Johnstown, CO

Hi all
We are here, safe and sound, self isolating
and "moochcamping" at my sister's place.
Colorado just issued a Stay at Home order starting 3/26.
We are leaving 3/27, because of weather timing, and hope to be out of Colorado by that afternoon.
Only advantage I can see is the order is for Colorado residents.
Which we are not,
so we hope to continue going home and spend our quarantine there.

No photos today and may not get many between now and home.
We will check in as we proceed.

Stay home, stay healthy and practice social distance.
Tom and Millie

John Martin Reservoir, Colorado

Hi all
I have been lazy and enjoying the sunshine, and walks with my lady
and the Boyz, of course.
This is a great site to do the social distancing.
There is about 20+ campers here and maybe 100+ campsites.

All by reservation and it looks like we all planned to do some distancing.
Mostly even spaced around the park.
Everybody is friendly with a wave and a "How ya doing".
All from a distance.

Families with kids and all look like they know how to enjoy the outdoors.
No virus passing here, except maybe among your own family.

On the trip here from the Amarillo area
we stopped at a rest area with these babies.
There were no others visible in the area and not sure the geology.

Checking out the dam and reservoir area yesterday.
And the storm that just grazed us with a little rain overnight.

The sunset and abandon buildings this evening.

Great place to "hole up" for a few days or more.
I also would bet it is a busy place during the summer season.

Stay safe, keep your distance
and make your day great.
Tom and Millie

Good morning All

Quite a morning,

Salt Lake City has been shaking it up

Denver has a blizzard

Tornadoes in Texas and

here we are in between it all.

Tuesday we went to the RV Museum in Amarillo, TX

It is a collection by a longtime RV dealer and all have been restored.

Not necessarily to new, but to “sellable” shape, well, mostly.

Was lots of fun and there were many period artifacts associated with different years and models.

A nice collection of Harleys from a 1918 and a WWII model to many newer models.

A little shopping, a thrift store and back to our LSF.

All the while using sanitizer and avoiding people.

Wednesday morning.

The day brought a trip to Palo Dura Canyon State Park and on the way.............

Combine City.

Then on to Palo Dura after the quick stop for the photo.

Lots of people out hiking with their kids and dogs.

Parking lots were full, but little road traffic.

I must have picked the right time as most must have been out hiking.

Campgrounds were nearly empty, all but 2 had reserved signs on the site post.

I’m guessing most of my tour was the time between check out and check in.

I do wonder if they were actually all occupied

or if people were not cancelling the reservation when changing their plans..

Since I wasn’t there late in the day, I will never know.

Drove over to the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge after Palo Dura.

Was mainly scouting it out for the free dry camping, $2 a day if not a National Parks Access holder.

Looked great and only 2 of the 15-20 sites occupied.

Shade, picnic tables, fire rings and vault toilets. Dump station in Amarillo, 30 miles away.

Unfortunately we would not be able to access the campground

due to a large tree hanging way less than 13’6” above the road.

I would have been very concerned if our rig was only 12 feet high.

Pretty area and lots of hiking and fresh prairie air and wildlife.

We are having beautiful temps in the 60’s-70’s,

some serious wind and some thunder showers that come through overnight.

Not causing any problems and not impacting our enjoyment of the area.

Tomorrow light winds and cooling down into the 50’s.

It is also going to be our travel day, off to Lamar, CO at the John Martin Reservoir.

A few nights there then on to Johnstown, CO for no longer than our holding tanks last.

First half of the trip went as planned and the second half is by the seat of our pants.

Sure makes this Big Adventure a bit more of a challenge.

Last night's sunset.

Stay well and make your day great.

Tom and Millie

Texas Panhandle

Hi all
We made the move!
Here at Triangle RV Park in Claude, TX
Definitely out on the plains.
Stopped along the way at a turnout at some highway intersections for lunch
and a bit of a rest.
Traveling US and State highways is a nicer pace,
although sometimes a bit rougher ride.
Slower pace means being able to enjoy the scenery a little more.
Also why we try to limit the distance of travel for a day.

Triangle RV Park is only 2 years old.
Everything works, set up for fully self contained rigs.
It is on the edge of the town with great sunsets and views of prairie.
Great sunset and easy "social distancing".

Today we are heading to Amarillo, about 30 miles.
RV Museum, Walmart and Whataburger for lunch,
maybe even another museum and some thrift stores.
Supposed to rain most of the day making indoor activities much more enjoyable.

Will enjoy the day and stay distant, even in stores.

Make your day great
Tom and Millie

Lawton, OK

Hi all
Had a great day at Great Salt Plains Reservoir.
Good hike to the dam along the spillway and watching the waterfowl.

Definitely a place to go back to and a nice campground.
Just across the highway is an Air Force Training Field.
Fortunately they trained in prop planes and only flew from 8-5.

Probably really busy in the summer.

Now, we are in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Yes the wind does blow free.
We got here Thursday and it was 83 degrees, almost too hot.
Of course the weather changed, been low to mid 50's since.
And yep, raining off and on.

Finally met up with an old OLP (Online Photographers) friend, David Thomas.
Great guy, and what you see is what you get, refreshing.
We had hoped to meet Debbie,
however she had been injured with a couple of bruised or cracked ribs
and was not up to meeting company.
We sure hope she mends quickly and maybe we can find our way back someday
when she is not hurting.

Saturday David had to scope out a site for a photo shoot on Sunday.
Went up onto the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Sure not what you would expect in Oklahoma.
Also went up Mount Scott, highest point in the state.
Toured the campground there and just enjoyed the scenery and the company.

We had made a couple of reservations for State Parks in New Mexico last Thursday.
Friday New Mexico closed the State Park to camping due to Covid-19.
Also on that day got an email from Texas that their State Parks are staying open.
Not sure why camping 50 to 100 feet from your neighbor
would increase the potential spread of the virus, but hey, what do I know?
Maybe too many people canceling their reservations?

Well, now we have to alter our plans for New Mexico
and hope that reservations, in other states, don't get screwed up.
Changing plans and going to spend 4 days in Texas
then move to Colorado, two days to Sister's house, 
and hoping they can tolerate us in their drive for a week.
After that, across Nebraska/Kansas and will see from there.
We also need weather to cooperate. Keep the late winter storms away.

Tomorrow we start our new journey and would like a bit of drier, warmer weather.
It will be what it will be and we will still plan to see and do things where ever we go.

Make your day great and stay healthy
Tom and Millie

Great Salt Plains St Park, OK

Hi all
Had a great travel day across Kansas.
Weather is great with lots of sunshine.
Stopped near Pretty Prairie, KS for lunch and a nap.

Fueled up in Anthony, KS and visited with several friendly locals.
Finally made it to the State Park in Oklahoma.
Sign at the campground stated you must have a reservation to occupy a site.
So we tried, website would not let us book a spot for the night.
Was able to book a site for Wednesday night, but not Tuesday night when we arrived.
So, we parked anyway, even though the website showed all sites booked.
We were the only ones in the campground.
OK, there is the squirrels, waterfowl and resident skunk and we were the only humans.

Will see what happens today as we do have a reservation for tonight.

Beautiful campground, especially since we have it to ourselves.
Right on the river just below the dam.
Water and electricity at each site and a fully functional dump station.
Nice restrooms with hot water and showers.
And the sunset light on the bluffs across the river is spectacular.

Not sure if we will explore or just enjoy the quiet, sunshine and upper 60's, today.
Will see what the day brings.

Make your day great
Tom and Millie

Back on the Road Again

Hi all
After a great week in Ottawa, KS,
we are back at the mobile life.

We went over to Pom on the Range, on Sunday.
Nice orchard, apples and peaches, and store with most of their own products.
Bought some apple cider and apple butter for us and a peach pie to share with family.
On this trip we found Hometown, KS and a couple of unoccupied buildings.

In the afternoon we went to Not Lost Brewery in Ottawa.
Several great beers and neat atmosphere in downtown.

Then over to Mike and Jane's for pizza with pie and ice cream for dessert.
Good conversation and so fun with their Granddaughters.

Monday we went out for breakfast, picked up at the local grocery store deli.
Took food back to Mike and Jane's and spent a few hours with them going over their family ancestry info that Millie had printed out for them. Was fun and hard to say goodby.

Then fuel up the truck, get the trailer ready to travel, and relax for a bit before TV and bed.

Today heading for Great Salt Plains State Park in Oklahoma.
Make your day great
Tom and Millie

First Week

Hi all
It has been a great first week on our Spring 2020 Big Adventure.
We have been staying near Ottawa, KS on Millie's cousin's property.
Great rural sub division with large lots and neighbors visible, but not close.
Dawn and Gary also have a vineyard, no winery, which is a great place on these nice days.
Weather has been great even though we are going to spend one extra day due to wind.
Temps in the 60's, generally sunny, with a day of rain coming tomorrow.
Hope with the wind it scrubs the dirt off our LSF (Little Silver Fox).

We have finally got to meet up with all Millie's relatives in the area,
which we have not been able the last two time we were here.
So many great people to spend time with.
We will have to make a point to stop here from time to time and enjoy.

Besides visiting with the relatives, we visited thrift stores in Lawrence, KS and found a brewery for lunch. Thrift stores in Ottawa, a distillery (Buck-U), and today a brewery. Since I don't enjoy so many thrift stores, I walked around and snapped a few of some cool old buildings.

The countryside is very reminiscent of Minnesota, hills, trees and farm land. Everything is still brown from winter and not quite ready to start budding out. Won't be long though.
Hope to visit an orchard before we leave and maybe get some photos of the countryside.
Time will tell.

It is time to get moving again.
A week in one spot is pretty close to our limit and there is so much to see and do in our wonderful country. And such a blessing to have the freedom to explore here and there. I still thank God every morning for our health and my wonderful, loving partner in travel.

Make your day great
Tom and Millie

ARE YOU READY?

Hi all
We finally got tired of winter.
And the new adventure has begun.
Will be starting my regular updates with photos.
Just a hint.

Yep, we left the frozen North.
Our first stop, rest area in South Dakota.

Stay tuned.
Tom and Millie