1992 Trip to the Grand Canyon
Topic: travel
Using the same characters as yesterday's Alaska adventure, let us now journey west from Columbia, MD. Actually, before going west I went south and east. To Washington, DC and Rehoboth Beach, DE to be exact. Then we went west. The night before leaving Maryland there was a thunderstorm, and it rained hard in the mountains of West Virginia as well. It cleared up just as we entered Kentucky. We had dinner at a place on the Ohio River in Indiana and spent the night at my uncle's friend in Louisville.
Day 2 took us to St. Meinrad Monastery in Indiana, then St. Louis. I didn't go in the arch, but there's a Western Expansion Museum underneath it. We also did the Budweiser brewery tour (soda and snacks for the kids, O'Doull's for the adults) but the famous Clydesdales were on tour. Our first night of camping had us in Lawrence, Kansas.
Our Kansas welcome was a thunderstorm wake-up call. After decamping we hit the zoo in Topeka. Also of note that day: I saw a Speed Limit 13 sign. Later that day we were making camp again, this time in western Kansas, a little town called Wakeeney. Another thunderstorm wake-up, this time my uncle saw a funnel cloud. We stayed in the office at the campground for shelter until the storm passed. It was the first of three, a single day record that has since been tied twice.
The plan for the night was to camp at Cherry Creek State Park outside Denver, but storm number three blew our tents down as we were leaving to get dinner. We stayed in a hotel instead. We checked out Denver the next day, then stopped at Colorado National Monument before kabin kamping at a KOA. The next day our voyage took us through Utah, where the rocks are red and everywhere. In Kanab, the gas station was full of Japanese tourists taking pictures like they've never seen a gas station before.
We arrived at Grand Canyon's North Rim late that night and slept in the van. I got to see the sunrise over the canyon. Amazing. We spent a few days on the north side before driving 80 miles to get to the other side of the 10 mile wide canyon. Along the way we stopped at the Lake Powell Dam in Page a site at Navajo National Monument, where I got my introduction to the Indian paintbrush, my new favorite flower. Unfortunately, I was sleeping when we passed through Tuba City, a place I always thought sounded interesting.
At the South Rim we had a thunderstorm. That was cool. I also had one of the best days of my life. It involved petting the mules, which you're not supposed to do, and generally being without adult supervision much of the day. When you're 13 it doesn't get any better. There was a presentation about the Civil War amp who explored the canyon in the 1870's and a tram ride along the canyon where they explained some of the history of the canyon. And of course, there was some hiking involved.
After leaving the canyon we first went south to Flagstaff, then east to Albuquerque. We camped 2 nights there, and during the day took a side trip to Santa Fe. There's an art museum and an outdoor plaza. Go there sometime. Next stop was carlsbad Caverns, where the thousands of bats fly out every evening. I got to see that. Imagine how many bugs would be in the desert without those guys.
After going batty, we hoteled in El Paso, then walked across the border and explored Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. We all survived the Mexico experience and were allowed back in the States. After leaving El Paso, we camped in Fort Stockton, a little west Texas frontier post. The sky was the clearest I'd ever seen, free of trees, light, and pollution.
The next mornng we went to the Fort Stockton fort, but it was closed. Instead we drove east and went to a cave. There's a rock formation that looks like a butterfly. Then we camped in San Antonio. They were giving away ice cream there at the campground. They also had a concert and played "Old Yeller" outside at night. Oh, and the Alamo was cool too. I love San Antonio's Riverwalk. It's an urban hiking experience. There are a few old Spanish missions in the city too.
After leaving San Antone, we passed the Republican National Convention in Houston. Texas felt different somewhere that day. It was more humid, there were more trees, and there were rivers. As we got closer to Louisiana, they started to call them bayous. We stayed in a cabin in Lake Charles, Louisiana, our last stop before the Big Easy.
New Orleans is right up there with San Antonio as far as best cities on this trip. I had an outdoor breakfast of crepes at a little cafe. Wrought iron quickly became my favorite design element in architecture. I wish I had more time there. I wanted to do the cemetery tour, or a voodoo ghost walk. And now that I'm over 21 there's Bourbon Street after dark.
In Mississippi, we stopped at the beach in Gulfport/Biloxi. The water was knee high about a half mile out. At some point it really drops off, and I'm glad we didn't go that far. We drove past Jefferson Davis's house. After got to Mobile, Alabama we took a turn to the north and you could tell we were gaining elevation. Dinner was at the Cracker Barrel in Montgomery, then we crossed into Georgia and hit 100,000 miles on the van.
The next day we went to Stone Mountain. The mountain has a carving of Confederate heros (Lee, Davis, and Stonewall Jackson) that was done by the same guy who did Mount Rushmore. There's also a plantation there for folks to explore. We did this, in the rain. We were planning on going to Myrtle Beach next, but because of the rain went to Tennesee instead. Dinner in Chatanooga was at another Cracker Barrel, same table. I believe we also sat in the same seats too. I don't think we all ordered the same thing as before though.
While in Chatanooga, we visited Confederama, a Civil War museum. We made to Virginia after leaving Chatanooga, and spent the night in Staunton in the Shenandoah Valley. The Valley is one of my favorite places. We hit the Caverns of Luray and took Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park before getting back to my uncle's place in Maryland.
While we were running around all over America, my family spent some time at my uncle's place. They really liked riding the water taxi around Baltimore. Becca played with crab legs. The next day, we were all in the car (nothing new for me) headed north and it was all over.
1990's Alaska Adventure
Topic: travel
Well, Loyal Reader, here's my trip to Alaska as promised. We left from Falls Church, VA. Somewhere on the PA Turnpike on Day 1 we lost our car-top carrier (and our tents and sleeping bags too). After a day on the road we made it as far as Rockford, IL. I was traveling with my Uncle Bob, his friend, and her 3 kids. South Dakota was next. We saw the Badlands, Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Then off to Custer National Battlefield (now Little Bighorn since Custer didn't win, why should he get to name it?) and a late night ride to Missoula, MT.
A day later and we were in Seattle. Next, my first flight, up to Anchorage. I slept through it. Arrival in Alaska was a shock as it was in the 70's and people were wearing shorts. I had on a winter coat. The highlights in Alaska included Earthquake Park (a neighborhood devestated and buried by the 1964 earthquake), Denali National Park (too a really great hike there), a glacier somewhere, and panning for gold.
After 6 or 7 days in Alaska we flew back to Seattle. I played mini golf at Seattle Center and hit a hole in one on the next hole. Headed back east, we first went south to Portland, passing through Pierce County, home to Heather and her family who I didn't know yet.
We cut east across Oregon and Idaho and made our way to Yellowstone. I can't wait to go back. Geysers, mudpots, hot springs, elk..... You have to go there yourself. Continuing east, we rode horses in Cheyenne. The pronghorns were everywhere. There's a pony Express station in Nebraska we visited. I had lunch with a chipmunk in Iowa.
Chicago the second time through was more fun than the first. Westbound we drove through in a thunderstorm. Eastbound, we spent the day. No signs of Ferris Beuller though. The Field Museum had a huge Egyptian exhibit. It was like being in ancient Egypt. I also saw the Buckingham (Al Bundy) Fountain in Lincoln (not Linkin) Park. Indiana brought us to Notre Dame's Touchdown Jesus and First Down Moses.
After another night of camping, I was home and the journey of a lifetime was over. Fret not, my Loyal Reader. For in just 2 short years I would be crossing the country with the same cast of characters. Read about 1992's Grand Canyon Expedition tomorrow!
Summer Daydream
Topic: travel
Summer is almost over, so let's think back to our favorite summer vacations of all time! Here are some of mine, in no particular order: Florida, 1987 and 1988; Alaska, 1990; Arizona, 1992; Washington, 1999; Pennsylvania, 2000; Florida, 2007; and a bunch of smaller trips to places like Gettysburg, PA and Cape May, NJ.
Starting with Floirida in the 80's, it was my first time on the train. Disney is great, so is Sea World. Gatorland Zoo is a must for kids who like gators. I enjoyes the hot, humid weather and daily thunderstorms. The air smelled like tropical flowers and there were lizards running around Orlando like crazy. I think they even outnumbered the old folks. Since it was 20 years ago there's not a whole lot of details I remember, just the rides at Disney were great and I'm sure they're even better now. Check back tomorrow for Alaska!
DQ Update:
The golf cart DQ "fixed" stopped working again over the weekend. He has it back again, starting today. The Dude told me DQ had it running again. Only for himself? He's also working on the tractor. With the pressure washer. When you're car's acting funny the first thing to do is take it to the car wash.
It's That Time of the Month
Topic: Days of Jeff's Life
Yesterday I was working in the office when DQ came in doing his patented "I have issues" walk. The issue- he wanted his money for working on the golf cart, which by the way is running. All day. However, the manager had gone home already. He was fuming! He said he's tired of chasing her around all the time. Which explains why he didn't chase her around Monday or Tuesday, and why he didn't start chasing her around until 4 PM on Wednesday. He kept going on and on about his medication, and even pulled out a piece of paper that I couldn't read but presumably was a list of medications. Then he said "I guess I'll have to go up there [the manager's house]." He never did, he just came back to the office and did it all over again. The whole time The Dude was sitting in the corner, having just gotten off the phone. Afterwards he came up and said, "I was sitting there crying because I couldn't laugh!"
Apparently the medication issue comes up every month right around now. DQ needs his pills but either can't afford them until they've run out or he runs out before a month is over. Whatever the cause, he goes into hiding for a few days right about now. It can never last long enough.
Weird Wednesdays
A new weekly segment recapping our "Weird Wednesday" TV watching tradition!
Last night on Ghost Hunters International, the 8:00 episode was almost over when we reached the TV. The crew was in Englad, checking out a potentially haunted location. The woods there is said to hold the souls of people whomhave gotten lost in there and never come out. You can still hear their screams today. Half a minute into the woods, they hear screaming, followed by footsteps of something unseen. The entire crew goes in and hears the screams. After wrapping up, they investigate further and learn that a vixen fox makes the same sound. No paranormal activity.
The new 9:00 episode took us to Romania. First to Banffy Castle, a renovation project for students. The GHI crew was able to debunk shadows walking across a room, but at the same time observed shadows walking across a room with no floor. There were also sounds coing from said floorless room, and flashes of light. A quick check by radio revealed no one was near the room.
Later, while investigating the floorless room a sound was heard by the entrance (right under the floorless room). At the same time, another investigator was set up away from the castle using identical cameras to take pictures of the outside of the building. One was normal, the other was set to pick up full spectrum (visible, UV, and infrared). Every 3 seconds he'd push both buttons at once. Everything was fine, until... there's a streak of light on the full spectrum camera, right at the entrance.
The second half took us to Dracula's castle where nothing out of the ordinary happened.
