When it rains it pours...chocolate!

Location: Columbus-Belmont State Park, KY

Our plan WAS to head for Johnson Shut-Ins State Park. It's supposed to have these amazing natural water chutes that you can ride. Given that a huge thunderstorm descended down upon us last night, and is still continuing this morning, we decided to change plans. (BTW - thunderstorms in the mid-west are amazing. The thunder rolls on forever with continuous lightening flashes). So, what do any self-respecting chocolate makers due when it rains? Find another chocolate maker. We've been a follower of Askinosie Chocolate for awhile so decided to visit them in person, in Springfield, MO.

 

 

 

Here's their chocolate making facility. It's pretty small, but gave us some inspiration for the new chocolate laboratory we are building out this summer.

 

 

They were making a white chocolate with goat milk. We could see it conching in the Bauermeister.

 

 

Of course we sampled several bars.

 

 

 

We decided on 3 of them - Ecuador, Honduras and Philippines. Good thing Ned and I each have our favorites, no fighting that way.

 

 

There was an impressive amount of cocoa beans in their warehouse next door. We have at most 6 or 7 bags at a time. Talk about a small batch company!

 

 

I was impressed with their whiskey bar. A limited edition for the price of $14.

 

 

 

As we drove thru Missouri, one of the sights on the side of the road.

 

 

 

 

A stop to stretch our legs we came across these little gems. Anyone want a ham...or two?

 

 

The weather looked better in Kentucky than Missouri, so we decided to keep driving - over the Mississippi River. We're camped tonight at Columbus-Belmont State Park, an amazing place!! So glad we decided to push on and camp here.

Great camp spot overlooking the Mississippi River. Even comes with our own little swinging bench.

The Civil War history here is interesting. U.S. Grant and Gen Polk had an epic battle. Grant pushed Polk back, Polk got reinforcements and pushed Grant back. Both sides claimed victory. After the battle, Polk and Buford (on the Union Side) would frequently meet for dinner. Over champagne they would discuss horses and the war. Ned and I are currently reading a couple of books on the Civil War. They both emphasize that most of the officers were graduates of West Point and even though they fought on opposite sides, they still had a great deal of respect for each other. This site confirmed this.

We also visited a local cemetery where a 150 yr. old tree crashed onto a monument. Talking with one of the local workers here he said that apparently the guy who was buried under the monument was a real scoundrel. He insisted upon being buried at this spot, even though no one wanted him there. Karma - dude.

 

 

 

There was a local cat who followed us around and was very friendly.

 

 

 

Very Friendly!

 

After a busy day, Ned grilled up some bratwurst at our campsite.

Still amazed that the Mississippi River is right behind us. What a view!

 

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All About the Journey - Ozark Mountains

Roaring River State Park, Missouri

We started out in Oklahoma, traveled thru Arkansas and ended up in Missouri. Most of the travel was on back roads thru the Ozark Mountains. Just gorgeous country! Our final destination was Roaring River State Park which is a fisherman's paradise.

I don't know what it is about Missouri, but they have the bluest, clearest water of any state.

 

 

 

As is the case on some journeys, there are a few hiccups along the way. Early this morning we picked up a bolt that blew our tire. Thank goodness for hubbies...and I'm not just saying this because it's our 12th Anniversary today! BTW - Ned's an expert tire changer and we were on our way in no time. (Thank goodness too for our spare Michelin tire!).

 

Once we arrived at Roaring Park State Park we did our usual exploration on bike. Loved seeing the spring! This is the headwaters of the Roaring River. It produces over 20 million gallons of water a day.

There's a huge underground cave system that some divers have explored. Kevin are you game?

There's also a fish hatchery at this state park. It takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months before a trout can be introduced to the river.

 

 

 

Interesting to see all the stages of growth. Here's the toddler pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's the full grown trout in the river. They must be over 2 ft! (They are swimming around the rocks in the bottom of the picture).

 

 

This state park also has an old lodge built by the CCC circa 1930's.

 

 

And a new one too. Very reminiscent of the great lodges in the West, only smaller.

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary traveling buddy. It's been a wonderful 12 years, filled with great family times, laughter and lots of love. Lucky girl.

 

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America on the Move - Vintage RV's and Route 66

Location: Tenkiller State Park, Oklahoma

 

We left Winnie with the VW Dealer in Amarillo and went for a 10 mile bike ride. Our destination was the Jack Sisemore RV Museum. It was chock full of vintage RV's from the 20's thru the 70's.

 

 

Several years ago we had cruised by, but decided not to go in. We thought we were going to get the hard-sell from an RV Dealer. This wasn't the situation at all. It's just a really cool warehouse, behind the RV dealership on Route 66, showing the evolution of RV's and camping trailers.

 

 

This one was one of my favorites. It was the actual RV used in the Robin Williams' movie, "RV." It's a 1948 Flxible Bus.

 

It was so fun because with most of the RV's we were allowed to go inside and poke around. Here's the interior of the one above.

 

 

Another favorite was seeing the very first Airstream that was ever built - from $5 plans in Popular Mechanic magazine.

 

 

The inside was pretty cool. Hard to believe this is the oldest existing Airstream in the World!

 

We loved playing around all the vintage trailers. (Elaine, I kept thinking how much you would love this place!. Your trailers would fit in perfectly.)

 

 

I can just imagine tootaling along in vacation mode in one of these old timey trailers.

Only thing missing is my Manhattan.

(This is the inside of the above trailer).

 

Check out the trolley roof on this baby. It's a 1941 Westcraft Trailer. This particular trailer was used by a defense worker in WWII. It was located in a special worker's camp.

 

 

 

The inside was deluxe!! I can just see Harry Truman sipping a bourbon in one of these big soft leather chairs. Notice the phonograph player and big cabinet radio. This was really traveling in style.

The picture is of the battleship Sigourney used in WWI and WWII. It has been signed by the last 17 Presidents of the U.S.

 

Here's the very first Itasca motor home ever made in 1976. It was housed in the Winnebago showroom until recently. It only has 2000 miles on it.

 

 

 

Megan, you got competition with your "Pimp my Ride" RV. The Itasca inside was over the top 1970's.

 

I have sooo many more photos to share! But, alas I won't go on. When we get home I'd love to show them to you.

The Museum also housed tons of vintage motorcycles and Route 66 memorabilia. Dad, this one is for you.

 

 

Our own Winnie just clocked over 160,000 somewhere in Oklahoma today. We bought her at 40,000 miles. Someday, we think the ol' girl deserves a place in this museum too! This is our 8th trip across the U.S. and every now and then she needs a little TLC, but she's definitely loved and appreciated.

We're camped in the Eastern Hills of Oklahoma on a bluff overlooking a lake. We have the campground to ourselves. We're definitely appreciating the quiet before the craziness of Memorial Weekend.

I spoke too soon, a Whippoorwill bird is serenading us with great enthusiasm, about 10 feet from our camper.

 

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Low Riding in Santa Fe

Fort Amarillo RV Park, Amarillo, TX

After an early morning run and soak we headed for downtown Santa Fe. Love, love, love this city. The colors, culture, architecture and food all speak to me.

 

 

 

 

 

We did a quick bike ride around the square and then noticed that there was some kind of parade that was just beginning.

 

Turns out it was a Low Rider Parade! How fortuitous.

 

 

What a scene! There was everything from motorcycles...

 

 

To cars doing crazy tricks with their hydraulics.

Check out the driver peaking over the window, barely.

 

There were also some older cars that were very cool. The parade lasted for well over an hour, but we decided to go check out the local chocolate business cuz the fumes were killing us.

 

 

First chocolate shop was "Chocolate & Cashmere" which LInda and Gary told us about. They carry handcrafted chocolate.

 

Which one to choose...

 

 

We also went to "Chocolate de Plaza", a chocolatier that uses Valrhona and Del Rey chocolate to make a variety of chocolate speciality items. Typical for Santa Fe many of them featured hot chilis.

 

 

We had a great time walking and biking thru the quaint downtown area. Did I mention how vibrant the colors are here?

 

We walked thru some little alleyways that opened up into courtyards. Each one was so unique. You never knew what you'd stumble across - tile, pottery, textiles, dried chilis or flowers.

 

 

Our final destination was Amarillo, Texas. We were initially planning on staying at Palo Duro State Park, one of our favorites. However, we have an early morning appt. with a Volkswagen Dealer in Amarillo. We had ordered a part (from an Oregon VW dealer) last week and had it shipped here. Tomorrow is our date with destiny to finally fix the left CV joint. Fingers crossed no more knocking and noise. To make it easy, we are "camped" at a nearby RV park. Ah, the finest Amarillo has to offer. It is CRAZY windy here tonight with winds 50 mph. It's hot, but windy. Here's poor Winnie trying to hold her own among the big boys.

 

 

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