Saturday, October 13, 2018

Wednesday, October 10, 2018


FINAL POST
We arrived home in Lackawaxen, PA on Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 at 12:45pm after 60 days away!  We can't thank Bill and Nancy Reitsma enough for cutting our grass weekly, getting our mail and checking our home. 

What an outstanding travel experience for both Wilma and I.  We have been so blessed to plan and accomplish a goal like this and to see the United States of America, its people, States, Rivers and Mountain Ranges.  

What a gift to actually see and experience locations for 40 Lewis and Clark 1803-1806 related sites as well as 41 "other" sitesAnd we were able to spend time with daughter Cheryl Lynn in Seattle, WA, visit with family Dirk/Sharon Postma (Lyman, WY) and Rich/Joy Anema (Kinnewick, WA) as well as visit with friends Don/Jeannie Aupperlee (Lynden, WA) and Malcolm/Jane Huston (Whidbey Island-Oak Harbor, WA).

Below are the arrival pictures as well as a final summary of most of the important highlights:
 






SUMMARIES
NO.  NOTES
Days away 60 14Aug to 10Oct-18
Churches Attended 7 Calvary Chapel, Evang.Free, Presb. Baptist, Alliance
Rivers Crossed 45 Listed
Mountain Ranges Crossed 7
Appalachian, Rocky, Bitterroot, Cascade, Shenandoah, Blue Ridge, Coastal, Allegheny
French & Indian War Sites Visited 3 Ft. Necessity, Braddock's Grave, Ft. Pitt
Lewis and Clark Sites Visited 40 Listed in Blog
Civil War Sites Visited 1 Ft. Stevens, WA
Indian War Sites Visited 3 Ft. Buford, Custer Battlefield, Ft. Benton
Other Sites Visited 34
US Mint, Independence National Historic Park, Philadelphia, PA (Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin Post Office, Benjamin Franklin Home, Liberty Bell, Charles Wilson Peale Portrait Gallery, Museum of the American Revolution, Christ Church, Benjamin Franklin Burial Site, City Tavern, Osage Orange Tree), Daniel Boone Grave, Gateway Arch Mat'l Park, Old Courthouse, MO, Boeing Tour, Mukilto, WA,  Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO, Charlie Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT, Dordt Colege, Sioux Center, IA, Dignity Statue, Chamberlain, ND, Continental Divide, ID, Logan Pass (Glacier National Park), Fruit Loop Tour, OR, Multnomah Falls, OR, Semihomoo Spit, WA, Chuckanut Drive, WA, Morton Thiolkol Rocket Garden, Natchez Trace Parkway, Deception Pass, WA, Grand Ole Opry, TN, Golden Spike Nat'l Historic Site, UT, Columbia River Gorge (WA, OR), Bonneville Lock and Dam, Ft. Cascade, OR, 
WWII Sites Visited 1 Japanese Sub Shelling, OR
Miles Driven 11,000 Actual 10,993
Campground Sites 31 Listed in Blog with Pictures
Digital Pictures Taken 3,240 Canon and Nikon and cellphones
Bird Species Viewed 107 Listed in Blog
States Crossed 21
PA, MD, WV, VA, OH, KY, IN, IL, MO, NE, IO, MN, SD, ND, MT, ID, WA, OR, UT, WY, TN
Snow Covered Mountains Viewed 4 Hood, Rainer, Adams, Baker
Visits Friends and Family 5 Cheryl, Aupperlees, Anemas, Hustons, Postmas
 


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Tuesday, October 9, 2018


Lord willing the last Campground in our trip before arriving home tomorrow, Wednesday, October 10th!

We got a late start from Olive Branch, OH camp at 10:00am and planned to drive to DuBois PA to camp.  We drove northeast around Columbia, OH on I71N, lots of grassland and farms in OH, then around Akron, OH on I76E.  We connected with I80East in Youngstown, OH. Along the way we saw trees turning yellow and gold. We drove over the Shenango River near Sharon, PA and got to a very empty campsite in DuBois, PA at DuBois/Treasure lake KOA, a new turnover camp now KOA.


Monday, October 8, 2018

Monday, October 8, 2018


Tonight's campground in Ohio and tomorrow's campground in Pennsylvania will be our last two camps of the trip since we hope to be home on Wednesday, October 10th.

Today
We left our TN camp this morning at 9:15 to humid and 75degree temps.  We drove the beltways northeast along Rt 65 around Louisville, KY, when the time changed from Central Standard to Eastern Daylight, adding one hour.

We also drove the beltway around Cincinnati, OH drove over the Ohio River a final time, and rode over the Little Miami River. It was again very warm on the road; the truck temp reached 91 degrees.  We headed to Oregonia, OH where we camped at the Olive Branch Campground, a very lovely place with plenty of spacious sites, clean open and shaded. We arrived 2:30 (3:30pm), 

Tomorrow we head northeast again through Columbus, OH then pick up Rt 80 east eastern Ohio and plan to camp near Clarion, PA our final night.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Saturday, October 6, 2018

We were up at 7:30am, hot and sunny in 70s, eventually to get to 90+. Wilma did laundry and Bill got the RAM 1500 truck oil/filter changed and tires rotated. We plan to attend the 7:00pm show at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. 



Grand Ole Opry
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Opry Mills Mall


We then left at noon for Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. We were there from 12:45 and got back to camp at 9:45pm and it was quite a day.  We both walked 15,000 steps that day alone, first the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the Opry Mills Mall and then around Grand Ole Opry itself.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center was a marvel with walkways of beautiful plants and atriums and gardens and waterfalls and restaurants, all indoors under glass. Son Dave told us about it since he must have had an ULTA conference there.



Right next door to the Grand Ole Opry is the very large Opry Mills Mall which we walked and walked... then had an early dinner.  From the ticket booth, we got our tickets to the 7:00-9:00pm show, then walked the Grand Ole Opry store.  

We people watched from 5:00-6:00 with another couple we befriended, a US Army veteran MP and wife. They both worked at Ft. Knox, KY, he in Security and she in Administration.  We shared some funny "people stories" as we "people watched."  As my Dad used to say, "It takes all kinds;  AND THEY'RE ALL HERE!"  Wow, all shapes and sizes, mostly ole pharts like me (not Wilma). 

The Opry began to let guests into their seats at 5:45.  Getting to the Grand Ole Opry was on Wilma's lifetime bucket list and wow, did she enjoy the day, me too!  11 different musical artists, including Don Schlitz, the man who wrote many Kenny Rodgers songs, most notably The GamblerAlso, John Berry, who wrote the song for the movie, "Beautifully Broken", sang the movie theme song about the story of the Mwizera family and their 1994 escape from the genocide in Rwanda and eventual emigration to the US. They were in the audience, too!  Finally, an 11 year old boy named Mason Ramsey got his debut at the Opry and sang 2 songs with his cowboy hat and guitar. We surely heard some mighty fine banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass fiddle music.

The Grand Ole Opry itself is an historic Nashville location and American landmark. It's original downtown site was relocated to this location in 1943, then badly flooded in 2010.  Each 2 hour weekend show (7:00 and 9:30) is in four segments, each 30 minutes long with a curtain drop, a separate announcer (two women hosts were 35+ 51 year members of Grand Ole Opry).  Each Friday and Saturday show is a live "on air" radio show performance with an announcer and hosts.  This radio show is  radio's longest-running worldwide program, running since 1925 (650 AM WSM and Sirius XM 15X?).  

As our sold out show of 7:00pm was leaving (4,400 seats), thousands were waiting outside the doors to attend the 9:30pm show.  Quite an operation and especially beautiful in the dark with the lighting and crowds of people. The Opry Mills Mall, the Gaylord Conference Center and the Grand Ole Opry all share the same parking lots so imagine what it was like getting out to Rt 65 and back to camp.

Today was a a wonderful day, a grand experience and one we will both remember for quite awhile.

Sunday, October 7, 2018


We had an easy morning, then off to church at Long Hollow Calvary Chapel, Goodlettsville, TN at 10:00am.  We were again warmly welcomed, shared good music and worship with worshipers as well as an excellent lesson and application from Galatians 6.  

For our homeward trip, we shopped Kroger for groceries, then back to camp at 1:45pm. IT was a hot, humid 89degrees in camp. Read books and Wilma wrote cards and postcards. It was a restful day.

Bills's Bird ListPennsylvania, August 14 to October 10, 2018


Below is Bill's bird species list from August 14, 2018 in Lackawaxen, PA and back home again on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. I'm posting this list for my birder sons Calvin and Bill and birder friends Jim Aupperlee, Bill Reitsma, Gary Link, Rob Unrath and John Dyksen, et. al.  Finally, since I'm posting on mid-day Sunday, October 7th, there may be a few additional species to add until we get home on Wednesday, October 10th, 2018.

Summary:
I was able to identify by sight and ear 107 species including 16 Life Birds and 9 Probable Life Birds. Habitat varied from marshland, ocean, lakes, prairies, both coniferous and deciduous forest, low and high altitude, driving in the truck and walking, both dry and wet conditions, from early morning to late evening with and without binoculars, by sight and ear.


Birds Date Notes
1 Blackbird, Brewers Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Lifer
2 Blackbird, Red Winged Thursday, August 23, 2018
3 Blackbird, Rusty Sunday, September 02, 2018 Lifer Probable?
4 Cardinal Tuesday, August 14, 2018
5 Catbird Tuesday, August 14, 2018
6 Cedar Waxwing Tuesday, August 21, 2018
7 Chickadee, Black Capped Friday, August 17, 2018
8 Cormorant, Double Crested Thursday, August 30, 2018
9 Cormorant, Palagic Sunday, September 23, 2018 Lifer
10 Cowbird, Brown Headed Friday, August 24, 2018
11 Crow, Common Tuesday, August 14, 2018
12 Crow, Fish Friday, August 17, 2018
13 Crow, Northwestern Friday, September 21, 2018 Lifer Probable?
14 Dove, Eurasian Collared Thursday, August 30, 2018 Lifer
15 Dove, Mourning Wednesday, August 15, 2018
16 Dove, Rock Wednesday, August 15, 2018
17 Duck, Black  Thursday, August 30, 2018
18 Duck, Domesticated Sunday, September 09, 2018
19 Duck, Harlequin Sunday, September 23, 2018 Lifer Probable?
20 Duck, Mallard Sunday, September 09, 2018
21 Eagle, Bald Friday, August 31, 2018
22 Eagle, Golden (confirmed) Wednesday, September 05, 2018 before Bozeman, MT on Rt90
23 Egret, Cattle Thursday, August 30, 2018
24 Egret, Great Saturday, August 25, 2018
25 Finch, House Tuesday, August 14, 2018
26 Finch, Purple Thursday, August 30, 2018
27 Flicker, Yellow Shafted Friday, August 24, 2018
28 Flycatcher, Great Crested Wednesday, August 22, 2018
29 Goldfinch Tuesday, August 14, 2018
30 Goose, Canada Thursday, August 16, 2018
31 Goose, Snow Friday, September 28, 2018
32 Grackle Tuesday, August 14, 2018
33 Grebe, Eared (Western)? Sunday, September 23, 2018 Lifer Probable?
34 Gull, Bonapartes Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Lifer
35 Gull, Glaucous Winged Tuesday, September 18, 2018 Lifer
36 Gull, Heermanns Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Lifer
37 Gull, Herring Immature Sunday, September 02, 2018
38 Gull, Mew? Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Lifer
39 Gull, Ring Billed Monday, September 10, 2018
40 Gull, Western Tuesday, September 18, 2018 Lifer
41 Hawk, Coopers Friday, August 31, 2018
42 Hawk, Red Shouldered Monday, September 03, 2018
43 Hawk, Red Tailed Tuesday, August 14, 2018
44 Hawk, Sharp Shinned Tuesday, September 04, 2018
45 Hawk, Sparrow (Kestrel) Friday, September 28, 2018
46 Hawk, Swainsons Friday, September 28, 2018 Lifer Probable?
47 Heron, Great Blue Tuesday, August 14, 2018
48 Hummingbird, Ruby Throated  Saturday, August 25, 2018
49 Jay, Blue Friday, August 17, 2018
50 Jay, California Scrub Monday, September 17, 2018 Lifer
51 Jay, Stellars Thursday, September 20, 2018 Lifer
52 Killdeer Thursday, August 30, 2018
53 Kingbird, Eastern Wednesday, August 29, 2018
54 Kingfisher, Belted Friday, August 31, 2018
55 Loon, Common Sunday, September 23, 2018
56 Magpie Wednesday, September 05, 2018
57 Martin, Purple Wednesday, August 29, 2018
58 Meadowlark, Western Thursday, August 30, 2018 Lifer
59 Mockingbird Saturday, August 18, 2018
60 Nighthawk Saturday, August 25, 2018
61 Nuthatch, Red Breasted Sunday, September 02, 2018
62 Nuthatch, White Breasted Thursday, August 16, 2018
63 Oriole, Baltimore Tuesday, August 21, 2018
64 Oriole, Orchard  Thursday, August 30, 2018 Lifer Probable?
65 Osprey Saturday, September 15, 2018
66 Owl, Great Horned  Saturday, September 01, 2018
67 Oystercatcher, Black Sunday, September 23, 2018 Lifer
68 Pelican, American White Friday, August 31, 2018 Lifer; in prairie potholes
69 Pewee, Wood Tuesday, August 14, 2018
70 Pheasant, Ring Necked Thursday, August 30, 2018
71 Phoebe Monday, August 27, 2018
72 Prairie Chicken, Greater (or Ruffed Grouse in flock 5-8) Friday, August 31, 2018 Lifer
73 Raven, Common Wednesday, September 05, 2018
74 Robin Tuesday, August 14, 2018
75 Sandpiper, Solitary Sunday, September 02, 2018
76 Scotter, Surf Sunday, September 23, 2018 Lifer Probable?
77 Sparrow, Chipping Saturday, August 18, 2018
78 Sparrow, Field Tuesday, August 28, 2018
79 Sparrow, Golden Crowned Wednesday, September 26, 2018 Lifer Probable?
80 Sparrow, House Tuesday, August 14, 2018
81 Sparrow, Savannah Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Lifer
82 Sparrow, Song Tuesday, August 14, 2018
83 Starling Tuesday, August 14, 2018
84 Swallow, Barn Tuesday, August 14, 2018
85 Swallow, Cliff  Thursday, August 30, 2018
86 Swallow, Tree Wednesday, August 29, 2018
87 Swan, Tundra Saturday, September 01, 2018 Lifer
88 Swift, Chimney Tuesday, August 14, 2018
89 Tern, Caspian Tuesday, September 25, 2018
90 Tern, Common Sunday, September 09, 2018
91 Thrasher, Brown Thursday, August 30, 2018
92 Thrush, Wood Tuesday, August 21, 2018
93 Titmouse, Tufted Tuesday, August 14, 2018
94 Towhee, Rufus Sided Wednesday, August 22, 2018
95 Towhee, Spotted Monday, September 24, 2018 Lifer Probable?
96 Turkey, Wild Tuesday, August 28, 2018
97 Vireo, Red Eyed Saturday, August 18, 2018
98 Vulture, Turkey Tuesday, August 14, 2018
99 Warbler, Palm Saturday, August 18, 2018
100 Warbler, Yellow Sunday, September 02, 2018
101 Woodpecker, Downey Friday, August 17, 2018
102 Woodpecker, Hairy Thursday, August 23, 2018
103 Woodpecker, Pileated Friday, August 17, 2018
104 Woodpecker, Red Bellied Tuesday, August 14, 2018
105 Wren, Carolina Tuesday, August 14, 2018
106 Wren, House Sunday, September 02, 2018
107 Yellowlegs, Greater Sunday, September 02, 2018