Tuesday, July 31st

Had a nice lunch at Applebee's in Lee's Summit, Missouri and then went to see the movie No Reservations. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Tonight, we are staying in...relaxing, for a change.

Monday, July 30th - Kansas City Sights

This morning we went to Arthur Bryant's BBQ in Kansas City, Missouri for lunch. I have heard about Arthur Bryants for years and it is mentioned on our Roadfood book. MA had a half slab of ribs and I had a brisket and ham combo sandwich. The lunch was very good.

After strong endorsement by many of our Kansas City relatives, we visited the Steamboat Arabia Museum near the riverfront in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. it was VERY interesting! In 1856, the side-wheeler Arabia, on a trip from St. Louis to Sioux City, Iowa, struck a "snag", a thick trunk of a huge, fallen walnut tree. It sunk in a matter of minutes. All passengers were rescued; one mule died. All 222 tons of cargo were lost, sinking into the river bottom. Thru the 130 years, several futile attempts were made to recover the cargo. Meanwhile, the Missouri River changed its course and the boat was buried under 40 feet of silt. In 1987, several Kansas City businessmen located the boat, made many test drillings. In four months, they had dug out hundreds of crates of merchandise originally destined for the western frontier. They acquired the old produce warehouse building and made it into the Museum. This is a short video of a replica of one of the two side wheels of the Arabia.

After the Museum, we went to the Liberty Memorial World War I Monument. This is a pic taken of Union Station and downtown Kansas City, Missouri from the Memorial.

Sunday, July 29th

This morning, MA and I joined MA's cousin, Berry Yeldell, for worship services at the Blue Springs Community Church. The singing and the sermon were inspirational!

Later, Janet (my cousin) and Bob Sherman came to our campsite. I slow roasted a large pork loin outside on the grill and MA prepared squash and rice dishes. It was great to have a quiet afternoon to visit.

Saturday, July 28th - Goodbye, Uncle Harry

We left our campsite at 7:45am and drove 100 miles west to Topeka, Kansas for the funeral of my Uncle Harry Brelsford. It was a very touching service, led by Harry's long-time friend, and self-described, protege', Jim Stringer. After the graveside sertvice, we all assembled at Aunt Lou's for food. Many very distant memories were awoken.

We returned home to await the arrival of MA's cousin, John Yeldell and his wife, Beth. They invited us to go to the Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. John had really close-in parking and the seats were just ONE row from the field - GREAT SEATS! The game was exciting early and late but not much action in the middle innings. This is MA & Beth singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". The second video is the Royals team mascot, Slugger, throwing out free hotdogs.

Friday, July 27th - Strouds & Parkville, MO

I was reading in my Roadfood book (about places to eat across the USA) about several places in the Kansas City area. One place stood out as a "must do - today" place...Stroud's Fried Chicken near Troost and E. 85th St in KCMO. Road signs said "Road Closed" on BOTH sides of where Strouds is SUPPOSED to be. Turns out that the city claimed the property by Eminent Domain several years ago, to build a bridge. The Roadfood book mentioned a second location, so we called Information and found them WAY north. So, north we drove. Found it and it was TOTALLY great, comparable to Babe's in Texas! The restaurant is located in a farmhouse built in the 1830's.

After lunch, we drove into the small town of Parkville, Missouri and found the two-bedroom, white frame home that my parents rented when we moved back to the Kansas City area from Oklahoma City in 1953. We lived there about four months before moving to the Garden Apartments in North Kansas City, Missouri.

On the way back to the campground in Blue Springs, Missouri, we drove thru Independence, Missouri and took this pic of the Harry Truman Family Home. It was called the "Summer Whitehouse" during his presidency (1945 - 1953).

Thursday, July 26th - Beth's Yeldell's Birthday

This evening we were invited to join John Yeldell (MA's cousin) and his family in celebrating wife Beth's birthday dinner. Three of John and Beth's kids were there, Jessica, Joel and Joanna as well as Beth's sister, Leslie. It was a great evening with great people! John might have access to four tickets to the Kansas city Royals vs. Texas Rangers baseball game Saturday night. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Wednesday, July 25th - Friends and Family

Today, we had Bill and Fran Welch join us for lunch at our campsite. I worked for Bill at Braniff Airlines in Dallas in the late '60's - early '70's. Bill had me work on the Hawaiian Airlines and On-line Schedule Change projects which were the first projects of "substance" in my early career. Bill left Braniff and went to work with TWA in Kansas City, residing in Blue Springs. We stayed in touch for several years but then lost contact. On a whim, I looked in the Blue Springs phonebook last Sunday while visiting Debbie Yeldell at the Lake Lotawana home and found Bill and Fran still residing in Blue Springs! They graciously accepted our invitation to lunch. MA prepared a beautiful lunch with sliced tomatoes, cantaloupe and chicken salad. We shared many stories and it was a GREAT visit! On a sad note, the pic I took of the table and our guests was too blurry to publish - my fault - loose nut holding the camera.

Later we drove over to Janet & Bob's in Kansas and on to their daughter, Melissa's beautiful home. There we met Melissa and Joe's year-old son, Drew. What a fine looking young man!

After helping Bob with some computer-to-computer conversions, we went to Kokopelli's Mexican Restaurant in Prairie Village, Kansas. Joining us was Aileen, Janet's mother, Steve (Janet's brother) and Louise and Rick (another brother) and Charlene. This was our only chance to visit with Rick and Char. They are flying to Boston tomorrow where Rick is running in an "Ultra Marathon" in Wakefield, MA near Boston. Rick has set a goal of running a marathon in ALL 50 states + DC. So far, he is at 32 and counting! What a man!

On a VERY sad note, today we learned of the passing of Uncle Harry Brelsford in Topeka, Kansas. We visited with Lou and Harry Monday of last week and at that time, we knew his time was close at hand. At 90+ years of age and 68+ years of marriage, I would say that Harry lived a VERY full life. He will be missed!

Tuesday, July 24th - Lunch with Aunt Pat

This morning, MA gather up the dirty clothes and we headed back to Kansas, to Aunt Pat Heinz's, to do two loads of laundry and visit. It was a wonderful visit and then Pat took us to the Elephant Bar Restaurant for lunch. Aunt Pat and I and Mary Alice have always had a special relationship. MA introduced Pat to Chico's clothing store several years ago.

Later we picked up our mail at the Blue Springs Post Office and MA went grocery shopping. Tomorrow we are hosting Bill and Fran Welch who live here in Blue Springs. Bill was my boss for several years at Braniff Airlines in Dallas. More on that tomorrow.

Thursday, we host Janet and Bob here at the Lake Jacomo Campground. We are slow grilling a pork roast.

Sunday, July, 22nd - A Family Day

This morning, MA attended church services at the Blue Springs Community Church. Her cousin, Berry, named for MA's father, was singing as part of a choral group. I, on the other hand, stayed home, in front of the TV, watching Padraig Harrington win (and Sergio Garcia lose) the British Open. Bad Bob! BTW, this is a pic of the very nice Lake Jacomo Campground where we are parked.

Later, we both drove over to to the Yeldell family home at Lake Lotawana. There was a fire there last year that did moderate damage. The renovation is going very well and should be spectacular, when finished. Berry gave us four bottles of wine that he made. Looking forward to trying it!

Around 4:30, we drove back into Kansas, to Aunt Aileen's home. Bob & Janet joined us for w really great evening. We brought in Popeye's fried chicken and later, played a new card gamy, Five Crowns. It was a cute game.

Saturday, July 21st - Dinner with Yeldells & Mallorys

MA & I ate breakfast at IHOP this morning and then went shopping. Yesterday, MA bought me several shirts and shorts. I decided to keep three shirts and one pair of shorts and return the rest. Today we did the returns and added one more pair of shorts.

This afternoon, MA prepared potato salad and we joined her cousins and spouses at Tanya and Morton Mallory's lakeside home in Blue Springs. Joining us were cousins Berry, Debbie and John and John's wife, Beth. We had a very relaxing outside dinner of hamburgers, brats, potato salad, fruit salad, corn on the cob and Tanya's strawberry ice cream cake. After dinner, Debbie surprised us with the great news that she is getting married to Steve (of Beaufort, NC) next month. That is wonderful news!

Friday, July 20th - New Laptop

Wednesday, MA & I went to the AT&T (corporate) store in Independence, Missouri and got new cell phones and a new two year contract with AT&T. At the same time, I purchased a new "Air card". Since April 2006, I have been using a Cingular Sierra Wireless 860 AirCard to gain Internet access whenever we did not have a WiFi signal. This has worked fine for 15 months.

But, now, I needed to replace my old Dell laptop and MOST of the newer (and better) laptops use "Express Cards" which are faster and more versatile than the older PC (PCMCIA) Cards like the Sierra 860. My old AirCard would not work in a new laptop. So, now I get the new Express card and the old one was "de-registered" meaning I had NO Internet access until I got the new laptop.

After much research at Cousin Janet & Bob's house, courtesy of Bob's WiFi, I bought a new HP pavilion Entertainment PC from Sam's Club. I am working feverishly today to make the transition (going well...so far). This is my first blog entry using the new laptop.

Thursday evening we had a delightful dinner with Bob & Janet and Steve (Janet's brother) and his wife, Louise. Spaghetti & Meatballs + artichoke dip, MA's sausage-wrapped peppers and Cheesecake!

Tuesday, July 17th - Into Kansas City

After a Cracker Barrel breakfast, we drove to Lawrence, Kansas, home to the University of Kansas. Julie and Steve's son, Shay, and two friends, Chris and Clyde, own a home design business in downtown Lawrence, www.eangee.com. Shay was not there but we did get to visit with Chris. What a fine young man!

Then we finished our drive to Kansas City. We drove directly to the Elks Club in southern KC, MO. Unfortunately, their two RV spots had only 20 amp electrical service. That would be OK in spring, fall and, usually winter. However, in this heat (96 degrees) we need BOTH airconditioning units to function at FULL power. That requires 50 amp electrical. So, we called the Elks Club in Grandview, MO, our original destination. Also 20 amp. Therefore, we have come to Lake Jacomo Park in Blue Springs, Missouri, further away from family than the Elks Clubs but still workable.

Lake Jacomo Park is very clean, grassy with about 60 sites. We have a very spacious corner site with full hook-ups AND 50 AMP service!. I my final Gypsy poop walk (not "perp walk") we saw 13 deer and lightning bugs.

Monday, July 16th - Family Day in Topeka

We went over to my Aunt Lou and Uncle Harry's home around 11am. We ate lunch and visited for several hours. Aunt Lou looked great! Uncle Harry, now 90 years old, is having a very tough time. His health has diminished and he has lost so much weight.

Later, we returned to their house around 4pm. Julie and Steve, their daughter, Megan, and Megan's husband, Josh, plus Steve's parents from Pratt, Kansas, Royal and Shirley Elder joined us for dinner. Dinner for 10! (actually nine, Harry did not eat). MA's Chicken Tetrazini WAS a big hit with plenty left over to take home. Steve & Julie brought fruit salad and corn-on-the-cob which were great! It was a wonderful evening. We all wish Uncle Harry could have participated more. We wish him well and Lou and Harry are daily in our prayers.

Sunday, July 15th - Moving East to Topeka

After breakfast at the local diner in Goodland, Kansas, we headed toward Kansas City. We contacted my cousin, Julie Elder, in Topeka, Kansas and made arrangements to see Julie and her husband, Steve, their daughter, Megan and her husband, and my aunt Lou and Uncle Harry.

We got situated in Capital City RV Park and then ate dinner at the Topeka Cracker Barrel. Later, MA shopped for groceries. She is making her Chicken Tetrazini for dinner with the family tomorrow night.

Saturday, July 14th - Leaving Colorado

Today, we drove just over 400 miles to Goodland, Kansas where we spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Nothing special to report today. The first 200 miles were beautiful, over the Monarch Pass (11,000 feet) and along the Arkansas River. We stopped for lunch in Canon City but, since we had both seen the Royal Gorge several times, and even taken a train thru it, we decided not to take the side trip to the Gorge.

We did stop in Colorado Springs, at the Sam's Club there. I needed to renew our membership and purchase a new laptop computer. Mission accomplished BUT... after using the laptop for several hours, I decided that I would return it to Sam's Club at first opportunity, probably Topeka, Kansas. There were several incompatibilities between my old laptop (Dell Windows XP) and the new one (Dell Windows Vista). The most important was the inability of the new laptop to make use of my AT&T (Cingular) Air-Card which provides Internet access when I cannot get WiFi.

Friday, July 13th - Last Day in Lake City

We have so much enjoyed our time here in Lake City. The time spent with Sylvia and Terry and their families has been special. And the Jeep off-roading and the 4-wheeling has been exciting!

But, all good things must come to an end...today is our last day here. And, to tell you the truth, MA & I are ready to move on to next stop...Kansas City where we will have almost three weeks to visit family.

This morniing, MA cooked her very special belgian Waffles for Terry & Sylvia and Evan, Terry's grandson. DELICIOUS and always a hit! We met them for a farewell dinner at our favorite restaurant in Lake City, Charlie P's.

Thursday, July 12th - One Final Ride

We ate breakfast, once again, at the Tic Toc Grill here in Lake City. We both tried the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with chopped up green chilis.

We putzed around the coach for several hours and then took our FINAL off-road Jeep adventure. We drove west out of Lake City on the Alpine Loop Road to Engineer Pass for about five miles. We turned off the Loop Road and onto the Nellie Creek "Road" for four rough miles to the trailhead staging area for hiking up Uncompahgre Mountain. We did NOT hike, just turned around, changed drivers and came back down Nellie Creek Road. MA loves driving the tough stuff just as much as I do. There were many places where work crews had build 3-4 foot mounds to channel water runoff. The short wheelbase of the Jeep kept us from bottoming out. We took several pix and one short video that I will upload IF and WHEN I get a decent signal for Internet access.

Wednesday - July 11th - Italian Night

We are running out of things to do here in Lake City. We have driven all the 4-wheel trails close to City. We have eaten at most of the Lake City establishments. Saturday, we leave for our four day trip to Kansas City. Saturday, we will drive the 211 miles to Pueblo, Colorado and spend Saturday night there. There is a Cracker Barrel and Sam's Club there. I need to get to Sam's Club ASAP. I am going to get a new laptop there. It is VERY cumbersome to have to drag the newly purchased monitor everywhere I take the old Dell laptop. But that is the only way the old laptop will work since its display screen stopped working.

This evening, Terry and Sylvia came over to the coach for dinner. MA prepared her wonderful spaghetti sauce with Italian sausage. Sylvia brought appetizers and dessert (cherries flautas). It was cool outside so we brought out the table leaves and had a lovely dinner for four inside.

Tuesday, July 10th - Jeep Trip to American Basin

This morning, Sylvia and Terry came to our coach for haircuts. That's right, MA has set up shop right here in Lake City, Colorado. Yesterday, she gave me a trim and Terry & Sylvia were envious. So, MA said she would cut their hair. How does Mary Alice's Clip Joint sound? Better than Jack the Clipper don't you think?

Later, we packed up the ice chest with water and stopped at Charlie P's for a large ham & turkey club sandwich to go. We drove back out the Cinnamon Pass Road. We turned off first at the Wager Gulch Road and drove the very rocky and steep road to the deserted Carson Townsite. Then we drove on up the mountain to the Continental Divide, 12,300 feet high.

We returned to the Cinnamon Pass Road and continued on to the turnoff to American Basin. It is only a mile long road to the heart of the Basin. There are wildflowers EVERYWHERE! We stopped for about an hour and ate lunch and took pix.

We returned to Lake City exhausted! We got BBQ ribs and brisket to go, came home, showered and ate BBQ. I am now watching the MLB All-Star Game.

Sunday, July 8th - Roundtop Mountain

This morning, Terry & Sylvia were walking their dog, Keeper, near our camp at the same time I was walking Gypsy. They asked us to go to breakfast, so we joined them at the Tic Toc Grill. It was very enjoyable.

After breakfast, we all drove their two 4-wheelers up to the top of Roundtop Mountain. MA and I were on one and Terry and Sylvia on the other. The road was very rocky and quite steep in places. The view of the valley was spectacular! On the way up, we stopped at the mountain cabin of Jack & Suzie Jackson, friends of Terry & Sylvia. Jack is nationally famous for his wood carvings and has authored two books. This is one of his carvings, whittled from a single piece of bass wood. Here is Jack's website.

Later, we returned to the coach for a nap and then ate dinner at the Trails End restaurant in Lake City.

07 - 07 - 07 - NOT a Lucky Day

My Dell laptop picked last night to go on the blink. The processor and the hard disk are working OK but, I get almost no display. I have to use a bright flashlight at an acute angle to be able to read the display. VERY awkward.

So, MA & I drove up to Gunnison, Colorado this afternoon for groceries. While there, I purchased a cheap display monitor and I have connected it into the laptop. This is a stop-gap measure until I can get to Sam's Club in Pueblo, Colorado, next Sunday, to purchase a replacement laptop. This one has been struggling for several months now. To compound matters, I actually dropped it twice, once on the carpet and once on the tile. Not good for any electronics equipment.

Tonight we are going to another pot luck dinner over at Terry & Sylvia's RV park. Sylvia's daughter's family left this afternoon to return to their home in San Antonio. MA & I really enjoyed their company!

Friday, July 6th - Berri & Colin off the Cancun

This morning, Berri and Colin flew to Cancun, Mexico for the marriage of Colin's daughter, Emma, to her LONG time boyfriend, Lee. We wish everyone a safe, wonderful and exciting time in Mexico!

MA and I drove about 50 miles south to the mining town of Creede, Colorado. It is somewhat larger than Lake City. We ate lunch at the Creede Hotel on the outside patio. Afterward, we drove around and found a very unique fire station, dug into the hillside, utilizing an old mine.

On the way back to Lake City, we stopped at the site of the Alferd Packard Massacre in 1874. This pic tells the story (click to enlarge) of cannibalism and justice in Colorado. Unfortunately, the angle I took the pic blocks out what the saloon keeper said to Packer at his trial: "You man-eating son of a ..., There were seven Democrats in Hinsdale County and you ate five of them."

Thursday, July 5th - We have Company

This evening, we invited Terry, Sylvia, Evan (Terry's grandson), Celine, Rob & Sophia over for dinner. MA heated up the frozen gumbo that she had prepared last Friday in Montrose. Sylvia brought rice, bread and salad and we really enjoyed a taste of Louisiana.

This is a pic of Sophia in our granddaughter, Camryn's, princess chair. Sophia seemed to really feel special when she sat in the princess chair. But, don't worry, Camryn, the chair is still (and always) yours.

Wednesday - 4th of July - Happy Birthday, America !!!

What a great location to celebrate the birthday of America's independence!

Lake City, Colorado did themselves up very proud today. First, there was the 4th of July Parade. The local constabulary shut down the main road (and the ONLY bridge over the river) for about one hour. MA & I drove down to Terry & Sylvia's RV park and we all set up our lawn chairs along THE road, very near THE bridge. Several legitimate "floats" went by and many float-wannabes. Jeeps all decked out with balloons, fire trucks, motorcycle riders, remote controlled cars...you name it, we probably saw it. It was fun, especially when MA took the umbrella and started dancing New Orleans Second Line when the brass band came by. The above pic is Sylvia, her daughter, Celine, Celine's daughter, Sophia and Celine's husband, Rob.

We gathered at 4:30, again down at Terry & Sylvia's RV park, for a pot luck dinner with their entire park. MA prepared potato salad and hamburgers & hot dogs were provided. Much later, Lake City put on a nice (and long) fireworks display.

Tuesday, July 3rd - Resting

This morning, MA went to the local laundromat to do laundry. I took the Jeep to the Toy Wash, do-it-yourself car wash just north of town. We found a Texas-style BBQ place and enjoyed ribs, brisket and sausage.

This evening, we enjoyed a few beers and appetizers at Terry & Sylvia's coach. We met their friends from North Dallas, Doug & Rose.

Tomorrow - the 4th of July parade.

Monday, July 2nd - The Alpine Loop

This morning, our friend, Terry Hix, came by the campsite and asked us to join them on an off-road trip, the Alpine Loop. "You bet!" we said. So we gassed up, loaded up the ice chest with water, cold cuts, cheese, etc. and met them at 10:30 at their camp on the other side of Lake City (8 blocks away). There were six adults, one baby (15 month-old, Sophia) and one Jack Russell Terrier, Keeper, who rode on the back of Terry's 4-wheeler, no matter who was driving, including me.

The Loop starts off innocently enough. About 15 miles of gravel, fairly narrow roads. Then it begins the ascent up to Cinnamon Pass. VERY narrow and VERY steep in places. About halfway up, Terry wanted me to drive his 4-wheeler. So, I turned over the Jeep to MA and Keeper and I took the ATV up to Cinnamon Pass and down (scarier yet) to the ghost town of Animas Forks, Colorado.

We stopped for about 45 minutes in Animas Forks to eat lunch. The US Forest Service has set-up toilet facilities there, as well.

Then we started on the return trip, this time over 12,800' Engineer Pass. This time, I drove the Jeep up to the Pass and then MA drove down the mountain and on to Lake City and home. The pic on the right is of the road up to Engineer Pass. Look for the faint "Z" in the middle of the pic...THAT is the road we traveled.

Afterwards, we were unbelievably filthy. So was Jasper Jeep. I promised that I would really give Jasper a cleaning tomorrow while MA does the laundry.

We enjoyed a very good Italian meal in Lake City and then visited some more with Sylvia & Terry at their coach. We have asked them to join us next summer for a whitewater adventure on the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon. They have accepted and we will make the arrangements tomorrow.

Sunday, July 1st - to Lake City

We leisurely packed up the coach and said goodbye to our newest friends, Carol and Ron of Shreveport, Louisiana and Peg and Wayne King, owners of the Riverbend RV Park in Montrose. We promised to keep in touch and both couples have made the mistake of inviting to their home for a visit. We most likely will.

The road to Lake City is 100 miles. It's a shame we couldn't have taken the coach over Engineer Pass Road...that would cut the distance to about 30 miles. We will do Engineer Pass this week with the Jeep or ATV's along with Sylvia & Terry and Robert & Sonja, our friends from Texas.

After we set up camp at T-Bears Campground in Lake City, we drove over to Henson Creek RV Park to see Terry & Sylvia. Sylvia's daughter, Selene and Selene's husband, Rob and year old daughter, Sophia had driven up from San Antonio, Texas. We walked across the street to Poker Alice's for pizza and beer.

June 30th - Yankee Boy Basin - WOW !!!

It is IMPOSSIBLE to describe the beauty that MA and I saw today! We ate a quick lunch and drove back down to Ouray and onto the nine mile long Yankee Boy Basin Road. The first seven miles were fairly routine road-wise but spectacular. The last two miles were moderately difficult but enormously rewarding! We were about two weeks too early for the peak of the wildflowers. The first pic is Twin Falls, about halfway up. It is the scene that you see on the Coors beer cans and bottles.

The second and third pix are at the top of Yankee Boy Basin. We met Dennis and Lorie at the top. Dennis had just returned from hiking to the top of the mountain. He had all the requisite equipment...ice axe, etc.

The last pic is on a side trial, Governor's Basin. This trail is rated Difficult and, as you can see in the pic, is VERY narrow in spots. I felt so uncomfortable about this particular pass that I had MA get out and "spot" me as I drove thru. Just after we passed these two spots, I found a place to turn around. In MY opinion, we had reached our limit. MA says she agreed as she spotted me coming back downhill thru the tight places.

Here are three short video clips of our off-road experience...

Yankee Boy Basin #1
Yankee Boy Basin #2
Yankee Boy Basin #3

After taking showers to wash off the layers of traildust, we went to Chili's and celebrated our mountain adventure with a margarita and draft beer (Coors, of course). We topped off the evening by eating watermelon provided by the RV park owners, Wayne & Peg over at Ron and Carol's coach.