Thursday August 28, 2008

Thursday - August 28, 2008

64,872 miles on Trailblazer

9:30 a.m. - It is foggy and 67 degrees here in Holland, Michigan by Lake Michigan this morning. This motel does not have any "breakfast" only toast and jam, coffee and juice. So we are going to go to Denny's and have some breakfast before we take off for Mt. Pleasant. It is only a few hours drive so we have plenty of time. The bed in this motel was probably the worse one we had, plus we are both tired and just wanting to stop! hahahahahaha

10:30 a.m. - Had a good breakfast at Denny's and now on the road with still overcast skies. The only problem now is there is a big traffic jam here on I-196 north and another one on US 131 going to Mt. Pleasant! Oh well, at least we have a full stomach. We stopped for gas and it was $3.79 a gallon, which is what it has been all along in Michigan. In fact most of the time it has been on the high side. Talked with Lyle today and he said it was suppose to get to 107 today in Sacramento area and Cindy said it got to 105 in Merced and is suppose to be hotter tomorrow. WOW---- We probably won't see another 100 degree weather until June in Merced, CA.

1:00 p.m. - We have reached 5232 E. Broadway Road #100 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with still over cast skies and 75 degrees.

Thank you all for "coming along for the ride" and I will try and keep this blog up while in Michigan. It has been probably one of the best drives we have taken, but also one of the most tiring. Staying in a different state every night is a LOT of driving.

love you all and keep in touch

Drove 115 miles today

Drove 3,094 miles total!!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wednesday - August 27, 2008

64,419 Miles on Trailblazer

9:30 a.m. - On the road with cloudy skies and 64 degree temperature from Colfax, Iowa. Colfax is about 15 miles East of Des Moines, Iowa. Had a good rest and took a picture of Frank and Abby at the back of the motel. A corn field on one side and a field of soy beans on the other. The McDonald sign in the background was where we got our salad for dinner. We try to eat before we settle in for the night, so that once we park the car and trailer we are set until the morning.

12:00 noon - There are acres and acres of corn and soy beans and some alfalfa. Don't know where all this corn goes, it sure is a lot. All through the state of Iowa the rest stops have wireless Internet which makes it handy for RV's and truckers. Also if you are caught speeding in a construction zone it is a $1000 fine and if you hit a worker, it is $10,000 plus 14 yrs. in jail! A lot of the construction sites have a camera on top of the meter sign that tells you how fast you are going and if you are speeding, you get your picture taken!! Smile! We are in Davenport, Iowa and crossing the mighty Mississippi River which is a nice big beautiful river and we have a nice temperature of 80 degree and sunny skies. As soon as we cross the Mississippi we are in the state of Illinois. On our way to the Chicago area and Lake Michigan. We are still seeing corn and soy beans but not there is an animal or two thrown in.---cows, sheep, etc.

3:11 p.m. - We crossed into Indiana and changed time zones for the last time. We are now 3 hours ahead of California and the temperature is 82 degrees and sunny. Gas on the Turnpike was $4.11 a gallon!! Guess they figured if you need gas, you'll pay.

5:01 p.m. - With 2,891 miles traveled we got to the Michigan State Line!!! Whew! The weather is a pleasant 78 degrees and sunny, just a beautiful day today we have had. The clouds earlier in the day burned away about 11:00 a.m. and it has been sunny since. We got gas at #3.79 gallon. No cheap gas here either.

7:30 p.m. - Pulled into the motel in Holland, Michigan to spend the night, since it would be too late to continue on to Mt. Pleasant. This way we can take our time tomorrow and get to our place around noon.

Drove 453 miles today!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tuesday - August 26, 2008

63,932 miles on 2004 Trailblazer

8:00 a.m. - Left on a cloudy day today with the temperature about 62 degrees. This is probably the first cloudy day we have seen since February. This part of Nebraska(North Platte area) is expecting rain and thunderstorms today. It was suppose to rain and thunder last night, but it didn't happen. We are hoping to get someplace in Iowa tonight. We changed time zones again and we are now 2 hours ahead of California, in the Central Time Zone.

11:00 a.m. - We are still plugging along on I-80 East. We are about 2 hours west of Grand Island, Nebraska with very nice weather - 74 degrees and sunny. It looks like we got out of the stormy weather and should have sunny skies all day.A little on the windy side with the wind being SE.

1:00 p.m. - We had some lunch and got gas at $3.59 a gallon and that is the cheapest gas so far. This Central US seems to always have the cheapest gas for some reason. The temperature is still a nice 73 degrees with some sun once in awhile peeking out from the clouds. Talked with Barbara just now and baby Kayelyn seems to be doing good and Mama Erika is coming along, but still needs special care. Andrew seems to be hanging there and is glad his little family is getting better. Talked with Eleanor and they will be heading to the Upper Peninsula for the Labor Day Weekend. We are hoping to be able to go to their cabin for some R & R and do some fishing, 4-wheeling, etc.

2:30 p.m. - In Lincoln, Neb. now which is the state capital. There is major construction going on here on I-80 and there has been construction along this route since we started. Every state we have been in except California on I-5 has had some kind of work being done. The temperature is still nice with a cloud covering keeping it in the mid 70's, the gas here in Nebraska is $3.38 a gallon.

3:30 p.m. - We are crossing the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska to Iowa on I-80. There are crazy drivers here all in a hurry. With the speed limit only 55 m.p.h. here they are edgy. Seeing a lot of corn and bean fields on both sides of the road.

6:00 p.m. - Pulled into the motel for the night. We are staying at a Microtel Motel this time. We have never stayed in one and they take pets and the room is very big, clean and probably the nicest one we have stayed in so far. The Comfort Inn's is where we have been at and they are very nice also and take pets. We had a nice dinner, relaxed and went to sleep. This is a picture of the corn fields around the motel in Colfax, Iowa which is about 15 miles east of Omaha, Neb.

Drove 487 miles today

Monday-Aug.25, 2008

Monday Aug. 25, 2008

63,499 miles on Trailblazer

8:00 a.m. - On the road after getting gas at $3.89 a gallon and also some ice. It is a beautiful morning again with a temp of about 60 degrees and sunny blue skies. The days have been just beautiful so far, especially the mornings. We are hoping to get to Nebraska tonight.

12:30 p.m. -We stopped for gas and food and we also crossed the Continental Divide at 7250 ft. around Laramie, WY with 82 degrees and sunny. We are about 50 miles west of Cheyenne, WY with lots of cowboys here. We are seeing some trees for the first time since we left Oregon. What a pleasant scene it is. Idaho was farming, sagebrush for miles and miles on both sides of the road.

2:20 p.m. - We crossed the Nebraska state line at 83 degrees. This is a really boring drive for both of us. Nothing again except more sagebrush, don't know what happened to the farm lands that are suppose to be here.

3:15 p.m. - We are passing a Cabela's store here in Sidney, Nebraska. We have gone to this one before and it is a lot like the one in Michigan. Frank did not want to stop here this time. We are 118 miles from North Platte, Neb.

5:15 p.m. - We pulled into the motel at Ogallala, Nebraska which is about 53 miles west of North Platte, Nebraska. We decided to stay here instead of North Platte because of time. It is a good time to stop since we are both tires and in about 40 miles we will be in a different time zone of one hour ahead and it will be close to 7:00 p.m. by the time we settle in and then have to go and eat. We went out to have dinner and relax a bit in the motel. We will start out tomorrow again nice and early. There is suppose to be a thunderstorm coming through here tonight. Hope not, for Abby's sake. We are about 1/2 way to Michigan.

Drove 433 miles today

Sunday August 24, 2008

Sunday - August 24, 2008

63,020 Miles on Trailblazer

9:00 a.m. - On the road towards Wyoming in a beautiful morning with a temp of about 70 degrees and sunny clear skies. Had a good night sleep and ready to rock and roll.

11:30 a.m. - We are going through Twin Falls, Idaho and on our way to Pocatello,Idaho then down to Rock Springs Wyo. We talked with Eleanor and Barbara today and all is well with them. Barbara got to see her new "granddaughter" and give Andrew some support. Erika is still under the doctors care in the hospital, but is coming along good. It is a little warm here already at 83 degrees. This area is suppose to reach the high of 90 degrees today and I think they will make it.

1:30 p.m. - We are on I-15 south and headed for US 30 south to take us down to Rock Springs, WY. We are traveling between canyons and are now at an elevation of 4700 ft and climbing. It is 90 degrees and you would think it would be much cooler this high up.

3:45 p.m. - We crossed the Wyoming state line and we have the same countryside as we have been seeing for awhile. There is a small town called Georgetown that is nestled among the canyons and is very cute and clean. This area is a lot like the Altamont Pass in CA with the rolling hills except now we are at 6500 ft. but still 90 degrees! The government has come through here and built 8 ft. fences along the road so the deer cannot cross. Quite amazing. We talked with Lyle today and he is doing ok, just waiting for the tomato season to end. He keeps in touch and wants to know exactly where we are because he tracks us on the map.

6:30 p.m. - Pulled into the motel in Rock Springs, Wyo and it is 86 degrees here and a little humid. We went through a dark cloud and got a few sprinkles on the windshield, but nothing much. Abby went freaky and we gave her some medicine to calm her down.

7:30 p.m. - Walked across the street to eat at "Wingers" which is exactly what is sounds like a place where their specialty is hot wings. Was good food and interesting clientele. We are ready for the sack.

Drove 221 miles today

Ca to Michigan-August, 2008 Starting Merced

Well here it is Thursday Aug. 21, 2008 and we are leaving Merced with 61, 893 miles on our Trailblazer pulling a Pace Trailer.

8:40 a.m. - starting out on a beautiful morning and the temp is 75 degrees and a bright and sunny clear skies. Locked everything up and hoping all goes well until we return.

12:00 p.m. - We got to Lyle and Elaine's and Lyle was still sleeping, so we chatted with Elaine for awhile and then Lyle woke up just in time to say goodbye. He is working the night shift during the tomato season and his hours are from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. He is one tired puppy.

1:30 p.m. - We are just pulling away from the Tiahrt's in Williams and on our way north on I-5. Talked to Barbara today and her and Dick will be flying into Oakland Airport sometime this p.m. from their vacation in Seattle, WA.

4:30 p.m. - In the Mt. Shasta area and the temperature is now a nice 86 degrees. It was 94 degrees in Redding about 1/2 hour ago! No snow on any of the mountains this year. 2 years ago when we came this way there was snow on the ground and on the mountains. the elevation here in Dunsmore is 3,000 ft.

5:15 p.m. - We are now pulling into a Comfort Inn in Yreka, CA for the night. We have not taken this route before and it was just beautiful. The weather could not have been better, clear, blue skies with a comfortable temp of 83 degrees and a nice breeze.

6:30 p.m. - We walked across the street to the "Big Brown Bear Diner" where the food was very good. They serve your food on platters and they don't skimp on the food. Their theory is if you don't say WOW! you must have order only bread. hahahahaha. Abby was very good and started to freak out when she heard some popping by pop guns in the fields to ward off birds eating the crops. My pep groomer told me about a herbal relaxer I could give her and it would just take her stress away and calm her down, instead of taking Valium. So we tried it and it worked!!! She slept like a baby all the rest of the way.

Drove 379 miles today

FRIDAY AUG. 22, 2008

62,272 MILES ON TRAILBLAZER

9:00 a.m. - On the road after a good night sleep and the temp is 65 degrees and sunny. It is just beautiful up here in Yreka country. We got our walk in today along a little river we found. Got a picture of Frank trying to pick some blackberries. There are lots of blackberry bushes here and they are just staring to ripen.

10:00 a.m. - Crossed into Oregon and it just beautiful here among the Siskiyou Mtn. Range. Everything is nice and green and we are at the 3,000 ft. level and climbing to 4500.

11:00 a.m. - We stopped for gas at a Cosco in Medford, Or and found out that you are not allowed to put gas in your car yourself, you have to have the attendant do it and it took us about 20 min. to get through the line, but the gas was $3.88 a gal. We are getting about 15 m.p.g. today going through the mtns. while yesterday we got 16 m.p.g.

12:30 p.m. - Just cruzin along I-5 north through Grants Pass, Myrtle Creek, Eugene, etc and still beautiful weather and 71 degrees. We are all doing good, no aches, pains, or panic attacks.

2:30 p.m. - stopped at a nice rest stop and had Abby run after her ball to tire her out and had a little lunch. This is the third time we have gone through Oregon but never this way and we like it a lot, it is very beautiful.

4:00 p.m. - Arrived at Chuck and Shirley's place in Salem, OR and Shirley was out picking blueberries for dessert. They were very good by the way. Had a great dinner with them and ate outside on the patio, the weather was so nice. Great company and great food. Chuck and Frank, as cousins, saw each other on a regular basis growing up and so we had a great time listening to the stories they had to tell. We spent the night at their lovely home and we will leave early tomorrow to continue our trip.

Drove 300 miles today

SATURDAY - AUGUST 23, 2008

62,572 MILES ON TRAILBLAZER

7:30 a.m. - Left Chuck and Shirley's after a nice a.m. with them. On the way hopefully to Boise, Idaho today.

8:45 a.m. - Saw a sign that said, Welcome to Detroit---(Oregon) about 78 miles from Bend, OR. We are on the West Cascades Scenic Waterway along the river at a temp of 51 degrees. Kinda chilly this a.m. On the Santian Pass at 4000 ft. We have Mt. Washington at 7,794 ft on our right. Just a drop of snow on the side, not much.

10:30 a.m. - Going through Bend, OR which is just beautiful and it is the last hurrah before we see for miles and miles only grazing flat land.

12:19 p.m. - Barbara just called and said that Andrew and Erika just had their little baby girl, Kayeln about an hour ago!!!! Fabulous!! Can't believe she is a grandma now! I am so happy for both of them, it has been a long day.

1:00 p.m. - Going through a town called Burns, OR and it is very warm and we had to get gas and it is $4.08 a gallon. O well.

5:30 p.m. - We just crossed over the state line into Idaho and it is warm.

7:00 p.m. - Staying a the Comfort Inn in Boise, Idaho after going to 2 Comfort Inn Suites and being told no dogs. These Comfort Inn's are very nice, clean and take animals. We will get something to eat and call it a day, it's been a long one.

Drove 448 miles today

Visit at the Gonzales Home

Well, I just got back from The Gonzales's in LaVerne, Ca and had a very enjoyable 4 days. We hung out by the pool, made some summor's by the fire pit, saw a show, visited Amy, saw Antonio play baseball, experienced an earthquake and had a peek in the very hectic Gonzales life style. I loved every minute and came home feeling younger! Frank and Abby did very well without me and I had to convince Abby that my side of the bed is for ME! I will post pictures I took, which are not too many, as soon as I get my computer back. My laptop needs a new motherboard and it is being sent to me from Dell and I should receive it sometime next week and the guru's here in
Merced are going to put it in for me. Now I am on my old computer in the spare bedroom and I am limited as to what I can do here. All is well, and looking forward to making a nice trip back to Michigan. Hoping to go to Oregon again on the way back. that is a lovely state and we enjoy traveling that way, also we will be visiting Frank's cousin.