In June we are off once again for our Cross-Country Excursion in our 2004 Pace Arrow. The 2400 mile trip to Virginia takes us across the entire country on I-40. We had such a nice rainy season we are reluctant to leave. But Lebanon Farm in Virginia calls to us from afar. Check in here for the latest updates.

Alaska - The True Wilderness

Our Alaska Wilderness Tour begins on September 10th with a flight from San Diego to Anchorage. This was more than 6 hours flying time, and longer in distance than from California to New York. We elected to fly in a day early due to the problems of present-day air travel, so we used the extra day to do a tour of the city. It was, no doubt, a good omen of things to come when were able to view Denali “The Big One” across The Cook Inlet of Prince William Sound. Denali – better known as Mount McKinley in the lower 48 – reaches 20,320 feet into the sky, and dominates the region in both the weather in can generate, and its stature in size. Only 25% of Alaska’s visitors to this region get to view Denali.

The next morning we were transported to the train station, and boarded the Fairbanks Express to Denali National Park. The Princess Organization operates several Wilderness Lodges in the area, and we traveled in comfort on these specially designed double-decked train cars. The observation deck is on top, and the lower level is a private dining room. We had both Breakfast and Lunch aboard the train. The highlight of the train ride was the crossing of the famed railroad bridge across Hurricane Gulch. Our arrival at The Denali Lodge was on time and without problems. We were the last tour of the season, so the region was in the process of shutting down for the winter – which was due to arrive the next week (literally) as the snow flies early here.

Denali National Park

We spent the next day on a bus tour of Denali National Park. We discovered this area of the state has a condition of “Permafrost” which causes the ground to remain frozen the year round. In the summer, permafrost starts about 5 feet below the service, and in the winter, it freezes down 8 to 10 feet due to the sometime -60 below conditions. The park rangers patrol the park with dog sleds since snowmobiles are unreliable in these conditions. We saw lots of Eagles, and 2 Moose, but no Bears on our excursion.

The next day we were bussed two hours to the Princess McKinley Lodge just 40 miles from the mountain itself. Denali was nowhere in view, and we expected our visit to pass with out a sighting of the great mountain. In the morning, fog covered the area, but by 10am, it began to clear and Denali came into view. Well worth the wait, I would say.

Our last day at Denali National Park was a one hour bus ride to the train station, and a ride back down to Anchorage and on to Whittier and our cruise ship: The Coral Princess. During this Journey, the train had to pass through the Whittier tunnel – a one way 2.5 mile hole drilled through solid rock. Built in 1943 to supply the war effort, it was converted in 1959 from train travel only to both auto and train traffic.

College Fjord and Glacier National Park

The first two days aboard the Coral Princess was spent crusing the College Fjord and Glacier National Park. Some of the most tranquil scenes one could expect against the size and majesty of massive Glaciers that come down to meet the water. Such Tide-Water Glaciers, as they are called, are over 1500 feet tall and sometimes miles in width. Moving about 5 feet a day, frequently ice breaks off under massive pressure, and fall into the sea with a loud cracking sound that resembles thunder.

The Inland Passage

Our first stop was the city of Skagway. We boarded the White Pass & Yukon Trail narrow gauge railroad for a 20 mile climb to the summit. Through clouds and rain we passed along side the famous Yukon trail to the gold rush fields of the 1880s. Considered an Engineering marvel – most notably due to the cantilevered bridge that passes over the gulch (now replaced with a tunnel) - just this side of the Canadian Boarder. The bridge can still be seen in all its glory just before passing through the tunnel.

The next day, the ship brings us into the Alaskan Capitol of Juneau, a town of about 35,000 people. A strange location, Juneau can only be reached by boat or air – no one has determined an effective path across the mountain. Like the climb up Denali, several have tried the cross-country passage, but few have succeeded. A beautiful city – our trip to the Mendenall Glacier (National Park) was a once-in-a lifetime experience and Juneau’s residents get to view it every day.

The city of Ketchikan is only about 15,000 in population, but it gets the most rain of anyplace in the state. Once a city of rowdy gold miners, it has given way to a peaceful port city whose main business is derived mostly now from the tourist trade. Normal winter conditions here are only about 34 degrees, and any snow that falls is normally gone by the afternoon.

After a day at sea, we concluded our Alaskan Vacation in Vancouver, BC. Preparing for the 2010 summer Olympics, the already spiffy city is polishing and renewing its image to prepare for all the visitors the Olympics are sure to bring. After experiencing almost two weeks of temperatures in the high forties, we are once again home in the Sonorian Desert of Southern California. The warm weather of our fleeting summer giving way to fall.

We Made It!

Well, it has been a crazy month. We started off on June 6, 2006, and spent 8 days traveling across the mid section of our Country on I-40. It has been a trip we have made several times, so not much to report that is new. We decided to add an additional day, so Jim found a campground in Emporia (a Jellystone Park). This allowed us to break the Nashville to The Eastern Shore up into 3 days instead of two. We stayed at Ashville East at a KOA right near the entrance to The Great Smokey Mountain National Park. It was certainly beautiful to behold – even though we had rain that night.

As we progressed East, the days got cooler. You might recall that the West had a heat wave, and it was 107 when we reached our first stop at Black Canyon North of Phoenix. By the time we climed to 7,000 feet at Flagstaff, the heat was off, and we only had to endure 90s until Nashville. When finally reached the Eastern Shore, the days were cool, and we had a good breeze. This lasted for more than 10 days.

Dean, Steve and Carol came down to Lebanon Farm from Rochester on Sunday the 18th. We had a good visit, and the rural nature of the Eastern Shore did not seem to dampen their spirits. We lunched at the Historic Eastville Inn, and conducted a tour of the surrounding area. The got to see the goings on in Cape Charles, and otherwise, we were able to dine alfresco for the duration. Sadly their visit was short, and on Tuesday, they were back up the pike to the great frozen North.

A quick note from Dean:

Like I indicate. a long trip home.. Arrived here in about 13
hours. first, we thought we were on a wrong highway about 90 minutes or
so after we left your place, but finally saw a business (Janoski
Furniture) we recognized as seeing on our way down.. Continued on,
after stopping for coffee and donuts at a Dunkin Donuts. The fun really
began when we came to a major construction site near those huge bridges
south of Wilmington. There was a very strange "merge" at the end of this
where we may have made a big and wrong choice, eventually ending up on
the EAST side of Philly.. along the harbor. We were LOST. We traveled
north, then north west for miles, eventually seeing a sign Thruway..
for miles, traveling thru the Pocono’s. Eventually meeting up with 81.
From there, of course, we were okay. Carol insisted on driving most of
the way... and she is no slow driver. Steve drove from near Scranton to
the first rest stop on the N.Y. Thruway west of Syracuse.

That same day, our Cousins Dee Dee and Mary Lou arrived from the south shore of Boston. We had a wonderful visit with Christopher Pickwick and his wife arriving Saturday. They only stayed one day only to return to Washington, DC in time for all the flooding.
After all the visiting, we set about a long list of chores that we need to get through before we return to California. We go to Michigan next week for Jim’s family reunion. I will write more about that later.

Jim & Tom’s New Excellent Adventure 2006

Lebanon Farm In Winter 2006

Hello friends and neighbors. Jim and I are about to embark on another excellent adventure across the I-40 corridor to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Once at Lebanon Farm, we have a full schedule of friends visiting from Rochester, NY and The South Shore of Boston.

Since Internet connections are spotty across the nation, we might not post our first installment until we reach our destination. Please check this location for the latest Posts and Updates.

Tom Nottingham

Another Adventure

Friends,

We are off on another adventure. We sail out of San Diego on September 26th for a cruise of the Mexican Riveria. Hopfully we will avoid any Hurricains and have smooth sailing on the Regal Princess. We will keep you abrest of our travels along the way.

Tom & Jim

Epilogue or should I say Epiblog?

Yes friends, we are now back home for the first time since May 24th. Our good friends Jim and Neil have been looking after our place during our absence. They also have been managing our mail, no small task, I might add.

It was a wonderful trip although it did have some hair-raising moments. One that I recall was just squeezing through the Canadian Customs booth with only inches to spare. Our rig is more than 120” wide mirror-to-mirror. Another was the last 20 miles from Winslow to Flagstaff in 40 mile an hour winds. We experienced violent though short thunderstorms in Michigan and New York, although it was Asta that suffered the most.

We got to meet with many old friends, and met some new ones in the various campgrounds where we stayed. Campgrounds are a wonderful place to meet fellow travelers. The rigs they drive run the gamut from plop-up trailers to Prevost Buses that cost far beyond my budget. Yet despite these economic inequities, the people inside are friendly and get along well with one another.

Many campgrounds have entertainment nightly during peak seasons, and it is wonderful to sit and enjoy the music as the sun slips below the horizon. Our last night on the road was at River Breeze RV Park in Ehrenberg, AZ. Our hosts had arranged a potluck BBQ with the park throwing in Ribs and Chicken. They also arranged for Karaoke Entertainment. It was slow at first, but gradually more people got up and attempted to sing. At this late juncture in our lives, I never thought in a million years that we would play bingo or attend a Karaoke session – and enjoy it.

Although Jim and I are not ready to become what is called “Full Timers”, we met many couples that were, and seemed to really enjoy the experience. We love our condo in Palm Springs too much to make the plunge, but we can see the experience can be very rewarding as one travels to country and meets new friends.

Check the Blog from time to time, as we will update as things happen in our lives. On the horizon is a cruse to the Mexican Riviera in December, and a short trip in the RV next February or March to Laughlin and Las Vegas. Until such time, I bid you all a due – stay safe and well.

Tom Nottingham
Jim Price
And Asta

Our 2004 Pace Arrow in KOA at Little Rock, AK. One of the Nicer Spots with Redwood Table and Camping Area.

My College ID Badge from 1966 

Tom Donovan 

Stage at Grand Old Opry 

Our Long Trip Home

We left the Eastern Shore of Virginia for our home in Palm Springs on August 25. Our route took us up through Washington, D.C. and then west to the Shenandoah Valley. We then turned southwest until we reached the I-40 for the long trek across the Southern Midsection of the country. Our first major stop was Nashville, TN.

One of our favorite KOA campgrounds is in Nashville. Only a mile from the OpryMills Hotel, The Grand Old Opry, and the Opryland Mall, it is a perfect location, and a wonderful place to stay. An old college friend drove up from Birmingham, AL to visit with us.

I have known Tom Donovan for more than 35 years. We attended Rochester Institute together in the early 1960s. We lost touch for some years, but started communicating once again while I was working in Hollywood. A graphic artist, Tom is currently working in the Cellular Phone industry. We spent most of our three days together catching up on old times. Tom is one of the few persons that I still communicate with that was in my class of 1968.

We obtained tickets to the Grand Old Opry for the Saturday night performances. The Grand Old Opry is not only the home of Country Music, its shows are live broadcasts on cable and of course WSM radio in Nashville. The two-hour show consisted of two live radio shows, and one live television performance. Live radio streaming is available from their web site.

Since live radio on this scale is indeed rare these days, I found the whole process most interesting. With over 4,000 people in the audience, the shows moved along fast with excellent talent. Even if you are not a fan of Country Music, the Grand Old Opry would hold you spellbound for the duration. The evening culminated in the unscheduled appearance of Loretta Lynn. She held the audience (mostly VFW conventioneers) in the palm of her hand as she sang “Coal Miner’s Daughter”.

On Monday morning, we started west once again with stops in Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and Ehrenberg. We arrived back in Palm Springs Sunday Morning of Labor Day Weekend. All and all it was a successful trip lasting more than three months. We enjoyed seeing all of our old friends and relatives once again. A quick note, while in Virginia, Jim’s mom had a bout in the hospital. I am happy to report that Hazel Price made it through with flying colors.
Our thanks to all that put up with our travels, and looked in on the Blog from time to time to monitor our progress. It was a great experience. We dodged three Hurricanes, a few tropical storms, high humidity, one of the wettest years on record, and 100+ temperatures in the southwest. Gotta’ love summer in the US.