Have you ever...

.... just watched the geese in formation. It's time for them to head north and I spent awhile this morning just looking up at the different flocks. It's amazing how they change leaders, reform that vee, and keep going without missing a beat (or a flap). That's another thing I learned from Andy... take the time to look around.
     So, I'm getting a late start leaving these strange, very touristy towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlingburg, to head up into the Smokey Mountains and go to North Carolina. The mountains will be there when I arrive.
     If this great weather, Indian Summer  (can I say that?), holds, there will be a few days if hiking, biking, and just looking around.
    There will not, however, be Internet.






I still can't get pictures to upload to this blog, even though I could before. I've been posting on facebook... which gives time,  location, is easier for me, and more accessible for you.

Thanks to Nancy...

....my next choice is either North Carolina or Ireland...
   Have a nice picture of her but can't upload it AGAIN... also my most recent shots of Henderson, Kentucky... which is where I am. Back to Nancy= she is the most helpful person. She assisted me today at the Henderson Library and helped me gather the information on my family while they lived here. There are even newspaper articles and a doctor's diary.
     Anyway, she was so resourceful that what would have taken me a week, seems to be complete.... with a solid lead to North Carolina.
   The library is original and the oldest building in town...murals and all. I was going to take a walking tour tomorrow, but we expect rain for a couple of days. (another do over?)
   Well, it looks like I'll be heading east... whether to North Carolina or Pennsylvania, I haven't decided.






Be good to each other.

It's just like.....

....riding a bike. Yep, it all comes back. That's what they told me so I decided to give it a shot. Now, I did not pursue this idea in an effort to recapture my youth. It seemed like a completely practical idea for the tourist.... and I was right. It is so very much easier to get from one end of town to the other on my seat than on my feet. It's softer on the knees and the hips. The only problem is the same as walking... don't go so far that your car is in the next county (been known to do that... ask the littles).
     It's Friday evening and since the libraries close early on the weekends, I'm at Barnes and Nobles.... which is quite comfortable and sells stuff from the Cheesecake factory in the cafe.

     Breaking up all these bookish endeavors is a picnic by the Ohio River where the breezes blow.


I have so many really nice pictures, but the good ones won't load. Maybe tomorrow I'll work on that again.

Change of Pace....

      Instead of looking at scenery and into museums, I'm dividing my days between the Y and books, mico fishe, and computers.
   The northeast part of Kentucky is just beautiful. So I took the long way. There are endless cotton fields (never saw that before)  Right inside the fence of a farm I was passing, a calf was born (another first... for the calf too).
     I arrived in Indiana and headed straight for the central library in Evansville. To do the geneology research on my paternal side, we made this trip last year. I was prepared for many town libraries between here and Newburgh, the town in which my family lived.... about 5 miles away. Each library has its own little (some big) research center with local news and pictures that can't be found on line. Going through the yearbooks, I found a picture of my father's 1923 senior high school class. It's really a fun thing to do.
     The libraries and the Y are open shorter hours during the weekend, so I'll play tourist. It's a pretty riverside town and hopefully this great weather will continue.
     I asked one of the researchers if he did his family history. "No", he said, "I don't like geneology. It takes too much traveling".      Guess I'm just lucky.

OOPS...

.... we can't think of everything. Because of that, I've changed my plans and am on my way to Indiana. I"ll let you know the rest of the changes when I figure them out.
    Well, Hot Springs is on my list of do overs (along with Tennessee and the Smokey Mountains). The third day of rain sent me to the Y. I went in the pool to get away from ... umm the wet. Yes, well, there were "mature" ladies who talked to me and a sauna for my mature bones. During a late lunch the promise of more rain tomorrow sent me packing.
     Be careful what you wish for?   I wanted cooler weather in Arkansas, the rains brought it. Not just showers, RAIN. It's a shame that I didn't have more patience because it is a very pretty state with so many different and different types of things to do and see. Anyone want to take a ride next fall?
    I drove about 300 miles this evening and with another 200 tomorrow, I should be in Evansville In. 
    That should cause some people to smile.



~~ on the road again ~~

Yogurt's good...

  I've really never had a rainy day on a vacation before. Oh, it's rained at night or while we were touring something indoors.... but not actually RAINED ON ME. It poured last night (OK) and was cloudy this morning, but imagine my surprise, when it actually started to spritz as I began to cook brunch. Yep, yogurt, fruit and scones are good. Think today will be a hang out and watch movies or read day. It's only drizzling on and of, but the trails will be wet and slippery.... so that's my excuse today.
    Yesterday I took a ride into the town of Hot Springs.

  The side of the street that is part of the national park is lined with the restored old bath houses and one is open for self guided tours. It has much of the original furnishings. There are two still operating... one modernised, the other adhering to the original style. As I said, I had planned to hike today and tomorrow... then enjoy the baths and a massage on Monday or Tuesday, but the heatwave is gone for now and it's very pleasant here. So what's the rush?

Change of pace...

      Iris is at that one month stage, where she's going from just staring to watching your face,  the mobile, and is more aware of activity. It was great to be there for that transition. Like most lucky grandmothers, I handed her back and moved on.
      Yesterday, I was going to head north.... Branson,Mo., but since I hadn't planned on a show or a theme park, I changed my route. We're expecting 2 days of showers and although Branson is supposed to be a great town, walking around in the rain doesn't appeal.
     I headed for the national park at Hot Springs. I arrived yesterday afternoon and have not left the campsite...

 

 ...there are many trails that promise pretty vistas at the end and I'd like to tour the town and maybe the baths. There are also some highly recommended scenic byways in this part of the state. So, I think I'll stay here awhile.... haven't been at one campground for more than a night.  I might even name a couple of the wildlife that seem to share my site.

 

Be good to each other...

Wow

The Blue Angels   were really spectacular. Their precision is thrilling to watch. Although an air show was never on my "must do" list before, I highly recommend this .

It was a beautiful sunny day, but just too hot to take the baby.

So after a few very enjoyable hours, it was home again,

This morning is back to the maps and chart a plan that will take me to places that are below 90.
~~~ On the road agin'~~~




Travelin' with angels on my shoulder

A few days stopover

         This welcome center in Arkansas is such a pretty way to say ...Glad you're here. After the promised storm Friday night that broke the heat spell,  the weather is making my visit with Alyxandra, Andreu, and Iris even more pleasant. We spent yesterday with much needed relaxation. Today could be the Blue Angels air show and we're thinking of Hot Springs or the Old Mill. This state abounds with "stuff to do".... and one of the very special things right now is to play with Iris...

Frankly, Scarlett.....

      This heat wave has done me in. The very high temperatures with heavy intermittent storms (that don't cool anything) have prevented me from seeing much in Tenn.
       I drove through Nashville (rt 40 is somewhat elevated) and  at night the lightening helped to make a pretty skyline even more so. Missed Jackson due to heavy rain.
       The air conditioning in the van runs in competition with the sun pouring in and the heat from the console (engine heat), So midday yesterday, I decided to come to a state park outside of Memphis and wait out the hot weather. It's supposed to break tonight (for a few days) after another storm.
         I wanted to go into the city and check out Beale St., the Japanese exhibit, and get me some ribs. However, since this campground has a pool that closed Labor Day, the  temperature in Gitaroun' was 82 at 9:15 this AM, and yesterday afternoon here was just too hot to even sit in the shade and read ....  I think I'll pack up, move on, find a spot along the Mississippi, put my feet in, and save Tennessee for another time.
     On to Arkansas.....




PICS: "upload failed... server returned an invalid reaponse".... whatever that means!

Still travelin' with a couple of angels on my shoulder...

Keep in Touch...

     "I'll have a blog.... click the no comment  and keep in touch" she said. Then took off for the hills for a week or so. Well, life as we know it, does not exist in Shenandoah National Park or the Blue Ridge mountains. There is no Words with Friends.
    What there is is beauty that surpasses anything I've seen. I would drive around a curve and gasp at  a sight...... sometimes even turning off the radio because it felt like an intrusion on the tranquility.

I've been traveling on Rt 40 through Tennessee this week.Although the views along the interstate are grand, most of the attractions for me in this state are in the cities.... and this humidity is kinda hampering any yen for that! I did miss the ozone waterfalls yesterday... but stopping in a downpour seemed like an overkill idea to see water.
         Headed toward Nashville today (actual destination today: Jackson... double the miles), but we'll see. There's a load of laundry to be done and a town called Only coming up on the map.

    Muscle cramps at midnight (and 2 and 5 or so). Sounds like it should be a country/western song. Anyway, with the sleep deprivation and morning clouds, and a nice visit with Holly and Dwight (Heather's parents), it was a late departure. Some fooling around at the motor vehicle bureau got me headed toward Lancaster when the sun started to kiss the hills. It really has some breathtaking scenery.
   Stopping in Harrisburg, pa. for tonight with pictures of the most beautiful sunset. I'll post them as soon as I can figure out how to get them from my new phone to this page,
  

New things...

    Well, back to saying isn't that beautiful. Heather and Charles' new home is just that. It's large, but cozy; the grounds are manicured, but comfortable.... just the place for a family to be happy.I wish you many blessings.
     Yesterday we went phone shopping. I am the very pleased owner of an instrument that has more bells and whistles than a NASA panel. Certainly, I can screw up in a much more frustrating and delightful way.
    We had a delicious dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with 'take- home' desserts. Guess what I'll be having for lunch. (Only because I missed breakfast).
     Later in the evening I was playing with my new toy..... changing settings, trying new apps, etc.  I awakened this morn to a completely dead phone which is missing a few contacts. (Guess I tapped -- or slid-- in the wrong place).   Umm.... when I moved to NJ in the 70's it was difficult to get used to a party line, too.
   It appears that my game plan is ever changing.... but that's kinda the point of this trip. Enjoying what I'm doing.  I have the intention of leaving tomorrow and seeing some of Pa's middle. The weather is supposed to be sunny and the scenery of Lancaster awaits.

Finally....

       It was late Friday, after the rains, when Ace attached the bike rack (more on that later) to the back of Gitaroun'. He and Meghan wished me well and off I went. Now my first destination was ALL THE WAY to Heather and Charles house, where I was expected Sat. afternoon. Having 24 hours to fill, I practiced driving @55 and put the GPS on the 'no highway' route. I spent the night near Allentown and would you believe.....people actually smile and say hello at 7:30 AM? What a strange world.
       Charles had a great in house (van) battery system installed for me, but I needed an elusive cable. So the next stop was at Sears, which is in one of the largest malls in the country... King of Prussia. FYI: their parking garage height limit is 6'8". Now I don't know how high Gitaroun is; but the top is closer to the trees than that. Angels on My Shoulder: after I practiced driving around the stores, I found a spot right outside of Sears. They didn't have the part, but it was nice to know that I could get to my destination.
      My next stop: spend time with the Littles in Devon. Much laughing and many hugs make one's life great.  Heather and Charles have invited me to go see their new home Mon. night.... so I'll be here 'til Tues. This camping thing is pretty good with all this home cookin' and the indoor plumbing.
   

     *Angels on My Shoulder.... or AYS..... I've invited a couple of loved ones to ride along with me and I feel that they've been allowed to do that.    

          Welcome to my trip journal! I chose the title for this journal because of something one of the littlers told me. Whenever I travel with one (or more) of them, I try to point out things that we take for granted.... pretty clouds, a sunset, mountains on the other side of town (past the phone lines), or even peoples's gardens or old churches in the town.
          Recently, on the way home from Conn., I exclaimed about something in my usual manner.... to which she replied, "Gram, you think everything is beautiful". Don't know about everything, but I can't recall a day that I haven't seen or experienced at least one thing worth remembering. Hopefully, this log will allow me to share (without boring you) the things and places in my upcoming adventures.