Railroad
America’s Heartland, Part II
WE’RE MOVING ALONG. A few days ago we put Missouri in our rear-view mirror and traveled west to Kansas, in search of Dorothy and Toto. We didn’t find them, but we did find more interesting spots in mid-America. The seasons are changing. There’s a chill in the air. Leaves fall from the trees and a red … Continue reading
Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground…
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE. Here we are in Tennessee at the Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground in Chattanooga. The city is located in the southeastern part of the state, along the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is one of the top destinations in the South. It’s trolley-like Incline Railway scales steep Lookout Mountain … Continue reading
Sweet Home Alabama…
“SWEET HOME ALABAMA” SONG LYRICS. 1974. “Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home Alabama Lord, I’m coming home to you.” ANOTHER POWERFUL THUNDERSTORM. Now back in Pensacola after our day at the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, I sit by our balcony window marveling at the powerful and dramatic thunderstorm which has … Continue reading
Another Blue Ribbon Tour of Pensacola…
ANOTHER BLUE RIBBON TOUR. You’ve already met Jon York, our friend and the one who’s made our stay in Pensacola the best it could be. The tour he gave us today was “top of the line.” In fact it was “over the top.” The guy is something else. Just when we think he’s already outdone … Continue reading
Mt. Washington Cog Railway…
AUGUST 29, 2015 ALL ABOARD! The Mt. Washington Cog Railway is the world’s first “mountain-climbing” cog railway and it’s one of the two steepest in the entire world! It takes more than an hour for it to climb just a couple of miles to the top of Mt. Washington…the highest peak in New England. A powerful … Continue reading
Colorado Springs, Colorado…
OCTOBER 1, 2014. A TOUGH DRIVE TODAY. Today we drove down Interstate 25 from Cheyenne, Wyoming to just outside Colorado Springs. Quite a drive it was. The weather was beautiful as we began the trip, but by the time we reached Denver the wind was blowing harder than I’ve ever experienced while driving. I’d have … Continue reading
Cheyenne, Wyoming…
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014. CHEYENNE, WYOMING is the cow capital of Wyoming. It all began when the Union Pacific Railroad selected it as a company townsite in 1867. Settlers rushed in even before the railroad began to sell building plots. Within a matter of months, the population was 4,000, and thousands of tents, shacks, dugouts, and … Continue reading
Billings, Montana…
SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 We’re spending about a week in Billings. Even though we’re now anxious to make our way to Texas, there are things I’ve been postponing and I simply must spend some time and get them done. I need to finish our tax returns and deal with some paperwork to get insurance reimbursement for … Continue reading
Whitefish, Montana…
SEPTEMBER 14, 2014. Just a few miles from our campground is the quaint town of Whitefish, where Florence and I spent the afternoon poking around, learning some local history and generally just being tourists. Located on the shore of beautiful Whitefish Lake, the town boasts its own Amtrak station, a busy switching yard where freight … Continue reading
Sandpoint after dark…we love this town!
AUGUST 29, 2014. SANDPOINT AFTER DARK: While we were walking around the village the other day, we came across the little Panida Theater…steeped in history and the cornerstone of cultural activities for the entire Sandpoint community. Whether hosting a film, local performers, recording stars like Bonnie Raitt or the San Francisco Opera, the theater is … Continue reading
Sandpoint, Idaho and Lake Pend Oreille…
AUGUST 22, 2014. Sandpoint, Idaho, an easy drive from Spokane, is a town on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s largest lake. It’s pronounced “Ponderay,” and that’s what the locals call it: Lake Ponderay. Rand McNally and USA Today have each given Sandpoint the distinction of being named the nation’s “Most Beautiful Small Town.” … Continue reading
Driving along the Columbia River Gorge Route toward Portland…
MAY 9, 2014. DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 84. Today’s drive took us farther along Interstate 84 traveling West toward Portland, which is our next camping spot. The weather was dramatic…bright sun followed by driving rain, hail and very high winds…enough to keep me focused on the road! The trip along this route, however, is absolutely … Continue reading
Verde Canyon Railroad, Sedona…
DECEMBER 17, 2013. Located near Sedona, the Verde Canyon Railroad is a heritage railroad running between Clarkdale and Perkinsville in Arizona. The passenger train operates on 20 miles of tracks of the Arizona Central Railroad, a short-line. Two FP7 locomotives, of only twelve remaining in North America, are the muscle that pulls the passenger cars. … Continue reading
