After leaving Minneapolis early Friday morning I went west to the Southwest corner of South Dakota and stayed in Rapid City. I couldn't be this close to Mount Rushmore (20 miles away) without visiting it, so Saturday morning it was on to there and then to southeastern Wyoming, and south to Denver where I stayed Saturday night. Sunday I drove south to New Mexico and stayed in Socorro . Monday morning I went through Hatch, Deming, Lordsburg (gas 2.39/gal) and arrived in tucson after 6,500 miles on the road around noon.
Friday Night Aug 24
Those four days in Minneapolis went by far too fast. I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Hydrangeas at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Vegetable garden at Minnesota Landscape ArboretumThursday was the day to visit the Minnesota State Fair - always a good time. Pictures below:
I left Minneapolis Friday morning and traveled through South Dakota to Rapid City, which is in the 'Black Hills' area of Southwestern South Dakota. Visited the famous Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD on the way
Off to the 'Badlands' (Black Hills) tomorrow morning and I will stay Saturday night in Denver.
Monday morning Aug 20
off to Minneapolis for a few days - I will visit the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and opening day at the Minnesota State Fair Thursday. I plan to leave Minneapolis Friday morning and get back into Tucson Monday night.
Rain update in southeastern Minnesota - a couple of aeas received 15-17 inches of rain from Saturday night to Sunday morning. Unbelievable
Next update Friday night Aug 24.
Sunday Aug 19
A very rainy morning! Traveled west to Freeport, IL (home of Freeport High School with their high school sports teams called the Freeport Pretzels.) Freeport (pop 25,000) has a thriving downtown-many smaller downtowns are decaying and/or half abandoned). The streets are decorated with costumed life size dolls (for lack of a better term) in'vintage' clothing on each downtown corner -- dozens of them.
Then north to Monroe, Wisconsin where I stopped at a cheese factory and then north to Mount Horeb, home of the Mustard Museum. I had to buy a few jars of the many hundreds of mustards available.
I decided to skip my trip to Madison, as it was after noon when I left the Mustard Museum, so I headed north to Wisconsin Dells. If you have heard of it or havebeen there many years ago, it's not the same. It has many amusement parks, complete with roller coasters, a casino and looks like a cross between Las Vegas and Disneyland, with a little Branson thrown in for good measure. Children would love it. It was very very crowded and this was a rainy day.
From The Dells it was straight west to La Crosse, WI, on the Mississippi. It was under a flash flood watch due to over twelve inches of rain last night in the far southeastern part of Minnesota, so I drove across the bridge ito MN and took a few pictures:
Six people are reported dead in this tragic flooding. A small town in SE Minnesota, Houston, was evacuated.
Saturday Aug 18
Late start this a.m. - actually slept in until 7:30 - stopped at a Farmer's Market south of Elkhart and then drove west on US Route 30 to Lockport, IL where I spent an hour visiting the I&M Canal lock in Lockport and the museum there then it rained the entire afternoon and I am staying tonight in Rockport, IL. On to Freeport, Mi in the morning and then north into Wisconsin.
Friday Aug 17
I left Butler Pa around 8 am this morning. It's always hard to leave 'home', but I had to get on the road again back to Tucson, even though it will take ten days with my side trip to Minneapolis. I went through Circleville, Oh, the pumpkin capital of the world, where I took this picture of a mural in the middle of downtown. Circleville has had a pumpkin festival since 1903. Here's their website: http://www.pumpkinshow.com/history/index.htm
I went through northern Ohio and through Amish Country in Northeastern Indiana. I would have loved to take some pictures of the Amish - I saw a group of 30 or 40 children (young and old) playing volleyball and it would have made a great picture. The Amish frown on picture taking. I arrived in Elkhart, Indiana around 7 PM after a dinner at the local firehall of all the fried fish you can eat, with all the side dishes as well. I am staying in Elkhart tonight and tomorrow it's off to northern Illinois and possibly into the extreme southern part of Wisconsin.
Wednesday Aug 15
Mom and I went over to see Billie Jane, her cousin in Shaker Heights Sunday and Monday - then came back by way of Presque Isle, Erie, PA. The weather has cooled down so it's in the 70's during the day, high 50's at night. I leave Friday for Minneapolis and then the following friday for Tucson. More pictures later
Friday Aug 10
Mom and I went to the Butler Farm Show Tuesday. It's been a quiet week - lots of rain Wednesday and Thursday. Mom and I went to yard sales this morning - picked up some great deals. We are off to a Peach Festival this evening and I am off to an auction tomorrow morning.
Monday Aug 6
I spent the morning at the Genelogy Library in downtown Zanesville, and left shortly after noon for Butler, Pa. I drove through more Amish Country, Holmes County, Ohio. Many people believe that Lancaster has the largest Amish concentration. Holmes County, Ohio has that distinction. It's about 20 miles southwest of the Akron-Canton area. Lancaster has the second largest Amish population. Sorry - no Amish pictures - they frown on photo taking. Interesting enough, my phone rang in the middle of Amish country - didn't know there were even cellphone towers nearby. There were certainly no towns of any size within miles. I arrived in Butler, Pa 6:45 PM tonight. No more posts for a few days. I will be here ten days or so, visiting with Mom and most of my brothers and sisters.
Sunday Aug 5
I spent most of the day driving from Monroe, OH to Zanesville - arrived in Zanesville around 2:00 PM. Zanesville is the county seat of Muskingum County, OH. My father grew up about ten miles northeast of Zanesville, in fact his great grandfather, George came to Muskingum County shortly after 1810. Zanesville is where I do my 'hands on' genealogy research. Hot and muggy again-all day.
Saturday Aug 4
Today was my last day on the 630 mile long yard sale. It feels like I did all 630 of it, but actually I did only 300+ miles of it. There are at least 10-20 yard sales per mile in and near the small towns, and in many towns there are mini flea markets with anywhere from 5 or 10 vendors to over 100, so there must have been over 10,000 - 20,000 separate yard sales. I bought almost nothing until today, and still spent less than $20 on everything I bought, a few clothes and books and a DVD. There were a lot of 'collectibles' and antiques for sale. I took 127 all the way to near the Ohio River and again north of Cincinnati where I called it quits at a smalltown named "Seven Mile" on Rt 127, then left Rt 127 and headed about 15 miles east to Monroe, in Butler County, Ohio. I will leave Monroe early tomorrow and spend the evening in Zanesville, Ohio with relatives. I will start posting every two or three days once I reach Butler, PA. Here's a few more pictures of the Rt 127 yard sale:
Friday Aug 3
After a restful night at a bed and breakfast, I went for a short bike ride in the Amish countryside, then stopped at a vegetable market and bulk foods store and headed north - back on Rt 127. It was another very hot day - mid 90's. I ended the day early - mid afternoon, and headed off the Rt 127 to drive about 20 miles east to Lexington, where I had dinner and enjoyed walking in the downtown area. Tomorrow I head north on 127 into Ohio and will stay in Monroe, OH, about 20 miles north of Cincinnati. Sunday I head east to Zanesville.
Here's a few pictures of the Rt 127 sale:
These tractor seats are going for $75-$100 ea.
Some of the crowds and vendors at the Rt 127 yard sale
Thursday Aug 2
Off to an early start at the big Route 127 (the world's longest) Yard sale. I started just east of Cookeville, TN and headed north on 127. There are thousands of yard sales on this route. It goes from Gadsden, AL to Covington, KY and this year they added a new stretch from Covington, KY to the Ohio-Michigan border. I'm going to stop in Ohio and head east so I get to Butler by Monday night. It is HOT - 95 with a heat index of 100+. I know, I am supposed to be used to the heat. Folks, it is NOT a DRY Heat. But I am having fun. Stopped in Albany, KY for lunch and I am writing this from the library in Jamestown, KY. I am averaging 10 miles/hour. I drive 5 minutes (if that long) and stop 15-30 minutes) - all day long. Another 30-40 miles and I will look for a place to spend the night. I stayed the night at a Bed & Breakfast five minutes from Rt 127 in Liberty, Ky. $60 - a bargain - air conditioned. It was located in Amish/Mennonite country - very scenic. No pictures of yesterday - I will post a few tonight - I am staying near Lexington, Ky Friday night - about 20 miles east of Rt 127.
Wednesday Aug 1
Off to an early start - Went through Dyersburg, Milan and Paris, TN. Stopped at a 'landmark' restaurant for lunch at the Loveless Cafe just west of Nashville. The Loveless story has been told the world over, from Gourmet Magazine and Bon Appetit to U.S. News and World Report, CBS Television, and People Magazine.
The Loveless Cafe and Motel (Motel has been closed for years)They serve up award-winning country ham and red eye gravy, real Southern-fried chicken, and Nashville's favorite scratch biscuits.
On to Franklin, TN (just south of Nashville) where I strolled around the downtown, and then drove east to Cookeville, where I am spending the night.
I see some humorous church signs, and here's one for you, mom.
Tuesday July 31
I got a late start this morning, left about 7:30.
There are a lot of abandoned farms and houses in the midwest - couldn't resist taking a picture of one:
I drove straight east to northwest corner of Arkansas; passed the Wal Mart headquarters in Bentonville, then on to the War Eagle Mill ( a working water-powered grist mill-built in the 1820's) near Rogers, Arkansas
and then to Eureka Springs - a small 'Bisbee' style touristy town. From there it was straight east along the northern border of Arkansas and through the beautiful Ozarks to Paragould (far NE corner of the state), where I spent the night.
Monday July 30
Up early to clear skies - Left Moriarty at 6:30 and headed northeast to the panhandle of Oklahoma. Didn't get into Oklahoma until noon (I had to set my clock ahead again) and 400 miles later I was still in Oklahoma. Tonight I am in Blackwell, OK, a small town directly north of Oklahoma City but just ten miles from the Kansas border. Dinner tonight was a trip to the local deli where I got two slices of swiss cheese, turkey and bread as well as some great macaroni salad for $3. As soon as I arrived at the motel with my dinner I discovered the best Mexican Restaurant in town was right beside the motel. No, I didn't 'fold', I still ate my cheap dinner; tomorrow I will have to sample some of that good Arkansas barbecue and/or ham that is popular in the Ozarks.
I still have 150 miles to drive in Oklahoma until make it into Arkansas, where I will go through the Ozarks . It'll be slow going tomorrow, with all of the two lane mountain road driving, but the Ozarks in Northern Arkansas are truly worth the slow drive. I'm sure I will stay somewhere in NE Arkansas Tuesday night.
Sunday July 29
I left Tucson this morning at 6:00, heading East. First stop was Lordsburg where the gas was 2.55/gallon. I never thought I'd be excited about gas at that price, but one of those 'gas price' websites, http://www.gasbuddy.com/informed me that this would be the cheapest price I would see on my trip. I went through Deming, home of the famous Deming Duck Races (they use plastic ducks) and had to stop at a flea market. I parked my car beside a horse
and took a few minutes to see what bargains I could find. The deal of the day seemed to be doggie bobble heads at $3 each. I was looking for a dachshund bobble head for my brother Jack and his wife Mary but all they had in the D's were dobermans or dalmations. Not even close.
From there I headed to Hatch New Mexico.
Hatch enjoys the distinction of being the home of "The World's Best Chile Pepper". New Mexico is the chile capital of the world and over 30,000 acres of Hatch Chile is cultivated annually. It is best prepared by roasting over an open flame. Each year during chile season, dozens of chile vendors can be found lining the streets of Hatch roasting the local chile. Over 30,000 people come to Hatch over Labor Day weekend for the annual Chile Festival. Keep in mind that the population of Hatch is only 1,600 people.
From Hatch it was a four hour drive to my destination tonight, Moriarty, New Mexico, about 40 miles east of Albuquerque, which I bypassed since I am trying to avoid all Interstates, except for a very short time between Tucson and Deming. After an eight mile bike ride along old 'Route 66" and some Mexican food for dinner, it was time to get ready for tomorrow - on to Northern Oklahoma tomorrow.
