Haviland Lake

Few more hours of driving this morning through southern Colorado and over Wolf Creek Pass and finally down into Durango. Quickstop to gas up and then up hiway 550 to our most favorite spot--Haviland Lake. We've been here many times and is so familiar. . .makes us smile when we drive into this National Forest campground. Set up in a flash and began our holiday weekend.

A couple shots of this little trout lake that is so tranquil in the evening light. Already I've seen blue birds, a green tailed towhee, magillvers warbler, yellow rumps, pigmy nuthatches. . .and still counting.

Westward Ho

Once we got out of those surprisingly steep hills in southwest Missouri and the also surprisingly beautiful lakes and forested region of  western Oklahoma. . .well, this was pretty much it.  The Grasslands of central Oklahoma and Kansas looks pretty much the same, mile after mile.

We stayed away from the freeway on purpose which meant we went through countless small towns  with names we will never recall.

Eastern Colorado is pretty much the same except that we are slowly climbing in elevation.

Prairie Cathedrals throughout the agricultural lands.

Late in the afternoon we could begin to see the outline of the Rocky Mountains.

We drove two long days to get here to Alamosa, Colorado tonight.  We are in the San Luis Valley near the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in southern Colorado at a KOA campground.  The evening sky was so interesting.  The setting sun made rainbows off in the distance through some mountain showers.

We are going to sleep cool tonight.

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Branson

Since we're here--we spent a couple of days in Branson, MO.  This is a place like no other.  Its the Ozark's pleasureland--a mecca for seniors--with countless theaters, restaurants, dinner shows, wax museums, water parks, outlet malls, motels, flea markets, churches.  You will not find casinos or R-rated entertainment or high end shops.  Down home family fare.

  We got into town and immediately called the box office to reserve our seats for the "Sons of the Pioneers," the classic western music group.  they have a 76 year legacy of cowboy music.  Obviously none of the originals but some of the older guys remember those originals, like Roy Rogers and Pat Brady and songwriter Bob Nolan.

Three of the 7.  The guy on the left even looks a bit like Roy Rogers,   Can't you just hear "Tumblin' Tumbleweed," or "Ghost Riders in the Sky." This group was based in Tucson for many years and came to Branson to perform but a few years ago they moved permanently to Branson and now tour from here.  We never got around to seeing them in Tucson so made sure to see them this time.  They do appear regularly in Arizona, in fact, they will be at Tohono Chul Park in Tucson on November 10.

Next day we just wanted to do a morning variety show but couldn't find one that was performing.  Apparently we are  here before the Labor Day push for the new season and several theaters and attractions closed.  So on the spur of the moment we drove out to Table Rock Lake and took a lunch/show cruise on the Branson Belle Showboat.

Turned out to be a Gospel music show featuring "The Stamps"

Besides all that Branson offers, its a very pretty part of Missouri.  This huge reservoir, many lakes--big fishing destination--hardwood forested hills.  Surprisingly big hills.

Our finale was "Joseph" at the Sights and Sounds theater.  The venue itself is something to see and the Biblical story of Joseph was dramatized with all the special effects and and wonderful music you could imagine. Went home singing.

On to Missouri

We had a busy, productive, and enjoyable week in Indiana with Stephanie.  Got some stuff done for her and had time to enjoy just being there also.  It was helpful to just park the RV in her yard--wonder if we dare do that again next time. 

We had a late breakfast with Steph and then packed up, hugged her tight and then headed out.  We got all the way across Illinois and into Missouri before we stopped for the night.  Actually went farther than planned but it was mostly freeway and we were trucking right along.  Found Meramec State Park not far off of interstate 44 and found it to be a very pleasant stop.  Is a large wooded park with lots of nice hiking.  We haven't been out tramping in the woods for a while so felt good.  This is a big karst area which means there are lots of caves around here.  The famous Meramec Cave is several miles away, but we found a few on our short hike.  To stand in front of the cave mouth when it is a hot summer day and feel the cool air pumping out of the earth is really an eerie feeling.

Saturday morning at the farmers market



We walked downtown this morning to the farmers
market.  Its about a 15 or 20 minute walk from her
house.  This is one of the murals along the way depicting
old Bloomington.





On a fence of a local park.  They are made from
bicycle tires and fabric to make a sort of quilt look.



Another mural and one of Bloomington's "brains."  A lady--
I have to research what her name is--had a stroke and
because she was a brain scientist she took note of what
what actually happening, then wrote a book and was on
all the tv talk shows to tell her story of recovery.  Maybe
you remember her story a few years ago.  Anyway she
is a professor here in Bloomington and she was behind
these decorated brains all over town to promote brain
health and awareness.  They are bazaar but eye catching.




Finally made it to the market, had breakfast and then shopped.




Always something to look at with interest.



Walking home again down Maple.  Backyard view of her house with our RV parked under a tree.  That's Stephanie's porch and back door. 

Dinner out at The Farm



We went to a place downtown Bloomington
called, "The Farm."  Lots of fresh, local
good stuff.  Steph's seared tuna just might not
be local, however.




Marvin and I had the same salad.  Bon appetit
. . .dig in!!




My salad was full of good things like
blackberries, blueberries, goat cheese, candied
 pecans. . .I liked it a lot




Special tonight was Catfish, Will said it was the best.



A whole new bathroom!!

Finished!!  Tile is down on floor, subway tiles up on walls and grouted, fixtures back in place and functioning.  Even new chrome towel bars and  faucets installed and in use.  We didn't get the walls painted and that's ok because Steph is going to do that later.  They are peach color right now, but she needs some time to think about what color she really wants--not peach.  Anyway, neither Will or I like to paint.  The floor tile is one inch sage green tile and the walls are white which really makes the room pop.  That's pretty much all we have been doing  The three of us did go out for Chinese one night, and last night Will and I went to Panera while Steph went to yoga.  But tonight, we are actually going to go out for a nice dinner and Stephanie's favorite guy, Marvin is joining us.

Indiana

We're in Bloomington at Stephanie's house.  Classes start this week so Steph is pretty busy--but then she  usually has a bunch of things going. 

We got busy too.  We are re-tiling her bathroom and its turning into quite a project.  Sounded like a simple thing to do but these projects always turn out to be more complicated than first imagined.  Getting the old tile out was no easy task and then we had to put in new under lament because what was there came up with the old tile.  All had to be broken up and scraped out and hauled away.  We parked the RV in her backyard.  I am not sure the city of Bloomington really allows that but we're doing it because with the bathroom tore up, we all need the extra facilities.  Its pretty handy to be so close, wish we could do it all the time.

Mr and Mrs Brian Metzger

The bride was beautiful, the day was amazing for a garden wedding, the evening was cool and just about perfect for a back yard ceremony at the Metzger home. So fun to share this time and heap showers of good wishes on two really neat people!!

Teresa VanGrootheest, bride's Mom; Les and Helene Gayer, grandmother of bride; Will, great uncle of bride; Jay and Verna DeBoer, great uncle and great aunt of the bride.

Terry and Teresa VanGrootheest, Abby's special Mom and Dad!

The bride and the father of the bride

The bride and father of the bride!

Abby and Terry

 

Terry's family--the DeBoer's, Vliegers, and Gayers were invited to the bride's parent's home for dinner after the rehersal on Friday night.  Such a great time to catch a little family time and have a chance to chat with bride and groom before the big wedding tomorrow.

Ohio

Long travel day.  Was a foggy morning as we motored through the high country of Pennsylvania and on into Ohio.

This was a first for us.  After 12 years of RVing we finally did it. . .forgot to put the antenna down this morning.  Made quite a clatter on the roof as we pulled out of RV park and it caught an overhanging wire and broke.  Will fixed it when we got in tonight. . .he is so handy to have around. Now, we are also having problems with the tail lights/turn signals on the tow vehicle.  This one is giving him more problems in determining what's going on.  I have confidence, however, he'll eventually figure it out.

We're in Van Wirt, Ohio for Abbey VanGrootheest and Brian Metzger's wedding on Saturday.  Abigayl is Will's sister, Helene's granddaughter, his nephew, Terry's daughter and a real sweetheart.  Thinking rest of the DeBoer clan will be in town by late tonight.