Traveling anticlockwise around the USA Beginning and ending in University Place, Washington State 11,400 miles (23,175 km) by RV plus another 2,200 (3,540 km) in our tow car 4/2/2008 to 6/21/2008
Laveta and I drove a 31ft Class-C Motorhome towing a "Honda CRV" Total length ~ 49ft (15 m) and ~17000 lbs. (7711 kg) Jim and Carol pulled a 33ft 5th-wheel trailer with their "Dodge Ram" (diesel). Total length ~ 50 ft (15.2 m) and ~17500 lbs. (7938 kg)
(1) The day before departure (2 &3) At the Four-Feathers RV in Oregon (4) In Corning CAThe now deactivated Castle AFB in Atwater CA, where I worked for Boeing as a Flight-line Mechanic on B52’s back in the mid 1960’s. Back then- it was a vital, around-the-clock operation. It was sad to see it so bedraggled looking.Castle Museum RV Park was nice and quiet
Airplane photo’s below were taken at The Castle Air Museum (This is just a few of many planes)
(1) British Vulcan (2) Blackbird (3) C-47(1) B-17 (2) B-24 (3) B-25 (4) B-29B-36B-52At the Shady Lane RV Park, Barstow CABlooming Cactus at the Needles Marina, Needles, CAIn Phoenix, AZVisiting with Roger & Della, Goodyear, AZAt the Owl Bar, San Antonio, NMCarol and Laveta, Albuquerque, NM at the Isleta Lakes RV parkIsleta Lakes RV park and view from our windowWith my big suckerLaveta- CribbageThe High Noon Restaurant and Bar (built in 1785) in Old Town, AlbuquerqueSan Felipe de Neri church, Old Town, AlbuquerqueOld Town SquareBuying hats and things
Below: Acoma Pueblo, NM. Founded in the 12th century- The oldest continuously inhabited community in the USA The church is Mission San Esteban Rey built in 1629-1641
Sign at Fort Amarillo RV, Amarillo TexasStorm’s a coming, Chickasha, Oklahoma. (-The town where Laveta was born).Breakfast at theJ&W Grill. Laveta, Carol and Jim- Chickasha, OK.Bowen #1, the Bowen family oil well since 1954 (mineral rights only). "Bowen" is Laveta’s maiden name, but it’s a big family and royalties- such as they are (it’s not a big producer) don’t extend to her. Uncle Andy is holding sign.Crowley’s Ridge State Park, ArkansasGraceland RV, Memphis TennesseeThe legendary Sun Recording Studio in Memphis (a national historic monument) . The birthplace of Rock and Roll- this is the studio that first recorded Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jonny Cash, B.B, King, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis.Our tour guide at Sun, original studio microphone… and Elvis Presley’s Social Security Card.Elvis’s Graceland– mansion and propertyGraceland residence: Living Room, Dining Room and TV room.Graceland residence: Pool Room, The "Jungle Room" (a large den) and Costume display building.Family graves, Elvis’s Grave, Carol in museum, Laveta and Carol with the Pink Cadillac.The "TCB" Taking Care of Business logo on Elvis’s jet.East New Orleans RV park, Slidell Louisiana. Laundry day at the park- in an ISO shipping container no less!PineTerrace apartments in Slidell, Louisiana. The four of us stayed there awhile bck in 1964. We shared the second floor middle apt. until Jim bought a 10-wide trailer.Downtown (old town) SlidellWaiting out the "Tornado Watch" in our motor home, Slidell 5/3/2008Jim- using the rain from the storm to wash his trailerNASA’s Michoud Operations, where Jim and I worked on the Saturn S1-C (Apollo first stage) back in ’64. I inspected the fin assemblies (which are visible in the photo) and the Thrust Structure– that the engines attach to.The French Quarter– New OrleansEating (and drinking) lunch at Pat Obrien’s on Bourbon Street. The last time we here together was in 1964Carol & Laveta – at our RV park, Panama City Beach, FloridaAt the Blue Heaven restaurant, Key West, Florida. Neat Place and great Key-Lime Pie!At the Miami Everglades CampgroundRV ParkHot and humid in Miami. Carol and Laveta with "Gatroman"At the Versailles Cuban restaurant- Miami Saint Augustine, Florida – Castillo de San MarcosSaint Augustine – Flagler College, Lightener Museum, Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the US.“/> Savannah, Georgia– would have enjoyed staying a few more days.Me… with hair! More views of Savannah- a beautiful old city with great ambiance and class. Savannah: Eating at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant.Our RV park in Cherokee, North CarolinaA foggy day in Great Smokey Mountain National Park, North Carolina/TennesseeLaveta & Carol: Natural Bridge, VirginiaJim at the Gettysburg Museum, brand new and wonderful.Gettysburg: Lee’s headquarters and a bullet marked private home.Gettysburg town square and a barn that was used as a confederate field hospital July,1st 1863 Gettysburg Military Park, Pennsylvania, is an extraordinary place. A must see for every American. Amish farmland and farmhouse’s. Horsepower in the fields. Lancaster County, PennsylvaniaWith an Amish buggyInside a "typical" (actually they vary a lot) Amish home. IntercoursePennsylvania.Hat-rack and mirror (with my reflection)(1) Entering Niagara Falls State Park, New York. (2) Lunch at the Top of The Falls Restaurant. (3) Laveta and Carol waiting in line. (4) The four of us at HorseshoeFalls.Hidden Valley RV Park, Middleburgh, NY – a quiet and pretty place to stay.. Jim and Joe (Laveta’s brother-in-law) with Joe’s boat, Warwick, Rhode Island New Bedford, Massachusetts- a beautiful little town with lots of historyThe New Bedford Whaling Museum – a great place to see.Gloucester, MassachusettsMan at the Wheelfishermen’smemorial, Gloucester waterfront At the small – but very impressive Cape Ann Historical Museum, GloucesterDinner at Jasper’s restaurant, Ellsworth Maine. Acadia National Park, MaineBar Harbor, MaineEating Ice Cream- Maple Lane RV Park, Cuba New YorkLaveta at Big Sandy Campground, Swanton OhioWelcome to Interstate RV Park, Davenport, IowaAfter the storm at our RV park in Davenport. This was a rather strong thunderstorm, a flood warning… and a tornado warning (with Doppler Radar showing cloud rotation directly over our location). Lightening and thunder were close and nearly continuous for about 10 minutes! A tornado from lhis same storm front killed four Boy Scouts the day before."Valiant Vineyards" at the Buffalo Run Winery and Resort – Vermillion, South Dakota. Owned by Laveta’s cousin and husband. It’s also a B&B. Vine is one of the "wild grape" vines that they’re working with.Sherry, Laveta, Jim and Carol- fixing lunch in the resort’s kitchen.At Sherri and Eldon’s farm about 30 miles north of Vermillion. Corn Palace, Mitchell, South DakotaSouth Dakota rest stop, Missouri River in background Badlands National Park, SDWall, South DakotaThe Wall Drugcomplex, Wall South DakotaOur "Last Supper" on the road in Moses Lake, Washington State
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