TravelStream™ news feed for member travelbiddie on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/travelbiddie en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:32:13 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180126200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180126200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180126200/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:32:13 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Murdo, South Dakota, United States

Day 33

Well no pictures for today. We drove towards eastern Nebraska looking for the Historic site of the battle of Wounded Knee. Not a single sign to lead us there. The wind was blowing like mad and we decided to get to our next destination before a real storm blew in. We was very lucky that there has been quite a bit of rain in this area recently. Where there were bare fields we drove through substantial dust storms.

We are staying in a Best Western just down the street where we stayed in the motor home last year. There still isn't much in Murdo. We did check into the truck stop and they allowed us to do our laundry. My oh my it was time!!!!

We will probably go out for Italian food tonight.

Tomorrow it is on th Hill City very close to Mt. Rushmore and all there is to see in that part of SD.

Love to all.

Dirinda, Jan, Shawn
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180051920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180051920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1180051920/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:31:07 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Chadron, Nebraska, United States

Day 32

We awoke to another beautiful morning. Today's adventure will take us into NW Nebraska. Our goals are Courthouse and Jail Rocks, Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluff. All three were landmarks for the westward migration. The going was so slow that when they did finally see the rock outcroppings it was a joyous occasion. In Wagon movement they could be seen 3 day out.

We found NW Nebraska to be quite beautiful. It has rolling hills, small valleys and miles and miles of grasslands. We passed feed lots that were miles long fill with cattle. By the way we did have Nebraska steaks last night. Yum, Yum. They were humongous so we had steak sandwiches for lunch and will again tomorrow. We saw many antelope grazing with the cattle and horses. We also saw one buffalo.

We then traveled 25 miles into Wyoming and visited Ft. Laramie. This was another military outpost that was critical to the westward movement. If the traveling groups were too late to make it over the Rockies they would winter here. I have to say that by our observations this would not be a good place to spend a winter in a covered wagon. It was also the place they would re-stock their supplies. According to the short film we watched most of the people who died on the way west died because of sickness. Less that 2% died at the hands of Indians.

Tonight we are in Chadron, NE. Tomorrow we drive to Murdo, SD. That will position us for an east to west trip through the Badlands. WE have arranged to stay put for 3 days over Memorial Day. We will stay in Hill City, SD. It is centrally located to make short trips to see many things in that area.

Love to all.

Shawn, Dirinda, Jan
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179956820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179956820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179956820/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:29:35 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Ogallala, Nebraska, United States

Day 31

Greeting to all,

Last night was a real adventure. We almost were not in Kansas any more. A severe storm came up from the southwest with small tornado's touching down. We were on severe storm alert until almost 11:00. Dirinda was able to get Lassie under the motel portico so the hail couldn't do damage. They were calling for possible golf ball to baseball sized hail. The largest we saw was about the size of the end of my thumb. The lightning was everywhere but little thunder. The rain came in torrents and the wind was close to 70 mph. The motel sustained substantial roof damage but it looked like it was pretty shoddy construction in the first place. We are safe and out of Kansas. Been there done that don't need to do it again!

This morning we visited old Fort Hays. It was a post civil war army out post to provide protection for settlers moving west as well as a supply station. This was not a stockade type of fort construction but more open and spacious like modern bases. Several of the original buildings are on site. We were escorted through the junior officers quarters. Two families would share the homes. There was a parlor on each side of the entry, one for each family. The dining area and kitchen were shared. There were two bedrooms upstairs, one for each family. "Me thinks it was the first form of birth control!" They had side-by-side outdoor biffies one side for each family.

We then headed for the Nebraska panhandle. We made a stop at the Cottonwood Ranch, which is a state historical sited. Unfortunately the volunteer was not on site so we didn't get any real first hand information. The founder was John Pratt who immigrated from Ripon, Yorkshire County in England. The ranch is laid out like a typical Yorkshire farm with stone walls for fences and building connected by those fences.

It was then on to Nebraska and away from tornadoes, wind and hail.

Love to all.

Shawn, Dirinda, Jan
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179877980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179877980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179877980/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:27:13 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Hays, Kansas, United States

Day 30

Wow, day 30. It doesn't seem possible that we have been gone that long. Today's highlight was the Old Town Museum in Burlington, CO. It consisted of many old buildings with vintage furnishings, equipment and paraphernalia. We were there at 9:00 and had the whole place to ourselves. There was one major drawback. They don't have the live interaction folks on staff until after Memorial Day. So again there was no soda fountain and no root beer float. We then located the Kit Carson County Carousel. Foiled again! Not open until next weekend. We did get some pictures through a rather dirty window.

The carousel was hand carved in 1905. It fell into disrepair over the years but now has been restored to it original majesty and magic.

On to Kansas. The land is so flat I swear I can look back and see Mark's house in Colorado Springs and he and Cindy are still weaving goodbye.

We found El Quartelejo Pueblo ruins about 43 miles south of I-70. It is a small ruin of a six rooms. It is thought that the puebloans were running from the Spanish and settled in this area. It the farthest north ruins to be found so far.

We ate our lunch by a lovely little lake and continued our journey. We swung west on hwy 4, (you probably will not find it on a regular map) and found a scenic byway to Hays, KA. Look for pictures.

Que the thunder and lightening we are holed up for the night and the storm can happen.

Love to all,

Shawn, Dirinda, Jan
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179796440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179796440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179796440/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:25:44 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Stratton, Colorado, United States

Day 29

Our first visits today were to see tree sculptures by Bradford Rhea. They are located throughout the city of Sterling. The giant trees were killed in a very deep and prolonged freeze in 1982. Bradford Rhea turned the dead tree trunks into magnificent works of art. The works all used to be outside for passing public to enjoy. However wind, rain, snow and freezing temperatures started to take their toll on the wood. The originals have all been moved to points inside buildings throughout the city. As money permits some of them have been duplicated in bronze so they can remain on display outside.

We then went to the Overland Trail Museum also in Sterling, CO. What a gem! It houses a wonderful display of early eastern Colorado life and times. There is a rich history here in the middle of what looks like totally nowhere. The museum included a blacksmith shop, church, schoolhouse, general store, gas station, barber shop, barn and an old house. All were fascinating and brought back some very old memories.

We had great expectation of Fort Morgan, Co. The brochure lead us to believe there was a museum, old soda shop and a saloon with toilet seats on the wall framing pictures. Well one out of 3 is not a complete strike out but close. The museum was wimpy after the Overland in Sterling. The soda shop was only on display in the back corner of the museum. So there were no root beer floats! We did find the Queens Lounge with the toilet seats and had a beer. Ft. Morgan is also the birthplace of Glen Miller.

More adventures tomorrow.

Love to all

Jan, Dirinda, Shawn
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179710400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179710400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179710400/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:24:28 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Sterling, Colorado, United States

Day 28

Today we traveled north of Denver and visited an Anhauser Busch brewery. WE were able to see the hitch horses in their 12' X 12' stalls. These animals are really pampered. Then it was on to the brewing process itself. Of course the crown was the complimentary glass of beer at the end.

Then we stopped in Greely, CO. There was supposed to be a nifty open-air museum and village and a tour of the Meeker house. Both were closed on Sundays. Darn the luck. We did get into a museum. The main attraction was "Rattle Snake Annie". She took her small son for a horseback ride out to a river where some duck hunters had left some ducks. She found herself surrounded by rattlesnakes. She was a crack shot with a 22 rifle. When the smoke cleared the score was, Annie 140 snakes 0. She took 40 of them home, skinned em, dried em and made a dress out of them. She had enough skins to cover a pair of fetching shoes. She used the rattles to make a necklace and earrings. Entertainment was sparse in those days.

We drove on to Sterling, CO. There is some outside artwork and a museum to see here tomorrow. We are a little ahead of our schedule and we have 12 days to burn before we check into Yellowstone on June 1. We are sure we can find stuff to entertain ourselves.

Love to all,

Dirinda, Jan, Shawn
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179623820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179623820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179623820/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:22:13 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

Hi all,

We arrived in the Springs around 11:00AM. We went to The Garden of the Gods which is a lovely municipal park just out of town. It has beautiful red rock outcroppings. Thanks for the tip Philippe. We then did a scouting run to the base of Pikes Peak. Weather permitting we may drive up before we leave tomorrow.

We visited my nephew Mark and wife Cindy. Great niece Alyssa is visiting New Mexico grandparent. We had a wonderful home cooked dinner of ribs and taco salad. He did you proud on his ribs Bro and the salad too Sis. We were stuffed. Cindy is doing fine and did a pretty good job eating the ribs. For those not in the know Cindy is pregnant and food does not agree with her at this time.

We also took the opportunity to do some much needed laundry.

That's it for now.

Love to all and a really big thank you Mark and Cindy.

Shawn, Dirinda, Jan
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179532500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179532500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179532500/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:21:17 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Gunnison, Colorado, United States

Day 26

Today we explored the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. WOW! Thanks for the tip Pat. The Black Canyon is 2,000 feet deep 1,100 feet wide and over 30 miles long. The Gunnison River is the cutting force behind this canyon. . It get's it's black name due to the lack of light that can penetrate the canyon due to it vertical walls. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a frighteningly beautiful canyon. Every observation point you are looking straight down to a roaring river below.

The canyon was first recorded in 1874 but was determined to be inaccessible. In 1901, two surveyors attempted to float the river through the canyon to determine where a diversion tunnel could be constructed to supply the local area with more water. Their first attempt was a failure when one of their boats crashed into a rock, shattered and washed down stream along with their supplies. The following year Fellows and Torrence decided they could float the river on air mattresses. They made to the point where the river narrows and it appears to disappear into the rocks. The two men talked it over and decided they had to try it. As they discussed their options Fellows jumped into the water and was swept down the waterfalls like rapids and out of site. Torrence was left alone and had no idea how his partner had faired. He two jumped in and took the same path only to find Fellows waiting for him a couple a hundred yards down stream and around a couple of bends.

Tomorrow in is on to Colorado Springs and a brief visit with nephew Mark and niece Cindy. We hope to visit Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak along with what ever else looks interesting.

Stay tuned.

Love to all.

Shawn Dirinda Jan
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179454440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179454440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179454440/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:19:57 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Moab, Utah, United States

Day 25

We didn't go far on the map but we did drive a fair number of miles. We are spending the night in Moab, UT. It is only 74 miles up the road from Monticello. However we took a side trip into south Canyon Lands. We saw some really nifty petroglyph's that were finally protected in 1965. If you look close you can see where some dumb ----- put their own graffiti. As we entered the canyon plateaus and rock formation appeared everywhere.
We backtracked out the 30+ miles and continued north. We knew we were staying in Moab so we started searching for a room. Third try was positive. We are at a Super 8 in a suite for $103.

WE then drove north to enter the northern Canyon Lands National Park. Half way in I finally looked at the gas Gage. Dumb Dumb. We only had a quarter of a tank. Now Dirinda's car has been getting good mileage but not that good. We did go to Dead Horse Point State Park where there is a magnificent view of Canyon Lands and the Colorado River.

After driving out of the park and back to civilization to get gas we went into Arches National Park. Wow again. It is quite spectacular. Most of the arches require some walking to get a good view but several are visible from the road. As the afternoon progressed clouds started to gather and we could see rain falling off in the distance. On the way out of the park we were presented with a show of lightning. In fact it is thundering, with lightning and rain now. Hmm Lassie may get a bath after all.

Tomorrow we will take a scenic route out of Moab along the souther edge of Arches to I-70 then turn south into Colorado.

Love to all,

Jan, Dirinda, Shawn
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179352500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179352500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelbiddie/2007_road_trip/1179352500/tpod.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 12:18:42 -0400 The adventures of 3 old ladies, Dirinda, Jan and Shawn, turned loose on the roads to adventure and sights unseen. This odessy will cover 12 states in 7 weeks.

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Monticello, Utah, United States

Day 24

In the last 2 day we have driven about 300 miles. I have never driven as far with little or no civilization. Towns listed on the map include a service station, church, a few houses and some less than this. I have no idea where they do their real grocery shopping. Again we drove through miles and miles of beautiful desert, high plateaus and rock formations.

Our goal today was Natural Bridges National Monument. There are three natural rock bridge formations in the park. Sipapu the first one you see and it is the youngest geologically. Kachina is the second on the loop road. The third and the oldest is Owachomo. It is also the most accessible. It was less than a ½ mile hike down to the canyon floor. Again they were able to make the same trail back at least three miles longer.

Tomorrow we will only move about 50 miles north but we will be at the gates of Canyon Lands and Arches National Monuments.

Love to all,

Shawn, Dirinda, Shawn
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