St Louis

Located mere  steps from where Lewis and Clark completed their historic journey, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is a 90 acre park along the banks of the Mississippi River. Designated as a national historical site in 1935, the park is dominated by the iconic Gateway Arch. The Arch is the nations tallest monument. The old court house, this historic treasure is where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom. This is also where Virginia Minor fought for women's right to vote.

Kansas/Missouri

Stone hedges of Emporia Kansas.

Well here we are in Emporia, Kansas..It is a quiet town, home of Clint Bowyer the NASCAR driver.. Kenny posed in front of Clint Bowyer's Community Center...It is next  to the Stone Hedges which is a little scary considering I am watching the Outlander TV series where Claire goes back in time through the Stone Hedges.  We are currently in Missouri and spent several days in Maysville which is near Hamilton, home of the Missouri Star Quilt area..Donna and I spent most of the day going through 14 quilt stores..It was a very unique day..Now we are in Macon, Missouri and will be exploring this area for a couple of days....,.We will write more later.see ya.........

Oklahoma City

 National Cowboy museum in Oklahoma City

Visited the Memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing of the  government building that happened in 1995. So sad to relive that.

Albuquerque NM Spider

My first wild tarantula encounter.

My hand for comparison.

A wild coyote by the camper, it was pretty big, like the size of a German Shepard. We have left Albuquerque NM this morning and arrived in  Tucumcari NM this afternoon. Still going through a lot of mountains, they seem to be everywhere out here.

Evening in New Mexico

 Night time light up.

Lots of balloons.

And fireworks too!

Albuquerque NM Balloons

 Janet and I trying to warm up.

 Before sunrise launches>

Multiple launches.

Special balloons.

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert

 Petrified Forest National Park was established 1906 as Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation creating the park.

There is petrified wood everywhere!

This is an area called newspaper rock, there were over 650 petroglyphs  in the area. Zoom in on this rock to see them better.

Painted Desert.

Double rainbow at the campground in Sun Valley Az.

Meteor Crater

 On the way out of Flagstaff Az. we ran across the Meteor Crater. The crater was/is 700 feet deep and over four thousand feet across. The crater is also 2.4 miles in circumference. It is estimated that this occurred over 50,000 years ago.

Sedona Arizona

Janet kissing a frog, guess she's hoping for a prince. Little does she know she already has one.

Mountain formations.

 Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built this home in Sedona Az. I believe it was five levels and estimated to be 30,000 Sq. Ft.

Bridge over a canyon going into Sedona. Have way to many pictures to be seen and definitely way to many to post.

Needles Ca.

Ate at an original Diner called the Wagon Wheel right on Route 66 and along the Colorado River, it was pretty good food.

Not much in Needles, they like their diesel fuel because they don't want to sell it . Most stations were charging $3.79 a gallon. Thanks goodness for gas buddy, found it for $2.35 a gallon, that is more acceptable.

Heading East

 When in California, do as they do, Smoked Duck and goat cheese pizza.......Awesome.....

Meet up with a good friend lately? I did, good ole Raymond Yee. We served together 30 years ago in the USAF and did a lot of fishing and hunting together. Even though we have not seen each other in thirty years we caught up quickly and it seemed only like yesterday. Thanks for the lunch Ray, till we meet again.
   
Our last night in Yuba City, Ca. Rhea and Jim had us over for dinner, Jim smoked some ribs, Janet made potato salad and Donna made mac and cheese. A meal for a king!
     We left Yuba City in the morning ( so said leaving Rhea) and drove to just below Fresno Ca. Got up and did another leg to Boron Ca. The truck did fine going through the mountains so far, I think they my have fixed it this time! So with good news, comes bad news, it's like you can't have a high if there wasn't a low.
    We get to Boron and I noticed a trailer tire is wearing uneven, further research reveals a bracket that hold the suspension system together had a broken weld. Great.......so a few phone calls later I find a mobile repair guy that does welding. He came out and when we jacked the trailer up to remove the tires, the bracket came off completely.  Long story short, he was able to make the repair and get us back on road.
    Next leg and our present location is Needles Ca. It is on Cal's East coast just before you cross over to Arizona. Not too far below Las Vegas ( I think). We are spending two nights here, so we can see something tomorrow before moving on. Oh I forgot to mention we are camping right on or along side the ole Route 66.

Bishops Pumpkin Patch

 How tall this fall?

 I love flower pictures.

Rhea and Rae took Janet and I to the pumpkin patch. It's hard to think fall when it is 100-plus degrees out. We got some California Pie and Pumpkin Walnut pie for dessert. Went back to Rhea's home and I burnt chicken on the grill, and it was raw. Who else can do that? That is what happens when you cook on some one else's grill and drink too much beer. Had a great time regardless of the dinner outcome. Making memories for sure!

Coloma Ca.

Actual Gold that was panned here.

Rhea, coming out of the Cullumah Saloon.

Rhea, Rae and Ryan (Aidan had to work and Jim too!) checking into the Doctor.

Gold was discovered on January 24, 1848 by James Wilson Marshall. The secret of the discovery got out and changed Coloma, California, and the world!

Pacific Ocean

Visited a small coastal town called Ferndale, nice shops to visit.

Janet heading toward the Pacific Ocean in anticipation,  

Janet running from the ocean water, it's too cold..........

Walking in the Redwoods.

 Tourists..........

 Drive through tree.

Big tree.