Benjey Blog

Dead Horse Point

2008-09-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

We talked to several friends about our planned stay in Moab, Utah; several advised a must see--Dead Horse Point State Park. Initially our thoughts were, "We hope they've disposed of the horse!" But it was nearby, so we went.

The park is situated near Canyonlands National Park; the view into the canyon of the Colorado River was worth the visit.

The brown ribbon at the left is the Colorado. There were a surprising number of folks visiting the park. The visitor center was crowded and hiking paths and roadways were obviously popular as well. Juniper was everywhere. I'd heard juniper berries were used in the production of gin. You can see the wheels turning here as Herb calculated just how many berries it might take.

So having seen this preview of Canyonlands, we moved on to the national park. But that's another story.

Changes in the Map

2008-09-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

You may notice a change in the map of states in which we've camped. I must confess the original was inaccurate. And we've added states in our current travels. So this is correct, I think!

Rocky Road

2008-09-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

We had driven through Iowa and Nebraska--now we were ready for some mountains. We headed up I-70 out of Denver and into the Rocky Mountains.

It soon became obvious our motorhome wasn't going to perform well above 10,000 feet. The transmission and the braking systems were keeping Herb very busy. The propane flow to the fridge quit altogether. So we stopped along the road for a break here and there.

We drove through the Eisenhower Tunnel at Loveland Pass.

After that, a seven percent grade. I hate going downhill (or downmountain, in this case). I generally close my eyes tightly and push my feet firmly against the floor believing somehow that will slow the coach. Herb is an outstanding driver, but all this was wearing him out.

We stopped several times to walk around and enjoy the cool, mountain air--a change from the odor of hot brakes permeating the coach. We were giving the driver and the brakes a break!

All day the skies had threatened rain. We had a few drops here and there as well as periods of light mist. Wet pavement and dicey brakes on the downhill slope of the Rocky Mountains are not conducive to a safe trip. Going uphill, on the other hand, slowed us down considerably. We seemed to find ourselves behind big trucks with emergency blinkers operating.

Eventually we came to Vail where we glimpsed ski chalets through the rain.

We eventually found our way out of the mountains and into Glenwood Canyon--more about that later!

Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn, Corn....

2008-08-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

First Indiana, then Illinois, now Iowa, and tomorrow Nebraska. Herb and Barnabas are tired of corn! It's everywhere!

We've made a lot of miles since leaving Elkhart yesterday afternoon. We're about 40 miles from Nebraska. It's a loooong way across that state!

We're in Avoca at Parkway Campground, a well kept, pleasant spot about 2 miles from I-80. It's a little difficult finding low-priced camping during Labor Day weekend, but we did!

Barnabas, by the way, makes a great guardeagle!

Like a River Glorious...

2008-08-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we walked over to see the Pigeon River at Howe. The water barely moving, it was a tranquil sight (except maybe for the plastic chairs!). I was reminded of God's perfect peace.

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace;

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect yet it floweth, fuller every day;

Perfect yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Camping Amid the Soybeans

2008-08-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

Camping in the Elkhart area is not cheap. The one big campground in town charges 32 bucks a night! The county fairground in Goshen is $27. We've been grateful to Charger Enterprises, a place we trust for RV service--they return your RV to you each evening and allow you to park in the gravel next to the building with 30 amp electrical service and water. Not a picturesque campsite, but free is good at this point. Our experience in Jones, Michigan, using a discount card and finding we had far less than the advertised 30 amps, made us appreciate it all the more.

We'll be back at Charger on Monday; in the meantime, we decided to try Grand Bend Community Association campground in Howe, Indiana, 25 miles (we thought) from Elkhart. Well...there's a long detour which increased the mileage to nearly 35 and took us through Shipshewana. Now that's not necessarily a bad thing. Shipshewana is definitely Amish and directed toward tourists. We encountered any number of horse-drawn conveyances of various descriptions. Passing them wasn't an issue; they drive on the far right of the road and traffic was fairly light. Huge farms with clothes drying in the sun and beautiful horses in the paddocks were everywhere, as were produce stands.

The campground was a most pleasant surprise. We have 50 amp service for the first time since leaving Black Rock in April. We're parked on grass with soybean fields on both sides of the road.

We're grateful for 50 amps; the air conditioning is optomized with that service. A very nice lady came by on a golf cart and charged us $17.12 for two nights with our Passport America card; that card is by far the best bargain in camping. Everyone has been most friendly.

We're due in Elkhart at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Today we're going to explore a shorter route. There's the Indiana turnpike, but no telling what that would cost with a 38-foot motorhome towing a 3/4 ton pickup carrying an ATV!

Up the Road a Piece

2008-08-16T08:06:00.001-07:00

We left Gallatin County, Kentucky yesterday...eventually. We're usually late getting started, but I do believe we set a new record yesterday. Herb and Donnie loaded up the ATV.

Barnabas is joining us again, after oiling and a coat of wax to protect him from the dry Arizona climate. According to the Kaisers, he sat around the house and complained about the cold weather and being stuck in Verona. We sat him down where he can watch Herb's driving! We've decided he's a golden eagle, according to the bird book. I showed him the picture, and he agrees!

There was a lot to do, clearing out stuff we'd stored in the brooder house, stowing things in the coach so they won't fall over while we're underway, putting in the slides, unhooking connections, etc. The biggest issue turned out to be hooking up the pickup. We hadn't towed it before so had to be sure we had the transfer case and gearshift in the correct positions. We put on the lights and towbar with Brandon Finn's help--he and Tonya Webster had stopped by to see us off. It's good to be on the road again! Michigan, here we come! At 11:30 in the morning!

A Fourth to Remember

2008-08-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July at the Kaiser Farm is always memorable. This year's threatening weather dampened (pardon the pun) things only slightly thanks to umbrellas and portable shelters. Weather didn't reduce the crowd, either. Lots of family and friends continued to arrive through the afternoon and early evening.

Linda had a screened-in tent for the food with several tables overflowing with all kinds of goodies. It looked like a Baptist potluck. Herb and I stayed close by to keep an eye on the food. My hash brown casserole was quite popular. Donnie and Linda were at the grill producing hot dogs and burgers at an amazing rate, trying to keep up with the salivating crowd. Beverages of all sorts were in high demand.

Parties at the farm are always well-mannered but exuberant. No troublemaking is permitted--Donnie is adamant on that. Lots of families, and children are everywhere. There's Logan (the Bood) in the front, getting a supply of poppers from Susie, his mom. It's always great to see Charlie, Susie and Logan. Unfortunately Harley, their rottweiler, has bone cancer and was staying at Susie's mom's house. They have a wonderful photo of Logan and Harley, with Logan sitting on his back. They returned to Florida not many days after the party.

Everyone was eager to see the fireworks. I studied instructions in my camera book for photographing fireworks. My reflexes are really slow, so I wasn't sure how it would work. I held the camera on top of a fence to keep it from shaking. Some of my photos were surprisingly good for a first try...and some of them were purely awful. A huge downpour put an end to the fireworks with everyone scrambling for a dry place.

The best way to spend the Fourth of July at the Kaiser farm!

Thar's Gold in That There Dirt!

2008-05-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

We're returning from Marion, North Carolina where we've been experiencing the Lucky Strike Gold and Gem Mine (see http://www.luckystrikegoldandgem.com/). Our friends Curtis and Carolyn Smith are members of the Vein Mountain Recreational Miners Club, headquartered there. This photo shows the spot where everyone meets to talk, play cards, eat, pan for gold and gems, solve the world's problems, complain about fuel prices, make beaded jewelry, etc. It's a busy place. Next door is The Miners Diner, a take-out providing burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, coffee, the best un-sweet tea I've ever had, and other delights. They also contributed substantially to a potluck dinner, held on Thursday night "around 7." Time here is an iffy thing. There are some great cooks present--the potluck rivaled those at our church with plenty of sweet stuff, my personal favorites.

Our campsite can only be described as laid back. Folks pull in to all sorts of spots, most of which are two deep (causing some issues when the campers in back want to leave before the campers in front!). We had 30 amp electric through a regular household 3-prong outlet, but it worked just fine. There were two motorhomes in our area (the Smiths and ours) with a few trailers and lots of tents, some of which had satellite dishes! There's no such thing as quiet time and folks have campfires here and there. We were backed up to a creek which burbled delightfully in the night when I could hear it over the campfire groups and snoring from him whose name I shall not mention. But we slept well anyway after the daily activities.

One can purchase a bucket of dirt, some with gold, some with gems, and a few with either emeralds or rubies and sapphires. Herb went for the gold generally. Here he is, working at separating out small grains of gold from the sand and dirt. Curtis got us started, then there were lots of nice folk ready to show the technique and encourage us neophytes. They give you a very small bottle and a little eye dropper device called a sniffer to suck up the little particles. It's a slow but somewhat rewarding process. It can be pretty wet, too, depending on how many are panning at a time and how many children are involved! A busload of sixty grade-schoolers showed up on Friday, really making things interesting! I was more interested in the gemstones and managed to find these. You sieve them out of the dirt. The big thing is to have somebody check what you've got--I was sure I had an ugly piece of rock; the sherriff (more about him later) advised me it was a sapphire! The purple ones are amethyst and the ones that look like raisins are garnets. The sapphire is the black thing near the lower right. The tan ones are moonstone. It was so much fun to dip a scoopful of dirt into the water and come up with some of these!

On Friday and Saturday there was a club dig. Herb participated as Curtis' guest. A backhoe scooped up loads of dirt and put it into this contraption. Through various screens and processes (including a young lady pitching big rocks out of the mix), gold is extracted, along with sand and dirt. There were three shifts; two on Friday and one on Saturday. On Saturday evening there was a big potluck at the clubhouse with fried fish and everything else imaginable. We were entertained by a couple of fellows singing karaoke-style and a man playing the spoons and another playing the frog (too deep to explain). Foggy Mountain Breakdown was outstanding. The gold from the dig was doled out according to a drawing, along with some small nuggets which had been donated. A larger nugget was given out in a raffle.

At one point I was taken prisoner by the sherriff (the less said, the better), but generally it was a most enjoyable experience!

We're Scottish for the Weekend

2008-05-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

Herb, his mom Georgia and I are attending the Kentucky Scottish Weekend at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton. Today it's poured down rain, but yesterday was perfect--sunny and warm with a few puffy white clouds. The pipe bands were outstanding. We heard bagpipes at all hours! It wasn't bad, except when each band was playing something different at the same time. Then it sounds like a banshee convention! The massed bands played a few numbers together.

There was a color guard and three men with long sabers who performed a most impressive ceremony, then Alex Beaton sang the Star Spangled Banner with a Scottish burr that seemed entirely appropriate. The Louisville Pipe Band played Amazing Grace, then the bands played together, led by an amazingly tall and stern drum major. Although the effect was spoiled somewhat by his tartan, which involved a lot of purple and red. And it's not just me, a lot of folks thought he was exceptionally tall, although the Scots appear to be a tall race.

The pipe band competition was a tad disorganized. The bands were excellent, but seemed bent on practicing rather than doing the deed. The sound of practice was akin to a memory from childhood, when my brother and his cousin playing with cats who didn't wish to be played with (please don't call PETA, they've reformed, honest). The sun was hot by now, and I guess I was becoming cranky. Anyway, there was a youth band from Pittsburgh called Steel Thistle that was outstanding.

So after a weekend of Cornish pasties, scones, and the mellow tones of Alex Beaton, we're headed back to Verona.

Later!

Our Trip East

2008-05-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm learning more about Google Earth all the time. If you want to see our journey east, have a look at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116854617492788213495.00044cb796ee6475de2ef&ll=36.102376,-99.404297&spn=14.397628,40.957031&z=5. If you click on the little balloons, you can see a little information about where we stayed. I'm still learning--I hope to add pictures to the map soon!

Adventures in New Mexico

2008-04-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

We usually stay at the Escapees Dreamcatcher RV Park when we're in Deming. This time I chose a place called Hidden Valley Ranch (honest). The directions were a little iffy and included a 5.5 mile stretch of gravel road. Well, we drove 5.5 miles and there was nothing there. We continued on, Herb glancing at me with a disgusted look every so often. Eventually we drove around a small hill, and there it was. The office was closed. A lady in the clubhouse showed us how to register and gave us a map of the park. We chose a long pull-through site facing the desert. There were Gambrel's quail everywhere, charging frantically in all directions. A roadrunner walked right up to me--of course I didn't have my camera on me. This particular roadrunner, according to locals, has a nest with two young'uns in an overgrown yucca. There were lots of jackrabbits as well.

Trouble started when we attempted to put the slide out without unlocking the awning. The awning pulled loose from the side of the coach. Now there's some good news. Herb spent the next few hours fastening it back. We've bent part of the hardware as well.

It was quite cool with a brisk wind. The campground is at 4000 feet plus elevation. Someone from the office came by to welcome us, giving me a code for their satellite-based wi-fi and a map of the many ATV trails around the park. We learned there are petroglyphs and mines.

We enjoyed an evening of watching TV and the wildlife. The park is quiet, except for chattering birds!

In the morning we found the slide would not come in properly unless Herb got up on a ladder to push it. Oh, joy. But the morning was beautiful.

Herb worked for a good while with the awning and slide to secure them for travel. As the late Gilda Radner said, "It's always something."

I was sad to have missed getting a picture of the friendly roadrunner. She didn't emerge from her yucca tree at all, at least while I was watching.

We headed back across the dusty gravel road and were soon on the way towards Las Cruces.
As we stopped at a rest area just west of the city, I found a roadrunner I could photograph!

Where We've Been

2008-04-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

You'll notice the little map to the left--it shows all the states in which we've camped so far. We have a map like this in the coach with stick-on states to add when we camp in another state. As you can see, we've more to see. If our trip to Kentucky goes as planned, we'll add at least one more state.

If you'd like to create a map to share in e-mail, print, or add to a blog or webpage, go to http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/ and follow the steps. When the map is created, right-click on it and choose "save as." I added it to my photos then uploaded it to my blog. There's probably an easier way. As I've said before, I'm not inept with a computer but just barely ept!

A Trip to the Big House

2008-04-15T20:57:00.001-07:00

I'm thinking Casa Grande means big house, so that's where we are. I'm learning about Google Earth. Here's what the campground looks like. We're in the lower left part, about the second row down. We're staying for two nights after a stressful day. We spent $2500 on five new tires for the coach then enjoyed rush hour in Phoenix. It's great fun to drive through heavy city traffic in a 38-foot motorhome towing a pickup truck loaded with an ATV. Trust me on this.

Jane's Ride

2008-04-14T16:43:00.001-07:00

You've seen Herb's ATV. So do you think I'm jealous? Not when my employer at Black Rock provides a T-Bird. And here it is! Now don't laugh--the emblem on the front says, "Tee Bird." It's not much for speed and I've had to be pushed back to the office on one occasion. I've asked the boss to have it souped up, but he's seen me drive and is petrified at the thought of damage I could do at greater than 5 mph. Oh, well.

Where There's a Will...

2008-04-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

Herb is determined to take his ATV on the road. He planned and put together a way to do that, and yesterday he tested out the plan, easily driving right up into the pickup bed while the neighbors watched in amazement! With the help and advice of our neighbors, Ron Brown and Bob Scott, he was able to secure it in place. He's looking forward to exploring new trails in Kentucky this summer, sharing adventures with his friend Curtis Smith in Harlan County, and other adventures yet to be imagined. He's gonna ride!

Time to Say Goodbye

2008-04-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you who reside in the cold country may have a difficult time identifying, but this winter was over before we knew it! Yesterday we assembled on our site for a goodbye party. I fixed some salads and Herb presided at the grill, producing hot dogs, brats and metts almost as fast as the folks wanted them! Some of the westerners had no clue about brats and metts; one thought metts were named after the baseball team.

Our bosses, Sandy and Harlan were there; Harlan, as usual, continues to refer to me as Shorty (can't imagine why). Sandy, the best boss anyone could have, brought my favorite cookies. Chris, who also works in the office, brought a delicious crabmeat salad, and Bob, her husband, brought his great sense of humor. Linda Brown brought three homebaked pies which were the hit of the evening: Apple, French silk and black bottom. She cut them, too, knowing I'd massacre them if I did it. Her husband, Ron Brown, showed his Texas colors. It was fun calling him on the radio for propane and having him answer, "What can Brown do for you?" Anna Mae, our postmistress, brought homebaked cookies and her sweet self, and Perry brought his appetite! Deloris remembered to call me Jane instead of Sue for a change. Betty, our hostess for excellent cookouts all winter, brought some smoky sausages. Donna made rice and beans which were soon devoured and a tale of a naked man in the desert. There's actually a nudist colony not far from here. Her husband Bill is still remonstrating with Herb; Herb loaned his ATV to them to try out early in the season. They had barely made it out the back gate when Donna announced she had to have one. They now have a side-by-side ATV and have enjoyed many rides with Herb, the "trail boss."

It was so sad that Kelly could not be with us. She's got a terrible cold and didn't want to spread it--but helped us out with chips, plates, glasses, and the loan of a crock-pot (mine bit the dust over St. Patrick's Day). Her husband Bob regaled us with his adventures as a traffic-reporting airplane pilot in Phoenix. He once reported on the air, intending to say he was taking a peek over east Phoenix, accidentally substituting "leak!" After that, the station kept asking him just where he was, as people were concerned!

Bob and Kelly had loaned us their outdoor fireplace. As the sun went down and it cooled off, everyone gathered around it, continuing to visit and watch the stars.

It was a great way to end our winter at Black Rock, a place where we feel very much at home.

Black Rock Beauty and the Beast

2008-04-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

After a busy morning at work, my neighbor insisted I come with her to see a cactus in bloom. Well, I've seen cacti in bloom--lots of them. But I didn't expect this! I've no idea what sort of cactus this is. The blooms appear in the night, last through the day, and disappear by the next morning. The folks who live in the campsite where this cactus is growing were most patient with "tourists" snapping lots of pictures, although Toby, their Welsh Corgi, wasn't nearly so cordial! There's another such cactus in another area of the park with blooms in white with a peach tinge. Unfortunately those blooms were gone by the time I knew of them.

Then today, Chuck showed up. We believe he's a chuckwalla, although he doesn't look exactly like the one in Kelly's book. He likes romaine lettuce a lot but won't eat the white center part. He hung around for a good while, studying us carefully and waiting for more romaine. We were able to approach for close-ups so long as we kept furnishing the romaine I was saving for a salad! I'm almost certain that didn't matter to him.

By the way, I'm not the one who christened him, although the name just flows, doesn't it?

We Ride! Part 2

2008-03-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

The desert is an amazing place. Where else can you find a saguaro shaped like a barber pole? We climbed up a few hills, allowing us to see for miles. There are some cattle feeding stations and irrigated croplands. The cattle area odors, quite an olfactory assault from close up, are much improved at this distance. I'm always delighted by the incredibly blue sky and you've heard me rave about the clear, clean air. It seems a healthier place to live.

Herb spoke several times about a spooky canyon he wanted us to see. He'd discovered it on his own the previous week. So we continued on, looking forward to seeing this area. We stopped whenever there was a place of interest or folks wanted to dismount and walk for a bit.

We came to the canyon eventually. No picture can truly represent its beauty and ruggedness. Giant steps led partway down into a deep chasm. The more daring among us descended, at least until the steps ran out! The view across to the mountains was awesome.

A great feature of riding with Herb is the trip home to Black Rock. Rarely does it involve traipsing over ground already covered. We returned across Highway 42E (fortunately all the ATVs involved are licensed street legal).

This was Lee and Peggy's first experience in riding with the rest of us. They were troopers, dealing with the steep areas without a peep and trailing right along with the rest of us. They enjoyed the adventure and new sights.

Here's hoping for another ride soon!

We Ride!

2008-03-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Herb has an amazing talent for finding and leading others on amazing ATV rides. Here's the group, except for Bob. Left to right, Roger and Connie, Kelly, Peggy and Lee, and me and the Herbinator. We set out on a beautiful, sunny day, each with our own interests: Rocks, gems, photos, riding, sightseeing, etc. Herb led the way out of Black Rock and along the trails. It was my second ride of the season. Peggy and Lee were taking their first ride. We saw a number of old mines along the way, including a narrow canyon with a steep wall of jasper stone.

We walked into the canyon until it narrowed greatly. Roger was climbing on the rocks and Connie was looking for rocks. There were timbers overhead in one area, not looking any too secure. We took a break, walking around the area and having a drink of water and snacks. It's very dry here and the weather is getting warmer.

The desert is surprisingly green just now with grasses and shrubs and small patches of yellow and purple flowers are everywhere. Some of the cholla look ready to bloom. I haven't seen saguaro blooming yet--in picture, the yellow and white blooms are huge.

ATVing is a dusty adventure, particularly for those following others and for passengers. We try to maintain a distance but stay close enough so everyone knows when to turn and where.

A truly amazing ride. Tomorrow I'll tell you about the hidden canyon and the view!

Arizona Christmas

2007-12-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

There isn't any chance at all of a white Christmas. Trust me on this. Even though our night time temperatures are in the low thirties. And there are no evergreens here in the Sonoran Desert. So. we had to find a tree to decorate. And here it is. Herb may look as if he's smiling. Actually, it's a grimace. He's humoring the little woman. But he had to admit it looked very nice that night. Of course, he wasn't excited about changing the lights so they'd blink. He was right about that. Have you ever tried to take a digital photo of Christmas lights that are flashing? I persisted. We wish you a joyful, blessed Christmas from Brenda, Arizona.

November at Black Rock

2007-11-17T05:22:00.001-08:00

No words are necessary.

The Bird and I

2007-09-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

I first saw a roadrunner in 2005 in El Paso, Texas. There he was, and then he was gone. Since that time I've been trying to photograph one. Herb says I'm not fast enough. No kidding--I'm not even half fast!

A couple of days ago Herb spotted one. I carefully eased out of the coach and approached slowly. He simply stood there, looking suspiciously in my direction.

I was coming closer and closer. He seemed to be trying to make up his mind about me and my intentions. I spoke a few words, but that didn't impress him at all. I began to wonder if he was injured.

I kept on coming and eventually he fluffed himself up andtrotted off a few steps.

He didn't look like the same bird. No longer tan and brown and flat, he now showed a cute topknot. I tried to keep him in focus. He'd trot a few steps, look back, and trot a few more. Eventually he turned his back.

He was getting nervous now. I tried to be as non-threatening as possible. But to say my reflexes are slow is to say bears really do that in the woods.

Anyway, by the time I could really get a good picture, he was ducking behind a bush. Oh, well.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2007-08-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

It was a great relief to know the slideout motor on the coach had been repaired. The great feeling lasted until this morning. You'll notice in the picture there's a bar sticking straight up supporting the slide topper awning. Well, it's not supposed to stick up; it's supposed to hold the roller on the side of the slideout, not the top. So when Herb tried to close the slide this morning, the awning just gathered itself up in a bunch. A couple of men at Charger Enterprises came out and helped roll the awning up and secure it. They told Herb there are some broken springs and bent stuff involved and it will be a booger to fix. Oh, well, as Gilda Radner said, "It's always something." Motorhome ownership is interesting. I'm reminded of a little plaque on a friend's boat: "A boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money." Motorhomes seem to have similar characteristics, except they don't float. You'll know that if you've seen Robin Williams' movie "RV."

The true treasure found in this Elkhart odyssey is the service center. Charger Enterprises along with Holmes on Wheels are outstanding for RV repair.

It's the Little Things

2007-08-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Can you see the butterfly on the berries? I didn't until Herb pointed it out. He's much more observant than I. We were walking through the woods here at White Oaks on the Lake in Monticello, Indiana when he observed this dark flyer flitting from berry to berry.

Back in Time

2007-08-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

We were in Shipshewana, Indiana recently. This form of transportation was everywhere. Some of the carriages had three rows of seats.

Large farms along the road had clothes drying on the lines and bicycles, horses and carts in evidence; no cars or pickups in sight. Signs advertised handmade quilts, woodworking products and furniture, and fresh produce.

The Amish women in this area dress traditionally but in pale gray for the most part, with white bonnets. A number were working at booths in the huge flea market. Their words were gentle and pleasant. The prices were more than reasonable.

And on the road traffic made way for carriages and buggies of every description with handsome, high-spirited horses trotting along oblivious of the cars and trucks. Despite the crowds of tourists, their lives go on in a peaceful way as they have for many years.

Communication Challenged

2007-07-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

I suppose you wonder where we've been. We were in White Cloud in western Michigan. And the reason why you've not heard from us is no internet access. Our phones were on roam as well.

Because of the trees, Herb couldn't aim the satellite dish. So there we were. After glaring at each other for a time, we went on with things.

We went canoeing and hiking. Herb grilled over an open fire. We had a look at Lake Michigan, nearby. We visited some yard sales and fresh produce stands. Cherries and sweet corn are grown in the area--we feasted!

We'd like to return to the area next year, perhaps to work in the campground where we stayed. There's a lot to see, including woodlands, small lakes and farms of all sizes. Nice people, too. Now I have to lose this Michigan accent before I get back to the southwest!

Wow!

2007-07-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

We had an exciting afternoon. As we were setting up camp at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Belleville, Michigan, a loud roar alerted us to the Blue Angels! The aerial acrobatics were amazing and performed at blinding speed. We watched, open-mouthed, for a long time, trying to catch some pictures. Herb was better at catching them at the right moment. Most of the other campers watched as well. It was really hot outside, but no one seemed to notice.

The experience was unforgettable. Such precision! I think we'll both probably have stiff necks in the morning.

This is the second time we've stayed at this fairgrounds. Last time, we just needed a place for the night and happened to be in the area. We were delighted to find the county fair in session. We explored the exhibits and Herb ate some disgusting hot dog conglomeration which included sauerkraut and, I think, chili! Truly an ecumenical meal.

This time, we chose to stay here because we're having repairs done to our coach just down the road, and it was convenient. I think we may come back again, just to find out what's going on!

Little Bit

2007-07-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Don's cat used to hunt birds--now she waits for them to show up. She spends a lot of time curled up on top of one of the stereo speakers on the side porch, waiting for someone to open the treat container. Not sure how old she is--she's pretty, except for her ears which look knawed upon.

This was our first visit back to the farm since Odie died. We missed her, but know that Don took good care of her. The farm really belonged to Odie--she just let us stay there. Now it seems to be Little Bit's place. And the birds aren't particularly afraid of anyone or anything at Don and Linda's--all those full feeders make sure they're welcome.

IMPORTANT--PLEASE READ

2007-07-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

I once had a boss (and some of you know who it was) who never read more than the first sentence of an e-mail. In order to get his attention, I would begin an e-mail with something like, "The world will end tomorrow at 2 p.m. unless you read this entire e-mail." Notice I was specific. I've tried it with Herb--"You must listen to what I'm telling you or extra-terrestrials will arrive at 11 tonight"--no luck, however. But I'd appreciate your reading this entire post for some good information.

First of all, if blogging looks like something you'd like to try, I recommend Blogger. It's so easy even I can do it. You can use templates to set it up any way you like. I use a different template for Healthwords. You can see that blog at http://healthwords.blogspot.com/. The website for starting your own free blog is https://www.blogger.com/start. It's a step-by-step process.

The other issue is I'll be adding links to amazon.com to my blog. I may talk about a book I've read or recommend some travel book. There will be a link for you to go to amazon.com and buy it if you wish. For example, at the lower left, you'll see a link for a book titled, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. It's the Luke 10 story about two sisters. One sat at Jesus' feet while the other was in the kitchen rattling pots and pans. I'm afraid I'm a rattler. If you link to amazon.com from my blog and buy something, I will receive a small commission, up to 4%. Just wanted to be up front about the whole business.

Thank you for your kind attention. No extra-terrestrials at 11!

Unexpected Animal

2007-07-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

There were many surprises attached to our church mission trip to West Virginia. Some involved the campground we'd chosen--Paradise Island of Christian. Not only was it located at the wide space in the road called Christian, WV, it was a Christian campground. Whatever we expected to see in West Virginia, it didn't include a llama!

We certainly wondered what we were in for on arrival. Priscella, one-half of the couple who owns it, introduced herself and gave us the lowdown. Some aging RVs are rented to homeless folk in exchange for working in the campground. Abused animals are taken in and cared for. The animals, treated very well, include several horses, a pony, a couple of frisky goats, and a llama, the biggest I've ever seen! Our 37-foot class A diesel motorhome, a bit battered though it may be, was the best looking RV in the place.

We arrived on Sunday and were told to pay for our stay on Monday--"We don't do business on Sunday." Priscella is a lady of faith but not to be messed with. Folks are not permitted to take advantage of her kindness. She expects them to do what they've agreed to do--if they don't, they're out. As Billy Sunday once said, "A sinner can repent but stupid is forever."

On Monday we came back late and went over to pay the bill. Priscella was playing the keyboard and singing, accompanied by a fellow with a guitar. She has a deep, beautiful voice.

If you'd like to have a look, here's a link: http://www.paradiseislandwv.homestead.com. We started out skeptical, but had a great experience after all.

There's No Place Like...

2007-05-30T05:35:00.000-07:00

So here we are on the little farm in Kentucky where we spent twenty years, raising chickens, fighting weeds, patching the roof, growing veggies--all while driving nearly 40 miles one way to work, usually on different shifts! But we were younger then, and coming home from work was entering another world--one with clean air, peaceful sounds (except for the trains!) and a place of our own.

Now we are enjoying the huge trees, birds of every description, and the company of our great friends who now own the property. Donnie and Linda are family to us. And at last we can truly appreciate this beautiful place.

If This is Tuesday, This Must Be...

2007-05-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

If we were drawing a diagram of our current travels, it would be most confusing.

We left Texas, traveled across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The plan was to drive across the Florida panhandle as far as St. Augustine. We tried to have some repairs done in Gulf Breeze. When that didn't work out, we thought we'd continue on; but there was smoke in the air. If you look at a map of northern Florida, you'll see that Gulf Breeze is a considerable distance from Lake City, where wildfires are still burning. I checked the Internet--parts of I-75 and I-10 were closed for low visibility. Southeastern Georgia is afire as well. It seems a fire started in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, spread across the state line to Florida, and has now crossed back into Georgia--payback!

So we checked the map and all of our discounted camping plans. It was back to Alabama for the night, then into Georgia from the west this morning. The air was still smoky but has since cleared.

Tomorrow we'll head through the northeastern part of South Carolina and into North Carolina, where we'll stay in Salisbury. That is, if the plans don't change again.

By the way, we're staying on Lake Oconee tonight, full hookups, 50 amp service, for two bucks. All those discount books come in handy. We have neighbors from Canada and Australia. We can see the lake through the trees. After all, home is where we park it.

Bad Coach! Bad!

2007-05-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we stopped in Livingston, Texas to have the coach inspected. Coming out of the lot, paved with potholes, the back of the coach bottomed out. As we were driving through Louisiana, a kind semi driver with an air horn let us know something was wrong. Herb discovered the mud flap had come loose and taken some fiberglass with it. He creatively tied it up with all sorts of cables and cords. This morning we removed the mud flap.

In preparation to leave Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, we discovered the big slide on the driver's side would not close. Instead, it made a sound I believe I heard in the movie "Alien." Of course, the cell phone only worked outside in full sunlight. Coachnet called a road service company from Lafayette--they showed up two hours later and used the wrecker to push the slide in, accompanied by a most unpleasant grinding sound. The mechanic was of the opinion that the gears were stripped and two motors, at $700 each, would need replacing.

On the road again, I called several RV service centers along our route. The best we could do was in Gulf Breeze, Florida in five days.

We ended the day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in a miniscule campground. We parked in a site, put down levelers, extended the slide that still works, connected to water and 50 amp electric, and then discovered the 50 amp electric wasn't working. So we undid everything and moved to another site where we couldn't level the coach unless one wheel was off the ground and there's a long step down from the door. Oh, well.

He's Riding!

2007-04-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

This Gambrel's Quail, perched on the back of Herb's ATV, probably felt like he was going somewhere! That little topknot thing usually dangles down in the front. High winds were causing it to stand straight up! He was supervising two other quail that were scratching in the gravel under the bird feeder just like chickens. A Gila Woodpecker was dangling upside down from the suet feeder, taking a bite here and there, while the feeder swung in great arcs in the wind gusts.

Spring Blooms

2007-03-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

The desert is blooming. Not hyacinths, iris or lilies for Easter, but exotic cactus flowers looking out-of-place amid snarly-looking spines. The pink flowers give grace to a beavertail cactus while the green are attached to an untidy spreading heap of (I assume) some variety of cholla--the kind with barbs that like to reach out and touch someone. This mess, in a circle of stones, was planted in one of the campsites by someone who has since regretted it, I'm sure. But even in such a patch, God shows us beauty. The tall stalks, appearing dead, are part of an ocotillo. But there are lipstick red flowers at the end of each. In the desert we are ready for the Easter celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Desert Beauty

2007-03-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

For those who might think that the two words in the title are an oxymoron, here's a photo Herb took yesterday while exploring by ATV. We continue to see that God's creation is superior to anything that man has devised.

Desert Bird

2007-03-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

I spied this dude (or dudette) hanging upside down from our feeder yesterday to grab a choice morsel. According to our bird books, it's a red-shafted flicker of the woodpecker family. It's a large bird and apparently likes peanut butter suet blocks. Well, who wouldn't. The birds seem dusty (and thirsty fershure!) so a birdbath is planned for the Benjey campsite.

What's Next

2007-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

It's another blog coming to you from Jane Benjey, Freelance Writer. For my friends at New Bethel, it's an expansion of information you find in the Wellness Corner of the monthly newsletter. For all others, it's health and prevention information, generally on a specific subject each month.

I believe health education is essential for all of us. Often our physician is too busy to address some of the things we need to know. I am using well-accepted information from reliable sources for my new blog. No advice on your personal health problems--your doctor knows you best and is the source for that.

The blog is to be found at http://healthwords.blogspot.com

If your organization needs a health newsletter or health-related articles for a newsletter, contact me for suggestions and prices.

Rain!

2007-02-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

It's not April, but this is western Arizona. Monday's skies were the color of pewter. The palm tree on our site rattled with wind. And the rains came down. Not just a light pencil-tapping on the roof but a machine-gun hammering.

And then it stopped. Irregularly shaped patches of blue emerged. The sun bobbed out from behind clouds.

The widest rainbow arc I'd ever seen stretched over Black Rock. The ground was soon dry.

Carolyn showed me photographs taken some years ago of immense patches of flowers across the desert. I've seen flowers on cacti but nothing like that. If we have to have rain at all, I hope we'll see a transformed desert as a consolation prize.

Work!

2007-02-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Whenever work was mentioned on the old Dobie Gillis sitcom, a character named Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) let out a yelping "work!" I believe Herb and I echoed that sentiment as we retired.

But yesterday we both took jobs at our current campground, Black Rock RV Village in Brenda, Arizona. I work in the office of this 420+ campsite park, taking reservations, checking people in, charging items and taking payment, etc. I love it so far. I think I needed something to do! Today my cash drawer balanced--I felt I'd truly accomplished something. My work pays for our campsite, electricity and propane.

Herb is working on the maintenance crew, pumping propane, repairing cable TV outages, checking electrical problems and whatever the manager finds for him to do. He gets a paycheck.

It's part time work--truly makes a difference. We've plenty of time to enjoy the view. This was how it looked last evening.

Holy Smokes, Boss, It's the Green Hornet!

2007-02-01T14:33:00.001-08:00

For younger readers, the Green Hornet was a masked crime fighter of radio, and later TV fame. As Herb rode off on his green quad, complete with wraparound sunglasses, the comparison came to mind. I'm not certain what sorts of crime he might be fighting out there on the Arizona desert, but I know he's having a great time.

We rode together yesterday, out the back gate of the campground and into desert land. After a time the only sign of civilization was the ATV trail. The only sound was the wind. Tall saguaro on the mountainside stood guard under fast-moving clouds. What peace!

Little Things

2007-01-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

For those of you who think we might be motoring through life without a care, a few words--not complaints, really, just realities.

A prescription went astray in the mail (imagine that) necessitating a call to the doctor's office. He wasn't in, they'd give him a message. The prescription was called in to the closest Wal-Mart, 40 miles up the road. Two days later, on arriving at said Wal-Mart, we learned they were out of that particular nostrum, "come back Monday." On Monday, another 40 miles up the road, the line at the pharmacy was out the door and around the corner. The person at the counter, obviously frustrated with a flock of elderly and not-so-elderly snow birds, was brusque at best. I've heard of a sign once posted in Quartzsite--"We love snowbirds--they taste like chicken!"

In the ice and snow of Albuquerque, a sharp chunk fell from the roof and neatly sliced in half the hose that drains unmentionable fluids from the coach. Try mending one of those at twenty degrees!

In a campground in California we were given a space rated for a 40-foot rig. Backing in, we hit a tree at the rear--most of the coach was still in the roadway.

Since we still have issues with the title to the Jeep (thank you, Ohio), it's necessary to order temporary tags monthly from Texas at 25 bucks each. The Attorney General's office responds that the investigation is not going as fast as they'd like. That's interesting--the Newtown Police had theirs concluded in less than a week.

So are we ready to hang up our Family Motor Coach membership and call it a day? No way. Right now we're cruising along through the Arizona desert toward a favorite destination, looking forward to new adventures. Herb has an Aussie-type desert hat on and is planning to throw me on the back of the ATV and head for the hills. Bring it on!

Wherever We Are, We're Home

2007-01-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

We were sitting at a picnic table eating lunch in Quartzsite, having plunked ourselves down with another couple. We exchanged basic information (who we are, where we're from). When they learned we live full time in our motorhome, the woman said, jerking her head toward her husband, "He could do that in a minute, but I couldn't. I need a home."

Now there's a cliche amoung full-timers that goes, "Home is where you park it." And like many cliches, it's true. Because wherever we are, we're home. From Oceanside, California to Portland, Maine, when our day is over and we've finished exploring/shopping/whatever, we say "Let's go home" and we do.

If the scenery is lovely and the neighbors are pleasant and their dogs don't bark a lot, we're comfortable with the blinds and drapes open. When it's dreary outside, we can close out the weather. When the karaoke gets too loud at the clubhouse, we can close the windows and turn on the air.

There were the usual questions about mail, banking, keeping in touch, paying bills, all easily answered now that we've been "homeless" for a year and a half.

Basically, though, home is what you make it, wherever it is, and wherever you park it!

Aha!

2007-01-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

I can now officially call myself a freelance writer! I've been paid for writing. Not much, mind you, but there it is. Keep watching for more news on this front.

Be All That You Can Be

2007-01-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

I borrowed that from the Army. No kidding, you're saying. The sermon this morning involved being the persons God created us to be. One of the ways that's accomplished is to share the gift of self.

When I retired, I thought I'd have this endless supply of time. I've allowed busyness to take over. I have great thoughts and ideas of how I will minister to others. Time to put them into action. After all, our actions reflect what we truly believe. If I want to check my focus, I have a look at my calendar and my checkbook!

High Anxiety

2007-01-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

I put together three articles for web publication, attached them to an e-mail and hit "send." It was my first assignment for someone called "The Article Dude."

Ever since I sent them off, I've been checking my e-mail every three minutes or so. The poor dude probably hasn't had time to read them yet! Ah, the suspense. Watch this spot for updates!

So You Thought That Was Snow!

2006-12-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

We awoke to this scene yesterday. The trees have a white frosting, some of them so loaded down that they're brushing the top of our neighbor's coach.

This morning the cold had frozen up some of our lines and seriously depleted our propane.

Snow, schmo! I want to go back to the desert!

White Stuff

2006-12-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

What is that, you're saying to yourself. Is that snow? Why is there snow around the Benjey coach, those avoid-winter-at-all-costs folks?

It's a long story--we're in Albuquerque to see family. Herb's brother is very ill. We're staying at about 5,000 feet above sea level. Right now the temperature is colder here than it is back in Northern Kentucky; we thought we'd escaped winter when we left!

We'll be here until January 5th, hoping not to be snowed in. We saw a few flurries today, mixed with light rain and sleet. Hopefully, we won't be seeing a lot more!

Magnificent Journey

2006-12-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

Reading the second chapter of Luke this morning and thinking about the journey Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem--it's a distance of around 60 miles. Nearing the end of her pregnancy and traveling on a donkey, Mary wasn't having an easy ride. No paved roads, no rest stops and no comfortable place to rest on arrival. What great faith they both had to break with the morality of their day and to undertake this journey proscribed by the law.

As a believer, I am in awe of their faith and obedience and grateful for both.

Sunrise, Sunset

2006-12-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

The sunrise this morning was spectacular. Unfortunately my caffiene level hadn't reached the point where I was able to open both eyes at once, let alone find the camera. We're "boondocking" in the Arizona desert.

On our initial trip west, we were privileged to see this sunset, also in the Arizona desert. The skies are so blue most days--a blue we seldom saw at home. Threatening skies get our attention as they're so infrequently seen.

Some see the desert as a wasteland, unfriendly and barren. But God's magnificent creation is evident here in the sky, in the mountains around us, in the peculiar plants adapted for the climate. I can see a number of saguaro cacti from our window, pointing upwards as if to recognize His majesty.

We've come to prefer the southwestern desert above cities, crowds and commotion.

This Bird Had (almost) Flown

2006-12-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

As you may know, we’re traveling with Don Kaiser’s eagle whose name is Barnabas. He’s been a great deal of company along the way, behaving for the most part. He did nip Herb a couple of times—you really shouldn’t tease an eagle. But today was more serious. He said he had a hot date and was taking the car. I think they were planning to meet at the Eagles Lodge. We had to intervene. He has no valid driver’s license. He muttered something about eagle rights, but we ignored him.

For the younger among us, the title is from an old Beatles number called “Norwegian Wood.”

Hello, Roadservice, Can You Send a Sikorsky?

2006-12-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

We were in the Arizona desert, cruising around the trails in our Jeep. The particular trail we were traveling led up a 300 foot hill. Herb decided it was just the thing to do. I didn't see much of the trip up, having my eyes tightly closed at the time. Once there, we noticed we were on a narrow spot with a cliff on the other side.

While I was contemplating our future life at the top of this hill, Herb somehow managed to jockey the Jeep around till it was pointing in the direction we had come. I closed my eyes once again and prayed all the way down.

I'm just not sure I'm going to enjoy off roading as much as I once did.

A Handy Hint and Herb's Ability to Catch Fish

2006-11-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to have a pound of chicken to prepare a recipe.

We don't carry a scale in the coach, so I wasn't sure just how much I needed. Herb had a great idea--why not use his fish scale. This handy little gadget hasn't been used because he hasn't caught a fish worthy of being weighed in some time. So I put some chicken in a plastic bag, punched a hole near the top of the bag and suspended it from the hook on the scale. Worked like a charm.

For those of you who would cast aspersions on Herb's fishing skills, here's a shot of a lingcod he caught last year off the Mexican coast. It was the largest fish caught on the charter boat that day. He had it filleted (good thing! I'm not into that) and we had it for supper. Truly a great meal.

Herb hopes to catch fish again some day. I have mixed feelings about it myself. Skinning, gutting and cleaning fish are not skills I've mastered along the way.

It Don't Get Any Better Than This

2006-11-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

Ever heard of Guindon? We have one of his cartoons, cut from a book, framed and sitting on the dashboard of our motor home. It has followed us from our farm in Kentucky through two previous motor homes.

The cartoon, a line drawing, shows a man and woman seated outside an old travel trailer and pickup truck. They’re both hefty folk; he’s in a shirt and much-too-short tie, she’s clad in a jacket and slacks with a babushka covering her hair. Their feet are resting on a big wooden spool. Nearby there’s an old-fashioned radio and a carp draped over a trash can. The couple appears supremely contented. The caption reads, “It don’t get any better than this.” Although our living situation does not include a dead carp, a spool for a table or an old travel trailer, this grammatically incorrect sentiment precisely expresses our current state of mind.

We were contented at the farm for many years, raising chickens and growing vegetables and herbs, amazed at our good fortune to find such a haven. We had a long commute to work, but coming home was like going on vacation. Our 18 acre farm was a refuge from the city, from crowds, and from the urban jungle where we had last lived.

As we grew older, the chickens tied us down. It’s very difficult to find a chicken sitter. Keeping the weeds out of the garden was a losing battle. The summer heat and humidity was exhausting, and Kentucky bugs of all sorts were pervasive.

On retirement, we sold the farm and took to the road in a motor home. The freedom was incredible; no weeds and no chickens with which to cope. We traveled through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan in our first year. We found our winter “home” along the Colorado River. We’ve seen God’s creation and its beauty in many forms: Mountain, desert, seashore, lakes and rivers.

We don’t see ourselves living in a house or apartment any time soon. The coach is comfortable and includes all that we need. When problems arise, only to be expected, Guindon’s cartoon reminds us of the advantages we have. We’re content with our lifestyle and looking forward to continuing our travels.

Fisherman's Retreat

2006-11-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

Here's Herb at one of three lakes at our campground. You'll notice he's not fishing. The lakes are supposed to be stocked with catfish and trout; but everyone seems to be catching catfish. He isn't about to pay $15 to catch a catfish.

It's sunny but cool--sweater weather. Leaves are falling all around us

Lots of motorhomes and fifth wheels left today. We'll be leaving on Wednesday for Lake Havasu City.

We're Full!

2006-11-24T22:05:00.000-08:00

We're at home after an excellent dinner at John and Libbi's. Everyone was appreciative of a Thanksgiving dinner without turkey. We had spaghetti with homemade sauce, garlic/asiago cheese bread, Caesar salad, tomato and mozzarella salad with balsamic vinaigrette, tiramisu and/or coconut cream pie and various gourmet desserts.

It was so great to see my brother and his wife again. I love Libbi's garden. I remember it as a bare dirt lot with a big German shepherd in residence. It's changed!

Thanksgiving in San Timoteo Canyon

2006-11-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

We're having a great Thanksgiving dinner. Herb is eating leftover crock-pot roast, potatoes and carrots (for him, turkey is in the same category with meatloaf), while I'm chowing down on tuna mac.

Last year we were staying at a campground that put on a terrific potluck dinner with the turkeys furnished by campers who each agreed to host a table. The food was very good (but not as good as the church potlucks back home in Kentucky).

One of the officers of this membership campground stood, we thought, to offer a prayer. No deal. He suggested each of us take a few moments to "reflect." I couldn't help but echo our friend Steve Brown who once said of non-believers on this holiday, "They don't even know who to thank." We found it sad.

They're having a dinner here today. We decided we'd just have a day to ourselves. We've a great deal for which to be thankful. God has blessed us, undeserving as we are, with the opportunity to travel and enjoy this glorious country. As we travel, we see that the magnificence of His creation far outshines anything man has accomplished.

An Explanation for the Young

2006-11-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

"Let the Little Girl Write?" What's that about?

Way back in 1960 Billy Bland had a one-hit wonder called "Let the Little Girl Dance." And yes, I remember it. I remember Chuck Berry singing "School Day" too. That was the first 45 rpm vinyl record I bought in my teen years.

My husband is able to remember who sang many of the oldies, when they came out and what he was doing at the time. I have to check with ask.com. It remains part of our shared experience--when I mention one of these songs, he knows what I'm talking about.

Hi From the Road

2006-11-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the inverter on our coach and the wireless internet, we're able to stay in touch from the road.

We're on I-40, crossing desert and mountains on the way to San Timoteo Canyon north of Redlands, California. There we'll stay at Fisherman's Retreat for a week. On Friday we'll have Thanksgiving dinner with my brother John and his wife Libbi. And yes, John is much taller than I.

It's a partly cloudy day, warm but not hot. We're on our way up into the mountains--something our coach doesn't like much. Oh, well.

We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving--keep in touch!

Let the Little Girl Write

2006-11-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

So here I am, all four feet ten inches tall, gray of hair and myopic of eye, embarking on a new project. I want to write.

What makes me think I can do that?

With two colleagues, I will have an article published in a refereed nursing journal early in 2007. I have prepared documents for Transplant Management Group (http://www.transplantmanagment.com) for which I am a senior consultant. I have prepared and presented speeches at two national meetings as well as submitting abstracts and posters for another. I once wrote an herbal newsletter for a limited number of subscribers which diminished greatly once I began charging for it! I've written "Wellness Corner" articles for my church newsletter, as well as some snappy prose as I recorded minutes for church business meetings. So there.

What experiences do I have to share?

Forty years of nursing (who would do this for forty years?!)
Living in an RV and traveling since August 2005 (yes, we're homeless)
Many life experiences over the years, some of them best not mentioned here

So, to build a portfolio, I am writing articles hopefully for publication in RV magazines. I have two in the works, one about health issues on the road and another about a California condor we were privileged to see at the Grand Canyon.

Wish me success! Please!