Pratt, Kansas

Before we ever started this mornng, I managed to turn on the gas stove without noticing, setting off the CO2 alarm. Cary was up on the trailer roof, and didn't hear me or the alarm. I am sure the neighbors did. Luckily I discovered the problem and the open door caused the fumes to dissapate before he ever got back. One of the towns we drove through was Dalhart, Texas.

 We had lunch at a fuel stop in Hooker, Oklahoma.

One of these days I will remember that I really want to goto this museum in Liberal, Kansas.

The Wizard of Oz was one of my favorites, along with all of its sequels, back when we were only allowed to check out six books from the Tucson Public Library (the only one in Tucson being downtown). I am sure I read them faster than we got back to exchange our books.

Glad to report that Greensburg is really doing lots better than the last time we drove through.
Finally we reached our destination--Pratt, a place we stayed several years ago. There is a motel here, as well as a bomb shelter. As soon as we got the broken glass cleaned up (I left my glass on the counter after lunch), we headed to Walmart for yogurt and a water filter, then came back to try and cool off. The ice machine helped too!

Tucumcari Tonight

 Before leaving Alamogordo, I had to get a picture of us in front of (way in front of )the giant pistachio nut at McGinn's by our RV park.

Several of these U.S. Government trucks passed us on the freeway, very interesting. Cary noticed the extra reinforcements in the windows, the actual lack of windows to what one might expect in this type of vehicle, lots of antennnas. They were different sizes and colors, although mostly white. All four-wheel drive. Surreptitious is the word that came to Cary's mind!

 We finally got to Tucucumcari; the temperature was about 20 degrees warmer than yesterday--in fact they are expecting a record 102 tomorrow.

Last year this Pontiac was parked at the Blue Swallow Motel.

 The Hudson Hornet (about a '55 Cary thinks) is new this year; the gas price reads 26 cents!

I am sure I took a picture of this mural last year on the side of the Blue Swallow, but it is worth another look.

Supper was leftover meatloaf and more great fresh veggies from Patti's garden.

Alamogordo and La Luz, First Stops

This picture was actually taken two years ago. But this is where we had lunch today and it is also where I decided I was cool enough to change out of my shorts into my jeans! We had a wonderful start to the morning, some sprinkles when we were loading last minute items, a nice cloud cover and temperatures in the seventies most of the day. I was too tired to take any pictures, but the scenery was really pretty, nice and green. The Rio Grande was dry, however,

We got set up at the Boot Hill RV Park in Alamogordo, then drove to Wally's in La Luz. He has just been back from Bonneville a short time. He took his custom motorcycle there to set his own personal speed record--over 200 mph! Patti has a wonderful garden, so we dined on fresh squash, beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers, as well as chicken and ribs. I took a cherry danish dessert that I baked last night (even left some for Wally). We always look forward to our visit with them. Next stop, Tucucumcari. I hope to get enough sleep tonight to take some pictures along the way.

Catching Up From Home

Thanks to not having decent (or any) computer service the last few days of the trip, I will post a few highlights of them. Cary has talked about visiting Lone Pine ever since we have been traveling together, so this was the year for it. I had no idea that it was a real town and that more than 600 movies were actually shot here! Not only Westerns, but "Easterns" (think Gunga Din) and just recently, Django Unchained.  The terrain is really great for sci fi thrillers as well. Here are a few photos from the museum.

Bogie drove this in High Sierra.

This should have been filmed in Tucson!

An example of one of the many "Easterns" filmed here.

A Kevin Bacon trailer was playing here: Tremors (science fiction).

Cary took some photos too, but I haven't uploaded them yet.

From a slice of make believe we had a dose of reality: we also took a tour of Manzanar, a Japanese relocation center, just one of many sad parts of America's history.

Again, these are not Cary's photos, but his are similar. Just look at the terrain. The wind always blew. It was either hot or cold. The Japanese did create gardens and tried to beautify the place, but it looked this way when they first arrived, told it was for their own safety. Although they noted the guards held their weapons inwardly, not out as if to prevent harm coming to them. 

Travel Blog Delayed

We got to Carson City in time to spend an enjoyable day with my sister. She took me to three thrift stores while Cary took my grocery list to Walmart. Our RV park had wifi, but I could only access my email provider and no other websites, thus the delay in the blog. Tuesday night, August 6th, Lin made us a yummy supper (her son even joined us) with a weight watcher friendly pineapple upside down cake for dessert!

On Wednesday Cary and I took Lin and her son, Kent, out for a Mexican food lunch, then we took Linda back to our trailer so I could show her some pictures on my computer and some other goodies I had acquired along the way.

Of course I had to try to get a picture of all three of us while I could.

A Travel Day, A Night Outside of Hat Creek

 Mt. Shasta seems to have less snow this year, but I could never drive by without taking a picture of its spectacular beauty.

 Across the road from the spot where I took the pictures of Mt. Shasta, this is the view--so different!

 Farther down the road, a different view...

As we got closer to our campground, the scenery all resembled this. I got here with a headache, so haven't taken any more pictures. Time online is limited, so more pictures are doubtful. I am excited to see my sister tomorrow in Carson City.

Gold Hill Tonight

 We had been hearing about the fires in the southern part of the state, but weren't exactly sure where they were in relation to where we were going. Earlier in the trip the pictures I took like this were shots in the fog; these two are actually showing smoke in the distance.

 We asked ahead about the smoke at the campground where we had reservations; the answer was that it depended on the wind (of course). When we arrived, everything was fine, so we stayed. Cypress Grove is a cozy little campground, reasonable rates (Good Sam)--we used our new VISA card and the air conditioning felt wonderful.

I wanted this picture taken again because I didn't like how the sun hit my glasses...

 but...he seems to be glaring in the next picture, this taken after our walk!

Really, he wasn't. Who knows, maybe we will take a third picture in the morning before we depart.

Antique Fair and Car Show--p.s.

 Susan told us about an antique fair and car show at nearby Brownsville, so we got up early to make the drive. What a neat town and great setting.

 Susan drove over from North Bend, picked up her cousin, Delyn in Eugene and found us here at the fair.

 I had to take a peek in the quilt store in town too!

Susan and Delyn spend a minute chatting with Cary who needed a rest after all the walking around at the car show.

I am sure there are some pictures I missed, but blogspot is being crankier than usual tonight, and it is getting late!
Here is the p.s. part--our credit card arrived at Ginger's on Friday afternoon, too late for us to get, so we met Ginger and Mark after the festivities in Brownsville where she hand delivered the new VISA cards--thanks so much!