Just About as Far East as You Can Go

 

After Cleveland, we headed to Dayton, Ohio to explore the history of aviation, starting with the surprise discovery of the bicycle shop that started Orville and Wilbur Wright on their road to flight. 

Next, we spent a few hours in the Air Force Museum. Sam wore his F-16 Hawaiian shirt, which seemed to match the exhibits. 

There were aircraft from all eras and included the Memphis Belle, a space shuttle, the Bockscar plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, and Air Force One, which carried the body of President Kennedy home from Dallas. It was sobering to walk through that one.

They had experimental aircraft. 

And a few fun things, too.

Sam's last visit here was as a young boy, after which his Mama took them to Spaghetti Warehouse to eat. We continued that tradition!

Driving across Pennsylvania, we detoured through Punxsutawney, home of the famous groundhog. 

It's a bucolic small town with other interesting residents, and we even saw the real groundhog, who lives in a burrow at the library. Funny story: just like in the Groundhog Day movie, we found ourselves returning to the same groundhog gift shop three times!

Next, we unexpectedly met up with Sam's driving buddy and I experienced four hours in a big rig on a real run. That truck is big, and I was glad to let Sam drive.

Also in the same area of Montgomery, New York, we found the old headquarters of one of the first motorcycle TV shows, Orange County Choppers. We hear the star, Paul Sr., moved to Florida a few years ago. 

We had just seen one of their builds, the Air Force bike, at the Air Force Museum. 

Unfortunately, since we wanted to deliver the car within a week, we just didn't have enough days to visit all of my Greenough family on Long Island. We hope to remedy that some time in the future. 

We continued to follow the path of spring blooms as we headed northeast. I'm really enjoying all the colors we don't see much in the desert. 

Our road trip ended in Westerly, Rhode Island where we were enthusiastically greeted by Kathie and Bill, and treated to as much seafood as we could enjoy. Which was a lot.

Bill showed us around his longtime home town, where he has worked and contributed to renovation of many parks and golf, maritime and military installations. 

We enjoyed hanging out with them where they graciously shared their home.

We also visited Sam's cousin George Allen in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where Sam's Mama grew up.

This is where Sam picked up a load at Gorton's Seafood in his semi-truck in 1999, the last time he saw George. 

We visited the Paper House in Rockport, which Sam visited as a boy. You can see the rolled up newspapers that make up the walls and furniture of almost the entire little home.

Finally, we connected with Fran and Brent in Mystic, Connecticut. Sam and Fran got to know each other when they both worked in the motorcycle industry, selling motorcycle parts. Facebook has kept us in touch, and we really enjoyed getting to know them in person.

Mystic was a fun little town, too.

That's it for today, folks. Next stop, New York City on an Amtrak train!

 

Road Trip!

 

Sam ended up staying out on the road for two and a half months. 

He drove safely through many, many snowstorms. 

And slimmed down as he went!

Meanwhile, I put up ceiling trim in the bedroom. 

Visited a donkey rescue.

And enjoyed the beginnings of spring at the ranch.

Then a few days ago, we headed out on our big Road Trip! We're driving our friend Kathie's car to the East Coast. 

Through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas panhandle (where we spotted the giant cross in Groom, Texas) and Oklahoma.

More than 24 hours on the road brought us to a beautiful spring day in Arkansas. 

Our first stop was Bull Shoals Lake, where they've had so much rain, they're releasing thousands of gallons of water into the White River. 

It was great to see friends Don and Linda and enjoy a cruise on their new pontoon boat. 

The warm weather brought spring blooms all the way up to Kansas City. 

Where we spent a good time visiting with Uncle Henry. I painted him a small picture of the tractor he gave us in 2015.

The following night found us catching up with the whole Keller gang in St. Louis, where they treated us to local favorite foods from that fair city.

We even met some of the younger generation.

And had a good view of the Gateway Arch on the way out of town. 

Our next stop was Cleveland, a city Sam has driven a big truck through many times, but I don't think I've ever been here. 

This may get me in trouble with Aunt Anne for posting this photo, but I want to commemorate our wonderful visit with her today. We haven't seen her since 2004.

The weather has turned cold and rainy with some snow, so I don't have a sunset tonight. But earlier today we spotted this fun Cleveland landmark, the Malley's Chocolates factory and store. My kind of place!

We hope to bring you our further travels in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. Hopefully spring is coming in your neighborhood!

Big Changes at the Ranch

We have news! Sam is back on the big road.

About a month ago, he made the wrenching decision to quit his job as a bus driver (which he loved) and go back to trucking.

He called our friend Sam (yes, now there's two), who's based in Salt Lake City and has been talking to him for years about driving with him.

Sam#1 has an extra truck and is letting Sam#2 (my guy) use this beauty.

In the past month, they have made several trips between Salt Lake City and upstate New York.

They go through Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Except when Wyoming is closed due to blizzards, which has been a couple times already! As many of you know, it's a cold and snowy winter up there.

They've hauled air conditioners, farm equipment and railroad parts. 

Sam really enjoys driving a big truck again. 

He loves to check out the cool trucks and talk to the drivers. We talk several times a day and sometimes I help him stay alert late at night. His CB handle is "Nighthawk" and he likes driving the quieter roads after dark.

Of course it's important to keep up the mohawk haircut. 

And eat healthy on the road. He's doing a great job!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Dingus got a skin injury on a front paw and we visited the vet. Twice.

He tolerated the head cone well and stayed closer to mom and brother Frankie. He lost some weight, but he's doing fine now and just turned 13 years old. 

With Sam gone, I have more time and am trying my hand at doing projects on my own. The shelves in our hall utility closet were sagging and falling down. First I demolished them and repainted the interior. Then I made a trip to Ace Hardware for brackets and shelves.

It was a little work, but they turned out well!

Next I tackled the outdoors. Part of the skirting around the bottom of our little park model was gaping open. First I cleaned the weeds and dirt out of the track.

Then I replaced the panels around the back and cleaned up the yard. An improvement!

More recently, I cleaned out the greenhouse because I want to start some seedlings and have a small garden this spring and summer. 

I also cleaned out the garden a bit and gathered potting soil, fertilizers and nutrients like earth worm castings, bat guano and ground eggshells (courtesy of Sam).

The seeds are planted, but haven't sprouted yet.

Partly due to the aforementioned winter weather, which has come all the way south to Arizona. One of Sam's recent yard sale finds was greenhouse heat pads to put under the seedlings, and I'm using them!

Fortunately, it was a nice day for the 25th anniversary and renewal of vows for our neighbors, Heather and Owen. If you go through that gate in the background and turn left, you're on our property! Our last blog post also featured a renewal of vows; evidently enduring love is in the air.

I have also had time for some artistic pursuits. The larger paint party was at Huachuca Art Gallery in Sierra Vista. 

I tried alcohol ink and watercolor, which were both fun.

I've also been to an oil painting class in Sierra Vista, since I now have a pretty good set of oils. The photo we used is on top and the small painting below. I got a lot of help from Susan, the instructor. 

I'll say goodbye with today's view of our beautiful Rincon Peak. It's even more majestic in person. 

And I'll let Sam close with a sunset he sent me today from somewhere out on the road. May your winters be short and your sunsets long!