Carpe Diem on the Road

Delray Beach, Florida

2006-12-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

Highlights of "Carpe Diem on the Road" Motor Home Trip
June 11 - October 19, 2006

Total Miles: 8647 driven by Norm

States Visited*: (16) Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana (+Fl) (*spent the night)

National Parks Visited: (10) Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Zion, Carlsbad Caverns, Mesa Verde

National Monuments Visited: (5) Mt Rushmore, Monument Valley NavajoTribal Park, Dinosaur, Crazy Horse Monument, Navajo 4 Corners

State Parks Visited: (4) Custer, Pink Sand Dunes Utah, Steam Boat Lake State Park, Goose Neck State Park

International Festivals: Oshkosh Air Show Fly in and Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Ski Resorts: Steamboat Springs, Co, Telluride, Co, Jackson Hole, Wy

Family and Friends: Fl, Ky, WI, Co,Tx

Graham, Texas - The Stembridge Ranch

2006-12-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

Our last stop was Graham, Texas, to visit good friends, Bob and Sharon Stembridge. They have a big Texas Ranch, and their place reminds me of the Bing Crosby song "Don't Fence Me in"
"Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don's fence me in"........
We parked out motor home right in their front yard! What a hoot!

Bob invited Norm to go shooting with him at the Graham Gun and Rifle Club Fall Tournament. Norm had a blast and enjoyed the day of shooting and good food. Norm won a trophy and took a lot of kidding, and Bob was accused of bringing in a Florida ringer. Bob and Sharon took us touring around the area, and here they are at the Possum Kingdom Lake and Dam.

A real Texas longhorn....(notice he smiled for the camera)

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Oct 6-15,2006

2006-12-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an annual event held every fall. This year featured over 7,000 hot air balloons from all over the world.
We were guests of our good friends from Albuquerque, Jerry and Kathy Millspaugh and the Alphine Lite Travel Club. Our guest accommodations put our Motor Home on the very front row. We were able to walk to all the events and enjoyed seeing the massive balloons flying right over our motor home.

We had to get up at 5 AM to walk over to see the early morning Mass Ascentions. It was a spectacular sight to see thousands of hot air ballons being blown up by all the crews.

The "special shapes" ballons were awesome, and we especially loved this one!

Acoma Pueblo and Mesa, NM

2006-10-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

Acoma Pueblo sits on a mesa 370 feet above the desert floor. For almost 2,000 Sky City has served as the physical and spiritual homeland for the Acoma people. Sky City, NM, is the oldest continuously-inhabited community in North America.

As we toured the cultural center, I noticed this little Acoma girl playing quietly unaffected by the tour group.

Many of the Acoma Pueblo people live in Sky City or in nearby villages. Sky City has over 300 structures made of adobe (mud brick) and white sand stone.

The homes are owned by Acoma Pueblo females who pass them on to their youngest daughters.

While most of the Acoma people don't live at Sky City full time, they return for various special cultural occasions to celebrate at their ancestral homes.

Telluride, CO

2006-10-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

The fall foliage here in Colarado is spectacular. For folks from Florida, seeing golden Aspens and firey red maple trees is a real treat. When we arrived at the Dolores RV Park, Dolores, CO, the trees were green. Now we are walking through leaves... Yesterday with Jerry and Kathy we drove to Telluride. Although it is only 60 miles from Dolores, our trip was slow because of all the "photo opportunity" stops along the road. Every mile was more beautiful.
Golden aspens were glistening all along the highway.
We finally made it to Telluride, elev 8750 and toured the town and had a delicious lunch.
Instead of driving to this beautiful ski town, we took the free Gondola. In fact, the golden aspens were so stunning that we had to take a second ride to take more photos! Thank goodness for digital photography.

Jerry takes one more photo before we depart...

Mesa Verde National Park, CO

2006-10-01T14:57:00.000-05:00

Our next stop was Mesa Verde National Park, which was created to preserve the dwelling sites of Ancestral Puebloans, both atop the mesa and in large alcoves in the walls of the deep sandstone canyons. The park includes more than 4,500 archeological sites. We had a wonderful day touring the cliff dwellings with our good friends, Jerry and Kathy Millspaugh from Albuquerque, NM.

Square Tower House Cliff Dwelling

Square Tower House

Norm and Jerry and Kathy, enjoying a ranger lecture at Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dweling in the park.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde's largest Cliff Dwelling.

Monument Valley, AZ & UT

2006-09-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Las Vegas and Hoover Dam, Nevada

2006-09-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are in Las Vegas, my first time in this "glitzy" "up-all-night" city. We stayed at the RV Park at Circus Circus right on the "strip"
We saw a couple of shows, walked the strip checking out the hotels and casinos. I took this photo from the top of the "Stratosphere"
On Sunday we drove to Hoover Dam, but because of a construction accident, we were not able to drive over it. So we did the next best thing, took a helicopter ride over the dam.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

2006-09-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

Here we are on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon....and YES, snow...Norm was like a kid.....

Jacket.........$50
Shorts.........$20
Snowball.....Priceless!
Although it is not apparent, the North Wall of the canyon rises a thousand feet higher than the South Rim. View on the North Rim at Bright Angel Point We attended an excellent "Park Ranger Talk" here at Walhalla Overlook. At this overlook you get a good view of the Colorado River. From the rim, the river looks puny, yet it averages 300 feet wide.

OK, this is far enough! I'm not stepping back any more!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

2006-09-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

We are now in Kanab, Utah. Twelve miles from town lies Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Navajo sandstone has over time eroded to form coral colored sand dunes.

The sand dunes are a unique and interesting place to hike.... Norm started out first...
The summit.....
Time to relax and enjoy the 360 degree view

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

2006-09-05T19:37:00.000-05:00

We are now at Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is best known for the beautiful and bizarre rock spires called “hoodoos.”
The Hoodoo pinnacles and odd-shaped rocks were left standing by the forces of erosion. This photo was taken at Sunset Point. “Thor’s hammer” at Sunset Point…. one of the more popular hoodoos

Pinyon pine and juniper grow among the hoodoos at low elevations, ponderosa pine forests dominate the plateau top, and spruce, fir and aspen thrive at the highest elevations.

Rafting the Colorado River

2006-09-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

Putting in for a day on the Colorado River
I opted for the raft....
Norm opted to kayak the river...
I'm not sure he got any exercise...he was a little too relaxed paddling down the river....

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

2006-09-01T09:37:00.000-05:00

Schafer Canyon Trail as seen from the overlook
Mesa Arch
Norm enjoys the panaramic vista at the Grand View Point Overlook
Studies have shown that altitude does affect behaviour........

As we hiked along the trails, tiny Hopi Chipmunks would scurry by....

I was delighted to see Western Scrub Jays in this park, especially since we have a Florida Scrub Jay (declared threatened due to habitat loss).

Arches National Park, Utah

2006-08-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

We are now in Moab, Utah. We have spent the last two days in Arches National Park, enjoying the sculptured rock scenery and hiking to the spectacular arches. Norm (the hare) has hiked a few more trails than I (the tortoise) have. Traveling through the park in the car, we are “blown away” by the towering spires, pinnacles and balanced red rocks perched atop seemingly inadequate bases. This may be our favorite National Park……
Landscape Arch, the longest Arch in the Park, measures 306 feet from base to base.

North Window and South Window Arches
The Three Gossips as seen from the Park Avenue Viewpoint

Courthouse Towers

Steamboat Springs, CO

2006-08-23T19:36:00.000-05:00

We are now in Steamboat Springs, Co. We came here to visit our good friends, Al and Peggy Epstein, who also live in Delray Beach. They are avid skiers and bought a condo here almost on the ski sloops. They have been excellent hosts, having us over for a delicious dinner and touring us around the area.
Al and Peggy and "Squall" in Steamboat Lake State Park
Taking a break to enjoy the view in the Park.
Beautiful Steamboat Lake
"Squall" goes for a swim..... he had a great time trying to find a fish...

Salt Lake City, Utah

2006-08-20T15:04:00.000-05:00

We are now in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our first tour was to Temple Square in the heart of the city to see the Salt Lake Mormon Temple.

Salt Lake Temple side view
On Sunday morning we heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Choir is made up of 360 unpaid volunteer members.

The Utah State Capitol Building - currently being refurbished, looks a lot like the Capitol in Washington. I took this photo from the 26th floor of the Church of Latter-Day Saints Administrative Building.

A Princess and her Coach

2006-08-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

When we bought our motor Home, we were told it is called a "Coach" not a RV, so, here is the Princess and her Coach at a "Flying J Truck Stop." When Norm fuels up, my job is to clean the windshield, and I usually get a lot of kidding from the Truckers. The Trucker you see here beside us kidded me and said "Hey, I thought bugs just flew around you guys."

Mountain Goats in Glacier

2006-08-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

Delray Beach, FL to Glacier National Park, Montana

2006-08-13T12:47:00.000-05:00

3,734 ..... that's how many miles Norm has driven from Delray Beach, Fl, to Glacier National Park in Montana.

It's COLD at Glacier National Park

2006-08-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

We woke up this morning with the outside temperature at 41 degrees and inside the coach was 55 degrees! Sharkie and I are wearing snowsuits until we get back to Florida! Norm is still wearing shorts.

Goat Lick Overlook where Mountain Goats and other animals come to lick the mineral-laden cliffs.

Black Bear

Grizzly Bear

OK, so we cheated....

The bear photos were taken from the car through a closed (dirty) window in a Bear Preserve

Glacier National Park, Montana

2006-08-10T21:16:00.000-05:00

We are staying in Hungry Horse, MT at a beautiful campground which is near the entrance to West Glacier.

The Photographer gets photographed

Logan Pass on the Continental Divide is 6,646 feet.

Big Horn Sheep near Logan Pass

Cute little Ground Squirrels were all around the Logan Pass Visitors Center.

Grand Teton Mountains

2006-08-07T17:57:00.000-05:00

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone

2006-08-07T17:56:00.000-05:00

Wild Elk in Yellowstone

2006-08-05T17:16:00.000-05:00

I am really enjoying photographing the wildlife in the Park. As we drive along, we will see a traffice jam up ahead. The traffice jam means that people have stopped to view and photograph wildlife. I usually jump out of the (moving) car with my cameras, leaving Norm to find a spot to pull off and park. It was such a pleasure to see this herd of elk in the Madison River, and see the behaviour of the females protecting the two young ones. They kept the two juveniles in the middle of the herd as they walked along in the river. Anne

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

2006-08-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

On Friday we drove to the area known as the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" and toured the North Rim and South Rim.
The first photo is the spectactular view from about 8000 feet at "Lookout Point" The second photo was taken by Norm from 500 feet below at Red Rock Point. (Hey, there wasn't an elevator here!)

Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park

2006-08-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

Here is "Carpe Diem on Wheels" at the Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, Montana. We are staying here for a week and think this is the best RV park we have been in so far. We are right at the west entrance to Yellowstone and Norm enjoys walking in the wooded area right behind the coach.

Trout Fishing

2006-08-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

Norm trout fishing on the Madison River

Geezer at a Geyser

2006-08-03T13:31:00.000-05:00

Geezer Norm at Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone

2006-08-03T13:25:00.000-05:00

Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone

2006-08-03T13:18:00.000-05:00

Black Sand Basin, Yellowstone

2006-08-03T13:04:00.000-05:00

Our Cat "Sharkie"

2006-08-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

I have received e-mails inquiring how our cat Sharkie, (aka “Shark Bait”) has adapted to Motor Home life. I’m happy to report that she has settled in very well. The first week she was a little mad at us, (see the second photo and her “snubbing us”) but now she even rides in my lap as we travel along. Anne

Crazy Horse Memorial, Black Hills of South Dakota

2006-07-29T21:08:00.000-05:00

Next, we toured the world’s largest mountain carving, the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to crave Crazy Horse, and this colossal carving was begun on June 3, 1948. My first two pictures show the mountain carving in progress, on which the 87 foot high face of Crazy Horse has been completed. The memorial will stand 563 feet high when it is finished. My third photo shows the scale model used for the craving with the mountain in the distance a mile away. The scale model is at the Visitors Center. The other two photos were also taken from the Visitors Center which houses the Indian Museum of North America. We enjoyed seeing the rare artifacts and beautiful works of art and learning more about the Native Americans. Anne

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

2006-07-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

After traveling 2,656 miles from Delray Beach, Fl, we made it to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. One of our goals on this trip was to tour this National Memorial and see the four great U.S presidents carved into the mountain. It was a breathing-taking view as we walked through the Avenue of Flags to the Grand View Terrace. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum began carving this great memorial to our nation's foundation and growth in 1927 and the colossal carving was finished in 1941. We also enjoyed attending the evening lighting program held in the park's amphitheater. Can I sing a verse of "America The Beautiful" now? (just kidding-Anne)

Oskosh - War Birds

2006-07-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

Oshkosh (by gosh)

2006-07-28T08:16:00.000-05:00

Still in Wisconsin, it's on to Oskosh to the EAA fly in. There were 10,000 airplanes and 700,000 people for the week of the fly in. Many many motorhomes in a big camping area, all well organized. So much to do, highlights were, the historic warbirds, air shows and the Beach Boys gave a great concert. Anne took many, many pictures and here are three.

Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

2006-07-28T08:10:00.000-05:00

Family Photos

2006-07-28T08:03:00.000-05:00

The Hunting "Shack"

2006-07-28T07:57:00.000-05:00

Marathon Park

2006-07-28T07:32:00.000-05:00

Wausau Wisconsin

2006-07-27T17:01:00.000-05:00

Looking for cool weather, not the hot Florida weather we are used to, we arrive in Wausau with a 98 degree heat wave. (It was a dry heat). We were hosted by Anne's brother Grover and his lovely wife Pat. Grover is a hunter and a fisherman, the two of us went to see his hunting "shack" and played in the woods while Anne and Pat did some shopping.

Our hosts had many plans for us during our week stay in Wausau. One highlight was that we went to the Greenbay Packers hall of fame. Where I practiced the Lambo leap. (It's not so hard when the wall is only 4 feet tall).

Also on the agenda was a Cheese factory where we were introduced to cheese curds, very good and also squeaky when you eat them. Chris took us to a local Brewery where we saw the local beer being brewed. Free samples were allowed. Grover and I got in a round of golf, I only lost a half dozen golf balls. The weather had cooled off and it was very nice.

We stayed at the city park which had camping. It was very nice and heavily wooded. And close to Pat's cooking which was very good. By the way, Pat has a great sense of humor and we laughed a lot.

We also had a nice day with their daughter Chris and her family. Beautiful house, nice well behaved boys (I later heard that they were well behaved without even being threatened) Anne and I commented after we left their house that it was like visiting Ozzie and Harriet's family.

Chicago (from the car window)

2006-07-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

Anne shot this as we passed by Chicago on the way to Wisconsin, too much traffic, and too much construction.. But we made it OK

Nappanee Indiana

2006-07-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

We are now in Nappanee Indiana, home of Newmar, the company who made our motorhome. We visited the factory and saw the assembly line. The Amish community is big in this part of Indiana and that is the reason that our coach is called a Dutchstar. (The things we learn) We were very impressed with the company and the complexity of the production assembly. There is over 2 miles of wire in our motorhome...who would have thunk it!!! We also toured a bit around town and saw many horsecarts. Also had a very good Amish Dinner.

Louisville, Kentucky

2006-07-13T16:24:00.000-05:00

We went to Louisville to meet a very good friend of mine. Don and I were "best" friends from the 3rd grade until we graduated from high school. I then went into the Airforce and left town and we have never seen each other since then. So 45 years later we meet again. We had dinner with Don and his beautiful wife Donna. They took us out to a great restaurant overlooking the Ohio river. A very good time was had by all and we promised to get together again, hopefully in October. Over all those years we found that we had so many things in common. Ain't life grand!

Brianna - Always cute

2006-07-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine

2006-07-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

Our big trip has started and the first stop is St. Augustine to visit the family. The guys did a few laps knocking each other around on the Go Kart track. It was a draw, but Bryce did some fancy driving (backwards) and Luke the same (sideways). Lynn and I did some bumpdrafting NASCAR style. We had a great time, and we celebrated Luke's 14th birthday.

2006-06-12T18:02:00.000-05:00

Our shakedown "cruise" to St. Augustine to see the Grandkids. Brianna had her 4th birthday party. Everything went really well with the coach. A few minor problems were corrected. A good time was had by all. It looks like all is still go for our trip in July.

I need to work on the "truck driver" muscles in my arms.. I felt it after only 5 hours of driving.

2006-05-26T07:35:00.000-05:00

All the parts have come in to make the Explorer towable. My friend Bill is always willing to help me do the mechanical stuff. So it's off to his garage to install the Remco drive shaft lockout and the Blue Ox towbar.

As you can see by the pictures, it was a piece of cake. I estimated that it could all be done in 5 or 6 hours. (It took 16 and still not quite done).

Our new Motor Home, A Newmar Dutch Star

2006-05-14T08:03:00.000-05:00

2006-05-14T07:57:00.001-05:00

Here is our new coach sitting in our driveway. We purchased her on May 9th and plan to get her ready to leave the second week in July for our dream trip out west. She is a 41 foot Newmar Dutchstar. We plan to set the Explorer up to be the towed vehicle. (Toad)

This blog will be our attempt to document our adventures.

Anne and Norm