We've been off line for a bit do to electronic problems, so I'll try to catch you up on our adventures.  New lesson learned:  laptop computers DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT like water!!!  This is the first blog on our new one, so I'm sure it will reveal wondrous things . . .

Following our visit to northern Michigan, my trusty sidekick/navigator/bottle opener/fix-it guy (of now 52 years!!) bid farewell to Lake Ontario by tipping his hat to a lovely sunset.

And a lovely sunset it was . . .

Heading east across southern Ontario, Canada, we stopped ever-so-briefly at the tourist trap they call Niagara Falls.  Oh, the falls are lovely all right, but the scene is not so enjoyable.  Back on the road quickly after that - - never have I seen so many t-shirt shops, and all the people it takes to wear them!!

Visiting northern Vermont was a real joy.  Found some great street art in Burlington and got to enjoy a wonderful Festival of Fools which celebrates street performers of all kinds.

Our visit to Quebec City was great - - a beautiful, very old, and partially walled city that is delightful!  Felt very European, even down to the fact that all signage, menus, and every speaking voice you heard were in French, of which 'wee' is our only known word!  We found ourselves nodding quite often . . . we did enjoy the street theater, however.  Wonderful costumes!

 

These enormous painted murals, several stories high, on some of their buildings are amazing!








The Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had us speaking English once again, (yeah!) although we were surprised to see road signs in Gaelic on Cape Breton Isle in Nova Scotia.  They have maintained an incredible Celtic culture there, left over from the days when the first Scottish and Irish pilgrims discovered Canada.  The music, food and language had us dancing and singing and stomping our feet at the gatherings that happen nightly.

After hearing so much about Peggy's Cove, near Halifax, we HAD to visit.  No disappointments!!

I don't think clothes dryers have been discovered in this part of the world.  Every house aired their (clean!) laundry, and I am sure they were happy with their lower power bills!



I've seen so many delightful fishing villages and harbors, that I couldn't resist getting my 'creativity' on just a little bit . . .

One of New Brunswick's 'claim to fame' is housing the longest covered bridge in the world - - quite an architectural feat, to be sure . . .

Now that we're back in the US, we are preparing for a good 'ol Maine 'lobstah' dinner tomorrow, courtesy of our campground host/lobster fisherman who brings his catch, all steamed and cracked and ready to eat, right to your trailer door!  Now that's service!!  (Katy - - we'll feast in honor of you and your Dad!!)

We have one little tiny rv-ing type lesson that we learned this time - - just in case any of you are thinking of adventuring on wheels.  If you find yourself positioned incorrectly in your rv space, and just want to move your trailer a couple of feet forward (to avoid resting your bumper in the neighbor's campfire pit), be sure to resist the temptation of pulling it forward using only the ball on your hitch, without re-connecting the stabilizing bars.  'Nuff said!!!  Just take my word for it!  DO NOT DO THAT - - EVER!






Fall is on the doorstep here in 'down east' Maine, and we'll soon be headed into New England to go 'leaf peeping'.  Hopefully, we will be blessed with many more photos during the next step in our adventure.  I'm also hoping for a quick end to all the mosquitos and buggie critters we've encountered in this neck of the woods.  Someone said that after the first of August or so, there would be far fewer of the little rascals, but judging from the bumps all over our bodies, I would say that someone had the wrong information!!  Our new cologne is called 'itch repellent'.

Until next time . . . signing off for now. 

Heading north once again - - but not to Alaska!

Following a month with our northwest family, and taking care of annual business, the big red and blue sky bird took us back to Tennessee to be reunited with Kodi and Kermit (the 'rig') and head north once again. 

Jerry took advantage of being back in the travel mode at our first stop in the state of Kentucky.  Oh, I meant the COMMONWEALTH of Kentucky, which is what they call themselves. 

Kentucky is quite lovely, and not what I expected!  I knew I had entered this Commonwealth when, in one town, I saw the 'Free Full Restoration Biker Church', a business named 'S*itkickin' Garage and Auto Repair', the 'Coon Dog Cafe' and 'Bubba's Fish House'.  However, this same town houses the National Quilt Museum, a national school of art, and the very unusual artist relocation incentive program where artists are offered a free historic home (in need of fixing up) if they come and open their doors/house to the public.

Kentucky is all about the horse. . .

'bout the horse . . .

'bout the horse . . . 

Oh, and a few other important attractions like Abe Lincoln's birthplace/monument . . . 

 Louisville Slugger bats . . . 

 

Stephen Foster and his music, distilleries, and oh, did I mention the horse???

On that same theme, we HAD to go to the famous Churchill Downs which we planned on the day they were parading American Pharoah for all to see upon returning from his triple crown win.  There was more security around him (now that he's worth over $100 million!) than around most human dignitaries, so photographing him was a bit challenging, to say the least . . .

They even had security helicopters hovering over head while he was on parade.  We enjoyed seeing the Downs, although I expected something a little more elaborate for the location of the Kentucky Derby.

  

Food in this neck of the woods is interesting!  Their standout, popular state dish is something called Kentucky Hot Brown.  When I inquired about it, the locals I spoke to referred to is as a 'heart attack on a plate'.  Obviously, I decided against that one!  🚫 I did try the Creamed Pull Candy though, as well as fried peanuts in the shell.  Really good, and not the woody shell I had expected.  Saw something on several menus that reminded me of my part-southern upbringing - - pimento cheese spread sandwiches - - on white bread, of course (urp!)  Oh, and they offer corncob jelly there as well!

We had some chuckles over a couple of signs; both posted at different locations near the Ohio River.  ("DUH" comes to mind!) . . . 

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Indiana Amish country.  Once again, the horse plays such a major part of life there.

While I am not talented in any of the needle arts, anyone who loves to quilt should, by all means, visit this area.  Many quilters have a special block pattern painted on their barns.  It is really quite lovely!

Also saw lots of old tobacco barns from the days of the plantations.  

For all you history buffs out there, this is a place to visit!  Soooo much to see . . . 

Tried as I might, I couldn't get 'hold of my fortune in this area - - found out that it is still 'all locked up' here at Fort Knox.  It is so secure, that you can only photograph the Mint from the road as you  drive past!  I was hoping for a tour, but . . . 

And the corn - - sooo much corn!  It was not quite as high as an elephant's eye, but it is only the first of July!  😜  I guess Indiana provides much of the corn that Kentucky uses in all those distilleries!

One more childhood memory that came back while exploring these areas was the firefly!  I had not seen them since I was a very wee tot living, for a short time, in the south.  What a joy to see them every evening, although I couldn't talk them into stopping their flight long enough for a portrait!  Beautiful!  

We've just ventured into Michigan and will be blogging about this next time.  

Hope all is well.

And the journey continues . . . nearly eleven months now!

 
This part of our journey began in Natchez, MS.  Wow!  I learned so much about the area and the history of this region.  I think I must have been napping in school when we learned about the Civil War, because I had no idea that so much of the war took place in these states.  The Mississippi River had a huge impact on the history here . . . and what a river it is!  First time we ever saw it.  Now  I understand the term 'mighty Mississippi'!

Most of you probably know about the Civil War battle that took place in Vicksburg, MS.  The battlefields and national cemetery sites in this area tell the tale in great detail.

Being west coast kids, we also learned a great deal about the Native American history in this region.  I couldn't resist photographing the motion of the dancing feet at a Pow Wow we attended . . . somehow I could not get them to stop for my pictures, though!👣

Our history lessons continued as we explored more of Mississippi . . . somehow, I thought all of our major historical areas were situated in the east - - - I was WRONG!

We were fortunate enough to travel the entire 444 mile Natchez Trace Scenic Byway, and decided that this has to be among the most amazing and beautiful pieces of roadway in the country!  It began as a foot path for folks to walk back to their homes in Tennessee and Kentucky, after floating their products on rafts down the Mississippi to the Gulf in the 1700's.  Later it was used to move troops during the Civil War.  Finally, it was paved and is managed by the National Park Service, and for days, we traveled the Trace, (with no commercial vehicles), through a park-like setting with historic sites marked every few miles.  (Yes, we're old and travel slowly to take time to explore and photograph each area - - spent about 3 weeks traveling this byway when it could easily be done in a couple of days.)

Fields of buttercups, red clover and dogwood, all in bloom along the way, as well as lots of LBJ's.  (That is our generic word for blue flowers we can't identify due to our limited knowledge of horticulture stuff - - you know, 'little blue jobs' = LBJ's!)

No mountains here - - the highest point in Mississippi is 603 feet!!!  Very popular with the bicycling population though.🚴  When I say 'no' commercial vehicles, I mean it!

The Trace begins in Natches, covers Mississippi, a small part of Alabama and about half of central Tennessee, stopping on the approach to Nashville.

When we got to Nashville, we decided to proclaim that among the southern states we have visited, (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee), Tennessee wins the 'drawl' contest - - hands down!!!  Young and old, city folk or rural residents, all have "Tennessee-speak" down to a science!  Love listening to them, but if you're in a hurry when talking with the natives, you are out of luck!  HA!

Also observed that 99% of all homes in Tennessee, large or small, have porches with sitting furniture on them.  Many have swings, but lots just have chairs or couches of various sizes and designs.  Pretty comfy way to take on the heat and humidity of summer, I think.

For anyone old enough to remember 'The Dukes of Hazard", I just want you to rest easy and know that I FOUND THEM outside of Franklin, TN!!!!

As for recent things we've learned about RVing, (I say 'we', but I think Jerry got the 'learning' this time) - - it is possible to re-fiberglass your rig tub to fix multiple cracks/leaks!  It's not pretty, but it works; although, I doubt he is going into the fiberglass business anytime soon!  Maybe in another life . . . ?😜

After we finish with our travel respite visiting with family, we're heading to the bluegrass country of Kentucky where we'll connect with the world of Stephen Foster and Camp Town Races . . . do dah, do dah🎼

Until next time . . .