Jul 9, 2020 – Let the Chips Fall Where they May

The American Alligator is synonymous with The Everglades. I can remember clearly the first time I saw one in the wild. At least six feet in length, the reptile’s presence commanded its watery environment. It appeared to not have any interest in me or anything for that matter- it was just there biding its time. … Continue reading Jul 9, 2020 – Let the Chips Fall Where they May →

Jul 7, 2020 – There’s Gold in Them Hills

Custer's campground base in the Black Hills. On July 2, 1874, a United States Army expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer set out for the uncharted Black Hills of South Dakota. Among their many missions was to investigate the possibility of gold mining. On July 31, the wagon train arrived at Black Elk … Continue reading Jul 7, 2020 – There’s Gold in Them Hills →

Jul 2, 2020 – Land of Stone and Light

After 200 miles of this view, we arrive at our exit that leads us into the Land of Stone and Light. Driving 200 miles through open space on a straight westerly path void of most anything except cattle herds and Wall Drug billboards was hypnotizing. Passing cattle field after cattle field, I knew we were … Continue reading Jul 2, 2020 – Land of Stone and Light →

Jul 1, 2020 – The Quirky, Creepy, Beautiful and Magnificent South Dakota

"Skeleton Man Walking Skeleton Dinosaur" as seen from I-90 in South Dakota. The creation of Clarence Hullinger. (photo from atlasobscura.com) South Dakota has the world's largest ball of invisible twine - I know because I've seen it. No doubt, every state in the union has idiosyncratic attractions; some historically meaningful and others just plain idiosyncratic. … Continue reading Jul 1, 2020 – The Quirky, Creepy, Beautiful and Magnificent South Dakota →

June 28, 2020 – Gateway to the Great Plains

The Loess Hills run parallel to the Missouri River on the west side of Iowa, where we stayed at the Lewis and Clark State Park. The summer of 2020 was a strange time to travel through the red and blue United States. Beyond doing what a pandemic normally does, COVID-19 also managed to saturate those … Continue reading June 28, 2020 – Gateway to the Great Plains →

June 26, 2020 – The Grand Design

The day we drove our new home off the dealer's lot. It was June 26, 35 days after leaving Chokoloskee when we finally pulled our home on wheels off Grand Design’s service center lot. The RV was in much better shape than the day we drove it there on June 5. How did we get … Continue reading June 26, 2020 – The Grand Design →

Mar 1, 2020 – The Bridge to Nowhere

Chokoloskee Island, our home is the only inhabited Ten Thousand Islands in Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastline. The Ten Thousand Islands comprise a large portion of Florida's southern gulf coast region. Chokoloskee Island is the only one connected to the mainland by bridge. We decided three years ago to live fulltime in the RV and … Continue reading Mar 1, 2020 – The Bridge to Nowhere →

Oct 6, 2019 – Limping Back to Florida

The Vicksburg Military National Park's cemetery. By the time we got to Mississippi, we were road weary. And Mississippi seemed as weary as we were. It was a sad place in many ways with remnants of tragic history made mostly during the Civil War. We came to Vicksburg to continue our lessons on the Civil … Continue reading Oct 6, 2019 – Limping Back to Florida →

Sep 16, 2019 – The New Normal

Vivian in the wheelchair at sunset, Catherine's Landing RV park near Hot Springs. Concrete pads were an extraordinary luxury. To most, accessibility is taken for granted. The word “inaccessible” has no context to an able-bodied person. Like discrimination, you really don’t get it until you’ve experienced it. The short of it was, Vivian had only … Continue reading Sep 16, 2019 – The New Normal →

Sep 9, 2019 – Breaking from Normal

This part of our trip began with great anticipation and much preparation building up to one thing, the White River in Bull Shoals Arkansas. But that all ended just as quickly as it began. Let me start by describing how the preparation played out. Our first evening on the beautiful White River. Much of Vivian’s … Continue reading Sep 9, 2019 – Breaking from Normal →