAdax8ZNxs5h0TBQ4lSePJwYVuarFscGV6VLhnp09-PpIJiZP2b88FIo9cj6MwedV89S2ys3QLeTNiLqsUhZee0VqABDrj6cRl3PblRE7Q_Ifra8FA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the shores of American Island.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Considering that Minnesota has the largest population of
breeding eagles in the contiguous U.S., they were eluding us for the longest
time.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But I’m excited to say that we
viewed at least ½ dozen of them while on this boat tour!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJEmHbC5VQhH6WOhQKYvbhHTka6Y4wujbKpMlxyg_9XD0EksDkRrIExGLhHJDVUzLkyRd2qpnc_L4Tt-mzHTS_6C8O8UW08y_z9QLf1FOngoeAF0dBIFP_ZslRdJ_7-ayjcjoKFzXLGeOB0GfPIIMAnX9CHe_iqnBVV9EmvC6ISaucXZf4I9xfZi6Vjw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJEmHbC5VQhH6WOhQKYvbhHTka6Y4wujbKpMlxyg_9XD0EksDkRrIExGLhHJDVUzLkyRd2qpnc_L4Tt-mzHTS_6C8O8UW08y_z9QLf1FOngoeAF0dBIFP_ZslRdJ_7-ayjcjoKFzXLGeOB0GfPIIMAnX9CHe_iqnBVV9EmvC6ISaucXZf4I9xfZi6Vjw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">See the nest on this tree?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfmMAdE_I35AnpXpEIO4p8wYeT8t27WqgXG8ed2GDd8UjuWyOcqaO_4aHYHh6F0Vtv44ArGxHi5sJJQeSOeT4x0vMxMsg1L5GuEkxevVfJFhsR2E_2ANnDCVe8SqmPWmzJlEeGPIzLhLg6eZwGQBf1TGqlZoKNxrJlE0QZXZVgrwHoqPpYti9jE2CMaQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfmMAdE_I35AnpXpEIO4p8wYeT8t27WqgXG8ed2GDd8UjuWyOcqaO_4aHYHh6F0Vtv44ArGxHi5sJJQeSOeT4x0vMxMsg1L5GuEkxevVfJFhsR2E_2ANnDCVe8SqmPWmzJlEeGPIzLhLg6eZwGQBf1TGqlZoKNxrJlE0QZXZVgrwHoqPpYti9jE2CMaQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the many eagles we spotted while on the boat trip.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysuXBJpLbfm5zr9Kw5PH_vW7GfeZ2476NML-_aVMfi-SfKMRELROf6glx_c0QyRzhGutHly1nmPKx7SOJuDw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We could now cross touring VNP off our bucket list!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We visited several more places while volunteering in
Minnesota, which I’ll tell you about in my next post. Talk to you soon! </span></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-22517298878150105922022-08-22T22:26:00.050-05:002022-09-20T14:06:02.278-05:00Touring Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway, Chippewa National Forest, and the Iron Range District in Minnesota<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgXO7mlhoe9mR3PIcL9ITW6RXOO2jL3PnkP3lkmD7GibC2jmJRNm28h4yedDUCundxoN1VzNPdfuUypmIYO6WZr-W6NCMseYsq1lSTa88-N977yvzcjw6SXkB-n-wMOlGsMw9mM21BsQ7Nh67gw3p0Io7VMjS7Mev0j_oREUatSTZmoBJX5uTs8RsJiQ" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><span> </span></span></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our 4-day work schedule as volunteers at the Edge of the
Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell, Minnesota, afforded us plenty of time
to sightsee.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We began our exploration in Grand Rapids, the start of the
47-mile stretch known as the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway (EOWSB). Paper mills are a major industry here,
sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River. We walked along the waterfront trails and also
followed the art tour, admiring all the murals and creative designs placed around town.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvH1xs0h8DznBgl9SWB2mCV-CCzI8X_uKwa5YtbZxnTxpEkqM8-BrPS_JRG1SrqgIwrJRP12moa-pGvAK2suMYvabAxhIHwq1SCs6j0DqWnLtpMQQxz1ot59z1YC-OcbU7414KHrafFds9MtUCxPEhXj6Ufp2EjyOvjzmez4fAyZT6YwaAqgK26T9_7g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvH1xs0h8DznBgl9SWB2mCV-CCzI8X_uKwa5YtbZxnTxpEkqM8-BrPS_JRG1SrqgIwrJRP12moa-pGvAK2suMYvabAxhIHwq1SCs6j0DqWnLtpMQQxz1ot59z1YC-OcbU7414KHrafFds9MtUCxPEhXj6Ufp2EjyOvjzmez4fAyZT6YwaAqgK26T9_7g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The Mighty Mississippi meandering through Grand Rapids.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCv6T259tFol1iSQed4cyB9UXULdEwQuJVAN1bWCoAjsHNUMlwg1tqce_LD8ltrKpPsqLbylGG6BZSiVkm_skGkRMhoqm_WZ7RVYMhGdgusW0eHGgxyqjoaQ6oCXqz4mJwB2Julz7nl25XJ15ySjw-6jcqaqsxq2__5CvJHpKGD4VIo3ENrOZO6tSeLw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="3696" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCv6T259tFol1iSQed4cyB9UXULdEwQuJVAN1bWCoAjsHNUMlwg1tqce_LD8ltrKpPsqLbylGG6BZSiVkm_skGkRMhoqm_WZ7RVYMhGdgusW0eHGgxyqjoaQ6oCXqz4mJwB2Julz7nl25XJ15ySjw-6jcqaqsxq2__5CvJHpKGD4VIo3ENrOZO6tSeLw=w400-h194" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxQkIpcZFUUd8pX-IWsqWC7kO4bpviWa1mZKk6-aqLsQp-F12vCQ0bgn4TjdrNbJ-DLIDvFt1bEwK6mwPOXG8K45312fPbHFj9fIellQHh6kQ1Fd7bV3z0tL9kmcGxzRsgFtoB7x3NqEaSk9UwUXHNGTzNrs7fw3HTRuE5vPQyzapGWIB_IeMCwtl21g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxQkIpcZFUUd8pX-IWsqWC7kO4bpviWa1mZKk6-aqLsQp-F12vCQ0bgn4TjdrNbJ-DLIDvFt1bEwK6mwPOXG8K45312fPbHFj9fIellQHh6kQ1Fd7bV3z0tL9kmcGxzRsgFtoB7x3NqEaSk9UwUXHNGTzNrs7fw3HTRuE5vPQyzapGWIB_IeMCwtl21g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt3tHcYqsKiHe1LEA5s_d6mHiZzdvWu4HFuvmBlkgLhDxvQjs-vCX-40wPPc9uTvaSte9rkEOV2vexQJkFSM-eM4emoid4rlaDbV5p38VUd5VIfiah76lFZuHf2jTULoBPw3ufXA663TQl2Px5R6tWMrWMntM23K_nQnRqErKDDPjYQUusbzJYykyDA/s3355/20220705_175855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="3355" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt3tHcYqsKiHe1LEA5s_d6mHiZzdvWu4HFuvmBlkgLhDxvQjs-vCX-40wPPc9uTvaSte9rkEOV2vexQJkFSM-eM4emoid4rlaDbV5p38VUd5VIfiah76lFZuHf2jTULoBPw3ufXA663TQl2Px5R6tWMrWMntM23K_nQnRqErKDDPjYQUusbzJYykyDA/w400-h127/20220705_175855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Grand Rapids is the birthplace of Judy Garland. Her childhood home for 7 years is now part of
the Judy Garland Museum. Remarkably,
nearly 85% of the structure and furnishings are original to the home. Born as Frances Gumm into a show biz family,
Judy worked from age 2 alongside her two older sisters. Like the Kennedys, all the members of the
Gumm Family died young (under age 60), including Judy. She passed away at age 47 in
1969 after 45 years in the entertainment industry. Best known as Dorothy in the iconic film <i>The
Wizard of Oz</i>, Judy’s wages for that movie were $500/week. She was the lowest paid cast member except
for Toto the dog, who brought home $125/week.
We learned about the ruby slipper caper, where 1 of the 4 original pairs
was stolen right from this very Museum.
Not to worry, you can see another pair if you visit the Smithsonian in
Washington, D.C. Judy had a notable
career as an actress, singer, USO entertainer, and tabloid topic. She would have turned 100 years old the week
before we visited. I am glad we came to
this museum. I fear its appeal may soon
diminish, causing it to go the wayside like the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum
(Branson, Missouri) and Liberace Museum (Las Vegas, Nevada).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWMMWG7foGEFwRIyQDrFC7SP436uGXIjeZdQwSieLktLiCHAdMxr7hT3sj4SkEm4QbQxSEO09ajqV5BQBoEvjIMpZNsMPPPdhsIbFnZb-sTWbHINT2sHJniFVn8QvKzisvCGRirzMYw4xGY_yEghHuUMvie049V7ypejq7P-iEKqTRw1d6Ouf1y5V_g/s3051/20220619_144355.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1784" data-original-width="3051" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWMMWG7foGEFwRIyQDrFC7SP436uGXIjeZdQwSieLktLiCHAdMxr7hT3sj4SkEm4QbQxSEO09ajqV5BQBoEvjIMpZNsMPPPdhsIbFnZb-sTWbHINT2sHJniFVn8QvKzisvCGRirzMYw4xGY_yEghHuUMvie049V7ypejq7P-iEKqTRw1d6Ouf1y5V_g/w400-h234/20220619_144355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rz2AYUS7xWbwmGkIMy6XwqZfClFa-Fgsd4Y0wkbRO5eH_Cw3H2EwzxsOReCahLloZIDa-C-p02-BV8cP1uyrtL7ciKmjD6lD7ZmXZFe4hZxlZMlqKI9ZGp4NgP-xuLLkIOBQ9BKW7aHjAdjCqmLucYIG4M5nOrNaEGFbdDmqfdb-OmiawXl11-Qhrg/s3264/20220619_152006.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rz2AYUS7xWbwmGkIMy6XwqZfClFa-Fgsd4Y0wkbRO5eH_Cw3H2EwzxsOReCahLloZIDa-C-p02-BV8cP1uyrtL7ciKmjD6lD7ZmXZFe4hZxlZMlqKI9ZGp4NgP-xuLLkIOBQ9BKW7aHjAdjCqmLucYIG4M5nOrNaEGFbdDmqfdb-OmiawXl11-Qhrg/w400-h180/20220619_152006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8drX9qE70iDgWzfJP1xX0kY467b81zO8yF3UsqI3GMSzm-12PLPTNkzCtoOZOwkSBnimMuxMSr70F1laQE0vL4jHQas4_S5CE9gSpYYViWNPpZI8_D5SWjSImFb4zqnrGCxukjAVKIQm_rXC3CRoq72HU45KFHWZx3Il1V7QB5pocLEzBhrtk2h6wg/s3264/20220619_151931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8drX9qE70iDgWzfJP1xX0kY467b81zO8yF3UsqI3GMSzm-12PLPTNkzCtoOZOwkSBnimMuxMSr70F1laQE0vL4jHQas4_S5CE9gSpYYViWNPpZI8_D5SWjSImFb4zqnrGCxukjAVKIQm_rXC3CRoq72HU45KFHWZx3Il1V7QB5pocLEzBhrtk2h6wg/w400-h180/20220619_151931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zJYPLJoZ_UTFR7EYDaDNNzO00biS3xICPpc7Iuerb5-MRaGmOc2PqgGrXFiqX9TtOqSu_eh32CUkxmH8LAWtnWeJF6a2xcxG6kX_-nufbfPLi3xR1i1Gwi1mNC2JSNLXOSty51Gyz-4ZgrFUCiXJW3voCxg2KjE2nfz9EfJsOoQDoCf2tDanawvcNg/s4000/20220619_151515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zJYPLJoZ_UTFR7EYDaDNNzO00biS3xICPpc7Iuerb5-MRaGmOc2PqgGrXFiqX9TtOqSu_eh32CUkxmH8LAWtnWeJF6a2xcxG6kX_-nufbfPLi3xR1i1Gwi1mNC2JSNLXOSty51Gyz-4ZgrFUCiXJW3voCxg2KjE2nfz9EfJsOoQDoCf2tDanawvcNg/w180-h400/20220619_151515.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTp4xaRLaiREcie7JBUZrufKfxG6rYsxbCKoIuKkgt1bVODYmgka5-IeJwKg7xN7N9f6UkiXa4yNTipaBLqGHs_dCyozR0s5lQU255-uTElW-OXa2NctxG_sQpJI6W0UBvz0s7aBDwAAjnIVb6ruF-LmV8ke4dpyU8fQ8aNazgcvzJ6fjvZgLqQCMcg/s3264/20220619_153615.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTp4xaRLaiREcie7JBUZrufKfxG6rYsxbCKoIuKkgt1bVODYmgka5-IeJwKg7xN7N9f6UkiXa4yNTipaBLqGHs_dCyozR0s5lQU255-uTElW-OXa2NctxG_sQpJI6W0UBvz0s7aBDwAAjnIVb6ruF-LmV8ke4dpyU8fQ8aNazgcvzJ6fjvZgLqQCMcg/w400-h180/20220619_153615.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A tribute to my Aunt Laurie, my very own Wicked Witch of the East (W.W.T.E.)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was our good fortune that weather postponed the
Independence Day festivities at Grand Rapids on July 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we had the chance to meet some fine folks
from Wisconsin and witness the impressive fireworks display on July 5 at Pokegama Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hiked within Grand Rapids on several
trails including a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have completed portions of this Trail in 3
of the 8 states through which it runs.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w8YjLfJu9nIdIJw1_1d4KtoLKCWtwe4KbS0rL6A-X3NtNCBY5wnxaPmsi5js5aI3pOR1hhtDbqsPv1ic_SQPvnuDxgxaDC4cPQLtCsJffP4PY8SNHlqZHlNjG-6xFIMZ0tLljrhYXo8mwbjR36dAwVzCCSA2FhFuWT7MSFTWj5L5eTKOZ8KsZZgIvA/s4000/20220705_214202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w8YjLfJu9nIdIJw1_1d4KtoLKCWtwe4KbS0rL6A-X3NtNCBY5wnxaPmsi5js5aI3pOR1hhtDbqsPv1ic_SQPvnuDxgxaDC4cPQLtCsJffP4PY8SNHlqZHlNjG-6xFIMZ0tLljrhYXo8mwbjR36dAwVzCCSA2FhFuWT7MSFTWj5L5eTKOZ8KsZZgIvA/w400-h180/20220705_214202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The boats lined up on Pokegama Lake to watch the fireworks display.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGmFP-xDIREoRta-KQaMAdL5_ah7YPmap7vSKFntJt51MpPXmc1dr6MVAiRPtvbMWonzuf4kJ_OI3b16llPw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We spent a day hiking and exploring the
Joyce Estate on Trout Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Gage
Joyce inherited a portion of the lumber empire established by his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From 1917 to 1935, David built a summer
retreat for his family on the banks of Trout Lake, although most of the 40+
structures were in place by the mid-1920s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The remote lake retreat was named <i>Nopeming</i>, which means <i>place
of rest</i> in the language of the Ojibwe, the native Indian Tribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Adirondack-style main lodge and several
cabins all had electricity, indoor plumbing, and spacious rooms, quite upscale
for the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, the property
had recreational facilities:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>golf
course, tennis court, bathhouse, greenhouse, and trap shooting gun house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David died at 52 years of age in 1937,
leaving <i>Nopeming</i> and the rest of his estate to his only child,
Beatrice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beatrice continued utilizing
the property until her death in 1972 at age 49.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Gee, this family all died young, too).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The property was sold to the Nature Conservancy and subsequently
acquired by the US Forest Service. I was totally psyched to tour this place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read all about the Joyce family and their
logging endeavors in the book <i>Timber Connections. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
viewed photos of the property from days gone by, with its manicured gardens,
ponds, and shade trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I didn’t
complain one little bit that the only way to access the complex from the
parking area is by foot along a 3.5 mile trail. There were lots of downed trees
from recent storms along the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
nothing was stopping me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to the
end of the trail and then trudged through knee high grass to access the
structures. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, only a half dozen
structures remain, and they are in desperate need of repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, a huge tree had fallen on the main
cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite leaving with 6 ticks on me, succumbing
to 13 mosquito bites, and being pooped from hiking 7 miles round trip, I was
glad we came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of poop, I
spotted some fresh bear scat, but I never ran into its owner.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJyut0dp4tB-JFT2PMipei5CmypHNUarlRquKYHbuXA7jJACifVq9Y6R8qUXT4iTnL7udNgAoAmn8rOFjEd5JaPMYghbxftbgkjKfyXaETpK0tqnZ8CQ0PhVrTJ6izaCSZFhubKR717Cn58V0j-71iWyMjcPbEJw0rQyQGyxNDI88AZfy6PqR4jrUlw/s2089/20220709_174112.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2089" data-original-width="1402" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJyut0dp4tB-JFT2PMipei5CmypHNUarlRquKYHbuXA7jJACifVq9Y6R8qUXT4iTnL7udNgAoAmn8rOFjEd5JaPMYghbxftbgkjKfyXaETpK0tqnZ8CQ0PhVrTJ6izaCSZFhubKR717Cn58V0j-71iWyMjcPbEJw0rQyQGyxNDI88AZfy6PqR4jrUlw/w430-h640/20220709_174112.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Photos of the Joyce Estate from days gone by. The picture in the center is the Main Lodge.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoekKyhD6zhdOUOlLLLi9d0WOyjKhmLtKGfMZ-z_RtRqC30PMz09jSvWBbLoZ9fcaWF6p468ZLV1fck_fOOtOjeJ_xixUUj1CQ1XL0gsLu3OPDzmgNdf0Tkq5J0ofgQ3nxRRy46O_KL3QwnXmD9w7JVcZ3OKzD9voQfYu6hLfO5wxqfcwUOgfM9aBb6w/w400-h180/20220622_134513.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here it is today, damaged by a fallen tree from recent storms.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw9KRwPZT5XBLdJRs1juNIjw-HWX0muxoUfHab0nwoAkEFlFWuLM3BO2WdmFpbqbSwdNC6HguRtij1zN6jVIe4UhdsRdgG9SLHxa1opR5OfuGLiSj3z0K4XpLTfPjr0ZIS1NTsLWMqunKJym6NWgYBIaBeht53VxMfWJ5PDFlIxdC-mWwnhYiZHdwzQ/s3264/20220622_132605.jpg" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw9KRwPZT5XBLdJRs1juNIjw-HWX0muxoUfHab0nwoAkEFlFWuLM3BO2WdmFpbqbSwdNC6HguRtij1zN6jVIe4UhdsRdgG9SLHxa1opR5OfuGLiSj3z0K4XpLTfPjr0ZIS1NTsLWMqunKJym6NWgYBIaBeht53VxMfWJ5PDFlIxdC-mWwnhYiZHdwzQ/w400-h180/20220622_132605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Main Lodge and one of the remaining sleeping cabins.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuBTXpphrdEXAA15NZvjYXEh2x_jJVRtjMTVGzxpn4EzDLnmdWEPRTboomDwy7S_guoTvIQM0NLgqzaq7HzAzTNanKXh-zm1Qiq0FRr5ZLlFEFSete9ahG8XG6YaUsnxdEwzsD_3o70axeca8g-4B1DljM_rnxpe50XMiuqvzif1j-o_7mEnwocR13g/s4000/20220622_133800.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuBTXpphrdEXAA15NZvjYXEh2x_jJVRtjMTVGzxpn4EzDLnmdWEPRTboomDwy7S_guoTvIQM0NLgqzaq7HzAzTNanKXh-zm1Qiq0FRr5ZLlFEFSete9ahG8XG6YaUsnxdEwzsD_3o70axeca8g-4B1DljM_rnxpe50XMiuqvzif1j-o_7mEnwocR13g/w400-h180/20220622_133800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The forest has overtaken areas that once contained manicured gardens.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3lSrrDVDeYRx11-Y-k6Mg7kQw73gYPpp5j2jIv9fU8RBiw3jLz9x_17V_VrvFuy7EJ0nuQv4ZTwkcfi7D5TcAy9YdkFp-GZJNUd-PKSZkk2us08l2fLwGWwBaS7xhD9TbDOxhNHIMKqiDKZN_bJafcJAPKX8ZqQBdia0rxcIHUB9WS_cbMTKfjBXpKA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3lSrrDVDeYRx11-Y-k6Mg7kQw73gYPpp5j2jIv9fU8RBiw3jLz9x_17V_VrvFuy7EJ0nuQv4ZTwkcfi7D5TcAy9YdkFp-GZJNUd-PKSZkk2us08l2fLwGWwBaS7xhD9TbDOxhNHIMKqiDKZN_bJafcJAPKX8ZqQBdia0rxcIHUB9WS_cbMTKfjBXpKA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View of Trout Lake from the shore.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkfXFqcHQCzjyDzrvtqAx58V_X9W5u_qUHdTyRH4eo8nQIFOiD9x52AVMKWfS8sYSsTTKw9vkeK1S_-1JPkI1exDqxBuH20Y35PpJs9GVJwvBOcnjV-yzU1-ykZm_M7gLWiAkLLrXX--7I7lZlQ-CBrcGwiGkpBLQr2vPDCzktJBpFctvHX3cvEXR6Q/s4000/20220622_130026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkfXFqcHQCzjyDzrvtqAx58V_X9W5u_qUHdTyRH4eo8nQIFOiD9x52AVMKWfS8sYSsTTKw9vkeK1S_-1JPkI1exDqxBuH20Y35PpJs9GVJwvBOcnjV-yzU1-ykZm_M7gLWiAkLLrXX--7I7lZlQ-CBrcGwiGkpBLQr2vPDCzktJBpFctvHX3cvEXR6Q/w400-h180/20220622_130026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A stream along the trail to the Joyce Estate.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We did some hiking at the Laurentian Divide, the highest
point along the EOWSB.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The Divide was
formed 16,000 years ago by melting glaciers that eroded Minnesota’s mountain
range into curvy hills and formed thousands of waterways.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Water on 1 side of the Divide flows north to
the Hudson Bay, while water on the other side flows to the Gulf of Mexico.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I would just love to follow the raindrops to
witness this phenomenon!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We frequented Big Fork to hike along the Big Fork
Riverwalk Trail.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I learned much about
the lumber industry at the town’s Interpretive Park.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Back in the day, logs were floated down the
Big Fork River to mills.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Small boats
called </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">wannigans</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> were equipped with supplies for the men charged with
guiding the floating logs.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">These men
were nicknamed </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">River Rats</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">As one
“rat” to another, I found this exhibit fascinating.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Big Fork may be an extremely small town
(population 446), but it has several restaurants, pubs, and even a Performing
Arts Center, where we attended an enjoyable theatrical presentation.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd-1GAudH8kNv1YsQW2yjN35q7YBEImPrMbInOHjBOTVc1BdyTPeBIALJVrLhrJ2SYW3HXqHTqq3Nm_rfq9XdAyYKuIW37zmIswDl8c_YB-y1SJN4nh-y86wIPy076N7kL1yXw9j0uGbNGb-5jDbv5L08Bg4BBp7z3EQ2VSk5J-xMAgU_7C41DYLO9A/s3205/Riverrat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="3205" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd-1GAudH8kNv1YsQW2yjN35q7YBEImPrMbInOHjBOTVc1BdyTPeBIALJVrLhrJ2SYW3HXqHTqq3Nm_rfq9XdAyYKuIW37zmIswDl8c_YB-y1SJN4nh-y86wIPy076N7kL1yXw9j0uGbNGb-5jDbv5L08Bg4BBp7z3EQ2VSk5J-xMAgU_7C41DYLO9A/w400-h194/Riverrat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "River Rats" Exhibit</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh8gFW7Dj-F2sciNasFKcDHTZGtktKiNGYKGkZJqAiPh2ZaA-0Zz4cPQRpIleYvSpSOoUacOz4ZoWBhImz_xGiPrf-HW-_qYkY2UcoemrYxN2Ya6rQV1_7FGNND67dzPuR5T-fvWKD7WGFmADrb9_ui223ChuSjd5bFpfCr83jVzwOv5anYcyylmioQ/s3264/20220621_123242.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh8gFW7Dj-F2sciNasFKcDHTZGtktKiNGYKGkZJqAiPh2ZaA-0Zz4cPQRpIleYvSpSOoUacOz4ZoWBhImz_xGiPrf-HW-_qYkY2UcoemrYxN2Ya6rQV1_7FGNND67dzPuR5T-fvWKD7WGFmADrb9_ui223ChuSjd5bFpfCr83jVzwOv5anYcyylmioQ/w400-h180/20220621_123242.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All the comforts of home inside the wannigan.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJTqXPyYiV2X3EKAZZyP1-0gMGpZ8Y5dJ1flhMbLTWoIkUqx3bq0pn7hjRbWBp3IqCe2R1jfRtRhRpxCu8p43hMgEasZjgFtgLeFvgrhfZiVhQJL4q1E-MAqhco-4JHEwQMcKindDOynKcRop4Lbuio_xCwY2GpRAloAtMbH-_Rt4VbpsCn_nk_GN-Q/s4000/20220810_171721.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJTqXPyYiV2X3EKAZZyP1-0gMGpZ8Y5dJ1flhMbLTWoIkUqx3bq0pn7hjRbWBp3IqCe2R1jfRtRhRpxCu8p43hMgEasZjgFtgLeFvgrhfZiVhQJL4q1E-MAqhco-4JHEwQMcKindDOynKcRop4Lbuio_xCwY2GpRAloAtMbH-_Rt4VbpsCn_nk_GN-Q/w400-h180/20220810_171721.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spectacular clouds</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0fM90-8LMc3JqvkWeH6AEi8pk-BpSbzHB44ifWjXja1QSA53zvX11l-sFUzPx3H0CYBzQzV6Q_UoU7-Wp_KDqg58br3TGRwrh883z6T-Ok23lMOtgjaIo3CLjyoVpbbxGJRQGnYJPbmAqxQZybdVoqc-k7lt0wOz-GaTzf3oi9jC4XSpL9P_kMoPDXA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0fM90-8LMc3JqvkWeH6AEi8pk-BpSbzHB44ifWjXja1QSA53zvX11l-sFUzPx3H0CYBzQzV6Q_UoU7-Wp_KDqg58br3TGRwrh883z6T-Ok23lMOtgjaIo3CLjyoVpbbxGJRQGnYJPbmAqxQZybdVoqc-k7lt0wOz-GaTzf3oi9jC4XSpL9P_kMoPDXA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Big Fork River</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Re_P0fES89A0c1H8e2hMv2meZ1DxLpW6sfwYLsLLWTXkiHhMMipt0MessrufmBPu6Uv1zTeQ_NbPqaonlB3Q3qTAFQWM7RMsKQHkMc-Pr5eaDMX8waIk7KU5ytKiI4DQN_3mZ5xswVsGlRM2vR1a5Sv1-ISezNiBX8bha1VTEJln3cp9EiWp6eKbtg/s4000/20220820_190510.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Re_P0fES89A0c1H8e2hMv2meZ1DxLpW6sfwYLsLLWTXkiHhMMipt0MessrufmBPu6Uv1zTeQ_NbPqaonlB3Q3qTAFQWM7RMsKQHkMc-Pr5eaDMX8waIk7KU5ytKiI4DQN_3mZ5xswVsGlRM2vR1a5Sv1-ISezNiBX8bha1VTEJln3cp9EiWp6eKbtg/w400-h180/20220820_190510.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Theatrical production, <i>Gracie's Fowl Play</i></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Yee Ha!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We watched
all the cowboys and cowgirls showcase their skills at the North Star Stampede
in Effie. While most participants hailed from Minnesota, South
Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Canada all had representation.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We even had 1 participant from our Lone Star
State of Texas!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">From the barrel races to
bull riding to the antics of the rodeo clown, I enjoyed every minute.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">But nothing beats the steer wrestling!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I was happy that the Stampede had a sold-out
crowd, and I was quite impressed with the level of respect and patriotism
exhibited by everyone during the National Anthem.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Rodeo festivities included a parade downtown.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">With a population of only 123, I reckon every Effie
resident was involved in the event, whether as participant or spectator.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">It
was like Halloween for the kiddies with all the candy being distributed by hopeful
political candidates.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Effie is the final
stop along the EOWSB and is a farming community.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Who knew that Minnesota offers good soil and appropriate
climate conditions for growing spuds!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwn3vTQ6H2EupizZQGKel4yWQnzXkgVYnxli3SxtReeyDxig7ZpcZLTDNASxsS7Zkkw1fCzW1c0AUJRe-7G4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzGFRcbE_qFRIMzYH8-uWMzqezUajxITB3Z3PzOkpLIf3ymutymKSOBZx9R8-7dWJuSeUK1G7cWAR7CLB84lA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtU0vfSDLB9j6Kk7wNEwRkPEVRnKDenJl9rI55GNToMMEF8OtgWhAhXaQOcLNaArgAhyKOny3HSfJwuKeIsKZ0xI-6I-iXAWBwz3h_cRGlWpHOfChZvn5Ygpedu3vE4b7_-6yPE1Zw-ETLTFeGxnnCpwalaWB4KeStl60nbiC_VMArJsYtew-8Lezwgg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtU0vfSDLB9j6Kk7wNEwRkPEVRnKDenJl9rI55GNToMMEF8OtgWhAhXaQOcLNaArgAhyKOny3HSfJwuKeIsKZ0xI-6I-iXAWBwz3h_cRGlWpHOfChZvn5Ygpedu3vE4b7_-6yPE1Zw-ETLTFeGxnnCpwalaWB4KeStl60nbiC_VMArJsYtew-8Lezwgg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Steer roping</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSUnfSW90RUzOY6ooloP-H8-_4tW0UCow2BgRkJXs47PHNRJYZWII8FaAzJ1PTD10XiHqQmeQXyPUMo7DVIrsYowxGLMw71lP3DfbREP6Jl5ppszYNpRe4GjpqR5LsG3oWy-qKzionGlezO1hWwfqM88fjzC7H_TKxFninfauqTbNaESEJN3xu7ASh2g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSUnfSW90RUzOY6ooloP-H8-_4tW0UCow2BgRkJXs47PHNRJYZWII8FaAzJ1PTD10XiHqQmeQXyPUMo7DVIrsYowxGLMw71lP3DfbREP6Jl5ppszYNpRe4GjpqR5LsG3oWy-qKzionGlezO1hWwfqM88fjzC7H_TKxFninfauqTbNaESEJN3xu7ASh2g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rodeo clown</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ79BYsKl5glt4tUYFyfm37cb2P0K4OW5EGqXnROU10PDeAh-0mE8PdY4rYKHRPO7iPeQvcPnpeypsAQ_L64CM6Gb__yIpSpSO3XmUweNf7xxkHBmcjCytQiR6qyL_TZUw8L64ZQNk70xAfrMn-OS9pAezxT4aXlaVyU8YCS4EjbtluMU5mqc5ZYToLQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="2259" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJ79BYsKl5glt4tUYFyfm37cb2P0K4OW5EGqXnROU10PDeAh-0mE8PdY4rYKHRPO7iPeQvcPnpeypsAQ_L64CM6Gb__yIpSpSO3XmUweNf7xxkHBmcjCytQiR6qyL_TZUw8L64ZQNk70xAfrMn-OS9pAezxT4aXlaVyU8YCS4EjbtluMU5mqc5ZYToLQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marchers in the parade</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipZX50Qtbnx73Qi_BHBeCFAdG8Nuk2O_Vc5QiTn0ASRiW2ondqmHXVXDRfwZ_mO0CA2hp0U6hSd5oY7N_1eF9PbRHeJkjMXtVRzNnFJAF3qsypwYjTCRvucRNBBZkRpsBXG319xNPkpGeEz2KVL7bukWdXL-5z3cEEBvRdxXD4h-E57kLeMb9l_WNtEQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipZX50Qtbnx73Qi_BHBeCFAdG8Nuk2O_Vc5QiTn0ASRiW2ondqmHXVXDRfwZ_mO0CA2hp0U6hSd5oY7N_1eF9PbRHeJkjMXtVRzNnFJAF3qsypwYjTCRvucRNBBZkRpsBXG319xNPkpGeEz2KVL7bukWdXL-5z3cEEBvRdxXD4h-E57kLeMb9l_WNtEQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the MANY political floats in the parade. I chose this one to display only because it had a giant stuffed toy like me as a mascot!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Hibbing is a rather large city by Northern Minnesota
standards, so we visited on several occasions to view tourist attractions.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">At the Greyhound Bus Museum we learned how
Hibbing became the birthplace of bus transportation, from the 1914 Hupmobile to
Greyhound’s modern passenger luxury liners.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Greyhound’s motto, </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Leave the Driving to Us</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, will be stuck in my
head for a while.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix5Vg8Olo-LxS_KQTWMXa4isML71RNBZ1VZm1_Q300KED4DZp2-vjBd-40YOb9dsYiTkfEhoBqKkeKscCKa6S7gENw-ggZi8H_QPYRuyaQH2C8sUBVwB0KcQdaSZGtj8FLl-CiIRHHVm90m3DrCzXd9lmkPgzgRw1XzX-M6_Eax__dKbPOPTIHG2AcYw" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix5Vg8Olo-LxS_KQTWMXa4isML71RNBZ1VZm1_Q300KED4DZp2-vjBd-40YOb9dsYiTkfEhoBqKkeKscCKa6S7gENw-ggZi8H_QPYRuyaQH2C8sUBVwB0KcQdaSZGtj8FLl-CiIRHHVm90m3DrCzXd9lmkPgzgRw1XzX-M6_Eax__dKbPOPTIHG2AcYw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVUGk5Zh_mSBA3n8Vi6V1yyDxbak5bO2n0vYtT2FhTwmpucCFc6k-KSCOFpxgU00pFG_UjzMw48WRRSKxuXyQpi-1RTf6xywd_ur3SJlfO2EBCX7SkaNJ0upGjj_cIgt2eF-1NRsFMYHMQlviAXIOTjNqFLyGIfaHfUygdRrAu06La1uHaeJenJysPHg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2887" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVUGk5Zh_mSBA3n8Vi6V1yyDxbak5bO2n0vYtT2FhTwmpucCFc6k-KSCOFpxgU00pFG_UjzMw48WRRSKxuXyQpi-1RTf6xywd_ur3SJlfO2EBCX7SkaNJ0upGjj_cIgt2eF-1NRsFMYHMQlviAXIOTjNqFLyGIfaHfUygdRrAu06La1uHaeJenJysPHg=w400-h171" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1914 Hupmobile<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHN753Taap0bADZtUdE0flnKUl7S_LxIXpU7c3YsF0HAkDKRqpv0zUl_yRPJ1553Exl8dNIbDNc7rhOfvqaiUO6a9mTm2EP0dF71cAxiZl059-PyKtJOK42_wX7pJWYm7fdG52nwqy6PrUxxoxwxtOj6aGcz0r5hRR50TGiWehUD7zYd-ijOAyisudA/s3264/20220628_112940.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHN753Taap0bADZtUdE0flnKUl7S_LxIXpU7c3YsF0HAkDKRqpv0zUl_yRPJ1553Exl8dNIbDNc7rhOfvqaiUO6a9mTm2EP0dF71cAxiZl059-PyKtJOK42_wX7pJWYm7fdG52nwqy6PrUxxoxwxtOj6aGcz0r5hRR50TGiWehUD7zYd-ijOAyisudA/w400-h180/20220628_112940.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF09zl6jdIjTQc15RRTJds6gD_wHMfeCZlk0qCUxoI2K70v5LkDiQtorbheu2Z1WKIDu8k5UoD2KCpeCnVwI5EWuZshe_MmCqYlh-2KM6-9MO3h_OmDAre87meYRQVU6mu_KERDTyzaCyBjNucVaZV3odMGRTIZMPOamYGLFzZNUZh5E4OqVM_KDh9w/s4000/20220628_104926.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF09zl6jdIjTQc15RRTJds6gD_wHMfeCZlk0qCUxoI2K70v5LkDiQtorbheu2Z1WKIDu8k5UoD2KCpeCnVwI5EWuZshe_MmCqYlh-2KM6-9MO3h_OmDAre87meYRQVU6mu_KERDTyzaCyBjNucVaZV3odMGRTIZMPOamYGLFzZNUZh5E4OqVM_KDh9w/w400-h180/20220628_104926.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They even had a bus the perfect size for this Rambling RV Rat!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh04UXSNZPbW3IvbLp8k05TOHlq7E0wRNB8zo2bVgIgyCjAZwvl0uf863ZS3ccDMoB80mUI2QRgwO5Jv7cdtisgFwXbvDd5e0dfLQDCzBWx-OQ47pEzXR96qgov1nXMSJHzg4rVPyHCXESXtOwbN5QLgk0wxoiYtlLbCSFWuvsd6c-iPU9S3Mw_H9_RKg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="2863" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh04UXSNZPbW3IvbLp8k05TOHlq7E0wRNB8zo2bVgIgyCjAZwvl0uf863ZS3ccDMoB80mUI2QRgwO5Jv7cdtisgFwXbvDd5e0dfLQDCzBWx-OQ47pEzXR96qgov1nXMSJHzg4rVPyHCXESXtOwbN5QLgk0wxoiYtlLbCSFWuvsd6c-iPU9S3Mw_H9_RKg=w400-h204" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bus Graveyard, Greyhounds from years gone by.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">While in Hibbing, we stumbled upon the Hull Rust Mahoning
Mine, which turned out to be a fascinating historic landmark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With its 8-mile max length, 3.5-mile max
width, and a max depth of 800 feet, it represents the world’s largest open pit
iron ore mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is often referred to as <i>The Grand Canyon
of the North</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mining operations
commenced in 1896 and continue today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCdigX6AV_LAIXlotmFkdy3kEpfW7mKubBHZXPgFImbqq5Z5tNWKhdkLZortrgv7ks-8F5Dim8mD61VsYvUyWP4BNH4R0jgxPS9QCIBfnVZL-QjkbPNrdYOoqknb6KBChJM7RwI0MNzM3hXFdUjssakyWUd8rtjmL3sCuGBf8rrQdUNpUS_9cN-JzgpQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCdigX6AV_LAIXlotmFkdy3kEpfW7mKubBHZXPgFImbqq5Z5tNWKhdkLZortrgv7ks-8F5Dim8mD61VsYvUyWP4BNH4R0jgxPS9QCIBfnVZL-QjkbPNrdYOoqknb6KBChJM7RwI0MNzM3hXFdUjssakyWUd8rtjmL3sCuGBf8rrQdUNpUS_9cN-JzgpQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hull Rust Mahoning Mine is the world's largest open pit iron ore mine.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnLTdsXyCgnQwLtdcwF8fkciKZGWDlrEqWDBI8uYx2Hlqt2R6VfLabTvswIhVuZX_riRfK9lSqCdJv8zapR2kgWODcyL9dKlkNzIoQfdZtKIw3rvQ38UbHTl5xt09-OGFhRb6v-FS2NV-YpdnC9mN0B21XlMYvgyW2x1ELd58kWo-seANr5MDYZWF5fQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnLTdsXyCgnQwLtdcwF8fkciKZGWDlrEqWDBI8uYx2Hlqt2R6VfLabTvswIhVuZX_riRfK9lSqCdJv8zapR2kgWODcyL9dKlkNzIoQfdZtKIw3rvQ38UbHTl5xt09-OGFhRb6v-FS2NV-YpdnC9mN0B21XlMYvgyW2x1ELd58kWo-seANr5MDYZWF5fQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is one GINORMOUS Tonka truck!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hibbing’s most famous one-time resident was singer,
songwriter, Grammy winner, and 2016 Nobel Prize recipient, Bob Dylan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, on another Hibbing visit we walked by Dylan’s
childhood home, glimpsed his local hangouts, and toured Hibbing High School,
from which he graduated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Built in 1924 at a cost of $4 million, the
School is quite impressive with its 4 1/2 floors of Italian architectural design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside is graced with solid marble front steps
and pillars, brass rails, and murals depicting the history of the U.S.A. and
Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But its most prominent
feature is its auditorium/performing arts center, modeled after New York City’s
Capitol Theater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom loved the brass and
crystal chandeliers and painted ceilings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its main floor and balcony seat over 1,800 people, one of which is an
infamous apparition who resides in Row J, Seat 47.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must have been on a potty break when we
were in the auditorium since he didn’t eject me when I sat in his chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I admired most about Hibbing High School,
however, was its tribute to the victims of 9/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though far removed from the horrific events
of that tragic day, the students here exhibited comfort and support to grieving
families 1,400 miles away.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR3g7gERYvnkwjnKj1p-nGRbx3mJ6Tl_zaQnTzUwLvKom31vv1rzIr614dZVd3_ZU_BNfqBsL91F23dA3jRBKNETtlqnD_Cr3X1lVuA7n0MnAz4ety1iDu-jQMApE56RDqGxJJBD1Ar6XFBhxWFXbnn9hr1W1N3w21xD-ZC4TV0Za9BqOlGPR9VKQxfw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR3g7gERYvnkwjnKj1p-nGRbx3mJ6Tl_zaQnTzUwLvKom31vv1rzIr614dZVd3_ZU_BNfqBsL91F23dA3jRBKNETtlqnD_Cr3X1lVuA7n0MnAz4ety1iDu-jQMApE56RDqGxJJBD1Ar6XFBhxWFXbnn9hr1W1N3w21xD-ZC4TV0Za9BqOlGPR9VKQxfw=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Corner property that was the boyhood home of Robert Allen Zimmerman, AKA Bob Dylan.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieO9nx3gR4OGDKUlOieuLx60qpyThq6wiJEZTmcie9SYmOJ2o1-i1SIDn9ijtDU-CxqckpAHX6UqEtAgRm0LB9SIgsLyy1wO1ju3G7ID2HvHNtNOx4VOjpkdzWnKqwbsmli223PX6W5rqjvMP_9IY4cIqS_5FGxmZ4jE5o0I-AU2xS53kQG9AFnrYn-A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieO9nx3gR4OGDKUlOieuLx60qpyThq6wiJEZTmcie9SYmOJ2o1-i1SIDn9ijtDU-CxqckpAHX6UqEtAgRm0LB9SIgsLyy1wO1ju3G7ID2HvHNtNOx4VOjpkdzWnKqwbsmli223PX6W5rqjvMP_9IY4cIqS_5FGxmZ4jE5o0I-AU2xS53kQG9AFnrYn-A=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYl_8Y6RUH0GCoS9Ky0BO-apnmzOqwhVUeT9QH8BkBtIKn7rwcE81PialUgGPwEQZBv5SfHxF3NdB1NChkkRLr6er2cShQf-AXDYKsSHTb-WbcznMdU0pJeIy82wmR2poROFqPrI3T5KzewDZFn1m3_mTtuIkfDVn_pvON1y-PZpR8m05P0mdUumkKEQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYl_8Y6RUH0GCoS9Ky0BO-apnmzOqwhVUeT9QH8BkBtIKn7rwcE81PialUgGPwEQZBv5SfHxF3NdB1NChkkRLr6er2cShQf-AXDYKsSHTb-WbcznMdU0pJeIy82wmR2poROFqPrI3T5KzewDZFn1m3_mTtuIkfDVn_pvON1y-PZpR8m05P0mdUumkKEQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVHNDBwJC95uXh-hKcaJEgluIMLloVwi5V2-lQBeVRiYH6l9NWqjuV8TtJLwMrmidUgPuBc0bCGoQooW6vCQSSLw0_lvEPywTlpLKJGyRZISPduhS0tW2wZHkqu9B0kLbc73xh9Lgh0RGpdDubkogFXSv5ifd8wFuxcQX4qlrLXnU5ltlQPJZaoZfhyQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVHNDBwJC95uXh-hKcaJEgluIMLloVwi5V2-lQBeVRiYH6l9NWqjuV8TtJLwMrmidUgPuBc0bCGoQooW6vCQSSLw0_lvEPywTlpLKJGyRZISPduhS0tW2wZHkqu9B0kLbc73xh9Lgh0RGpdDubkogFXSv5ifd8wFuxcQX4qlrLXnU5ltlQPJZaoZfhyQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrV_1n-I2dsXPuz3Yz2G79PeHt-vTH7PvaWMtceJu5lM3HRvpES2MMEdbve_yDm90IlwUq0gJMKiuDK7l2JkGZ8EDIpVd6m2NchU3CLJbrqviEk_USO3KWwoaRqemdsVhldioa79ocfpDPysPR7dWk5q6Km0To5KKPcGbyJg1DZ9OqYRkxRFRSJbsZIA" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrV_1n-I2dsXPuz3Yz2G79PeHt-vTH7PvaWMtceJu5lM3HRvpES2MMEdbve_yDm90IlwUq0gJMKiuDK7l2JkGZ8EDIpVd6m2NchU3CLJbrqviEk_USO3KWwoaRqemdsVhldioa79ocfpDPysPR7dWk5q6Km0To5KKPcGbyJg1DZ9OqYRkxRFRSJbsZIA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6sRpW2ArMiVGlFr1QsURVeP615dD1KAXEuTGUBHITZpQVM8taJunBIROtCTwVYT2icFM0pOGP0tIwy2VDhPvlUnE05ZaQyylHuUWmSvuJn5_uq3_A77PfJUlax0nhPPlMqX6E7AqT-1FhkARzOjo5Cz7ooNV-flnorkeee5XsrAZ7pxkeSqjK5QOMhw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6sRpW2ArMiVGlFr1QsURVeP615dD1KAXEuTGUBHITZpQVM8taJunBIROtCTwVYT2icFM0pOGP0tIwy2VDhPvlUnE05ZaQyylHuUWmSvuJn5_uq3_A77PfJUlax0nhPPlMqX6E7AqT-1FhkARzOjo5Cz7ooNV-flnorkeee5XsrAZ7pxkeSqjK5QOMhw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Performing Arts Center--this ain't your average auditorium!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We attended 2 enjoyable evening outdoor concerts at
Hibbing’s Bennett Park. one was Trop Rock (think Chesney, Buffet, etc.), and the other was comprised of original Country and Rock compositions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> E</span>ach visit
to Hibbing included dining at Bach Yen, which offers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chinese fare freshly prepared and using no
MSG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Service is always responsive and
personable, portions are always generous, and all entrees are reasonably
priced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrWtdfMh5RelAyI0Zdfv5LrBt-m4z4yHOdy1sSk6i8XOroTUiIahsI0mdtw4O9CABrtLYaWb2b7Q4sxbKsw5WYY124NofM1kjC2-WjtBU1cjHqc9_I-c_5v5gtiV5BdhaX87AR1bDXntKyplge4Vk21MTcf_rzT8QmxNkbdZ4WXuyXI37oSBN6qLsf6w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrWtdfMh5RelAyI0Zdfv5LrBt-m4z4yHOdy1sSk6i8XOroTUiIahsI0mdtw4O9CABrtLYaWb2b7Q4sxbKsw5WYY124NofM1kjC2-WjtBU1cjHqc9_I-c_5v5gtiV5BdhaX87AR1bDXntKyplge4Vk21MTcf_rzT8QmxNkbdZ4WXuyXI37oSBN6qLsf6w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the two outdoor concerts that we enjoyed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmEddfhnIHA2g21PMxUj6LRdAJIatJg9uUgyLnS2wxtTwyzCnYWivJ7GH9blLUY7JCKbvjU9z27hXHJPAipc5Wjcq0m-ZUdaPB8LpvIL4d64YUYZJ3t6_lnozGNQgKVKZY0mLt2b6Ha7_oz3Yw48EU1wDeAGQ9GgBCbEPPmQS_MV0nOg4Qov-l07Ftqw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="1318" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmEddfhnIHA2g21PMxUj6LRdAJIatJg9uUgyLnS2wxtTwyzCnYWivJ7GH9blLUY7JCKbvjU9z27hXHJPAipc5Wjcq0m-ZUdaPB8LpvIL4d64YUYZJ3t6_lnozGNQgKVKZY0mLt2b6Ha7_oz3Yw48EU1wDeAGQ9GgBCbEPPmQS_MV0nOg4Qov-l07Ftqw=w233-h400" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Liberty, a 200-lb Mastiff, enjoyed one of the concert with us.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY2XpuUvuxSOFQa4LuRKBBuEyQnyJBQKUK9ZSfbPyGf7SAB63a6Ud83qMHpZyrL6VqbYYb46_bbDg74dYY6PgfMRNY8uEtUf0JzNaXJ_Z2YV8XoaF0djEorBUuPruf0X_x6yOeAYOgcp0XFqNwUOBZA9MIDFCpgQ8w9rIMtNPQdjZg4HNLpArTimWSeA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY2XpuUvuxSOFQa4LuRKBBuEyQnyJBQKUK9ZSfbPyGf7SAB63a6Ud83qMHpZyrL6VqbYYb46_bbDg74dYY6PgfMRNY8uEtUf0JzNaXJ_Z2YV8XoaF0djEorBUuPruf0X_x6yOeAYOgcp0XFqNwUOBZA9MIDFCpgQ8w9rIMtNPQdjZg4HNLpArTimWSeA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I loved the colorful decor inside Bach Yen...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWqPGlvlotGTOG-n0VuwXhPnGLvrs2asXFBXOoY6T_dMsct8Kvc7yJETs0QTUoF-HoYWpZnMcaU-FacgTa9BVQfL2tZFjvX_1KEiIeUl00TujrVEwzUofTvzeC0yEHVkWoQzZHV0jU0jrO_1krf1j-5G_t0y8g76CJPTwwZBYHPHDNgJ6t1gEeQUYicA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWqPGlvlotGTOG-n0VuwXhPnGLvrs2asXFBXOoY6T_dMsct8Kvc7yJETs0QTUoF-HoYWpZnMcaU-FacgTa9BVQfL2tZFjvX_1KEiIeUl00TujrVEwzUofTvzeC0yEHVkWoQzZHV0jU0jrO_1krf1j-5G_t0y8g76CJPTwwZBYHPHDNgJ6t1gEeQUYicA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...as much as the delicious freshly prepared food.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I<span style="font-family: arial;">f you are an avid bicyclist, you will love Chisolm, where
you can access the Redhead Mountain Bike Park and the Mesabi Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we have ‘Lectric bikes, we passed on
peddling along the Redhead, but we did purchase annual biking passes
($15/person) for the Mesabi (no pass is required if you choose to just hike).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mesabi Trail is 145 miles long and runs
through 28 communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode and
hiked through 4 towns over several sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chisolm is home to Iron Man, the 4<sup>th</sup> largest statue in the
US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a tribute to the miners who built
our Nation during the Industrial Age, Iron Man stands 85 feet tall, weighs 4
tons, and has a waistband of 228 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s one big boy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Minnesota
Discovery Center is also within Chisolm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has several Norwegian and Sami cultural outdoor exhibits and has a
museum dedicated to Minnesota’s Iron Range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, it is an outdoor concert venue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. throughout the
summer, it hosted <i>Bands, Brew, and BBQ</i>, wherein you could peruse the
museum and exhibits plus enjoy the performances of local musicians free of
charge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad my parents’ volunteer
work schedule provided us the opportunity to participate in two of these
events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnd6PBdzJ9pk0ZOJVlX_34CD8n_ulqtGtMpeTeBg2IrqG1nFCF7B_J4sDKJxXp2Au0tz6Rs8UsGXimx0Rfed_q_7-btBc9BJGbPp6vx4JxoEnGfYiPZ4yodt4UOI10SQUzX2MDWijCGPAvc_bv3_BI6QEja4MUGGo9y-fbCR2NUqtFzJ2NBOGbj3cBmQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnd6PBdzJ9pk0ZOJVlX_34CD8n_ulqtGtMpeTeBg2IrqG1nFCF7B_J4sDKJxXp2Au0tz6Rs8UsGXimx0Rfed_q_7-btBc9BJGbPp6vx4JxoEnGfYiPZ4yodt4UOI10SQUzX2MDWijCGPAvc_bv3_BI6QEja4MUGGo9y-fbCR2NUqtFzJ2NBOGbj3cBmQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bicycling along the Mesabi Trail between Chisolm and Hibbing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8POAfkB8Vv6u-YgcL3CpTpEQPzqpySqO0_uX95rPdH5cYWThP08zbcFepl5s3D8XEhpUnpYv2jYQW-q4VbbVpO1Anu3VDx3xKvLVVW1Y1_I-QvibqvsFCobdb0UHxE9YWHD4m699nfvyWolFb6djO5YjIIKpooqOTJ4i9OKF81Pog5iZ4jKy3OuUaAw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8POAfkB8Vv6u-YgcL3CpTpEQPzqpySqO0_uX95rPdH5cYWThP08zbcFepl5s3D8XEhpUnpYv2jYQW-q4VbbVpO1Anu3VDx3xKvLVVW1Y1_I-QvibqvsFCobdb0UHxE9YWHD4m699nfvyWolFb6djO5YjIIKpooqOTJ4i9OKF81Pog5iZ4jKy3OuUaAw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad saved several turtles from hit and run injuries along the bike path.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRyVL3B9_9o3T5hgc-Fe_W3fI07eMDMmqqbq3k2Zj01Kzu8deB_Hteb_3cRj1DPRuDG4ze8Gffvk8dEyfMm_9g9lBO76JTA9fDdI4PoCMHpbjE3AIOgL9pik-xKciWE7lRUyc486TagTz_GTBvm6fahPzeDmKZt7HGHL8nELsHoWFzA9A8V-yizsaTWg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRyVL3B9_9o3T5hgc-Fe_W3fI07eMDMmqqbq3k2Zj01Kzu8deB_Hteb_3cRj1DPRuDG4ze8Gffvk8dEyfMm_9g9lBO76JTA9fDdI4PoCMHpbjE3AIOgL9pik-xKciWE7lRUyc486TagTz_GTBvm6fahPzeDmKZt7HGHL8nELsHoWFzA9A8V-yizsaTWg=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-Xq4lqVm7zH2rG6ZXjvoovVEIxveXYg4piQ_p4gxUa3wfYY20xsdfwnCpl3-bDCmbnKpKER8zP78ypHbCxFRXUN5J0-qvXWjbnh7FAJQ7lZNR6SgyvgfvRFsuqQfe4hUyvQX4X9Gn--mqiO0n6eoBUoXpg4M7Tgtq0DKgS8jUCdKRHvWAfy4OeF4eRg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-Xq4lqVm7zH2rG6ZXjvoovVEIxveXYg4piQ_p4gxUa3wfYY20xsdfwnCpl3-bDCmbnKpKER8zP78ypHbCxFRXUN5J0-qvXWjbnh7FAJQ7lZNR6SgyvgfvRFsuqQfe4hUyvQX4X9Gn--mqiO0n6eoBUoXpg4M7Tgtq0DKgS8jUCdKRHvWAfy4OeF4eRg=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHRE45Glm7VLtSAc2l7Ju64584GTY13MUpVfmJrQxqWBR6da8m8fBgBE0m1k2ESDqIPHiUD_T-6zwNfuGkta4vlwn8UHx4yPjEwaFGQNg1z6R5TmXzwv37krm6CcG-JFtMN87pCZg-qMoLSSXx9fcwna3iegrRp6psFs275gP4DMIT7ahYKOoYKULNug" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHRE45Glm7VLtSAc2l7Ju64584GTY13MUpVfmJrQxqWBR6da8m8fBgBE0m1k2ESDqIPHiUD_T-6zwNfuGkta4vlwn8UHx4yPjEwaFGQNg1z6R5TmXzwv37krm6CcG-JFtMN87pCZg-qMoLSSXx9fcwna3iegrRp6psFs275gP4DMIT7ahYKOoYKULNug=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Veterans Park at the Minnesota Discovery Center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDOJsh0YhACApVcOuojOw9xqBkVFAuVr0PRlF3MsmPbq_sggExBsXWQv9TzB3mrvxy72UlyL_u44lj1spy0Jg-gM_j25LDgCUWDjz8w_lun0HSaEc92u4TOquTeym1-T__7duvHu7SZvukLoZhf2g290cZDlJhsItE4ZfxaMBFhs7TYGUHnXbHbm780Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDOJsh0YhACApVcOuojOw9xqBkVFAuVr0PRlF3MsmPbq_sggExBsXWQv9TzB3mrvxy72UlyL_u44lj1spy0Jg-gM_j25LDgCUWDjz8w_lun0HSaEc92u4TOquTeym1-T__7duvHu7SZvukLoZhf2g290cZDlJhsItE4ZfxaMBFhs7TYGUHnXbHbm780Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Grounds of the Minnesota Discovery Center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF9Ww6zkqiecV_1Ze0S-DKy9CSsaU6a9zhk9xoc1ufRnuwBr7lOuc6nfivXV7VN5mMViYme8TsenvlioEtohXtYo7fzc47Qbf5M4tM4Q3K4HQrhAJtiIWm-BjPUPyt2aoT2blueMPuqMGKe1itPjwCIe6Tec0UtHzPqgN1DRvhpUnBHJVl2_3SOizCzg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhF9Ww6zkqiecV_1Ze0S-DKy9CSsaU6a9zhk9xoc1ufRnuwBr7lOuc6nfivXV7VN5mMViYme8TsenvlioEtohXtYo7fzc47Qbf5M4tM4Q3K4HQrhAJtiIWm-BjPUPyt2aoT2blueMPuqMGKe1itPjwCIe6Tec0UtHzPqgN1DRvhpUnBHJVl2_3SOizCzg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Replica of a sod house used by the Sami people.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZmWU7br_a_T1mciwBnvWN5zddupPPiWhre8hy7nuTVAPRLuZPnfXB6hQsvDBK1JfI8aeTUB7EveVkeZWlyjeYJ1Jl_S4YmkweRQbQrPmOSfFKafm12Pn5znqsr0ogW4kecaaSFBOgCoJCYidrrfZVQVxyQkntCDk8Fv9LvB9jBa6t2Pbb8nketsVbjg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZmWU7br_a_T1mciwBnvWN5zddupPPiWhre8hy7nuTVAPRLuZPnfXB6hQsvDBK1JfI8aeTUB7EveVkeZWlyjeYJ1Jl_S4YmkweRQbQrPmOSfFKafm12Pn5znqsr0ogW4kecaaSFBOgCoJCYidrrfZVQVxyQkntCDk8Fv9LvB9jBa6t2Pbb8nketsVbjg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Replica of a traditional Norwegian home.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCkPp300vv0A3gZKPgGRpQx_PliNHuxd-z4e6X8hrHsSaM9L-CGyKzb8tILOZ9CP18Odvn58RuiZgLki65H4wIz83GlP_CAuox7ehInpvECyQiGfETR7-4wFK_iG0j89pBns2isELad2eVggLGCV_JTVMWCKDb4D2Lb_mYK7F0Iw76IlLZ5DvBAvmIaQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCkPp300vv0A3gZKPgGRpQx_PliNHuxd-z4e6X8hrHsSaM9L-CGyKzb8tILOZ9CP18Odvn58RuiZgLki65H4wIz83GlP_CAuox7ehInpvECyQiGfETR7-4wFK_iG0j89pBns2isELad2eVggLGCV_JTVMWCKDb4D2Lb_mYK7F0Iw76IlLZ5DvBAvmIaQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What was once Hawkins Mine, the first mine in Itasca County. It operated from 1902-1962, extracting 25 MILLION tons of iron ore!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We spent considerable time within Chippewa National
Forest.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I learned Chippewa, established
in 1908, was the first National Forest east of the Mississippi River.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Within Chippewa National Forest is the area
known as </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">The Lost 40</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, which consists of red and white pines that date
back to the 1700s.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The name references
the acreage of old growth trees that inadvertently were excluded from a land
survey completed in 1882, sparing them from being cut as timber.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">As we hiked the 1.5-mile trail, I was amazed
at the circumferences of these trees!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-tijVJw1ky_tKWPssSrYUK5SZvX_RJRtWohPKhWbcxjZ40Q-VKALLqk29RSdKzMgIE2UPc1I1HklyAfQAV1k86dxVjoCGYqTt84X7DcNik-a-q8fj7hpYYRIbJqY5e7hv4voCJkyr9nOQXoeEai1of2NMimFs8w0mT2pugN7JHvLNcXjFluLizddRAQ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-tijVJw1ky_tKWPssSrYUK5SZvX_RJRtWohPKhWbcxjZ40Q-VKALLqk29RSdKzMgIE2UPc1I1HklyAfQAV1k86dxVjoCGYqTt84X7DcNik-a-q8fj7hpYYRIbJqY5e7hv4voCJkyr9nOQXoeEai1of2NMimFs8w0mT2pugN7JHvLNcXjFluLizddRAQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As we rode to The Lost 40, I spotted these pelicans hanging out near Turtle Lake.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbczD8MwZoJU1XmJhRMrxmQjTYqsDImMnaBnDslNRj7xLZWXEJAKJwzlvBFq-9V50ztmo4lYrfwsiGWKQbucZFhYMKmn0IceZ8xtS5MgJ3Stzd7MtgWn5A79pvYGLKaDs82JPVCHWFJ6yE5drVL8BsxHZq6hEy-UBok6u8JJdpLfimqRfmA9E_y2XFUw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbczD8MwZoJU1XmJhRMrxmQjTYqsDImMnaBnDslNRj7xLZWXEJAKJwzlvBFq-9V50ztmo4lYrfwsiGWKQbucZFhYMKmn0IceZ8xtS5MgJ3Stzd7MtgWn5A79pvYGLKaDs82JPVCHWFJ6yE5drVL8BsxHZq6hEy-UBok6u8JJdpLfimqRfmA9E_y2XFUw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The Lost 40 Trail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMsEUWoSz5CrCh8J3Erzeo33yUE3T_Yvar28iuaX5TfkxUgBCClw_NikK46yBSTi8AmlDtUhvcvpwZhCOycn-3Iz3_44myGmccRK3Op-UnJm_1X0uy5I2CVPysVtb2C-wRPHquqZolAkcrLocSH_6wHwCAUqvoOKOmnnDE3toMn8AVjcxPwXNitpJmzg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMsEUWoSz5CrCh8J3Erzeo33yUE3T_Yvar28iuaX5TfkxUgBCClw_NikK46yBSTi8AmlDtUhvcvpwZhCOycn-3Iz3_44myGmccRK3Op-UnJm_1X0uy5I2CVPysVtb2C-wRPHquqZolAkcrLocSH_6wHwCAUqvoOKOmnnDE3toMn8AVjcxPwXNitpJmzg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This guy didn't survive a storm.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv2RnvPKifBZ2UI8FKBwFTDsnkJtTh69i5lmLP6AWpB1DNMtewLD9lMJaiW9skeuS97pv_xOvMYu6e6h1FVe3lyJ0BpcWa_eS__SNSzx0JQfhugAdwHfyLix_p_0ztbmFAGr84f6rXFlIUa7e4LmzACNUymBndkjQ1_VRAth9kw1aGrjvgDoGKBz5P_Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv2RnvPKifBZ2UI8FKBwFTDsnkJtTh69i5lmLP6AWpB1DNMtewLD9lMJaiW9skeuS97pv_xOvMYu6e6h1FVe3lyJ0BpcWa_eS__SNSzx0JQfhugAdwHfyLix_p_0ztbmFAGr84f6rXFlIUa7e4LmzACNUymBndkjQ1_VRAth9kw1aGrjvgDoGKBz5P_Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from the trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7bPY9AwUOcIu4CWcdIaRU4u_t-YVSoDmvkbaJyzBLCrRBdysvlypAjZ0lAS1KxNJIz6sZFpUcwxtH-iyJ1mYSkCdcSIhq4AkWGmaBe2tz853cbEPT6qLUvs9v__qlBQZ87JKGzK_Qu6FjiNV5G4lc31vNVibCpl4IuR7VF-Zv2WtMSHdR9AKGDAXxTw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2933" data-original-width="1424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7bPY9AwUOcIu4CWcdIaRU4u_t-YVSoDmvkbaJyzBLCrRBdysvlypAjZ0lAS1KxNJIz6sZFpUcwxtH-iyJ1mYSkCdcSIhq4AkWGmaBe2tz853cbEPT6qLUvs9v__qlBQZ87JKGzK_Qu6FjiNV5G4lc31vNVibCpl4IuR7VF-Zv2WtMSHdR9AKGDAXxTw=w195-h400" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Holy Havarti! That's one tall, rotund tree!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chippewa National Forest is home to several examples of the
master craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to the wonderful structures right
on the grounds of the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell that I showed you in my last post, we
toured the Supervisor’s Office in Cass River and the Ranger Station at Norway
Beach Recreation Area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we travel
around the U.S.A., we realize that without the CCC, we would not have many of
the amenities within our National and State Parks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is important to provide those in
need with financial assistance, it is imperative that every individual lead a
productive life, one with purpose and with meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CCC met both of these objectives in its
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really need to bring the CCC
back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQkPFL5G9WTMByl03U9pT5jSCdRPSiEOZtc0P53WPGZtLDGl3F-YDFNwx0hCFUkq0QcJOWRVR7p8afuu5J23bsd_FdDxc7lZl96XL81uygUHOBNx0WZ0KMi_zWamkLaeQ15WsHRrVdRHhpHvcB5Tt2ZWrSDnY40sK2ubgIm066g3zDfvloWzuaR15RNg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQkPFL5G9WTMByl03U9pT5jSCdRPSiEOZtc0P53WPGZtLDGl3F-YDFNwx0hCFUkq0QcJOWRVR7p8afuu5J23bsd_FdDxc7lZl96XL81uygUHOBNx0WZ0KMi_zWamkLaeQ15WsHRrVdRHhpHvcB5Tt2ZWrSDnY40sK2ubgIm066g3zDfvloWzuaR15RNg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rustic, hand-crafted interior of the Ranger Station at Norway Beach Recreation Area.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfXpljT08ICl27pREIz-TYgadNUIl87rQ4U_gZUFSBCWKYlp_DcDOpaQ5LK-4H_6qbpg4lOk2oSd_2Go8wls483D393oCTwSxBeDIoTceZyhvfBWCFhYh9DPCr2l_hhEzfXSXR-teolUYCwLPHtqIcHCInji0glaszIXWVfcKqXYnmOvfzYpwwCjlCuA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfXpljT08ICl27pREIz-TYgadNUIl87rQ4U_gZUFSBCWKYlp_DcDOpaQ5LK-4H_6qbpg4lOk2oSd_2Go8wls483D393oCTwSxBeDIoTceZyhvfBWCFhYh9DPCr2l_hhEzfXSXR-teolUYCwLPHtqIcHCInji0glaszIXWVfcKqXYnmOvfzYpwwCjlCuA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 3-story Supervisor's Office in Cass River.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU-7-q8UcVC_alSH8MHldFub8Iqx9xO0MzuwXxl3x1PASjJm1zwbWaJAXec1qS5UFGHF0RV9XBKF3pHbjmnHvjGEPy_VuaTRkMHI0Wbt9ln0OqxBS-ciKnkOsPibvuJs2hgCPdG6GCnSVEWemu_p0X8P7fBo1BEKn4fJ08ENWOunMt-G8GO1Rc_KFB_Q=w400-h180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The interior of the Supervisor's Office is another fine example of the masonry and carpentry skills of the CCC.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU-7-q8UcVC_alSH8MHldFub8Iqx9xO0MzuwXxl3x1PASjJm1zwbWaJAXec1qS5UFGHF0RV9XBKF3pHbjmnHvjGEPy_VuaTRkMHI0Wbt9ln0OqxBS-ciKnkOsPibvuJs2hgCPdG6GCnSVEWemu_p0X8P7fBo1BEKn4fJ08ENWOunMt-G8GO1Rc_KFB_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a></span></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We purchased our Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Permit and
explored several trails within Chippewa National Forest in Rat Patrol II, our
Polaris 570 RZR.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We particularly enjoyed
traversing the B&B (Big Fork & Balsam) Trail, which is nicely maintained by
the Wilderness Wheelers, the local off-road club.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is one high-class Trail—it even has
porta-potties!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Local businesses sponsor boardwalk
sections of the Trail.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sure glad we have
a smaller side by side since most trails within the Forest only are accessible
with 50-inch-wide units.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We also checked
out Clubhouse and North Star primitive campgrounds within Chippewa National
Forest.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We enjoyed meeting and chatting
with Lanette, the Host at Clubhouse, who would pop over weekly to EOWDC with her adogable English Mastiff, Maggie.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We would end each off-roading session with a meal at the Timberwolf Inn,
one of the only lodges in the Edge of the Wilderness area with a restaurant. And
they even have options for Dad’s plant-based diet.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chippewa National Forest has 925 miles of
streams, 400,000 acres of wetlands, and a whopping 1,300 lakes.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ironically, you don’t see many boaters on the
lakes and I figured out why:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">1) Many of
the lakes are unnavigable, and 2) there is limited public access, so those
living lakeside have almost exclusive use.</span></span></span></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7K6KV2uktdUbVWxQoG_rtRTF-gfrJSWL8MrJx-9agiMw8OIAvd_58LwAd3KKKyRO6Y767VQdjrC7F4B9HqOL26OiXmqgstu2gyi9vNsG1p4Rv-ltysNuFxCDvQF3t5V4hLnbWVAcuzf46b2OQAXoB_yYDXkhs0FMpTXbmy26NWXZxTKo5pa6vaZQJA/s4000/20220628_101235.jpg" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7K6KV2uktdUbVWxQoG_rtRTF-gfrJSWL8MrJx-9agiMw8OIAvd_58LwAd3KKKyRO6Y767VQdjrC7F4B9HqOL26OiXmqgstu2gyi9vNsG1p4Rv-ltysNuFxCDvQF3t5V4hLnbWVAcuzf46b2OQAXoB_yYDXkhs0FMpTXbmy26NWXZxTKo5pa6vaZQJA/w400-h180/20220628_101235.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wildflowers along the OHV trails.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2V1T6VaC1VeEUJEhLtqoWR9wihqNKh1TtfKzHcG7qP7gLauAJLtdjkmsMEugsdDtiXDptxYSQTUY7UKYZbMTF4mTltdVhf8wvSek7w74D69AvaUR9eTuYu414hNYWCDCHzFwp2p8od3ToPj0drjFeqXkhAfYkKU42uZSAvM_mfp70KMZmoGeN31wYQ/s4000/20220706_181158.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2V1T6VaC1VeEUJEhLtqoWR9wihqNKh1TtfKzHcG7qP7gLauAJLtdjkmsMEugsdDtiXDptxYSQTUY7UKYZbMTF4mTltdVhf8wvSek7w74D69AvaUR9eTuYu414hNYWCDCHzFwp2p8od3ToPj0drjFeqXkhAfYkKU42uZSAvM_mfp70KMZmoGeN31wYQ/w400-h180/20220706_181158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of many deer who reside in Chippewa National Forest<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgXO7mlhoe9mR3PIcL9ITW6RXOO2jL3PnkP3lkmD7GibC2jmJRNm28h4yedDUCundxoN1VzNPdfuUypmIYO6WZr-W6NCMseYsq1lSTa88-N977yvzcjw6SXkB-n-wMOlGsMw9mM21BsQ7Nh67gw3p0Io7VMjS7Mev0j_oREUatSTZmoBJX5uTs8RsJiQ" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgXO7mlhoe9mR3PIcL9ITW6RXOO2jL3PnkP3lkmD7GibC2jmJRNm28h4yedDUCundxoN1VzNPdfuUypmIYO6WZr-W6NCMseYsq1lSTa88-N977yvzcjw6SXkB-n-wMOlGsMw9mM21BsQ7Nh67gw3p0Io7VMjS7Mev0j_oREUatSTZmoBJX5uTs8RsJiQ=w180-h400" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Big Fork & Balsam (B&B) Trail is quite upscale--it comes with porta-potties along its route!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzC9eWCW61Lx4EXKSI1W-uFCyWvbXMLjnwW-4pN50WEY3TiWUMhp8piS8oeGh3czeENxZVCCtDiyxhDVja3WA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgang4WpbH2WEpsu8yMwig4ISZsuZrKFJJHjvWQccSbbnkVM9sc9HSSGpywosIs_poyxNa0SOzVCupr4peHaPBQtIgasOT-MRZH5GG-u3a2dZrznaPsIb9Ty2C2ZyqhSJ4JLu0wAHwcRd_xPcox3bVtiTN8NZm2EqKR4xVkDyRiYVdtTQ5u-kcrCkxROA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgang4WpbH2WEpsu8yMwig4ISZsuZrKFJJHjvWQccSbbnkVM9sc9HSSGpywosIs_poyxNa0SOzVCupr4peHaPBQtIgasOT-MRZH5GG-u3a2dZrznaPsIb9Ty2C2ZyqhSJ4JLu0wAHwcRd_xPcox3bVtiTN8NZm2EqKR4xVkDyRiYVdtTQ5u-kcrCkxROA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The patio dining at Timberwolf Inn, our go-to eatery after off-roading.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjUysGhSn5F6MTbit6toPWWjE6kiMC7EwwIydbelc4X_31YfBQbD8oDr3cv5Xdiv1yb-nny6op8B4ayPenGbafcaWawQf6A9E-rLkOgQddUPSoT_B3kkcT9M_zb5YdQunMP5vpQX4lzqcDWjiJYRepS_HlNWt5LH9IKcc9gU0pxm0N138bH-oZrtguRw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjUysGhSn5F6MTbit6toPWWjE6kiMC7EwwIydbelc4X_31YfBQbD8oDr3cv5Xdiv1yb-nny6op8B4ayPenGbafcaWawQf6A9E-rLkOgQddUPSoT_B3kkcT9M_zb5YdQunMP5vpQX4lzqcDWjiJYRepS_HlNWt5LH9IKcc9gU0pxm0N138bH-oZrtguRw" width="135" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lanette and Maggie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">The late Spring really delayed berry picking seasons in
Northern Minnesota.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">In mid-July we still
were gathering strawberries at Looney’s Berry Patch.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Blueberry picking at Lavalier’s Farm did not commence until August 1.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">We made
sure we got there several times before leaving Minnesota.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ4xxKYT99sJt0PfAZZWke0IJFJb7ysALjZlpsKz8boJ85bOsvJu1GloAo24EDQf6YT09JXOE5jxYVmvMOLZfBMYRfc-lNcBdIhuO98ZCCHQWLtgH27Ty0iMMsJPZcyWwL-dRP9TZ6js23KNWgIlSJXDhBGgIBHGZJz7Lp4dwlLmNQMSXXJOLUZ2pVrQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ4xxKYT99sJt0PfAZZWke0IJFJb7ysALjZlpsKz8boJ85bOsvJu1GloAo24EDQf6YT09JXOE5jxYVmvMOLZfBMYRfc-lNcBdIhuO98ZCCHQWLtgH27Ty0iMMsJPZcyWwL-dRP9TZ6js23KNWgIlSJXDhBGgIBHGZJz7Lp4dwlLmNQMSXXJOLUZ2pVrQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Grounds of Looney's Berry Patch.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjksoWTokNdDv7qPA03JMsywQynHyckBUvqfwimNWnYu-HB6L0pi3vdGHkMp-u8t9pdLTTiUFKZl7PNltuB2-mNdzZ2OHGtZ1lF6Gvf_l2aeE33YNZNKBAx0nF4A62wJT1vjQfOay_DCSjMs8N43WiG7EUPh25n13PRYK9N4ScEbrMnlvxK5ojMp48PQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjksoWTokNdDv7qPA03JMsywQynHyckBUvqfwimNWnYu-HB6L0pi3vdGHkMp-u8t9pdLTTiUFKZl7PNltuB2-mNdzZ2OHGtZ1lF6Gvf_l2aeE33YNZNKBAx0nF4A62wJT1vjQfOay_DCSjMs8N43WiG7EUPh25n13PRYK9N4ScEbrMnlvxK5ojMp48PQA" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our strawberry pickins.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34fx_BAKQcs2gmJKSuCOpjHC9KAzqUKgQEc1eqzLLH1sFv658fJsSvVjKXabgogRRW-XdMTJG2pd-TY7HWmNc9i6wZ2sjK-yXWr6tDOmEJMt7LDzTZjNsQUz-tqLOloztAiucDZpXi10Iwi8lv3V8IoPlmCcWZJolmXIyKYlDVCYgk8DB4csmAgFpAQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg34fx_BAKQcs2gmJKSuCOpjHC9KAzqUKgQEc1eqzLLH1sFv658fJsSvVjKXabgogRRW-XdMTJG2pd-TY7HWmNc9i6wZ2sjK-yXWr6tDOmEJMt7LDzTZjNsQUz-tqLOloztAiucDZpXi10Iwi8lv3V8IoPlmCcWZJolmXIyKYlDVCYgk8DB4csmAgFpAQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The grounds at Lavalier's Berry Patch, where sunflowers abound.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtjnszFNhKVo7cor1-YhLhRg9gqouXrQIAEsRJfEBXo8_tfLtyABblfuUfRTiCr2KuwlLFHEcp5EjcezhtzPao_PW_BrNtHrWMb3DDxQuypwYNr2_jzJ-ts_O0w5tBYsHX08AF9noAbNcid2RPMoG8F39AUxyL6_yxJs-u0CkDX5nh4qQfxEGLiNzyVQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtjnszFNhKVo7cor1-YhLhRg9gqouXrQIAEsRJfEBXo8_tfLtyABblfuUfRTiCr2KuwlLFHEcp5EjcezhtzPao_PW_BrNtHrWMb3DDxQuypwYNr2_jzJ-ts_O0w5tBYsHX08AF9noAbNcid2RPMoG8F39AUxyL6_yxJs-u0CkDX5nh4qQfxEGLiNzyVQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking good and ready for picking.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We took a ride to Bemidji on 2 occasions along Lake County
Scenic Byway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bemidji is headquarters
for all things Paul Bunyan. The tales of this lumberjack are vast and varied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is said that he dug Lake Superior as a
watering trough for Babe, his blue ox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, his skill at cutting down acres of trees singlehandedly
within just a few minutes is legendary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, New Jersey and Minnesota have something in common:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they both have statues of this folk hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NJ’s may be familiar to you: it was 1 of
the scenes as Tony is driving near the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City during the opening credits of the HBO show <i>The
Sopranos</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minnesota’s tribute to
Paul Bunyan is small in stature (only 18 feet tall) compared to Chisolm’s Iron
Man statue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On another visit we clocked
5 miles along the 115-mile Paul Bunyan Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After both visits to Bemidji, we dined at Keith’s Pizzeria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you believe they offer a vegan pie with
non-dairy cheese?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was simply
delicious, with its thin crust, browned but not burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would have thought this possible in
Minnesota!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keith’s is a recipient of my
Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJH1g4C66d7JSsgwEUM4qwzk4s170RSJftKv0ppNHL-U69nMe4C90N0QlZYHdJB1fiap6cPscotd_Cnj-DGZdUmH8LfSJqfISOKxIrrYDsOzACf0VkhNBjdBXxJyeL91NaDmT5n8vSmA-iE0ZynBSc50VHZirEXL0RcVThy_tRCe84PurDjCkxmfeYpw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1480" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJH1g4C66d7JSsgwEUM4qwzk4s170RSJftKv0ppNHL-U69nMe4C90N0QlZYHdJB1fiap6cPscotd_Cnj-DGZdUmH8LfSJqfISOKxIrrYDsOzACf0VkhNBjdBXxJyeL91NaDmT5n8vSmA-iE0ZynBSc50VHZirEXL0RcVThy_tRCe84PurDjCkxmfeYpw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox - Bemidji version.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6klucVD8yhKaC1f2FgvLgcLiETLJJJmceac40pvV39Zph1SZB29xRTxho9IgekflqbVkpCQP4A6qUVJGjEjekxBssZYFX6cfiJvILfThlAgRyOB3-BjqvLBVyUFa3LHCyUvP0biBs6IsaoX14Q6rK-R_jAqldxp6FRtfLL59geYjJXdG_68feFA6asQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6klucVD8yhKaC1f2FgvLgcLiETLJJJmceac40pvV39Zph1SZB29xRTxho9IgekflqbVkpCQP4A6qUVJGjEjekxBssZYFX6cfiJvILfThlAgRyOB3-BjqvLBVyUFa3LHCyUvP0biBs6IsaoX14Q6rK-R_jAqldxp6FRtfLL59geYjJXdG_68feFA6asQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A very cool playground setup in the local park.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGknNEU-oZ51-QfItReTMiE2VYpfPeDX5PwRxQ09S-YTphV2HRaJBmhM9XOqnXRVuAu-z0iJOFoL0skfQvT9k-o_Iil-fEsObA3vINcTPclDMMLJWplCakEZpz0yGHp6isvNarDjQYcqnobj2B5I2nidrxszOhwuvHLlFFdbWAz6W_T2XU6oiXhPL70A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1538" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGknNEU-oZ51-QfItReTMiE2VYpfPeDX5PwRxQ09S-YTphV2HRaJBmhM9XOqnXRVuAu-z0iJOFoL0skfQvT9k-o_Iil-fEsObA3vINcTPclDMMLJWplCakEZpz0yGHp6isvNarDjQYcqnobj2B5I2nidrxszOhwuvHLlFFdbWAz6W_T2XU6oiXhPL70A=w400-h382" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Keith's vegan pie earns a coveted Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />We visited so many more places during our 8 weeks in
Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell you about the rest
in my next post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to you again soon!<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-22105425312446543012022-08-20T22:57:00.212-05:002022-09-03T00:45:27.874-05:00Volunteering at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center, Marcell, MN - A Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese Experience!<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Finally, Big Boomer, our medium duty truck, was fully
recovered, and we were on the road again!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We began our trek to MN for our volunteer gig at Edge of the Wilderness
Discovery Center (EOWDC) in Marcell, MN.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We left the mountains of CO and
entered the plains of NE, overnighting in North Platte at Golden Spike Tower, a
Harvest Host (HH) site.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When we stayed
here in 2020, we took the wonderful tour.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">So, I wasn't too disappointed when we arrived after the Tower had closed for
the evening.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdA5hZOgB5-LeaVOORECrqlktN56Yt3A7h9-AwAipfRTzY6j9zQRHg_Weilp-NLrP7rApZ88iFBXohoOaFzd8f3TUEuHZsTfd52ovegLahO34CVqNCKfFVfh2GZcdcQdOs7j5gqxfezP02XuU6slOC1Z6mfMGdT6TKBFKKvhD1cGIbjv_6yVxQ0XzsTg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdA5hZOgB5-LeaVOORECrqlktN56Yt3A7h9-AwAipfRTzY6j9zQRHg_Weilp-NLrP7rApZ88iFBXohoOaFzd8f3TUEuHZsTfd52ovegLahO34CVqNCKfFVfh2GZcdcQdOs7j5gqxfezP02XuU6slOC1Z6mfMGdT6TKBFKKvhD1cGIbjv_6yVxQ0XzsTg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Golden Spike Tower is within the Bailey Rail Yard, the largest rail yard in the world.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The next morning we took US-83, a nice 2-lane highway
through bucolic NE, with gently rolling hills, lots of cows in the fields, and
an occasional deer. There was little
vehicular traffic until we crossed into SD, then we hit major construction on
US-83 and I-90. I waved to the exquisite
Dignity statue as we passed, having stopped previously for an in-depth visit in
2018. We arrived at our next HH destination, the SD Tractor Museum in Kimball,
an easy on/off of I-90. It is a mini
version of the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, SD. It was cool seeing all the farm
machinery and memorabilia from days gone by. But what I found most appealing was the fact that the Museum is operated by 3 dozen dedicated volunteers. I gladly dipped into my cheese money to
support their efforts of preserving Americana.
We took a walk around the surrounding area, admiring the 1893
architecture of the nearby Holy Trinity Church, built by Czech pioneers. Then we said a prayer for those interred at
the local cemetery before walking over to the Love’s Travel Plaza. We noticed it had 5 RV sites, each about 45
feet in length. For $34/night you get an
electric hookup. There is a dump station
on the premises you can use if you fork over an additional $10. But there is no potable water available at
the Plaza, even if you wanted to pay for it.
Seems a bit pricey to this stuffed rat.
Guess that is why they had 5 empty spots that evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG4iNwQ26VsGA5FBP1V_uxtlttDUR0zkCNIg_3W2RqNTGw-NgT_86sv-IDRsSt_Fn_BpTnLsLLPrI_M_Wm3PJUGDOG75l9NmqAIfhWrAGyLKrgeB4_JiARt6EuE4oYGU61ALTEEEzE33RLNeNXcCBro2AEKPOiYRNZMCRDjO6pIjPHaA_k7ba_W6-Rqg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG4iNwQ26VsGA5FBP1V_uxtlttDUR0zkCNIg_3W2RqNTGw-NgT_86sv-IDRsSt_Fn_BpTnLsLLPrI_M_Wm3PJUGDOG75l9NmqAIfhWrAGyLKrgeB4_JiARt6EuE4oYGU61ALTEEEzE33RLNeNXcCBro2AEKPOiYRNZMCRDjO6pIjPHaA_k7ba_W6-Rqg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZhVSGJasAwtQ0EHMyksziCnTz0PHhUbg45M23yr8oUzx1mdqgi_rYKhnMxVlsX_NcPt87VvTi4jwLyi2Ee2v2AYB9pWvxizPI4vrtgCi1gLeewPgma3oDanNJvyor1a8UHzPJ6pJkr5RWNeZ0l1EE-j3QeLrFO5plASO5giXYKiPNsapZ7rMf681tQ/s3264/20220615_152907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZhVSGJasAwtQ0EHMyksziCnTz0PHhUbg45M23yr8oUzx1mdqgi_rYKhnMxVlsX_NcPt87VvTi4jwLyi2Ee2v2AYB9pWvxizPI4vrtgCi1gLeewPgma3oDanNJvyor1a8UHzPJ6pJkr5RWNeZ0l1EE-j3QeLrFO5plASO5giXYKiPNsapZ7rMf681tQ/w400-h180/20220615_152907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An assortment of tractor brands from yesteryear.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgT1CZHp1wYR9AUcL6Hp20AZC4kGVoMl6XkEJvgV29ylUhTXhM5vWN2xg6Uw-ei52Obi8yphRkWESnZNwRP5LpyEGcSDOC-nNuPrZD13xPvfPO7QVTVCTDe7daVtpSLQsV-a7Ia77B59GZ4-oKu1s4fm0H5NsaPLaKskJxsbpXGbzkirpXtg-YhurD_A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgT1CZHp1wYR9AUcL6Hp20AZC4kGVoMl6XkEJvgV29ylUhTXhM5vWN2xg6Uw-ei52Obi8yphRkWESnZNwRP5LpyEGcSDOC-nNuPrZD13xPvfPO7QVTVCTDe7daVtpSLQsV-a7Ia77B59GZ4-oKu1s4fm0H5NsaPLaKskJxsbpXGbzkirpXtg-YhurD_A=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Memorabilia in the "Family Treasures" building.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEic_Fi5zNJ3BBskBR196l7WTq0SZaGQk8hucZ-fR62lryWotG-t7AAqGjQe8U-9tjt4l8xg2xE4IwR2nMODh0GgaxbBKJF3sTpG2lf6vRAOoZWkjDZUH6nEf1GBVMn0nmGbq9i4RzujweluWwfcxn1mXHTzCDXKoZo-HFJbc10Cjd_ZEj1U-QSVy1rYeQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEic_Fi5zNJ3BBskBR196l7WTq0SZaGQk8hucZ-fR62lryWotG-t7AAqGjQe8U-9tjt4l8xg2xE4IwR2nMODh0GgaxbBKJF3sTpG2lf6vRAOoZWkjDZUH6nEf1GBVMn0nmGbq9i4RzujweluWwfcxn1mXHTzCDXKoZo-HFJbc10Cjd_ZEj1U-QSVy1rYeQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The old schoolhouse on the premises. Do you see my insignia on the blackboard?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57gUvuWBjr-g8cyQwnUaI0_OqVLG-FXMnTE4dBU7d1WPa3kSdlWxENXyHIBgzGyAkPlpIaG0cXaV0QLe0ShekYsYMotDLDAy9JZtrHBjsqwG7RYezmRe_HK3R9yLppoMm62w9cxxzMN8qn1TLIyXXmq2uMIL9RIszbA8b2SDBUuGvdmIbLR1xKylOFQ/s4000/20220615_195238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57gUvuWBjr-g8cyQwnUaI0_OqVLG-FXMnTE4dBU7d1WPa3kSdlWxENXyHIBgzGyAkPlpIaG0cXaV0QLe0ShekYsYMotDLDAy9JZtrHBjsqwG7RYezmRe_HK3R9yLppoMm62w9cxxzMN8qn1TLIyXXmq2uMIL9RIszbA8b2SDBUuGvdmIbLR1xKylOFQ/w400-h180/20220615_195238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">On Day 3 we trekked along US-281, US-14, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">and US-81. These are all 2-lane highways, and we
encountered few other travelers as we traversed across plains, prairies, and
pasturelands. We enjoyed golden sunshine and cooler temps, but these came at
the price of brisk winds and gusts of 30 miles per hour. You know it is windy when the giant turbines
are cranking away and there are white caps on Lake Poinsett, the second largest
natural lake in SD. We arrived in ND at
the Fargo Air Museum, our HH site for the night. It houses a small but interesting collection
of military aircraft. We really enjoyed
chatting with John the docent, too.
After touring, we took a walk through the nearby streets of Fargo. We noticed no panhandling or homeless camps
like we witnessed in Aurora, CO.
Furthermore, EVERY business in the vicinity was competing for new hires,
from fast-food joints to food stores to gas stations. It is a crazy world when Taco Bell offers a
$500 signing bonus and $17/hour in a state where minimum wage is $7.25. Despite the generous incentives, seemingly none
of these businesses have been successful in acquiring employees.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa4t8sieRVGTky3oDnt48s9boTC75VBjLdnh762vre0vw1FcRpmoCA-P_HAynXoZ00B-eHICLLemTEQe2JeFh9OI-qDqT3OLRGnxw-f8oJKH2c7ObF6BiDLsEnFWKDDcMQCOP80dfBCcPyDr1UcA-L3ZcSTE_uMlvUjA0PMAnrNdDSN0EUJCGSwfHrA/s3463/20220617_095952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="3463" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa4t8sieRVGTky3oDnt48s9boTC75VBjLdnh762vre0vw1FcRpmoCA-P_HAynXoZ00B-eHICLLemTEQe2JeFh9OI-qDqT3OLRGnxw-f8oJKH2c7ObF6BiDLsEnFWKDDcMQCOP80dfBCcPyDr1UcA-L3ZcSTE_uMlvUjA0PMAnrNdDSN0EUJCGSwfHrA/w400-h156/20220617_095952.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMowA_SBjKKmSm_8_B0BPgqjzGOKf-qXEHQd_glVGLPm1KUnEYKG2rqgFUS8pPw0JCTQwiV9z6Hpa2gqB2NXUHNjp61JY0VkBK__lyqbEwU2r9gB5GZcfe4lZsBFS4INBdPJMhEM7XX_LCrXdubV-u8WoWl01R1R-APXu2LNBLqCrlgLtn2U8Rq7mSw/s4000/20220617_100434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMowA_SBjKKmSm_8_B0BPgqjzGOKf-qXEHQd_glVGLPm1KUnEYKG2rqgFUS8pPw0JCTQwiV9z6Hpa2gqB2NXUHNjp61JY0VkBK__lyqbEwU2r9gB5GZcfe4lZsBFS4INBdPJMhEM7XX_LCrXdubV-u8WoWl01R1R-APXu2LNBLqCrlgLtn2U8Rq7mSw/w400-h180/20220617_100434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fQqi3-xyWG1R5gdY-EVNGpS18XK8DDoZV-gEkJEggKTgM6jvh41czvz1pLZvhavT5PuxMrhN-8HXra29LaLLwq9gtzZ1pgJsutKRrVMsH6xqQFnmXBZzO0l1z-H6Yxb_BUOVvBMg6cqvwHhyCG00hE-vanYJSlZ1BWR5ZTAsyFwKhe1BFR1P7vPE2A/s1797/PoPo%20riding%20plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1797" data-original-width="1669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fQqi3-xyWG1R5gdY-EVNGpS18XK8DDoZV-gEkJEggKTgM6jvh41czvz1pLZvhavT5PuxMrhN-8HXra29LaLLwq9gtzZ1pgJsutKRrVMsH6xqQFnmXBZzO0l1z-H6Yxb_BUOVvBMg6cqvwHhyCG00hE-vanYJSlZ1BWR5ZTAsyFwKhe1BFR1P7vPE2A/w371-h400/PoPo%20riding%20plane.jpg" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got myself my own wings!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">The next day we crossed over the Red River of the North,
the boundary between ND and MN. This
river had its last major flood in 2009, with water levels at 40 feet, far
exceeding the 18-foot standard for flooding.
With only an 800-foot elevation above sea level, we were back down to
earth and our heads out of the clouds from our days in CO. We had our 4th incident since May of a HH not responding
to our stay request in a timely fashion, leaving us in a lurch to find alternate
overnight accommodations for Father’s Day.
Fortunately, Diamond Rose Ranch, another HH, graciously accepted our
request. This turned out to be a wonderful
substitute, with its access to US-71 and ample parking for oversized setups. We enjoyed meeting the gracious hosts, their
goats, chickens, horses, and adorable 11-month old Pyrenees pup, Boo Bear. Mom bought 2 dozen farm-fresh eggs and
donated to the animal care fund.
Donations are much appreciated by the hosts, especially with yet another
mouth to feed. You see, their mare just
gave birth to an adorable filly.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4LJaJx_TBSajCGSjqpY7-bvYMAVEXlxxNTXO8GC2HnYJxPYn-XIR1e-NXYGKQbdJyu5nhgtlb4ZzpI-W2PO04LaMepH2r68lX7GYm8dOUBnSQUJXgOlYCxsvGa3q979U09YXta-waffo--gxr8uvJbETCY5tBBhU45cVC268id16xsd1E3QUOHIO5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4LJaJx_TBSajCGSjqpY7-bvYMAVEXlxxNTXO8GC2HnYJxPYn-XIR1e-NXYGKQbdJyu5nhgtlb4ZzpI-W2PO04LaMepH2r68lX7GYm8dOUBnSQUJXgOlYCxsvGa3q979U09YXta-waffo--gxr8uvJbETCY5tBBhU45cVC268id16xsd1E3QUOHIO5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4LJaJx_TBSajCGSjqpY7-bvYMAVEXlxxNTXO8GC2HnYJxPYn-XIR1e-NXYGKQbdJyu5nhgtlb4ZzpI-W2PO04LaMepH2r68lX7GYm8dOUBnSQUJXgOlYCxsvGa3q979U09YXta-waffo--gxr8uvJbETCY5tBBhU45cVC268id16xsd1E3QUOHIO5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFNqV8wxI-4jlzQf9a4KrvLJzHISSO8qF5Bv-IS8jF-M6iQa8E2Po7wA9ZmVAayw-RprU2yf-buA5K4eQwOte1c7m-MguTBp2kXjHee96zNhF7yj7KnXHpzXc06tcUNpmXNiCyitVRPlJiz04qU4wRnUrIQ2KZC-G92VbxoF9THvtAHOa4ivTx_BcBYg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="3220" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFNqV8wxI-4jlzQf9a4KrvLJzHISSO8qF5Bv-IS8jF-M6iQa8E2Po7wA9ZmVAayw-RprU2yf-buA5K4eQwOte1c7m-MguTBp2kXjHee96zNhF7yj7KnXHpzXc06tcUNpmXNiCyitVRPlJiz04qU4wRnUrIQ2KZC-G92VbxoF9THvtAHOa4ivTx_BcBYg=w400-h189" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiRHqbq0KFNKpM_0eoc5Dtm_i_o7R3-lA4tgBuyNF9sBXdhP5P4ziDz6JYfBAI8w1PNl1OaZJtOS7kCE6OL5T-PjU6cq6ZbrENAYA3OX4x06POM81tnqxMPaXL59u8W0HfQK5CpIMONs5TIzdyDjBDfUQpbWlV4rcTb5uiCMhQyzTM_2AVs_O95mWKkg"><img alt="" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiRHqbq0KFNKpM_0eoc5Dtm_i_o7R3-lA4tgBuyNF9sBXdhP5P4ziDz6JYfBAI8w1PNl1OaZJtOS7kCE6OL5T-PjU6cq6ZbrENAYA3OX4x06POM81tnqxMPaXL59u8W0HfQK5CpIMONs5TIzdyDjBDfUQpbWlV4rcTb5uiCMhQyzTM_2AVs_O95mWKkg=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="417" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4LJaJx_TBSajCGSjqpY7-bvYMAVEXlxxNTXO8GC2HnYJxPYn-XIR1e-NXYGKQbdJyu5nhgtlb4ZzpI-W2PO04LaMepH2r68lX7GYm8dOUBnSQUJXgOlYCxsvGa3q979U09YXta-waffo--gxr8uvJbETCY5tBBhU45cVC268id16xsd1E3QUOHIO5w=w400-h366" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newest resident at Diamond Rose Ranch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz4LJaJx_TBSajCGSjqpY7-bvYMAVEXlxxNTXO8GC2HnYJxPYn-XIR1e-NXYGKQbdJyu5nhgtlb4ZzpI-W2PO04LaMepH2r68lX7GYm8dOUBnSQUJXgOlYCxsvGa3q979U09YXta-waffo--gxr8uvJbETCY5tBBhU45cVC268id16xsd1E3QUOHIO5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We left the next morning for the final leg of our
journey. Minnesota is known as the “Land
of 10,000 Lakes”, and they ain’t kidding.
All I see on our Garmin 770 is bodies of water of varying sizes. Actually, MN has many more than 10,000 lakes,
but they only quantify those that expand 10 acres or more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We arrived at the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center (EOWDC)
in Marcell, MN, our “home” for the next 8 weeks. We knew the minute we pulled in we were going
to enjoy this volunteer gig. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihmBfo6Z8U7niQJTi1Rf2Lq0tUxRy7CIR1YgN-tjoYfQP32kEiVuV7C15lOKxdB1PgbyYKgJVSipB0kmAHBJpzI6xgQbJcnoyU2xrVk88CEody6EhKjzXT2ek9CWcdJDkzUoH6bl0L-WSkAYz-yZmpL_2KDBIKGfvF-Yho_MxUr3KQ5NegcuG8-Vasdw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="3930" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihmBfo6Z8U7niQJTi1Rf2Lq0tUxRy7CIR1YgN-tjoYfQP32kEiVuV7C15lOKxdB1PgbyYKgJVSipB0kmAHBJpzI6xgQbJcnoyU2xrVk88CEody6EhKjzXT2ek9CWcdJDkzUoH6bl0L-WSkAYz-yZmpL_2KDBIKGfvF-Yho_MxUr3KQ5NegcuG8-Vasdw=w400-h178" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3J4wyK7G9U9P66N5vZAFgFOMuV3bK1KJf377C_qNkloCnwyQv0NIbaXj6H05fJ9E00BkQdjQb0o8vKJhG1JnKMtiwPIi3GUcThr1LGK_j4iwceFhUE2AiTtjusL77YI5EzvlN2yCGAyYBjL1gQ2MFdDz3UPSMHE3Ys6jT0DF8wh9tl6pvYd-KGx-Mw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2710" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3J4wyK7G9U9P66N5vZAFgFOMuV3bK1KJf377C_qNkloCnwyQv0NIbaXj6H05fJ9E00BkQdjQb0o8vKJhG1JnKMtiwPIi3GUcThr1LGK_j4iwceFhUE2AiTtjusL77YI5EzvlN2yCGAyYBjL1gQ2MFdDz3UPSMHE3Ys6jT0DF8wh9tl6pvYd-KGx-Mw=w400-h234" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Monarch butterfly enjoying the gardens outside the EOWDC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Surrounded by Chippewa National Forest lands and overlooking
Ranier Lake, the EOWDC grounds provide a lovely park-like setting. There are gorgeous wildflowers that adorn the banks of the lake, and a lovely butterfly garden
is planted near the Center’s parking lot.
The property contains 5 buildings built by the Civilian Conservation
Corps in 1936, giving them recognition on the National Register of Historic
Places. In fact, what was once a residence
for Forest Rangers is now Marcell Lodge, a gorgeous cabin available to rent. It has all modern amenities but maintains its
original character. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoLPjyJq0VPqJBW64XCLKC0EPUH1eL8102oyQWjYENVFgQJjTMaOUvpJBnpn1kMvSTIBZU0XTzmztEL1cF9ju_8qfFnFiWFO05VdH8KmxxQ0bifJgHVEYNaFvl2IMGB5USE_ATuZsHb9NGFiA7zrrhNxx3rGM3q3pZavekpsRfrBCqebBwzbUSug_Sw/s4000/20220805_201734.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoLPjyJq0VPqJBW64XCLKC0EPUH1eL8102oyQWjYENVFgQJjTMaOUvpJBnpn1kMvSTIBZU0XTzmztEL1cF9ju_8qfFnFiWFO05VdH8KmxxQ0bifJgHVEYNaFvl2IMGB5USE_ATuZsHb9NGFiA7zrrhNxx3rGM3q3pZavekpsRfrBCqebBwzbUSug_Sw/w400-h180/20220805_201734.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The wildflowers along the banks of Ranier Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6mXBADI3pucVVS5uL8ma6IQnaFVFoMCeuH_BCWTZxbAZa7hrAsRyQAX-w3L756U42TQZXiPL2WoPgzudvD8Dn_xjrfVc1Cgh8phrSF7dZmTmeDNidI8dOXr68bIEu1dwlh8D0jMQ45q9Gb_bsv1rRxVNbppDDgyQroqC-wW1_dI8Wg5LhbRMW32fyg/s3264/20220620_195203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6mXBADI3pucVVS5uL8ma6IQnaFVFoMCeuH_BCWTZxbAZa7hrAsRyQAX-w3L756U42TQZXiPL2WoPgzudvD8Dn_xjrfVc1Cgh8phrSF7dZmTmeDNidI8dOXr68bIEu1dwlh8D0jMQ45q9Gb_bsv1rRxVNbppDDgyQroqC-wW1_dI8Wg5LhbRMW32fyg/w400-h180/20220620_195203.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Marcell Lodge is a wonderful venue for a family vacation. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oOAHF0cXe_OhXkrqCKTjio77qDIuIyAQ22_26lpjbgl8q3n5g4j04Z9JtyEnlX_B-xtkUqcp_ue05OjEVk8PJoULZ8BOwrviCuBk1K_2TsuAWN1RGGABKwS_a1WP3FcT3wggtbLqt7V3B_gvovtVcapxprmSZvln9cOYWnW8ifTOkPMzK-TPCSLAHw/s4000/20220718_205919.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oOAHF0cXe_OhXkrqCKTjio77qDIuIyAQ22_26lpjbgl8q3n5g4j04Z9JtyEnlX_B-xtkUqcp_ue05OjEVk8PJoULZ8BOwrviCuBk1K_2TsuAWN1RGGABKwS_a1WP3FcT3wggtbLqt7V3B_gvovtVcapxprmSZvln9cOYWnW8ifTOkPMzK-TPCSLAHw/w400-h180/20220718_205919.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The fishing pier</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWVpbEoFuXzqkQT0YyGwNY_Vi--G9pwuNrukyq9rPLzxIx0Ojb07v92JRPXsaMm3kaexvOfHxEr6SndegwKWGjuxo1abiiOLtIgoXabVroGFxtOccFbHd5_B7tCNYOcE3MCl_rmcfYhonkB1vxmgaQkSnmYIad_uy95JutHRJyyMGM72IIks9RJRldg/s4000/20220810_184715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWVpbEoFuXzqkQT0YyGwNY_Vi--G9pwuNrukyq9rPLzxIx0Ojb07v92JRPXsaMm3kaexvOfHxEr6SndegwKWGjuxo1abiiOLtIgoXabVroGFxtOccFbHd5_B7tCNYOcE3MCl_rmcfYhonkB1vxmgaQkSnmYIad_uy95JutHRJyyMGM72IIks9RJRldg/w400-h180/20220810_184715.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View of Lake Ranier</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzluf-GWXQD8eNScsjBaQ5a9B3T4w2QW5KkEgegjIDqR_gyWN2s1Fniwh7vNY9IXUvyXkBRoOysPdUbw-NqEqcCETQO6NBHK-k97AJVRSKUMDhtdGU7OQGImYz0QgMh8APVESC3TO2-FNM62gEea46I0I3tjcKXilIGGbjxNqM23lCbRt_x_yEctv6Bg/s4000/20220711_213143.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzluf-GWXQD8eNScsjBaQ5a9B3T4w2QW5KkEgegjIDqR_gyWN2s1Fniwh7vNY9IXUvyXkBRoOysPdUbw-NqEqcCETQO6NBHK-k97AJVRSKUMDhtdGU7OQGImYz0QgMh8APVESC3TO2-FNM62gEea46I0I3tjcKXilIGGbjxNqM23lCbRt_x_yEctv6Bg/w400-h180/20220711_213143.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moon over Lake Ranier as viewed from MN-38, the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Our RV site was substantial enough in size to park our
Suite Retreat 5</span><sup>th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> wheel, Big Boomer medium duty truck, Maximus trike,
Rat Patrol II off-road buggy, and 'Lectric bicycles.
In exchange for a collective 32 hours of volunteerism per week, we received a 50-amp
electric hookup, water and sewer connections, free WI-FI connectivity, and access
to the fishing pier (with a valid MN fishing license). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcLN59Z-IMTLp9ZNkjEouCHGy0Qp9xkwH0o6vpTvFaOgevVdNxXdErARhnRixM2RpNHQr0pcRK-y5Vwwli-wOjiy19PV0iEVDQrDjygiEy_w3Hb0kDNwhvYfwF-v8cTg_pJM0CL6ehtg6Xts1EL_qrqrcNtMAC25_2s0E4oM2SZQk9P_rhB84TgZfn9Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="2904" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcLN59Z-IMTLp9ZNkjEouCHGy0Qp9xkwH0o6vpTvFaOgevVdNxXdErARhnRixM2RpNHQr0pcRK-y5Vwwli-wOjiy19PV0iEVDQrDjygiEy_w3Hb0kDNwhvYfwF-v8cTg_pJM0CL6ehtg6Xts1EL_qrqrcNtMAC25_2s0E4oM2SZQk9P_rhB84TgZfn9Q=w400-h145" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFmaB-ac3fLAQm1PGD86vOao6FcDLF0M3G5VRctUJI2-dv6tegn5vJg_YyTDxcK3x--PhcQFnyzkhJHUyG2eFNDAEQ7Koy664pM2BtTTOduIDhgVULhSRL8mmhJqCTyq7tLcb_V5wv_LrR5TuFEX7ft9vmCQQMdCSTHpYnbXu_R8tqdx4Wj6KQ7d69NA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFmaB-ac3fLAQm1PGD86vOao6FcDLF0M3G5VRctUJI2-dv6tegn5vJg_YyTDxcK3x--PhcQFnyzkhJHUyG2eFNDAEQ7Koy664pM2BtTTOduIDhgVULhSRL8mmhJqCTyq7tLcb_V5wv_LrR5TuFEX7ft9vmCQQMdCSTHpYnbXu_R8tqdx4Wj6KQ7d69NA=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">More importantly, we were granted the privilege to be surrounded by nature's unadulterated beauty and an array of wildlife like loons, robins, eagles, painted box turtles, and the tiniest frogs I had ever encountered. By providing an all-you-can-eat buffet at our bird feeders, we were entertained daily by chipmunks, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">red-tailed squirrels, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">hummingbirds, nut hatches, goldfinches, red-winged crows, and even a few field mice, much to Mom’s dismay. </span><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo2VaEL_8W6bEydce1llO8HKKanZMgUHqL2jhzJLIaWgQYRNDbedQ9PaHUPnWVXACWyfodxZYwTZXOZaVzg0RZwHDKOH441PJ8lnh7wJ4HcT6ShTAf6pEfM1WatNVSJKZcAxN2h_WEZE4Xe2DK4G6dFY38lKn4pKeN-qdQI40pnkUhsg0d4WzM9LC8g/s4000/20220721_195210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo2VaEL_8W6bEydce1llO8HKKanZMgUHqL2jhzJLIaWgQYRNDbedQ9PaHUPnWVXACWyfodxZYwTZXOZaVzg0RZwHDKOH441PJ8lnh7wJ4HcT6ShTAf6pEfM1WatNVSJKZcAxN2h_WEZE4Xe2DK4G6dFY38lKn4pKeN-qdQI40pnkUhsg0d4WzM9LC8g/w400-h180/20220721_195210.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Those black dots on the water were a family of loons that resided on the lake. We heard their distinct calls more than we saw them.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm3lGLs-swapjErnjPU4vgw0jTpbolYQ1jg9jMkG4G9uSpJ4rk3PImz1e8LdudLc1wGO8WKqOfzqql7KEbJ1XnczzMDipyb6MzrzzSuG06a9IlEQSLWEYgDLbPth2QoixyBvKp6dWhrRAq4j-PytrQyb5NMgZ3MQWCRxwaygXm2-56Fx3dY2a-9pcvg/s4000/20220630_104429.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm3lGLs-swapjErnjPU4vgw0jTpbolYQ1jg9jMkG4G9uSpJ4rk3PImz1e8LdudLc1wGO8WKqOfzqql7KEbJ1XnczzMDipyb6MzrzzSuG06a9IlEQSLWEYgDLbPth2QoixyBvKp6dWhrRAq4j-PytrQyb5NMgZ3MQWCRxwaygXm2-56Fx3dY2a-9pcvg/w400-h180/20220630_104429.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spring sprung very late this year in Marcell. These baby robins didn't hatch until the end of June.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YUKB7e_Djqp2pQsWpxqvy1QX6Xav8FtfED0PsjeV5GZ1Pe6bJS8Ksvx_uyzWBltu0cjMgg4sRKwyCNvz3TB5PyY_KXjao52hdWp0qx_a0V74kroGMDDM1G8HaYnqS5K3IVGRfkWS_0qQXUgtrbtplMd1nyVDz5Thz8IOfYDKroVvtsNX11oo4nGJag/s2035/20220705_155723.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2035" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YUKB7e_Djqp2pQsWpxqvy1QX6Xav8FtfED0PsjeV5GZ1Pe6bJS8Ksvx_uyzWBltu0cjMgg4sRKwyCNvz3TB5PyY_KXjao52hdWp0qx_a0V74kroGMDDM1G8HaYnqS5K3IVGRfkWS_0qQXUgtrbtplMd1nyVDz5Thz8IOfYDKroVvtsNX11oo4nGJag/s320/20220705_155723.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But they grow up so fast! The last fledgling was ready to fly into the open sky.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKelPQ850aM3oa3AouAytY7DBxFkisDp8ADt3BVdU_nKhJLGcazZfTaEovIH8dplH8eMUTu7Zy3ItKJQUavQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH06Rg38Pm2663VuGwh2VT7dtPivWmizUmwPMFU86Z1IQc2yDHSDvLAVSsvgPeRnSyJON0AXgRRpjcw2jRSZJNudzjfRaXFdVM1sGVy9yH1HOkXnDPUPAfEIxu2lhHZAynwNhoSUEoEDO3hCJ8l4M2TwBoQLvXH48wz9-by1UK_PhMta-fQZrPbvu-RQ/s4000/20220627_192111.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH06Rg38Pm2663VuGwh2VT7dtPivWmizUmwPMFU86Z1IQc2yDHSDvLAVSsvgPeRnSyJON0AXgRRpjcw2jRSZJNudzjfRaXFdVM1sGVy9yH1HOkXnDPUPAfEIxu2lhHZAynwNhoSUEoEDO3hCJ8l4M2TwBoQLvXH48wz9-by1UK_PhMta-fQZrPbvu-RQ/w400-h180/20220627_192111.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This painted box turtle is busy digging a hole to lay her eggs.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB9ADTvr1UW7D3BDhz9Ci1S1tfrCAXz6IbVMUA7hvbAnknIGQcj2vY0OX8_PAHv1HqkfdKm4RTZfvSFkEBhV_ZqhK3IYprzY4Movw1IQ2sa55l_tqnLxj5v6KMe0RGWMz-9UadBzK_kJobc-uvBjbkcawKUyFVoCvT_dk7mFxg-Y-UaJEzj1q6fwabg/s4000/20220714_105726.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB9ADTvr1UW7D3BDhz9Ci1S1tfrCAXz6IbVMUA7hvbAnknIGQcj2vY0OX8_PAHv1HqkfdKm4RTZfvSFkEBhV_ZqhK3IYprzY4Movw1IQ2sa55l_tqnLxj5v6KMe0RGWMz-9UadBzK_kJobc-uvBjbkcawKUyFVoCvT_dk7mFxg-Y-UaJEzj1q6fwabg/w400-h180/20220714_105726.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had an abundance of tiny frogs in the area.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk7birbacBBQ0f-I_z0N_N7P_Dj_fuEwTXppEY6aIHrKYfV0Y6QLj72A0lfrX13i1WPjMitu4bqiS2V_V5yyQhw8HOag9khW73MvCBIMob-55pqEtnUYNMcKw5qV4JCHdBpxy84HBRrh1B3fj2TzULH98zyHy96qwaYl0_fOtArwxvVsmyMOYxE2woQ/s4000/20220704_200229.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk7birbacBBQ0f-I_z0N_N7P_Dj_fuEwTXppEY6aIHrKYfV0Y6QLj72A0lfrX13i1WPjMitu4bqiS2V_V5yyQhw8HOag9khW73MvCBIMob-55pqEtnUYNMcKw5qV4JCHdBpxy84HBRrh1B3fj2TzULH98zyHy96qwaYl0_fOtArwxvVsmyMOYxE2woQ/w400-h180/20220704_200229.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A red-tailed squirrel partakes of some snacks while sitting on top of the ceramic rabbit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzhQqkWJarGm-HBkj7pZzk-xD0At6x9cmV8oKNEvSA7J9kTbCmUTVEOe-vIxitXZuouvSpUww6jhUwqv4ltg7ZTSu7LRxgw_lbSI9Fig1gLu5igU1alsjQPfP5ILXg5NukbTf75OK7ZPCZoO_8sfclOm2625Zq5C__PR6PyR-Vv_WM1UbnZ3s2aD6XLQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzhQqkWJarGm-HBkj7pZzk-xD0At6x9cmV8oKNEvSA7J9kTbCmUTVEOe-vIxitXZuouvSpUww6jhUwqv4ltg7ZTSu7LRxgw_lbSI9Fig1gLu5igU1alsjQPfP5ILXg5NukbTf75OK7ZPCZoO_8sfclOm2625Zq5C__PR6PyR-Vv_WM1UbnZ3s2aD6XLQ" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In exchange for the free buffet, Chip agreed to let me snap his photo on a regular basis. I must have taken 50 pics of Chip.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_HQJUf975iVqmkmzD9YUyPNkZmjuUmHR4pqnWEqNFIcJg5QRm8Y9vhMoltqzlHHZQuP2SM9nN-egLWectM6KXOKmE7gvHn0-UtZl99yonCTN1xoQQHmkP3xkHH5ewk8aofkzjBN7LT7jOU01ZaTUUPkFOg1m7BVydjSuE-yZCQyh4HgZDVyf1CAoXQ/s4000/20220623_171910.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_HQJUf975iVqmkmzD9YUyPNkZmjuUmHR4pqnWEqNFIcJg5QRm8Y9vhMoltqzlHHZQuP2SM9nN-egLWectM6KXOKmE7gvHn0-UtZl99yonCTN1xoQQHmkP3xkHH5ewk8aofkzjBN7LT7jOU01ZaTUUPkFOg1m7BVydjSuE-yZCQyh4HgZDVyf1CAoXQ/w180-h400/20220623_171910.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you spot Dale the chipmunk on top of the ceramic dog? He tried to blend in with the other "animals"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzFLh25Bh88EHsYJEhnZg4lqs4EYwt9lY_jp85KhD_jWzsTG1xGmxX-OpZJStpZFhsigdgaJl606glUj-C7xddEHvYBhQ5rmy7Sx73RVWFf355CulWm6mQB1353QYHbAC1y414EcQOCi_nQMnkKZQWbyMTpmNkt1yPV5et20UVKNRbyRlh6OrOJrzBw/s4000/20220727_193310.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzFLh25Bh88EHsYJEhnZg4lqs4EYwt9lY_jp85KhD_jWzsTG1xGmxX-OpZJStpZFhsigdgaJl606glUj-C7xddEHvYBhQ5rmy7Sx73RVWFf355CulWm6mQB1353QYHbAC1y414EcQOCi_nQMnkKZQWbyMTpmNkt1yPV5et20UVKNRbyRlh6OrOJrzBw/w400-h180/20220727_193310.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A hummingbird (background) and a nuthatch (foreground) dining together.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKA66OlY-u0ZLxckjlTvbWOXvsXsrBNXEiNEm7gjznmoFWko18rErwm1G-aqHtnXaHVdWu69N9fEDCEBvmxg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz9fI_AxlY7DEh9ShlMbCFBZ5OzZm8oL96jZIu96YuX32xopfwlsOr6p9eJIXnWxBzq0GnCvHGDZCdKH9gPCMjThwDf6NOKJuiVY7FF7V57SwiZp4nYtESn2eCT7jiSC-mJeuQ83Wv3dQc_6UnLHmu4KuQHaNojduIZ_jDWlvBW_yvd4hC80PMpkWAA/s4000/20220704_192708.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmz9fI_AxlY7DEh9ShlMbCFBZ5OzZm8oL96jZIu96YuX32xopfwlsOr6p9eJIXnWxBzq0GnCvHGDZCdKH9gPCMjThwDf6NOKJuiVY7FF7V57SwiZp4nYtESn2eCT7jiSC-mJeuQ83Wv3dQc_6UnLHmu4KuQHaNojduIZ_jDWlvBW_yvd4hC80PMpkWAA/w400-h180/20220704_192708.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A pair of American goldfinches<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxFVwxHS7KOpnb9x0A0yV0-Ab6uik6MiVZ9x8ziH5bb3DQ1v53aQFFOqiGnSBnXsCYyGoLqk8QvqjDaI0JKQUJIF8d0wresG2kmgm366nTdR8-__uDk-Qa83dKBtMfG1aYwa2F8W-HM60fBMNGrjJK4rfdvbNR1MRlq8qBdGiA1_FTT8QUVcCS-5SWg/s4000/20220710_193402.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxFVwxHS7KOpnb9x0A0yV0-Ab6uik6MiVZ9x8ziH5bb3DQ1v53aQFFOqiGnSBnXsCYyGoLqk8QvqjDaI0JKQUJIF8d0wresG2kmgm366nTdR8-__uDk-Qa83dKBtMfG1aYwa2F8W-HM60fBMNGrjJK4rfdvbNR1MRlq8qBdGiA1_FTT8QUVcCS-5SWg/w400-h180/20220710_193402.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A red-winged blackbird</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span> <span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">Tim Johnson is the Executive Director of EOWDC. He is kind, caring, personable, easy going,
and generous. It was such a pleasure to
be part of his team. He was
understanding and patient about Big Boomer’s breakdown that resulted in our
late arrival. So, as a token of our
appreciation, we pushed out our departure by 3 weeks to fulfill our original
commitment of 2 months. This worked out well for Tim since he had no other volunteers
recruited for the balance of the season.
In addition to having an amicable working relationship, we forged a
friendship that will continue long after we leave.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Brock, who works at EOWDC year-round and lives on site with
his lovable 12-year old labrador, Sadie, is a wealth of knowledge about the
area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq1jEsinfKRvs_jrwud5JUVUvBPiH86Lg_QfBMZJ-h3TXe20lHfvIEPEcs1LJnyP2HUzWEz8ua5gqFgxn8oyn96PZHMSJV9T4GmMzneqf8etV1a8GirqVRH19tc7lHlBJyykHCg6ePMVa3NFdfYLrKmMyPfJ08dreR5nWMm1hL7fQ_9d7LHDwFWXfSQ/s4000/20220819_183437.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq1jEsinfKRvs_jrwud5JUVUvBPiH86Lg_QfBMZJ-h3TXe20lHfvIEPEcs1LJnyP2HUzWEz8ua5gqFgxn8oyn96PZHMSJV9T4GmMzneqf8etV1a8GirqVRH19tc7lHlBJyykHCg6ePMVa3NFdfYLrKmMyPfJ08dreR5nWMm1hL7fQ_9d7LHDwFWXfSQ/w180-h400/20220819_183437.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As a nonprofit organization, EOWDC acts as an information post for
Chippewa National Forest and attractions between Grand Rapids and Effie along
MN-38, known as the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. Guests can peruse the interpretive displays within
the Center and attend weekly educational programs presented by professional
educators/naturalists. The Center also has
a small gift shop that contains a terrific assortment of souvenirs at very
reasonable prices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IU6SApRoxbq8wRLdn2AXfuTIw1e38qOpvLvdDlfH8TbQRBGZ74Np_X-KlYBHSGQDafn18yK5i9otJXdLbUsUMHI1r-TpcpEbg5DBLIw8svEOybfqR3rqoDpf3yjEfpwzW3dcOZLbQI8AZzuNXKFT0Z7kyVC8j0UFXtGs2BJIbs7gHdtbHRKpyp4-lQ/s3264/20220806_131853.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IU6SApRoxbq8wRLdn2AXfuTIw1e38qOpvLvdDlfH8TbQRBGZ74Np_X-KlYBHSGQDafn18yK5i9otJXdLbUsUMHI1r-TpcpEbg5DBLIw8svEOybfqR3rqoDpf3yjEfpwzW3dcOZLbQI8AZzuNXKFT0Z7kyVC8j0UFXtGs2BJIbs7gHdtbHRKpyp4-lQ/w400-h180/20220806_131853.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yours truly, Rambling RV Rat, holding down the fort for my parents at the EOWDC.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It was our responsibility as EOWDC volunteers to engage
with guests, impart information/respond to inquiries, and perform sales
associate duties, similar to tasks completed when we worked at the Grand Canyon
Conservancy in 2017 but on a significantly smaller scale. Some days at EOWDC we would have a mere 3
guests. Conversely, Smokey the Bear’s
Birthday Celebration at the Center attracted 75 visitors. Mom performed light housekeeping and Dad
would occasionally assist with carpentry/minor repairs. Our 32
hours of volunteerism per week were generally over a 4-day period, which gave
us plenty of time to explore Northern Minnesota in depth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0sEGW3WKK_jcKt2TaJa-jfJmCLJbCGTGFdHs-lgqFfCnJowAftqgibRzMZiZUHK_eRQPAejc1Y9pUoj4aEckSTISGqEArZH5SsQ4qC6LT8P58RVQqgVPVA3P-syQKN7Pz-Tu5uygvEFta_6-mPtQDVCjQRnbW-Gk5blFLc96YvhLZiM3xBclWSvfqw/s4000/20220806_114405.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0sEGW3WKK_jcKt2TaJa-jfJmCLJbCGTGFdHs-lgqFfCnJowAftqgibRzMZiZUHK_eRQPAejc1Y9pUoj4aEckSTISGqEArZH5SsQ4qC6LT8P58RVQqgVPVA3P-syQKN7Pz-Tu5uygvEFta_6-mPtQDVCjQRnbW-Gk5blFLc96YvhLZiM3xBclWSvfqw/w400-h180/20220806_114405.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Me with Smokey the Bear</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPH8FvDMr5PnFYKYIj6tfSmIXIUEmwO7p4Yzu0e1wWayJwCsAGqNKxnbK77-5uItUDecQRPevKRxPYaT5JSLXHpTkKU94OY-PwWwpv4Y0-5kBFMGvzVKb3uq6_300q_ZPtFx-ajQOIcXrHJUM9Xvh8A-48gjyvZF075pTwDSQMLhgbq-gQ9ngqO_QZg/s4000/20220806_102724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPH8FvDMr5PnFYKYIj6tfSmIXIUEmwO7p4Yzu0e1wWayJwCsAGqNKxnbK77-5uItUDecQRPevKRxPYaT5JSLXHpTkKU94OY-PwWwpv4Y0-5kBFMGvzVKb3uq6_300q_ZPtFx-ajQOIcXrHJUM9Xvh8A-48gjyvZF075pTwDSQMLhgbq-gQ9ngqO_QZg/w400-h180/20220806_102724.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Smokey's 78th Birthday Cake.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">While most (60%) of our guests were international travelers
at Grand Canyon Conservancy, nearly 80% of our guests at EOWDC were right from
MN, with the majority hailing from the Twin Cities and their suburbs. Minnesotans have a great love and
appreciation for their home state, reminiscent of native Texans. They keep their tourism dollars in MN. Many
had some personal connection to the Edge of the Wilderness area: who was raised here, whose parents brought
them here on vacation, who visited their grandparents’ cabin each summer as a
child. There are loads of legacy lake
properties up here, and many visitors were multi-generational relatives
spending vacation time together at “the family cabin.” It warmed my heart to see that COVID is no longer
keeping families separated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Our Verizon cell phone service worked well on site, though
we found as we traversed MN-38 and other areas of Northern MN, service was
intermittent. We were permitted to have our USPS mail and Amazon packages sent to the Discovery Center.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We encountered several bad thunderstorms and heavy winds in
June/early July, resulting in lots of fallen trees for many towns along the Scenic Byway. One night we were under “tornado
watch” for about 3 hours, experiencing some wicked lightening and resulting in a power outage that continued for 16 hours for all of Marcell and some surrounding areas. We had 1 other power outage, but that lasted only 4 hours. We were told these were highly
unusual occurrences for the area.
Thankfully, we have enough solar/battery storage to keep us up and
running (with generators as a backup for those rare cases with multiple days
without any sun).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">If you enjoy the great outdoors, the towns along the Scenic
Byway provide ample opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, biking,
motorcycling, off-roading, wildlife viewing, and even pickleball.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The town of Big Fork is 11 miles north of Marcell on
MN-38. It has everything you need in one
stop: fuel (though there is a station just a mile from EOWDC going South on MN-38), an independent grocery store, a
few small restaurants and pubs, even a laundromat. I must admit, though, that we did
not utilize these facilities with any regularity. We usually
opted to do our grocery shopping, laundry, and dining in Grand
Rapids (35 minutes away) or Hibbing (55 minutes away), combining our errands with a day of touring, biking, and/or
hiking. Both Grand Rapids and Hibbing
have multiple laundromats. They also
each have a Walmart and Super-1 Food Store, where we could get many of the
specialty products Dad needed for his plant-based diet. Furthermore, both towns offer lots of fun things to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Marcell is within 2 hours of Voyageurs National Park,
Duluth, Lake Superior’s North Shore, and the Boundary Waters—all side trips we
enjoyed on our days off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We had a wet summer compared to the drought
they suffered in the area last year, which triggered the one drawback of the
area: mosquitoes! And they were big ones, reminiscent of those
we encountered in Alaska, where the mosquito is jokingly classified as the State's Bird! We bought
non-chemical mosquito repellent in a 5-gallon drum.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdnuNF8lFdoJev6n8UDyh-eaNx0subES1sQaP5kCUdZvCMc5i3ntR2NISOgph9fnVFVpsS0Q0jPAjJYQjRceOgPviA8ccKms7_9PkK9n0PguMo4N1vxRlXWYRkm04UXxrxKjoSgyUXpOJwl3ezEX6IWXjwU4o6benL1Vei-xLAyk12MvoXAWy9xqFsw/s3800/Skeeter%20taking%20PoPo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3800" data-original-width="1776" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdnuNF8lFdoJev6n8UDyh-eaNx0subES1sQaP5kCUdZvCMc5i3ntR2NISOgph9fnVFVpsS0Q0jPAjJYQjRceOgPviA8ccKms7_9PkK9n0PguMo4N1vxRlXWYRkm04UXxrxKjoSgyUXpOJwl3ezEX6IWXjwU4o6benL1Vei-xLAyk12MvoXAWy9xqFsw/w188-h400/Skeeter%20taking%20PoPo.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mosquitoes were massive!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt;">But the mosquitoes were a small price to pay for the
fantastic experience. We thouroughly enjoyed every minute in MN. Volunteering at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center earns
one of my Rambling RV Rat coveted 5-cheese ratings!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfnwVOVjBJQdybOgjI5gwKmaqjGXPn30MTp6UxghenrSGOEDZ8akOuM9fOkk1FCz6QFTyC4AP7Dz58c0ZEY_nqjzRCMYRtHPVBaEyzqm3Yuvmw03YRhmXgukuO80YKukiu0M4IVVy8tTUMbcAQIOjs-uYC8wcPddwqPE5NDumQKXG1Dz5mkcz9JO3mw/s4000/20220718_205957.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfnwVOVjBJQdybOgjI5gwKmaqjGXPn30MTp6UxghenrSGOEDZ8akOuM9fOkk1FCz6QFTyC4AP7Dz58c0ZEY_nqjzRCMYRtHPVBaEyzqm3Yuvmw03YRhmXgukuO80YKukiu0M4IVVy8tTUMbcAQIOjs-uYC8wcPddwqPE5NDumQKXG1Dz5mkcz9JO3mw/w400-h180/20220718_205957.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunset on Lake Ranier</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll tell ya in my next post about
all the fun stuff we did and cool places we visited on our days off. Talk to you again soon! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div></div>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416354527052845038.post-77083850761941995602022-06-16T18:00:00.000-05:002022-08-19T21:24:16.672-05:00Exploring Central Colorado<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As you can imagine, we had LOTS of time on our hands while
waiting for McCandless International Truck Center to diagnosis and subsequently
repair Big Boomer, the tow vehicle for our 5</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;"> wheel.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When given lemons, we always try to make
lemonade.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, in between visiting my little friends near the Truck Center each day, we hopped on Maximus the
trike and began exploring the area.</span></span></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ6uu5P9q1HcldSaIucEwQTGYWTwXpfHQeHoOdaJ_v7tPfTmBFAnKxxGIen0-b8NB1HNtk5jbQKyGn8o93xJeMkiNHxJ85dOGa0hiN-Vem7LnCVwGW1jyv5M5fMelQRK8Sm60p5Bg9a0s7Tao8gfqMGDtALSdWS9sCwSmeKrIFjBJ_w6qVJhRC0EVA9w" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJ6uu5P9q1HcldSaIucEwQTGYWTwXpfHQeHoOdaJ_v7tPfTmBFAnKxxGIen0-b8NB1HNtk5jbQKyGn8o93xJeMkiNHxJ85dOGa0hiN-Vem7LnCVwGW1jyv5M5fMelQRK8Sm60p5Bg9a0s7Tao8gfqMGDtALSdWS9sCwSmeKrIFjBJ_w6qVJhRC0EVA9w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This guy popped out daily to say hello to me.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-rkwYc4RUo8GnT0OrRTCsgU3er6fSNdW7UmErv6Yu8GWo1arM8_cC1G6bgW6uJjrzmIV-S21VO6KLitTy5lwKwUaaXC_o2VF8cyZ6w2JkGfHl8qMjLgtNCKf_v47vsc-5rBnFBfZts4fo9vKGaTNoiHeOwvoUKwawXkLMndjPK_UKoHtQn8Xz1OxUdQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="3921" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-rkwYc4RUo8GnT0OrRTCsgU3er6fSNdW7UmErv6Yu8GWo1arM8_cC1G6bgW6uJjrzmIV-S21VO6KLitTy5lwKwUaaXC_o2VF8cyZ6w2JkGfHl8qMjLgtNCKf_v47vsc-5rBnFBfZts4fo9vKGaTNoiHeOwvoUKwawXkLMndjPK_UKoHtQn8Xz1OxUdQ=w400-h159" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The little Canada goslings look so cute--until they grow up! Then they become monsters, invading our lands, defecating all over God's green earth. Many never return to their Canadian homeland, instead settling throughout the United States. There were hundreds of geese residing in Gateway, the business park in Aurora where McCandless Truck Center is located.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in
Commerce City was our first stop.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Land
that was used in the 1850s as prairie homesteads transitioned to a $50+
million arsenal built by the U.S. Army in 1942.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Deadly chemical weapons, including napalm, mustard gas, and sarin, were
all manufactured and stored here for 2 decades.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thereafter, the U.S. Army leased the property to private companies
to manufacture pesticides.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was not
until the mid-1980s that the U.S. Army took action to measure the level of
ground/water contamination.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(And we
wonder why and how people get cancer!)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he arsenal was closed officially by the U.S. Army in 1992, and the property morphed into a National Wildlife Refuge.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Refuge has catch-and-release fishing (‘cause who be crazy enough to
actually eat what comes out of these waters!). Lots of burrowing prairie dogs
take up residence here, as does a healthy-sized bison herd.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The property also has a variety of hiking
trails that connect with open space paths for the nearby new housing
complexes (yes, let’s build near a previously-designated Superfund site!)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We traversed the Refuge trails on several
occasions to relieve our stress.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Visitor
Center at the Refuge is built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) specifications, mostly funded by the good old taxpayers through
President Obama’s Recovery Act.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was
deputized as a Junior Ranger here, having completed the required testing.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Another badge to add to my heavily-laden hat.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbjAnVWKUvWmkoysEwmkLkKy8oe21BRYWdl3dJ7oT3h8QzsLxWfFe2TJbYh9fXv27l_arToDMYhRins5ntZJAXwQM561UjvtFQ2UJupHAIa9vVlSu0V_taMMgH8OqgOJHsjAEpKiOhnPkhr1sCVh4kJ4bRVCFcXyj4ywDkCmGbkA7CfOq7bgzwxOyKg/s3159/Popo%20Dad%20and%20the%20Buffalo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3159" data-original-width="2555" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbjAnVWKUvWmkoysEwmkLkKy8oe21BRYWdl3dJ7oT3h8QzsLxWfFe2TJbYh9fXv27l_arToDMYhRins5ntZJAXwQM561UjvtFQ2UJupHAIa9vVlSu0V_taMMgH8OqgOJHsjAEpKiOhnPkhr1sCVh4kJ4bRVCFcXyj4ywDkCmGbkA7CfOq7bgzwxOyKg/w324-h400/Popo%20Dad%20and%20the%20Buffalo.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mom's two favorite "men" posing with a bison. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6ocwT95WQLDTUCEZ0qxhgA_iw1iVkSHbXT_YIedljlXw3fdMly5HeXCD_slAVzUE3WS9uuGUe0jbsH0M31hplzS2OGbdimHc260FmhWyCFW68tEPs-LRRLufjW4RpZDG-IS_4qufU7dXyqWUa_GFAlwPb-YO-yXqzg7Qd9rRdNnTClMlsEYVUlmYHOw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2782" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6ocwT95WQLDTUCEZ0qxhgA_iw1iVkSHbXT_YIedljlXw3fdMly5HeXCD_slAVzUE3WS9uuGUe0jbsH0M31hplzS2OGbdimHc260FmhWyCFW68tEPs-LRRLufjW4RpZDG-IS_4qufU7dXyqWUa_GFAlwPb-YO-yXqzg7Qd9rRdNnTClMlsEYVUlmYHOw=w400-h259" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the red-winged crow sitting on a reed in the foreground.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpisr0Ap-Inu18QaflzZx2E0dMUiW9MYYDk13Cd8LXzc8Bz1Je3mcE-K3jSGFwY_LsiXjQUN4QZinnbvspNSpAxl5n8hKV6PX2bomnVLhcih7wxNwWtyI0nbSZWg9MeImgt8gKSU-iYr4actd0bEQ3hiGg1FMD4oiNOHIED_g6dwEyME9xMTtWl5SKmg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2813" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpisr0Ap-Inu18QaflzZx2E0dMUiW9MYYDk13Cd8LXzc8Bz1Je3mcE-K3jSGFwY_LsiXjQUN4QZinnbvspNSpAxl5n8hKV6PX2bomnVLhcih7wxNwWtyI0nbSZWg9MeImgt8gKSU-iYr4actd0bEQ3hiGg1FMD4oiNOHIED_g6dwEyME9xMTtWl5SKmg=w400-h249" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That there is one healthy herd.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHDxZNdYpG-Dcqc3gBKHG6f6w9AsotWAjvx6aCWUCfx0twvTlDOLk1Z6UJvwOzKt2c1XMJGM4NNUmQcTgSVLMscAMhoQ8nN-51b0esISMxsTy0m5BHt-9cafz7vgMztQ5ko3qYTnvR6Ps7WOs8IPRLbQf0O2zR-XtHd2W4lBe5gkpEWmD47dyar8C4w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHDxZNdYpG-Dcqc3gBKHG6f6w9AsotWAjvx6aCWUCfx0twvTlDOLk1Z6UJvwOzKt2c1XMJGM4NNUmQcTgSVLMscAMhoQ8nN-51b0esISMxsTy0m5BHt-9cafz7vgMztQ5ko3qYTnvR6Ps7WOs8IPRLbQf0O2zR-XtHd2W4lBe5gkpEWmD47dyar8C4w=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bunch of bucks were benevolent and permitted me to take their photo.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYGepbnDYl877EWx_19bJ_2fjADOYip5XgX1CqA6cdJ7soNqTHDs7-RvKifEXEHnbSra5i-IBqj35wz8z4ZPohPvw3CB44_-m8-E2UKKO5kBuj3xjvC-S3bh64LMPfMcQj-1YHhwJPhZMKKfMu4BPh-_Dix0Ag-lC987gmDzYexAZHsB1apFtaL_JjqA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYGepbnDYl877EWx_19bJ_2fjADOYip5XgX1CqA6cdJ7soNqTHDs7-RvKifEXEHnbSra5i-IBqj35wz8z4ZPohPvw3CB44_-m8-E2UKKO5kBuj3xjvC-S3bh64LMPfMcQj-1YHhwJPhZMKKfMu4BPh-_Dix0Ag-lC987gmDzYexAZHsB1apFtaL_JjqA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxF4jpGO4wCcSoXGS5sdPWZm_iaW9POQXPB9MuJ-B_X8uvkkuXKgEDJ_VtjWUiA-gVRwH3_PGImqf3o7Mxx7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We visited Golden on several occasions.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We didn’t take the Coors beer plant tour—Dad viewed the
plant B.M.M. (Before Married to Mom) and Mom/I had no interest.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead, we popped in the Visitor Center,
toured the free-of-charge Golden History Museum, and walked Clear Creek Trail
to get a flavor for the town.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I particularly
enjoyed the outdoor History Park along Clear Creek.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It contains many structures that were once situated on the Thomas Pearce Ranch about 15 miles outside
Golden.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Pearce immigrated to Golden from
England in 1878 at the age of 19 seeking a better life.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He worked his tail off in the nearby mines.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1900 he began homesteading land in nearby Golden
Gate Canyon, with his first “structure” just an earth berm home built into the
side of a hill.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">While still toiling in
the mines, he spent his “free” time raising livestock and farming.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in the day, folks blazed their own way,
created their own destiny.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They did not
expect any special accommodations or anyone to do it for them. Hence, through Pearce’s
perseverance and hard work over the next decade, he transformed his property
into one of the largest ranches in the area.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgIunr7E0lWrKT-qdwMhtBYFdSfDQE0cPTPkCoUPGQSFs5mvSNo8_97NBuAZ7YZoF6Es5V0gGC_zJwZ21VkesS4S3OGuQLEKlSjzv6AjI6FYaYI3H2d-eNlLh-KL7XlEpVFgtKplieg9dJkYAyDGVYclTCVMtjzBQaCEHtaxEblyEOd4FdZ73PGIk_gQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="3183" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgIunr7E0lWrKT-qdwMhtBYFdSfDQE0cPTPkCoUPGQSFs5mvSNo8_97NBuAZ7YZoF6Es5V0gGC_zJwZ21VkesS4S3OGuQLEKlSjzv6AjI6FYaYI3H2d-eNlLh-KL7XlEpVFgtKplieg9dJkYAyDGVYclTCVMtjzBQaCEHtaxEblyEOd4FdZ73PGIk_gQ=w400-h113" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mural depicting Golden in 1913</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhateKRageB9VFYRJUJGSQZcOTJ1EXwDfJ6cx1wArIMXRU5OflnRBafObxL5x5Fsg1h_9cIh_Ml5TWrliyZzfg-_jUhl8JGY6D8R0oqaXvi96VxAVMaZqB1LSo3-WLg_2iXAslJvjQ-2vRwe9i-YMr_N1LFjrMABeVuGsi6GtC3h-EXaXQDKKrmKilSJQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhateKRageB9VFYRJUJGSQZcOTJ1EXwDfJ6cx1wArIMXRU5OflnRBafObxL5x5Fsg1h_9cIh_Ml5TWrliyZzfg-_jUhl8JGY6D8R0oqaXvi96VxAVMaZqB1LSo3-WLg_2iXAslJvjQ-2vRwe9i-YMr_N1LFjrMABeVuGsi6GtC3h-EXaXQDKKrmKilSJQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Downtown Golden 2022</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYknNHWr-mbRF4qzGTG6aPUOoz-oVQest-WglWfRbu2KOaVSEebiFfbiHznFDCkbnOGSdxWnMayuAnwqqyb9QW6tt_s_sb7dSyo4uUDpvgjNaWw5DLvG_7SnPk3HyNSbfkPRZ5DM5RkhwLaweWqKqOAEnIpWn2fiStsIvw3n2eFPLKS47tNMJTvJUKWQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYknNHWr-mbRF4qzGTG6aPUOoz-oVQest-WglWfRbu2KOaVSEebiFfbiHznFDCkbnOGSdxWnMayuAnwqqyb9QW6tt_s_sb7dSyo4uUDpvgjNaWw5DLvG_7SnPk3HyNSbfkPRZ5DM5RkhwLaweWqKqOAEnIpWn2fiStsIvw3n2eFPLKS47tNMJTvJUKWQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit from Golden History Museum<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhve5NceiCXW5XnN6uYgf__TJMx7m52JidefchsXTqrw4hHGCue7cAor9tAs4gdD0_45xwhpaBTmQdDDjk__11IlQSV2c3equqPFDYhweHJHzZMqW-SyN9GG9SnqH4GVdN8pMJwN815s1HW7IOgIwZNkkYr7m2s4YXLWMDHut-YMbIelPCmHmwtrjm3rg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhve5NceiCXW5XnN6uYgf__TJMx7m52JidefchsXTqrw4hHGCue7cAor9tAs4gdD0_45xwhpaBTmQdDDjk__11IlQSV2c3equqPFDYhweHJHzZMqW-SyN9GG9SnqH4GVdN8pMJwN815s1HW7IOgIwZNkkYr7m2s4YXLWMDHut-YMbIelPCmHmwtrjm3rg=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Photo of Clear Creek taken from the Washington Avenue Bridge.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>.<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdrCitJnLI6pHfSejt_0DtEQS68w_pRwyYiFhRCqKl6q1IJkKoNAziI-_pnK7KQz3BMWgayXVLSZGAXhujFZ4RC3YlyfgYzWTzHaK2BxJqQ-0-mSu1CPEooKDEcLmyCCZpcPDFyWgUC4GbkaPVvJc2UCgpwDV6HTPni6kMDlPXna6ymqUiqwuaoHFsvQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2673" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdrCitJnLI6pHfSejt_0DtEQS68w_pRwyYiFhRCqKl6q1IJkKoNAziI-_pnK7KQz3BMWgayXVLSZGAXhujFZ4RC3YlyfgYzWTzHaK2BxJqQ-0-mSu1CPEooKDEcLmyCCZpcPDFyWgUC4GbkaPVvJc2UCgpwDV6HTPni6kMDlPXna6ymqUiqwuaoHFsvQ=w400-h208" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Structures within the History Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgomSfmMzTfh62mOen5eFVf5AQNahLcZsvCgKRAn8aPX0T6PnPvcK99kl_oM8MV8PYoAVL-c-dwiEare_SzixwfNtQ9Fis5SQxjDTBhlmWt_1T7OdT-E4nxubGH6r-xA0zie06ewoAqY3XqjKfhYqgv9uxKvcKySh39CTMjY_j3A60wvLFZR6mOpGsoEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgomSfmMzTfh62mOen5eFVf5AQNahLcZsvCgKRAn8aPX0T6PnPvcK99kl_oM8MV8PYoAVL-c-dwiEare_SzixwfNtQ9Fis5SQxjDTBhlmWt_1T7OdT-E4nxubGH6r-xA0zie06ewoAqY3XqjKfhYqgv9uxKvcKySh39CTMjY_j3A60wvLFZR6mOpGsoEw=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_AZnAkMZA34xwmCVsvK5eJdvl06VwwtziHsnvDt3BIM1ntcvcQTM2O_1A-rW8PUnjnWl94rpGruo5DlBYMyf-OTikLy6fNgZGYK3nQ8iCh3uuW0EY9Thn6_1WpP3E1A5NcyFJ4oA9DwL8W5yenIgrHN-KxCY1WTuPsEkZfZ3nLa1fp3fORYxrHFL5Pg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="2462" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_AZnAkMZA34xwmCVsvK5eJdvl06VwwtziHsnvDt3BIM1ntcvcQTM2O_1A-rW8PUnjnWl94rpGruo5DlBYMyf-OTikLy6fNgZGYK3nQ8iCh3uuW0EY9Thn6_1WpP3E1A5NcyFJ4oA9DwL8W5yenIgrHN-KxCY1WTuPsEkZfZ3nLa1fp3fORYxrHFL5Pg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two of my favorites among the many bronze statues... <br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgggKI1cj9ymuM4O_RD2UWqyX9URpC8YDeRrhaiZr4he9aMCRqhFI4uEqbJDlvWkV1bQGtmpgQnWpWm-DHZcX5MJ3tT9XBuIFBVRf6CNQ59k0cNPzZDHlzH-ap8EeeLOct5h38vyaH7tJggVirl04Iho-av9k5UD4TJt_Cso3uLEYziOhsR8WxvAAEf7w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgggKI1cj9ymuM4O_RD2UWqyX9URpC8YDeRrhaiZr4he9aMCRqhFI4uEqbJDlvWkV1bQGtmpgQnWpWm-DHZcX5MJ3tT9XBuIFBVRf6CNQ59k0cNPzZDHlzH-ap8EeeLOct5h38vyaH7tJggVirl04Iho-av9k5UD4TJt_Cso3uLEYziOhsR8WxvAAEf7w=w180-h400" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...on display in downtown Golden.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also enjoyed visiting the Foothills Art Center in Golden, another interesting venue
with no entry fee.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They had a cool
exhibit called </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>The Beauty of Age</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">It demonstrated the wisdom and knowledge that come with age, yet the
carefree spirit of youth that never ceases to be.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Every wrinkle and every scar tell a story.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(I think this display made my parents feel a
little better about becoming old farts.)</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">But what really grasped my attention at the Foothills Art Center was their
exhibit </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Samsara</i><span>.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I learned
through good old Merriam-Webster that samsara is “the indefinitely repeated
cycles of birth, m</span><span style="font-family: arial;">isery, and death caused by karma.”</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Through incorporating paint, soil, and even
human hair into her photography, Artist Brooke Shaden depicts the cycle of life,
death, and, for some cultures, reincarnation.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">She explores death’s grief process in her piece called </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Redacted
Eulogie</i><span style="font-family: arial;">s.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">By extracting only a few
words from an actual eulogy, a simpler, yet different perspective of a person shines
through. The artist challenges viewers to consider what their own eulogies
would say.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The entire e</span><span style="font-family: arial;">xhibit was dark, yet intriguing and
thought-provoking.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Other than </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Bodies:
The Exhibition</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> that I viewed in New York City in 2009, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Samsara</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> is
the most unique art display I have ever seen, earning my coveted Rambling RV Rat
5-cheese award for excellence.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0QC5u3KygaZegwHvabzXt42tH5ahqcAcds3C98y9NWSPErEGw1fp9QRX6eihMjfYbr-8JFUesHglpyOMyCR_YX1e5Pp1PrxUnO_Oii6Urq0HhZ0sbvhItvrJ1FVDGDk71uMXNcT3QHqwpI8RhwET3gjEHVe87HJstePKTY14nSDXlHOHLKi7a8g-P_Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0QC5u3KygaZegwHvabzXt42tH5ahqcAcds3C98y9NWSPErEGw1fp9QRX6eihMjfYbr-8JFUesHglpyOMyCR_YX1e5Pp1PrxUnO_Oii6Urq0HhZ0sbvhItvrJ1FVDGDk71uMXNcT3QHqwpI8RhwET3gjEHVe87HJstePKTY14nSDXlHOHLKi7a8g-P_Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Foothills Arts Center building was once a church.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-w9SgqYhmUK3j3g8ywRZq50OZN7PlaD2YMBJULuw0OiuB8aRl-kFipVz3A9G-5mo7yL-6kZ6HaldfiH_pWzFhlZ5lqMo8NMfQq88nl03vEWwnO3W6UDGn6fHFwuFoJB0uXKmbAyOisfJFPd2uh3zMup6fzeYQlaSeJXU7IKzqGl9vp40WfqPUUAslA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl-w9SgqYhmUK3j3g8ywRZq50OZN7PlaD2YMBJULuw0OiuB8aRl-kFipVz3A9G-5mo7yL-6kZ6HaldfiH_pWzFhlZ5lqMo8NMfQq88nl03vEWwnO3W6UDGn6fHFwuFoJB0uXKmbAyOisfJFPd2uh3zMup6fzeYQlaSeJXU7IKzqGl9vp40WfqPUUAslA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Entries in T<i>he Beauty of Age</i> exhibit. Notice the biker dude is front and center...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK-6mx3wPu322OZwiaEoCM-Wd35xMU6mBOJn2vQx2Q1TIDBFxUBMybH3kzBgSxeWiz_xNURUAx58q5YZsqGuy1yVw2WAs3jhahzeMlTIqOs8_5so-qyb4srcPpeV1eHB9FcfdnUJJ-glFTP7Rr_B4kkWWn78-tS-mgwdnX-pAhno9eBMGlmxoCjuCBkQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK-6mx3wPu322OZwiaEoCM-Wd35xMU6mBOJn2vQx2Q1TIDBFxUBMybH3kzBgSxeWiz_xNURUAx58q5YZsqGuy1yVw2WAs3jhahzeMlTIqOs8_5so-qyb4srcPpeV1eHB9FcfdnUJJ-glFTP7Rr_B4kkWWn78-tS-mgwdnX-pAhno9eBMGlmxoCjuCBkQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...But this was my favorite portrait in the exhibit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX6TGs7L7D2-hHc7BYPhzVmVzqfx-VERvB1VgMdeMk3EYFYCd9VPQH01d5o6yyeMlHXsu1dDh9HhGu0mNErdUCsenpcJujjyFzNZqu3T9pfWz3QGeohJI8z8ai2RRBOklpdRZbUDXCPCkOg49eiBgVPw_8cy6va7F0XHVc6_z14psuIn5nGrcGtAK-MA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX6TGs7L7D2-hHc7BYPhzVmVzqfx-VERvB1VgMdeMk3EYFYCd9VPQH01d5o6yyeMlHXsu1dDh9HhGu0mNErdUCsenpcJujjyFzNZqu3T9pfWz3QGeohJI8z8ai2RRBOklpdRZbUDXCPCkOg49eiBgVPw_8cy6va7F0XHVc6_z14psuIn5nGrcGtAK-MA=w400-h180" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just one sample of the dark yet thought-provoking <i>Samsara </i>exhibit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Golden has TONS of open space and parks that offer
hiking/biking trails of all levels of difficulty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hiked along the trails in South Table
Mountain Park, which culminated with panoramic views of Golden from the mesa top. Additionally,
we clocked 6+ miles at William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We trudged straight up Green Mountain Trail,
incurring a 1,000-foot elevation change within the first mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite windy, too, but well worth it
for the magnificent views of Denver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFix6WtsdY5Lh55wJ3huDhGAB26fDjC62BRF4OCzCtQCnJk85cZBPOb1O7bdqgFwgufKllhEGLG556fUBbdvj_DnEk0oaRBTUenMB8zkYarDGqYQnxde-KDBjMTa81GXUUR2Pt9NxL2x3cnOqVE1NQQcn6oDN-iI14Si4EjzE6M8mPDRuyYEijQ1pFnQ" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="905" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFix6WtsdY5Lh55wJ3huDhGAB26fDjC62BRF4OCzCtQCnJk85cZBPOb1O7bdqgFwgufKllhEGLG556fUBbdvj_DnEk0oaRBTUenMB8zkYarDGqYQnxde-KDBjMTa81GXUUR2Pt9NxL2x3cnOqVE1NQQcn6oDN-iI14Si4EjzE6M8mPDRuyYEijQ1pFnQ=w400-h354" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Table Mountain from afar.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_vwRtRafPbChRN4o50jNZaHAOkvm1_50rsGnAvkca6jh-3ULDGwtZXR4RtYtAURu61TZhU0z1vUW0k-lCnA_JBySSXeHkekOnKRoN5pzBPhVPMKy0pemwKDSRA1GpBKOglVsNKbsRHuQct2Dz-9Cf9xqpCLC9tiDjor8vKhvWRUCug88tmIcMuto-4Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_vwRtRafPbChRN4o50jNZaHAOkvm1_50rsGnAvkca6jh-3ULDGwtZXR4RtYtAURu61TZhU0z1vUW0k-lCnA_JBySSXeHkekOnKRoN5pzBPhVPMKy0pemwKDSRA1GpBKOglVsNKbsRHuQct2Dz-9Cf9xqpCLC9tiDjor8vKhvWRUCug88tmIcMuto-4Q=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Views from the ascent.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIr6dnHuknoJ_j-VPa8pSh4PleF09_Fzl1ypNTcT02WyllEnTwr70N8-GfxyTHRsQNP35hYgwgRrknO85GI456MvnWriS2z8Lmwb3WE-4_5IGiJEpfKeg_6IpqPIeX62BAreX73cbxF1PT-_LFu1FkPAskDe-MrzbUsS9CV8osI5SjNFRQ3FJSocmKw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIr6dnHuknoJ_j-VPa8pSh4PleF09_Fzl1ypNTcT02WyllEnTwr70N8-GfxyTHRsQNP35hYgwgRrknO85GI456MvnWriS2z8Lmwb3WE-4_5IGiJEpfKeg_6IpqPIeX62BAreX73cbxF1PT-_LFu1FkPAskDe-MrzbUsS9CV8osI5SjNFRQ3FJSocmKw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Panorama from the mesa top.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Y1JDxDzsCu2BqSuIfUfwW41EBfkH7Dm3qPHqoP3WKANNED4K1ifrP-H61Vufmk0kCAwU45Rg8Rh55QUjlXIr3E_WksqZVBu2gd-F65stQtdessZO5eA_mkew4wZfo7zJ69tzJlJ9g1z65Pje7B1x7aJyBkWVyRXpYXV__CXrnOKi6MQkDP0JQXwQvQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Y1JDxDzsCu2BqSuIfUfwW41EBfkH7Dm3qPHqoP3WKANNED4K1ifrP-H61Vufmk0kCAwU45Rg8Rh55QUjlXIr3E_WksqZVBu2gd-F65stQtdessZO5eA_mkew4wZfo7zJ69tzJlJ9g1z65Pje7B1x7aJyBkWVyRXpYXV__CXrnOKi6MQkDP0JQXwQvQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Coors plant from the mesa top.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCngUSXR1qkNVnNGE2ue3342Hv8FYXRLyGFsp559JhnC0xLaBZBQSc1inEZrJbGyApIm36vscPyJSP6LojgID7jA4sAz6F-Zqqa4F3lz8ThjI9vA4qTBP_g-QpnoyrbrJWcRAXR7eyZIWdYkNoPLji-dKybWwE0lfSyTLpDbn17d2koc7UFsN0RO6aAw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCngUSXR1qkNVnNGE2ue3342Hv8FYXRLyGFsp559JhnC0xLaBZBQSc1inEZrJbGyApIm36vscPyJSP6LojgID7jA4sAz6F-Zqqa4F3lz8ThjI9vA4qTBP_g-QpnoyrbrJWcRAXR7eyZIWdYkNoPLji-dKybWwE0lfSyTLpDbn17d2koc7UFsN0RO6aAw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Green Mountain Trail in William F. Hayden Park.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUp_if05QsmZSSif4fvGiMqs5SkWnvpS1cJzf2vK0njudpy34DhOrnkQFE45bdd1ltamLjTlli87nj6mWJAwFIf6wgw1M8qtA1cVZZFe7yxfXBLjHMQ8xPDAbHqC2rQESqlNuHXBv074henEEzXQihdxro5lKwxAynJDcFfg_nljwdy_slikmCZLCS4w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUp_if05QsmZSSif4fvGiMqs5SkWnvpS1cJzf2vK0njudpy34DhOrnkQFE45bdd1ltamLjTlli87nj6mWJAwFIf6wgw1M8qtA1cVZZFe7yxfXBLjHMQ8xPDAbHqC2rQESqlNuHXBv074henEEzXQihdxro5lKwxAynJDcFfg_nljwdy_slikmCZLCS4w" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Denver, the Mile High City, can be seen from the top of the Green Mountain Trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Right within Aurora is the Colorado Freedom Memorial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a touching tribute that includes glass tablets etched with the names of our ultimate
superheroes, members of our Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives protecting
the liberties so many now take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also recognizes those families who lost their loved ones in this
mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Memorial Day approaching,
we thought it fitting to pay a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Speaking of Memorial Day, we always seek out a way to pay our respects
to our fallen military personnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
we reached out to the Patriot Guard Riders of Colorado to assist with
flag-placing on graves within Fort Logan National Cemetery, where 150,000
service personnel and their family members are interred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We joined Jim, the State Captain of the
organization, and Wanda his wife, along with several other members in this
mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great group of people, so warm and
welcoming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They invited us to join them again
the following day for breakfast before we all served on the honor flag line at
the Morrison Memorial Day Ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
10 days later we met with this fantastic group one final time for a Welcome
Home mission at Denver International Airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are so grateful to them for their kindness and friendship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made us feel like part of their
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, member Gary and his
wife Ruth offered for us to stay with them on their property instead of in a
hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a demonstration of
camaraderie and compassion!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be
remiss if I also did not acknowledge the generosity of Barbara, one of our
buddies from Quartzsite dance, who invited us to stay in her home near Rocky
Mountain National Park or long-time RVing friends, Curtis and Stephanie, who
suggested we fly to Idaho to stay with them in their home while we awaited
repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We would never impose on folks, so we passed on all offers. But we feel so blessed </span>to have such
caring, kind-hearted people in our lives!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ6ZfgBar9OCEck3py-nvkBOQ4qtc7cDMzYW8bgwMLd--gg9LR3uIr5uzGe-1l2cDh8REE5nTwySJzETon-xe9j6n975x23XsC0Tbyd6SVOyur54WEBPLSK12D7qcZCsFDofWCy9CH_UKq-1ekhIoUHPnc5WdmhQZQXx4xBs3z78NeDr2Z5hVhhsviqA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ6ZfgBar9OCEck3py-nvkBOQ4qtc7cDMzYW8bgwMLd--gg9LR3uIr5uzGe-1l2cDh8REE5nTwySJzETon-xe9j6n975x23XsC0Tbyd6SVOyur54WEBPLSK12D7qcZCsFDofWCy9CH_UKq-1ekhIoUHPnc5WdmhQZQXx4xBs3z78NeDr2Z5hVhhsviqA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaNshbjy_pV0rCY_rHsk6Q0uQ1-rI1CwAg3p_uisdMoegsyBRP_ngW9iN2c2rxIjZvGuUpDgMyX1-OmPZkaRNPoYkHPX1HXihqmHlgmIsMSWpa1OaNKdsDFP5DXZajGWUraqxefvGUbmEwa_oGDaJ5_EWSgUMeDIseyLapz07K7-kOky88pLhlkfyLkg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="2401" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaNshbjy_pV0rCY_rHsk6Q0uQ1-rI1CwAg3p_uisdMoegsyBRP_ngW9iN2c2rxIjZvGuUpDgMyX1-OmPZkaRNPoYkHPX1HXihqmHlgmIsMSWpa1OaNKdsDFP5DXZajGWUraqxefvGUbmEwa_oGDaJ5_EWSgUMeDIseyLapz07K7-kOky88pLhlkfyLkg=w400-h272" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfQKCo8ftMkabCmKmuvoI5ZDEEdzUvSNZYQIPwzFQJP55scU6z23fbIaLkgKIbInMP4CnzmTtHaRrrTIqoI8cyWrtkTEHF-7vW7A07F3LTNi9bkQeqNRCcmWjcln70OOR7Nn77mhJXotuDGV5u4zdfYVkUQ534x72P6j3FMJ7pD9O3YwmXJ3EMWYbLXw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfQKCo8ftMkabCmKmuvoI5ZDEEdzUvSNZYQIPwzFQJP55scU6z23fbIaLkgKIbInMP4CnzmTtHaRrrTIqoI8cyWrtkTEHF-7vW7A07F3LTNi9bkQeqNRCcmWjcln70OOR7Nn77mhJXotuDGV5u4zdfYVkUQ534x72P6j3FMJ7pD9O3YwmXJ3EMWYbLXw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcZJBa1707BPwIM8lg1uMMuQSO3avTMaNf-Hkc9Au1JWIvHHU2TfOeK1C2ORbsxtvkPcE9j3abLMuvJeotAapdw_mreBAFpNEg7px8iRRv9gaHnHmO-mR9C3YZ1l1hA6hf_SsHkkcklTvSEZHtjyG1qEPz8ezTStjxVosIO3RfUJKICrwz-fSIyjHWpQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcZJBa1707BPwIM8lg1uMMuQSO3avTMaNf-Hkc9Au1JWIvHHU2TfOeK1C2ORbsxtvkPcE9j3abLMuvJeotAapdw_mreBAFpNEg7px8iRRv9gaHnHmO-mR9C3YZ1l1hA6hf_SsHkkcklTvSEZHtjyG1qEPz8ezTStjxVosIO3RfUJKICrwz-fSIyjHWpQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipOenLlDXVJoZifPfn9JuObdADUMRt4yFmpZ7zp57I25V_7f2gweIRBnOA7RepPWZvaZ0TaixyLsIg0gy-oGvPUwJpKtqRCR9wlFI1cT8GOFQGj8ZYk-w5MUSR7pxRgVK47z17DK7qr88tGcuoOkSnzPQijs2T5gsYL8IPn6zy_YLzX1YPOBrQPfeOWw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipOenLlDXVJoZifPfn9JuObdADUMRt4yFmpZ7zp57I25V_7f2gweIRBnOA7RepPWZvaZ0TaixyLsIg0gy-oGvPUwJpKtqRCR9wlFI1cT8GOFQGj8ZYk-w5MUSR7pxRgVK47z17DK7qr88tGcuoOkSnzPQijs2T5gsYL8IPn6zy_YLzX1YPOBrQPfeOWw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2XeTcioGLQ2p1TjZdNlA-7UZkEJ3umP9m5CaZ-238HYVE78TrN4f-q99BT_ql94ZbUG89dCXT5FOLBT08nc0IlUyvhyyjRK3agY7hjTo7ORhk0VL40CeB2zF6D_JszEPtLryws8qM4gPUVSniqaElVjQmz_lpHLRfVXuXv6lxsyVndr8pQyKWnN106g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2XeTcioGLQ2p1TjZdNlA-7UZkEJ3umP9m5CaZ-238HYVE78TrN4f-q99BT_ql94ZbUG89dCXT5FOLBT08nc0IlUyvhyyjRK3agY7hjTo7ORhk0VL40CeB2zF6D_JszEPtLryws8qM4gPUVSniqaElVjQmz_lpHLRfVXuXv6lxsyVndr8pQyKWnN106g=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz6xyBsnONq-ffXp_QQakGRunCPixrgsHaMGarOW7xmXUzGGqdH82-9H05Cr3cv3icAXH4Z6LfpVUbvTqgsww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We took a long motorcycle ride one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We passed through Coal Creek Canyon and t</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">hen
enjoyed a series of switchbacks in Pinecliffe, named appropriately for the
tree-lined topography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we were in
Nederland, a typical mountain mining town, where we entered the 59-mile-long
Peak-to-Peak Highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of
snow-covered mountains towered above us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We viewed Longs Peak, the
tallest (14,255 feet) summit within Rocky Mountain National Park and Mt.
Meeker, which comes in at a respectable 13,911-foot elevation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt. Meeker is also the backdrop for picturesque
St. Catherine of Siena Chapel on the Rock, part of the Camp St. Mayo Heritage
Center grounds in Allenspark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was disappointed that
I couldn’t go inside the Chapel due to an ongoing wedding, but I admired it
from afar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never ceases to amaze me
the phenomenal real estate owned by the Catholic Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our route also took us past Lake Lilly and
the Twin Sisters peaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we
arrived in Estes Park, the wind picked up considerably and rain clouds were
accumulating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a quick tour of
Estes Park then headed back to Aurora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a long, chilly and wet (yes, rain did catch up with us) day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we were grateful to admire the Creator’s
masterful works and take our minds off our truck repair issues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9xmvcXAEYMywvdULcExX3IRxhdBRgSU1B7owNRiYvAdqhiuaqMFnegL3X2VbdvRq5Ws-Ow5XeVupJbcxM4zgKEKTO9D38rBroYodTcMD_VE1D4JFirF2swLNba-jp4CNQEVW9dLthXFdzvMczb0Bih-I9NWqFLoLNsKEcDh60CL2PzBIYu9BMv1XpuQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="3530" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9xmvcXAEYMywvdULcExX3IRxhdBRgSU1B7owNRiYvAdqhiuaqMFnegL3X2VbdvRq5Ws-Ow5XeVupJbcxM4zgKEKTO9D38rBroYodTcMD_VE1D4JFirF2swLNba-jp4CNQEVW9dLthXFdzvMczb0Bih-I9NWqFLoLNsKEcDh60CL2PzBIYu9BMv1XpuQ=w400-h201" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqb-DDjjY0FOcIDzVHiJAg5rFDdvhe-gR47JFyDCk9n47BC92jIZ0YdPirbPBOx74n0DZN9RiG4iUp14Q9dRoRfBlVLIMShc5qyPfGZLR_H_uBOCcCyZWdaD7xAYcDJhB8vsyC4ualjMS2JIkFVi85YT7rat-5o_NtZrJFPsbNkDvsw-SR2FtJga1ykA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="3483" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqb-DDjjY0FOcIDzVHiJAg5rFDdvhe-gR47JFyDCk9n47BC92jIZ0YdPirbPBOx74n0DZN9RiG4iUp14Q9dRoRfBlVLIMShc5qyPfGZLR_H_uBOCcCyZWdaD7xAYcDJhB8vsyC4ualjMS2JIkFVi85YT7rat-5o_NtZrJFPsbNkDvsw-SR2FtJga1ykA=w400-h198" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">St. Catherine of Siena Chapel on the Rock in Allenspark</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK7mjHdgQcp7FIbsv9mcuFmW-yfW1zsX5fBHgiiO25y7vITVeSjv3bZec0VMRanCy6OY1N-ztdVz32rv1s6nnS141Y4oBFdbwp61O3PMw3F_wFmlFGPjeFdCI1kiyv0PSRg04f1xHYccHQaBP5xU3vaI7kmEHuC-zqn7WAPbvD-vsTwlUjnCYfhnNJ7Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK7mjHdgQcp7FIbsv9mcuFmW-yfW1zsX5fBHgiiO25y7vITVeSjv3bZec0VMRanCy6OY1N-ztdVz32rv1s6nnS141Y4oBFdbwp61O3PMw3F_wFmlFGPjeFdCI1kiyv0PSRg04f1xHYccHQaBP5xU3vaI7kmEHuC-zqn7WAPbvD-vsTwlUjnCYfhnNJ7Q=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Statue of Jesus on the Mount at the Camp St. Mayo Heritage Center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAL4vtbcoIDx9_-Rpt5IdeyXvR_Do5rkccFPBadBrxlyt5xGMMn1XpEHw09qgXpYsH6I7HzDfFTCIMQxLkAT1dIADV1zK3YAAXHWB4fH_5JTO9Uv73RDTas91p-kqT66yqI8_EFujmvAbnn-sbcw9mQy2bO2Gs3chBaI4ycQw4GymeOEK_doBovGLcAw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAL4vtbcoIDx9_-Rpt5IdeyXvR_Do5rkccFPBadBrxlyt5xGMMn1XpEHw09qgXpYsH6I7HzDfFTCIMQxLkAT1dIADV1zK3YAAXHWB4fH_5JTO9Uv73RDTas91p-kqT66yqI8_EFujmvAbnn-sbcw9mQy2bO2Gs3chBaI4ycQw4GymeOEK_doBovGLcAw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Long's Peak in the center.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS8zLSCAliFJsLPj1mmrsFGsttnIXgudizcHD7WYrsOB7VAaYL6yH0WTRgiciKZxZ7M7csOFgwOzseSdOm6WqRY1G0x6O_BK_BsW7Nh0br7o0EdkI3z63hYMBmV0h4nf3ZPcj6fVW856AK64b7ajmpU-qPRSRHXdRcKrzKRamlnNFo2QiLloaQJKM9uQ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3685" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS8zLSCAliFJsLPj1mmrsFGsttnIXgudizcHD7WYrsOB7VAaYL6yH0WTRgiciKZxZ7M7csOFgwOzseSdOm6WqRY1G0x6O_BK_BsW7Nh0br7o0EdkI3z63hYMBmV0h4nf3ZPcj6fVW856AK64b7ajmpU-qPRSRHXdRcKrzKRamlnNFo2QiLloaQJKM9uQ=w400-h195" width="400" /></a></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqLnTcSlCfsG26pTtzEQo7hYvj5KhUo53JRW3XveeCa9hD0UsPaOf-SSLRSMNQSU0bowidor1Mo1MHI_vbVmbDxlETS5NAw7BfQMrtckQHyT8bpYSNyEdL-9P3ZeVbLCD-RFRDvd9Avbwa_N0ABHMvq7WLXK2WiiWQOIRfT-Tjor2RUHGX-sX-GqG8gw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="4000" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqLnTcSlCfsG26pTtzEQo7hYvj5KhUo53JRW3XveeCa9hD0UsPaOf-SSLRSMNQSU0bowidor1Mo1MHI_vbVmbDxlETS5NAw7BfQMrtckQHyT8bpYSNyEdL-9P3ZeVbLCD-RFRDvd9Avbwa_N0ABHMvq7WLXK2WiiWQOIRfT-Tjor2RUHGX-sX-GqG8gw=w400-h174" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Storm clouds rolling in..</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijhoyV7-Vk7Zy8mwuDotoyj5oud96e3BwXHH1agiHZRo-6wm_fY6VrZIGQD31WqnHoJ0qTD_0xdcHwwuCktPhYPu_N7Ufsx3goVDfLp_l3tTVEiKBF2sCgnN0ytFibXTWfSn2Ui4cnDHTdSsyrMsZaua8rsLjHm2TZ_xKxxDiwWSNe9PmzV7p2z5wvcg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijhoyV7-Vk7Zy8mwuDotoyj5oud96e3BwXHH1agiHZRo-6wm_fY6VrZIGQD31WqnHoJ0qTD_0xdcHwwuCktPhYPu_N7Ufsx3goVDfLp_l3tTVEiKBF2sCgnN0ytFibXTWfSn2Ui4cnDHTdSsyrMsZaua8rsLjHm2TZ_xKxxDiwWSNe9PmzV7p2z5wvcg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...gonna get wet, but those clouds create some dramatic pictures.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>One weekday we took a break from touring and went to see </span><i>Top
Gun Maverick</i><span>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Wanting to save some
of my cheese money, I suggested we go to the matinee on ½ price tickets.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Mom, our household’s Chief Financial Officer,
jumped all over that suggestion!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span>Afterwards, we dined at </span><i>Coriander Flavors of India</i><span> on North Tower
Road in Denver.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>During our 3 ½ week
layover in Aurora, this became our go-to restaurant.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>It had several vegan selections for Dad, all
of which he enjoyed.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Mom and I always
chose the chicken biryani.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>It was a bit
spicy for our taste, but the meat so tender and the dish so flavorful, we
suffered through each time and ate the entire portion.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Combining
their great food with pleasant, efficient service and reasonable prices and you
have one of my Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award recipients!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We set out on a glorious Saturday morning for Boulder via
Maximus the trike. We hiked near Boulder Canyon leading us to a spectacular
view of the Boulder Waterfalls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boulder
Creek sure was running at a healthy pace from the snow melt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boulder, home to the University of Colorado,
is a typical college town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a blend
of historic and modernistic, with some structures of traditional
architectural designs and others with contemporary styles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hiked along the Chautauqua and Loop Trails
to view the Flatirons, rock formations named by the early female settlers for the
rocks’ similar shape to the gadgets used to press/steam laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though these trails are short in length, they
really get your heart pumping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
trails are EXTREMELY busy on weekends. Furthermore, parking is difficult to find
and comes with a fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tucked into a
pay-for-parking space at the Chautauqua Historic Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Chautauqua is a summer social and
educational assembly for adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
Chautauqua was organized by Methodists in Ohio in 1873.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the concept grew into a national movement
for cultural, spiritual, and educational enhancement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a way to introduce people to new ideas,
literature, and the arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speeches by
prominent preachers and politicians may also be included on the itinerary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially,
these gatherings were held in temporary structures like tents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as time went on, permanent cottages,
auditoriums, and dining halls emerged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boulder’s
Chautauqua Park opened in 1898 as a summer school for teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now 1 million visitors from all walks of life
are serviced by the venue each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
holds the distinction of being the only Chautauqua West of the Mississippi
River that has operated continuously with many of its original structures
intact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a gorgeous property that I
would have enjoyed exploring more thoroughly had it not been so darned crowded
with guests for on-site weddings and parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitXtzV3PbAjNoyEg7Tcxw8EvfgXkDVF8QmfIEd2SMY4cBeDPU8jGchI4hexvvhFVmV3630XcE3_TSoYkdqjo4fOrKPGbAphMYylJrQIPYaWiE49TN2jcm6DP3h3PUs1CpcLyRF43od5p9uEvFjsV3YwOkGx504fJGX4UPs2XFyFEPzgEWLPxk6_ZqoSg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitXtzV3PbAjNoyEg7Tcxw8EvfgXkDVF8QmfIEd2SMY4cBeDPU8jGchI4hexvvhFVmV3630XcE3_TSoYkdqjo4fOrKPGbAphMYylJrQIPYaWiE49TN2jcm6DP3h3PUs1CpcLyRF43od5p9uEvFjsV3YwOkGx504fJGX4UPs2XFyFEPzgEWLPxk6_ZqoSg=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Boulder Waterfalls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQxNwALv5YMfRWHtThL5zecA1M3skLTPn_W54sJ3zpsrRVpqPWhq6B_Eyd05W5pHwDFfg5i_KjqCH8jIsuAu9gNYEsgpoZOmgra8OStFG8tiSTkcty3MrWssDBnYY4Ep0JW8WNIvM3i8jAM1RGCjQTmrD2t8COIQ_cOfm2Dp8jIPs_G9_1kGNH62yddg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQxNwALv5YMfRWHtThL5zecA1M3skLTPn_W54sJ3zpsrRVpqPWhq6B_Eyd05W5pHwDFfg5i_KjqCH8jIsuAu9gNYEsgpoZOmgra8OStFG8tiSTkcty3MrWssDBnYY4Ep0JW8WNIvM3i8jAM1RGCjQTmrD2t8COIQ_cOfm2Dp8jIPs_G9_1kGNH62yddg=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Boulder Creek</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheVYQCHplM3QPHoC_5_S2blH3DNmcl8laLzfQomnJ1m2IH1U0MNPRjsZHUeuH3aaoKbuEExBSWTs8ESQwy053usSEnIGU1OF6Tq_8oALoZBJt94gUmLNXsSZ-eq-fqgn-TxlgoIoQLf3MQDVn9w-xOV98K-fxDI8j62oaI74F0iSDg2NhwVL3dlT6zYQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3210" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheVYQCHplM3QPHoC_5_S2blH3DNmcl8laLzfQomnJ1m2IH1U0MNPRjsZHUeuH3aaoKbuEExBSWTs8ESQwy053usSEnIGU1OF6Tq_8oALoZBJt94gUmLNXsSZ-eq-fqgn-TxlgoIoQLf3MQDVn9w-xOV98K-fxDI8j62oaI74F0iSDg2NhwVL3dlT6zYQ=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<span style="font-family: arial;">he Flatirons view from the Chautauqua Trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFw7Ifh4iOQ7pP13gDYaJytx0NMiQXUZtrqSVc8keuhDeCrq6UyItYAVw07ppyGARtF6S0BIao60UlptbUquqyvXZ5TW_4NHBLwIUX3lh21cz1qb1XrP-UYoEaKYjTFuhr5p0fetDUOTsH6EqVoR6NEfD9C2IYnI5fKUac79SJBESRgMBkdo4NVfnZYw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFw7Ifh4iOQ7pP13gDYaJytx0NMiQXUZtrqSVc8keuhDeCrq6UyItYAVw07ppyGARtF6S0BIao60UlptbUquqyvXZ5TW_4NHBLwIUX3lh21cz1qb1XrP-UYoEaKYjTFuhr5p0fetDUOTsH6EqVoR6NEfD9C2IYnI5fKUac79SJBESRgMBkdo4NVfnZYw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View of the City of Boulder from the Loop Trail.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinOhXOzSWa_46h4BY_4yGJbJuVJdpkzIKZdIlsN6GJLTvIO9Wd_49mKp41DhfJ2umPI5j7gj5B3m-AojReF24LC6-r8TTuzT8_9V00-ldzEaLpwVQzTljc8zWu_k4TSvm5Nq8Vi3SRzW4xuhwK5ab-nW8ViokNyA9DYS3Ip1U591uaylJ-MbRCvQOwJg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2368" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinOhXOzSWa_46h4BY_4yGJbJuVJdpkzIKZdIlsN6GJLTvIO9Wd_49mKp41DhfJ2umPI5j7gj5B3m-AojReF24LC6-r8TTuzT8_9V00-ldzEaLpwVQzTljc8zWu_k4TSvm5Nq8Vi3SRzW4xuhwK5ab-nW8ViokNyA9DYS3Ip1U591uaylJ-MbRCvQOwJg=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chautauqua Park - Baseline Road Entrance.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhggZH-JeRmGBfE8yhDJNrprpl13QZxo7ORXZsZRX1PDPg5NhuX-1HSlrPTOh1RgY17ZLxJ2WuXOMKulAgRWwrlwrQ2AqlWbP_DYJ2QQ3OQhJydc12WiNAE8yO43Yo_SViJ1jKy6ZyYyJu_yiSTBM-e4VufGXkxHQhcFhZyZ-XblZXWPA74Z_8j206UsQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhggZH-JeRmGBfE8yhDJNrprpl13QZxo7ORXZsZRX1PDPg5NhuX-1HSlrPTOh1RgY17ZLxJ2WuXOMKulAgRWwrlwrQ2AqlWbP_DYJ2QQ3OQhJydc12WiNAE8yO43Yo_SViJ1jKy6ZyYyJu_yiSTBM-e4VufGXkxHQhcFhZyZ-XblZXWPA74Z_8j206UsQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some quaint cottages...</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhktLA2MPXL2NTt6k2sJQRYm_Tq2tQ7ovyUv7FT2O2SmSed_Vo7_aCGW7xthINnwg3mSVDAoD_-ZMbCbxcNdU3dlp5xHrxkvHr0_ltut8dF6YwzRa8oGR5wPZpde-3IG4JGcEvX1LxLC_CpjtHt30CSyC1mh3H1lWqXlBUWNc3VbonsOLHIY_wHl8aqGg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2648" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhktLA2MPXL2NTt6k2sJQRYm_Tq2tQ7ovyUv7FT2O2SmSed_Vo7_aCGW7xthINnwg3mSVDAoD_-ZMbCbxcNdU3dlp5xHrxkvHr0_ltut8dF6YwzRa8oGR5wPZpde-3IG4JGcEvX1LxLC_CpjtHt30CSyC1mh3H1lWqXlBUWNc3VbonsOLHIY_wHl8aqGg=w400-h204" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">...and Chautauqua structures.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg63Tr7DH0FYPwCcnKtkKkI5PO5fIYMc7Wa3ewU_x8k1DsM00Rmq47DIyeqBlge423Jokf0rG_vBiS7ZSdTjRvr2eTUNfuzqP6u2VACMTsbjDzu0lveNDLeSpg5Ej8-MoHUSz1UdWa5KnTJ2txc9OH3qnCm0CLXCwwf-vuoFmW-q_tsrCi1ZAEDN-Q7ow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg63Tr7DH0FYPwCcnKtkKkI5PO5fIYMc7Wa3ewU_x8k1DsM00Rmq47DIyeqBlge423Jokf0rG_vBiS7ZSdTjRvr2eTUNfuzqP6u2VACMTsbjDzu0lveNDLeSpg5Ej8-MoHUSz1UdWa5KnTJ2txc9OH3qnCm0CLXCwwf-vuoFmW-q_tsrCi1ZAEDN-Q7ow=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Artists painting "en Plein Air", the French way of saying "outdoors".</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With a population of approximately 386,000, Aurora is the 3</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: arial;">
largest city within Colorado.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Students
within their school system hail from 130 different countries and speak 150+
different languages. </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Colorado Community Church, where we attended
Sunday services, is representative of this multiculturalism.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a wonderful experience!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">How blessed we were to be welcomed by their
congregation and to hear the truly inspirational messages of God’s word through
Pastor Robert Gelinas.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">On another day we toured Idaho Springs, home to the State’s
first substantial gold discovery in 1859.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was this discovery that triggered the Colorado Gold Rush, with
100,000 prospectors flocking to the Rocky Mountain area. “Pike’s Peak or bust,”
they chanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some proved to be
lucky, others went home with empty pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Idaho Springs has a quaint, historic district comprised mostly of
restaurants and taverns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has somehow
managed to stay alive all these years and not succumb to ghost town status like
so many other mining towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took the 10-cent walking tour. Nothing going on this early in the morning except some big horn sheep foraging for breakfast way up yonder on the distant hills. We
visited the water wheel used in 1893 to power the stamp mill at the gold mining
operation of Charlie Taylor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charlie was
a colorful character and probably the most notable resident of Idaho
Springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He attributed his excellent
health to 2 factors:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never took baths
AND never kissed a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (IMHO, the latter factor was likely a direct result of the former!)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnx_h8X9peZBHjMQ5rnNr5CTLo3F9dabT9wwwVlK1y1Dve2gzuXHFPqdFe-ySh8jSP56nMKIbGohRH1x3d0ki2tYGFFXUiWdQYqoyaAJeFfDgOhRACuazIL0RAHihx6C-nHi7sW2jQCUiBv3-00zP1Tl4BzTyw5thhF5TIkY8-n-sJ_xXlxM1UTmdXug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnx_h8X9peZBHjMQ5rnNr5CTLo3F9dabT9wwwVlK1y1Dve2gzuXHFPqdFe-ySh8jSP56nMKIbGohRH1x3d0ki2tYGFFXUiWdQYqoyaAJeFfDgOhRACuazIL0RAHihx6C-nHi7sW2jQCUiBv3-00zP1Tl4BzTyw5thhF5TIkY8-n-sJ_xXlxM1UTmdXug=w400-h180" width="400" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnx_h8X9peZBHjMQ5rnNr5CTLo3F9dabT9wwwVlK1y1Dve2gzuXHFPqdFe-ySh8jSP56nMKIbGohRH1x3d0ki2tYGFFXUiWdQYqoyaAJeFfDgOhRACuazIL0RAHihx6C-nHi7sW2jQCUiBv3-00zP1Tl4BzTyw5thhF5TIkY8-n-sJ_xXlxM1UTmdXug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYio6QzpYukGBXpu9koA5d-tBnfj2f-yagoBpxWICvqraIEiA_ETUG7icHycfsDukTR6U-cufa5dMxxQJ8jFeJje3kTYODpYk_UoClDUJLF750pe0SCJ4YqW4c2IZ3JAAtJ2p0BQq3eilZO5v5ToE2Wn6iTpLvJcRC92Lbgjt_zzS4Ayi3Wvt9kqt1ZA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYio6QzpYukGBXpu9koA5d-tBnfj2f-yagoBpxWICvqraIEiA_ETUG7icHycfsDukTR6U-cufa5dMxxQJ8jFeJje3kTYODpYk_UoClDUJLF750pe0SCJ4YqW4c2IZ3JAAtJ2p0BQq3eilZO5v5ToE2Wn6iTpLvJcRC92Lbgjt_zzS4Ayi3Wvt9kqt1ZA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhj7yPuHLbgCh9JqZqsx80IYdMJRNz7NUUtfPcUcAmsdCLvWJ9Nf7Ucnfeh_61HUJ7794MlWYngXHCckq1MG1rSfQsPUzZK1Mt8p7r3_0jIKyOjvIa7rr-0KlpVXTYRie2xVpQPV4kq8QIA7KfDS-U2Ifj7UbMPx6W7Czpygbp3lfPFeG5xXD-f0hdzSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhj7yPuHLbgCh9JqZqsx80IYdMJRNz7NUUtfPcUcAmsdCLvWJ9Nf7Ucnfeh_61HUJ7794MlWYngXHCckq1MG1rSfQsPUzZK1Mt8p7r3_0jIKyOjvIa7rr-0KlpVXTYRie2xVpQPV4kq8QIA7KfDS-U2Ifj7UbMPx6W7Czpygbp3lfPFeG5xXD-f0hdzSw=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxEV164Uf9Yt2yexodTPe_FY06sndj88zCpYeeK2D_D5b8gG47ubrg3Ghbpr8KuHtpzV5jlRO0X8L6OCyGR1_rbxjPEWsgDlLt3rfjMqmUZK6qxsVzKHopZdx69ER8iIkiDUv8QZPA0sJQCB03t2_qxmM1AkHvE6nd3GoWx5AB4jVRjHCevNwkH_a7JA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxEV164Uf9Yt2yexodTPe_FY06sndj88zCpYeeK2D_D5b8gG47ubrg3Ghbpr8KuHtpzV5jlRO0X8L6OCyGR1_rbxjPEWsgDlLt3rfjMqmUZK6qxsVzKHopZdx69ER8iIkiDUv8QZPA0sJQCB03t2_qxmM1AkHvE6nd3GoWx5AB4jVRjHCevNwkH_a7JA" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='333' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpWu0YLL2FAQLT1yYLL8GE0efdeOpn3Mm9XYzKzxaS-s5spkvWUCD605nSZmzG-c_oHuMKZh5OfmgzcEUDoQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We
headed then to Mt. Evans, but we didn’t get far—we learned the Scenic Byway to
this 14er (a term for peaks of 14,000+ feet) was still closed due to
weather/road conditions.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(The road to Mt. Evans did not open until June 10, just days before our departure from Colorado).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh well, plenty of other things to do, like the Buffalo
Bill Cody Museum and Gravesite on Lookout Mountain.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lookout
Mountain is part of the Denver Mountain Park System that was established in
1913, a few years earlier than the National Park System was conceived.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> The museum costs $5/adult, a very modest entry fee to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">journey through the life of the legendary Bill Cody.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">His father was killed by pro-slavery
proponents in 1857 when Bill was just an 11-year-old lad.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Young Bill then became the bread winner for
his family.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He was a jack of all trades
through the years, supposedly holding a variety of positions like messenger on
a wagon train, Pony Express rider, prospector, Union Army serviceman, and
civilian scout for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars, to name a few.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But it was his job as a bison hunter to
provide meat for the railroad’s construction workers that earned him the nickname
“Buffalo Bill”.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Bill
watched as industrialization and sprawl began to change the West that he knew.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">So, he started </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Buffalo Bill’s Wild West</i><span style="font-family: arial;">,
a show that included cowboys and Indians.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Though the Indians were a bit sensationalized in the show, Cody provided
them an opportunity to exhibit some of their culture and a way to participate
in the economy. In turn, the Indians taught Cody about their heritage and way
of life.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As a result, Cody became a
great advocate for the Indian Nations.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Cody practiced fairness and equality, incorporating women and an
ensemble of different ethnicities (Arabs, Mongolians, etc.) into what later was
known as </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World</i><span style="font-family: arial;">
show.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The riders displayed colorful
costumes representative of their native lands and performed feats of skill with
horse breeds of worldwide distinction.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Cody’s shows toured throughout Europe as well as the U.S.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As renowned and famous as he was, he rests in
a modest gravesite upon Lookout Mountain.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7mspSCXL0P3dmqq-obgnsw_qDq9Qa6mUkl5w39iykJZyMYL44NXD1DNpre2YCF2Rw0wmolM85sbztygU5ztKn5C3CPJWmW2KOtpw0o7eYmVadVU064SoL08c-FsTv4pqKs9bxhwNGtpsYHhk410zkB_pVf0uNqA1JwwWRR4TWBOmoKedCFKjeZUyCIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="986" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7mspSCXL0P3dmqq-obgnsw_qDq9Qa6mUkl5w39iykJZyMYL44NXD1DNpre2YCF2Rw0wmolM85sbztygU5ztKn5C3CPJWmW2KOtpw0o7eYmVadVU064SoL08c-FsTv4pqKs9bxhwNGtpsYHhk410zkB_pVf0uNqA1JwwWRR4TWBOmoKedCFKjeZUyCIw=w303-h400" width="303" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguYYnJApV6qd77Pc5m1gPjbEJeeaEuzU0DANj7qNtgy7udQWJOouD2ph2vwvFgcW983j9EYKxXN3V7z0Eg7fugsiXkX6pLNF905DasNZF7j2JTyOxjOH8nbqSyI7Oby7SQ-FRfpSuAwGDi8RmvvvsxSOitYousAB8SH6cyuWeOHJiLpbgQi3n3Xt7uEQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguYYnJApV6qd77Pc5m1gPjbEJeeaEuzU0DANj7qNtgy7udQWJOouD2ph2vwvFgcW983j9EYKxXN3V7z0Eg7fugsiXkX6pLNF905DasNZF7j2JTyOxjOH8nbqSyI7Oby7SQ-FRfpSuAwGDi8RmvvvsxSOitYousAB8SH6cyuWeOHJiLpbgQi3n3Xt7uEQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want this lamp!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9asLUF0EY-qHRtUzaRi2k4cjMZx5afRWKHGWH6m7HJ_q_hHrcTna_dXWlLiFoMXdWZgR_xVanFm63pJRBprqHBQa5c0UrGfjdqRVUxLGqDSQQzYFp2DK4wMn6JYWOGfTDX4cmEZ5AGksuqPfIrfQ-Xr9jTU5rnv5e2MwvIONz8oYzHOn5hXIBmhKuhA/s2998/Gidee%20Up%20PoPo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="2998" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9asLUF0EY-qHRtUzaRi2k4cjMZx5afRWKHGWH6m7HJ_q_hHrcTna_dXWlLiFoMXdWZgR_xVanFm63pJRBprqHBQa5c0UrGfjdqRVUxLGqDSQQzYFp2DK4wMn6JYWOGfTDX4cmEZ5AGksuqPfIrfQ-Xr9jTU5rnv5e2MwvIONz8oYzHOn5hXIBmhKuhA/w400-h185/Gidee%20Up%20PoPo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yee Haa! Ride 'em, cowboy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHsbPVXW8knt961bxcrZ3wDXJiMzCb0D-tYqlrP1c4VL9pSYvlRAxz4MCpK-BRojUSpEs3QQBcDBABgL5paEQDdYt8GPv0Pcks6N8TNtqHqiJKCRO4Y8mLF6RdmVktPicfYPO6sgM9ONrpXYvzhXGhzbSVTC8ORbjpcSKBAHICxJMjY9gGWpr1yA_aQQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHsbPVXW8knt961bxcrZ3wDXJiMzCb0D-tYqlrP1c4VL9pSYvlRAxz4MCpK-BRojUSpEs3QQBcDBABgL5paEQDdYt8GPv0Pcks6N8TNtqHqiJKCRO4Y8mLF6RdmVktPicfYPO6sgM9ONrpXYvzhXGhzbSVTC8ORbjpcSKBAHICxJMjY9gGWpr1yA_aQQ" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gravesite of Buffalo Bill Cody</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoEN92Q9RE9TuU3pjphaKxEm9oFjAC3T3E0RZxyA1a3B6D8-oVzZUgwZyPb8gB94QVOoSfdnDDH5c7mU2SwVI7yf8esPBM8-zpcUIwt7g_rfcg0oOauEhg9TsrUeH5MAX7iAyL1iYW6TjaG210pZuk0s3ohEMPvHO-kWaIF6pPMH53UTQi1IZOGoQEAA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoEN92Q9RE9TuU3pjphaKxEm9oFjAC3T3E0RZxyA1a3B6D8-oVzZUgwZyPb8gB94QVOoSfdnDDH5c7mU2SwVI7yf8esPBM8-zpcUIwt7g_rfcg0oOauEhg9TsrUeH5MAX7iAyL1iYW6TjaG210pZuk0s3ohEMPvHO-kWaIF6pPMH53UTQi1IZOGoQEAA=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Lookout Mountain</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9vNtlv-lVGZv4JICBMHeLsR0uQ-9dT-r6TiNOFXl2fB0aEqnJA17zVP5Ou4SHh6a8KJTChH1tTXOshnuo9fkaxC2uZAUIAtx3f5ZxtyaaOFIoyKP2_Joqilg1hfKl4TLr-c2tA3VcsK7UUxO8abXZm5PBjPDu7BX9i9kaJ6BwH6aQwypFWVlgY8A-KQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9vNtlv-lVGZv4JICBMHeLsR0uQ-9dT-r6TiNOFXl2fB0aEqnJA17zVP5Ou4SHh6a8KJTChH1tTXOshnuo9fkaxC2uZAUIAtx3f5ZxtyaaOFIoyKP2_Joqilg1hfKl4TLr-c2tA3VcsK7UUxO8abXZm5PBjPDu7BX9i9kaJ6BwH6aQwypFWVlgY8A-KQ=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View of Lariat Loop Scenic Byway from Lookout Mountain</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxI3n08HCt4KU_1U7VSF04b1Tf5o8r-0IZhP8aHfHKvpMpdH6JYnaI8u8WBPhaUUMeInjRAoMo98CfqNHi5mJyOkSrbWfht8ufsq0kYe0SkHSFL8OIxp21A5eKv_lZP1v8ZZ6-_HN5GZFoujYmedZtBcbIGNkFK2yiK4cjD6e7-_XDoGm-3I9wQx_1g/s4000/20220606_134300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxI3n08HCt4KU_1U7VSF04b1Tf5o8r-0IZhP8aHfHKvpMpdH6JYnaI8u8WBPhaUUMeInjRAoMo98CfqNHi5mJyOkSrbWfht8ufsq0kYe0SkHSFL8OIxp21A5eKv_lZP1v8ZZ6-_HN5GZFoujYmedZtBcbIGNkFK2yiK4cjD6e7-_XDoGm-3I9wQx_1g/w400-h180/20220606_134300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Lariat Loop Scenic Byway from Lookout Mountain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 25.68px;">We returned to the trike in the middle of a rainstorm</span>. But we didn’t let no stinkin’ rain stop us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">On to</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> the Mother
Cabrini Shrine.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Maria Frances Xavier (Francesca
Saverio in Italiano) Cabrini was the first U.S. citizen (she was naturalized) to
be canonized a saint by the Roman Catholic Church for her co-founding of and
extensive work with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">She also established the Queen of Heaven
Orphanage in Denver. She would often bring the Orphanage children and staff for a picnic at
Mount Vernon Canyon, where the Shrine and Chapel are now located.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">What a magnificent property!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We went inside the Chapel to say a prayer and
admire the beautiful stained-glass windows.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">While Dad stayed in the parking lot to monitor the weather radar, Mom
and I walked up the 373 steps known as the "Stairway to Prayer" to reach the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">It started to rain again while we were at the Shrine, so the crowds
left.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But we remained for a few
minutes of solitude.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dad wasn’t too
happy with our decision.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our delay
resulted in traveling home on the trike amid a nasty thunder/lightning storm accompanied by frozen rain/sleet.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-d4vOmf2es5y7OFo0FSjATESS5671Ya1PLfgntjyheMghlRzZY4WM09Kdd1NSBfF8Sk-E5hXJg551M7nnvWstcZME7ycbxNTaf4pAelJr_1Lc0n5-_BHHsQiNrsRjckfasGqVB48scpCcGWWqw4cz2crsOhIXe8rKK7oFh1CNV_8QlGnIzOueFZE64Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="4000" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-d4vOmf2es5y7OFo0FSjATESS5671Ya1PLfgntjyheMghlRzZY4WM09Kdd1NSBfF8Sk-E5hXJg551M7nnvWstcZME7ycbxNTaf4pAelJr_1Lc0n5-_BHHsQiNrsRjckfasGqVB48scpCcGWWqw4cz2crsOhIXe8rKK7oFh1CNV_8QlGnIzOueFZE64Q=w400-h122" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the current residents of the Mother Cabrini premises.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_gCIqSjYbgx28eN3pB75BeIK4SRZqbCHD6HomQmFCMW62Og4P54ES3fzOZG7hHE2ZLenLyvr4zi04D_3FSdKfulccWDGbSiNrM1X00a3kU5-DY67uNjfm_LQMqhA6NMM-x8eRx2SfXxSmdZN27YD23OwOjlUW_4k288HxNQ9fXixzt7bQuk1Hql16yA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2919" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_gCIqSjYbgx28eN3pB75BeIK4SRZqbCHD6HomQmFCMW62Og4P54ES3fzOZG7hHE2ZLenLyvr4zi04D_3FSdKfulccWDGbSiNrM1X00a3kU5-DY67uNjfm_LQMqhA6NMM-x8eRx2SfXxSmdZN27YD23OwOjlUW_4k288HxNQ9fXixzt7bQuk1Hql16yA=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building was once the summer camp dormitory for the girls from the Queen of Heaven Orphanage. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLa7DYwphKzxVkRheKG5aRD4iQ65PaNoUgwFwpbQ8Wc4BFbqWnRsNJS2YQVXC3FDKQ9k283jQrR5R6I_rkDAJeU2kniKbyPTKCZju0tYA-M2qfS11-XQMo1IFJiTRcf0uwSTDWyCC0-yJED9iX4A_nxJ5lLO8ozs0Cepk2ssP89_Cv_VFSFl8bYX3wlA" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLa7DYwphKzxVkRheKG5aRD4iQ65PaNoUgwFwpbQ8Wc4BFbqWnRsNJS2YQVXC3FDKQ9k283jQrR5R6I_rkDAJeU2kniKbyPTKCZju0tYA-M2qfS11-XQMo1IFJiTRcf0uwSTDWyCC0-yJED9iX4A_nxJ5lLO8ozs0Cepk2ssP89_Cv_VFSFl8bYX3wlA" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3Tk5mYC2e2YzDMNPOF4vmkEWTwd7hZ4pTHD-ToeN_EDJVqUJzkzgk15ft-mWB-R9OP4UqyeEEvWrig5YytV6DhmChMlou9Ij4K4jqZw3hIY4UJDSTyua8wZrm2giUMF-omkdOKL_UhYPDO1QHiYuIntGehH5vkoJH0-G2soOGZIHppyt059z8ZsUqtQ" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3Tk5mYC2e2YzDMNPOF4vmkEWTwd7hZ4pTHD-ToeN_EDJVqUJzkzgk15ft-mWB-R9OP4UqyeEEvWrig5YytV6DhmChMlou9Ij4K4jqZw3hIY4UJDSTyua8wZrm2giUMF-omkdOKL_UhYPDO1QHiYuIntGehH5vkoJH0-G2soOGZIHppyt059z8ZsUqtQ=w180-h400" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje7W1NKMA9dXIRC48yP1poRcCCs0tb6OeHlxvjafYQgqKNmOWRbiYabQ4ssWOKZmRsjD8cPF73IZ6NgHHDSYZsxbFh4v1YJnVgMVyfA5-NOtB5_9AhfQhdR0pYhAnAkFENGyKuP7gHlGPpF5-_VLIeAPI-2tD-ztUnp0p4J3lzZnREN3daQAc3XZlumA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje7W1NKMA9dXIRC48yP1poRcCCs0tb6OeHlxvjafYQgqKNmOWRbiYabQ4ssWOKZmRsjD8cPF73IZ6NgHHDSYZsxbFh4v1YJnVgMVyfA5-NOtB5_9AhfQhdR0pYhAnAkFENGyKuP7gHlGPpF5-_VLIeAPI-2tD-ztUnp0p4J3lzZnREN3daQAc3XZlumA" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizMXxIuESMkOfJ9GGV_N-_c26CMIPIQPhpCA3Id8n8oDUcW6H-DXxGWrIuJw7CX-Sufl3NMCCONMP7o-El7jQ879TwGyYVvgfkX9vwdEmOVK4TSjoXpR01NYkA1XAyhTXcRzHSwRDr19XAc3u2P6OUNKBzmMm42VU20q3AsDd8YV-XRhh_9bLDA-Tsig" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizMXxIuESMkOfJ9GGV_N-_c26CMIPIQPhpCA3Id8n8oDUcW6H-DXxGWrIuJw7CX-Sufl3NMCCONMP7o-El7jQ879TwGyYVvgfkX9vwdEmOVK4TSjoXpR01NYkA1XAyhTXcRzHSwRDr19XAc3u2P6OUNKBzmMm42VU20q3AsDd8YV-XRhh_9bLDA-Tsig" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cross sits at the first of the 373 steps that lead to the Shrine, collectively known as the "Stairway to Prayer".</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3uLH9DbfKxc25-KZwLqJ5cG093_EIUnMql-UQ3_bsD4kob3daSgaN1TxG4MRsfjs5jT8SxN6qwiycAm9-KpZvgVe4Rq4I4J03f4hxgZPVQggmhC9q-3F765ByjjOzWROQZyV0vMJua5Hmx5gooc-cth3Cr8v_KOY1G6V3HWxkOeh9pFDm7MQM_DJ7w/s4000/20220606_144059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3uLH9DbfKxc25-KZwLqJ5cG093_EIUnMql-UQ3_bsD4kob3daSgaN1TxG4MRsfjs5jT8SxN6qwiycAm9-KpZvgVe4Rq4I4J03f4hxgZPVQggmhC9q-3F765ByjjOzWROQZyV0vMJua5Hmx5gooc-cth3Cr8v_KOY1G6V3HWxkOeh9pFDm7MQM_DJ7w/w180-h400/20220606_144059.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oNgRsxpINXenOiEsR-_r2fw5Cg5DczjdaZ0a_RpMdjLYpx_OrSbhdrMA7UoKfhlB4EmY2A8x1wOXPi4Ll2e-k7i0N2uQsIGJv0FB0W_xEQkuhPC5QHKYJVZg_K8JKc3BbYGizqCgwPOX7dlX2TCiiR01ajK8HLlyEqOaBqgGUIrKoc76XGFFuq9sPQ/s4000/20220606_144046.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oNgRsxpINXenOiEsR-_r2fw5Cg5DczjdaZ0a_RpMdjLYpx_OrSbhdrMA7UoKfhlB4EmY2A8x1wOXPi4Ll2e-k7i0N2uQsIGJv0FB0W_xEQkuhPC5QHKYJVZg_K8JKc3BbYGizqCgwPOX7dlX2TCiiR01ajK8HLlyEqOaBqgGUIrKoc76XGFFuq9sPQ/s320/20220606_144046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Shrine. You can see Denver in the background.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We could not be in this part of Colorado without visiting
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">The
Park has instituted a timed entry protocol.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">There are 2 option plans for timed entry.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">We selected Option 2 that included access to
the Bear Lake Road Corridor.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Our time slot for entry was 10 a.m.–12
p.m.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> The early morning temps during our 2 hour trike ride were brisk, to say the least. Our commute to the Park</span><span style="text-align: left;"> took longer than anticipated because vehicle accidents created
traffic re-routing.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">We stopped briefly
at the Beaver Meadow Visitor Center outside the Park to watch the film, peruse
the displays, and pick up my Junior Ranger booklet.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">At 11:05 a.m., we approached the Park’s main
gate, but waited more than 30 minutes to gain entry.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">And this was well before peak season!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">We headed immediately to Bear Lake Road, where
we found ourselves at another entry checkpoint, wasting even more time idling among
a line of vehicles. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> By the time we were granted access, we had only 7 minutes left on our timed entry. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Personally, I found
this a very ineffective way to handle crowds, especially since the system itself
caused backlogs and traffic jams.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">Anyhow, we parked the trike at Bear Lake and started to hike around the
heavily-populated loop.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">To avoid crowds,
we segued onto the trail for Bierstadt Lake.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">It started to snow shower just as we reached a ridge that still had a deep
snow covering, so we opted to turn around and finish the rest of the loop
around Bear Lake, where I enjoyed the antics of chipmunks, golden-mantled
squirrels, and stellar jays. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov-QTpWKXlCWXWKAfAf_vFUcxZB2-8Kky22mBj4O3dYaymzRQNIVg4A54axzAoGCEcYp5lxZOTX-PPMz9l0N1a9DTXxpFGf2uUTC1YphTVOJH0bL9S15r1RI3gkebZu1YhzcJXAXMzTHLbWPaNnlB5eCknRe1KcgeoOpAb0S8bLP9fVUqbsLutbU0AA/s3264/20220607_130256.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov-QTpWKXlCWXWKAfAf_vFUcxZB2-8Kky22mBj4O3dYaymzRQNIVg4A54axzAoGCEcYp5lxZOTX-PPMz9l0N1a9DTXxpFGf2uUTC1YphTVOJH0bL9S15r1RI3gkebZu1YhzcJXAXMzTHLbWPaNnlB5eCknRe1KcgeoOpAb0S8bLP9fVUqbsLutbU0AA/w400-h180/20220607_130256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg231NfFsq02G2bGEKB4VKiJe3fB45AeQswujtYQ9C-_Pj93N3r9CHkEFf7je_ILXHtOjmQb9SAX61olU2g8w-fP5wp9_1thgeudij8zMmLZ1wplucJD8bAoEbbS-Z_6kUEoxo1JIhmRlJ_nF9eeTKQ9FYBdLcQ4BeR1swLB5reqKV7QoZjgwtW8AQpDg/s3264/20220607_134901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg231NfFsq02G2bGEKB4VKiJe3fB45AeQswujtYQ9C-_Pj93N3r9CHkEFf7je_ILXHtOjmQb9SAX61olU2g8w-fP5wp9_1thgeudij8zMmLZ1wplucJD8bAoEbbS-Z_6kUEoxo1JIhmRlJ_nF9eeTKQ9FYBdLcQ4BeR1swLB5reqKV7QoZjgwtW8AQpDg/w400-h180/20220607_134901.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail to Bierstadt Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1IP6ozqh5k2qDVAqjH5Is1ozq_gmMfBKKVteuFZdZNg2sCpckE5bg1uoyfd24g5QxWrFrHHxSdO_0QqBHGPj6jLIoRGmCAgpZtG7gg3BQZusaiWObUMyNMjKlEskS-hnvvJlAE67Z1W9IZHeJd0Kij4SpB78fux2hrFenYlIMTHLNU4cI2qkYJ2CDA/s4000/20220607_133031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1IP6ozqh5k2qDVAqjH5Is1ozq_gmMfBKKVteuFZdZNg2sCpckE5bg1uoyfd24g5QxWrFrHHxSdO_0QqBHGPj6jLIoRGmCAgpZtG7gg3BQZusaiWObUMyNMjKlEskS-hnvvJlAE67Z1W9IZHeJd0Kij4SpB78fux2hrFenYlIMTHLNU4cI2qkYJ2CDA/w180-h400/20220607_133031.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the snow-covered ridge</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQciU1RMCkbMaF76KSawod2v36qvjC3nzwSXNM7KXqPsxQlYv3liwbQ_tIsiGRfV_pCISGJBrYoBf-VbomfAAs_f0WkSvhIZPfYXGQSpRAtFJ64OJ_orcm1U6qoRNLbZBEyTjUras4s6jv-PxXyNbbGeEEtKixp0tG_ezOcob8mzCjlBnbb7OMg1yfDw/s4000/20220607_135643.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQciU1RMCkbMaF76KSawod2v36qvjC3nzwSXNM7KXqPsxQlYv3liwbQ_tIsiGRfV_pCISGJBrYoBf-VbomfAAs_f0WkSvhIZPfYXGQSpRAtFJ64OJ_orcm1U6qoRNLbZBEyTjUras4s6jv-PxXyNbbGeEEtKixp0tG_ezOcob8mzCjlBnbb7OMg1yfDw/w400-h180/20220607_135643.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Bierstadt Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjO7OLeryPwlRWr0M22arnrHK7lFwulVP3gLsTacxK5JK-vGygHzbx1KSNL-yM56fi1Dz2cdz-JSgQ2jXR8KfdI9n3qwVNBFNBvqq6wR-kzQwpDDtfXD3KRpl8GOCBeIX7BIS4H6RvQkt5yTZNkCVqdAInNHkgtQxjGGvzEf6N0WtrNZd0HcgCZSbgw/s3264/20220607_140644.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjO7OLeryPwlRWr0M22arnrHK7lFwulVP3gLsTacxK5JK-vGygHzbx1KSNL-yM56fi1Dz2cdz-JSgQ2jXR8KfdI9n3qwVNBFNBvqq6wR-kzQwpDDtfXD3KRpl8GOCBeIX7BIS4H6RvQkt5yTZNkCVqdAInNHkgtQxjGGvzEf6N0WtrNZd0HcgCZSbgw/w400-h180/20220607_140644.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the other side of Bear Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIniE3i2sr_jT22vIiG_0OKHIOf9UkfbEqakAGLbMuomAN5Ab7y1-lCFYMXUP24Gy9Bqv8DGiUPFS-nYglsmt7aDfg848YlGKCFcHQZU9ZOpFmwT6nLEP7-EdkHywF3QpkqinyLCI08n16xLZZr2NS0VOwE5i9-8drmH7EWYhSn15jRT-WyPdzJVIy3Q/s4000/20220607_131901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIniE3i2sr_jT22vIiG_0OKHIOf9UkfbEqakAGLbMuomAN5Ab7y1-lCFYMXUP24Gy9Bqv8DGiUPFS-nYglsmt7aDfg848YlGKCFcHQZU9ZOpFmwT6nLEP7-EdkHywF3QpkqinyLCI08n16xLZZr2NS0VOwE5i9-8drmH7EWYhSn15jRT-WyPdzJVIy3Q/w400-h180/20220607_131901.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy entertained me.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">We then had a quiet picnic at Hidden Valley before traversing its interpretive trail.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> <span> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Once a through route for Paleo-Indians, the area most recently was a commercial ski operation.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> <span> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">Upon the closing of the ski lift in 1992, the area has been returned to the boreal forest.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> <span> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">Hidden Valley is a gem, peaceful and serene.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> <span> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">And as I became mesmerized by the flows of the nearby stream, I spotted 2 bull elk and 1 cow enjoying a late lunch.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> <span> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">Life is good.<span> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 25.68px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 25.68px;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY1cQpd5Ucz5aoGGORkS01NwOgVmjeuBQfbSB_LIhgG_UMBPFAh62VUxZa2Lth-muLB_MCi1NVFNrc5wnaBl9qKzs5IqBv_SmiE9v1KQ1IWWOZsqb0nqMnTIF2ucv82WPzmE63Ibb7f9y4ptkMBbVQc7_kRguBGn7axApScujLKd_2X27UOuosKZAcg/s3264/20220607_173301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY1cQpd5Ucz5aoGGORkS01NwOgVmjeuBQfbSB_LIhgG_UMBPFAh62VUxZa2Lth-muLB_MCi1NVFNrc5wnaBl9qKzs5IqBv_SmiE9v1KQ1IWWOZsqb0nqMnTIF2ucv82WPzmE63Ibb7f9y4ptkMBbVQc7_kRguBGn7axApScujLKd_2X27UOuosKZAcg/w400-h180/20220607_173301.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoroAehEyOcKrunoyxfN6ytWi0SJECJatCa4oAo95UZ-k9PdthXie05oGuoYBZIKYFRsd9udMXtHMmbCj58Pd4b-izXl5NirFsLsjndPIItj9ZQTPjnqDZV8arAjDH-cFbHcQiMxyC0eHNCpNLSrUfnqHMPnXLwL4OL86D9Md-08TA4UNf_rPY5giOgw/s4000/20220607_173526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoroAehEyOcKrunoyxfN6ytWi0SJECJatCa4oAo95UZ-k9PdthXie05oGuoYBZIKYFRsd9udMXtHMmbCj58Pd4b-izXl5NirFsLsjndPIItj9ZQTPjnqDZV8arAjDH-cFbHcQiMxyC0eHNCpNLSrUfnqHMPnXLwL4OL86D9Md-08TA4UNf_rPY5giOgw/w400-h180/20220607_173526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwnRhh7rv4qLEjne9K9ZO5fhfL47qfZf7czVSXlh6l-27l8SEsvD3KAyx4xkh9QjL5AjuOxspNw1Ydj7taPA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">We returned to Maximus and rode along Trail Ridge Road, the
highest continuous paved highway in North America. Come along for a short ride:</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QT9jGDSVUVM" width="320" youtube-src-id="QT9jGDSVUVM"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve pull-offs provide gorgeous vistas. When we arrived at Forest Canyon Overlook in the alpine tundra ecosystem, we were at nearly a 12,000-foot elevation.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But one thing about Colorado:</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">no matter how high a summit you climb, there are so many more peaks towering above you!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">There was lots of snow alongside Trail Ridge Road during our visit.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And with temperatures dropping, we were experiencing snow showers as we continued upward.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But this is not unusual; it snows up here even in July/August, and winds can get to 100 miles per hour.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">No wonder the few trees that survive here look like an army of pencils standing at attention.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oqWVi89DpKsdc6hu6vzOX8a2p4q8J9eXa_yYIZqg9AZ5K_pH7wQtPKiEzYZQadN4aKkbGsvrYhxOjA1sbB4yszKcOPczOFT39rkJQDzzeKUjCh7GgrBjc59_rAxVAMtX340nSWT5AmKxow13VYb8B8Grs6CV6lUc6Pz3KPoHUSoFLQdJOWaSME8WJA/s4000/20220607_163751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oqWVi89DpKsdc6hu6vzOX8a2p4q8J9eXa_yYIZqg9AZ5K_pH7wQtPKiEzYZQadN4aKkbGsvrYhxOjA1sbB4yszKcOPczOFT39rkJQDzzeKUjCh7GgrBjc59_rAxVAMtX340nSWT5AmKxow13VYb8B8Grs6CV6lUc6Pz3KPoHUSoFLQdJOWaSME8WJA/w400-h180/20220607_163751.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Many Parks </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b6BQIqtXsvW0d4qqFZPwCeqp41T93OLX1DHYNChd-cE8tVAzz6sdYtCKt6sebVDnaeAabOsSXUjbwGdxl49x22v3PSK-nJqR5SnGL-Kicgfu7gSS96DwZ01K2KxK5HeAS12qg2_C6IqBTtDDZdFOzEZC_OpDK8Mdp-tT4GX-TtlZVv1I99e9iJBQlw/s3264/20220607_163100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b6BQIqtXsvW0d4qqFZPwCeqp41T93OLX1DHYNChd-cE8tVAzz6sdYtCKt6sebVDnaeAabOsSXUjbwGdxl49x22v3PSK-nJqR5SnGL-Kicgfu7gSS96DwZ01K2KxK5HeAS12qg2_C6IqBTtDDZdFOzEZC_OpDK8Mdp-tT4GX-TtlZVv1I99e9iJBQlw/w400-h180/20220607_163100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Many Parks</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8FbVFt8A4CVUki9KX-iUSiZ69y33YK9TG1q20MQW2eU-2urLjQtwF4IMt_-jnj_qEPPJAXFeGEToGpnEpmrjW4PxKiALB7hUZcR2TyPUvhkll5fQs9-iqIkMFQfhUnyEYYLYeQ4IfA9ge-8UqrKqleyZTJ6ebw1r-Dr7cL0z6ECKgZerH-7x8GaoLw/w400-h180/20220607_154118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Rainbow Curve</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8FbVFt8A4CVUki9KX-iUSiZ69y33YK9TG1q20MQW2eU-2urLjQtwF4IMt_-jnj_qEPPJAXFeGEToGpnEpmrjW4PxKiALB7hUZcR2TyPUvhkll5fQs9-iqIkMFQfhUnyEYYLYeQ4IfA9ge-8UqrKqleyZTJ6ebw1r-Dr7cL0z6ECKgZerH-7x8GaoLw/s3264/20220607_154118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJv3QP3H3Om5GTP4jRkUNKmISuDHKBbekzakV1EyB4hFdEJLDAuK81_CPUH5toOx22mWQE2LCwuBZbH02GX2qbNQUW2Vdkv5NyGU8Z4NNgLbQse-tlp4Yw9_szJZbPAvMElEFhwEb0UilaArfhYpRbViYDWFAtiDpaqc20NAwOSDAD2Bfx9mkMsZLXw/s3264/20220607_154304.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJv3QP3H3Om5GTP4jRkUNKmISuDHKBbekzakV1EyB4hFdEJLDAuK81_CPUH5toOx22mWQE2LCwuBZbH02GX2qbNQUW2Vdkv5NyGU8Z4NNgLbQse-tlp4Yw9_szJZbPAvMElEFhwEb0UilaArfhYpRbViYDWFAtiDpaqc20NAwOSDAD2Bfx9mkMsZLXw/w400-h180/20220607_154304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Rainbow Curve</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sCBtcax6QVcl4Bdo6YyfoPtnALceD8rcIvL_tdVJqkraNsy3gYuUuHtXdMWVl7r_UKl6QxExtodZQhsHIDXWbNBtQKOX4HMVkdR8PidbVYyHJTM6ynU_js6nWcoM-cI6WAvvtYqONFem4zyRpCjC2-XfKgWvDmWqQPav3Ajj2aItPbz5gqCuxcmImg/s4000/20220607_155613.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sCBtcax6QVcl4Bdo6YyfoPtnALceD8rcIvL_tdVJqkraNsy3gYuUuHtXdMWVl7r_UKl6QxExtodZQhsHIDXWbNBtQKOX4HMVkdR8PidbVYyHJTM6ynU_js6nWcoM-cI6WAvvtYqONFem4zyRpCjC2-XfKgWvDmWqQPav3Ajj2aItPbz5gqCuxcmImg/w400-h180/20220607_155613.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">View from Forest Canyon Overlook in the tundra</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouzrZd5UB3y3O9O2IgF0RoXu9kbaV80PFi-dKQQ19wxB_vdLzFiiH4h6FwSw7WzLZRmuUxWBomZ8qzvk_Pv0ep6iS257EaCYZyuZrjKwY7L6KFFlt_NkrBta_lXHyevJpla6odn2dbmZOuNAnx_qPl07KtuU0PWrOUajfF5cfky1YA4ODlI6ve-tbdw/s4128/20220607_160318.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouzrZd5UB3y3O9O2IgF0RoXu9kbaV80PFi-dKQQ19wxB_vdLzFiiH4h6FwSw7WzLZRmuUxWBomZ8qzvk_Pv0ep6iS257EaCYZyuZrjKwY7L6KFFlt_NkrBta_lXHyevJpla6odn2dbmZOuNAnx_qPl07KtuU0PWrOUajfF5cfky1YA4ODlI6ve-tbdw/w400-h300/20220607_160318.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My parents freezing their butts off in the tundra.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV3qPGhWTL3ertdrUURN1KY39IZtMR_WjhxN4Z5FJZ_u6iYKpYQftElfCliu3Dy8o3JVVXp6NeabPP9LWExAkkRCjnghxEwX72A1b2aspmwDhi2DXHac0qqMENI37I5oRay_vUIHETpLXwll9GkRKy6gC_nMC-IA-WVXeKGCTQ1lgI1FJxOihhQvu6Q/s4000/20220607_161238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV3qPGhWTL3ertdrUURN1KY39IZtMR_WjhxN4Z5FJZ_u6iYKpYQftElfCliu3Dy8o3JVVXp6NeabPP9LWExAkkRCjnghxEwX72A1b2aspmwDhi2DXHac0qqMENI37I5oRay_vUIHETpLXwll9GkRKy6gC_nMC-IA-WVXeKGCTQ1lgI1FJxOihhQvu6Q/w400-h180/20220607_161238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The trees are scarce in the tundra.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since the Alpine Visitor Center was closed yet for the winter season and it was late afternoon, we decided to turn around and take the shorter route back to the entrance gate.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">After all, I had to return to Beaver Meadow Visitor Center to become a bona fide Junior Ranger.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We still had a 2-hour drive back to our hotel, too.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Brrr!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">There are many positive aspects to the nomadic lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one we treasure most is that people we meet randomly
along the road turn into great friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We first engaged with Kate/John at the Marfa Ghost Lights Visitor Center
in TX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had just begun full timing,
were admiring our setup, and we all enjoyed a lengthy conversation, culminating
in the exchange of contact info.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
paths crossed again in Quartzsite, AZ, where we shared several fun times
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you know—a visit with
family now brings them through these parts of Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we got together for lunch one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were kind enough to try Meta Burger, an
all plant-based eatery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No “real” meat
on the menu AT ALL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom/I had a fake
steak sandwich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a carnivore, I must
admit, the food was quite tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
because they make all their own “meats” in house. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwWCwQa4DJ4n8SQshQTHmIRFOgy7-ZaeY1L-9GCQ4VLWnbogfIIG4slPYwTcNZSLDJxUYu9J3K2Atl6ODhz2b3l1yRFZGPcwLzFtk7GpXmji_NaZEjV2n5C8jxVVSEer1arnDE0uoqpw7dGqBWTvanPz5DN7Ti_34U8Ppwujtq2YUgF4Hu_RWu8vmRhA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwWCwQa4DJ4n8SQshQTHmIRFOgy7-ZaeY1L-9GCQ4VLWnbogfIIG4slPYwTcNZSLDJxUYu9J3K2Atl6ODhz2b3l1yRFZGPcwLzFtk7GpXmji_NaZEjV2n5C8jxVVSEer1arnDE0uoqpw7dGqBWTvanPz5DN7Ti_34U8Ppwujtq2YUgF4Hu_RWu8vmRhA" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Our final sight-seeing trip was to Colorado Springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pulled off at the airfield parking lot to watch the maneuvers being conducted by the U.S. Air Force Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we arrived at the Garden of the Gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advertised as a “National Natural Landmark”,
it is owned and operated by the City of Colorado Springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I cared about was that it was teeming
with tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents failed to
remember that it was now mid-June, with many kids already out of school and
family vacations ensuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t help
that there was major construction on the road right outside the Visitor Center,
affecting parking and traffic flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Entry to the Garden and Visitor Center is free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there is a $6/adult charge to see
the film, which is only about 12 minutes long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What really roiled this Rambling RV Rat was me having to delve into my
cheese money to PURCHASE a Junior Ranger booklet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A travesty, I say!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BvbG0F-pUgHsMI0RicroE4B4xc_vRwJp0qrS6fmVgHxiTFYC4rRSzHO_J7S2IaUA9ojWcm3HhDfyaWHi0Mjrn48D-xU3cksp1gpWO9_wYx7iIJ6gopMc7M6Tr_9tW4ju0G2OZa8uZlsqyuN-n1Ah3WQHQDoXKuKZPKgsSgZwXRISPhWazWrxtYzUOQ/s4000/20220610_102145.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BvbG0F-pUgHsMI0RicroE4B4xc_vRwJp0qrS6fmVgHxiTFYC4rRSzHO_J7S2IaUA9ojWcm3HhDfyaWHi0Mjrn48D-xU3cksp1gpWO9_wYx7iIJ6gopMc7M6Tr_9tW4ju0G2OZa8uZlsqyuN-n1Ah3WQHQDoXKuKZPKgsSgZwXRISPhWazWrxtYzUOQ/w400-h180/20220610_102145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">U.S. Air Force Academy airfield with view of Pike's Peak <br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We perused the Visitor Center displays and exhibits and
viewed Pike’s Peak from the outdoor balcony.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Due to the number of visitors, our ride along Juniper Way Loop and then Garden
Drive was a very slow one.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We passed
Scotsman Picnic Area, which was jam-packed.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">But surprise, </span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Spring Canyon Picnic Area further down Garden
Drive was empty. Guess most folks found it to be too far from the Rock Gardens.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Not us--we found it perfect for eating lunch
in quiet and solitude.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We decided to
leave Maximus the trike parked at the Picnic Area and hike from there.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We selected Scotsman Loop and Strausenback
Trail.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Both were paths less traveled, just
the way we like it.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, the only
other users we encountered were horseback riders.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We connected with Perkins Central Garden
Trail, named for the family who donated these lands for public use.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This trail gave us access to all the
magnificent rock formations.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was
suffering anxiety just watching the climbers scale the rocks!</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It was tough to get good pics within the Rock
Gardens with the magnitude of visitors, but I did my best to chronicle my
visit.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53qqfnXYpU25XighDKF2NkimcnDi5eu5FJzi7-SGrL9AKE0-hqxsL_foyUmyLC1G4x-i2Y_C11VaoyXVl3JMZtcC3A33UTytqd14XuA3vftYrXTnAS_dlkra2jRiKBHJvfMvfKEq1l8-nAcqq2QcQ3HjAUMR_KxudCWWcQOqq9ESXf2SywMCj30hLbA/s4000/20220610_111112.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53qqfnXYpU25XighDKF2NkimcnDi5eu5FJzi7-SGrL9AKE0-hqxsL_foyUmyLC1G4x-i2Y_C11VaoyXVl3JMZtcC3A33UTytqd14XuA3vftYrXTnAS_dlkra2jRiKBHJvfMvfKEq1l8-nAcqq2QcQ3HjAUMR_KxudCWWcQOqq9ESXf2SywMCj30hLbA/w400-h180/20220610_111112.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Pike's Peak from Visitor Center<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MAdy_PvZqlOMaevF7eUC4APrSaH_SA9o4hm5OJBRImkLNrgeDi07KW6Vi5I5C5k_emfg3TGlrFHjRyF7TCzIlXJUEoSoveaXsH-g4IJTMH92qWOX8IC7Cl8w74ro7mV4YzQyWe3DDpe93_gesTOi1-JBPxXE8hD0ZkuuM1l6RmnD2pXL8qdxR2Z4Kw/s3264/20220610_133044.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MAdy_PvZqlOMaevF7eUC4APrSaH_SA9o4hm5OJBRImkLNrgeDi07KW6Vi5I5C5k_emfg3TGlrFHjRyF7TCzIlXJUEoSoveaXsH-g4IJTMH92qWOX8IC7Cl8w74ro7mV4YzQyWe3DDpe93_gesTOi1-JBPxXE8hD0ZkuuM1l6RmnD2pXL8qdxR2Z4Kw/w400-h180/20220610_133044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOhQcbgWis1b-_qVuwoTEc5CvmQMj30DvsQklP7t-78bfVKV0hmd3jPPJRHA0LgaGuihNT9slXG0Kl9K8LAKVAr7q6ZqVmdg5nSRceiZ4QJpLLYN9GK9HJs0KjVkeKsPs2JNOVfD1WsXYZ20DrWS1SFSM881fj9GikkKAfNHHV6QcY7ItaCmnJGhazQ/s3264/20220610_132320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOhQcbgWis1b-_qVuwoTEc5CvmQMj30DvsQklP7t-78bfVKV0hmd3jPPJRHA0LgaGuihNT9slXG0Kl9K8LAKVAr7q6ZqVmdg5nSRceiZ4QJpLLYN9GK9HJs0KjVkeKsPs2JNOVfD1WsXYZ20DrWS1SFSM881fj9GikkKAfNHHV6QcY7ItaCmnJGhazQ/w400-h180/20220610_132320.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPnBCmIXQbciBdxFbhYhan3zCYVGDXFW0EY8KTYjwAf_I3br6RaFkNG4mH2wcK27OX3V3hACnLjf2XKT_x7kgrHmBp-jKfxVxe_HhNFgKpt7UiV0ok2Y0UJi6aTNF7cRe5P6GLUMxz3nR1GYfFlTz6AfmRrIqgWukK3G37nwCckfUBYBzZQ6diwLcRA/s3264/20220610_131312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPnBCmIXQbciBdxFbhYhan3zCYVGDXFW0EY8KTYjwAf_I3br6RaFkNG4mH2wcK27OX3V3hACnLjf2XKT_x7kgrHmBp-jKfxVxe_HhNFgKpt7UiV0ok2Y0UJi6aTNF7cRe5P6GLUMxz3nR1GYfFlTz6AfmRrIqgWukK3G37nwCckfUBYBzZQ6diwLcRA/w400-h180/20220610_131312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIufo-_rP-td73ynCLWlaYcNrYUvdcAeAAZQTkHw0TLbB0LLw_1ZuAqVzxjijdprCwwlu_XIG6EjoPHdFnnpwqf0VWdQu-puN6j1pVvdGJPKcX9hJe83cNxCZd_AtHRAfvcQ1S6eqwQnJoqnrhliLm8Wfl2pQ1s-i8zMtyDhOuJ-gcBPFRg35basN-g/s4000/20220610_131242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIufo-_rP-td73ynCLWlaYcNrYUvdcAeAAZQTkHw0TLbB0LLw_1ZuAqVzxjijdprCwwlu_XIG6EjoPHdFnnpwqf0VWdQu-puN6j1pVvdGJPKcX9hJe83cNxCZd_AtHRAfvcQ1S6eqwQnJoqnrhliLm8Wfl2pQ1s-i8zMtyDhOuJ-gcBPFRg35basN-g/w180-h400/20220610_131242.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFpJcHqHwLz4OqslvCN0MFlNHISi8sadTDt4Xka3sYH5o_wInfP5u61bV6z4vRUyfDu9les4Rpq5tpGJ0AQAAqb3xNHbmEdJB9OKVlqRo4UsvpET3rk0n_Im3yC5G55G7iE13TEv_U-avXR24-qI_GGnTeiQ7qeK63B1ohGcXtdo0oDBdyZkEUJCJww/s4000/20220610_131204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFpJcHqHwLz4OqslvCN0MFlNHISi8sadTDt4Xka3sYH5o_wInfP5u61bV6z4vRUyfDu9les4Rpq5tpGJ0AQAAqb3xNHbmEdJB9OKVlqRo4UsvpET3rk0n_Im3yC5G55G7iE13TEv_U-avXR24-qI_GGnTeiQ7qeK63B1ohGcXtdo0oDBdyZkEUJCJww/s320/20220610_131204.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U30TtzsDXk-TmiMFo7VDfCtUWcgrm27pt4te2pIf88IHdAVfhD2hD-KHqXFJ6RgHV_D8fc2KXLjPasrZeg3u8ohNgBsaJwLlkwM18fcd_W6zsbQs4pYTAWizvXYHwSeafceR0aDIyU8VvaFlS6rvwXdLvs7ra3wOxmpR_yz7J1i6XhcNIYgDomMxQQ/s4000/20220610_113520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U30TtzsDXk-TmiMFo7VDfCtUWcgrm27pt4te2pIf88IHdAVfhD2hD-KHqXFJ6RgHV_D8fc2KXLjPasrZeg3u8ohNgBsaJwLlkwM18fcd_W6zsbQs4pYTAWizvXYHwSeafceR0aDIyU8VvaFlS6rvwXdLvs7ra3wOxmpR_yz7J1i6XhcNIYgDomMxQQ/s320/20220610_113520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were going to drive up to the top of Pike’s Peak but
nixed the idea when we learned that the powers-that-be instituted a timed reservation
system on May 27, 2022.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">After the fiasco
we encountered recently at RMNP, this stuffed rat wanted nothing to do with
timed entry.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And when we learned driving
to the summit would also cost $15/person (or $10/person if a carload of 5), my
family unanimously nixed the idea.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">With
the exorbitant chunk of cheese money Big Boomer’s healthcare cost us, we are
being more judicious in our spending.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We sure made the most of our unintended 3.5-week respite
from RVing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with Big Boomer discharged from the truck
hospital after a successful surgery, we returned to the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our destination: Marcell, MN for an 8-week
volunteer gig at Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell ya all
about it in my next post.</span><o:p style="font-size: 14pt;"></o:p></span></p>PoPo The Rambling RV Rathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446104474634227007noreply@blogger.com5