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Michigan 2023

April - October 2023
Back to Michigan for the summer. Going back to Fayetteville to visit Aunt Chris. Then to Traverse for the summer at Holiday Park RV campground Read more
  • 74footprints
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  • 161days
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  • 8.9kmiles
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  • 525miles
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  • Michigan 2023
    1
    Day 1

    Home to Bakersfield

    April 26, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    Long day! Finished packing house up for the summer, hoping to have renters at some point. 🤞
    Almost hated to leave, spring is in full swing and definitely headed to summer. Probably was in the 80s when we left. Daffodils in full bloom, tulips haven't even opened. No dogwood blooms at all, maybe too dry last summer or too cold this winter?
    Got off later than we hoped, stopped at velascos and had late lunch. We were starving and ready for some food.
    Ran a couple of errands in Fresno and on the road by 5. Got to Orange Grove RV about 7:15. Walked Charlie, enjoyed the smell of orange blossoms, cooked dinner and had to drink my wine without ICE !? HOW could I forget ICE?    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    3
    3211
    Day 2

    450 miles to Williams

    April 27, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Wow, a LONG day on the road! We didn't wake up until 7:30 those morning, so quick cup of coffee, some powdered donuts, meds, teeth brushed, and we hit the road.
    Hwy 58 was thick with traffic, but we always enjoy this drive over Tehachapi. Nice and green, not a lot of wildflowers, maybe too late?
    Gas in Tehachapi, plus cinnamon rolls for tomorrow's breakfast!
    Out across Mojave, and got on 40 east. Pretty 🥵, but keeping the windows open for some natural AC!
    (There is no such thing as RV dash air conditioning no matter what they tell you)
    Stopped in Ludlow ( old route 66 stop) to make lunch. Crossed the Colorado, very FULL! and into Arizona.
    Arizona Interstate 40 is terrible! Pot holes and poorly completed repairs (?) resulted in a very trying day. I was driving and frankly tried to drive on the white line at the side to find a smoother surface. Then drove in the fast lane because it wasn't as worn out as the slow lane. The faster traffic did not understand our decision....
    Had hoped to get to Flagstaff, but finally gave up at Williams and pulled of the road at about 5:30.
    Pulled into a Love's, took a deep breath and poured a glass of wine. Nice evening, cool and dark. Too bad the trucks never turn their engines off.
    Tom, Charlie and Frank exhausted.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    Day 3

    Williams to Sky City casino

    April 28, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Nice drive out of Williams, almost reminds me of 395 around Mammoth. Very little under growth and just lots of pines. But at some point we lose the pines and it becomes low scrubs and then eventually turns into pinyon pines. Stopped and made some lunch at the Petrified Forest National Park. Very windy. Looking at the park map, I don't think we have ever actually finished the park drive, although the last time we were in the area I think we were at the other end of the park drive. Maybe one day we will just actually do the drive. Tom took over driving and we arrived at the Sky City Casino and paid for full hook ups, plus an option to wash my hair in a real shower!Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    2
    132213
    Day 4

    All the way thru New Mexico

    April 29, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Pretty cool over the evening. We accidentally left a couple off windows open (behind the shades) and it was 51 ° in the RV. Hard to get it of bed when it's that cool.
    Emptied our waste and filled up with water anticipating more parking lot overnighters. Back on 40 east.
    Quick stop in Santa Rosa at the Route 66 car museum to make lunch. It didn't look that good so just took some pics of the older cars outside. NM has a pretty consistent look, gentle rolling hills, dry grass and lots, and lots, and lots of pinyon pines. Did not take a single picture of one. Fact: it is the state tree of NM.
    Tom did the afternoon drive, crossed over in to Texas which looks totally unlike NM. Not a tree to be seen, and of course (as those who have spent a lot of time in Texas) the wind turbines!
    Quick detour to the tiny town of Adrian. It is physically the mid point of route 66 between Los Angeles and Chicago. (I-40 is Route 66, at least most of it)
    Then on into Amarillo for an overnight at the ubiquitous "Cracker Barrel" restaurant found near interstates and highways in most states. Dinner was okay, but pretty inexpensive! And a free overnight. (No power or water)
    Took a nice walk after dinner with the pup down to the American Quarter Horse museum. Looked nice, but clearly was closed.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    2
    11
    Day 5

    Kind of like Oklahoma

    April 30, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Tom started the drive today while I researched housing (well maybe I should say "parking") options for tonight. We thought showers might be nice before arriving on Aunt Chris's footsteps tomorrow, so wanted an RV Park.
    Again another beautiful day! Our timing (weather-wise) has been fabulous... No rain, no storms, no blistering heat... And no tornados!
    Pulled off 40 at Shamrock, Texas because they have a great little Route 66 site, the Conoco Tower gas station and then U-Drop Inn cafe. Very distinctive and very well maintained. Really glad we made this quick stop.
    Then grabbed lunch at a cute little diner, the Farmhouse Cafe. I had to order the classic patty melt, it just felt like an appropriate choice on Route 66.
    Switched drivers and headed on into Oklahoma City. We actually enjoyed the drive, roads were a little bit better and the landscape and topography seemed more interesting than Texas. Overnighting at the Roadrunner RV Park, not bad for a park in the middle of an urban area. Still about 4 miles from downtown center. Nice walk with the pup and then reheated leftovers from our Cracker Barrel dinner the night before!    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    Day 6

    Visit with Aunt Chris

    May 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    The next several entries are sort of a multiple day "catch up" entries, so the details will be vague! Monday was our last drive day before arriving at Fayetteville. Just maintained our course, East on 40....quick lunch break somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, Loves Truck stop and they actually had a fenced soutth park Soo Charlie could be off leash!
    Pulled into Chris's house about 3:30pm, RV and all. We unloaded some of our overnight items, puppy stuff, and took RV over to Shari's.
    Back to Chris's and we all met Shari and Abby at Eastside Grille for great dinner ands conversation. (No pics!)    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    Day 8

    It's spring, let's shop!

    May 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Slow morning for Tom and I, Chris of course is up by 6:30 with here homr health aide, Nissa. I didn't even hear her come in; we were sleeping pretty soundly.
    We all really enjoyed a long "devo" phone call with Cindy. Especially long because we got to hear about her trip to visit Adam and Rachel. Sounded great.
    So with no pressing plans, we all drove up to Rogers to check out the At Home store. Chris's patio pillows and cushions really needed to be replaced and we figured they would have a big selection. We were not disappointed. The store was huge and we had a LOT of important decisions. We finally left the store at about 2 with at least a dozen different pillows and sizes. We needed a large flat cart to get them out to the car, but with the wind blowing, it looked like a a comedy sketch as we tried to load them.
    We had a late, late lunch at a nearby restaurant Chris recommended, Jose's and it was Taco Tuesday! As many tacos as you could eat, plus rice and beans for $10.99. We literally rolled out of there, great food!
    Home by 4 or so, Chris took a short break and went to her first PEO meeting in over a year. A friend picked her up and she had a great time seeing old friends.
    Meanwhile Tom and I just grazed through her refrig for dinner.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    2
    Day 8

    More shopping!

    May 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    We had a busy day! I got up earlier this time too make sure little Zoe got to the vet in time for her dental work. Teeth cleaning and possible extractions, (which she did have one).
    Dropped Zoe off, devo with Cindy, and then Chris's and I headed back to At Home too make some "adjustments" to let pillow selections. Also picked up a few other (necessary!) "accessories" for her home. Had to grab burgers to good soon that we had time to get back to Fayetteville for 2:15 wound clinic visit. They completely unwrap and photo her amputated leg, observe it for healing and then re-wrap her leg. Doctor and nurse both thought it was looking healthier. Chris's and I were really encouraged.
    Back home just inn time too pick up Zoe, then arrived home to meet with friends, Barbara and Jan for visit.
    Chris's finally took short nap before a delicious dinner out with Shari and Andy at Mermaids. Excellent. Great calamari, I had a fabulous shrimp and chicken salad and a cocktail that I had never had, a French 75. Very good, like a lemon drop, but not as sweet. We just asked a great time talking and laughing! Home and a scramble to give the pups their treats and get into bed!    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    223
    Day 9

    We had to say goodbye

    May 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Well we decided a full two days was way too short. (Our first day of work it's fast approaching...Tuesday!) I still had a little time in the morning before we drove off. And Chris sand I managed to fill it out as well. Or days was so busy yesterday we never got by the pharmacy to fill dinner prescriptions. So after getting a little laundry going and breakfast, we headed out to her pharmacy shop, which is one of those nicer ones that have some cute gift items to peruse while you wait.
    We both found some "much needed" items. Actually they were gifts that Chris's needed to get, so then we had to get them wrapped. It is remarkable that we didn't most off the morning at the pharmacy!
    It was getting close to lunch so we picked up some good old subway wraps and we all sat down for lunch before Tom and I took off on the road
    It was, as ALWAYS, a great visit and excellent weather.
    Finally got the road about 1 or so, and the rain began. Not bad though. We got as far as St. Roberts and did stay overnight at Walmart. Quiet, small town, flat parking area    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    Day 10

    Driving Illinois

    May 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 50 °F

    Today was just about getting the miles in. Or typical drive day starts with me driving in the am and Tom in afternoon. I got in about 3 hours and we're crossed into Illinois. Weather great, road conditions varied, but mostly better today.
    Lunch at a rest stop, and Charlie"play" time. She used a much improved traveler over last year. Once we get going she finds a spot to her liking and sleeps!
    Tool a little longer route that put us southeast of Chicago and stayed overnight at a Cracker Barrel in Bourbonaise. Nice very quiet, we were the only overnighters at this location.    Read more

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