Birdland - Oct 8-10, 2015

Chiloe Island is viewed as a cultural heartland of Chile, preserving traditional beliefs and ways of life. It is also a refuge for a large variety of exotic birds.

Under the Volcano - Oct 6-8, 2015

Though a source of contention between Argentina and Chile that is still not completely settled, their mutual border is generally taken to be the continental divide along the Andes Mountains. So to get from Argentina to Chile, one must cross the Andes, and we did this by bus on a day that provided particularly spectacular scenery. Settling in Puerto Varas on Chilean side, we found a land of lakes, volcanos, and enchanting people.

Lake District - Oct 3-5, 2015

Bariloche is not a name familiar to most U.S. tourists; in fact few of the stops on our tour of Patagonia would be, but it is a place of stunning beauty and fascinating culture. Looking back, it’s hard to believe the variety of experiences we had there.

Good Air - Oct 1-2, 2015

After a fascinating visit to Easter Island, our tour group arrived back in Santiago, Chile, just to spend the night, before flying on to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Easter Island had been an optional pre-trip; Buenos Aires was our staging area for the main tour covering Patagonia. While Buenos Aires is not in Patagonia, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to experience this bustling city and urban Argentine culture.

Go On, Get a Big Head - Sept 27-30, 2015

It’s said to be the most isolated place in the world - further from the next civilized place than anywhere else in the world. It’s a five hour flight due west from Santiago, Chile. Locals call it Rapa Nui, but most Westerners know it as Easter Island.

September Spring - Sept. 25 - 26, 2015

In February of 2015, I got an invitation from my cousin Tom to join him, his wife Kathy, and a few other of their traveling friends on a trip to South America. I leaped at the chance, and after a lot of planning and anticipation, on September 25th, I got on a flight headed for Santiago, Chile.

Oh The Places I've Been

I know, I know, there hasn’t been a new entry here since last August, and even then I was blogging about things that had happened in March. I hope this post marks a new beginning and a rededication of my time to keeping this blog current. It seems the further I got behind, the weaker the motivation was to reach back to events several months old. So, beginning with the next post, I’ll catch up on a relatively recent trip, and I have the best intentions not to get more than a couple weeks behind - at most - after that. My actual goal is to blog on the day or the day after I’ve visited each interesting sight. But fear not, I still want to share the great adventures I’ve had since last March, and intend to fill in those posts as time permits. (One thing that finally gave me the impetus to make this leap forward is that I learned how to post entries in the order they happened, rather that the order I write them.)

As I write this, the previous entry is about the Builtmore Mansion, but over time you should see entries fill in the gap between then and now, as well as new contemporary entries proceed forward from here. Just to give you a taste, here’s a list of highlights from my travels since March 2015: Blue Ridge Parkway, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Cape Cod, Boston, Lake Placid, Mt. Washington, Portland Maine, The Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagra Falls, Colonal Williamsburg and Jamestown, the South Dakota Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, and Canyon de Chelly. After that, I returned to my home base in San Diego in early August of 2015, but soon took off on another loop to the northwest that included: the California and Oregon coasts, Victoria B.C., Flaming Gorge, Dinosaur National Park, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Bryce, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park. When I returned to San Diego in mid-September, I’d put over 35,000 miles on my RV in less than a year. Yes, I know it sounds like a staggering number of places to visit in a year, but it’s been fantastic, and I’ve got photos to document it all.

But I wasn’t done. In late September, I took off on perhaps the greatest adventure of the year. That will occupy the next few posts of this rejuvenated blog.

Among the Clouds - April 1-3, 2015

I’d heard from many sources over the years that the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives one can take. Thus, I started out along that route with great anticipation, heading north from Asheville.

Build More - March 30, 2015

There were so many highlights of my trip to Asheville, it’s hard to single out one, but the Biltmore Estate is the attraction for which Asheville is best known. I spent most of a day taking it all in, and it is indeed impressive.

Mountain Home - March 28-31, 2015

Many friends had recommended that I make Asheville, NC, one of my stops, and since driving the Blue Ridge Parkway had long been one of my goals, it fit right into my plans. I also had some new friends in town, which ended up adding immensely to my enjoyment.

Taking Flight - March 22-25, 2015

After a lengthy layover in Atlanta, it felt good to hit the road again. I headed to Charlotte, NC to visit a former student, then to the Rayleigh-Durham area to visit relatives, and on to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to see the Wright Brothers Memorial, something I’d always wanted to visit. These stops were just the beginning of a busy campaign I had planned to travel up the East Coast. I didn’t realize a nagging health issue would curtail those plans for weeks to come.

Second Home - Feb 24-Mar 19, 2015

The day I left Charleston, I passed through a cold front on my way to Augusta, and the rain began. I spent a surprisingly cold night at a barebones RV park in Augusta, then headed on to Atlanta, or to be more precise, Milton, about an hour north of central Atlanta. I had friends in Atlanta to visit, and as it turned out, my RV spent a lot more time there than I did.

Down on the Plantation - Feb 22, 2015

The Magnoiia Plantation lies along the Ashley River, a few miles inland from the sea. It is known not just for its plantation house, but for the gardens and wildlife it includes.

Southern Charm - Feb 21, 2015

After a couple days in Savannah too cold to enjoy touring, I was worried that I was trying to push north too early in the season. But the weather turned nice when I arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, and I was able to fully enjoy the many sights the city has to offer.

Cold Savannah - Feb 18, 2015

I went to graduate school in Atlanta, but unfortunately did little touring around. I’d heard that Savannah was a charming, historic city, but never made it over there. Now, I had a chance to correct that. As things turned out, though, Savannah remains on my “to do” list.

Jekyll to Cumberland's Hyde - Feb 16 - 17, 2015

Cumberland Island is a wild and wooly place, intentionally. Jekyll Island, next up the Georgia coast, is much more refined, but not without its wild places. I spent two days touring Jekyll Island and enjoyed an amazing variety of sights.

Into the Wild - Feb 14 - 15, 2015

Cumberland Island, southernmost of the Georgia coastal islands, is a nature preserve. There are no bridges to the island. There are no shops on the island, not even for food. The U.S. Park Service runs two ferries a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. They also run just one tour per day. It lasts six hours, has a ranger as the guide, and takes a maximum of twelve people; there were nine of us the day that I took it. Here’s what I found.

In a Clinch - Feb 12 - 13, 2015

Before this, all I knew about Amelia Island is that it’s where reporters like to flock when a hurricane is coming ashore. For me, the weather was great, I had a view of the ocean from my campsite, and there was an interesting but nearly deserted attraction nearby.

Flaglerville - Feb 9 -12, 2015

Henry Flagler made his fortune as one of the founders of Standard Oil, then turned his attention to other interests. One of the best known is the railroad he built south through Florida as far as Key West, but it was really only to serve the cities he’d heavily invested in along the eastern Florida coast: Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona, Palm Beach, etc. Of all these, St. Augustine bears his mark more than any other because of the large number of buildings he built or financed or bought. I found it to be a charming city with much more to see and do than I ever expected.

To Infinity, and Beyond! - Feb 5 - 8, 2015

It was a short drive from Disney World to Titusville, my basestation for visiting the Kennedy Space Center. I’d toured Johnson Space Center outside of Houston many years ago, but, really, the action was at KSC. I was wowed by what I saw.

It's a Small World, After All - Feb 4, 2015

Epcot. I’d been there with my wife and infant daughter about twenty-five years ago, but not since. I figured it was time to see it again. As for the Magic Kingdom, I’d been to Disneyland in California several times and that was a close enough substitute. Animal Adventure I wouldn’t mind seeing - mainly for the animatronic dinosaurs people rave about - but that could wait. With a cousin and uncle in the area, I’d be returning before long. Epcot was more than enough to absorb for one visit.

Myakka - Jan 30, 2014

As I reported in the previous post, I was in Sarasota with the family when my aunt passed away. There was still grieving to do, but we’d done quite a bit during the week she was unconscious in hospice. My cousins, Mike and Stephanie, Stephanie’s husband, Richard, along with my Uncle Bob, were quite capable of making the necessary arrangements. It was time for me to think about getting my touring underway again. Bob had suggested several times while I was in town that I should see Myakka River State Park, just south of Sarasota, before I left. I had the time, since my next goal was Epcot, and I didn’t want to go there on a weekend. After eleven stationary days in Sarasota, Myakka was a nice transition back into the touring lifestyle.

Rain Must Fall - Jan 19-28, 2015

Traveling full time as I do, it’s easy to feel that you’re on one endless vacation. But life goes on, with its joys and its sorrows, independent of your plans.

Walled City - Cruise Days 7 & 8 - Jan 17-18, 2015

I’d had such a good time touring the first set of Mayan ruins, I was really looking forward to seeing more, even though I had no idea how different they’d be. I also found a touring companion with whom I had more in common than I ever expected.

Riding the Banana Boat - Cruise Day 5 - Jan 15, 2015

After two fantastic, but busy days of sightseeing, I was ready for a laid-back day on the beach in Costa Maya, Mexico. I had pre-booked a beach and snorkeling tour through the ship, but things didn’t quite work out that way. They worked out a lot better.

I Belize - Cruise Day 4 - Jan 14, 2015

Our next port was Belize City, in the country of Belize. There is a set of Mayan ruins about 45 minutes outside the city, and, before I ever boarded, I had signed up for a ship-arranged tour. I was glad to hear that my new friends had signed up for the same tour. The ruins were amazing, but we had quite a bit of fun when we returned to the city, too.

Barrel of Monkeys - Cruise Day 3 - Jan 13, 2015

After two nights and one full day onboard ship, we docked at Roatan, an island off the Honduran Coast. I had only vague plans made for the shore excursion, but when my new shipboard friends mentioned they were going to an animal sanctuary called Little French Key, that sounded pretty good. Tagging along with them gave me perhaps the best day of the entire cruise.

Now We're Cruisin' - Days 1 & 2: Jan 11-12, 2015

Taking a Caribbean Cruise while I was in Florida seemed like a good idea because a) the only part of the Caribbean I'd seen before was Bermuda, b) I was close to all the embarkation ports, and c) I was just biding my time until the weather warmed up enough for me to head north. Since I wasn’t picky, I chose whatever was available at the last minute and got a great deal. I had a fantastic time, saw incredible sights, and made new friends. As part of my ongoing effort to catch up posts close to real time, this entry will be heavy on photos and sparse on words.

Keys to the New Year - Dec 28, 2014 - Jan 6, 2015

Nearly two years before I hit the road, a friend of mine from graduate school that I hadn’t seen in twenty years called to say he was visiting San Diego. We got together for dinner, and, when I mentioned my RVing plans, he invited me to visit him in Marathon, Florida sometime, halfway along the Florida Keys. As the timing worked out, New Years for 2014/2015 was when I was in the area. I was thrilled when my friend said he’d be glad to have me visit then. ( In an ongoing effort to bring posts closer to real time, this entry consists primarily of photos with a few captions thrown in.)

Santa Time in Sarasota - Dec 21-27, 2014

I recognized from the beginning of my planning that being on the road by myself for the holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas - would be a very lonely experience. So, I built into my schedule that I’d be with my sister’s family in Omaha for Thanksgiving, and with my cousin, her husband, my aunt and my uncle in Sarasota Florida for Christmas. On both occasions, the plan worked out. This post recounts my stay in Sarasota during Christmas week. In an effort to bring posts closer to real time, this entry consists primarily of photos with a few captions thrown in.

Coasting along the Gulf - Dec. 16 to 20, 2014

This post covers my travel along the panhandle of Florida: Panama City, St. George Island, and Cedar Key. In an ongoing effort to bring posts closer to real time, this entry consists primarily of photos with a few captions thrown in. I temporarily break that rule, though, to describe meeting some new friends.

Naval Gazing - December 15, 2014

For quite a while now, I’ve been doing the same thing and expecting a different result. I’m referring to my sisyphean efforts to catch up on blog entries. So, it’s time to try something different. Until I get reasonably close to real time, upcoming posts will be predominantly photo essays, with a caption thrown in here and there to set the context. I know readers will miss my mellifluous prose ;-) but something has to be done. Perhaps one day I’ll have the time to come back and fill in more complete descriptions.

The first entry representing this new approach documents my visit to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. I went on the recommendation of my friend, David, a retired Navy pilot (Thanks!). A very complete, but very crowded (with exhibits) museum.

Alabama State of Mind - Dec. 11-14, 2014

After an extended stay in Memphis, my next goals were to visit some friends in Montgomery, Alabama and then head for the Gulf Coast. There were some sights along the way, and some great camping spots.

The King - Dec 10, 2014

Graceland. What more need I say? By the way, since it seems I’m going to be perennially behind on these posts, I’m going to start attaching dates to blog entries to indicate when the experience occurred.

Birth of the Blues

In this post, I pay a visit to Beale Street in Memphis where much of Blues and Soul music recording got its start. I also resolve the cliffhanger about what happened to the RV plumbing when I carelessly let it freeze.

Points South

After a bitterly cold Thanksgiving in Omaha, I was eager to get back to warmer temperatures by heading south. Along the route, I stop by Branson Missouri, Fayetteville Arkansas, and Memphis Tennessee, taking in sights and visiting friends along the way.

One Thing I Do Well

I’m an introvert. That helps explain how I can travel by myself and never ( well, hardly ever ) feel lonely. I’ve never considered myself as someone with a lot of friends. But this journey is reminding me how lucky I am to have the friends I do. And they’ve very considerately spread themselves out across the country, so I seldom go more than a week without catching up with one of them. This post is dedicated to a string of visits I paid to friends (and family), some of whom I haven’t seen in forty years. Without exception, the affinity is still there, and we pick right up from where we left off. If there’s one thing I’ve done very well in my life, it’s pick my friends. A word of warning: This post is quite long, has few photos, and very little to do with travel per se. But it’s a great pleasure for me to put these memories into writing, so if you’re interested in old friendships renewed, read on.

East End

I woke the morning of my third day in Big Bend National Park with a mixture of excitement and sadness. Excitement for sights I was going to see, but sadness that it would be my last day in the park. Many of the sights I’d seen before, but so long ago I’d nearly forgotten them. By the time I headed for the exit from the park, it had been such a full and rewarding day that I felt satisfied - at least, until my next visit.

New Territory

Though I’d been to Big Bend National Park three times before, I’d never made it to the west end of the park. So I was particularly excited that the second day of my visit would take me to Santa Elena Canyon and the other sights in that area.

Top Spot

I first camped in Big Bend National Park forty years ago, and it’s been my favorite place in the world ever since. This was my fourth time to visit the park and there were still corners that I hadn’t explored. I intend to return much more often in the future. In this one park you can find deserts, mountains, pine forests, deciduous forests, marshes, and river gorges. In this post, I’ll cover my first day in the park, a visit to the mountainous Chisos Basin.

Underworld

I’ve been to Carlsbad Caverns before, but it’s been decades and I was definitely ready for another visit.

Out of this World

Roswell, New Mexico. That name had always brought to my mind the image of a small town crazed with UFO fever. I was curious to see that spectacle. The reality turned out to be considerably different.

Cosmos

It was a happy surprise that the route to my next stop, Socorro New Mexico, would take me past the Very Large Array, a radio telescope with an antenna array that spans miles. Of course, as an electrical engineer and an astronomy buff, this was a must see. It was quite impressive viewed from the highway, but when I got to the visitors’ center, it turned out to be possibly the best technical tour I’ve ever taken.

Some Things Never Change

In this post I’m back on the road again, headed across the Southwest. I visit a friend I hadn’t seen in nearly 30 years, meet her husband, and together we visit the Petrified Forest in northeastern Arizona.