February 4, 2009 - Gulf Shores, AL

Don't forget to check out our new and revised itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

It doesn't seem possible, but here we are - back in Gulf Shores, Alabama. After nine months and nearly 10,000 miles, we've returned to where we first began our adventure in May of 2008.

For those of you who have been reading our blog, you know that this has been a wonderful and amazing trip. We have seen so many of the wonderful sights that make our great country unique. It is difficult to say what have been our favorites (everything has been appreciated), but both of us pretty much agree - the United States National Parks are truly sights worth visiting. Early on, when planning this trip, we weren't certain about how much time to allocate to these marvelous public treasures, and we wondered if we were planning on too much time devoted to 'parks'; but now we better understand. A week in Yellowstone, for example, isn't too much. It's just enough to allow the visitor to see most of the sights. And if one wants to take more time to explore - additional time would not be wasted. And of course, we both enjoyed the opportunity to renew old acquaintances with friends we haven't seen for years. And spending time with family has been like frosting on our Bounder Across America cake. So - for anyone wondering what's been the best part? We wouldn't change one single thing that we planned; nor would we be willing to give up even one of the many memorable sights that we've seen. It's been a fantastic nine months on the road, and we'd do it again in a minute!!

But now it's time to recap the past several weeks - and the final leg of our Bounder Across America Journey.

We left Santa Cruz, CA, as planned, on January 10th. It was a sad parting, after spending four months in the Monterey Bay area with Noreen and Susan and all of their wonderful friends. But we'd be lying if we didn't admit to just a bit of resurgence of wanderlust. The call of the open road was clarion, and so we had mixed emotions as we pointed the Bounder south and away from Santa Cruz. Our plan was to head as far south as possible in California, and then make our way East to Gulf Shores, hugging southern routes as much as possible to avoid any possibility of Winter weather woes.

The Saturday grew balmy as we made our way into Southern California, and of course, true to form, we found a beautiful beach where we could set up our picnic and enjoy a couple of hours with some of the good food that Noreen and Susan had packed for us. And of course we had to spend an extra hour or so just soaking up the sun and reading our favorite books.

When we started the Bounder up again to continue toward our Wal-Mart 'boondock' for the night, we were surprised to notice that the engine had developed a rather obvious 'miss' in its normally smooth operation. For the rest of the drive that day the engine seemed to labor whenever any extra effort was required to climb a steep hill or mountain road. The following morning, after an uneventful night at the Santa Clarita, CA Wal-Mart, the engine started up as normal, and continued to operate normally for nearly an hour - before the 'miss' again returned.

(And for anyone interested, that 'miss' returned from time to time for the next 2000 miles, for the most part whenever the ambient temperature warmed above 70 degrees. Other than that quirk, the engine ran as expected. We were tempted to stop and take the motorhome into a mechanic to have it checked; but other than the periodic 'miss' everything seemed fine. And besides, we were certain that if we took the vehicle in to be checked, nothing untoward would occur while in the presence of a mechanic. Mysteriously, for the final 500 miles, sometime after stopping in Beaumont, TX, the 'miss' never returned, and we arrived at Luxury RV Resort in Gulf Shores, AL relieved that the Bounder had carried us for nearly 10,000 miles around the country with nary a complaint. There was, of course, that one tire that for about 2000 miles lost 20 lbs of pressure each night and required re-filling in the morning. But that too mysteriously seemed to 'right' itself somewhere in Texas, and then never again lost another pound of pressure. We will, of course, now that we are stationary for awhile, take the Bounder in for a good 'going-over by a mechanic. So this then is the final 'mechanical' note on the Bounder's performance. The rest of this posting will be about our trip... PROMISE!!)

Our second night on the road was at another Wal-Mart boondock in El Centro, CA; famous for little more than a very large U.S. Post Office mail sorting facility. (Thanks to Susan for this bit of trivia!!)

The 12th of January saw us entering Arizona for the second time on our Bounder Across America journey. (The first time was in the northern part of the state for our visit to The Grand Canyon.) We stayed in Eloy, AZ for several nights - having picked Eloy because it was centrally located between Phoenix and Tucson, and we weren't quite certain where we would want to sight-see. Friends Kate and Ray live near Tucson, and they joined us near Eloy for our first night in Arizona. We enjoyed a great dinner with them - which after more than ten years, was filled with 'catching-up' conversation. On Kate's and Ray's advice, we were able to choose our two primary sightseeing side-trips for our time in Arizona.

On Tuesday the 13th, we decided to head slightly North (toward Phoenix) to Casa Grande. Although there is a town which bears this name, our real destination was the nearby Casa Grande National Monument - which was home to the Hohokam people more than a thousand years ago. (Interestingly, 'Hohokam' means 'the departed ones' in the Native American tongue. The indigenous people having departed around the year 1400, their real name is no longer known; and later residents simply called them 'the departed ones'.) The adobe-like ruins contain, among other artifacts and structures, what is now known as The Big House. (This will be no surprise for anyone fluent in Spanish who has already translated 'Casa Grande'). The grounds and all of the remaining structures are truly inspirational. Like Stonehenge in England, there is evidence at Casa Grande that the main 'monument' was, in addition to a living and meeting place, also used as a primitive calendar. Openings in the earthen walls are perfectly sighted to provide a vantage point for the entry of light during the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes. The clear understanding that ancient peoples had knowledge of celestial mechanics always inspires a certain amount of awe. It's difficult not to feel that you are in a mysterious and spiritual place when walking through these ruins. Although there is no particular similarity (other than the observance of the equinoxes) with Stonehenge, the feeling of the two places is very much the same.

Wednesday we spent the better part of the day driving to Tucson and visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.The Desert Museum is a well-planned outdoor museum that is easily accessible for just about anyone. Although cacti form a large part of the attraction, they are by no means the only things to see. In addition to cacti of just about any imaginable shape and size, the museum is also a zoo containing a large variety of native animals, amphibians and birds. The main path through the exhibits is about a mile and a half long, and is an easy walk. (Especially on a comfortable day in the middle of a mild Arizona Winter. We can make no claims about how pleasant this might be in the middle of 120 degree heat in the middle of Summer!!) And for anyone who thinks that cacti are about the only things to grow in arid Arizona, there is also a large selection of other native plants (flowering and not) that round out the museum's attractions. It's difficult to imagine a better way to spend a day in the desert. We learned a great deal about life in the SouthWest from knowledgeable guides in the park, and couldn't help but gain a better appreciation for desert life.

(Just a note about cacti. For two people who grew up in the MidWest, the prevalence of cacti in the SouthWest is a special treat. Varieties abound, however we both have to admit that our favorites are the huge Saguaro cactus that dots the landscape everywhere you travel in Arizona and New Mexico. These tall slender cacti never cease to make us smile. For anyone unfamiliar with the Saguaro, these are the cactus that often appear 'human-like' - with arms raised alongside a footless body, as though waving 'hello'. There are, of course, a large variety of shapes and forms for these cacti, but most common is that 'waving-arm' look that seems to be saying: 'Howdy Pardner', in a very friendly fashion.)

Thursday we departed Eloy for two relatively uneventful days of driving - with two more Wal-Mart boondock nights (in Las Cruces, NM and Fort Stockton, TX). Unfortunately we had no real opportunity for sightseeing in New Mexico. But quite honestly, in this part of the state, it's difficult to see much difference from Arizona. But by the time we arrived in Texas, however, it was apparent that things had changed. From the moment you enter the state, with the constant visibility of the 'Lone Star', on every public building, monument and tourist stop, you know that you are in TEXAS! And America's second largest state certainly is large at the latitude where we crossed. It would be more than 800 miles (driven in nearly a straight line) before we departed Texas and entered Louisiana.

Saturday evening we arrived in San Antonio, for what was planned as a four day/night stay. (More about that 'four day' statement later.) Sunday we drove north to Wimberly, TX, where friends from our time living in England, Lynn & Joe, have now settled. They showed us the sights of the area, and we were both impressed with how much like the Mid-West this part of Texas looks. Beautiful countryside amongst rolling hills is the norm. We particularly enjoyed visiting Gruene, TX, which has a bit of the feel of an old-time western town. One 'special' stop was at Gruene Hall. This rickety and old-time Texas dance hall was the perfect place to enjoy a couple of Lone Star beers, and to listen to some good old Texas rockabilly music. (Anyone having seen the film 'Michael' with John Travolta will remember Gruene Hall as the location where the 'angel' spent a boisterous evening with some of the locals.)

(A surprising note about Texas. Coming from Wisconsin, we didn't expect to feel particularly 'at home' with much that we'd find in Texas. However, South-Central Texas is loaded with familiarity. Town names like 'Gruene' and 'Friedricksburg' and New 'Braunfels' dot the landscape. Even San Antonio seems to have a split personality - with half the street names being of Spanish origin, and the rest having definite German roots. The reason? In the mid-1850s (a time for vast European famines, which sent many immigrants to the U.S.) the social and economic conditions in Germany were right for emigration. A group of German noblemen secured a huge land grant of nearly 4 million acres in Texas, and 'volks' began to migrate West into America. Because America was at that time in the midst of war with Mexico, and most mass transportation had been sequestered by the military, a lot of Germans found themselves stranded in SouthCentral Texas after having arrived on the coast at the Gulf of Mexico. Being 'practical Deutschers', they made the best of it - and stayed. To this day, the German influence in this part of Texas is an unexpected surprise. Now that I think about that last sentence - is there such a thing as an 'expected' surprise?)

Over the next several days, we had planned on visiting The Alamo and The Riverwalk in San Antonio, as well as making a stop near Austin for some highly recommended Texas barbecue. As fate would have it, however, Sunday night Glen began a rather arduous saga of gastro-intestinal discomfort. (Is that a polite enough way to describe 12 hours of vomiting and 72 hours of diarrhea?) Not certain if this was food-poisoning, the flu, or perhaps something more sinister, just about the time that Glen was mostly recovered, Donna came down with her own (fortunately milder case) of what we now concluded must be the flu. It was at that time that we decided to add a few days to our San Antonio stop. By Friday and Saturday we were both mostly recovered, and decided to continue with our previously postponed visits within San Antonio.

The Alamo, in real life, looks pretty much how we all remember it from the Walt Disney 'Davey Crockett' film (that most of us saw as kids). Except for one thing. The Alamo seems so much smaller in real life!! Glen remembers the Texas 'monument' as being colossal (although Donna doesn't quite share that vision). In truth, the grounds really are quite large. However, there are more structures than what we all remember. It seems that the film focused mostly on what is, in fact, only the original church. The grounds and buildings have been restored or preserved, and there is really quite a lot to see and do. (But that church still seems much smaller than what I remember!!) Obviously, 'The Alamo' has a much more resounding meaning for Texans, because of the significant history that affects their heritage. Certainly it affects them more than it affects those of us who have never lived in what was an independent republic now wholly contained within the confines of the United States of America. A lot of the history of the monument (as well as of the state) is contained on placards that can be read as one makes the rounds throughout the grounds. We were also fortunate to have a guide who provided a wonderfully articulate and moving account of the events leading up to, during, and following Battle of The Alamo in 1836. Understanding the history gave us both a much better appreciation of Texas and Texans.

The next day was devoted to San Antonio's Riverwalk. The San Antonio River does, in fact, run through the heart of the city. However, The Riverwalk is a mostly man-made 'branch' of the river added through a canal system. This makes a lot of the downtown accessible from the water; with shops and cafes lining this stretch of the 'river'. We took a tour of the river on a barge that took us to past most of the major attractions; and then we purchased an all-day water taxi pass that gave us the opportunity to explore the rest of the waterway. For lunch we stopped at a Texas steakhouse where we ate on a balcony overlooking the Riverwalk, and then made our way to a small lagoon on the water where we enjoyed a desert of Starbucks and cookies. Then it was time to head back to the Bounder and prepare for our early morning departure on Sunday.

We had planned on spending several days along the Texas Gulf Coast with friends Kip and Brian from Minnesota (who are dividing their winter between Rockport, TX and Gulf Shores, AL) but because of our bouts of flu, this part of the trip had to be cancelled. So on Sunday we headed off to another Wal-Mart stop in Beaumont, TX - before proceeding on to New Orleans, LA.

Rested and ready to go, Monday Morning we headed East again; arriving in New Orleans on late afternoon of January 26. With two days of sightseeing planned, we made an early night of it - and Tuesday morning we made our way into downtown New Orleans. There isn't much parking available in the city center - and what is available is atrociously expensive. Being no more expensive than any other parking, we decided to use the valet service at Harrah's casino which sits near the Mississippi River at the foot of Canal Street. From there we decided to try out what is left of New Orlean's streetcar system. Right outside Harrah's one can catch the Canal Street line, which heads to the center of downtown - and a transfer point with the St. Charles Avenue line. The St. Charles line takes the rider into the heart of The Garden District of the city; where many of the beautiful old French and Italianate architecture homes are located. We rode the St. Charles line to the end - returning back to Canal Street where it crosses Bourbon Street. We then proceeded on foot through the heart of The French Quarter, along Bourbon Street. Many venerable (and well-known) old bars and clubs line this famous street. And with the closely packed buildings, adorned with masses of wrought-iron railings, a walk down this famous street takes one back to many pictures and films where we've previously seen Bourbon Street and The French Quarter. We then walked toward the river, strolling through beautiful Jackson Square before arriving at The French Market. There we wanted to sample two of New Orleans most famous culinary treats. First we went to Central Grocery - home of the original 'Muffuletta'. These hoagie-like sandwiches are (to use Donna's term) PERFECT!. We took ours to a small park along the river, and enjoyed the garlicky treat while watching the busy river traffic. Afterwards we walked back to Cafe du Monde for another New Orlean's original - beignets and cafe-au-lait. Sitting at wrought-iron tables along the busy street across from Jackson Square in the heart of the French Market district. From here it was just a short walk to the Riverfront Streetcar Line, where we were able to catch a car that took us back to Canal Street - right outside Harrah's Casino. After an hour of table action at Harrah's, we headed back to our RV park, only ten minutes away.

Wednesday we headed toward the Great Mississippi River Road to see some of the plantations that still remain there West of the City of New Orleans . After a bit of research, we had decided the plantation we wanted to visit was the Laura Plantation. By no means the most beautiful or majestic of those remaining in southern Louisiana, the Laura Plantation seemed to be the one with the best historic tour. Different from the normal image of a stately white pillared mansion, the large home at Laura Plantation is painted in bright primary Creole colors. This plantation, founded in 1805, was owned and operated for much of its history by a French Creole family. (In Southern Louisiana there is a significant distinction made amongst the residents concerning the lineage of the families. Many families come from French heritage; however Creole families acknowledge a blending with Native American and African American cultures. The family who owned and operated the Laura Plantation, although employing nearly 200 Black slaves, nevertheless saw themselves as Creole, with ethnic roots in all three of these cultures. The tour was, as billed, excellent. The guides share the Creole heritage of the original plantation owners, and lovingly and carefully recreate the history for the visitor. Although now only a small fraction of the original land grant size, the grounds at Laura Plantation still contain the original plantation home/office, as well as two overseer houses and several slave houses. An effort has been made to maintain small gardens that are representative of the time when the plantation was at its full operating capacity. All in all, the tour is highly recommended for anyone who wants a taste of Lousiana plantation history. Before we left the area, we did manage to find another plantation along the Great River Road that perfectly fits the image we all have of Tara from 'Gone With the Wind'. Before returning to New Orleans, we did stopped along the road and snapped a couple pictures of this stately home at Oak Alley Plantation.

On Thursday morning we embarked on the last two hundred mile leg of our Bounder Across America journey. Although only two hundred miles from Gulf Shores, AL, we took our time leaving New Orleans, and savored our final day on the road. The trip was uneventful, and the Bounder was running in top-notch form (the leaking tire and missing engine having abandoned us prior to New Orleans). We stopped at the Mississippi and Alabama Welcome Centers, but that was all. And so it was mid-afternoon when we arrived at our resting place for the next two months - Luxury RV Resort in Gulf Shores, AL. This is our fifth year stopping at this location, and many friends from previous years who had arrived one, two and even three months earlier were awaiting us. At the office we were greeted by Pat, the manager, with hugs for both of us, and sent on our way to our site, having been told that registration could wait. As we drove through the park, headed to Site 27, we were greeted with waves from friends. And as we backed into our spot, friends began to head in our direction for 'welcomes' and hugs. In many ways, coming back to Luxury RV felt like 'coming home'!

Now we are well settled in. We've had the opportunity to spend some time with many old friends, and have already made some new friends. In moments of reflection we can both look back on our nine month adventure as 'The Trip of a Lifetime'. Some folks ask if the high price of gasoline didn't give us second thoughts as we were beginning our Bounder Across America journey. Having given that a lot of thought, we can only say that this truly was the trip of a lifetime; and looking at it that way, if you amortize the cost of gasoline over our entire lifetimes - it really doesn't amount to much.

We have many photographs that Donna took during this segment of our Bounder Across America Journey. For your ease of viewing, we have divided these into two Picasa albums.

The first album is for our trip from Santa Cruz, CA through Arizona. This album can be viewed at:

Leaving CA and heading to AZJanuary, 2009

The second album is for our trip from New Mexico to Alabama. This album can be viewed at:

New Mexico to AlabamaJanuary, 2009

We hope you have all enjoyed this edition of our blog. Drop us a 'comment' and say 'Hello', so we will know that you've been here. And drop back from time to time. We are already talking about Bounder Across America - Part 2. Who knows... we just may have to see if we can't 'top' the wonderful adventures we've already had!

Donna & Glen

January 29, 2009 - New Orleans, LA

Don't forget to check out our new and revised itinerary at: 

 

Bounder Across America Itinerary 

 

It's been a few weeks without an update, and (by popular demand) we have been persuaded that it was time to get out a quick note on our travels.

 

We are currently in New Orleans, LA - after travelling a couple of thousand miles across the southern regions of the U. S. since leaving Santa Cruz, CA. Between visits with friends, sightseeing in the SouthWest, and visits to The French Quarter for cafe-au-lait and beignets, there just doesn't seem to have been much time for blog updates. (Not to mention nearly a week of flu in San Antonio, TX that forced us to skip one of our planned stops along the way.) Today we leave New Orleans for the final leg of this segment of Bounder Across America, and by late this afternoon we'll be back in Gulf Shores, AL, where we plan to spend a couple of months for R&R. Once we're settled in there, we'll be sure to provide a full update on our recent adventures. But until then... here's just a brief taste.

 

During these past several weeks we have enjoyed a number of side trips in Arizona, where we spent some time with friends Kate & Bill, and visited the ancient ruins at Casa Grande as well as the Desert Museum outside of Tucson. While stopping in San Antonio, TX we were able to hook up with friends Lynn & Joe who live in nearby Wimberly. Also, while in San Antonio we were able to enjoy a day along the RiverWalk, as well as time at The Alamo. Here in New Orleans we've had the opportunity to take part in the unique culture (and food!) of this charming city. The French Quarter was a must see; and we particularly enjoyed our visit to a Creole Plantation along the Great Mississippi River road.

Now, as we head out, we wish you all 'good times', and we hope that you'll come back to our blog for a more complete recounting of our adventures traveling through the South (along with a new Picasa photo album from Donna).

Donna & Glen

January 09, 2009 - Santa Cruz, CA

Don't forget to check out our new and revised itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

After four months in Santa Cruz, CA we're ready to leave tomorrow morning. Before leaving, it's time to bring you up to date a bit on our December; and of course, to post a few of Donna's photos.

December was full of holiday activities; including a half dozen Christmas concerts before our children (Lisa & Margaret and Dave & Jenni) arrived to help us celebrate. Christmas in Santa Cruz is a busy time, and we were delighted to see that the main street was alight with holiday displays - and full of holiday shoppers. There are no big 'box' stores nearby, and so locals patronize small businesses in town. It was good to see such local spirit - with support of local businesses. Not too common these days.

Before we leave, we should probably mention just a bit about Santa Cruz in general. The town has a distinct character - like no other place we've been. The locals like to refer to a state-of-mind that they are proud of: 'Santa Cruz Weird'. Although we're not too certain 'weird' is the right word, the town does seem to be a bit of an anachronism - and totally different from other California cosmopolitan centers like San Francisco (and especially Los Angeles). No one appears to be overly fashion-conscious; and the folks seem to be more genuinely 'happy' than is noticeable in other places. Drivers are polite and courteous - as are clerks in stores. Typical of California (particularly Northern California) - everyone seems to be an activist for some cause. The town hosts numerous parades - both formal and informal. And 'drumming' seems to be part of the local culture. In short: there's always something going on; and what's going on is likely to be just a few degrees 'off-center'. Somewhat reminiscent of the spirit of the 60s and 70s, Santa Cruz has been a great place to spend four months; and we look forward to returning.

The upcoming leg of our journey will be much shorter than the trip that brought us here, but we're looking forward to seeing some old friends, and to seeing the southernmost part of America. We plan to spend some time in Arizona, before the lengthy trip across Texas. Then it's on to New Orleans for a pre-Mardi Gras visit - before returning to Gulf Shores, AL, which will just be opening the Mardi Gras season.

Donna's Picasa Photo Album should give you, we hope, just a flavor of our holidays here in Santa Cruz. The Album can be viewed at:

Santa Cruz, CADecember, 2008

We'll try to stay current as we make our way east. And when you have a chance, drop us a brief note to let us know you've been here!

Donna & Glen

December 16, 2008 - Santa Cruz, CA

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

Wow! We've been in Santa Cruz, CA for more than three months! And it's been nearly two months since we've updated our blog!! Guess it's time to get on the stick and update you on what's been happening in October and November.!!! (We'll cover December in our final Santa Cruz blog posting prior to departing January 10.)

Our time here has been busy... and good. We are enjoying the time spent with Noreen and Susan and with their friends - all of whom have embraced us as though we've known each other for years. One of our goals for spending time in Santa Cruz is that Donna and Noreen would have the opportunity to catch up on so many holidays and special events that were missed celebrating together after living three quarters of a continent apart for nearly forty years. And catching up is just what we've been doing.

October provided ample opportunity for time spent together. The weather was fantastic (warm and dry) for the entire month, and we didn't waste many opportunities to spend time near Monterey Bay. And then, with political heat rising, we attended a great concert, 'Baroque Obama', which offered wonderful Baroque music, played with Baroque instruments, in support of the political campaign of Barack Obama. October also marked Donna's birthday; with a pleasant celebration which included 'tea and crumpets', followed by pumpkin carving. The next day, Halloween, we enjoyed a family parade in downtown Santa Cruz, which gave us a chance to enjoy the holiday with lots of little hobgoblins proudly displaying their 'trick-or-treat' costumes.

November saw the marking of a true milestone. Noreen turned 60, and the date was duly noted with a memorable visit to San Francisco for the four of us. On the following weekend there was a dinner celebration with many of Noreen and Susan's friends. The week of Thanksgiving Glen and Donna drove to Los Angeles in order to attend a Monday wedding of good friend Debbie (from our England days). Susan drove with us so that she could spend some time with her Mom, who lives in the L.A. area. Our son Glen, daughter-in-law Velvet, and grandson Evan met us in Los Angeles when we arrived on Sunday night. Glen had been attending an all-week business meeting, and Velvet and Evan joined him for the weekend. Then, on Tuesday morning, we all made our way back north to Santa Cruz for a family Thanksgiving celebration. But not before spending a night together in Paso Robles, CA, and then a day at Hearst Castle in San Simeon. - followed by a harrowing evening drive up the Pacific Coast Highway in dense fog! We made it home, however, without a problem. On Thursday we had a wonderful walk in the redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, and a visit to Natural Bridges State Park for Monarch butterfly watching and a little beach time. Then, on Friday, we had a family dinner - which included not only Donna, Glen, Noreen, Susan, Glen jr., Velvet, and Evan, but also Ben (Noreen and Thom's son), Ben's girlfriend Maria, Thom, and his wife Linda, as well as Linda's daughter Trina. After a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner which included turkey and all of the fixings, Glen jr., Velvet and Evan headed up to San Francisco for the weekend.

There were, of course, many other memorable moments, but I'll leave that up to Donna's Picasa Photo Album to fill in the gaps. The album can be viewed at:

Santa Cruz, CAOctober & November, 2008

Hopefully you are all getting an idea of how we're spending our time in California. We'll be hitting the road again fairly soon, in early January, in order to finish the final leg of our Bounder Across America adventure. We intend to have at least one more entry in our blog before then, so stop by once in a while and give a look. In the meantime, drop us a brief note to let us know you've been here!

Donna & Glen

October 19, 2008 - Santa Cruz, CA

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

It's hard to believe that we've been in Santa Cruz for nearly a month. The time has been flying, and we've been having a great time with Noreen & Susan. The life here is at a different pace than anywhere else we've been, and quite frankly - It Agrees With Us!!

Even though so much time has past, we thought you'd be interested in the details of our travels from Las Vegas, NV to Santa Cruz, CA. We've not yet discussed this, and Donna has put together a Picasa photo album to bring you up to present day. But before we get to the pictures, we'll add some commentary to give you an idea of the leg of our journey getting here, and some taste of our life here in California.

We left Las Vegas on Sunday, September 7. Like most early Autumn days in southern Nevada, the weather was sunny and warm and it was a good day to be on the road. It doesn't take long heading West before you cross the border into California. Quite honestly, in this region there's nothing to differentiate one state from the other - except perhaps the absence of casinos once the border is crossed. As expected, soon after entering California we were stopped for an agricultural inspection. We had anticipated this, and because we were coming to California (and also because this trip took us through a portion of Canada), Donna had left all of her 'SUV' garden behind. (Donna's SUV garden is whatever will fit in the cargo area of our Ford Escape when we're towing it behind The Bounder.) California wants to be certain that no plants carrying noxious insects - or disease carrying animals - are imported into the state. So all that we'd brought along across the border were some California oranges - which didn't seem to bother the inspector; because we passed with flying colors and were soon on our way again.

Our original plans had called for a leisurely drive over several days, with several Wal-Mart stops for the night along the way; but we changed our plans before leaving Las Vegas to make a bit better time, and to spend three nights at an RV resort in Bakersfield, CA. So after a long day of driving across the desert, we entered California's fertile Central Valley near Bakersfield, and found our way to the Bakersfield RV Resort. This park is quite new - and quite nice. It is highly recommended. It has a surprisingly good restaurant and bar, as well as a pleasant pool area with pergolas surrounding the pool sporting misters to provide some relief from the 100+ degree temperatures of Summer. (Even in the early Fall, we were pushing 100 degrees during our stay.)

We relaxed in Bakersfield for a few days, catching up on laundry, e-mail and our Bounderacrossamerica.com blog; and then on Wednesday, September 10, we set on the final leg of our journey - To Santa Cruz, CA.

The drive to Santa Cruz took us through the fruit and vegetable rich California 'breadbasket' to America. All along the way, after finally leaving the desert, we saw nothing but well-tended agricultural fields - all lush with ripening fruits and vegetables. Growing up in Wisconsin, we are of course, familiar with what agriculture looks like; but in California it really looks quite different. Grain crops, in rich loamy soil where there is generally adequate rain, and with cows never far from sight, have a familiar 'farmy' look. But in California, with it's brownish clay and nearly desert climate, the addition of aqueducts and irrigation canals give the fields a much different look. The sides of the roads where we drove were bare of weeds. The fields are empty of non fruit-baring trees and stray grasses. The land is mostly flat. And the rows are precision perfect - with plant heights all uniform, and no sign of farm animals. Every plant and tree, in every row of every field looks strong and healthy. It's really quite beautiful, but lacks a bit of the charm and character we're used to from Mid-West fields.

Along the way we also encountered another type of field. We passed several wind farms, with more high-standing wind turbines than we've ever seen before. Surprisingly, these farms don't mimic the organic fields that inhabit the same areas. The turbines all seem to be placed in what can best be characterized as a haphazard pattern - with no discernible pattern of rows, and heights varying as the windmills dot the hillier landscapes. Again, like the agricultural fields, really quite beautiful.

Late Wednesday afternoon we arrived at Scotts Valley, CA and the Santa Cruz Ranch RV Resort - our home for the next four months. Since arriving our days have been filled with family and friends of family. It hasn't taken us long, and we are now feeling a part of the community. We've seen the San Francisco Mime Company on a beautiful Sunday afternoon; we've attended a political rally which included a baroque music concert thrown in for good measure; we've hung out by the sea at beautiful Monterey Bay, we've attended our first ever film festival - The Pacific Rim Film Festival, right here in Santa Cruz; and we've even joined a group called Life-Long Learners, sponsored by the University of California at Santa Cruz (Donna is participating in the Horticultural special interest group, and Glen has joined the Creative Writing special interest group).

No need to say more - Donna's Picasa album should fill in the details. It can be viewed by clicking on the link:

Las Vegas, NV to Santa Cruz, CASeptember, 2008

Although our blog updates have slowed down - we haven't. And so stop by once in awhile and give a look. Until our next edition, stay well, keep smiling, and have fun.

Donna & Glen

September 20, 2008 - Santa Cruz, CA

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

We are now comfortably settled in Santa Cruz, CA, where we intend to spend four months. This stop on our Bounder Across America journey gives us an opportunity to visit with Donna's sister Noreen and her partner Susan, and hopefully to see the kids, Erin & Ben, for at least some time during our stay. We have always lived much nearer to Glen's family, and so we have had many more opportunities for family gatherings with that side of the family. This stop gives us an opportunity to celebrate time spent with Donna's side of the family. We will be here for Donna's birthday and Halloween, Noreen's big SIXTIETH birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas & Hanukkah (& Kwanza), New Years - and of course, Winnie the Pooh Day, Australia Day, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birthday - and lest we forget... National Hugging Day. We will keep you updated on events while we take our Winter hiatus here in Santa Cruz; but this edition of the blog is devoted to our time in Las Vegas, NV.

Just to recap our earlier preview of our Las Vegas visit:

On September 1 we headed to Las Vegas, a place we've visited numerous times in the past. We were looking forward to seeing the changes that have occurred in the city since our last visit; but what we were mostly looking forward to is seeing family members who met us in Las Vegas for a mini family reunion. Monday, the day we arrived, Glen's brother Dale and his partner Cheryl flew in from Milwaukee. Tuesday Glen's sister Kathy and husband Al, along with nephew Steve and his wife Dolly arrived. On Wednesday, son Glen and wife Velvet arrived with grandson Evan - and on Wednesday evening we had a family dinner together to celebrate a variety of family milestones - including Donna & Glen's 41st Wedding Anniversary (Sep 2): Dale's Birthday (Sep 2); Al's Birthday (August 21); and Evan's 4th Birthday (August 6). By Thursday the gang began to 'break up', as Dale and Cheryl headed back. On Wednesday it was time for Kathy, Al, Steve & Dolly to depart. And on Sunday, the day we set out for California, Glen, Velvet and Evan caught their flight east.

It was a great week, filled with family, fun , festivities, and futile attempts to beat the odds in Las Vegas. Other than what we've said already in this post, there's not a lot to say - and so we'll let Donna's Picasa album tell most of the story. (See link a little bit later in this posting.)

But one thing we have to admit, from our Las Vegas stay. It 's not apparent that this part of the country is feeling the pinch of the economic down-turn in America. We've never seen so much building going on in this desert city. Of course, Las Vegas has been growing since the Fifties when large casinos and resorts first began appearing, but recent growth, at least in the tourism industry, has been phenomenal. It seems that everywhere we looked there were large cranes and shells of buildings for new hotels and casinos. And of course, whereas previously the only lights visible in the desert were from the gaming oasis of Downtown and the Strip, today there are night lights heading up into the hills and further into the desert - as far as the eye can see. When Glen first visited Las Vegas in the middle Sixties, the population was less than 200,000. Today, the greater metropolitan area is nearly 2 million. Sleepy bars and dusty streets are a thing of the past. Day and night, Las Vegas is bustling with not only a large population of its own, but with huge crowds (even in these financially strapped times) of sun-burned tourists. What was at one time a town centered on a small gaming area, with scant residential growth of suburbs surrounding the Downtown and Strip hotels and casinos, has now burgeoned into an integrated megalopolis of suburbs and close-lying towns, having huge shopping malls, huge gambling resorts, and large residential developments, all covering what used to be desert with the hustle and bustle to rival any large metropolitan area. One can only imagine how much of the Colorado River water, and its companion, Hoover Dam, to supply water and electricity to keep the residents in drinking water and green lawns, and air-conditioning to keep everyone from expiring from the 110 degree heat!!!

But enough of this editorializing. What most of you want is to see is the photo journal of our stay in Las Vegas; and so without further ado, here is the link to Donna's Picasa Photo album:

Las Vegas, NVSeptember, 2008

We hope you've enjoyed travelling with us since we first started this journey in May, from Gulf Shores, AL. For a few months we'll be stationary, but still posting to the blog as we explore Santa Cruz and Northern California. And then, in January, we hope you'll continue to travel with us as we travel across the southernmost routes of America back to Gulf Shores.

Until next time - stay well... and keep smiling! :))

Donna & Glen

September 09, 2008 - Bakersfield, CA

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

We have just completed a wonderful week in Las Vegas, and have slightly altered our plans. We are now in Bakersfield, CA for a few days before we continue on to Santa Cruz, CA for the Winter hiatus to our journey. Originally, after the week in Las Vegas, we had planned to make the trip to Santa Cruz in several hops, stopping at Wal-Marts along the way. But after reviewing the schedule and the map, we decided it would make more sense to press on and make our way to Bakersfield in a single day, and then stop at the Bakersfield RV resort (an exceptional park) for some R&R. That's where we now are, and it's time to get back into blogging and bring everyone up to date with what's been happening the past couple of weeks after leaving Colorado. - including a week in Kanab, UT visiting some wonderful national parks, followed by a week in Las Vegas.

This edition of our blog will cover our time in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. We will follow up with another blog posting to cover the Nevada portion of our journey. First, however, just a bit of nostalgia and reflection - tinged with just a bit of melancholy.

August 31 was a beautiful day in southern Utah, and it marked an important event in our Bounder Across America tour. As we visited Bryce Canyon National Park, we were both just a bit saddened to realize that this was to be our last real 'sight-seeing' excursion for awhile. But the truth is, we are totally satisfied by all that we have seen, and after the three parks, we were extremely excited to embark on the next phase of our journey - and a visit with family in Las Vegas; followed by an extended family time in Santa Cruz.

You may be asking yourself: "Where the heck is Kanab, UT... and why spend a week in Kanab?" We chose Kanab as a place to stay for six nights because of it's proximity to 3 of Utah's five National Parks. And this proved to be an excellent choice. Kanab, at the center of what is called the 'Golden Circle', is within seventy miles of each of these parks.

Although not a large city by any measure, Kanab boasts most amenities required by travelers, including one of the finer restaurants we've eaten at during our trip. The Rocking V, in the center of town along the main street, doesn't look to be particularly 'fine' from the outside (and the name doesn't actually conjure up visions of fine dining), but the inside is 'southwestern chic' and the fare on offer is definitely a cut above. We had the opportunity to meet the owner and get the story of how the restaurant came to be, and because it in some ways paralleled our own 'story', we were intrigued. Victor and his wife were both working for a network affiliate TV station in Dallas when they decided they were ready for a change. He was a cameraman and she was a news anchor. With no real ties to Kanab other than a visit here years ago, they decided that the town had possibilities, and needed a better class of restaurant. The Rocking V (opened nine years ago) was their solution for the town as well as for their lives. After a great meal, we're happy they made the choice.

Our stay in Kanab was at the Kanab RV Corral - another good choice. We had the opportunity, during our week there, to see the other RV parks in the area, and there's little doubt that the RV Corral is the best of the lot. The park is neat and clean; offers full hook-ups - including good Wi-Fi and a very nice pool (but no cable); and the owners demonstrate the attention to details that have not always been present at other parks where we've stayed. We can heartily recommend Kanab RV Corral for anyone considering a visit to the three National parks - Zion, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. And furthermore, we would also highly recommend that anyone coming to the Southwest definitely consider visiting these parks.

(Just a note here about a curiosity we noticed in small Utah and Arizona towns while making our way to the national parks. On several occasions, as we drove down the towns' main streets, there was a police car conspicuously parked along the curb, with a figure in the driver seat. On closer inspection, we could see that the 'driver' was actually a mannequin, and that no live person was to be found. We don't know what value this information might have for you, but we were highly amused by the sight of mannequin manned police cruisers. It seems that small towns are cutting back on their police budget - and hiring dummies!!)

The national parks we visited all center around the most dramatic of the many canyons that make up the landscape of this area of the country. But don't imagine for a minute that visiting three canyons in a single week is in any way repetitive. Each of the three that we visited offer unique insights into the topography of the area, as well as three different perspectives on some of the most gorgeous scenery available to tourists anywhere. The visits to these parks would be worthwhile just for the spectacular drives from Kanab in order to get to each of them. But it would be a shame, indeed, to make the drive without spending at least a day at each of these national treasures.

(Just a note here about entrance fees to National Parks. We have found that 'Senior Citizen' status is a bit of a double-edged-sword. After all, getting older isn't exactly always a treat!! But relative to entrance into the many United States National parks, there is a definite perk to arriving at 'The Golden Years'. The National Park Service offers a 'Senior Pass' to anyone who is 62 years of age or older. For a one time fee of $10, seniors are granted free admission into all US National Parks, National Monuments, and other such properties. That's right. It's $10 - and is good for the person named, and includes spouse, for the rest of your life! So there is at least one advantage to aging. So far on our Bounder Across America tour we've visited numerous National Parks. Just this past week, visiting the parks in Utah, the Senior Pass saved us $75. Not a bad deal!! One further note. Only US citizens can benefit from this opportunity.)

Zion National Park was the first that we visited. We first waited a day after arriving in Kanab to begin our sightseeing because Glen's foot was still too swollen for wearing a shoe comfortably, and Donna came down with a nagging cold and hacking cough. Nevertheless, by the time that Thursday rolled around, we were chomping at the bit. And so Glen stuffed his foot into a 'Croc' (the loosest shoe he owns), Donna packed a stash of throat lozenges, and we headed to Zion National Park - by way of Pipe Springs National Monument, where we had a wonderful chat with a native American - Hopi - park ranger; and also Washington City, UT - where we could pick up some needed supplies. (Although Kanab is a pleasant town, it is nevertheless quite small. The nearest full service town, which includes department stores, is nearly seventy miles distant.) Driving to Washington City, UT, we passed through an odd place - Colorado City; which is actually just across the border in Arizona. This name (Colorado City) struck a chord for Glen, in relation to the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints) church - which has been in the news recently concerning the FLDS controversy in Texas. Although there were no obvious church members walking the streets (noticeable by the long dresses and oddly old-fashioned hair styles worn by the women) the housing developments, visible from the highway, had a strangely unfinished look to them. (We have since learned that in Arizona, real estate taxes are not fully collected until a property is completely built; and that FLDS communities seem to favor unfinished buildings - which sometimes stay this way for years, even though homeowners are actually in residence.) It wasn't until we arrived at the Wal-Mart in Washington City that we saw our first obvious FLDS community members. Without being too judgmental, let us just say that these fundamentalist believers appear more than a bit out of place in a Wal-Mart! (Multiple women to a single man; and children who bear an uncanny resemblance to each other!)

In any event, after the brief shopping detour, we arrived at Zion National Park. The park is the oldest of Utah's national parks, and as such, the infrastructure was never meant to handle the hordes of modern tourists who flock to this area of the country in Summer to view the amazing canyon. The National Park Service has come up with an ingenious approach to this problem, and we found their solution to be both practical and enjoyable. The park offers fifteen shuttle buses that operate from 6am until 11pm during the tourist season, all moving in an orderly fashion throughout the park, each making stops at the nine 'viewing locations' along the park's main road. During the peak season, automobiles are not allowed to drive this path, but this was in no way an inconvenience. The shuttles pass each stop about once every 5-6 minutes, and these stops are all within a short walk to all of the park's major attractions. (As mentioned earlier, each of the three 'canyon' parks we visited have a different perspective. Zion's perspective is from the bottom of the canyon.) The visitor roams along the narrow floor of the canyon, which for the most part follows the path of the Virgin river - the waterway that formed Zion Canyon. The views looking 'up' are spectacular. There is even an opportunity, at one of the shuttle stops along the way, to step into the river and wade in an area where the rapids are somewhat tamed. As the day we visited approached 100 degrees, the chance to cool our tootsies in the 60 degree water was welcome. It should also be noted that this opportunity to actually get into the river changes the whole experience of the park from one of 'observer' - merely being in the park; to one of 'participant' - actually being part of the park. Maybe this seems a subtlety, but we both found that it greatly enhanced our experience of Zion National Park. A Utah State Highway travels through the park, and we would strongly encourage any visitor to not just see the park from the main park road, but to travel the length of Hwy 9 through the park and take the 'long way' back to Kanab. The views outside the park and along the way are nearly as wonderful as those seen from the main park road.

On Friday we visited Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon has two major viewing aspects - The South Rim and The North Rim. (There is also a West rim, where the much touted 'glass' bridge is located.) The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is by far the greatest tourist destination, and offers many more tourist amenities than the North Rim. But Glen's memory of this marvelous canyon suggested that if we could only make a single stop, we should visit the North Rim. We both agree that, for us at least - this was a good choice.

(Glen's reason for preferring the North Rim is quite simple, really. Although both sides of the canyon offer spectacular views of the canyon, there are a few major differences. The North Rim rises a full thousand feet above the South Rim. This allows for a less arid and cooler climate. The North Rim averages about 10 degrees cooler than the South Rim, and also offers a relatively lush entrance to the canyon, with beautiful green meadows dotted with towering pines; a contrast to the South Rim which is more desert-like - hot and dry. But perhaps the most significant difference between the two is the viewing perspective. Unlike Zion Canyon, where the visitor witnesses the grandeur from within the floor within the canyon, most tourists will see the Grand Canyon from the upper rim. And because the South Rim is a thousand feet lower in elevation, the canyon is visible for quite a distance along the approach. The North Rim, however - being much higher - hides the vista view of the canyon until the visitor is right at the edge. This makes the North Rim one of the greatest 'optical illusions' on Earth. You are not even aware that the canyon exists until you take that last step, and suddenly the land drops away right in front of you.)

There are numerous viewing points where the sightseer can step out of his/her automobile and see different aspects of The Grand Canyon. We chose one of these as a stop for lunch. With the canyon spread out in front of us, we had a magnificent view across the ten miles to the South rim, and as far left and right as the eye could see.

(Now is probably a good time to mention one of the side benefits of visiting our national parks. Many interesting tourists from around the world come to the US to see our natural national wonders. Just a little bit of friendliness, shown to these visitors, can result in interesting conversations which perhaps might spark a friendship. Just during the brief time we lunched in Grand Canyon National Park, we had the opportunity to meet, and exchange e-mail addresses with) several fascinating folks. Most often, simply offering to take a photo of a couple with their own camera - instead of their being limited to single person shots - can be enough to strike up a conversation. At The Grand Canyon we met an Indian couple on their honeymoon, who were happy for the joint photo; a family - mom, dad and daughter - from Rome who stopped and chatted for awhile; a guy from Derbyshire in England who visits the US at least four times each year; and a couple from New Zealand - both widowed - who had met on the internet. He, from the South island, owned a vineyard; and she, from the South island, had lived in England for many years. We have no doubt that some of these people, along with others we have met, will be future correspondents long after this journey fades from our minds.)

After leaving The Grand Canyon it seemed logical to make a slight detour and circle back to Kanab by way of Glen Canyon and the stately Glen Canyon Dam. Glen (our 'Glen', and not the canyon or the dam :)) ) is always fascinated by these man-made wonders - in addition to the natural wonders of the area. And so a stop at the dam made for a beautiful view while enjoying a snack before returning to Kanab.

Saturday left only Bryce Canyon National Park to explore. As with each of the other national parks and canyons we visited, the drive to the park is nearly as scenic as the park itself. On the way, the visitor passes through Red Canyon, which displays such deep colors it's almost unrealistic looking. Not nearly so steep nor wide as the other canyons in the state parks, Red Canyon offers a more intimate view for the traveler along winding and climbing public roads.

Bryce Canyon, like The Grand Canyon, is not easily visible from the road that winds its way through the park. But there are a dozen pull-off viewing points that offer a variety of spectacular vistas, which are unlike those of either of the other two canyons we visited. Bryce Canyon sports a much greater variety of colors; and exhibits much more dramatic erosion than the other two canyons. One result of this erosion are 'hoodoos' - the signature attraction for Bryce Canyon. These hoodoos are statuesque monoliths that seem to rise out of the canyon walls and floor, often looking like giant stalactites. Occasionally these hoodoos take on a more sculpted appearance - as though they have been carved by human hands. An assortment of natural bridges and arches add to the visual beauty of the canyon. Each of the scenic viewing points is worth a stop, and they offer a variety of different geological formations and colors. These range from canyon openings that lead to lush pine forest, to mini-canyons appearing as natural amphitheatres. One particularly appealing facet to Bryce Canyon is a mile and a half pathway that leads from the rim of the canyon, down deep into one of these amphitheatres. The walk, although quite steep and narrow, appears to be navigable by most vigorous hikers who want to explore beyond the normal 'tourist' pathways in the park. (We elected to leave this adventure to younger hikers.)

After much discussion, it has been difficult to decide which of these magnificent parks is our favorite. At first thought, it might seem that one would become tired, or even jaded, by visiting three seemingly similar attraction in less than a week; but if one thinks in such a way... one would be very wrong. Although the three parks all offer canyon attractions, they are no more similar than other, similar, 'like-named' attractions. (When we lived in England, we never tired of visiting the many Gothic cathedrals that dot the landscape of Europe. Zion Canyon, The Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon are America's great cathedrals.) Although these canyons share a similar theme and common origins, they have each evolved into unique and fascinating attractions.

(So that we don't leave you with the impression that we are undecided about which was 'best', we'll tell you that Donna's favorite is Bryce Canyon - for the beautiful variety of colors and formations that it presents. Glen favors The Grand Canyon - based on its sheer scope and magisterial presence. But truthfully, neither of us can really favor one to any great extent over the others. In total, these marvels of the modern world offer such a variety of curiosities and wonders that we are just happy to have seen them all.)

Now we hope you have enjoyed joining us in our travels through three of America's great national parks; and we hope you also enjoy visiting Donna's Picasa photo album at:

Utah & ArizonaAugust, 2008

And now... just a preview of our Las Vegas visit.

From Kanab, on September 1 we headed to Las Vegas, a place we've visited numerous times in the past. We were looking forward to seeing the changes that have occurred in the city since our last visit; but what we were mostly looking forward to is seeing family members who met us in Las Vegas for a mini family reunion. Monday Glen's brother Dale and his partner Cheryl flew in. Tuesday Glen's sister Kathy and husband Al, along with nephew Steve and his wife Dolly arrived. And on Wednesday, son Glen and wife Velvet arrived with grandson Evan. On Wednesday evening we had dinner together to celebrate a variety of family milestones - including Donna & Glen's 41st Wedding Anniversary (Sep 2): Dale's Birthday (Sep 2); Al's Birthday (August 21); and Evan's 4th Birthday (August 6). We'll cover the festivities in the next posting to our blog... but for now, we'll just have to wait until that edition of our Bounder Across America blog post.

Until the next time, drop us a comment and say 'Hello'!

Donna & Glen

August 27, 2008 - Kanab, UT

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

We arrived in Kanab, UT on Tuesday, August 27, after a beautiful drive from Central Utah down to Southern Utah. This area is sometimes called 'The Golden Circle' because it lies, more or less, midway between Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and The Grand Canyon. We intend to explore all of these sites over the next couple of days. However, we are using today as another 'catch-up' day. Lots of things to do when you are on the road. But today's 'big' task is to update our blog on the Colorado segment of our journey!

The first thing we noticed upon entering Colorado was the huge transition form Wyoming. It was almost as if there is an unwritten rule about how many people should inhabit each of these states. Wyoming is sparsely settled, with little traffic, and few signs of civilization along long highways traveling through mountains and valleys. But as soon as the border into Colorado is crossed, there is a nearly immediate change. Signs of life dramatically appear everywhere. Traffic increases at least ten fold from the other side of the state line; and the hills and valleys are dotted with signs of life - including homes, seemingly wherever it's possible to build.

Colorado was meant to be a place for visiting family and friends - and of course, we did this. But we also were able to work in some sightseeing for places we've not previously had the opportunity to visit. It turned out to be a great (and busy) week and a half that we want to share with all of you.

But before getting into the details, there's just a note again about 'RV life'.

In some of the photos in Donna's Picasa album (linked later in this blog) you may notice Glen's left foot looks a bit odd. He's wearing a knit slipper instead of a shoe. Now this may indicate a 'ski mishap' in some of the places we visited in Colorado. (And Glen's not beyond saying just that - and although not as romantic as a ski accident, we have no doubt it was just as painful.) But in this case, the injury represents one of the hazards in an RV. RVs are built to be light, so that they are readily transportable. However, sometimes 'light' could be better translated as 'cheesy' - because 'light' is often an excuse to build components that are not exactly 'household' quality. One example of this is the refrigerators included in many RVs. Ours is primarily plastic. For the most part this isn't a problem. However, light plastic doors connected to hinges with sheet metal screws, is a recipe for disaster. Although the door is light weight - the items stuffed into the door may not be. In our case, the right-hand door of our double door fridge carries bottles of juice, salad dressing, wine, water... and sundry other items. The result is that a two pound door actually weighs in at closer to twenty pounds - which is probably more than the manufacture bargained for. In any event, the day after we arrived in Colorado, Glen was opening the right-side door when it completely broke where the hinges screw into the door, and came crashing down, pointed corner first, smack dab onto Glen's foot - directly behind the toes and in front of the ankle. Black and blue hardly describes the color of Glen's foot following this mishap (and 'blue' isn't an adequate description of Glen's language immediately after the door landed on his foot). Everything still moved the way it should (toes, ankles, etc.), but the foot was so swollen that attempting to put a shoe on it resulted in screams of pain (well... actually, mostly just more 'blue' language) from Glen. Suffice it to say that yesterday was the first day that a brief walk was attempted with a shoe. The swelling is greatly reduced, but the foot still looks painfully red - and a bit like a large sausage. Lesson learned? Even if the refrigerator door has adequate shelves - don't be fooled. They are decorative rather than functional. Place too many heavy items in them, and twenty pounds of cheesy plastic refrigerator door, fastened to metal hinges with sheet metal screws, is likely, sooner or later, to end up on the floor - and you too can have a 'sausage' foot!!!

Now - back to the blog at hand!!

We arrived at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, CO early in the afternoon of August 14; anxious to see Glen's sister (who we haven't seen for two years) and impressed with the park's layout. Most state parks we've visited are nice - but often they are 'rustic', with lots of gravel and not a lot of pavement. Chatfield is quite different. All roads are new and even asphalt, and the pads for the RV itself are actually level concrete. The hookups are easy and tidy. The only thing the park lacks is are a lot of trees. And after months of high heat and drought, the Denver area was about as brown as we've ever seen it. Even the weeds couldn't keep up with the dry climate, so most grassy areas looked a bit like a field that's just been clipped and ready to be baled.

(We apparently brought a change of luck for the region with us. The next two days were 'record setters' for Denver - with the greatest quantity of rain in history for a two day period. Fortunately, the weather did nothing to dampen our spirits - or change any plans.)

Glen's sister Karen had arrived at the park before us, and had made a clever welcome sign at the entrance to our site; and she and her dogs greeted us warmly!! Then, after we hooked up and showered, we went to Karen's house for a great dinner, and were joined by niece Liz for hours of 'catch-up' conversation.

Friday morning we had an early breakfast with Karen, and proceeded to downtown Denver to see Karen's other daughter, Jen; and to meet, for the first time, Jen's son Micah and partner Michael. (We liked Micah and Michael immediately!) The couple had brought Micah to their workplace so that we could then take him along and he could spend the day with Grandma and Great Aunt and Uncle! But first we were treated to a guided tour of Jen's and Michael's workplace. Both of them work in an extremely artistic fabricating shop, where they do beautiful neon glass blowing. Michael is one of only a few journeymen artisans in this country doing extremely specialized work; and Jen, who is a gifted artistic welder, is now learning the glass trade at Michael's side. We were able to see some of their work, and were extremely impressed with what they - and the fabricating plant - are capable of producing. The rest of the day was spent enjoying the company of Karen and Micah and with all of the animals that share Karen's house (dogs Chumbly and George, and cats Maude, Gray Kitty and Sylvester). Of course, Karen and Glen couldn't resist continuing the ongoing Rothe family cribbage rivalry; and Glen was thoroughly trounced by Karen, as he was by his brother Dale in Milwaukee. (Grandpa Rothe would roll over in his grave to see how seriously Glen's cribbage prowess has declined over the years. Of course, it isn't possible that Dale and Karen have actually improved!!) In the evening we made our way to White Fence Farm, a restaurant name we were familiar with from our years in Chicago. The Chicago area and Denver area are the only locations for these restaurants - both of which specialize in fried-chicken; Glen's favorite. YUM!!

Saturday we had no big plans, but the rain gave us the opportunity to have a relaxing day. We met Jen & Michael for lunch at a great Mexican restaurant (Karen had to return the little charmer Micah back to his folks), and then along with Karen we headed to a movie. We both enjoy seeing films in theatres, but we just haven't had much time these past couple of months to indulge ourselves. This time we enjoyed Kevin Costner's new film, Match Point, and then headed off to our favorite post-movie activity - Barnes & Noble for scanning the stacks and some Starbucks Coffee. After a few hours of reading, coffee and good conversation, we decided to make an early night of it, and returned to Chatfield State Park for a good nights sleep.

Sunday dawned clear and bright, and so after a good breakfast at Karen's, we all headed off for a driving tour of the mountains. For years Donna & Glen and our kids made an annual pilgrimage to Colorado at Thanksgiving time when Karen and family lived in Evergreen, CO... so we were anxious to see how the area had changed since our last visit - twenty years ago. Although the town has changed, we were pleased to see that it hasn't lost its charm. We then continued down the mountain a bit and stopped in at Red Rocks, a well known venue for greater and lesser rock stars. We weren't really looking for a show, but rather just wanted to walk around and enjoy the ambiance around this natural amphitheatre. Good think we didn't have our hopes up for entertainment. A line of 'teeny-boppers' were waiting to get in for Jack Johnson - a name foreign to us. We were just as happy to skip the show, but were impressed by the three Prevost motorhomes that Johnson et. al. arrived in. ($1,000,.000+ for a Prevost??) Apparently Jack Johnson is doing alright for himself!! Dinner and conversation filled the rest of the day and evening.

Monday was a day for housekeeping and other chores - while Karen attended her college classes. In the evening she showed up at The Bounder with an armload of Chinese food; and we feasted, chatted, and caught up on a bit of TV.

Tuesday we had the chance to meet up with our brother-in-law Dan (Karen's ex) in Georgetown, CO where Karen, Jen and Micah joined us for breakfast at The Happy Cooker - a restaurant quite a bit more sophisticated than the name! Then we all headed over to Georgetown's train station for a ride to Silver Plume on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. (Georgetown is a quaint little mountain town in an idyllic setting nestled in a canyon/valley, high in the Rockies. The railroad was built, prior to the turn of the century, to carry ore out of the mountains and back to civilization. 'Loop Railroad' refers to the way in which this narrow gauge railway tackles the mountains. Hills too steep to climb required that the tracks loop around at a reasonable grade in order to make their way to higher altitudes. This innovation in Georgetown led the way to numerous 'loop' railroads around the world.) The day was beautiful, and the ride was a lot of fun. We later made our way back to Chatfield, where Liz and Michael joined us for a barbecue at The Bounder.

On Wednesday Donna caught up on some chores while Glen met his old friend John for lunch. John, from Denver, spent nearly a year in Chicago back in the early eighties for a special project when they both worked at United Airlines. As these things happen, they later fell out of touch. But John recently contacted Glen via e-mail, and the timing was perfect for the two of them to meet and catch up on old times when the Bounder Across America tour passed through Denver. In the evening Karen dropped over, and we finished the leftover Chinese dishes from Monday. And then it was time to say good-bye. The week went by so fast that we could hardly believe it was over.

Thursday morning, bright and early, we pointed the Bounder west again, and made our way to Glenwood Springs, CO, where we were looking forward to meeting up with Donna's cousin Carol and husband Don. Since becoming adults, Donna and Carol have had few opportunities to see each other. We have fond memories, however, of the trip to England in 1973 when we were able to spend some time with Don and Carol while they were doing a job stint abroad. (Glen was probably influenced to the point that when the opportunity came for a couple of year consulting engagement in London - we jumped at the opportunity!) Thursday evening Don and Carol came to see The Bounder, and then we retired to their mountain retreat for a wonderful evening of food, drink and conversation.

Friday we were again picked up by Carol, and enjoyed a breakfast at their home before setting out on a tour of the area. Glenwood Springs is known world-wide for the hot springs, and has the largest mineral spring pool west of the Mississippi. Across from the pool is the famous Colorado Hotel (an institution that enjoys basking in the fame for being the location where the ubiquitous 'Teddy Bear' got it's start from a longtime association with President Teddy Roosevelt). Then it was off to Aspen and Snowmass and Buttermilk... and other haunts of the rich and famous. We enjoyed a great (if a little pricey) lunch at Little Annies well-known cafe in Vail. Then on to one of the most scenic landscapes either of us have ever seen. The Three Maroon Bells are a set of mountains, framed by a 'saddle' ridged valley with a lake in the forefront. The photo op was magnificent. (Don't miss the 'panorama' picture in Donna's Picasa album - linked later in this post.) Quite frankly, Disney and all of the CGI in the world couldn't have produced a more magnificent view!! Finally, tired but enervated by all we'd seen, we returned to the mountain retreat for a light dinner, whipped up by Don & Carol.

Saturday we meandered through hills and valleys surrounding Glenwood Springs; finally making a stop for snacks at the scenic village of Redstone, high in the hills. Coming down, we had a fine dinner at a 'Modern' BBQ restaurant (none of us could really figure out what made this BBQ modern - but it was great anyway) and then returned to Carol & Dons for a nightcap and 'good-byes'. It was great to spend this time with them, and they certainly were fine tour guides for this area we'd not seen before.

Then on Sunday it was time to head west again - to Utah and the wonderful national parks! But that's the topic of our next blog posting... so don't miss it!! In the meantime, why not visit Donna's Picasa album of our Colorado adventures at:

ColoradoAugust, 2008

Sure hope you've enjoyed this installment of our Bounder Across America journey. Drop us a comment to let us know you've been here. Take care, and come back soon... Y'all hear!!

Donna & Glen

August 25, 2008 - Richfield, UT

Don't forget to check out our itinerary at:

Bounder Across America Itinerary

We are comfortably settled amongst the mountains of central Utah, enjoying a couple days of R&R in order to catch up on some badly neglected tasks. Foremost is bringing our blog up to date. For nearly three weeks now we have been without good and consistent internet access.

Before proceeding, we need to say a few words about internet access on the road. We offer this as an 'excuse' to our readers, and as a word of caution for our fellow RVers.

As 'full-timers', the internet is an important part of RV living. Unfortunately, many RV parks have not yet quite gained an understanding of just how important this amenity is. We consistently make an attempt, before booking, to insure that, when possible, the places we stay have wi-fi internet access. This allows us to access the internet from the comfort of our motorhome. We have learned that although many parks advertise that they are 'internet friendly', with wi-fi available at each site - this is not, in fact, universally true. We have stayed at a number of RV parks during this trip that advertise wi-fi; but what they really mean is that the office may have a router with a wi-fi signal - this signal is only available if you are within a few feet of the office. For the average RVs, spaced out around the park, this signal is non-esistant. Even when dragging the laptop closer to the office, access is sometimes not available. (In our case, with Glen's computer being non-portable, this is not really possible; and even if it were possible - not desirable.)

Our most recent stays, have provided little or no ability to access the internet. (Fishing Bridge RV Park in Yellowstone National Park - where no wi'fi was advertised or offered; Chatfield State Park in Denver - where wi-fi is available, but where we were located at the furthest reaches from the park's internet router; and Ami's Acres in Glenwood Springs, CO - where the wi-fi signal was practically non-existent, and when we could get the signal, the connection was so slow that it must apparently have been a single dial-up line connected to a weak internet router). So this situation has left us quite far behind in our blogging. (A situation we hope to begin to remedy right now!!!)

Most recently we’ve been enjoying a very pleasant visit with Glen’s sister and her family in the Denver Colorado area, and a stop in Glenwood Springs, CO to visit with Donna's cousin and her husband. However, we’ll save the blog update about this leg of our trip until later. For now it’s time to cover the time we spent in Wyoming… from August 4 through August 14.

On Wednesday, August 4, it was time for us to head out from Rapid City, and to continue our journey West.

With Yellowstone National Park as the ultimate goal for this leg of our journey, we decided that a few days of rest would put us in a position to better enjoy all of the wonders of Yellowstone -and Sheridan, WY was the place we chose as an interim stop along the way. However, before proceeding on to Sheridan, there was a place that Glen was particularly anxious to see. Devils Tower was featured in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and practically on our way to Sheridan. After visiting this national monument, it’s clear why the director (Steven Spielberg) wanted this location to form a cornerstone for the film. From a long way off, after cresting one of the many mountain passes when heading west, the tower becomes a prominent point of interest on the horizon. It has an intriguing appearance that seems unique in all of nature. (See Donna’s photo album if you are unfamiliar with how Devils Tower looks.) Having spiritual significance to the Native Americans, the monolith appears to have been carved in place eons in the past. Although many may think that Devils Tower is an extinct volcano, in actuality it never quite made it to that status. Instead, it is an offshoot of a volcano, a collection of lava tubes, that never made it to the surface to spew lava. Cooling too rapidly, the lava tubes abruptly ‘froze’ beneath the earth, and didn’t surface until many years later, when wind and water erosion cleared the soil from around this geological anomaly – making it appear as a tower above the surrounding landscape. Today the tower stands more than 1000 feet above the surrounding area. With it’s flat top and ribbed sides, Devils Tower can compare to nothing else we have ever seen. Sitting at it’s base and looking up, it’s easy to understand why Native Americans believed this to be a holy place. There is something quite mystical and arresting about the solitary promontory, sitting in the middle of the Wyoming eastern plains. As we approached for a first-hand look, the park ranger informed us that we would need to disconnect the motorhome from our car, and then drive only the car to the monument (because the park was expecting a crush of visitors from the Sturgis Rally and didn’t want the road to be blocked with large vehicles). Glen, believing that American citizens driving motor homes have as much right as bikers to have equal access to national parks, questioned this advice. We decided to drive the motorhome to the base of the monument anyway - and we’re glad we made this decision. We were able to make it to the upper parking lot with no problems, and volunteers from the Sturgis motorcycle contingent who were directing traffic, quite courteously showed us to a place where we could comfortably park the Bounder with no inconvenience to the many motorcyclists. Then, after enjoying viewing the monument from various angles, we were able to park out motorhome just a bit down the hill and enjoy a pleasant lunch in the shadow of Devils Tower. Anyone in this area of Wyoming shouldn't miss seeing this unique geological formation.

From Devils Tower it was onward to Sheridan, where we stayed for three peaceful days at a pleasant RV park - with internet access. In retrospect, we would probably have enjoyed Cody, WY more. Although Sheridan is a pleasant enough town, it suffers a bit from hype rather than reality. The truth is, Cody is more 'Wild West', particularly with a gigantic museum dedicated to Buffalo Bill Cody. And we would certainly have enjoyed a night at the rodeo - an event this town offers nightly during the summer.

(Just a brief note about the Bighorn KOA RV Park in Sheridan, and their internet access. This was the first time we encountered 'metered' wi-fi. We were quite easily able to connect, but we were accessing the internet through a 'filter' that counted the amount of internet traffic we were generating. If we used this access too much, we were told we would be 'transferred to a slower link - and ultimately that we would be cut off if we attempted to do too much. Although we didn't come close to exceeding the limit, we were a bit intimidated by the possibility, and found this type of metering to be just a bit too intrusive.)

True to our plan, we didn't attempt to do much in Sheridan other than rest and catch up on neglected chores. We did, however enjoy a couple of beautiful drives into the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains (where we even drove into Montana for a short way). This part of the world is marvelously underpopulated, and when you drive into the mountains, it's possible to turn off the car's engine and hear absolutely nothing of civilization. The wind in the pines and the chirping of birds is all that one hears, and it helps one to realize just how peaceful nature can be without the intrusions of modern life. A bit of wildfire in the hills contributed to some spectacular sunsets, and the abundance of small deer in the fields made the drives particularly relaxing and enjoyable.

On August 7 we navigated the first twisty mountain roads of our journey. The way to Yellowstone takes one up into some fairly steep mountain passes, and although the roads were all quite good, Glen's shoulders were quite stiff at the end of the drive from gripping the wheel more tightly than normal. We entered the national park at the Eastern gateway, and got our first indication of just how vast Yellowstone really is. The ranger at the entrance told us that we were quite close, and that the Fishing Bridge RV Park was the first real development that we would encounter in Yellowstone heading west. He was right; but this still took us twenty-six miles into the park - and we had barely made a dent in the hundreds of miles of good paved roads that abound in Yellowstone.

At this point in our blog it's difficult to know where to proceed. Yellowstone is surely one of the modern marvels of the world. The park covers more than 2 million square acres - and within that acreage there are a seemingly impossible number of spectacular sights to see. As stated earlier, hundreds of miles of good improved roads circle the park, and these roads are laid out in circular routes that allow the visitor to see all of the sights by following several northern and southern routes, which in addition to circling all of the major attractions, take one to a half dozen 'villages' that provide food and lodging and shopping services. From the first moment we entered the park we encountered not only unprecedented natural beauty, but also an abundance of wildlife not previously encountered. Ten miles before reaching the RV park, we noticed a few cars stopped along the road. (We subsequently learned that when cars were unaccountably stopped in this fashion, it invariably meant that some form of wildlife was visible.) There, on the side of the road, we saw our first ever grizzly bear in the wild. Not ten feet away from us, the rather small and immature bear was feasting on the carcass of a dear - no doubt the casualty of a run-in with a car. We then proceeded to within a couple miles of the park, where a buffalo was slowly sauntering along the side of the road, blissfully ignoring the passing cars. Later, after setting up, we learned that we had no cell phone coverage. After inquiring, we found out that by stopping along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, it might be possible to pick up a signal. Sure enough, in the dark, we parked and called the family to let them know we would be out of reach for nearly a week. Then, when we turned the car's headlights on to proceed back to the park, we learned that a coyote was crossing the road about five feet ahead of us! This constant parade of wildlife never stopped for the entire time we were in the park!!!

Rather than bore you with descriptions of all that we saw, it's probably best to let Donna's Picasa album 'speak' for us. (The link follows later in the blog posting - and as we all know, one picture is worth a thousand words; and you'd probably be happy to be spared a thousand words for each of these photos!) Instead, we'll just pass on some observations from our experiences.

- First and foremost, if you intend to explore Yellowstone, allow enough time. We planned six days, but thought we perhaps had allowed to much time. We did not!! Six days allowed us three full days of following the various loop routes, with days in between for recovery and 'housekeeping' tasks.

- Remember altitude takes some adjustment. Fishing Bridge RV Camp is at about 8000 feet of elevation. For 'flatlanders' like us, this meant that we were subject to a certain degree of 'altitude sickness' - diarrhea, headache, shortness of breath and a day or two of lethargy. (On the plus side, this certainly conditioned us for our stay in 'mile high' Denver.)

- The iconic image of Yellowstone that we were all exposed to as schoolchildren (Old Faithful Geyser), although wonderful in its way, is not the greatest spectacle the park has to offer. Innumerable rivers that cascade and often drop in breathtaking falls; canyons that although may not rival The Grand Canyon in scope, are nevertheless strikingly beautiful; more than half of the world's known thermal geological sights - including other geysers, pools, 'mud pots' and a variety of steaming vents; one of the most gorgeous mountain lakes possible; and the previously mentioned wildlife make for a seemingly never-ending display of the best that nature has to offer. Just when you think that you've seen the best, you round the next corner and are again awed by something new, fascinating and exciting.

- Don't be afraid to eat out in the park. Xanterra corporation has the current concession contract for Yellowstone, and does a surprisingly good job of providing good food at a reasonable price. We had a few good meals that we had difficulty believing came from such an institutional environment as a national park.

- Allow time for the buffalo. There are several large herds of buffalo in the park, and these animals (rightly so) believe that they own the place - including the roads. On more than one occasion we found ourselves in a long line of traffic as one of these magnificent beasts decided to take a stroll down the middle of one of the parks roads. They appear oblivious to humans and their machines, and are perfectly at home on the road as well as in the many pastures and meadows that would seem to be more natural habitat.

- Take in Grand Teton National Park as well. Just south of the South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, you enter Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are perhaps the most striking mountains in America. They have individual peaks that rival the Alps, and bordering several lakes within the park, there are more than enough 'photo ops' to satisfy even the most demanding shutterbug. Snow-capped, these steep mountains, although not as high as some of the Rocky Mountain peaks, nevertheless appear to reach higher because they are more individually located, rather than a part of a massive range.

- The park is wonderfully accessible. Although not everything that is worth seeing is on the main 'loop roads' that make up the bulk of paved road in the park, there are good roads that take you a bit further back into the more pristine countryside. Sometimes it's worth wandering off the beaten path to see something that although listed on the park's maps, is not visible from the main road. No matter where you go, the roads are universally drivable; and the National Park Service has been extremely good about not providing access to areas that might be just a bit more dangerous and precarious than we are used to. Be careful - but enjoy all that the park has to offer. It's quite a treat to see that the NPS gives us credit for having enough sense not to take our life in our hands - and gives us the opportunity to see some things that only a little bit of venturesome nature will allow one to see.

- Don't play with fire... but also don't be afraid of it. Fire is a part of nature in Yellowstone. We drove through wildfire areas that were still smoldering while entering and driving through the park. There are numerous signs of past fires, including the 1988 conflagration that ravaged more than 500,000 acres (nearly a quarter of the park). There are constant reminders of past fires, but also the Park Service goes out of their way to keep everything safe for tourists, and to remind us that the fires are necessary to keep the natural beauty of Yellowstone. Fire leaves nutrient that allows the flora to flourish and propagate.

There's probably a lot more to say about Yellowstone National Park, but just let us finish by saying that if you ever have the chance to go - take that opportunity. There is more of the beauty and wonderment of nature packed into a small area than anyone might think possible.

Following Yellowstone it was time for us to backtrack a bit and on August 14 we headed toward Denver, Co, where we would spend a bit of time with Glen's sister and her family. More of this in our next blog. For now, we hope you will enjoy some of the beautiful photos Donna took and included in her latest Picasa album. Follow the link at:

WyomingAugust, 2008.

Now, we hope you are all well; and that you have found this installment of our blog to have been worth waiting for. Take care, and come back soon for our 'Colorado Installment' of Bounder Across America. And of course, don't forget to drop off a comment and let us know you've been here!!

Donna & Glen