tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90365811386005788562024-03-12T16:06:31.552-07:00I Should Have Done This In My 20'sMarciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-53079049965687252562012-06-21T16:52:00.000-07:002012-06-21T16:52:20.602-07:00I talked about my search for the ultimate fish taco in my travel blog. Well I never found what I was looking for. But it turns out the best fish taco is the one you make at home.<br />
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I prepared tilapia fillets by rolling them lightly in flour, then dipping them in an egg mixture and finally covering them generously with Panko bread crumbs. I fried them in a light canola oil before adding to crisp corn taco shells on a bed of Romaine lettuce. I added salsa and shredded cabbage. I also made a spicy guacamole dip from scratch. Of course a meal like this must include a yummy Jose Cuervo grapefruit tangerine Margarita! The perfect meal. My toughest critic, my daughter Emily gave it a two thumbs up. Also, I'd like to give credit to Emily for professionally salting the rim of my Margarita glass.<br />
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So perhaps I'm not quite done with my blog after all. Whether it's travel, camping, hiking, cooking or whatever, I may just have more to say. Until my next post...Happy Trails! Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-27635345324349456582012-06-12T20:51:00.000-07:002012-06-12T20:51:00.665-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">June 7th was my final night of camping. I had new campsite neighbors. All in RVs and apparently speaking in foreign languages. Not particularly friendly. So once again a lonely night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I kinda wish the snorer stayed another night as the critter activity was a bit too close to my tent again. Damn I wish that hoot owl would hurry up and eat whatever that is that's nibbling near my front door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not much sleep again but at least the temperature was comfortable and it wasn't raining. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Total miles driven so far: 6,150 </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On 6/8 I packed up my gear and headed south out of Yellowstone NP and almost immediately into the Grand Teton National Park. This is a very small park with some pretty dramatic mountain scenery. Along the way I crossed the Continental Divide (again).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I stopped at several locations in the Grand Teton park to check out the mountains. What views!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was still in bear country and still hoping to see some bears. But this is all I saw.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So now the long drive home. My route through WY put me on a dirt/gravel road for a while at elevations over 9,000 ft. Slow going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then through the desert again with an overnight stay in Cheyenne. On 6/9 I made it to St. Joseph, MO. Along the way I drove through Iowa...for about 10 minutes. Yep, just a piece of that state. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Wish I had a little more time in St. Joseph. There was a Stetson outlet store near my hotel. After all, you can't come home from the Wild West without a cowboy (or cowgirl) hat. Alas it was Sunday and the store was closed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The drive home from St. Joseph was long and monotonous. Thanks to construction, traffic and that<b> locust</b> <b>plague</b> in Illinois it took 12 hours! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The photo doesn't do it justice but the front of my car was covered with an assortment of dead bugs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's good to be home! Total miles driven: 7,907 And totally worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hope you enjoyed my blog. I'd love to hear your comments. </span>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-69847483224939955762012-06-11T22:29:00.000-07:002012-06-21T17:10:01.670-07:00In my last blog I began describing my trip to Yellowstone National Park. My first night in the park was probably my most challenging. My campsite was at 8000 ft. altitude and there was still a little snow on the ground. Overnight it became very windy, temperatures dropped into the 20's and it started raining. That rain soon turned into freezing rain and sleet. That alone would have been enough to keep me up all night worrying if my tent would hold up let alone trying to stay warm. But when something big bumped into my tent at 3 AM the weather was the least of my worries. I wasn't about to go outside to see what it was or if it was coming back. I sat perfectly still holding my "bear spray" at the ready. I could hear things moving about nearby but nothing tried to get inside my tent.<br />
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It certainly wasn't any of my campsite neighbors. They were all nicely tucked away in their big ass RVs. I was the only one in a tent. What a very long night. By dawn the rain had stopped and I decided to look outside. My tent's rain fly was a frozen shell that I cracked like an egg to get out.<br />
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What a miserable night. But my tent kept me dry and the 4 layers of clothing plus two sleeping bags (one inside the other) kept me plenty warm.<br />
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The weather improved and the sun came out. The night was just a vague memory. It turned out to be a beautiful albeit chilly day.<br />
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I explored the southern and eastern sections of the park today (6/6). The drive around Loop road takes you up to about 8100 ft altitude where you can get a panoramic view of Yellowstone Lake and the mountains beyond. A number of us stopped to take pictures.<br />
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While we were all just standing around a black bear nonchalantly walked past us and then disappeared into the forest. It happened so quickly and unexpectedly none of us got a picture. But I finally saw a bear. <br />
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I almost forgot to mention that I visited Old Faithful. The geyser erupts every 92 minutes, I later learned. I had meandered around the park before walking over to Old Faithful but apparently timed it perfectly. A big crowd had gathered and had been waiting patiently. I just walked up to the line of people pulled out my camera and camcorder and started filming just as the geyser erupted. Good thing I had both cameras. Turns out I left the lens cap on the camcorder. Amateur mistake.<br />
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Later that day I returned to my campsite and was greeted by our campgrounds caretaker. He wanted us campers to be sure to lock up all food and food prep items because of bears in the area. He then informed me that all sorts of critters pass through my campsite at night on their way to their food sources and water on the other side of the campgrounds. He said bears are known to prowl all night long if they haven't found enough food during the day. Great! Just what I wanted to hear.<br />
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The good news was that I had a new neighbor. A couple in a tent. Finally someone to chat with.<br />
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Overnight the temperatures dropped into the lower 20s but at least it wasn't windy or raining. I thought I might be bothered by critters mulling about outside my tent but I think the very loud snoring from my tent neighbor scared everything away. Believe it or not that snoring provided me an opportunity to have a very restful night. Didn't even mind the cold. Too bad they were only staying one night.<br />
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The next day I explored the northeast and northern portions of the park. There are a lot of meadow areas inhabited by deer, elk and of course bison. The bison reminded me of the very funny YouTube clip of the honey badger. Just like the honey badger...bison don't care. They do whatever they want. Including jumping out in front of cars and blocking the roadways.<br />
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If you're a bison with an itchy head you find a nice sturdy park sign to use as a scratching post. Bison don't care!<br />
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.Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-29908620457902134282012-06-09T23:25:00.001-07:002012-06-09T23:25:27.121-07:00SO SORRY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO UPDATE MY BLOG. I HAD NO ACCESS TO A WORKING INTERNET CONNECTION FOR NEARLY A WEEK. THERE'S SO MUCH TO CATCH YOU UP ON. SO HERE GOES.<br />
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On 5/31 I made my way to the Seattle area where I checked into a hotel and immediately jumped in the shower. As you recall I quickly packed up my camping gear in the rain at Mt. Rainier and had gone without a shower for a few days. But I guess that's what makes it CAMPING! So after I cleaned up I retrieved my tent from its muddy sack and attempted to shake off the debris and dry it out in my hotel room. My gear was hopelessly soggy and my apologies to hotel staff that had to clean up pine needles and mud I left behind.<br />
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The reason for my stop in Seattle was primarily to visit my nephew Chad and his wife Renae who live in the vicinity. So great to see them. We went to dinner at a local upscale trendy restaurant called Pomegranate. I ordered the fish tacos as I am still in search of the ultimate fish taco.<br />
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Sure looked good. But the chef did something horrible to the fish. It was heavily marinated with way too much salt and mesquite. This is not how you prepare the fish in a fish taco. The fish should be prepared with batter and mild seasonings. Then you spice up the toppings. I also think it should be in a soft & slightly warm flour tortilla or a crunchy taco shell. This taco was inedible but at least the shoestring french fries were delicious. Fortunately Chad and Renae had decent entrees.<br />
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On 6/1 I made my way to Vancouver, BC. It's a relatively short drive from Seattle and of course you must stop at the border where you are greeted by Canadian immigration.<br />
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My immigration officer asked an awful lot of questions about firearms and ammunition of which I had none. Then decided my vehicle needed to be searched. So I was waved off to the "search area" and was asked to wait inside the building. If you recall my car is packed with camping gear. I did leave behind a few items with Chad and Renae hoping to avoid any problems at the border. Oh well. But apparently I passed the inspection. Of course the inspectors did not put things back the way they were so I had to repack my car when I arrived at my Vancouver hotel.</div>
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My hotel was in the Asian area of Vancouver but not in a particularly nice area. I only ventured out in my vehicle as it did not feel safe to walk around the neighborhood. I drove around downtown on a Friday afternoon during rush hour. Probably not a good time since it took forever to get just a few blocks. The downtown area is very hip with lots of high rise housing and plenty of shopping including grocery stores. No doubt this is why it makes sense to live downtown.<br />
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I took a drive through Stanley Park which is like a little island in the downtown area. It is surrounded by the harbor, some beaches and plenty of yachts. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Stanley Park there is a colorful Totem Pole Display. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JekA0v4K8ymPdINF3SQgC7F3mfNDMvRsOlueGvkDajtDZ-3HnqYnFdQU3eFKgtpNiYEOd8joY9KWsX35LxVmAcWpk8oA_hb9VesITfkh9rgU7jRh4-Cf5IXbm5GWopg7LsOu6HR-Zjc/s1600/DSC01206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JekA0v4K8ymPdINF3SQgC7F3mfNDMvRsOlueGvkDajtDZ-3HnqYnFdQU3eFKgtpNiYEOd8joY9KWsX35LxVmAcWpk8oA_hb9VesITfkh9rgU7jRh4-Cf5IXbm5GWopg7LsOu6HR-Zjc/s400/DSC01206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was completely surprised to see palm trees in Vancouver. I'm pretty sure they're real but I don't know how they survive the winter. <br />
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I stopped at the Expo Center downtown where there is a giant Costco Store. I stocked up on water and bought some fresh fruit. This turned out not to be a good idea. The next day when I returned to the US I was once again searched. I did declare the fresh fruit I bought at Costco but apparently forgot to mention a lone orange floating around the bottom of my cooler. The US agriculture inspector informed me that I was subject to a $300 fine for each undeclared produce item. Fortunately for me she was in a generous mood and decided to give me just a warning. My fresh fruit was confiscated of course. So weird because the fresh fruit were "products of the US" according to their labels. Oh well...lesson learned.<br />
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On 6/2 I made my way to Spokane, WA for the night. The drive through central and eastern WA is desert like with high plains of rye grass. Eventually you get to farming areas where there are endless fields of alfalfa, beans, peas, corn and potatoes. But no apple orchards. Where are those famous Washington apples grown?<br />
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The next day I drove to the west entrance of Glacier National Park in northwestern MT. I fully intended to cut through the park to get to my campsite at St. Mary's lake on the east side of the park. The ranger informed me that the road is still closed due to snow. Hmmm. That snow thing again. So I drove 80 miles around the southern border of the park to get to my campsite. Along the way I drove on Rt. 49 that is on the southeast side of the park. This road is a single lane partially paved uneven winding road up the side of a mountain. There are steep drop offs and people frequently stop on narrow "turn outs" to take pictures. The problem? The speed limit is 70 mph!!!!! But the views are spectacular. <br />
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I anticipated that this campsite would be my most challenging and potentially dangerous. Glacier NP has the highest US population of grizzly bears. There are also plenty of black bears and mountain lions of course. The ranger informed me that bears were nearby and I saw signs of recent bear activity in close proximity to my campgrounds. But again the views from my campsite were spectacular and worth the risk.<br />
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Miles driven so far: 5,488.<br />
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After setting up my tent I met some of my camping neighbors. It turns out that there were 5 women traveling in RVs across country together. They belong to an organization just for women who RV: <b>Womenrv.com/forum</b>. They communicate via the Internet to plan meeting up at various campsites around the country and beyond. Each had their own RV of course. Happily for me they did not shun me for "tenting". They welcomed me into their clan and we had a lovely evening sitting around a campfire.<br />
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Meet the ladies & their dogs: Tina from OH with her dogs Stuart Little, Herschel & Remi; Mitch from TN with her dog Abby; Nan from FL with her dogs Bear & Spring; Nancy (Birdie) from TX; and Liz from FL (not pictured). <br />
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I hope I got every one's name right and their dogs right.<br />
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What a great bunch of people. Sadly they were leaving the next day. They had already been in the park for several days and were now heading to Alaska. </div>
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On 6/4 I drove out to the Many Glacier area of the park in search of wildlife. I spotted a snowshoe rabbit but couldn't get a photo. Too quick. Then I spotted a moose with her calf playing in the lake. They disappeared quickly into the forest. So this was my only clear shot of them. Still very cool.</div>
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I saw plenty of signs of recent bear activity but alas didn't see any bears.</div>
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I then went into town and had lunch at The Park Cafe. I ordered the fish tacos, of course.</div>
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Now we're getting closer to my ideal fish taco. The fish was salmon! It was lightly battered and set around the outside of the corn tortilla. The tortilla was a little soggy from sitting in the salsa but the seasoning was mild and tasty. Best one yet but I'm still searching for the ultimate.<br />
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While I was having lunch two men entered the restaurant apparently looking for someone. At first I thought they were part of a western singing group because they were wearing identical clothing. Plaid shirts tucked into black pants with suspenders. They had matching cowboy hats. Then I heard them talk. They had the distinctive accent I've heard from our Ohio Amish people. I believe I just saw the Montana version of Amish folk.<br />
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After lunch I drove on Going to the Sun road. It was only open as far as Jackson Point because of snow. This is the most famous drive through the park. The scenery is amazing.<br />
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That night it rained and once again I packed up a soggy tent. Darn, my tent had finally dried out from the last rain. And no bears visited me in the middle of the night. I haven't seen one yet. <br />
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I headed for Yellowstone National Park on 6/5. The drive takes you through central MT to the northwestern border of WY. Along the way you crisscross portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail. There's plenty of landmarks and statutes along the way including the image of Sacajawea holding an infant.<br />
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I entered Yellowstone through the north entrance. <br />
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No sooner do you enter the park than you see animals just hanging out along the roadway. <br />
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I thought, wow this should be easy. The animals come to you so you don't have to go out on the trails looking for them. Not sure why they all seem to face right. Perhaps that's their good side.<br />
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I drove from the north entrance along the park loop on the western side of the park past Mammoth Hot Springs where people have to walk on a boardwalk to keep from stepping into boiling mud. Some people apparently fall or walk into the boiling stuff every year because it seemed like a good idea at the time. <br />
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I made my way past several areas of hot springs, boiling mud and the strong odor of sulfur in the air. Finally arrived at my campsite at Canyon Village. Altitude 8000 ft. It's the highest altitude at which I've camped so far. The air is so crisp and clean; the sky is the bluest at higher altitudes. Picture perfect.<br />
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<b>Whew! I'm exhausted from typing. I'm going to take a break here. Don't worry, I promise I'll finish my story. Check back in a day or two for the rest of my Yellowstone adventure and beyond. </b> <br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-69296905033806300622012-06-02T00:28:00.000-07:002012-06-02T00:28:16.941-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a quiet and very lonely night at my campsite I headed back into Mt. Rainier NP to explore and see what I could see....Oh did I mention that my campsite was primitive? No flush toilets, running water or showers. Good thing I'm only here two nights.<br />
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Anyway, back at the park I encountered a very lovely doe grazing in a lower meadow.<br />
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And finally I found the very creature I sought. The giant banana slug. Actually I found several. None were the lovely yellow color I had anticipated but all were equally slimy. I did not fear the giant slug for I knew I could outrun the beast.<br />
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Ya just can't get enough of these adorable critters!<br />
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And here's my shameless plug for a Columbus area outdoor sporting goods store.<br />
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I drove out toward the Ohanapecosh area of the park. Back up the mountain again but this time there was even more snow than on Paradise Rd.<br />
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WANTED: Serious hikers for ridiculously difficult hiking adventure. With a little luck we might find you sometime later this summer when the snow melts.<br />
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Back in town I stopped at the Wildberry Restaurant where I dined on "Sherpa" fare. I tried the Kukhura Ko Masu. It had lentil soup, curry chicken, toasted bread and some very spicy pickle-like vegetables (lower right). The meal was tasty but very over priced.<br />
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My perfect weather streak came to an end sometime during my last night of camping at Mt. Rainier. By dawn it was a steady rain and a large puddle was forming just outside my "front" door. I quickly packed up my very wet and now muddy gear and headed to Seattle. No time for breakfast this morning. All I wanted to do was get to my hotel and take a long, hot shower.<br />
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Mileage since leaving Columbus: 4400.<br />
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Next up: Seattle and Vancouver, BC. Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-33732520320549360762012-05-31T13:29:00.001-07:002012-05-31T13:29:15.885-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I arrived at Mt. Rainier on 5/29 and reserved a very nice campsite just outside the southwest entrance of the park. Only problem: I was the only camper. I had the whole campgrounds to myself and it got a little lonely. The caretakers were a very nice elderly couple but kept to themselves. I had no one to chat with and met no fun people. <br />
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The park was an interesting combination of dramatic boulder filled river basins and snow capped mountains. My first day there I drove Paradise Rd. to the lodge which is just about at 5300 ft. alt. Not very high considering how much snow I encountered. But the panoramic views were impressive.<br />
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I learned from a park ranger that it was still early in the season for this park which is why the park was relatively uncrowded. The ranger said it was even still too early in the season to spot bears in the park. I did notice that there were no "bear boxes" at my campgrounds. It gave me a little pause for concern since I knew there were black bears in the vicinity. It meant I had to store my food and scented items in my car and take a chance bears would try to get into my car. Oh well better my car than my tent.<br />
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At the Paradise Lodge I stopped by the visitor center and gift shop. There I spotted the not so elusive "chocolate" banana slug. I longed to see the real creature roaming the park. Perhaps tomorrow.<br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-43800926947863364662012-05-29T00:38:00.000-07:002012-05-29T00:38:01.986-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I explored downtown Portland, OR. I visited the REI store and as I walked in the door I saw "my" tent on display. Yep, the Base Camp 4 is a mighty fine tent. At least it has been so far for me. It has stood up to 40 mph winds, dust and I've not had any problems with condensation.<br />
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I also walked around the Pearl District and had brunch at Byways Cafe.<br />
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This restaurant was featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.<br />
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I had their homemade corned beef hash with redskin potatoes. Very satisfying & filling. I also made a new friend. Jonny works at Byways and is a PDX native. PDX is a reference to the Portland Airport but is how residents refer to their hometown. So I'd like to give a shout out to my new friend Jonny and say thanks for the breakfast recommendation. If you're really into big, comfort food breakfasts this is the place for you.<br />
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Tomorrow I say farewell to Portland and head north where I'll be camping at Mt. Rainier National Park, WA. It's not likely that I'll have any internet access. So check back in a few days for what I hope will be more fun adventures from the wilderness.<br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-82991747670013743422012-05-27T23:46:00.000-07:002012-05-27T23:46:06.702-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I left the California coast and headed north for Oregon. I learned that in OR you cannot pump your own gas and the attendant cannot top off your tank because that too is the law. Fortunately OR law does not require you to have an attendant present when you use the gas station restroom.<br />
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I drove to the very popular Crater Lake region. I began to see snow on the ground at 5000 ft altitude. By the time I reached the crater rim at 7113 ft there was significant snow cover. Unfortunately there was also significant cloud cover and I didn't get to see the famous reflection of the mountains in the deep blue lake. It was still pretty spectacular.<br />
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They get so much snow here they have to use snow tunnels to get from one building to another.<br />
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The drive from Crater Lake to Portland was long and tedious thanks to the single lane roadways that lead through the mountainous region. But again the views were spectacular.<br />
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Along the way I snacked on my homemade trail mix. Then after consuming a fair amount I noticed the hole in the bag. It was obviously made by some sort of rodent that chewed its way into the bag. No doubt this occurred when I had stored the bag in the bear box at Yosemite. Yeah, I was totally grossed out! No more trail mix for me.<br />
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I have now driven 4,165 miles since leaving Columbus 2 weeks ago.Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-38202211596054149352012-05-27T01:40:00.000-07:002012-05-27T01:40:51.407-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On my way to the Redwood National Forest & State Park I drove through Eureka where the local theater marquee advertised "Full Puppet Nudity". I only wish I had time to stay for that show!<br />
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I finally made it to the Crescent City area on May 25. I have now driven over 3,700 miles since leaving Columbus. I am in the land of the giants and they are beautiful.<br />
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I had reserved a campsite at Del Norte Coast campgrounds. The camp grounds are about 2.5 miles down a hill and deep in the rain forest. It was dark, damp, mosquito infested and isolated. After trying to set up my tent in various orientations on a postage sized campsite and after discovering I had absolutely no cell phone service in the park I decided to find other housing. The place gave me the creeps and the thought of spending 3 nights there without any way to communicate with the outside world was enough to send me packing. I did briefly meet very nice fellow campers Jack and his wife Elize (forgive my spelling, I lost my notes). They are well seasoned campers from TX and probably don't understand my reluctance to stay there. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut. This place wasn't right for me. <br />
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There was still ample opportunity for me to explore the rain forests and coastline without camping in it. I spent a day hiking on the Coastal Trail and Damnation Creek Trail. The later was a bit of a challenge but I survived it. I chose to ignore the warning someone had scratched in on the sign. <br />
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I tried the fish tacos at a delightful restaurant on the pier and was entirely entertained by the critters hanging around the harbor. The fish tacos: delicious. The pile of harbor seals: smelly.<br />
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Time to say goodbye to CA. Tomorrow I travel to OR.<br />
<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-70244940023093886532012-05-26T22:33:00.000-07:002012-05-26T22:33:18.545-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I bid a fond farewell to Yosemite and headed to the Napa Valley region of CA. Along the way I came across the Jelly Belly factory and had to stop in for a tour. Some of the below appetizing experimental flavors were offered on the tour and for sale in the gift shop. What the hell were they thinking!? And people actually tried them. What I want to know is how much they have to pay someone to taste the actual offensive substances in order to duplicate the flavor in the lab.<br />
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A visit to Napa Valley requires a visit to a winery of course. I stopped at the first place I found and even though it was closing time the nice shop keeper invited me in to sample her wares. It turns out that I was at the Suisun Valley Wine Cooperative and Pat the sales manager happily allowed me to sample wines from several different wineries. It also turns out that Pat has family living in OH. Pat's friend Steve, a real estate agent was on hand to invite me to buy property in CA. If only I could. Nevertheless, we all had a lovely chat. So I'd like to give a shout out to my new friends Pat and Steve. It was nice to meet you.<br />
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Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-1235109914528937682012-05-26T02:21:00.001-07:002012-05-26T02:21:27.729-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The drive from San Luis Obispo to Yosemite National Park began with 100+ miles of barren wasteland. I nearly ran out of gas in the middle of no where. Found a gas station just in time.<br />
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Finally the terrain began to change. There was more green, bigger hills and finally pine trees. When I arrived at the south Yosemite National Park entrance I still had 30+ miles to drive to get to the valley. It's an hour drive up the mountain and an hour drive down the mountain into Yosemite valley. But oh what a view!!!!!!! You even drive through tunnels.<br />
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Miles driven since Columbus, OH: 2,940<br />
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I set up my campsite under pine trees not far from the base of Glacier Point.<br />
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The weather was perfect. Daytime temperatures in the lower 70's and evenings in the lower 50's.<br />
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I finally used my camp stove and had a fabulous breakfast of pancakes & hot chocolate. At Yosemite you cannot leave any food or strong smelling items like soap, toothpaste, bug spray, etc. in your car or tent. There are bears in the park that apparently will disassemble your car to get at whatever smells good to them. I've seen the photos. I had to unload just about everything from my car and lock it in a steel "bear box". Fortunately, no bears visited my campsite. Just the noisy, annoying crows. And a few pushy squirrels.<br />
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I explored the park on foot and by car. There are so many trails, some of which go straight up the side of mountains. I didn't attempt any of those but I did drive 1 1/2 hrs up a mountain to get to Glacier Point and it was worth every sharp, scary turn. At the top you can look across the top of Half Dome (below) and through a telescope I saw several people climbing straight up the face of Half Dome. Totally insane!<br />
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The view across the valley is spectacular!<br />
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You just can't take in all the views at once. You're completely surrounded by dramatic granite walls and lush meadows. <br />
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My campsite neighbor was coincidentally named Marsha. She too was camping solo and had just bought a "mica" brown RAV 4. We had identical vehicles! Coincidence?<br />
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Marsha is a retired school teacher and part time artist. She visits Yosemite several times a year and creates lovely watercolor paintings of the park's most interesting features.<br />
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After 3 wonderful nights of camping in perfect weather it was time to head to my next destination. I packed up slowly and took my time leaving the valley. I just wanted to take another long look at the incredible scenery that surrounded me the past few days.</div>
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-29671695182419614462012-05-24T23:15:00.000-07:002012-05-24T23:15:59.629-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I arrived in Long Beach on May 19 where the weather was perfect. After checking into my hotel I headed to the beach only to find there was absolutely no parking available anywhere and no way to get near the beach. The downtown area and boardwalk was packed solid with people who were attending a huge Gay Pride event.<br />
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I gave up on the beach and went to see the "Queen" instead. Pun intended. But there she was, the Queen Mary all decked out in the harbor. Very cool.<br />
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The next day I visited my nephew's home for brunch. It was nice seeing Drew, Rachel & the girls. Fabulous home guys!<br />
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I then headed up the Pacific Coast Hwy (aka U.S. 1)<br />
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Still no place to park. So I just kept driving north....at a snail's pace! At least the views were fabulous. Especially those precariously perched Malibu homes. Don't those people know there are earth quakes in CA?<br />
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I gave up on U.S. 1 when I got to Ventura and took the freeway. I eventually got to my destination for the evening: San Luis Obispo. This is a college town, home of Cal Polytech. I thought I'd have to spend a boring evening in my hotel room until I discovered this little gem of a restaurant: Vallarta's.<br />
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At Vallarta's my new friend Michelle will supersize your Margarita. Yep, that's 60 ounces of pure heaven! I opted for the normal size one but believe me it's still a kickass Margarita. <br /><br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-81448244215511986692012-05-24T22:10:00.000-07:002012-05-24T22:10:19.541-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After 3 very windy nights camping at the Grand Canyon I was ready to move on to my next adventure. I packed up all my very dusty gear, stuffed it back into my car and headed for the west coast. I drove across the Mohave Desert where I transitioned from my campsite temperature of 40 degrees to about 100 degrees. <br />
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At the CA border all vehicles must stop for inspection. I was more than a little worried that I'd have to unpack my whole car for the inspection and then repack it in the extreme heat. The border guard only asked if I was transporting any fresh fruits and vegetables. I didn't expect that. I said I only had trail mix to which the guard responded, "California does not have any restrictions on trail mix." Well I guess it's true that CA is like a bowl of granola: the land of fruits & nuts.<br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-85980767906060652042012-05-20T00:33:00.000-07:002012-05-20T00:33:02.129-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a decent first night in the tent I set out for my first glimpse of the canyon. It totally took my breath away. No really! I was gasping. In Ohio I reside at an elevation of 823 ft and today I'm hiking at 7000 ft. Even with several months of conditioning I struggled that first hour but I somehow managed to hike 8.5 miles on the "Rim" trail. That last hour was a killer, too. I ran out of water. <br />
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At the Grand Canyon you can be as stupid as you want to be. There is absolutely nothing to prevent you from walking off the edge of the earth!<br />
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Meanwhile back at the campsite I had an unexpected visitor. Yes, that's my car in the foreground.<br />
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This magnificent bull elk in full velvet was very patient with me while I took his picture. <br />
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Besides hiking you can also ride mules. <br />
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They have really cool haircuts but....<br />
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They're very lazy.<br /><br />
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Or you can take the train.<br /><br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-88116863693048645882012-05-19T23:33:00.001-07:002012-05-19T23:33:22.477-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After Santa Fe I drove south through Albuquerque and then west. Shortly I came across a mountain that appeared to have a face.<br />
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I had no idea I'd be passing near the Continental Divide in NM. I really need to study my maps better.<br />
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I tried to have lunch at a western NM McDonald's but it was overrun with high school kids. Here's why.<br />
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I finally crossed into AZ and to Arizonians this is a cloudy day. Along the way I saw my first ever tumbleweed.<br />
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By the time I got to Flagstaff the wind was becoming intense and I struggled to keep my SUV from blowing off the road. It didn't help having a rooftop cargo carrier filled with camping gear.<br />
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I finally arrived at the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. A minor traffic jam and I'm in. Now to find my campsite and set up my tent...in very windy conditions. Well at least it wasn't raining or after dark. <br />
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Distance from Columbus, OH to my campsite: 1930 miles. Elevation: 7000 ft. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV6SlEetJBzoW5MO7lhBibjsnkMpdmeREERFwQMhXzTEIc1LmkZjXuzImmdrhwwgxWBLpVazA80R5z-lnPE6E0pDpmV9P-v6M4shpgZs5gBEs9wtEvcU0_t2KZN5yZYKgsdqUZgRSxTE/s1600/DSC00666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV6SlEetJBzoW5MO7lhBibjsnkMpdmeREERFwQMhXzTEIc1LmkZjXuzImmdrhwwgxWBLpVazA80R5z-lnPE6E0pDpmV9P-v6M4shpgZs5gBEs9wtEvcU0_t2KZN5yZYKgsdqUZgRSxTE/s200/DSC00666.JPG" width="200" /></a>Here's my outdoor workspace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xujCgOT859QEpCy8UZwgrEcH387DvhNafsfitnSjMqF-RjO5wwtT-fccSphp2AWgbTc9hbuztm9nk9sJdEvTytPiAjkuChsTrFGLDtz-fxQOxn5k4wTZKEOdtZT0hkQvD4PkqNtn3h4/s1600/DSC00671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xujCgOT859QEpCy8UZwgrEcH387DvhNafsfitnSjMqF-RjO5wwtT-fccSphp2AWgbTc9hbuztm9nk9sJdEvTytPiAjkuChsTrFGLDtz-fxQOxn5k4wTZKEOdtZT0hkQvD4PkqNtn3h4/s200/DSC00671.JPG" width="200" /> t</a> It took me over an hour to set up in windy conditions. Little did I know some fellow campers were quite amused by my activities. So much so they took a picture of me. I have yet to see the photo. So I'd like to dedicate this post to Debbie from Portland, TX formerly from OH. It was nice to meet you and your husband. Have a great camping summer!</div>Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-29014669424318668492012-05-15T21:29:00.000-07:002012-05-15T21:29:41.189-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-aIiaWchyjWhTmHuauqVY2x5afKWjTDQs3jSZ06RAiE3bALT3cNxs5sdui-fRCTctVqE0gbSnC93Bf25d_dZvw7uJvfpRF45GYbNKYXoP9kszMKBVP-xfyBlgVEy66-7kZEb0ZwrC4o/s1600/DSC00635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-aIiaWchyjWhTmHuauqVY2x5afKWjTDQs3jSZ06RAiE3bALT3cNxs5sdui-fRCTctVqE0gbSnC93Bf25d_dZvw7uJvfpRF45GYbNKYXoP9kszMKBVP-xfyBlgVEy66-7kZEb0ZwrC4o/s320/DSC00635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In Santa Fe I dined at Backroad Pizza. This restaurant was featured in the Food Network's show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I loved the corn meal thin crusted pizza. Good call Guy!<br />
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And finally I want to give a shout out to my new friend at Bank of America, Carlos. If not for Santa Fe and a suspicious credit card transaction alert we would never have had a chance to chat. Here's to all the soles that desire adventure and want to explore their countries at any age.<br />
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The next part of my journey involves camping and hiking at the Grand Canyon. Since I probably will not have Internet it may be a few days before I can add new posts. But I promise it will be worth the wait! Until then my friends.... <br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-76731076490796741972012-05-15T21:14:00.000-07:002012-05-15T21:14:40.688-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Soon after leaving Amarillo the terrain began to take on more desert-like qualities and there was a gradual steady climb in elevation. By the time I got to Santa Fe I was at 7000 ft altitude. The scenery was stunning. Downtown Santa Fe is full of art and beautiful landscaping. At the end of the main plaza is this beautiful historic church: St. Francis Cathedral. <br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-77597034570717256122012-05-15T20:57:00.000-07:002012-05-15T20:57:36.718-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I drove west from Oklahoma City and noticed how the local radio DJs' voices became lower and slower the closer I got to TX. The drive through the TX Panhandle was long and lonely but the bright spot was my stop in Amarillo. There I met a very helpful Chase Bank teller named Jennifer. She told me about a local downtown restaurant: The Potato Factory. Lunch was satisfying. As I was leaving the restaurant I met three individuals who looked rather official in their red jackets. One was carrying a large ceremonial pair of scissors. The ribbon cutting ceremony was about to happen. I only wish I had time to get their story. Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-3678108901296133782012-05-14T19:00:00.000-07:002012-05-14T19:00:24.271-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I drove through MO I was impressed with the gentle rolling hills and lush green forests. Then I came to Springfield, MO and was surprised to learn it's the home of Homer Simpson. Or so they say. Who knew?<br />
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Then I came to Oklahoma where you don't need a tornado to go fast. The speed limit's 75 MPH!<br />
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Also I want to extend my apologies to the butterflies of the world. I think I single handedly wiped out several species as I drove through MO & OK. They met their demise on my windshield. Especially the ones that bleed "yellow". Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-47066951348625337182012-05-14T18:49:00.000-07:002012-05-14T18:50:43.717-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkI3JmXDsjdysYGVvZ-kCRP-0Sj9zeRZXe1ZS10wlWSTNOz5vTWz4PYIRAlp-xAW9JncP8xM8mez0NMDzNIPUa9FcF6iGs3QL_zk7YMx4j5z4d0Dgrpfr7bwshiLq31OawATCFP7T_6M/s1600/DSC00586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkI3JmXDsjdysYGVvZ-kCRP-0Sj9zeRZXe1ZS10wlWSTNOz5vTWz4PYIRAlp-xAW9JncP8xM8mez0NMDzNIPUa9FcF6iGs3QL_zk7YMx4j5z4d0Dgrpfr7bwshiLq31OawATCFP7T_6M/s320/DSC00586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
First stop St. Louis, MO. Not far from the Arch is the Anheiser Busch Institute where you can probably major in beerology. Further down the road I saw a bumper sticker that read "Re-Elect No One". I completely agree. If you're not a Democrat you have No Candidate worth voting for!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-63992681814901924292012-05-14T18:41:00.001-07:002012-05-14T18:41:32.621-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_FHryM0GhKeSuwTIjAvkx48-VKcksTfY_iULlBvxsAIZmTDRCBPqQN2ZfBYBLrPziZRVAsqmFQgK4b_nLb5-p_GiEl4HGRRRbmMxYTiZUKTtrJuR4Q8_SQo6waMm2S51L1M-3H2ZEt4/s1600/DSC00576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_FHryM0GhKeSuwTIjAvkx48-VKcksTfY_iULlBvxsAIZmTDRCBPqQN2ZfBYBLrPziZRVAsqmFQgK4b_nLb5-p_GiEl4HGRRRbmMxYTiZUKTtrJuR4Q8_SQo6waMm2S51L1M-3H2ZEt4/s320/DSC00576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My daughter gave me a nice send off with a beautiful Mother's Day card. Love you Em! Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-11719848026498155392012-05-14T18:36:00.001-07:002012-05-14T18:36:24.159-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8I_e8pVtJlDOccjsdvjxmhls8dNmFOY1zqD9CJyHg6K3OIbc7tQEQ7wkhy11gVRUfJETRXLOzDU8gKNVELETFYSJTO12xQM6oCSPIqVcLUMDgL6GMOYipxMXRMamEw7beXUPxouKvhU/s1600/DSC00574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8I_e8pVtJlDOccjsdvjxmhls8dNmFOY1zqD9CJyHg6K3OIbc7tQEQ7wkhy11gVRUfJETRXLOzDU8gKNVELETFYSJTO12xQM6oCSPIqVcLUMDgL6GMOYipxMXRMamEw7beXUPxouKvhU/s320/DSC00574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My journey has finally begun but not without a few tiny glitches. First I was still packing up the car at 4 AM the day I left. And with only about 4 hours of sleep I also forgot a few things...like my make-up. I discovered the omission when I happened to look in my rear view mirror hours later. Yikes!Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-8793343399031538942012-04-28T23:41:00.000-07:002012-04-28T23:41:12.356-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFHpIkiyvN-mePa4ssT9cEQbAVpnDFsjx0YzwNKtY61AJB_uFtaOefoCWE0ZND16ft-6KMZl0_OGDKmC6OHw115n1dSfWos-U8uj_xy60Qo0XTF3G0hW5BM7pIzciyTALJngmi7tHQmI/s1600/DSC00440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFHpIkiyvN-mePa4ssT9cEQbAVpnDFsjx0YzwNKtY61AJB_uFtaOefoCWE0ZND16ft-6KMZl0_OGDKmC6OHw115n1dSfWos-U8uj_xy60Qo0XTF3G0hW5BM7pIzciyTALJngmi7tHQmI/s320/DSC00440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Research the places you want to visit. Read everything you can about your destination and learn some skills you'll need to have a safe trip.<br />
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Did you know there are over 4000 types of knots? I learned 2 of them. That should be enough.<br />
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Test your gear before your trip.<br />
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This tent was left out in the rain for 24 hours. The rain fly does not cover the sides or vestibule. Water leaked in through the side windows and pooled on the floor of the vestibule. This tent is not designed for rainy camping conditions. It just won't do for my destinations in the Pacific NW.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZRoFxkYuP-KA_sGmk9V1KQtelSGx6W89W0bVhx4MCXLMLCE1vuxmUgWSpB-vGhqYZMkDO_1mf1ErYQJkg6BjLa8a4c9sGMbjeEhGQbEa700odphwkvTox2VAfKkL13BCgkGcVFDRiDs/s1600/DSC00511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZRoFxkYuP-KA_sGmk9V1KQtelSGx6W89W0bVhx4MCXLMLCE1vuxmUgWSpB-vGhqYZMkDO_1mf1ErYQJkg6BjLa8a4c9sGMbjeEhGQbEa700odphwkvTox2VAfKkL13BCgkGcVFDRiDs/s1600/DSC00511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTszy-Q_UCwBZNAhDNd_cA3033dHwXQgZBcChoI-fbdD7Mi24J701ahAFlEVghLzBLRJt5wOWUdWdkWOfQgHFHJjNucO2MiNp071WTAZlB4xagCQCnlHwF7jOvpRFJT1foDzFBdVeHno/s1600/DSC00512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTszy-Q_UCwBZNAhDNd_cA3033dHwXQgZBcChoI-fbdD7Mi24J701ahAFlEVghLzBLRJt5wOWUdWdkWOfQgHFHJjNucO2MiNp071WTAZlB4xagCQCnlHwF7jOvpRFJT1foDzFBdVeHno/s320/DSC00512.JPG" width="320" /></a>Place an article of clothing in your tent when it's raining. After 24 hours this shirt was quite damp even though no rain actually leaked onto it. Conclusion: 100% cotton is no match for 100% humidity.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYr6aZQqNINIol_qbAapQG-VNhyS6rt8fqym1blxYleoqfAsn5WZhwfd4pQpS_VUfO4EIfQL0roR1bqYqYK50x_dsDPxXbogrAsP_43ihJUHiD-bNDA3LQlNjPfOvk9u2GWHC7DJxYZs/s1600/DSC00519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYr6aZQqNINIol_qbAapQG-VNhyS6rt8fqym1blxYleoqfAsn5WZhwfd4pQpS_VUfO4EIfQL0roR1bqYqYK50x_dsDPxXbogrAsP_43ihJUHiD-bNDA3LQlNjPfOvk9u2GWHC7DJxYZs/s320/DSC00519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I tested this camp stove to see how long it would take to boil water. Outdoor temperature was 48 degrees with 25 mph winds. This stove boiled water in 7 minutes! Impressive.<br />
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Of course I used only one burner and it was cranked all the way up. I think it used almost 1/2 the fuel in the propane canister. Oh well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsr_LpM1CbC1q3xVPyq2Q2wgkUB8H-IbVqquceQOnMzy6Vbo6YtY_aelTE5pAXsN9RSJRYboFNPbZ8jRBULecWPmOZmpmHrG-50iRuS78EU6WliOPyy_OstFUuobwGCVpd27HwDuDWfM/s1600/DSC00545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsr_LpM1CbC1q3xVPyq2Q2wgkUB8H-IbVqquceQOnMzy6Vbo6YtY_aelTE5pAXsN9RSJRYboFNPbZ8jRBULecWPmOZmpmHrG-50iRuS78EU6WliOPyy_OstFUuobwGCVpd27HwDuDWfM/s320/DSC00545.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0-KmnU1tu7yohBTpjZDbHc7Aows6mzWsRwDZDSb5c9kLcE2nLN0om86rwM84G6v4RygYvnQdwuBHvuZRcAYuz1wWcpBss_3_wChV6dkLW9876mEUEBqHXHMd2HNcofUp-DgjVsrlJKA/s1600/DSC00541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0-KmnU1tu7yohBTpjZDbHc7Aows6mzWsRwDZDSb5c9kLcE2nLN0om86rwM84G6v4RygYvnQdwuBHvuZRcAYuz1wWcpBss_3_wChV6dkLW9876mEUEBqHXHMd2HNcofUp-DgjVsrlJKA/s320/DSC00541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Got a new tent. Hope this one doesn't leak. It was more complicated to assemble. Luckily this nice lady in the video showed me how to do it. Amazingly it only took her 5 minutes to assemble, thanks to cleaver video editing.<br />
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<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-49909565366183175892012-04-10T21:11:00.000-07:002012-04-28T22:15:52.650-07:00<div style="background-color: white; color: #e06666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">This trip would not be possible without the wonderful support and encouragement of my fam<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span>ily, friends and co-workers. Sort of...</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocaZCkdiYFgoFKW5DQBGXL4zaFGbfmvOL0mmQz1367C3yXrNRN49d97mzydFD3hSUkEeGSAzDrNMqHQYZXJYnNG_e5LW15CtoLyo8zsuNOj3P1M_gAH1gz7gb3ROoIqmOCGU-mzmFGW8/s1600/DSC00500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocaZCkdiYFgoFKW5DQBGXL4zaFGbfmvOL0mmQz1367C3yXrNRN49d97mzydFD3hSUkEeGSAzDrNMqHQYZXJYnNG_e5LW15CtoLyo8zsuNOj3P1M_gAH1gz7gb3ROoIqmOCGU-mzmFGW8/s640/DSC00500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9036581138600578856.post-24210140978324370872012-04-09T22:08:00.000-07:002012-04-09T22:08:01.476-07:00Why Now?Perhaps it's something about my generation: Baby Boomer. The older I get the younger I think. And not too long ago I remembered there was something very important that I wanted to do when I was in my 20's and fresh out of college. I wanted to take a road trip cross country and camp and hike along the way. But life got in the way. Money was tight, careers had to be built and then there was a desire to have a family. So the years rolled by and now retirement looms in the not too distant future. Much has changed...well except for the money thing. My kid's in college now. But it's time to live this dream or perhaps lose it forever.<br />
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In my next entry I will describe how I am preparing for my cross country journey.<br />
<br />Marciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09707869591182216047noreply@blogger.com2