• Vicki Bourckel
  • Vicki Bourckel

2022 Road Trip

A 17-day adventure by Vicki Read more
  • Trip start
    April 27, 2022

    On the road again

    April 27, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Well we are back on the road again! Today is a driving day, headed to Nashville for a couple of nights. Long driving day, listening to an audiobook called The River of Doubt, about Theo. Roosevelt's trip down the Amazon after losing his third bud for the presidency. Drive day was uneventful.Read more

  • Mammoth Cave NP

    April 28, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Today we drove 1 1/2 hrs north from Nashville to finally visit Mammoth Cave. We took a 2 hr walking tour that was labeled as "strenuous" and they weren't kidding. Although only .75 mile in distance, we had over 500 stair steps, both up and down, and also some very narrow passages. Larry bumped his head several times too. The tour started with 289 steps down into the cavern, and the steps and handrails were damp and slippery. Our tour guide Jeff, was a great storyteller about those early covers who explored the depths. Over 400 miles of caves have been explored and mapped with no end in sight. After the tour, we took a short walk in the woods to enjoy the park above ground. Had dinner at a diner in Bowling Green on the way back to Nashville.Read more

  • HIGH SCHOOL REUNION 50yrs +2

    April 29, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    We drove from Nashville to Memphis today. Drove around the neighborhood I grew up in, had lunch at a local dive bar, then checked into the hotel to get ready for my high school reunion. I have not attended any previous reunions so this was pretty weird. I have not seen these people since we were all 18. We had a very nice reception at the Memphis Children's Museum. I was surprised to be recognized by some old friends and we all had a good time catching up on each others' lives. There was a carousel in the museum that many of us rode as children at the fairgrounds.Read more

  • Reunion continued

    April 30, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    This morning we had a visit to White Station High School with a brief reception and tours of the school. It still looks very much like it did 52 years ago. Current cheerleaders led us in the school song and the current principal spoke. There was even one of our teachers present, the chorus teacher.
    We had the afternoon free and went downtown to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. It is an amazing and moving historical sight, the museum was so well done and emotional. We had time to go back to the hotel and change and get ready for the reunion banquet. It was at the Guesthouse at Graceland, a very swanky hotel and event center.
    The food was good and there was more socializing, with a dj and dancing for those inclined after dinner. All in all it was such a nice weekend, so interesting to see all those old people I once knew. They all turned out to be pretty nice folks.
    Read more

  • Travel day

    May 1, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    We went to church at First Assembly where I attended during nursing school, except it is in a newer bigger facility east of Memphis. Had lunch and made a quick stop at a quirky site I never knew about when living in Memphis. It is called Crystal Grotto, in a cemetery in east Memphis. It is a mam made cave totally covered in quartz crystals, with scenes from the life of Jesus depicted in several different art forms. Well worth the time to visit.
    Then the drive to Branson, an adventure in country roads! Only the first third of the 5 hr trip was interstate. Then miles of hilly, two lane country roads but very pretty scenery thru the Ozark mountains.
    Checked into Wyndham Branson Mountain Vista resort for 3 nights
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  • Branson

    May 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    No pics, it rained all night, chilly am. Went to wyndham owner update to get our $150 gift card. Also got discounted tickets to a show by an acapella group called SIX. It is six brothers who sing many styles of music and put on a good show. Then we walked around the outlet mall just to move around some before getting a great bbq dinner. Travel day tomorrow.Read more

  • Travel day

    May 4, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    Drove from Branson to Liberty MO today, rain all the way. We are staying with old friend Dennis Blochlinger and his wife Kristen for four nights. They took us out to dinner and we visited for awhile. No picsRead more

  • Kansas City

    May 5, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 57 °F

    We went into KC today to the National WW1 museum where Larry spent a few hours. I took a free streetcar downtown to City Market and wandered around. Found a great game store and spent awhile looking at games, bought one. Picked up bbq sandwiches from Pigtown and ride the streetcar back to the museum to meet Larry for a late lunch. Made chili for dinner and had it ready when Kristen and Dennis got home from work.Read more

  • Day Trip MSQC

    May 6, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Today we drove 45 min to Hamilton. MO to visit Missouri Star Quilt Co. Twelve quilt shops on Main St, so many pretty fabrics. Owner Jenny Doan even walked thru the shop I was in.
    Had lunch and visited the world's largest spool of thread and found a geocache!
    Picked up some groceries to make dinner and watched a movie with Dennis and Kristen, Yes Day.
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  • Kansas City

    May 7, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    Dennis and Kristen took us out sightseeing today. We went to downtown Liberty where they have lived for over 20 years, walked around town square and had lunch. Then drove into Kansas to see the Stesmboat Arabia museum, about a steamboat that sunk in the 1850s and its cargo was not recovered until the 1980s. It was really interesting.Read more

  • Travel day

    May 8, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    We went to church with Dennis and Kristen and their sons to Liberty Christian Fellowship.
    Then we got on the road and drove to St Louis, around 4 hours drive.
    It was Mother's Day, and I had calls from four kids and texted with Emily. I also spoke to my mom for an hour while we were driving. Checked into our hotel for the next 3 nights.Read more

  • St Louis Arch

    May 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 75 °F

    This morning we went to Gateway Arch National Park. First we saw a movie about how the Arch was built, then rode the team to the top. It was moving a little from the wind, and the view was amazing. Busch stadium was nearby so we went over and took pictures without all the crowds ave Larry got his pennant. We go to the ball game tomorrow.
    Then we drove over to Forest Park and drove around and walked around a little. Some museums were not open today. Mexican for supper and a thrift store shop finished out the day.
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  • St Louis day 2

    May 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 81 °F

    This morning we went to a thrift store near our hotel, then headed back into St. Louis Ave went to the zoo. Best party is that it is free, and we were able to find free street parking. Spent 3-4 hrs at the zoo, it was fun and lots of walking. We went to get a "famous" Ted Drew's Frozen Custard since the temp was now over 90 degrees, it was so good. Then downtown for the baseball game. First time that the Orioles had played in St Louis, abs they won 5-3. Lots of Os fans were there. Got Gas for 3.99/gal since it is 4.75 near the hotel. We are staying in Illinois, on the other side of the Mississippi from St Louis. Packed up and got right to bed since we have a 5 hr drive to cincinnati in the morning. Will be ready to get to sleep as we walked 16,433 steps today.Read more

  • Cincinnati

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Got up at 6 to drive to Cincinnati for a day fame. Got delayed with oil pressure light coming on. Stopped and added oil to the car and got to the stadium for the 3rd inning. Cincinnati fans were much louder than st louis and there not as many there. Reds won 14-11.Read more

  • New River Gorge National Park

    May 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    We took our time this morning as it is another travel day, drove from Cincinnati to New River Gorge National Park in WV. It was 4pm when we got there so we still got to go to the visitor center, see the movie and take a short hike.Read more

  • Heading home

    May 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 68 °F

    Went to a different part of NRGNP this morning to get a different view and also took a short hike before heading home at last.

    Trip end
    May 13, 2022