Do what you can, Joy will follow

We visited a tame swamp called Cypress garden today. I am dismayed when I see any kind of living thing in captivity. There was this huge catfish in an aquarium just swimming around in circles. I do acknowledge it is good for school children to see what these things look like. There was a butterfly house with tiny fist sized quail, koi, and turtles. Every block or two there is at least one, maybe two churches, several of which are Baptist. I had no idea the variety of Baptist denominations. There was even a Hispanic one! Berkeley is the county we are staying in and the Berkeley meeting we attended last night is the 2nd oldest meeting in the area. We went ahead and got our flu shots, apparently there has been outbreaks here already. We are enjoying our daily macflurry while I get online. They are having a 'cold snap', it is in the mid 70's and it may get down to the 40's tonight.

See the white it is clinging to...it just emerged from that.

We visited a swamp garden.

These are everywhere. The little brown flecks are ants that came boiling out when John poked at it.

They told me about the insects...little tiny ones, middle sized ones, and great big buzzing ones. Some of them are merely annoying, others have a significant bite! As soon as I walk outside I am sweating. I will no longer complain about humidity in Gualala. I tried to do some yoga outside and it was hard to concentrate swatting bugs and wiping away the sweat. People are surprised when I say I am from California, especially when I say we drove out here. Most are helpful and friendly. MacDonalds is my Internet connection. I have been to 3 meetings so far and all are solution based. Tonight, being the 5th thursday, there is an "eatin' meet'n" and we are invited to the potluck dinner. John made brownie cookies. (did I mention that when e attended the meeting near DC, I won the raffle and chose the book that has the Big Book stories in it? They had John draw the ticket, and it was one of mine!) He has decided to just change the oil again and let the darn thing clatter. We

Just busting butt on the interstate today to make time. The morning started out foggy. Turns out we were parked next to a truck depot. I saw my first cotton and tobacco fields. On local radio there was mention of a Civil War Commemoration and a Prayer Breakfast at a college homecoming. With all the trains we have seen, we had to stop for our first one. It was full of scrap metal. Got to a meeting in a place called Goose Creek. We are going to be here long enough for me to visit a couple more.

We left Cherry Hill in a drizzle heading toward Annapolis MD and our first view of the Atlantic coastline. We stopped at a Rite Aid so I could buy an Annapolis t shirt and ended up talking to a local about how to go down the coast. For a short while we were back in ag land. We entered Delaware waiting for our first glimpse of Atlantic. It was not to be. The entire area is built up and iron rangers guard all the entrances to the beach. The communities were all gated. There were a number of farm stands mixed in with antique stores. Once past the heavy tourist areas, there were fields of tomatoes and packing plants and two Tyson chicken plants. The second bridge we crossed over the chesapeake bay had two tunnels that went under the bay. It was a good thing we turned off our propane tanks that first time because we were stopped and inspected before we entered the tunnel to Norfolk. Since we wanted to get through all that in light traffic, we passed all the RV parks along the way. We stoppe

We started on a Metrobus that picked us up at our RV park. That took us to the Metro where my prepaid card refused to work and I was stopped by security. My card had become demagnetized so she took my word about when I bought it. From then on I had to show it to security whenever I entered and exited the subway. We spent the first while walking around the Mall, starting at the Capitol and ending at the White House. Everything is pretty secure and you can't get very close. There were men with guns visible in a variety of places. The curbs are all made from marble. The Viet Nam Memorial was very emotional to visit. I grew up near Fort Carson, a major base for deployment overseas. John was glad not to find the names of some fellow sailors he had sailed with that went onto other assignments. The guides are under plexiglass with names alphabetically listed with the panel number and line number they appear on the wall. We rode a local bus for $1 that took us around Georgetown and back t

For a dollar you can ride various loops around the area. We rode to georgetown and back to Union station to catch the Metro.

On the top curve to the right there are two men with guns.

To the right of the middle tree is a man in flak jacket carrying a automatic weapon.

Construction crane, original Smithsonian Castle and Washington Monument. The national book faire is under the tents.

We watched this one climb out of a trash can with the donut.

Today was spent doing the stuff of domesticity. John went grocery shopping while I looked around kohl's and target. We had lunch at a spot recommended by a local and scouted out a thrift store. John has been entertaining himself by watching others park their rigs. Lots of jockeying and instructions given. (John isn't happy if he doesn't get it backed in on the first pass!) Found a meeting online and John made brownie cookies to take. I hope someone shows up. The first meeting we looked for in Akron, nobody came. I have three loaded in the Garmin for when we are in DC on Monday. It continues to warm and muggy. --- De Williams all that I could ever want, I already have http://followjoy.blogspot.com/

It was a great decision to take a guided tour. John got to relax and take in the view and I didn't have to worry about navigation. The monuments are especially striking lit up at night. The weather was perfect. It stopped raining just as we boarded the tour bus and the temperature was a bit cooler than it has been. The iPad isn't a very good camera, but you get the idea. Not even the professional postcards really do the Nighttime display justice. The other decision that has worked out well for us was moving to the more urban RV park. Bull Run was beautiful, but Cherry Hill is more practical. I am writing this at 11:33pm edt/8:33pm pdt. Goodnight!

These monuments are massive and loaded with sybolism.

We are on a Grayline bus to take the night tour of DC.

Geez...as usual there are way too many choices! We have decided to take the DC After Dark Grayline tour tonight. They pick us up here at the park. Tomorrow it will be the "Tourmobile" where you can get off at a site and reboard the next bus if we want to hang around. The picture I said was the White House was actually of the Capitol. It has been raining steady and the forecast calls for rain on Saturday too. At least it is a warm rain...I don't mind getting wet.

Driving through Virginia we crossed the Shenandoah River into horse country. There was real artistry in the 3-4 feet high stone fences that surrounded many of the farms and estates. We saw our first vineyards since we left Sonoma County. The multiple intersections continue, which are pretty easily navigated through large roundabouts. The ones in SR are too small, that is why they haven't worked. Definitely back in suburbia, traffic was a bear, compounded by several road projects along the way. Our first drive into the Capitol was nerve wracking to say the least. We are camped at Bull Run Regional Park about 25 miles away. Tomorrow we are moving to a more centrally located RV park with all the urban amenities...like a laundry room and wi-fi. No more driving into town. It will be public transit all the way. On our way back home I spotted a Goodwill. A viet noodle house was right next door for a late lunch. The prices are pretty high on most items so pickings are pretty slim. In Ohio

Wind generators. I will stop posting pictures of them!

That ribbon at the is the road.

Started out in Ohio, briefly crossed West Virginia, drove through Pennsylvania, crossed into Maryland, West Virginia again and ended up in Virginia. We crossed the Allegheny and Potomac rivers, climbed through the Appalachian Mountains. The PU has a loud clatter under load and John has been keeping it at a low RPM. (He is going to replace the offending part when he gets to his sisters in South Carolina.) Several barns in Ohio had "chew mail pouch tobacco, treat yourself to the best." We saw an oil well in Pennsylvania and apple trees in Virginia. We stayed to the edge of Pittsburgh, driving through two vey long tunnels; the Fort Pitt and Squirrel Hill. Many of the churches we passed had signs about serving a hot meal one day a week. The farther east we go, the drivers are getting aggressive again. The terrain isn't as flat and we got as high as 2900 feet. The trees are turning color the higher up we went, lots of red and gold. We passed the Flight 93 memorial and several

We have spent the last couple of days driving around Akron finding thrift stores and looking at the sights. There are old brick factories downtown, some of which look like they may be being used for new purposes. The older residential neighborhoods still have cobblestone streets. Many of the streets come together at odd angles and there can be as many as six corners to navigate. There was the 5 Corner Deli and the 6 Corner Deli. The Garmin got us mostly where we wanted to go, often though what we were looking for wasn't. Our fingers are crossed about the PU being fixed. It hasn't rattled since the two oil changes. We will see when it is under load. Our next destination is Washington DC. --- De Williams all that I could ever want, I already have http://followjoy.blogspot.com/

It was an emotional experience for me, I got teary eyed. There was a lot of power in the place. The man who gave us the tour had 8 months sobriety, after coming in and out for 3 years. The house was originally a mail order house built in 1916 with two additions, a bathroom and garage. Last year the foundation spent 100,000$ on structural renovations. It was repurchased in the late 80's from the family that had purchased it from the Smiths in the mid 50's. The daughter Sue help AA members restore the interior to what it was at the time the Fellowship was founded, donating some of the original furniture, books and decorations.

This is the table the first members sat around for meetings.

The shop cannot get it to rattle, ping whatever! So they are changing the oil again, crossing our fingers. It is overcast with rain showers. Gratiude.

Changing the oil didn't help, it is off to the shop tomorrow. There are worse places to be stuck! I am in love with this campground. We ordered pizza...pure comfort food in times of stress. Tomorrow we will rent a car and check out the sites.

Cherokee park near Akron Ohio is a beautiful spot to spend a couple of days. John is off to Walmart to get oil for the PU. He is hoping clean oil will unstick the stuck lifter.

The day started with a light misty rain and shifting cloud formations. We were entertained by a local radio 'Saturday Trading post' where people called in an assortment of items for sale. Local announcements included deaths and funerals and today was the Apple Popcorn Festival. Large dog house looking structures turned out to be veal pens. The calves were tied to them with enough rope to get out and stand up. John is amazed at the lack of fences. The great expanses of lawn, and today being Saturday many were being mowed on riding mowers. There were clotheslines in many back yards. We passed the Fleetwood factory in Decatour. I commented on how the houses seemed to be set at an angle to the road and was told it was standard to orient the homes north/south. Another mechanical difficulty had occurred in what sounds like a stuck lifter. Tomorrow John will get the oil changed and hope it gets unstuck. At least we have the scooter with us for additional local transportation. With l

This picture was taken in Ottoville Ohio. Note the grain elevator, church steeple(s), and water tower. Every town since Iowa has had some version or the other of all three.

It rained over night.

Not much to report today. We are staying on the back roads, traveling on US 24 today. There were cattle and sheep between the crops today. Sunflowers were added to the crop mix. Driving through Peoria street sign: snow route no parking 2 or more inches of snow. I am guessing they keep that street plowed. All along the interstates there have been gates closing them...barring entrance. We are in the 'W' designation for radio stations and upon entering Indiana we lost an hour to Eastern time. John made the observation that since Montana he has seen predominately USA brand pick ups, Chevy, Ford and Dodge. We had our first Garmin mis adventure...looking for a campground it led us to a place where we had to 'navigate 400 feet OFF ROAD' and pointed to a cornfield. In place of the Thrift store Garmin said was in Peoria, we found a Dollar General Store. It seems like every single town we have gone through there has be a DG store. I did find a thrift store somewhere near El Pa

We crossed the Missouri river to get into Iowa and the Mississippi river to leave. There were homes with sandbags still in place on the Missouri. We got off the Interstate today and drove on US 34. It was a nice change. If I thought I was in industrial farm country crossing Nebraska, Iowa was even more intense. There were fields of soybeans alternating with corn and alfalfa in-between. There were abandoned farms all along the way with barns and brick silo's falling down and houses deteriorating. There were many small signs identifying the crops: 'Pioneer, a Dupont business'; 'Kruger Yields'; 'Sure start'; 'Pioneer-Science with service' Each small sign had a combination of letters and numbers to identify the strains. We saw dozens of loaded coal trains headed west. Had our first Amish wagon sighting, and saw a Trailways Bus Depot. I got to visit my friend Elizabeth and meet her husband Paul and four month old Merideth. Tomorrow onward to Peoria and

My friend Elizabeth is the pastor at this almost 100 year old church.

Today was about making some milage. We covered 415 miles between Rushville and Lincoln Nebraska. The welding shop opened about 7:15 and had us on the road by 8:15. Took their recommendation and walked down the street for a breakfast burrito. John was expecting to pay a bit more than $20! The map showed a 'scenic route' which followed the Sand Hills. At the crest of one hill you could see the ribbon of road stretching off into the distance. We saw a number of ponds with flocks of White Pelicans! A sign announced we had entered the Central Time Zone. We were listening to a local radio station and the announcer began a rant about sports with this: "a butt scooting contest on the carpet with a Saint Bernard gives a new definition to a winning streak." It took a second to register and I quickly wrote it down so I would get it right. They also had an announcement of local hospital admissions and releases. The Sand Hills slowly turned into corn fields as far as we could see

Waiting under grey skies for the welding shop to open.

The sky IS grey...gloomy at 6:30am. We are waiting for the shop to open.

The day started in near Keystone SD with frost on our picnic table. I took my walk on an improved dirt road through protected forest lands. Large chunks of quartz were laying around as part of the road bed. One of the things we noticed about the highways was the reddish cast created by using local rock in the road bed. The goal of the day was to find the cemetery where my Grandparents and Aunt were buried. We drove a total of forty four miles, talked to five different people and in the end found the headstones. The place looked well kept for a small rural cemetery. It was outside of the village of Whitney.  We headed out of Chadron, after hitting Safeway for yogurt and organic blue corn chips, passing fields of sunflowers and corn. Going down the road John noticed the trailer wasn't tracking correctly. The highways here don't have any pullouts to speak of so we had to drive to the next town.  When he crawled underneath to look he found a broken rear spring hanger (the thing tha

Rural cemetery outside Whitney NE.

We spent the day visiting Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments. Both are pretty spectacular. The Crazy Horse is dedicated to all Indian Tribes and is completely funded by private donations. http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/ is the link to check out if you are interested. I have been checking where souvenirs are made. Minnetonka brand moccasins are made in China! So many of the stores are simply retail outlets for outsourced merchandise. In Yellowstone there were displays dedicated to 'made in the USA' for sale. Another 'meth' related sign today. Off to Nebraska looking for paternal family graves (and hopefully find a meeting, haven't been to one since last Monday.) --- De Williams all that I could ever want, I already have http://followjoy.blogspot.com/

Quite the story behind this monument!