Aug – Nov 2015

Southern Crawl

A 100-day adventure by Geezers in Paradise Read more

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Trip start
August 23, 2015
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Day 1
Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 9:06 AM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 164 ft
United States Indian Creek 47.048299, -122.88166647°2’54” N 122°52’54” W
Ready, set ...
August 23, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Just a week til we leave on our cross-country trip via the southern route. Our plan is to make a bee-line to Atlanta to visit Heather's family. From there, we plan to head north to check out the two Carolinas, and possibly a few points further north. We will then meander across the southern US, aiming to be back home by December.

So that's the plan, but life is what happens while you're making plans. Our plan for this blog is to keep it a short and SIMPLE log of our adventures so you can follow along, and we can jog our increasingly geezerly memories in the future.

Getting excited ...Read more
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Day 9
Monday, August 31, 2015 at 1:09 PM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 194 ft
United States Lacey 47.041431, -122.85152447°2’29” N 122°51’5” W
We are off!
August 31, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
What more can we say? We're on our way with two big grins on our face. See you later.
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Day 9
Monday, August 31, 2015 at 6:41 PM
☀️ 64 °F
Altitude: 1,545 ft
United States Ellensburg 46.996498, -120.54779846°59’47” N 120°32’52” W
First stop ... Ellensburg
August 31, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
We picked up our wonderful housesitters, Natalia and Will, at the train at 10:30. We conducted a whirlwind reindoctrination to the house and a fun lunch where we caught up with each other. Picasso registered his nose-out-of-jointness by alternately running downstairs, coming back, running out of the house, coming back, and complaining just enough to be sure he had reminded Will and Natalia who was boss. At 1:30 we hopped in the geezer-mobile and headed for our first stop ... a quick hop over the mountains to Ellensburg.

We stayed at a lovely KOA with a campsite right on the river. We took a minute to get off on the right foot with our fitness plan for the trip, doing a few planks, 1legged squats, before heading into town for dinner. Boy, did we luck out with a beautiful place called the Valley Cafe. Chicken chipotle corn chowder, full bodied and perfectly seasoned, fresh garden salad with toasted pepitas and basalmic vinaigrette. And as we were getting up to head out, we were undone by our crafty waitress who brought out the dessert tray. We opted to SPLIT the key lime pie. It was heavenly, and deserved to make it into our photos.

We finished the evening with a stroll around the surprisingly historic and interesting Ellensburg downtown (see photo of H with friendly native), followed by another brisk stroll down by the river to make sure we reached our 10,000 step goal for the day.

Soon showers and to bed after a MOST satisfying induction to our 2015 Southern Crawl.

A few photos follow, as well as a link where we THINK you can take a look at our detailed route for the day. If it works, Gordon will be very proud. Please let him know!

Your two geezers in paradise, Day One

https://www.followmee.com/mapx.aspx?file=g/gand…Read more
Mark FoardLooking forward to "Life of Pie, the sequel". Good luck and happy trails!!
9/1/15Reply
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Day 10
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 8:39 AM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 1,509 ft
United States Currier Creek 47.004647, -120.5853547°0’17” N 120°35’7” W
Our first disaster
September 1, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
Oh no! We were doing our final checks to go this morning and disaster! Something blew out the switch that regulates our cruise control forget about the backup lights. We had just gotten them fixed too.

We are picking up coffee and bran muffins to give us strength to continue.Read more
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Day 10
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 1:11 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 2,178 ft
United States Post Falls 47.715214, -116.93954547°42’55” N 116°56’22” W
Mr fixit rides again
September 1, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Fortunately, the better half of this travel duo is also known as Mr. fix it. On our way across Washington Gordon called Toyota to find out exactly what was done to fix our cruise control and back up light problem last time. Just a fuse. That sounds like a job for… Mr. Fixit.

We pulled off the road at Post Falls Idaho for lunch at the Big Bear Deli. As we approached the deli, a choir of angels began to sing. We were right next to a Napa Auto Parts store that just happened to sell FUSES. As we speak Mr Fixit is installing the critical part. Victory is OURS!

Lunch was good, too.Read more
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Day 11
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 6:41 AM
🌙 54 °F
Altitude: 3,307 ft
United States 14N20W10CC__01 Well 46.9846, -114.121346°59’5” N 114°7’17” W
Misery in Missoula
September 2, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 54 °F
A little over-dramatized, I guess. We were just tired after our first long day driving, and the Missoula campground is enormous AND they parked us by a bunch of school busses. And a large klieg light. And Gordon had an ENORMOUS scratch on one of his glasses lenses and before he discovered it panicked that he was going blind in the middle of a BUSY GROCERY STORE!! We calmed down after dinner, closed the curtains against the klieg lights, enjoyed the very hot and clean showers, and tucked ourselves in for a long sleep.

We're up and at'em again this morning, heading for Billings. We can't believe we can't make it out of Montana in one day, but Billings does have that sweet coop with good bread and an excellent local beer collection.Read more
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Day 11
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 10:53 AM
☀️ 66 °F
Altitude: 5,322 ft
United States Miles Crossing 46.043459, -112.74182946°2’36” N 112°44’31” W
Anaconda Rest Stop
September 2, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Okay. That'll teach us. We stopped for a simple exercise and bathroom break at the Anaconda rest stop on I 90. In the course of walking around the parking lot we found a little paved trail. It turned out to be a nature walk through natural preserved Prairie. It was simply gorgeous, and us without a camera. Sorry folks.

There were myriad prairie grasses with incredible seed heads, countless gorgeous little prairie flowers, a bubbling brook with a bridge over it, remains of an old log cabin, and all surrounded by big sky and distant mountains. And us without a camera.

But we got a lot of steps in. Up to 6500 already.Read more
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Day 11
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 5:25 PM
⛅ 95 °F
Altitude: 3,127 ft
United States Billings Metropolitan Area 45.7833, -108.500745°46’60” N 108°30’3” W
Nothing to report ... just our location
September 2, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 95 °F
We made it to Billings about 4, HOT AS BLAZES! Our car said 105º but I hope it's LYING. Coop was disappointing, managed to find an appetizing dinner. We are camped 3 spots from the Yellowstone river, lots of trees, and are very glad we opted for air conditioning in the geezer-mobile. Tomorrow's the longest day before we have a day's rest.

Your two geezers in paradise, Day 3.Read more
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Day 12
Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 64 °F
Altitude: 3,189 ft
United States 03S35E18DABD01 Well 45.571613, -107.43344945°34’18” N 107°26’0” W
Little Bighorn Battlefield
September 3, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Just a quick stop to switch drivers and do our exercises and stretches. We need to comeback when we have more time.
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Day 12
Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 6:42 PM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 2,185 ft
United States Stamford 43.908401, -101.14529443°54’30” N 101°8’43” W
I-90 SD Exit 170 KOA
September 3, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
We like this KOA better than the big KOAs.

To get here, we passed through the Cottonwood National Grasslands that we had missed when we went thru the Badlands last year. Absolutely breathtaking!

Toward the end of the drive, the weather was really building in front of us. Heather was driving like a fiend while I was calling out regular updates from the radar app and we finally caught it. Taught those bugs splattered all over the windshield a lesson, too. She has a future ahead of her as a storm chaser.

This KOA is on a small lake with lots of water fowl. It is about 90 degrees, but there is a nice breeze that makes it feel more like 80.

We are sitting out, enjoying the breeze and bird calls, anticipating the pieces of cherry and coconut cream pie from Marlin’s Truck Stop that await us in the cooler.

Your two geezers in paradise, Day 4Read more
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Day 13
Friday, September 4, 2015 at 8:47 AM
☀️ 77 °F
Altitude: 2,218 ft
United States Stamford 43.883446, -101.14215943°53’0” N 101°8’32” W
50's Diner in a train
September 4, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
We stopped in for coffee to go before we hit the road, and expected maybe a diner in a railway car. But this was the whole train. Complete with a waitress who was probably serving coffee when this train plied the rails across the country. We resisted the caramel topped sweet rolls. Too sticky.Read more
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Day 13
Friday, September 4, 2015 at 10:02 AM
☀️ 77 °F
Altitude: 1,404 ft
United States American Island (historical)43.795082, -99.34748143°47’42” N 99°20’51” W
Oacoma rest area overlooking the Missour
September 4, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Gordon doing his exercises inder the alien antenna for extra oomh.
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Day 13
Friday, September 4, 2015 at 1:25 PM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: 1,329 ft
United States Telstar Landing Field 43.693855, -98.01545743°41’38” N 98°0’56” W
Hare in Mitchell
September 4, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
No its not an inappropriate autocorrect. We're stopped for lunch in Mitchell. We've already seen the main attraction, the Corn Palace, so Gordon decided to make it memorable by riding the buckin' hare outside our restaurant. Too bad he forgot his hat.Read more
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Day 13
Friday, September 4, 2015 at 5:21 PM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 1,161 ft
United States Mid City Park 42.501213, -96.39794942°30’4” N 96°23’53” W
Getting rummy in big city traffic
September 4, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
Nearing the end of day 4 of driving like bats out of hell so we can spend 2 days in one place over Labor Day weekend. Not exactly tired, but been on the road a while. And we're geezers. Driving through Sioux City ... LOTS of road construction. Rude drivers cutting in. Gordon being VERY helpful (he says I have to say that). Big trucks switching lanes. Cones in the way. "Lots of red lights ahead." "That truck wants over." "Looks like traffic is letting up ahead." "Really? Well, I trust your lazed eyes. They're better than mine." "Not as good as they used to be. Boy, I can't wait til they they have eye and tooth implants. They could implant a baby eye, and it could grow and grow, and when it is ready it would just pop out your old eye." "Just 30 miles til our exit."Read more
Mark FoardYou guys crack me up!!! Glad to see that somewhere other than Toronto has bad traffic.
9/4/15Reply
TravelerYeah, and we didn't even have any PIE to carry us through!
9/4/15Reply
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Day 13
Friday, September 4, 2015 at 6:00 PM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 1,076 ft
United States Blue Lake 42.043552, -96.15677642°2’37” N 96°9’24” W
Onawa KOA
September 4, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
We arrived at the lovely Onawa KOA situated on a small lake. The lake is an oxbow of the Missouri Rivier. The weather has changed to warm and humid. Quite the change from the dryness in Montana and South Dakota.

Here is Heather pouring a glass of wine to celebrate our arrival.

We are staying here for two nights. Tomorrow we will visit the loess hills and the keel boat museum.Read more
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Day 14
Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 9:45 AM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 1,033 ft
United States Onawa 42.027428, -96.1258742°1’39” N 96°7’33” W
The happenin' place
September 5, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
I love walking into the local watering holes and feeling the buzz. Here it just happens to be McDonalds. All the locals are sitting around in groups with billed hats on, exchanging news and sipping their morning brew. It's the place to be in Onawa.Read more
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Day 14
Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 5:10 PM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: 1,063 ft
United States Site of Lewis and Clark Camp Historical Marker 42.041434, -96.16278442°2’29” N 96°9’46” W
Keelboats!
September 5, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
We saw keelboat replicas that float at the Lewis and Clark State Park! This is the fun thing that allows us to get our Iowa decal! And best of all... there was no admission fee!

Earlier we drove through the Loess Hills State Forest and Scenic Drive. Loess is pronounced "loss", which is what we thought of the small hills that Iowa is so proud of.Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 11:35 AM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 1,033 ft
United States Saint Marys Catholic Church 40.67823, -95.85247840°40’42” N 95°51’9” W
Johnny's Corner Cafe
September 6, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
Another local watering hole, this time with omelettes the size of Nebraska itself. And a 12 inch diameter pancake. And a waitress that moves at the speed of sound carrying it all, and she still finds time to smile.

By the way, the Onawa McDonalds was doubly entertaining this morning as, along with the bill-hatted regulars, there was quite a gaggle of aging bikers tricked out in beards, vests, and biker moll bling. Took a while to get our coffee but the convivial atmosohere and sartorial splendor made the wait worthwhile. Sorry, no pic. A couple of the men looked dangerous.Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 11:50 AM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 1,063 ft
United States Nebraska City 40.676791, -95.86212740°40’36” N 95°51’44” W
Our Angels make themselves known
September 6, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
I forgot to mention: We were contentedly packing away pancakes and eggs at Johnny’s Corner Café, when we started to hear chimes. We looked around for who might be getting a phone call. But the chimes went on and on, and they were an exceptionally pleasant ringtone. Finally, I decided it was our Angels registering their presence (or perhaps just their approval of our culinary choices). It was then that I noticed all the clocks on the wall, and that it was 11:00 on the dot. But I am unbowed. Angels know how to ring clocks.Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 2:31 PM
☀️ 93 °F
Altitude: 1,033 ft
United States Nebraska City Historical Marker 40.680083, -95.87677740°40’48” N 95°52’36” W
Mayhew Cabin and John Brown's Cave
September 6, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
An important link on the underground railroad. Unfortunately closed so we didn't get to see the cave where the escaping slaves hid. They sure weren't going to hide anyone in that postage stamp of a cabin!Read more
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Day 15
Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 6:03 PM
☀️ 91 °F
Altitude: 994 ft
United States Number 79 Lake (historical)39.032846, -94.26773639°1’58” N 94°16’4” W
Our Angels are working overtime
September 6, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F
You may recall our ambitious plans to stay fit on this trip, and our strong resolution, especially when driving long days, to keep our backs in trim with exercises and walking. I’m afraid our resolutions have fallen victim to midwestern heat and humidity. Either that or we are total wimps. But when it is pushing 100 degrees with 80% relative humidity, it’s bleepin’ HARD to exercise. I had located a gym in Onawa where we could get day passes, but we had to fall back on the Wilson Nicoll memorial, “Lord knows we tried,” when we found it was closed over Labor Day weekend.

Today, probably just as a sop to the resolution gods, did a quick search and found a YMCA just off the freeway, just about 10 miles before our campground exit. It was still early when we arrived in Kansas City, so even though our own YMCA usually closes over Labor Day, we decided to look it up. As we pulled into the parking lot, the aforementioned Angels began singing up a storm. There were CARS in the parking lot. It was a beautiful, AIR CONDITIONED, YMCA. We grabbed our Go-Bags that Gordon had cleverly had us prepare, and we were off.

We are now cooling down in the air conditioned trailer with chilled satsumas and a local chardonnay. The KOA office just MIGHT have hand scooped ice cream in 8 flavors in the office that is open until 9:00. Life is good.Read more
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Day 16
Monday, September 7, 2015 at 8:26 AM
🌧 72 °F
Altitude: 787 ft
United States Oak Grove 39.017568, -94.12569339°1’3” N 94°7’32” W
Oak Grove KOA
September 7, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
This KOA is pretty full. We are parked close to the pool and jump pad and saw lots of children having lots of fun last night.

It never cooled off last night. It started out in the high 90s. At midnight it was still in the mid 80s. At 6 this morning it was still 77 degrees. Then the rain came and cooled it down to 73. There was thunder and lightning and rain and some wind... lovely weather.Read more
Mark FoardI appreciate the maple leaf!
9/7/15Reply
TravelerIt might be a sycamore but it's the closest we could come as a nod to our Canadian readers.
9/7/15Reply
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Day 16
Monday, September 7, 2015 at 12:19 PM
🌧 75 °F
Altitude: 656 ft
United States Windsor Place 38.938381, -92.65351138°56’18” N 92°39’13” W
In the eye of the storm
September 7, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 75 °F
This pavement cooling beauty is apparently our constant companion today. It has every appearance of following us into Illinois.
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Day 16
Monday, September 7, 2015 at 4:12 PM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 440 ft
United States Bunkum 38.612736, -90.04515138°36’46” N 90°2’43” W
And what's this handbasket we're in?
September 7, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
St Louis is ALL traffic. And spaghetti junctions. And the exits look like PITCHFORKS! And where are we going and what's this handbasket we're in?
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Day 16
Monday, September 7, 2015 at 6:28 PM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: 456 ft
United States Benton Park 38.069678, -88.91638538°4’11” N 88°54’59” W
Whittington Woods Campground
September 7, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
As we got off the freeway to go to the Benson KOA, we passed this campgound that we had stayed at before. I thought about it a bit and decided that it was our Angels telling us that we should stay HERE! One has to listen for those messages you know. So here we are again.

Last time they were giving away free eggs from their chickens. They still have chickens, just not as many. It seems that bobcat got some of them. But the rumor is that the bobcat got hit by a car and the chickens are safe once more. The ones that are left are quite enjoying the trash left behind by the Labor Day revelers.Read more
You guys are making amazing time or maybe I've lost track of it. Nice to know you are enjoying yourselves.
9/7/15Reply
Margaret NicholsYou certainly are covering some miles. As are we. Now on the Mediterranean at Fetihye. It sounds as though you are having fun. Keep it up.
9/12/15Reply
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