april 14, 2015 St Louis

Linda and I made it into St Louis and after asking a few times we got to the Arch. there is alot of construction so some roads were closed and our gps ran us all over the place. Asked so construction workers and the gave us a short and easy way to get there. was unsure about parking, but the old church right at the Arch entrance allowed us to park there for a $5 donation. cool! we rode the tram to the top and took some pictures and then came down and saw the god movie about the building of it. went for a 1 hour river boat tour, but it was over rated but relaxing. we then drove to the old train station on Market st and walked around there for a while, but it seemed like a has been mall. I wanted to go to C and K BBQ(highly rated in a Must Eat there book I have) and let the GPS take us there. 8 miles NE we got to the place and it was a dump, in a rough looking area but I went in and ordered. there is no seating there so we brought the ribs back to the KOA park we are holed up in. 25 mile ride and the ribs were not that good. the potato salad was whipped potatoes with pickles mixed in and the coleslaw was mostly vinegar. overall it was a good day, the Arch being the best part

April 1 Taos,NM

 VIEW UP THE SKI SLOPES IN TAOS ski village where Ray is Public Works director

 Linda, Bev Keen and I standing on the Rio Grand Gourge bridge. 600 feet above the river

 Walking out into the blind dessert to see some hand carved caves . These are on private land and not for public viewing, but we did it anyway.

 Views of cliff dweller ruins in Bandolier National Perk, outside Santa Fe

we drove to Santa Fe, NM and left our RV in a rv campground, more a dirt parking lot. spent the nite and drove to Taos (truck only and we had heard that the road in was steep ,winding, and narrow) it wasn't  that bad, but it was easier anyway.  Ray Keen had taken a couple of days off work and he and Bev  opened their home and hearts to us for a couple of days. We had a ball!! They took us to Taos ski village where Ray works and at the highest we were at 10500 feet. we both noticed the light air. we then drove out to the Earth house comunity ( where people build into the dessert sand bank and construct homes from recycled materials. they come up with some pretty neat homes, using tires, soda/beer can and all types of junk.  we then drove across the Reo Grand Gorge bridge. 600 feet above the river. windy ,cold but really neat. I was impressed when Linda walked out onto the bridge, as she hates heights.  we went out to dinner at a true mexican resturant that they reccomended. it was very good. I do love the green chilies!!! the next day Bev had an appointment so Ray took us out touring and we found the neatest place. we had seen a documentary at some point about a guy and his dog that wandered into the dessert and found a hill and dug a cavern and hand carved the walls, ceilings, and all the inside by hand, and then just left it. no owned by anyone and not advertized where there were. check out  Well, we just happened to have someone that had found a couple of them while hiking in the dessert  http://www.newmexicospiritualland.com. They were amazing!!  we then drove thru White Sands and on thru Los Alamos, and to Bandelier national park and toured arond the Cliff Dweller ruins. great day!! went back to the Keens house and their son and girl friend came over for a cookout of ribs, salads and such.  A wonderful visit!!!!! stayed the nite and drove back to Santa Fe and hooked onto the rig and drove to Shamrock,Texas spent the nite in a rv park(really just a back yard off I 40  with power and water, but off the road and easy back on in the morning. then on to Cleora, OK.

april 11,2015

 We made it to Cleora, OK and spent a couple of days with our friends Linda and Dennis Ripley (who we met in Port A, TX a few years ago) Had a great visit, and they even took us on a boat ride on the lake. Who woul;d ever think we would be out boating on the 12th of April. We left this morning and made it safely to 25 miles west of St Louis. Couldn't find a closer campground that had what we wanted,or thought was worth the money.
view from Ripleys lower deck to their boat dock

 close up of same.

 looking from deck out the cove to Grand Lake, OK

 view up river into cove

We found a KOA campground that has wifi and everything else. Plan on going into ST. L in the morning and touring the arch and possibly a river boat tour. I want to go to CK's bbq in town as it's highly recommended. not sure just how much time we will have there, but we will pack in as much as we can. Leave Wednesday AM heading to western PA. don't think we can make it in one day, so will play it by ear.

April 7 2015

Hi,
We are back to blogging. Our winter has been great. lots of friends in picacho RV park, friend Gregg and Sue Seward came out for a visit as did Brian and Ree Elliott. great time visiting with them all. we spent alot of time in the perk this year and didn't do alot of sight seeing. I ground crewed on 4 or 5 hot air balloon excursions.  helped do some building around the park and kept busy swimming ('cannonball competitions') ,playing darts. no one there can say it right but they think I say it funny. just a wonderful warm winter.
 We left yesterday(4/6) at 8:15 and drove east on I 10 to Demming,AZ and turned North on Rt 26 to Hatch. had a good lunch at Hot Peppers in Hatch, the chili capitol of AZ. continued north on Rt 25 and stayed in Truth or Consequences,NM. small play but no trains or traffic, almost to quiet, but we slept well.  Left there this morning at 8:30 and continued north on 25 thru Albuquerque and Santa-Fe and are just north of SF on rt 84/285 in the Road Runner RV park. just a dirth parking lot beside the highway, but it has full hookups so we are set. Tomorrow we are going to "bobtail" (no camper) to Taos,NM and see my high school classmate Ray and Bev Keen.  the altitude here is already noticeable and I am sure I will feel it when going above the 6000 feet we are at now.  expect to be here for a few days and Friday morning head southeast to I 40 and head towards home. no rush and things/people we want to stop and see.