Katman1356...Jason

Day 3. We headed out from Alma pretty early as we really wanted to make it to Roswell before the UFO museum closed for the day. Back onto I40 we went zipping right into Oklahoma. Last time I did this trip with a buddy of mine were detoured off of I40 because a barge had hit a bridge. We saw a memorial for that in our travels. We also had chance to hop onto Rt. 66 for a little bit and stopped at the Oklahoma Rt. 66 museum but they weren't open yet. We continued on through to Texas where we switched roads in Amarillo at the signs for the 72 ounce steak (nope didn't get one) and headed across country to Roswell. We made it to Roswell at around 5 p.m. and had enough time to visit the museum before it closed. Then we got some dinner at Golden Corral before heading out to our campground. More on that later. But for now Pictures!

We missed the welcome to OK sign to I took this at our first rest area stop.

Driving through OK

Rt. 66

First wind turbines of the trip.

Heading down more of Rt. 66

At the Rt. 66 museum

eh close enough

Back on I40

And entering Texas

In case you weren't sure they give you plenty of signs your in TX

and our first giant cross of the trip.

our first and I think only old windmill

at a rest area on I40

There was a prevailing wind blowing that had made the trees grow up a little bit funny.

Amarillo

Heading towards Roswell

We saw a lot of really big long trains on this trip. You don't see them to much in the northeast.

Dust Devil

Welcome to New Mexico!

This was on an island in the middle of the road.

Driving to Roswell. Wishing I had filled up at the last gas station we passed even though we didnt need it yet.

Photo Limit. To be continued.

Day 2. We stopped at the gas station near the highway for fuel and so Silvia could get a Coffee. And then hopped on the road. It was about 7 am. We headed down I40 passing through Nashville and Memphis and then Crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas.

Nashville

Memphis

Crossing the Mississippi

And cue the flat land.

Silvia had never been off the east coast besides flying to a destination so the changes in the land were a source of constant amazement for her. I also found the differences striking and beautiful.

We made it to Alma around 5 that evening and took a ride through the town to check it out and find a grocery store.

At a park in Alma.

And you finally get a picture of me in this trip report.

They put a lot of detail into the fountain of Popeye.

We stopped and picked up a couple of steaks to make for dinner and headed to our campground. We were staying this night at the Alma KOA. It was an okay campground. Not sure I would want to spend more than 1 night there but tit worked for our purposes. The bathrooms were fairly clean. This stop was one of our warmest nights. The midwest was in the beginning of that heat wave last summer and the low for the night was going to be 85 degrees I think. We decided to leave the rain fly off the tent to improve circulation. There were a lot of bugs around here as well.

Sorry forgot to take pictures of the rest of the amenities.

Continued in next post. Day 3 Oklahoma, Texas, and Roswell, NM for the last day of the International UFO Festival.

I'm in!

A lot of people I know would love to take off from work for three weeks and go see the country. I think most of them are on this board. :wave1: I have been lucky enough to be able to do it twice now. The most recent was last summer, I have a lot of pictures from that trip so I decided I would share some of them here. I wont be doing a lot of writing in this one so even Bob should enjoy it.

We left on July 1st at 3 in the morning. We had a reservation for the night in Crossville, TN and that was a lot of miles before we were stopping. Our journey took us from CT, through NY and into PA where we made our first stop. I had promised SIlvia a stop at Hershy so she could get a chocolate shake.

We stopped at a truck stop in PA and I had to walk to the other end of the lot to take a look at this.

First time I have seen one of those but it was pretty cool. I didn't go in so that's all you get. Our next stop was Hershey.

For those of you who have not met her that is my wife Silvia in the shadows. She was really excited about her milkshake .

Sorry no actual pic of her milkshake. I think it was on her phone. I was busy exploring as 9:30 in the morning was a little to early for a milkshake for me.

We did see this guy though and he was kind enough to pose for me.

Continuing on we went through Maryland.

West Virginia

and Virginia sorry no sign picture before entering Tennessee.

We saw a hot air balloon before reaching our campground.

W stayed that night at the Crossville KOA. It was almost time for them to close up the office when we arrived and they were worried we had gotten lost. They forgave us when we told them we had driven straight from Connecticut. This was a very nice campground. We were tenting it so we had a site by a pond that had a picnic table and the area was nice and grassy. The comfort stations wer clean as well.

Some pics of the KOA were taken at night and some in the morning. Sorry for the lighting.

Our tent for our travels.

Just big enough to hold a queen size air matress.

The office/store

We setup the tent broke out the grill and made some hot dogs. After dinner we took a shower and went to bed. It had been a long day and we had many miles to go tomorrow.

I will pause here. In the next installment we cross the Mississippi River and head to Alma, AK Spinach capital of the world.(so the signs said anyway).

My only regret is I flew in at night, and flew out at night, so didn't really get the realization of flying over the Rockies and really realizing where in the country I actually was. I also took a shuttle straight to the Anaheim area, and straight back to LAX. Someday, even though the campground isn't the best I will pull the camper out there just to see the country in between!!

I was fortunate enough last summer to go to Disneyland in just this way. The country in between is awesome. I am even more fortunate in that this was the second time I have been able to do this. It was just as awe inspiring the second time. I hope for many more. Maybe I will do a mostly pic trip report. We hit National Parks and Monuments, Disneyland, and other things like giant Pistachios.

Haven't seen them before but they remind me of a bracelet. Kind of like an id bracelet minus the chain? not sure if that is completely wrong though.

Not a problem! That's what Fiends are for! When time gets closer we'll hammer out the details!

Absolutely and thanks again.

Oh Fiends... that's so awesome.

Now... Jason, don't show your wife or she'll be jealous of that awesome setup.

She heard me get excited and wanted to know what was going on. I can't believe how lucky i have been too find a group like this. The Fiends are such a wonderful group. I am beyond grateful for this group.

Oh and Silvia says Hi. :10220: She hopes you are well.

TCD,

Thanks for mentioning that book, I'll have to check it out.

I'll let you know when I am ready......at the moment I am dealing with jet lag, and just plain exhaustion after being on the road for three weeks. We put on a little over 2.800 miles on our rental van!!! It was quite a trip! I'll do the trip report when things settle down this Fall.

Disneyland is both similar to WDW and different........if that makes sense!

Like I said lines were almost non existant.........saw tons of character with no handlers with them......no finger scan to get into the parks........seemed like more live entertainment going on.........they have the Golden Horseshoe which is the same as our Diamond Horseshoe and they actually USE it to put on really great shows.......their Fast Passes can be used anytime after the first hour on the one hour window. There is something special about being in the original park, where Walt actually spent time.

I hope that you get to go someday........you would love it.........for those of us who have grown up going to WDW or have gone to WDW multiple times that is our favorite park, but Disneyland is a lot of fun too!!!!

Heidi

We had the chance to go to Disneyland last summer for the first time and I have to agree it was a lot of fun. We had a bit more in the way of lines but the new Little Mermaid ride had just opened, The Soundsational Parade (best parade ever in my opinion) had just started running and the World of Color show(One of the best shows we have seen aslso) was fairly new. This really drove up the crowds and the locals passes were good too at the time.

For anyone who hasn't gone yet it is a real treat. It does kind of mess with your head because rides are not "in the right places" so to speak but you can't beat how much less walking you have to do.

Carol, you are one of the most awesome Fiends I know!

Agreed Rita!

If you'd like Jason, I can leave my tent setup wit Ed and Mama in December and you can get it from them at the Fort and then leave it with Judy or Lorna and I can get it back in Feb. Tent, awning, air mattress linens with electric mattress pad and electric blanket and a chair.

Wow Carol. I don't know what to say. That would be awesome. I dont know how to thank you enough.

I am going pretty light on this camping I should be able to pack my gear in one suitcase and my clothes in another. Even if I use my smaller suitcase as a carryon for my clothes I should be ok. I am only bringing a tent, air matress, pillow, sheets, blanket and towel. and it is a smaller tent. and a twin air matress.

And with the use of the Magic Express instead of a cab or other paid for transportation, it evens out.

Also true Bill.

Thanks Brent. It is looking like I may end up flying. The price difference is coming out to only $40 or so. Hopefully it will still be that when I am ready to buy next month.

Big mistake gluing the shoes to my feet. If you think Dave's ohana's smell bad wait till my feet have been in shoes for 24 hours.

Sorry for not keeping the other kids in line Ma. I had my noise cancelling headphones on and fell asleep. Course I can't quite figure out why my hand now seems to be glued to the side of my head. Which one of you did it? Was it you Nicki?

I have a deli?

I have a deli?

That's an empty threat Jason..... ma never goes to the parks!!!

Ok true.

Of course how can she when she leaves her AP's on the table at home.

Here we go again LMAO now will u all stop it so I can sleep

I am trying Lorna but they are not listening to me.

Ma put me in charge. you too better start behaving or we will make you stay on I-drive with no Fort and no Parks.

Gee whiz, Jason. I was counting on you to keep the others in line.

oh wait does that mean I'm in charge. I am an oldest child I can do that. Dave sit quietly or no breakfast for you. :toiletreading:

My tummy is rumbly. Why did we have to get up so early?

So you need someone to admit that they are older than dirt and remember this? :rofl3:

Where's Lou? :rofl2: