Travel

Dubuque, Iowa – My First Attempt at Car Camping

A large part of my Epic Journey was to do the trip spending as little money as possible, learning to live with less and going without a lot of extra comforts. Car camping seemed to be my best solution as I am not much of a tent camper. My first attempt at camping, many years ago, did not go well and I ended up sleeping in the car rather than a tent, so I naturally figured I could drive across country sleeping in my car.

The Dubuque City Park had a lovely veteran memorial.

It was an interesting concept, although not very well thought through. But Devi was my home during this trip and I did sleep in her several times. The original concept was to have an air mattress in the back and sleep on that, but I ended up bringing too much stuff and could not do that. In Dubuque, I slept in the front seat and that proved rather crampy. After that I would clean out the back seat and sleep there. That worked a little better.

In future adventures, I will have to re-think the entire car camping process and come up with a little bit better way to do it. I still feel it is a viable way to camp, it is a lot less expensive than motel/hotels but to just think you can curl up and go to sleep in your car every night, without a plan, is not very smart (no one ever said I was smart when it came to camping).

During the first night of car camping, I stayed in the Dubuque, Iowa, City Park. It was actually a lovely site right by a river. I watched barges go up and down the river and heard the strangely comforting sounds of trains passing by in the distance. The cost was perfect at $12.00 per night and I felt completely safe there. I would definitely stay there again as it was a truly lovely location.

This was the view from my campsite.

One of the many barges that I watched float on by.

The park was extremely well taken care of.

Preparing Devi for what turned out to be a long night of tossing and turning.

A beautiful sunset in Iowa.

An artistic view of the bridge as I left the next morning.

On the road again to the next adventure.

One Night in Moolack — Newport, Oregon

The view from our room.

Decidedly, one of the most important parts of my Epic Journey was seeing the Pacific Ocean. The night before we (Mike was with me by this time) got to Newport, Oregon, we had car camped in a Walmart parking lot and that experience was not the most positive of experiences. The next day’s drive to Newport seemed to take forever, but we eventually got there.

The weather that day was fairly inhospitable as it was very cold, overcast, windy and on-and-off raining. We decided that we would get a room for the night rather than try to stay warm and dry in our tent. We passed a small motel that stood by itself, not near any others, and we thought we would try it. We told ourselves that if it was over a specific nightly room rate that we would move on as we tried to stay frugal in our efforts. The rate fit with our parameters and we checked in.

Little did we know we were going to fall in love with the Moolack Shores Motel and with the owners, Frank and Yvette. The small lobby had newspaper clippings of Frank, Yvette and friends saving a sea turtle that was hurt and landed on their beach. They called friends and got the turtle the help and rehab it needed and it was eventually re-released into the wild. Yvette had other stories too about seals and other sea life they had saved. She explained that the reason they loved this place so much was because of their love for all things nature. Keeping the place going was truly a labor of love.

Our room at Moolack Shores Motel.

As we went to our room, Frank was outside assisting the cleaning crew by washing windows, taking out garbage and just about whatever else needed to be done. The attention to detail, in everything, was apparent everywhere you looked; from the homemade treats Yvette makes for all the guests to the individual porches with each room so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Each room has a theme and we were lucky enough to get the Nostalgia Room. It was full of old movie posters, pictures of stars, antiques and was really welcoming. The room had a fireplace and a claw-footed tub. After several days of tent camping and car camping, the bed looked like a dream come true.

We got settled in and decided to walk down to their private beach. It was simply breathtaking. Of course, the weather was not cooperating, but it did not matter. The beauty of the ocean could be seen no matter what the circumstances. We walked the beach without much contact with other people, the solitude was lovely. The time spent at Moolack was truly special as it encompassed several things; seeing the ocean, enjoying the beach and sleeping in a real bed. We were able to relax, stretch out and enjoy the stunning views at a place we felt really good about being at. One night in Moolack, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Link to Moolack Shores Motel

More nostalgia.

The beach view of the back of Moolack.

The amazing view of the Pacific Ocean from the private beach.

Another Pacific Ocean shot.

The solitude was amazing!

I believe this is Moolack, the mascot of the motel.

Rolling Down Route 66

I thought it would be fun to do a collection of Route 66 photographs. I loved driving on Route 66. It was full of history and fortitude. As I stated in an earlier post, I felt bad, at first, that there were so many deserted buildings and businesses around Route 66. Then I realized that there were still quite a few open businesses and that there seems to be restored interest in the historic route. I hope that the route can recover and that businesses can once again thrive. It is a piece of history that America cannot afford to lose.

Breakfast at Westside Lilo’s on Route 66!!

Keeping the memories alive at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton.

Route 66, also known as The Mother Road, the Will Rogers Highway and The Main Street of America.

The actual Route 66!!

A menu from a diner that once thrived on Route 66.

A picture of Pop’s Diner.

Original signage.

Welcome to the Blue Swallow Motel on Historic Route 66 in Tucumcari, NM! They are still open on Route 66!!

More fun on Route 66!

Route 66 is the PLACE!!

The Route 66 Museum in Clinton is well worth the stop!! It is a lot of fun!!

“Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me” by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey

Unfortunately, I drove right by the Cadillac Ranch without stopping. I came up on my so fast, I drove right by it. There were a few other sights I wanted to see but I drove right by. Sorry about that. Hope you do like the few photographs I actually did get. I hope to be taking the rest of Route 66 on another trip.

Great Food Adventure – Recap

Part of my Epic Journey involved trying to find the best hamburger and/or diner. I grew up on hamburgers and I love them to this day. Unfortunately, just before the trip started I got very anemic. I was very sick and did not have a lot of time to get better. After some research on the Internet, I decided to try to go gluten free. My health turned around dramatically. So that changed my quest slightly. Now I was looking for the best burger without a bun.

I have to admit, this was NOT the hardest part of the trip. I enjoyed this very much. Since I only ate one meal out, I tried to make it count. Here are my findings, I hope you find them delicious 🙂

Dundee, IL – Bootleggers Restaurant. I had just driven through Chicago, gotten lost twice and almost ran out of gas in bumper to bumper traffic. I was STRESSED. I pulled off the freeway and went to the first place I saw. Very cool restaurant decorated from the Rat Pack Era with music to go with it. Great service from Kassie and a really great burger!!

O’Neil, NE – Westside Restaurant. Walking into this restaurant was like being home. Good down home cooking, utilitarian decor, big salad bar and a very good hamburger with onions and brown gravy.

Downtown Buffalo, Wyoming. It is an adorable town!!

Buffalo, WY – The Busy Bee Soda Fountain and Bakery. As I stated in a previous post, I had to eat here because one of my favorite book and television characters, Walt Longmire, always eats at this restaurant. I had breakfast there and it was delicious. My server, Kia, was awesome and very lively at 7 am in the morning (I was still on Cleveland time). It was definitely a highlight of my trip!!

Buffalo, WY — Winchester Steak House. Okay, I did not have a burger here but it was the day before my birthday and felt I deserved something special. That is what I got. I ordered the Filet Mignon and it was the ABSOLUTE best steak I have ever had in my life. Everything here was amazing including the service. I had called about 10 minutes before I got there to see if I needed reservations, the young lady I talked to said no, to just come in. I was there in 10 minutes and my table was set and ready, my server was impeccable and the food was completely top notch. If you are ever in Buffalo, Wyoming, you have to have dinner (they only serve dinner) at the Winchester Steak House.

Sutherlin, OR – Smitty’s Deli. They specialized in all kinds of subs and you could even get them on gluten free bread!! I was shocked and amazed!! It was the best tuna sub I have ever had. Oh, how I wish my memory was a little better!!

Newport, OR – Pig N’ Pancake. Their specialty is pancakes, but I had a burger and was not disappointed. The menu is actually extremely varied and the food was made fresh and was very good. There were a lot of options for different types of hamburgers and toppings. I really enjoyed sitting and watching the never-ending line of traffic in Newport go by the window. It was relaxing after another harrowing day of driving.

Seal Rock, OR – Seal Rock Espresso & Bakery. Granted this was just a stop for coffee, but it was really good coffee and the owners (Edward and Jeni) were awesome. All over the west, there are these small stand alone, drive up coffee shops and I just had to try one. I am so glad I stopped as I got the morning jolt I needed for a long day of driving and I had some fun talking with the owners. Good times!

Too much fun on Rt. 66!

Seligman, AZ – Westside Lilo’s. I actually had breakfast there. Breakfast is my least favorite meal, so I never really expect too much but I was wrong. Situated on Route 66, Lilo’s is a tribute to the route and a really fun place to stop. The breakfast was one of the best I have ever had and the atmosphere was truly enjoyable.

Clinton, OK – Picante Grill. The restaurant itself did not look like much. The inside was like so many Mexican restaurant, very colorful and the menu was varied. I was not overly impressed until the food came. This was the best Mexican food I have had in a very long time. You could tell it was homemade and cooked with love. Lesson learned: Never judge a book by its cover (or you may miss a great meal).

Love me a retro diner!!

Checotah, OK – Boom-a-rang Diner. Absolutely one of the best burgers I have ever had (and I have hardly ever had a bad one). There were a lot of different topping choices to choose from, the burger was high quality, the fries were awesome and the iced tea was really good. The diner was decorated in diner style which added to the ambiance. It was a very fun stop!!

Whittier, NC – Waffle House. What can I say about Waffle House, you always know what you are getting. This time was different as it was the company that made this meal so good. Visiting with a friend from my Kinetico days, Jan, was the highlight of the day and the great conversation made the food taste even better!

Beckley, WV – Texas Steakhouse. After a few days of regular (not bad) dining experiences (Denny’s, Bob Evans, etc.) and since it would be the last day of this trip, I opted for another steak. The Filet Mignon was very good here and Jamie, my server, was top of the line. I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere as I contemplated the ending of Phase 1 of my trip.

Overall, I have to say that my one meal a day was always well worth the stop. I enjoyed every meal (probably because I was so hungry-lol). I enjoyed great servers and was able to share my story and hear theirs many times. Great connections were made and I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to have great food and great company.

My Dream to See the Pacific Ocean Again…Amazing it Was!!

I have been looking through all the pictures I took over the 16 days of my journey. I thought I would share some of the best of the best with you. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

“The Pacific is my home ocean; I knew it first, grew up on its shore, collected marine animals along the coast. I know its moods, its color, its nature. It was very far inland that I caught the first smell of the Pacific. When one has been long at sea, the smell of land reaches far out to greet one. And the same it true when one has been long inland.”
― John Steinbeck

Pacific Ocean Fact: The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world covering 63.78 million square miles.

Pacific Ocean Fact: The Pacific Ocean is also the deepest ocean with depths that reach up to 13,740 feet.

Pacific Ocean Fact: Seven (7) of the deepest ocean trenches in the world are found in the Pacific Ocean.

Pacific Ocean Fact: The Great Barrier Reef calls the Pacific Ocean home. It is the largest coral reef system in the world!

Pacific Ocean Fact: There are several volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean Basin.

Pacific Ocean Fact: 25,000 island also call the Pacific Ocean home, including Hawaii.

The Pacific Ocean (and all oceans) need our help, there are many organizations that want to help save the oceans. We just cannot live without them.

She is a beautiful ocean, even when the sun cannot come out and play. I am so sad that she is considered by some to be nothing more than a landfill for garbage. The thought makes my heart break. We cannot afford to lose this resource and all the creatures and plants that live in her. Thank you for listening!!

Surprise Date Night: Red Robin and The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Rockside Train Station

Our 25th wedding anniversary just sort of came and went as we were still on the road and having to make some decisions about returning or going on. Last night, Mike decided it was time to celebrate our first 25 years together and planned a sweet outing. It started with my favorite hamburger place, Red Robin, in Independence. Lexi was our server and she worked very hard to make sure everything was just right (and it was!). Not much pleases me more than a great tasting hamburger served with a sweet smile.

The next part was a tightly held secret and I was not allowed to look at the maps, documentation or any other items Mike had brought with him. He likes to surprise me, so I have learned to just go with the flow. His surprises are always very cool. This surprise took us to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. I have ALWAYS wanted to ride the train, but never got around to doing it. The night was lovely and clear. It was a little overcast but not too much so. It was perfect weather for a train ride.

Here comes the train into the station.

We got to the depot around 6:30 and were able to board for our 7 PM departure. As I walked into the 1950s train car, I was taken back to a simpler time when travel was a big deal and it was about the journey not just the destination. Things I am trying to learn on my own Epic Journey, so really it was the perfect thing to do on a warm Friday night.

I noticed that there were not many other people in our car, as most of the nights travelers were enjoying dinner in the dining car. But everyone traveling in our car was smiling and excited about the night’s journey. The mood was very upbeat and positive.

Our Trainman was Roy and he was great! As the train started to move, Roy told us about the history of the train, the park and quite a bit of history about Ohio itself. He kept asking if we were bored, but everyone seemed to love hearing all the information that Roy had to share. He made the trip very fun and informative. He volunteers to do this, as well as watch the bike paths, we were very impressed with his dedication to the entire park system.

Beautiful Ohio Sky

As we traveled at about 30 miles per hour (the diesel-powered engine could go much faster, but this was a leisurely trip), we experienced beautiful scenery. Lush wetlands and meadows, flowing rivers, beautiful flowers, green trees, a few deer and an Eagle couple, just to name a few things we witnessed. The trip went one hour out Peninsula and an hour back to our starting point at the Rockside Station.

The railroad runs scenic tours almost everyday as well as specialty tours throughout the year. If you search for “CVSR”, their website comes right up and details all their upcoming events.

Things have been fairly hectic lately and seem like it will only get worse, so this respite to celebrate our anniversary was much-needed. It was relaxing knowing we did not have anywhere to be or have anything to do but watch the amazing scenery pass by slowly. Peaceful time with the one you love is the best gift available. As we rocked gently to the rhythm of the train’s movement, I realized that I have had enough drama in my life. It has become time to start enjoying a simpler life. That was part of what I was looking for on the road, but I actually had to be on the rails to reach that conclusion. Travel, even short travel, does change you.

View from a train.

I certainly enjoyed our belated anniversary celebration. It was so much fun and relaxing at the same time. Now I want to start planning other train trips in other locations. It is truly a breathtaking way to see the country. Hopefully, there will be more train stories in this blog. I cannot wait to see how that unfolds. Thank you for listening!

An artistic view from the train.

More Laundry – More Pictures of Phase 1 – Epic Journey

Going through the camera, I found a few more interesting pictures I thought I would share. I did get a few pretty good nature shots. Hope you like them!

Mountains and sky are what make up the West.

This one really shows the green landscape against the vibrant blue sky.

The West is beautiful but can be a harsh place also.

This was a huge lake in Oregon before getting to the Pacific Ocean. The water was so blue!

The Pacific Ocean on an overcast day. Still stunning!

I love mountains, just not driving over them.

Day 16-Beckley, West Virginia to Home

7,738 miles traveled in 16 days. What a trip!!

Sixteen days on the road, may not sound like much but for me it was Part 1 of my Epic Journey. When I left home 16 days ago, I had all kinds of expectations, dreams and unrealized things I wanted to do. If you have been reading this blog, then you know that very little happened the way I thought it would. My resolve was tested immediately and I realized very early on that I had bitten off way more than I could chew.

I wanted to walk away from my previous life and start a new one. That did not happen. I thought if I just walked away, it would just go away. That is not how life works. So here I am back at home making new plans, hopefully more realistic plans, on how to make the changes I want to make.

The trip did change me though. I saw many things on the road that bothered me, that thrilled me and that made me think. I was able to step outside of my own little world and see a bigger picture. I saw some things in me that I did not like and that need my immediate attention. I have not left the security of my little bubble in a long time and I felt like a giant baby out in the real world. I was afraid of everything, yet strangely attracted to it. I wanted to touch all that was out there but was afraid to. I know this probably does not make any sense. How could a mere 16 days be so life changing?

Random road picture…Texas, I believe.

My biggest hope now is to downsize to a much smaller living space with a lot less stuff. Working and working and trying to figure out ways to pay for stuff has lost its appeal to me. I thought I had rid myself of being owned by my stuff, but the cord has not been fully cut and I am still drowning in an ocean of things. That change starts now!

My life has always had so many complications. I want to life a simpler and more organic, more authentic life. It has always been about making the money, I am exhausted from that. Money, making it and spending it is completely tiring to me as well as boring now. I know I need money, but if I can simplify, it will not take so much of my time and energy. Sixteen days on the road showed me it is really about the things that are necessary, the basics. I brought way too much stuff with me that I never even used. Life is like that, I have too many things that do not contribute to my daily life, they do not enrich me and, therefore, they have to go.

Coffee at the Busy Bee Cafe in Buffalo, Wyoming.

I have not said much about this part of the trip, but it was a profound part. I went on this trip looking for God. I know of God, I have read His words and heard sermons about Him, but I felt like I did not really know Him. I cannot say that we really came together on this trip but I realized some truths about Him. To have a relationship with Him, it needs to be authentic and real. Previously, I thought of Him as a supernatural ATM always asking for wishes to be granted. I only saw my needs and my life. Being out in the real world brought those needs into perspective, I wanted for the wrong things. My life was (and still is) so far from basic and now I realize the changes I need to make. I believe as those changes come to fruition, then my relationship with Him can grow and,in turn, I can start becoming the person I want to be. I realize now it is a process, not something that can just happen after 16 days on a road trip.

I had talked about Farmstays in posts prior to leaving on the trip. That part of this trip was cancelled, but it is still something I am looking into. I was looking at them as a permanent situation when they need to be parts of the overall journey. I have a small one coming up soon and I should know better how things will work after that. Again, it was a pipe dream that I thought would save me from my own existence and I was wrong about their intent. I do not need to run away and hide in a place, I need to look my life straight in the eye and make the necessary changes, then I can go to these places and volunteer and work and learn with an open mind and an open heart.

Love me a retro diner!!

I wanted so much for this trip to magically change everything. Life is funny in that it does not work that way. I cannot just wiggle my nose and have all the things I dreamed of. This trip taught me the amount of work that is needed for this changing process is huge and will take time. At 53 years old, I should have known that already, but I did not. Now comes Part 2 of my Epic Journey (and I hope you will keep reading). Part 2 will be about making the necessary changes and, if all goes well, there will be a few big changes made rather quickly. Part 1 was the learning curve, Part 2 is the new process and who knows what Part 3 will bring. We will all just have to wait and see.

Post Shout Out: I was a little superstitious about saying anything before but now that I am home, I feel I can say it. Devi was a great travel partner. She did all the heavy lifting without so much as a groan. The “Check Engine” light did go on once but it was not her fault but mine for being cheap gas. She ran up and down the mountain roads beautifully. She afforded me the opportunity to see the things I saw. I know she is only a car, but she kept me safe. All along the mountain roads and the desert highways there were vehicles broken down and I was scared. I was truly afraid if that happened to me in the middle of nowhere that I would not have any idea what to do. But she stayed strong and got me home in one, safe piece. Great job Devi, I cannot ever thank you enough!

Even Devy loves the view.

Day 13 – Clinton, Oklahoma to North Little Rock, Arkansas

An Epic Journey

We started the day off by stopping at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. I figured it would be a tourist trap that was designed to only suck your money away. I was wrong. It was an adorable, yet small, museum dedicated to preserving the history of Route 66. The displays included quite a few authentic photographs, props and even cars of the time. I am really glad we stopped as it was informative and fun.

I love the history of Route 66!! It is true Americana!

While driving in the west, one cannot help but notice all the casinos along the way. I totally understand that those casinos bring tourist dollars into the community, provide decent wages to local people and they allow people to better themselves. I get it, I really do. But when you look around and you see big, bright and shiny casinos surrounded by…

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Day 15 – Whittier, North Carolina to Beckley, West Virginia

Hitting the open road in beautiful North Carolina!

Well, today was a great day! After a wonderful night sleep, I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Mike and Jan and a drive around town. The Francis Family treated us like we were family and we had just met last night. We felt so honored to be able to be part of the family for the time we where there. Seeing Jan again was absolutely awesome and she is an inspiration to me. I am going to start working out so the next time we see Jan, we can go for a hike. She will still be able to out-hike me, but I want to keep up a little bit. 🙂

We visited a little longer, then headed north (finally!) toward home. We knew that we would not make it all the way to Ohio, but we knew we would get close.

Heading North!!

As I was driving today, I realized that I finally fell into pattern where I am starting to feel better about driving and the whole traveling thing. So even though we are going home, we are going there to figure out where and when to start Phase #2. Before I left I kept hearing how once you start traveling, you will want to keep doing it. I see that now. Very interesting. But Devi needs a break and some maintenance, so a break it will be.

Drove uneventfully through a small part of Virginia, then into West Virginia. As we were driving, the clouds started to look ominous and sure enough while I was driving in the mountains it started to downpour…really downpour. Trying to go up fairly steep grades (not Yellowstone steep, luckily) was tricky in the rain. I was definitely white-knuckling it for quite a few minutes. Then it would stop, I would relax and then it would start again. But the triumph was I did it without crying or even sobbing. That is a huge step for me. Maybe I am growing.

Driving through a mountain tunnel…I guess it is better than a windy mountain road!

Since it was such a great day of laughter and triumphs we treated ourselves to a very nice dinner at the Texas Steakhouse in Beckley. Our server, Jamie, was awesome and he made dinner even more enjoyable. Again, it comes down to the people we meet. I have loved hearing everyone’s stories, it such a great way to connect.

I have learned a lot about America’s mountains. The Rocky Mountains are definitely amazing due to their sheer scope and vastness. The Appalachian Mountain Range are more to my liking, not only when it comes to driving, but I love the green lush trees and the green vegetation. Having lived in the East all my life, I am used to green trees. I am so blessed to be able to have seen both in my life. Each range has great properties and its own beauty. This country is stunning from mountains, to oceans, to lakes, to deserts and everything in between.

Rain clouds cometh!

Welcome to West Virginia!

This trip has opened my eyes to so many things and I am now looking forward to what is left to learn. I did not get to volunteer this trip, so that definitely has to be a part of Phase #2 as well as a few other things. Still lots to discover and I hope I am going to be better prepared the next time!

Thank you for listening!!

	Leslie - Ahumblewoma… on Catching Up
	360degreechange on Catching Up
	mtw13055@gmail.com on Catching Up
	paula BAKER on Baking Day
	360degreechange on The Virtue of Waiting

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