Bill and Eileen's Travels

Monday, May 26, 2014

GOLDEN COLORADO 5/24 - 5/26

Today is Memorial Day and we are at the Dakota Ridge RV Resort in Golden Co.
Golden is a very nice area west of Denver nestled up to the mountains. We went to the Outback Restaurant Saturday night after we went to church here and as we were ordering we were greeted with the tornado sirens. Eileen of course was not concerned at all until the hail started. My thoughts were that we were better off in a building than in our RV. The hail lasted about fifteen minutes and eventually the sirens stopped. Just another Spring night in Golden.

Late Sunday morning we decided to visit Camping World down the street then we went off to Golden to visit the brewery. Went we got to the brewery tour they told us it would be a two hour wait. We decided that going to lunch and drinking a beer was a better option. Guess what, as we were ordering our meal it started to hail. The hail that was at times almost marble size lasted for about 30 minutes. Everyone took pictures and the people most concerned were those of us from out of town. The locals are used to it I guess. The bottom line is the Buffalo burger and the beer were both very good.

He didn't come out of the hail.

The kids enjoyed playing in the hail.

A handful.

We then headed to the Southern side of Denver to visit Cabelas Sporting Goods. Guess what, while we were in the store it hailed outside. Fortunately I haven't had any damage to my car in spite of all this ice falling from the sky. We later went to a outlet mall and talking to some local folks they told us that the hail and rainy weather is normal for the Spring although it is a little late this year. Not my ideal weather. At least we know when the hurricanes are coming back home.

Today we rest at the campground and get ready to move3 on to Moab Utah tomorrow.
We have the flags out and we will be thinking about the many braves souls who died for our freedom.

Friday, May 23, 2014

The World's Largest Ball of Twine

Yesterday we Boogied to Lawrence Kansas. The GPS had us on some strange back roads but the trip was pretty much uneventful. Last night we had rain and trains all night long.

Bad storm coming?

It's OK!

Beautiful sky. The rain wasn't bad at all!

Today was a very special day. We left Lawrence and headed for Cawker Kansas. This is where the worlds largest ball of twine is located. OK, I know what your thinking, but you haven't had this on your bucket list for 50 to 55 years like I have. When I was a teenager I read about this place and just added it to one of the places I wanted to visit.

Eileen of course was unaware of todays visit until we got off of I70 and headed north. I think she said something like why are we getting off here, are you making a mistake. That's when I had to reveal our destination. The City of Cawker, isn't, but my curiosity is now satisfied. We did, in fact, have the opportunity to add twine to the ball. Eileen went first which made this the highlight of her day. I had called ahead three months ago to make sure that someone was available to show us the ball. I talked to Linda Clover who's owns a small Inn in the town and basically takes care of the Ball. She is a very nice lady and when we pulled up to the ball she was waiting for us. Mark and Katie had called her earlier in the day to make sure she was available.

We all had an opportunity to add twine to the ball bringing the weight to 19,906 lbs. Linda actually weighs the twine that is added and keeps track of the weigh on her computer. Although it was raining a little it was an interesting visit. I'm "Living the Dream" even if it's only a little one.

My Bucket list is much lighter tonight as we rest in Russell Kansas. Tomorrow we head to Golden Colorado for Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to know more go to http://kansastravel.org/balloftwine.htm

After our additions and many others since 1986, the ball weighs 19,906 lbs.

Linda Clover helps Eileen tie the new twine to the ball!

Look at her roll that twine!

What Moves!

Mark went next!

Go Kathie Go!

My Turn!

The end of the roll. 19,906 lbs.
Now I tie the knot to complete the loops!

Happy Campers!

Protected from the rain!

Not too busy. We park on the main street!

Branson Missouri

It's Tuesday 5/20. We arrived in Branson yesterday after a Boogie ride from Sevierville and a stop in Paducah Ky. on Sunday. On the way to Paducah we were at a roadside rest and a guy came in in his brand new Country Coach. (2000 miles). We talked a little and then he got in his coach and started to leave. He was pulling away when his hitch came out of the receiver and started dragging along the ground. He was pulling his car with the emergency cables. Mark and Kathie ran after him and when he stopped the car didn't. It smashed into the back of the motor home leaving a nice big crunch in the fiberglass. Apparently what happened is that he got a new drop hitch the day before and they had put a lock on the pin for the tow bar but they didn't click it in. The pin had worked itself out and the hitch just pulled out of the receiver. Sad!!

We crossed the Mississippi River about 25 miles west of Paducah on a bridge that barely fit two cars much less motorhomes. On the Missouri side we had to stop and clean ourselves up. It was the narrowest bridge I have ever been on.

This is just before I wet myself!

We arrived in Branson on Monday afternoon and after we set up we went into town to explore a little and had a real nice dinner in Branson Landing, topped off with a yogurt dessert. Today we walked and then explored the town. In the afternoon we went to see the Acrobats of China in the New Shanghai Theater. It was a super show. The draw of Branson is the shows, at any one time there are probably 100 to 120 shows on a daily basis. Some of the shows are even by people who are no longer with us. (John Denver, Elvis, etc.) Today is Mark and Kathie's 42nd Wedding Anniversary. We went for another great dinner and now we are settled in for the evening.

All of the athletes were amazing.

AMAZING SHOW!!

Tomorrow we take a train ride into Arkansas and maybe hit the Ducks Ride in the PM. This is a really beautiful area much different than I had envisioned. The crowds are not yet large, so we have been able to figure out the town but you really need more time if your going to do even a few of the things that are here. (Zip lines, helicopter rides, water slides, golf, white water rafting, etc. etc.

ALL ABOARD!!

RELAXING RIDE TO ARKANSAS AND BACK!

Unfortunately we had trouble with the refrigerator in the bus so we missed the Duck ride. We will have to leave that one for our next visit to Branson.

I wasn't asked to join the show!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Sevierville, Tn

Day 2 and 3. We are in Sevierville Tn. We have been here many times before and really love the Two Rivers Campground. It is on the Broad French River which is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. We spent two days here and did a lot of shopping and toured the Honky Tonk areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It's amazing the number of people who are here and it's not even the tourist season yet. The coolest place here is the "Smokey Mountains Knife Works". This place has more knives and other items with blades than Carter has pills. It's an amazing place. Probably half an acre of items.
Tonight we set the chairs out along the river and had a nice cocktail watching the sun sink into the western sky. This is a great place to relax.
Tomorrow we boogie to Peducah, Ky. on our way to Branson Missouri.

Drinks along the Broad Creek River with Mark and Kathy!

Knives and everything else! An amazing place!

They have tastings. I'll stick to my Gin and Tonic!

These are Happy Campers!

My Bride!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Day 1 - Statesville NC

We meant up with Mark and Kathie today to begin our journey WEST. Kathie made us a great dinner and we shared a nice bottle of Frank Family champagne. Unfortunately we have rain for our first night which makes me wonder why I spend all that time washing the exterior of the bus.

Tomorrow we head to Sevierville, TN. for a couple of nights. We love this area you will see it in other posts from the past. We are all excited to finally be on the road after months of planning.

Stay with us.

Monday, May 12, 2014

My how the time flies!

Today is Monday May 12, 2014. It's been almost two years since my last post. After we left Traverse City we moved on to Petosky Mi., then Mackinaw Island area, then into Canada. The day after we got to Canada was when NaNa had her stroke and life has changed a great deal the past two years

Miss You NaNa!!

I didn't post our trip to NE in 2013 for the Lelievre wedding reception or my hunting trip to Clarion in 2013. Both were a great time. Looking forward to a repeat of the Clarion trip in 2014. Bob's martini's are the best and he is definitely a deer magnet.
It will be a good hunt.

We will be leaving soon on our longest trip yet and we will be traveling with friends that have decided to go Full Time. This is their inaugural trip, like a overview of the US and parts of Canada. Look in on us every now and then. We will miss our friends in NC but ya gotta go while you still can.

Our first stop will be Statesville NC where we will meet Mark and Kathie and begin our 2014 adventure.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Traverse City

On Thursday May 17th we moved on to Traverse City. This is a City on the bottom of Traverse Bay along the northeast shore of Lake Michigan. We hadn't originally planned on coming here but we are sure glad we did. This is a beautiful area with a great deal to do and see. The waters of the bay are turquoise in color and it is a beautiful place. We are leaving here tomorrow but I know we will come back here someday if time and health allows. This is a definite A list place and the RV park is probably the nicest we have ever stayed in. Beautiful place and very nice people. It is early in their season here but the campground is in excellent shape and the events start with Memorial weekend. (Enjoy the pics).

Day 1 - Got settled and enjoyed the beautful RV park.

Day 2 - We went into the town, shopped, ate, enjoyed the great downtown. Then we took a drive up the peninsula that goes up the middle of the bay. Beautiful big homes on the water, wineries, marinas, and at the top an old lighthouse that has been restored. The water is incredible, unfortunately we are not able to capture the true beauty on film. I went up into the small lighthouse #80 of 91 on Lake Michigan. Very good day.

Day 3 - We drove up the western side of the bay through small towns with little shops and interesting items. Stopped for lunch at The Knot Restaurant in Omena. It is attached to a winery I had never had Michigan wine before and I must say the Chardoney was very good. The price was right also. After lunch we went to the top of the lakeshore here to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. (#79 of 90) This was a very interesting lighthouse with many of the original furniture in it dating back to the late 1800's.

We then went down the west shore of the lake to Leland MI. They have a place here called Fishtown that is one of the only remaining commericial fishing villages still in operation in this area. Interesting shops and nice people. There are lakes all over this region. They all have the turquois water, beautiful homes, and abundant natural beauty. After 5:00pm church in Traverse City we went to the most recommended restaurant in town, The Apache Trout Grill. Eileen did the trout and I had an excellent Walleye fillet. Well worth the trip. Great Dinner.

Day 4 - We drove to the west of town to visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We took a drive named Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive through the dunes. This dune is massive, it covers something like 4 square miles and on the lake and it is 450 feet above the water. It continues to migrate and is unbelievable to see. On the inland side they allow the hardy (young folks) to climb the dune. When you get to the top it is still about a half mile to the water. We have pictures of people coming down. Amazing place and more of the natural beauty of the lake.

Sleeping bear was named from an indian legend about a mother bear that swam across the lake with her two cubs. When she got to this shore her cubs were gone. There are two islands off the shore here that are said to be the cubs. The mother bear layed down where the dune is today and waits for them to come. I personally don't think it will happen. We drove the country on the way back, around lakes, through the beautiful countryside. This is really a magical place. there are lakes everywhere. Someone told us the other night that in Michigan you are never more that 80 miles from a lake no matter where you are.

Day 5 - Today we slept in. Paid bills and did our shopping. Basically a lazy day. The weather turned colder than the 80+ degree weather we have had the past three days to the low 60's. Brrr! I was thinking of playing golf but the morning was to shakey regarding rain potential. I'll pull out the clubs later in the week.

Tomorrow we leave for Petoskey Mi. which is a little over and hour northeast of here. It is on a bay like Traverse City so I'm looking forward to exploring there.