North - Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota

A collage for the day - and - oops! I forgot Wyoming (Freudian. I think!) - Busy-fun- Deadwood a bit of a disappointment - too many casinos for me...LOVED the 'Sturgis Poulation' sign - so many bikers everywhere we go! Especially significant is the pic of James with his buddy, Gutzom Borglum. He did quite a research project on Mount Rushmore, the Borglums and Doane Robinson in fourth grade. We did NOT explore the Wind Cave itself - more time than we were willing to spend.
We are spending the night in Rapid City- they have these amazing Presidentail statutes throughout the do downtown area. Very cool!

Luke! and one of his Favorite people!

There he is, captain Lobster, AKA Luke, with cousin James. We had a lovely dinner at Crook's Palace. It is the oldest saloon in Colorado, with an AMAZING selection of Ice Cream flavors! I could not believe how wonderful popcorn ice cream could taste - along with chai, tequila and peanut butter and jelly. Good times!

At the Grand Canyon, James let his true feelings show...
Have you ever heard the 'Blessing Way' - a Navajo ceremony- a prayer, really -
In beauty may I walk.


All day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.

With dew about my feet may I walk.

With beauty may I walk.

With beauty before me, may I walk.

With beauty behind me, may I walk.

With beauty above me, may I walk.

With beauty below me, may I walk.

With beauty all around me, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.
 
That, indeed, is the 'Amen' to today.

The Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge RR - departing Durango - July 26.

What a magnificent day - with great promise. We purchased tickets for the bus ride to Silverton (guided tour) which would bring us to Silverton. We then could take in the ambiance, stroll and eat and take the train back down. Did I mention the horrific rain storms the night before? In this part of the country, that can lead to some powerful changes in local topography. In this case, it meant a rock slide, blocking the track. This meant a ride back in the bus - with a full refund + an earlier start on this leg of the journey. All in all, not bad!We dined at Grumpy's , but should have followed the recommendation from our driver and gone to Mother Cluckers. Silverton - **** Charming, with great things to see and do.

Mesa Verde - Amazing

Hundreds of years ago, somebody decided that this would be a great place to live. If you look closely, you can see some of the people on tour here.

Rain! We had loads of it - it the desert! Lightning strikes were so close that well.. we are happy to be telling how close they were without being hospitalized. Today - The Durango-Silverton RR. All Aboard!

David's Tuition, James' tuition, the electric bill...

Welcome to Colorado! Home of Cutthroat Anglers Fly Shop. Pictured here are millions of tiny money makers - worms, nymphs, grasshoppers, Western Green Drakes Pale Morning Duns... it is a thing of beauty, to see that perfect cast, the fish fighting the angler, getting netted - and released (of course!). This was a fine place to begin the northern journey in search of perfect water.  James and I? Borders, of course!

The Mother Road

We left Olathe and the storms behind.Today's highlights were the
... boyhood home of Walter Johnson
...Will Rogers Memorial - FANTASTIC bronzes & amazing saddle collection
...Route 66 Museum
and
...fine dining at Braum's in Elk City http://www.braums.com/
This was a real treat - with the best milkshake I have had in years. Even their water tasted good! The sweetness was toned down a bit by the abundance of flies in the place, yet this is really where the locals eat. A family which included grandpa in his tidy, well-worn, RR stripped coveralls departed gave that glimpse of another world that James and I do not often see.
On to new time zones and adventures!

Rain Bookeneds

Our tour guide in Marcelline.
















James checking out the sundial in Independence.

We left Hannibal in the rain. After dawdling as we watch the Weather Channel tell of the fierce thunderstorm watch, we thought it best to wait until the threat lifted. Wise choice. We saw flooding - most of it on the east bound side which is lower in elevation.
Our first stop today - Main Street USA. We went to Marcelline, MO, boyhood home of Walt Disney, and inspiration for many things, including (of course!) Main Street in the Disney parks. Such and outstanding tour! Our guide had had Walt and his family as guests in their home shortly after the opening of Disneyland, She had much to share about that visit, the Disney family and life in a railroad town. Magnificent!
Traveling westward down route 36, we arrived at the Harry Truman Museum and Library. Two days, two Presidents - pretty cool stuff. This, too, was outstanding. The museum itself is very interactive, and does much to show a clear portrait of the man himself. I was especially stuck by a display of letters he received while President, as it contained the fan mail and poison pen letters.
We concluded with a look at the American Jazz and Negro Baseball museum, around the corner form Arthur Bryant's. I wish Steve was here for this!
In WAY too much rain, we carefully made our way to Olathe to rest for the night. Wow- this may be a Comfort Suites, but I am reminded of Wilderness Lodge! It was a true sign that we has moved closed to the Rocky's as we shared the elevator with men in Resistols and Tony Lamas.
Yee hah!

Today;s Journey - Men Making a Difference - Learning NEVER ends

Do you know who Ernie Pyle is? I didn't know until my mom nearly broke down and cried at his grave. His impact on reporting the news during WWII was pretty widespread. We passed his hometown today. There is a park in his honor in Covered Bridge County - west of Putnam, in west central Indiana.
This was so wonderful today - driving wide expanse of freeway with NO one on them. Does make one wonder how these get built, when east coast states travel is...different.
Next stop - Springfield! No - not to see anything Simpson related - all about ABE!!! I am such a fan. Did you know he love Aesop's fables? Really enjoyed both the visitors center and the museum. One holograph presentation is a strong support of LIBRARIES - and all of the mysteries that primary sources hold; another was held in a theater that so reminded me of the National Geographic Theater. Horrific rainstorm cut out the power temporarily, and the deluge meant enjoying lunch in the museum instead of on the road.

We polished off the day in Hannibal, Mo. Sure it's home to Samuel Clemens, and Molly Brown, she of unsinkable fame, was born here, too. But, does anybody know Jake Beckley? Old 'Eagle Eye' didn't make it to the Hall until the `970's, but he certainly has done his home town proud. Just when I think  know a lot, I become aware on just how much I have to learn...

Blessings

This journey is about so many layers of things - celebrating my educational inroads [yeah!], pushing myself out of a comfort zone, giving my son wings, deepening my relationships.,,

The last was a big part of today. My Becca has been a part of my life for 33 years. I have always felt a deep connection, and today showed that it is still so true. Much like my visit with Lynn last year, it is possible to be physically apart from people, yet have that ability to simply be your very real self when you are with those special people. I think this is a case of a picture worth those thousand words!

Nirvana - no, not Cobain

So, I travel west, and what do I get to see? LONGABERGER - on juice!

Day 1

Day one - just begun! A 6 AM start - with six states! Our first destination - Fort Necessity! The rangers were wonderful - beyond expectations. Saturday is 'munitions' day at the park. This meant re-enactors, photo-ops and loud *BOOMS*, As the presentation was filled with so much information, I found myself taking copious notes. Have you ever heard of the Order of St. Barbara? I certainly wanted to find out more about her after hearing this today.

The journey was a tribute to plenty of roadside Americana. Ft. Necessity is located along the National Road - another great story. There are these beautiful obelisks along the way for mile markers, as well as the assorted giant chickens and fireworks stands.

This was also a good news/ bad news kind of day.

Bad news - a horrible accident at the AlJo curve on 295 marked the sobering beginning to our trip, we did not seem to get in the exercise I had hoped for , and my assistant did not get the pictures I had hoped for... ah well.

Good news-talking with the biker share of his upcoming trip to Sturgis (actually he talked- I listened),NOT getting lost ( we only RECALCULATE) and [drum roll, please] having an audience of a group of West Virginia good o' boys watch as James and I successfully filled our tank- no spills, no asking for help- all good!

AND tomorrow - on to my BECCA and paying respects to Johnny Appleseed!