Tuesday. August 14, 2018
Day 28

Last leg of trip!! Less than 400 miles to go. I had a hard time getting going this morning. The room was so nice and the bed was the most comfortable of the whole trip!! I needed gas so drove to nearest station and turns out it was right below where I was last night in the parking lot listening to the music. The hotel was on Wentzville Bluffs Rd. Now I see why! It literally was on a bluff.

Last night I was standing where those 2 little trees are on top of the bluff.

I got into St. Louis about 11am and the traffic was crazy. I saw 2 close call accidents with people changing lanes and almost pulling into another car. And the roads through there are not good. Lots of construction. Hate to have gone through there at rush hour!!( The only real rush hour traffic I had the whole trip was this afternoon coming into Nashville and getting onto Viet Nam Blvd. Traffic was actually stopped at the end where it turns into Longhollow!)

It was nice to see all the trees when I got into KY and TN. 

I took more pictures. One with Don Williams singing in the background! But it's too long. 

One place on the road I saw a string of what looked like clothes alongside the road. Probably somebody's suitcase :-) The rest of the trip I don't remember seeing any trash. Not like in TN. Someone threw out a grocery bag right in front of me. Another threw out a cigarette. That would be a major NO NO in California with all the wild fires. 

I got home about 4:30 this afternoon. It was so nice to drive up to a newly mowed yard. Thanks to my granddaughters. Got part of the car unpacked and then had to quit. It was only 88 but it felt really hot. So will get the rest tomorrow. And put away all the stuff I have sitting on the counters, etc. 

It was a great trip even though the main reason for going was sad. Thanks to everyone who helped make it enjoyable both in California and TN and Krista and Stacey for taking care of my place while I was gone.  I will be glad to have my hand held shower again! I guess it was time to be home tho. The required maintenance light came on west of St. Louis and the strap on my purse gave out this morning!  (Too much stuff in there :-) ) Drove 5,497 miles! I had the car serviced before I left and now will have to go in again so I can get the orange caution icon to go out on the dash board! 

Until the next trip........or if I have something exciting to write about. :-) 

Have a good night. Love to all, Carol 

Monday, August 13, 2018
Day 27

I woke up to clouds but warm weather. I left Hays, KS about 9:45am. On the way east, there are a lot of billboards referring to Eisenhower. His boyhood home and Presidential Library and Museum are in Abilene, KS. It's about 25 miles from Junction City, KS where my dad grew up. I believe he told me that their football teams played against each other. I don't think he actually met him, but he did support him. I think you will have to zoom in on the picture to see the billboard. Yes, that is a little rain on the windshield. At first I thought it was bugs that I had missed when I washed the windshield. It rained enough to use the wipers but the pavement didn't get wet)

A little farther down the road after I came to Abilene, I saw a highway sign that made me laugh. I couldn't get a picture because it came and went before I could get the camera. I thought that Truman and Eisenhower would both turn over in their graves if they saw it. And my dad would too.  So I looked it up and found out the story behind the sign. (The picture wouldn't post so you will have to click on the link below to see it)

                                                  

Eisenhower Truman Highway I-70  It's a 2 page pdf that is interesting. 

I decided to try one more time to find my great grandfather's grave marker in Junction City, KS. 3rd time is a charm. I found it! It's on a hill that overlooks the Ft. Riley army base. The cemetery is well hidden, doesn't have a name on it and no markers to indicate where it is. It's a small cemetery and very peaceful and pretty well kept. I took a lot more pictures but won't post all of them. 

Ft. Riley

Joseph P. Estes and Elizabeth Estes great grandparents

Lots of Petersons there. No relation that I know of. 

Ft. Riley in the distance

I think is a crab apple tree. 

So as long as I was in cemetery hunting mode, I drove out to the cemetery (Humboldt Creek Cemetery) where my other great grandparents are supposed to be buried. When Lon and I drove out there 4 years ago, we couldn't find their markers. Well, I walked the whole cemetery and still didn't find it. And they aren't listed as being a memorial there. But my great uncle (my grandfather's brother) and his family are there. 

There is a portion of I-70 that is a toll road. When you enter you take a ticket and at the end there is a clerk to take your money. $3 This is the sign there since there is a lot of construction going on. In case you can't zoom in, it says "ONE LANE RD AHEAD PLEASE MERGE NICELY".

When I got to Boonville, MO I stopped at a Love station and gassed up and went to Hardy's to get some chicken tenders. Had to take a picture of this man. Must be some kind of highway worker. 

I got to Wentzville, MO about 6:20. I'm at the Hampton Inn. It's huge and I think is new. It still has that new smell. It's next door to a movie theater (12) and a huge parking lot. I heard music which sounded like it was coming from across the parking lot. I thought there was a concert going on. So I walked across the lot to find it. Turns out it was coming from speakers in the parking lot. 

I am in a King Suite! It's beautiful and I could live in here!! It's so big. Very comfortable. And nicely decorated.( Jeana just informed me that the Dodgers and Giants are playing ball. Finally found it on the TV so now can watch while doing the blog :-)  ) Plus there is a huge walk in shower and vanity area, and a small kitchenette. 

Side entrance. My room is just inside the door.  

When I walked across the parking lot, these businesses were down below. Sounds interesting!!

The movie theater on the left. The Hampton Inn on the right

If I had any energy, I could spend some time here ;-)

I should be able to make it home tomorrow. Have 400 miles to go. Will be good to get home. And I imagine my granddaughter will be glad too so they don't have to take care of things any longer. It's been longer than anticipated. And I am grateful to them for feeding my kitty, etc. 

Have a good night all. Hugs, Carol 

Sunday, August 12, 2018
Day 26

This is going to be short. I'm tired tonight. Drove 550 miles today. Took 9 hours. Now I'm on Central Time so lost an hour. I didn't take many pictures today. Not much new to show that I haven't already posted.
The Holiday Inn Express was close to the railroad. There were trains going all night. I have never seen so many trains as I have on this trip. One train had a whole bunch or UPS trailers and Fed Ex trailers. They were separated by a bunch of other companies!! This truck was parked at the hotel this am. Not sure is you can see it, but it has wheels that drop down to run on the rails. Interesting.

There was a lot more traffic today than yesterday, even out in the open spaces. More trucks than cars and seemed like more were going west.  The first picture is north of Denver when the traffic was starting to back up. It looks like it's a long stretch but in the dip it curves to the right and under an overpass. The second picture was at a standstill north of Denver. The mountains were slightly visible. Could see a couple patches of snow but not well enough to take a picture.

The next 3 are when I had to pull off the road and walk around. The turnoff said Lowland Drive. I don't think it went any place!!! These were the buildings there. And a head of cattle. Reminded me of California on west side of valley. Must have been quite an operation at one time. 

I'm at Hampton Inn tonight in Hays, KS. Will call in am to try to make reservation for Wentzville, MO. Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday.  

I'm ready to be home. 

More tomorrow.

Hugs, Carol 

Saturday, August 11, 2018
Day 25

Left Elko about 9:30am. Still smoky! Didn't get to see the Ruby Mountains near Elko. Very beautiful usually.  There were lots of trucks traveling today. Some cars but not many except in Salt Lake City!! I took quite a few pictures today because of the scarcity of traffic but now looking at them, they pretty much all look similar. LONG stretches of road!! The first one is on the west side of Wendover. Wendover sits on the border of Utah and Nevada. The line runs directly though town. On the pavement in front of one of the casinos it has Utah/Nevada. The yellow sign is on the salt flats. It is very long and straight and many mirages! Fortunately I didn't get sleepy there.

The picture of the train is west of Salt Lake City proper. It is loaded with coal. When I was growing up, every year my dad would order a train car load of coal. It would come to the railroad station in Durham, and our foreman with help would truck it to our ranch. Hadn't thought about that for a long time.

All day I was at elevation above 6000 feet. The signs for road closure are outside of Evanston, WY. There are several places along the route where the road is closed in the winter time due to weather or snow.  I crossed the Continental Divide 2 times!! one was 6900 feet other 7000 feet. Couldn't get a picture But not sure how one can cross it twice.  The picture of the LONG stretch which was about 6 miles with the windmills on the hills in the background was amazing. the smoke was finally starting to clear. Was nice to see blue sky for a change after 3 weeks. There were gorgeous rock formations in Utah and Western Wyoming. Well the closer I got to Rawlins, the terrain changed. Kind of more flat but still with some interesting rock layers, etc. I think would be interesting to look up the geology of the area.

The motorcycle sign saying that there have been 7 fatalities in the last 30 days was one I hadn't seen before. And ironically just as I saw that I saw 2 riders going 80 miles an hour without helmets. No wonder!! Other signs say look twice, motorcycles are everywhere.  Well, would help if they didn't appear out of nowhere going lickity split and expect you to see them. Pretty skies again!!

Another interesting thing I saw and wish I had gotten a picture was in Evanston. There was a huge yellow sign that said Pyro City. And the scenery behind the sign was a burned hillside!! I think it was probably an ad for a fireworks place. But tickled me!! Doesn't take much sometimes.  Another one was in Eastern Nevada.  First sign said Prison Area. Don't pick up hitchhikers. The next sign was turn off to Independence Valley :-)


Interesting car on trailer in front of motel.  I'm at Holiday Inn Express.  Glad I called this am to get a room because tonight when I was checking in several people came to get rooms and they are sold out. The Hampton Inn was sold out this am when I called.  I have a nice room. Think they called it a King Executive. Got regular rewards points and then because I was "randomly selected a VIP" I get 500 more points.  I just noticed what I thought was the refrigerator - I think is someone snoring next door!!! Fortunately I can't hear it real loud. :-)

That's all folks for today!! Scenery tomorrow will be much the same. If you want to look, there are probably the same pictures on last year's blog!! :-) 

I hope all is well with everyone.   Praying for the firefighters and emergency personnel, families that have lost loved ones and or their possessions. Here is a link to a You Tube video made by Juan Brown. It's very informative about the fire situation. I have followed him since the Oroville Dam problems last year. He is very knowledgeable and gets to the bottom of issues. Not just the political side of issues. He lives in Nevada City, CA in the foothills. He is also an American Airlines Pilot and loves the outdoors.
Link to Juan Brown's Blancolirio video about California wildfires
It's about 15 minutes long but very interesting I think.
Nite all. I'm on Mountain Time now. Lost an hour. And will probably lose another hour tomorrow. Haven't done research on how far I will go tomorrow. Guess I should do that. Hugs, Carol

Friday, August 10, 2018

Day 24

The crew arrived EARLY today so we were up before 7 to move our cars out to the road to make way for the asphalt equipment and truck. I've seen a lot of road construction but never really paid much attention to it. It was really interesting. The men have been doing that kind of job for a long time and are quite proficient.  When Jackie and I walked back into the house from the road we saw two of the men laying in the equipment. It looked like they were taking a nap before they started work!! Maybe partied too late :-). but they were actually working on the equipment. The guys were quite friendly. Asked me where I lived. When I told them Tennessee, they said is that on the east coast? I said I was originally from Chico but lived there now. He said Oh!! Chico State University?? The party school.  Cracked me up that he didn't know where Tennessee was but knew about Chico!! 😊 He was the man on the left, the owner of the paving company.

Finally got a picture of me with Jackie. I've had a hard time remembering to get pictures. Not good.

When it was time to take my suitcase etc. out, Jack loaded it into his cart and motored it out to the road. Had us laughing!  Tennessee or Bust!!!  He made the cart out of an old lawnmower. :-)

Almost done!

The highway to Reno was beautiful today. All areas were smoky or at least a little hazy so didn't get any really crisp looking pictures. But was still a gorgeous drive.  I stopped at a rest stop on Donner Summitt and stopped to take a picture of Donner Lake.

Donner Pass 

Donner Pass 

Donner Lake

At vista point above Donner Lake

Entering Truckee

There was road construction with lower speed limits a few places along the way. But only saw one place that they were actually working. Maybe because was Friday.

When I left Lovelock, NV I turned on my podcast and started listening to Pastor Tim Harris' sermons. He is Tina and Brandon's pastor at Woodburn Baptist Church in KY. I listened to two of his and then 2 of my pastor's sermons, Pastor James Johnson, First United Methodist Church, in Gallatin, TN. When I got a few miles past Battle Mountain, NV, an alert showed up on the navigation screen saying "Your fuel level is low"  and a yellow icon of a gas pump on the dash showed up.  I had 19 miles worth of gas left. She (my navigator) asked if I would like to see the nearest gas station. I said YES!! So I had to go 4 miles to an exit and then go back 15 miles to Battle Mountain!!! this is after I bragged to Jackie that I had never let the gas get low enough to know how it alerted when gas low!!! So needless to say I was sweating it - literally. I turned off the a/c and slowed down some to conserve gas. When I got to the station it said I had 2 miles left to go.  I put 15.6 gallons in. I think the tank is 16 gallons. There is always a first time for everything. I just hope it's the last time I do that!!  At least I have AAA and I did have a cell phone reception.

I'm staying at the Red Lion Hotel and Casino in Elko, NV tonight. Very nice room but it was very cold since the a/c was set on 67. So I switched it over to heat. It was hot here in Elko when I arrived but now is 79 and going to be 59 tonight. Elko is at 5000'. But it is high desert so it doesn't look like it. All of the cities of any size along I-80 have the initial of their name on a hillside nearby.

I had a good dinner. Chicken Caesar salad and some sourdough bread. I have no idea what that orangish/brown round thing is. It had a familiar smell but I couldn't decide what it smelled like. I couldn't eat it.  Couldn't bite it or break it but it was flexible!!

The hotel comped me $15 to play on the slots. So I cashed out with $25. Dinner cost $13. I gained a little and didn't use my money to play. Was fun. Then came to room to get my feet elevated. They don't like being dependent all day!! :-(
The wifi is very slow here. Trying to get the photos I took to transfer over to the Mac.I am going to have to quit. I have many more pictures but I can't get them to download.
So I will close for now. Take care. More tomorrow  from someplace east of here. :-)
Hugs, Carol