Springfield Mo. 9/18-9/19

We left Saint Louis a day early and decided to spend two days in Springfield Missouri. Glad we did. Yesterday we made our Wally World visit and did wash. Today we decided to take a local tour a place called Fantastic Caverns. It's billed as America's only Ride-Thru Cave. You ride in a wagon behind a jeep. The cave is one of over 3000 in Missouri. The state has more caves than any other state.

The tour was nice (nothing like Carlsbad Caverns), but we didn't have to walk either. The price was to much for the hour or so but it was entertaining and our guide was a hoot. If your not staying in Springfield I wouldn't stop here to see this.

I would however stop in Springfield to see the Grandest Bass Pro Shop of them all. I didn't know this was the birthplace of Bass Pro and this store was unbelievable. I have been in many of their stores but this one is a sportsman's dream. 300,000 square feet of great products and beautiful displays. But wait there's more. This Friday they are opening another 320,000square feet which will include a 1.5 million gallon aquarium and museum that is called "The Wonders of Wildlife". It's a big deal with over 5000 invited guests including a couple of former Presidents. The new building will have the world's largest collection of record setting big game animals and over 1.2 miles of trails. I guess my invitation was lost in the mail. We will be 550 miles from here anyway. Eileen forced me into spending more money than I really wanted to at the store. It was a good afternoon.

The campground here is a KOA and it's a nice one. If you are on I44 and heading through Springfield it's worth the stop. Nice people. Tomorrow we head to Oklahoma City. Enjoy the pictures.

Life is Good!!

Nice collection of beautiful jeeps!

Getting ready to enter the cave!!

Our guide showing us a wood fired generator that used to supply the lighting in the cave!

Part of our tour group!

Enjoy the pictures. We were about 150 feet underground.

This is a well pipe that a local farmer drilled without knowing that the cave was there. 

It's dark down there. Our guide turned out the lights and you couldn't see your hand in front of your face!

Our next RV!! Jeep style!!

Some of the locals greeted us as we left the parking lot!

There were about eight of them, All Jakes!

Enormous store with a great restaurant!

The buffet was $12 and the food was terrific!

Small part of an enormous store!!

Casey Illinois and Saint Louis

After leaving Bear Run Campground we went to Olive Branch Campground near Lebanon, Ohio. This campground was away from the highway and very nice. The owner had recently sold a campground in Florida and was bringing this campground up to par. It was well maintained and very nice. It was Friday night and a lot of people were coming in for the weekend. Nice people, nice campground. Olive Branch Campground near Lebanon, Ohio.

We left Olive Branch on Saturday morning and boogied to Casey, Illinois. A KOA campground. I recently had seen a piece on CBS about this little town along Interstate 70. A local businessman had created a project to erect a number of large structures in an effort to bring people to the town. I personally really enjoy these roadside America things so I dragged Eileen along. The KOA campground here is the only one and it is in need of some improvements. The people however were very friendly and helped us with directions and restaurant recommendations.

It was 1:00 by the time we got set up so we decided to head to the recommended restaurant. Wow what a great place. Richards Farm Family Restaurant. It's a unique country place with excellent food. If you are on I70 and are going to pass through Casey you should make it a point to stop for lunch or dinner. Don't plan on staying here though unless you have an RV. No motels.

The town offers an interesting number of things to see. The World's largest golf tee, the World's largest wind chime, and a super big chair were my favorites. The objects are spread around town and it looks like they are located near areas that they want you to shop. It was a lot of fun. We got to go up in an enormous mailbox and I personally rang the World's largest wind chime. Pretty cool. After a couple of hours touring the city we went back to the bus, changed clothes and went to a Catholic church 15 miles away, in Greenup, Il. A very satisfying day.

Today we boogied to Saint Louis. We were concerned about the riots here but decided to come anyway. The campground adjoins a casino and is on the Illinois site of the Mississippi. We missed the turn off and after 20 minutes of riding around, crossing the river twice, taking four different interstate highways we finally found the campground. We have a view of the arch from the RV and that will be the highlight of this visit. When we checked in the clerk indicated that the casino was closed but she couldn't tell us why. We found out from one of our neighbors that there had been a shooting at the casino at 2:45 am and they had closed it for investigation. Needless to say we decided that the stars were trying to tell us something so we have decided to do laundry today and get the hell out of Dodge in the am. So my picture of the Arch out of my window is all the touring we are going to be doing in good old St Louie. Maybe next time. Tomorrow we head for Springfield Mo.
Life is Good. Tonight we sleep with one eye open. Enjoy the pictures of the biggest objects. It was fun.

Great Restaurant

Yum!

The pitch fork was at the restaurant!

Super Big Things!

Worlds largest Tee! Imagine the golf ball!

Take a seat!

World's largest Wind Chime!! I rang the chime!!

Don't know what was in the Café!

Guinness Record!

Knitting Needles and Crochet Hook!

It's a Number 2 pencil. This one might last for some time.

Jolly Green Giant Shoes!!

We walked inside. You can mail a letter here as long as you have the correct postage!!

We are being watched!

Spin this puppy!

Our only touring in Saint Louis!!

We are on our way!

Today is 9/14 and we are at Bear Run Campground near Butler. This afternoon we are going over to my cousin Kathy's house then we are going to have dinner with my Aunt Ann Kathy's mom. I'll post some pictures of our visit later.

We left home on Friday 9/8 and traveled to Fredericksburg KOA in Virginia. This is a nice campground just south of Fredericksburg but it's a little off the beaten path. The next morning we moved on to a KOA in New Columbia Pa.. This campground is just south of I80 and also a little out of the way. It is another nice campground and quiet. We met Carol and Skip and they were with my cousin Mike and his wife Diane. We hadn't seen Mike and Diane in several years and it was great to see them. They really haven't changed much.

Our visit here was to visit family and catch up. We were able to see my family but unfortunately not any of Eileen's. That would have been nice. We went to dinner with Tom and Sandi and Carol and Skip on Saturday night, visited the cemetery on Sunday afternoon, and spent a great evening at Tom and Sandi's house. They had a nice picnic set up for us and a good time was had by all. Carol brought some old albums, mom's daily log book and a bunch of old records that we hadn't had the chance to look at in the past. It was great fun going through all this. Jim and Fran, Sadie and Emerson joined us on Sunday. Fran's cousin had been married on Saturday so they were basically tied up until Sunday.
Bottom line is that it was great to see everyone. Doesn't happen often these days.

Monday we shopped and then had lunch with Tom and Sherry Keller. Sherry was with Eileen the first night I asked her out and Tom and Sherry lent me money to bye Eileen's engagement ring.
Wow great friends for over 50 years. Monday night we when to Montoursville to see the Bikers run. Every 9/11 thousands of bikers do a ride to honor the dead of 9/11/2001. It's a patriotic ride and makes you think about how our world has changed the last 16 years.

Tuesday morning we headed to Wolfs Campground in Knox/Wentlings Corners Pa. The campground is old and not in the best shape but it's about two miles from my hunting property. That afternoon we met with Steve, Dan, and Leroy Ace. They own the property behind mine and we recently had agreed to allow them to cross my property to gain access to there property. We saw the new gate that they
had build for me and walked the property with them. It was great to meet them and I'm confident this will be a good arrangement. Wednesday morning I got up early and walked the property. This place has been my escape place for many years and it's always great to spend some time here. Things are looking good for this year's hunt.

Today we took the short trip to Portersville to Bear Creek. Looking forward to seeing Kathy and Bob and Aunt Ann.

Hopefully I have enough internet signal to post some pic's. Looking forward to heading West. Tomorrow we head for Lebanon Ohio then to Casey Il. to see the giant wind chime.

Hope you enjoy this year's trip. Nice to have you with us.

Add Mike and Diane Carol and Skip

Everybody looking young

Saturday night dinner

Carol and  Skip

Tom and Sandi

Bill and Eileen

We miss all these folks!!

Sunday Night at Tom and Sandi's

Graham Family, Including the dogs Gracie and Stella!!

Don't know who won the game!

Brother Tom giving me advice!

Emerson is growing!

Sadie is growing also.

Bikers for 9/11 memory!

Patriotic Spectators!

Canoe Creek!

Love this Place!

Graham's Woods!

My Grandfather's home in Clarion. 

This now houses the Clarion County Chamber of Commerce!

650 Main Street, Clarion Pa.

Mama Flo and Pops 

Mom's mom and dad!

Another Year Passed Preparing to Depart 9/8/2017

Its been a little over a year since I've posted anything. During that timeframe we visited SF for Seb's first day of school then we went to SF and flew to Mexico in late December. Seth and family joined us and we had a grand time. All of this of course was not motor home related travel but a great time.

In January we went to the RV show in Tampa and the day before it started we bought a new Allegro Bus at Lazy Days. It was a zoo there because of the show so we decided to return to Florida in June to get the punch list done. That was probably not the best decision we made because we were there over 22 days and not all of the issues were completely resolved. The quality control on new motor homes from Tiffin and other manufactures is worse than it was back in 2006 when we bought the first one. The best result of our marathon at Lazy Days is that we met new travel friends. Suzanne and Charles Alexander. They are from Kentucky and their taste in motorhomes is excellent. They bought the same bus, same color, but a different floorplan than us. We will try to connect with them at the end of this trip.

We are heading to Pa. to visit whatever family will see us, then to Clarion to visit the hunting property, then to Butler to visit Aunt Ann. From Butler we head West to California. Seth and family are coming to the Bay area for their 10th Law School Reunion. Hopefully we will have a couple of days with them and the Ekman family. It is really nice to get them all together.  It's also a major challenge.

Look for us on the road. I think this is our 7th time across the country and I'm looking forward to it just as much as the first time.

Out with the old in with the new! Transferred all the stuff and hit the road!!

Another happy camper!

Our salesman Paul Thomas. A Pa. Native.

Lots of pain in that one word SOLD!

Ain't she PRRRETY!