After the alarm went off at 5:45, I cribbed until 6 and then got up, got ready for breakfast, went down to have that, packed the car and then finally checked out just after 7:40. I headed off south, looking though the town of Moab as I went, as I hadn’t been through before.
South of the town was “The Hole in the Wall”, a house but now a commercial establishment built into (or excavated out from) the sandstone. It is billed as unique, but it wasn’t open as I went past so I didn’t go in to compare it to Coober Pedy.
Going further south I arrived in Blanding. It seemed an innocuous little town and I wasn’t there long, but it stole my heart because in the Visitors Centre I was given a “travellers pack” which included toiletry items and useful things like a rubbish bag. It was great. Then I filled up with petrol – pulled the pump out, filled the car and went and paid at the desk. People who are caring for other people.
About an hour later I arrived at Natural Bridges National Monument. On the way I had seen a distance sign in kilometres so I asked the (new) ranger. She couldn’t answer, but neither could the experienced ranger. I did get good information and went into the park. The bridges were visible from the points and so was an old Indian settlement. The walks were easy and spot on for descriptions. I finally had to leave, but the words of the ranger echoed for me: it’s beautiful and for so much time there are so few here.
I set off on a scenic road south. I had already had a glimpse of the mesas in Monument Valley on my way into the park and saw a few more glimpses on the way down. Parts of the road had been labelled as having a “dangerous gravel surface, winding with switchbacks and very steep grades”. I found it was very similar to mountain country roads, but far better in every aspect including width. It certainly was better than the Western Explorer in Tasmania. Then on the plain the mesas came into view. I stopped to take photos at different places and came across two families stopped and playing ball. Some things remain the same!
When I arrived at Monument Valley, I went straight to the motel (Gouldings) and enquired about accommodation and tours. The room cost was reasonable, so I took it. The tour started out at 2:30 so in the meantime I went to the store and got some rolls and cheese for lunch, and some fruit. I got my room ready and had that, then went down for the tour. It was in raised seats in the back of a large Chevrolet 4WD. The guide and driver, Anna, was a Navaho Indian and gave a good commentary along the way. We stopped at the same points as others driving themselves, but then went into tribal lands and met an older woman who showed how to weave traditional rugs. We looked through traditional housing and saw other features including arches and paintings. Along the way I met a retired couple from Austin TX, a son (about my age) and his father from Chicago and an English family (Adrian, Fran, Rebecca and Tom) from Somerset. By the time we were back at the motel it was 6 and I downloaded my photos and had a drink. After starting the usual computer work, I met Tom (from Chicago) and his father in the theatre where a short DVD on the history of the establishment here and the use of Monument Valley was playing. We had some tea while comparing road safety in our respective countries and had to agree that both have some things right and some things wrong, but no-one has everything right.
We all went to see a John Wayne movie (Stagecoach) which was shot on location here. Now it seemed funny, because it was obvious that the stagecoach was just going in circles (we all recognised the scenery immediately). After an hour I left to finish my computer work and get to sleep.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
6 March
After a little sleep-in, I rose, got ready, had breakfast (including a cup of tea made with boiling water) and then packed and tidied my material up. By about 8:10 I was ready to go, so I went down into town and refuelled the car before heading off to Canyonlands National Park. Once there, I got maps and a briefing, and set off to see the Mesa Arch. I walked over to that and heard a familiar accent – a couple from Australia were there, on holiday. We took photos for each other and agreed that the view was great. Then I went south and looked at Buck Canyon and Grand View Point, then went north to see the Green River and the Upheaval Dome. I thought I had enough time left so I parked and walked to the Aztec Butte and saw the lower granaries. By now it was after 1:20, so I headed off to the Arches National Park. It was down the road, on my way back to Moab, and I thought I had planned it all out well. After stopping at the Visitors Centre and getting detailed maps (and some souvenirs) I started out. Park Avenue, La Sal mountain viewpoint, the Three Gossips, the Sheep rock (had no trouble recognising that!), the Organ, the Courthouse Towers, Petrified Dunes viewpoint and the Balanced Rock had me going well.
The North Window, South Window and Turret Arch slowed me down. The size and sheer grandeur was hard to describe (so I won’t – just look at the photos) but it took time to absorb. Then, far later than I thought, I headed off to Panorama Point (okay) and then Delicate Arch. It was breathtaking – it took my breath a number of times on the way up and then finally when I got there. On the way, a youthful couple passed me and I mentioned that I would like some of the bloke’s energy. He replied by saying that he hoped he could still do the walking when he was my age. I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment or otherwise. I had to rest and look at the arch, then started off back. On the way I got engaged in conversation with a regional manager of an optical firm (in this area) who has just put in for a position in Australia with his firm. Back at the car I headed into Moab for tea. While having that, a school sports team came in and I ended up talking with the coach and his assistant about school sports, travelling with school groups, salaries of teachers and the prices of houses. Then I ended up in a conversation with the staff about Australian animals. Finally I dragged myself away back to the motel, did the usual and was trying desperately to get to sleep early.
The North Window, South Window and Turret Arch slowed me down. The size and sheer grandeur was hard to describe (so I won’t – just look at the photos) but it took time to absorb. Then, far later than I thought, I headed off to Panorama Point (okay) and then Delicate Arch. It was breathtaking – it took my breath a number of times on the way up and then finally when I got there. On the way, a youthful couple passed me and I mentioned that I would like some of the bloke’s energy. He replied by saying that he hoped he could still do the walking when he was my age. I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment or otherwise. I had to rest and look at the arch, then started off back. On the way I got engaged in conversation with a regional manager of an optical firm (in this area) who has just put in for a position in Australia with his firm. Back at the car I headed into Moab for tea. While having that, a school sports team came in and I ended up talking with the coach and his assistant about school sports, travelling with school groups, salaries of teachers and the prices of houses. Then I ended up in a conversation with the staff about Australian animals. Finally I dragged myself away back to the motel, did the usual and was trying desperately to get to sleep early.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
5 March
Ah well, a very interesting day.
I got up later than normal, as I knew I would not be able to get into the USAF Academy until nearly 9. After normal preparations, then breakfast, I packed and did a little organisation and then went out to the car – and found it was fifteen degrees – nearly ten below in Celsius. The car was covered with snow but did start straight away after I had checked out. The wipers removed the snow from the windscreen and the heater melted the snow on the back window but – no washers! The water in the bottle was frozen and did not flow (and didn’t until I was in Utah late in the afternoon.
I arrived at the academy at 9 and went into the Visitors Centre. The lady on the desk wanted me to watch the introductory film, so I did but after that I was straight off to the chapel.
[Aside: some of you may not be aware that I was associated with the chapels at RAAF Williams from 1952 until 1999. From the early 1960s I was in the choir, from the middle 1960s I taught Sunday School, in the late 1960s I ran the Sunday School and the Youth Group and then from the early 1970s I did lay preaching at St Andrews and then the Chapel at Pt Cook. From the late 1970s I was also the Treasurer, until the 1990s. All this time ministers came and went, but I stayed. At some times there was only mum, myself and one or two others. At one stage I was the only minister for a few months, despite being a civilian. Consequently I have a real affinity with the RAAF, the chapel(s) and associated personnel.]
I walked ot the chapel and took some photos. As I finished, some cadets were complaining about positioning some equipment and the difficulty of getting materials, when they could have just gone to the hardware store (not Bunnings or Mitre 10, but Home Depot). I mentioned that it seems to be the sae the world over. By this time the lady working in the chapel to supervise visitors had arrived. I purchased a booklet on the chapel and she outlined the structure of the physical chapel. I mentioned some of my history with the RAAF Chapel(s). Then a chaplain appeared and I introduced myself to him and we chatted. He had been in the music industry, selling Lowry Organs and had visited Australia (and nearly got a music industry job there). After, he became a chaplain. I mentioned about the chaplains I had known, including Russell Simmonds and Erskine Sweetman (and his work in WWII with the altar which ended up at RAAF Laverton). Then the lady (Lydia) showed me around the entire chapel, past the public areas and through the Protestant Chapel into the Jewish Synagogue, past the Buddhist area and into the Roman Catholic Chapel. She explained the significance of each part of the Roman Catholic chapel and the image cadets had made from photos taken of the shroud of Turin. Then it was through the Muslim area, finishing at the Lutheran area (used mainly at Easter). Then we discussed the roles of chaplains and the difficulty of working with young people, usually away from home for the first time, in a very structured society and having to behave in certain ways in different situations. It does seem that the problems which apprentices faced in the 1960s are the same as cadets face at the current time. I thanked her very much for the tour and then returned to the Visitors Centre and had a quick look around before heading off.
It was then a quick trip up to Denver (refuelling along the way) and then a left turn onto Interstate 70 and an interesting drive through the Rockies. Perhaps the most interesting thing was not being able to clean the windscreen because the water in the washer bottle was still frozen. The temperature along the way dropped under ten degrees Fahrenheit, there was snow falling and the traffic moved very quickly. It was difficult to see at times, as the snow falling was dry and wouldn’t help clean the screen. I stopped for lunch at a place beside the road – most of them are in the canyons and so have little flat space. I took the opportunity to pour some water over the screen, wiped it clean and then back on the Interstate it got filthy and cold immediately (the sand and grit dumped on the road by the snow ploughs gets thrown up and most cars DON’T have mud flaps). Going through the Eisenhower Memorial tunnel was interesting as I couldn’t see the edge of the road or the lines in the middle – but I negotiated it without giving the truck driver next to me a nervous breakdown. Then on the descents I saw a lot of notices about brake failure – but if drivers used the correct gear, they didn’t need to use brakes at all. The only time I had to was because a driver in front pulled out from the slow lane, then braked in front of me.
As I left Colorado, the mountains had shrunk and the vegetation had also shrunk. It reminded me very much of the alpine country in Victoria. Then came a sign – be careful of eagles on the road (presumably eating road kill) which reminded me of country driving in Australia. Then at the first rest stop were – pit toilets, with the typical large vent pipes. Except that I was driving a Pontiac on the wrong side of the road, I could have been at home.
After forty miles I stopped at the Welcome Centre – more homely for Utah than the other states so far, but with good and relevant information nevertheless. I had arrived at 5 so didn’t stay long, and it was closing as I left.
It was a short drive before I turned south to Moab, where I had planned to stay the night. As I travelled down the road, the scenery became far more interesting. I took some photos as a taste of the next few days. In Moab, I saw a Super8 Motel and decided I would stay there if it had a laundry and cost less than US$60. I enquired and found out it was $54 (belonging to the RACV, affiliated with the AAA), they did have a laundry and the clerk was informative about the Arches National Park. I decided to stay two nights, booked in and unpacked, did the laundry, packed up souvenirs to post home (it will cost a fortune, I think) and did the normal computer work.
I will sleep in a little tomorrow, but not too much, and plan to see Canyonlands and the Arches National Parks during the day, then move on the next day.
One thing I had seen before and forgot to comment on: there were a number of advertisements for retirement villages. The format of the signs was the same and I only glanced at the first few. It read “A new vacation every day” but at a quick glance I read it as “a new vacancy every day”, implying a high turnover but truth in advertising. It took me a few opportunities before I saw the real wording.
By the way, if the photos inside the chapel are not too clear, it is because they were time exposures hand-held. However they should still convey the impression of grandeur.
I got up later than normal, as I knew I would not be able to get into the USAF Academy until nearly 9. After normal preparations, then breakfast, I packed and did a little organisation and then went out to the car – and found it was fifteen degrees – nearly ten below in Celsius. The car was covered with snow but did start straight away after I had checked out. The wipers removed the snow from the windscreen and the heater melted the snow on the back window but – no washers! The water in the bottle was frozen and did not flow (and didn’t until I was in Utah late in the afternoon.
I arrived at the academy at 9 and went into the Visitors Centre. The lady on the desk wanted me to watch the introductory film, so I did but after that I was straight off to the chapel.
[Aside: some of you may not be aware that I was associated with the chapels at RAAF Williams from 1952 until 1999. From the early 1960s I was in the choir, from the middle 1960s I taught Sunday School, in the late 1960s I ran the Sunday School and the Youth Group and then from the early 1970s I did lay preaching at St Andrews and then the Chapel at Pt Cook. From the late 1970s I was also the Treasurer, until the 1990s. All this time ministers came and went, but I stayed. At some times there was only mum, myself and one or two others. At one stage I was the only minister for a few months, despite being a civilian. Consequently I have a real affinity with the RAAF, the chapel(s) and associated personnel.]
I walked ot the chapel and took some photos. As I finished, some cadets were complaining about positioning some equipment and the difficulty of getting materials, when they could have just gone to the hardware store (not Bunnings or Mitre 10, but Home Depot). I mentioned that it seems to be the sae the world over. By this time the lady working in the chapel to supervise visitors had arrived. I purchased a booklet on the chapel and she outlined the structure of the physical chapel. I mentioned some of my history with the RAAF Chapel(s). Then a chaplain appeared and I introduced myself to him and we chatted. He had been in the music industry, selling Lowry Organs and had visited Australia (and nearly got a music industry job there). After, he became a chaplain. I mentioned about the chaplains I had known, including Russell Simmonds and Erskine Sweetman (and his work in WWII with the altar which ended up at RAAF Laverton). Then the lady (Lydia) showed me around the entire chapel, past the public areas and through the Protestant Chapel into the Jewish Synagogue, past the Buddhist area and into the Roman Catholic Chapel. She explained the significance of each part of the Roman Catholic chapel and the image cadets had made from photos taken of the shroud of Turin. Then it was through the Muslim area, finishing at the Lutheran area (used mainly at Easter). Then we discussed the roles of chaplains and the difficulty of working with young people, usually away from home for the first time, in a very structured society and having to behave in certain ways in different situations. It does seem that the problems which apprentices faced in the 1960s are the same as cadets face at the current time. I thanked her very much for the tour and then returned to the Visitors Centre and had a quick look around before heading off.
It was then a quick trip up to Denver (refuelling along the way) and then a left turn onto Interstate 70 and an interesting drive through the Rockies. Perhaps the most interesting thing was not being able to clean the windscreen because the water in the washer bottle was still frozen. The temperature along the way dropped under ten degrees Fahrenheit, there was snow falling and the traffic moved very quickly. It was difficult to see at times, as the snow falling was dry and wouldn’t help clean the screen. I stopped for lunch at a place beside the road – most of them are in the canyons and so have little flat space. I took the opportunity to pour some water over the screen, wiped it clean and then back on the Interstate it got filthy and cold immediately (the sand and grit dumped on the road by the snow ploughs gets thrown up and most cars DON’T have mud flaps). Going through the Eisenhower Memorial tunnel was interesting as I couldn’t see the edge of the road or the lines in the middle – but I negotiated it without giving the truck driver next to me a nervous breakdown. Then on the descents I saw a lot of notices about brake failure – but if drivers used the correct gear, they didn’t need to use brakes at all. The only time I had to was because a driver in front pulled out from the slow lane, then braked in front of me.
As I left Colorado, the mountains had shrunk and the vegetation had also shrunk. It reminded me very much of the alpine country in Victoria. Then came a sign – be careful of eagles on the road (presumably eating road kill) which reminded me of country driving in Australia. Then at the first rest stop were – pit toilets, with the typical large vent pipes. Except that I was driving a Pontiac on the wrong side of the road, I could have been at home.
After forty miles I stopped at the Welcome Centre – more homely for Utah than the other states so far, but with good and relevant information nevertheless. I had arrived at 5 so didn’t stay long, and it was closing as I left.
It was a short drive before I turned south to Moab, where I had planned to stay the night. As I travelled down the road, the scenery became far more interesting. I took some photos as a taste of the next few days. In Moab, I saw a Super8 Motel and decided I would stay there if it had a laundry and cost less than US$60. I enquired and found out it was $54 (belonging to the RACV, affiliated with the AAA), they did have a laundry and the clerk was informative about the Arches National Park. I decided to stay two nights, booked in and unpacked, did the laundry, packed up souvenirs to post home (it will cost a fortune, I think) and did the normal computer work.
I will sleep in a little tomorrow, but not too much, and plan to see Canyonlands and the Arches National Parks during the day, then move on the next day.
One thing I had seen before and forgot to comment on: there were a number of advertisements for retirement villages. The format of the signs was the same and I only glanced at the first few. It read “A new vacation every day” but at a quick glance I read it as “a new vacancy every day”, implying a high turnover but truth in advertising. It took me a few opportunities before I saw the real wording.
By the way, if the photos inside the chapel are not too clear, it is because they were time exposures hand-held. However they should still convey the impression of grandeur.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
4 March
Well, having a hot bath relaxed me all right. The summary for today then is I got up, drove and went to bed.
But in the greater detail all my readers have come to expect, I continue (until sleep takes over).
I was awake not long before 6 and then was up not long after 6. After the usual, I had my breakfast (and was asked about how to easily cash work cheques by a fellow breakfaster, but had to admit that as a traveller from overseas I couldn’t assist). I packed the car, then checked out and left at just after 7. As I had enough petrol, I was quickly onto the Interstate and heading west.
The scenery was very familiar, to the rubbish in the farmers’ paddocks to the wheat bins. I had forgotten to mention that in Ohio I had seen “silage sausages”, so I was feeling as if I was driving through homelands. I had still not been able to get a map of Kansas, so I looked at the next rest stop, but no luck. Then I saw a Visitor Centre in a little town called Colby. I called in but it wasn’t yet open, so I went over the road (actually) and filled up with petrol. When I returned, the operator was there and flipped his sign around to “OPEN”, and I went in. It was small but neat, with a desk, computer for public access, coffee and water, many brochures, toilets and a small picture gallery (in a stylised silo). After a quick chat (and getting a Kansas map at last), another person called in. He was a local policeman, showing off his new Dodge Charger; so we discussed cars and the Charger advertising campaign (Hey Charger!). Then it was a summary of a trip to Australia to see the country with his son (fly into Darwin, Ghan to Adelaide and then a coastal drive to Sydney through Melbourne and fly back to the US).
After that, and a chat about tourism in small towns with Ralph, the operator, I left and went down to the Post Office and posted a parcel and two postcards. I still have to pack up my parcel to go home, as I need good weather and the car right next to the motel and enough time.
Back on the Interstate (70) I was now an hour behind schedule. I could not resist stopping at the Welcome Centre for Colorado (got a map) and filled in the Visitors’ Book. The older person behind the counter asked if I had been in the forces in World War Two. I wasn’t quite sure how to react, but replied I hadn’t even been born. He then asked if dad had trained in the US (a lot of people believe the US trained almost everyone who fought in both wars), but I said no, he trained in Australia.
Off again, I rang Pat. He is about to become Velma’s husband, but Velma is away at sea. We arranged to meet at the place I had found to cash my traveller’s cheques. I found it, cashed them and then rang Pat – to find he was parked just opposite and recognised me from pictures he had seen. We met, then headed off to have lunch together. We found we had a lot in common in our work and our careers. Finally we parted and I headed off to the airport to visit an Alamo rental car agency. I parked outside their compound (the driveway had spikes to prevent driveouts). I went in, a little hyped up because of the treatment when I had picked the car up and found an empty counter and staff. I explained the situation and Michelle cleared it all up in a few seconds, printed out another agreement and explained everything. I couldn’t resist and wrote a commendation for her – after all, if I complain when service is bad, I should praise when service is good. As I went out, I marvelled at the size of their operation – five rows of cars to be serviced and cleaned and to be out soon again. But then I recalled Bayswater, and that with them the cars wouldn’t even have been sitting there (they would have been out again).
Filled with optimism, I headed out and found that I was just over an hour from Colorado Springs. After a quick trip down I booked into a Howard Johnson (no laundry, so I’ll have to do it tomorrow or the next day – because I’ll be out of clean clothes by then). I decided to have an early night, had a bath and then did the rest of my computer work. Then I settled early to go off to sleep with the TV to put me to sleep.
Currently my plan is the Chapel at the Colorado Springs USAF Academy tomorrow, then head off into Utah to see the natural features including Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Page (Lake Powell), Hoover Dam and then visit (or more properly, pass through) Las Vegas on my way to Yosemite and Death Valley.
But in the greater detail all my readers have come to expect, I continue (until sleep takes over).
I was awake not long before 6 and then was up not long after 6. After the usual, I had my breakfast (and was asked about how to easily cash work cheques by a fellow breakfaster, but had to admit that as a traveller from overseas I couldn’t assist). I packed the car, then checked out and left at just after 7. As I had enough petrol, I was quickly onto the Interstate and heading west.
The scenery was very familiar, to the rubbish in the farmers’ paddocks to the wheat bins. I had forgotten to mention that in Ohio I had seen “silage sausages”, so I was feeling as if I was driving through homelands. I had still not been able to get a map of Kansas, so I looked at the next rest stop, but no luck. Then I saw a Visitor Centre in a little town called Colby. I called in but it wasn’t yet open, so I went over the road (actually) and filled up with petrol. When I returned, the operator was there and flipped his sign around to “OPEN”, and I went in. It was small but neat, with a desk, computer for public access, coffee and water, many brochures, toilets and a small picture gallery (in a stylised silo). After a quick chat (and getting a Kansas map at last), another person called in. He was a local policeman, showing off his new Dodge Charger; so we discussed cars and the Charger advertising campaign (Hey Charger!). Then it was a summary of a trip to Australia to see the country with his son (fly into Darwin, Ghan to Adelaide and then a coastal drive to Sydney through Melbourne and fly back to the US).
After that, and a chat about tourism in small towns with Ralph, the operator, I left and went down to the Post Office and posted a parcel and two postcards. I still have to pack up my parcel to go home, as I need good weather and the car right next to the motel and enough time.
Back on the Interstate (70) I was now an hour behind schedule. I could not resist stopping at the Welcome Centre for Colorado (got a map) and filled in the Visitors’ Book. The older person behind the counter asked if I had been in the forces in World War Two. I wasn’t quite sure how to react, but replied I hadn’t even been born. He then asked if dad had trained in the US (a lot of people believe the US trained almost everyone who fought in both wars), but I said no, he trained in Australia.
Off again, I rang Pat. He is about to become Velma’s husband, but Velma is away at sea. We arranged to meet at the place I had found to cash my traveller’s cheques. I found it, cashed them and then rang Pat – to find he was parked just opposite and recognised me from pictures he had seen. We met, then headed off to have lunch together. We found we had a lot in common in our work and our careers. Finally we parted and I headed off to the airport to visit an Alamo rental car agency. I parked outside their compound (the driveway had spikes to prevent driveouts). I went in, a little hyped up because of the treatment when I had picked the car up and found an empty counter and staff. I explained the situation and Michelle cleared it all up in a few seconds, printed out another agreement and explained everything. I couldn’t resist and wrote a commendation for her – after all, if I complain when service is bad, I should praise when service is good. As I went out, I marvelled at the size of their operation – five rows of cars to be serviced and cleaned and to be out soon again. But then I recalled Bayswater, and that with them the cars wouldn’t even have been sitting there (they would have been out again).
Filled with optimism, I headed out and found that I was just over an hour from Colorado Springs. After a quick trip down I booked into a Howard Johnson (no laundry, so I’ll have to do it tomorrow or the next day – because I’ll be out of clean clothes by then). I decided to have an early night, had a bath and then did the rest of my computer work. Then I settled early to go off to sleep with the TV to put me to sleep.
Currently my plan is the Chapel at the Colorado Springs USAF Academy tomorrow, then head off into Utah to see the natural features including Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Page (Lake Powell), Hoover Dam and then visit (or more properly, pass through) Las Vegas on my way to Yosemite and Death Valley.
Monday, March 3, 2008
3 March
I must have really settled into the swing of things because this morning I nearly slept through the alarm (my mobile phone). I reluctantly got up after 6 and then got ready for breakfast, showed the clerk my Vegemite and then had breakfast. I had some fruit with it.
I was away before 7 and had to refuel immediately before leaving Lincoln. Then it was some serious travelling to leave Illinois and be in St Louis Missouri by 9:40, to find parking (fairly easy) and then locate the entrance to the arch there (not so easy). The arch is managed by the National Parks, so I got $3 off the tram ticket to the top using my annual Parks pass.
The ride to the top takes four minutes, after you have watched a three and a half minute movie. The view would have been very good, but the clouds were in and so was the rain. I got the idea of it and then went down and looked at the museum in the space under the centre of the arch. Then it was back to the car and off. One advantage of this time of year at many places is NO QUEUES.
I went off into a Rest Area at about 196 on I-70. Ladies please ignore what’s in the double brackets.
[[In the gents, the urinals are flushed automatically when you leave. The brand name for this particular one was TOTO – so even though I wasn’t yet in Kansas, Toto already had his eye on me.]]
In the handwashing area, this one was unique. You put your hands right under, into an enclosed space and got sprayed with soap, then water, then warm air. If you weren’t quick enough scrubbing the soap off, you got nice dry soap all over your hands.
After that it was driving along I-70 to cover as much distance as possible tonight before driving to Denver tomorrow, where I need to cash travellers cheques, arrange accommodation with a laundry (I’m out of clean clothes) and Internet and also finalise a detail on the car rental.
I did find out that Kansas, for some reason, has the first twenty-odd miles of I-70 as a tollway – peculiar in light of the fact that the Interstate is paid for federally (as far as I know) and that other states haven’t done the same. Then the rest area facilities were built like a blockhouse – but of course Kansas is in “Tornado Alley” so perhaps they need to be.
By about 8 I arrived at Hays Kansas and booked into an Econo Lodge. Then, after normal computer work and writing some postcards, it was off to sleep.
I was away before 7 and had to refuel immediately before leaving Lincoln. Then it was some serious travelling to leave Illinois and be in St Louis Missouri by 9:40, to find parking (fairly easy) and then locate the entrance to the arch there (not so easy). The arch is managed by the National Parks, so I got $3 off the tram ticket to the top using my annual Parks pass.
The ride to the top takes four minutes, after you have watched a three and a half minute movie. The view would have been very good, but the clouds were in and so was the rain. I got the idea of it and then went down and looked at the museum in the space under the centre of the arch. Then it was back to the car and off. One advantage of this time of year at many places is NO QUEUES.
I went off into a Rest Area at about 196 on I-70. Ladies please ignore what’s in the double brackets.
[[In the gents, the urinals are flushed automatically when you leave. The brand name for this particular one was TOTO – so even though I wasn’t yet in Kansas, Toto already had his eye on me.]]
In the handwashing area, this one was unique. You put your hands right under, into an enclosed space and got sprayed with soap, then water, then warm air. If you weren’t quick enough scrubbing the soap off, you got nice dry soap all over your hands.
After that it was driving along I-70 to cover as much distance as possible tonight before driving to Denver tomorrow, where I need to cash travellers cheques, arrange accommodation with a laundry (I’m out of clean clothes) and Internet and also finalise a detail on the car rental.
I did find out that Kansas, for some reason, has the first twenty-odd miles of I-70 as a tollway – peculiar in light of the fact that the Interstate is paid for federally (as far as I know) and that other states haven’t done the same. Then the rest area facilities were built like a blockhouse – but of course Kansas is in “Tornado Alley” so perhaps they need to be.
By about 8 I arrived at Hays Kansas and booked into an Econo Lodge. Then, after normal computer work and writing some postcards, it was off to sleep.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
2 Merch
I woke very reluctantly at 6 and got up to have breakfast. Unfortunately for me, the only place where I didn’t check and breakfast DIDN’T have toast – so no Vegemite, but instead glazed honey bread (but never again – too sweet for my taste) and donuts for in the car.
I packed, checked out and was on the road well before 7. I stopped at a rest stop and filled up bottles with water to drink, then refilled the car later. It was a good run, with little traffic (although the speeds were the same, if not lower) and I arrived at LeClaire about 1 local time and had a quick bite to eat. I was at Ron and LaVonne’s place in Bellevue at 3 Eastern time – but of course it was central time there, so they hadn’t arrived back. Instead I met Gina (daughter) and Matt (boyfriend) and we chatted until Ron and LaVonne arrived back.
First thing was greeting, then second thing was the events immediately after we had parted on the train, as the train was very late. However they had been picked up immediately the train arrived and had a great time. Then I ran through were I had been and what I had done. After that it was show the photo I had taken (and some others) and then talk about Australia, showing them places on the map and photos of particular things, including the Bight. I also related the tale of our rescue of the mother and son at Coober Pedy.
My planned hour was cut short after two, as I had to be on my way. I left my number and email details with them, saying that if they ever came out, to catch up and I would show them quite a bit of Australia (I should have added, if they were up to it, as my pace can be quite quick, though passengers can relax a bit).
After I left, a number of things happened.
Looking at the Mississippi on my left as I went south, I saw islands in the river and it brought to mind Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and other tales. Then I remembered that at the museum in Dubuque, I had found out the US Army Corps of Engineers had worked on the river with underwater dams, locks and removal of rubbish and rapids so that a channel depth of nine feet (about two and a half metres) would always be present. So although the river is wide, it is not always that deep.
I was raised from my reverie by a car stopped at the side of the road (partially in the snow) about twelve miles south of Bellevue. I wondered why it was there, as the position was hazardous, and then I saw a bald eagle on the side of the road with some prey. Although it appeared only about twenty inches high (just over 50 cm), he was standing there glaring balefully at the other car, and then me as I slowed. I would have loved to have got the picture, but with the snow, there was nowhere to pull off (and I didn’t want someone to rear-end the rental car). It is a picture which will remain with me forever now, and I will forever compare it with a wedge-tailed eagle, which although to me appears larger, does not have the majestic bearing the white neck and head gives.
When I got back into Illinois I called into the Visitors Centre. I had no luck in finding discount coupons for tonight, but I did have an American family ask me for help (they thought I worked there – I can’t shake the “in charge” appearance). After they found I was from Australia, they asked about that. Night had already fallen, but the view of the river was great, especially of LeClaire (in Iowa).
I motored on to Lincoln, where I decided to stay at a Comfort Inn (it was reasonable in price, there was a “Wendy’s” next door so I could grab a bite to eat and the clerk on the desk asked if I wanted a ground floor or first floor room). I quickly unpacked, had a quick bite to eat and then came back to the room and wrote up my blog, posted that and emailed out. With no photos, that work was shorter, so hopefully I can get to bed and sleep earlier.
The clerk (from India) asked if I followed cricket (yes, if I need something to put me to sleep) and then if I was going to visit Springfield. I almost thought yes, if Homer and Bart were going to be home, but then decided no as it was only the birthplace of Lincoln, with a museum as well. But the real reason for not visiting is it will cut down on what I want to experience first-hand for myself, and I have to keep to schedule lest I find I miss out on my priorities.
I packed, checked out and was on the road well before 7. I stopped at a rest stop and filled up bottles with water to drink, then refilled the car later. It was a good run, with little traffic (although the speeds were the same, if not lower) and I arrived at LeClaire about 1 local time and had a quick bite to eat. I was at Ron and LaVonne’s place in Bellevue at 3 Eastern time – but of course it was central time there, so they hadn’t arrived back. Instead I met Gina (daughter) and Matt (boyfriend) and we chatted until Ron and LaVonne arrived back.
First thing was greeting, then second thing was the events immediately after we had parted on the train, as the train was very late. However they had been picked up immediately the train arrived and had a great time. Then I ran through were I had been and what I had done. After that it was show the photo I had taken (and some others) and then talk about Australia, showing them places on the map and photos of particular things, including the Bight. I also related the tale of our rescue of the mother and son at Coober Pedy.
My planned hour was cut short after two, as I had to be on my way. I left my number and email details with them, saying that if they ever came out, to catch up and I would show them quite a bit of Australia (I should have added, if they were up to it, as my pace can be quite quick, though passengers can relax a bit).
After I left, a number of things happened.
Looking at the Mississippi on my left as I went south, I saw islands in the river and it brought to mind Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and other tales. Then I remembered that at the museum in Dubuque, I had found out the US Army Corps of Engineers had worked on the river with underwater dams, locks and removal of rubbish and rapids so that a channel depth of nine feet (about two and a half metres) would always be present. So although the river is wide, it is not always that deep.
I was raised from my reverie by a car stopped at the side of the road (partially in the snow) about twelve miles south of Bellevue. I wondered why it was there, as the position was hazardous, and then I saw a bald eagle on the side of the road with some prey. Although it appeared only about twenty inches high (just over 50 cm), he was standing there glaring balefully at the other car, and then me as I slowed. I would have loved to have got the picture, but with the snow, there was nowhere to pull off (and I didn’t want someone to rear-end the rental car). It is a picture which will remain with me forever now, and I will forever compare it with a wedge-tailed eagle, which although to me appears larger, does not have the majestic bearing the white neck and head gives.
When I got back into Illinois I called into the Visitors Centre. I had no luck in finding discount coupons for tonight, but I did have an American family ask me for help (they thought I worked there – I can’t shake the “in charge” appearance). After they found I was from Australia, they asked about that. Night had already fallen, but the view of the river was great, especially of LeClaire (in Iowa).
I motored on to Lincoln, where I decided to stay at a Comfort Inn (it was reasonable in price, there was a “Wendy’s” next door so I could grab a bite to eat and the clerk on the desk asked if I wanted a ground floor or first floor room). I quickly unpacked, had a quick bite to eat and then came back to the room and wrote up my blog, posted that and emailed out. With no photos, that work was shorter, so hopefully I can get to bed and sleep earlier.
The clerk (from India) asked if I followed cricket (yes, if I need something to put me to sleep) and then if I was going to visit Springfield. I almost thought yes, if Homer and Bart were going to be home, but then decided no as it was only the birthplace of Lincoln, with a museum as well. But the real reason for not visiting is it will cut down on what I want to experience first-hand for myself, and I have to keep to schedule lest I find I miss out on my priorities.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
1 March
Today I was rudely awoken at what I thought was 4:45 but was really 5:45. When I realised I had changed time zones last night, I realised I had better get up as time was awastin’. It was shower and dress, then down for breakfast and have my vegemite on toast, then back to the room and fill up the washer bottle on the car (and by the tenth trip I wondered if it was larger than the fuel tank), pack and then check out. The next task was to fill the car and I did that on the way out. It was straight onto the Interstate then and after not too long I was in Ohio.
A quick stop at the Welcome Centre to get a road map and some information and I was off. Following the instructions from my SatNav I was soon at the museum (just after 10) and then it was straight in and spy the lie of the land. There was a guided tour starting at 10:30 so I enquired about that and also put my name down for the Presidential/experimental tour (actually on the USAF Base, so I needed to show and have my passport) for 2. By then it was time to start the tour.
The volunteer guide (there was no entrance fee to the museum) had been in the USAF and had also researched his topics well and had a good, though occasionally biased, view of aircraft development. We went through the first hangar, which was flight starting to WWI. That should have been the end of the tour, but he had us by then so we did a quick look through the second hangar (WWII) and then the third hangar (the Cold War to the present) and a quick look at the missiles. I had to leave then as it was 1:40 and we had to assemble for the tour at the base.
By 1:55 we were all present, so we went out, got on the little blue schoolbus (it had been a little yellow schoolbus, but was repainted blue) so I also got to see what they are like (not as comfortable as the best school buses we have, but a lot better than most of our school buses).
We travelled to the two hangars on the base (the museum has no place to store them and no way of making sure they remain secure, so this is the best solution at the moment). After an hour there, we were back on the bus and back to the museum. I then hot-footed it around the museum to get as many pictures as I could (I had already scouted out the best path) and had to leave at 5. I took my last shot of the front of the museum and ran out of film (well, filled the card – 454 pictures, though I had a spare card, and I had already finished one set of batteries but had a third set with me – I recharge them each night so there are always three fully-charged sets, and I also empty the card of all but one picture – that keeps the pictures consecutively numbered, though you get to see them after they are named, shrunk and rotated). I perused the discount coupons for Ohio in the car and found a Knights Inn at a reasonable $35 ($42 after taxes) and booked in there before getting some tea and returning to do my computer administrative work (transferring photos, saving a raw copy of each, naming them on another copy, then shrinking and rotating them prior to sending them to flickr and then writing and posting my blog. I hoep to be in bed by 9 tonight as I am tired.
I also have to work out where to go next – towards New Orleans to catch up with a nephew’s in-laws, back to Bellevue to catch up with the couple I met on the train or straight to Colorado Springs to the USAF Academy there and down to the desert features (Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, the valleys and Las Vegas). Decisions, decisions, and I only have nineteen days left to do it all in before I depart the US for Canada.
I will try to do that before I go to bed.
A quick stop at the Welcome Centre to get a road map and some information and I was off. Following the instructions from my SatNav I was soon at the museum (just after 10) and then it was straight in and spy the lie of the land. There was a guided tour starting at 10:30 so I enquired about that and also put my name down for the Presidential/experimental tour (actually on the USAF Base, so I needed to show and have my passport) for 2. By then it was time to start the tour.
The volunteer guide (there was no entrance fee to the museum) had been in the USAF and had also researched his topics well and had a good, though occasionally biased, view of aircraft development. We went through the first hangar, which was flight starting to WWI. That should have been the end of the tour, but he had us by then so we did a quick look through the second hangar (WWII) and then the third hangar (the Cold War to the present) and a quick look at the missiles. I had to leave then as it was 1:40 and we had to assemble for the tour at the base.
By 1:55 we were all present, so we went out, got on the little blue schoolbus (it had been a little yellow schoolbus, but was repainted blue) so I also got to see what they are like (not as comfortable as the best school buses we have, but a lot better than most of our school buses).
We travelled to the two hangars on the base (the museum has no place to store them and no way of making sure they remain secure, so this is the best solution at the moment). After an hour there, we were back on the bus and back to the museum. I then hot-footed it around the museum to get as many pictures as I could (I had already scouted out the best path) and had to leave at 5. I took my last shot of the front of the museum and ran out of film (well, filled the card – 454 pictures, though I had a spare card, and I had already finished one set of batteries but had a third set with me – I recharge them each night so there are always three fully-charged sets, and I also empty the card of all but one picture – that keeps the pictures consecutively numbered, though you get to see them after they are named, shrunk and rotated). I perused the discount coupons for Ohio in the car and found a Knights Inn at a reasonable $35 ($42 after taxes) and booked in there before getting some tea and returning to do my computer administrative work (transferring photos, saving a raw copy of each, naming them on another copy, then shrinking and rotating them prior to sending them to flickr and then writing and posting my blog. I hoep to be in bed by 9 tonight as I am tired.
I also have to work out where to go next – towards New Orleans to catch up with a nephew’s in-laws, back to Bellevue to catch up with the couple I met on the train or straight to Colorado Springs to the USAF Academy there and down to the desert features (Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, the valleys and Las Vegas). Decisions, decisions, and I only have nineteen days left to do it all in before I depart the US for Canada.
I will try to do that before I go to bed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
