‘Mater Goes Fishin’

Remember “‘Mater“ from the Disney movie, “Cars?” He was the rusty old Tow truck, hence his name from Tow-Mater. Well today we were on our afternoon ride on “Purple” when we passed a big shiny new Red and White ‘Mater and his big brother Big Blue ‘Mater. Big Blue ‘Mater had his cable strung out into the desert near Mojave, California. In fact it disappeared into a very deep drainage ditch alongside Highway 14. Read More »

Charlotte’s Web:

Up until now we have stubbornly refused to have a pet. We adore our friends’ dogs and cats. We even keep a bag of doggie treats in the front window so we can run out and pet their dogs as they walk them. One, it is a great way to meet people, and two, we don’t have to get up with them at 5:30 to go on the morning walk. Read More »

Tandem Migration:

It is not what you think. We are not riding the tandem bicycle south for the winter. This year for the first time we are taking our Honda Civic, “Little Blue,” south with us. Since I still insist on taking my trailer with my shop along, that means Judy has to drive the Honda in tandem with the coach. Read More »

Bee Line:

Well here we are making a bee-line back to the Pacific Northwest. I guess we just reached our limit of hot muggy weather and afternoon thunder showers. Read More »

Oshkosh Fly-In:

Bleriot XI

Breriot XI bis, First US Air Mail, 1911

Judy and I just today left Oshkosh, Wisconsin and the EAA Air Venture fly-in. We spent nearly two weeks camping right at the airport, (Whitman Regional,) and got to be up close and personal with about every aircraft you can imagine. We walked around under the new Boing 787 Dreamliner, and studied a flying replica of the 1911 Bleriot XI that delivered the first sack of air mail on September 23, 1911. By the way Lewis Bleriot flew the original model of this aircraft across the English Channel on July 25, 1909, and claimed the 1,000 Pound prize for the first channel crossing.
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Tourist Destinations:

Yes, we often show up in odd ball destinations like Wickenburg, AZ, visiting obscure attractions like the “Jail Tree.” This week, however, we set our sights on a top tourist destination, Mackinac Island in the Mackinac Straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in upper Michigan. By the way up here it is pronounced “Mackinaw,” the “c” at the end of the word is silent. The name is a shortening of the original Indian name Michilimackinac which means “place of the great turtle.” Read More »

The Attic:

Here we were drifting around the nation’s rust belt, Detroit and Dearborn Michigan, when we stumbled into America’s attic. Maybe not exactly stumbled, more like encouraged by long time friends Jim and MaryKay and their daughter Kati and hubby JT. We arranged a rendezvous in Tipp City, Ohio and enjoyed a long visit. Read More »

Kentucky Bluegrass:

Here we are in Kentucky, home of Bluegrass and Thoroughbreds. We will go looking for the Thoroughbreds tomorrow in Lexington. Today we are in Renfro Valley Kentucky. It is claimed to be the central point of Bluegrass Music. It is beautiful country all right and in this park with the Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival in full swing the Bluegrass music permeates the air. Read More »

Time Warp

If you think we have a lock on wild scenic country in the west, think again. Here we are in the middle of Kentucky, a half days drive by freeway to places like Cincinnati, Louisville and Memphis . Yet we are caught in a time warp. Our campground in Mammoth Caves National Park has no electricity, no water, no cell phone coverage, no cable TV and no WiFi. Read More »

Oklahoma!

I woke up this morning with the first phrase of Oklahoma spinning through my mind. I searched the net and came up with the real words. Here is a quote of the first verse.

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain
And the wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev’ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin’ lazy circles in the sky.

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