California Here We Are

Wind, frost and a broken tow car kept us longer in Salt Lake City than we planned. A fabulous sushi restaurant eased our pain. Jerry spent thirty minutes getting a half inch thick ice layer off the canvas over the slide outs.

Finally heading out Thursday, we again spent the night in the Walmart lot in Winnemucca (nothing much changed there in the past three months).

We have to admit home looked great. Our wonderful neighbors and friends, Rick, Mark, and Coral took great care of our home, mail and plants. We own them a huge thank you. The sun shone on us for the first time in weeks (California does beat other places for sunny autumns).

We have had a wonderful journey filled with unexpected delights, great food, amazing art, and scenery no artist could capture. Thanks to all of you for traveling with us. You were much of what made the trip a pleasure, sharing with all of you and getting your comments. We’ll let you know when we head out again.

Snowed In

We drove straight through Wyoming to get to Salt Lake City. We had two goals, one the Red Iguana (see July 26 entry) and to find a place to hunker down as a snow storm threatened. Driving an RV in the snow is not a brilliant idea though we have done it; driving in heavy winds is incredibly stupid (we have done that too). Utah promised both and Salt Lake City does have diversions that keep us from getting cabin fever. Those flakes of snow in the picture were up to an inch in diameter.

We spent time in the Family Ancestry Center researching our relatives. Jerry has found his grandparents and even the draft notice of his uncle who was killed the last day of WWI. I found my mother’s naturalization requests and a listing for her job the year she married my father. Doing this research is like running a maze, one thing leads to another but you can’t find your way back to start.

The weather continues to threaten so we don’t know when we will leave. We will do our final post as we spot the Sierras and home.

Back to Nebraska

Heading east as we went through Nebraska, we complained about the endless plains and the vista-less drive. The only break we observed along Interstate 80 from border to border was this giant arch. Well, we visited the arch and our opinion quickly changed.

The Great Platt River Road Archway spans the Interstate at Kearny. It is a museum paying homage to the trails that led from the East to the Pacific.
Individual audio guides lead the tour of the museum starting with the migration of the buffalo, to the paths of the Native Tribes, and then personal narratives of the Oregon, Pony Express, Morman Pioneer and California Trails. The story of the American road evolves into the paving of the Lincoln Highway and Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System. The multi media presentation and label copy provided us with more than a review of lessons in the history of the American West, they added interesting new details for us to learn.
















Nebraska is BEEF country and Jerry has enjoyed steaks at good local restaurants the past two nights. While we have recognized most of the wines on restaurant lists throughout the trip, we were amused to find a familiar wine on the list at Dude’s in Sidney, Mogan David, the stereotypical sweet wine served at Jewish holidays. We’ll wait to enjoy ours over a Sabbath dinner at home.

IOWOW II, Amana Colonies & Pella

We continued our visits to non-traditional religious groups who left Europe and came to America for religious freedom. Our tour through the main town of Amana, led by a resident, gave us both historic and modern background. An explosion destroyed much of the main town in 1927; today the buildings remain much as they were since the 1930s. The area consists of seven small towns within a couple of miles of each other. As the need developed, leaders started a new town. They thrive on tourism, appliance manufacturing, furniture making and local crafts. Jerry was very impressed with the quality of the handmade furniture. At its peak, the colony had about 1800, today about 1500 still live in and worship in the community. Unlike the Amish, who have not changed as times have changed, Amana kept up with and even developed technology (remember the Amana RadarRange), and went from a colony to a corporation with every member holding stock. Unlike the Amish who shun those who stray, the many family members who have left the area are still welcomed as kin and can return to live at will.

Along with learning about the crafts, we enjoyed the stories of Henry, a 91 year young broom maker who told of his grandparents and parents mischief as they grew up in Amana. He himself left the town only for five years to serve in the US Army in WWII and to be stationed in San Francisco.

Next we returned to Pella to see what we had missed and revisit the bakery. The town has a authentic Dutch windmill used to grind flour. We toured the inside of the mill up to the blades. In an adjacent area local crafters have created a miniature Dutch village down to the finest detail. The grounds near the mill hold buildings that recreate life in early Pella and even have the home where Wyatt Earp grew up.



Down the street is an opera house with a wonderful organ just waiting for us to stop in and listen. Oh, yes, we did remember to stop at the bakery for yummies.

We so enjoyed Iowa, we hope to return for IOWOW III.

Illinois/Iowa

After viewing another covered bridge in Illinois, we headed for the I/I border. The Quad Cities area is really one large city with a bit of a river running through it. Oh, the river is the Mississippi. We spent our evening in the parking lot of a riverboat casino.

We spent our day on an 11K walk around Davenport, a town dominated by the Palmer School of Chiropractic Medicine and several small colleges. They also have some wonderful hundred year old homes.

John Deere invented the self-clearing plow in Illinois. The accomplishments of the company he founded are extolled at the John Deere Pavilion where we had a chance to climb up the giant tractors and pretend to drive (Anna Lee, of course, has mastered the art of driving big vehicles on her few hours of driving the RV).

Cars and Buggies

One hundred years ago, Auburn, Indiana, was the home of true luxury automobiles. Auburns, Cords and Dussenbergs all were designed and manufactured there. They ruled the road in innovation, speed and beauty but their reign ended with the depression. Today the former administrative offices and showroom have been redesigned in art deco to display a fabulous collection of the cars.

The label copy tells the history of each car, including owners if known, its specs and what was happening in the country or world at that time. We saw the Cord owned by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Dussenberg Elvis drove in a movie and wanted to buy but he found it was not for sale.

Anna Lee had a moment of nostalgia seeing an old Crosly like the one that used to take her and her cello to school (seriously). We were told we could spend all day in the museum and almost did.


We left the auto museum to go back to a time when horsepower was really horsepower. Amish Acres in Napanee was once an Amish farm but the last owner did not have an heir. It was bought and turned into a display of Amish life. A tour of buildings, a wagon ride (but tractor pulled) and a movie gave some information on this religious order that began in Switzerland following the Reformation. We wound up with more questions than answers.


We did stay for the Thresher dinner. It was carb heaven: bean soup, fabulous bread, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, bread pudding and corn. Beef, ham and cole slaw were the only non-carbs. We took our pie slices home for another day.


After the enormous dinner we enjoyed a production of Barefoot in the Park on the Joseph Stein Stage housed in a big round barn. The play has withstood the test of time and was delightful.

NFL Hall of Fame, Canton, OH

Jerry writes:
For years, Jerry has wanted to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and his wish was finally granted. We arrived at the Hall about 4:00 p.m. and security allowed us to park the RV in their parking lot so we could be first in line at opening today. We met Lou, the greeter who gave us some tips on seeing the Hall and then sent us on our way. My only problem with the displays was that they did not give enough attention to the “Team of the 80s.”

Anyway, we wandered through the Hall for about three hours and even Anna Lee enjoyed herself. Lou also told us how to get tickets for the induction ceremony next year because that will be when Jerry Rice will be eligible as will Emmett Smith. I guess we will just have to come back next year.

And yes, for those of you who don’t believe it, Anna Lee did drive several times on this trip. Here she is spinning down the highway. Don’t let the white knuckles fool you, she was really relaxed.

Anna Lee adds:

Obviously, this was Jerry’s choice. It is hard to admit but he was right. The NFL Hall of Fame is worth a visit. As a “fair weather fan,” I found it interesting and informative. The tributes to Jim Thorpe, an early pro football player, were touching.

They did need more 49er highlights, but that is personal prejudice. I was reluctant to see the 2009 Road to the Superbowl movie and wound up enjoying it. In fact, I think all Superbowls should be like that, seventeen minutes of the games’ most tense moments. It was fun to look out our window and watch a group of kids playing a pick-up game on the field alongside the parking lot. And I think we ought to come back to see Jerry Rice installed, as I knew he was destined for greatness from his very first season.

Interstate 80

We left New York to avoid a Nor’easter and headed into SNOW. Anna Lee’s cousin Barbara had recommended seeing the color of northern Pennsylvania. She was so right, the leaves were lovely, especially accented with the unseasonable snow falling on them. We drove over the Pocono and Allegheny Ranges through moderate rain and thick snow flakes. Fortunately for Jerry the snow did not stick to the road.




Even the RV had a great taste of snow.

Return to Rhineback

On the caravan, our day in Rhinebeck was rained out, so we decided to go back and see it before we turned west. We got in late and went for a very good dinner at Terrapin, housed in a reconverted church.


We had wanted to take a volkswalk of the charming town and were able to do it under blue skies and in crisp cool air. It was a good decision as our 5K walk took us past 200-year-old homes decorated for Halloween.

Catching Up

We said a teary farewell to our son, daughter, son-in-law and their friend and are turning the coach toward California and home. We enjoyed talking, touring, laughing, playing cards, overeating, and, even, a bit of disputing. Our opportunities to be with our children are too rare and, therefore, quite precious. We drove through a gold rain of maple trees as we drove out of Vermont. To catch up on our activities of the past busy few days scroll down today’s entry and read your way up.


The Berkshires lived up to expectation with more of the color we were seeking. Jeff needed to return to Troy and work. Anna Lee’s Denver cousins JoAnn and Rich were visiting their children (whom we visited for the Yom Kippur). We put everyone together along with Cheryl and met at Plum Blossom, a really good Chinese restaurant, for lunch. Then everyone but Jeff went apple picking. Throughout New England are family farms either selling produce from their front yard or open for customers to harvest and pick. The variety of apples here is far different from the Apple Hill area of northern California.














We have northern spice and Cortland for apple sauce (it would be Jerry’s pies if we were home). Returning to the Mohawk Trail we met Dave and Jeff (friend) after their bike ride. We enjoyed really good coffee in Williamstown, a village we would like to have spent more time in.







Quechee Gorge














The hike down Quechee Gorge was lovely but the colors are not as vivid as we want so we plan to return to Massachusetts and the Berkshires.

Friends and Family

Jeff, Cheryl, Dave and C and D’s friend Jeff Taback joined us for the Columbus Day weekend in Quechee State Park where we had a lovely campsite under the trees. We spent a day joining the line of tourists enjoying the last three day weekend before it really gets cold. Our first stop was at Simon Pierce Glass. Using their own hydroelectric power, they produce beautiful glass, pottery and lamps. Their store was filled with items seen in William Glen in Sacramento or Fortunato’s in NYC.

The next stop was predictable, Sugarloaf Maple and Cheese Farm, where each group had a personal table set up to taste over a dozen cheeses and four different grades (not by rank but by when it’s tapped) of syrup. Yummy. Then all six of us headed to the store to stock up on wonderful taste treats.



Lunch was in Woodstock, a town overflowing with great shops and too many people. So off we went to find covered bridges or ale or both depending on individual tastes.

New Hampshire

We crossed the state line to see if the trees were more colorful on the other side of the river. They were quite lovely and we found an old covered bridge posing off the road. Hopping in and out of the car, we worked up an appetite. Then, ready for more scenery, we rejected Kinsman Notch because it was so cold and found Franconia Notch more welcoming. The two mile walk over the notch included waterfalls, a steep gorge, a covered bridge, and, of course, maples in full color. Together we took over 300 photographs (Jerry took the most) and both dread and look forward to gleaning them.

Factory Tours

Rain and cold kept us indoors, but not at home. We visited some of the local “factories” of the Montpelier area. We started with a local cemetery with stones dating back to the 1700s including a veteran of the War of 1812. With such a start to our day we continued to Rock of Ages, the nation’s largest granite quarrier and carver of monuments and grave stones. Though a sad and serious subject, the tour was interesting. The process of cutting and raising hundreds of tons of granite is impressive. An amusing fact is that the quarry was used in one of the early scenes of the last Star Trek movie, where a young Kirk was hot rodding. They even had a granite bowling alley that Anna Lee took a crack at.

Hope Cemetery in Barre is both a burial place for local residents and a showcase of the carving done at Rock of Ages. Along with traditional stones, there rested a race car, soccer ball, and, even, a couple reaching from their beds to hold hands forever.


We needed a bit of a palate cleanser at drove up to Grand View Winery, producer of fruit wines. Their name is apt as the view even with darkening clouds was fabulous. The wine was pretty good and we bought some apple cider as “food” souvenirs.



Our appetite whetted, we visited another of Vermont’s proud traditions, Cabot Creamery. Visitors surrounded the table laden with samples of dozens of cheeses. We learned that their cheeses are both lactose free and hormone free, making Anna Lee happy. And their cheeses are sold just down the road from us at Raley’s and Costco (sorry for the commercial).

Anna Lee’s cousin Ed went to school at the Vermont Culinary Institute so their Main Street Café was our dinner stop and a nice one it was.

Leaves

We received several recommendations from local (Massachusetts and Vermont) people to take Highway 100 that runs through the middle of Vermont, south to north. We did take part of it coming into our campground and continued on up today toward the Canada border in our search for leaves. Another recommendation was to take lanes and dirt roads, so we did a bit of that too. The result was a wonderful ride through low to high color. We enjoyed lunch along a lake whose far shore was Canada.

Since childhood, Anna Lee has loved to trample through piles of fall leaves and she did in Brighton State Park.


We also saw Christmas trees decorated by nature in vivid yellows, oranges and reds.