Airstream Improvements

Last few days of December and recovering from damaged hamstrings but still a few projects to complete before departure. From top: Black walnut custom made mirror in bathroom; Cup and mug storage in galley; Telescopic flag pole which is really an antenna booster mast; Secondary 30 amp inlet and breaker box to support additional heating systems; Stainless steel water inlet panel replacement.

Joys of Christmas!

Should be joys of the Christmas season as it certainly was not snowing at Christmas! This was taken on December 9 between our return from Alaska and departure for Florida...

Cross country breakfast

The only way to face up to a 1,700 mile across the continent speed run... a Cracker Barrel breakfast experience! Ditch the menu... order a la carte to get exactly what you want!

Flying visit to family!

Margaret's brother Andy (right) and wife Gail live in southern Illinois and that happens to be on our route from South Dakota to Virginia! Wonderful overnight visit, terrific dinner prepared by Gail and onwards we go towards home! Ella at bottom of photo is eagerly awaiting a treat!

A Fine Swine

A detour is always warranted when fine BBQ is spotted somewhere near the itinerary! Somewhere near St Louis we deviated and lunched on smoked brisket and smoked turkey! Always a pleasure to check in on the country gems - you can tell it's a gem when it opens at 11 am and the car park already has 20 empty vehicles lined up! Never disappointed! Bought additional take out of competition rib racks and smoked sausages for treats along the next 1,000 miles of highway! A quick inspection at the rear of the restaurant and the smoker indicates oak and cherry are the woods they smoke with!

Quick lamb chop diner

Split a rack of lamb from Costco into individual chops and grilled them on hickory. From the time we arrived at campground, lit the earthenware Japanese grill, then connected up trailer utilities, settled down in our camp chairs for cocktails, allowed the hickory to go to embers and grilled the lamb till it was ready to eat was a generous hour! Just enough light before the sun sets tonight to be able to see if the lamb is done! Along with steamed asparagus we had a splendid dinner and were ready to slumber! Such an efficient camp site arrival we have developed after three years of training and practice!

Two keys!

Two keys from the deactivated Minuteman control room that Initiate the launch of the nuclear ICBM missile from its South Dakota silo. Part of a three site National Park location featuring Minuteman visitor center, location of missile squadron control room and a dozen individual silos with deactivated missiles under the START treaty. Some of the missiles in North America still remain on active duty!

State Game Lodge dining

Enjoyed an evening at this fine dining lodge in Custer State Park. Particularly recommended are the sublime buffalo ravioli and the pheasant spring rolls! I had buffalo ribs for the main course but the appetizers were truly memorable!

Skylight leak

I thought that I had solved this nasty problem but a heavy downpour in Custer SD reminded me there was still a serious problem! Applied a temporary tarp to stop water coming in and now making a rapid journey home hopefully without major rainfall so that I can get our independent technician to diagnose and fix this mystery roof leak!

Crazy Horse is having his hair done!

Just 5 minutes out of Custer SD, Korczak Ziolkowski's family is continuing with the vision of this mammoth mountain carving hewn out of granite in the Black Hills. Begun in 1948, only the face so far has been completed and off the cuff estimates suggest 10 years to finish the hands and 50 years to complete the horse's head!

Needles Highway

South Dakota Custer State Park has some amazing highways especially designed by state governor Peter Norbeck to be driven very very slowly through magnificent scenery! Needles Highway was deemed impossible to construct by its critics nevertheless it was built in 1922 and included three tunnels, 14 miles of sharp turns and towering granite needle spires. We traveled slowly at about 15 mph through magnificent forests of aspen, birch, pine and spruce. Ended up at Sylvan Lake and stopped for a splendid light lunch at Sylvan Lodge.

Custer, South Dakota

Nice campground abutting National Forest.... two barbecues going... bonfire... first day relaxing since left the caravan and six continuous solid days and 1,600 miles on the road south east from Canada! Now we can visit four National Parks within an hour drive of our site and use this as a base for the next week... then the slog home!

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming

Nothing devilish about this igneous volcanic rock plug with 4, 5 snd 6 sided rock columns! Hiked the circumnavigation track some 2 km and watched many climbers on the various rock faces and talked to a couple from Belgium who had just returned to terra firma! This is a sacred Indian site with many prayer flags hung on trees around the base.

Weatherman presentation

Every evening before departure on our Alaska caravan the leaders prepared us for the journey and destination ahead.... and that included a segment by our volunteer weatherman John. In appreciation the two David's conjured up a weather forecasting rock and operating instructions which we presented to John on the last night's banquet!

Little BigHorn Battlefield

On our way east we pass through Montana and the Little BigHorn battlefield where Lt. Col. George Custer made his famous last stand on June 25th, 1876 whilst overrun and outnumbered 2,500 to 700 by the Sioux Indians. Excellent National Parks ranger talk introduced us to the multiple failures of the 7th Calvary which resulted in a Sioux battle win but it was the loss of a war and the end of the era and culture for the native Americans....

Coulee Dam Laser Show

The second largest hydropower project in the world (after the Three Gorges China) turns on the water at night to become a laser show screen! We did a tour by day into the generating room and across the top of the Dam and came back later at night to the visitor center for a laser show about the cultural and political origins of this Depression Era project. Ten years in construction and major enhancements some 40 years later. Unfortunately the Native American Indians lost their salmon livelyhood!

Final Parting of the Ways

After leaving Prince George on Thursday morning, some 400 miles and a day later we discover our caravan friends resting in a turnout near the Okenagan Valley! Joyful reunion before we bid farewell again for the final time! Pat, David, John, Margaret, Victoria and Laurie.

Aurora Borealis

While we slept in Whitehorse a spectacular event unfolded in the midnight sky above our Airstreams. Only one person was awake and caught these images of the Northern Lights! It only lasted a brief few minutes before disappearing! Note: caused by solar wind's charged particles hitting the earth's magnetic field in the upper atmosphere!

The view above Juneau

Take the aerial tram to the Mt Roberts observation platform some 1,800 ft above town and check out the scenery and the visiting cruise ships.

Camel sausages

Spotted in the Sausage Factory at Smithers, British Columbia - a town of original German emigration.

Comfortable perch

Harbor seals enjoy lazing and snoozing on the navigation buoys off Juneau. There must be five of them squeezed up on top of the can!

Haines: bear viewing

A weir stretches across the stream alongside a narrow road just outside Haines, AK. A fisheries ranger is standing on the weir counting salmon as they go through and shooing the cubs back in the water when they climb up. This mother bear shared the fish she caught with her twins. Don't think this mother read the sign! She and her chubby triplets are approaching the river from the other side. One hour, 8 bears, success! This as-yet unregulated viewing site is one of the most reliable in Alaska.

Whitehorse: dinner

The campsite was yet another large parking lot so we made the most of a sunny evening with a bring-your-own dinner and birthday cake for one of the group. Always fun to see what others cook! We made comfort food in the Instant Pot: coq-au-vin, mashed potatoes, and peas. Much later that night, some caught a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Alas, not us...

Instant campfire!

Combine the ingredients, place them in a heavy pot, and light! Fast and warm for these chilly evenings. When you're ready to go in, put the lid on the pot and the fire goes out. Another Bright Idea from one of the other Virginia caravaners.