What ever happen to the "penny postcard"? I don't care if there not a penny any longer or even 5 cents or 10 cents or whatever, just what happen to them? We Bev and I left on this two plus month motor home trip one thing our grandchildren requested was that we send them post cards as we go along, many and often. There are places you can still get a nice post card, places like historical locations or small towns and communities that are proud and want to show off their beauty or historical presence to the world. But for the most part if your not at a truck stop on an interstate highway your may just be out of luck when it comes to finding a post card.
We know that if you go into most Walgreen's in the Western United States like Arizona you'll find a section of post cards and souvenirs from and about Arizona. We had really know problems west of the Missouri river finding at least one or two places with post cards, but still not the way it used to be that's for sure! If I had one I had dozens upon dozens of stores, gas stations, novelty shops, drug stores etc. tell me they no longer carry post cards...........no longer, phased them out, did not reorder, or here "I have these two or three left". In my home state of Iowa is seems the worst, half the folks didn't know what I was talking about, I'd hear....."do you mean 3x5 index cards"? "you mean cards, try the Hallmark store" which we did in two different locations and they no longer carry post cards. The truck stops usually have a few, not a real big selection but usually we can find at least a card with a pig on it or a cow or truck or rebel flag...you know the shit I'm talking about. Yep in the truck stop their might be next to the skull caps with flames on them.................whatever happen to the "jackalope"?
One thing about post cards though is that the post office does still carry a stamp for them and right now it's a 28 cent polar bear (you know the bear Al Gore says is all but extinct even though their population grew last year....what a joke!). The sad thing is we sent the first 10 to 20 post cards with first class stamps we had 45 cents or whatever, that's another thing why don't they put how much the stamp is on it's face anymore.............sticker shock? Anyway now I have two sheets of polar bear 28 cent stamps and can't fine post cards and will end up using two 28's on regular mail and getting screwed one more time.
If you remember post cards or have a collection keep it because they are becoming a rare commodity it seems to me anyway, and I hope my grandchild save what we've been sending because they just may pay for their college when the time comes. I hear 3% of children from two parents with a masters degrees don't even go to college..................holy shit!
The rain has let up and maybe our team Pokey Spokes can find this fish hatchery we're staying at, a fish hatchery outside of Manchester, Iowa. It rained like hell from the time the team left this morning until just a few minutes ago, so I iced down some warm ones so they guys will have some cold ones!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
RAGBRAI day 5
Pulled out of Charles City about 8:30 and the team pulled out as usual at 7:00 a.m. after a quick breakfast of bagels and cream cheese and fruit, coffee and juice. It was a 82 mile day for team Pokey Spokes and about 60 miles for this support team of Bev and I, and that means we arrived at our next stop (Waterloo) in just over an hour. The Mayor of Charles City bid us a good day and we thanked him for his hospitality and use of his yard, showers and electricity and off we went after locking and loading. One thing RAGBRAI has done for Bev and myself is to give us a routine in breaking camp with the motor home. There is so much to do in breaking camp that the repetition has finally made us good and efficient at getting everything done in a timely manor, including hooking up the Jeep. We've really gotten good at getting the Jeep hooked and ready to go in no time flat, as a team we are working very well with each other and learning valuable short cuts to speed up the process. Now mind you there are times and will be in the future that we won't give a shit how long it takes because we just won't be in a hurry, but from this experience we've learned how to get the job done and done fast and correct if we need it to be.
Our Waterloo host family is on vacation in Canada and have graciously let us go ahead and use there home on this stop over. Travis and Debra Young of Waterloo have a nice big house on a private golf course and have allowed to use two bathrooms down stairs and a bed and a whole lot of floor space so the team doesn't have to sleep in the tents tonight. There are T-storms back in the forecast but as has been the case due at night and not during the days ride, we hope that holds true tomorrow also.
We went in town tonight for dinner and had a good Italian meal at a place called the Brown Pot or something like that, didn't sound too Italian but fooled us for sure with some good meals. After dinner RAGBRAI had the Fab Four preforming at the main music venue near the main campground. If you read face book you know that I really enjoyed the show, these guys were very good as far as sound, looks and costumes were concerned, these guys tonight were the Beatles! I'm telling you if you ever get the chance go see them, you won't regret it.
Tomorrow we head to Manchester, Iowa and the next to last leg of the ride. Two short days of about 40 miles each and we hit the Mississippi river in Dubuque, Iowa. Tomorrow we lose Brian from Chicago, he has to be at a wedding Saturday in Chicago and must leave the ride. This was his first RAGBRIA also and he truly enjoyed it and I'm sure wished he could finish the run, but commitments are commitments as we all know. We also had Steve, Christina's boy friend join the ride today for most of a one day ride and it was good having Steve along. After breakfast Steve and Brian will head back home and the rest of the team will head to Manchester and so will Bev and I in the support vehicle. By the way, Waterloo is a larger city and I now can see why RAGBRAI trys to keep it in smaller cities, quite a few teams seem to have got lost on their ways to their camping area's and that held true for a couple of our riders, with 4 and 6 lane roads in towns this size it's hard for the cyclist and the residence to cooperate on the roadways the way they always should. The venue of all the activities was quite far from a lot of the host homes and camp sites made available and hard for those with just their bikes to get back and forth.
One of the best parts of RAGBRAI for Bev and I is when the team finally arrives at the end of the days ride, we have munchies on the table and beer on ice and we sit for 1/2 hour to an hour to hear the stories from the days ride. Things like the site of the day, the sounds of the day, and the food stops of the day all sound very interesting and make for a whole lot of laughs. The things they see and hear and do during the legs of RAGBRAI are at times the makings of book, still not sure I could do it for a week even if I were in bike riding shape, it's a big commitment to make it the entire 7 days and 400 plus miles each year.
Scrambled eggs and toast and oatmeal for those that want it, coffee as usual and then off we go!
Our Waterloo host family is on vacation in Canada and have graciously let us go ahead and use there home on this stop over. Travis and Debra Young of Waterloo have a nice big house on a private golf course and have allowed to use two bathrooms down stairs and a bed and a whole lot of floor space so the team doesn't have to sleep in the tents tonight. There are T-storms back in the forecast but as has been the case due at night and not during the days ride, we hope that holds true tomorrow also.
We went in town tonight for dinner and had a good Italian meal at a place called the Brown Pot or something like that, didn't sound too Italian but fooled us for sure with some good meals. After dinner RAGBRAI had the Fab Four preforming at the main music venue near the main campground. If you read face book you know that I really enjoyed the show, these guys were very good as far as sound, looks and costumes were concerned, these guys tonight were the Beatles! I'm telling you if you ever get the chance go see them, you won't regret it.
Tomorrow we head to Manchester, Iowa and the next to last leg of the ride. Two short days of about 40 miles each and we hit the Mississippi river in Dubuque, Iowa. Tomorrow we lose Brian from Chicago, he has to be at a wedding Saturday in Chicago and must leave the ride. This was his first RAGBRIA also and he truly enjoyed it and I'm sure wished he could finish the run, but commitments are commitments as we all know. We also had Steve, Christina's boy friend join the ride today for most of a one day ride and it was good having Steve along. After breakfast Steve and Brian will head back home and the rest of the team will head to Manchester and so will Bev and I in the support vehicle. By the way, Waterloo is a larger city and I now can see why RAGBRAI trys to keep it in smaller cities, quite a few teams seem to have got lost on their ways to their camping area's and that held true for a couple of our riders, with 4 and 6 lane roads in towns this size it's hard for the cyclist and the residence to cooperate on the roadways the way they always should. The venue of all the activities was quite far from a lot of the host homes and camp sites made available and hard for those with just their bikes to get back and forth.
One of the best parts of RAGBRAI for Bev and I is when the team finally arrives at the end of the days ride, we have munchies on the table and beer on ice and we sit for 1/2 hour to an hour to hear the stories from the days ride. Things like the site of the day, the sounds of the day, and the food stops of the day all sound very interesting and make for a whole lot of laughs. The things they see and hear and do during the legs of RAGBRAI are at times the makings of book, still not sure I could do it for a week even if I were in bike riding shape, it's a big commitment to make it the entire 7 days and 400 plus miles each year.
Scrambled eggs and toast and oatmeal for those that want it, coffee as usual and then off we go!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
RAGBRAI day 3 and 4
When I left you we were in Algona, since we spent last night in Clear Lake and now we're in Charles Town and leaving for Waterloo in the morning. We stay with Tom and Jan Lovell in Clear Lake yesterday, what a place and they had a second home also on the lake 4 doors down with 5 bedrooms. This was fantastic, the entire team was able to sleep in a bed and not having to pitch a tent, what a great afternoon and night we had. We had planned on sloppy joe's as I said but here again Tom and Jan we're planning a big feed, BBQ chicken and burgers a number of salads (of which this cornbread salad was a thing of beauty.......yes corn bread salad to die for) and plenty of beer and gin and tonic's..................OMG and to be sitting on a patio or down on the dock off the patio with a much needed cool breeze off the lake. Needless to say the sloppy joe's were put on hold for another day.
After showers, some laundry, and a few beers and snacks the team basically just relaxed this night and had many conversations on a vast number of topics. Tom BBQ'd and the meal was just great and they had root beer floats after wards as a treat and boy was it. Non of us went into down town for any of the festivities, just hung around the lake house and enjoyed the cool weather and breeze. We had visitors from Des Moines on this evening and night, Susan and Luara and Brynner came to visit and stayed the night also and for breakfast the next morning. This was truly above and beyond for our host and it was greatly appreciated you can bet on that, especially seeing how they were leaving after us in the morning for Minnesota and then off to Alaska, fishing, hiking and wilderness watching. This was so nice what they did for us and more so considering their schedule right after our leaving.
Their dock went out into the lake a good 50 yards and some of the team went swimming when we first arrived, the water was about 80 degrees and very refreshing. At 10:00 pm the town of Clear Lake had a fireworks show for RAGBRAI and it was top knotch, Bev and I actually went out onto the end of the dock and sat on a bench out there to watch the display, couldn't ask for better seats or weather for such an event. In the morning it was bagels and cream cheese, cheese scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and a muffin variety and off to Charles City, Iowa. This was a short day for the riders and use support vehicles, just at 40 miles so the team had time to relax and goof off on the route and stop in each little town for some kind of grub and ice cream, Bev and I went on a head as usually and got set up at our next host site.
Charles City, and the home of Jim Erb who just happens to be the mayor of Charles City. We have a nice place along the curb in from of his home under very large and shady trees. We got things set up and talked a bit to Jim (when he was around) he was in and out with all the festivities he was speaking at or organizing. The weather was just great, 81 and sunny after a early morning rain between 1:00 am and 4:00 am so this day was the best, until tomorrow when it is scheduled to be even better for the riders.
The team went into the down town area tonight after a great sloppy Joe dinner, yes we finally had the sloppy joe's and Bev did a great job in the preparation. Along with the sloppy joe's we had a cheese tray assortment some beans and I did up some shrimp on the barbie! Plenty of beer on ice when the arrived too, with nuts, chips and dip other stuff. Plenty of activities down town and a couple of good bands and lots of food boths and odds and ends to look at and or buy if you so desire. Back to the RV and tents (yep in Jim's yard with tents tonight but not all that bad) we had a couple of scoops of ice cream, a bit more conversation and off to bed for what is scheduled as a big day with 82 miles. Tomorrow we'll be heading to Waterloo and some great entertainment at their venue, like the Fab Four which is supposed to be one of if not the best Beatles knock offs ever, can't wait to see them tomorrow night.
Bev and I will back up after they pull out at 7:00 am and hit the road to Waterloo and hopefully get some laundry done, yep running out of some duds and gotta do what ya gotta do! See you then......................
After showers, some laundry, and a few beers and snacks the team basically just relaxed this night and had many conversations on a vast number of topics. Tom BBQ'd and the meal was just great and they had root beer floats after wards as a treat and boy was it. Non of us went into down town for any of the festivities, just hung around the lake house and enjoyed the cool weather and breeze. We had visitors from Des Moines on this evening and night, Susan and Luara and Brynner came to visit and stayed the night also and for breakfast the next morning. This was truly above and beyond for our host and it was greatly appreciated you can bet on that, especially seeing how they were leaving after us in the morning for Minnesota and then off to Alaska, fishing, hiking and wilderness watching. This was so nice what they did for us and more so considering their schedule right after our leaving.
Their dock went out into the lake a good 50 yards and some of the team went swimming when we first arrived, the water was about 80 degrees and very refreshing. At 10:00 pm the town of Clear Lake had a fireworks show for RAGBRAI and it was top knotch, Bev and I actually went out onto the end of the dock and sat on a bench out there to watch the display, couldn't ask for better seats or weather for such an event. In the morning it was bagels and cream cheese, cheese scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and a muffin variety and off to Charles City, Iowa. This was a short day for the riders and use support vehicles, just at 40 miles so the team had time to relax and goof off on the route and stop in each little town for some kind of grub and ice cream, Bev and I went on a head as usually and got set up at our next host site.
Charles City, and the home of Jim Erb who just happens to be the mayor of Charles City. We have a nice place along the curb in from of his home under very large and shady trees. We got things set up and talked a bit to Jim (when he was around) he was in and out with all the festivities he was speaking at or organizing. The weather was just great, 81 and sunny after a early morning rain between 1:00 am and 4:00 am so this day was the best, until tomorrow when it is scheduled to be even better for the riders.
The team went into the down town area tonight after a great sloppy Joe dinner, yes we finally had the sloppy joe's and Bev did a great job in the preparation. Along with the sloppy joe's we had a cheese tray assortment some beans and I did up some shrimp on the barbie! Plenty of beer on ice when the arrived too, with nuts, chips and dip other stuff. Plenty of activities down town and a couple of good bands and lots of food boths and odds and ends to look at and or buy if you so desire. Back to the RV and tents (yep in Jim's yard with tents tonight but not all that bad) we had a couple of scoops of ice cream, a bit more conversation and off to bed for what is scheduled as a big day with 82 miles. Tomorrow we'll be heading to Waterloo and some great entertainment at their venue, like the Fab Four which is supposed to be one of if not the best Beatles knock offs ever, can't wait to see them tomorrow night.
Bev and I will back up after they pull out at 7:00 am and hit the road to Waterloo and hopefully get some laundry done, yep running out of some duds and gotta do what ya gotta do! See you then......................
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
RAGBRAI day two in the books!
From Storm Lake to Algona on day two, team Pokey Spokes left the RV at 7:00 am once more after a quick breakfast of blue berry pancakes and hazelnut coffee..............me I still opt for just plain coffee so I made a second pot. Bev and I pulled out after locking and loading all the gear about 8:45 and once more the support vehicle traffic was bumper to bumper for the first half hour or so and then it started thinning out a bit.
On this day two we decided to try and meet the team at what they call a "meeting town" where our routes cross, so we stopped at Pocahontas, Iowa where we ran into a number of chiefs and pocahontas' greeting the thousands upon thousands of cyclists. Shortly after arriving we ran into two of the team, Brian and Nate and had a piece of pie with them and a few pictures. After about 10 to 15 minutes they headed off and we waited approximately another 45 minutes but never ran into the rest of the team and decided to head on to Algona.
We arrived Algona around 10:30 or 11:00 I guess and met our next host Bev Cink (husband Bob was volunteering at the fairgrounds with their church cooking steaks and chops for sale. In case your wondering, yes Stewart Cink (pro golfer) is related to Bob and according to Bev Cink just sends checks each month..............NOT, but that's Bev (knowing me you knew I had to ask!)
This day was going to be our big "sloppy joe" day with all the trimmings waiting for the team, but Bev would have none of that, she had prepared a ham, turkey, salads, pasta, sweets and drinks for the 4 teams she was hosting (yes 4 teams, a total of about 21 riders. No, it's not a mansion, just a quaint little home in Algona with folks with big hearts and Bev loves to cook. A great place to park the RV and a nice soft lawn for those in tents.
Nate and Brian came in first on the century day, yes century day, when those that elect to do so can add a 20 mile loop to the assigned route that makes for a 100 mile day. Team Pokey Spokes and it's six riders all did the century loop and accomplished the 100 mile day...........way to go team! The rest of the team came in about 1 1/2 later because Brian and Nate didn't do much stopping for snacks etc. or waiting in line for Ice Cream!!!
It's now as I'm typing day 3 and the team left just after 7:00 am once more after a relaxing half hour for breakfast and coffee. Bev and I woke up at 5:30 this morning to make the team breakfast, someone mentioned seeing some breakfast burrito's yesterday (while we had pancakes) so we ran with that one this morning! I did up some of my famous canned diced spuds, seasoned of course and sauteed some peppers (red,green & yellow) and onions and combined them in the electric fry pan with the eggs. Bev prepared the table with salsa, cheese, hot sauce, coffee and all the trimmings and then warmed the tortilla's in the microwave. Needless to say team Pokey Spokes enjoyed!
Bev and I have now cleaned up and have stored everything away for our next leg into Clear Lake, Iowa, the place rock and roll died way back when. We'll be thanking our host Bev and Bob Cink shortly and hitting the road................looking forward to tonight, this will be sloppy joe night we think!
On this day two we decided to try and meet the team at what they call a "meeting town" where our routes cross, so we stopped at Pocahontas, Iowa where we ran into a number of chiefs and pocahontas' greeting the thousands upon thousands of cyclists. Shortly after arriving we ran into two of the team, Brian and Nate and had a piece of pie with them and a few pictures. After about 10 to 15 minutes they headed off and we waited approximately another 45 minutes but never ran into the rest of the team and decided to head on to Algona.
We arrived Algona around 10:30 or 11:00 I guess and met our next host Bev Cink (husband Bob was volunteering at the fairgrounds with their church cooking steaks and chops for sale. In case your wondering, yes Stewart Cink (pro golfer) is related to Bob and according to Bev Cink just sends checks each month..............NOT, but that's Bev (knowing me you knew I had to ask!)
This day was going to be our big "sloppy joe" day with all the trimmings waiting for the team, but Bev would have none of that, she had prepared a ham, turkey, salads, pasta, sweets and drinks for the 4 teams she was hosting (yes 4 teams, a total of about 21 riders. No, it's not a mansion, just a quaint little home in Algona with folks with big hearts and Bev loves to cook. A great place to park the RV and a nice soft lawn for those in tents.
Nate and Brian came in first on the century day, yes century day, when those that elect to do so can add a 20 mile loop to the assigned route that makes for a 100 mile day. Team Pokey Spokes and it's six riders all did the century loop and accomplished the 100 mile day...........way to go team! The rest of the team came in about 1 1/2 later because Brian and Nate didn't do much stopping for snacks etc. or waiting in line for Ice Cream!!!
It's now as I'm typing day 3 and the team left just after 7:00 am once more after a relaxing half hour for breakfast and coffee. Bev and I woke up at 5:30 this morning to make the team breakfast, someone mentioned seeing some breakfast burrito's yesterday (while we had pancakes) so we ran with that one this morning! I did up some of my famous canned diced spuds, seasoned of course and sauteed some peppers (red,green & yellow) and onions and combined them in the electric fry pan with the eggs. Bev prepared the table with salsa, cheese, hot sauce, coffee and all the trimmings and then warmed the tortilla's in the microwave. Needless to say team Pokey Spokes enjoyed!
Bev and I have now cleaned up and have stored everything away for our next leg into Clear Lake, Iowa, the place rock and roll died way back when. We'll be thanking our host Bev and Bob Cink shortly and hitting the road................looking forward to tonight, this will be sloppy joe night we think!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
RAGBRAI day one in the books!
Well we left Des Moines Saturday about noon and arrived in Sioux City for the Start of RAGBRAI the following morning. We have host in each city we spend the night in and these host can provide anything from a yard to pitch a tent in to a bed and showers and even food at times. Our first host were Greg and Teri Grupp of Sioux City where we parked the RV on the street and they were most gracious and generous host to say the least. They provide bedrooms for the team and showers and a wonderful meal at the end of the day's festivities in what was a wild scene in down town Sioux City. Literally thousand of bikers at a 4 block long expo with all sorts of vendors and food and beer..........plenty of beer! Live music by Smash Mouth (?) who I guess is a hot band right now and besides 10,000 bikers and at least that many more locals it was quite the crowd. The weather was in rare form, very, very nice for a change and has been since Saturday morning.
We went back to Greg and Teri's place for dinner which Greg stayed behind and prepared, giant burgers on the grille, with fresh picked (that day) Iowa sweet corn.............to die for...........baked beans and Greg's special zucchini dish that was also a treat. We were treated to some rare wines and cold beers and some live music at a neighbors just a few blocks away.
The team woke up at 5:30 and Greg had breakfast ready, sausage, and pan fried eggs topped with a cream cheesed bagel then flipped when the egg was done................I will be trying this at home you can bet on it. The team was a bit off schedule and didn't pull out until just after 7:00 am, Bev and I chatted a bit with Greg, got some directions out of town and to our next stop which was Storm Lake Iowa (Buddy, Popper and Richie fame) and left about 9:30 for Storm Lake via a alternate route than the bikers take. We arrive at Storm Lake about Noon and setup at our second host Melinad Coogan, we have on street parking for the RV and tent space for the Team and showers available in her house. This spot is right in the middle of the action, right on the main street the bikes come in and the section the town shuts down for venders and entertainment. We are smack dap in the middle of everything and it's awesome. Bev and I set-up and spent most of the afternoon watching as the bikers came in to the main street. Groups of two, six, ten etc. virtually all day long until our team arrived at about 3:00 pm. The team all showered and we went the two blocks to the main food area and sampled brats, ribeye sandwiches, pork chops on a stick, and ice cream. I had a cooler of beer on ice and awaiting the team by the way and upon arriving back we drank a few beers and they relaxed before those showers. Out host Melinda plays violin in a volunteer orchestra and they had a concert in the church next door to her house at 7:00 pm so we all attended and it was actually very relaxing and most enjoyable. Now it's 9:00 pm and the Team will be getting up at 5:30 once more and I'll have coffee going and breakfast if they so desire, as of yet it's just coffee and maybe some fruit but I can do pancakes or eggs whatever so we'll see.
Day two is the century day, 100 miles for the team to Algona and it's out "sloppy joe" day so Bev and I will have sloppy joes and all the trimmings ready when they return, which I understand will be much later than the 3 o'clock time today........................Day two next blog!
We went back to Greg and Teri's place for dinner which Greg stayed behind and prepared, giant burgers on the grille, with fresh picked (that day) Iowa sweet corn.............to die for...........baked beans and Greg's special zucchini dish that was also a treat. We were treated to some rare wines and cold beers and some live music at a neighbors just a few blocks away.
The team woke up at 5:30 and Greg had breakfast ready, sausage, and pan fried eggs topped with a cream cheesed bagel then flipped when the egg was done................I will be trying this at home you can bet on it. The team was a bit off schedule and didn't pull out until just after 7:00 am, Bev and I chatted a bit with Greg, got some directions out of town and to our next stop which was Storm Lake Iowa (Buddy, Popper and Richie fame) and left about 9:30 for Storm Lake via a alternate route than the bikers take. We arrive at Storm Lake about Noon and setup at our second host Melinad Coogan, we have on street parking for the RV and tent space for the Team and showers available in her house. This spot is right in the middle of the action, right on the main street the bikes come in and the section the town shuts down for venders and entertainment. We are smack dap in the middle of everything and it's awesome. Bev and I set-up and spent most of the afternoon watching as the bikers came in to the main street. Groups of two, six, ten etc. virtually all day long until our team arrived at about 3:00 pm. The team all showered and we went the two blocks to the main food area and sampled brats, ribeye sandwiches, pork chops on a stick, and ice cream. I had a cooler of beer on ice and awaiting the team by the way and upon arriving back we drank a few beers and they relaxed before those showers. Out host Melinda plays violin in a volunteer orchestra and they had a concert in the church next door to her house at 7:00 pm so we all attended and it was actually very relaxing and most enjoyable. Now it's 9:00 pm and the Team will be getting up at 5:30 once more and I'll have coffee going and breakfast if they so desire, as of yet it's just coffee and maybe some fruit but I can do pancakes or eggs whatever so we'll see.
Day two is the century day, 100 miles for the team to Algona and it's out "sloppy joe" day so Bev and I will have sloppy joes and all the trimmings ready when they return, which I understand will be much later than the 3 o'clock time today........................Day two next blog!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I sue you, you hire me, I probably sue you again and you give me a promotion!
I don't care how you feel about Sherrod and what's been going on the past few days, but now we learn that the president fired her before CNN, FOX, O'Rielly, or anybody else said a word about it on air. CNN, not FOX played the clip and ran with it first is sounds like but yet "little Nickie" (Rahm Emanuel) has said more than once..........we'll twist this to our advantage by spearing FOX. Now whether you like FOX or not you must give some credence to the highest rated network news by far over all the other biased networks reporting what the left wants them to report on. Now for CNN to break this and play the clip first shows a hint of balls on their part, finally becoming a news organization once more rather than a showcase for the left.
But here's what I find amusing about the entire thing, here's a person that sued the government, our government, won big, and then was hired by the same government by the same arm of the government that she sued and now can potentially sue OUR government once more which could just be one of the biggest landmark law suits in history and will no doubt in my mind win! Below you will find a paragraph copied showing her law suit against we the people of the United States.
During the 1980's Sherrod along with other activists sued the USDA in order to protect the remaining black farms which are in danger of becoming shut down. The Department agreed to a compensation which was to be paid between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1999. The event was considered as "the largest civil right settlement in history, with nearly $1 billion being paid to more than 16,000 victims." A bill was passed in 2008 to allow another 70,000 more potential claimants to qualify. Taken from Wikipedia.
Sherrod also has been accused of being communist as many in this administration are and have been associated with. Below another copied sentence from Wikipedia....
She would later return to Georgia to help the Department of Agriculture in Georgia "to help minority farmers keep their land." After finishing her education, Sherrod went to Lee county, Georgia, where she co-founded a black communal farm project known as New Communities Inc., which was modeled on kibbutzim in Israel. The 6,000-acre project was opposed by white farmers, who accused participants of being communists. A drought in the 1970's ultimately led to the project to be shut down in 1985.
All I'm saying is this gal's been around and has taken from our government and taken and now will probably be taking a lot more because SHE made a racist remark.
But here's what I find amusing about the entire thing, here's a person that sued the government, our government, won big, and then was hired by the same government by the same arm of the government that she sued and now can potentially sue OUR government once more which could just be one of the biggest landmark law suits in history and will no doubt in my mind win! Below you will find a paragraph copied showing her law suit against we the people of the United States.
During the 1980's Sherrod along with other activists sued the USDA in order to protect the remaining black farms which are in danger of becoming shut down. The Department agreed to a compensation which was to be paid between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1999. The event was considered as "the largest civil right settlement in history, with nearly $1 billion being paid to more than 16,000 victims." A bill was passed in 2008 to allow another 70,000 more potential claimants to qualify. Taken from Wikipedia.
Sherrod also has been accused of being communist as many in this administration are and have been associated with. Below another copied sentence from Wikipedia....
She would later return to Georgia to help the Department of Agriculture in Georgia "to help minority farmers keep their land." After finishing her education, Sherrod went to Lee county, Georgia, where she co-founded a black communal farm project known as New Communities Inc., which was modeled on kibbutzim in Israel. The 6,000-acre project was opposed by white farmers, who accused participants of being communists. A drought in the 1970's ultimately led to the project to be shut down in 1985.
All I'm saying is this gal's been around and has taken from our government and taken and now will probably be taking a lot more because SHE made a racist remark.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Another one of those days..........
Yes sir, today was another one of those not do to much days. Bev spent most her morning doing laundry here at the park while I looked for a barber to get my ears lowered a bit. She got the whole hair enchilada yesterday so today it was my turn in the chair. Punch "barber shops" into the GPS and came up with three in a 5 or 6 mile radius of the park so off I went to the first. Closed, and now a tattoo shop so on to number 2 and it was close to where GPS said but just before I drove off I seen it next to a tattoo joint. A place called Marty's Barber shop so out I went and up to the door, upon entering I could see Marty sitting in a customers chair, paper open to a page and eyes shut tight. Marty made me look skinny, had a belly that makes mine look almost normal believe that or not. Anyway my entering woke Marty up and as he scrambled up from the chair said "howdy, I usually close early on Wednesdays" and then he said "but I'll cut yours if you'd like"! I had to get back to the park to help Bev fold the laundry so into the chair I jumped! We talked about everything you could think of, Arizona, Iowa, weather, moving, Des Moines water, his son who works for the water works, fishing, NASCAR, and the Hawkeys..........a huge Hawk fan he was! This guy new every game and who played where and what bowl game they went to and he was at those games also. Let's just say after I entered he locked the door (because he closes early on Wednesday) and no interuptions were allowed until he finished each story right at 1 hour and 45 minutes later! And most of you know me, you might say we "educated each other".
The evening took us to Bev's brother place for dinner, and another fine dinner it was.....chicken grilled, salad and "grimes corn" yep we've learned the folks in Iowa and in the know eat "Grimes Corn" and I believe that from the Grimes farm too! If you know your corn on the cob it's peaches and creme corn, that's what they call it and it's mighty tasty too. Trying to figure a way to bring some home but it might not last a week in the basement of the coach. Nieces Laura and Christina were in attendance and Laura's husband John of Toad Valley golf course fame and their son Brynner and of Course brother-in-law Mark and sister-in-law Susan who cooked this dinner.
You know it's 12:45 here in Iowa and I'm tired, see you all tomorrow and hopefully it's more action packed for you.
The evening took us to Bev's brother place for dinner, and another fine dinner it was.....chicken grilled, salad and "grimes corn" yep we've learned the folks in Iowa and in the know eat "Grimes Corn" and I believe that from the Grimes farm too! If you know your corn on the cob it's peaches and creme corn, that's what they call it and it's mighty tasty too. Trying to figure a way to bring some home but it might not last a week in the basement of the coach. Nieces Laura and Christina were in attendance and Laura's husband John of Toad Valley golf course fame and their son Brynner and of Course brother-in-law Mark and sister-in-law Susan who cooked this dinner.
You know it's 12:45 here in Iowa and I'm tired, see you all tomorrow and hopefully it's more action packed for you.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Catching up a bit...............
Well it's been a few days now since I've added a blog entry so I'd better do some catching up. We're in Des Moines now staying at Adventureland RV park, stayed here before and it's a nice one and near most everyone we're seeing. We've got a few days until RAGBRAI (Registers annual great bike ride across Iowa) so hanging out with family on Bev's side and taking care of some business.
Before landing in Des Moines we went through the Quad Cities again and spent two days saying hi again and bye to family and friends there. Saturday a BBQ at brother Russ' place with his family and all the kids and grand kids and did some catching up, besides eating some great brats and burgers. Sunday we went to Trinity Church once more and then joined Mom and sister Nancy brother Dave's bunch at Happy Joe's for a pizza party of sorts. Ate way too much pizza but the BLT and TACO pizza seemed to be most everyone's favorites, my kids will be envying this since they both think Happy Joe's Taco Pizza it to die for! Then we spent Sunday evening and into the night with our good, very good friends Dave and Marilyn, dinner and a lot more talk and reminiscing. All in all it was a short two days but jam packed with family and friends and good times.
Monday we drove through storms and plenty of rain from Davenport to Des Moines and once again the humidity rises, this shit is out of control. One thing though, the new wiper blades worked fine and we had no more wiper trouble................I think I forgot to mention we had wiper problems along the way and had to get new ones in Knoxville, Tennessee at a Camping World.
We got all set up at Adventureland RV park and ate some dinner, skinny pork chops and the trimming and then a visit from Jill and Bob and the kids. A bit of wine, some nuts, a beer and a few sips of apple pie and before you know it's late and time for bed. Golfing with my nephews on this side of the family Tuesday at a place called Toad Valley at 8:52 or as it turns out whenever Bob gets here to pick me up. The rain held off so we got the golf in with nice cool but humid weather, it actually was a good day for golfing. Yep three duffers ( me, Bob and John) and a great golfer in Steve had a good time on the course and us duffers witnessed a very nice 71 by Steve. His putter was lights out all day and he drove the green on two par fours on way to that awesome 71. Did I mention he was pretty much straight as an arrow all day long also, what a great combinations.
Looks like tomorrow will be laundry once more and checking out a couple of RV shops to see about getting an oil change for the rest of the trip. Oh yes and a new gas door lock and set-up, someone tried to jimmy it in Davenport and got discouraged so then I had to pry it open in order to fill up later on the day. Then tomorrow evening it's a dinner at Bev's brothers place to eat and visit and see John and Laura's son for the first time, this will be a good night too I hope. We found out today that we have no riders with Bev and I in the coach for RAGBRAI so from town to town and stop to stop we'll have time to ourselves to set-up and be ready for the troops. Last we know Laura was going to ride with us but that obviously changed, so we have some more alone time with each other and that's not all bad seeing how we enjoy each others company very much.
Until next entry........................................
Before landing in Des Moines we went through the Quad Cities again and spent two days saying hi again and bye to family and friends there. Saturday a BBQ at brother Russ' place with his family and all the kids and grand kids and did some catching up, besides eating some great brats and burgers. Sunday we went to Trinity Church once more and then joined Mom and sister Nancy brother Dave's bunch at Happy Joe's for a pizza party of sorts. Ate way too much pizza but the BLT and TACO pizza seemed to be most everyone's favorites, my kids will be envying this since they both think Happy Joe's Taco Pizza it to die for! Then we spent Sunday evening and into the night with our good, very good friends Dave and Marilyn, dinner and a lot more talk and reminiscing. All in all it was a short two days but jam packed with family and friends and good times.
Monday we drove through storms and plenty of rain from Davenport to Des Moines and once again the humidity rises, this shit is out of control. One thing though, the new wiper blades worked fine and we had no more wiper trouble................I think I forgot to mention we had wiper problems along the way and had to get new ones in Knoxville, Tennessee at a Camping World.
We got all set up at Adventureland RV park and ate some dinner, skinny pork chops and the trimming and then a visit from Jill and Bob and the kids. A bit of wine, some nuts, a beer and a few sips of apple pie and before you know it's late and time for bed. Golfing with my nephews on this side of the family Tuesday at a place called Toad Valley at 8:52 or as it turns out whenever Bob gets here to pick me up. The rain held off so we got the golf in with nice cool but humid weather, it actually was a good day for golfing. Yep three duffers ( me, Bob and John) and a great golfer in Steve had a good time on the course and us duffers witnessed a very nice 71 by Steve. His putter was lights out all day and he drove the green on two par fours on way to that awesome 71. Did I mention he was pretty much straight as an arrow all day long also, what a great combinations.
Looks like tomorrow will be laundry once more and checking out a couple of RV shops to see about getting an oil change for the rest of the trip. Oh yes and a new gas door lock and set-up, someone tried to jimmy it in Davenport and got discouraged so then I had to pry it open in order to fill up later on the day. Then tomorrow evening it's a dinner at Bev's brothers place to eat and visit and see John and Laura's son for the first time, this will be a good night too I hope. We found out today that we have no riders with Bev and I in the coach for RAGBRAI so from town to town and stop to stop we'll have time to ourselves to set-up and be ready for the troops. Last we know Laura was going to ride with us but that obviously changed, so we have some more alone time with each other and that's not all bad seeing how we enjoy each others company very much.
Until next entry........................................
Friday, July 16, 2010
Peoria, Illinois
Just couldn't make it all the way in, it got late and I'm too tired to make it any farther than just outside of Peoria. Right now in a rest area getting ready to take a few hour nap or maybe more and head on into the Quads and West Lake Park tomorrow a.m. early. A couple of days in the Quad Cities and then onto Des Moines on Tuesday a.m. early also!
A couple of things I forgot to mention in the past few days blogs so let's get those taken care of right now.................Aunt Bea's is actually in Mt. Airy and that's where Andy Griffin was born and raise and Mayberry was pattered after Mt. Airy is what I'm told. Galax is a quaint little town where my neighbor Carlisle was born and raised, now I must ask him about a few things upon our return to Phoenix and the first will be: What in the same hell is "Liver Pudding"? If that's what it sounds like, that would be sick! Signs from Cana to Galax to Pipers Gap advertising "Liver Pudding" you've got to be kidding me. The Blue Ridge Parkway is very nice and spooky too, deep, deep trees lining both sides of the narrow road and dense as hell. I would have like to see more of the country side, but couldn't see the forest for the trees and low hanging clouds thick as fog.
Last item for tonight is in reference to my two ladies on this trip. Yes I've had two women on this trip and both as navigators. If you own a GPS you know that the voice can be change to a number of options and I'm partial to english speaking Samantha whom I lovingly like to call Sam. Sam is cool and gets me anywhere just not always the most direct or the way I'd go at times. Bev and Sam are at odds now and then and we've had not one but many spats now and then over Bev and Sam and who's direction I should follow. I must say I'm usually siding with Sam and that's not always the thing to do to keep a happy coach ride. The main problem with Sam is that she doesn't realize what I'm driving, towing and how much room I need to turn and the size streets I need to navigate. Sam also thinks I can turn around on a dime and with the hitch system I have backing up is usually not permitted, so me and Sam get in a bit of trouble now and again with not much sympathy from Bev...................sorry honey, but your still the best navigator I've ever had (honey being Bev don't ya know!)
A couple of things I forgot to mention in the past few days blogs so let's get those taken care of right now.................Aunt Bea's is actually in Mt. Airy and that's where Andy Griffin was born and raise and Mayberry was pattered after Mt. Airy is what I'm told. Galax is a quaint little town where my neighbor Carlisle was born and raised, now I must ask him about a few things upon our return to Phoenix and the first will be: What in the same hell is "Liver Pudding"? If that's what it sounds like, that would be sick! Signs from Cana to Galax to Pipers Gap advertising "Liver Pudding" you've got to be kidding me. The Blue Ridge Parkway is very nice and spooky too, deep, deep trees lining both sides of the narrow road and dense as hell. I would have like to see more of the country side, but couldn't see the forest for the trees and low hanging clouds thick as fog.
Last item for tonight is in reference to my two ladies on this trip. Yes I've had two women on this trip and both as navigators. If you own a GPS you know that the voice can be change to a number of options and I'm partial to english speaking Samantha whom I lovingly like to call Sam. Sam is cool and gets me anywhere just not always the most direct or the way I'd go at times. Bev and Sam are at odds now and then and we've had not one but many spats now and then over Bev and Sam and who's direction I should follow. I must say I'm usually siding with Sam and that's not always the thing to do to keep a happy coach ride. The main problem with Sam is that she doesn't realize what I'm driving, towing and how much room I need to turn and the size streets I need to navigate. Sam also thinks I can turn around on a dime and with the hitch system I have backing up is usually not permitted, so me and Sam get in a bit of trouble now and again with not much sympathy from Bev...................sorry honey, but your still the best navigator I've ever had (honey being Bev don't ya know!)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Kentucky Lake 2010
Ken-Lake State Park on Kentucky Lake, one of many on this huge lake and sister lake Barkley and the vast "Land between the Lakes" area. As I mentioned earlier Bev and I camped and fished here back in 1973 on one of our first "away from home camping trips" and had a wonderful time. Today we were going to look for a restaurant we ate at back then, and I found out before heading out from the camp office the place was called The Iron Kettle. This Iron Kettle was in a small town on the Lake call Grand Rivers, so off we went this morning with the GPS loaded with this information. We found a number of quaint little places but non called the Iron Kettle so we ended up eating lunch at Patti's which turned out to be the best place in town and just plain great homemade meals and deserts.
After getting a few post cards to send to the grand kids we went to the Post Office the get some stamps and mail our cards. I was chatting with the gal behind the counter about our 1973 trip and our wanting to find The Iron Kettle and eat some of that homemade cobbler they served but had no luck and wasn't even sure where it was at. She told me it had been right across the street from the IGA but burnt to the ground about a year ago, and since they had too little insurance couldn't rebuild. You know small towns, everyone knows everything about everybody it seems and so it goes. We weren't nuts though because after talking to numerous residents after learning what had happen they all agreed it was the place to eat before it burnt just over a year ago..............how sad we could not have that hot off the cook stove cobbler we were so looking forward to.
We drove into Paducah to a CVS to pick up some things and while driving around back and forth to Paducah and back to the Lake and around here and around there we still hadn't seen anything that jogged our memory with regards to where we camped back in '73 and had no clue as to a name of a campground or nothing. We went back into Grand Rivers to the IGA to pickup a few items and took another road back to the campground. On the way back we're talking and trying to remember anything we could, then I seen a sign that said Johnathan Creek something and I said to Bev that sounds kind of familiar to me...........Bev said no I still think it was Bear something or something with Bear in it and then all of a sudden we round a bend and see "Lakeside Campground" and both say together "this is it..........as we pass it and cross "Johnathan Creek" at the end of a finger of the Lake. Jeep turned on a dime and we went back and into the camp and right away remembered about where we camped but the grass and dirt was gone and it had been replaced with gravel for the roadways and camp sites. Many more campers in the area and not near as quaint with gravel rather than grass and dirt roads but still this was place and we both smiled at each other with a certain twinkle! Our love is stronger today than ever!
We've decided to just jet our way to Iowa tomorrow, we're actually only about 8 hours out of Davenport so I guess this end of the journey is over and now back and forth across Iowa a couple of times in the next week or two and then towards Phoenix via Texas and cousin Walt. Still alot of journey and stories ahead so stay tuned because I'll continue to blog almost daily don't ya know.
After getting a few post cards to send to the grand kids we went to the Post Office the get some stamps and mail our cards. I was chatting with the gal behind the counter about our 1973 trip and our wanting to find The Iron Kettle and eat some of that homemade cobbler they served but had no luck and wasn't even sure where it was at. She told me it had been right across the street from the IGA but burnt to the ground about a year ago, and since they had too little insurance couldn't rebuild. You know small towns, everyone knows everything about everybody it seems and so it goes. We weren't nuts though because after talking to numerous residents after learning what had happen they all agreed it was the place to eat before it burnt just over a year ago..............how sad we could not have that hot off the cook stove cobbler we were so looking forward to.
We drove into Paducah to a CVS to pick up some things and while driving around back and forth to Paducah and back to the Lake and around here and around there we still hadn't seen anything that jogged our memory with regards to where we camped back in '73 and had no clue as to a name of a campground or nothing. We went back into Grand Rivers to the IGA to pickup a few items and took another road back to the campground. On the way back we're talking and trying to remember anything we could, then I seen a sign that said Johnathan Creek something and I said to Bev that sounds kind of familiar to me...........Bev said no I still think it was Bear something or something with Bear in it and then all of a sudden we round a bend and see "Lakeside Campground" and both say together "this is it..........as we pass it and cross "Johnathan Creek" at the end of a finger of the Lake. Jeep turned on a dime and we went back and into the camp and right away remembered about where we camped but the grass and dirt was gone and it had been replaced with gravel for the roadways and camp sites. Many more campers in the area and not near as quaint with gravel rather than grass and dirt roads but still this was place and we both smiled at each other with a certain twinkle! Our love is stronger today than ever!
We've decided to just jet our way to Iowa tomorrow, we're actually only about 8 hours out of Davenport so I guess this end of the journey is over and now back and forth across Iowa a couple of times in the next week or two and then towards Phoenix via Texas and cousin Walt. Still alot of journey and stories ahead so stay tuned because I'll continue to blog almost daily don't ya know.
Hello Paducah Kentucky
Kentucky Lake is large and beautiful and we're up near Paducah and camping at Kenlake State Park. Came in last night and we'll probably stay for another day and leave Friday sometime heading for St. Louis or there about. Bev and I camped here way back in 1973 when she was pregnant with Lisa, can't at this time remember where we actually camped. Today we'll try and locate this restaurant we feel in love with back then, a small place with the old wood burning stove where they actually baked the biscuits and cobbler and displayed both on top of the stove as you sat and ate in the same room.
Now last time we camped here it was in a 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell on the back, cooked on the old Coleman stove and even still have a picture of this guy flipping a hot cake in the frying pan (caught the cake in mid air in the picture). We rented a boat, got a fishing license and went out onto this massive lake trying to catch some Bass. We were laughing yesterday about when I asked at the bait and tackle shop as most of us do....."what they biting on?" and the fella said "Big O" so Mike bought a couple lures and headed out. Big O was a deep water lure so that meant the Bass where probably deep at the time or this fella had too much inventory of the "Big O's" and wanted to move a couple. A storm came up and with the Lake being so big we encountered white caps and headed that rental 5 hp motor towards shore and truthfully we just made it without capsizing the little aluminum rig we rented. Needless to say we and "Big O" failed to catch any Bass so we most likely had burgers or something like that for dinner, but memories were made and we loved the experience.
It was very, very warm and humid yesterday traveling and we both are still having a hard time getting used to this very very humid weather. At this time I'm not sure how we lived in these conditions for a good portion of our lives and look at each other wondering how and why for that matter folks continue to suffer through this crap, it just plain miserable!
I've got to get moving now, still sitting in my shorts and not showered so lets get ready and take that first of numerous showers we need on a daily basis. Breakfast in the coach and then a ride around the Lake and Paducah, Ky. By the way I've already got a couple of warnings on the "apple pie" and a couple request for sips..............I'm saving some sips for a few good men and women!
Now last time we camped here it was in a 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell on the back, cooked on the old Coleman stove and even still have a picture of this guy flipping a hot cake in the frying pan (caught the cake in mid air in the picture). We rented a boat, got a fishing license and went out onto this massive lake trying to catch some Bass. We were laughing yesterday about when I asked at the bait and tackle shop as most of us do....."what they biting on?" and the fella said "Big O" so Mike bought a couple lures and headed out. Big O was a deep water lure so that meant the Bass where probably deep at the time or this fella had too much inventory of the "Big O's" and wanted to move a couple. A storm came up and with the Lake being so big we encountered white caps and headed that rental 5 hp motor towards shore and truthfully we just made it without capsizing the little aluminum rig we rented. Needless to say we and "Big O" failed to catch any Bass so we most likely had burgers or something like that for dinner, but memories were made and we loved the experience.
It was very, very warm and humid yesterday traveling and we both are still having a hard time getting used to this very very humid weather. At this time I'm not sure how we lived in these conditions for a good portion of our lives and look at each other wondering how and why for that matter folks continue to suffer through this crap, it just plain miserable!
I've got to get moving now, still sitting in my shorts and not showered so lets get ready and take that first of numerous showers we need on a daily basis. Breakfast in the coach and then a ride around the Lake and Paducah, Ky. By the way I've already got a couple of warnings on the "apple pie" and a couple request for sips..............I'm saving some sips for a few good men and women!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
BMS (Bristol Motor Speedway)
Yep right here in the heart of the left turn circuit, Bristol Motor Speedway and it was and is an awesome site. Spent the past day and a half visiting cousin Darilyn and her family and she took us on a tour of her pride and joy...........Bristol. I'm talking some avid NASCAR folks, I thought I new a few of them (NASCAR folks) but I've just visited the heart and soul of this sport. Cousin Walt is a close second I'd say but not like my friends and family in Tennessee, like I said true lovers of NASCAR. Our visit was short but sweet, yep sweet like a great piece of apple pie, real cinnamon apple pie! Why apple pie.........because I had more than just one drink of something called apple pie and it was super! Let me just say for now than I'm bringing a "mason jar" of the stuff home (if it make's it that far and if not I have he recipe) and will share some of it along the way. When it comes to making it the only ingredient I might have trouble rounding up would be the main ingredient and that would be "shine"! Don't forget where I'm at folks, I'm in Tennessee and I'm not sure that ingredient is as abundant in Arizona. I'm told I could substitute ever clear but then my apple pie would be more for sissies......so I'm told.
We're starting to work our way back towards the Mid West and Des Moines and the Quads again...............amazingly enough we still have a buck in our pockets and gas money so we prayer for good weather and no problems! As far as the weather goes, even rain and T-Storms seems to be good weather if your from around these parts or anyplace east of the Missouri river or so it seems! We do miss our dry weather I'm telling no lies when I say that, humidity is for.......other than corn is all I can think of.............not much good for anything or anybody as far as we're concerned.
Spent last night in Warrior's Path State Park, very nice place and set-up as are most State parks, would surely stay here again if the chance ever arises (I think she would, surely that is). Getting ready to shower and hit the road, it's now about 9:30 am and Bev is finishing up her shower and I'm next, be on the road in about an hour I'm guessing. See ya tonight or tomorrow..........
We're starting to work our way back towards the Mid West and Des Moines and the Quads again...............amazingly enough we still have a buck in our pockets and gas money so we prayer for good weather and no problems! As far as the weather goes, even rain and T-Storms seems to be good weather if your from around these parts or anyplace east of the Missouri river or so it seems! We do miss our dry weather I'm telling no lies when I say that, humidity is for.......other than corn is all I can think of.............not much good for anything or anybody as far as we're concerned.
Spent last night in Warrior's Path State Park, very nice place and set-up as are most State parks, would surely stay here again if the chance ever arises (I think she would, surely that is). Getting ready to shower and hit the road, it's now about 9:30 am and Bev is finishing up her shower and I'm next, be on the road in about an hour I'm guessing. See ya tonight or tomorrow..........
Monday, July 12, 2010
July 12th..........Monday
Well here I sit in Birchwood RV park, Durham NC, got the Jeep all hooked up, ate breakfast, showered and waiting for Bev to get done so I can dump and hit the road. Not much news of yesterday or on tap for today, we got the laundry all caught up yesterday and then just relaxed a lot in the afternoon and early evening. Not really much to do or see in "Duke" country, the campus seems to be spread all over the place and more dumpy looking that I would have imagined. The city like a lot of the cities here in this part of the south are full of woods, trees lining most all streets and roads to the point of not being able to see much scenery on either side. Durham looks to be as old a city as it actually is, not really the beautiful southern city I had imagined.
With the threat of T-Storms the next few days throughout this region and on into the Mid West the humidity has become unbearable. Bev and I were just miserable yesterday before during and after doing the laundry, we actually long for some dry weather days like Arizona (Phoenix) and can't ever remember feeling this bad when we lived in the Mid West years ago. We're thinking this humidity may be just unusually brutal right now, but whatever it sure is not they way we would prefer living. I know in the past I've jabbed at the Mid West weather compared to that of Arizona, winter, summer etc. but being totally honest......................this weather sucks! How do you ever get used to being ringing wet all the time, I changed T-shirts 4 times yesterday because each was soaked with perspiration!
OK, I'm off to dump this mornings showers and dish washing stuff and hit the road...........hope today and tomorrow are more exciting! Bristol here we come!
With the threat of T-Storms the next few days throughout this region and on into the Mid West the humidity has become unbearable. Bev and I were just miserable yesterday before during and after doing the laundry, we actually long for some dry weather days like Arizona (Phoenix) and can't ever remember feeling this bad when we lived in the Mid West years ago. We're thinking this humidity may be just unusually brutal right now, but whatever it sure is not they way we would prefer living. I know in the past I've jabbed at the Mid West weather compared to that of Arizona, winter, summer etc. but being totally honest......................this weather sucks! How do you ever get used to being ringing wet all the time, I changed T-shirts 4 times yesterday because each was soaked with perspiration!
OK, I'm off to dump this mornings showers and dish washing stuff and hit the road...........hope today and tomorrow are more exciting! Bristol here we come!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Leaving the East Coast
For a number of reason's we've decided to start heading back to the west and for go a few things we thought at the last minute we might do. We never did plan on visiting New York City and didn't even though we were pretty close and we drove right past Washington DC today and Baltimore. When we left Iowa we hadn't really planned on visiting those places but thought as long as we were that close we might just take the time...............we we've decided against it.
We woke up to rain this morning in Gettysburg and it rained most the way toward DC and we actually planned on finding a RV park and spending a couple of days in the area. Bev spent from the time we left Gettysburg until we hit DC suburbs trying to find and calling numerous RV parks without any luck. Frustration stepped in and before we new it we decided we've had enough history for now and just wanted to head away from the freaking mess in and around that area. We've got about a week or so until we want to be back in Des Moines to visit family there and figure we'll find things to do heading west through NC, Tennessee and Missouri.............hell I'd much rather see Graceland that the White House based on who is living there now. No desire to see the house the puppet Obama resides in for the short time being, very short time being you can take that to the bank!
So tonight it's a Wal-Mart parking lot with a few other RV's and some trucks.............yep, slides out generator on and things are find for now. Tomorrow Durham, NC and who knows maybe run into Crash Davis or Nuke Laloosh while we're in town doing laundry. At least a few picture of where the boys played ball I'm sure.
Oh yes, one other thing, I-95 into Richmond, what a joke.............it's Saturday morning a light rain is falling and there's 6 to 8 lanes of traffic heading toward Richmond and then the Belt Way. The traffic was from a crawl to a stand still to a crawl for literally miles upon miles, I'm talking at least 30 to 40 miles of this, a few hours past and this is the way the traffic was on a Saturday morning! We're stopped at times and moving very slow at times and I'm talking to some of the locals out the window as we crawled down the road. I asked more that one or two folks as we were crawling, "hey...do you travel this route (root) often?" all replies were: " Yes" Then I would say "is the traffic always like this?" and the reply from all was the same........"Yes", then I would say "then why in the hell do you come this way?" then I'd get a weird look and they would move up! What a joke, it's like that all the time and they still punish themselves!
We woke up to rain this morning in Gettysburg and it rained most the way toward DC and we actually planned on finding a RV park and spending a couple of days in the area. Bev spent from the time we left Gettysburg until we hit DC suburbs trying to find and calling numerous RV parks without any luck. Frustration stepped in and before we new it we decided we've had enough history for now and just wanted to head away from the freaking mess in and around that area. We've got about a week or so until we want to be back in Des Moines to visit family there and figure we'll find things to do heading west through NC, Tennessee and Missouri.............hell I'd much rather see Graceland that the White House based on who is living there now. No desire to see the house the puppet Obama resides in for the short time being, very short time being you can take that to the bank!
So tonight it's a Wal-Mart parking lot with a few other RV's and some trucks.............yep, slides out generator on and things are find for now. Tomorrow Durham, NC and who knows maybe run into Crash Davis or Nuke Laloosh while we're in town doing laundry. At least a few picture of where the boys played ball I'm sure.
Oh yes, one other thing, I-95 into Richmond, what a joke.............it's Saturday morning a light rain is falling and there's 6 to 8 lanes of traffic heading toward Richmond and then the Belt Way. The traffic was from a crawl to a stand still to a crawl for literally miles upon miles, I'm talking at least 30 to 40 miles of this, a few hours past and this is the way the traffic was on a Saturday morning! We're stopped at times and moving very slow at times and I'm talking to some of the locals out the window as we crawled down the road. I asked more that one or two folks as we were crawling, "hey...do you travel this route (root) often?" all replies were: " Yes" Then I would say "is the traffic always like this?" and the reply from all was the same........"Yes", then I would say "then why in the hell do you come this way?" then I'd get a weird look and they would move up! What a joke, it's like that all the time and they still punish themselves!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Gettysburg, Pa.
We left Brandy Wine battlefield yesterday at about 9:00 am and arrived Granite Hill camping Resort outside of Gettysburg at about 12:30 pm. That sure was quick going from the Revolution to the Civil war in a matter of hours, oh the lives that were lost in those hours for freedom. Yes freedom from a king and freedom for a race of people, the history of our country is amazing.
Bev and I both have developed back problems, she wrenched hers a couple of days ago and it just isn't getting any better. Mine is sore and stiffens up after sitting but once I get moving it only hurts to bend over and things like that. Aleve helps but not completely, it's more of a bumper for Bev than me since I seem to be able to bear it more. Oh well, maybe we'll feel better in a couple of days!
Today we decided to pay the price and take a guided tour of Gettysburg and the main or highlighted places and events, this way we can see and do it all in a matter of hours and not get lost. Just the fact that we'll have a educated guide that knows all the facts and points of interest will help immensely. So much happen around here it amazing, just in a short time yesterday afternoon you wouldn't believe all the homes and businesses that are still in building used and occupied during the Civil War. One thing we did notice also was the number of homes, Civil War homes that are for sale. Can you even imagine living in a building that once house Confederate soldiers or Northern soldiers or Abe Lincoln for that matter. Yes, we seen the man's home where Lincoln stayed the night before his famous speech, amazing, just amazing.
Now that's not to say other parts of the country have no history, we love the fact that Cowboys and Indians roamed the lands we occupy each day out West. There is history abounding in this country of ours and we're just enjoying some we haven't had a chance to see yet........no administration will change that, they've tried in the past and this country has remained free and independent!
Bev and I both have developed back problems, she wrenched hers a couple of days ago and it just isn't getting any better. Mine is sore and stiffens up after sitting but once I get moving it only hurts to bend over and things like that. Aleve helps but not completely, it's more of a bumper for Bev than me since I seem to be able to bear it more. Oh well, maybe we'll feel better in a couple of days!
Today we decided to pay the price and take a guided tour of Gettysburg and the main or highlighted places and events, this way we can see and do it all in a matter of hours and not get lost. Just the fact that we'll have a educated guide that knows all the facts and points of interest will help immensely. So much happen around here it amazing, just in a short time yesterday afternoon you wouldn't believe all the homes and businesses that are still in building used and occupied during the Civil War. One thing we did notice also was the number of homes, Civil War homes that are for sale. Can you even imagine living in a building that once house Confederate soldiers or Northern soldiers or Abe Lincoln for that matter. Yes, we seen the man's home where Lincoln stayed the night before his famous speech, amazing, just amazing.
Now that's not to say other parts of the country have no history, we love the fact that Cowboys and Indians roamed the lands we occupy each day out West. There is history abounding in this country of ours and we're just enjoying some we haven't had a chance to see yet........no administration will change that, they've tried in the past and this country has remained free and independent!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
New Jersey, Atlantic City
We just got back this morning from a couple of days in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We left the motor home here at Brandy Wine campground outside of Philly and drove the Jeep over to the Shore. The "Shore", let me address the Shore before I go any further. The folks around these parts go to the Shore like say us in Arizona head over to San Diego on weekends and especially holiday weekends. Or for my family and friends in other parts of the country, it would be like those of you in northern California heading up to Tahoe or for those of you in Iowa like heading to the Islands (you know, like Rock Island, Credit Island, Big Island and all those local Islands) for some R&R. Well in these parts it's heading to the "Shore", the Jersey shore not the Beach, but the Shore, not the coast, but the "Shore".................as you can see I'm having a hard time with that one! Anyway Bev and I went to the "shore" for a couple of days, specifically Atlantic City, yes the home of Monopoly. That is what I enjoyed the most of my trip to the Shore, driving on the Monopoly streets and doing the Board Walk. Why you might ask is Board Walk so expensive when playing Monopoly, don't ask me because is looks just like Baltic or Mediterranean in my opinion! Maybe at one time it looked better to Penny Packer whatever you call the dude, but now it's pretty much a dump.
The casino's are for the most part very nice, but why not they take in all that cash and don 't pay much out..........about as tight as our Indian Casino's! Now we stayed free for a couple of nights at Harrah's and that place was top shelf as far as casino's go, we got two night comp'd and free buffet's so the diet suffered a bit but it was nice to see they new of us and gave us $230 rooms on the house! Now I remember when Vegas went "family" and the kids and strollers started invading the town, Vegas went family and the kids and strollers where all over the place. Vegas hasn't been the Vegas of old for some time now, but Atlantic City tops Vegas by a long shot. New York and New Jersey folks and the families and I mean whole families where in a abundance. Now I will say I could listen to some of these guys and gals talk for hours or should I say "dee's guys" and "dee's gals" but holy shit dey got one hell of alot of kids! So many Tony's, Vinnie's and Johnny's and Sal's you woodet believe it............. No offense mind you, I enjoyed being in amoungst them for a couple of days, "don't see it on the menu..........fo get about it, just tell em what chew want and dale make it up!
Can you believe Obama is making an appointment which would otherwise not be made while Congress is on recess? Dude is going behind their backs to make a special appointment of yet another Czar! And Oh by the way heard on the radio yesterday that Geno of Geno's Cheese Steaks in Philly is having a drive to raise funds to send to Arizona for our defense fund! I may not have thought his steak sandwich was the best, but this guy has it right when it comes to country! Did I mention he has a sign out front of the order windows (you may have heard or seen this on TV already) Place you order in English or don't order...................maybe another soup Nazi thing!
Bev wrenched her back yesterday a bit so not sure if we'll make it to a Philly's game tonight or not, but I guess we'll be heading out tomorrow for Baltimore, Fort Meade, DC and that area! One thing the East has, and I mean from Cleveland to the Shores and that's Toll roads! They charge through the nose to drive on some pretty bad roads, and I don't mean a dime toll here or there, we're talking many dollars, like $6.50 here, $1.65 there, another $3.25 here and so on.....What a joke!
The casino's are for the most part very nice, but why not they take in all that cash and don 't pay much out..........about as tight as our Indian Casino's! Now we stayed free for a couple of nights at Harrah's and that place was top shelf as far as casino's go, we got two night comp'd and free buffet's so the diet suffered a bit but it was nice to see they new of us and gave us $230 rooms on the house! Now I remember when Vegas went "family" and the kids and strollers started invading the town, Vegas went family and the kids and strollers where all over the place. Vegas hasn't been the Vegas of old for some time now, but Atlantic City tops Vegas by a long shot. New York and New Jersey folks and the families and I mean whole families where in a abundance. Now I will say I could listen to some of these guys and gals talk for hours or should I say "dee's guys" and "dee's gals" but holy shit dey got one hell of alot of kids! So many Tony's, Vinnie's and Johnny's and Sal's you woodet believe it............. No offense mind you, I enjoyed being in amoungst them for a couple of days, "don't see it on the menu..........fo get about it, just tell em what chew want and dale make it up!
Can you believe Obama is making an appointment which would otherwise not be made while Congress is on recess? Dude is going behind their backs to make a special appointment of yet another Czar! And Oh by the way heard on the radio yesterday that Geno of Geno's Cheese Steaks in Philly is having a drive to raise funds to send to Arizona for our defense fund! I may not have thought his steak sandwich was the best, but this guy has it right when it comes to country! Did I mention he has a sign out front of the order windows (you may have heard or seen this on TV already) Place you order in English or don't order...................maybe another soup Nazi thing!
Bev wrenched her back yesterday a bit so not sure if we'll make it to a Philly's game tonight or not, but I guess we'll be heading out tomorrow for Baltimore, Fort Meade, DC and that area! One thing the East has, and I mean from Cleveland to the Shores and that's Toll roads! They charge through the nose to drive on some pretty bad roads, and I don't mean a dime toll here or there, we're talking many dollars, like $6.50 here, $1.65 there, another $3.25 here and so on.....What a joke!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Two more days in Philly
Yesterday was a day to look up some different points of interest, like the childhood home of a good and dear friend and a couple of "cheese steak joints"..............another thing Philadelphia is known for. We found the childhood home of our friend without any problems and took pictures from all directions front and back, and drove around the neighborhood checking out the sights. I'm guessing since it's what's known as a "row house" like pretty much the majority of Philadelphia is made up of that there hasn't been much change over the years. A row house is a bunch of house's all in a row down the block and joined together with common walls, and for the most part narrow homes with little front or back yards to speak of.
Now it was off the try some cheese steaks (philly cheese steaks), I guess two of the most famous would be Geno's and Pat's which both have been featured on The Food Network and then there was a third called Chink's. Chink's was a favorite place to have a cheese steak by our dear friend and her family years ago when she lived here in Philadelphia, and the one she feels is the best in town when it comes to cheese steak. I got instructions from my very good friend Dave as to how to order and not sound like a dumb tourist since these Philly folks can tell a rookie by how the order their steak sandwich. It's not that you need to order this way, but if your too indecisive you may be banned like "no soup for you" from the "soup Nazi" except it would be "no steak for you" by Geno, Pat or Chink!
We started off at Chink's because of where we were in the city and this was a small, quaint little place which was definitely Philly. Joey made the steak in the front window and we sat at the counter like in a soda shoppe. Bev and I split a steak sandwich "Wit - Wit Wiz" which meant with onions and cheese wiz rather than provalone or american cheese and peppers on the side. We liked it, it was good but the first of at least three and couldn't judge it now. chink's was est. in 1949 in business for 61 years in that location.
Next was Geno's and Pat's which are right across the street from each other and two favorites of Guy Fiero of the Food Network. We ordered pretty much correctly at Geno's, we spit another sandwich and skipped the fries and had provolone this time. Again we liked the sandwich but had one more to try before passing judgment, Geno's was est. in 1966, 44 years ago and in the same location. We walked across the street to Pat's, est. 1930 80 years ago, pretty much full at this point but wanted to make the comparison after having all three sandwiches. We ordered at Pat's and as with Geno's both these places had lines due to their popularity and fame. Again we order a steak sandwich wit out fries, wit onions and wiz again, and again split this sandwich (by the way all joints we split a sandwich that looked to be about 8" rolls). So now we've ate and tasted the three places we had planned to try and Bev and I both agreed exactly as to how we rate these shoppe's.
First place went to Pat's, hands down be both agreed this was the best steak sandwich of the three. Easy to order, made and served fast and probably had the most meat and cheese.
Second place went to Chink's, the little known place nationally but loved by the neighborhood. If I would order another Chink's I'd pay the extra buck for extra meat though, could have used a bit more meat. Loved the pickles on the side too!
Third place goes to Geno's which is probably the most famous nationally as far as publicity goes, but the least friendly bunch it seemed upon ordering. The meat was actually thicker sliced and plenty of it but just not as good to eat.
Everybody in Philadelphia has a Philly cheese steak sandwich (steak sandwich as they say here) so I may try someplace else before leaving the area and see how it compares. But if you want a good cheese steak sandwich in the Phoenix area it still will be hard to beat Uncle Sam's, it compares right there with the best.
Today was Valley Forge and tomorrow (the 4th) is down town again and Independence Hall and Rocky's famous steps!
Now it was off the try some cheese steaks (philly cheese steaks), I guess two of the most famous would be Geno's and Pat's which both have been featured on The Food Network and then there was a third called Chink's. Chink's was a favorite place to have a cheese steak by our dear friend and her family years ago when she lived here in Philadelphia, and the one she feels is the best in town when it comes to cheese steak. I got instructions from my very good friend Dave as to how to order and not sound like a dumb tourist since these Philly folks can tell a rookie by how the order their steak sandwich. It's not that you need to order this way, but if your too indecisive you may be banned like "no soup for you" from the "soup Nazi" except it would be "no steak for you" by Geno, Pat or Chink!
We started off at Chink's because of where we were in the city and this was a small, quaint little place which was definitely Philly. Joey made the steak in the front window and we sat at the counter like in a soda shoppe. Bev and I split a steak sandwich "Wit - Wit Wiz" which meant with onions and cheese wiz rather than provalone or american cheese and peppers on the side. We liked it, it was good but the first of at least three and couldn't judge it now. chink's was est. in 1949 in business for 61 years in that location.
Next was Geno's and Pat's which are right across the street from each other and two favorites of Guy Fiero of the Food Network. We ordered pretty much correctly at Geno's, we spit another sandwich and skipped the fries and had provolone this time. Again we liked the sandwich but had one more to try before passing judgment, Geno's was est. in 1966, 44 years ago and in the same location. We walked across the street to Pat's, est. 1930 80 years ago, pretty much full at this point but wanted to make the comparison after having all three sandwiches. We ordered at Pat's and as with Geno's both these places had lines due to their popularity and fame. Again we order a steak sandwich wit out fries, wit onions and wiz again, and again split this sandwich (by the way all joints we split a sandwich that looked to be about 8" rolls). So now we've ate and tasted the three places we had planned to try and Bev and I both agreed exactly as to how we rate these shoppe's.
First place went to Pat's, hands down be both agreed this was the best steak sandwich of the three. Easy to order, made and served fast and probably had the most meat and cheese.
Second place went to Chink's, the little known place nationally but loved by the neighborhood. If I would order another Chink's I'd pay the extra buck for extra meat though, could have used a bit more meat. Loved the pickles on the side too!
Third place goes to Geno's which is probably the most famous nationally as far as publicity goes, but the least friendly bunch it seemed upon ordering. The meat was actually thicker sliced and plenty of it but just not as good to eat.
Everybody in Philadelphia has a Philly cheese steak sandwich (steak sandwich as they say here) so I may try someplace else before leaving the area and see how it compares. But if you want a good cheese steak sandwich in the Phoenix area it still will be hard to beat Uncle Sam's, it compares right there with the best.
Today was Valley Forge and tomorrow (the 4th) is down town again and Independence Hall and Rocky's famous steps!
A comment not about our adventure........
The Anointed One. It seemed funny to hear him address the illegal immigration issues earlier this week after avoiding it for so long. He spoke for 20 minutes about "immigrants" making America what it is today and singled out several individuals, what he failed to realize or at least mention is that they were all LEGAL immigrants. Obama is hopelessly out of touch with America.......tends to go hand-in-hand with hating our country! Democracy will rule, down with Progressives and Socialist.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
July 1st, 2010....................Hello Philly!
Arrive this morning at our RV site for the next week, Brandy Wine Creek Campground, actually in Downingtown, Pa. about 45 minutes out of Philadelphia. We'll be commuting daily from here to Philadelphia and many surrounding areas. We can visit so many places from here on day trips that a week may not even be enough, like Baltimore, NY City, Atlantic City, Gettysburg, Philly itself and really so much more.
Driving across Pennsylvania can be a challenge of sorts, if you take the toll road/roads it cost a forturn (we're considered class 4 when towing the Jeep) and if you try and us secondary roads for the scenery it's climbing up and down and winding in very slow traffic.................at times very stressful in a motor home let me tell you! We probably did roughly 50/50 and it still cost somewhere near $45 to $50 in tolls and if you ask me they should be in a hurry to put that money to us fixing the wash-board interstate running through here. But all in all we've made it through the Alleghenies and the Appalachians and Pittsburgh worn out but in one piece and anxious to get our week in Philly and surrounding area started.
We stopped and visited another Race Track I'd bet via the OTB'S but wasn't sure where it was at until last night, Penn National and Hollywood Casino but unfortunately didn't take any pictures and fortunately didn't lose any money either. Penn National is a very nice and classy place and their very excited about getting table games besides all the usual slots on July 16th, a big day for them you can tell. My boys Matt and Andy would have loved this too and maybe someday we'll all take this trip.
Bev's doing laundry to get it out of the way before all the sight seeing starts in earnest tomorrow, I hope we have as much fun as we think we're going to have...............we can't wait to get started.
Driving across Pennsylvania can be a challenge of sorts, if you take the toll road/roads it cost a forturn (we're considered class 4 when towing the Jeep) and if you try and us secondary roads for the scenery it's climbing up and down and winding in very slow traffic.................at times very stressful in a motor home let me tell you! We probably did roughly 50/50 and it still cost somewhere near $45 to $50 in tolls and if you ask me they should be in a hurry to put that money to us fixing the wash-board interstate running through here. But all in all we've made it through the Alleghenies and the Appalachians and Pittsburgh worn out but in one piece and anxious to get our week in Philly and surrounding area started.
We stopped and visited another Race Track I'd bet via the OTB'S but wasn't sure where it was at until last night, Penn National and Hollywood Casino but unfortunately didn't take any pictures and fortunately didn't lose any money either. Penn National is a very nice and classy place and their very excited about getting table games besides all the usual slots on July 16th, a big day for them you can tell. My boys Matt and Andy would have loved this too and maybe someday we'll all take this trip.
Bev's doing laundry to get it out of the way before all the sight seeing starts in earnest tomorrow, I hope we have as much fun as we think we're going to have...............we can't wait to get started.
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