A True Rocky Mountain High...

Cripple Creek CO - Old Gold Mining Town gone Las Vegas but at 9500 ft.

Today we took a ride over to Cripple Creek that was once the greatest gold camp in Colorado.  More than 22,400,000 ounces of gold was extracted from 500 mines and over 50,000 miners were living there.  Today Cripple Creek has 18 casinos, along with Blackhawk Colorado that has nearly the same number.

The Ride

As you can see by the pictures, we were off on the Royal Gorge train that runs along the Arkansas river and runs under the world's highest suspension bridge.  During the ride we hear the young lady that was serving us tell some other passengers that when she finishes this job she goes to her other job, that being an umpire of softball.  When she comes back I say to her "hi blue" she says "no kidding."  Turns out not only does she do softball she is the first and only female football referee in Colorado.  We are everywhere......

Missy & Sadie (the wonder dogs) introduce Charlie (springer) to the Dog Park

All 3 dogs are nine years old but someone forgot to tell them.  Charlie belongs to Tim's dad.

Looking down at Canon City from Skyline Drive

If you look at the bottom of the 2nd picture you will see Tim's white truck parked in front of his Dad's house.

Royal Gorge Bridge from the top

Traveling through the Royal Gorge floor via the train.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Interesting visit today to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.  About 50 miles from Canon City where pre-historic bones have been found from the dino era.  Yesterday we had our first authentic mexican dinner, oh yes re-fried beans for real - something we admit we did not find in Maine.

Also Norma wants everyone to know she did not take these pictures!  If she had they would have been closer and no stop sign in them.

River Rafting Festival on the Arkansas River which runs through Canon City.

For you Mainers it's similar to the Kenduskee River Run held in April.  After the "fun run" the "River Masters" try to stay in the current and "surf."

Down Historical Canon City - A real cowboy town.

More Worleys but these are much cuter!

Introducing Tim's niece, Caitlin and her two children, Greta and Andrik.  Much, much better looking then the guys!

Still In Canon City

Finally got the trailer problems resolved today and for the mere pocket change of $150.00 what a relief that was.  My brother, Robert, who is a many many year Batt Chief with the Canon Fire Dept and his wife Aurice brought dinner to Dad's tonight and we enjoyed the meal and the company.  Will see my neice and her family tomorrow.  Vet appt tomorrow and then it looks like we will be able to fix the clothes closet tomorrow.  You can see the pic that NJ took and of course the comment at the top of the photo is hers'.

Two Generations of Worleys - And you thought just one was bad!

Colorado Finally

Well we were having problems with the AC in Texas and it was damn hot so last night we stopped in Amarillo and got a hotel room at a pet friendly hotel and what a nice break that was.  Up this morning to a nice breakfast and on the road.  On this trip we passed some more colorful named towns such as Hasty, Rocky Ford (isn't that an ice cream?) and my favorite of this trip was Two Butts, Colo (hey you can't make this stuff up).  We are here until July 5 and are parked on the street at my Dad's saving us over $300 in camping fees.  We also will have a chance to visit with Dad & my brother Robert & his wife Aurice and other family members in the area.  Sorry to hear about the Lady Eagles but boy what a run they had, my congrats to them.

Aledo, TX

We are in Cow Town RV park in Aledo, TX just outside Ft. Worth and it is still brutal hot.  Near 100 the whole 4 hr trip.  During the trip we passed metroplex's such as Cut-N-Shoot, Point Blank, Onalaska, Tomboy & Streetman.  Interesting names for towns and could be a whole study on how they came to be.  On to Dumas, TX tomorrow and then a 6hr trip into Canon City, CO where my Dad & Brother live.  My thoughts tomorrow will be with the Lady Eagles as they take on Scarborough for the state title in softball.

NJ's Grandmother's grave finally found in Houston!

My grandmother died in 1923 when my mother was only 5 years old.  I knew she was buried in the Hollywood Cemetary in Houston but was a little disheartened when I read on their website that there were over 22,000 graves there dating back to 1895.  A wonderful woman in the office helped me dig through old hand-written books to find the location.  She was listed in the book as "Mrs James E. Barnes" without mentioning her given name was Lulu Irene Davis-Barnes.

I was disappointed when I finally found her grave because it is a large family plot with the word "Barnes" on one of the edging stones.  She does not have a gravestone but I hope to correct that next year.  At least I will scrub the "Barnes" stone so it can be read easier.

New plates for the vehicles but my heart will always be in Maine

Livingston, TX

Well we've been here for 2 days and today was spent getting the truck and trailer inspected ($31.00) then off to the tax office to register the vehicles ($450.00) and then to DMV for new licenses ($50.00).  The registration on the truck in Sidney was nearly $700 alone and the trailer was over $400 so I guess this was a deal and we are now officially Texans (no state taxes here).  Temnps here are just brutal hovering around 100.  We are going into Houston tomorrow and have decided to head on out toward colo. friday.  My brother tells me there is a fire on the colo, new mex border on both sides of the 40 so we may have to divert some.

Hope #2

OK we got out of there, better to eat the $20 it cost and we moved 30 miles down the road to Sunrise RV park in Mandeville, AR, oh what a difference and it puts us a half hour closer to Livingston.  Also meant to tell this story before.  When we were in Greenville, NC we decided that we needed one of those metal tool boxes that go in the bed of the truck so off to Tractor Supply, picked one up back to the canmpground where across from us was a handyman who installed it for us.  The next day I realized that I could no longer see the hitch receiver.  While we are pondering this, NJ hands me this extra long hamburger flipper and says tape this to the middle of the receiver and it worked perfectly and you can still use it to flip burgers. 

Hope, AR

Well it was a rather easy trip here, taking about 4 hrs and passing thru burgs such as, Cave City, Ash Flat, Evening Shade & Bald Knob (Hummm), Pleasant Plains, Beebe (which claims to be the best home town in AR)  The  Arkansas Interstate from the Batesville (2nd oldest city in AR) to Little Rock is just about the worst road we've been on.  Someone from AR failed to be standing in line when Obama was handing out stimulus $$ for highway improvement.  Shameful how bad their system is.  Then we get to Hope, home of Bill Clinton don't ya know, and we are in the RV park from hell.  OMG Y'all, as they say down here, note to everyone...do not stay at the Hope Village Inn & RV Park.  We're sure the hotel is a crack sellers dream and hotel probably has hourly rates (if ya know what i mean).  Well only one night and on to Livingston, TX tomorrow for a 6 day stay.

Norma with her two aunts - #1 is Aunt Jane & #2 is Aunt Belva

These two lovely ladies are my dad's sisters and both are quite spunky. 

Spring River - Hardy, AR

Hardy Day 2

Interesting day.  First went to Aunt Jane's and enjoyed conversation with her.  Thanks Donnie, if you are listening, for "ratting" me out on calling her elderly...she thought that was very funny and enjoyed poking me with it.  Had lunch with her, some good home made meat loaf topped off with soda cracker fudge (to die for).  Visited with Aunt Belva & husband Marland in the afternoon.  They live in a most interesting place, a mile off pavement back in the woods.  All in all a nice afternoon.  Had a great phone conversation with Beau, (miss you so much) nice to hear from her, first time we've talked since leaving Maine.  We have made plans to meet with her and Lou next summer in Okla City and take in the Women's College World Series.  Got back to the park just in time to go through one of the most intense and severe thunderstorms we've ever experienced.  Had the trailer rockin.

Trip To Hardy

Not much to report tonight.  Trip was thru a lot of farming country.  We crossed over the "mighty mississippi" on  a huge old bridge.  Its pretty amazing how big that river is.  Passed thru a lot of rice paddies much like you see in the Sacramento area. Saw multiple bi-wing crop dusters working the fields.  THEN in the middle of no where Arkansas, Imboden to be exact, we are getting gas and they guy next to us sees my plate and asks where in Maine and I tell him Sidney and he says oh i'm from Waterville and Presque Isle.  Go figure...

Excuse me Flight Attendent but could I change seats? The passenger next to me is spilling over to my space!

Parkers Cross Roads, TN

We are in a very nice RV park here and this happens to be the site of a civil war battle.  The Battle at Parkers Cross Roads took place in December 1862 when confederate troops marched on Parkers Cross Roads with 1,500 men from the 4th Alabama, 8th Tennessee, Freemen's Artillary and the 50th Indiana Infantry.
While traveling here we stopped at a large truck stop for gas and I was out at the pump when all of sudden I was being soaked by a hose from the other side of an 18 wheeler.  The driver, a woman, you don't see that very often, was washing her windshield with a hose and washing me at the same time.  She saw what she was doing and said, sorry and kept doing it.  Duh....

Eight hours of fun-filled time in the truck!

I think the animals did better riding for 8 hours than we did!  First picture Sadie is using Jackson as her pillow.  The second picture shows "the boys" discussing Tim's driving habits.

Washington, North Carolina

The town was formed in 1776 on land donated by Col. James Bowman.  It is described as being located on the Inner Banks and is the state's oldest town.  The town was named after George Washington and is on the Pamlico River (which happens to run thru our campground).  The town was attacked during the civil war and an attorney's office on Water St still contains a canon ball shot from a confederate ship on the Tar River  during the unions occupation of the town.  Union soliders evacuated the town after the intense shelling, joining the confederate troops in burning most of the buildings as both armies retreated.  Leaving early tomorrow and will one night over in Ripplin Waters, TN.

Dinner Out

As you can see we had dinnr at Hog Heavern (sorry Christina) but we had to stay away from the e-coli laden veggies that are killing people in Europe, i know we're not in Europe but this was some good bbq pulled pork eating with hush puppies.  the shirt only cost $5...go figure.  Temps have fallen 15 degrees so its been very nice.  NJ starts her teaching gig monday and finishes up tue so we will be on our way toward Arkansas wed morning.  Its more than what we like to travel in a day so will stay over in thge Knoxville, TN area before going on to Hardy.  i am hearing that some of you are having trouble posting comments, if so can you let me know via email.

Hog Heaven aka southern bar-be-que

This is what retirement looks like...

Maine Sign

couple new pics from the park we're in.  noticed that someone stole the "open for business sign" in Maine.  I forgot to tell my Maine friends that when we drove into Virginia the same sign was there, so we now know that LaPage didn't dream that one up, he stole it from Virginia, not surprising since he doesn't seen to have any original ideas anyway, excepty when it comes to taking down art.  Been very hot here, up to 100 yesterday.  not much to do in the historic sense he.  will be sending some postcards today to the usual suspects.

Pimlico River - Runs next to the RV Park - Washington, NC

Hot and Sleepy in Washington, NC