"Continue on Route"

.....so the GPS said.  Sitting in our RV site at the Provo/Springville, Utah KOA I punched in Augusta, Georgia.  Our survey of the Salt Lake Valley had wrapped up for the year and we had been informed by the boss to hit the road.  He needed me down in the Peach State until about the middle of December so it was time to head east again.  After a little extra time calculating, a mini map of 2/3 of the United States popped up on the screen.  Mr. Garmin suggested I-70 through Denver but we decided to make the little machine recalculate.  We wanted to take a few extra days and see some things we hadn't seen before as well as take a route we hadn't taken.

We planned to exit the Interstate, take a right at Albuquerque and make a beeline to Roswell, NM to get to the bottom of the alien invasion controversy.  From there we'd take I-20 east through the girth of Texas.  Scoot north of the Hill Country.  Cruise through the bayous of Louisiana.  Begin the home stretch in Birmingham and sail through Atlanta on the weekend, arriving in Augusta before the next Monday.

It was a pretty uneventful trip. Again, a 2000 mile trek without breaking anything, but we did get surprised by a few things along the way.  All for the good.  Let's start with the hot air balloons.

Our second night on the road saw us at an obscure little state park just east of Gallup, New Mexico.  For a mere $20.00 we had a nice quiet full hook up site in a very sparsely populated campground.  Early the next morning though we heard a lot of activity outside.  A dozen or more SUV's with utility trailers were invading the place.  Come to find out we had accidentally happened onto the annual Red Rock Balloon Rally.  Soon the whooshing sound of 15 propane burners filled the air, then the balloons themselves sequentially filled the sky just feet from our campsite.  For close to 2 hours in the still New Mexico morning air we had a front row seat.  This was really one of those special occasions where we were in the right place at the right time.  One balloon landed just a few feet behind LuLu, all the while the pilot reassuring me from the gondola he wouldn't land on top of her.

Next stop, Roswell, NM.  This place has been on my bucket list for quite some time.  We pulled into the Trailer Village campground in Roswell and on checking in were directed to a site next to 3 other Airstreams, all from Florida. They were returning home from a 2 month long caravan throughout the West.  There's nothing like the instant camaraderie from fellow "'streamer's" inviting us to join them for an evening nightcap.  The next morning we hit the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell. I have to tell you folks, they DO exist.  The museum operates on the assumption that it really did happen.  They take their research seriously and even though there was a faint smell of "tourist trap" the exhibits were very well put together and quite informative.  After you're through here visit their site if you want the whole story. 

LuLu happy with her bunkmates

They DO exist

See!  I told ya

Eastbound again, we found ourselves in the endless expanses of West Texas.  They're right when they say everything is bigger in Texas.  It just goes on and on but eventually we stopped for the night in Sweetwater.  We camped at a brand new RV park with our good friends, and co-worker, Pat and Nancy, who were there visiting relatives.  The next morning we shared a nice breakfast and some local lore.  They showed us the house they had built in the 70s when they lived here then wished us safe passage as we pulled out the next morning.

We tackled Dallas/Fort Worth in late morning on day 4, which wasn't as bad as it could have been, then rode on until we found a nice state park just before dark. State parks are always the best way to go when you have the chance.  They simply don't compare to commercial RV parks.  The Tyler State Park was no exception, just outside of Tyler.  It's a gem - if you like to camp in the woods for $20.00 and see a million stars at night.

Tyler TX State Park - beautiful site

In the remaining days we crossed into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia without fanfare.  Yes, most of the trip was just piling on the miles but the weather was great the whole way.  Atlanta was a concern.  We had no choice but to take it head on.  Approaching from the west we had a decision to make - go around on the beltway to the south or to the north.  The south is shorter and was our plan but just before the exit a trucker on the CB mentioned a backup on the south end and to take the north route.  We took his advice and never dropped below 60 mph the whole way around.  Piece of cake.

Sunday saw us safe and sound in Augusta - thankful for a safe journey.  As I said, the plan is to be here until December 15th or so.  Work has precluded us from visiting Augusta proper, and right now, rain is preventing us from even getting outside, but we'll get downtown and check out the Savannah River and everything else Augusta has to offer.

Till next time.
 

The Great Cat Compromise

Hello everyone.  Margo here.

Let me set the scene.

Cedar City, Utah.   A bright sunny day in September 2015  The whole crew is here for a gas leak survey of the town (see our Cedar City Post).  While the guys are at work the ladies decide to take a trip to the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum.  They enter the museum and as Margo is signing the guest book, a kitten jumps up on the desk:

Act 1: 

Margo:  "Oh, look! What a cute kitten!"

Park Ranger:  "Yes.  He's been here for about a week.  He's precious but we just can't keep him.  He needs a good home."

Margo:  "Hmmmm..."

The little fluff ball of black and white rubs against her hand and follows her throughout the museum.

Act 2:  Later that afternoon, as Kevin returns home from work

Margo: "Hi Honey.  There's something at the museum we visited today that I need you to go look at.

Kevin:  "I'm really tired and had a long day.  What is it"?

Margo:  "Well actually, it's a kitten that needs a good home."

Kevin:  "Absolutely not!"

Act 3:  Later that evening

Co-Worker Mike:  "So Kevin, I see ya got a cat."

Kevin:  "Yeah.  We compromised.  She wanted the cat.  I didn't.  So we got the cat."


That's how it really went.  Let me introduce Oreo Meowseum Mason - Rio for short.  I know, Oreo is spelled with an "e" and we call him Rio with an "i" but who cares.  It's my cat. 

As I write this at the end of October, not only has he grown in size but he has grown in our hearts.  Even Kevin loves him but he just won't admit it to anyone.

Our little fluff ball, who, when I first saw him had really big paws, has now grown into them.  With his muscular body structure, extra soft, long hair, bushy tail and unique markings we wondered what kind of cat he was.  We researched and found that he is a Turkish Van which neither of us had ever heard of.  It's a rare breed named after a lake in Turkey.  He fit the profile perfectly with his friendly disposition, love of water (he plays in his water bowl and in the sink) and physical size being well on his way to the reported 16 pound average and length of 3 feet.  Did I mention that LuLu is only 25 feet long?

We were worried about how he would do traveling.  We have been known to take long trips (one of Kevin's arguments) but we got lucky and he is an excellent traveler.   He never complained and was content to look out the window and enjoy the scenery.  He spent most of the time in a small cardboard box without a lid, that we affectionately called his car seat, but would voluntarily alternate to his expensive, stylish cat carrier (door open all the time).

Cruzin" Cat

Nap time somewhere in Texas (note "car seat box"

He's adapted very well to the trailer lifestyle.  He's chosen a few purr-fect cat perches and window seats.  He's also doing very well on his halter and leash training for going outside.

Final Scene:

Rio settles in for yet another cat nap.

 


In-Joy,
Margo