Monday, May 09, 2016

Better late than never...


I've been horribly remiss in updating the blog. We haven't had good Internet service for a while - that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;-)

To make it easier on myself, and since my memory is a little fresher this way, I'm going to work backwards.

Tennessee - May 6

Currently, we are in Tellico Plains, TN at Hunt's Lodge Motorcycle Campground. 


We have been here since May 6 - Friday.  On Saturday, Jack and Lori took us on some amazing roads where we saw an awesome waterfall. http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/fall-creek-falls

 
On Sunday we rode to Eastern Tennessee to visit friends Ed and Melissa.  Ed made us lunch and we got to refill our critter cuddling with their two dogs and cat. Ed escorted us part of the way back.  When we got back to the campground we noticed we had a neighbor.


LB is going to ride her Triumph along Rt 66. She's been riding for a few years and wanted to go on a solo adventure before she goes to work in Guatemala. We gave her a few tips and our Rt 66 map. Jim made the comment after she left about how funny it is how people perceive things.  Some of our family/friends think we're crazy for traveling like we do while we think nothing of it. Jim was concerned about LB traveling by herself, but she thinks nothing of it.



Last night we sat outside and watched lightning bugs and listened to whip-poor-wills.  It was a most excellent evening!





Today we are doing maintenance and reorganizing.  We went for a short, supposedly 12 mile ride to the next town over to pick up a prescription.  We returned back to camp 60 miles later.  Another great day!!

Tomorrow Jack is taking his niece for a ride and we're going to tag along.  Wednesday we are parking the trailer and pickup out of the way and taking off on the bikes for the Outer Banks.

Missouri and Arkansas - April 22 - May 2









 






 
 


We stayed with my Uncle and Aunt in Missouri for a week and a half. My Uncle had his pace maker replaced a couple of days into our visit so Jim fed cattle for him and worked on some of his equipment. We got to meet some cousins we had never met before and got to know others better. We really hated to leave.  In between visiting we drove around the area quite a bit.  One of the cafes we went to offered frog legs, and another had biscuits and chocolate gravy. Mom used to make us cocoa and biscuits every Saturday morning.  She learned how to make it from my Grandma Camp.  This was the first time I've ever seen it on a menu!




My cousins took us to dinner at Lamberts - home of the throwed biscuits!  No - really - they throw them at you!!  http://www.throwedrolls.com/


After leaving Missouri, we went to a state park in Arkansas where we stayed for a few days and visited some of the areas my Dad grew up in.  Yellville, Flippin, Harrison...  We rode one day and drove around another day. We really enjoyed the area. The roads are great for riding and the lakes and rivers are plentiful.

 
 

 
On our way from Missouri to Arkansas we stopped in Branson, Missouri and walked around. Jim bought me a snow baby.  He's bought me one every Christmas for almost the entire time we've been married.  They were stored in the barn since our house is small, so they all burnt.  This is the first replacement.

 
We had lunch at a cafĂ© where the waiters/waitresses sing. 


 


 
 Oklahoma - April 16 - 21

We visited our friends Rhoda and Karen in Oklahoma.  They had a hookup for the trailer and we were made to feel right at home. Jim got to learn about armadillos, chiggers, and snakes. Rhoda and Jim went on an armadillo hunt - which I would have loved to have taken a photo of but didn't have my phone with me.  Picture this - the propane tank had an area under it that looked like it had been dug in.  So Jim, on one side and armed with a water hose, fills the area with water while Rhoda, on the other side, waits for the armadillo to come out so she can shoot it. No luck though - no armadillo. Jim wanted so desperately to see a live one - before bed every night he took a stroll around the yard looking for one.  We have yet to see a live one. I know he is so very tempted to stop along the side of the road to check out a roadkill one but has so far restrained himself.  Thank goodness!!

We went for a drive one day and came across a flooded area.  It's common to see the "when flooded turn around" signs.  We went back the following day on the bikes and it was clear, except a lot of mud.



 


Arizona - April 8 - 12

We bounced between friends, Ye and Lynn, and my Uncle's place, for almost a week. We spent one night at our friends, went to my Uncle's for three nights, then back to Ye and Lynn's for a night. Ye and Lynn ride the same bikes as we do - Yamaha FZ-09's - so we compared gadgets and tips.

Lake Mead -




We hiked around the area of Hoover Dam - following an old railroad bed that had been used to take material to the dam during construction.  http://www.traillink.com/trail/historic-railroad-trail.aspx

































We drove into Las Vegas and walked around a bit and went to the Shelby Museum and had lunch at Margaritaville.













 
 
 
Route 66 Photos
 
 
 

 










 

 

 

 





 
 

1 comment:

The Nobles' Motorcycle Adventures said...

Worth the wait!!
Thanks for all of the excellent photos!!