Fall 2009 Day 36

We left Farmington and drove north to Darango, CO. We spent the afternoon touring town and stayed in a campground across from Mesa Verde National Park.

Fall 2009 Days 30-35

We drove to Farmington, NM because Chuck and Kathy Benoit were working an FMCA rally at the fairgrounds. Kathy and I spent some time helping them set up and most of the week sightseeing around the Farmington area. There are 20,000 oil and gas wells in the area which is the major part of the economy in the area. We drove 35 miles to the west to Shiprock which I had seen many times from the air.

Fall 2009 Day 29

The early launch was cancelled because of high winds so we left Albuquerque for Santa Fe. We had lunch in a Mexican resturaunt and the girls looked at a bunch of Indian jewlrey which fortunately we determined we did not need. We left Santa Fe and drove another 50 miles up the road and parked overnight at Walmat.

Fall 2009 Day 28

We got up before sunrise to watch the the mass ascention. They start by launching several balloons in the dark and all the balloons light their burners at the same time which is awesome. Then at first light they start launching all the balloons. This year they had over 550 balloons in the air at the same time. We were sitting downwind at the edge of the field so everything came over our heads as they lifted off. The evening glow show was cancelled due to high winds but they had another great fireworks show.

Fall 2009 Day 27

We moved the motor home from the campground to the balloon field and went over and watched the evening events which consisted of having all the special shape balloons inflated and lighting off their burners after it got dark. Then they had a very nice fireworks display. Tomorrow we will get up early and watch the big launch of several hundred balloons.

Fall 2009 Day 26

Today we visited the Nuclear Museum at Kirtland AFB with Chuck and Kathy. This evening we went down to the balloon field to see all the special shape balloons. They will be flying in the morning.

Fall 2009 Day 25

Met up with Kathy and Chuck Benoit today at a campground in Albuquerque. We will be staying here for two nights and then moving over to dry camp where balloons launch. Kathy took this movie of a train alongside the road as we drove towards Albuquerque.

Fall 2009 Day 24

We stopped at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park as we headed east to Albuquerque. A woman and her two daughters were in the parking lot having locked the keys inside the car along with their dog. The park rangers were 45 minutes away so we pulled the motor home alongside their car and put the awning out over the car to keep Fiddo cool. The rangers came along and were able to pop the lock and the parking lot party ended. I would have stayed in the Petrified Forest longer but Kathy didn't like that I kept asking the ranger exactly how to turn a living thing into solid stone- oh so quiet solid stone. We arrived back in Albuquerque about 5:00 PM.

Fall 2009 Day 23

We left Palm Springs and drove east toward Phoenix then north saw the first cactus of the trip in southern Arizona. When we passed through the Flagstaff area the mountain had snow on it which was not there the previous week.

Fall 2009 Day 22

I woke up at 5 AM in time to watch the moon set over the mountains and then the sunrise moving down the mountain.

Fall 2009 Day 21

Spent today visiting with my cousin and uncle. I took my Uncle Wally to the air museum located at the Palm Springs Airport. I took a picture of him next to a Link Trainer that my aunt taught Navy pilots instrument flying during World WarII. This is view from my cousin's new place in Palm Springs.

Fall 2009 Day 20

We spent the day driving around the Palm Springs area. Tomorrow my cousin and uncle will be arriving. We should be here until Sunday.

Fall 2009 Day 19

We left Lake Havasu this morning a drove 4 hours over to Palm Springs. We will be staying here until sunday. The pictures are of London Bridge in Lake Havasu. The bridge was taken apart and shipped from London to Lake Havasu. The other pictures show the view from our campsite in Palm Springs.

Fall 2009 Day 18

We left Williams AZ headed west on I-40 for the three hour drive to Lake Havasu. We passed through Kingman AZ and from the highway you could see the airport which is used by airlines to mothball older equipment. Kathy insisted that I get off the highway and drive over to look at the airplanes and I, as always did as she wished. We are staying above the lake in a nice campground with a view of the lake as you can see.. We went out to eat along the lake in a restaurant that was right next to London Bridge. Kathy and I have now been across both the new and old London Bridge.

Fall 2009 Day 17

We drove down to Sedona which is about 90 miles away. The town is located in beautiful multi-colored canyons and the scenery is spectacular. The pictures were taken from the airport which is located 500 feet above the town.

Fall 2009 Day 16

We took a two hour train ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon. The train pulls in across the street from the main Canyon viewing area. We had 3 hours to explore the south rim and have lunch. I tried to get some good pictures of Kathy at the rim but she was typically uncooperative.

Fall 2009 Day 15

We left Albuquerque at 7 AM heading west on I-40 enroute to Grand Canyon. Visited the Meteor Crater which is located 30 miles east of Flafstaff AZ. A meteor only about 150 feet around carved a hole 700 feet deep and 4000 feet accross. We continued to Williams AZ and are stayoing at an RV resort at Grand Canyon Railroad. We will take an all day train trip to the Canyon tomorrow and stay here another day or two.

Fall 2009 Day 14

We spent today and had lunch in Old Town Albuquerque. They had the same people sitting out on the sidewalk selling jewelry 30 years ago when we were last there. None of them seemed to remember me, probably because I didn't buy anything then either. We ran into Janice and Paul Horner who also own an RV site in Port Saint Lucie. They were headed east and gave us several ideas about what to do around the Grand Canyon.

Fall 2009 Day 13

Woke up in Amarillo and looked across the street and saw a Cummins dealer so I drove over to ask if they had time to check a small fuel leak I had noticed. They took us right in and found a leak at a gasket on a fuel sensor. They had one in stock and replaced the gasket and we were on our way in about two hours. We arrived in Albuquerque about 6PM and are staying at the Kirtland Air Force Base RV park.

We have a great view of Sandia Peak from our site. Will explore the city in the morning.

Fall 2009 Day 12

Left Tulsa and picked up I-40 in Oklahoma City continuing west to Amarillo Texas. I finally found a resturant with an entree I would be willing to split with John.

Fall 2009 Day 11

We left Outdoor Resorts in the Ozarks and followed back roads to Tulsa OK to visit Delvin and Nancy Young. Had a great BBQ and visit returning to our WalMart campground around midnight.

Fall 2009 Day 10

Great weather, clear skies and temperature around 85. Drove in to Branson for shopping and lunch on the river walk. Took a 2 hour train ride on a 50's-60's vintage railroad. I have included a picture of Kathy at the depot to dispel any rumors that I have left her somewhere on the side of the road. Tuesday we are headed for Tulsa and plan on stopping to see Delvin and Nancy Young. We had six hours of thunderstorms tonight which put on a great light show.

Fall 2009 Day 9

Spent today in motor home. Plan to spend Monday in Historic Downtown Branson and take in a show. Tuesday plan on heading down to Tulsa. Took some video of the Outdoor Resorts where we are staying..

Fall 2009 Day 1-8

Day 1-Left Cape Cod to Matt and Beth's on Saturday 17 September . Stayed in Hagerstown that night and left at noon on Sunday.

Day 2-Drove two hours south to James Madison University and had lunch with Katherine Rielly. Continued south for two hours and stayed at WalMart.

Day 3-Arrived Nashville area and stayed just east.

Day 4-Met Greg and Deb Wrobel and drove to Lynchburg TN to tour Jack Daniel's distillery. Ate lunch at Mary Bobo's Boarding House.

Day 5-Drove to Memphis and stayed at Navy base.

Day 6-Toured Memphis including Graceland and lunch at Rendezvous. No sign of Elvis.

Day 7-Crossed Mississippi River and turned north at Little Rock and stopped at Outdoor Resorts in Branson area.

Day 8-Toured Branson MO