On the Road Again

We are adventuring again! After four months in Florida, which was wonderful, it was time to get moving. First we wanted to see family and stopped in WV to visit with Philip and Emma.

Then it was on to IL to greet a brand new family member, Nathan!

I loved doing art with my other grandchildren, Beth, Emily and Aaron, too. They always want to “art with Neenie” and this time I showed them yarn painting. 

 

 

It was lovely to spend Easter with Jonathan, Johanna and the children.

Getting baby snuggles was just the best, but we also wanted to get to California to see our son, Jeremy, participate in the Marine Corps Recon Challenge. So, after time with the grandkids, we headed west…in our slow, enjoyable way. First stop was Missouri. We had decided that we would try staying at State Parks on this trip. Previously, we had mostly stayed in RV parks because they were the known. And we need good cell phone signal for Matt to be able to work. But after checking cell phone signal coverage maps online, Matt booked us to stay at Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon, Missouri. We didn’t even know that this is a fish hatchery and a haven for fishermen. The woods were filled with blooming dogwood trees.

 

 

Then we headed to Oklahoma. Matt really found a lovely campsite for us at Lake Carl Blackwell State Park. We were right on a little peninsula that jutted into the lake. I could see water from every window of the 5th wheel. We added the new state to our map.

 

 

I so enjoyed the wildlife there. We had never seen scissor-tailed flycatchers, Oklahoma state bird, before but there was a pair of them that hung around our camper. I endeavored to get some photos of them. Not easy in flight.

 

 

An adorable goose family lived on our peninsula too. I captured this shot of them. It reminded me of when I would walk through the grocery stores and our three sons would follow me honking like geese.

I love the whole idea of Rte 66. Come to think of it, I have always enjoyed thinking about people traveling: pioneers, Oregon Trail. So, we rode at bit on Rte 66 in Oklahoma, gathering geocaches and seeing sights. The stone walls in the photo were part of an old gas station. The owner became a counterfeiter. When he got caught and was taken by the police, it is said he yelled, “It wasn’t worth it!” A dead body was once found here too. Interesting place.

Now we are in Canyon, Texas. Yesterday, we hiked in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. What a gorgeous place! I have a feeling that it doesn’t usually have much greenery, but since we are here in spring time, there were beautiful grasses and small wildflowers.We had decided to walk the trail to the Lighthouse, which is a rock formation caused by erosion called a hoodoo. This hike is about 3 miles one way if you climb to the top and since we got started after Matt finished work, we knew we needed to keep track of daylight. On the way in, I couldn’t help but stop and take photos of the tiny desert wildflowers.

 

The final scramble up to the top of the plateau was, well, let’s just say I was glad when we made it up there. But the views were gorgeous and we made it!

But it was time to head back to the truck. We hiked and slid down the hill and stopped for another photo when suddenly, the air filled with the eerie sounds of howling coyotes. Yikes! I don’t think I have ever walked 3 miles so quickly. And was greatly relieved to climb into the truck. What a marvelous memory! A couple more stops and we will finally get to see Jeremy and Mary Claire. California, here we come!