"In my mind I'm going to Carolina..."

This was a pretty sight on day 23 of our trip!

We knew we were close to home when we saw Pilot Mountain.

We are tired but happy to be back home.











     We're back!  We arrived in Greensboro late Saturday afternoon a bit weary but so happy we made this 3-week trek out west and back.  This trip took us through the following states:  Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, and Virginia.  Whew!  The trip exceeded all our expectations.  Thanks for sharing our bucket list travels with us via the blog.  It was the next best thing to having you in our backseat!
     There is just one final thing to say:

                            There's no place like home...there's no place like home..."

                             



 

A replica of President Truman's oval office

 Check out this TV!

 Posing with Harry!

 The Trumans' home (wife, Bess' childhood home) in Independence, Missouri.  They lived here after they were married and also after he left office.  He also oversaw the library until his death.

Absolutely beautiful Illinois farmland

Home field of the St. Louis Cardinals.

 The Gateway Arch in St. Louis was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States.

 The steeples at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

 Winners Circle

Angela tried to enjoy the official drink of the Kentucky Derby...the Early Times Mint Julep!   Actually, to be clear, Angela did not drink very much.  It was straight liquor with a sprig of mint.  Too much for a wine person.  Most of it went down the bathroom sink but she gets to keep the glass.

Third race of the day at Churchill Downs was on turf!  So cool.

Big winner! ($5.10)












     After spending the night in Independence, Missouri, the next morning we headed to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.  This was the most interesting and well-presented presidential library of the four we have visited (Carter, Clinton, Eisenhower, and Truman).  There were numerous opportunities to interact with the displays and information given (listening to campaign speeches, voting on what influenced his decisions, listening to his daughter sing on a TV with Jimmy Durante, etc.).  History still debates his decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.  All visitors were invited to write their opinion in a book.
     On our way to the oval office, we viewed the famous plaque that sat on his desk while in office, "The Buck Stops Here."  We also saw a video demonstrating the number of Presidents that quoted this slogan in political speeches....both Republican and Democrat.  We learned that up until 1950, the Presidents held press conferences in the oval offices.  We saw a picture of one of the conferences and it looked like the press members were so crammed into the office that they could barely raise their hands.  We also rode by the Truman home near downtown Independence which is not open to the public.
     Next, we headed to Mt. Vernon, Illinois for the evening via St. Louis. Traffic was hectic around the city but what beautiful farmland we saw on our way to Illinois.
  Our final bucket list stop on Friday was Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.  It is closely sandwiched between the airport and the University of Louisville.  There were around 5,000-6,000 people there as compared to 50,000+ on Kentucky Derby day.  It was very fun to watch female jockey, Rosie Napravnik who also ran in the Derby. We can say that we sat in the box seats!
     One more blog post to come. 

Kansas City Here We Come

The land is still very FLAT with hundreds of wind turbines as we head toward Abilene, Kansas.

We arrived in Abilene and the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and his childhood home.

 

Even though the Eisenhower family lived on the wrong side of the tracks, the house was a nice farm house.

The small living room for Dwight D. Eisenhower  and his 6 brothers.

 The Eisenhower museum's display of some of the WWII weapons.

Both Republicans and Democrats said, "We Like Ike."

We ate a yummy chicken noodle soup at the Hitching Post Cafe.  This was truly a local cafe.

This an example of a car lot advertisement that demonstrates the bad weather this area can get during the Spring months.

Riding along I70 east, we rode past Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.











     We hate to admit it but today was a rather boring ride.   We left Hays, Kansas in winds that had lessened from the night before.  The landscape continued to be very flat and very populated with hundreds of wind turbines.  There were numerous drilling rigs along our way.  We are still not sure what they are drilling for on these farms.  The closer we got to the eastern part of the state, the landscape became greener with more small hills and more trees.  On our way to Independence, Missouri we saw billboards directing us to the Oz Museum.  Unfortunately, the yellow brick road to Oz was way too far away.
     We arrived in Abilene, Kansas to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, his childhood home and the final resting place of Ike, Mamie and their firstborn child who died at the age of 4.  The museum was filled with interesting WWII memorabilia and many items used during the war against Germany and Japan.  It was interesting to see a tank, a cadillac staff car, weapons,  uniforms and a parachute dummy designed to fool the enemy.  The museum also had Ike's golf clubs and the score card when playing Ben Hogan.  Ike shot an 84 and Hogan shot a 68. The White House was highlighted with many beautiful gifts from foreign dignitaries as well as emphasis on Mamie's bangs hairstyle.  The library had an exhibit of Holocaust Art. The sculptures, sketches and paintings that concentration camp prisoners risked creating was an attempt to document their experiences as well as remember their former lives.  One of the next stops for this exhibit is the United Nations.
     We ate a delicious homemade chicken noodle soup (reminded us of chicken pastry) with the locals at the Hitching Post Cafe in old downtown Abilene.  We passed the Kaufman Stadium, home to the Kansas City Royals on our way to Independence, Missouri for the evening.  We stayed at a Drury Inn & Suites Hotel for the first time which has a free dinner every evening with free alcohol beverages, free fountain soft drinks and free popcorn all the time.  This a new hotel and our most economical so far with great benefits.  And yes, we did enjoy some wine!  We will visit the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library tomorrow.
     Boy, we sure miss the scenery of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah!  We now have driven over 4,000 miles.  It won't be long before we are back in North Carolina.

Colorado Springs to Hays, Kansas

As we were leaving Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak loomed behind us.

We were surprised how flat the landscape was in eastern Colorado with some small rolling hills.

We saw lots of wind turbines in both Colorado and Kansas.

We saw several trucks like this one and assumed the load on the trailer was a wind turbine rotor blade.

Kansas is flat as a pancake with lots of green fields.  We went through strong winds and could see a small dust storm in the distance.

The Kansas landscape was dotted with drilling rigs along I70 that could be drilling for water, oil or natural gas.











Today was a travel day for us....
     As we left Colorado Springs, it was a little hazy but Pike's Peak was visible from our car window.  We had considered taking the Pike's Peak Cog Railway to the top of the peak (14, 110 ft. elevation) but we had second thoughts.  Rita read reviews about the 3-hour trip being a white-knuckle ride and most people feeling the effects of the high elevation (headaches and nausea).  Nope, that was not for us!  We were glad we decided to go to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  
     As we drove in eastern Colorado, we were surprised by the flat landscape.  There were some small rolling hills but large farms lines both sides of the highway.  Wind turbines appeared again in the distance on small mountain ridges.  Several smaller tumbleweeds began blowing across the road and we had a small brush with one of them.  As we left Colorado, we saw another sign bidding us farewell from "Colorful Colorado" and this sign was dark brown with white letters.  We think they should change their slogan if they plan to keep those signs.
     We were welcomed to Kansas with a very colorful sign reading, 'Kansas - The Sunflower State".  Now that was a colorful sign!  Kansas is as flat as a pancake.  There were many wheat, barley and oat farms along the way.  The winds increased and we learned on the weather channel app that sustained winds could reach 40 mph.  The main worry was the chance for dust storms.  We saw some small dust storms in the fields but were thankful one did not appear suddenly on the highway as we were warned it could cause visibility to drop to 0!  Rita almost blew away while pumping gas and Angela's hands cramped from grasping the steering wheel so tightly.  The wind blowing in the wheat fields was a pretty sight. We began seeing lots of drilling rigs but were not sure what they were drilling.  Finally, we made it to Hays, Kansas for the night.  We relaxed and took a swim in the salt water pool.  As we write, the winds are very strong and roaring loudly tonight but we hope they improve and we miss some of the bad weather that is north of us. We are headed to Abilene, Kansas tomorrow to see the Eisenhower Presidential Library...then on to Independence, Missouri for the night.

Colorado

  These mountains in Colorado are called the
Book Cliffs because they look like rows of books
on a shelf.  They are part of the Rocky Mountain
Range.

We were on our way to Pines Lodge in the ski resort called Beaver Creek.  There is still snow on the ski slopes.

















Pines Lodge at Beaver Creek near Vail, Colorado.  This was off-season and a ghost town but very nice.









 We rode most of the way on I70 with the Colorado River running beside the highway!
(Having computer difficulties).  The next three
pictures shows the green and snow as we traveled
through Colorado.

 

This is the entrance to the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel.  The one above this picture shows the Chapel from the side.  It looks like a series of airplanes side by side.  Very spectacular!

Rita is standing on a path on the grounds of the
U.S. Air Force Academy.  What beautiful scenery to learn to fly a plane!










     We left Utah on Sunday morning after having a wonderful brunch at Red Cliffs Lodge of made-to-order omelets, fresh salmon, and fresh fruit.  We walked along the Colorado River one last time and started our last scary trip out of the canyon.  Angela is obsessed with the looming rocks!  Before reaching our highway out of Moab, we stopped and walked across a bridge that spanned the Colorado River.  There was a paved bike trail parallel to the river that had a divided line which was needed for all the bike traffic.  "Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again...'  What an experience!
     We were finally on our way to Colorado.  When we reached the state line, we chuckled.  The sign read, "Welcome to Colorful Colorado".   The funny thing about that welcome was that the sign was in black and white!  We stopped at the first rest area we saw in Parachute, Colorado and went in the little log cabin to learn more about the mountains we were seeing.  An elderly woman with a badge that said, "Cabin Volunteer" knew absolutely nothing about the area.  She did not know the name of the mountains and she couldn't hear most of what we asked.  She admitted she had been told some information but had forgotten since it really didn't apply to her daily life.  What a hoot!
     As we rode beside the Colorado River most of the day, people continued to float down the river in rafts.  After taking over 150 pictures, Rita said, "I am not taking anymore pictures!"  In about 30 seconds, Angela would hear the click of the camera.
     We loved seeing miles and miles of the Book Cliffs that looked like rows and rows of books on a shelf.  All of a sudden, we realized that we had moved from the desert to GREEN!  But we were riding close to the sides of the rocks (Angela's favorite...Ha!) that wound continuously back and forth and through tunnels that went right through the mountains!  We arrived at the Beaver Creek Resort and the Pines Lodge for our night's stay.  Rita snagged a steal of a deal with this place since it was off season.  However, someone told her that the last Ski Lodge just closed last week!  Beaver Creek is the site of the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships in November and next February which we can watch on TV this coming winter.  We met two young girls at dinner and asked about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado.  They laughed and said it was not as prevalent as the news made it out to be.  It appears that counties have the right to allow or not allow it.  Just goes to show, you can't believe everything you hear!
     On Monday morning, we headed toward Colorado Springs.  It was a nice drive but there were constant reminders of the long winters.  We were close to the remaining snow on the sides of the road.  We stopped at a rest area and Angela was able to make a snowball.  It was in the low 50s and the wind made it feel even colder.  We reached an altitude around 1,100 feet.  Signs constantly remind truckers that they must have chains in their trucks September through May.  There are many "Chain Stations" which are wide pull-offs to allow truckers to put chains on their tires.  We saw a sign  for "Goat Rides".  It was tempting but decided against it.  We stopped for gas but passed on the regular price of $4.40 per gallon.  Next exit we were able to "gas up" for $3.41!  We ate at a Whole Foods and continued our trend of trying to eat healthier.  As we drove during the day, we listened to John Denver singing, "Rocky Mountain High"!
     We decided to check out the U.S. Air Force Academy after arriving in Colorado Springs.  When we drove up to the gate, we were asked by the young cadet if we had any ammunition or explosives in our vehicle.  He asked to see Angela's drivers' license and asked to check our trunk as well but then told us to have a good day. We went to the Visitor Center and met a nice staff member who had attended ECU and lived in Goldsboro for awhile.  We saw a replica of a cadet's dorm room and the history of the academy.  We walked a short but steep trail to the chapel which has a Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist chapels inside. The architecture of the chapel is amazing and the inside is so beautiful!
     We are headed to Kansas on Tuesday and hope we don't see any flying monkeys!        

Moab, Utah and Arches National Park

This is "Toot" who was in the Rodeo Parade in downtown Moab.

This was a very cool place to eat (both figuratively and physically) with the cool mist covering the patio perimeter.

In Arches National Park, this sandstone structure is called, "The Three Gossips".

Can anyone doubt why Angela is concerned about falling rocks?

This is one of 2,000 arches in the park.  This one is entitled, "The Delicate Arch".

We climbed in this area called "Garden of Eden".  The problem is not climbing up but getting down!

The enormity of even a smaller sandstone structure just boggles the mind.  "Rita, is that you?"

Two "real" climbers put us to shame.  More power to them!

Another of the arches called "Windows".













     We spent our day in the town of Moab, at Arches National Park and relaxing at the ranch. We ate breakfast  at "Peace Tree", a cool restaurant that sprayed a cool mist around the perimeter of the patio onto the sidewalk.   We continued being healthy and got juiced up with a Sweet Garden juice drink of veggies.  When the wind blew, you got a quick mist shower which was welcomed because it was a dry hot place.  Rita has enjoyed the arid heat more that Angela.  Angela had nosebleeds 3 days in a row due to the dry air.   Sometimes we forget we have been in the desert for over a week.  While eating breakfast, the Rodeo Parade came down Main Street.  Rita especially enjoyed "Little Toot", Smokey the Bear, and the little boys who scooped poop after the parade with shovels bigger than they were.
     We headed to Arches National Park (did Angela mention she was able to purchase a Senior Lifetime Pass to the National Parks last week for $10?).  Probably this was the first time she was happy to use her senior privilege.   We were amazed by the sandstone formations but they were not quite as spectacular as Bryce and Zion.   Most of the formations are made of soft red sandstone deposited over 150 million years ago.  Our first stop was at "Park Avenue",  which is a geological landscape that looks like a city street.   We passed the petrified sand dunes, stopped at the "Garden of Eden" for our little climb and met 2 women from Germany on vacation, and took pictures of "Windows". It continues to amaze us how many German and Swiss people we have met along the way.  It was a great but hot morning in the park.  We decided to stop at a Bakery and Bistro for lunch.   I was in the restroom for 3 minutes and Rita had struck up a conversation with a teacher from Iowa.  She certainly has the knack for getting to know people in every state we've visited.  Getting to talk with so many people has made our journey much more fun.
     We headed back to the Red Cliff Lodge and relaxed at the ranch.  We visited the Castle Creek Winery from the ranch vineyards and partook of the complimentary wine tasting.  Angela bought a bottle of white because of the cowgirl label.  Rita was a bit more discerning and decided not to purchase any of the reds.  Angela talked with a nice couple from England (teachers) who were on a retirement vacation.  The man thought it funny that Americans put alcoholic beverages in brown paper bags.  We also checked out the museum at the lodge which was full of movie posters, a video and displays about all the movies that have been made in the area.  We learned that Rio Grande which we mentioned earlier was actually filmed on the ranch!  A few of the other movies made in the area included,  The Greatest Story Ever Told (1964), Raiders of the Lost Ark,  Back To the Future, Austin  Powers, Thelma and Louise and many more.  They even had the dummy of Thelma that went over  the cliff in the car at the end of the movie.  That was fun!  When we return home, Rita plans to watch every John Ford western that was made there.
     Sitting on our back patio in the afternoon, there was a constant flow of rafts and kayaks on their tours down the Colorado River.  Rita saw one kayak that looked like a floating "Animal House".  She hopes they made it to their destination in one piece!      
      Later that evening we headed back to Moab to see a real rodeo!  Rita saw "Toot" and Smokey!  The cowboy riders looked as though they were going to be jerked in half and the ropers were fast and strong.  They had something called Mutton Bustin' where 6 and 7-year olds laid on top of 100 lb. sheep and rode until they were thrown off.  It was a funny sight to see some hanging on for dear life and others barely making it out of the corral.  We certainly mixed with the locals that night!  Our drive back to the ranch in the dark was less frightening because we could see no rocks higher than our car most of the time.  We ended the long day on the patio watching the stars again.  We have never seen that many stars in the sky.  It was spectacular!  Colorado is our next stop.    

Traveling to Arches National Park

This is a mule deer we saw beside the road in Bryce National Park (five more were on the other side of the shuttle).  Before we knew the name, we thought this deer so strange with its coarse grey coat and those strange looking ears.

We saw many rock formations as we left Bryce and headed toward Moab.

 Here are more of those gorgeous red rocks.

 This little fellow tried to hop a ride out of the canyon with us.

 We are at a high elevation viewing site that reminded Rita of what the Grand Canyon looked liked when she was a young girl.

One of hundreds of scenes we saw on our 5-hour trip today.

This was our view on our 20-minute drive from Moab to our lodging for the next two nights.

This is the view of the Colorado River from our back patio at Red Cliffs Lodge.












     We traveled 5 hours Northeast to reach Moab, Utah near the Arches National Park.  Most of our drives are pretty leisurely.  Rita may think they are a little too leisurely but Angela takes after her mother more and more each day.
     We continue to be amused by the signs we pass along the highways.  We passed a sign advertising "Elk and Buffalo Jerky".  We were both a little hungry but decided to pass.  We saw many signs that read, "Frequent Wildlife Crossing" but they must have taken the day off.  There were several state signs that read, Drowsy Driving Causes Accidents".  Then a mile later the sign read, Drowsy Drivers Next Exit".
     The views we saw today were more "Oh my gosh" moments.  We still see some snow on the higher elevations even though the high temperature later in the afternoon was 91 in Moab.  The sandstone is still brilliant red in certain areas.  To be down in these canyons with the canyon walls reaching to the heavens is a most awesome experience.  We regret that we missed seeing the Grand Canyon but being able to drive in these canyons takes our breath away.  At a viewing area off the highway, we met a very friendly man, Tim from Anderson, South Carolina.  He was riding cross country as well on his motorcycle.  We shared our adventures with each other (he had some doozies!) and he offered to take our picture.  We have now met our second person from the South.  I think Rita and I are the only ones from N.C. driving cross country since we have not seen a single N.C. license plate while on our trip.
     We ate dinner at a local microbrewery in Moab and Rita tried their most popular beer, Dead Horse.  We both had delicious salads which we have had very seldom.  They were great and for a few fleeting moments we felt healthier.  We then headed to Red Cliffs Lodge about 15 miles from Moab.  This is the area where John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara made the movie, Grand Rio.  That 20minute drive was the scariest road I have ever been on because the canyon walls were so close to the 2-lane road and humongous boulders had slipped down the sides.  But what a view!  The road runs parallel to the Colorado River.  Campers were camping along the river at different points.  We arrived at the Lodge and took a walk down the path along the pasture where horses were grazing.  The we settled into our room with a beautiful view of the river running swiftly by.  We sat on the back patio in the dark and could only see the stars and hear the river.  Wait a minute...is that a boulder we hear falling down into the canyon?
     We are off to Arches National Park tomorrow.  You'll probably have to hear us gush about the beauty at least one more time before we leave Utah.  And we have to navigate that scary road 3 more times before we head to Colorado.